DeathRiders ® Official Website – Store Launched

DeathRiders ® Official Website – Store Launched
http://deathriders.net/store
DeathRiders ® Official Merchandise Here

DeathRiders (feat. Neil Turbin) – The Metal Beast Is Alive in Los Angeles

DeathRiders (feat. Neil Turbin) The Original Metal Thrashing Madman and first Screamer to emerge from The Big 4

Neil Turbin – Vocals, Mike Guerrero – Guitar, Jake Dreyer – Guitar, Giovanny Torres – Bass, Peter Vazquez – Drums

DeathRiders the fast and furious metal band from Los Angeles featuring
Original Anthrax Powerhouse Vocalist Neil Turbin unveils it’s brand
new lineup at House of Blues – Sunset Strip, Los Angeles on Tuesday,
August, 23, 2011.  Neil T is quoted as saying “This is the best group
of guys I ever had the opportunity to work with!”  “Right from the
first time we played together there was a real chemistry and powerful
musical connection” “The boys definitely have their shit together and
have done their homework.  The musicianship is top-notch and the
energy level is fierce!.”  “Everyone is hungry, driven, committed and
a team player.”  “We are excited about the future and to keep pushing
forward!”  “DeathRiders are renewed, improved and ready to thrash
stronger than ever!!!!”  Thank you to the bands former members for all
their efforts and best wishes for continued future success!
DeathRiders new line-up is: Mike Guerrero – Guitar (Hellion), Jake
Dreyer – Guitar (Jag Panzer), Giovanny Torres – Bass (Ice Storm),
Peter Vazquez – Drums (Ice Storm), Neil Turbin.  We look forward to
unleashing the metal thrashing fury along with our metal brothers in
Evil Dead, Hirax and Witchaven at House of Blues – Los Angeles for Rob
Sherriff and Hollywood Sherriff Productions.

Bio
DeathRiders, the fast and furious California metallers featuring Neil
Turbin, the first powerhouse vocalist of Thrash (Thrash Metal Big Four
– Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth) original voice and lead singer
of east coast thrash pioneers Anthrax (from September 1982 to August
1984). Neil was the first permanent vocalist of Anthrax and helped
pioneer Thrash Metal on their groundbreaking debut album Fistful of
Metal and US Attack Tour ’84 with (NWOBHM band) Raven and Metallica.
Turbin a key songwriter and major contributor wrote all the lyrics and
provided the main concepts to such well known metal anthems such as:
as “Metal Thrashing Mad”, “Armed and Dangerous”, “Deathrider” and
“Gung Ho”, which were on Anthrax’s first three releases and many
subsequent live and greatest hits albums. Anthrax rose to # 8 on the
British charts with the release of Fistful of Metal. Neil Turbin
vocals and song “Metal Thrashing Mad” is featured in the “Brutal
Legend” soundtrack and “The Big 4” dvd/cd.

DeathRiders Stay Screamin’ 2011 European Tour returns to Europe,
Mexico and the US with a vengeance for dates in Neu Wulmstorf, Germany
at Metal Bash, Leeuwarden, Netherlands at Highway to Dokkem Open Air
at Poppodium Romein and Vienna, Austria, Berlin, Germany, Tijuana,
Mexico at Expo Rock Tijuana 2011, House of Blues Sunset Strip, Los
Angeles, The Black Castle. DeathRiders performed 26 shows on
DeathRiders California Screamin’ 2010 Tour including 8 shows at the
world famous Whisky a Go-Go. DeathRiders celebrated 25 years of
“Fistful Of Metal” on their extremely successful back to back Double
Vengeance 2009 European Tour (spring & summer : Rocktower Festival –
Headbanger’s Open Air and Nightmare Over St. Pauli Festival), and
Japan/Southwest US (including Rocklahoma) in 2008. DEATHRIDERS have
played festivals such as Body Art Expo 2009 Pomona Fairplex, Sweden
Rock Festival 2006, Monterrey Metal Fest 2005, Thrash Against Cancer
2005, LA Gates Of Metal 2004 and many others.

