Lemmy - Original Bad Muthaf****r!

Motorhead were the first band I saw during me student days. It was a warm up show at the Uni's student union hall before they went on a full length tour.

Me was shitting meself when I got to the venue coz there was a whole row of choppers parked outside & an even larger crowd of drunk, belligerent bikers inside the hall. Fer the life of me, cannae remember much of the support act (Xentrix?) apart from the fact that the boisterous crowd rained plenty of half-empty plastic pint cups at them, some probably filled with piss.

Wot I do remember was seeing a bunch of other Malaysian students cowering in another corner. All identifiable in our standard Metallica tees. One dude ran over, introduced himself & suffice to say we are still good mates two decades down the line!

Wot I also remember was Lemmy marching on stage after the hapless support band had finished & coolly declared "one more fooking beer cup & we're not fooking playing . . ." Somehow the crowd got the message & Motorhead lauched into their now-legendary, full on assault of the senses.

Bomber. We are The Road Crew. Overkill. And, of course, Ace of Spades. Ye names it, they played it. Bowel-loosening LOUD. Now, I is no shrinking fooking violet when it comes to volume but me ears were fooking ringing fer a week after the gig. Ears were also bleeding when I saw them on tour again & then I read in the papers that the shows had made the Guinness Book of Records fer LOUDEST shows that year.

I also remember being pummelled in the back from some giant ogre who was off his fooking face during that first gig. By now, me had been separated from me new-found Malaysian friends. But sensing me distress (I is kinda small), a bunch of bikers grabbed hold of me denim jacket, pulled me of the floor & said to the drunk cunt who was pushing everyone "ye touches our friend here again & we gonna fooking kick the crap outta ye!" Cool or wot? After that I felt like a tai kor with me biker henchmen.

These fond memories were triggered after reading a special edition of Classic Rock magazine commemorating the launch of Motorhead's latest LP as well as their long career. Fan or not, it is a fooking great read. Plus ye gets a cool metal Motorhead badge to pin on yer jacket/workstation.

Have also read plenty of good stuff about the movie above & can anyone please tell me where I can me grubby hands on a copy?

In the meantime, everyone should enjoy this band while they are still around. Go out buy their CDs & petition fer a local concert organiser to bring here to these shores!

Long live Motorhead!

Arch Enemy in KL!

The rather delectable Miss Angela Gossow & her merry band of longhairs will be performing at the Chin Woo Stadium, Jln Hang Jebat, KL on April 24, 2012.

Formed by Carcass alumni, Mike Amott, Arch Enemy ply melodic death metal grooves that are designed to give yer neck muscles a severe workout.

Check out the vid to see fer yerself.

Anyone going fer this?

Holy Smokin' Bassist, Batman!

Bought a copy of Bass Player mag (I know, I know - gotta look the part) with this Jonas Hellborg dude on the cover. A quick search on youtube yielded plenty of smack me fooking forehead & jaw on ground moments.

Inspired stuff.

Just the stuff to make ye wants to pick up an instrument or pawn it in disgust.

Again, apologies to anyone still reading fer the delay in between posts & hopes ye enjoys the vid.

Am off to put in some much needed practice minutes . . .

Grindcore - The Meaning of . . .

Watched this very entertaining vid many many many years ago.

Highly entertaining & very educational, if ye wants to knows more about the grindcore scene.

Enjoy!

Master of Frets

Imagine wot would the history of metaldom be if Metallica had actually hired this dude to replace Cliff?

Les Claypool had actually gone fer the auditions but the Metalligang found him just a little way too out there.

Perhaps they wouldn't have gone all shitty soft rock if they had replaced an unconventional bass legend with a totally off the wall character like Les.

Shame . . .

Interview with Evile

If ye digs early/classic Metallica, ye should check out Evile. These lads from Huddersfield have honed that early-80s thrash sound into an artform without sounding ham-fisted or cliched.

please do check out the interview this humble scribe did with the guitarist here: http://www.spadesmagazine.com/2011/09/15/evile-interview-with-ol-drake/

Thrash fooking Rules!

Chuffed to bits!

Yup, this humble scribe managed to do a extra-short interview with Barney Greenway of Napalm Death after their brilliant gig on Monday nite at 1Cafe, Kuala Lumpur.

