OZZY OSBOURNE will return to North America for a month-long arena tour launching November 12 in Victoria, B.C. and concluding December 12 in Minneapolis. These shows — in support of his album "Scream" (Epic Records) and latest single, "Life Won't Wait" — are part the of the rock legend's in-progress 18-month world tour on which he's earning some of the best live reviews of his career (including raves for new guitarist, Gus G.). HALFORD, featuring legendary JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford, will perform on all dates. The first leg of arena dates will mark Ozzy's first headlining North American tour since 2007's trek for his "Black Rain" album. Tickets for the Live Nation-produced tour go on sale beginning Friday, September 17.
Ozzy is now on a run of acclaimed festival appearances and headlining overseas performances, including two Ozzfest dates: London at O2 Arena September 18 and Tel Aviv, Israel at Heyarkon Park September 28. This overseas trek includes stops in Russia, Italy, Czech Republic, France, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Finland, Norway, Germany, Romania and Turkey, before wrapping October 4 in Hungary. Ozzy then heads to Japan (October 13, 16 and 17) before returning to the U.S. to headline the Voodoo Experience festival Halloween weekend in New Orleans, Louisiana.
A limited number of VIP tickets are available for each show on the North American tour through two unique meet-and-greet packages. VIP packages go on sale Monday, September 13 at 10:00 a.m. (local venue time) and are limited to four per show date for the met-and-greet package and eight per show date for the party package. Descriptions of the two VIP packages are as follows:
* The "Ozzy Osbourne Meet-And-Greet Package" is limited to 30 tickets per show and amenities include: premium seating within the first three rows of the stage, meet-and-greet and personal photograph with Ozzy, VIP access to the exclusive pre-concert party hosted by MC Big Dave and a variety of Ozzy tour- related items.
* The "Ozzy Osbourne Possessed Party Package" — available to the first 200 buyers —-includes a ticket located within the first 10 rows of the stage, VIP access to the exclusive pre-concert party hosted by MC Big Dave and a variety of Ozzy tour-related items.
The fall dates will coincide with the October 5 release of an expanded two-CD version of the "Scream" album. This "Tour Edition" package will feature seven bonus songs: a mix of previously unreleased tracks and live recordings. Epic will also issue a four-sided vinyl edition that includes five bonus tracks: the three aforementioned songs from the "Scream" sessions and the live version of "Let Me Hear You Scream", along with the single version of "Life Won't Wait".
The preliminary tour dates are as follows (with more dates to be announced):
Nov. 12 - Victoria, BC - Save On Foods Memorial Centre
Nov. 14 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
Nov. 16 - Calgary, AB - Pengrowth Saddledome
Nov. 18 - Edmonton, MB - Rexall Place
Nov. 20 - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
Nov. 23 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
Nov. 25 - Ottawa, ON - Scotiabank Place
Nov. 27 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
Dec. 01 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden Arena
Dec. 03 - E. Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center
Dec. 05 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
Dec. 12 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
2010 will go down as the year that we lost one of hard rock/heavy metal's all-time great vocalists, Ronnie James Dio (after a valiant battle with cancer).
Throughout a career that saw Ronnie pen or co-pen classics with such legendary acts as ELF, RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, and with his solo group, DIO, there are simply not enough words to describe the singer's contribution to rock music worldwide. And to celebrate the life of the man that has become synonymous with metal, several new releases will soon be arriving, that are certain to please Dio's large and loyal fanbase.
On November 9, the double-disc set "Dio at Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987" will be released. The first disc was recorded at the first-ever U.K. performance by Dio's solo group, while on tour supporting their classic debut, "Holy Diver". And the setlist does a superb job reflecting DIO's debut (featuring such classics as "Rainbow in the Dark", "Stand Up And Shout", etc.), as well as classics from both RAINBOW and BLACK SABBATH ("Man on the Silver Mountain", "Heaven and Hell", etc.) — resulting in a thoroughretrospective of Dio's career, from RAINBOW to BLACK SABBATH to solo hits.
The second disc of "Dio at Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987" features guitarist Craig Goldy's debut — recorded in 1987, in support of the "Dream Evil" album, and contains highlights from Dio's career.
"Dio at Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987" will be the very first release from the Niji Entertainment Group (which was formed by Ronnie James Dio and his wife/manager, Wendy Dio, in early 2010).
The set will be released as a deluxe digipak including a booklet filled with rare photographs and liner notes, and original replica all-access laminates from both shows.
Ronnie was the executive producer on the Donington project, and was very much looking forward to the release.
The Niji Entertainment Group is a full-service record label, and will be releasing rare and unreleased recordings from Dio and other artists.
November 23 will see two additional releases from the Niji Entertainment Group — a deluxe limited edition picture disc of Dio's classic solo debut, "Holy Diver", and "Bitten By The Beast" from David "Rock" Feinstein.
"Rock" is Ronnie's cousin, and was a member of ELF, and the leader of the legendary New York band THE RODS. "Bitten By The Beast" features the single "Metal Will Never Die", with lead vocals by Ronnie James Dio. This single will be heavily worked to active rock and metal radio this fall.
In 2011, the Niji Entertainment Group has many other Dio-related projects planned, including an extensive vinyl box set (an idea that Ronnie himself came up with), "For The Record: The Complete Dio Vinyl Collection", which will feature 16 LPs in a deluxe carrying case, with "all-access tour laminates" from every tour. All of the LPs will be on 180-gram colored vinyl. Also, being released for the first time on DVD will be "Super Rock Japan 1985" (which was only ever released in Japan on VHS). Another forthcoming DVD release will be a collection of every Dio MTV promotional video, plus live concert footage including bonus features, including interviews with Ronnie, his band, and crew. A Dio bootleg box set is on the horizon as well, featuring never-before-released sound board recordings and audience recordings. Other releases from the Niji Entertainment Group in 2011 will include all four RAINBOW Dio-era LPs in their original gatefold sleeves on 180-gram
colored vinyl, and all three ELF LPs will be issued on 180-gram colored vinyl. 2011 will also see deluxe reissues from Tim "Ripper" Owens, a fantastic new CD from Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB vocalist), and Rowan Robertson (DIO guitarist), as well as live ELF.
Between Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, the Dio social media followers now numbers over one million.
The Niji Entertainment Group is in the process of starting the official Dio webstore, which will give fans worldwide opportunity to purchase t-shirts, limited edition items, and CDs/DVDs that fans have been requesting.
While Ronnie was alive, he always wanted to have his own action figure/statue. And now, this has become a reality — KnuckleBonz has created the Ronnie James Dio Rock Iconz statue, which will be available in late fall 2010. These statues are only produced in limited edition runs of 3,000, which make them highly collectible and sought-after from fans.
A portion from the sales of the Dio statue will go to the Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, in honor of Ronnie James Dio. Pre-orders are available by visiting www.knucklebonz.com.
Michael Monroe, iconic rock and roll frontman and founding member of hugely influential Finnish outfit HANOI ROCKS, has entered into a recording agreement with Universal Music. The first fruits of this international deal will be a brand new live album, "Another Night In The Sun/Live In Helsinki", set for release on September 27. This 15-track outing will be made available through Universal subsidiary Spinefarm Records.
Says Jarkko Nordlund, Managing Director, Universal Music Finland: "Michael Monroe is a true international rock star, and Universal Music's international network is extremely proud to be working with him. Spinefarm Records is the best home for this rock and roll legend, as both label and artist share the same degree of professionalism and passion."
Mixed in Los Angeles by Niko Bolas (whose credits include NEIL YOUNG, FRANK SINATRA, KEITH RICHARDS, KISS, SPINAL TAP and more) and mastered by Grammy winner Richard Dodd (the man behind TOM PETTY and DIXIE CHICKS), "Another Night…" — recorded on July 6 at the Tavastia Club in Helsinki, Finland — features key tracks from Monroe's solo career spiced up with selected HANOI classics, some well-chosen covers, plus two brand new, previously unreleased songs — "You're Next" and "Motorheaded For A Fall".
Says Monroe: "No excuses, it is what it is, and will probably end up sounding great with all its clunks and flaws, once it's mixed and finished. Obviously, we're not doing any overdubs, so you'll have a very raw ''rough-and-ready-or-not' live recording of another rockin' night in the sun in the beautiful Finnish summer!"
In the wake of the album's release, Monroe (plus regular band: THE WILDHEARTS mainman Ginger on guitar, ex-HANOI member Sammy Yaffa on bass, Steve Conte of NEW YORK DOLLS and COMPANY OF WOLVES fame on guitar, and Karl "Rockfist" Rosqvist on drums, a Swedish/Finnish drummer who has played with both CHELSEA SMILES and DANZIG) will head out on tour in Finland and Sweden before heading over to the U.K. to support MOTÖRHEAD on their 35th-anniversary tour in November
Phil Anselmo is hoping that the upcoming 20th anniversary reissue of Pantera's landmark "Cowboys From Hell" will be the start of a trend for the metal group's catalog -- or at least yield a similar deluxe treatment for its follow-up, 1992's "Vulgar Display of Power."
