After Haddon finished from performing at the Pukkelpop festival in Belgium with his band, he climbed the telecommunications mast at the main stage and plunged into the car park in view of his shocked fans.  A statement on the band’s MySpace page reads

‘We are all so deeply saddened to confirm that our friend Charlie Haddon passed away yesterday, Friday 20th August. The singer had just performed with his band, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, at the Pukkelpop festival in Belgium. He was 22 years old. The London three piece were in Europe playing a number of festivals before embarking on a tour of Australia as part of the Parklife festival next month.

Charles Alexander Haddon R.I.P.

Thanks for all your messages of support. x’

And for those who haven’t heard of this had to be a very promising band, here’s a video below of their latest hit single, Dance the way I feel.

You can visit Ou Est Le Swimming Pool MySpace page here

“Paul Gray was the essence of the band Slipknot,” Shawn Crahan (drummer)
“The only way I can sume up Paul Gray is love,” Corey Taylor (vocalist)

Watch the full Press Conference video below

R.I.P. Paul Gray

“Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.”

‘‘We’re Here Because We’re Here’ is Anathema’s most expansive album to date and by the far best thing we’ve ever done. Not only have we improved as writers, but because we took our time, we had the opportunity to select the very best material and concentrate on it. We gave the songs the chance to breathe and come alive by themselves and it’s ended up being magical – every song is as good as the rest of them. This album features the best performances by the band ever; Vincent’s greatest vocals and John’s and my best writing” – Danny Cavanagh

Vincent goes further in explaining the origins of the album’s enigmatic title:

“The title ‘We’re Here Because We’re Here’ is inspired by a song that was first heard across the Allied trenches of World War One. Sung to the tune of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, the song served as a defiant rallying-call keeping up the morale of those who had to endure the incessant carnage and almost unimaginable horror. The spirit behind those words, and the deep questions they raised immediately struck all of us. Therefore we have appropriated these words to reflect the spirit and bond that all six members of the group have with each other. We have shared some incredible experiences, on all levels, and the fact that we have emerged stronger, more determined, and confident in our common vision is a testament to our resilience, both as individuals and collectively”

Danny continues:

“The bond is deeper than the music and you might say the direction of music is a product of our connection to each other; a real family in every sense of the word.”

With that in mind the band can announce that John Douglas’ sister Lee has joined the group on a full-time basis. She had this to say of her involvement:

“It’s great to be more involved musically, and I feel that my vocals are adding a new presence and depth to the dynamic of the group. I’m in it for the long haul, so bring it on!”

The self-produced album was mixed by Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) and features the exquisite string arrangements of Dave Stewart (Stewart/Gaskin, Porcupine Tree) and mastering skills of legendary Jon Astley (The Who, Led Zeppelin). The song ‘Angels Walk Among Us’ features subtle backing vocals by Ville Valo of H.I.M.

Full track listing is as follows:

Thin Air
Summernight Horizon
Dreaming Light
Everything
Angels Walk Among Us
Presence
A Simple Mistake
Get Off, Get Out
Universal
Hindsight

Pre-order details will soon be available on the Anathema official site.

Type O Negative is a heavy metal / doom band, and sometimes even considered to be a Gothic metal band from New York.

About Pete (as known from the fans)

Peter Steele was born Peter J. Ratajczyk on January 4, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York. Steele has several noteworthy characteristics including his height. He is reportedly 6’7″. He is the lead singer, bassist and composer for the gothic metal band, Type O Negative. Steele has a low, heavy, bass voice, which is one of the most recognizable features of the Type O Negative’s music. There are several stories that state that Steele apparently suffers from clinical depression.

While his music will surely live forever, as this song title suggests, Everything dies!

R.I.P Pete

After listening to the first three tracks; Food Fighters, Fire, and Spliff, I already had a conclusion. Or I’m really not into the Indie rock scene, or this band is head banging great! In the last couple of days, I listened to some other Indie rock bands, to have some basic ‘comparison knowledge’, and can confirm that Eatliz are a really original band. Actually, a class of their own. Even the sound engineering of the EP. It is so well done, that you can hear every instrument properly, no instrument overrides the other.

