10 YEARS AGO IN ROADRUNNER HISTORY… …Deicide’s ‘Once Upon The Cross was spawned. And as preposterous as it may sound, this was the most commercial death metal record ever. True. The band’s A&R Rep here at Roadrunner remembers fondly about this release: “Pound for pound, it’s right up there with the first album as Deicide’s best work. I often joke about this being the most commerical death metal record ever and it really is. The songs are all 3 minutes long and perfectly arranged with a simple verse/chorus/verse/chrous structure. There is no fat anywhere and each song has a huge hook that sticks in your head. It contains many of their all-time classics and features an awesome vocal performance from the head demon (that’s Mr. Benton). The production and mix is by far the best sounding of any Deicide album. Let’s not forget the awesome cover art as well.” Indeed…for more on this releases and other classic RR releases year-by-year leading up to 1995, check out www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/25/ (more additions year-by-year coming soon). More info to come…

The recording of OBITUARY’s upcoming release is complete. Mixed, Recorded and Mastered! The album is self-titled, i.e. OBITUARY-OBITUARY (hmm which ones the name and which the title) and will be out JULY 11th

THROWDOWN’snew album Vendetta will be released on June 27th The tracklisting is as follows: 1.We Will Rise 2.Speak The Truth 3.Vendetta 4.Burn 5.Discipline 6.To Live Is To Sacrifice 7.Give My Life 8.The World Behind 9.Shut You Down 10.Annihilation (N.W.D.) 11.This Is Where It Ends Stay tuned for more info…

SLIPKNOT will be releasing two 7″ pictures discs of BEFORE I FORGET on June 6th. TRACKLISTING: 1ST 7í¢ä‰åŒ: 1.’Before I Forget (Single Version)’* 2.’The Blister Exists (Live)’* 2ND 7í¢ä‰åŒ: 1.’Before I Forget (Full-Length Version)’ 2.’Three-Nil (Live)’* * exclusive track The track is currently Zane Lowes record of the week. He apparently also made an anouncement regarding a secret live show in the UK? To find out more about this CLICK HERE and get the DOWNLOAD DOG, then wait. Remember peeps, patience is a virtue.

We would like to thank Andy Bartlett for his live review of CRADLE OF FILTH at the Portsmouth Pyramids. ———- Seeing so many proper dressed up Goths in one place will be sight to remember for ages and ages, that was the scene at Portsmouth Pyramids Centre as Cradle of Filth were to show themselves for the first time in the city of Portsmouth. Dedication of these hardcore Cradle fans was shown when the queue grew to great lengths half an hour before the doors were due to open. It was almost like a carnival atmosphere as the majority of the crowd was all gothed up, face paint, make up, new rocks, this was obviously a highly anticipated show. To many of the Portsmouth alternate scene, the announcement of The Pyramids being a venue for this short tour was a big shock. The support band for the evening was Scottish band ‘Mendeed’. This young band provided a great warm up for Cradle. Cradle came on shortly after and played a strong, lengthy set, with impressive stage props and dancing gargoyles, any fan of heavy metal would have enjoyed this. The room went pitch black as Filth were to enter on stage, a thunderous Cradle chant started and the band got to work explosively. I have only really got into Cradle through their recent release ‘Nymphetamine’, from which they played three songs : ‘Gilded C*nt’, ‘Nemesis’ and title track ‘Nymphetamine’, the band ended very strongly with the legendary ‘From The Cradle To Enslave’. Nearer to the end of the set, Cradle took a page from Iron Maidens book when a giant monster, almost like Iron Maidens ‘Eddie’ came on the stage, this was topped of with fireworks from the gargoyle dancers for the finale. For a very high profile event in a small venue like this, Cradle put on a very entertaining show, they had one of the best crowd reactions I have ever seen at a Portsmouth gig ever. The crowd clearly put all their effort into showing their passion for Cradle, as for most of them, this would probably have been the first time they have seen them and the likeliness of Cradle returning to this rocking city would be remote. REMEMBER: CRADLE OF FILTH – NYMPHETAMINE SPECIAL EDITION – OUT NOW

As many of you will be aware, last week CRADLE OF FILTH were rocking up and down the country. If you were one of the lucky ones who witnessed the awesome shows packed with Goblins, monsters and aerial dynamics, you don’t need us to tell you how awesome it was. For the rest of you, why not check out the awesome live review brought to us by Room13 featuring some truely amazing live shots. CLICK HERE to read the live review. REMEMBER: CRADLE OF FILTH – NYMPHETAMINE SPECIAL EDITION – OUT NOW

