The conflict in the Middle East is foremost in many minds lately. The British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) radio station has set up several dedicated shows, taking music requests from families back here in Britain, and from troops over there. In what is no doubt very difficult times, music is helping to sustain morale. Below we’re sharing an article from the Times newspaper, printed yesterday, March 27. Soldiers feel the homesick blues By Adam Sherwin, Media Reporter Bravado and homesickness are reflected in the most popular songs requested for broadcast by British troops in the Gulf. Soldiers are asking for laddish anthems such as The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy to mark their return from a sortie, but ballads such as Take Me Home by Sophie Ellis Bextor and Don’t Know Why by Norah Jones are also being chosen as a message to families back home. BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) Radio launched a Kuwait service three weeks ago and is receiving more than 2,000 requests a day. The 24-hour station is vital for keeping morale high. The Animals’ We’ve Got To Get Out Of This Place is a hot request, although BFBS put that down to “gallows humour”. Rock The Casbah by the Clash is also a favourite. Joanne Bell, BFBS head of music, said: “The boys want upbeat, patriotic music, which helps to reduce feelings of homesickness. We don’t get many requests for the Smiths, but Robbie Williams, rap and heavy rock are very popular.” Servicewomen are choosing softer, more melodic music, such as Dido, often to the chagrin of male soldiers. Virgin Radio and Radio 2 broadcast BFBS in Britain and let loved ones send messages and special requests back to the troops. All You Need Is Love is one of the most heavily requested tracks by families. BFBS is hoping that Robbie Williams, the Stereophonics and other requested artists will make personal radio appearances, but some artists may calculate the consequences of supporting the war. Combined Services Entertainment will stage a concert with leading stars in the Gulf when the fighting has finished. Messages can be left on Virgin Radio (0800-032 1215), the BFBS hotline, 0870-120 2121, or via www.virginradio.co.uk. Top Ten Requests 1. The Boys Are Back in Town – Thin Lizzy 2. We’ve Got To Get Out Of This Place – The Animals 3. Take Me Home – Sophie Ellis Bextor 4. Don’t Know Why – Norah Jones 5. Without Me – Eminem 6. Half The World Away Oasis 7. Writing To Reach You Travis 8. Rock DJ – Robbie Williams 9. Rock The Casbah – The Clash 10. Hero – Chad Kroeger

