WE'VE GOT MORE BIG 4! SUBMIT BEFORE TUESDAY AT 6:00 AM AND GET A CHANCE FOR A PAIR TO THE BIG 4!

WSOU is looking for it's very own "Big 4" in this promotional contest which will award four lucky contestants with A PAIR of tickets to the Big 4 at Yankee Stadium on September 14, 2011. Starting on Tuesday, August 23 at 6:00 a.m. (EST), WSOU will be accepting maximum two-minute video submissions by contestants, telling us WHY you deserve to win a ticket to the Big 4.

Contestants must read and acknowledge all rules and conditions in order to participate. Submissions will be accepted beginning August 23, 2011 at 6:00 a.m. (EST) at wsoubig4@gmail.com.


BIG 4 Contest Rules

How to Enter the Contest:

1. No purchase or donation is necessary to enter or win.

2. The BIG 4 DAYS contest will begin on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 6:00 a.m. (EST), and run through, Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 6:00 a.m. (EST) with the grand prize winner to be announced on Friday, September 9, 2011. Saturdays and Sundays are excluded.

3. There will be one prize with 4 winners announced on September 9, 2011 from 4-8 p.m.

4. To participate in the contest, eligible contestants must submit a maximum two minute video to submit to wsoubig4@gmail.com explaining why they should win a pair of tickets to see the BIG 4 at Yankee Stadium on September 14, 2011. Submissions will not be accepted past 6:00 a.m. (EST) on Tuesday, August 30, 2011. Any submission longer than 120 seconds will be immediately disqualified.

5. WSOU Staff will provide a selection committee, comprised of the Station Manager, Music Director, Programming Director and Promotions Director, who will view the videos and choose 8 finalists to come up to WSOU on September 9, 2011 to have a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show. Finalists will be notified by Friday, September 2, 2011 of their status, and will receive an invite to the station. During the 4-8pm DJ shift, WSOU staff will select 4 winners. The fifth runner up will receive a consolation prize.

6. One entry per person, one entry per household.

7. By entering the BIG 4 contest, contestants agree that they are fully responsible for all content that the contestant submits. Contestants must have all necessary rights and permissions in their entries, and each contestant is solely responsible for his/her entry. By submitting a video, contestant agrees to allow WSOU to use and publish submitted entry, name, likeness, voice, statements, and image on its website, on the air, and in any other medium at WSOU’s sole discretion. WSOU will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such uses. Contestants will indemnify WSOU, Seton Hall University and their respective regents, directors, officers, managers, employees, shareholders, agents, and licensors, from and against losses, expenses, damages, and costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, resulting from any claim brought by any party relating to content they have posted. Contestants also understand and agree that WSOU is not responsible for any user submitted content. By submitting an entry to this contest, contestants waive any privacy expectations with respect to the entry materials.

Eligibility Restrictions:

1. The contest is open to WSOU listeners 18 years of age and older.

2. WSOU student staff members, station volunteers, and employees of Seton Hall University are ineligible to participate or win.

3. Winners who win a prize during the BIG 4 promo period are ineligible to win another prize from WSOU for the next 30 days from the date of winning.

4. Listeners who have won another WSOU prize between July 23, 2011 and August 9, 2011 are not eligible to participate in this contest as per WSOU’s “30 Day Policy.”

5. Those whose videos include inappropriate content will be immediately disqualified. WSOU shall be the sole judge as to what constitutes inappropriate content. Such content includes but is not limited to: nudity; language which is offensive such as profanity, blasphemy, racial slurs, or slander; infringements upon or violations of the copyrights, trademarks or other intellectual property rights of any person or establishment; is libelous or defamatory; is obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit; violates a person’s right to privacy; violates any local, state, national, or international law; contains or advocates illegal or violent acts; degrades others on the basis of gender, race, class ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual preference, disability or other classification; is predatory, hateful, or intended to intimidate or harass; contains advertising or solicitation of any kind; misrepresents your identify or affiliation and or impersonates others. WSOU reserves the right to disqualify and not post any entry that in its judgment violates WSOU’s content restrictions.

Selection of Winners:

1. Four winners will be chosen out of 8 finalists during the 4-8 p.m. DJ shift on September 9, 2011. The first runner up for the prize (5th place) will receive a consolation prize.

2. The videos which receive the most committee votes will be eligible to compete. Videos will be judged on a variety of criteria, including but not limited to creativity, originality, persuasive argument, compelling content, knowledge of heavy metal music and WSOU, and adherence to content restrictions.