The band DEATHRIDERS are named after one of Turbin’s songs and were
formed in 2003 in support of his solo album “Threatcon Delta”.
DEATHRIDERS have been touring in support of their forthcoming debut
album “Back With A Vengeance” which is slated for release in late
2012. The album is currently being recorded in Los Angeles, Sweden and
mixed in Phoenix. DEATHRIDERS is currently on it’s STAY SCREAMIN’ 2011
TOUR.

“Thrash is a style of heavy metal music that does stay true to certain
fundamentals like guitar chugging and rhythmic percussive double bass
drumming. It has also been perceived as an “all out play as fast as
you can” style of metal. I believe it is more Thrash to have a singer
who can belt it out with the best of them and combine that with
driving, intense powerful music. There is no rule that says Thrash
vocals have to be one-dimensional. I for one have my own metal
thrashing mad style!!!!”

– Neil Turbin –

DeathRiders Press Kit http://www.deathriders.org

DeathRiders Website http://www.deathriders.net

DeathRiders Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/DEATHRIDERS/64852152168

DeathRiders Facebook Group Page
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48353896196

DeathRiders Youtube

Headbangers Open Air Germany http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TQjHJj-hLw

Fussa City, Tokyo, Japan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kzEyTZfnWo

Headbangers Open Air Germany http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAqROU-RNUc

Rocktower Festival Germany http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phFF59dKJkM

Whisky a Go-Go, Los Angeles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnZiaPeC9Ag

Black Castle Los Angeles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc5FYk530Zk

Expo Rock 2010 Mexico http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIs3SKTDu2E

Wee Mans Birthday Party http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A27RrOoSWEc

Heavy Metal Screams http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GyVo-wmE0U

Some Metal Screams http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6kU3ruQ72s

DeathRiders Metal Bash 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKzVCO2OC-c

DeathRiders Metal Bash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbuXHVV7OXk

DeathRiders Photoshow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tyal0_dgOo

DeathRiders Myspace http://www.myspace.com/deathriders

DeathRiders Reverbnation http://www.reverbnation.com/deathriders

DeathRiders Eventful
http://eventful.com/performers/deathriders-/P0-001-000047492-1

DeathRiders Interviews

Superestacion Metal Neil Turbin Mayo 11 2011
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/14634605

All Hail Hair – Anthrax/Death Riders Vocalist Neil Turbin – The late
great Bob “Scooter” Carroll Recorded on June 3, 2011, just weeks
before he was murdered.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fightinwordsradio/2011/06/04/all-hail-hair–anthraxdeath-riders-vocalist-neil-turbin-1

#235 MT Show – Neil Turbin http://podcast.maximumthreshold.net/podcast/?p=252

Society Syndicate Interview with Neil Turbin
http://www.societysyndicate.com/Deathriders

Metal Assault 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcmV5T91LiQ

NAMM Show 2010 Blairing Out with Eric Blair Show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So1kcPaI9v0

Eternal Terror Norway
http://www.eternal-terror.com/articles/index.php?id=648&type=E

Rockinform Magazine Hungary
https://deathridersblog.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/deathriders-feature-interview-in-rockinform-magazine-hungary-march-2010-issue-on-newsstands-now/

RockPages Greece
http://www.rockpages.gr/detailspage.aspx?id=2513&type=1&lang=EN&sub=

All Access Magazine United States
http://www.allaccessmagazine.com/vol6/issue16/neil_turbin.html

Maximum Metal United States
http://www.maximummetal.com/interviews/intresults.asp?ID=neilturbin&idBand=610

Metal-Rules United States
http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=779

DeathRiders Ultimate Metal Forum
http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/deathriders-129/

Official DeathRiders Blog https://deathridersblog.wordpress.com/

Exclusive Interview with Mike Guerrero of DeathRiders, “el salto de
Anthrax,” al thrash Metal de Neil Turbin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx1XyLd31XU

Mike Guerrero Tapping Ninja: Solo From Hell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMpY03ueLzc

