It’s the end of the year soon and we know what that means!! End of year polls in magazines! Terrorizer are now taking votes for theirs… so head on over to www.terrorizer.com and cast your votes in the following catagories! (For Roadrunner bands, we would hope of course… ) Best Band/Artist Of 2003 Best Newcomer Of 2003 Best Album Of 2003 Best Cover Art Of 2003 Best Live Act Of 2003 Best Musician Of 2003 Best Vocalist Of 2003

Hot off the press release from our NY press ofice…. New York, NY, November 12, 2003- Nickelback’s third album, The Long Road, achieved Platinum sales status by the time it had been released on Sept 23rd, and was just recently certified by the Recording Industry Association of America. Meanwhile, in a testament to the album’s staying power at record stores nationwide, The Long Road remains in the Top 20 on the Top 200 chart eight weeks after release. In fact, only three CDs that were released before The Long Road are currently ahead of it on the chart, meaning that as major artist debuts come and go, The Long Road is outlasting most of the competition. The album’s first single, “Someday,” is still firmly placed on commercial radio playlists, jumping up to the #19 spot on the Top 40 Mainstream Chart this week and continues to dominate all Rock and Pop formats. The second radio single, “Figured You Out,” was just added to radio this week and joins in the success by taking the #1 Greatest Gainer crown at the Active, Mainstream and Heritage Rock formats. Nickelback has been a staple at radio since the release of their breakout album Silver Side Up, becoming the # 1 Most Played Rock Artist of 2002 Across All Radio Formats on the strength of 3 singles: “How You Remind Me,” “Too Bad” and “Never Again.” The album reached gold and/or platinum status in over 10 countries with the US (5X Platinum), the UK (3X platinum) and the band’s homeland of Canada (7X platinum) pulling in the highest marks. The band was nominated for four Grammy Awards, nabbed 4 Billboard Awards and received a Juno Award for “Songwriters of the Year.” Nickelback embarks on their worldwide tour next month, kicking off December 3rd in Milan. The band will return to the states in early 2004 for the second leg of the US tour. Congratulations to the band, the fans, and all those at RR US.

A quick word from Machine Head’s Phil Demmel, en route to Italy… posted up at the band’s official site www.MachineHead1.com Played Madrid last night. Insane crowd. Except for the 3 spineless fucks who decided it would be cool to spit on the new guy and throw stuff at him. After 2 hours of taking their abuse I took it upon myself to jump in the crowd and pound one of them in the face a few times to make him think twice about ever doing it again. The look on his face when I landed right in front of him was priceless. My apologies to the rest of the fans who had to deal with the fiasco at the end of the show. I should’ve handled it differently. Today is a travel day and everyone is still asleep. I’m usually first one up and spend that time watching all the cheesy movies no one else wants to watch. Dave and I stayed up ’til about 7am rockin’ out to classic “old guy” rock. Rush 2112, KISS Destroyer, Scorpions Lovedrive, Maiden Piece of Mind and Number of the Beast. Can barely talk today from screaming all the lyrics for hours. We’re parked near a beach somewhere in France while the driver gets his sleep. Off to Milan tonight and play there tomorrow night. The bands performance is really starting to click. Every night it seems to improve. Can’t wait to bring the full production show to our home crowd. Have no idea when that will be. Still working on the US deal. These things take time. Duh. So anyway, will check in again this weekend. Hope all is well. And oh yeah, you fucking Euros need to chill on the smoking. Holy fuck!

Hatebreed’s video is here. ‘This Is Now’ is a veritable beast of carnage… looks like quite a few bruises were earnt in this pit! Click the relevant link for your player… Windows Media Player RealPlayer

Do head over to Planet Loud and have a read of their latest interview with To My Surprise’s singer Brandon Darner… very interesting stuff it is. You can read it HERE.

So, the mighty Machine Head are currently touring their way around Europe… hitting the UK again in less than 2 weeks! Have you got your tickets yet? Hurry up, they are going faaaaast. Just heard about these awesome photos taken at the Paris show at the Elysee Montmartre on November 4th… do take a look at them HERE. Pics courtesy of French site metalchroniques.com.

Have you been keeping an eye on the official DevilDriver website? Dez has been posting regular updates from the road. So, the guys are currently touring the US with Superjoint Ritual… if you’ve wondered what they’ve been playing, while hoping for UK dates, this is the setlist. Nothing’s Wrong? I Could Care Less Cry For Me Sky (Eulogy Of The Scorned) Die (And Die Now) The Mountain What Does It Take (To Be A Man) Meet The Wretched Back on November 7th, DevilDriver played a show at the Palladium, in Worcester, Massachusetts. Returntothepit.com have kindly posted up 75 cool photos from the show, which you can see HERE.

While we were hangin’ out in Cardiff, we grabbed Spineshank’s Mike, and Chimaira’s Rob, and sat em down for a little chat. Analysing Spineshank’s Rider Most potent item: Vodka (Grey Goose) Favourite food stuff: Pizza, after the show. Best hangover cure: Pedialyte (“It’s medicine stuff they give to kids in the US, like when they have the shits… it rehydrates you.”) Favourite drink to make: Vodka & Cranberry What would you add: Socks, condoms, lube, sex toys, and 2 chicks for me. (“You see where my mind is at today?”) Did You Know? Spineshank & Chimaira are old buddies… and have played together in the US more than once. Indeed on this tour, the guys even shared a tour bus and so…. Best & Worst Thing About Sharing A Bus With Chimaira? Best: Having someone to talk to when you hate your band! Worst: James Samuel LaMarca. (“It’s a joke. Go with it, I want him to see this!”) Best & Worst Thing About Sharing A Bus With Spineshank? Best: Hangin’ with the bros every day. Worst: James Samuel LaMarca.

Amy & Abby, hangin’ with the boys… at the chippy?! So the evening started with a drink at the local waterhole (sitting outside the venue with a can of Castlemaine), as me and my friend were enjoying our beverage (begining to feel a lil woozy)…who were we to see, but none other than Laz from Ill Nino. “How splendid” I thought (I like your hair….I fumbled). So in need of relief (a piss) the lovely young gentleman led me and my friend backstage, where we continued in a graceful manner (fell over arse over elbow) into a sound check. Where we sat and politely chatted to various members of Chimaira, Ill Nino, and Spineshank (drivelled on about music, politics and religion). Whilst in conversation, several members/roadies, were in need of herbs and quickly followed by food (weed, mmm munchy). So I took the lovely Jessie and Mike to a spiffing little resturant (the chippy)! Having returned to the venue, the doors were just opening (long story short). With front row seats, my friend and I sat and cheered on the band, casually singing along to lyrics (waving arms wildly and yelling “cool” noises). Our dear friend Laz was waving during the set, which was very nice of him I thought (after the show I was told off for not noticing him practically dive off stage and yell in my ear). At the end of Spineshanks set, we were feeling a lil energized (WOOO THAT FUCKING ROCKED!!! m/). With passes in hand we walked backstage and continued the evening with story telling and looking for refreshment (cursing fart jokes and looking for more beer and cigs). With the evening almost done, my friend and I gave a hearty handshake to each band member/roadie, congratulating them on a lovely performance.(climbing on their backs and yelling ROCK-ETH). And so ends a night with Abby and Amy.(I only remember cos of the police records….okay now I’m kidding). Abby Matthews Castlemaine, chips, and cigs… nice one Abby, thanks for the email.

The brilliant Machine Head ‘Imperium’ video is now added to the “Banned” Zone on Kerrang! TV from 10pm – 5am… in it’s full, uneditted, uncensored glory. Call 09012 930666 selection #937.