3. The Grand prize winners will be selected on September 9, 2011 from all the previous winners

4. Odds of winning are equal – all contestants have equal opportunity.

5. In the event that the selected winner declines his/her prize or does meet the eligibility requirements, WSOU will announce this fact on air and then select another winner.

6. Decisions of station management with respect to the contest are final.


The Prize:

1. GENERAL PRIZES. Eight finalists from the video contest will have the opportunity to win one of four pairs of BIG 4 tickets. Tickets are pairs of tickets. Video entries will be accepted beginning on August 23, 2011 at 6:00 a.m. (EST) and will be deemed invalid after 6:00 a.m. on August 30, 2011. Selection will take place at WSOU on September 9, 2011, from 4-8 p.m. All winners of general prizes must be 18 years of age or older.

Conditions:

1. By participating in this contest, contestants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the judges, which are final and binding in all respects.

2. By participating in the contest, all winners agree to allow the WSOU and Seton Hall University to use their personal information for internal use only.

3. By participating in the contest, each winner agrees to have his/her name mentioned on air and for used in any promotional material related to this contest without additional financial or other compensation.

4. WSOU, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process, the operations of WSOU and Seton Hall University, or who is otherwise in violation of the rules. The station further reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the contest if it is not capable of completion as planned. WSOU also reserves the right to make changes in the rules of the contest including the substitution of a different prize of equivalent value, which will become effective upon announcement

5. Failure to comply with the contest rules may result in a contestant’s disqualification, at the sole discretion of WSOU.

6. WSOU is not responsible for typographical or other errors in the printing, the offering or the administration of the contest or in the announcement of the prize. The contest rules shall be posted on the WSOU web site. A written copy of the contest rules and the name of the winners (when complete) are available during regular business hours at the WSOU studios on the campus of Seton Hall University, 400 South Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ 07079, or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to WSOU.

7. As a condition to acceptance, all contest winners must release WSOU and Seton Hall University, its employees, officers and agents from any and all liabilities arising directly or indirectly from using the prize.

8. Winners shall be responsible for any taxes imposed on receipt of the prize.


Disclaimer
WSOU undertakes no liability or responsibility, and makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the performance of the prize(s) awarded, for any failure to perform or negligent performance of any service provider, or for any other risk, incident or damage, direct or indirect, relating to or arising out of the contest, including (but not limited to) cancellations, postponements, delays or other scheduling changes; missed events or connections or inability of winner to attend; and accident, injury, death, damage or expense arising from or occurring during the use of the prize, or travel to/from or attendance at any event relating to the contest, by the winner and/or winner’s guest(s). WSOU is not responsible for damage to a prize or loss of a prize after the prize has been claimed. Winners must inspect their prizes before leaving the station. WSOU is not responsible for technical, hardware or software failure or malfunctions, lost or unavailable network or other telecommunications connections, or lost, late, damaged, illegible, inaccurate, incomplete, garbled, disconnected, or delayed contest entries or communications, whether caused by the sender or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or used in this contest, or by any human error which may occur in the execution of this contest. If, for any reason, the Contest is not capable of being conducted as planned, including but not limited to infection by computer virus, bug, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or other causes beyond the control of WSOU. WSOU reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest and award the prize from among all eligible entries received to date.

MAYHEM ROCKS JERSEY ONCE MORE

By Dylan Reichman, WSOU

Now in its fourth year of existence, The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem festival has grown to be one of the most popular metal tours in the U.S. Each year the festival returns with a stacked lineup, featuring acts spanning the metal spectrum. While nine hours of throwing down during the hottest months of the year can be pretty intense, the diversity of bands showcased and the crazy things that one tends to see during the day are always more than worth it. And above all else, Mayhem has something for everyone. Into thrash? Check. Deathcore? Check. Dudes who look like linebackers wearing pink belly-shirts that read, Party Girl? Yeah, Mayhem has that too.

So when the tour arrived in Holmdel, NJ on July 27th, myself and the rest of the WSOU crew trekked down to the PNC Bank Arts Center for the day’s festivities. Mayhem is one of the biggest things to hit Jersey each year, (ok, maybe the Jersey Shore comes close), and The Loudest Rock was sure to be there.

Upon our arrival, we were allowed, as members of the press, to scope out the set up of the show a half hour before general admission. The main concourse and walkway to the arena were littered with stands from local vendors; everything from Zippo Lighters to the United States Marine Corps, to a roasted corn vendor. Like I said, something for everyone. The stage set-up was pretty unique as well. The first nine acts were to alternate between two stages erected in a sectioned off part of the parking lot, the Jagermeister Stage and the Extreme Stage. As one played on one stage, the next band would set up on the other, and the crowd would take part in a massive, “Running of the Bulls” type sprint at the end of each band’s set to get a good spot for the next one’s. After the nine bands finished, the main arena would then open up, so that the four headliners could perform.

