English metal band CYPHER 16 started their life in 2007 and have had a very busy last few years. As well as recording EP’s, they have toured extensively, supporting DARK TRANQUILLITY and LACUNA COIL and also played in India five times, the last one being at a Metal Hammer sponsored event in 2012.
CYPHER 16 played their show on the Sophie Lancaster stage at this years Bloodstock and Blackdiamond caught up with the band for a chat, which you can listen to on the audio player below:
British theatrical rockers STATES OF PANIC have been covering the festival circuit with earnest this summer, entertaining the crowds of Download, Les-Fest, Headbangers Balls and also Bloodstock where they played the Sophie Lancaster stage. STATES OF PANIC will also be appearing at Trash Fest in Helsinki which takes place on 4th and 5th October.
The band are currently completing work on their album and have released a single “One Of Us,” which is available as a free download on the STATES OF PANIC official website at this location.
Blackdiamond caught up with the whole band for a chat after their performance at Bloodstock, which you can listen to on the audio player below:
One of Finland’s finest metal masters, progressive metallers AMORPHIS (derived from the word ‘amorphous’) have been around since 1990 and have since evolved and changed both musically and with their band members. They continue working hard to keep creating their unique sound loved by their fans and released their eleventh studio album “Circle” earlier this year.
AMORPHIS are currently on their “Circle” world tour, playing several festivals along the way. Prior to their recent performance at Bloodstock 2013, Blackdiamond caught up with bass player Niclas Etelävuori and chatted about all things music! Check out some excerpts from the conversation and listen to the audio interview below:
Discussing the “Circle” world tour and upcoming plans for the band, Niclas said:
“After next weekend, we have a couple of weeks off, then we have ten shows in Russia and we go to Australia, China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Then we have a European tour and who knows what else! [laughs] We’re booking already for next year, then we’ll start to work on new stuff again, that’s how we roll [laughs].
The record came out, there was six months with nothing, so we already have a little bit of stuff going on. So we’re excited to go and try that, if we can remember it after finishing this touring! We have some demos but we haven’t rehearsed them together.”
Chatting about music and his love of AC/DC, Niclas revealed:
“Looking forward to the new album whenever it comes; I like Brian Johnson, but I think Bon Scott was the best rock singer ever.”
English stoner metal band ONE FOR SORROW have been making their mark on the metal scene over recent months. They launched their debut EP “Backs To The Wall” earlier this year, which was produced by Matt Hyde. For more information check out their official facebook page at this location.
ONE FOR SORROW won the Bloodstock “Metal 2 The Masses” competition back in June, which earned them a place on the New Blood stage at this years Bloodstock. Blackdiamond caught up with the band after their show, check out the conversation on the audio player below:
Swedish hard rock singer Mia Klose came from a musical family background and started creating her own music from an early age. Mia has played many well received live shows both in Sweden and England and the whole band sound has been compared to BON JOVI, SKID ROW, MOTLEY CRUE and the like. The band’s debut album “London” was released a year ago and they most recently played Sweden Rock Festival prior to their performance on the Jagermeister stage at this years Bloodstock. For more information check out Mia‘s official facebook page at this location.
Blackdiamond caught up with Mia later in the weekend to discuss how the band’s show went amongst many other topics, check out the conversation on the audio player below:
Greek metallers FIREWIND, created by guitar virtuoso Gus G were formed back in 1998 but really hit the headlines with their fourth album release “Allegiance.” The band have had a very busy few years touring and recording and also Gus also plays guitar in Ozzy Osbourne‘s band.
FIREWIND released their latest album “Apotheosis – Live 2012, recently as a celebration of the band’s 10th anniversary. It also marked a new beginning with the departure of vocalist Apollo Papathanasio and the entrance of temporary (or maybe not?) vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter.
Blackdiamond caught up with keyboard player and guitarist Bob Katsionis following FIREWIND‘s storming show on Friday afternoon at Bloodstock 2013.
Read several excerpts from the conversation here and listen to the audio or watch the interview in full below (and see Bob recording a jingle for Blackdiamond’s Metal Mayhem!):
Discussing vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter, Bob expressed:
“He has good points and these become more and more and more, because he becomes one with the band, with the attitude we have, with the mentality. You know, it takes time.
Apollo, actually he was never into it, he was always losing it rather than adding to his performance. Maybe people couldn’t see it, but we try to evolve as a band. We want to make every gig have one more thing and Apollo was not doing this. It’s good that we see Kelly feeling comfortable in the band; his voice is there, he doesn’t lose the tone, he knows the lyrics. That’s what we need, he’s a cool guy.”
On latest release “Apotheosis – Live 2012” Bob said the following:
“First of all, it closes an era, this era with Apollo and the first ten years of the band. I think in the end it’s a very sincere and honest live album because we didn’t fool around with it in the studio. There are a lot of mistakes inside you know, but it is what it is. WE picked the best songs and made one CD as a present to our fans, it’s a very good ‘get to know the band’ CD, like a compilation. It’s definitely not a business move, just a cool thing to give back to our fans.”
Talking about upcoming plans for the band and also Bob’s own projects, he revealed:
“I know Gus is making his solo album but I cannot speak about it because he knows better. But we’re gonna be still around doing what we have to do and at some point we’re gonna start writing a new album, because there are some new ideas. But there is no rush this time, we take things easy.
OUTLOUD are making a new album. Actually at this moment George Kollias from NILE, he’s a good friend of mine, he’s recording the drums. Chandler in America, he’s recording the vocals, I go back and do some guitars. And there are big plans about this album, I’m very happy about it. I also started doing my fifth solo album – that’s going to be different; more piano and more new age stuff.”
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 