The Devil Wears Prada are one of those bands that constantly feel like they should be moving onto bigger and better things. Now on their 5th album 8:18 they have been plying their brand of atmospheric metalcore for eight years and despite having an impressive amount of material out in that time, they have never seemed to move beyond being almost there.
Soulfly – Savages
Being born out of one of the most influential heavy metal bands of recent years, Soulfly have always been compared to what came before. Which is a shame, because Max Cavalera and co are actually a really kick ass heavy metal band. Savages is their ninth album and see’s Zyon Cavalera, Max’s son, sitting behind the drum kit for the first time.
Christmas TV Round-up
By Lia Sanders
As the hype around the Radio Times’ Christmas double issue shows, television is a big deal in what we now think of as the traditional British Christmas; as the old joke goes, the box provides families up and down the country with an excuse not to talk to each other.
Deaf Havana – Old Souls
Merry Christmas all, while I’m waiting for Dr Who to come on I decided to write up a review. In case anyone is wondering I will actually be doing all my end of year lists in 2014… I’m weird like that.
If you had asked me which of the albums on my big list of those I want to review before the end of this year that I was most likely to dislike, I would have pointed towards Deaf Havana’s Old Souls. Somewhere down the line this band got filed away in my brain as being in with all the alternative kids with their tight green jeans and stupid hats. Now don’t get me wrong, I like a lot of bands those kids have adopted, but my sub-consciousness has at some point decided that Deaf Havana were not worth checking out. Therefore I know absolutely nothing about them, but Wikipedia informs me that Old Souls is their third album.
Devildriver – Winter Kills
Despite Dez Fafara’s return to the well that made him famous in the first place, with the reuniting of Coal Chamber, it hasn’t spelt the end of groove metal heavyweights Devildriver, who are back with their sixth album, Winter Kills. With previous release Beast having been received well, but not lasting long in the memory of most, this album came out without much fanfare, which may not have been helped by Dez’s continued dalliances with his old band mates. It also see’s Chris Towning take up bass duties on record for the first time, having been touring with the band since 2012.
Nebraska
Alexander Payne (The Descendants) is the director behind the dark comedy of Nebraska, which he chose to release in black and white. Starring Bruce Dern and Will Forte, it’s a film that has quickly found it’s way in the critics favourite category, with it having been nominated for the Palme D’Or at Cannes, where Bruce Dern also picked up best actor. As always this means there is a question mark hanging over it as to whether it will translate it’s success to the general public.
Nine Inch Nails – Hesitation Marks
Nine Inch Nails return to our world was always going to happen, but that’s not a fact that made it any less sweet when it finally did. The return of Trent Reznor and co was always going to be a big event and because of that any album they released is destined to be picked over with a fine tooth comb. Thankfully, Mr Reznor is a man used to pressure and having done quite well for himself in his time off, even picking up an Oscar, he was obviously willing to take on the task and rebirth his baby with the release of Hesitation Marks.
Download Announcement 4
So Download are not going to get my money this year, apart from a possible day ticket if one day shapes up in a particularly pleasing way. Despite that, they are continuing as a festival! Who’d have thought it? Anyway the most recent announcement was actually quite an exciting one and I am, as usual, going to give you a quick round-up of my thoughts.
Some real ramblings about football
While – if my ode to John Terry didn’t make it clear – I am a Chelsea fan, the team closest to my heart when it comes to football is Aberdeen, it’s where I was born, raised and I’ve spent many a cold day huddled up at Pittodrie, miserable and bored as I watched a selection of awful Aberdeen players trudge around a football pitch. Therefore, this season has been a bit weird. Mainly because we seem to actually be quite good.
Sonisphere Announcement 2
So the final headliner is out and it’s another solid booking, that completes a good year for Sonisphere. This is a very short post as there is not much to say but the final act is rock/dance crossover legends The Prodigy. Now I personally don’t really do the whole electro, dance, whatever it is bands like The Prodigy are, thing but I’m happy with this one (as someone who has bought a ticket). They were at Download 2012 but I was watching Slash so this will actually be my first time seeing them and I have never heard of anyone failing to have a good time at a Prodigy show.
Ramblings About Wrestling 