RIP Mitch Lucker

November 1^st, 2012 saw the tragic death of a legend in the hardcore/metal scene, Suicide Silence front man, Mitch Lucker.

Suicide Silence are a deathcore band formed in 2002 and have released 3 full length albums, their most recent being The Black Crown. Mitch Lucker was an iconic front man in the scene, an inspiration and friend to many. Mitch was often recognised for his high pitched screaming technique and the ‘Mitch Lucker Stomp’.

On November 1^st, word got around through the use of social networks that unfortunately Mitch had passed away due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash. Mitch lost control of his 2013 Harley-Davidson, slamming into a light pole in Huntington Beach at around 9pm. Suicide Silence released this statement on their Facebook page soon after.

"There's no easy way to say this. Mitch passed away earlier this morning from injuries sustained during a motorcycle accident. This is completely devastating to all of us and we offer our deepest condolences to his family. He will be forever in our hearts. R.I.P Mitchell Adam Lucker. We love you, brother."

It was devastating news to all Suicide Silence fans and even some who weren’t fans of the band. Many of Mitch’s band mates and friends took to twitter to offer their thoughts and prayers to his family, and bands such as Pierce The Veil and Asking Alexandria dedicated songs and their performances to Mitch in their shows the following nights.

Only hours after his death, Mitch’s wife Jolie, along with his band mates and some friends, decided to organise a candlelit vigil at the sight of Mitch’s death in Huntington Beach. Family, friends and fans all showed up to pay their respects to the front man and his family, placing flowers, candles, photos, artworks and letters at the sight, along with sharing their fondest memories of Mitch with each other.

Mitch was not only a front man and husband, but was also a father; 5 year old Kenadee Lucker, was Mitch’s daughter. Kenadee was also at the candlelit vigil, holding her candle up as high as she could ‘so that daddy could see it’, telling everyone “I’m not going to see daddy anymore, he’s in heaven.”

Suicide Silence set up a memorial fund, in which all the proceeds go towards Kenadee Lucker’s education fund. Photographer Adam Elmakias also teamed up with Suicide Silence to sell some prints, one of Mitch and good friend Oli Sykes of Bring Me The Horizon, and some of Mitch and Kenadee, again, all the proceeds going towards Kenadee’s education.

(Photo credit to Adam Elmakias)

Most recently announced was ‘Ending is The Beginning’, a Mitch Lucker memorial show (21^st of December at The Fox Theatre in Pomona). Different vocalists from deathcore/hardcore/metalcore bands will be joining Suicide Silence on stage to sing a Suicide Silence song each, in the place of Mitch. 

Mitch Lucker is still constantly in the thoughts and hearts of family, friends and fans and will remain that way for a very long time. He was seen as an icon and a legend in his scene and people will continuously aspire to be like the great person that he was. He will never be forgotten.

Rest In Peace, Mitch Lucker.

Don't Panic - All Time Low - Album Review

October 9^th (October 12^th for Australians) celebrated the long awaited release of American pop punk band All Time Low’s fifth studio album, Don’t Panic.

This album is most definitely a step up from the band’s last album, Dirty Work. For a lot of fans, Dirty Work was a huge let down, claimed to be too poppy with too much auto tune, something that was not All Time Low. The band has said themselves that the album was a bit of a mistake, and signing with Interscope was the wrong choice for them.

The band decided to leave Interscope Records and create their new record as an unsigned band, later signing with their original label, Hopeless, to release the record. Don’t Panic seems like it is the album that Dirty Work should have been.

Don’t Panic definitely seems to take all the positive aspects from their previous albums, and puts them all together to create the twelve tracks, but mainly, the songs seem to take inspiration from their earliest releases Put Up or Shut Up and So Wrong, It’s Right.

The album starts with The Reckless and The Brave which was also the first single. The song was a perfect decision for the album’s opening track. The song is a fun and energetic start to the album, and gives you just a slight taste as to what you’re in for with the rest of the tracks.

The stand out songs would probably have to be If These Sheets Were States, So Long Soldier and the third single off the album, Somewhere In Neverland. All of these tracks sound like what All Time Low is really meant to be. They are true pop punk tunes, they’re fun, loud songs with lots of guitar and lots of drums, and are songs that seem like they would really go off live.

The album has a variety of guest vocalists including Jason Vena from Acceptance on the track Outlines, which also had Fall Out Boy front man Patrick Stump as co-writer, Anthony Raneri from Bayside on So Long Soldier and guest harmonies from Cassadee Pope on Backseat Serenade.

