AUGUST 2007 No.99

MAIN FEATURES

30 DIR EN GREY Having shared stages with some of the world’s leading rock bands and with a burgeoning UK fan base, Japan’s Dir En Grey are finally making an international impact. Do not stand in their way. . .

32 SUM 41 Reduced to a trio but with a new-found focus and purpose, Sum 41 reckon they’re pushing the pop-punk boundaries further than ever. Frontman Deryck Whibley unveils the internal strife behind ‘Underclass Hero’. . .

36 INTERPOL They may be one of the world’s sharpest-suited bands, but in all other respects Interpol don’t have much time for image or rock star antics. They have had time, though, to create a fantastic third album. . .

44 FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND New album ‘Tales Don’t Tell Themselves’ has revitalised Funeral For A Friend. ROCK SOUND goes Stateside for 48 hours with one of the UK’s finest. . .

54 LINKIN PARK Linkin Park were supposed to be swept away in the nu-metal tide, but new album ‘Minutes To Midnight’ has instead put them back at rock’s forefront. But is it a political protest record? ROCK SOUND finds out. . .

62 VELVET REVOLVER Velvet Revolver’s latest album ‘Libertad’ was borne out of turbulence, trauma, and lots of rehab. ROCK SOUND gets the full story. . .

© Nigel Crane

"Everything I do is

totally self-destructive" Slash

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