Crowdfunding in music industry - a Blessing or a Curse?

Hey folks,

today I want to discuss something, which is far away from reviews, interviews and all that stuff. Due to recent events I want to talk about Crowdfunding. This subject is highly topical at the moment, especially in the last few weeks where well-known bands like Crashdiet or ReVamp made use of it.

For those of you, who haven't heard about "Crowdfunding" yet: it's nothing more than a money collection campaign. Artists ask you for your money to finance one of their projects and in return you'll receive some goodies like a special T-shirt, autographed poster or something like that. It's your choice which things you want to have and how much money you like to spend, but each goodie has a fixed price. This concept is used everywhere, whether if it comes to music, movie or game industry. "Kickstarter" and "Indiegogo" are typical platforms for this.

Exclusive Interview with MAGNUS KARLSSON (Primal Fear, Allen/Lande, ...)

If you like Melodic Metal, I'm very sure you are familiar with this guy: the Swedish Axeman of the Power Metal band Primal Fear was involved in so many projects like Allen/Lande, Last Tribe, Starbreaker, The Codex, Kiske/Somerville (by the way: it's official - a second part is coming!), .... and at least one of those albums definitely found its way in your CD collection!
Finally, Magnus produced his first solo album "Free Fall", which will be released in June via Frontiers Records. So he took the time to talk to me about all his activities. Check it out!

CD-Review: Delain - "Interlude"

It seems like the Dutch Symphonic Metal band DELAIN is unstoppable. In the last years they got more and more attention from all over the world. Beside Europe and Japan they will tour together with Kamelot in the USA in September! You see, they are very busy and maybe this is the reason why they haven't the time to record their fourth regular album. In order to shorting the waiting time to their new studio album they released "Interlude" - a collection of cover songs, new versions of older Delain songs and of course live material.

CD-Review: Cream Pie - "Unsigned 2.0"

Nowadays we really get flooded with sleaze metal bands from all over the world. Since the "new wave of sleaze metal" many bands tried to find their place in this genre. The Italian band Cream Pie also wants its piece of cake (what a play on words, haha) and release their new album EP  "Unsigned 2.0" on June 20th, 2013.
Are they pretenders for the sleaze throne?

Live-Report: FREEDOM CALL (Nuremberg, 11.05.2013)

After the release of their first Best Of, the German power metal band Freedom Call wants to celebrate their 15th anniversary with the fans around the globe. So during their "Ages Of Light" tour I had the chance to see Chris Bay & Co. live in Nuremberg - their hometown. So it was some kind of a home game and I can tell you one thing: it was a fantastic "Happy Metal party"!

Live-Report: VOODOO CIRCLE / SHAKRA (Burglengenfeld, 08.05.2013)

Hey folks, here is something special for you: the first guest article on R&M4U! Huge thanks to Jessy for writing it. You are the best! :)
Only a bit more than two months have passed since the release of the new Voodoo Circle CD "More Than One Way Home". Now we all have the chance to listen to their songs live, because the band is currently touring through Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. The kick-off show of this small tour took place in Burglengenfeld. I was so happy to have the chance to be there! 

CD-Review: Timo Tolkki's AVALON - "The Land Of New Hope"

Timo Tolkki - do I have to say something about this guy? I think lots of metalheads know him as the former guitar player of the power metal band Stratovarius. Over the years he has become some kind of cult-figure in the metal genre, so many people were excited when they heard of his new project Avalon, which is supposed to be a metal opera. Timo Tolkki gathered lots of guest musicians around him to take you on a journey into the land of new hope, but lots of things have a bitter aftertaste and I'll tell you why.

CD-Review: Fair Warning - "Sundancer"

Do you remember the early 90's? The radical change within the rock genre was very difficult for many melodic rock bands. Many of them separated and others were newcomer, who didn't get the chance to get famous with their traditional rock style. The latter also includes the German melodic hard rock band FAIR WARNING. They released their debut album in 1991 and they still wait for their big breakthrough ... especially in Europe and America, because for many years now Fair Warning are celebrated like superstars in Japan. Will the band get their huge success with their new album "Sundancer"?

CD-Review: The Poodles - "Tour De Force"

The Swedish melodic metal /hard rock band THE POODLES is back! I have been following the career of these guys since their start with their stunning debut album "Metal Will Stand Tall". That was in 2007. Since this time lots of things have changed. Guitar player Pontus Norgren left the band after two amazing records and he was replaced by Henrik Bergqvist in 2009. With this line-up change also the band sound changed more and more in the following years. So, now I hold the promo of the bands new album "Tour De Force" in my hands. Can they beat their past successes with this one?