Normally they stick to the editorial side of things in their Philly headquarters, but this past April Decibel Magazine set out on their maiden tour voyage, bringing Behemoth, Watain, The Devil’s Blood and In Solitude to your state (or Canadian province).
Featuring all European artists, this was a bold line-up arrangement on the magazine’s part, especially because this was Behemoth’s first U.S. tour since vocalist/guitarist Adam “Nergal” Darski’s well-documented battle with and triumph over leukemia.
With one minor set-back – the start date in Columbus, Ohio had to move venues because of conflicting religious beliefs with the original venue owners – this tour looks like it has been a great success as it wraps up this Saturday in New York City.
But have no fear: If you were unable to make it to one of the tour dates (or even if you were!) we have an LP package that will last you longer than a few set lists and an overpriced Heineken. We are giving away a copy of Behemoth’s Ezkaton box set, The Devil’s Blood’s The Thousandfold Epicentre and In Solitude’s The World. The Flesh. The Devil so that you can re-live this tour line-up for many days to come.
To enter to win, tell us in the comments below about which bands would make up your ideal tour line-up and why. This contest will end at midnight on Friday, May 18th. You must have an address in the US or Canada to enter.
BUY EZKATON
Metal Blade Records (CD/Vinyl)
. . .
BUY THE THOUSANDFOLD EMPIRE
Metal Blade Records (CD/Vinyl)
. . .
BUY THE WORLD. THE FLESH. THE DEVIL
Metal Blade Records (CD/Vinyl)
. . .
My dream tour line up would be (in order): Barn Burner, Belphegor, Powerwolf, Anaal Nathrakh and Hypocrisy.
I like to participate with bands that I see live. All of these bands have so many fun aspects to their music that can be windmilled/fist-pumped/grimaced/sung along to.
I have found that some bands I only enjoy live, some much more on record. Having only seen Hypocrisy live (in a tiny venue and being blown away), I am assuming that I would love the music/mood/theatrics of all of these groups live as much as I do on record.
Also, it offers enough emotive and stylistic diversity to keep me interested and feeling refreshed by each new act through a long night of headbanging.
High Spirits opens and keeps shit fun and light hearted (2 beers and a shot of whiskey). Then the vibe switches to high energy shredding with Holy Grail followed by Havok (4 beers and 2 more big boy-sized shots of whiskey). Back slapping turns to party-shoving. Fists stay in the air the whole time. Then the closer is Midnight with the Midnight mistresses. (3 beers and 2-5 more shots of whiskey and maybe one of tequila.) I scream about Satan and how you Can’t Stop Steel until I punch myself in the face and am awakened around 2:30am by an ambivalent janitor’s broom. I look down to see that I’m covered in blood sweat and booze and in each hand I am permanently clutching an invisible orange.
I’m ineligible to win, but what the hell, I love this question.
Pharaoh opens. They sneak a few Control Denied songs in as well.
Next up is Meshuggah, doing a best of list.
Emperor follows, but they explode heads by playing Prometheus in order, plus a few scattered tracks from the other albums.
Manilla Road does their thing, but they make sure to throw in a few really old songs like Cat and Mouse and Aftershock.
Slayer plays the best of Reign in Blood, South of Heaven, and Seasons in the Abyss.
Judas Priest plays Rocka Rolla thru Stained Class in order. Heads would explode, except that Emperor already exploded all the heads in the venue except for mine.
My dream tour lineup would probably consist of bands that I never will actually get to see in North America, for some because they are pretty much scumbags in one way or another and can’t get visas, for others because they probably just won’t make the trek: Taake would headline, and Shining would be second on the bill (I would put them second so that would give Niklas Kvarforth less time to vomit on us). Third would be Aosoth, a band I strongly suspect will never cross the Atlantic but I would die to see live. And opening the bill can be the Mexican band Hacavitz, a fantastic black metal band I discovered thanks to reading IO, who will probably never tour north of the border(s) but I imagine would slay live.
My ideal tour lineup would consist of some of my very favorite band: Katatonia as the headliner, with Swallow The Sun, Insomnium, and Agalloch. All of these bands have a very doomy, melancholic atmosphere which comes across as extremely powerful when played live. In my opinion, that is truly the most mind- blowing kind of live metal one could experience. In a world where metal shows are dominated by crazy moshing fans and all that is ”BRUTAL”, sometimes there is nothing more metal than an audience coming together, staring in awe and almost in silence because in that moment, everyone’s soul is getting completely crushed by the music. Seemingly draining one of every emotion all at once. That’s really what it’s all about, having an audience become one with the music. It is definitely an incredible experience. If these bands toured together, I might just die of a heart attack. Without a doubt, the ability of these musicians to connect with their fans and put on a show that you will remember for the rest of your life is there. What would be better than to have them all share the same stage in one night? That kind of show would be….well, one you can’t even put a price on!