"I most certainly hope so," Anselmo tells Billboard.com. "I guess we have to wait 'til 2012, but I've got my fingers crossed. I think if you ask your average Pantera fan what their favorite Pantera record would be, and nine times out of 10 it's 'Vulgar,' so it would certainly make sense."
"Cowboys From Hell," however, is coming Sept. 14 in a three-disc deluxe edition that includes one unreleased song, "The Will to Survive." The set also features a disc of demos and another disc of live recordings from a radio broadcast and from the 1994 "aLIVE and hostile" EP recorded at the 1991 Monsters in Moscow festival.
Anselmo says that dipping back into the album -- Pantera's major label debut and its fifth release overall -- has been has been something of a revelation. "It had definitely been a long while since I sat down and listened to 'Cowboys From Hell' from front to back," the singer notes. "Basically it was trickier where I thought things might be simplified. We would build these massive intros into songs, and the solo sections, the way they were written was just very, very, very clever. And I can see very clearly how we upped the production. It's been quite an experience."
The platinum-certified "Cowboys From Hell" also marked Pantera's transition from the glam-flavored sound of its predecessors to a more hard-hitting approach with producer Terry Date that became even further codified on "Vulgar Display of Power." Anselmo, however, says the switch "wasn't as drastic as it's made out to be. It was very natural, to tell you the truth. Collectively we were like, 'Yes, we want to go in a more extreme, more aggressive musical direction,' and things were just coming naturally."
Anselmo says it was just as natural for he and surviving Pantera members Vinnie Paul and Rex Brown, along with the estate of the late guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, to work together on the "Cowboys From Hell" reissue. But he doesn't think that will lead to any new original music from the former bandmates.
"I would not want to tarnish the Pantera name," Anselmo says. "Vinnie himself said a long time ago that if you take any one of us out of the equation and it's just not Pantera anymore, so I guess I'm just gonna stick to that. And as far as Vinnie and I go, there's a big bridge that both of us would have to cross, and that's an entire subject on its own, before we could even consider making music together."
Anselmo, meanwhile, is busy with several other musical endeavors, but most particularly Arson Anthem, the hardcore punk band that also includes Hank Williams III, Eyehategod's Mike Williams and Collin Yeo. The group's debut full-length, "Insecurity Notoriety," is due out Oct. 12, a year and a half after its self-titled EP.
"It's 30 minutes, 17 songs, and I love it," says Anselmo, whose other bands, Down and Superjoint Ritual, are currently on down time. "It's coming from that school of growing up in the 80s as a kid...Not that I don't listen to Black Flag or Agnostic Front anymore. Of course I do. But I think we're different. I think there's a freshness within the integrity of what an 80s hardcore band would sound like, and that's what sets us apart." Anselmo is hoping to line up some live dates for Arson Anthem but says that depends on Hank III's schedule.
James Zahn of Kik Axe Music recently conducted an interview with DOWN/ex-PANTERA bassist Rex Brown. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Kik Axe Music: There's a lot of listeners out there that aren't really aware that PANTERA existed in a different form pre-"Cowboys From Hell", and for many years it was kind of a grey area for you as a band — not really talking too much about it [Note: PANTERA has long-considered "Cowboys From Hell" the first true PANTERA record, as do most diehard fans]. What was the catalyst for the turning point you had as a band, to move beyond your early career and into the "groove metal" we've all come to know and love?
Brown: We'd been trying to do that for about two years before writing "Cowboys". Basically, we got Phil [Anselmo, vocals] in the band and we started writing material for the "Power Metal" record — which has never been released majorly in the States — but we toured on that in the Southwest region and were always trying to get heavier and heavier. At the time, that's where our influences were coming from. I think that Phil joined the band toward the end of '86, so that gave us more than two years before we did the demo for "Cowboys" and it was a natural progression. We got Phil in the band and he brought this more hardcore element, and Vinnie [Paul Abbott, drums] had a working studio alongside his old man for a long time, so even on those old PANTERA records he had a really firm idea of what they should sound like. So, when we did "Cowboys", those old demos aren't that far removed from Terry's [Date, producer] stuff even though you can tell the
differences between the subtleties of doing it on your own and then re-doing it with a major label and having a lot more money to do it with.
Kik Axe Music: Listening to the demos myself, I noticed that the biggest differences seemed to be in the arrangements of the songs. "Cemetery Gates" is a big difference for example, with the into riff completely omitted from the early version.
Brown: Right. Dime ["Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, guitar] and I wrote that while Vinnie was going over something. I had this big orange pumpkin bass from Kramer that they had put out — it was acoustic — and Dime and I were just sitting in the back of the office one day during the recording of that [with Terry], and started jamming and thought it was pretty cool and we could just take it and make a little diddy out of it. That's what it turned out to be — the intro to "Cemetery Gates". We just went right in and recorded it and had it all planned out and the whole bit. It was pretty cool that in just downtime, just me and Dime with the acoustic guitars started coming up with that stuff. In fact, I play acoustic on the actual piece, and I play piano on that as well.
Kik Axe Music: This new 20th-anniversary set is very extensive, so it begs me to ask if you'll be putting together similar collections for the albums that came after "Cowboys From Hell".
Brown: Of course. "Vulgar Display Of Power" is next, I guess in about a year and a half. It came out in 1992, so we're not that far off. We're just gonna put these things back into stores so that they have some shelf life again. Steve Harris [IRON MAIDEN bassist] once said when someone asked why they kept re-releasing all of their stuff, that "it's the best thing to do to keep your music on shelves and get it restocked to keep yourself out there."
Long-running D.C. doom legends PENTAGRAM, with riff-meister Victor Griffin back in the fold, have been confirmed for the Roadburn festival, set to take place from Thursday April 14 to Saturday April 16 at the 013 venue and Midi Theatre in Tilburg, Holland. There will be an additional afterburner event on Sunday April 17, 2011.
PENTAGRAM: to the enlightened few they are one of the primary architects of heavy metal and obvious progenitors of doom metal, while to others they remain a mystery.
Less mysterious and downright miraculous is how the band (or more specifically the sole remaining original member, iconic vocalist Bobby Liebling) has triumphantly survived countless setbacks to return to the stage, armed with a limited yet astonishingly influential back catalogue.
According to the Roadburn organziers, "PENTAGRAM had an inestimable impact on today's burgeoning doom metal and stoner rock scene. Indeed, we at Roadburn festival feel that PENTAGRAM is on par with more widely-recognized pioneers such as BLACK SABBATH and BLUE CHEER!"
For more information, visit www.roadburn.com.
Legendary Chicago doom metallers TROUBLE have issued the following update:
"TROUBLE is getting ready for the studio now. [We] have been making preliminary recordings and working out things in order to bring the best possible TROUBLE release.
"[We are] extremely happy with the direction of the songs. Heavy and melodic are the words that describe this work.
"In other news, be on the lookout for 'TROUBLE blog.' The band has signed on with Ironroad to bring subscribers a weekly blog reporting on everything TROUBLE. Fans can sign up to receive video blogs soon."
In a 2009 interview with Hellbound, TROUBLE guitarist Bruce Franklin stated about the band's forthcoming album, singer Kory Clarke's (WARRIOR SOUL) debut with the group, "There's some stuff like some of the first album — 'Psalm 9' album stuff — and then there's some of the heavy groove stuff, like in the more recent years we've done, and there might be a couple songs that sound even maybe a little bit different than stuff we've done. I don't mean radically different — it's still gonna sound like TROUBLE. It isn't like we've written a couple of songs that don't sound anything like TROUBLE. Maybe it's because with Kory singing it sounds a little different. I think it's going to be a good mix. It's definitely going to have some pretty heavy stuff. It's not the more commercial side of TROUBLE.
"In the early days I'd probably write a lot of the music and there'd be a few songs we'd write together as a band in some cases. Then, in '90s-era TROUBLE we would have that same aspect and then Eric [Wagner, former singer] might have an acoustic song and then that we would take and kind of embellish it and make it more of a song as a band, and that was some stuff we started doing later on. As for this record, this may be the most songs that Rick's [Wartell, guitar] ever had of his on an album — basically Rick's written about half and I've written about half of what's gonna be the new record. So it will be different in that respect."
AIRBOURNE - Interview, Album of the month & special pricing!
by MC 9. September 2010 23:22
Airbourne's second album, No Guts No Glory, was released on April 20 of this year, and the band has been touring almost non-stop in support of it ever since. LoudTrax.com is in an Airbourne mode of late. The No Guts No Glory is our "ALBUM OF THE MONTH", and we decided to offer the album for a limited time for a low price of $7.99, and have a chat with singer Joel O'Keeffe.
