I’m melting away as I’m writing this…I think a heinously hot summer doth approach, so make sure you stay plenty hydrated as you’re thrashing about at some of the kick-ass shows rolling into town this month! I had the opportunity to interview two musicians who will be hitting up The Palladium on two can’t-miss tours, got the heads-up on a new release from a band that seemed lost in the murky waters of the 90s, and lament about the staple shows that I missed over the past month and a half.

The first monstahhh tour to sweep The Palladium is the Suicidal Final Tour, featuring the filthy (and I mean in the best possible way) 80s misfits Municipal Waste, D.C.’s stars Darkest Hour, and all the way from Sweden, heralding the return of the almighty masters of thrash, At the Gates. Mike Schleibaum, guitarist for Darkest Hour, is nothing less than on the verge of wetting himself over this tour…who wouldn’t be??

“We have become good friends with members of At the Gates over the years,” Schleibaum says. “I mean come on, we’re f**king super fans…We are very honored to be on the tour and can’t wait to spend time with our good friends in ATG and get to see them rock. They ARE the best thrash metal band ever, in my opinion. I can’t wait to see them slay!”

After I asked Schleibaum about DH’s move away from brutality to more of a melodic approach, a difference extremely noticeable in 2007’s Victory release Deliver Us, he clearly expressed a strong desire to bring some of the thrash back.

“Take it from me, the next record we will try to push the envelope between brutality and that melody. We want the band to still be pissed, don’t get me wrong about that. I think the sound of the band is always maturing and we will see where the next tunes take us…more melody, more brutality, I hope MORE OF BOTH!” www.myspace.com/darkesthour

July 18 will see another behemoth tour set to pack The Palladium ~ if this isn’t one of the tightest lineups Worcester has seen in a while, I don’t know what is. Incite, Throwdown, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Bury Your Dead are touring in support of the Cavalera Conspiracy, the brain-child of the reunited Max and Iggor Cavalera, and of their March 2008 Road Runner release, Inflikted. This all-star band includes Soulfly guitarist Marc Rizzo and the guitarist/vocalist of Bayonne, France’s green-metalers Gojira, Joe Duplantier.

“They’re all good guys, and very good musicians,” says Max Cavalera. “Real down to earth people, and Sepultura fans! There’s a good vibe between us ~ there’s no ego trips.”

The name for the album came from a trip the Cavalera brothers took to Indonesia back in the 90s, where they bore witness to some outlandish activities.

“We were watching this voodoo ritual in Indonesia in ’92. They were piercing eyeballs, setting their heads on fire, drinking snake blood, all sorts of sh*t. They called these people ‘inflicted.’ It was an honor for me and Iggor being there.”

Check out the new tracks and video for their first single, “Sanctuary,” at www.myspace.com/cavaleraconspiracy

Speaking of the 90s, did anyone see this coming??? Candlebox is set to release their first body of new work in 10 years on July 22 with Into the Sun. The start of their summer tour will kick off this month, hitting the Hampton Beach Casino Wednesday, August 27. I think it’ll be very interesting to see what a decade absence will spark in their new material, not to mention what years of change within the scene will hold for the almost completely disappeared band. I hope they strike back with their signature sound, and it seems promising after listening to a snippet of “Stand,” found at www.myspace.com/candlebox. Also check out www.candleboxrocks.com for updates on the new material.

And now, my regrets for the past month. I’m so devastatingly pissed I missed Iron Maiden on Friday, June 20 at the Tweeter Center. I was there in 2000, and almost shed a tear when I realized I would not be able to see all the glory and wonder of the epic Maiden once again. Summer Slaughter Tour, featuring Kataklysm, Vader, Aborted, Cryptopsy, and The Black Dahlia Murder, just to name a few, came to The Palladium Friday, June 27. Dropkick Murphys and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones played LeLacheur Park in Lowell Thursday, July 10. Cinderella and Warrant made a comeback at the Hampton Beach Casino, Thursday, July 31…oh c’mon, you gotta love the cheeeese (especially when it involves tight pants and AquaNet!)!

Pics (from top to bottom): The Darkest Hour, Cavalera Conspiracy, Candlebox, Iron Maiden