A few members have asked for a 'latest gigs' feed so they can get in early to buy tickets. I've added it down the left hand side of the main page. I've also added an RSS feed for the latest gigs so you can see any changes in your RSS reader.

I've fixed a few small bugs to do with gigs. You can now see when a gig is cancelled or sold out (they're supposed to be pictures of tickets btw ).

As there are many smaller gigs that don't have ticket sales with See Tickets I've decided to start adding these as well. If you would like your gig to be added then email me at metaldazza@newmetalarmy.com. I'll add them as soon as I can.

Next gig is Sabbat at the Scala. I haven't been to the Scala for ages. I think it's gonna be fun.

cu there, metaldazza.

You may have seen this article appear on Blabbermouth today. It referes to this article in the times that claims researchers have 'discovered' which forms of music and even which songs cause harmony and violence in pubs in Glasgow. It looks like the usual suspects are being lined up to be blamed for social ills. However if you read the article it's even more ridicuous then you might think.

Not only does rock and rap cause aggression but dirty dancing causes raunchy dancing among woman which leads to 'misunderstandings' between men leading to violence. Other 'facts' imparted are that loud music makes it hard to hear causing 'misunderstandings'.

Of course this is a balanced article so we also learn that Sony and Cher and Robbie Williams actually calm crowds. I presume the songs promote understanding between men. Maybe we should pipe these songs in to the Middle East to solve the ills of the region?

It's hard to know what the scientists actually found as the Times article doesn't link to the original research. I suspect that they don't because a curious reader may actually see that the article is, in reality, bullshit.

Reading between the lines of The Times article it looks more likely that venues that play loud music, in general, have more problems.

Now I don't know if the scientists took venues and played Robbie Williams Angels loudly to a group of merry young men and noted a distinct harmony that was absent when they played AC/DC Highway to Hell. I suspect they didn't do this. It's more likely that they took NHS data about call outs by ambulance staff and cross referenced that with data about the type of venue (rock, R'n'B, Easy listening, Jazz etc).

Of course, we'll never know. In a way it doesn't matter. The point of this article is to reinforce the fear amongst middle class people that young men, drinking and music are dangerous. If only the world was more like them, middle class twenty to thirty somethings with above average income. Wouldn't the world be a better, safer place?

Once again, here we are at Bar Monsta with a Thrash line up.

Empathy were first up and they didn't disappoint. They stormed through a quick set of their own songs plus one Motörhead cover. All songs are in the style of early Metallica but it all worked for me. The lead guitarist screamed through every solo with flair. A very solid performance.

Next up Damnas. This was a really powerful performance. The band were on fire on stage. They played a good length set of their own material. Special mention has to go to the singer who belted out every tune as if it were the last of the night. He ended the night by jumping from the drum kit off of the stage... nearly cracking his head on the ceiling! awesome.

Headliners Circle of Tyrants were last up and they looked nervous. They dived in to the first song and I wasn't impressed, they were all over the place. As they set progressed they found their feet and there were some real highlights for the bands first gig in London. the highlight for me was the singer storming in to the crowd to start a pit :)

Overall it was a good night with all bands performing good sets. For me the night went to Damnas.