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Editorial

Where were you when Steven Wells predicted the death of Michael Jackson?

"… …more»

Elsewhere in columns

Jack Pop
Bring Alan McGee vs. Drowned in Sound – Bring on the Twittergeddon!
Maria Lax
Our new Finnish correspondant on the impact of a little known Eurovision band...
James McLaren
Sound Nation's editor on The Internet, Profile Sites and Viral Marketing

…more»

Media & Interactive Goodies

Goodies for your perusal also include live mp3 and video streams of the latest alternative bands…

Plus online radio, e-cards and other random online stuff!

New goodies this week include COALESCE, CAVE IN and FAR …more»

The Big Feature

END OF YEAR SHENANIGANS 2009

It's the end of the year, we're bored as hell, so have some Best Of type stuff! BEST OF 2009 - The RM verdict runs down the top albums of the year, with our thoughts on the likes of Muse, Converge, Gallows and Puscifer. Plus Jess Margera, Matt Davies-Kreye, We Are The Ocean, Matt Heafy, Jay Maas and more give us their thoughts in the BEST OF 2009 - The Bands' Verdict.

Elsewhere on the site... DEVIN TOWNSEND explains the philosophy behind his new project, and why you'll never see him on a Mark & Sparks ad... THE FALL OF TROY on why a lot of bands don't deserve to tour... We put our Production Spotlight on Architects and Blakfish producer/engineer NICK KINNISH... BLACKSTORM's Karl Middleton on his new project... DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA on real operatic metal... FREEZE THE ATLANTIC's Jon on life after Reuben... NSDWHOA! tell us where they've been for the last year... Designer Label: ANCHORS AWEIGH RECORDS, plus the last columns from ALCOPOP RECORDS, where Jack picks out his favourite alternatve Christmas tunes. The Reuben one is awesome.

You also might have missed NINE BLACK ALPS on going DIY... THROATS on bone fertiliser... LOSTPROPHETS on The Betrayed... LATITUDES on big heavy balls of metal... BLACKHOLE on shadows... CAESAR'S ROME on the Inland Revenue... PITCHBLEND on not splitting up... RUINER on Oasis... KEVIN DEVINE on growing up...

In our CD Reviews, there's our verdict on the latest from CONVERGE, THE FALL OF TROY, DEVIN TOWNSEND, NIRVANA, THE SNAKE THE CROSS THE CROWN, BARONESS, GAY FOR JOHNNY DEPP, SLAYER, BEANS ON TOAST, TRASH TALK, THE COMPANY BAND, SLADE, PERSON L, MATHS, BIFFY CLYRO, GWAR, SAY ANYTHING, GAMA BOMB, CLOAK / DAGGER, WEEZER, KATATONIA, PHAROAHS, BEN GIBBARD AND JAY FARRAR and more. There's also Live Reviews of GAY FOR JOHNNY DEPP, TASTE OF CHAOS 2009, FUCKED UP, EXIT TEN and ALICE IN CHAINS... There's also BILLY TALENT [Norwich | Southampton], A STORM OF LIGHT, FUCK BUTTONS, FIGHTSTAR, FFAF, IDLEWILD, ENTER SHIKARI, PIXIES, TUBELORD, ZU, THE USED, PAINT IT BLACK, STEEL PANTHER and our OFF THE CUFF fest report …more»

Elsewhere in features
THE SAFETY FIRE… FAR… NICK KLECZEWSKI [Director, THE SNAKE THE CROSS THE CROWN documentary]… THE RESURRECTION SORROW… DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT INTERVIEWS…
THE RM GUIDE TO 2010… BEST OF THE NEW BREED 2010… RM's BEST OF 2009 - The RM Verdict…

News

Deftones album news - and side-project on the way? 1:08am, 9 Feb 2010

Lots of great Deftones news courtesy of a new interview with Spin.com.

Chino Moreno of Deftones gave fans a quick update on the progress on the band's new album. The new release is now expected to be released in May, and will include 'Rocket Skates' and 'Nylons And Suspenders', two tracks the band have been showcasing on recent live shows.

Moreno also mentioned a new side-project with Shaun Lopez, producer and Far member.

"Most recently I have The Holy Ghost, which I’m doing with my buddy Shaun Lopez from the band Far. He lives a couple blocks away from me, so I go over to his studio a few nights a week and work on this electro record. Annie Hardy from Giant Drag has done a couple vocals on this project, too."

Click here to watch 'Rocket Skates' live

Click here to watch the new animated video for Far's cover of 'Pony'

…posted by Ruth Midget

Enter Shikari crack the Empress Ballroom 1:01am, 9 Feb 2010

Enter Shikari were forced to cancel their show this weekend at the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool when they literally rocked the building to its foundations.

While the building appeared sound during the matinee show - which included sets from Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, The King Blues, and a DJ set from the headliners themselves - cracks began to appear in the building during soundcheck, and the venue was declared "structurally unsafe! by Health and Safety officials.

Naturally, many queuing up outside were upset by the news. However, the band hung out with fans for four hours afterwards signing items and apologising personally for the cancellation.

There are plans to reschedule the show at another venue as soon as possible. In the meantime, remaining dates include...

TUESDAY 9 - MIDDLESBROUGH - Empire
THURSDAY 11 - BOURNEMOUTH - O2 Academy
FRIDAY 12 - LONDON- Hammersmith Apollo

Stay tuned for Shirlaine Forrest's photojournalist report on the afternoon show and the events that led to the gig cancelation...

…posted by Ruth Midget

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