Mike Guerrero Tapping Ninja: Son of Solo From Hell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZlEqKfussc

Tapping Ninja – Attack of the Tapping Ninja
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EslmrxIeDU

Interview with Mike Guerrero The Tapping Ninja
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_fd1JfdK2I

Mike Guerrero Live with Michael Angelo Batio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ3npEcgsBY

Exclusive interview with Jake Dreyer of DeathRiders – Blowin’ Wind w/
Guitar Shredder Jake Dreyer: “When I was 14 and I heard Yngwie
Malmsteen I knew I wanted to do
this.”http://thegreatsouthernbrainfart.com/?p=7597

Jake Dreyer Solo Reign-Licks “The Drawing of the Three”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIUai82bMm0

Signature Jake Dreyer – Signature Lick (Lick 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPnQAxGFlME

Jake Dreyer – Beyond The Tranquil Descent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W96_XhRnBnQ

Jake Dreyer: Confessions of a Shreddie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKfoD0OctQU

DeathRiders Fistful Of Metal Alive en Mexico Expo Rock Tijuana 2011

DeathRiders Fistful Of Metal Alive en Mexico Expo Rock Tijuana 2011
Vivo en Tijuana MX 7/3/2011 Avenida Revolucion Calle 8
Welcome to the Wrecking Ball

DeathRiders announce Stay Screamin’ 2011 European Tour

DeathRiders announce Stay Screamin’ 2011 European Tour
(feat. Neil Turbin Original Voice of Anthrax)
Fistful Of Metal Alive Europe

6/5/2011 Highway to DOKK’EM Open Air Popodium Romein – Leeuwarden, NL
7/5/2011 Metal Bash Open Air Schiesssport Anlage – Neu Wulmstorf, DE
9/5/2011 Little Devil Rawk ‘N’ Roll Cafe Stationsstraat 27 – Tilburg, NL
10/5/2011 Bastard Club Buersche Str.8 49074 Osnabrück- Osnabrück, DE
12/5/2011 Escape Metal Corner Neustiftgasse 116-118 A-1070 – Wien, AT
14/5/2011 The Ace Rock & Metal Club Hochstraße 46 – Berlin, DE
More Dates TBA

DEATHRIDERS replace headliners CAGE at Expo ROCK Tijuana 2010, MX – Saturday, 6/19/2010 at 11:00pm

DEATHRIDERS California Screamin’ 2010 Tour en Revolucion, Tijuana, MX
DEATHRIDERS is replacing headliners CAGE at Expo ROCK Tijuana 2010, MX – Saturday, 6/19/2010 at 11:00pm

la av Revolucion Calle 8 Tijuana, MX Get Ready To Thrash en Mexico!!!!
DEATHRIDERS are Back With A Vengeance en Mexico!!!!

My Hero and Inspiration, Ronnie James Dio: The Mightiest Voice in Heavy Metal

As a teenager,  I got to witness the Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult Concert live! at the Nassau Colosseum (actual concert they recorded the Black and Blue Film) in 1980.  I was knocked back in my seat by the power of Ronnie James Dio’s vocals and the the sound of Black Sabbath combined with the visual of giant crosses and flames lighting up the arena and explosive pyrotechnics echoing throughout!    I did see the amazing KISS Alive II tour at Madison Square Garden in 1978, but  I had never witnessed anything as powerful and heavy as Ronnie Dio singing Heaven and Hell in 1980.  I even got to see Blizzard of Ozz and meet Ozzy and the incredible Randy Rhoads in Def Leppard ‘s dressing room when they were introducing themselves, but my first and most distinctive concert memory was the power and the fury that was emanating from Ronnie and Black Sabbath.  I had always perked up when I heard Rainbow with Ronnie James Dio singing on the radio or at a friends house.  Ronnie James Dio’s mighty soaring vocals stood out above any other vocalist period.  As they say good things come in small packages.  In Ronnie’s case, he had such a consistent super powerful voice with great tone, poise, stage persona, charisma and ultimate confidence.  Ronnie James Dio: The King of Heavy Metal.

