It’s time for another of YOUR top albums of 2009 and Tom Gilbey is of the opinion that the best Roadrunner UK release of 2009 was LAMB OF GOD’S offering WRATH, which was released back in February.

My favourite Roadrunner release of the year is Lamb of God’s ‘Wrath’. On first listen I couldn’t believe what I was hearing- it had it all from from thrashy technical guitar lines to unbelievable drum rythms which left me with a huge grin on my face. I would say there is litterally no filler on this album at all from the first track to the last.

Not only has this album amazed me on the instrumental front, but Randy Bythe’s vocals have reached a new level in songs like Dead Seeds, Set to Fail, Broken Hands, Reclamation… well on all the songs!

From album to album lamb Of God have shocked, suprised and impressed me with sheer innovation. If you are worrying at all about forking out the money for this album DON’T- this album pays back all the money in sheer beauty and pure thrash! This is the album of the year! My favourite song would have to be Broken Hands and my favourite riff would be off ‘Dead Seeds’.

Miss part 2 of this series? Check out a reader review of MEGADETH’S ‘ENDGAME’ HERE and watch out for the Roadrunner UK office’s Top 10 releases coming soon!

Pick up Wrath online at AT THIS LOCATION.

That’s right, it’s time for Texas Webisode 5 from KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES and in this one, the guys get some downtime from the studio and head out to play with guns.

Yes, you read that right. Guns. And it would seem that the Welshman / Gun combo is not what one would call a win…

Head to THE KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES WEBSITE now to check out the clip!

And watch this space for news sooon on when you can check out another song off the upcoming, as of yet untitled, new album from the guys!

It’s time for this weeks METALOTTERY draw here at Roadrunner UK and this week the prize pot is made up of a rare CD/DVD promo single Of Theory Of A Deadman’s ‘Hate My Life’ and as it’s a rollover from last week, a signed Down poster!

Todays winner has until 5pm on Wednesday 9th December to mail from the email account associated with their mailing list sign up to confirm their postal address to claim the prize.

After that time, the prize will ‘rollover’ into next weeks prize pot.

So, IAN WELBURN- come claim your prizes or some other lucky bugger will be getting them next week!

Another Roadrunner UK reader get’s their 15 Minutes of Fame and 2 RR CDs of their choice as comp winner Raven Lee reviews his fave 2009 Roadrunner release- MEGADETH’S ‘‘ENDGAME’.

Dave Mustaine and crew return on what is one of the greatest records of all time! This offering goes beyond the limitations of words such as ‘metal’ and ‘thrash’ which immediatly labels it to make the listener have expectations. Any expectations you may have for this record will simply be blown away from your mind and replaced with an amazing piece of art!

From opening track ‘Diacletic Chaos’ with its virtruso technicality to a more softer melodic side with ‘The Hardest Part of Letting Go… Sealed With A Kiss and the albums first single Head Crusher (just the title alone is awesome), there is not a dull moment to be found and for someone who is a recent Megadeth fan, I applaud and congradulate Mustaine and co for giving ENDGAME not just to us metal fans but to the world.

This album truly shows what hard work and dedication can bring and if Megadeth were to dispand tommorrow (here’s hoping they don’t) you can at least rest assured that they have given to all of us an album for the ages. The spirit of not just metal but great, hardworking music lives on through Megadeth’s Endgame.

EMDGAME is in stores now and you can pick it up online HERE.

Check out part 1 of this series HERE

DRAGONFORCE are currently on an extensive tour of the UK to finish off the touring cycle for their current record ULTRA BEATDOWN and so we took some time when they were in Glasgow to have a chat with guitarist Herman and hit him with our Getting To Know You questions.

What were you doing when I interrupted you to do this?
I was playing with my new Nokia phone with Fred. We were trying to do some tour updates for our website using the phone, but it’s not working yet.

Date of birth?
It’s the 3rd October – so Wikipedia is totally wrong! It would be ok having two birthdays if I got presents for both, but I don’t get any for either!

Where did you go to high school?
I went to Elliott School in Putney. They pretty much didn’t like me there, but then everyone who listens to rock and metal is pretty much an outcast anyway, right? It doesn’t matter which school, I can relate to anyone who’s at school right now with these ‘chavs’ who think they know better than us – I’m sorry, they don’t!

When you were at high school, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I really had no idea what I wanted to be. I studied just because I had to – I was studying physics and maths, not because I wanted to be a physician, it was just something to do and I was better at those subjects than things like history and French.

What was the first instrument you ever played?
The recorder! I learned that in the French school I went to when I was about ten, and to this day I still only know one song- I can’t remember any of the others. I think I learned it because I was going to get in trouble if I didn’t know it. I learned it just to shut them up! I moved on to guitar when I was 16. I used to miss music lessons at school- they’re just total noise pollution, it’s a disastrous room to be in! I love music but being in that class disturbed me. It was like five bands playing at the same time.

Tell us about the first band you ever played in.
The first time I played a gig was at lunchtime at school, we played Enter Sandman, by Metallica (of course)‘Only’ by Anthrax and ‘Countdown to Extinction’ by Megadeth. I think we were called ‘Power Gone Insane’ or something like that!

What’s your favourite food?
I guess Chinese food. What most people don’t understand is that there’s so many types of Chinese food from all around China. In England everyone’s used to just the southern, Cantonese style, but there’s so many different types of Chinese food, you wouldn’t believe it.

Beverage of choice?
If I was Sam [Totman – guitarist] I would say free booze, but I don’t really have any favourites to be honest. I’m trying to stay healthy on tour so maybe smoothies at the moment!

