When Love And Death Embrace

Maligno has everything set up for the realease of second album, and started a presale via Asenath Records.The album will be officially released on sept 1st.

"Universevil" Track listing:

1 The Red Witch
2 Two Suns
3 Wait is to fall
4 Dirty Black Suit
5 Astral Bacchanalia
6 Son of Tlalocan
7 Golden Demons
8 Killing Sunshine
9 Impossible
10 Bloodworld

 

The CD is was mastered by Alan Douches (MASTODON, HIGH ON FIRE, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) and the cover art was designed by MALA SUERTE vocalist Gary Rosas.

On September 12th, the band will make a concert for album presentation in Monterrey city

Source: http://www.myspace.com/malignodoom
 

After two cancellations, Epica is now ready to start the Mexican/South American Tour. Simone is now with good heath and back with the band for this gigs. Band also decide make something special during second show in Mexico city to Celebrate 5th Anniversary of Phantom Agony album.

The next is the officiela statment of band in their official web page

"At the moment we are preparing for our upcoming Mexican / South-American tour. We are looking forward to it a lot and we will make sure to make up for the previous two cancellations a few months ago! Since we are still getting a lot of mails from you guys asking about the health of Simone: Simone IS going to join us on this tour. She also made a little video message for you guys, you can view it by clicking here.

As we are playing two shows in Mexico City we wanted to make sure that the two shows would be totally different from each other. Since this year is our 5th anniversary of our debut album The Phantom Agony we have decided two play this album in it’s entire form at our second show in Circo Volador (September 7th)*. And to make it even more special we have decided to add an acoustic set to this show as well.

If you haven't bought your tickets yet, be sure to do so as soon as possible since some shows are almost sold out already. We hope to see you on the road!

Both shows in Mexico city will be on The Circo volador, venue of the second one was recently changed.

Epica also booked a presentation for Metal Female Voices VI during 18th and 19th of oct. in Belgium toghether with Tarja, Trail of Tears, L'ame Immortelle.

Epica Mexico/South American tour dates as follow

	04-09-2008	Café Iguana	Monterrey	Mexico
	05-09-2008	Circo Volador	Mexico City	Mexico
	07-09-2008	Circo Volador	Mexico City	Mexico
	09-09-2008	La Feria Internacional	San Salvador	El Salvador
	10-09-2008	La Alhambra	Valencia	Venezuela
	13-09-2008	Downtown Majestic	Bogota	Colombia
	14-09-2008	Teatro Bolivar	Quito	Ecuador
	16-09-2008	Teatro Novedades	Santiago	Chile
	18-09-2008	El Teatro Flores	Buenos Aires	Argentina
	20-09-2008	Citibank Hall	São Paulo	Brazil
	21-09-2008	Ginasio Marista	Vila Velha	Brazil

Source: www.epica.nl

For those who lives in Mexico city mostly ¬¬...

Epica

04/09 - Monterrey NL
05/09 - Ciudad de Mexico
07/09 - Ciudad de Mexico

Entombed

05/09 - Monterrey NL

Moonsorrow

05/09 - Leon Gto

Gorgoroth

05/09 - Mexicali BN

Entombed, Gorgoroth, Marduk, Nifelheim, Cephalic Carnage, Devils Whorehouse, Moonsorrow

06/09 - Ciudad de Mexico

Carcass

16/09 Ciudad de Mexico

Sodom

19/09 Ciudad de Mexico

Scorpions

17/09 - Guadalajara Jal
20/09 - Ciudad de Mexico
21/09 - Monterrey NL  

Obituary-Unleashed

22/09 - Mexicali BN

Destruction

29/09 - Ciudad de Mexico
01/10 - Monterrey NL
02 /10 - Chiapas

Obituary - Warbringer

03/10 - Mexicali

Dimmu Borgir

05 /10 - Ciudad de Mexico

Helloween/Gamma Ray

10/10 - Chihuahua
11/10 - Guadalajara Jal

Job For a Cowboy

16/10 - Monterrey NL
17/10 - Ciudad de Mexico

NIN-STP-Flaming Lips

18/10 - Ciudad de mexico
19/10 - Guadalajara Jal

 NIN-STP

21/10 - Monterrey NL

Combichrist

25/10 - Ciudad de Mexico

Kamelot/Edguy

27/10 - Mexicali BN

Judas Priest

27/10 - Monterrey NL
29/10 - Guadalajara Jal
30/10 - Puebla
31/10 - Ciudad de Mexico

Paradise Lost

30/10 - Ciudad de Mexico

and sure more be confirmed soon...

Con los amigos hay que estar en los momentos buenos, en los momentos malos...y en los extraños O_o

En fin..aqui la info

Hello Everybody!!!

I completely back!! And hope give life to this page again.

Truth life facts keep me away from this world, last weekend was weird, many things came up, so I have many things to talk about or claim about..