Through my association of working with Dio keyboardist Claude Schnell from 1996 to 1999 on his solo material/project, I had the opportunity to meet Ronnie James Dio for the first time at Vinny Appice’s birthday party at a Mexican restaurant in Northridge, CA.  It was a dream come true and a great honor for me, that Ronnie was so personable and down to earth, but even went out of his way to buy me a drink when Claude told Ronnie that I was singing for him at the time.  I later went with Claude to see Dio perform at the Galaxy Theater with Tracy G.  I told Claude that nothing could top the Dio The Last in Line Tour concert I saw in Paris in 1984, except that Black and Blue concert in 1980.   I also told this to Vinny when we went to his house later that night after his birthday party.

In 2004 I met RJD and Craig Goldy backstage at Scorpions/Whitesnake at Universal Ampitheater and Ronnie remembered me.  Unlike the NAMM shows where Ronnie is always mobbed signing autographs and I never really had the chance to speak with him there.  This time was different.  I told Ronnie that I saw many of his great performances including a show at the Greek Theatre when Anthrax was opening as I was walking in from the parking lot.  I couldn’t believe that the place was more than half empty for Anthrax and less than 3/4 full for a Dio concert, but that didn’t matter, Dio still roared and commanded the stage.  I told Ronnie that I was amazed by his stage presence and persona, not just his great voice.  Then I asked Ronnie: What exactly are you thinking about when you are on that stage?  Ronnie looked at me straight in the eyes with pure tenacity and said to me “That’s MY Stage!!!!”  I’ll never forget that look that Ronnie gave me when he told me this and the honest talent and confidence that he possessed.  Ronnie wasn’t about ego, he was real people, with no BS.  I will always remember Ronnie not only for his soaring voice and his medievel lyrics and great visual imagery, but for his great spirit and honest persona.  Ronnie was not afraid to tell it like it is, but he was a true gentleman and had great class.  I was blessed with the opportunity to know Ronnie James Dio personally and he was a wonderful person, who was willing to be completely honest with me and share his knowledge and experience.  For that I have a deep respect for him for the way he treated me.  Ronnie James Dio was a true four star General of Rock Royalty. Ronnie James Dio was to Heavy Metal what Elvis was to Rock ‘n’ Roll!!!!  Ronnie James Dio is The King Of Heavy Metal!!!!

My sincere condolences and support to Wendy Dio, Rock Feinstein and to Ronnie’s family and friends for your great loss.  Ronnie, Thank you for rocking hard til the end!  You are the true Hero of Heavy Metal! and an inspiration to us all for generations!!!!

Farewell DIO Great King Of Heavy Metal,

/Neil T

RIP Ronnie James Dio 1942-2010

DEATHRIDERS feature interview in RockinforM Magazine, Hungary March 2010 issue on Newsstands Now!

RockinforM Magazine Hungary March 2010 Issue – 2 Page Feature DEATH RIDERS Interview                               

DEATHRIDERS – THE NEWEST THRASH ATTACK! Interview by BANFALVI AKOS   Photography by JUSTICE HOWARD

– Neil, thank you for agreeing to do this interview! Can you give readers a little background on yourself? Has music always been so important for you?

One day when I was thirteen, ice hockey suddenly became less important and music took its place. I started playing in my first band The NEWRACE, performing at venues such as CBGB’s, Max’s Kansas City and Great Gildersleeve’s at fifteen. Then after The NEWRACE broke-up, I joined a band called AMRA in 1982, which was a progressive metal/hard rock band. I had 5 years of writing songs and playing clubs in NYC before I eventually joined Anthrax in the Summer of 1982.

– Who do you think your biggest influences are musically?

Growing up in NYC, I was a big fan of Accept, Riot, Saxon, Motörhead, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, KISS, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and of course great metal vocalists like Dio, Halford, DiAnno and Dickinson. They really inspired me in the early eighties.  Nowadays I also listen to bands such as Hibria, Nocturnal Rites, Kreator, Destruction and too many other great bands to list.

