February In Rock
Written by Kahmel Farahani on March 2, 2021
With Spring just around the corner things are definitely looking up for the both musicians and fans alike. With a bevy of brilliant new albums coming out and the outlook for gigs and festivals looking better than it has in almost a year, let’s hope things keep improving all the way to a rocking summer. Welcome to February in TotalRock!
Band Of The Month – February
TotalRock Band of The month February
This month’s winners are Lebanese prog metal newcomers Turbulence. An exciting group whose sound blends compelling musical and lyrical storytelling with a very modern production. Turbulence has just signed to Frontiers Records to release their sophomore album `Frontal` on 12th March 2021. Founded in 2013 by guitarist Alain Ibrahim and keyboardist Mood Yassin, they are completed by Omar El Hage on vocals, Sayed Gereige on drums and Anthony Atwe on bass. The Turbulence sound is a mix of jazz virtuosity , prog metal heaviness and ambient soundscapes that is sure to win them many fans around the world.
Biggest & Best Stories Of the Month
Alice Cooper returns with `Detroit Stories`
Detroit’s most outrageous son is back with his 21st solo album and this one is celebrating the rich rock and roll songwriting history of his hometown. With guest appearances from Joe Bonamassa and The MC5’s Wayne Kramer to original Alice Cooper band members Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smith, this album is a fantastic addition to Alice’s discography. TotalRock’s own Dawn Osborne wrote about the album in her review: “With his twenty first solo album, Alice Cooper honours Detroit’s place in the history of hard rock by recording this album in Detroit and involving many local musicians. Alice presides as MC over a pretty diverse offering with influences from the whole Detroit music scene”.
Iron Maiden are finally nominated for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
Bruce Dickinson visiting the RRHOF
Having been eligible since 2008, Iron Maiden have been nominated for entry into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland. While the band themselves have yet to make an official statement on the nomination, former Iron Maiden guitarist Dennis Stratton spoke exclusively to TR’s own Neil Jones about the nomination. Dennis said “My first reaction was I thought its not going to include me….then I got a message i’d been nominated with the band. I was so happy about that. It was a bit of a shock to include me, Clive and Paul. Its a nice gesture from my point of view”
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has been vocal about his views of the RRHOF in the past, telling The Jerusalem Post in 2018: “I’m really happy we’re not there and I would never want to be there. If we’re ever inducted I will refuse – they won’t bloody be having my corpse in there. Rock & roll music does not belong in a mausoleum in Cleveland. It’s a living, breathing thing, and if you put it in a museum, then it’s dead. It’s worse than horrible, it’s vulgar.”
You can vote once a day here: https://vote.rockhall.com/
Bloodstock adds more bands and records record ticket sales
For the first time in almost 1 year, the outlook for festivals is finally looking up. With the announcement of easing lockdown restrictions and the hopes of an open summer, many British festival organisers have rejoiced, as have gig starved fans who bought their tickets to Bloodstock 2021 in droves. The festival, already extended to a 5 day, is being headlined by Devin Townsend, Mercyful Fate and the mighty Judas Priest. If things go as expected, Bloodstock will be held from the 11th to the 15th of August in Catton Park, Derbyshire.
Suzi Quatro comes back with a bang
February saw undisputed first lady of rock and roll return with a stomping new single and video which shows she’s still a real wild one even as she enters into her 70s. `The Devil In Me` is the single from the new album of the same name which is due out on March 26th. Suzi spoke to TotalRock’s own Alison Booth about her new single, saying “I’m real proud of it. Everybody is going ballistic on it. If there’s a silver lining in lockdown, here it is!”
Featured Interview
From the return of rock and roll heroes like Suzi Quatro and Nu-metal stars like Korn’s Brian `Head` Welch to Jarkko Aaltonen from Korpiklaani and Simone Simons of Epica, it’s been a big and busy month for interviews here at TotalRock. However, the interview of the month has to go to Neil Jones who spoke at length to Kiss legend Paul Stanley about his new Soul Station project, Kiss and much more. Click below to hear Paul Stanley tell TotalRock’s Neil Jones about their pyrotechnic extravaganza on new year’s eve.
TotalRock show of the month February
METAL MAYHEM
Blackdiamond’s Metal Mayhem celebrated 8 years on TotalRock in December 2020. The show features various genres of metal and sometimes a bit of rock – but mainly focuses on heavy, death and thrash metal, with some black metal thrown in for good measure!
SWAG of the Month
Up Coming Shows
Our hot tip this coming week is to tune into our very own DJ Force X’s show on Twitch this Friday night for a metal party set. Just follow the link below and keep it TotalRock.
https://www.twitch.tv/totalrock