We caught up with Joel during the second week of the Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival (click Here for dates).
Get your FREE download from AIRBOURNE just by entering the Stone Sour Autographed Fender Strat contest (Click Here). All participants will receive 1 free download link from each of the Roadrunner Records artists, Airbourne and HAIL THE VILLAIN.
LoudTrax.com: I was actually just on the phone with Bryan from the Hail the Villain and asked him how the The Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival was going and who he enjoyed played with. He mentioned he loved seeing Airbourne! Tell us what this tour is like so far.
Joel O'Keeffe: It's great, we're having a great time around the US. Lots of good bands, lots of good people. From the working crew, to catering staff, bus drivers. Everybody on this tour is really great.
LoudTrax.com: Are there any bands in particular you've enjoyed watching close up?
Joel O'Keeffe: Yeah we watching Stone Sour the other day and caught Hail the Villain, Halestorm, all of them really!
LoudTrax.com: What songs are you finding get the best reaction from the crowds? Do you guys tweak your set?
Joel O'Keeffe: Blond Bad and Beautiful, Chewin' the Fat, Raise the Flag, Bottom of the Well, Girls in Black…We tweak it here and there, we gotta keep it fresh. We get 25 minutes every day so…
LoudTrax.com: Speaking of sharing the stage, you toured with Motley Crue and Joe Perry earlier this year. Can you tell us about how that tour went? Any crazy stories to share with us?
Joel O'Keeffe: Not really crazy stories or anything like that. I can tell you honestly both Joe Perry, his band, and Motley Crue and their working crews were really great people. We've toured with them many times and it was great!
LoudTrax.com: One of the things I really enjoy about your band, is your videos. It's cool, lose and fun. Are the concepts for your videos thought up by the band alone, or do you work closely with the record label and directors?
Joel O'Keeffe: Of course mate! We always have an idea for the video and then talk about it with the director and the label and everyone puts their ideas in and we all work together as a team.
Watch Blond, Bad and Beautiful video below: >>>
LoudTrax.com: I also really like to see you guys live and watch clips of you live. It seems like you all go all out and just have a blast. I also saw your tour schedule and it's pretty packed up. There are many successful bands that started off by building a fan base with non-stop touring. How do you find it's been working out for you guys?
Joel O'Keeffe: I think it's the best way you can do it. Be in a band and make a name for yourself and go out and tour as much as you possibly can. Basically it's what you love doing, the reason you start playing! Get on the road and keep playing!
See this clip of Airbourne at HEAVY MTL!
LoudTrax.com: Tell us about your headlining shows.
Joel O'Keeffe: In Europe, and UK, Australia, we play to 3000 to 5000 people. So quite large shows where we play for about an hour and half. We're used to doing those big shows over there. When we head over here (US) and Canada, we get on as many tours as we can. Get in the pubs, clubs and we love being on the ground. Still a new market for us over here.
LoudTrax.com: For the No guts No glory album, I read that you guys wanted to sleep in the studio til the album was completed. Something Bruce Springsteen and the E Street were famous for.
Tell us about that and if you find it brought anything of value to the album.
Joel O'Keeffe: We all lived together in a house in Melbourne for 3 1/2 years. So sleeping in a studio together never really became a problem. We wanted to do it so we can be closer to the action. We'd never have to drive back to the hotel, just wake up and start rockin' out! Sleep behind the drum set type of thing!
Sometimes we'd come back drunk from the pub and accidentally smash in to the microphones and we'd have to re set everything up. But apart from the times when we threw up all over the joint, and have to dry up the mics, it was great.
It was great being closer to the action then we've every been.
LoudTrax.com: Would you do it again?
Joel O'Keeffe: Always. From now on, we decided the best way to record an album is to sleep and live in the studio.
LoudTrax.com: The other cool aspect is that you guys record live as a band. Can you imagine recording any other way?
Joel O'Keeffe: We've always done with the live way. We couldn't do it any other way and it would be no fun for us to play to a click track at all! I think being in a band is all about being creative and giving it a chance to be spontaneous.
You look at some great bands, like The Who, a controlled chaos. They were flying with this crazy passion, smashing the instruments and stuff. It would have been amazing to go back and watch this. You think of Led Zeppellin, even Metallica. Bands that delivered this raw energy, that have the ability and it gives the chance to just jam out, extend the solos, etc…. The band is an animal and it needs to be released.
LoudTrax.com: Some bands are not even in the same room, or country when they record an album.
Joel O'Keeffe: Yeah.. I mean all our favorite bands we listen to do record live. Even Meatloaf's "Bat Out of Hell", with all those different layers and such, you can still hear the drums jamming along and piano through the drum mics. You can hear the original tracks jamming along.
I think the only way a rock 'n roll band should record is in the same room. To get the best out of the band, you've got to get them in the same room!
LoudTrax.com: It looks like you'll be touring until the middle of december. What's in the cards for 2011 for Airbourne?
Joel O'Keeffe: More touring mate! An extensive tour in Australia, and supposed to be in North and South America!
LoudTrax.com: Thanks for taking the time to chat with LoudTrax.com. The Rock, Metal, Punk downloads & Merchandise site!
Joel O'Keeffe: Pleasure man, looking forward to coming back to Montreal.
Visit the Official Airbourne Website
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Thanks to Austin at Roadrunner for hooking up this interview.
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Reviews - White Wizzard - Over The Top
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The interview with White Wizzard was arranged to be done via e-mail. I sent the questions to the label in order to forward them to the band and the answer came a couple of days later via…phone! Due to a misunderstanding, the bassist and founding member of the band, John Leon, called me up and, naturally, we wouldn't miss the chance of knowing a little bit more about this really great band…after all, you don't get to talk everyday to a…Wizzard!
Interview: Sakis Nikas
Rockpages.gr: Congratulations on your first full length album. You brought back the interest to old-school heavy metal. How difficult it is to be a band from Los Angeles and play that kind of music?
White Wizzard: Well, thank you. I'd say that it's not difficult at all…we believe in what we are doing and we don't really care what people think of our style of music. I was always a big fan of all the big heavy metal bands of the 80s and what I wanted to do is bring back that vibe…I know what you mean, though…here in USA things tend to change rather rapidly and it's hard for a band with our sound to win over the crowd, but we definitely give it a try.
Rockpages.gr: Tell us a few things about the formation of the band…
White Wizzard: The band was formed in 2007…I wanted to form a band that it will perform songs with lengthy, melodic guitar solos and catchy choruses in the same way that music was created in the 80s. I was sick and tired of the same old down-tuning and the trends that only lasted for a year or so…Heavy metal was at its best in the 80s and that's what we are trying to capture and recreate.
Rockpages.gr: Since the beginning of the band there has been some line-up changes…no less than 4 members are no longer part of the White Wizzard family. What happened?
White Wizzard: They wanted to do other things in music and they wanted to be kind of heavier and not really follow the path of the melodic heavy metal. It may sound cliché but it was a split due to musical differences.
Rockpages.gr: Let's talk about "Over The Top". How did you end up sealing the deal with Earache?
White Wizzard: Earache is a label with artists that their prime interest is not pointed towards the traditional heavy metal. The good thing is that they wanted to open up a little bit and expand their horizons. They liked what we were doing and they gave us a shot. So far, the reviews and the whole feedback has been really good…
Rockpages.gr: How long did it take to write, rehearse and record the new album?
White Wizzard: The album was actually written in different stages. I had written the first three songs just on bass and drums…the rhythm section. Among them was "Over The Top" and "40 Deuces". Then came the other members and started laying down the tracks for the rest of the songs that I had written. It was a smooth process, I must say that I really enjoyed and I guess that the next album will be written in a more "band" way as we will be tighter as a unit.
Rockpages.gr: A trend is evident nowadays with bands playing traditional heavy metal. Do you believe that it's just a trend or a permanent resurrection of the cornerstone –in my opinion- genre of the overall rock sound?
White Wizzard: My opinion is that the bands who write good songs will last…the rest will disappear as it happens in every decade and with every style of music. I hope that there will be more bands like White Wizzard that will bring back the guitars in music and the catchy melodies in the songs. So, time will show if it is a trend or a thing to stay.
Rockpages.gr: Your video-clips are reminiscent of the 80s style of clips when there was always a story behind the song. Is it really affordable to invest so much money for a clip that it will be viewed only on YouTube (personally, I congratulate you on the quality of them)?
White Wizzard: You know what the great thing is? Our videos were done in a low budget way but the technology makes it easier and be creative at the same time. We didn't want to shoot a video where you see only the band on stage…we wanted to go all the way with the 80s style…we even included a basic character…the White Wizzard. I think that it's really important for a new band to have a good video out and people will eventually find out about the band through it and come to the show. It's the impact of the whole thing, you know…and we will carry on in the same way.