Album of the moment?
Actually, I’ve been listening to Steel Panther and the new Five Finger Death Punch albums.

Song of the moment?
Not really – my ringtone?! It’s been the same song forever! It’s the theme to an old Taito arcade game called Ninja Warriors. If you’re a nerd you’ll understand.

Movie of the moment?
I haven’t watched anything – I’ve been playing video games instead.

Biggest pet peeve on the road?
I think every morning when I get out my bunk, Sam’s suitcase, bag, computer bag, jeans, belt, everything all over the corridor. He throws it all off his bunk when he goes to bed, he doesn’t care about anybody – so I chuck it all back in while he’s asleep.

Random fact about you?
I am a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

There’s a week left on the DragonForce tour. Check the TOURS page for the remaining dates and for buy links. Current album ‘Ultra Beatdown’ can be picked up online HERE.

If you missed the previous Getting To Know You features in the series, work your way back from the previous one with Chris from Black Stone Cherry HERE

Monday will see the latest installment from the KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES camp in their series of snippets from the studio.

In this latest episode, the guys take a break from recrording their upcoming release to be shown how to fire guns- including the worlds lagest handgun- out in the desert. Well, when in Texas…

Head to KIDSINGLASSSHOUSES.COM lunchtime Monday 7th December to check it out! And if you missed the last update- #4 ‘Stop Freakin’ Out And Just Drink’, fret not- just click on the player below.

News on the upcoming album will be coming soon- namely a title for this bad boy! Keep your eyes open for that one!

We all know that KILLSWITCH ENGAGE’S Adam D loves a curry, but did you know his passion was for the phal? The HOTTEST curry you can get? A lot of curry houses don’t even have it on the menu- you have to know of it’s existence and ask for it especially. Well, Adam does and eats it regularly.

Another man with a fondness for the hot n’ spicy is Roadrunner US webmaster Jeremy, and so when he was hangin’ with the guys, the two of them took the ‘Curry Challenge’ and both ordered one to see if the other could indeed finish one.

See the results below. Hell, check it out simply because this is the quietest you will ever see Adam D…

Killswitch engage just finished their stint on the Rockstar Energy Dring Taste of Chaos tour here in the UK. We hope to see them here again in the New Year. In the meantime, look out for the Roadrunner UK webmaster’s interview with Adam and Howard coming next week…

Current album ‘Killswitch Engage‘ is in stores NOW and you can pick it up online HERE.

Roadrunner Records is excited to announce the signing of GRAND MAGUS from Stockholm, Sweden!

Grand Magus, featuring JB Christofferson (guitars & lead vocals), Fox Skinner (bass & backing vox) and Sebastian “Seb” Sippola (drums)draw hefty influences from the hand-on-heart grandeur of the NWOBHM and the inspirational mythology of their forbears and are steeped in pre-Christian tales of triumph, vengeance, betrayal, wisdom and death!

Their upcoming album, ‘HAMMER OF THE NORTH’ is pencilled for release late spring/early summer 2010. With this release, GRAND MAGUS have perfected their own style of full-on metal assault with some fantastic heavy riffing, stomping songs, strong hook-lines, epic vocals/lyrics and rousing solo guitars.

GRAND MAGUS stated:

“We are thrilled with working with Roadrunner Records. We regard this both as a great sign of recognition and most importantly a chance for us to really push ourselves and the music to the point of perfection. We are confident that the team of us and Roadrunner will be something really special.”

Check out Grand Magus at their OFFICIAL MYSPACE.

Head to the competitions section to check out new comps for some SIGNED PORCUPINE TREE ‘The Incident’ posters and some killer MACHINE HEAD plecs and window stickers!

Plus there’s only 24 hours left to win rare CRADLE OF FILTH goodies!!

Head HERE to see how YOU could be in with a chance of winning!!

A plethora of Welshness will be hitting a town near you this coming February as KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES have been confirmed as main support of alt-rock heavyweights Lostprophets on their upcoming tour.

Tickets are on sale now and if you are wanting to catch KIGH move fast- the tickets have been shifting like the proverbial hotcakes and 4 shows have already sold out!! Dates are as follows and you can find ticket links on the tours page.

Thu 4th Feb – LEICESTER De Montfort Hall
Sat 6th Feb – HULL City Hall
Sun 7th Feb – NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Tue 9th Feb – MARGATE Winter Gardens
Wed 10th Feb – PORTSMOUTH Guildhall
Thu 11th Feb – LONDON Brixton O2 Academy
Sat 13th Feb – PRESTON 53 Degrees
Sun 14th Feb – LEEDS O2 Academy
Mon 15th Feb – CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange
Wed 17th Feb – BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy
Sun 21st Feb – YEOVIL Westland Leisure Complex
Mon 22nd Feb – NORWICH U.E.A *SOLD OUT*
Tue 23rd Feb – NEWCASTLE O2 Academy *SOLD OUT*
Thu 25th Feb – MANCHESTER Apollo
Fri 26th Feb – SOUTHAMPTON Guildhall *SOLD OUT*
Sun 28th Feb – BRISTOL O2 Academy *SOLD OUT*

Mon 1st Mar – PORT TALBOT Afan Lido Leisure Centre

And next week sees the next installment in the Kids In Glass Houses Texas websiodes!! If you missed number 4- ‘Stop Freakin’ Out And Just Drink’ then head to their OFFICIAL WEBSITE and check it out now! Hilarity will ensue…