Angela Gossow graces Pulp cover

MANILA, Philippines - Currently at the forefront of producing the biggest and loudest rock/heavy metal shows in the country for the past few years, Pulp Magazine and Pulp Live World release the latest album from internationally acclaimed heavy metal group Arch Enemy, who incidentally, performed in Manila in 2009.

Appropriately titled Khaos Legions, the band delivers a landmark performance on disc and is tearing up the competition with the disc’s first single Yesterday Is Dead and Gone. The band, along with acts like Death Angel and Shadows Fall, is enjoying local distribution courtesy of PULP Live Records. Recently, a launch party was held at Quezon City rock bar Ten02 for the release of Khaos Legions, with a limited number of the autographed Arch Enemy CDs made available, coming straight from the Sonisphere Festival in London. Fans can still grab up the few remaining copies of the specially priced autographed CDs, or purchase the regular copies of the album for only P450 at the Pulp Magazine office.

Pulp Magazine also celebrates the heavy metal might of Arch Enemy as it features the Swedish thrash/death metal band’s vocalist Angela Gossow on the cover. Inside, staff writer and all-around heavy metal fan Karen Sy interviews key members of the group about the creative process behind their latest disc, and asks what they’ve been up to since their invasion of Manila two years ago. This is one exclusive fans of the loud will not want to miss.

Meanwhile, the opposite side of the music spectrum has been busy locally, as the country’s biggest pop/rock acts seem to be on a roll in Pulp’s August issue. Starting off with Ebe Dancel who has just released his first solo effort under Warner Music Philippines titled Dalawang Mukha Ng Pag-Ibig. Editor-in-chief Joey Dizon gets the lowdown on Dancel’s departure from his former outfit, and asks the songwriter where the inspiration to go solo came from, and gets a sneak preview of Ebe’s latest collection of radio-ready hits. Music editor Cris Ramos, on the other hand, has his hands full interviewing both a returning Barbie Almalbis and the latest songwriting supergroup BBS, composed of Soupstar Entertainment manager Darwin Hernandez, 6cyclemind guitarist Rye Sarmiento and Callalily vocalist Kean Cipriano. An exclusive feature on the recent Mr. Big Live in Manila show produced by Pulp Live World beefs up this month’s content, so fans will be able to view for the first time, a lot of never-before-seen concert pictures and see how big a success that show was.

The issue also features the debut of two international columnists, Darkest Hour guitarist Mike Schleibaum and Trivium bassist Paolo Gregoletto. Aimed at discussing anything and everything under the sun about life on the road, touring and even the occasional crazy band stories, both Gregoletto and Schleibaum’s monthly pieces are a welcome addition to the other columns, features, news bits and album reviews longtime Pulp readers have grown to love and rely on for that extra hit of musical knowledge. Pulp is available at all leading magazine shops and bookstores nationwide for P150.

Also check out the following shows produced by Pulp Live World: Everytime I Die and The Acacia Strain, Live in Manila on Oct. 8; Lenka Live in Manila, Oct. 9; and Sum 41 Live in Manila, Oct. 16 at the World Trade Center. On Nov. 19, Pulp brings The Hate Crew that is Children of Bodom which will perform at the Amoranto Theater. Tickets to these shows are all available at all SM Tickets, TicketNet and TicketWorld outlets.