DREAM TOUR 2012
-VEKTOR
-BLACK DEATH
-PORTRAIT
-MERCYFUL FATE
-MANOWAR (as long as King Diamond curses them again)
That’s hard to top!
A tour I would really like to see (and who knows, maybe it could happen!) would be the following:
Crator, Dysrhythmia, Krallice, Origin and Gorguts.
Since all of these bands share so many members, and each band sounds quite different, I think it would be a pretty excellent show. Crator is a newer band (http://www.facebook.com/cratorUS?sk=app_182222305144028), so they would probably open. Dysrythmia would mix it up, Krallice would space everyone out, Origin would bring ‘em back with some straight forward moshing, then a fissure would open up in the stage and Luc Lemay would levitate out the inner-earth space he occupies and tear right into playing all of Obscura.
Also, I really want some new Gorguts merch. Coooome on.
My ideal tour would be the “Monster Scion Energy Maximum Butthurt Tour Drink Tour”. It would combine some great upcoming acts that could benefit from more corporate sponsored exposure!
Opening acts include!
Emmure
Liturgy (playing a truly one of a kind improvised avant garde set each night!) HHH will also give a different metaphysical lecture about the importance of buying his merch each show!
Periphery playing the hits of Meshuggah
Co-Headliners!
Trivium
Morbid Angel
Clearly the “Monster Scion Energy Maximum Butthurt Tour Drink Tour” would be the go to Medium sized summer sweat your balls off shed tour to be at for 2012. Your move, bros!
Headlining would be The Devil’s Blood which would mean they are forced to play “Heaven’s Cry Out for the Devil’s Blood” which in this tour they did not play in the Tampa date.
First up Grand Magus playing a 25 minute set comprised only of Iron Will cuts, then Iron Maiden playing selected cuts of their s/t release with a younger and leaner Di Anno at the mike. Then we could have Blue Oyster Cult playing the entire Secret Treaties and headlining would be The Devil’s Blood which would mean they are forced to play “Heaven’s Cry Out for the Devil’s Blood” which in this tour they did not play in the Tampa date.
Between sets Enforcer from Sweden could play in a very very small stage and with the volume turned up only halfway and on the TV screens (in case the venue has close circuit TV screens) they could play a porno in which a bull is banging Jim Fiorentine and the other douchebag that’s not the fat guy from That Metal Show, just because both are the lamest comedians ever.
Oops..sorry for the double sentence there…
Mine will unfortunately never, ever happen:
Deathspell Omega (Headliners)
Blut Aus Nord
Ulcerate
Mitochondrion
All these bands used a particular brand of dissonance and noise that’s inscrutable yet strangely compelling. It would just be a real mindbender, and I think the sounds of these bands are complementary.
… but really I just want to see Deathspell Omega and Blut Aus Nord live.
In order of appearance: Impetuous Ritual, Mitochondrion, Portal, Ulcerate, Deathspell Omega. These dissonant titans would surely tear the fibers of existence in every city that’s (mis)treated to their sonic assault, resulting in the inevitable collapse of the third dimension as we know it.
Burzum
Darkthrone
Mercyful Fate
w/ the Black Twilight Circle bands opening in different configurations every night.
RIFFS!
The great post-folk-ambient-whatever-black metal tour:
Drudkh
Velnias
Alda
Addaura
I’ve seen Addaura and Alda play a show and they go together like white on non-brown rice. Drudkh has never and will never play live, so this is clearly a dream tour, and I have no idea if Velnias celebrates live rituals either but it would be majestic to see.
Coffinworm, Black Breath, and All Pigs Must Die. Because, really…who would survive that show?
Oxbow
Low
Nick Cave
Swans
Joanna Newsom
Earth
From 3AM to sunrise, by the waterfall where they shot Twin Peaks.
This wins
My dream lineup would consist of Behemoth, Watain, The Devil’s Blood and In Solitude. Oh wait… I would like to slow things down with Earth, Boris, Nadja, and the members of High on Fire, Sleep, and Om playing musical chairs.
I always thought it was remarkable that a gnome from upstate New York somehow managed to front the two best English bands of the 1970s, Rainbow and Black Sabbath. And since Dio’s resurrection is no less likely than some line-ups suggested…
Opener: DIO (with Appice and Viv Campbell), only tracks from the first two LPs
Second: Rainbow (with Cozy and Ritchie)
Third: Black Sabbath (with Bill)
Headliner: Black Rainbow with Cozy, Geezer, Iommi, and Blackmore, playing Stargazer, Smoke on the Water, Southern Cross and Heaven and Hell.