– You were the first powerhouse vocalist of thrash metal and original lead singer of Anthrax. How did you get hooked up with Anthrax in 1982? Overall, how would you describe your time as a member of Anthrax? Do you look back on it all with a certain fondness?

Scott Rosenfeld called me in response to a month old ad I placed in a local music paper and I told him I was unavailable at that time.   After leaving the band Amra, I called Scott back a month later, to see if they still had no singer. I met with Scott Rosenfeld and Danny Lilker first,  then jammed with the entire band including members Greg Walls (Guitar) and Dave Weiss (Drums) and joined the band a couple of days later.

In my two years with Anthrax, I helped to pioneer Thrash Metal during the “Groundbreaking Era” of the band.  I helped put Anthrax on the metal map with “Fistful Of Metal” and the first North American Tour.  My songs were on the first three albums and many subsequent re-recordings and greatest hits releases.

I don’t look back, I only look forward!!!!  I have no nostalgic feelings whatsoever about Anthrax.  I have a lot of good memories of the rabid metal fans who got to experience Thrash Metal for the first time.

– You penned such songs as Metal Thrashing Mad, Armed and Dangerous, and Deathrider. How does it feel to know that these songs have defined a genre and are now regarded as classics?

When I created the ideas for these songs, I knew exactly what they were. I was compelled from within to write them and I’m glad that metal fans appreciate them the way that I do. I am aware of the fact that DEATHRIDERS songs will always be compared to these Metal Anthems, but I’m the same person who wrote them and will always continue to write METAL THRASHING!!!! songs in the same vein.

– Why were you fired from the band only after two years?

I hung in there for as long as humanly possible.  After we went out on the road twice in 1984, the other members of the band and the management formed a coup against me, therefore making it impossible to continue to work together.   They couldn’t deal with the fact that I was getting a lot more attention than they were comfortable with.  Charlie Benante and Scott Rosenfeld insisted on pushing the songwriting in a totally different direction and I stood my ground when I was writing Armed And Dangerous and Gung Ho.  That’s part of the reason we had to separate.

– Are you still in contact with some of your former Anthrax pals? What do you think about the vocalists changes they went through nowadays?

Actually yes, the original Anthrax lead guitarist Greg Walls recently contacted me on his trip out to Winter NAMM 2010. About their vocalist changes… it’s not what I think about it, it’s what the fans think about it.

– In 2003 you made a great solo album called “Threatcon Delta”. Could you tell us about this please?

I signed a record deal with Metal Mayhem in August 2001 to record my first solo album “Threatcon Delta”.  The songs were a combined effort of myself and different collaborators.  It gave me the opportunity to play with some great musician friends that I have a tremendous amount of admiration and respect for.

– Deathriders is named after one of your songs and was formed in 2003 to support your solo album “Threatcon Delta”. Is Deathriders only a solo project or a real band?

Of course DEATHRIDERS is a real band!!!! We did 25 shows last year in 2009 including Germany twice on our “Double Vengeance European Tour” and toured Japan and the US together in 2008 as well as Sweden Rock, Monterrey Metal Fest, Thrash Against Cancer and Rocklahoma.  DEATHRIDERS has been touring together for over 5 years. We are currently recording our debut album “Back With A Vengeance”.  The band and I are collaborating with one of the top guitarists in Sweden, Jonas Hornqvist of the band Treasure Land on songwriting and recording. We’ve also been playing the last three years with Michael Angelo Batio as a special guest on select dates. The name of the band is DEATHRIDERS for a reason.  It represents an important part of my history and THRASH METAL!!!!

– Please give us some details on the current lineup of Deathriders. How did you find these members and what have they added to the bands sound?

