The Goo 1
Scene News Powered by www.overdrive.ie METAL ORAN
O’BEIRNE The semi final stages of this year’s Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses will take place over three showcases on April 13th and April 20th in Fibber Magees on Parnell St. The are a total of 16 bands that have been selected from 40 artists who will perform across the events, resulting in the final 6 bands who will perform at the Grand Final Showcase on Saturday, May 11th for Bloodstock Booking Agent, Simon Hall. The winning band will go on to represent Ireland at this years Bloodstock Festival in Derbyshire, UK alongside some of the biggest Metal artists in the world, including Opeth, Amon Amarth, Archecticts and many more. All events are FREE ADMISSION. Check www.overdrive.ie for more details. The Metal universe was turned on its head this past few weeks with the announcement of former Slipknot drummer, Jay Weinberg now recruited by Suicidal Tendencies, and Infectious Grooves, while former ST drummer, Greyson Nekrutman is now a touring member of Sepultura for their final world tour, leaving the question of what Eloy Casagrande will do? The biggest kept secret is that Eloy will be the new drummer for Slipknot ahead of their run of summer dates. Stay tuned.. Irish Hard Rockers, Vendetta Love have announced their new single, ‘Soothe’ which is available from March 29th on all good streaming platforms. The guys have also announced a very special live show in Whelan’s (upstairs) on Saturday, July 20th, with special guests, Ritual Effect. The guys have been busy writing new material and are gearing up for their debut UK shows later this summer. Tickets are on sale now: www.whelanslive.com. PAGE 36 Symphonic Rock Orchestra have announced a series of live shows, taking place in Derry, Belfast, Dublin, Galway and Limerick from 6th - 10th May 2024. Promoters, Singular Artists, have said of the show, “Expect reimagined classic hits from AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Guns N Roses, Evanescence, Motörhead, Foo Fighters, Rage Against The Machine, System of a Down, and many more.” Ticket are on sale NOW and can be found on local websites for each venue priced at €49.50 (including fees). The Black Keys have announced their return to Ireland with a headline show in Dublin’s 3Arena on Friday, May 3rd. The band are celebrating their latest release, Ohio Players (available from April 5th) and will no doubt be unleashing all of their hits for this, their only Irish performance of 2024. Ticketmaster.ie Belfast progressive Metal crew, Lock Horns are back with their highly anticipated new studio album, Red Room which is due for release on May 31st via The Distortion Project and Code 7 Distribution. Featuring their latest single, ‘The Golden Mean’, the Northern Irish fourpiece have raised the bar to great new heights, as they deliver seven stunning tracks that will have you captivated from the get go. Pre-orders for the album are now live and can be found on the bands socials. Rising Dublin Metal artists, URAGH celebrate the release of their debut album, Maelstrom (available from April 19th) following the success of their previous singles, ‘Monarch’ and ‘The Widening Gyre’. The four-piece have been making a name for themselves since reaching the Grand Final of 2023’s Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses showcase and have since continued to wow Metal fans from all over Ireland, as well as across the UK, EU and America. For more info. visit the bands online social pages. Bloodstock Open Air Festival have announced a permanent fixture of late Motorhead frontman, Lemmy Kilmister’s ashes to be on display in the festival’s iconic RAM Gallery from this August onwards. The festival also announced that the bands infamous ‘Bomber’ will be erected over the entrance to the Festival arena. How METAL is that? Tickets for Bloodstock are selling fast with the entire event expected to be sold out in advance, so don’t sit on it. Get your tickets via www. bloodstock.uk.com. PALLBEARER, indisputable masters of emotionally insightful and stirring heavy music, return with their most raw and heartfelt album to date: Mind Burns Alive (May 17, Nuclear Blast Records). The album has been in the woks for the last five years, and promises to be as captivating as 2020’s, ‘Forgotten Days’ release. Pre-orders are now live via www.nuclearblast.de. DESPERATE MEASURES, the high energy, London punk and rollers release their brand-new album Sublime Destruction, on March 22nd on Cadiz Music. With eleven personal and political, hook laden anthems, the album was written over the last two years and during the pandemic. Featuring previous singles ‘Thinking Of England’, ‘Back To The Rats’, and the title track ‘Sublime Destruction’, the album was recorded with Andy Brook (who has produced, engineered, and toured with the like of Status Quo, Ginger Wildheart, Wonk Unit, Hayseed Dixie) at The Brook Studios. facebook.com/DesperateMeasuresnz/.