A little sampling of new releases...

OK, it’s not really de rigeur to review free sampler CDs, but they are a good way of introducing you to new releases, new bands, etc. and as such I feel their role is vastly under-rated. Hence, the reason I’m going to devote the first part of this ‘ere little conglomeration of wordage to the latest ‘Razor’ sampler from the esteemed publishers of ‘Metal Hammer’ mag.
I must say that, as samplers go, by and large, this is the strongest one this or any other magazine has produced in quite some time. It obviously is dominated by the absolutely fucking epic Gojira opener, ‘Of Blood And Sand’, featuring the one and only Mr Devin Townsend, which is just the heaviest, most brutal and powerful song I have heard this year and worth the cover price alone (if I didn’t get it at the absurdly reduced subscribers’ rate). This is followed by fairly average offerings from In Flames and Alestorm, before Graveyard enter the same retro territory as the far more impressive Rival Sons (and, if lead single ‘Pressure And Time’ from the album of the same name is anything to go by, that’s going to one mutha of a must-have album). Pain offer up a fairly decent slab of industro-metal with a DC-style vibe, especially on the Jonno-inspired vocals, before Revoker again remind me what an asshole I was to miss them on their recent Rob Zombie support tour: everything I’ve heard by them is highly impressive, and these guys are gonna be BIG!
The other highlight of this particular sampler, after a ‘nothing special’ offering from Anaal Nathrakh and a decent slice of NWOBHM-tinged power rock from Attica Rage, is Talanas’ superb ‘Antiphon’, taken from their excellent ‘The Waspkeeper’ album, which well and truly cements their growing reputation as the progressive black metal successors to Akercocke’s crown. To digress, slightly, Talanas have produced one of the more impressive independent albums of the first half of the year, combining accomplished musicianship with intelligent vocals and some downright evil intentions: check them out.
So, apart from magazine samplers, what else has been beating the Monk’s eardrums into submission this month? Well, a triumvirate of new releases from Poland’s Agonia Records dropped through the letterbox the other, er, week… France’s Aosoth produce 43 minutes of black metal brutality on their aptly named third album, ‘III’, which leaves no grave unspoiled and no virgin unravaged; Italy’s Forbidden Tomb return after a four year break with a majestic slice of blackness that is more rock than metal (although the vocals more than make up for this), with good use of melody underpinned by dark as midnight undertones; England’s Spearhead deliver mid-league death with their third album, ‘Theomacia’, which reminds me a bit of Belphegor but with a much cleaner sound – maybe not surprising since seesions drums are by the Austrians’ former sticksman, Torturer.
Also tickling my fancy this past while has been Sixx:A.M’s ‘This Is Gonna Hurt’ – possibly the heaviest album Nikki Sixx has ever recorded, but also one with great hooks and great melodies and one which shows why he was the songwriting force behind Motley Crue: definitely not one for Crue fans but very contemporary, very relevant, especially on the powerful ‘Live Forever’ and the brilliant ‘Sure Feels Right’, which outstrips any ballad the Motleys ever recorded. At an entirely different level, an absolutely superb release is ‘Mary Celeste’, the sophomore album from Plymouth’s finest, Huron. Very obviously influenced by Pantera – in the best possible sense – the band hit between the eyes with opener ‘Branded’ and just keep on going. Album highlights include the anthemic ‘Disperse Or We Fire’, complete with an RATM-style chant, and the Slipknot-ish ‘Serpentwine’. This is an accomplished album from a young and ambitious band and one which proves, once again, that the future of British metal is in fairly safe hands.
That just about finishes off this month’s round-up : just a quick heads up for Hollywood Undead’s brilliant rap-metal crossover offering ‘American Tragedy’, and the industrial excellence of ‘Ever Since We Were Children’, the debut offering from The Black Dots Of Death’, Shawn ‘Clown’ Colvin’s side project – but, I think you’ll be hearing from those at one or more of our Paradise City club nights, starting this coming Friday (10 June): head on over to www.facebook.com/paradisecitybelfast for more info.