The first one is about again cycle of life, someone who I knew passed away, but something I can say is she lived with all her heart, so this is not bad, she lives this world leaving nothing but love in all the persons around her, all the things happened so natural…no pain. I’m not sad, maybe a little melancholic. Also a workmate passed away…and that surprised me! He was too young! As a friend told me was a heart attack because the work stress. He was a lonely person L , and well seems that everybody around him learnt the lesson and are taking with more clam work, and that can become our life…. Well im trying to do the same but some user doesn’t leave me haha, but I hope tomorrow he left me in peace. Anyways I have a life outside here and you all know it hehe

Second fact, I missed a concert last week, on Friday, many of you know that and I was all bored in home thinking how it could be, just yesterday I got the report of it, but not complete, and it was something terrible and stupid!!! As ppl told me the police came to the concert and start some kind of inspection in the area…some kind of violent inspection!!!!! And I though WTF????!! How they came that way in the middle(or beginning...i’m not sure)  of a concert  and assaulting everybody… sadly some ppl I know got injured and abused for that sign of arrogance from those who supposed must take care of us. They can stop any fucking robbery or traffic-execution!, many persons still missing, is becoming normal executed ppl appear on streets and they never do nothing haha they got scared! But they come to this site and use all his power that way…I don’t know if it also could be for some kind of racism or elitism, Ibex rock bar is in the end of one street where you can also find elitist bar, those where you are not admitted if you’re not a white chick, pretty and anorexic in a BMW, I’ve see many shows of girls completely drunk and doped over there, and Junior’s fights  in the middle of the street, and in those situations never see a police man O_o sorry I get indignate  and sad because this is the place I live and love, and really I would like this kind of things never happened! But well its fucking mex and this is how everything moves.

And well in other more happy things..i mean "Concerts" I can say ill have a good year!

Scorpions has confirmed an awesome and unique show for Monterrey city, it will be called Acoustic…amplified, It will not be an acoustic set, but it will included many guest a percussionist, a keyboard player, a flamenco guitar player, a cello player, a violinist and 3 choristers of pink floyd , so I didn’t miss that concert last year, and it was so beautiful, one of the best ive seen into the arena Monterrey, so I will not miss this one.

Next weeks ill have Megadeth after some cancellations in the past this time Dave and company try it again, with very good results! 2 shows in Mexico city are already sold out, only here in Monterrey you can find tickets…(again Monterrey shows the less love for metal). Also Rockstone productions had planned some 80’s concerts! And it promise be so cool as those who they did before, first on 18 of June with Firehouse and Skid Row, sadly I can not go, 2^nd time I miss Skid Row, and Ratt on 27, the place of concert is unique and has good acoustic, so I hope not miss that concert.  

But the most important for me come next weekend!!! On Saturday Dark Tranquility is coming, I never see them live, and I’m not sure if ill be able to go this time -__- and the reasons is im flying to Mexico next day just to see Avantasia!!! J im so excited about it! Is the first time I go to a show out of the city and this one promise be something unique!! I admire so much the work of Tobias Sammet, I become his fan after see him live 2 years ago during a metal fest, with Edguy, now he is coming to Mexico with a complete army o musicians and singers to present his so claimed Metal opera concept, Avantasia, He will tour with this only on 15 cities around the world before start recording for Edguy’s new album, 3 shows already were given in Europe, they bring a complete set, they show has confirmed 8 guest but some people informed me 2 more are coming and nobody knows who they are. Well the persons involved on this are:

Tobias Sammet: The mastermind of the project, and the main character of the 3 albums, se he will sing in all the songs hehe)

Jorn Lande: He is Mephistopheles in Scarecrow album, he has been the singer of bands like Vagabond, the snakes, Millennium and Masterplan, he also record 2 albums with Russell Allen from Symphony X, and was one of the Forever for the Album 01011001 of Ayreon and currently he has also record solo.

Amanda Somerville: She is the unrequited love in Scarecrow, she is a singer, she has solo albums and also has worked with several bands as vocal coach and lyrical editor, some of the most famous are Edguy, Kamelot, Rhapsody, shaman, and as vocal coach for Epica and After Forever, she was touring on USA during the past months, with Epica as replacement of Simone.

Oliver Hartmann: Fornication in Scarecrow, Pope Clemens IIX in Metal Opera I, and Pope Clemens VIII in Metal Opera II. He is a guitarist/singer/songwriter, He was the founder of At Vance and currently play in Empty tremor, also has a solo career, and has appareances in albums of bands like ainia, Helloween, Rhapsody, Freedom Call and Edguy

Cloudy Yang: I don’t know so much about her, she has a band which use her name and Sascha Paeth play guitar on it, I suppose she will be Anna Held, character of Metal opera I and II that was recorded by Sharon Den Adel.

Bob Catley: im not sure if he will be able to come on this show, but seems he is not, he is the good spirit inside in Scarecrow album, well he is better know for his work in the England metal band magnum and he also work in Ayreon’s latest album as one of Ferever

Andre Matos: He is Elderane, the elf in metal opera II, now is working solo, but he was the singer of Shaaman and Angra, also worked with several bands like Avalanch, Aina, Nepa, Karma.

Those are just the singers :P the musicians are:

Sascha Paeth on guitars. Music producer, compositor for several heavy metal bands, that I can not list them all.

Robert Hunecke in the bass, he was member of Heaven’s gate and has wotked with bands like Kamelot and Aina.

Michael "Miro" Rodenberg on keyboards he also is producer of bands that share with Sascha hehe.

..and on the drums im not sure who will come, it could be Frank Linderthal or Felix Bohnke of Edguy

And lets see who are the other 2 unknown members, Hansen said he will participate in some presentations not in all, well I wont make suppositions, ill just wait to see what more Mr Sammet has for us.

After read that you know my heavy metal side couldn’t resist and I can not miss this! Everything is ready now!! Just wish me luck!..sadly don’t wait good pictures of it, in concert halls in Mexico city cameras are not allowed... ill try my best with a poor cell phone.

Megadeth en Latinoamerica!!

Deacuerdo a la pagina oficial estas son las fechas
According to the official site, those are the dates

TOUR OF DUTY

And for Mexico is not confirmed yet in the official page, but the info came from Sangre de Metal blogspot  which is very trustable ;)  

Seems Monterrey has a date too :D June 21 @ Arena Santa Lucia

This is what i read today...