Roadrunner will be releasing a batch of 13 titles available at mid-price from April 21st. Among them is the remainder of the Fear Factory catalogue (including the classic ‘Demanufacture’), the first 2 Coal Chamber albums plus the 2 recent Derrick Green-fronted Sepultura albums. The full list is as follows: Fear Factory ‘Digimortal’ U.K. Top 30 album and last studio album from the Gods of ‘Cyber-Metal’, including ‘Linchpin’ & ‘Invisible Wounds’. í¢ä‰åñThere is no whiff of compromise about this album, only a confident sense of progress.í¢ä‰åŒ – Kerrang! KKKK Fear Factory ‘Obsolete’ U.S. Gold & U.K. Top 20 album including ‘Resurrection’, ‘Descent’ & ‘Edgecrusher’. í¢ä‰åñOne of the best Metal albums for a very long time.í¢ä‰åŒ í¢ä‰åäóì Metal Hammer 10/10 Fear Factory ‘Demanufacture’ Cast-iron classic debut and U.K. Top 30 album including ‘Replica’, ‘Self-Bias Resistor’ & ‘Demanufacture’. í¢ä‰åñThis album will raise the standards of extreme Metal worldwide.í¢ä‰åŒ í¢ä‰åäóì Kerrang! KKKKK Amen ‘Amen (UK Edition)’ CD Colossal 5K-rated Punk Metal debut, produced by Ross Robinson and featuring ‘Coma America’ & ‘Down Human’. Includes 4 bonus tracks from the ‘Coma America’ EP. í¢ä‰åñThe sound of Punk Rock kicking, crawling and tearing it’s way into the Millenniumí¢ä‰åŒ – Kerrang! KKKK Coal Chamber ‘Coal Chamber’ CD Classic U.S. Gold debut from L.A. “Spookycore” quartet and one of the instigators of the ‘Nu-Metal’,including ‘Loco’, ‘Sway’ & ‘Big Truck’ í¢ä‰åñThe hottest, most knickers-in-a-twist new Metal band in at least a thousand yearsí¢ä‰åŒ – Kerrang KKKKK Coal Chamber ‘Chamber Music’ CD Underrated, experimental 2nd album including ‘Notion’, ‘Shock The Monkey’ (feat Ozzy Osbourne) & ‘Tyler’s Song’. í¢ä‰åñAs the title suggests, this album sees the quartet striking out on their own and carving their own unique nicheí¢ä‰åŒ í¢ä‰åäóì Kerrang! Misfits ‘Famous Monsters’ CD Latest studio release from the Kings of schlock horror punk, who have inspired everyone from Metallica to Marilyn Manson to Cradle Of Filth. Produced by Daniel Rey (Ramones) and featuring ‘Scream’ & ‘Fiend Club’ Misfits ‘Cuts From The Crypt’ 17-track collection of previously unreleased, rare & live tracks from 1995-2001. Features all of the legendary ‘Mars Attacks’ demos, plus covers of ‘Monster Mash’ & ‘Rise Above’ plus the ‘Scream’ video. Sepultura ‘Against’ CD Crushing 1998 U.K. Top 40 album and debut release with new singer Derrick Greene. Featuring ‘Choke’ & ‘Against. í¢ä‰åñA brilliant albumí¢ä‰åŒ í¢ä‰åäóì Kerrang! KKKKK Sepultura ‘Nation’ Blasting 2001 return-to-form for Brazil’s finest featuring guest appearances from Jello Biafra & Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed).Featuring ‘Sepulnation’ & ‘One Man Army’. í¢ä‰åñThe Boys from Brazil finally shake themselves free of Max’s legacy. Excellent stuffí¢ä‰åŒ – Kerrang! KKKK. Deicide ‘In Torment, In Hell’ CD Latest brutally black studio album from the Floridian Death Metal Gods, featuring ‘Christ Don’t Care’ & ‘In Torment, In Hell’. í¢ä‰åñStill one of the most destructive Death Metal bands aroundí¢ä‰åŒ í¢ä‰åäóì Metal Hammer Dry Kill Logic ‘The Darker Side Of Nonsense’ Crushing Pantera-meets- Machine Head debut from hotly-tipped NY foursome, last seen supporting Spineshank in the UK, includes ‘Nightmare’ & ‘Rot’. í¢ä‰åñIt has the raw feel of a debut but executed with the finesse and fury most bands take an age to build upí¢ä‰åŒ í¢ä‰åäóì Metal Hammer Anyone ‘Anyone’ CD Critically-acclaimed debut from Orange County maximum acid trio including ‘Don’t Wake Me’ & ‘Giving Thrills’. í¢ä‰åñMixing and matching the jerky nervousness of Jane’s Addiction with classic Pink Floyd-style atmosphericsí¢ä‰åŒ_the listener is spoilt for choiceí¢ä‰åŒ í¢ä‰åäóì Metal Hammer

Three cheers for all y’all…Stone Sour’s self titled debut has officially hit gold status in the U.S. (500,000 units). Congratulations go out to the band, all involved in getting the word out on this release, and most importantly, the fans. Three cheers. Oh, and straight from our U.S. press department comes the following press release on the Stone Sour situation. And it reads like this: New York, NY: It’s time to celebrate! Stone Sour’s self-titled debut, anchored by frontman Corey Taylor and guitarist James Root, has been certified Gold. Fresh from the success of the introspective, Top 5 single “Bother” and U.S. tour last fall, Stone Sour is making a pit-stop at the Gold-certified mark. The album, referred to by Guitar World Magazine as í¢ä‰åñmelodic metal that some might actually call arena rock” has maintained a steady, strong pace since its August release. With a headlining tour in the spring with Powerman 5000, Ra, and Outspoken as support, and the single “Inhale” currently leading the charge at radio, Stone Sour’s momentum is healthy as it sets its sights on the Platinum mark. The clever video for í¢ä‰åñInhale,í¢ä‰åŒ which alternately depicts the band in scenes of a seedy, urban underbelly as well as performing big band style, was just added to both Much Music USA and MTV’s Rock Show. “Inhaleí¢ä‰åŒ is already Top 20 at both the Rock and Active Rock panels, and chartbound at the Modern Rock panel, according to Billboard Monitor.

Chatting online with Mike Gitter, Roadrunner A&R in NY this afternoon. Fresh from Gitter, comes these latest studio updates. Ill Nino: Roughly 26 songs/ideas written. Whittling ’em down to 15-16. Bob Marlette comes in on Monday (31/3) and begins two weeks of preproduction before hitting Water Studios in Hoboken, New Jersey. Gitter reports, “Chavarri’s been busting his ass, that’s for sure! And mine in the process!” Red Tape: Amir Derakh heads to Sacto on Monday (31/3) for 2 weeks of preproduction before heading back to LA with the band and recording. Killswitch Engage: Writing. Roughly 5-6 songs done. As for how writing with Howard is going, Gitter states, “Howard’s the man. Sooooo good!” more to come…

