Yes, to the left that is DR’s goofy, gangly-looking editor along with Helloween guitarist/all-around funnyman Michael Weikath. We don’t normally parade our mug on the site (for obvious reasons), but it’s not everyday one gets to chat with a personality like Weike face-to-face. The man has enough stories to tell to fill a book (how’s that for an idea?), plus, perspective on a topsy-turvy career unlike any other in European metal. It’s why he’s one of the best interview subjects around, with this scribe being fortunate enough to talk the man four times in the last three years. Here’s to many more chats, and years of Happy Happy Helloween… – David E. Gehlke
General housekeeping
We are running a giveaway for French death metallers Nephren-Ka. To get your paws on their new album, The Fall of Omnius, click here.
Photo action for the week: Broken Hope and Deicide in Toronto.
Is Metallica now overexposed? Tell us what you think via our poll!
Features
The absolutely hilarious Michael Weikath of Helloween gabbed it up with DR on the back of the band’s tour bus in Columbus, OH.
Get to know massively underrated Seattle-based melodic death metallers Shaded Enmity.
Faroe Islands metal champs Tyr spoke to DR about their new album, and plans for North America.
Katatonia guitarist Anders Nystrom held court with DR on a myriad of topics, and somehow wasn’t overtaken by our fanboy zeal.
Reviews
Kreator shows what they can do with a full stage setup via their Dying Alive CD/DVD.
Bay Area post-metallers Secrets of the Sky did some good things…and some expected things on their To Sail Black Waters debut.
Massachusetts death metal outfit Soul Remnants left an impression on Matt Coe with their new Black and Blood effort.
Straightforward French black metal? You don’t say? Temple of Baal’s Verses of Fire has that area covered.
Death Angel goes for broke on yet another impressive display of classic Bay Area thrash on The Dream Calls for Blood.
PA-based death metallers Rivers of Nihil display some semblance of promise on their Conscious Seed of Light debut.
Wacky death metal in the house with Gigan’s Multi-Dimensional Fractal Sorcery and Super-Science.
Monolithe appears to have leveled off with their new Monolithe IV album.
Broken Hope joins the death metal reunion fray with the excellent Omen of Disease.
Kyuss might be no more, but Vista Chino reigns on their debut album, Peace.
The news in ten
1. Godflesh forced to postpone fall U.S. tour.
2. Iced Earth streams the lyric video for “Plagues of Babylon.”
3. Megadeth goes country by taking part in a George Jones tribute show.
4. Rob Halford to become a guest on The Simpsons.
5. Cannibal Corpse gets inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.
6. Nightwish officially add Floor Jansen as their singer.
7. Gorguts announce new North American headlining dates.
8. Skeletonwitch gets the shaft from Disney, but is invited to take part in a wedding.
9. Trivium streams their new album Vengeance Falls in full.
10. Nachtmystium mainman Blake Judd arrested.