Dude… King Diamond, Bloodbath, Brocas Helm, and Pharoah! A well balance of rarity!
Gigan/Withered/Hour of Penance/Obscura
Just cuz.
“An Evening With BOLT THROWER”. No opening bands. 2 nights in each city, playing three albums front to back each night.
NIGHT ONE: In Battle There Is No Law, Realm of Chaos, and War Master.
NIGHT TWO: The IVth Crusade, …For Victory, and Those Once Loyal.
To top it off, they sell merch from EVERY ERA.
Now this would rule!
It wouldn’t be my single favorite, but one line-up I’d love to see…
In order from first to last…
Sigur Ros
Justin Broadrick
Neurosis
Justin Broadrick comes back on stage and joins Neurosis in playing “Lost”, then Sigur Ros comes back on stage and joins Justin Broadrick in playing “Walk On Water”, and then all three play together on the most crushing version of “Glosoli” ever.
Greatest Tour Ever tour:
Limp Bizkit
Sevendust
Korn
Staind
Linkin Park
Dope
Skrillex (dj-ing between sets)
I would open with Baroness, followed by a long Neurosis set during which much reefer would be smoked. Then Opeth would play a long set. Slayer would close out the night playing the reign in blood album along with chemical warfare. So I guess decibel is going to go ahead and get this booked for next year, right?
Saw the Decibel Magazine Tour in Chicago (before Watain joined) and it was killer. The Devil’s Blood were particularly impressive.
Anyway, my dream tour would require access to a time machine, so that I could round up all of my favorite bands from my misspent youth.
The Jesus Lizard (circa _Liar_) would headline. They’d be supported by the likes of the Melvins (Mark Deutrom line-up), Unsane (with Charlie Ondras, whom I never got to see, on drums), Hammerhead (before Paul Sanders left), Cows (circa _Cunning Stunts_) and Killdozer (original lineup). That would make me happy as hell.
Black Sabbath
Judas Priest
Slayer
I think my reasoning is obvious!
I’m a Brit, but I feel compelled to play along anyway. From Headliners downwards:
Neurosis playing Times Of Grace.
Agalloch playing Marrow Of The Spirit.
Samothrace.
Horseback.
Anhedonist.
It’d be a long one, but so much atmosphere!
My ideal line-up was honestly In Solitude, The Devil’s Blood, Watain and Behemoth and then Watain cancelled their Pittsburgh date and broke my fucking heart. Plan to see them in Cleveland next week, though.
Eyehategod (Headliner)
Dillinger Escape Plan with Mike Patton (performing Irony is a Dead Scene in its entirety)
Cobalt
Narrows
To my eyes (and ears), a great tour is one that offers some variety. I can’t imagine most of these bands ever actually touring together, which would make the show a rare treat. Hearing “Pregnant Insect,” “When Good Dogs Do Bad Things” and “Ruptured Heart Theory” in the same night would pretty much make my life complete.
I’m disqualified, but my dream tour would be BODY COUNT & BLASPHEMY co headlining, alternating every night. BLACK WITCHERY and DEATH GRIPS open.
Im ineligible because im outside the US…..
The real big four:
Black Sabbath
Judas Priest
Iron
The real big four:
Black Sabbath
Judas Priest
Iron Maiden
Motorhead
KING DIAMOND
MANILLA ROAD
CONFESSOR
SATAN’S HOST
Two legendary headliners for which no introduction is needed, the unheralded kings of progressive doom, and the late-blooming new hope for satanic bardsmanship
Acid
Attake
Sacrilege (Behind The Realms of Madness era)
Detente
With Bolt Thrower headlining
lady thrash attack.
I’m game, lets see:
Deathspell Omega
Agalloch
Alcest
Darkthrone
Amorphis
Wolves In The Throne Room
Moonsorrow
It’d be a weird show, but I’d be happy.
Dream tour would be
Starkweather
Pig Destroyer
Rorschach
Napalm Death
Disfear
Gaza
Engineer
Currently, my dream, tour would consist of OM, The Roots, and Electric Masada.
OM because I am a long time fan but have never had the opportunity to see them perform and from the recordings I have heard they are simply entrancing and transcendent live.
The Roots simply because they are a consummate live act. Unfortunately because of their position on the Fallon show they don’t tour like they once did which is unfortunate as their last two albums are favorites of mine. Great, soulful, emotional albums that could be presented very well in a live setting.
Lastly, Electric Masada would close out the whole deal. EM is one of the best ensembles that Zorn has put together in his career. They are exciting, dynamic, and put together some of the best players in any genre. I had the fortune of seeing them about 6 years and I was drooling on myself within 2 minutes of the set beginning. Not a month has gone by since then where I haven’t not wished I could see them again.