Concluding our men behind the music series for Soulfly, Marcelo’s interrogation. RR: Date of birth? Marcelo: “April 29th” RR: Favourite tour story? Marcelo: “Which one do you want?!” RR: Five words that describe you? Marcelo: “Too fucking complicated to answer” RR: One album you think everyone should own? Marcelo: “Perfect Circle.” RR: Which famous person, dead or alive, would you invite over for dinner and why them? Marcelo: “Marilyn Monroe. Do I have to explain?” RR: Best piece of advice you’ve been given? Marcelo: “What goes around, comes around.” RR: If I wasn’t in this band I would be… Marcelo: “I’d just be in another one. I’d be playing music, that’s for sure!” Still want more Soulfly? Swing by the Radio 1 website and check out their Soulfly features: you can hear the Soulfly Radio 1 exclusive session HERE and read an in depth interview with MaxHERE!

We’re thrilled to report the return of the mighty Spineshank to UK shores! Spineshank have been confirmed for the Download Festival at Donington on June 1st, joining labelmates Murderdolls (playing May 31st) and Stone Sour (playing June 1st). The band will appear as special guests to Mudvayne on the Kerrang! stage. Who else is playing? Confirmed to date: Saturday 31st May Main Stage: Iron Maiden, Marilyn Manson, Deftones, Ministry, In Me, and Murderdolls Radio 1 Stage: A, Hatebreed, Sikth, Stampin’ Ground, Funeral For A Friend, From Autumn To Ashes, Shadows Fall, Arch Enemy, and Murder One. Sunday 1st June Main Stage: Limp Bizkit, Audioslave, Zwan, Less Than Jake, Disturbed, Stone Sour, and (Hed) Planet Earth. Deconstruction Stage: NOFX, Boysetsfire, Bouncing Souls, Thrice, T.S.O.L, The Real McKenzies, Fabulous Disaster, and Strung Out. Radio 1 Stage: Mudvayne, Spineshank, One Minute Silence, Raging Speedhorn, Chevelle, Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, The Blood Brothers, Instruction, and Pacifier. Wanna go? You can buy tickets from the official website www.downloadfestival.co.uk. Tix are 퉌£70 for the weekend and 퉌£39.50 for one day. If you wish to camp, it’s an extra 퉌£12.50.

Tonight, be sure to listen in to the Rock Show on Radio 1 from midnight to 2am. Not only can you hear 4 tracks recorded exclusively for Radio 1 at Maida Vale this Friday just gone including a special Nirvana cover but you can also win a plethora of Soulfly stuff – signed posters, stickers and t-shirts! While you’re waiting for all that to begin, have a read of our chat with Mikey Doling from the band, who used to be in the band Snot too. RR: If you could live in any city in the world, where would you live and why? Mikey: “Santa Barbara (it’s home).” RR: Who do you think are the best bands to emerge since the turn of the century? Mikey: “Queens Of The Stone Age, System Of A Down, and At The Drive In. Even though some of before!” RR: How do you find touring with Soulfly compared to touring with Snot? Mikey: “Love both, with Soulfly I’ve seen alot I never saw with Snot.” RR: Producing has increasingly become something you’ve involved in. How did that start? What caught your interest, and as time goes on, do you prefer it to playing? Mikey: “It started as a hobby and then I did ‘Strait Up’ because I felt it had to be done! But there’s nothing like playing live – I love it!”

Soulfly played Manchester this Saturday gone. Came in today to find the following email from Soulfly fan Richard Cahill who was at that very show… “Soulfly at the Manchester Academy 2. Fuckin awesome. Words to describe it? Fucked up. The pit was one hell of a time. Max is a God on stage and the guitar solos were unbelievable. And to cap it all off I got hold of one of the bands fuckin setlists. What a night. Soulfly rule and the drumming goes right through you. Tell people to spread the word! Soulfly are back to take over the world! Downstrooooooooooooooooooooy fuckers!!”

The man needs no introduction. Soulfly’s singer goes under our spotlight… Date of birth? Max: “August 4, 1969 – in Brasil.” Favourite tour story? Max: “The whole Eastern Block of this Soulfly tour (Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria) – it was insane!” Five words that describe you? Max: “Funny, crazy, creative, artistic, loyal!” One album you think everyone should own? Max: “Bob Marley – Survival.” Which famous person (dead or alive) would you invite over for dinner and why? Max: “John Bonham – would love to watch him jam – what a master drummer!” Best piece of advice you’ve been given? Max: “Believe in yourself. (My wife told me that!)” If I wasn’t in this band, I would be… Max:“In another band! Music is the only thing I can really do right! Oh yeah, I also like soccer but I’m not that good on it!”

Watch the TV channel P-Rock? Like Biohazard? Biohazard’s ‘Punishment’ is now added to their selection list – if you want to request it, it’s selection #316.