BAY AREA METAL CARES \m/

On Friday, January 17th, Robb Flynn of Machine Head, Craig Locicero of Forbidden and Spiralarms as well as members of Metallica, Testament, Exodus, Slayer, Death Angel and more will be performing Black Sabbath tunes. This night is to help Bay Area metal friend Nikki Davis who was severely injured and lost her husband Jeff Davis in a terrible motorcycle accident. 

You may also donate directly to Nikki's Paypal account at: help_jeff_n_nikki_d@yahoo.com

For those who can't attend the concert, donations can be made to Nikki's PayPal account at help_jeff_n_nikki_d@yahoo.com.
Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-slayer-machine-head-exodus-members-to-perform-at-robb-flynn-friends-benefit-concert/#PHv5g0b7xhksGMLS.99

For those who can't attend the concert, donations can be made to Nikki's PayPal account at help_jeff_n_nikki_d@yahoo.com.
Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-slayer-machine-head-exodus-members-to-perform-at-robb-flynn-friends-benefit-concert/#PHv5g0b7xhksGMLS.99

For those who can't attend the concert, donations can be made to Nikki's PayPal account at help_jeff_n_nikki_d@yahoo.com.
Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-slayer-machine-head-exodus-members-to-perform-at-robb-flynn-friends-benefit-concert/#PHv5g0b7xhksGMLS.99

Tickets are available here:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17TH OAKLAND METRO

ACRASSICAUDA-Make or Break It Tour 2011

Acrassicauda, the first metal band out of Iraq, is on their second part of touring the United States right now. I had an opportunity to talk a bit to the bass player Firas and later a video interview with Firas and the drummer Marwan. Their music is amazing as well as their courageous fight to get out of Iraq as seen in Vice Magazine's 2007 rockumentary Heavy Metal in Baghdad.

HJB: Hey Firas how has touring in the US been going so far for you guys?

Firas: Good but exhausting but I love it cuz this is what I want is to be on the road and meet new people and play my music.

HJB: Speaking of meeting new people, who are some of the bands you've been performing with? I imagine you have discovered some great ones. (By the way, the band who is supporting you in San Francisco is Yeibichai and it includes the former drummer of Death Angel-Andy Galeon, this will be so fun).

Firas: Well if I could say that every band that we have shared the stage with is great and playing with Yeibichai will be fun ..

HJB: Who are some of the bands who have been an inspiration to you?

Firas: Well as a band we have a long list of people and bands who have inspired us like Metallica, Testament, Slayer, Over Kill, Death and the list keep going cuz the more we live the more we see

Firas Alateef

HJB: Can you tell me something about your latest EP, 'Only the Dead See the End of the War'?

Firas: Wait a minute are we doing the interview now .. lol

HJB: Yes, ha ha! Is this okay? If you want to change your answers, too late! Just kidding. I thought it would be good to ask some questions now and we can do a group video interview on Friday too :)

Firas: Its ok, well this ep means alot to us but its not all what we had yet we have more coming and we can do the video later

HJB: I love the Garden of Stones video. What inspired this song? And tell me about the making of the video.

Firas: Well I will tell u when I get there

HJB: Okay. I saw the video of James Hetfield meeting 3 of you after a show. He handed one of you a guitar. Was that you? The look on your face is AWESOME :)

Marwan Hussein

Firas: The guitar was James' guitar and he gave it to our vocal Faisal Talal and that was one of the best times ever ..

HJB: His eyes were so big!! I loved it!! I can imagine how great that must have felt! Well I am very happy that you are coming to San Francisco! I hope you like our city!
Firas: Ya we r happy too that we will get to play in San Francisco and will love the city. I bet that we love the city from what I heard its a nice city

HJB: It's very foggy! I hope you guys will be warm enough. San Francisco and the bay area is the home to so much great metal, we are very glad to have Acrassicauda visit!

For more info about Acrassicauda please check out their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/acrassicauda and myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/wwwacrassicaudas5com

"METALUSION" Glen Drover's new solo album!

I was able to enjoy Glen Drover's guitar skills live when he performed with Testament the New Year's Eve before last in San Francisco. What a great night!! And now he has a new solo album out, METALUSION on Magna Carta Records. This is what he had to say about it . . .

HJB: Congratulations on the launch of your new album METALUSION!! I love it but you have been hearing that ALOT. How do you feel about how it's being received so far?

Glen Drover: All is good. Reviews have been great so I'm very happy.

HJB: Tell me about the evolution of the album. Who are some of the people you collaborated with?

Glen: It started with an idea I had after leaving Megadeth. I wanted to do something more instrumental and dynamic. I spoke with a drummer friend of mine, Chris Sutherland about this idea and he was really excited about getting involved. Chris recommended Jim Gilmour from the band Saga for keys and a buddy of his, Paul Yee, who is an incredible bass player, I must say. We then started the whole thing by doing a few covers to see how we all sounded together. After completing the covers and being really happy with the end result, we then decided to make an album. We also had a few guests on the album: Jeff Loomis, Chris Poland, Vinnie Moore, Steve Smyth and Fredrik Akesson.

