Too Heavy to Hug #627

Welcome to THTH, Forte’s premier source of all things heavy, hard, fast and metal.
With only a week between columns not much has happened in the metal world in the past seven days. Considering every single f*cker who claims to be a metal writer (me included) is gearing up to out metal, out hipster, out obscure, generally out-do everyone else with their list of best metal albums of 2015, there isn’t even much to report on about what’s being reported about. And when there’s no news you have to search for it, or make it up:
The rumour has been confirmed as true by Kirk Hammett that members of Metallica discussed firing Lars Ulrich, back in the ’80s. Yep, that’s the news and it’s true. News some 30 years old is news.
Oh, here’s some more news. Tool’s Adam Jones says the band is currently working on new material and they might have material for 20 potential song ideas. This news is about 9 years old, this band have been working on their follow up to their last album pretty much after that album dropped.
From old news to new news, Philip Anselmo is working on yet another new musical project. I say musical because he’s always going on about doing shit to do with wrestling? I don’t know. But yeah, this new project is a death metal band by the name of Metraton Nganga. No shit. What’s odd is this guy has a truck load of projects all kinda on the go at once; Down, Superjoint (Ritual? Not anymore apparently), some black metal band called Scour, and I dunno probable more too. Oh, yeah the Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, how could I forget that one? The thing is, if you’re going to try to do a whole bunch of projects, at least have one of them that’s really kick arse, in this case Down. Tick. Next, ditch the rest of the shitty projects so you don’t embarrass yourself by releasing the likes of that horrendous, god awful Walk Through Exits Only pile of shit. Cross.
In other news
Congratulations to King Parrot for being nominated for the 11th AMP (Australian Music Prize) Award. Each year an Australian artist or group of artists is awarded The AMP, any artist has the opportunity to be shortlisted and potentially to win – regardless of record sales, genre, level of public recognition or record label affiliation. The winner will be announced in January 2016.
Nightwish will play only one show per capital city on their Endless Forms Most Beautiful Tour 2016 and the Melbourne show will be at The Forum Theatre on Monday January 11.
Soundwave 2016 will be held on Thursday January 26. Bands announced thus far are Disturbed, The Prodigy, Deftones, NOFX, Bullet For My Valentine, Public Enemy, Soulfly, L7, Frenzal Rhomb, Lordi, Moose Blood, Dead Letter Circus, Refused, Failure, Northlane, Bring Me The Horizon, Devil You Know, Hatebreed, Frnkiero and the Cellabration, Killswitch Engage, Ill Nino and Metal Allegiance.
Between The Buried And Me will play 170 Russell on Monday February 29.
Iron Maiden will be flying into Oz on their Ed Force One (piloted, of course by Bruce Dickinson). Melbourne’s show will be at Rod Laver on Saturday May 9.
If you have any news about local metal bands, shows or albums, let THTH know by emailing to [email protected] or get in touch via Twitter at @TooHeavyToHug
Written by Paul S Taylor