Dear Fans,

Today we have an announcement that will come as a shock to all of you. The four permanent
members of the band have had some discussions and it is clear that we have different
goals and visions for the future. Therefore it is best for the band, our selves as
individuals and for the fans that we go separate ways now when there is still plenty of
time before the next Therion album and World Tour.
This means that Christofer will continue with Therion and the others will perform their music in other projects and bands.

We're all still friends, no one is disappointed and there's still some work we have left
to do together in terms of editing of materials we have recorded for future DVD's.

Best regards to all of you and thank you so much for the wonderful support you have given
the band during the time we have played together.

Christofer, Kristian, Johan and Petter.

This statment was posted in their official page   >.< fuck!

Thought Therion is not a band anymore but can used as nick name for Christofer ¬¬ ...again new members :(

Iron Maiden is looking for some fan videos redorded in this this tour, to use them in the Official DVD "Some Where Back intime 2008". The directors will be Scot McFadyen y Sam Dunn, creators of "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" they only want videos of crowd, fans or their airplane no concert records.

"Banger Films, producers of the forthcoming Iron Maiden Somewhere Back in Time documentary, want to see your home videos! 

Maiden fans are invited to submit videos of their own experience of the first leg of the tour for potential use in the film. So if you captured the excitement of Ed Force One landing, fan mayhem at the airport, camping or lining up outside the venues on your cell phone, camera or video camera, please upload your clips to our special YouTube group "Somewhere Back in Time Fan Videos." (Please note we are NOT looking for any fan footage of the concert performances.) 

Directors Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn will review all videos. If selected, fans will be contacted with further details."

To Upload the video fans can click this www.youtube.com/group/sbitfanvideos 

Sadly i didnt record anything of the concert :(

 VS 
Tobias Sammet                                           Arjen Lucanssen

Credits: Ayreon Official Page
             Paranoid Android

The next is info i got from Metal From Finland page..

Timo Tolkki has reveled more info about his new project REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE this project include the participation of his friends and mates Michael Kiske and Tobias Sammet. Their debut "New Era" will be released on June 6 via Frontiers Records. According to a press release, the CD "is a masterpiece of melodic power metal, taking the listener straight back to the 'Visions'-era STRATOVARIUS. In fact, 'New Era' is the album that was meant to be the next STRATOVARIUS album.

Other musicians that appear on album are Pasi Rantanen (vocals; THUNDERSTONE), Mirka Rantanen (drums; THUNDERSTONE) and Pasi Heikkilä (bass; 45 DEGREE WOMAN). Tolkki also wants Stratovariu’s members, Lauri Porra and Jens Johansson join at this project

Tolkki also posted the next statement about what was his main band, Stratovarius

"It is time to stop the silence and announce what some of you have already been speculating. STRATOVARIUS is no more.

"Last October I told the guys that I am stopping the band and told them the reasons why.

"This letter is addressed to you, STRATOVARIUS fans, who have supported the band for so many years.

"I first thought that I would write just a very generalized, typical 'music business' statement that basically never says anything. Then I decided that you deserve to hear at least parts of the truth what has been going on behind the scenes so you will be able to understand my decision better.

"All the time, since Timo Kotipelto [vocals] and Jörg [Michael, drums] joined the band, there have been tensions and negativity flying around. This has been concentrating on me, Timo Kotipelto and Jörg.

"The reasons Jari Kainulainen [bass] was fired some years back were so absurd that I am not even try to explain them here. If I write a book one day, maybe then.

"Anyways, I think the seeds were planted already back then, something like 12 years ago. There were many confrontations; Jörg has been complaining to me about Timo Kotipelto and Timo Kotipelto complaining to me about Jörg. At times it was a mess, although of course, it never would show outside to the fans.

"It is not my intention to disrespect Timo Kotipelto and Jörg here. They are both fundamentally good guys. Things just sometimes happen and relationships go to directions we don't want them to go. It's like a divorce, nobody wants it to happen but sometimes it is best for all so everyone can continue their own lives. Plus I want to tell how things have been behind the curtains. You always only see the good side anyway, you don't really know what is going on.

"We had amazing years, 14 records, 6 world tours with over a thousand shows all across the globe, 3 gold discs, a Finnish Grammy and almost 3 million records sold.

"I have arrived to my decision after careful, long and rational thinking of over a year and I know it is the right way for me. I just felt so bad being in STRATOVARIUS. Something was terribly wrong in there and nobody seemed to care.

"The countdown really started from the last STRATOVARIUS album in 2005. At that time the atmosphere in the band was extremely weird. I had spent most of 2004 recovering from my nervous breakdown in April 2004 when I was hospitalized. It was at this point when things started to change. Jens [Johansson, keyboards] supported me immensely during 2004 with his phone calls. We then did that 'Stratovarius' album, which I think is an awful album and went for the subsequent tour production. By that time it was apparent to me that things really were bad. Nobody seemed to care about anything. I had the idea to use projection screens and for that, you need to produce graphics. I planned those and basically the whole show. Nobody seemed to have any interest in it. It was more like, the less the better. The atmosphere at the rehearsals was awful. Lauri Porra [bass] who had just joined the band was wondering what is going on with this band. Jörg Michael came straight from SAXON to this tour wearing a SAXON shirt during most of the shows. His attitude for most of the tour was extremely arrogant, pretty much towards everybody. But especially towards me and Timo Kotipelto. And Timo Kotipelto's attitude towards me was lukewarm and polite, but I could sense the hostility. Of course, we as professionals put on very good shows but it was more craftmanship and rehearsed performance than a great united band playing emotionally from the heart.