Soon after our arrival, the general public was let in, and Dr. Acula took the Jagermeister Stage to open the show. While the Long Island bred six piece received a great deal of criticism at the beginning of their career for their humorous take on deathcore, their performance showed the maturation that the band has since undergone. Yes, the band still had pop culture samples intermittently spliced into their songs, and yes, they still wore skeleton bandannas over their faces. But the music spoke for itself, a far cry from their older, more electro-centric, material. The audience seemed pleasantly surprised upon hearing their new, tightly organized and sonically deeper sound. A small pit even opened up, a warm up for things to come.

The mass egress then began towards the Extreme Stage, opened by the increasingly popular Straight Line Stitch, a female fronted outfit from Knoxville, TN. The band had gained plenty of steam in the past few years, yet no one seemed to know them in the crowd at Mayhem. This was no issue, however, as they were quickly surprised by Straight Line Stitch’s high energy, fast paced melodic thrash metal attack. Singer Alexis Brown commanded the respect of the crowd, both with her impressive vocal range, (which went from a dark growl to a soft melodic croon), and with her frequent calls to, “Wake up, New Jersey!” Soon enough, the audience did so, a testament to the band’s talent.

Progressive doom metallers Red Fang came next, four dudes with straight up awesome facial hair, and an awesome sound to match. Though the transition from the frenetic performance of Straight Line Stitch to the subtler melancholy of Red Fang caught the audience off guard, and left them pretty…dead, the band nonetheless put on a killer set. With blues-oriented sections, akin to those of Burst or Mastodon, which then transitioned into pseudo-NWOBHM gallops, Red Fang’s transitions came across as very well thought out; leading to a cohesive, yet stimulating, maze of sound.

Before the prominent technical deathcore group All Shall Perish took the Extreme Stage, signs of coming aggression were apparent amongst those in attendance. The energy that had been built up from Straight Line Stitch, and furthered with the haunting style of Red Fang, began to show up, in a big way. A few fights had broken out, and one got the sense that All Shall Perish’s set would be brutal, musically and in the pit as well. The group did not disappoint, diving headfirst into their songs with a level of brutality even higher then that present on record. The breakdowns seemed to have an extra edge, whether due to a denser, sludgier tone, or a slightly more breakneck pace; and the sweeping melodies of guitarists Francesco Artusato and Ben Orum over top provided a sheer technicality to match. However, things quickly turned serious when a fan was seriously injured in the pit. While he was being attended to by paramedics, singer Eddie Hermida, in a true show of class, asked the crowd to support, “one of our brothers.” Though the injury put somewhat of a damper on the rest of the performance, Hermida and Co.’s show of grace, combined with their technical prowess, still amounted to a great set. (It is also worth mentioning that, at the time of this article’s writing, word has still not reached SOU on the condition of the fan. But on behalf of all of us here at The Loudest Rock, we hope that all turned out well).

After the fan’s injury, people were understandably less willing to pit for the following bands. While they weren’t moving, it seemed as though the effects of the first four acts suddenly caught up with a number of fans, and as such, the crowd thinned out a bit. Among those who left, several were nursing some noteworthy injuries, crazy sunburns, or sheer exhaustion, and many took to finding a nice spot on the hill near the main arena to catch some shut eye.

Unfortunately for those who chose to do so, missing Kingdom of Sorrow was a serious mistake. Singer Jamey Jasta, (also of Hatebreed), is wildly popular around the NJ/NY area, (WE LOVE US SOME HAHDCAWW), as is “The Godfather of Sludge” himself, Kirk Windstein, (also of Crowbar and Down). The pair’s combined influences has led to Kingdom of Sorrow to build a considerable following around here as well, and the fans who were still standing, and there were plenty, seemed excited for them to play. The band’s set reinvigorated the crowd; with anthemic choruses, and sludge based hardcore sections, everyone’s hands were soon in the air, and everyone sang along. The guys on stage talked to the crowd often, and were never afraid to flash a smile, giving off the impression that they were humble and sincere, and were just happy to be there. Plus, Jasta gave SOU an awesome shout out, to which this reviewer absolutely lost his mind. WSOU loves you too, Jamey.

