Photo by Chris Konigsmayr Papa Roach may not have been able to cut their summer and fall tour plans short, but the band is ready to bring you a special show this afternoon (Oct. 23), and you can watch it live. The group has teamed with YouTube for a live performance and question and answer session and you can watch it in the video below. It’ll mark the band’s first performance since singer Jacoby Shaddix underwent vocal surgery several weeks ago. Shaddix says, “As you know we had to pull off the Uproar Tour because I had to go get vocal surgery , so we were really bummed out about that and we wanted to do something special for the fans out there, so we partnered up with YouTube and we’re gonna perform live on YouTube.com.” The event takes place today (Oct. 23) at 5PM ET/2PM PT. Shaddix adds, “We’ll be playing a bunch of new songs, answering your questions, so if you’ve got questions, leave them in the comment box and we’ll be sure to try and get to as many of those as we can.” Papa Roach announced the event earlier this month, and a number of fans who signed up to attend will be there in person to catch the band’s live performance. The group is promoting their latest disc, ‘ The Connection .’ It’s already spawned the hit single ‘ Still Swingin ,’ plus the standout track ‘ Before I Die ‘ is beginning to get some attention, as well. Loudwire is offering fans the chance to win an autographed copy of ‘The Connection’ CD + a signed mini Louisville Slugger baseball bat, too. Enter below for your chance to win: Watch Papa Roach’s YouTube Session [Starts at 5PM ET / 2PM PT] ? Papa Roach Autographed Prize Pack Enter your e-mail address below for a chance to win an autographed copy of Papa Roach’s new CD ‘The Connection,’ as well as a signed mini Louisville Slugger ‘Still Swingin’ baseball bat. Contest ends Nov. 17, 2012. Click here for official rules . By entering this contest, you will receive email newsletters from Loudwire. You may unsubscribe at any time. Email
Photo Credit: Julien Etienne Onielar (pictured far left, above) may be the most terrifying female metal frontwoman on the planet. As a member of German black metal band Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult, Onielar packs a sharp vocal style along with solid guitar work and an unnerving stage presence. Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult formed in 1997, with Yvonne ‘Onielar’ Wilczynska having fronted the band since the beginning. If you were to play the group’s music for an unknowing listener, there is no way they’d recognize Onielar as a female vocalist, but with the aid of Onielar as the face of the band, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult has succeeded at becoming a force in the underground black metal scene. Out of the four full-length albums and various splits the band has released, their 2004 record, ‘Nocturnal March’ is arguably their most noteworthy. The self-released album contains some serious black metal gems such as ‘Chronicler of Chaos,’ ‘Scaffold Salvation’ and ‘The Dead Hate the Living.’ The velocity and precision of the band is paramount when compared to their contemporaries, stitching together elements of speed metal within their evil attack. Check out this video of Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult playing ‘The Dead Hate the Living’ live and gain an discover Onielar’s barbaric intensity for yourselves. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/cerebral-bore-simone-som-pluijmers-brutal-female-metal-vocalists/” title=”Next Female Vocalist: Far From ‘Bore’ing” align=”center”] Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult, ‘The Dead Hate the Living’ (Live)
Rick Diamond, Getty Images With the presidential election just over two weeks away, Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready has teamed up with filmmaker Jesse Dylan in a video encouraging people to vote only for Congressional candidates that support the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare (watch below). In the video, McCready voices his support for the Affordable Care Act because of his personal experience in dealing with pre-existing conditions. McCready suffers from Crohn’s Disease. “Before the Affordable Care Act, people with conditions like mine could be denied coverage. I know. I was denied twice, even being a member of a famous rock band,” said McCready. “The people who don’t have those kind of resources, they are stuck, they have no choices. But now, we can’t be denied insurance because of something we can’t change—our illnesses. We have choices, we can be insured, and we can focus on having a life.” The two also have issued a joint statement about the issue. Part of the letter explains why they support the Affordable Care Act: “The insurance industry’s structure left 129 million Americans – including 17 million children – at risk of being denied health insurance because they have a pre-existing medical condition. Millions of Americans tried to buy health care, but were turned away or charged more because they were sick (or had been sick), and therefore didn’t look like a good risk. Millions more Americans were unable to afford insurance, or exceeded their lifetime treatment caps, or experienced other difficulties