"I think Timo Kotipelto was always very bitter about that he could not get his songs and/or lyrics on STRATO records. I did not understand this really 'cause he had/has his solo band where he could do what he wanted. It took me many years to learn to simply tell him that I don't like his songwriting and lyrics and that the main difference between me and him is that I am writing songs that end up being STRATO songs while he is trying to write STRATO songs that end up being KOTIPELTO songs, which means they belong on a KOTIPELTO record.

"It is not easy to say to someone that you don't like his music. You guys and girls dont like all music, neither do I. Neither does Timo Kotipelto.

"I am not anyone to tell what is good and what is bad music, but I do can tell what kind of music I like. And Timo Kotipelto's stuff just doesn't do it for me.

"I do have to say that I think he has written many great songs as well during his solo career. Plus he probably would say the same things about my songwriting. We are just very different. He has a very different sense of humor than I have.

"Maybe the weirdest thing in STRATO was that we never really were friends in the band. I visited Timo Kotipelto in 12 years perhaps 5 times. To me Jens was the closest in the band and lately Lauri Porra, who is a wonderful guy. But none of use was really ever real friends. It might be surprising to you but that is the truth.

"The tour continued and Jörg's drum roadie told me drunk that Jörg is leaving the band after the tour but he is doing the tour 'cause 'he is a businessman.' I guess you could say that Jörg's attitude pretty much culminated what he said to me in Seattle on that tour. He told me that he thinks the band is over. We tried to record, third time, a live DVD in Sao Paulo but could not use the shootings because we played so badly. It was just plain awful. Although we rocked lot of crowds on that 120-date world tour, still the overall vibe was very much like 'going to work.' Not for me though. Not still at that point. But it felt to me that nobody's heart was in the band and it was just for the money.

"The tour came and went, we survived and Jörg didn't leave the band. But it was the weirdest tour I have ever done. Very successful, but still it felt like forcing something. It was not fun. It was sad.

"The next thing I had in mind was to write a really fresh good old fashioned power metal album in the vein of 'Visions'. I felt our fans deserved it and I felt it was the right thing to do. This was the infamous 'RR' album. The songwriting was flowing and the songs sounded really nice and melodic and very much like old STRATO. I was all the time on my toes because of the situation in the band and I was anticipating difficult recording sessions.

"Anyways in late 2006 we completed a demo tape containing 10 brand new songs. I wasn't too happy about the demo, but it did serve its purpose, to present the songs to the record company. I then booked 12 days from Sonic Pump studio in Helsinki for March 2007. This was the weirdest session I had ever had. Jörg was all the time talking about that we have to get the 'Visions hunger' back, although I don't think he himself had that hunger. Nobody had. The session was nothing like the recording sessions before. Nobody had rehearsed the songs really and everything sounded pretty awful. I tweaked the drum tracks for a week and gave up. It was around this point when I really was starting to think why am I keeping this alive when it's so difficult. I remember how much time, energy and money we put to 'Elements 1'. There was nowhere to go after that anymore without just repeating the past. I do know that Timo Kotipelto didn't like that album at all, which yet again shows the difference between him me. It doesn't mean that he has to like it of course, but to me 'Elements 1' represents the peak of the STRATO evolution and perhaps I should have stopped the band already then.

"Last year, 2007, was the turning point for me in many ways. I felt better, but regarding STRATO I felt worse. There were fights about everything, even about trivialities, which really annoyed me. A lot of fights. A lot. I had to use a lot of energy to try to get merch to Stratoshop, which was on the shoulders of Jörg and Timo Kotipelto, because there was no merch for people to order but still they were ordering cause the items were on the page. The SSL certificate that proves the site is secure was expired a year ago, I tried to get that fixed, could not do it because I wasn't authorized to do so. The most popular items from the shop were sold out and Jörg refused to print more. I could not understand any of the things that were going on. At the same time, I was having more fun than in years with my rock opera 'Saana'. When I was making that, I realized what was lacking in STRATO: the enthusiasm, creativity and fun. It wasn't like that in years. 'Saana' gave me hope that there still could be something new for me to learn at this age and it gave me a whole new world of things and a start for something new. Plus I knew I had some really cool new metal songs in the works.

"We did have 8 festival shows during 2007 and it was then, when I was standing on stage in Wacken , Germany before 45,000 metalheads when I fully realized that this band is over. I remember clearly playing those same old songs we had played so many times before and a feeling came to me that told me: this band has no soul anymore. I looked around and I felt like I am part of a play that has a script or machine and that there is nothing fresh and exciting happening anymore. The band sounds awful. Nobody's heart was in it. It was just the same old song. Jörg worked at this point full time in artist production company doing tour managing and he was working at Wacken too. He literally came to play from production office and returned there after. Everybody was polite, on the surface, but there was no friendship, all I could sense were the underlying tensions of relatioships that had come to an end. I had felt during that year that the band existed only for one reason and that was the money. I had felt that this was the main motivation what kept Jörg and Timo Kotipelto in the band still despite of the underlying tensions. While standing on Wacken stage to my absolute horror, I understood that also for me that had now become a reality. I was keeping this alive for money. It was then when I decided that I must stop the band.

"So it was during this show, I decided that it's over. I was still thinking about everything but I felt that for my future, it was the only logical thing to do. I did not want to fire Timo Kotipelto and Jörg because they are and have been as much part of STRATO as I have been and it would not be fair to the fans. I then decided that it is best to lay rest what is already dead. I informed guys by email in October 2008 about my decision and explained in detail my reasons hoping they would see my points and agree what is real. Only Jens and Lauri answered. Timo Kotipelto and Jörg did not even answer to that mail. Jens understood my decision, Lauri did not. I understand him, he got a taste of what it is to be in a succesful rock band touring the world. It is not easy to give that up. He did fail to see my side of the story. That Timo Kotipelto and Jörg did not comment anything really speaks for itself. I did want to finish the STRATOVARIUS saga with style and naive as I am, in February 2008 I wrote a mail to the band and proposed that we would say goodbye to our fans with style and do one more tour. I won't go into details here, but this time I did get a response from Timo Kotipelto and Jörg. I wished them well and wrote back that I can see there cannot be any more tours with this band because of the hostile reactions. So that was that. I felt good about my decision, but not good that out of legal reasons I have had to wait for this announcement for so long.