Rockpages.gr: In my review, I mention the names of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Saxon as three of the most obvious influences. Do you agree and which are your favorite albums of those bands?
White Wizzard: Of course, I agree! I love these bands and they were a big influence to me…Let's see, about my favorite records…I'd say, "Piece of Mind" from Maiden, "Stained Glass" from Priest and "The Eagle Has Landed" from Saxon.
Rockpages.gr: Greece is a country that always supported traditional heavy metal. Is there any chance of doing a show here?
White Wizzard: I hope so. We are in the middle of arranging a European tour and we will try to include Greece in our schedule.
Rockpages.gr: Why did you name the band White Wizzard?
White Wizzard: It was really the best-looking name on the list, it looks good and it has a cool logo. Also, the name itself has an epic feeling and it brings in mind, at least in my mind, the atmosphere of all those Dio and Rainbow records, which I love, by the way!
Drummer Mike Portnoy says that his current involvement with AVENGED SEVENFOLD had nothing to do with his decision to quit DREAM THEATER, the band he formed and led for 25 years. "I BEG of the fans to please NOT hold [AVENGED SEVENFOLD] responsible for MY decision... They are just as shocked as you guys," Mike writes on his Facebook page. He adds, "I had been contemplating this and desiring a 'break' (not split) [from DREAM THEATER] as long ago as last year. Everything else is fully explained in the press release" that Mike issued yesterday announcing his split from DREAM THEATER. Portnoy continues, "Thank you all for your support and understanding... This is the hardest thing I've ever done."
Portnoy made his live debut as AVENGED SEVENFOLD's current touring drummer on July 25 when the band played at the Heavy MTL festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Portnoy also recorded the drum parts on the group's newly released album, "Nightmare".
"Nightmare" was completed after the death of drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, who passed away last December following an overdose of prescription drugs and alcohol.
When asked in a recent interview with Goldmine about his involvement with AVENGED SEVENFOLD, Portnoy said, "It's an honor for me to have been kind of hand-picked and asked to do this, because of the situation. You know, when I went in and did the album, it was something I was honored to do. I wanted to be really careful to bring The Rev's drum parts to life for this album. They lost their brother at an unbelievably early age. You know, he was only 28, so it was a tragedy that they had to endure. I wanted to go in there and carry on his legacy with the drum parts he was supposed to be playing. So, I did my job, and we had such a good time with each other on a personal level … The guys are really cool guys, and I really enjoyed making the record with them. And I told them, if I was able to tour with them, I would love to do it."
The metal juggernaut known as HELLYEAH — featuring Vinnie Paul Abbott (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN), Chad Gray and Greg Tribbett (MUDVAYNE), Tom Maxwell (NOTHINGFACE) and Bob "Zilla" Kakaha (DAMAGEPLAN) — has scheduled the following European tour dates:
With STONE SOUR:
Oct. 22 - GER, Berlin Huxleys / C-Hall
Oct. 23 - GER, Cologne E-Werk
Oct. 24 - GER, Stuttgart Longhorn LKA
With AVENGED SEVENFOLD, STONE SOUR:
Oct. 26 - SCO, Glasgow SECC
Oct. 27 - ENG, Manchester Academy
Oct. 28 - ENG, Birmingham NIA
Oct. 30 - ENG, Hammersmith Apollo
Oct. 31 - ENG, Hammersmith Apollo
Nov. 02 - ENG, Newcastle Academy
Nov. 03 - ENG, Leeds Academy
Nov. 04 - ENG, Manchester Academy
Nov. 06 - ENG, Plymouth Pavilion
Nov. 07 - ENG, Brighton Centre
With STONE SOUR:
Nov. 09 - HOL, Tilburg 013
Nov. 11 - SWI, Zurich Volkshaus
Nov. 12 - ITA, Milan Live Club
Nov. 14 - GER, Hamburg Docks
Nov. 16 - DEN, Copenhagen Vega Main Hall
Nov. 17 - NOR, Oslo Sentrum Scene
Nov. 18 - SWE, Stockholm Arenan
Nov. 20 - GER, Dresden Strasse E / Eventwerk
Nov. 21 - GER, Herford X / Ringlok
Nov. 22 - GER, Munich Kesselhaus
HELLYEAH is headlining the Jägermeister Second Stage at the first annual Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival. Performing on the main stage are DISTURBED and AVENGED SEVENFOLD, along with STONE SOUR and HALESTORM. AIRBOURNE, HAIL THE VILLAIN, NEW MEDICINE and the Jägermeister Battle of The Bands Winner in each city round out the Jägermeister Second Stage bill. The 36-date tour launched August 17 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is visiting arenas and amphitheatres across North America before wrapping October 4 in Madison, Wisconsin.
"Stampede", the sophomore album from HELLYEAH, sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart.
HELLYEAH's self-titled debut CD opened with 45,000 units back in April 2007 to land at No. 9.
The "super deluxe" edition of "Stampede" features the album itself, a bonus DVD, a limited-edition lenticular 3D cover with an expanded booklet, a HELLYEAH bull skull, instant downloads of the album tracks "Cowboy Way" and "Hell Of A Time" and an MP3 download of the full album. The standard "deluxe edition" contains the album, a bonus DVD, instant downloads of the album tracks "Cowboy Way" and "Hell Of A Time" and an MP3 download of the full album.
World Entertainment News Network (WENN) has revealed more details about the assault investigation involving MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman Vince Neil that is currently being conducted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
The alleged victim, who has asked to remain nameless, claims Neil lashed out unprovoked at her when she she shared an elevator with the singer as she headed back to her suite at the Hilton hotel in Las Vegas this past Sunday night (September 5).
She tells WENN she recognized Neil, who was with two younger women, from TV but couldn't remember his name.
She says she struck up polite conversation and asked Vince to reveal his identity, at which point he allegedly lunged at her.
The woman claims she was left with bruises on her arms, as Neil allegedly shoved her up against the elevator buttons.
The alleged victim has filed a police report about the incident and the matter is currently under investigation, according to WENN.
TMZ.com reported over the weekend that Neil failed three field sobriety tests and had a blood-alcohol level almost three times the legal limit during his June 27, 2010 Las Vegas arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Neil has been charged with DUI and speeding and is set to be arraigned on September 27.
The singer lives in Las Vegas, where he owns a chain of tattoo shops and a restaurant at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Neil was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years probation in 1984 after an accident in which he crashed his car, killing passenger Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley of the band HANOI ROCKS. Neil was driving under the influence at that time.
Neil also pleaded no contest to a charge of assaulting a music producer in 2002, and again pleaded no contest in 2003 to charges he attacked a prostitute at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch in Nevada. In 2004, an arrest warrant was issued after he allegedly hit a sound engineer at a show in Texas.
According to TMZ.com, the Hilton hotel in Las Vegas claims it has surveillance footage of MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman Vince Neil from this past weekend and hotel representatives say he never battered anyone in an elevator.
A woman claimed that Neil lashed out unprovoked at her when she she shared an elevator with the singer as she headed back to her suite at the Hilton hotel in Las Vegas this past Sunday night (September 5).
She told WENN she recognized Neil, who was with two younger women, from TV but couldn't remember his name.
She said she struck up polite conversation and asked Vince to reveal his identity, at which point he allegedly lunged at her.
The woman claimed she was left with bruises on her arms, as Neil allegedly shoved her up against the elevator buttons.
But a representative for the hotel told TMZ.com, "After reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses, we've concluded that her allegations against Vince Neil are completely unfounded."
The rep continued, "We also understand that the local authorities have deemed her allegations to be without merit. Accordingly, we consider the matter closed."
Legendary Texas metallers HELSTAR have set "Glory Of Chaos" as the title of their new album, due on November 5 via Germany's AFM Records. The effort will be made available as a regular CD and on limited-edition vinyl.
Released in Europe on July 5 via Metal Blade Records, the "Rising From The Grave" box set features remastered versions of the "A Distant Thunder" and "Nosferatu" albums. The package also includes the brand new DVD "Twas The Night Of A Hellish Xmas".
The first authorized live video recording by HELSTAR, the DVD was recorded at the Backstage Club in Houston, Texas on December 25, 1989 and it features original HELSTAR members James Rivera on vocals along with Larry Barragan and Jerry Abarca. It was mastered by Ty Tabor (KING'S X) and James Rivera.
Formed in Houston in the early '80s, HELSTAR cut its teeth playing backyard parties and small club gigs. It soon became apparent that HELSTAR had much more to offer then its contemporaries. Combat Records snapped up the band and released HELSTAR's debut, "Burning Star", in 1984. Next came "Remnants of War", followed by HELSTAR's breakthrough album, "A Distant Thunder", in 1988. The success of "A Distant Thunder" ultimately set up HELSTAR's most critically acclaimed album, 1989's "Nosferatu".
