TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA Make Christmas Rock In Baltimore! [Photo Gallery]

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Trans Siberian Orchestra

Christmas came to Baltimore a little early this year. The rock extravaganza slash opera Trans Siberian Orchestra played to a nearly full house at the Royal Farms arena and displayed a dazzling performance. I have never concert lighting like Trans Siberian Orchestra’s, this is quite possibly the best display in the rock world. This was the first time I have had an opportunity to see Trans Siberian Orchestra. And we were offered some fabulous seats very close to the front. Trans Siberian Orchestra have had a sorrowful year, with the deaths of founder Paul O’Neill and the bassist David Z., Russell Allen was seriously injured in the accident that took the life of David Z., and it was great to see him back on stage. Many were skeptical if and how they were going to do without their visionary founder. The packed venues on this tour has been a sign that the band will carry on as strong as ever. Russell Allen mentioned during the show that on multiple dates on this tour they are playing two shows, a sign of the popularity of the band.

Trans Siberian Orchestra

 

The music of Trans Siberian Orchestra is loud, I could hear it pounding all around the arena even with my giant ear plugs in. The show lasting over two and a half hours, Trans Siberian Orchestra delivered what they are known for, pounding rock amalgamated with orchestra amidst breathtaking lighting and moving pieces of stages. The first half of the show was dubbed The Ghosts of Christmas Eve, with the second being a potpourri of the best songs by Trans Siberian Orchestra. The intermittent narration of the Ghosts of Christmas Eve added to the overall mood of the show. The musicianship blends seamlessly with the narration and the clips on those massive projection screens. The over the top projection beats that of even Iron Maiden! The exemplary guitar & violin play with over a dozen (honestly I lost count) vocalists is perfect. The well timed keyboard strokes set the tone for everything else. I love bands where the bass is loud and clear without and it was delivered in plenty. Russel Allen’s dance moves were, to be fair, a comedic addition to the show. Trans Siberian Orchestra closed the show with Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24), which they played earlier as well, and left to a wide applause from the crowd. This is a show I would love to cover next year when they will be on tour again. There was some very entertaining pyrotechnics, however they didn’t occur during the first three songs that we were able to capture. If you are a Christmas and rock lover in the Washington D.C. Metro area head out to the Capital One Arena on Dec 16th, Trans Siberian Orchestra will be there putting on yet another spectacle you need to witness. You owe yourself a ticket to this show if you have never seen them before. The show is family friendly as well, a sight to see for all ages. They have about 90 dates left on this current tour, so you will in all likelihood get a chance to see them. Let us know what you think after you see them grace the stage. Signing off now, until my next review.

Set List

1. Time and Distance (The Dash)
2. Winter Palace
3. The Lost Christmas Eve

The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
4. O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night
5. Good King Joy
6. Christmas Dreams
7. Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) (Savatage cover)
8. Christmas Canon Rock
9. What Child Is This?                                                                                                                                                                        10. Music Box Blues
11. First Snow
12. Promises to Keep
13. This Christmas Day

The Best of TSO
14. Siberian Sleigh Ride
15. An Angel’s Share
16. Christmas Nights in Blue
17. A Mad Russian’s Christmas
18. For the Sake of Our Brother
19. Wizards in Winter
20. Madness of Men
21. Beethoven
22. Carmina Burana
23. The Safest Way Into Tomorrow
24. The Night Conceives
25. The Mountain
26. Find Our Way Home
27. Requiem (The Fifth)
28. Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) (Reprise)

 

 

CLUTCH ‘Pitchforks & Lost Needles’ Picture Disc Out Today!

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Clutch and Weathermaker Music have prepared three very special Clutch limited edition vinyl collector picture discs. The third in the series “Pitchfork & Lost Needles” is available today. The first in the series, “Live At The Googolplex” was released October 6th followed by “Jam Room” on October 27th. Continue reading →

HATEBREED’s Frank Novinec, “America has finally caught on with the European festivals”

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HATEBREED is one of the most known and successful hardcore bands that emerged from the 90s. Coming out of New Haven, Connecticut HATEBREED has unleashed 7 studio albums to date, most recently ‘The Concrete Confessional‘ on May 13, 2016. Vocalist Jamie Jasta and bassist Chris Beattie are the only surviving original members over the course of the band’s seminal 20+ years of worldwide hardcore dominance. ‘The Concrete Confessional‘ marks their return to the hardcore forefront after the release of 2013’s ‘The Divinity of Purpose‘. Ensuing the release of their new album the band has commenced and is already touring the entire world under the banner of The Concrete Confessional World Tour. Currently, playing North America with death metal legends DYING FETUS, CODE ORANGE and TWITCHING TONGUES. Right after this N. American tour, the hardcore outfit will head out for an European starting next year in January.

