Drummer, chef, and Roots rocker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson has announced a new drum kit, produced in partnership with Ludwig, called Breakbeats. The kit is easily broken down and moved, designed for the drummer who might not have a lot of space to practice or perform.
Gear
Mesopotamian black metal in a flying V: Melechesh’s signature 12-string Vortex Scimitar
Ashmedi, the front-man for long-running “Mesopotamian black metal” group Melechesh, has teamed up with Fernandes Guitars to release a signature 12-string model, the Vortex Scimitar. Produced in a V shape, the Vortex is aimed at the extreme metal crowd, and, according to Ashmedi, “the octave sounds are subtle and great when playing power chords, single notes, and fast riffing.” Check out the specs and a few images below.
Seven-string fury: Scale the Summit reveals signature guitar, instructional bass book
Announced for the big NAMM trade show, prog-metal instrumental outfit Scale the Summit has partnered with Strandberg Guitarworks to release the Boden CL7, an instrument based on guitarist Chris Letchford’s specifications, and bassist Mark Michell has released an instructional book for right-hand bassists.
Yeti in your campsite: A solar generator for gadgets
Whether you’re camping or just on a long drive, charging your gadgets if you don’t have the proper equipment can be a pain in the ass. Having to buy a car charger in an emergency, your laptop dying in the middle of an important E-mail — these are things to be avoided, which is why the introduction of Goal Zero’s Yeti 150 Solar Generator is excellent.
Watch a Jack Daniel’s barrel get made into a snare drum, then enter to win it
Jack Daniels has released a video about the making of their beautiful whiskey barrel snare drum, which you can win.
Motörheadphönes are a thing now
In a sentence that we never thought we’d be typing, Lemmy of Motörhead stopped by the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show to premiere his band’s new line of listening peripherals, the why-hasn’t-this-happened-before Motörheadphönes.
Aimed at “the rock/pop audience, a target group who are critical listeners,” the three headphones and six in-ear models will be more focused on the mid-range of sound than other “lifestyle” models such as Beats by Dre. Launched last fall in Europe, and with a pedigree including an engineer from Gothenburg, Sweden, Motörheadphönes will be hitting the US market towards the end of April 2013.
Mastodon’s Troy Sanders has bacon saved by Orange Amps + adorable Labrador retriever
This viral beauty from Orange Amps combines fake douchebaggery, goofball humor, an adorable Labrador, and Mastodon’s Troy Sanders for a video that, while offering little information about the Orange Micro Terror, is worth your three minutes.
Cut off one, two grow back: Hydra Health Rehabilitation continues with exclusive T-shirt
As part of its Hydra Health Rehabilitation Project, Hydra Head Records has debuted an awesome, very limited T-shirt and print from artist Andrew Cox.
Swag fire-sale: Help maintain Hydra Head’s amazing catalog of hardcore and experimental music
Though no longer releasing new music, Hydra Head Records needs your help to keep its exceptional catalog in print. Throw down some cash for limited-edition swag and more.
Contest: Win a Relapse Records five-CD prize pack!
From its modest roots as a basement mail-order operation to its status as one of the premier independent metal labels, Relapse Records has carved a niche as purveyor of distortion-heavy talent. In addition to a few ALARM favorites from Pig Destroyer, Liberteer, and Primate, this year saw noteworthy releases from Dying Fetus, Baroness, Horseback, Locrian, Serpentine Path, and many others.
The soundtrack to alien killing: Massive Attack producer unveils Halo 4 OST
Massive Attack producer and co-writer Neil Davidge has debuted a single from the upcoming Halo 4 soundtrack, which accompanies one of the season’s most anticipated video games.