There aren’t really any songs on the album that can be considered as a least favourite, All Time Low have managed to create an album full of great pop punk tracks, with no let downs and it has impressed the fans and even those who weren’t previously fans immensely.

Nickelodeon's Slimefest.

On Saturday, the 15^th of September, I once again headed out to the Hordern Pavilion but this time for Nickelodeon’s first ever ‘Slimefest’. Slimefest is a ‘music festival for kids’ and featured many of Australia’s popular young talents.

Arriving at the venue, hyped up kids accompanied by their parents and crazy, screaming teenage girls is what you were greeted with.

First up were Justice Crew, who warmed up the crowd by performing their hit single ‘Boom Boom’. Nickelodeon stars Luke and Wyatt, the hosts for the night, graced the stage next, introducing what were to be the two ‘teams’ for the night, the Orange Allstars and the Wyatt Warriors. The two teams had to fight against one another, the winning team getting the slime.

Next was Jessica Mauboy, performing Inescapable and two songs from her new movie, The Sapphires. To the excitement of most of the teenage girls in the audience, Reece Mastin took the stage next, performing three songs, Shut Up and Kiss Me, Shout It Out and Good Night, sending the room into a fangirling frenzy.

Other acts that performed throughout the night included Johnny Ruffo, Christina Parie and special guest, Guy Sebastian.

In between all the performers, Luke and Wyatt reappeared, organising games for the two teams to battle it out in, in hope that they would be getting slimed. Stars including Reece Mastin, Charlotte Dawson, Tiffiny Hall and Rachel Finch were brought out onto stage, representing each team in the slime spinner battles. After about three or four of the games, the whole crowd was completely covered in green slime, confetti, feathers and glitter.

At the end of the night, the crowd left with slime covering practically every visible part of their body, had it dripping from their hair and clothes, along with little pieces of confetti mixed in there too, yet they still thought it was the best thing ever, and looked like they had thoroughly enjoyed their night at Slimefest. 

All Time Low Album Details.

All Time Low have recently announced a whole new set of details regarding their soon to be released album ‘Don’t Panic’.

Only a few months ago, about the time of the release of their single ‘The Reckless and The Brave’, the band announced that they are no longer signed with Interscope records. The boys’ most recent album was produced under Interscope, and the album failed to impress many of the fans. The band have now said that they don’t think the label was for them as there was no one there who fully supported the band’s ideas and what they wanted to do, so they decided it was best to part ways.

The band created the newest record ‘Don’t Panic’ as an unsigned band but are going back to their roots and are releasing it under Hopeless Records, a label they were signed to before Interscope, the first label that they were ever signed to.

In the past week, the fans have been given a track listing,

1. The Reckless and The Brave

2. Backseat Serenade (featuring Cassadee Pope)

3. If These Sheets Were States

4. Somewhere In Neverland 

5. So Long Soldier (featuring Anthony Ranen)

6. The Irony Of Choking On A Life Saver

7. To Live and Let Go

8. Outlines

9. Thanks To You

10. For Baltimore

11. Paint You Wings

12. So Long, and Thanks For All The Booze

Album Artwork,

And an album trailer, following an end of the world theme, and featuring previews of two previously unheard songs, ‘Outlines’ and ‘Somewhere In Neverland’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUbmmLqI-q4&feature=player_embedded

Pairing up with their good friends Glamour Kills, pre-order packages were also made available to buy. There are seven packs to choose from, including things like t-shirts, crewnecks, poster packs and signed CD’s, (available to buy from www.alltimelow.com). And if you don't pre-order, the album will be available in stores and on iTunes on the 9th of October.

5 Seconds Of Summer/Lewis Watson Acoustic Performance.

Around 150 teenage girls is what you would have found if you were at Hyde Park last Sunday, the 26^th of August, all waiting to catch an acoustic set from teen heartthrobs 5 Seconds Of Summer and Lewis Watson, a good turnout for a small gig only organised and announced a few days prior.

The boys of upcoming Sydney band, 5 Seconds Of Summer and British singer Lewis Watson arrived at the area near the War Memorial at Hyde Park at around 12 o’clock, sending girls running to try and meet the boys or just to secure a good spot.

5 Seconds Of Summer were up first, singing their first released original song, ‘Gotta Get Out’, most girls sitting watching almost speechless, stunned that they were only metres away from Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood, Ashton Irwin and Michael Clifford, drummer Ashton, encouraged girls to help the band out and sing along.