Please do visit http://spadesmagazine.com/ to read the gig review as well as watching some hand held camera footage.

Bad Case of Duderock

Have belatedly caught a bad case of duderock. Canadian prog legends Rush seem to be dominating me stereo at home, in the car & at work.

Is turning 40 led me to develop a love fer complex drum solos?

Am a bit spooked. . .

ps: To anyone reading this, me humbly request that ye visit our music website at http://spadesmagazine.com/ & also 'like' our facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/SpadesMagazine)

Never too old !!!

Though wifey & meself have seen this noisy lot twice, me is still fooking chuffed to bits that that they are coming to our shores again. Have once again tried contacting two of me former gig-going buddies from varsity days to join us.

One is too wrapped up in his business while the other seems to have become the very definition of middle age fuddy-duddiness.

Fer fook's sake, dudes, how bad can things have degenerated to if ye cannae spare an hour or two fer dinner & a ear-splitting gig to relive wasted youth?

Success & a comfortable family life means being able to do some silly things like going to see Napalm Death Live on June 18!!!

Otherwise, wot's the point?

Cure fer the Monday Blues

From The Band's Last Waltz farewell sessions.

Abso-fooking-lutely brilliant.

Most certainly brightened up me day.

Hope it does the same fer ye.

(*goosebumps*)

When the Four Horsemen rocked . . . (Metallica: Kill Em All)

Dusted off me copy of the album above & gave me Sunday morning the perfect heavy fooking metal wake up call (though not quite sure whether me neighbours apprreciated it!!!). And fook me silly, it is still as vibrant & a shock to the system as swilling from a bottle of Thunderbird under a sweltering noonday sun!

Before Sandman, Bob Fooking Rock, the ultra-slick videos, Napster fiasco & the ham-fisted attempts to regain former glory, Metallica were not just Bay Area heroes. They were the original masters of 'Thrash Metal' before that became a dirty word.

This debut from 1983 had the same effect on us fledgling long hairs halfway round the world as it did with teens everywhere. This was an album that signalled the creation of a generation gap between us & the older Purple/Sabbath crowd. Though most of us loved those classic bands as well, Metallica was OUR band. The pimply complexions, the stonewashed denim & white high cut sneakers combo, sleeveless jacket with patches, the scraggly hair - fook, they were one of us!

Tunes like Hit the Lights, Jump In The Fire & Seek & Destroy may sound primitive & even noisy to Black album converts, but to older longhairs (or baldies?) this remains a high point in genre.

Of course, many will debate the merits of the next three LPs, but this debut effort remains one of me fave metal LPs of all time. Ye can hear the urgency of a band taking flight and of a new sound breaking out.

Watch this vid & roll back the years . . .



If ye've lost yer copy of this vintage piece of metal or never owned one, please click here fer free download: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GI4IYTK0 .

Look forward to reading yer fondest memories of this classic that's now over a quarter of a century old . . .

Even Better in High Definition

Me vividly remembers sticking on the VHS of The Song Remain the Same at Nicko Mun's abode many, many fooking moons ago & him registering his utter disgust at how Jimmy Page, despite being strung out on H, could play like that. A budding guitar hero in the making, me friend was not amused at the consumate ease Page plucked them notes. "Basterd" was his sentiments if memory serves me right.

Once this tune was so overplayed that it was considered the very epitome of bombastic 70s rock opera. Having being reduced to cliche in some quarters, it became the butt of Wayne's World punchlines & became the calling card fer fuddy duddy classic rockers (ie prone to giving "they just don't make them like they used to"-type lectures).

But having stumbled upon this high def version of this epic performance on youtube recently, me was again reminded of a few startling facts:

1) How the band could make an enormodome like Madison Square Garden seem like a small cosy niteclub.

2) The ultra "fit" of Robert Plant's hipster jeans.

3) The sheer austerity of the stage show.

4) And, the simple fact, that this remains one of the greatest fooking songs ever.

Finlandia's Finest! (Kalmah: 12 Gauge)

The advent of cheap original CDs (& the office blocking download links) has actually made me wanna step into record emporiums again. Some of the local distributors are pricing metal CDs at RM19.90 & this actually gave me the impetus to try something new.

This Finnish outfit was one such discovery. Melodic death metal is their game (watch hilariously amateurish video below fer a taster) &, fooking hell, they do it well.

Plenty of soaring fretwork & riffs thick enough to shake yer foundations so to speak. Won't wax lyrical other than to say they are cut very much from the same cloth as Children of Bodom.

Go on, inject some new metal into yer system. Ye won't regret it!

To download Kalmah's 12 Gauge (2010), please click here: http://www.mediafire.com/?qftzzamgjky

Heavy Hindu Metal!

Most old timers will remember before Shelter there was this bunch of tattooed hoolies who embraced the peaceful meditations of the Hare Krishna sect. Didnae seem to stop them from making an almighty racket though.

Part of the crossover punk/thrash movement of the late 80s alongside bands such as DRI & Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags existed beyond that of mere novelty. Lyrics inspired by the holy books & thick crunching guitars saw them gain quite a following. Though their careers were short-lived, this LP still sounds fresh today & will inspire many lively dandruff removal sessions!

This album is testament that violent-sounding music need not cause ye to lead a violent life. Enjoy!

To download, Cromag's Best Wishes (1989), please click here: http://www.mediafire.com/?9uwlajahblg

Infectious grooves! (Bolt Thrower: Those Once Loyal)

Another weekend beckons & time fer some quality sounds. Me has been grooving to this LP recently & fook me silly if it isn't one of the best (& sadly overlooked) albums to have come out of the death/grind scene. And grooving is the right word coz unlike the earlier stuff, the band seemed to have discovered a funky organic groove in their armoury whilst recording this swansong album.

Still as hard hitting as a John Arne Riise freekick to the nether regions, Bolt Thrower seem less like the crushing tank of yore but rather a band jamming after a couple of spliffs whilst Sabbath played in the background.

If the Bolt Thrower had produced this ten years earlier, they'd be fooking huge. But alas, they will always remain a cult even within the underground scene. Which me thinks is precisely how the band likes it anyways. In fact the band has gone an indefinite hiatus as they believe this is the perfect Bolt Thorwer LP & there's little point on recording another one.

So fer this weekend, let's celebrate the works of Bolt Thrower by playing this FOOKING LOUD!

To download Bolt Thrower's Those Once Loyal (2005), please go to: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JP409SM6

ps: Me has taken the trouble to send this via email to some of ye, so me expects some feedback.

Rock of Ages (Rainbow: Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow 1975)

Ahhhh . . . the instantly recognisable acoustic intro to that song. Me was but a wee lad when me first heard the epic & beautiful Temple of the King on radio's nightly Pilihan Anda programme.
But it was many years later before me actually got me mittens on a vinyl copy of the album above.

Ye could say the seeds of me future metaldom was planted by that song. And wot a fooking great tune. Its one of those which anybody with functioning eardrums will dig & made ye wished ye could play the guitar.

And there's nothing like a dose of classic rock to complete the weekend. Every home should have a copy of this & if ye've lost yers or the ancient tape is all fooked up, rectify it by clicking here: http://rapidshare.com/files/353451097/DET1975Rain.rar (Note password: deterrorizer)

Look forward to reading yer comments on this LP & the first time yer telinga caught wind of that almighty slow-rock anthem. Cheers!

Are ye morbid? (Celtic Frost: Morbid Tales)

The Mozzer paid me humble abode a visit last week & ,of course, we got blasted on metal & rum. One of the records that impressed him was the debut EP from Thy Mighty Frost. Am surprised that so many metal fans are ignorant of these Swiss avant garde outfit's work given their stature.

Suffice to say, they are fooking influential in extreme metal circles. Just look at the bands who have covered their tunes - Obituary, Enslaved, Sepultura - should give ye an idea of their standing & importance. And like Napalm Death who came after them, Thy Mighty Frost is hugely responsible fer shaping the landscape of extreme metal as we knows it.

This EP was Celtic Frost's debut after Tom G Warrior & Martin Eric Ain folded Hellhammer. Its raw, primal & full of that underground buzz. Me first heard this when a senior at me college lent me a tape copy. Me almost shit me pants. Me was just getting to know me metal ropes via Maiden & the fledgling Bay Area Thrash scene & this just sounded like nothing else out there. Dark, scary & almost unbearbly heavy, making me tender (then) virgin ears bleed . . .

