Set – Skin Back Alley

African-American 8th grade metal band secure record deal worth $1.7m

14/07/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

A Brooklyn based African-American heavy metal trio who’s members are just 12 and 13 years old have secured a record deal that has the potential to net them $1.7million.

Unlocking The Truth were discovered by Eric Calpton’s drummer, Steve Jordan, who spotted them jamming in Washington Square Park in 2012. Guitarist Malcolm Brickhouse and bassist Alec Atkins, both 13, and drummer Jarad Dawkins, 12, now have a set at Californian festival Coachella under their belts, along with supporting slots for hard rock heavyweights Guns N’ Roses.

Reports state that the band are guaranteed to release two records via Sony, with an advance of $60,000 for the first, and as much as $350,000 for the second. If the albums prove to be successful, Sony music can then pick up the group’s options for a further four albums, leading to the payout of up to $1.7million.

Alan Sacks manages the group, and New York Daily News has reported that they have a documentary in production, and a book due out at Christmas.

“It’s so exciting. We’re jumping over the moon,” said Jarad’s mother, Tabatha Dawkins.

The trio all share singing duties and are currently touring North America as part of the Vans Warped Tour.

You can watch fan-shot footage of the band performing at this year’s Coachella festival below:

Anthrax to record new drum tracks on Game Of Thrones set

08/07/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Thrash fans partial to a bit of HBO smash hit series Game Of Thrones rejoice! Sort of…

Scott Ian, guitarist with thrash metal legends Anthrax, has revealed that they are planning on recording drums for the band’s new album on the Belfast throne room set of the hit TV show.

Speaking to the Metal Hammer Magazine Show on Team Rock Radio, Ian explained: “I asked Dan Weiss ‘Hey man, what would be the possibility of us recording the drums for the next album in the throne room?’ Like we bring a mobile studio and set up the drums, mic everything and record in here. He says ‘Oh my God that would be the sickest thing ever. We know the guys that can make that possible.’

“All of you out there who watch Game Of Thrones, much like me, probably think it is a very metal TV show. And just know, the reason for that is that one of the creators of it is a huge metalhead.”

Ian has previously indicated that Anthrax will release a new album in 2015.

You can hear the entire interview with the Anthrax axeman on this week’s Metal Hammer Magazine Show at 9pm, on TeamRock Radio starting at 9pm BST.

Iron Maiden round out 3 year world tour with Sonisphere set

07/07/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Iron Maiden played a two hour headline set at this weekend’s Sonisphere festival, drawing a nearly 3 year long world tour to a close.

The British metal legends opened with “Moonchild” from their 1988 album Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, with frontman Bruce Dickinson declaring the crowd to be “…a loud and rowdy and thirsty bunch…”

“Tonight is the last night of a three-year tour, its all been building to this. If we don’t get it right tonight then we never will,” he continued.

The remainder of the set – as with previous dates on the band’s gargantuan tour – was based almost exclusively on Maiden’s most well known material from their 80’s run of classic albums, including songs “The Trooper”, “The Number Of The Beast”, “Run To The Hills” and in the band’s encore, “Aces High” and “The Evil That Men Do.”

Ahead of playing “Revelations”, Dickinson revealed that the last time he had sung the song was at a charity concert in Canterbury Cathedral, accompanied by Jethro Tull. “That was much more sedate, but tonight we’re giving it the full bollocks,” he said. “That’s a technical term.”

Earlier in the day Dickinson had flown a Fokker DR1 triplane as part of an eight aircraft strong WWI dogfight re-enactment. The air show had been organised by Dickinson along with the Great War Display Team. The “fight” took place over a wooded area next to the main arena and was accompanied by sound effects and a live military brass band on stage. It was only fitting that Dickinson seemed to be victorious during the display, “shooting down” two other planes and performing a final flypast before Deftones took to the stage.

At the close of Iron Maiden’s set, Dickinson and the band took time to thank their crew, wider team, and the audience for “keeping it real.” Dickinson concluded by saying that “…what’s coming in the next few years is going to make it more real for you guys, believe me!”

Iron Maiden played:

“Moonchild”
“Can I Play With Madness”
“The Prisoner”
“2 Minutes To Midnight”
“Revelations”
“The Trooper”
“Number Of The Beast”
“Phantom Of The Opera”
“Run To The Hills”
“Wasted Years”
“Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son”
“Fear Of The Dark”
“Iron Maiden”
“Aces High”
“The Evil That Men Do”
“Sanctuary”