A 100% analogue tube amp/speaker DI intended to supplement an amp, or replace it.The Ampster, a single tube driven amp/speaker simulator that can either supplement your amp, or replace it. A fully analogue unit with controls that are the same as your amplifier with the addition of a mute switch, a speaker selection switch and a voicing switch. Additionally, the Ampster reacts to your playing in the same way your full-size amp does, giving you the same feel with zero latency.The Ampster is housed in a solid metal box with the standard EQ (Bass Middle Treble), pre and post volume/gain controls (Master & Gain) plus a Presence Control. There is a Mute Switch for obvious reasons and a Cabinet Switch with an LED Indicator light (Red for a 2×12 Open Backed Cab, and Green for a 4×12 Closed Back Cab). On the back of the pedal, you will find a Ground Lift and a Voicing Switch (a subtle low-end cap controlled voicing adjustment). Input, Link (output to your amp or powered speaker) Balanced DI (XLR output to go to a mixing or recording console), a Send and Return for those specific effects that shouldn’t be in front of the amp, a Remote Input for use with digital or analogue effect controllers like the Carl Martin Octa-Switch ‘The Strip’, and your standard 9v 1A power input.US MAP: USD 299.00. More info at www.carlmartin.com/ampster.

During an appearance on talk show host Conan O’Brien’s podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” this past Monday (February 21), Slash opened up about his trademark black top hat, explaining that it dates back to 1985 when he first started playing shows with GUNS N’ ROSES. “I stole it from a place called Retail Slut on Melrose [in Los Angeles],” he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). “I remember this because there was two stores — there was Leathers And Treasures and Retail Slut next door. And Taime Downe, the singer from a band called FASTER PUSSYCAT, used to work at Retail Slut, so that’s how I remember the name of it. And I went in there. I didn’t have any money. I always used to wear some sort of a hat. It completed whatever look you had going on. And I went in there. And I just saw the top hat. And it just spoke to me, I guess. So I figured, what the fuck, I’ll just walk out with it. And so I did. And then I went next door to Leathers And Treasures and I stole a Concho belt and then went back to the apartment me and Axl [Rose, GUNS N’ ROSES singer] were living in at the time. And we had a show at the Whisky [A Go Go] that night, so I took the Concho belt and I cut it up and I put it around the hat and I wore it that night.”

Slash added: “It just became a thing where I really identified with it; I wore it all the time. It was a way you pull it over your eyes; you could hide behind it if you were really high. I had no intention of it being this long-term thing… It was really something to hide behind for a long time. It was, just put the hat on and nobody knows who I am and what I’m doing and what I’m up to. I can see you, [but] you can’t see me. And during the shows, it was great to have that, because to this day, I still can’t look at the audience — like, straight into the audience. And so having the top hat, really, you just pull it down and you could just do your thing and you didn’t feel as intimidated by the crowd.”

Slash previously told HuffPost in a 2008 interview that it took him a while to find his signature look.

“I tried a couple different hats,” he said. “I always thought bowlers and fedoras were cool, but nothing that stuck out as being my thing. You have to explore; trial and error until you find your own edge.”

Asked if there are professional benefits to establishing a personal look, Slash told HuffPost: “Yeah, people know who you are pretty easily with an established look. I think my top hat is more famous than I am. There are benefits to having a look that people can identify with. I didn’t see it coming. I did what I thought looked cool, and years later I became instantly synonymous with the top hat and that was a surprise to me. It’s different, though, than KISS or Blue Man Group — they are wearing a costume. Although I would imagine that people do think I’m wearing a costume since people emulate it for Halloween.”

Slash went on to say that he feels “more comfortable” with his hat on than without it. “I’m low-key by nature and not the most outspoken person,” he explained. “As a guitar player, I’m pretty dynamic, and that’s where I feel most expressive and comfortable, though I’m still hiding behind the guitar. The hat completed the whole thing and I felt much more comfortable in public and could deal with social situations. More than ‘becoming Slash,’ I just feel less insecure.”

Slash is promoting the new album from SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS, titled “4”, which was released on February 11 via Gibson Records in partnership with BMG. “4” is Slash’s fifth solo album and fourth overall with his band featuring Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums), Todd Kerns (bass, vocals) and Frank Sidoris (guitar, vocals).

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS kicked off a North American headlining tour on February 8, in Portland, Oregon. The trek will hit 28 major cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, Dallas, Austin, Houston, and more, before wrapping up March 26 in Orlando, Florida.

You could win a Slötvå Multi-Texture Reverb from Warlus Audio in this week’s giveaway! Ends March 9, 2022.Slötvå Multi Texture ReverbThe Slötvå Multi Texture Reverb is a variant of the Slö but adds on the ability to create and save three presets. Save your favorite dreamscapes by simultaneously pressing and holding down on the bypass and sustain switches. Scroll through them by simultaneously pressing and releasing bypass and sustain.The Slötvå allows players to create lush, modulated, sleepy, and ambient soundscapes. Stocked with three different algorithms specifically designed to invoke textures for bringing dreams from your subconscious to reality.Walrus Audio Slötvå Multi Texture Reverb

Interstellar death metal heroes Blood Incantation reconfigure the Stargate with a daring, almost exclusively synth-driven departure.
The post Album Review: Blood Incantation – ‘Timewave Zero’ appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

LAMB OF GOD has entered a California studio with longtime producer Josh Wilbur (KORN, MEGADETH, GOJIRA, TRIVIUM) to record some of its brand music, tentatively due later in the year.

The news of the Richmond, Virginia metallers’ latest recording session was shared by members of BODY COUNT who posted a photo of guitarists Ernie C and Juan Garcia, along with LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe, in the studio, and they included the following caption: “When your friend @drandallblythe invites you to do back up vocals on brand new @lambofgod material…you show up and support. And the new LAMB OF GOD is slamming!!! Great job guys”.

LAMB OF GOD’s upcoming effort will be the follow-up to the band’s self-titled album, which was released in June 2020 via Epic Records in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast Records in Europe. That LP marked LAMB OF GOD’s first recordings with Art Cruz, who joined the band in July 2019 as the replacement for the group’s founding drummer, Chris Adler.

“Lamb Of God” was recorded with Wilbur and included special guest appearances by Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) and Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT).

Two years ago, LAMB OF GOD bassist John Campbell told Media Mikes about the band’s continuing working relationship with Josh: “I would have to look on the Internet to see how long we have been working with him. [Laughs] I want to say that he first started working with us on ‘Sacrament’. That was in 2006 and we have been working with him ever since.”

He added: “Josh Wilbur is an amazing person professionally and as a human. He is incredibly creative and very aware of things like this. He goes in to an album to try and create the best possible piece of art he can. Josh is great with suggestions and helping us along in the process. He understands the band and all of our personalities very well and that’s a godsend.”

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