< Hyde knew that cursing in Japanese was the perfect retialiation for the guy upstairs who call him a girl.

As the audience waved around their neon-glow sticks and flaunted around in their Visual Kei orientated dress styles, this is without a doubt the perfect method of bringing two cultures together. Japanese culture coliding with British culture.

The pre-entertainment to the songs being played was in the form of a magnificent video presentation which highlighted tour locations and a video introduction of the band; the latter being a frequently used backdrop in that each song used a different video animation to accompany it, along with extravagent costumes whiched aided the imagery of Visual Kei.

Testsuya trying out his new Japanese rock assault pose >

L'Arc En Ciel however managed to get the crowd partying through a mixture of on stage dancing and using motion chemistry to relate with the audience, as such the band were cued and orchestrated to time and were in sync with each other all the way through. After all this was the band's 20 year anniversary tour and their first time playing in London.

Irrespective of the language differences - they are singing most in Japanese, they also sing in English and even though there is a language barrier, one you can learn a new language but more importantly for non-Japanese speakers, the music does the talkiing.

The use of pyrotechnics in the elegant form of vertical flamethrowers added another level of dramaticism, yet not exactly another Rammstein theatrical, instead a beautiful production of epic proportions. Mixing a delicate mixture of soft rock and alternative rock with full-on metal songs, falling right behind each other and providing a delinquent sound to the room. Verging onto Industrial Rock and finalising with what is easily dubbed as a Psychedelic show.

Albeit the music, the guitarist has a wicked sense of humour, stating that "I have been London many times, one i wanted to go to London Dungeon, but I had to play golf instead, so now I went Tokyo Dungeon" and that he "bought the bassist a UK pillow, UK-print leggings and a london tube map of his arse, so he dont get lost in London".

It got even worse with him saying "do you want to lick my banana, do you want to lick my lollipop?", he then threw banana into the crowd before launching a boomerang-style throw at the crowd up in the gods.

Also intriguingly the bassist shook his guitar at the speakers to rebound the sound being emitted. He even wore a jacket in the design of the UK flag. Even more so there was an epic drum solo near the end, with lightning as the video backdrop and the penultimate song being a Japanese ballad, enabled the audience to sing along by singing the first part in Japanese (displayed on the LED screen).

All in all this was a concert that the lads will never forget, a truly remarkable showcase of Japanese culture and music, the epitome of Visual kei music.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

On a night with a sensational crowd present amassing to well over 100+, three bands took to the stage to deliver an almighty blast of rock music, Clout, Black Belles and The Horrors all graced the stage.

Clout, a local quintet playing a straight chemical mix of orchestrated blues rock with jazz thrown in. At times the band seemed to know what they were doing, but this changed from second to second; amazingly they are one of those bands hard to genre-tag, experimental rock is perhaps the closest you can get. They managed to hold a captivating performance of which seems to be marred by the visual look of interaction - just mere playing, no action, just playing. Sadly the audio was not perfect as the jazz player seemed non existant at times, he was playing but no sound was emitting, perhaps the metal lost it's musical conductor. However it was an interesting sight to see the musicians change instruments - jazz to keyboards, drummer to guitars etc. The sound however is nothing new, but with a pinch of divergence here and there, the band without a doubt has conjured up a strangely bizarre sound. However for a relatively short set, the quintet have a great sound, organisation, composure and stage presence, but seem to lack that total panache, but are not far from reaching it [7].

< Olivia Jean clawing her nails into the gloomy Southend atmosphere.











The all women quartet from Nashville, Tennessee utilised a Hard Rock / Heavy Metal / Goth Rock sound, by bringing out the best in rock with a sensational blend of 'bar rock' and true southern state class and rickety rock-n-roll. So much for tornado alley not predicting this storm to be sent across the Atlantic Ocean. In fact the continual shedding of distortion became powerful enough to blow holes in the ceiling. Ironically, when four female musicians came out to shake the foundations of Southend Chinnerys, the predicted 'male-army-en-mass' soon congregated, out-crowding any football league derby attendance, Southend United must be envious. Let alone the dress code being imperfectly smart and to-the-point 'on official business'; even the music aided as an official clarification that the quartet are not to be messed with, since when did Hayley Williams quadruplicate into goths? [8.5]

< No one told The Horrors that heaven was behind them.












< Faris Badwan could not believe his eyes seeing someone down 4 shots of Jack Daniels at once.









Full of gusto and rhythmic composition, the headlining Southend-based experimental, space, goth, every-subgenre of rock band The Horrors delivered a total ecliptic version of pure class with a light-coveted display of fuel-injected red and white light - correlating the potential of embedding English rock in the pits of experimental audibility and emphatically shedding out the dark and D.I.Y. sound of 'horroresque' stature. Wihout a question one of the finest modern rock bands England has ever produced in the past five years. A sensational live performance on the night, making the albums an appetiser in their menu of rock sounds, one would pin their performance to the dessert section, a delicious slice of rock cake. Honing in on their native town, The Horrors made no errors as they show off an array of atoned pedigree and the ability in not failing to disappoint, even Jimi Hendrix would salute this lot. Revitalising the crowd into complete psychedelia, The Horrors are without any compromise and take no substitutes without delivering what is perceived to be the most captivating gig of-yet-to-be 2012 [9].

RHYS STEVENSON

https://www.facebook.com/SPEAKYACLOUT
https://www.facebook.com/theblackbelles
https://www.facebook.com/horrorsofficial

Italian hard rockers Voodoo Highway are proud to announce that the cover artwork of their new album currently being recorded, will be edited and created by renowned artist Storm Thorgerson.

Storm Thorgerson is most known for being the key art of the British graphic art group “Hipgnosis”, and for being the creator of one of the most known album covers of all time in the shape of Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon”.

Among his works may be included the covers of numerous artists globally known such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Audioslave, The Muse, Biffy Clyro, The Cranberries, Bruce Dickinson, Dream Theater, Europe, Helloween, Megadeth, Offspring, Rival Sons and many more.

www.facebook.com/WhoDoHighway
www.youtube.com/TheVoodooHighway
www.stormthorgerson.com
www.rockngrowl.com

RHYS STEVENSON

_ American rockers Rivals Sons have finished recording and mixing their new album in Nashville, Tennessee. The as-yet untitled follow-up to 'Pressure & Time', was recorded with Grammy-nominated producer Dave Cobb and Grammy-winning engineer Vance Powell. The album is due to be released on Earache Records in late August.

Guitarist Scott Holiday comments:

"We have officially completed and turned in our next full length record.  We thought we might give ourselves a bit more time to work this time around, as opposed to the 20 days for 'Pressure & Time'...  BUT, it was even MORE crazy this time.  Everything was finished in about the same amount of time (22 days), but this time we are giving much more music (a much longer record) - nearly twice that of P&T.

"Done in Nashville this time - amazing people, music, music scene, countryside, and some cool record shops.  We re-enlisted our long-time producer and friend, Dave Cobb (Jamie Johnson, Secret Sisters, Shooter Jennings, and uh... Rival Sons), and this time we brought in the engineering and mix wizardry of one Mr. Vance Powell (Jack White, Dead Weather, Kings of Leon).

"Songs were once again written and recorded on the spot, allowing the listener to really peer in and catch a snapshot of the moment, and our immediate instincts.  Most songs were captured in a few takes, not to mention plenty of first-takers.  Pretty off the cuff and unadulterated.  We have never had a wish to be predictable or sedentary with our music, and this record explores and supports that ethos pretty well.  In other words, this record is not P&T, but delves into a bunch of other musical ideas and sounds.  Much more of a 'long-form' record as a whole.  Fist-pumpers, ass-shakers, foot-stompers, air guitaring/bassing/drummers, tear-jerkers, heart-string-pullers, and a few straight up freak outs.  That's all I'll say for now.  Due out late this August."

Watch a video of Rival Sons frontman Jay Buchanan at the mixing studio here

The band also have announced a European tour, including two shows in the Netherlands and Germany with Guns 'N' Roses.  Don't miss them at the following shows:

May 18 - St. Catharines, ON - Barracuda Pretty
May 19 - Columbus, OH - Rock on the Range
May 20 - Grand Bend, ON - Motorplex
May 28 - Landgraaf, Netherlands - Pinkpop Festival
May 29 - Lille, France - La Peniche
May 31 - Leffinge, Belgium - Zwerver

Jun. 01 - Nuremberg, Germany - Rock im Park
Jun. 02 - Nürburg, Germany - Rock am Ring
Jun. 03 - Den Bosch, Netherlands - W2
Jun. 04 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Ahoy (w/ Guns 'N' Roses)
Jun. 06 - Aarhus, Denmark - Voxhall
Jun. 07 - Sölvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival
Jun. 08 - Mönchengladbach, Germany - Warsteiner Hockey Park (w/ Guns 'N' Roses)
Jun. 10 - Castle Donington, UK - Download Festival
Jun. 12 - Hamburg, Germany - Stadtpark (w/ Evanescence)
Jun. 14 - Dortmund, Germany - Westfalenhalle (w/ Evanescence)
Jun. 16 - Bulle, Switzerland - Ebullition
Jun. 19 - Prague, Czech Republic - MeetFactory (w/ Eagles of Death Metal)
Jun. 20 - Zagreb, Croatia - Tvornica
Jun. 22 - Milan, Italy - Gods of Metal Festival
Jun. 23 - Roeser, Luxembourg - Rock A Field Festival
Jun. 24 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting
Jun. 30 - Owen Sound, ON - Big Music Fest

