Dear Front Rowers, here we are again, celebrating another turn of our planet around the sun (happy b-day, Earth!), meaning it’s time to take a look at what I’ve seen/heard/shot in this past year. Funny enough, I’ve seen the exact same number of shows – 99 – as in 2022, although these happened in 19 events instead of 18, and also in a bigger variety of places: 10 cities, 3 European countries. And the ones I’ve enjoyed the most were:

1st – ICE NINE KILLS – Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona (ES)

2nd – HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD – Rock For People, Hradec Králové (CZ)

3rd – MÖTLEY CRÜE – Passeio Marítimo de Algés, Oeiras (PT)

I had no doubt I’d have a blissful blast in these, but the following were quite a surprise:

1st – THE VIRGINMARYS – Hard Club, Porto (PT)

2nd – ALLGEMA – Hard Club, Porto (PT)

3rd – MONUMENTS – Vagos Metal Fest, Vagos (PT)

And then the ones I didn’t expect to be so disappointed with:

1st – IMPERIAL TRIUMPH – Vagos Metal Fest, Vagos (PT)

2nd – AxDxT – Laurus Nobilis Music Fest, Famalicão (PT)

3rd – ZURRAPA – River Stone Fest, Penafiel (PT)

With my increased responsibilities at my day-job, I had to give up something and so I quit Valkyrian Music. As I only write live reports for World Of Metal and Glam Magazine, there’s not a single album review in 2023 by yours truly. I’m not giving up on that entirely, I love writing way too much, but I’ll do it (eventually) just for Front Row Forever, with no strings attached to any zine or record label. Still, that will only happen from here on out, meaning you just have to trust me when I say these are my favorite albums of 2023, there won’t be any reviews to back it up:

1st – FROM ASHES TO NEW, “Blackout”

2nd – ICE NINE KILLS & FRANCESCO FERRINI, “The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood (orchestral version)”

3rd – DARK DIVINE, “Deadly Fun”

Finally, the music videos that delighted me the most and that I’ve seen more often on YouTube:

1st – ICE NINE KILLS,”Meat & Greet”

2nd – FROM ASHES TO NEW, “Hate Me Too”

3rd – ATREYU, “Forevermore”

Now about 2024… I’m hoping to see ICE NINE KILLS again, hopefully as headliners. I already have a ticket for a show (actually, two, but I believe the first will be cancelled, even if I haven’t received any news from the ticket website yet), but let’s see. If I have to see them opening for FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, so be it. One way or another, it will happen.

My boys INFRAKTOR and EQUALEFT are in the process of recording their new albums, but I know how long these things can take. Even so, I’m optimistic about them both for this new year. But WEB‘s is certainly coming out.

And HILLS HAVE EYES () – yeah, still. By now is more wishful thinking than an expectation, but until they come back, they’ll be featured here. On the other hand, if the Internet is right, they should be celebrating 20 years of existence in 2024… If the infamous fourth album isn’t released, I’m hoping for an anniversary show (até vos deserdo, gajos!).

Much love,

Pi