ANTHRAX Announces "Ramones Style" Set For MAYHEM FEST - Details Available!

When Anthrax was given the choice of playing this summer's Mayhem Main Stage or the festival's Jägermeister Stage, the band opted to headline the latter, and to do something special for the crowd.

Explained Anthrax's Charlie Benante, "We decided to pattern the Mayhem set on the kind of shows The Ramones used to do:  a high-energy, non-stop barrage of hit, hit, hit, hit, hit.  No lulls, no filler, totally in your face. We're going to be playing a supersonic-paced set loaded with the best of our best."

"We really like the idea of not 'playing to seats,'" added Scott Ian, "and we want our crowd to have the freedom to move around, to go crazy with us.  Plus, we've been on the road together now for about two years, so we're tighter as a band than we've ever been. Our Mayhem set will be a fun, fast and furious 45-minutes, so they'd better have the EMTs on hand."

Since vocalist Joey Belladonna rejoined the Anthrax line up a little more than a year ago, Anthrax - Belladonna/vocals, Charlie Benante/drums, Scott Ian/guitar, Rob Caggiano/guitar, and Frank Bello/bass - has made one of the most impressive comebacks in Rock N' Roll. As one of The Big Four, the original architects of speed and Thrash Metal, Anthrax joined Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth during the summer of 2010 on a series of Big Four shows in ten European cities, followed by a Big Four show outside of Los Angeles at the Coachella site (April 2011), and the big "homecoming" event for the New York-born-and-bred band members at Yankee Stadium last September.



The band released Worship Music on September 13, 2011, its first NEW album in eight years and the first with Belladonna on vocals in twenty years. 'Worship Music' debuted at #12 Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, received stellar reviews that included being named one of the best albums of the year in media outlets such as Revolver, Guitar World, SPIN, Horns Up Rocks, Metal Assault, Metal Sucks, the UK's Classic Rock and Metal Hammer, Canada's Lithium, Lou Brutus' HardDrive, Eddie Trunk/VH1's "That Metal Show," and SiriusXM's Jose Mangin. 

Dates for this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival are below; Main Stage artists include Slipknot, Slayer, Motorhead, and a rotation of The Devil Wears Prada, As I Lay Dying and Asking Alexandra.

6/30: San Bernadino, CA @ San Manuel Theater
7/1: Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheater
7/3: Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheater
7/4: Nampa, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheater
7/6: Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Wireless Pavilion
7/7: Albuquerque, NM @ Hard Rock Casino Presents The Pavilion
7/8: Englewood, CO @ Comfort Dental Amphitheater
7/10: Dallas, TX @ Superpages.com Center
7/11: Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
7/13: Tampa, FL @ 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheater
7/14: Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheater
7/15: Indianapolis, IN @ Klipsch Music Center
7/18: Oklahoma City, OK @ Zoo Amphitheater
7/20: Maryland Heights, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7/21: Tinley Park, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
7/22: Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Center
7/24: Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
7/25: Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center
7/27: Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
7/28: Burgettstown, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion
7/29: Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
7/31: Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
8/3: Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center
8/4: Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain
8/5: Hartford, CT @ The Comcast Theater

Related links:
Antrax

Megadeth Announce NEW Album Details!

Today is a good day in Heavy Music! Thrash Metal titans Megadeth have just released a bunch of details regarding their 13th studio album, which we will infect us all this coming November. Here is the Official Press Release:

Megadeth, easily one of the most recognized and culturally significant names in Hard Rock music for the past three decades, are pleased to announce the forthcoming release of their thirteenth album, titled TH1RT3EN. The album will be released November 1, 2011 via Roadrunner Records. TH1RT3EN follows up 2009's Endgame, which was one of the most celebrated albums of the pioneering band's storied career. Anticipation is high and fans are anxious for a taste of new music from the legends, who have sold over 25 million albums globally throughout the course of their career, and they will get it imminently.

Dave Mustaine is incredibly proud of the music put forth on the new recording, saying, "This record is the culmination of my work over the 13 records I recorded. There are moments on TH1RT3EN that capture my every emotion, and other moments where I am releasing feelings I never knew existed! My proudest moments of my musical career are captured on TH1RT3EN.”