This bill would also offer many opportunities for musicians from one band to sit in with others. OM could be expanded by members of The Roots and EM. The Roots could incorporate maybe Jamie Saft and Cyro Baptiste from EM and some added low end from Al Cisneros. By the end of the show practically anyone could join the stage for Electric Masada. Both Emil and ?uestlove joining in on drums would be amazing.
2 tours (bands in no particular order):
-TYR
-Heidevolk
-Ensiferum
-Amon Amarth
Pretty much the best of the best Viking bands…
-Hypocrisy
-Vader
-Lamb of God
-Devildriver
-Behemoth
If you’ve seen these bands live… you get it. I got whiplash typing it.
At the Gates
Napalm Death
Pig Destroyer
Wormrot
There is talk of At the Gates extending their forthcoming Latin American tour to a U.S. tour. Unfortunately I missed At the Gates during their 2008 U.S. shows and I never saw them when they were originally together. Napalm Death have not properly toured the U.S. in support of UTILITARIAN yet, and this is a great opportunity. Plus, Napalm Death are one of my all time favorite live bands. Ever. Napalm Death are one of those bands who are so stout live that I would take someone who is not into metal to a Napalm Death show to highlight metal at its finest. I have never seen Pig Destroyer live before. The prospect of having Pig Destroyer tour the U.S. beyond a handful of shows here and there makes this lineup a dream since Pig Destroyer do not tour very often or extensively. Such a lineup would give Wormrot the opportunity to attract more listeners and furthermore, Wormrot are a fantastic live band.
This dream lineup makes sense for a number of reasons. It collects some of the finest metal bands on the planet today. This tour is also a genuine international representation with bands from Sweden, the UK, Singapore and the U.S. I would be happy with this lineup. A lineup of this magnitude would be one of the only ways to top the overall quality of the Decibel tour.
I’d love to see:
Gwar
opening for Ghost
but ten years from now. When Gwar’s even older and Ghost has a solid base of songs.
First (and not kissing ass), great tour decibel! Loved “The Devil’s Blood” live and the ideology was in a nice alignment. Aside from a resurrection of Dissection, you had it. So as to the next tour / my dream tour minus being completely selfish and something that could work here it goes.
1st – Blood Ceremony – Throw back to Jethro Tull but a damned fine one. “Daughter of the Son” is a golden song.
2nd – The Devil’s Blood – Yes please, I’d love a second dose.
3rd – Agalloch – Unleash the spirit from within. They are to be felt and heard.
4th – Moonspell – new album is excellent (as well as past material).
5th – Paradise Lost – Under rated gods of Gothic metal. Always quality and class. Insanely diverse catalog.
666th – Headline – Danzig with classic line-up (Biscuits, Christ, Von) Doing it all. Sow-in and Misfits!
Sorry, I lied, this is a selfish dream list! haha
Since we’re including bands that are both possible and impossible:
Acid Bath
Thou
Integrity
Carcass
Ozzy-era Sabbath playing Vol. 4 in its entirety
First (and not kissing ass), great tour decibel! Loved “The Devil’s Blood” live and the ideology was in a nice alignment. Aside from a resurrection of Dissection, you had it. So as to the next tour / my dream tour minus being completely selfish and something that could work here it goes.
1st – Blood Ceremony – Throw back to Jethro Tull but a damned fine one. “Daughter of the Son” is a golden song.
2nd – The Devil’s Blood – Yes please, I’d love a second dose.
3rd – Agalloch – Unleash the spirit from within. They are to be felt and heard.
4th – Moonspell – new album is excellent (as well as past material).
5th – Paradise Lost – Under rated gods of Gothic metal. Always quality and class. Insanely diverse catalog.
666th – Headline – Danzig with classic line-up (Biscuits, Christ, Von) Doing it all. Sow-in and Misfits!
Sorry, I lied, this is a selfish dream list! haha
Agalloch
Fall Of Rauros
Coldworld
Peste Noire
Deafheaven
It would be nice to go to an exclusively atmospheric show for a change.
Asphyx
Absu
Hooded Menace
Ludicra (Reunion/Farewell tour)
I love all of these bands, even though all of their styles vary somewhat I think it would make for a very enjoyable show, any one of them could potentially headline, and I think thats the beauty of it. Asphyx and Hooded Menace coming over from Europe would be awesome, and Absu always brings a great performance. My favorite part by far would be Ludicra. I really miss that band, after their abrupt end last summer, I feel like this would be the perfect way to say goodbye for good.
Swans (with Jarboe, of course) *headlining
Neurosis playing Through Silver in Blood in its entirety
Emperor
Ulver playing from the first three albums
Anaal Nathrakh
Eyehategod
There is no explanation why my choice other than it would be fucking awesome.