HJB: Which track is your favorite or the one that surprised you the most by the way it turned out?

Glen: Probably the first track, Ground Zero. I wasn't sure how that one would turn out. In the end, its one of my favs on the album.

HJB: [I'm listening to it now, it's my favorite also. I put it on at work when I want to block everything out, it takes me away, well alot of the songs do!] What were some of the challenges involved?

Glen: Thats cool! I would say some of the issues would be production. I'm very critical of that stuff. The mixing and mastering process, that is.

As far as recording, it was lots of fun. Working with great musicians just makes the whole process very enjoyable!

HJB: Do you have any plans on touring?

Glen: Not yet, but we all want to play! This lineup of players would be good live. We have a good chemistry. I'm sure something will come up for us very soon as far as playing live.

HJB: You guys need to come to SF right away :o). Do you have any advice for anyone who is thinking about trying to do a solo album?

Glen: Be true to yourself when you write . Don't be a follower. We have too much of that these days. We need artists to come out with something fresh.

HJB: Words of wisdom!! I read that you give online lessons? How does that work?

Glen: The online lessons have been great. Very simple process. All you have to do is download skype from www.skype.com. It's free and super easy to use. You will need a webcam and a paypal account. Its $100 for four 30min lessons, which will happen the same time every week. For serious inquiries, email me at gdlessons@gmail.com.

HJB: How awesome would that be to get lessons from Glen Drover! Thank you Glen!!!

METALUSION is available now, go support your local music store and buy it!

Julz Ramos of HATCHET "Attack is Imminent"!

Julz Ramos of Northern California's Thrash Metal prodigy HATCHET gave us the latest on what's around the corner for these talented guys.

HJB: Hey Julz! How have things been going? What's going on with HATCHET?

JULZ: Things are actually going pretty well right now. We have some solid newer members, a good solid set of shows coming up for early 2011, and we've been working with some great people on getting the new hatchet material to some people that can actually do some things for us. So hopefully we get some things solidified here in the early to mid 2011.

We were stoked to share the stage with Heathen on Feb 4th and also coming up with Glen Alvelais' new band LD/50 on March 4th. Glad to be De-Christening the MADHOUSE and seeing it come alive into a metal haven.

HJB: We are all so glad too!!!! Thank you for being a part of it!!

So the first time I saw HATCHET was a couple of years ago at Thee Parkside in San Francisco. I assumed you guys were from the city, but when and where did you guys start? And tell us more about the newer guys.

JULZ: We first started back in 2006 as most metal bands do in a garage playing Metallica and Slayer covers, getting the cops called on us and all that. We were a completely different band back then as far as members, experience and just all around.

As of now I have moved to Vocals/Guitar since the departure of our former vocalist and after trying numerous people and not finding the right fit musically and personality wise, I stepped into the role.
As for the newer guys they are actually guys from the local scene. Jon Fryman has been a member of FOG OF WAR since the band started, and with him on hiatus from that, it was a "must" move to ask him. Travis Russey has also been in a slew of metal bands around the scene, most formally Zombie Holocaust. He is also a great new addition to the band and I must say the group is tighter than ever in many ways.

HJB: You guys just did that Madhouse show with Heathen & Skitzo recently, what other bands have you played with and who would be your ultimate band to tour with?

JULZ: The Heathen show was great. The club is cool and I’m glad we have another spot to do metal shows at. Good high stage, an upstairs area....My only wish is that it will turn to all ages. I think that place would explode!!!

We have played with countless bands...Locally FOG OF WAR, DEVASTATOR, ZH, DEKAPITATOR (RIP), HEATHEN, FORBIDDEN, TOXIC HOLOCAUST etc...

As for ultimate band to tour with I'd have to say TESTAMENT. They are one of if not my personal biggest influence in writing Hatchet material. They just have such a unique vibe to them.

HJB: YES!! TESTAMENT & HATCHET!!! I wanna go to that show! Speaking of shows...tell us you next upcoming shows.

JULZ: Well I just heard that we are gonna be supporting LAZZ ROCKIT & HEATHEN June 4th @ the Avalon Ballroom. Which I'm completely stoked for. And it’s gonna be ALL AGES!!!! WE also have our second run at MADHOUSE coming up March 4th and March 26 a good ole fashioned Thrash Fest at Gilman with Witchaven + Killbot!!!

So we are on a roll....

HJB: Thank you Julz!! I'm looking forward to seeing HATCHET again soon!!!

For more information go to Hatchet's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/hatchetofficial  

Hatchet's Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/hatchet2006

Also please come check out Hatchet with LD/50, Severed Fifth & Something Left Unsaid on Friday, March 4th at MADHOUSE: http://www.madhouseevents.com/

Hatchet "Attack is Imminent" 2/4/11by John Ryus

A few minutes with Paul Bostaph

This is one of my favorite experiences in music journalism. I was able to catch Testament's drummer at Slim's, 9/12/2008, when he sat in for his former band Forbidden. Paul Bostaph has also been in Slayer and Exodus.

Thank you John Ryus for filming this one and thank you Paul Bostaph for taking the time to chat ;o)

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE YOUTUBE VIDEO