that left them uninsured and without access to affordable health care when they needed it most. Business isn’t a bad thing. But the business of health insurance hasn’t been a good thing in America. Not for anyone with a chronic illness, or with a spouse who got sick and lost their job, or for a gravely ill child and his or her parents. President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) recognized these shortcomings and rectified them. ObamaCare does for health care what business could not or would not; it prohibits discrimination against those of us with pre-existing conditions. It ensures everyone, regardless of their employment status or health care situation, access to quality insurance and medical care. Everyone. Period.” McCready has started a petition on SignOn.org where people can join him to pledge their vote for candidates that support the Affordable Care Act. Watch Mike McCready in the Video ‘Life Is a Pre-Existing Condition’
Victory Records Swedish metal band Sister Sin are gearing up for the release of their new album ‘Now and Forever.’ The band is also set to invade the United States by supporting Doro on a string of dates next year. When we recently had the opportunity to chat with Sister Sin singer Liv Jagrell, she spoke candidly about the new album ‘Now and Forever’ ( available here ) and how the band has fought tooth and nail to make it in the music business for almost a decade. In addition, Jagrell dished on women in metal today, as well as why she thinks so much good music keeps coming out of Sweden. Check out our exclusive interview with Liv Jagrell of Sister Sin below: What does the album title ‘Now and Forever’ mean to you? The title ‘Now and Forever’ is kind of a statement for us as a band. As a band and as individuals we have been through quite a lot of things, a lot of troubles and things that might break up bands but we’re so dedicated to this band. So that’s the title – we are here now and hopefully forever. We won’t give up even if something goes wrong – it’s tough to be in the music business today. Sister Sin have been a strong unit for a decade, for you what keeps the band going, secret to your longevity? Yes it’s been almost a decade at least for me and Dave [Sunberg] the drummer because we started the band from the beginning and yeah it’s kind of a decade now – that’s a long time. It’s really hard today with the business, there’s so many bands, so much competition out there, no money whatsoever and all the things with downloads – I mean it could be could but also bad, depending on how you look at it. When I started to play music at 15, the music business and scene was totally different and you could actually make money from it. When I was 15, I just decided, “I’m going to play music my whole life and I’m going to be a rock star” — that kind of attitude. So I spent all 15 years to convince myself that that’s the only thing I will ever, ever do so that’s why I can’t give up because I programmed my brain to believe that I will do this forever. I think that’s why we don’t give up and why sometimes other bands do – they find other opportunities and other things they love too, they have something else you actually can do and you’ll probably do that because that will make you money and a better living. If you just prepare your whole life to be in the music business and tell yourself “This is what I’m going to do, I’m not going to do anything else” it’s kind of foolish and childish but in that way you just can’t give up. People of course give up and I’m not saying I’m not going to do it years from now but right now I still feel like I have to fight for that dream that I had as a teenager. Obviously we all have gained a lot and experienced so much but we’re still a little bit far away that whole kind of – living with the music or for the music thing – close but still far away. [Laughs] I think that’s what drives us. What have you learned being in a band for almost 10 years that you didn’t know at the start of the journey? I’ve learned very much. [Laughs] I’ve learned that I love to be on tour and I love to be onstage and I only feel that I am myself. I’m one hundred percent Liv when I’m onstage. I feel that’s the only time I’m just me. I’ve also learned that I thought it would be ten times easier and I thought it would be not as hard as it is. Of course I want people to fight and live for their dream but they have to understand that the dream comes with a lot of sacrifice and I don’t think people understand really how much being in a band, how much sacrifice comes with being in a band. If you can do the sacrifice then you should be in a band because when you’re onstage, when you tour, when you record your songs it’s the best thing in the world, absolutely the best feeling in the world. What is your opinion on the way women in heavy metal are viewed today? Today is very much better than when I started, I’m very happy that I can see the progress. There are more women, more girls feel that they can take a spot in the metal scene – I didn’t really feel that when I started. There was this all girl Swedish band called Strange Stockholm and when I saw them I was like “If they can do it, I can do it too.” Before that I had Courtney Love but