It’s a great metal news day, kids.
First up: Metallica have confirmed that the Orion Festival will return in 2013. Drummer Lars Ulrich says “”We had a great experience in New Jersey, and as we look to 2013, we’re definitely looking to keep it in New Jersey or to keep it on the East Coast.”
With Metallica set to headline at the upcoming Outside Lands fest, Ulrich expressed his love for the festival experience and how much he enjoys Outside Lands each year. “As a Bay Area resident and as a music fan, going to see Outside Lands every year is a huge thing,” he says. “Not only for me but also my family. Getting a chance to play it and to headline is obviously a huge thing for us. If I’m not going to play it, I’m going to go and I’m going to take my kids. It’s sort of the concert highlight of their year . . . So it works on all fronts.”
Ulrich had plenty of dish to share, including an update that the band will begin working on their new album very soon. We’ll be waiting somewhat patiently.
Now, let’s move on to Down.
Anselmo, Keenan and crew are set to release a new EP, the first of four planned releases, on September 18th. The EP is labeled EP ONE and luckily, we can hear a bit of it right now, courtesy of Rolling Stone. They’ve got the exclusive song premiere for “Witchtripper,” which by name alone, is automatically bad ass.
Anselmo tells the magazine that similar to the well-known Pantera songs “Fucking Hostile” and “Psycho Holiday,” “Witchtripper” was a song title required a little bit of convincing on his part, before he accepted it. “Somebody would suggest to me, ‘Hey, man, that might make a killer song title.’ And at the time I’m like, ‘You’re out of your f–king mind. There’s no way I’m gonna call a song ‘Witchtripper’”
But the riffs took control and Anselmo gave in. ”I was like, ‘OK, check this out, you dicks. ‘Witchtripper’ you want, ‘Witchtripper’ you will get,’” he says. “I laid it on them, and sure enough, they were right – it worked, as usual. So there goes the genius of Phil Anselmo. Always doubting, and I’m the last one to get it!”
The four EPs are supposed to roll out over the next two years, but scholars of Down history will recognize that as a dodgy proposition and guess what? Philip Anselmo agrees with you!
“The worst thing anyone could do is to count on Down for holding a bargain on timelines,” he says. “All I can say is expect it. I’m sure it’ll happen, we haven’t let you down before.”
Metallica and Down photos via Facebook