FUCK THE SYSTEM

By shunning festivals, machine head are refusing to play by the rules of the industry, just like these guys…

AVENGED SEVENFOLD

how do you avoid the usual music biz promotional treadmill? make like David Bowie and release your album without warning. The Stage suddenly emerged on october 28, 2016, shortly after the band’s streamed live performance from the roof of the capitol records building in hollywood, california. Subtle? Not remotely.

THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN

Being contrary souls to their very fingertips, Ben Weinman and his mathcore pioneer brethren were always destined to turn their backs on traditional industry channels. they unveiled Party Smasher in 2009: part label, part multimedia empire, part enigma, it’s the most Dillinger thing that’s ever happened.

DARKTHRONE

When your primary motivation is to make great music, playing live isn’t necessarily the best use of your time. at least, that’s how Darkthrone approach things. the Norwegian black metal legends haven’t played a gig since 1997, largely at the behest of drummer – and immensely influential guru of all things underground – Fenriz, and that’s the end of that. Buy the albums instead.

TOOL

there’s no escaping the fact that streaming has become the dominant medium in the music world. that hasn’t stopped tool from sticking rigidly to their album-centric principles. None of tool’s albums are currently available on Spotify or itunes, and that situation doesn’t look like changing any time soon. So there. talking of tool albums, maynard… <cough, cough>

OZZY OSBOURNE

metal had a tough time in the early 90s, but it still seemed ludicrous that ‘alternative’ festival lollapalooza steadfastly refused to book ozzy. the upside is that ozzy and wife Sharon swiftly realised that they could create their own hugely lucrative metal festival. In 1996, ozzfest was born.