Category archive: Blog

Nightwish new singer Floor Jansen

After the untimely departure of Anette Olzon from Nightwish, Floor Jansen (Revamp) steps in to finish off the Imaginaerum world tour.

This is the press release Nightwish issues on October 1, 2012:

A clip from her first show with the band can be seen below:

Anthrax Concert Review

Anthrax is a band notorious for 80’s thrash metal, music that makes you want to drink, thrash around, and have great time. It had been 32 years since they were Edmonton last – which was well before my time – so when it was announced that Anthrax, Testament, and Death Angel would be making a stop in the city I was thrilled. Of all the bands I have seen, both at big festivals or tours that pass through I have seen Anthrax.

Death Angel started off the night, and quickly rifled through 30 minute set. I have seen Death Angel a few times in the past; with the latest over a year ago on the 2011 70000 Tons of Metal cruise. This performance was quite a change from on the boat; maybe it was the open water on the cruise that made them seem boring. I personally would have loved to have seen Testament and Anthrax bring along one of the “new generation” of thrash metal right now such as Holy Grail or Bonded by Blood as an opening act, but either way Death Angel were a solid opening band.

Testament always put on great performance, this was our third time seeing the band I the past six weeks. I just can’t get over how good Gene Hoglan playing drums for the band sounds; he is literally a machine back there. I didn’t realize that Chuck Billy was also a giant of a man, he has to be at least six foot six or taller; however he still moves around stage like an eighteen-year-old kid! I was shocked that the place was only half full before Testament went on stage, however after playing a selection of new material, and older music the band left the stage and the venue completely filled up. I found it strange because the band had been to Edmonton a couple years ago and completely sold out a 5000 person venue, however there was maybe 600 people watching their set this year.

After a quick set change, the Anthrax banner was raised and Scott Ian led the way onstage for Anthrax. It’s hard to believe that not only has Anthrax been around since 1981, but that they have aged quite well for being in a full-time tour band. They quickly pounded through Fight ‘Em, Caught in a Mosh, and Antisocial. The set also included Deathrider, which most people over thirty were quick thrilled about. With a combination of newer music, as well as older songs the band was able to play thirty years of music without losing a beat in just over 90 minutes. I’d have to say that this was one of the best concerts I have been to in 2012, and advised anyone that is close to one of the stops on this tour to check it out.

Make sure you take a look at photos from Testament, and Death Angel in our Photo Gallery section as well!

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Refused Concert Review & Photos

Refused are fucking dead. We heard it for years, however after not playing around since since 1998 the band got back together over the Coachella Festival in 2012, and a North American tour was soon announced. Last night the Swedish hardcore group performed in one of the largest shopping malls in the world, located in Edmonton, Canada; it was ironic yet the band admitted during their set they they have never planned on playing such a venue with the band formed over 15 years ago.

Overall their performance was great, sure everyone has aged and the members have gone on to form other bands and do different style of music, however after playing through a solid 60 minute set it felt like I have in high school again. I mean, I had never seen the band before and never thought I ever would; maybe it was me being nostalgic but unlike other “reunion tours” it seems as if the band was just as passionate about their music as the day the songs were written. I was definitely excited to see the band, however only time will tell if this is a one off thing, or if they will get back together full-time and record another album. The musical landscape has changed since Refused pulled the plug in 1998, and their influence can be found is every hardcore and metal band since then, however I hope that this is a one-off thing because Refused are fucking dead.

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Metallica In Edmonton!

A few month ago Metallica announce that they would be filming a 3D movie in Vancouver Canada on August 24, however the excited part of the announcement was that they would be playing a single warm-up date a week before in Edmonton; where Inverted Magazine is based! Things got even better, when a week later a second show was added; can anyone really complain about seeing Metallica on both a friday and saturday night? The answer is no.

Metallica can definitely still bring it, sure they had that period of time during the 90′s where things weren’t all that great and they put out some less than questionable albums. However, once Robert Trujillo was added to the band things have come round circle, they even brought out a custom built stage with two small snake-pits, a homage to their ’92-’93 tours which features they sections of the stage. This was by far the biggest stage I have even seen at an indoor festival, it spanned the entire length of the floor and took up almost 80% of an NHL sized  ice surface which ment there were very limited amount of floor tickets available to the public. Being a fan-club ember of a band has its benefits, some are better than other but I have to say being a MetClub member not only allowed me to purchase these sought after floor tickets, but also gives you an immense amount of custom content.

