German Hardrockers BERSERKER will donate 18.000€ to the Berlin cancer charity for children on May 25. November 2011 BERSERKER front man Schröder was diagnosed with cancer, now he is cancer-free. In 2012 the band collected money for this charity at their concerts and will also continue to do so in the future. Slayer´s Jeff Hanneman is dead: he passed away at about 11AM on May 2nd near his Southern California home because of liver failure due to an infection after a spider bite. More info: www.facebook.com/slayer
R.I.P. Jeff! Festivals cancelled: ROCK AM SEE (GER) takes a break in 2013 "lacking attractive headliners"; BURNING SEA in Croatia had to succumb to a new tax regulation; yet purchased BS-tickets can also be used to visit METALDAYS in Slowenia.
The Siberian Jay music video "I´m Holding" featuring Mikko Sirén from Apocalyptica on drums - we reported about the videoshoot in our "1h with" Special - can be watched here: http://youtu.be/C-hSNurZVcs
Those who visit Wacken Open Air regularly might already know the Israeli band Hammercult. In the year 2011, they won the Metal Battle newcomer competition at the WOA. As we can now hear, it was not only due to their exotic origin (for a Metal band) but also due to their raw power and high energy. The band takes no prisoners, the songs are really kicking ass and you must bang your head from the first second on. Their highspeed Thrash Metal is combined with some fragments of Death Metal, what makes it sound a bit like Legion of the Damned. Even if the music really shakes your bones (especially live), something is still missing. Due to a lack of variation concerning speed and rhythm, it is very difficult to distinguish between separate song parts. Most of the choruses and hooklines are not catchy enough to stay in your mind. But all in all, it is a good entry with some room for improvement. Keep on rockin, guys!