Sandy K. Vasquez (Bass) joined the band after we played Sweden Rock in 2006. Sandy brings a solid foundation and groove, and plays incredibly fast with his fingers that most others play with a pick.
Mike Guerrero (Guitar) is known as “Tapping Ninja”, joined DEATHRIDERS in 2007 before our Japan tour along with Dave Watson (Guitar). Both Mike and Dave bring a twin guitar attack and do justice to the metal thrashing madness that is DEATHRIDERS.
Dave Chedrick (Drums) joined us one year ago with his dynamic double bass and as a band we’ve played 25 concerts in 2009.
Collectively the band has brought a lot of old school experience with them and the hunger to stay thrashing.
For more detailed information on the band check out: www.DEATHRIDERS.net/presskit.html

You guys are working on your debut album, right? How would you describe your debut album “Back With A Vengeance” musically?

DEATHRIDERS is a force to be reckoned with and we’re ready to thrash!!!! “Back With A Vengeance” picks up where “Fistful Of Metal” left off.

What record label will it be on? And maybe any word on a release date?

A few labels have already contacted us. When the album is fully recorded, mixed and mastered that’s when the final decision will be made. From the standpoint of negotiation it would be much stronger to have a finished product that is ready to go.  Before that point in time I’m not going to speculate. We’re as anxious as the fans are and we are making every possible effort to have our debut album come out as soon as possible. We are actively working on it.  The goal is to put out a remarkable Kick Ass Metal Album and not just another album.

– Please give the readers a preview of the new songs and thoughts.

Check out www.reverbnation.com/deathriders and give me YOUR thoughts on the new DEATHRIDERS songs which are already online.

– What was the songwriting process like? Can you tell us what you were going through during the writing of the album?

Most of the songs I’ve collaborated with Jonas Hornqvist and DEATHRIDERS on, and a couple of  songs I wrote the lyrics and music to all on my own, like “Riders Of The Apocalypse” and “Until We’re Dead or Motorhead”. Our focus is on an aggressive and intense thrashing album like “Fistful Of Metal” for the old school fans. The songtitles and lyrics deal with a number of very personal subjects: Screaming In My Head, Crimson Warrior, Give Em Hell, Bridges Will Burn.

– What’s your main goal with this CD?

Our main goal is to make a CD that will stay in your stereo or i-pod in constant rotation. We wanna put out an album that makes the fans happy and that will thrash like fistful of metal 2.

– Your voice sounds as tremendous as back in the day. It is flawless. How do you keep your voice in shape?

Once you get to a certain level as a vocalist and you’re really familiar with your instrument and how it works, you better understand the parameters and what it takes to warm up or have your voice in a more flexible state, so it is prepared to reach upper, middle and lower registers seamlessly. The most important thing for any vocalist is to have enough sleep and rest (8 hours) for the voice to repair itself.  On the road this is very hard to do, which makes it challenging even for the best there is.

How would you compare today with the heydays and the craziness of the 80’s. Was it much different than it is today? Was it more exciting back then?

The eighties were a challenging and exciting time of breaking new ground and pioneering thrash metal. Today it is even better since in 2009, DEATHRIDERS have played more shows than ever before and we’re not looking in the rear view mirror.  We just KEEP MARCHING ON!!!!

– Thanks for giving us some minutes for answering this exclusive interview. And finally, anything else you would like to add?

Keep the Metal Strong!!!! And Stay Thrashing!!!!

/Neil T

LA SHRED FEST 2009 MICHAEL ANGELO BATIO PERFORMING w/DEATHRIDERS 12/5/09

MICHAEL ANGELO BATIO PERFORMING w/DEATHRIDERS (feat.Neil Turbin)
12/5/09@7:00pm
LA SHRED FEST 2009 ALLAGES$5  2737 Oregon Street Los Angeles, CA 90023

http://www.reverbnation.com/deathriders
http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/deathriders/544880-la-shred-fest-2009-michael-angelo-batio-performing-w-deathriders-12-5-09-a.html
http://twitter.com/deathriders
http://www.deathriders.net/presskit.html
http://www.angelo.com/html/current_shows.html

DEATHRIDERS Live! Review at Dark Music Site – the music magazine

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Artista Album Entrevista Concierto
Headbangers Open Air 2009, 23 – 25 July 2009, Brande-Hörnerkirchen (Germany)

