I’m at the point where I pretty much prefer animated movies to live-action ones. I passed up some big deal, hotshot movie that came out recently, whose name I don’t even remember, to see Rango. I’m usually a pretty good judge, too, because I knew Rango was going to be awesome ,and it was. It looks absolutely amazing, and if you’re a nerd for animation detail, the gross, crusty animals will thrill you. Not to mention the classic movie references from Chinatown to Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. It’s also damn violent for a “kids movie.” And well, I’m a movie nerd with a deep love for filmic violence. My dad didn’t have any sons, ok? He raised me to love his Fab Four; Arnold, Bruce, Sylvester, and Jean-Claude. And Dolph, on days he felt generous.

This might be odd, but I always liked to think about what various characters’ personalities would be like. Down to their music and movie taste. I especially try to pick out the metalheads, because I want to find my animated brothers and sisters in arms. It was while musing on the subject on Twitter that I found out the talented Ms. Elise over at Reign in Blonde kind of does the same thing. Apparently, all my acquaintances are online these days. She actually compiled a list of the most metal Disney characters, and with her help, I’ve expanded the list. Here are the Ten Most Likely Metalheads in Animated Movies (excluding anime and other international releases, as the author has not done enough research on the subject.)

Click to read more…

So 70,000 Tons of Metal, the most metal cruise EV-AR, has now ended — but that doesn’t mean the fun is over. We’re gonna have a couple more Tons of Fun for you during the week, starting with the below video, taken during the cruise, of Testament’s Alex Skolnick, Exodus’ Tom Hunting, and Death Angel’s Rob Cavestany doing a karaoke version of The Eagles’ “Lying Eyes” onboard the ship.

Yep. We’re being totally serious.

We first saw this amazing video over at Metal Insider; they also have clips of karaoke performances from members of Fear Factory, Sodom, Ensiferum, Tyr, and Swashbuckle. So head on over to Metal Insider if you wanna see some of your heroes embarrassing themselves in the name of fun.

Also, our bro-bros at Metal Injection were actually on the cruise, giving constant live updates. Go here if you wanna read all about their adventures, or if you just wanna look at pictures of MI’s resident female, Noa Avior, in a bikini.

-AR

Dude windmilling in the jacuzzi as some band plays behind him. Jacuzzis = metal.

Our brothas and sista at Metal Injection are having a grand ol’ time on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise, which by now you’ve surely heard about: a 4-day cruise from Miami to Cozumel and back featuring close to 50 metal bands on three stages, many of them playing more than once. You can imagine the scene… lots and lots and lots of black t-shirts.

MI’s Rob, Frank and Noa are posting regular liveblog updates from their voyage by continuing to add updates to this page. Among some amusing highlights:

• Check out this video of the scene before the storm. So many black t-shirts!
• Nevermore and Sanctuary both fucking killed it. Says Noa, “It was great seeing Jim [Shephard] with a bass in his hand instead of quarters for the slot machines.”

Click to read more…

Last Thursday here in Philadelphia I had the oppurtunity to shoot Tyr and Amon Amarth for the final date of their US Tour [See that above picture? That alone makes me so sad I missed this tour in NY -Ed.]. Between rushing from school, fighting traffic and my complete inability to find a parking spot I missed opening band Holy Grail, but I arrived just in time for Tyr. Armed with some of the most awesome boots I’ve ever seen, Tyr awoke the Viking in all of us. Though I found some of the choruses pretty brutally obvious and uninspiring (the lyrics of “The Sword in My Hand” for example) they were definitely fun to watch.

Being a virgin Amon Amarth show-goer, I was a little overly excited for this show. As long as I walked away with one image of some synchronized head banging I would be satisfied. They tore through an awesome set, Johan Hegg pausing between songs to speak to all of us, or sometimes to only some of us: “I want to hear all the ladies out there. [pause for screaming women, this photographer included]. This one is for all the ladies!” As they came out for the encore, they had asked their roadie to play bass for them, and being the last date of the tour, all the members from Tyr and Holy Grail joined on stage as well. All in all an awesome night.

Oh, Did I mention all the awesome beards? Yeah, good stuff.

Photos after the jump.

Click to read more…

We’re big fans of pagan metal here at the MS Mansion. BIG fans. Just last night Sammy O’Hagar waltzed in at about 5pm, still drunk and rowdy from the night before (!), dressed in a full get-up of warpaint and animal skins. Obviously there was no other choice at that point but to hand over control of the MS Mansion Mothership to the capable hands of the monkeys, so we put on Turisas’ The Varangian Way and started the party right back up again for the ol’ chap; the freight train kept rolling until at least 4am. Last thing I remember is Kip jumping on top of Axl’s desk and screaming something about “Battle!” and how we need to take vengeance against the other metal websites that constantly rip us off. As I type this, Sammy’s passed out in the bathtub clutching a bottle of Jim Beam while DBR and Satan Rosenbloom are snuggling in my bed; I had to sleep on the couch. Those fucking assholes.