"Then I thought that since I have all these great songs in my hands, I wanna put these out somehow. So I contacted a few friends, we laid the basic tracks in the same place where the STRATO 'RR' session had taken place a year ago and it was just flowing. There was happiness. There was energy. The songs sounded great. My friends Michael Kiske and Tobias Sammet agreed to sing on the album. I decided to form a new band called 'REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE' which would continue the legacy of STRATOVARIUS. In this first album I just wanted to release these songs finally so I did not have time to search for a permanent line up. I am now, so if you are interested, drop me a mail!

"The album comes out 6.6.2008 through Frontiers Records.

"I am excited and happy…for the first time in years. I can hardly wait what the destiny has in store for me with my new band, projects, songwriting. I am living a very creative times. I have my production company and I am doing lots of different projects and not only metal but basically anything that moves me.

"First I would like to, despite of all, thank Jörg, Timo Kotipelto, Jens, Jari, Lauri, Tuomo, Antti and Jyrki for these 22 years. It was a quite a ride. I wish Jens, Timo Kotipelto, Jörg and Lauri the very best with whatever they decide to do in their life and success with it.

"Last but most importantly, I want to thank you STRATOVARIUS fans for your love and support and for the great life. We will be seeing each other in some ways, somewhere. You will always remain in my heart."

:/ maybe is a little sad but that was so true the band, their last concerts were a shit maybe one day they can make a reunion and solve everything, and well any album with Sammet and Kiske on it worth hearing.

Trash metallers STONE will back again at the stage for the 20th Celebration of their self titled Debut, at last this is a happy news for me. The band broke up in the earlys 90's, they parts away with diferents proyects, the most active members have been Roope Latvala, and Janne Joutsenniemi. They back again once in 2000 for some successfully summer festivals, after that they said they will never reunite again but well seems they change of mind with the years ;)

the next  was published in Blabbermouth

Finnish speed/thrash metallers STONE will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their legendary self-titled debut by reuniting for a one-off concert at the Sauna Open Air metal festival on June 7 in Tampere, Finland. The band's lineup for the show will be as follows:

Janne Joutsenniemi (bass, vocals)
Roope Latvala (CHILDREN OF BODOM) (guitar)
Markku "Nirri" Niiranen (guitar)
Pekka Kasari (drums)

Commented Janne: "Every once in a while, we would talk about doing one more show and then we kind of noticed that it's been twenty years since the first album... Well, a short time later, while we were celebrating at the Femmagaala (Finnish awards show) we made a decision to go ahead and play this one final concert. We thought that taking part in a festival would be a good way to do it, so we looked around to see if anybody was interested in booking us. Well, Sauna Open Air was immediately enthusiastic about it, so we decided to make it official."

I would like live in finland to see it :P

The past 5th of March took place in Mexico the so called Mandragora fest, one that end in a real controversy. First of what is seems a bad organization and second for some opinion diferences between two bands. The cartel were conformed by 5 local bands plus 5 europen: Atrocity, Clan of Xymox, Lacrimas Profundere and Leaves Eyes as headliner. sadly they could not give their show.

Leaves eyes posted the next statment in his official myspace:

"LEAVES' EYES & ATROCITY are giving more details about the last weekend in Mexico. Alex Krull: "Actually this trip was supposed to be a great start for our new people Nick and Alla for LEAVES' EYES and ATROCITY, moreover, it would have been the live debut for the new ATROCITY songs from the WERK 80 II album. But this time, our trip to Mexico turned out to be ill-fated. Because we were headliners with LEAVES' EYES, we originally were supposed to have our sound-check done one day before the festival. But this never happened."

Dirk Lehberger (Noisegate Productions, tourmanager Leaves' Eyes & Atrocity) states: "The trip to Mexico was a very long and partly exhausting one for all of the bands coming from Europe. On Friday high noon, after the press conference, there was said to be a sound-check, but we were consoled from hour to hour. We finally arrived at the site on Friday night about 09.00 p.m. in order to soundcheck, however, the stage was not even built by then. Even the backline wasn't available at that moment. We had already been speaking to the promoter's representative that evening discussing all the deplorable state of affairs because the stage wasn't safe at all and not appropriate as stage. He told us that in the morning this should be improved and done. Returning at 10.00 am in the morning, this wasn't the case at all." Front of House mixer Arne Lakenmacher declares: "The safety of the whole event wasn't acceptable at all. As we finally arrived in the morning for soundchecking, we noticed that even the entrance to the stage was not secured at all and wobbly. As we walked on the stage I actually managed to break through the rotten stage shelves! It was impossible to think about soundchecking." Dirk Lehberger continues: "It was clear to all of us that the show couldn't take place, for nobody, after this incident concerning Arne and his breaking through of stage. Therefore, we took care in cooperation and approval with our Mexican agent from Dilemma for the safety of the whole event to get a new stage set up which finally was achieved by the local promoter. That's why I was staying the whole afternoon at the festival site to be sure that the new construction of the stage is secure enough for all of the bands. There was no single sight from any of the others who were responsible for the other bands." Stefan Liebhauser (lights): "The stage was a risk to our security, moreover, the electricity wasn't grounded. There was no controllable light mixing desk for me. It was total chaos and without our tour manager Dirk Lehberger, there probably would never have been a show at all."