Perhaps the most brutal point of the day came during Suicide Silence’s short, but intense set. The band was extremely tight, staying with each other step for step, a considerable feat for a band of their technical level. However, the band-crowd interaction is what made the set so impressive. Singer Mitch Lucker, with his lanky, tattoo covered body, often stretched his arms wide, as if they were wings, and headbanged, a haunting tactic that seemed to go over particularly well with the crowd. Drummer Alex Lopez also cleverly hid an electronic pad off to the right of his kit that, when it was hit, would create a massive bass drop, an extremely brutal touch. Eventually, the crowd became so riled up that a giant circle pit, on Lucker’s command, materialized around the soundboard, and a wall of death came to cap the set off. Yeah, it got pretty brutal.

Unearth and In Flames, (both promoting new albums) came next. By this point, may fans had already begun to make their way up to the main stage, and a good chunk of those who remained seemed to be pretty exhausted after Suicide Silence’s unrestrained display of brutality. Their sets were rather similar, both put on a high energy, extremely tight, performance, artfully mixing their new material with the old in a tasteful balance. Unearth’s new material is something that the fans especially seemed to enjoy, as they added a more brutal, sonically dissonant edge to their style. In Flames’ new music was also well received, as it stayed true to their already well established sound.

Finally, to close out the first two stages, was the almighty Machine Head. Only die hard Machine Head fans were left amongst the audience, as the rest had moved near the main stage in order to rest, grab some food, or to grab a good spot on the lawn. While this could have hurt any other band, Machine Head’s extremely anthemic style allowed for the fans to interact directly with the band. During every song, fists were thrown high in the air, and every voice sang along with singer Robb Flynn as one. The group’s technicality was also in full force, as Flynn and his counterpart Phil Demmel stuck to the established grooves of the bands records, while occasionally delving into well timed improvisation during solos, a well executed touch.

As the last note’s of Machine Head’s “Halo” rang out, the remainder of the audience, the WSOU crew included, made its way up to the main stage. The day’s events had clearly taken their toll, as many along the way looked exhausted, and a few were even sporting some nasty pit injuries.

The first band to play the main stage, Trivium, began their set promptly. To the excitement of many, Trivium’s melodic thrash assault was a well oiled machine, technical, fast paced, and with plenty of melodic balance serving as a contrast to the harder sections. Especially noteworthy were the band’s renditions of their old material, from when the band was a young, melodic deathcore band. The songs from Ascendancy in particular, showed the band’s growth over the years, as the group implemented their more soaring, melodic style to the heavier tracks, a compelling sign of their maturation.

Once the eternally awe inspiring Megadeth began to set up, the stadium really began to fill, seeming to suggest that many die hard Megadeth fans had only the main stage in mind. However, the band’s elaborate stage set up, along with the tuning of Dave Mustaine’s 10,000 equally awesome guitars, took a considerable deal of time to prepare, leaving some in the crowd to grow pretty…antsy…to say the least. Fist fights broke out, and eventually an old school wrestling pit formed. But the security staff at PNC handled the situation admirably, as they had all day long, and broke things up. Major thanks goes to those guys and girls for keeping everyone safe while allowing people to still have a great time.

Megadeth, as they have time and time again done, put on a set which had the entire crowd going, a technically flawless and energetic performance. The set list also spanned the entire length of the bands impressive catalog, pleasing everyone in attendance. Dave Mustaine, much to the crowd’s appreciation, labeled New Jersey as, “one of [his] favorite places to play,” spoke of the band’s upcoming new album, and even suggested that the so called “Big Four” tour may just have to stop by Jersey.

After Megadeth’s crowd pleasing performance, Godsmack took the stage, and followed Megadeth in a great way, which is definitely not an easy task. The band played the crowd favorites, including “I Stand Alone,” and “Straight Out of Line,” and the fans enthusiastically sang along, enjoying the band’s hardened edge.

Last, but certainly not least, came Disturbed. Their performance was especially interesting, given recent talk of a hiatus/break-up, which members of the band have seemed to confirm. Nonetheless, the band seemed unfazed by the prospect, and they too put on a crowd pleasing performance, to cap off a great day of metal.

Mayhem, once again, hit Jersey hard, and left a lasting impression on those who attended. The musical diversity, as well as the numerous spectacles of the day, proved to further the tour’s prolific reputation, and next year’s date will certainly be highly anticipated by the NJ/NY metal scene. Special shout outs go out to the staff at the PNC Bank Arts Center, for running the day smoothly, and keeping everyone safe, while still allowing everyone to go nuts. Also, the men and women from the United States Marine Corps who came out to show their appreciation to the metal scene, and who also spoke to the SOU staff at length of their appreciation of our station, deserve serious praise. Along with their incredible service for our country, these guys still stayed die hard metal fans, a testament to the true power of the metal community, in display at Mayhem that day, and every day around the world.

Until next time,

Dylan