TH1RT3EN also marks the recorded return of bassist Dave Ellefson who was part of the band's classic lineup from 1983 to 2002. In a move that delighted the band's legion of diehards, Ellefson returned to performing live with Megadeth in early 2010 and has remained a fixture on the stage ever since. This is the first time Ellefson has played on a Megadeth record since 2002's Rude Awakening.

The title has several levels of meaning, which leader and guitar deity Dave Mustaine, who first picked up an axe at the age of 13, revealed in a recent chat with RollingStone.com, saying, "I was born on September 13th; this is my thirteenth record. It just seemed like it was the right thing to do to call it TH1RT3EN."

The band is spending its summer dominating and decimating the main stage of the fourth annual Rock Star Energy Drink Mayhem Festival alongside Godsmack and Disturbed. The band will cap off a busy and headline-making summer by performing as part of "The Big 4" once again, this time in New York at Yankee Stadium alongside Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax. The only previous "Big 4" show in the U.S. took place in April in Southern California.

The band also recorded an original track, "Never Dead," specifically for the NeverDead action-adventure video game franchise. "Never Dead" will appear on TH1RT3EN. Additionally, "Sudden Death" was recorded for Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock and will appear on the album.

With nine Grammy nominations under their bullet belts and having enjoyed five consecutive Platinum and multi-Platinum certifications, as well as seven Gold certifications during their career, Megadeth need no introduction. They've essentially written the book on Heavy Metal and Hard Rock, gaining momentum with each critically lauded release. In 2010, Mustaine released his first book, Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir, which hit the New York Times bestseller list in hardcover (and is now being re-released in paperback). In a review, the Toronto Globe & Mail said, “Dave Mustaine’s memoir is the narrative of a struggling, hard-won music career. It is also a story of survival, redemption and faith… Dave Mustaine is a legend in Heavy Metal; he has written music that has inspired generations of fans, and he has proven that with faith, anything is possible. Transcending simple religion and music, Mustaine’s Heavy Metal Memoir will leave you moved and inspired (8/25/10).”

Here is an interview we conducted with drummer Shawn Drover, in which we discuss the bands new album, the Big 4 and more!



Tour-dates:

- Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival:

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

- The Big Four (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax:

9/14 - Yankee Stadium - Bronx, New York

Latin American tour:

11/9 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Estadio Cubierto Malvinas
11/10 - Estadio Cubierto Malvinas - Buenos Aires, Argentina
11/12 - Maquinaria Festival, Club Hipico - Santiago, Chile
11/14 - SWU Music & Arts Festival - Sao Paulo, Brazil
11/16 - Jose Cuervo Salon - Mexico City, Mexico
11/17 - Jose Cuervo Salon - Mexico City, Mexico
11/19 - H&H Metal Fest, Calle 2 - Guadalajara, Mexico
11/20 - Banamex Auditorium - Monterrey, Mexico

Video and Photo credit: Steve Lars from Creative Ventures International & Steve Lars on Facebook

Related links:
Megadeth
The Horns Up Rocks Recap of Mayhemfest in Hartford Connecticut
Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival
The Big 4 on Facebook

Unearth's Trevor Phipps & Buz McGrath Discuss NEW Album & World Tour!

Unearth unleashed their fifth studio album titled "Darkness In the Light" on July 5th in North America via Metal Blade Records, and they proved once again that they sonically have what it takes to keep flying the Heavy Music flag up high with pride and plenty of adrenaline. The band is currently part of the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival and have had no problem at all delivering their famous blend of hard hitting Hardcore Metal to the masses. With "Darkness In the Light" Unearth made it clear that they are not going to kiss ass to the status quo by compromising their sound, image, and vision of disorder.

Recently, the band performed in Hartford, Connecticut, as part of the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival, and we had the chance to catch up with Unearth's vocalist Trevor Phipps and axe man Buzz McGrath right before the band took over center stage at the Jägermeister Stage. During the interviews we discussed their new album, life on the road, and their upcoming World Tour.

"I think this one is furthering our sound sine its more dynamic than our last couple of records. Its got a lot to offer... Its heavy! Its got melodic parts and great guitar work. I think the whole band band brought their A game." - Trevor Phipps

"Have a good time, all the time! I guess is our credo... We get up there, and try to convey the feelings that we have on stage of just having a good time to the people that are at the shows." - Buz McGrath

Without further due, here is our dual interview with Trevor and Buz from Unearth!