Dirk Lehberger: "So the whole thing started already with a big delay in the evening because the promised new stage came much too late and it took some more hours to build it up. In order to keep the time schedule at least a little bit we had to adjust the playing times, i.e. all bands would have to play a shorter set, and the running order was modified too. So we discussed all of this together with the Mexican organizer." Alex Krull:" It was clear for most of the bands and a matter of course to play a shorter set, at least we had a secure stage, if not, the whole event would have been cancelled. But all of the bands should have the possibility to perform their set and giving the chance to the Mexican fans to watch all of the bands. So there were five Mexicans bands to play and after that five international bands, LEAVES' EYES and ATROCITY as well as LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE, TO DIE FOR and CLAN OF XYMOX. Of course we cut off some songs from LEAVES' EYES and ATROCITY, too." Dirk Lehberger continues:" I asked Clan of Xymox to cut their set, so that we could get on with the festival. They showed a rude response not willing to listen and to adopt the new plan as all the other bands did." Liv Kristine:" What I experienced last week-end in Mexico really made me feel extremely disappointed and angry. The reason for this is the unbearable behaviour of Clan of Xymox. The band went on stage after the five Mexican bands had played. It was agreed that Lacrimas Profundere was playing next due to their early flight back to Europe. And the worst of all - they needed ages to get ready, although their performance consisted mainly of playbacks and it got later and later." Alex Krull:" This was totally unprofessional, the whole thing that happened. On the one hand they eternally searched for a guitar stand instead of soundchecking and they also had to look for their DAT Recorder which was later on playing "Sequencercheck" for half an hour in loop." Furthermore, the singer from Clan of Xymox also molested people on stage. Nick Barker: "The most incredible thing that happened was that the singer wanted to kick me from stage as I had to adjust some details on my drum kit in the back on our drum riser during their change-over. "Leave MY stage" the guy said, but I didn't allow him to provoke me and just answered: "You are a funny guy"." Dirk Lehberger: "In fact, they really took the wrong slot, Lacrimas Profundere should have played instead due to the danger of missing their flight back home! So time was really short. After them it was Atrocity and then Leaves' Eyes to play as well as the other bands."

Alex Krull: "That was a real joke as I talked to Clan of Xymox that it should be Lacrimas Profundere to play next because they had to fly back home. They answered that they don't care at all what's happening to the other bands and the festival itself. They said they don't care that the Mexican bands had already cut their sets before them! I haven't seen such an uncooperative attitude for a long time, to be honest! Instead they continued insulting the Mexican organizer as well as our tour manager." Dirk Lehberger: "So Clan of Xymox started to play and just didn't care. They were running over time a lot, therefore I, upon agreement with the Mexican organizer, had to take care that they would have to stop in order to be able to continue the festival." Before that, Clan of Xymox disobeyed to all endeavours from the responsible Mexican persons to fulfil their running time. Alex Krull: "The Mexicans desperately tried to inform the singer and Clan of Xymox to act in accordance with the time schedule. But this guy wasn't interested at all. He tried to make a show out of it in a totally embarrassing and egomaniac way, totally aware of the fact and danger that the whole event is tilting. He provoked more or less that the sound would be turned off! It's his own fault, he should try to do something like this on one of the big European festivals. The security would immediately prevent him from posing the big Rockstar and kick him from stage! If you take into account that the whole event was so much delayed and another European band had to be at the airport in time, then this behaviour is totally not understandable and stupid!" Liv Kristine: "The singer showed a clearly agressive behaviour before, during and after the show, showing his middle finger repeatedly to everybody around himself. As Clan of Xymox were told that they had to leave stage by one of the local stage crew persons, the singer told everybody to "fuck off", showing his middle-finger again. Leaving stage, the bass-player told me to "fuck off" as I was waiting next to stage, without having said a single word. I'd been dressing up in the van because there was no decent backstage and so I just waited at the side of the stage!" Meanwhile the singer from Clan of Xymox tried to instigate the audience against all other bands and appealed for boycotting the festival. Liv:" A few minutes later the singer finally left stage and slashed at everybody waiting next to stage, moreover, he kept screaming "Nazis" at all of us!!" Dirk Lehberger: "This completely uncooperative attitude of the band and the instigation of the audience against the other bands and the appeal of boycotting the festival isn't a correct thing to do and it puts the audience, the bands and everybody else involved in danger. We felt the effects of this as several things were thrown on stage, for myself I did get hit by a big chunk of ice in my back."

Thomas Rhobatsch (Stagetech and Monitors): „One bottle of water just flew by about five centimeters away from my head. If it would have hit me, the show would have been over for me." Alex Krull:" That guy from Clan of Xymox behaved like a complete idiot, I can't say this in any other words! He told the audience a bunch of shit and instigated the people senselessly. As I noticed that he insulted us as nazis in front of the audience and backstage, I took him to task. Now he insulted me as "Scheiß' Deutscher (fucking German)", "Deutsches Nazischwein (German nazi pig)" and "Du bist ein Scheiß' Nazi (you are a fucking nazi)", he was wide of the mark! Meanwhile his German band members and crew had gathered around and at first they couldn't believe what this scatterbrain was talking about. I don't think anybody must tolerate something like this but I kept a cool head like the rest of us. But this guy didn't stop insulting us as "Scheiß' Deutsche (fucking Germans)" and "Nazis" which is utter mockery because I heard from their bass player which rampaged around as well that both of them are living in Germany. That's the biggest joke of all! I was going mad! What was the problem of that guy, it must be a serious one! If I would be a German band or crewmember, I would immediately pack my stuff and leave! I wouldn't make a fool of myself for such a dump ass idiot. It was also terrible the way this guy tried to instigate the audience after their show and telling them only stupid things. Such behaviour is irresponsible and inexcusable. Even to fancy oneself if people start screaming „Xymox" isn't just totally stupid and ridiculous; it is just shabby! I want to emphasize that later on, people were screaming for the other bands too!" Liv Kristine: "I've never seen any behaviour of this kind throughout my whole career. Leaves' Eyes, our crew, and even the crew on Xynmox are shocked, they couldn't believe their own eyes and ears! I really see that it is necessary to warn promotors and other bands about this band. This kind of sabotage is not acceptable!" Dirk Lehberger: "All the other people involved had to fight with the same organizational deficiencies. Such an attitude just isn't tolerable!"