Paradise City returns to action

Get those air guitars tuned up and get ready to get down and RAWK - 'cos the Paradise City crue are back in business.
The dynamic quartet that make up Belfast's best team of classic rock and metal DJs have just confirmed the dates for a whole raft of PC shows between now and the end of November.
All gigs will take place in the superb venue that is Upstairs @ Morrisons, on Belfast's Bedford Street, on the following dates: Friday 10 June, Friday 15 July, Friday 26 August, Friday 23 September, Friday 14 October and Friday 18 November.
Doors for all shows will be 9pm, and admission is £5. As Paradise City is the host clubhouse for Hard Rock Hell Northern Ireland, the usual members' discounted admission charge (£3) will apply on all nights.
Get those dates in your diaries folks, 'cos there's gonna be some rockin' in the heart of the city!

Back to blogging

Sorry that the Paradise City blog has been inactive for a while, but we've been really busy over the past few months and sometimes some things fall by the wayside. Anyway, we're going to be blogging on a more regular basis, with news on Paradise City activities, and on the Belfast rock scene, as well as gig and album reviews.
So, first a quick update on all things Paradise City... as some of you will know, we have returned to our roots, with a new monthly residency at Madison's Hotel on Botanic Avenue (we're down in the basement bar, which we've lovingly renamed the 'new Rock Bottom'). We're on the first Thursday of every month - which means this coming Thursday night, 5 August, peeps - with doors open at 9.30pm and admission a mere £3 (or free if you're an early bird and get down before 10.30). Since our last posting, Phil has progressed from co-promoter to DJ as well, and is doing really well, and he'll be opening proceedings, followed by the main man, the mysterious Monk and then our resident eye candy for the girlies, Stefano. We'll also have a request slot, so either post something online at www.facebook.com/paradisecitybelfast or speak to one of the terrible triumvirate on the night.
We're also launching a second night. Called Hangar 18, it's a bit heavier, with the emphasis more on the metal end of the spectrum, but still the same philosophy - it's old school! H18 launches at The Pavilion on Friday 20 August, and then will be on the third Friday of every month. As with PC, doors are 9.30pm and admission is £3. DJs on the first night will be Monk and Phil. Join us at www.facebook.com/hangar18belfast for updates and general banter.
Last weekend, we had the pleasure of working with our good friends RockRadioNI, as guest DJs at their first live night, also at the Pavilion. We're hoping to work with Philip and the team again very soon, with the possibility of some major news in the very near future, so please keep checking this blog and our Facebook for the news as it happens. We're also hoping to have news of another PC/RRNI development in the very near future, so again please keep checking back for updates on that.
That's about it for the moment. As I said, we're going to be blogging on a much more regular basis from now on, with our next post being a review of the brand new and long anticipated debut album from one of our favourite party bands, Trucker Diablo.
Ciao, peace, respect and \m/

Paradise City Belfast - Statement from Monk

After a silence of 15 years, Monk will post a personal statement here at midnight on the dawn of 2010.

Paradise in Botanic

At long last - the news you have been waiting for!

Paradise City will launch at Madison's, on Botanic Avenue, on Thursday 28 January. We will downstairs in the hotel's simply rocktastic night club - think the old Rock Bottom meets the Cavern Club! Doors open 9.30pm, and Monk will be delivering a three hour set, from 10pm - 1am. Admission is a mere £3.

Further nights are booked for Thursday 25 February (that's the night before the Paradise City - Live gig at the Oh yeah centre) and again exactly one month later.

Don't forget, Monk will be posting his track listings on the PC Facebook group page in the week before the show, so sign up now to make requests!

The PR bandwagon has started rolling... rolling...

Paradise City has been namechecked in the very first edition of the new 'City' newspaper. Our PR company, Pied Piper, also was named in the same article as one of the top three sources of news on the Belfast metal scene.

Nearly Paradise

Paradise City is launching at the end of January, all things being equal.
A permanent venue has yet to be confirmed, and more details will be announced in due course, through this blog, Northern Ireland's only heavy metal PR company, Pied Piper, at www.myspace.com/piedpiperbelfast and through the club's Facebook group, where Monk's set lists will be published a few days before each show and where requests can be posted.
Meanwhile, the club already is venturing into the live arena, with the aptly named 'Paradise City - Live' at the Oh Yeah centre in the Cathedral Quarter on Friday 26 February. The first rock gig to be staged as part of the annual Guinness Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival, it will be headlined by Trucker Diablo, supported by Black Freeway and Circadian. It will be a 14+ show, with strictly no alcohol and tickets will be a mere £3.
Monk is keeping quiet on whether or not he will make a guest appearance, but watch this space for updates.