The album features sensational vocals by Lee Triffon, which blends so well with the music. It can be noticed mostly in the innovative chorus of their first track Food Fighters, and the closing of the second track in the EP, Fire, where the vocals steals the limelight from the music itself. My favorite track is Spliff, a head banging masterpiece. I cannot imagine myself with a couple of friends in a pub, and listen to this song. It’s impossible not to mosh with such earth moving song! Eatliz also covered ‘Army of Me’, originally released by Bjork. Now let’s face it, Bjork is no joke, but I think Eatliz’s cover version most probably sounds better than the original version. The rest of the track features catchy guitar melodies, heavy metal influenced drums and great rhythmic bass riffs.

Pump up the volume to listen to the above video!

Eatliz’s debut album ‘Violently Delicate’ is also available for download, for free from their website. Also, once a month they will be making a new track from their new EP ‘Delicately Violent’. If you like this band, I suggest you still should buy their CD’s. After all, it will encourage the band to produce more great material!

As such there is no way to describe this band’s original musical style.  Although their heavy music have elements of Opeth, and their slower pieces and guitar work have influence of a 70′s rock band, they still managed to distinguish themselves with a style of their own.  At first the album might sound a little bit mono tone, maybe because of the lack of keyboards and other sound effects which usually create an overdose of ‘atmosphere’ in an album.  But after listening to it a couple of times, and understand the lyrics, you  realise that this is a true work of art, which can be quite addictive.  Once you start listening to it, it is impossible to stop it in the middle and change the cd.

Forget about power chords, since their guitars are as melodious as they can be, which is a great plus for this album and band.  Their progressive guitar solos mixed up with fast and up beat drum works can distinctively get hold of your attention.  A perfect example of such master piece can be heard in the middle of the sixth track, Running Water.  The vocals and singing style also blend very well with the music style, as can be noticed in their second track, Wishful Thinking.  One can instantly feel how much passion, while at the same time anger, there is their front man’s Gad Erez voice.

To make sure the album is a complete work of art, one must also make sure to get to know more about the lyrics, and understand where these five men are coming from, the beautiful land of Israel.  Yet, man  himself ruined and abused this heavenly land, like many other places.  Their lyrics address the breakdown of what we call today’s modern society, corruption, politics, terrorism and mostly of all, war.  So much for progress!

Well done to Behind the Sun, for starting up their career with such  great album.  The band have a very good potential and I won’t be surprised if they engage a good deal later on in their career, and surprise us more with even better music at a later stage.  Keep up the good work.  Well it’s time for you to listen to the real thing.  Click here to access their MySpace page, and listen to their music.

The overall album construction is like a spiral in which the electro music, rock and vocals fit very well together.  It all starts with the loud ‘Shatterproof Beauty’, featuring good heavy guitar riffs and drum works, accompanied with very catchy electro beats.  The way guitars and synths exposure changes, fit well the vocals style.  With a mixture of heavy electro beats in ‘Set Fire’, excellent drum loops and guitar melodies in ‘Wrong Places’ and a perfect balance of synths and guitars on ‘Redemption’ make this album a must listen to.

The closing track, ‘The Higher I Went, The Deeper I Feel’ is most probably the best track on the album.  After this electro rock journey, it is only appropriate to close with a slow, melodic and atmospheric track, which suites well the theme of the lyrics.  The lyrics explore the need to shape a new start, as the album title suggest.  Personal redemption of the past and the need to make changes and amendments is a need which cannot be ignored.  A journey back to the roots of humans and a look forward to start the much needed change!

and I cannot see the end
all my efforts all my hopes
to give this world another go are lost
down in the deepest blue
where everything is staying still
and no one wants to rise above and see the truth

The album is available from Eibon Records, where some samples from the album are also available.

From the little glimpse I’ve had of this album, the band combines downtempo broken beats, soulful chill, and indie rock songwriting to create a lush, electronic soundscape.  The album X: The Human Condition, conjures also shades of post-punk and new wave, with a twisted and hypnotic sound.  Well let’s wait and see till we listen to the whole thing, but again, I’m confident in this project.  Well are you curious by now?  Wanna have a taste yourself?  Then sit down and relax, and enjoy the below video.  Stay tuned with this blog for a proper review of this great concept album, and interviews with members of this original band.

Christopher Walken on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross BBC1 performing a special Halloween Message. Go Lady Gaga! Give us more lyrics