Protest the Hero (recipients of one of only two 5-out-of-5-horns ratings on MetalSucks ever) are currently out on the MetalSucks-sponsored “Heads Will Roll” Tour with Misery Signals and The Number 12 Looks Like You, and yours truly had the privilege of seeing them headline for the first time this past Saturday night in NYC — and good lord, the band delivers the goods live to be sure. PtH have all the chops live they do on record; no ProTools chicanery there, folks. This is a tour you absolutely need to see when it hits your city, but it may already be too late; the tour wraps up with a show tonight in Chicago and another tomorrow in St. Paul, Minnesota. If you missed the tour when it came through your town or you live in Chicago or St. Paul but spent all your money on weed, check out the exclusive tour diary the Protest dudes did for us, below. It’s a great look into the zany behind-the-scenes antics of what goes down in the Protest camp on tour. And you get the impression this is only a fraction of the crazy shit that actually goes on.

-VN

The big frickin’ deal week before last was Metallica’s induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland. Last week, the focus of the Metal community’s honor is Metallica’s Lucifer, Dave Mustaine, at The Epiphone Honda Fury Revolver Magazine Golden Gods Awards. Anti-Metallica sentiment was aired freely and to shouts of encore! The name of Mustaine’s band was chanted pretty much all night (poor Atreyu guy). The event went down at Club Nokia in downtown L.A. on Tuesday night hosted by Rodrigo from Mr. Show (Brian Posehn). Honestly? It was pretty awkward and not very Metal. A ton of Metal people were there, mostly ticket buyers. The vibe started a bit chilly outside the venue, then spiked at Killswitch Engage and Maynard James Keenan (not together) before a nosedive from which even Megadeth could not recover. I had a GREAT TIME! Photos by Adam Haussman.

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Baseball season officially got underway and New England Metal and Hardcore Fest is coming up next weekend. Surely all is peachy in the world then, yeah? Not so much.

• Dave Mustaine feuded with a mystery band, then kissed and made up before we even knew it.
• Protest the Hero released a new video and gave us a bunch of tickets for their tour to give away.
• We spoke with Daath’s Eyal Levi and TAD/Tadgarden’s Tad.
• Kip W. gave us two recaps (Day 1, Day 2) of our booze-fueled SXSW journey.
• Fear Factory got back together… except not.
• Ya’ll argued about which Mastodon album is the best and whether Jesse or Howard was/is the better KsE frontman.
• Ya’ll argued even more about IWRESTLEDABEARONCE and Oceano.
• We got an exclusive red carpet report from Metallica’s Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

See you next week. New England Metal and Hardcore Fest!!

Seeing as we’re sponsors of the awesome Protest the Hero “Heads Will Roll” spring tour (also featuring The Number Twelve Looks Like You, Misery Signals, Scale the Summit and Fall From Grace), we figured it’d be fitting if we gave away a pair of tickets to each show date. Thanks to the fine folks at Vagrant Records, we’re able to do just that! The full list of tour dates is in the above graphic, and there is an additional date on May 15th in St. Paul, Minnesota at Station 4, not listed, that we will be giving away tickets for as well.

To win, sent an email to vagrantrsvp@gmail.com. Make sure the words “PROTEST THE HERO – (DATE / CITY / VENUE) – (FULL LEGAL NAME)” are in the subject line, written exactly in that format with the info for the show you’d like to attend. Only entrants who follow the instructions correctly will be considered for tickets. Winners will be selected randomly and notified via email if they are selected, and tickets can be picked up at door time at the will call window on the day of the show (winners will either be on Protest the Hero’s list or the Vagrant Records list).Good luck, and see ya in the pit.

God bless Vagrant records for continuing to shell out $ for purty-looking Protest the Hero videos. Now three videos and over a year into the project we’re well past the point where a collection of home-vid live shots and backstage antics would pass for a music video, but instead we get this, a proper video for the song “Spoils” (from the jizztastic record Fortress). It’s not like this video is super-hi-fi like the now infamous “Van Breakdown Dance” video, but it’s pretty sexy, kinda like Rody Walker’s new beard.

Once you’ve watched the video, check out my interview with Walker. He talks a lot of shit. It’s fun.

-VN

Because the list of MetalSucks-sponsored tours going out this year wasn’t already kick-ass enough — whatwith the likes of the Soilwork / Darkane / Warbringer / Swallow the Sun joint, The Haunted tour, Paganfest 2k9, The Mayhem-headlined Blackenedfest and The Human Abstract / Iwrestledabearonce trainwreck — we’re now sponsoring another of the sexiest tours hitting the circuit. The Heads Will Roll Tour, commencing April 17th in Denver, CO, will be headlined by MetalSucks-faves Protest the Hero, and will feature support in various configurations from Misery Signals, The Number Twelve Looks Like You, Scale the Summit, and Fall From Grace. Holy fucking crapticles is that an awesome lineup! The only bummer is that the highly awesome / MetalSucks-approved Scale The Summit won’t be on the NYC date, but so it goes.

