Metallica to Put on Their Own Music Festival

We announced a day or two ago that Metallica would be announcing some big news. And let's just say it's pretty badass. They announced today that they will be putting on their own music festival featuring some of their favorite acts out there today, hand picked by Metallica themselves. The two day festival takes place June 23rd and 24th in Atlantic City, NJ. The lineup features Avenged Sevenfold, Arctic Monkey, Modest Mouse, The Gaslight Anthem, Cage the Elephant, Fucked Up, Best Coast and many more. The official site, www.OrionMusicandMore.com lists over 22 acts and says that there will be more bands added as they go.

Metallica Posts Cryptic Teaser Video

Metallica has posted a cryptic teaser video, enticing everyone to tune in to their website, www.Metallica.com tomorrow, February 7th at 11 a.m. PST for a major announcement. What do you think the announcement will be?

Interview with Rob Caggiano of Anthrax

Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeath. Imagine sharing the stage with these three metal icons for some of the most killer metal shows of all time. Amazing right? It’s all in a day’s work for guitarist Rob Caggiano and the boys in Anthrax. The legendary metal band was part of one of the most incredible lineups and concerts metal has ever seen. Out on the road in support of their latest album “Worship Music,” Anthrax is hotter than ever and is out to prove it to each and every metalhead. Rob was nice enough to talk to Hard Rock Review's Aaron Manogue about the new record, the Big Four show for the ages at Yankee Stadium, his experiences in producing and how Anthrax has transcended the ages to stay on top, where they belong.

Aaron Manogue: You started tracking the record about four years ago in 2007and it was released in 2011. That’s quite a long time for a record to be built. How did the album change over the years from when it first started?
Rob Caggiano: Well, like you said, we started in 2007 and we got pretty far. We got all the way up to the mixing stage but unfortunately the lineup wasn’t exactly stable at the time and things got a little crazy. We basically had to put the record on ice for a while until we figured out what we were doing and who was going to be singing for the band. Fast forward a few years and Joey Belladonna comes back for these Big Four shows and one thing led to another and he finally felt comfortable enough to want to sing on the record. So we went and opened the books again, so to speak, worked on what we had and made the changes to what we needed to fix. One of the cool things that resulted in having this much time with the songs is we basically pushed these songs as far as we could push them. You know what I mean? It wasn’t trying to beat the gun or whatever or be on schedule. It was kind of like, let’s take these songs and make them as good as they can possible be and that’s what we did.

Interview with Volbeat Guitarist/Vocalist Michael Poulson

Michael Poulson
Photo Courtesy Nadia Guardado

Hard-Rock-Reviews.com Interview w/Michael Poulson, guitarist and vocalist from Volbeat.

He talks at great length about the music, life, nature, tattoos and the new Cold/Volbeat tour!

Who is Volbeat?
The first Volbeat song I ever heard was “Wild Rover from Hell.” It’s not often I’ve listened to a band or a song for the first time and found myself sitting there (afterwards) thinking “WHAT the hell was that?” So I did the most natural thing that we unapologetic music enthusiasts do. I started digging around on YouTube.com and found a few of their Vevo YouTube channel videos. I didn’t quite know what to make of this potluck of pop, fast-paces bluesy guitar mixed rock & oldies that had a sing-a-long tug on every chorus. Honestly, I had to Google the word “rock-a-billy.” Really? But I don’t LIKE rock-a-billy. I was baffled, to say the least, but in a positive way, by this band from Denmark.

Sevendust guitarist John Connolly talks Gear, Dimebag, Trampolines & Tattoos!

The soaring and steady relevance of straight up hard rock and heavy metal isn't going anywhere. As a matter of fact, you ask any hard rock or metal fan and you'll get an earful about it's longevity and importance.

John Connolly
photo by Angela Villand

Leave it to 5 humble guys from the South to make a difference. They are called Sevendust, they are known by friends and fans as great guys that have a damn good time performing and writing music. They have always known they're blessed, just ask them; they'll tell anyone that Sevendust fans are not fans, they are Family. Those of us that have watched them "mature" over the years are excited that the world is catching on, so to speak. Those of you that discovered Sevendust in the past several years have most likely found yourself welcomed, with open arms, a hell yeah and raised horns by the rest of us!

This is no news to some of you, but John Connolly, one of the 2 Sevendust guitarists, was a long-time friend and fan of Dimebag Darrell (Pantera, Damage Plan). He looked up to him with both ears wide open, he thought he was crazy, yet admired the hell out of him in every way. Here, John speaks openly about Dime, shares some of his most humorous and favorite memories of the times they spent together. He also talks about the "old school" Sevendust "shit they pulled," (trampolines on stage), shares some gear insight, and talks about how he and the music he makes has changed and evolved through over a decade of jammin' with his band mates.

With COLD DAY MEMORY celebrating it's one year anniversary (last week, April 20 marked the 1 year milestone), you might think it's time for them to pack up and head home, head back to the studio.

No sir, and no ma'am. That's not how they do things, nor have they ever. They're on the road now, still...Oh yeah they take breaks, but then they hit the road again and keep on playing for the fans. For you.