Click to read more…

Anyone who went to the U.S. incarnation of this year’s pagan/folk metal festival Paganfest will tell you that it was positively one of the best, most fun concerts of the year so far (see also: live footage!). And anyone not smoking crack (and perhaps a few that do) will tell you that Eluveitie was one of the most exciting bands on the bill (no disrespect to Turisas, Ensiferum and Tyr who were also awesome. Well actually, Tyr was kind of a sleeper.) Eluveitie’s recent Nuclear Blast release Slania also happens to be one of my favorite records of the year, so when I was offered the opportunity to email a bunch of questions to Eluveitie mastermind Chrigel Glanzmann (vocals, mandola, acoustic guitar, tin and low whistles, uilleann pipes, gaita) I jumped at the chance. Chrigel shared his thoughts about the burgeoning pagan/folk metal movement, the obscurity of (and place in metal of) the hurdygurdy, the recent departure of Sevan and Rafi from the band, and the new (all acoustic!) album that is in the works. Read the interview after the jump.

Click to read more…

The MetalSucks sponsored super awesome fantastic Paganfest may be over, but if you missed it (or just wanna re-live a drunken night of heathen glory), our bro-bros over at Metal Injection have some awesome live footage from the final tour stop at B.B. King’s here in NYC.

Below, check out Turisas stealing the show with their rendition of “Rasputin.” Then head over to Metal Injection for more super duper sweet clips of Ensiferum, Eluveitie, and Tyr. And don’t forget to check out Vince’s recap of the night’s shenanigans!

-AR

The sense of community at the final stop of Paganfest USA — featuring Ensiferum, Turisas, Tyr, and Eluveitie — was unbelievable. These kinds of bands attract a very specific type of metal fan; perhaps a tad nerdier, weirder and a smidge smarter than the average bunch. After all, anyone who goes to watch a bunch of grown men dressed in fur loin cloths and full body-makeup play European folk songs in metal form can’t take their metal too seriously. But everyone in attendance at the sold out show at New York City’s BB King’s was there to fucking get down. Sadly I didn’t see any viking hats, but everyone had their beer steins raised high and kept them there all night long. There was a palpable feeling of excitement in the room — separate from the very obvious mass drunkenness — and everyone there was enjoying the hell out of these excellent bands in the most primal way. Excited chants of “hey! hey! hey! hey!” along with the beat, and fervent chants of each band’s name in unison were prevalent all night long. In short, the inaugural run of Paganfest was absolutely fucking awesome. This was one of the most fun metal shows of the year by far. After all, isn’t it supposed to be fun?

Click to read more…

So from what I hear, Paganfest has been a colossal success thus far. I think more of you should be writing in and telling us how awesome this tour is, ’cause a) we’re co-sponsors of the tour and we like to think everything we touch turns to metal and b) we won’t get to go until the last night of the tour here in NYC, so we need to live vicariously through you cats.

Below is some more awesome live footage of Turisas, this time playing Paganfest’s stop at The Boardwalk in Orangevale, California on May 7, 2008. And below that is the itinerary for all remaining dates on the tour, because for many of you, it’s not too late to go. And tell ‘em Axl, Vince and Kip sent ya.

9 May 2008 Fat City San Francisco, California
10 May 2008 The Vault Long Beach, California
11 May 2008 The Cell Block Phoenix, Arizona
12 May 2008 Chics El Paso, Texas
13 May 2008 The Launchpad Alburquerque, New Mexico
14 May 2008 Crush Lounge Tulsa, Oklahoma
15 May 2008 Ridglea Theater Fort Worth, Texas
16 May 2008 The White Rabbit San Antonio, Texas
17 May 2008 Java Jazz Houston, Texas
19 May 2008 The Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
20 May 2008 Volume 11 Raleigh, North Carolina
21 May 2008 Crocodile Rock Allentown, Pennsylvania
22 May 2008 BB Kings Blues Club New York, New York

-AR

So the MetalSucks co-sponsored Paganfest has commenced, and by the looks of the below footage of Turisas performing “Rasputin,” the fans are responding, um, positively.

Who would have ever thought that dancing the jig would have a place in the pit? Take that, karate-chopping asswipes of the world!

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/zZzLoWwhsX0" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

After the jump, watch more footage by and of overly excited Paganfest fans, learn the true meaning of the phrase “Fuck the guitar solo,” and get a complete tour itinerary so that you can attend a Paganfest gig near you. ‘Cause if you don’t go, we’re sending Turisas to rape and pillage your hometown.

Click to read more…

Well, the tour we’ve all been excited about since November,  the MetalSucks co-sponsored Paganfest, start tonight, and guess what? The first date, at The Opera House in Toronto, is apparently already sold out!

And is it any surprise? This tour has four amazing bands – Ensiferum, Turisas, Tyr and Eluveitie – that are gonna make you want to chug mead from a stein, smack the bar wench on the ass, and then throw your arm around your buddy for a good old fashioned sing along. Nothing homoerotic about that.

Check out the Paganfest America MySpace page for more info. In the meantime, the complete tour itinerary is below. When it comes to this tour, make Harold and Kumar’s trip to White Castle your models: no matter how far you have to travel, no mater what treacherous terrain you must traverse, no matter what obstacles you must overcome, GET YOUR ASS TO ONE OF THESE SHOWS. And tell ‘em MetalSucks sent ya.

25 Apr 2008 The Opera House Toronto, ON – CANADA
26 Apr 2008 Medley Montreal, QC – CANADA
27 Apr 2008 The Palladium Worcester, Massachusetts
28 Apr 2008 Jaxx Springfield, Virginia
29 Apr 2008 Peabody’s Down Under Cleveland, Ohio
30 Apr 2008 Harpo’s Detroit, Michigan
1 May 2008 Chicago Powerfest (Pearl Room) Mokena, Illinois
2 May 2008 Station 4 St. Paul, Minnesota
3 May 2008 Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom Denver, Colorado
5 May 2008 Studio Seven Seattle, Washington
6 May 2008 Hawthorne Theater Portland, Oregon
7 May 2008 The Boardwalk Sacramento, California
8 May 2008 House of Blues Hollywood, California
9 May 2008 Fat City San Francisco, California
10 May 2008 The Vault Long Beach, California
11 May 2008 The Cell Block Phoenix, Arizona
12 May 2008 Chics El Paso, Texas
13 May 2008 The Launchpad Alburquerque, New Mexico
14 May 2008 Crush Lounge Tulsa, Oklahoma
15 May 2008 Ridglea Theater Fort Worth, Texas
16 May 2008 The White Rabbit San Antonio, Texas
17 May 2008 Java Jazz Houston, Texas
19 May 2008 The Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
20 May 2008 Volume 11 Raleigh, North Carolina
21 May 2008 Crocodile Rock Allentown, Pennsylvania
22 May 2008 BB Kings Blues Club New York, New York

-AR

Here’s the video for Eluveitie’s new single,”Inis Mona.” It comes off of their latest album, the super awesome Slania, which is in stores now, and which I can virtually guarantee is better than any other new European melodic death metal album you might buy between now and May.

Yeah, I said it.

In case you somehow missed the 8 trillion other posts we’ve written about it, Eluveitie will join Turisas, Ensiferum, and Tyr and on this spring’s Paganfest USA tour, which MetalSucks is proudly co-sponsoring. That means that you should, like, totally go.

A complete list of tour dates to follow after the video…

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/iijKLHCQw5o" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Click to read more…

Their disco balls, that is.

OH! Rimshot!

This video, about the making of Turisas’ clip for “Rasputin,” is possibly even more entertaining than the finished product itself… although it does ruin the illusion that these cats dress like pagans all the time.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/i3APJvKFgbk" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

You can watch the finished video for “Rasputin” here.

After the jump, find the obligatory tour itinerary for Paganfest USA, featuring Turisas, Eluveitie, Tyr and Ensiferum.

Click to read more…

[kml_flashembed movie="http://lads.myspace.com/videos/vplayer.swf" width="430" height="346" fvars="m=17543089;type=video" wmode="transparent" /]
Fuck yes, dude! The final itinerary for this spring’s Paganfest America has been released. 26 dates, 26 chances to throw on your dead animal hide and party like it’s 1999 B.C. with a killer bill that includes Ensiferum, Turisas, Tyr and Eluveitie. I gotta tell you, I’m so excited about this tour that I actually tried to hit my girlfriend over the head with a large branch and drag her to the bedroom. Sadly for me, she managed to get ahold of the branch and, well, let’s just say that Uncle Axl now knows better than to try that kind of thing without wearing a cup.

ANYWAY, above, enjoy the video for “Rasputin” by Turisas; after the jump, find a complete list of tour dates. And, oh yeah, don’t forget to check out the Paganfest America MySpace page for more info!

Click to read more…

As the sure-to-be-awesome Pagangest America tour grows ever closer, one of the bands on that trek, Eluveitie, have posted a new song, “Inis Mona,” on their MySpace page. The song comes from the band’s forthcoming new album, Slania, which drops February 15 on Nuclear Blast.

And don’t forget that Eluveitie will hit the road as part of Paganfest America starting in April, joining Ensiferum, Turisas, and Tyr on what is sure to be a tour too crazy for the Common Man who doesn’t understand the simple pleasures of raping, pillaging, wearing dead animal skins and generally behaving in a manner that my parole officer claims is “anti-social.” Check back here often for updates or you can head on over to the Paganfest America MySpace page.

-AR

Even more dates have been added to this spring’s awesome Paganfest America tour, featuring Ensiferum, Turisas, Tyr and Eluveitie! Click through the jump to get an up-to-date itinerary, or visit the Paganfest America MySpace page. In the meantime, here’s Ensiferum’s totally epic, totally awesome video for “Ahti.” I’m assuming it was made by a director who really knows how to work with a budget, and wasn’t nearly as expensive as it looks. Either that, or you can really get more bang for your buck over in Finland…

[kml_flashembed movie="http://lads.myspace.com/videos/vplayer.swf" width="430" height="346" fvars="m=7913078;type=video" wmode="transparent" /]

Click to read more…

Well, guess what? More dates have been added! ‘Cause Detroit and Houston need to get their pagan on, too.

If for some reason you’re legally retarded and thefore still not stoked about this tour, here’s a video of Ensiferum performing their tune “White Storm.” I gotta tell you, I’m developing a pretty hardcore crush on their synth player, Meiju Enho. She’s just so damned cute – and yet, I have no doubt that she could kick my ass so bad that I’d wish I was dead…

[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/v84DBAhL_F8" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

After the jump, complete tour dates; don’t forget to keep checking back here for more info, and definitely go visit the Paganfest America MySpace page!

Click to read more…

 
With Ensiferum, Turisas, Tyr and Eluveitie on the bill, Paganfest America is sure to be one of the best tours of ’08 – and now the organizers  have announced additional tour dates. The itinerary thus far is now as follows:

Apr. 25 – Toronto, ON – Opera House
Apr. 26 – Montreal, QC – Medley
Apr. 27 – Worcester, MA – Palladium
Apr. 28 – Springfield, VA – Jaxx
Apr. 29 – Cleveland, OH – Peabody’s
May 01 – Chicago, IL – The Pearl Room (Chicago Powerfest)
May 05 – Seattle, WA – Studio Seven
May 06 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
May 07 – Sacramento, CA – The Boardwalk
May 10 – Orange County, CA – California Metalfest
May 15 – Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX – Ridglea Theater
May 16 – San Antonio, TX – The White Rabbit
May 22 – New York, NY – BB King Blues Club & Grill

Ensiferum’s Sammi Hinkka commented, “Across the oceans, through the storms. Towards Vinland, brave warriors of the North! The time has come for us to unite, brothers and sisters; hold your swords up high! With our allies; Eluveitie, Tyr, and Turisas, eternal glory and victory waits for us! May beer flow and the Skydome rumble during our quest, so that even the Gods know, it is time for a Paganfest…”

Vince and I (and maybe even Kip?) will be at the NYC show come hell or high water!

Stay tuned for additional tour dates, or check out the Paganfest America MySpace page.

-AR

Long time MetalSucks reader Hibernum told us to post a Tyr video, so here ya go. I have no idea what the hell these dudes are going on about, only that I want to go Medieval Times, like, right fucking now.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/h5zNK--DUDg" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Don’t forget to check out Tyr live on the Paganfest America Tour in April ’08. It’s MetalSucks approved, so you know it won’t be lame! Check out the Paganfest America MySpace page for more details.

-AR

I saw Beowulf in 3D this weekend – it sucked. Didn’t even scratch my itch for getting drunk and fucking wenches and killing things. Nope, not one bit. The boobies were all CG and shit and even though I dig the ancient poem, the movie seemed to reduce the story’s complexities to something along the lines of “Use a jimmy hat, and if you don’t, be sure and pay your fuckin’ child support so that bastard don’t come a-callin’ later.”

Lucky for me, then, that in April Turisas will finally come to North America as part of the Paganfest America tour, so I can get my fill of rousing sword play and manly sing-alongs then. And even though I was a little disappointed to learn that Turisas vocalist Warlord Nygard (pictured above right, skull fucking an enemy with his mighty steel) can actually speak in full sentences and doesn’t communicate exclusively via grunt, I was glad to read his statement regarding the tour:

“After years of talks about a North American tour and fans begging us to cross the big pond it is finally happening. We are looking forward to taking the new continent by storm together with our good friends Ensiferum and being backed up by two of the rising names in the scene, Tyr and Eluveitie. It is clear that the strength of this tour is not only in the individual bands playing, but the whole package. This is to be the ultimate tour of the year for any Pagan/Battle Metal fan, so brothers and sisters of Vinland; we will except no excuses – see you in the front row!”

MetalSucks is co-sponsoring this tour, so that means we’re excited and you should get used to hearing about ’round these parts. Check back for more updates, or go to the Paganfest America MySpace page. Already announced dates are after the jump, but expect more real soon.

Click to read more…