HELSTAR's latest album, "The King of Hell", received a North American release in January 2009 via Locomotive Records. The CD was issued in Europe in September 2008 on AFM Records.
AMORPHIS, CHAINFIST, ILLDISPOSED, IMMOLATION, KATATONIA, MONSTER MAGNET, NAPALM DEATH, PESTILENCE, SEVENTH VOID are the first acts confirmed for the Aalborg Metal Festival being held on November 4th at the Studenterhuset in Aalborg, Denmark.
For more information about the festival visit Aalborgmetalfestival.dk.
WORTMORD, the new band featuring original SODOM guitarist Peppi "Grave Violator" Dominik, will release its self-titled debut album on September 29 via Sunny Bastards Records.
"After recording the 'Final Sign Of Evil' album with SODOM and our subsequent performance at Wacken Open Air [festival] were such a blast, I wanted to be in a real band again, as the SODOM reunion was just planned as a one-off thing," Peppi said in a statement.
WORTMORD, which features Dominik alongside "a couple of old friends," plays a style of music that is described as "a blend of metal, punk and hardcore."
A track from the forthcoming CD, "Feile im Mund", featuring a guest appearance by KREATOR's Mille Petrozza on vocals, is available for streaming on the WORTMORD MySpace page.
WORTMORD is:
Uli Mentzel - Vocals
Grave Violator - Rhythym Guitar
Thorsten "Toto" Hain - Lead Guitar
Menny - Drums
Schiri – Bass
Dutch progressive metallers TEXTURES have announced the addition of keyboardist/samplist Uri Dijk to the group's ranks.
Commented the band: " This past summer Uri helped out by filling in on keyboards at [our] festival appearances. During the rehearsals and live shows, there was a strong personal and musical connection between Uri and the [TEXTURES] band members, which made [us] decide to ask Uri to join TEXTURES as a full member. Uri gladly accepted, which means TEXTURES is a six-piece again after a small period being without a keyboard player."
The group continued, "To see Richard [Rietdijk] leave shortly after the departure of Eric [Kalsbeek, vocals] was quite a blow for us. Richard was a part of the band from the beginning, so it would feel pretty weird to fit a new person in that role. But after Uri joined us to help us out for the live shows it felt really good to have a well skilled person on keys again. It was such a good experience with Uri that we couldn't see ourselves moving on without him.
"Uri is more than a well skilled synth-maestro and besides an amazing guy to be around.
"We are very glad that Uri accepted the position and we are working very hard to write new material."
Added Uri: "First of all I am honored to have been asked to join TEXTURES. This is an opportunity that doesn't come along every day, and let's be honest, how could I refuse?
"Getting to know the guys in the past few weeks has shown me that the spirit of TEXTURES is as much alive as ever and that this is just an amazing group of friends who have worked very hard to bring mind-blowing music to the world.
"I feel privileged to be able to become a part of this and I am happy the band is now complete again. I hope I can bring as much atmosphere and musicality to the band and its music as Richard did."
Keyboard player Richard Rietdijk left TEXTURES in April to pursue other interests.
TEXTURES made its first appearance with vocalist Daniel de Jongh (exCILICE) at the Fortarock festival in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
The band's follow-up to 2008's "Silhouettes" will not surface before early 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records.
The vinyl version of "Silhouettes" was released in November 2008 through Garden of Exile Records. The LP was limited to 500 copies and pressed on 180-gram vinyl. The artwork was printed on extra-thick cardboard gatefold jacket with golden foil print.
"Silhouettes" was released in North America on September 30, 2008 via Listenable/Koch.
The album entered the Dutch chart at position No. 100. This was the band's first chart showing ever.
"Silhouettes" was recorded at Split Second Sound with Jochem Jacobs in the producer's chair. Jacobs previously oversaw the recording process for TEXTURES' last CD, "Drawing Circles".
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada-based extreme progressive metallers INTO ETERNITY will perform their 2006 album, "The Scattering Of Ashes", in its entirety on September 22 during a show in the band's hometown. This will mark the group's only appearance of 2010. Advance tickets for the gig will be available tomorrow (Friday, September 10) at Vintage Vinyl, Madame Yes, Zeus and online at Ticketedge.ca.
INTO ETERNITY has been demoing material for its sixth album, to be released sometime in 2011. According to founding guitarist/principal songwriter Tim Roth, "This week we demoed a new song with a real catchy chorus. It's called, 'Devoured By Sarcopenia'." He added, "I can promise that this new song is going to be killer."
INTO ETERNITY's "Time Immemorial" video, which features vocalist Stu Block in a prominent role, was filmed in Montreal in August 2008, just before the group embarked on the Summer Slaughter Canada tour. That trek was followed by a run alongside the legendary ICED EARTH, which capped off a year that also saw the band tour with SYMPHONY X, AT THE GATES and THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, among others. The track appears on the group's concept album, "The Incurable Tragedy", which sold 1,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
Faroese Viking metallers TÝR have been confirmed for the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise, which is set to sail from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico on January 24, 2011 and return four days later. A total of 40 acts will appear at the event.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AGENT STEEL
AMON AMARTH
DEATH ANGEL
ENSIFERUM
EPICA
EXODUS
FEAR FACTORY
FINNTROLL
FORBIDDEN
ICED EARTH
KORPIKLAANI
MARDUK
MOONSPELL
OBITUARY
RAGE
RAVEN
SAXON
SODOM
SONATA ARCTICA
SWASHBUCKLE
TESTAMENT
TROUBLE
TÝR
ULI JON ROTH
UNLEASHED
WITCHBURNER
SAXON will play two unique shows. One night they will perform the "Wheels Of Steel" LP in its entirety and on a different night, for the second show, they will play "Strong Arm Of The Law" from start to finish.
70000 Tons Of Metal will sail Monday, January 24, 2011 aboard the Royal Caribbean "Majesty of the Seas" from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico and will not return you to the real world for four days until Friday, January 28, 2011.
Make no mistake, 70000 Tons Of Metal is not your grandma's cruise. It's also not one of the cruises that share the ship with normal cruise guests. This is an all-ship heavy metal cruise! Can you imagine that? A whole luxury cruise ship full of metalheads? And since there is no backstage area you will have the opportunity to mingle side-by-side with the artists in this incredibly fan-friendly scenario that has no comparison. It's like everyone has a backstage pass and you might even need a vacation from this vacation when all is said and done!
Ticket prices start at US$666 plus US$249 taxes and fees per person and include all on-board entertainment, all meals and non-alcoholic and non-carbonated drinks at the on-board restaurants and 24-hour room service!
For more information, go to www.70000tons.com.
Spin.com recently conducted an interview with STONE SOUR/SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Spin.com: Why call your record "Audio Secrecy"?
Taylor: I love when a phrase has a few different meanings, and I was trying to find play on words for "idiosyncrasy." Idiosyncrasies are those little things that differentiate us, that make us individuals. But at the same time they tie us together. I hit on "audio secrecy" and immediately realized that it can mean something completely different to people. It can mean something dark or practical, light or funny. After thinking about it for a while, I realized it's a descriptive way of talking about music. Consider classic songs like "Master of Puppets" by METALLICA or "These Arms of Mine" by OTIS REDDING. They're drastically different songs, yet both epic songs. Why do they sound the way they do? Why do people gravitate towards them? To me it's about the undertones or the overtones, the details — the way it was recorded, the temperature in the room, the instruments they used, the performance, the mixing and the mastering. It all comes down to these
little elements. That, to me, is audio secrecy. That's what makes one song killer and one song filler. What makes one song live forever and the other one delegated to a bargain bin.
Spin.com: STONE SOUR recorded with producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, DEFTONES). What do you like about working with him?
Taylor: He's very much like me; he has a great mind for all kinds of music; he doesn't just cater to one style or one genre, or one type of production. He loves heavy music, slow music, acoustic music, and driving rock tunes. He just sees the entire spectrum and we try to embrace all those different types; we don't want to repeat ourselves. Working with him on this album was a no-brainer because we have so much different material and we needed someone who could pull back and look at it as a whole and go, "Okay, we're going to be able to make an incredible album with this." And it worked!
Spin.com: With its lyrics about heartbreak and other struggles, Audio Secrecy seems deeply personal.
Taylor: It's a very honest album for me. For the longest time I felt compelled to talk about how angry I was about certain things. But I can't be that guy. It made sense 10 years ago because it still was very fresh. But now I'm singing about the things that I've gone through in the last five years — the different relationships I've been in, the end of my first marriage, my new marriage. Also, it's not just romantic relationships, but relationships with friends that I've seen change for the worse over the years, and how you try to close that gap but you can't relate to them anymore. These are people that you grew up with, people that you've known half your life, and to see how they're becoming less and less recognizable. It's very much about how long it's taken to wash the dirt off my hands.