WHO IS OPENHAND pt 3… who is Live Vocalist – Rachael Hoke? Name? Rachel Hoke Age 27 Instrument? Vocals All time favourite record? So hard to chooseí¢ä‰åŒ_No Doubt Tragic Kingdom. It is difficult to choose one when you are influenced by so many different types of music. Greatest experience on tour? Being on stage with hardcore band, Zao. That was an experience that I never would have imagined. Also my first day in London. Taking a walk through Hyde Park – beautiful. Most horrible experience on tour? There really hasn’t been a HORRIBLE experience. I think that being on the road for weeks is just tough at times. But the tough times, in the long run, are actually really great. Most embarrassing moment on stage? Doing a dance onstage after finishing the song with Zao. I think I just got so carried away – I didn’t realize that the song was over! I actually wasn’t embarrassed until I stepped off the stage. Do you have any sort of ritual before going on stage? Not really, I try to take a moment to visualize being onstage, connecting with the audience and remember why I am doing what I am doing. With which band would you love to tour with? Anyone. I never would have thought that I would gain so much from a band like Zao – I normally don’t listen to that style of music. Having said that – you never know what can happen if you keep an open mind. If I couldn’t be a musician, I would work as… A stylist (wardrobe), hairdresser or a director. Best advice you ever heard? FOLLOW YOUR HEART. A bit clich퀌©, but VERY important to remember. With which famout person (alive or dead) would you love to spend some time with, and why? Again – very tough question – how do you choose? Madonna. She is smart, creative, talented woman, performer and mother. She has broken boundaries, followed her passion and inspired so many people along the way. Generally speaking – I love passionate people. People that are strong and aren’t afraid to take a chance, even when others are saying í¢ä‰åñnoí¢ä‰åŒ. REMEMBER: OPENHAND – YOU & ME – OUT NOW!!

Check out this awesome live video of Roots Bloody Roots taken from Soulfly’s recently released debut DVD, The Song Remains Insane CLICK HERE to go through to the video section of the site. REMEMBER: SOULFLY – THE SONG REMAINS INSANE – OUT NOW

If you can’t wait for theROADRAGE tour, then we may have a musical fix for you. We are running club nights all over the country, so you can mentally and physically prepare for the wrath that shall ensue next month. These club nights shall guarantee you the following: 1.) Some of the hardest freshest metal around 2.) An awesome night with like minded individuals 3.)Competition central, with roadrage goodies and tickets being given away Dates and venues are as follows: Friday 22nd 퉌‡ Wolverhampton í¢ä‰åäóì Civic Hall í¢ä‰åñCorrosioní¢ä‰åŒ Under 18’s Saturday 23rd April 퉌‡ Birmingham í¢ä‰åäóì Academy í¢ä‰åñSubcultureí¢ä‰åŒ 퉌‡ Liverpool í¢ä‰åäóì Krazy House 퉌‡ Manchester í¢ä‰åäóì Jilly’s Rockworld 퉌‡ Edinburgh í¢ä‰åäóì Studio 24 í¢ä‰åñMissioní¢ä‰åŒ 퉌‡ Leicester í¢ä‰åäóì Square Retribution 퉌‡ Nottingham í¢ä‰åäóì Rock City í¢ä‰åñNailedí¢ä‰åŒ Monday 25th April 퉌‡ Swansea í¢ä‰åäóì Escape í¢ä‰åñTeen Spirití¢ä‰åŒ Under 18’s 퉌‡ Cardiff í¢ä‰åäóì University Union í¢ä‰åñFun Factoryí¢ä‰åŒ Thursday 28th April 퉌‡ Oxford í¢ä‰åäóì Zodiac í¢ä‰åñSabotageí¢ä‰åŒ Saturday 30th April 퉌‡ Stoke í¢ä‰åäóì Sugarmill í¢ä‰åñThe Dirtí¢ä‰åŒ 퉌‡ Glasgow í¢ä‰åäóì Cathouse í¢ä‰åñVodooí¢ä‰åŒ Under 18’s Friday 6th May 퉌‡ London í¢ä‰åäóì Electric Ballroom 퉌‡ Portsmouth / Southsea í¢ä‰åäóì The Lounge í¢ä‰åñInfernoí¢ä‰åŒ Saturday 7th May 퉌‡ Leeds í¢ä‰åäóì Stylus í¢ä‰åñRock Of Agesí¢ä‰åŒ 퉌‡ Ipswich í¢ä‰åäóì The Venue í¢ä‰åñRiotí¢ä‰åŒ near Colchester REMEMBER: Roadrage 2005 tour is coming May 1st – 18th For more details visit the minisite CLICK HERE

Tonight the Radio 1 Rock show will be giving listeners the chance tto win tickets to each of the Roadrage shows plus loads of other goodies. So don’t miss it tonight, at 9 o’clock. CLICK HERE for a full list of dates for the roadrage tour.