EDIT »Well, folks, we’ve reached the end of another impressive year in music and we’re looking forward to an even better one in 07. When we tipped Panic! At The Disco in our Ones To Watch list back at the tail-end of 05, who would have thought that their astronomical rise to stardom would have been so dramatic? We recently caught up with the Las Vegas quartet to hear all about it. This month we bring you another comprehensive list of bands that we tip for big things in the year (or years) to come. They may not all turn into household names overnight, but we believe they’re at the cutting edge of music right now. Also this month, we round off the year with our Top 75 albums of 06; who’s in, who’s not and who’s in that coveted number one spot?!? Turn to page 24 to find out. Next month we’ll bring you the results of the RS Readers’ Poll to see if you agree and find out who you loved and loathed in 06. Oh, and don’t forget to shove the Sound Check disc in your CD player for exclusive sneak peaks at some ace forthcoming records. Just remember where you heard them first! Right, we’ll see you all on the other side of Xmas for more musical mayhem! A very happy New Year from all of us! darren taylor, Editor

28 roCK SouNd has seen the future and now presents it to you in all its loud, proud and trouser-moistening glory. Featuring: Enter Shikari, machine Head, baroness, Nile, brand New, yourcodenameis:milo, the dillinger Escape plan and many, many more…

FEATURES

61 SENSES FAIL TOP GEAR

62 SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE REVOLUTIONARIES

64 KILLSWITCH ENGAGE FANTASY BAND

108 DARKEST HOUR SOUND ADVICE

114 PRIZE FIGHTER INFERNO THE LAST WORD

REGULARS

6 ROUND UP News, views and the usual randomness you’ve come to expect from rocks finest grey matter. Featuring: Norma Jean, The Answer, Ed Gein, Dragonforce, Good Charlotte and Cradle of Filth…

18 IN THE STUDIO At the mixing desk with Bloodsimple, Bayside and Shaped By Fate.

20 RSVP Your opportunity to take that pent up, rockrelated aggression and release it via the healthy medium of written word, alongside monthly angst with Agony Uncle Keith…

22 SMASH AND GRAB Win! An astronomical amount of stockingstuffing Christmas goodies courtesy of Lowlife,

Victory Records and many others. Including T-shirts, signed CD’s, PS2 games and a B.C Rich guitar!

66 EXPOSURE Featuring: Cancer Bats, Die Princess Die,

KreuzDammer, Kubichek!, Dustin’s Bar Mitzvah and Firstborn.

72 REVIEWS Reviews of all the essential album and single releases, plus an interview with Slipknot’s M Shawn Crahan…

92 LIVES All the hottest gigs rounded up and rated. Including Bullet For My Valentine, Genghis Tron and My Chemical Romance…

104 GIG GUIDE / SECONDSMILE

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Rock Sound, Unit 22, Jack’s Place, 6 Corbet Place, Spitalfields, London, E1 6NN Tel: + 44 (0)20 7877 8770 Fax: + 44 (0)20 7377 0455 e-mail: rsvp@rock-sound.net

Editor: darren taylor darren.taylor@rock-sound.net dEputy Editor: darren Sadler darren.sadler@rock-sound.net rEViEWS / Sub Editor: tim Newbound tim.newbound@rock-sound.net StAFF WritEr / produCtioN Co-ordiNAtor: rachel Kellehar rachel.kellehar@rock-sound.net FilmS Editor: deborah Higgins GAmES Editor: rikki price dESiGN: Alistair Cook @ bigstore design design@rock-sound.net

oNliNE Editor: Andy Kelham andy.kelham@rock-sound.net

WEb dEVElopEr: Steve reynolds roCK SouNd SlAVES: Tarik Algin, Trevor Baker, Duncan Bryceland, Richard Childs, Sarah Cosgrove, Rosy Cruz, Simon T Diplock, Mike Diver, James Dominic, Robyn Doreian, Victoria Durham, Stephen Fairbanks, Lewis Fraser, Neil Gardner, Noel F Gardner, Eleanor Goodman, Mike Haydock, Laila Hassani, Chantal Hennessey, Chris Hidden, Darren Johns, Chris Johnson, Emily Kearns, Andrew Kelham, Mike Kemp, Adam F Kennedy, Jonathan Long, Amy Mcgill, James Mclaren, Joe Marshall, Ken McGrath, Iain Moffat, gileZ Moorhouse, Mischa Pearlman, Hardeep Phull, Paul Raggity, Mat Rodger, Will Stone, Jen Thomas, Alex Whitehead, Stuart Wright.

HAppy SNAppErS: Steve Brown, Duncan Bryceland, Nigel Crane, David Goodchild, Olly Hewitt, Kate Hoggett, Zen Inoya, Macky, Mattia Zoppellaro.

uS CorrESpoNdENtS: J Bennett, Sean Rhorer, Jess Redmon, Alex Solca (photos), Corey Taylor (8), Robin Laananen (photos), Chris Mottalini (photos), Roger Mahler (photos)

SpECiAl tHANKS: Bonnie Redfern, Neale Smith, Aereogramme and Baroness for blowing our minds! Vanessa Cotton @ Triad - we got there in the end! Juliana Plotkin @ Ink Tank PR, Palmer Houchins.

AdVErtiSiNG mANAGEr: ben Crudgington Tel: 0207 877 8776 ben.crudgington@rock-sound.net

publiSHEr: patrick Napier Tel: 0207 877 8779 patrick.napier@rock-sound.net Newstrade distribution by Marketforce. If you have any trouble getting hold of rock sound in the shops please call: 020 7633 3300. Subscription rates are as follows: UK £29.97, Europe £42.97, US/Canada £39.97, Rest of world £62.97. To subscribe or if you have a problem with your subscription please call: 0870 428 2307 or email: rocksound@ dovetailservices.com .Rock Sound cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited manuscripts and transparencies. All material remains the copyright of Rock Sound Ltd. No part of Rock Sound may be reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher (and that includes scanning and uploading it to the net, kids!). Or our lawyers will be round (and they’re very scary!).

ABC Member of The Audit Bureau Of Circulation Jan-June 2006: Average net circulation 23,254 ISSN: 1465-0185 CoVEr pHoto: Nigel Crane

Printed in the UK by St Ives (Roche) Published by Rock Sound Ltd. BLOW AWAYYOURHANGOVER, SHUT DOWN THETELLY, AND BLAST INTO A

DIFFERENT WORLD

DIFFERENTWORLD

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A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH VOTED BY FANS AND JOURNALISTS OF CLASSIC ROCK AS THE ALBUM OF THE YEAR

DIFFERENT WORLD IS TAKEN FROM THE ALBUM A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH