January 10, 2014

Metal News Jan 10th 2014

Welcome to the first Metal News of the year, horribly late. Forgive me, life does sometimes get in the way. New Zealand has some awesome events coming up, and will be trying some new things with the site. I’m also looking for some contributors from around the country, so if you have a love of metal and can string a sentence together, flick me a email at [email protected]

Vassafor main man VK/Phil Kusabs has recently returned home (temporarily) to New Zealand after spending the last 18 months in Canada and the USA. Whilst there he continued his bass duties with Candidan Black Metal Skinheads Blasphemy and toured Vassafor with a different international line up. Since he’s been back he’s hit the ground running and been working hard on new material. Said material includes the follow up to last years Obsidian Codex album as well as split releases with Sinistrous Diabolus and Vanargandr among others.

On top of all that, Vassafor will also be contributing a MZ.412 cover to a tribute compilation of Cold Meat Industry artists.

Taking all that into account it’s not surprising that the only planned NZ live Ritual for Vassafor at this stage is ‘Rise of the Einherjar’ at Wellington’s Valhalla venue on 22 February 2014

In sad news from abroad, Avaejee of Surrender Of Divinity/ ZYGOATSIS(official War Kommand) was murdered last night after a altercation in his home. It seems he was stabbed to death by someone in the scene, but details are still coming through. I hope that the fucker is caught, and justice served. In the mean time head over to the facebook pages and check out this brilliant mans legacy. Much love and support to his friends and family, including those who knew him here in NZ.

Upcoming events;

Friday 10th Jan;

BULLETBELT continue their touring schedule for ‘Down In The Cold Of The Grave’ with a visit to the ‘Naki! With Support from Red Dawn, Pevertor and AMACHINE, it looks to be a heavy night. $10 at Rhythm, 53 Devon Street East, New Plymouth

The Misfits reached our shores yesterday, and play tonight down in Welly at Bodega, with support by Horror Story and Johnny and the Felchers. Tickets only $69 + bf available from Metropolis Touring

Saturday 11th Jan;

The Misfits cap off the tour with a show at the Kings arms with Prowler and the Penny Dreadfuls. And if you Don’t want to call it a night after the Misfits?

Bring your Misfits Ticket / Stub in to Ding Dong Lounge after the gig, present it at the bar & go in the draw to win 1 of 2 tickets to the Stiff Little Fingers at The Powerstation ( FB Event http://on.fb.me/1bBjrkW ) on 20 February and other prizes drawn at 1am.

Or you could head down to Whammy; Black Frog would like to welcome in the New Year with the FIRST of MANY Black Frog events for 2014 m/ m/

** JUST ANNOUNCED THERE WILL BE HALF PRICE ENTRY FOR PEOPLE WITH THEIR MISFITS TICKETS**

FEATURING: Shards of Sky,Scaphist, Austere, Ivengeance and the mighty Kingdoms.

The highlight of the weekend is definitely HELL SMASH FEST, and I am kicking myself that I can’t make it down. It’s going to be fucking amazing, and you should do whatever you can to get there.

Hell Smash Fest NZ is back!

The first and only metal/rock event of it’s kind in the world each summer new year!

Gisborne is the first place in the world to see the sun each day, summer time cranks and we are now into the second annual HELL Smash Fest NZ event!

This is only one day 12 hour Metal/Rock festival on an outdoor stage during the day and night in New Zealand in Summer!

Last year’s debut event ROCKED attracting numbers from all corners of NZ and beyond! (Remember Luna, maybe she’ll come back and grace us with her pole dancing skills and not hurt herself before the show this time 😉

With 11 bands of hugely varying kinds of Rock and Metal, local and out of town acts; we were stoked to bring the local Gizzy scene a festival they had not seen before and at the iconic venue SMASH PALACE-the likes of which you will never experience elsewhere! And now it’s back and more metal than ever!

We also encourage a family friendly environment during the day!

Bring your kids with you if you can’t palm them off anywhere (kids 12 & under get free entry), they can enjoy a shady grassy play area, bbq, paddling pool and hanging with their rocker olds! 😉

Each year we plan to make HSF bigger with a constantly changing array of bands, side line entertainment and much much more!

Keep up with this event and our facebook page for current band line up:)

This year’s headlining bands, all from NZ and in no particular order of awesomeness are:

After Forever (BLACK SABBATH Tribute)

D.I.C

and support acts:

Red Dawn

Project: Blood