Under the spotlight: Mick from 36 Crazyfists. Your Top 5 albums of the year and why? – Down 2 – it kicks ass – The new Living Sacrifice – it’s heavy as fuck – the new Embodyment – great melody with heavy guitars – Glassjaw’s latest – because they’re amazing – Songs For The Deaf: [q.o.t.s.a.] because there is no better rock band. What you’re up to for Xmas? Nothin’ but love, and good cheer. How you’ll be seeing the New Year in? Fucken my wife! Any New Year resolutions? To do better than I did last year. Any end of year message for your fans? Love life, treat people the way you want to be treated and follow your dreams. The ideal Christmas gift? Music and a 1/4 lb.

Jerry Cantrell recently took some time out to record a video interview for Playboy magazine at their ‘mini-mansion’ in Hollywood, California. You can check it out HERE. Enjoy.

As you should all be well aware, throughout the month of November we (well, technically the good folk at MachineHead1.com) held a contest. The contest, asking YOU to name the upcoming Machine Head live release. The results are in and we have a name…(drumroll please)…the name, as picked by Machine Head, will be Hellalive. This name comes to us from Alexander Vandevelde (congratulations Alexander) in the Netherlands (land where the first and main Roadrunner office makes its home). Get used to Alexander’s name, you will be seeing it in the album credits come release. Machine Head Hellalive is fully mixed…in fact, we are expecting delivery of the final mixes this Thursday (12/12), and then plan to master this beast on Friday. Thus far, the track listing is shaping up as follows: 1. Bulldozer 2. The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears 3. Ten Ton Hammer 4. Old 5. Crashing Around You 6. Take My Scars 7. I’m Your God Now 8. None But My Own 9. From This Day 10. American High 11. Nothing Left 12. The Burning Red 13. Davidian 14. Supercharger The CD will also hold a live video of “The Burning Red” as an enhanced element. All above songs were recorded live at Brixton Academy, London, December 8, 2001…ceptin for “None But My Own” and “The Burning Red,” both of which were recorded live at the With Full Force Festival, Leipzig, Germany, July 7, 2002. Alexander, congratulations…and thanks for the name.

Teletext on Channel 4 have teamed up with HMV to give away a Christmas Goodie Bag with 퉌£150 of CD’s and DVD’s in an end of the year poll! They want votes for ‘The Best of 2002’ in the following categories Album Single New act/Band Live Act/Video Hope for 2003 Fancy voting for some Roadrunner acts? Votes can be sent to: PS/2003 Poll Teletext PO BOX 297 London SW6 1XT Or by e-mail at – planetsound@teletext.co.uk Or Fax – 0207 386 5618

Hot off the email from Sheila… thanks for writing a review and sending it to us! Just simply had to write about the Nickelback gigs I have been to see last Thursday and Friday evening. Now not sure if any of you guys have had the opportunity to catch the band but, if not DO SO, I could do nothing else but watch in totally amazement, this band are truly AWESOME. They gave one of the strongest performances I have ever seen from a band, any questions one might have had about their ability surely on these performances just has to be quashed. Its been like 15 years since I have seen a performance with so much raw energy and power, from the opening track ‘Woke Up this Morning’ until the final close of ‘How You Remind Me’ these guys never once lost the plot, they know what an audience wants and really give it to them. Anyone who has any questions still as to their ability to stand alongside great bands, just go, get the albums and listen to them, see them live and then tell me you don’t like Nickelback. I was totally blown away from their shows on Thursday evening at the NEC 10,000 other people felt the same from the reception the band received. The following night in Cardiff there was even a more powerful response, just when I thought they could not have gone down any better hell they blew the CIA roof off. I am not easily impressed by new bands but these guys are true professionals. Also check out Default who were supporting Nickelback, just awesome, it was the first time I have had the opportunity to see Nickelback and I just long for the next tour, I just had the greatest of times. Default this is their first UK gigs and they almost blew my socks off to be honest, what a great supporting act, it may not seem it but I was totally speechless for 24 hours after the show. My heart pounding still, hearing almost gone, but was it worth, you bet.

We’ve been posting up a few news stories with the best things about Christmas and 2002, no? But the worst? Here’s the top 5 worst things about Christmas, according to Luke, the dude behind all our regional radio and club promotions here at Roadrunner. 1 The weather 2 The total commercialisation 3 The crowded shops 4 The lift music style versions of Xmas carrolls they play in shops 5 The fact it only lasts for a day And of course #6, you just know that your well meaning Grandma will give you the S Club Juniors CD, instead of the Slipknot ‘Disasterpieces’ DVD instead. A shameless plug? Humbug.

Remember we wrote earlier about Nickelback and the US Billboard Award nominations? The results are in and congratulations are in order. Nickelback (with How You Remind Me) scooped the following awards: Hot 100 singles group/duo of the year Hot 100 single of the year Hot 100 airplay single of the year Top 40 track of the year Congratulations to all involved with Nickelback!

Chatting about Christmas with Chris from Chimaira… So, what are your top 5 records this year? 01. Glassjaw – Worship and Tribute I love this album from beginning to end. A great follow up to their debut lp. 02. Dredg – El Cielo This album wasn’t going to be in my top 5. I witnessed them live for the first time in December. They were amazing live and won me over. 03. Hatebreed – Perserverence AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH PERSERVERENCE!! 04. 30 Seconds To Mars – Welcome To The Universe When I want to get away from metal and fly to the Milky Way, I put this album in. Go Leto. 05. Superjoint Ritual – Use Once and Destroy Whiskey, Weed, and Valium…The receipe for a rippin album. What are you guys up to for Christmas? Chimaira is hard at work on our follow up album to P.O.O.E. We’re also doing our annual Chimaira Christmas show on the 22nd. Besides all that, I will be spending time with loved ones and enjoying the fact that I’m home right now. Decided how to spend New Year’s Eve yet? I’m not exactly sure where….but I’ll be drunk. Confess. Do you have any New Year resolutions? It wouldn’t hurt to lose some pounds. I’m a porker. If you could say one thing to your fans at the end of 2002, what would you say? It means the world to us to get the support we’ve received. Be prepared for the new album… and see you on tour! Perhaps most importantly, what’s the ideal Christmas gift? A naked sheep and an IPOD. What more do you need to know.

MOTHRA, the new project featuring guitarist Mikey Doling (ex-SNOT, SOULFLY), bassist Tumor (ex-SNOT, AMEN), drummer Ray Mayorga (SOULFLY), guitarist Levon Sultanian (ONESIDEZERO), and vocalist Jason Radford (ONESIDEZERO), have posted three full-length MP3s at this location. The tracks available for download are as follows: 01. Nothing Left To Do 02. Burnt Offerings 03. So Softly MOTHRA are tentatively planning to play several shows in the Los Angeles area in January/February. blabbermouth.net

Johnny Kelly, the drummer for Type O Negative, has announced 2 New York shows with Earl’s Court, his Led Zeppelin covers band. The 2 shows are: December 14 – Coney Island, New York (Peggy O’Neils) 15 – Bay Ridge, New York (Wicked Monk)