-> Overview | -> Warm-Up-Show – Wednesday, 22 July | -> Thursday, 23 July | -> Saturday, 25 July

Friday, 24 July
(Text and pictures: bk) On the 25 in the morning, the sun was shining again… that made people hope for less rain, but again all hope was futile. Anyway, you had to get up early if you wanted to see the first shows, which started at noon. The French epic-heavy metallers Lonewolf opened today, and with the clear and powerful sound they had you could truly appreciate their song material. I really liked them this time, the played a tight show and the songs went straight to the point, without the epic elements taking over too much and making the songs erratic. They played “Pagan Glory” and “Hellenic Warriors” for the many Greek fans present, among others.

The Swedes from Memory Garden were next. Their songs remind a lot of the power-doom their countrymen Memento Mori play – gloomy, doomy, but melodic and tight at the same time. This was maybe the band which had the biggest disadvantage playing so early, as the light didn’t allow for any dark atmosphere on stage and thus the songs, like in this case “Revelation” and “Genesis”, remained a little expressionless. A pity, as the material is quite good, really. Fans of Memento Mori and the like should check them out all the same.

Piledriver – nowadays known as The Exalted Piledriver are the second version of a Canadian 80s band which was something like “The Canadian Venom” back in their time, as they went for a similar sound at a time when Venom was big news. The singer is the only one who also performed with Piledriver years ago. Their trademark nowadays is a totally crazy show, which mainly consists in the musicians wearing fancy costumes – with vocalist Gord “PileDriver” Kirchin clad in black leather and tons of spikes, black leather hood included. The music was quite cool raw 80s thrash with raw vocals, much more serious than one could have thought seeing them on stage. OK, the song titles were a fun element as well, like “Sex With Satan” (an old title) and the like. Of course Piledriver started to attract the masses to the garden.

Now we were to watch another Swedish band – Enforcer. These guys play Exciter-style 80s speed and are indeed very young (at least that’s what they look like), but seemed surprisingly experienced and at ease on stage. They didn’t stand still for even a single moment and played songs like “Black Angel”, “City Lights”, “Speed Queen” and “Scream Of The Savage”, all taken from their debut “Into the Night” with fury and determination alike, a great show for the ears and the eyes, much to the delight of the crowd.

During Enforcer it had started to rain again, and this time it looked like there would be no end to it. There even was a power failure on the stage, which didn’t last long, though, and the show could go on.
Jacobs Dream were totally the opposite of the two previous bands we’d seen. They have got some excellent technical power metal songs up their sleeves, and their guitar work was quite outstanding at times. But their performance was a bit static, and singer Chaz Bond, while displaying an expressive voice, didn’t always always hit the note. Nevertheless songs like “At The Gates” or “Scapegoat” were surely fun.

Exxplorer are another US band with a long, albeit unstable band history. Their newly reformed line-up with various original members presented mainly songs from their debut album “Symphonies Of Steel” (from which they played almost all songs), like “City Streets”, “Metal Detectors” and the wonderful “Objection Overruled”. They did an energetic, tight performance, which emphasized their great song material perfectly. They made the crowd move again and ended their set with “Beg Borrow and Steel” from their second album.

Now to some stronger stuff – Deathriders, the band of the first Anthrax vocalist Neil Turbin, was going to blow us away with some old Anthrax songs. They’ve committed themselves to true, traditional 80s speed/ thrash, as Neil Turbin never forgot to mention between songs. Musically they were really convincing, with versions of “Armed And Dangerous”, “Metal Thrashing Mad”, “Death From Above”, “Panic” and “Deathrider” delivered with the speed and aggression they deserve. Really cool, really fun, but Neil Turbin talked way too much. Nevertheless, good ol’ speed metal for old and new headbangers, for many one of the highlights of the festival.