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Both back-to-back Friday and Saturday night shows featured the same set list, the only difference was that the band started filming their 3D move on the saturday night which seemed to energize the band even more. It was either that, or the band knew what to expect from a great Canadian audience, because Kirk, James, and Rob were all running around the stage, trying to engage the entire audience in the arena for the entire two hour set. The best part about Metallica is that they know people don’t want to here that Lulu album, or anything from St Anger. The set included Creeping Death, One, Ride the Lightning, Battery, Master of Muppets, and Seek & Destroy, the only questionable songs I thought they played was Fuel, and Wherever I May Roam, but we won’t get into that.
Overall things were great, not only did Metallica play a solid set but the stage show was ridiculous; I heard afterwards that stage and lighting took up 34 semi trucks, while the entire Metallica crew tour in 14 tour buses. There are only a handful of bands in the world right now that can get away with this type of stage and live performance, yet Metallica are the only ones that actually do it. The concert ended in quite an unconventional way; lighting caught on fire, a crew member was lit on fire with a stray pyro effect, and the part of the stage fell apart; yet it was all part of the show. Take a look at this spectacle from the barrier below!

Make sure to see the entire gallery of images in the Concert Gallery section of the site!

The Verdict on Wacken

Here is an unpopular opinion: I don’t like Wacken. Perhaps it was not the best showing for the festival considering the torrential downpour of rain and subsequent mud that has tarnished my first visit but then again the weather in Northern Germany isn’t exactly known to be tropical and rain has been a common factor in many of the previous years. I would hope that the festival grounds would have been perfected by now to avoid the mud hole situation; a bit of asphalt or gravel would go a long way when it comes to the health and enjoyment of festival goers.

Now if I had of written this on the Sunday after Wacken my feelings would have been more towards hate than the nostalgic loathing I feel now. Seeing old friends and making new ones is definitely the most enjoyable part of a metal gathering like Wacken. However, living in 6 inches of mud for 4 days can be trying especially when the festival site is so large I found myself not even attempting the epic treck to the smaller stages to catch every band I had planned on seeing.

Despite the atrocious weather, Wacken has simply gotten too large. There is something magical about 70 thousand or so metal heads converging on the same spot but a half an hour hike from your tent to the main stage isn’t quite as alluring.

If I were able to rage for the weekend and go home to my goat ranch in Northern Germany for a warm shower, Wacken may have been a great time. For a backpacker with a week left in Europe, having all your belongings covered in mud isn’t the most appealing thought. Plus the smell; the atrocious mud mixed with piss and beer stench that coats the festival grounds and everything entering it is a scent I unfortunately will never forget. Bottom line: Wacken one of those bucket list experiences but I probably wont go back unless the lineup is absolutely insane.

Hot as Hell

So it appears we found the right road because we finally made it to Wacken yesterday after a 6 hr bus ride from Berlin. The AC was busted and the bus had to keep stopping to prevent overheating. It was hotter than Lemmy’s balls in this sardine can.

A wave of relief swept over me as we were dropped off at the main gate only to find out that the press check in was miles down the road hidden in town. With little to no knowledge of German it was near impossible to find especially while carrying my weight in camping gear. After about a 2 hour journey that felt like it was a challenge on ‘Surviver’ we managed to check in and set up camp just before the sun went down. Although we literally got the last portion of campable ground it is now what we will call home for the next 3 days.

Battery and internet is scarce and mud is plentiful so subscribe to our twitter to get the most up to date posts.

Peace \m/

Wacken or bust!

After a few nights of debauchery at the viking bar we are on ze bus to Wacken. Well at least I think we are; Berlin traffic has forced the charter into uncharted territory in the Germany countryside. I think the driver is lost….

The Final Countdown

The final countdown to Europe is on (see what I did there) and as I have mentally checked out of my day job I want to hear from you! So what are your must see/do suggestions for Wacken and Metalcamp?

And so it begins…

The journey to Wacken; the Headbanger’s Mecca. What could possibly drive a couple of canucks to spend their hard earned money and leave their beloved kitty behind for 3 weeks? Metal of course. I get chills just thinking about it; the music, the people, the alcohol. Epic.

So here’s the plan; we fly over to London and get the hell out of there before the Olympics engulf us and pick up our Scottish friend along the way as we embark on a whirlwind tour of metal sightseeing through Stockholm and Berlin. The madness of Wacken is next followed by a relaxing week of headbanging and drinking in Slovenia at Metalcamp. That’s some yolo shit right there. \m/

We’re Live!

Finally Inverted Metal Magazine is no longer just a pipe dream but a reality. We promised you February and what better day to launch than on Leap day

So what can you expect from Inverted Mag?
Well we do this pretty much because we love metal. We would rather be in a sweaty crowd than on the sidelines with a press pass so you can be guaranteed some genuine content from metal heads for metal heads.