Unfortunately not all problems were solved right then. There already emerged heavy problems during the changeover to Atrocity. Thomas Robatsch: "Basically we didn't get the 230 Voltage on the location as requested. The ordered Voltage Regulator wasn't traceable as well. Because there was no soundcheck, we couldn't check all the things properly. Both amps, Matze's and Tosso's, dropped out completely. The Floor Pad which Tosso had lent was also shut down because of the voltage relations. Nick's drumtrigger module didn't get the full voltage and didn't function properly! Due to the fact that the stage wasn't grounded we got several electric shocks!! So there was no operational safety right from the start and normally I wouldn't let anybody on stage under these circumstances. It was surely due to this agitational story of the support band that several things got thrown on stage during the changeover." As finally at 1 a.m. Atrocity wanted to enter the stage despite all the problems, the complete power turned out still unanswered till now why it happened. The stage, lights and PA were out of power. All people have stayed in total darkness for almost an hour. The irritated audience started to throw things on stage, lighting fires and heavily chanting. Thomas Robatsch: "As finally the crowd was even more heated up by the power loss they threw again bottles, stones and even burning wood… Some stones hit Nick's cymbals and later on during load out I found pieces of burned wood on the drum pads." After connecting an emergency power generator, the next bitter surprise turned up. Dirk Lehberger: "Due to the power loss right before the show start another part of the equipment which is necessary for the show was hosed and not useable any more. Finally this forced us to cancel the show."

Alex decided to enter the stage to say it directly to the fans and to talk to the disappointed fans. All fans had been waiting and as Alex entered the stage they started chanting "Atrocity". They still had hope that the show is ready to start now. Alex: "It was a very bitter moment. You are waiting the whole time that it's going to begin. You think you went through all technical and organizational problems, the stage is walkable, the rockstar band before us is away from stage, and then something like this happens. So you have to go on stage facing the people who were expecting a show and who were partly really frustrated by all this mess, telling them that you can't play. The people already started cheering and then I had to announce that the equipment doesn't work anymore and therefore we can't play. In the beginning not even the microphone was working and so me, and my translator had to shout into the audience in order to understand what I was saying. Most of them understood why we couldn't play. Of course they were disappointed but they saw what was happening and what went wrong until the final and fatal power loss. Some screamed that we should perform some a capella tunes. So Liv and me spontaneously did something together with our Mexican fans. At least we could give some autographs afterwards, clarify things and speaking personally to some of the fans. We will try to return to Mexico as fast as possible to recompense for this story for our fans, we were as much disappointed as you. Many thanx for your support!"

is strange for me this situation ive kwon that promoter company as one of the most respetable and serious companies  :S And well Clan of Xymox response to this with the next statment also posted in their oficial myspace page

"Back From Mandragora Fest Clan Of Xymox just returned back from the Mandragora Fest in Mexico which was plagued with chaos and confusion from day one. Although the organization did try to do their best to make all things happening , the control over the whole event was far from ideal. We have to make some kind of statement as the message boards are full with accounts of the event: Clan Of Xymox was booked as the headliner of the festival but since the band was told the scheduled Headline slot would be at 4.00 am Clan Of Xymox chose for a time around 23.00 in the evening. Unfortunately the organization did not communicate too well ( or not at all) with all the acts / or their managers present and confusion reigned in the camps. Clan Of Xymox started roughly on time ( with the help of only one present stage manager). When Clan Of Xymox was well into the set the manager of Atrocity displayed an atrocious ,despicable , unprofessional and self important behavior by pulling plugs and switching off the monitor system, causing Clan Of Xymox to have to leave the stage since there was no security on the side of the stage to keep these kind of people away. Ronny & Mojca displayed their dismay on stage about this sabotage and their fans picked up on it immediately by showing their support by shouting as loud as possible Xymox, Xymox, Xymox !!! (Clan Of Xymox wishes to thank all the fans in Mexico for showing such a heart warming support throughout the event and will remember that for ever) . In the end it all backfired on the Atrocity and Leaves Eye who could not play because of an angry mob throwing anything at them they could grab , making clear they wanted to see the rest of the set of Clan Of Xymox and not them. If these bands ( or rogue manager) would not have interfered with the scheme of things the Mexican audience would have a great festival and would have had respect. It is a real shame. A better organizational structure for the event would have been highly recommendable for a festival with so many bands. There were no guidelines, rosters , schedules , stage managers ,security, etc., so any one could do whatever and interpret all what they wanted , like this said manager. Thanks to our audience who mainly came to see Clan Of Xymox displayed their loyalty towards Clan Of Xymox and let their support loudly heard 2 hours before they arrived , during the show and after Clan Of Xymox left the stage till 4.00 in the morning the shouting for Clan Of Xymox was heard loud and clear. Xymox , Xymox! Despite the great stage and setting there was a lack of any qualified personnel to let this festival go smoothly and it is this that doomed the festival. If it was a tight scheduling with security to keep egotistical so called tour managers away all would have gone smoothly and the audience would have had their full festival's worth. So far we haven't received any word from the organization or apology for letting these things happen or grow out of control or any explanation for that matter. We sincerely hope they will learn from this event for ( if any) newly planned festival. Clan Of Xymox will look into another concert date in Mexico to give their loyal fans what they came for in the first place on this festival , a great show and a full set with encores... Clan Of Xymox wish to thank all of the Mexican audience who already gave their warm messages and support to the band on My-space and the message boards. Thank you so much again for standing by us! Also respect to the band To Die For !"

