Metaholic End of year Poll

Greetings metalheads! It's been a short while, but now that we have left 2008 in it's wake and are heading for a whole new year of metal, it's time for our first ever Metaholic End of year Poll. We're asking you, the fans, to tell us what you thought were the best and worst of 2008.
To do just that, simply send in your reply to metaholic.mat@gmail.com by Feb 15th and the results will be put together, and posted shortly after.

So here are all the appropriate bests and worsts of Metal in 2008. Time for you to have your say.

Best Album
Worst Album
Best Live Act
Worst Live Act
Best Guitarist
Best Drummer
Best Bassist
Best Vocalist
Worst Vocalist
Best New Band
Worst New Band
Best Festival
Best Album Art
Worst Album Art
Most looking forward to in 2009

Send your answers to me at metaholic.mat@gmail.com by Feb 15th. And please, tell your friends to take part aswell. But remember, there's only one submission per email address.

Stay brutal!

Review: A Fragile Hope by Devil Sold His Soul

Artist: Devil Sold His Soul
Title: A Fragile Hope
Release Date: August 5, 2008

One of the more unique aspects of the metal genre is all of the subgenres therein. It never stops with just "metal." There's Black Metal, Death Metal, Power Metal, and of the myriad "-core's." It's also interesting to see the lines that sometimes get drawn in the sand between fans of the different genres, and it's not often you see many arms reaching across the aisles.

But sometimes, a band comes along and creates a sound that infuses all of the right elements at all of the right times while breaking boundaries and blurring lines and turns out something so unique and powerful that it will send chills up the spine of the most rabid of Anathema and Opeth's fans as it will devotees of Converge and Mouth of the Architect.

Devil Sold His Soul have done just that.

"A Fragile Hope" is a thick, heady, epic exercise in thoughtful ferocity that incites rage inasmuch as it tugs at our softer nature. At times, the sound can be harsh enough to start one's head banging in a frenzy, while at others it maintains its expressiveness without venturing too far into "emo" territory.

The dry-lung screams wrap themselves around a barrage of crashing guitars and thudding basslines while higher-end (but not too high....Iced Earth fans, I'm talking to you) clean vocal and softer guitar interludes move in and out amongst the organized chaos. The interplay of the two styles is so in-tune with the music and the emotions expressed that it's almost "too good."

"The Starting" is the album's most popular track (they have a video available for it, anyway) and perfectly encapsulates DSHS's overall sound, while "At The End of the Tunnel" probably has the sharpest teeth.

But the high point of the album is "Dawn of the First Day," a groovy, emotionally-charged, crushing song that basically eludes every adjective in my vocabulary. Let us just say that the song is best enjoyed at a volume just below "bleeding ears."

"A Fragile Hope" is an amazing album, and even as I listen to it now, I find myself wondering how I even managed to put into words my adulation of this achievement when I could have summed it all up in one word:

Incredible.

Country: United Kingdom

Label: Eyes of Sound Records

URL: www.myspace.com/devilsoldhissoul

Wykked Wytch New Cover

Taken from the band's Myspace page:
Due to the overwhelming response for our "Sweet Dreams" cover, we've been asked by the fans for another cover song. This time we have decided to rape Evanescence's "Bring Me To Life" which is now streaming on our myspace page.

The track was recorded by Matt LaPlant (Nonpoint, Sikth) & Gus Rios (Malevolent Creation) at Bieler Bros. Studios in Pompano Beach, FL. Mixing & Mastering was handled by Eric Rachel (ATREYU, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) at Trax East Studios in NJ.

The song will be available exclusively through iTunes and other digital online stores in October. There are also plans for the song to be included on a movie soundtrack early next year. More details to follow.

Don't forget to check out WYKKED WYTCH appearing on the mainstage of Indianapolis Metalfest II - September 26-27

To purchase tickets & more info check out the official site:
www. indianapolismetalfest. com / www. myspace. com/indymetalfest


We also have some Euro tour plans coming up this fall with an official announcement coming soon!

Check Wykked Wytch out at:

http://www.myspace.com/wykkedwytch

Metaholic Music Forum

Make sure you get yourselves on over to our brand new forum! Discuss your favourite metal bands with fellow metalheads, promote your bands, and join in with discussions on Metaholic Music related stuff!

http://metaholicmusic.forumandco.com is the link you need! So get on over and introduce yourselves!