that’s not metal but I thought Courtney Love was really cool – she played the guitar and she was just a very outstanding person. Strange Stockholm was metal and it was an awakening that I could do this if I really want to – so for me that was the big thing when I discovered them and after that I just tried to push my way into the metal scene. I think it’s easier today, I hope it’s easier today – in Stockholm today we have a lot of female-fronted bands or all girl bands. I hope the girls today feel like they have people to look up to and I hope I can be one of them. I discovered Doro later, maybe 22 so when I was 15 I didn’t know much girls in metal. You did a cover of a Motorhead tune, what is another band you would like to cover that you haven’t yet. There are so many, I so love Twisted Sister. I really wanted to cover a Twisted Sister song but not their most known songs maybe some of the least known but a Twisted Sister song that would be really fun to do. Sometimes it’s better to think outside a little bit and not choose the very normal suggestion, people tell us all the time “You should do a Motley Crue cover or you should do a Judas Priest” but that’s kind of too easy. Sometimes it’s fun to find those diamonds somewhere in a song that people don’t know so much with a band – maybe that’s not even metal but you can make it your own. Many talented bands have come out of your home country of Sweden like In Flames, Opeth, Arch Enemy just to name a few. What do you think it is about all of this music coming out of Sweden that has such a broad appeal to people internationally? I think it could be two things, the first is that Sweden has always been a very good country when it comes to music – from when we’re a child we have opportunites to get into music school for free or for a very small fee at least when I grew up, I know it’s kind of changing now because we have another political power right now. When I grew up they would try to get kids into artistic things like music or theater stuff like that, it was that or sports. So you either get good at sports or music or art and drama so that’s why I think many people are very good musicians from Sweden because we learn from a very early age to do all of these kinds of things. The other thing is that Sweden is very cold, you can’t just be on the beach the whole day and surf or do many things outside, other than a couple of months, in December you have to be inside because it’s too cold here. So again if you want to do something at home – you go and play music or you go and do sports so I think that could be a reason why a lot of people in Sweden are dedicated and they have this kind of music coming out. There’s nothing else to do here, people tend to be drawn to being together and playing music. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/sister-sin-unleash-video-for-end-of-the-line/” title=”Check Out Sister Sin’s Video for ‘End of the Line'” align=”center”]
Facebook: While She Sleeps UK act While She Sleeps are ready to break in America after winning Kerrang’s Best Newcomer Award . Now, in addition to getting to know the band, you can win a signed copy of While She Sleeps’ ‘This Is the Six’ album, as well as a bunch of other great items from the group’s label, The End Records. Included in the bundle is a Skull t-shirt, a Paradise Lost box set, a Cradle of Filth box set, two The End Records beer cozies, an AxeWound flat, an Audio Bullys bag, a “Here’s the Metal” hot sauce, and, of course, the While She Sleeps ‘This Is the Six’ signed CD. To learn a little more about While She Sleeps, check out our interview with the band, and then enter your details in the contest box at the bottom of the story for a chance to win The End Records Bundle Contest. We spoke with While She Sleeps guitarist Sean Long, who discussed the significance of their new album title, how they’re differentiating themselves from their peers, and what it was like to win the Kerrang award at such an early stage in their career. The title track, ‘This Is the Six,’ definitely has a special meaning for the band. Can you talk about where it comes from and if it was the obvious choice to be the first song heard off this record? It’s really hard to find an album title that is original and means something to you, we are really happy we landed on ‘This Is the Six.’ It basically means that we are the 5 and 6th member of the band is the crowd, our fans, anyone who has supported us in anyway, they are the six. So together we are part of the same this, THIS IS THE SIX! Guitarist Mat Welsh has stated that the band wants ‘This Is the Six’ to be an album that people grow up on? What were the qualities that drew you to the bands you listened to growing up and do you feel this album captures that, as well? Just music that stands out to me, I am a big fan of note selection. I believe the slightest change in note selection can change how you feel instantly so picking the right note for a certain song is very important. I really hope we have captured that because there are notes on that album that make me feel great and I get a feeling in my stomach that makes me love music. While She Sleeps have gotten some credit for thinking outside of the box in terms of their sound. What’s