Don't be alarmed now

M: Iron Will is a new band formed this month from Singapore...

after the whole retro thrash thing, doom seems to be now the trendy thing to do :/ also iron will is grand magus' most famous song, just sounds like a tribute band...

J: same with most doom/drone/etc bands. i could name fuck loads that are named after songs by older bands, like Boris are named after a melvin's song, teeth of lions rule the divine are after an earth song and so forth. > iron will is grand magus' most famous song sounds like what bonded by blood did XD

M: >sounds like what bonded by blood did XD

god yeah, i think it is the album title and all! so silly :)

>i could name fuck loads that are named after songs by older bands, like Boris are named after a melvin's song, teeth of lions rule the divine are after an earth song and so forth.

yeah, at least they picked more obscure names :) people seem to make these bad judgements - if you say a phrase and i makes you think of a caertain band - DO NOT use that as your and name, unless you really are a tribute act XD

perfect examples of bad names for bands:

whiskey in the jar

seasons in the abyss

cowboys from hell

british steel (i can see it being a band tho haha)

see? bonded by blood, this is so simple, why couldn't you realise?! XD

J: > see? bonded by blood, this is so simple, why couldn't you realise?! XD

it's okay to use it just starting, but if you get major interest, then change it - this for me spoils the first album, their fucking name :/ Plus also; it's exodus, and a staple thrash album, it's a bit brazen to call your band that.

> unless you really are a tribute act XD

like that Creeping Death band :) see that's fine. Also, Dopethrone, that band that stole venom's font, that's also a dumb move too /

> cowboys from hell

british steel (i can see it being a band tho haha)

these are perfect from tribute pantera/JP bands tho :D

M: >Plus also; it's exodus, and a staple thrash album, it's a bit brazen to call your band that.

again - kinda like what i was thinking when i said "cowboys from hell" or "british steel" - perfect for a tribute act, as it sort of encapsulates the band you're imitating, but RETARDED to try and use them for a regular band XD you just can't say those things without thinking of the original act! :)

>Also, Dopethrone, that band that stole venom's font, that's also a dumb move too

like this, i read "dopethrone", but i see "venom" :::::) just stupid. you want people to remember your band, not that you stole something from someone else's!

J: see, like with Superjoint Ritual, that was taken from a lyric from a darkthrone song. lyric! it's what these bands need to know, dont use the obvious :)

M: >dont use the obvious :)

that :)))) when done well, its a cool thing to do, and like you said, loads of bands get their names from books or previous bands - just don't pick the fucking most obvious title of something :))) "between the buried and me" - shit band, but it works for the current styles of bands/names you have coming out :) it doesn't make anyone think of counting crows, thats for sure :)

except superfan hannah :D

J: and silverchair were apparently named a nirvana song, which i cant see the relevance, but if they did, i have no fucking clue! :O

M: yeah, i was thinking of that earlier :) (i only know that via you) :) or like down's second album is "bustle in your hedgerow", which is a line from stairway to heaven :) obvs song, but not obvs lyric :D

or....hmm...you prolly know more of these than me :)

J: > or like down's second album is "bustle in your hedgerow", which is a line from stairway to heaven :) obvs song, but not obvs lyric :D

hehe, i live in a world where that song doesnt exist, i've never knowingly heard it :)

M: oh yeah :D its well long XD

J: idk :D

Spades of Aces

M: >I have this vinyl

Yeah, great XD

J: i bet they have it reissued XD

M: blatantly at least 3000 times XD

J: i meant the person who posted it :)

M: oh i see :)))) haha, yeah probbaly :) i think mine is an old one, but i don't think the tape works anymore, same with my iron maiden ones i'm pretty sure D:

J: what maiden do you have on tape :?

M: killers and powerslave :)))

J: i didnt know you liked killers :O

M: hehe i don't really, they were from a job lot of cassettes i got on ebay :) i did tell you that once, but a long time ago :O

J: oh, i knew you got a job lot, but never knew you got those with it :O

M: yeah :)))) too old for me to own by myself :3

J: you should have got a retail version of killers on cd, might have saved paul dianno from claiming benefit :)

M: LOL yeah, too many people buying second hand stuff XD

Where death is most alive

I went to see Dark Tranquillity with Insomnium and Cypher16 at the Underworld last night and I had a lot to say about it, so I thought I'd share my wise and well-informed opinions with the rest of the world.

First of all - Cypher16. J hates the name, but I don't think it's so bad, although numbers with any name just make it look like a bad email handle. Terror 2000 remain my exception to the rule, because I love that band :D

So, crappy name...and crappy band, for me at least. I think they have a lot of potential and some people may well think what they're doing is cool already, but they were not my cup of tea at all. If I'm honest, I checked them out on MySpace, decided I didn't like them and so only bothered to turn up right at the end of their set. A little unfair, but I'm hardly Lady Justice.

Moving on...Insomnium fucking RULED. They owned that place; every song was awesome. It's the second time I've seen them and both times they've blown me away - I'm not saying they're technically the best or they have the best sound or whatever, but overall, they are one of my favourite live acts. They had a lot of fans there, which was great to see and they had an incredible atmosphere for a relatively unknown band here in the UK. I got one of their albums after I saw them the first time and didn't think much of it, but I'm definitely going to try again. If not then hey, I only like Immortal live, there's nothing wrong with that.

Dark Tranquillity were really really good, despite a few technical difficulties, but overall, I think Insomnium won the day. DT are one of my favourite bands, but in terms of what they play they can be very hit and miss. More than half their set was songs I really didn't care for at all - although the upsides were two from The Gallery (my favourite album - they played the title track and Punish my Heaven) and ended with Terminus, for me the setlist wasn't that great. My highlight would have to be Punish my Heaven as it's one of my favourite songs ever.

The other highlight of the night, I have to say, was Michael Stanne himself. Obviously I don't know him, but he comes across as a really, really nice guy. There was a lot of crowd interaction - he surfed, didn't mind holding hands or holding out the mic to people and generally seemed incredibly happy and at ease with everything. At the end he said the band were going to be at the merch stand and would be sticking around for a couple drinks after the show, which is great to hear from a band that's big enough to get away without doing that shit nowadays.

In terms of venue, I'd say they could have done with a bigger place. The Underworld is small and has many pillars and last night was probably the busiest I'd ever seen it. Even the merch stand could have done with more room - the bar just ain't big enough. Had the Astoria not been razed (bastards), that would have been a perfect venue, but without it, London's really lacking a great medium-sized venue. Last time DT played the UK it was at the stupidly small Barfly in Camden, so I don't know whether the band's management are too cautious with the bookings or just undervalue their commercial appeal, but I'd say they could easily play Islington and with a little more advertising, they could even fill Brixton or Shepherd's Bush.

My final point - oh dear god, £4 a pint? I spent almost a tenner, wasn't even close to drunk then decided I couldn't possibly afford to get drunk. Doesn't make for a fun night, Underworld (and all you other venues charging stupid amounts for watery beer). Improve please!