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Operation: Mindcrime – ‘The New Reality’ (Review)

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If metal could be tied down to a number of iconic soundbites or phrases, “Operation: Mindcrime” would most certainly be high on the list after the seminal Queensryche rock-opera of the same title. Recently such a phrase has found yet again its prevalence in the corridors of rock with the emergence of ex-Queensryche vocalist Geoff Tate and his concept project Operation: Mindcrime, whose third studio album ‘The New Reality’ is set to hit the market on December 1, 2017. The album Continue reading →

Book Review: BRUCE DICKINSON – ‘What Does This Button Do?’

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Bruce Dickinson

What Does This Button Do?

Dey St. Books

Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson was raised in a household where a strong work ethic was the most valued of all virtues, and “the only sin was not trying hard.” This minor revelation on page two of his autobiography What Does This Button Do? offers a clear and simple explanation as to how and why Dickinson became one of rock and roll’s true renaissance men. For most folks, being the multi-millionaire lead singer of a world-famous, well-respected, multi-platinum metal band would be enough; for Dickinson, it’s just one of his many pursuits (and it doesn’t even particularly seem to be his favorite). He’s also a commercial pilot, a world-class fencer, a novelist, a screenwriter, a brewer, a radio host, a motivational speaker, and an airline entrepreneur. What Does This Button Do? is a well-written and fast paced look at a few of the past adventures of The Most Interesting Man in the World of Metal.

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DEAD CROSS Debut “Church Of The Motherf***ers” NSFW Video

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Dead Cross

DEAD CROSS debut a visual rebuke of organized religion, and take on it head on, in the band’s video for “Church of the Motherf***ers,”.

“We are not capable of understanding aspects of molecular genetics, let alone the universe,” said bass player Justin Pearson of the Michael Panduro directed clip. “I’d rather not fill in the blanks with outlandish oppressive morals, offensive social politics, and patriarchal garbage. In the year 2017 AD some humans still think there is a god.”

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TERROR UNIVERSAL Reveal Aggressive New Anthem, “Make Them Bleed”

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Masked metal super group Terror Universal recently announced the release of their upcoming debut full-length album, entitled ‘Make Them Bleed’, out January 19, 2018 via Minus Head Records. After months of anticipation, Terror Universal have revealed the album’s title track – a powerful, mosh-pit-ready anthem that sonically pummels the listener from note one. Continue reading →

Review: IRON GRIFFIN – ‘S/T’ [Album Stream]

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Iron Griffin is a one man band from Finnish drummer Oskari Räsänen (of the band “Mausoleum Gate”) who recently signed a contract with Gates of Hell Records (a Cruz Del Sur Music imprint). Razanez stated: “IRON GRIFFIN is a new project which started about a year ago as a one-man band mostly to improve myself at playing different instruments and writing music. Session vocals are done by my friend and spectacular singer Toni Pentikäinen. “The future of this project is living right now. I will continue working with new material and try to search for players to form a ‘real band,’ maybe. But this EP is a good start for me and the journey continues in one way or another.” Okari handled almost every single aspect of this album, the lyrics, all instruments, recording, mixing and even the artwork was done by Okari himself. The few outside contributions were from session lead vocals by Toni Pentikäinen (Madwill), intro by F.F. Nieminen, and mastered by Wiched Iscanius. The album released on August 23, 2017. Continue reading →

ALL HAIL THE YETI Watch Behind-The-Scenes Video Off Upcoming Full-Length Album!

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Southern rock-influenced hardcore metallers All Hail The Yeti have posted several behind-the-scenes videos at Water Music Studios in Hobokon, New Jersey, where they have been recording their upcoming full-length album. Set for release in early 2018 via Minus Head Records, the follow-up to 2016’s ‘Screams From A Black Wilderness’ will feature select tracks co-written with J-Dog (Jorel Decker) of Hollywood Undead, with AHTY announcing two additional special guests and touring details very soon! Head straight over to their Facebook page to view the full video diaries from the studio, and of their adventures in the North-East! Watch Part 1 below. Continue reading →