Alehorn Of Power Preview

Alehorn Of Power Festival
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Double Door, Chicago

Can you think of a better name for a classic metal festival than the Alehorn Of Power fest? Makes you think of a Manowar album cover, a Hammerfall song, or a Dio video. Fuck yeah.

Billed as a “showcase of some of the finest American epic, classic, and doom metal from across the country,”the six-band lineup is headlined by power metal act Manilla Road. Hailing from the rock melting pot that is Wichita, Kansas, there’s a decent chance you’ve never heard the band even though they’ve been active for roughly two decades and earned radio play and solid record sales across the U.S. and Europe. Geographically based outside the radars of most major labels, the group released their first two records — 1980’s Invasion and 1982’s Metal — on their own Roadster Records and shacked with a number of indies, including Black Dragon and Leviathan, in the following years. Manilla Road were M.I.A. through most of the ’90s, but founding vocalist/guitarist Mark Shelton revived the band (be it with a brand new lineup) in 2001.

Classic purists Slough Feg (whose full monicker — to be accurate — is The Lord Weird Slough Feg) have also built a solid underground following and are often mentioned (along with Alehorn roster mates Twisted Tower Of Dire) as standouts in America’s new breed of power metal. Bible Of The Devil and Winterhawk represent Chicago Saturday night; Bible is set to release The Diabolic Procession (Cruz Del Sur), the follow up to last year’s excellent Brutality, Majesty, Eternity, in July, and hard rockers Winterhawk are led by guitar virtuoso Jordan Macarus. Indianapolis’ The Gates Of Slumber complete the lineup.

— Trevor Fisher

Click here for streaming samples of Slough Feg.

Click here to download Bible Of The Devil’s “Night Wraith.”

Click here to download Twisted Tower Dire’s “Axes And Honor.”

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly