MEESTERLIJK METAAL XXIV FESTIVAL

After 25 years the clan is back home! During the five years that Martyr was alive and kicking (1982-1987), the band released two albums that are considered to be cult classics in the metal scene today. For The Universe (1985) and Darkness At Time’s Edge (1986) are classic metal, a delight for those who love strong melodies, speedy riffs and a high level of technicality. In those years, Martyr appeared on compilation albums from Roadrunner and Metal Blade, was voted Holland’s best new metal band in Aardschok magazine, toured with several international acts, and appeared on Sky Channel’s Monsters Of Rock.

Martyr disbanded in 1987, but reunited in 2001 to play the Heavy Metal Maniacs festival. Four years later, the band revived almost the complete 1982 line up to play the Headbangers Open Air and Keep It True festivals. The flame has been burning again and the band continued to play live ever since. In December 2008, Martyr supported US Shock Rockers Lizzy Borden on their European tour. In 2009 and 2010, Martyr hit the European stages supporting legendary acts such as Flotsam & Jetsam, Vicious Rumors, Jaguar, Evergrey and more.

In 2009, the first new Martyr record in almost 25 years was released. The new EP Fear was coupled with a re-release of the classic For The Universe album as a double digipack on Rusty Cage Records.

In 2010 and 2011, Martyr re-entered the studio between the live shows to work on the follow up to Fear. A complete new album called Circle Of 8 will be a significant impulse in Martyr’s revival. And by signing with Metal Blade once again, the band’s career has come full circle!

Saber Tiger (サーベル・タイガー) is een Japanse heavymetal-band uit Sapporo (Hokkaidō), geformeerd in 1981 door Akihito Kinoshita. In de jaren die volgden hebben er veel bezettingsveranderingen plaatsgevonden. Gitarist Hidetoshi Takeda ging in begin 1986 naar X en drummer Masafumi Minato naar Dead End. Na een aantal demo’s en nummers op compilatie-albums in de jaren 80 bracht Saber Tiger het debuutalbum Paragraphuit in 1991. Met het tweede album Invasion in 1992 deed de vrouwelijke zangeres Yoko Kubota de zangpartijen.

In 1997 verscheen het zesde album, genaamd Project One. Ditmaal met behulp van gast-zangpartijen van Ron Keel, bekend van de heavymetal-bands Steeler, Black Sabbath en Keel. Tijdens de opnames van dit album werd tevens de bezetting weer veranderd. Bassist Naoto Shibata van Anthem en voorheen van Loudness werd aangesteld. Ook drummer Hirotsugu Homma van onder andere Flatbacker en tevens Anthem speelt op dit album mee. Zanger Shimoyama richtte met gitarist Norifumi Shima van Concerto Moon de band Double Dealer op. 

Originally dating back to the early eighties, Ear Danger was started up again by founding members Dick Vijgen (drums) and Matt Verschoor (bass). Realizing that they would not be able to get the original band together, they teamed up with two excellent young musicians, Ivo Metz (guitar) and Leon Lohmann ( vocals, guitar).
The original plan was to record a demo, do one or two gigs and leave it there. However, their demo “Shock & Awe” was received with so much enthusiasm that they decided to go beyond that. First a series of concerts throughout the Netherlands took place of which the highlight was undoubtedly their appearance at the internationally acclaimed festival “Heavy Metal Maniacs” .
In September, they released their first album “Full Blast At Last”. At first, this album was released on vinyl only by the band, but after the vinyl edition sold out, the album was re-released on CD by French label Emanes records.
The success of “Full Blast” pushed Ear Danger to take it to the next level. New tracks were written which resulted in the recording of the second album entitled “Warrior Soul”, which is due for release in May 2014, again on Emanes records. Ear Danger will pick up playing live gigs in July 2014, when their first live gig after recording “Warrior Soul” will be on at the Metal Magic festival in Fredericia , Denmark

Een mix van rock, psychedelica en blues die sterk doet denken aan de 60’s en 70’s. Dat is hoe dit powertrio uit Noordwijk aan Zee het best omschreven kan worden. Het is dan ook geen verassing dat bands als The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Led Zeppelin en Pink Floyd als inspiratiebronnen worden genoemd.

The Legs speelde al shows in zalen als Patronaat en Paradiso en in het voorprogramma van onder andere ‘Ten Years After’, ‘Dewolff’ en ‘Dead Meadow’. De nummers zijn sfeervol, veelzijdig en verassend. Zonder angst om live te improviseren is bij The Legs geen enkele show hetzelfde.
In oktober 2015 kwam debuut EP ‘House of Horizontal Happiness’ uit, die compleet in eigen beheer is opgenomen in een oude peuterspeelzaal.