Anyone who likes their metal HEAVY, me seriously recommends ye check this out. Its legendary fer a reason. Plus any band that can count HR Giger as a fan must certainly warrant a sliver of yer precious time.

To download Celtic Frost's Morbid Tales (1984), please click here: http://www.mediafire.com/?2mjyzzf5cnd

And fer those of ye who can understand German, here's a pretty neat documentary on the band! Have a great weekend!!!

The Dirty Dozen (The Smiths 7" singles box set)

If like me, the words 'Limited Edition' or 'rare collector's item' stamped on the side of a CD or LP sends ye into a frothy-mouthed frenzy, then check this out me pedigree chums.

Found this at Rock Corner (KLCC) last week. Containing the first 12 seven inchers (in CD format) by The Smiths at a mere RM120, this is a grand way to transport yerself back to the mid-80s. Ye may already own all the tunes but there's nothing like having it repackaged in something a wee bit special & looks good in a display cabinet. Top it all off, the songs on these discs ain't half bad either though me wifey begs to differ.

To some, The Smiths is the singular most important thing to have happened to British music. To others, Morrissey is just a whiny vegan twat. Ye be the judge.

Also includes two rare singles & poster. Hurry whilst stocks lasts!

If yer NOT a record collector & just wanna sample the tunes on offer, please click here to download this box set: http://www.mediafire.com/?jr15jbecmzm



ps: The Mozzer himself dropped by me humble abode yesterday & the sight of this box set had him salivating like a rabid mongrel . . . BUT a mongrel with a quiff though.

pps: This is also specially fer El Premo - Many Happy Returns!

ppps: Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone & me leaves ye with this classic TOTP performance. Enjoy!!!

Samba Metal! (Sepultura: Roots)

Me tries to reacquaint meself with some old chestnuts everyday by picking a different CD fer the car & today's choice brought into sharp focus as to why, once upon a time, Sepultura were considered the planet's finest metal exponents.

Like machine gun fire, the staccato rhythms shuddered me rain-doused senses into life this morning & transformed the commute to work into a 40km-long headbanging session!!!

This was the album which saw the band become a Brazilian metal band rather than a metal band that happened to hail from Brazil. Best example of this is the way in which Sepultura cleverly incorporated various traditional & aboriginal percussion into their famously furious drum style. But the tracks themselves are what maketh the album & this LP is fooking filled to the brim with supreme cranium damagers. From the hate-filled scream of the title track to the Led Zep III-moments of Kaiowas, each & every one of these tunes pack a wallop as hard as a John Arne Riise freekick.

Alongside Pantera's A Vulgar Display of Power, this album is probably one of thrash metal's greatest opuses. Filled with angry anthems about the problems besetting their society (eg Policia), this was no empty vessel of an album. They also highlighted the plight of indigenous Amazon tribes & were able to create a masterpiece which had the perfect balance of melody, heaviness & socially-conscious lyrics.

Like many others, me actually plays the earlier LPs far more often than this but there's nay fooking denying that the band were at their creative (& heaviest) peak during Roots.

To download Sepultura's Roots (1996), please go to: http://www.mediafire.com/?54cgztd2jzz

As usual, me looks forward to reading yer comments on this landmark LP.

Perfect Cure fer Hangover (Grateful Dead: American beauty)

Fer the upcoming weekend, me would like to share with you what me considers to be the perfect Sunday morning / post-hangover music.

Ladies & gents, me presents to ye - American Beauty by the Grateful Dead. This was when these San Fran Hippies abandoned the spaced-out jam sessions & took their music down a beautiful country lane. Recorded in a space of a couple of months (instead of years), the Dead followed the lead that had been laid down by Gram Parsons & The Byrds by taking a still infant rock scene to visit its Cowboy counterparts.

Me will admit me is nay Deadhead but this is one fooking soothing LP. Bursting with feel good & life affirming vibes, this is one album me strongly recommends to everyone. If ye digs The Eagles, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young et al, this a bona fide classic which will put ye in a fab mood no matter what or when.

And as the classic invitation goes - Turn on, tune in & chill out!!!

To download this classic from 1970, kindly click here: http://www.megaupload.com/es/?d=BQ5MRSTH

or

http://www.mediafire.com/?nmoynmjw1jm

As usual, me hopes ye will take the time to download this classic & look forward to reading yer comments on this album.