The Horns Up Rocks Recap of Mayhemfest in Hartford Connecticut

UNEARTH on the European Hell On Earth Tour w/ Evergreen Terrace, Bane, Nasty, Casey Jones and Full Blown Chaos:
08/26/2011 F-Haus - Jena, Germany
08/27/2011 Essigfabrik - Köln, Germany
08/28/2011 Vorstin - Hilversum, Netherlands
08/29/2011 Islington O2 Academy, London, UK
08/30/2011 Fleece - Bristol, UK
08/31/2011 White Rabbit - Plymouth, UK
09/01/2011 Moho Live - Manchester, UK
09/02/2011 Derby - Derby Redemption, UK
09/03/2011 Rock im Loch Festival - Lünen, Germany
09/04/2011 Trix Zaal - Antwerpen, Belgium
09/05/2011 Faust - Hannover, Germany
09/06/2011 Markthalle - Hamburg, Germany
09/07/2011 The Rock - Copenhagen, Denmark
09/08/2011 Hot Spot - Kassel, Germany
09/09/2011 Garage - Saarbrücken, Germany
09/10/2011 LKA - Stuttgart, Germany
09/11/2011 Gare de Lion - Wil, Switzerland
09/12/2011 Werk - Munich, Germany
09/13/2011 Explosiv - Graz, Austria
09/14/2011 Statsaal - Spittal an der Drau, Austria
09/15/2011 Abaton - Prague, Czech Republic
09/16/2011 Conne Island - Leipzig, Germany
09/17/2011 SO 36 - Berlin, Germany
09/18/2011 Into The Pit Festival - Vincenza, Italy
09/19/2011 Komma - Wörgl, Austria
09/20/2011 Halle 02 - Heidelberg, Germany

Special thanks to Steve Lars, Paul Sosa, Adrenaline PR, Unearth, and of course Rockstar Energy Drink for organizing this killer event year after year.

IN MEMORY OF:

Video and Photo credit: Steve Lars from Creative Ventures International

This is our previous interview with Trevor Phipps about the Unearth NEW album "Darkness In The Light":



Related links:
The Horns Up Rocks Recap of Mayhemfest in Hartford Connecticut
Unearth
Unearth's Landing Page for Darkness In the Light
Unearth on Facebook
Unearth on Twitter
Unearth on MySpace
Metal Blade Records

In Flames Discuss Evolution of Latest Album & Perseverance!

For over 20 years the members of In Flames have been on a constant musical evolution, in which they have pushed the boundaries of the Gothenburg Swedish Melodic Death Metal scene to the limit. While some may say that the band has experimented way too much with their sound, the reality is that In Flames have always stood out for making sure that every record they release is a different chapter of the In Flames book. With the release of their 10th studio album titled "Sounds of a Playground Fading" on June 15 via Century Media, the band once again is proving that they do not like playing it safe.

As most of you probably know, In Flames had to pull out from their current run at the Rockstar Energy Mayhem festival due to a family emergency (click here for the Official Press Release). Luckily, we were able to see the band perform at the Mayhem Festival in Hartford, Connecticut, and to interview bassist Peter Iwers about their new album and how they have managed to persevere for so many years. We wish In Flames the best of luck!

"We always try to create music from a fans point of view. By fans, I mean us. We like to step out of the music as if somebody else wrote it. And when we do that, and when we like it... that's the key. We have tons of influences! A lot of artists in bands stay within their own genre to try to find influences, but we get it from everywhere! We incorporate that into our own music with no limits and try to do something fresh every time." - Peter Iwers (In Flames)

The Horns Up Rocks Recap of Mayhemfest in Hartford Connecticut

Discography:

- Lunar Strain (1994)
- The Jester Race (1996)
- Whoracle (1997)
- Colony (1999)
- Clayman (2000)
- Reroute to Remain (2002)
- Soundtrack to Your Escape (2004)
- Come Clarity (2006)
- A Sense of Purpose (2008)
- Sounds of a Playground Fading (2011)

Special thanks to Steve Lars, Paul Sosa, Adrenaline PR, In Flames, and of course Rockstar Energy Drink for organizing this killer event year after year.