Jul. 05 - Sundsvall, Sweden - Sundsvall Festival
Jul. 06 - Turku, Finland - Ruisrock Festival
Jul. 14 - Joensuu, Finland - Ilosaarirock Festival
Jul. 17 - Uppsala, Sweden - Katalin
Jul. 19 - Tonsberg, Norway - Slottsfjell Festival
Jul. 20 - Tromso, Norway - Bukta Festival
Jul. 21 - Njordfordeid, Norway - Malakoff Rockfestival

The band has also just released a new music video for the track, 'Face of Light'.  Watch the video here

Pressure & Time is available now as a special redux edition, including two incredible bonus tracks, 'Company Man' and 'Life For This Road', plus a bonus DVD featuring these great videos:

* 'Gypsy Heart', 'Pressure and Time' and 'Soul' live from High Voltage festival
* 'Pressure and Time', 'All Over the Road' and 'Get What's Coming' official promo videos
* 'Pressure and Time' live backstage at Werchter festival
* Pressure & Time promo trailer

Get it here in Europe at or in North America here. It is also available on iTunes, including all bonus tracks and videos here.

http://www.rivalsons.com
http://www.facebook.com/rivalsons
http://www.myspace.com/rivalsons
http://twitter.com/rivalsons

RHYS STEVENSON

_US rockers Rival Sons have been confirmed as the main support act for Guns 'N' Roses for two shows in Europe this summer.

Rival Sons will be playing with GNR at  the Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands on June 4th, and then at the Warsteiner Hockey Park in Mönchengladbach, Germany on June 8th.

Rival Sons guitarist Scott Holiday was very excited:

"What a great, great opportunity to get these shows supporting Guns N' Roses!  Germany has been great to us, and this will only help us reach out to so many more people over there.  As far as Guns goes... I remember the first time those guys were ever on MTV, me and my best mate were watching.  A total shock to the system, and to me and my friends' lives.  We were really young little dudes, but we already loved our rock 'n' roll, and Guns just reeked of reality and grit... I mean they were literally very dirty.  And we LOVED it.  They ushered in a lot more 'real' and dirtiness to a scene that had become way too fruity-pants.  As a wee guitar-playing lad, I couldn't get enough of Appetite For Destruction and Lies.  Ready to see and hear some of those first tunes played live!"

Tickets for the show at The Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands can be purchased from Live Nation here

RIVAL SONS TOUR DATES

May 18 - St. Catharines, ON - Barracuda Pretty
May 19 - Columbus, OH - Rock on the Range
May 20 - Grand Bend, ON - Motorplex
May 28 - Landgraaf, Netherlands - Pinkpop Festival
May 29 - Lille, France - La Peniche
May 31 - Leffinge, Belgium - Zwerver

Jun. 01 - Nuremberg, Germany - Rock im Park
Jun. 02 - Nürburg, Germany - Rock am Ring
Jun. 03 - Den Bosch, Netherlands - W2
Jun. 04 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Ahoy (w/ Guns 'N' Roses)
Jun. 06 - Aarhus, Denmark - Voxhall
Jun. 07 - Sölvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival
Jun. 08 - Mönchengladbach, Germany - Warsteiner Hockey Park (w/ Guns 'N' Roses)
Jun. 10 - Castle Donington, UK - Download Festival
Jun. 12 - Hamburg, Germany - Stadtpark (w/ Evanescence)
Jun. 14 - Dortmund, Germany - Westfalenhalle (w/ Evanescence)
Jun. 16 - Bulle, Switzerland - Ebullition
Jun. 19 - Prague, Czech Republic - MeetFactory (w/ Eagles Of Death Metal)
Jun. 20 - Zagreb, Croatia - Tvornica
Jun. 22 - Milan, Italy - Gods of Metal Festival
Jun. 23 - Roeser, Luxembourg - Rock A Field Festival
Jun. 24 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting
Jun. 30 - Owen Sound, ON - Big Music Fest

Jul. 05 - Sundsvall, Sweden - Sundsvall Festival
Jul. 06 - Turku, Finland - Ruisrock Festival
Jul. 14 - Joensuu, Finland - Ilosaarirock Festival
Jul. 17 - Uppsala, Sweden - Katalin
Jul. 19 - Tonsberg, Norway - Slottsfjell Festival
Jul. 20 - Tromso, Norway - Bukta Festival
Jul. 21 - Njordfordeid, Norway - Malakoff Rockfestival

http://www.rivalsons.com
http://www.facebook.com/rivalsons
http://www.myspace.com/rivalsons
http://twitter.com/rivalsons

RHYS STEVENSON