The Defiled to support Coal Chamber on UK tour

INDUSTRIAL metallers The Defiled have stepped in to replace American Head Charge as support on Coal Chamber's UK tour.

Soil and Dope also make the line up for the shows which begin in Leeds on May 20th before taking in Norwich, Warwick, Nottingham, Glasgow, Bristol, Exeter, Brighton, Wolverhampton, Manchester and then London on May 31st.

Londoners The Defiled have recently been holed up in Dave Grohl's 606 Studios in Los Angeles working on new material with producer John 'Lou' Lousteau (Foo Fighters, The Birds Of Satan, Against Me!).

Frontman Stitch D said: "Getting to record at 606 has been such an insane experience. My two favourite bands of all time are Foo Fighters and Nirvana, so being able to record at Dave Grohl's place is utterly incredible.

"Not only to be surrounded by all the guitars, drums and memorabilia that I grew up watching on TV and looking at in magazines, but to record on the famous Sound City desk which the greatest albums of all time have been recorded on.

"I actually used to have a picture on my wall in my bedroom when I was 13 of Kurt's smashed guitar on the desk where Nirvana were recording Nevermind. Crazy how some things turn out."

You can watch the video for The Defiled's latest track Five Minutes below and find out more at facebook.com/thedefiled.

Tickets for the Coal Chamber tour are available at kililive.com/artists/coal-chamber

The Defiled play gig - on an iceberg

METAL band The Defiled have played possibly the coolest show ever - on a gigantic iceberg in the Greenland Sea.

The stunt was part of the Jägermeister Ice Cold Gig, which sees artists put to the test as they perform in unconventional and slightly nippy conditions.

The Londoners performed to people from the nearby town of Kulusuk, who ventured out to the ice field to watch the show from an array of fishing boats and leisure craft.

Frontman Stitch D, keyboard player The AvD, bassist Vincent Hyde and drummer Needles had earlier spent time getting to meet local musicians and watching them perform their own traditional music - before playing a 30-minute set featuring tracks from their album Daggers. 

Stitch D said: “This has to be one of the most insane gigs we’ve ever played! You see these things on TV documentaries but it’s not until you get to see them in real life that you realise just how big and amazing icebergs are. Although it was cold, I don’t think any of us noticed once we got started as the stage location literally takes your breath away."

“As a group of mates we’ve shared some amazing experiences together but this has been an adventure that has bought us closer together and something that we all feel really privileged to have been part of. 

"We’ve made a lot of friends during our short stay here and donated some music equipment to the local people, so we look forward to coming back one day and playing a joint gig out here next time – maybe the first ever gig with two bands playing on two icebergs at the same time!”

Although The Defiled experienced some chilly weather, Fightstar frontman Charlie Simpson landed the Guinness World Record for the Coldest Concert in 2012 when he braved temperatures of -30˚C to perform  in Oymyakon, Siberia, again as part of the Jägermeister Ice Cold Gig Challenge.

You can check out a video from The Defiled below and enjoy the band at much warmer climes by visiting kililive.com/artists/the-defiled
 

Sonisphere - Day One review

Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst

SAY what you like about about Limp Bizkit - and most people do - they sure know how to write songs that get a festival crowd singing along and dancing.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. It's day one of Sonisphere at glorious Knebworth and the sun is shining and it's hot. And as soon as the tent up and the first beer sunk, it's time to see the first band of the day.

London industrial metallers The Defiled are first up on the Apollo stage and quickly get the crowd going with a fierce set that they seem to enjoy as much as their fans.

But the early sets are short and sweet at 30 minutes and they are soon off and next up for me is Comeback Kid in the Bohemia tent. Just like The Defiled, these Canadian punks are quickly into their groove and have the tent thumping.


By this point - 4pm day one - one thing is very clear. Unlike other festivals I've been to, the priority for the crowd here is the music. Beer and everything else is secondary. Sure there are plenty of drunk folks and those dressed up in the wrestling theme of the day - but they're still hear to see bands.

The Defiled open the Apollo stage

After Comeback Kid for me is Devil You Know. As a big fan of Killswitch Engage, I was keen to see what former frontman Howard Jones and his supergroup sounded like live. 

To be honest, they were just OK. Not bad, but I didn't get the vibe off them I get when I listen to KE. Maybe it's unfair to compare, but I'll still give them another listen.

After that I take a little refreshment break - a few beers and some food - and take in bits of Band Of Skulls, Him and Atari Teenage Riot, but then I'm on my way near the front of the Apollo stage for Limp Bizkit.

Wes Borland blacks out

The Lounge Kittens kick off the set with an a cappella intro to Rollin before Fred Durst joins them on stage and takes over vocal duties. From then on it's classic after classic with the likes of Faith, My Generation, Nookie, a cover of Rage Against the Machine's Killing In the Name before closing with Take A Look Around and Break Stuff - and all with Wes Borland in his usual made-up gimp look.

With the crowd really hyped up, next comes headliners The Prodigy. Those who dispute a dance band topping the bill at a metal festival really haven't seen the Essex boys live before. Man, they rock.

Breathe is the first track and within seconds of the familiar intro the audience is thrashing. It's a long set but the energy of the band and the crowd is immense and the likes of Omen, Firestarter and Invaders Must Die really life everyone. When they play Smack My Bitch Up we reach a frenzy and then comes a four-song encore. What a start to the weekend.

Click on the links here to read my reviews of Day Two and Day Three.

Dripback's Adam da Rat's Sonisphere picks

WITH Sonisphere Festival taking place this very weekend, RealSoundsOK caught up with Dripback bassist Adam da Rat to get the low-down on who to see.

He told us: "I'm picking stuff that might not be as obvious - everyone goes to see the big names, - but the great thing about festivals is finding hidden gems."

So here are his choices...

THE DEFILED - Apollo Stage, Friday 2.45pm

I've followed this band since they were playing to 20 people in a shitty little pub in Camden and always imagined them on a huge stage. Next Friday I don't need to imagine. I can't wait to see them bring their show to the biggest stage they've played so far. Crushing but melodic and with a rare star quality, you shouldn't miss these.

Check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhA0eglzNis

STAMPIN GROUND - Jagermeister Stage, 5pm Saturday

This is their first show in god knows how long. They were the kings of UKHC back in the day. The first time I heard them I thought "Slayer on crack". Viscous, energetic, they will have the whole place bouncing up and down. I can not wait.

Check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZS9L8s98Rk

THE LOUNGE KITTENS - Satellite Stage, Saturday 5.30pm

I've not seen these live yet so really looking forward to this. Three very funny girls with beautiful voices doing very creative interpretations of all manner of songs, from rock to dance to hip hop to whatever. One keyboard, three perfectly harmonising voices and a wicked sense of humour, I can't imagine this not being fun.

Check Out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiwJdH3avHQ

DRIPBACK - Jagermeister Stage, 12pm Sunday

OK - so this is my band. If I wasn't playing I would most definitely be watching Protest The Hero over on the Saturn stage. With that in mind, we need all the help we can get so come watch us play haha. It's dirty, vicious, brutal hardcore played by a bunch of friends who grew up on death metal. We don't get together often but go absolutely bonkers when we do. 

Check Out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD5dZZ7972k

KROKODIL - Jagermeister Stage, 2pm Sunday

Friends I've known for years who are all incredible musicians who've been in other bands previously (and currently). Riffs. Big, fat, juicy riffs, and all the heavy.

Check Out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lhmNYgA0eE