That was the case with Helstar, as well, performing with James Rivera, one of the best-known singers in American metal. He’s a great vocalist for sure, but where he fits in really perfectly, more so than with any other of the numerous bands he’s performed with, that’s Helstar. These Texan guys did a massive, energetic show, where the technical perfection of the songs stuck out due to the great sound, without lessening the raw energy. James Rivera came on stage with a devil’s mask, and songs like “King of Hell”, “Baptized in Blood”, “Winds of War” or “Run With the Pack” made this a memorable event. Their usual drummer, Russel DeLeon, could not play with the band this time, they had had to ask Ex-Drummer Michael Lewis to replace him, and he’d had just a week to rehearse. He did a great job, and was sure partly responsible for the great Helstar show.

After the Helstar gig, James Rivera started to make a speech, talking about his musical career, the criticism he’d received, and so on and so forth, but nobody knew what he was really getting at… then he told the crowd about the Vicious Rumors “Warball” album where he did the vocals being considered a highlight in the band’s career, and instants later, Vicious Rumors where on the stage and announced a surprise gig with James Rivera! That was really a surprise for everybody, and they played “Sonic Rebellion” and “A Ghost Within” from the “Warball” album. That’s how we came to see Vicious Rumors three days in a row, and in four different versions (remember that at the warm-up show Geoff Thorpe did the vocals for some tracks). Great for the fans of this band!

Now it was time for some more melodic rock stuff. Many left the festival ground, others were coming in to see Pretty Maids. This Danish band has been around for quite some time and usually plays on lots of festivals throughout Europe, so most people had already seen them on some occasion or other. That also meant that there weren’t going to be any big surprises… except that for once I had the opportunity, after seeing them at various festivals, to fully appreciate their songs because of the great sound. The best ones came last, though – “Future World” and “Red, Hot and Heavy” where the highlights of the gig, loved by the fans.

Finally we came to the end of the second festival day, whose headliner was cult band Manilla Road. They were one of the bands which attracted most visitors, for sure. Especially the Greek fans, who’re a lot into epic metal, seem to adore them. There were Greek flags in the front rows.
Manilla Road are probably one of those bands who’re total cult, but at the same time one of those you either truly love or – I wouldn’t say hate – but simply don’t care about at all. With all this said, it’s not the same listening to their old records, which have mostly a really bad production, than seeing them live, which is where the songs sound much more like what they were supposed to. Surely people were expecting a lot from this band, and they kept true to these expectations. Many fell into some kind of trance – the music gets you floating in a very strange, dream-like way. It’s mostly traditional heavy-doom, not too slow though, 70s influenced, psychedelic, very epic, sometimes dark and somber, but not depressive, powerful at times, very sophisticated – and somehow truly special. After a while I got somehow lost in the space-time-continuum as well and lost track of the songs and everyting surrounding me – think of “Voyager”… all I can say is they played “Haunted Palace”, “Astronomica” and “Road of Kings” as well as the famous “Crystal Logic” among others. Some might miss the aggression and power after Deathriders and Helstar, and consider it too late for a band like that, but I found them very relaxing and perfect at that time of night. The gig was somehow special, with Mark “The Shark” Shelton on his extremely heavy-sounding guitar doing a great performance, and also Bryan “Hellroadie” Patrick on vocals sounded perfect in this setting. One of my personal highlights, and one of the most peculiar metal bands I’ve ever had the opportunity to see live.

DEATH RIDERS launch SUMMER VENGEANCE 09 CALIFORNIA TOUR

DEATH RIDERS launch SUMMER VENGEANCE 09 CALIFORNIA TOUR

DEATHRIDERS 2009 SUMMER VENGEANCE TOUR

DEATHRIDERS featuring Neil Turbin (ex-Anthrax) vocals, Mike Guerrero (ex-Hellion) guitar, Sandy K. Vasquez (Bloodlust) bass, David Watson (ex-Hirax) and Dave Chedrick (ex-Hirax) recently returned from their DOUBLE VENGEANCE 2009 EUROPEAN TOUR and kick-off their SUMMER VENGEANCE 09 CALIFORNIA TOUR.