Jon Wiederhorn of AOL's Noisecreep recently conducted an interview with vocalist Randy Blythe of Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Noisecreep: Who were your biggest inspirations as a performer?
Blythe: I loved Henry Rollins and Nick Cave. David Yow from the JESUS LIZARD was a huge influence on me because he's just nuts. I've seen them so many times. He's such a fucking freak and it's just disturbing to watch it. He's an old man now and he can still pull it off. I just love the way he deals with hecklers. He completely destroys them when they fuck with him. At the last show I saw, this guy was fucking with him in the front row, and Yow just took the mic and smashed it right on the guy's forehead. And he was scolding him like a school teacher. He said, "That'll teach you a lesson, you whippersnapper." And the dude's sitting there bleeding out of his head. He's just an amazing man.
Noisecreep: Does being unpredictable keep performing fresh for you?
Blythe: Well, doing the same old thing again and again, it's hard not to fall into a rut. I certainly like amusing myself, and being unpredictable is a lot more amusing to me than doing the same thing over and over again. I like when you never know what's gonna happen when you see these bands, and you might get a story out of it instead of, "Oh, I came and got whiplash from banging my head.: I wanna see some dude do something fucked up. But I don't get as much of a thrill — a knee-jerk reaction out of shocking people — as I did when I was 16 and I had a big chip on my shoulder the size to match my stupid Mohawk. I'd go into a store and people are looking at me. I'd be like, "Why are they staring at me?!!" Duh, 'cause you've got a two-foot high green Mohawk, you asshole. But that seems really childish now. We all go through that stage, but there's still a little devil inside me that does smile when someone gets disturbed.
Noisecreep: You used to speak your mind on stage about the war in Iraq and the Bush administration. Do you think being political on stage can impact an audience?
Blythe: I don't know. Right now, I'd rather do that lyrically. No one goes to a heavy metal show to hear some dude up there preaching. I'm not a very good frontman as far as the whole talking to the crowd things goes, anyway. It's something I've had to learn how to do. It's kind of painful for me. But as our audience has grown it's something my band has talked to me about. I miss the old days when you just jumped on stage and threw beer bottles at people, mostly. But I don't really want to listen to anyone preach, so I try not to preach. I'll say some things every now and then, but mostly I try to deliver what I'm concerned or distressed or angry about through my lyrics. The world hasn't stopped being a fucked up, chaotic, angry place, and in fact it's only getting worse. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I keep doing this.
Paul Kuhr from NOVEMBERS DOOM and Thomas A. G. Jensen from SATURNUS have contributed guest vocals to "The Cimmerian Years", the third album from from Belgium-based metallers THURISAZ, which is tentatively due in early 2011 via an as-yet-undetermined record label.
Washington, D.C. metallers DARKEST HOUR will embark on a headlining tour this fall with support from VEIL OF MAYA, PERIPHERY and very special guest opener, which will be announced soon.
Celebrating its 15-year anniversary as a band, DARKEST HOUR will be performing selections spanning its entire career — from the band's debut full length, 2000's "Mark Of The Judas", to 2009's "The Eternal Return". Included will be the epic instrumental "Veritas, Aequitas" along with other surprises from DARKEST HOUR's catalog.
"This band has taken us from the basements of northern Virginia to literally all around the world," says frontman John Henry. "In our many years of full time touring and six albums we've had the time of our lives. To celebrate this we've decided to do a tour we feel reflects the history of the band. This tour is for every one of our fans and friends who have supported us along the way, and for those who have never seen us this will be the perfect way to check out what we're all about."
Adds guitarist Mike Schleibaum, "We're excited to have some great younger bands on tour with us for this run. All of the support bands are very impressive metal hybrids with their own distinct sound, which will make for many nights of sick metal riffage."
Today through Monday, early-sale tickets will be available only through Artist Arena with registration at this location. In addition to general-admission tickets, the band is offering a special edition VIP package with the following:
* 1 general-admission ticket
* Pre-show meet-and-greet / listening party for new album
* 1 commemorative laminate
* 1 VIP only DARKEST HOUR t-shirt
The dates are as follows:
Nov. 12 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
Nov. 13 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre
Nov. 14 - Allentown, PA - Crocodile Rock
Nov. 15 - Quebec City, QC - Dagobert
Nov. 16 - Montreal, QC - Tulipe
Nov. 17 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club
Nov. 18 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre
Nov. 19 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
Nov. 20 - West Dundee, IL - Clearwater Theatre
Nov. 21 - Des Moines, IA - People's Court
Nov. 22 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theatre
Nov. 23 - Salt Lake City, UT - In The Venue
Nov. 24 - Las Vegas, NV - Area 702
Nov. 26 - San Diego, CA - Soma
Nov. 27 - Pomona, CA - The Glasshouse
Nov. 28 - San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge
Nov. 29 - West Hollywood, CA - The Whisky
Nov. 30 - Mesa, AZ - Nile Theatre
Dec. 01 - Albuquerque, NM - The Launchpad
Dec. 02 - Lubbock, TX - Tequila Jungle
Dec. 03 - Austin, TX - Emo's
Dec. 04 - Dallas, TX - Trees
Dec. 05 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
Dec. 07 - St. Petersburg, FL - State Theatre
Dec. 08 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
Dec. 09 - Wilmington, NC - The Soapbox
Dec. 10 - Philadelphia, PA - Starlight Ballroom
Dec. 11 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
Dec. 12 - Richmond, VA - Hat Factory
DARKEST HOUR recently entered a North Carolina studio with producer (and SOILWORK guitarist) Peter Wichers to begin recording its new album for an early 2011 release via eOne Music.
This time around, the DARKEST HOUR songs were composed a bit differently than was the case in the past. Guitarist and founding member Mike Schleibaum explains, "We have been working on these tunes ever since we left the studio last April.
"'The Eternal Return' was written during a very dark, bleak time for the band and I think that record matches that in both tone and character. Our vision was for it to be an in-your-face, no-frills aggressive assault. The new material shares in that aggression and pushes DARKEST HOUR beyond the unknown."
Wichers, who has previously helmed such acclaimed albums as ALL THAT REMAINS' "The Fall of Ideals" and SOILWORK's latest effort, "The Panic Broadcast", states, "I am very exited to work alongside the DARKEST HOURS guys, and I know from hearing some of their new material that it will be a killer [record]."
Commented THURISAZ: "We know both Paul and Thomas from tours in Europe and the States we did in the past. It's a real honor to have them both on our new record. Paul has one of the best and powerful grunts of the metal scene and Thomas has a voice with a lot of emotion and depth in his spoken word and grunt. Paul will appear on the song called 'Last Goodbye'. Thomas will appear on the song 'A Glance of Misperception'."
Dean Guitars has signed an exclusive artist endorsement deal with celebrity rocker Bret Michaels. Dean Guitars CEO Elliott "Dean" Rubinson said, "We are extremely excited to work with Bret, he's the ultimate professional. We are in development on Bret's first-ever signature line of acoustic and electric instruments, plus we'll collaborate on accessories, promotional appearances, concert sponsorships and support of Bret's charity of choice, the American Diabetes Association. This is really big for us!"
Bret Michaels said: "When I'm out on stage I don't take it lightly. I give 200 percent every single night and my instruments have to handle that. I play hard, we are on the road nine months out of the year so my guitars take a beating. Night after night all over the world my Dean acoustics and Dean electrics take those beatings and keep rockin'. The guitars sound great, look great, and have held up tour after tour as well as in the studio. Dean guitars rock!"
Michaels will be one of many musicians playing Dean's groundbreaking new line of acoustic electric "Aphex Powered" guitars that feature a custom version of Aphex's Aural Exciter and Big Bottom circuitry specifically 'voiced' inside the instrument. This partnership with Dean Guitars and Aphex Systems is a guitar industry-first giving players the high-end brilliance of Aphex technology in an easy to use pre-amp system within the Dean Performer and Exotica Series acoustic guitars.
Former COAL CHAMBER members Miguel "Meegs" Rascon (guitar) and Mikey Cox (drums) have rejoined forces in a brand new Los Angeles, California-based "post-punk" project called WE ARE THE RIOT. The group's current lineup is rounded out by Andy Cole, Jonny Sculls Flanagan and Cheyne Fritts. No further details are presently available.
COAL CHAMBER rose to prominence with a gold-certified debut album in 1997 that established the group as one of the most promising bands on the then-emerging, so-called "nu metal" scene.
Nadja Peulen replaced COAL CHAMBER bassist Rayna Foss Rose in 1999 during Rose's pregnancy for almost 12 months while the band was on the road supporting its second album, "Chamber Music". Rayna came back to the band after her pregnancy leave and recorded COAL CHAMBER's third album, "Dark Days". Shortly after recording "Dark Days", Rayna quit the band and Nadja was recruited for the touring cycle that followed the CD's release. The band broke up during the "Dark Days" tour in 2002.
