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Westfest Announces Full Lineup

A festival dedicated to bringing New Zealand the best metal, rock and punk bands in the world is set to take over Vector Arena for two days in February.

Fourteen bands will perform at Westfest including KornMegadethRob ZombieEagles of Death Metal and 8 Foot Sativa. Headlining acts Korn, Megadeth and Rob Zombie will play full two-hour sets.

While there is no official association between Westfest and Soundwave Festival, it is an unofficial spinoff since most bands on the Westfest lineup will be heading to Australia for the touring festival afterwards.

ODR Productions, The Rock & Groove Guide are proud to present ‘Westfest.’ A festival dedicated to bringing New Zealand the best metal, rock, and punk bands the world has to offer all on the same epic festival: Westfest.

Korn, Rob Zombie, Megadeth, Asking Alexandria, Five Finger Death Punch, Black Veil Brides, Eagles Of Death Metal, August Burns Red, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Whitechapel, Terror, 8 Foot Sativa, Saving Grace & Devilskin.

The members of Korn built an immortal bond back in 1993 the first time that Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Brian "Head" Welch decided to make music as a unit. After six seminal releases, two Grammy Award wins, countless sold out shows, and eventually selling 35 million albums worldwide, Head left the group in 2004 to face down the demons of addiction on his own. In 2012, a triumphant and tear-filled reunion happened on stage as the group headlined the Carolina Rebellion festival with Head reprising his legendary part on "Blind." The initial bond came back into focus, but it was time to change the game again. It was time for their eleventh studio album The Paradigm Shift. It melds the group's ever-present spirit of innovation with their signature metallic catharsis, paving the way for the future yet again.

Seasoned horror film writer and director, haunted maze creator, legendary white zombie founder and all around entertainer Rob Zombie has never been seen on New Zealand shores and is out to make his mark. Being accredited with the fusion of horror techniques in his music such as suspension and surprise Rob Zombie is much more than an aural experience: The make up, the theatrics the act surely not to be missed.

With a string of five consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums Megadeth became one of the biggest bands of the mid-‘80s and ‘90s, from their impressive 14 studio album catalogue. The band’s 14th studio album, "Super Collider" was released in June, 2013 debuting at #6 on The Billboard 200, their highest chart debut since 1994. It’s safe to say Megadeth will be thrashing about the world for a while yet.

Asking Alexandria are poised for worldwide stardom in 2013 releasing their much anticipated, new full-length album ‘From Death To Destiny’ debuting at #5 on Billboards top 200, a main stage Download Festival performance in the UK, an Active Rock Radio smash hit for “The Death of Me” and Alternative Press and Guitar World cover features. Next stop on the road for these UK frontrunners, dominating a New Zealand stage for the first time.  

From humble beginnings in the witchy flat lands of Cambridgeshire, England, Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats have devolved into an international band of street creeps, burnouts and draft dodgers. Since unleashing the monumental, internationally feared and revered set of blood-curdling chainsaw anthems known as Blood Lust, they have been locked away in the barn ignoring all the ensuing hype and publicity, whilst preparing to deliver their own new nightmare message of madness.

It is a fact that Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats have, in recent times, become one of the most talked about rock bands currently in existence. The fact that no one even knew what they looked like until very recently is testimony to the enigma that surrounds this terrifying, yet extremely melodically minded cult. It is another fact that they have become one of the most collectable bands on the planet, with first press vinyl editions of Blood Lust fetching up to and over £700 (yes, British Pounds!) on the collector’s market. Pretty remarkable for a record that is barely two years old.

With 8 Foot Sativa reuniting with original vocalist Justin “Jackhammer” Niessen and original bass player Brent Fox, Sativa guitarist and mastermind Gary Smith has patiently waited for the stars to align. Now, along with new guitarist Nik Davies and drummer Corey Friedlander, the line-up could not be any more devastating. With an enviable reputation as New Zealand’s most ferocious live act, 8 Foot Sativa have channeled this fury to create ‘The Shadow Masters’ the new 8 Foot Sativa album that quite simply says “This is how Heavy Metal is done!”

Devilskin are a four-piece band from Hamilton New Zealand formed in June 2010, they already have guts, class, kudos and confidence. The sum total of a determined and accomplished group of musicians who know what they want, the music is organic, dynamic and real. Together, Devilskin have the ability to write songs that have depth and passion. They create a compelling and irresistible sound and perform a stunning, explosive, live show. Fresh off the back of a full New Zealand tour with huge turn outs at each venue the band are ready to dominate the Westfest stage.

When you gather a group of musicians with Metal pedigree like the quintet in Five Finger Death Punch, you'd better believe that they will come up with a body of work to back up their hype with undeniable musicianship! Euro-Metal veteran and previous U.P.O. guitarist, Zoltan Bathory, was the architect of what has morphed into FFDP, recruiting standout studio Metal drummer, Jeremy Spencer to add his trademark ‘double-bass mayhem' to the equation. Vocalist, Ivan Moody's previous band, MOTOGRATER, had played to huge crowds on Ozzfest and beyond, while guitarist Darrell Roberts toured with W.A.S.P. and wrecked the road. Matt Snell, bassist of acclaimed experimental outfits Anubis Rising and Deadsett, completed the circle by lending his considerable fretboard mastery to the band's music.

Ever wonder what a cross between The Eagles and Death Metal would sound like? Well in 2007 New Zealand was introduced to such a beast, and now again in 2014 New Zealand will bare witness to the man, the moustache, The Eagles Of Death Metal.
August Burns Red are no strangers to New Zealand and are a welcome return guest having just released their latest album, Rescue & Restore: A colossal effort which turns a critical eye to the oft-maligned genre, leading by example to prove that bands can still find exciting new ways to expand the genre without simply falling into repetitive trappings.

Andy Biersack, founder and creator of the Black Veil Brides said music was his “weapon” through the hard times, it is put down to this that the American rockers have a rabid fan base of un-measurable numbers: The BVB Army. More than music, Andy and his team have created a lifestyle. Hearing the cries of New Zealand’s ‘army’ members Andy and his posse jumped at the opportunity to slay the Westfest stage.

Having spent several years lauded as one of the frontrunners in their genre, Whitechapel stand as a defining force in contemporary heavy music. Building dramatically on the trademarked bludgeon of their first three releases, with their latest, self-titled release the Tennessean sextet have inarguably delivered their most intense, dynamic, and downright hostile record to date.

Hardcore legends and seasoned veterans to a New Zealand stage, Terror are right back at it again. Bringing the spirit, the essence, the movement to the Westfest stage.

From starting out playing shows in a garage in front of 20 friends to signing multi-national record deals, 5 star reviews, headlining tours and festival appearances across Australasia to touring the world local talent Saving Grace sure are a force to be reckoned with, expect their new much anticipated album coming soon.

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