The whole list of tour dates, as well as a full-size poster, after the jump.

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MetalSucks Maniac Steve M. sent us this live clip of non-protested, self-professed Protest the Hero heroes (and perrenial MetalSucks bonerrific band) Sikth performing live in Bristol in 2006. That we’ll never have the opportunity to see this amazing band play live hurts my soul in ways you could never imagine.

-VN

2008 has been a fucking great year for metal, and in due time — Monday, Dec. 15, to be exact — Axl, myself and the rest of the writers of MetalSucks will all release our Top 10 year-end lists so you can incessantly argue over which great album was left off or tell us we’re assholes for ranking a certain album higher than it should’ve been.

But for now, ya’ll can argue about something else: here’s my personal short/working list for said year-end list containing all of my favorite metal releases from this year as well as a few that aren’t likely to make my own list but will surely be appearing on others’. Feel free to pipe in with your thoughts or to notify us of any egregious omissions before we put together our final, ordered lists. Regardless, it is going to be really fucking hard to pick just 10 of these and put them in order of awesomeness.

And, my favorite metal records of 2008 in no particular order are…

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Mostly this week I just watched the Puppy Cam. But when I could pry myself away for a few moments, this is what I focused on:

• Proto-jazz-metallers Intronaut released an artsy new video, as did Protest the Hero and Dir En Grey.
• We interviewed Brother Von Doom.
• Ozzy may be pretty good at shilling for Samsung phones these days, but we still like him better the old way.
• Arsis did some member-swapping. Yes, again.
• We reviewed new releases from The Faceless, The Bronx, and a bunch of awesome bands on Prosthetic Records.
• We contemplated the prospect of new releases by Carcass, Napalm Death and Down.

Party it up, it’s the weekend. See you next Tuesday Monday.

Like clockwork, you know that the minute Protest the Hero so much as scratch their collective nutsack yer ol’ Uncle Vince will be here to write about it. So fortunately for me (but maybe not for you) PtH have got a brand new video for “Palms Read.” After the hi-fi treatments “Bloodmeat” and “Sequoia Throne” received we could only expect that the third video from Fortress would be scaled back a bit; but God bless the folks at Vagrant Records for continuing to shell out money for banner ads on this website new music videos at all.

Even if HooM! doesn’t like the new video so much, I do, though I’d greatly prefer if instead of ballerinas we got to see the exceptional dance moves at which the gents in PtH have proven themselves adept before, even if hairy, sweaty, bearded metal dudes aren’t as pleasing on the eye as pretty lasses in leotards.

-VN

Things are heating up in the U.S. presidential race, and everyone from Vince to Axl to Dallas to the Blogronaut expressed their opinions; naturally you all got fired up too. But even politics as usual couldn’t stop the flow of happenings this week in the world of metal:

• Dallas apologized. Woah.
• Best Buy claims Chinese Democracy is finally coming out, but we’re skeptical. No word yet from Axl Rose.
• We debuted a new Early Man track and spoke with singer/guitarist Mike Conte, while Nathan Ells of the Human Abstract spilled the beans on just about everything.
• Testament was deemed one of the Top 40 greatest thrash bands of all time.
• We loved new albums from Gojira and Psycroptic. You loved arguing about them even more, especially the former. Meanwhile, new releases from Unearth and Cradle of Filth proved controversial.
• Protest the Hero’s van broke down; they danced.
• AC/DC’s Brian Johnson proved himself old and out of touch, but that didn’t stop us from asking for freebies to see his band live.

We out. See you Monday.

Life on the road looks fun, doesn’t it?

In other news, guitarist Tim Millar’s beard is fucking FIERCE, dude! I positively cannot WAIT to see these guys open for Unearth on October 30th in NYC.

-VN

Congrats to the winners of last week’s Funny Photo Caption Contest. The following two grand prize winners will receive this ridiculously awesome God Forbid prize package: a limited edition IV: Constitution of Treason picture-disc vinyl, a IV: Constitution of Treason lithograph and a copy of the Beneath The Scars of Glory & Progression DVD. Uh, I’m jealous:

Malacoda: “Robert Trujillo chose to get a different kind of ass than his bandmates.”

jesse: “Okay, so I’m punching the donkey. How exactly is this supposed to piss my girlfriend off?”

These runners-up also get CD copies of Norther’s new album N and the Jeff Loomis [of Nevermore] solo-album Zero Order Phase.

metalhead1: “Overcompensating for his name, aspiring metalhead Jesús commits the sin of coveting (and stealing) his neighbor’s ass.”

Johnny Death: “Trying to one up Dave Mustaine, Kerry King hires a Slayer fan in Peru to gather organic coffee beans for their “South of Heaven-ly” roast. IN STORES!! 9/9/09″

Congrats! This week we’ve got another great package that in all likelihood the winners won’t be able to use so much as just look at. But they’ll be damn pretty; two winners will each get vinyl copies of Protest the Hero’s Fortress AND Kezia records, the former of which will be damn near the top of a helluva lot of year-end lists for 2008. Alls ya gotta do is make us laugh with a funny caption to the below photo, courtesy of the band Wildildlife.