Next from 5SOS was a Justin Bieber cover, ‘As Long As You Love Me’, the fans getting more involved, singing the rap in the song, as the band sat and watched.

Another original was next, ‘Everything I Want’, and their set was finished with ‘Jasey Rae’, an All Time Low cover, also a fan favourite.

Lewis Watson was up next, all the way from Britain on a short, few week visit to Australia. Lewis also performed 4 acoustic songs, including ‘Nothing’, ‘Calling’, ‘Once More’ and ‘Bones’.

After Lewis’ performance, 5 Seconds Of Summer left quickly, said to be heading back to the studio, leaving many disappointed girls having missed out on the opportunity to meet them. Lewis stuck around, determined to meet every single person who wanted a photo or to get something signed.

Lewis hung out with the fans for at least an hour, getting photo after photo, signing One Direction phone case after One Direction phone case, getting gift after gift from his fans.

I think that the day turned out as a great success, with all fans seeming to be extremely impressed with the acoustic performance, even if they did miss out on the chance to meet the 5SOS boys.

Soundwave 2013 Line-up.

The long awaited Soundwave 2013 line-up has finally arrived and it most definitely did not fail to impress. Celebrating a ten year anniversary of the festival for metal, punk and rock lovers, the line-up has topped anything we have ever seen previously.

Festival organiser, AJ Maddah, has managed to please most with the line-up this year. Metal heads were happy with the news that Metallica are being brought down to the festival as headlining act. 

Other headliners including Linkin Park, The Offspring, Paramore and Blink-182, drummer Travis Barker boarding a plane for the first time in 4 years to fly down for the festival.

Myself along with many other pop punk lovers were extremely impressed with the line-up, a whole string of pop-punk bands attending the festival, a very similar set to those featured on this year’s Vans Warped Tour.

At the festival, I’m most looking forward to seeing All Time Low, having missed their most recent shows in Australia, Counter Revolution 2011, also through Soundwave touring. I’m also keen to see Pierce The Veil, Sleeping With Sirens, Paramore, Blink-182, The Wonder Years and Sum 41.

The second announcement, announced just over a week after the first, added another set of huge names to the line-up, including Slayer, Cypress Hill, Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon and The Amity Affliction.

The festival is predicted to sell out in record time, 85% of tickets for Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne being sold through pre-sale within 24 hours of being on sale. The remaining tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday 23^rd August.

Simple Plan - June 1st. Concert Review.

Arriving at the Hordern Pavillion on the 1^st of June, I knew I was in for a fun night. Able to hear Simple Plan warming up in sound check gave me a taste of what I was in for later on. Even arriving a few hours before the doors were set to open; the line was already filled with fans, stretching far past the entrance.

After a few hours of waiting, the doors were opened, ‘synth power-pop’ act The Never Ever, taking the stage soon after. The young Sydney band played an energetic set, getting the crowd warmed up and ready for the main support act, We The Kings.

We The Kings played a fun, crowd involved set, impressing fans and even those who were previously unfamiliar with the band. The band finished their set by playing their hits ‘Say You Like Me’ and ‘Check Yes Juliet’, the obvious crowd favourites.

The moment which the crowd had been waiting for was next; Simple Plan graced the stage, opening with old favourite ‘Shut Up’. The Canadian pop-rockers played a variety of songs off all their albums, from 2002 debut ‘No Pads, No Helmets… Just Balls’ to their most recent release ‘Get Your Heart On!’, even throwing in a Maroon 5/LMFAO cover.

Front man Pierre Bouvier kept the crowd entertained in between songs, flaunting his great stage presence as did guitarist, David Desrosiers.

Upbeat singles from ‘Get Your Heart On!’ such as ‘Summer Paradise’ and ‘You Suck At Love’ seemed to be favourites as well as ‘Jet Lag’ in which the boys were joined on stage by 16 year old X-Factor contestant Christina Parie, filling in on guest female vocals, who impressed the audience with confidence and a great voice, living up to the original, sung by Natasha Bedingfield.

Soon after leaving the stage, the band was back for their first encore, and was soon back again for their second encore. They finished the concert with an acoustic set consisting of songs ‘Crazy’ and ‘Perfect’.

Overall, the boys put on a great show, keeping the crowd constantly entertained, and definitely not wanting the set to end.