IN MEMORY OF:

Video and Photo credit: Steve Lars from Creative Ventures International

Related links:
click here for the Official Press Release about In Flames Pulling Out from Mayhem Fest
The Horns Up Rocks Recap of Mayhemfest in Hartford Connecticut
Official Site of In Flames
In Flames on MySpace
Jesterhead
In Flames on Twitter

In Flames Forced to Pull Out from the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival

The Swedish Heavy Metal band In Flames released their 10th studio album titled "Sounds of a Playground Fading" on June 15 via Century Media, and in order to spread it to the masses they jumped on board the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. Unfortunately, the band has been forced to pull out from the festival. Here is the band's OFFICIAL statement:

It is with huge regret that today with immediate effect In Flames must cancel their current US shows as part of the Rockstar Mayhem Festival and their own US Headline shows. But due to a serious terminal illness of one the band’s immediate family members they feel they have no option.

We have had the most amazing and fun times as part of the Rockstar Mayhem Festival and we are truly grateful for all the support the whole festival has shown

We will be back at the start of 2012.

Once again our apologies

- In Flames

We hope that it all works out for the In Flames camp! \m/

IN FLAMES at the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival

Here is the video for their song "Deliver Us":


Related links:
In Flames
Century Media Records
Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival

Megadeth's Shawn Drover Discusses the Big 4 & TH1RT3EN (NEW Album)

For over 25 years Megadeth has been tearing up venues all over the world, and to this day they are one of the best bands in Heavy Music history. After being kicked out of Metallica for his reckless behavior, Dave Mustaine started the band in 1983 against all odds. Ever since then his mission has been to keep the Heavy Metal flag flying high without ever looking down! Megadeth is not just a band, they are a cult!

Megadeth has also proved that Thrash Metal doesn’t stand any sissies and that only the strong survive. Many failed while fighting their own demons, but this legendary band found their way out of the darkness. You can’t help admiring the fact that so many years later the band members are still in full vigor and at the pinnacle of their creativity.

At their recent show in Hartford, Connecticut, we had the chance to interview Megadeth's drummer Shawn Drover about the Big 4, their new album titled TH1RT3EN (to be released on November 1 via Roadrunner Records) and about the impact that festivals like the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival have on the entire Heavy Music scene. Click here to read The Horns Up Rocks Recap of Mayhemfest in Hartford Connecticut



Shortly after the interview Megadeth went on stage and proved by action why its greatness is indisputable. It is the blood and flesh of Thrash Metal. It is timeless.

Megadeth is:

- Dave Mustaine (Vocals and Guitars)
- Chris Broderick (Guitars)
- David Ellefson (Bass)
- Shawn Drover (Drums)

Megadeth's Discography:

- Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985)
- Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986)
- So Far, So Good... So What! (1988)
- Rust in Peace (1990)
- Countdown to Extinction (1992)
- Youthanasia (1994)
- Cryptic Writings (1997)
- Risk (1999)
- The World Needs a Hero (2001)
- The System Has Failed (2004)
- United Abominations (2007)
- Endgame (2009)
- TH1RT3EN (2011)

Tour-dates:

- Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival:

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

- The Big Four (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax:

9/14 - Yankee Stadium - Bronx, New York

Latin American tour:

11/9 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Estadio Cubierto Malvinas
11/10 - Estadio Cubierto Malvinas - Buenos Aires, Argentina
11/12 - Maquinaria Festival, Club Hipico - Santiago, Chile
11/14 - SWU Music & Arts Festival - Sao Paulo, Brazil
11/16 - Jose Cuervo Salon - Mexico City, Mexico
11/17 - Jose Cuervo Salon - Mexico City, Mexico
11/19 - H&H Metal Fest, Calle 2 - Guadalajara, Mexico
11/20 - Banamex Auditorium - Monterrey, Mexico

Special thanks to Steve Lars, Paul Sosa, Adrenaline PR, Megadeth, and of course Rockstar Energy Drink for organizing this killer event year after year.

IN MEMORY OF:

Video and Photo credit: Steve Lars from Creative Ventures International

Related links:
Megadeth
The Horns Up Rocks Recap of Mayhemfest in Hartford Connecticut
Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival
The Big 4 on Facebook