Whether (The?) Cancer Bats are hailing one who destroys things or they’re preaching for the destruction of ice pellets that fall from the sky, “Hail Destroyer” is a fucking sick song that makes me want to bow down to the destroyer AND obliterate ice from the heavens. I also like the way this video is shot — it isn’t particularly original (band performs song live in a room with funky lighting), but the look and feel of it are clear and striking, bearing a resemblance to Protest the Hero’s video for “Bloodmeat.” And like, the song fucking crushes.

“Hail Destroyer” comes from the album of the same name, out now on Black Market Activities (US) and Distort Records (Canada).

-VN

[Cancer Bats on MySpace]

After fellating Protest the Hero’s incredible early-2008 release Fortress for two months solid (culminating in my first ever 5 of 5 horns review), I was immediately let down by successive announcements that the band would be touring with shit emo bands through the entire summer. Finally someone in the band’s camp has come to their senses and packaged them with a lineup that will put them in front of the metal audience that NEEDS to know about this band. And finally, I will be able to go see them live. Lambgoat is reporting a fall tour with Protest playing direct support for Unearth, with The Acacia Strain, Whitechapel and Gwen Stacy also on the bill.

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2008 isn’t even half over yet and I already know it’s going to be tough picking my top 10 favorite metal albums of the year. So far there have already been a bunch of excellent releases that could be top 10 contenders:

• Protest the Hero – Fortress
• Torche – Meanderthal
• Arsis – We are the Nightmare
• Textures – Silhouettes
• Scar Symmetry – Holographic Universe
• Nachtmystium – Assassins: Black Meddle Part 1
• Disturbed – Indestructible

PSYCH! But seriously folks, the first six in the list are the real deal.

I’m hoping for a slow second half of the year so I don’t have to make any hard choices. Actually, not. Keep ‘em comin’.

-VN

Boy are you guys lucky today. The fine people at Vagrant Records sent me TWO copies of a special limited edition colored vinyl of Protest the Hero’s amazing Fortress, and guess what that means — you all get one. Though you’ll have to fight over it. And we get to watch.

All you have to do to win is post a comment with a funny caption for the below photo. Axl and I will choose our favorite and notify the winner by email. Have fun!

Any day we get a new Protest the Hero video is a good day indeed. But when said video kicks this much ass it’s an even better day. I’m not sure if the director for the new video for “Sequoia Throne” is the same one who directed the video for “Bloodmeat” — the lighting, among other things, looks similar — but the boys in Protest and the folks at Vagrant Records have done a fine job highlighting one of the band’s best assets; the shred factor.

I mean, I’ve listened to Fortress many, many times (as you all well know from my constant rants) and I’ve always been quite impressed with the musicianship displayed by all of the band members. But this is one of those times where you need to see it to believe it; the crystal clear close-ups of the guitarists’ and bassist’s hands are the kinds of shots that get music dorks like me all in a tizzy. Dudes, look at what these guys are playing! Simultaneous bass and guitar fretboard tapping! Unh, unh… I’ll put it back in my pants now, sorry.

-VN

[via Buzznet]

Get ready to become sick of me waxing ecstatic about Textures, the amazing, awesome, incredible progressive metal outfit from The Netherlands. We didn’t lead you astray with At All Cost, right? When we splooged our pants (albeit a year late) over Sikth, you guys liked, right? And when we jumped on the Protest The Hero bandwagon — nay, built the bandwagon — ya’ll thanked us. So, with that in mind…

Guys…. TEXTURES.

This is the kind of music that just creates that awesome feeling inside of me that only music can, gets me psyched about life, and actually gives me hope that this world isn’t totally fucked beyond belief (that, and I just had some very strong coffee). This is kind of musical talent is few and far between.

Go listen to the new album, Silhouettes, in its entirety on Textures’ MySpace page. NOW. If you have any interest in Meshuggah, Faith No More, and good metal, it will be worth your time.

Silhouettes drops April 21 on Listenable Records.

-VN

Metal Hammer is running a contest allowing fans to remix the multitracks for Protest the Hero’s “Sequoia Throne” from their excellent recent release Fortress (read my 5 out of 5 horns review). The winning mix (to be chosen by the band themselves) will be included in an iTunes bundle of the album as well as a Metal Hammer compilation CD.

While Protest the Hero certainly aren’t the first to release multi-tracks to the public (see also: Lamb of God, Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, others), the “woah, that rules”-factor still hasn’t worn off for me. I have yet to download the tracks, but I personally can’t wait to isolate the guitars and listen to just what the fuck those crazy cats are doing.

If any enterprising MetalSucks readers so desire, send us your remixes and we’ll post the best ones here as well.

-VN