Former COAL CHAMBER singer Dez Fafara is currently fronting DEVILDRIVER, which will issue its fifth album in early 2011 via Roadrunner Records.
The Scream Queen recently conducted an interview with vocalist Mark Hunter of Cleveland, Ohio metallers CHIMAIRA. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
The Scream Queen: I saw you guys back in 2005 at the Sounds of the Underground tour. A lot has changed since then with metal. What do you think has been the biggest change?
Hunter: Well, I don't know if it's really changed, it's just more of the same. I think that there are still a lot of great bands out there, but I think a lot of blood-letting has happened, I think that a lot of bands should go away. There's so many of the same, you know? I mean, check out the whole deathcore genre, OK? Well, you got two or three bands that do something a little different, but then you have a hundred and fifty bands trying to sound like those two bands. It's like a subgenre that comes with the territory — you get a flood of bands that sound identical to each other. And you know, they have their little popularity for a moment, but the bubble will burst. I'm just looking forward to a mass execution! (laughs) I just think there's too much of the same, I think there's too much, you know? We need a new artist to come out and do something a little different and change things up for a little while. That's my only complaint. But I think that
the fans are just as loyal, I still think that heavy metal is fully alive, the [Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem Festival, a heavy metal festival, look at the bands that are on it, it's the highest selling tour of the summer, hands down, period. That doesn't say that the genre is dead, the limited CD sales in this world, a strong amount of them still belong to heavy metal. Labels are still finding bands, but they're mainly finding awful bands. So, it's got a loyal fan base. We're a band that, for the rest of our career, we'll always sell a set amount of records, and we're lucky enough to have a career of this because the way the (unintelligible) and they make great albums that our fans expect. We've never been lazy, don't intend to be lazy, and just intend to keep maintaining that relationship. That's kind of where I'm angled at, I still love it, I still think it's the greatest genre, but we need to weed out the millions of copycat bands that are just
flooding the Internet, wasting people's time.
The Scream Queen: With the reasons you just listed off to me, do you think that those are the reasons why CHIMAIRA is so different from every other band?
Hunter: I don't necessarily think that we're reinventing the wheel, I think that we're definitely a unique-sounding band. We have our own sound; people know who it is when they hear us. We obviously have influences ourselves, it's how you use those influences; if I hear a SLAYER riff that I like, I'm not going to try to recreate the SLAYER riff and song, I might have an influence or be in the same key, or something like that. (laughs) It may sound SLAYER-esque. We've never had a song where you're like "Hmmm, is that SLAYER?" We've never had a song like that, like you cannot tell who the band is. And that is something that we take pride in and do effetely. What confuses me is that OK, there's a band like AS I LAY DYING and there's a band that might be very similar sounding, (laughs) and you cannot tell them apart! That's when it gets to become a problem. If you put on anything in deathcore scene, I dare anybody really, unless they're (inaudible) to the
scene, to tell half of those bands apart. Impossible. Put on 20 seconds of a CHIMAIRA song, you know what it's going to be. You put on 20 seconds of a deathcore song, you're lost — Who is this? What is this? What are you listening to? So, that's... If we're responsible for that genre, I'm proud that we're a band that influenced a lot of those bands, but lets keep the four or five that are different, are doing something different, and are good; get rid of the rest. Same thing with the metalcore bands, same thing, etcetera, etcetera, keep going on. I don't want to sound specifically targeted towards one genre, but it's just kind of what it is, you know? And labels sign, that's the problem why they're going to go away. They spend all of their money signing ten to fifteen bands that all sound the same and only one of them is going to do anything, so why not put all of your money and all of your eggs into one basket (laughs) for that instead of — that's
just how I look at it.
The Scream Queen: Was there anything that happened with your time in CHIMAIRA that changed all of you as artists?
Hunter: I'd say something happens every week that changes us as a band. I mean, there are so many things, it would be impossible to pinpoint anything. I'll say that the most major things to happen to us were losing our drummer for a couple of years; that was annoying. That's the only word I can use to describe that whole time period. (laughs) And... Dealing and learning with the trials and tribulations of record labels and how they work. We had a great relationship when we were on Roadrunner Records when we started, then our relationship with the U.S. department started to fade and fade, and we lost out on being on Roadrunner on the rest of the world, who were great overseas, but we gained by not being on the label in the U.S. So, yeah, those are giant things that definitely affected us with the band. I think, had we been forced to stay on Roadrunner in the U.S., it might've resulted in a less-than-stellar album because of frustration and anger and
confusion and a lot of things that were happening in the band and we didn't really know why. So, taking a backseat to it now, we're like "OK, maybe we didn't really need to be so problematic towards Roadrunner." But at the time, we needed to blame somebody and we didn't want to blame ourselves; no one ever does. It's the same thing with the band; you just got to learn from what you do, make the best of everything that you do, and resolve how you handle all situations, and you can't change the past, so you've got to learn from it.
Cleveland, Ohio-based metal band VENOMIN JAMES will release its second album, "Crowe Valley Blues", on September 14 via Auburn Records. The self-produced CD, which was issued overseas in July, was recorded at the band's own Supernatural Sound studio in Kirtland, Ohio and includes the four-track "Death's Wings" EP as a bonus.
"Crowe Valley Blues" track listing:
01. Desert Rider
02. Cosmonaut
03. Death's Wings
04. Dire Days
05. Make No Mistake
06. Under The Gun
07. Tierra Muerta
08. Penitentiary Glen
"Death's Wings" EP
09. Abu Ghraib (remix)
10. Death's Wings (outtake)
11. Bullet Juice (demo)
12. Downer (demo)
"Crowe Valley Blues" will be distributed in the U.S. by The End, Century Media, Sentinel Steel, Amazon, CD Baby and iTunes.
"The album is the first real VENOMIN JAMES album written as a fully formed band," says guitarist Joe Fortunato.
"The first album, 'Left Hand Man', was almost all written before Jared [Koston, drums] and Jim [Meador, vocals] joined.
"'Crowe Valley Blues' was born from jamming in a room together, road-tested on stage, and captured to tape as pure as possible. VENOMIN JAMES lives in these tracks.
"'Crowe Valley Blues' really is a true statement of the VENOMIN JAMES's sound, and everyone's musical style is present.
"Our big motivation was finding a way to top what we did on 'Left Hand Man' while continuing to develop and push our songwriting and recording skills forward. We also spent a great deal of time trying to capture the power of our live shows on record, while still trying to push the recording into a more polished and cohesive album — basically trying to make 'Crowe Valley Blues' bigger and meaner than 'Left Hand Man' while sounding sonically superior and huge.
"Bottom line: Crowe Valley is a place of old superstitions and paranormal tales, forgotten places and dark forests. We injected the essence of being there into the songs."
The Ripple Music label will release a remixed version of "Left Hand Man" on vinyl (release date to be determined).
Drummer Jared Koston passed away of cancer on June 1, 2010 at his home in Madison, Ohio surrounded by his family and friends. He was 40 years old. Jared left behind a wife and four children. He had no health insurance at the time of his death.
Auburn Records will donate $1 from the sale of each CD to the Jared Koston Memorial Fund.
"Despite the rough economic times, this is something I wanted to do to help Michele (Jared's widow) and her kids," says Auburn Records president Bill Peters.
"The family is still in need of financial support. They incurred a lot of debts during the time of Jared's illness.
"Auburn Records and the international heavy metal community have already donated thousands of dollars to the Kostons.
"I want to continue to help this family any way I can. They will never be forgotten and are forever in our hearts."
Donations can be made as follows:
PayPal donations can be sent to jaredkoston@rocketmail.com. (Be sure to mark "personal," then select "gift.")
Cash, checks or money orders (payable to Michele Koston) can be sent to:
The Koston Family
3060 Princeton Drive
Madison, Ohio 44057
USA
VENOMIN JAMES will play its first live show since Jared's death on September 9 at the Grog Shop in Cleveland, opening for FU MANCHU. Longtime friend of the band Brandon Abate (LIVING STEREO) will fill in on drums. Drummer Eric Matthews (RED GIANT, PRO-PAIN, THE SPUDMONSTERS, ALTER BOYS) will join as a semi-permanent member for future shows.
Michele and the Koston family have given VENOMIN JAMES their full blessing to continue on without Jared.
"Going on stage for the first time since Jared's death feels strange and empty, but at the same time feels like we're honoring him by keeping it going," says Fortunato.
"Are we doing the right thing by continuing without him?
"Why is there guilt when he made it clear that we needed to keep on going?
"Up until the time he was too sick to really get around, he was actively involved in making music with us. In the hospital bed, he would ask how mixes were shaping up, and how the new material was sounding — his tracks had been recorded when he was still able to play drums. He made us feel like we couldn't give up on this dream...which was his dream.