Truth is i really dont know about the facts. There are a lot of opposite opinions about what happend there, some supporting Leaves Eyes/Atrocity version, some others supporting Clan of Xymox and others the promoters. I saw Leaves eyes two years ago in my city, during last metal fest, exelent show that sadly also ends for a technic problem with their equipment( i really listen it was for a technic problem :/) and they tried to continued but it dont works so Liv sang a little a capella before left the stage(but the time was good used by Vainglory to steal atention in the second stage) but i didnt saw a bad attitud from Leaves Eyes and they were 2nd band in main stage, but is true i cant made a formal opinion about Clan of Xymox beacuse i didnt know the band, it was 1st time i hear of them...anyway the festival went bad and end worst , and thought the true will be in the opnion in all the participants, bands, promoters and audience.

Leaves Eyes

Clan of Xymox

Sorry for the late review…I was far from my computer to write about it. But well at last here it is

Friday 22^nd, the so hoped day at last arrived. After 10 year without no visit this city Iron Maiden back with their tour “Somewhere Back in Time 2008” arrived at the airport at the four o’clock in the morning after the first concert in Mexico in Guadalajara a night before. Of course at that hour I was in hope sleeping well, to be ready for the concert.

Picture of Dickinson during Gdl Concert 

Iron Maiden Airplane pics:

During the morning news I could see how important the concert was, local television made coverage of everything about it, they went to interview some fans who slept outside the Arena to be the first in the row and get a good place in front of the stage, some of them arrived there 2 days before the concert. Of course I couldn’t do that, job first L (thanx to my friends to keep a place for me ;)    

The first fans waiting for the concert
 

Well how the time advanced my desperation for run to the concert made more big ha, 10 minutes after 6 I asked my boss to go, and she said yes so I thanked and run away, another mate took me to the arena and there I was running side to side to find my friends, I kept with me the tickets of 2 of them, I had 2 very bad days with technology so I couldn’t call any of my friend to find them...weird! I was little desperated ha-ha but all of sudden I saw a familiar face and I shouted her! There was Nora and with her the rest of our group, but one was missing, and again I start with my desperation to find her and give her the ticket, she didn’t arrived and the doors were open(little open just one person went through it) and the race to the door access started, some photographers captured the run. After a complete revision by security guards wait for our friend and say good bye to all the stuffs like lighters cigarettes and chains we down to the ground to find the right place to see the concert, we lost some of our friend and well my high is not favorable so I went to left side of the stage in front of part of the audio J we had a good view and also we can see both screens.

The daughter of Steve Harris, Lauren opened what we all know will be a fucking great night, she was not bad,  but She was not what ppl wait for a heavy metal concert, anyway we felt so glad to make any reject for her music, at least I was happy dancing a little, some guys were screaming for her beauty, I did it for her guitar player ;). After 5 songs thought the band say good bye to the crowd and went off the stage.

More wait…staff got ready the stage and went off...music and more wait…some lights turned off ppl screamed...but nothing happened yet, a guy dressed like Eddie appread between us and passed away after took a pic with my friend..some minutes more and all of sudden we were in completely darkness when Winston Churchill speech sound in the place! The moment was that! Aces High notes filled the Arena where more that 11 000 persons were driving crazy! I felt so excited I was waiting for it so much! I hugged my friend, and we started with our headbang, and jump and sings. Nothing then couldn’t ruin my night! Adrian and Dave were on our side of stage playing but many times Steve, Bruce and Gers came to cheer us up...more! The concert hadn’t any lazy moment, any song selected in the set list was special for the ppl there, and more coz all of them were 80’s hits! The first thing Dickinson told us was he felt so glad to play here and that it will be a great night, he didn’t lie! Jesus I couldn’t help myself! I almost cried because a light that left me blind when a very energetic Dickinson climbed in the audio equipment in front of us in the middle of Run to the hills (I don’t know why but is my favorite). The stage for the concert was inspired in powerslave album also promotional was like that.  After 2 minutes to midnight, Revelation started and Dickinson fluttered the Britannic flag dressed like soldier. I cant said what moment was better it was just amazing and I couldn’t fell more gladder. Another good moment was when Dickinson said people is great to be here and after ppl chanted in unison “Oe Oe Oe Oeee Maiden” J the band locked impressed in that moment and Dickinson stand up and walked a little to the crowd turn his head side to side, to see first his band mates who couldn’t hide the smile and also to hear our chant.

Dickinson in action!

Red light invaded the place for number of the best! ppl went Crazy again! me too...During the song powerslave the band left a fans group go up to the stage to sing with them, some of them winners of an internet contest, the moment of their lifes O_O . The Eddie of somewhere in time album went to the stage and whit his red eyes and gun aimed us and left us with no breath for the song Iron Maiden. Whit that song the band left the stage and gave the time for more screams, chants and ppl asked for more! And then they back to play 3 songs more! After Hallowed by the name we all know it was the end! Happy enough for a night we never wanted end!

 Vivan los Maiden :)

Set List of the concert