your take on the music scene and how do you differentiate yourself from other acts? I guess we just try our hardest to be different inside of all the music we love. I believe that all the music we listen to, which ranges from folk to metal, is captured in our music even without us knowing. You have a hard-rocking sound and there’s definitely a punk ethic to how the band addresses lyrical content. How much do you value having the platform to discuss things like politics, patriotism, and issues affecting the youth in your songs? I’d like to say at least we are singing about things that are real and that we are living in, things we all have experienced and about our lives as friends. The more people who like our band, the bigger voice we will have to let everyone know our opinions and join us! What are a few of your favorite songs off the record and can you discuss why they stand out to you? If I picked one I’d be lying to myself. I honestly love them all so much. We all really surprised ourselves with this so we listen to it like another band. Haha, but why not you know, we are very proud of it and love what we have created. What did winning the Kerrang Best Newcomer Award mean to you this early in your career? You have no idea. I cried for a start and I rarely cry. It just felt so amazing to know that what we are doing is real and people are actually agreeing with what we are doing. It was the best day of my life for sure! Fans wishing to check out While She Sleeps’ ‘This Is The Six’ album can currently pre-order the effort here . To enter to win a signed copy of the disc, along with items from Audio Bullys, AxeWound, Paradise Lost, Cradle of Filth and more as part of The End Record contest bundle, be sure to enter your information in the box provided below: While She Sleeps + The End Records Giveaway Enter your e-mail address for a chance to win a singed copy of While She Sleeps’ ‘This Is the Six’ CD plus a Skull t-shirt, a Paradise Lost box set, a Cradle of Filth box set, two The End Records beer cozies, an AxeWound flat, an Audio Bullys bag, a “Here’s the Metal” hot sauce. Contest ends Nov. 19, 2012. Click here for official rules . By entering this contest, you will receive email newsletters from Loudwire. You may unsubscribe at any time. Email Watch While She Sleeps’ ‘This Is the Six’ Video
Nuclear Blast Records On the heels of last week’s release of their latest album ‘RIITIIR’, the Norwegian band Enslaved has debuted the video for the song ‘Thoughts Like Hammers.’ The clip, directed by Jerome Siegelaer, is described as a “visual feast of land, water, sky, and air.” Guitarist Ivar Bjornson talked about the lyrics for ‘Thoughts Like Hammers’: “This is a song that is about what it says it is about from several perspectives – or maybe it is simply just a cool title? Nietzsche coined the phrase ‘philosophizing with a hammer,’ which on an individual level is what this could be about: testing your own values/idols/ego with a hammer rather than the usual light tapping with chopsticks.” Bjornson asks, “Are you man/woman enough to scrutinize your own inner world in the most brutal manner? There are many mythologically and psychologically-based starting points to look at it from. For me it could very well be a tribute to every process and ritual that seeks subjective truth at the merciless expense of objective illusions.” U.S. fans will have a chance to see Enslaved play live when they headline Scion A/V’s Roadburn Records showcase on Saturday, Nov. 10, at The Roxy in West Hollywood, Calif. Also performing are White Hills, Scott Kelly, Earthless and Astra. The show is free, but requires an RSVP . Watch Enslaved’s ‘Thoughts Like Hammers’ Video
Fangoria Anthrax guitarist and horror aficionado Scott Ian recently had his head split in two by a chainsaw … tough break, dude. Fortunately for Ian, it was a stunt head, and luckily for us, a camera crew was there to film the entire scene from beginning to bloody end. As a maniacal fan of all things horror, Ian was able to live out one of his wildest dreams thanks to the people at Fangoria . The third season of ‘The Walking Dead,’ which Ian once made a cameo in, recently premiered with many zombie-philes finally able to get their fix of undead kills. The premiere episode seemed to pack more of a punch due to visibly less digital carnage, with various members of the living-impaired getting their faces beaten in by blunt objects. In a sense of perfect timing, it’s only right that Scott Ian not only follows suit, but tops it completely. Ian states in the video below that one of his lifelong dreams was to have a cast made of his head. The fine people at Fangoria made Ian’s dream come true, as they coated his chrome-dome with alginate, which served as the foundation for creating an incredibly lifelike model of Ian. Unfortunately, Ian didn’t live long enough to see the mold, as he was quickly chainsawed by an overalls-wearing hillbilly. In all seriousness, it’s ridiculous how lifelike the skull-splitting looks, with copious amounts of blood jetting from Ian’s head cast as the chainsaw does its work. Check out the horror-tastic process of creating a human head from scratch along with the gory playoff. Watch Scott Ian Get His Head Sawn in Half