Sabaton on Tour - EXCLUSIVE Interview

The crowd at Firestone Live was evenly divided between bright-eyed twenty-somethings and middle-aged, veteran metal heads. This was just what I expected from a show where the headlining band has been around since the '70s, and the biggest opening band could attribute much of its rising fame to YouTube fan videos.

Orlando, Florida was the first stop for the Sabaton/ACCEPT U.S. tour. For the German band ACCEPT, this was just business as usual. But for Sabaton, April 9th, 2011 was a landmark, as it was their first stop in their first-ever U.S. tour.

"Everyone here is so polite," Joakim Brodén, lead vocalist, remarks. "In places we have toured like in Eastern Europe, they're fucking crazy. They will kick down doors to get to you. It's a security issue, you know."

5 Quick Album Reviews: Classics

New releases by 'classic' acts:

Annihilator - Annihilator

I've always liked Annihilator, thinking them above most thrash/groove acts that have come along. When asked the infamous question among metalheads; "Metallica or Megadeth?" I almost always answer "Annihilator," mostly to looks of confusion or disgust, but that's me and my tastes for you. Their 2010 self-titled album does not disappoint. It brings me back to their classic era of Alice In Hell or King of The Kill, back in the beginning of their career - not 21 years later. I haven't heard much from them within the last decade, but I may have to if it is all of this quality. Almost every song is great, they all groove, they all are angry, they all have amazing music. There is even a Van Halen cover! It's not their best song, mostly because it sounds like Van Halen and not Annihilator. I don't really know the song ("Romeo Delight"), but you would be able to tell of it's origin through the music. This is groove metal done right! While 'the greats' of thrash have fallen by the wayside Annihilator continues to put out classic albums. Here's hoping that they keep it up for another 21 years!