Hello, Maelstrom readers,

Thanks for all your input on the impending addition of our forum feature. Yes, now you can also chat and gossip about metal and whatnot here, on Maelstrom.nu. We received a lot of compelling arguments to both putting the forum in a dedicated section, or having an open discussion at the end of each album review. However, the point our latest staffer, Mladen Škot, raised about the comments weighing down the flow for people like him who download entire issues at a time proved to be the most relevant. So we’ve decided to go the more standard route and have the forum happily segregated in its own space, over there on the left navigational bar. We swear it’s forthcoming.

Yes, new staffers! We’re jazzed to have Mladen on board. He seems to be a very sharp fellow, and, although from Croatia, speaks English better than most Americans. He’s already been entertaining us with his tales of Lordi’s path to the revival of mainstream metal domination, and something called turbofolk. How novel!

But we’ve got another guy! Saint Jinn is a youngster from Texas brought on through one of the seemingly endless projects Maelstrom’s resident video game geek, Bradon Strader, is involved in. Welcome!

From the depths of the maw of the digital lion comes our lone interview of this month, a chat with metal producer non-pareil Andy Sneap. But what an interview it is. Anyone interested in improving on their recordings, or even those that are interested to know a little more about what goes on behind the scenes at a professional studio will be pleased. Be sure to look out for our future conversation with another giant of the recording world, Roy Z.

As always, we’ve got tons of album reviews. One hundred and twelve, to be exact. Plus a couple of Vault picks. Try shaking your stick at that. You’re going to give up before you get to the end.

This month, we're giving away some copies of the new SKINLESS album, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead, on Relapse Records.

The contest is two-tiered. The grand prize winner gets the album on CD and vinyl. Relapse has also been good enough to pony up a Skinless t-shirt.

Four runners-up will get the album on CD.

Here's the contest question:

What's the only Skinless album NOT to feature Bob Beaulac on drums? Who played on that record? The person naming the most bands and albums that the other drummer played with/on will be the grand prize winner.

good luck!

Roberto Martinelli
Maelstrom.nu
1573 Dolores St
San Francisco, CA 94110
USA