"I personally feel like I am trying to keep his memory alive through the music. Every time we play a song, I pretend he's behind the kit, smiling and laughing. His spirit is in the songs, and his presence is felt in every note and pause. We could not be here without his talent and his drive. This band could not have come this far without his presence in our lives.
"The five of us in VENOMIN JAMES have shared moments, pieces of time, that no other person on Earth will ever know. When we step out on stage, I will remember those moments, and most of all, I will remember my brother behind that kit — he's just back there killing it.
"We will be the best because music lovers need to know how fucking awesome Jared was, and in the songs, still is."
VENOMIN JAMES is:
Jim Meador - Vocals
Joe Fortunato - Guitar
Tomasz Scull - Guitar
Erin Corcoran – Bass
NOCTURNAL FEAR, Detroit's war-thrash death-squad, has parted ways with longtime drummer Aggressor. His replacement, Witchhammer, is already learning the band's set and is rehearsing tracks for the group's forthcoming album, "Excessive Cruelty", to be released next year on Moribund Records.
Commented founding guitarist Rev. Chris Slavehunter PhD.: "It's not easy being in Detroit's and arguably the USA's fastest and most face-ripping thrash band. Witchhammer has the devotion and drive to become a true NOCTURNAL FEAR shock trooper! Our new album and shows will bear this out. Heed my words, posers — the knock on your door in the middle of the night may be us! Death to false metal!"
As previously reported, NOCTURNAL FEAR recently added new member Warmonger on bass. The band is rounded out by Slavehunter on all guitars and Devastator on vocals.
A release date for "Excessive Cruelty" will be announced later this year.
"Poseidon", the fourth album from French metallers DAGOBA, entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 41. Released on August 30 via the French label XIII Bis Records, the CD was recorded at Hyperion Studio in Marseille, France with "Brew" Varea and was mixed by Dave Chang at Philia Studio in the U.K.
"Poseidon" track listing:
01. 43 17'n / 5 22'e
02. Dead Lion Reef
03. Columnae
04. The Devil's Triangle
05. Degree Zero
06. The Horn Cape
07. Black Smokers (752 Farenheit)
08. Ha Long
09. Shen Lung
10. I Sea Red
11. Theres Blood Offshore
12. Waves Of Doom
CONTROL DENIED's legendary first album, "The Fragile Art of Existence", will get the deluxe re-issue treatment through Relapse Records this fall.
"The Fragile Art of Existence", originally released in 1999 to critical acclaim, has been remastered, repackaged and features liner notes from CONTROL DENIED drummer Richard Christy, never-before-seen photographs, as well as over an hour of previously unreleased demo and rehearsal tracks.
Two versions of the "The Fragile Art of Existence" reissue will be available starting October 26. The worldwide version is a two-CD set including the original album plus a bonus CD of early demo material. The second version will be limited to 1,000 copies and is a three-disc set including an extra bonus disc of demo tracks, many of which have CONTROL DENIED mainman — and DEATH mastermind — Chuck Schuldiner on vocals. The three-disc set will be available at Relapse.com exclusively. Pre-order options and additional release information can be found here.
A range of officially licensed CONTROL DENIED, DEATH, and MANTAS merchandise has been issued here.
Many classic album art designs will follow in the coming months, making some highly sought-after designs available officially for the first time in years.
In the second of nine installments, bassist/vocalist Grutle Kjellson and rhythm guitarist/songwriter Ivar Bjørnson of the progressive/psychedelic Norwegian black metallers ENSLAVED offer a track-by-track commentary on the songs that will appear on the band's new album, "Axioma Ethica Odini", which is scheduled for release in Norway on September 20, in the rest of Europe on September 27 and in North America on September 28.
Kjellson on "Raidho":
"A signature Ivar song. Full of cool riffs, both straight-forward and a little bit weird, too! A bit complex; still a very enjoyable song to arrange vocals on.
"This was the first song me and Herbrand [Larsen, keyboard player and clean vocalist] did the vocal arrangements for on 'Axioma Ethica Odini' and one of the first we recorded (I remember 'Giants' being the very first).
"This song turned out to be one of the most brutal songs on the album, and probably the one containing the most harsh vocals.
"Love this one, and am really looking forward to playing it live."
Bjørnson on "Raidho":
"'Raidho' is a song where the song title and the song itself are very closely linked. The title itself is the name of a rune that translated to travel, vehicle and so on.
"My ambition was to make a song that would convey the feeling of travel; try to depict a 'moving wheel' through riffing. It turned out that quite a lot of ENSLAVED's music had this feeling. If that is a coincidence or not sounds too much like quack speculation, but I do come from a family of travelers, sailors, and even whalers ('ey, don't go Greenpeace on me now!). Perhaps this 'nomadic' feeling is our connection to MOTÖRHEAD… one of metal's hardest-touring bands?
"Anyways, when I separated the rhythmic guitar voice (there's one 'straight-ahead guitar' with the chords, and one 'drone' with a rhythmic pattern) and had the drums follow that, I discovered we had what I would almost call a MOTÖRHEAD part — which turned out to be the middle section.
"I am not a fan of 'explaining' lyrics as it limits the reader's potential for exploration and self-reflection. This one, however, is quite easy to decipher on the surface at least — then again, there are so many ways to travel…"
Audio samples of all nine tracks that are set to appear on "Axioma Ethica Odini" are available for streaming on Amazon.co.uk.
ENSLAVED's Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson recently gave an in-depth explanation of the "Axioma Ethica Odini" artwork to the visitors of the web site of the German edition of Metal Hammer magazine. You can watch the clip at this location.
The CD's cover artwork was created by the Norwegian artist Truls Espedal, who has painted every ENSLAVED album cover since 2001's "Monumension".
"Axioma Ethica Odini" track listing:
01. Ethica Odini
02. Raidho
03. Waruun
04. The Beacon
05. Axioma
06. Giants
07. Singular
08. Night Sight
09. Lightening
"Axioma Ethica Odini" will be made available as a special edition in gatefold seven-inch format with the entire album on CD and a seven-inch vinyl single as a bonus, as well as a regular jewel case and double vinyl. The bonus seven-inch single will include the songs "Jotunblod (Doom)" and "Migration".
ENSLAVED's eleventh studio album was recorded at three different studios in Bergen, Norway: 1) Duper; 2) Earshot (belonging to ENSLAVED members Herbrand Larsen [keyboardist/backing vocalist] and Ice Dale [lead guitarist]); and 3) Peersonal Sound (owned by rhythm guitarist/songwriter Ivar Bjørnson). It is the follow-up to 2008's "Vertebrae", which sold over 1,100 copies its first week of release in North America and debuted on the American Billboard Hard Music chart at #11 and on the Billboard Heatseekers chart at #49. In ENSLAVED's native country, "Vertebrae" entered the official chart at #20 and earned the band its third consecutive Spellemann award (the largest and oldest Norwegian music awards show, which is often referred to as the country's equivalent to the American Grammy Awards). "Vertebrae" also won Terrorizer magazine's coveted "Album of the Year" award for 2008.
ENSLAVED will support the Norwegian symphonic black metal band DIMMU BORGIR on a European tour in September and October. Also appearing on the bill is SAHG.
Rue-Morgue.com recently conducted an interview with drummer/vocalist Chris Reifert of U.S. gore legends AUTOPSY. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Rue-Morgue.com: I know you took a lot of shit over ABSCESS, in the sense that death metal diehards seemed reluctant to fully embrace the band, despite some very credible albums, and wanted you to just reform AUTOPSY again. Did you finally acquiesce? Was ABSCESS' recent demise related to AUTOPSY's revival?
Reifert: Actually we never took shit from anyone, that's the beauty of it, and the real diehards were there with us on the ABSCESS journey. Now here we are going full throttle with the creature known as AUTOPSY. Acquiescence be damned! The truth of the matter regarding the collapse of ABSCESS and the re-emergence of AUTOPSY is a simple one. Clint Bower respectfully bowed out of ABSCESS to focus on his personal life which was the death knell for that band, as Clint is an irreplaceable part of the ABSCESS puzzle. We had no choice but to fold when his official resignation was delivered. This meant that AUTOPSY, which had been dabbling in various live and recording activities could, and should, go full force and become a full-time, full-concentration band done the right way. I know it sounds cliché now to say, "We're not living in the past, we are here with 100% heart and soul," but not only do we mean it, but we can back it up with new material that we
feel is our best yet. We won't just be sweating to the oldies. Haha! There's more new horrors to come up from behind and whack you on the back of your feeble heads!
Rue-Morgue.com: Why do you think AUTOPSY is considered so influential to the death metal genre?
Reifert: Perhaps I'm not the one to come to for that answer, seeing as how I live in my little metal bubble of a world. I'm bad at being sage and insightful though I may dare to say we actually put a lot of thought and care into our songs. The demons that are riffs are all taken into consideration and not tossed around lightly. The best death metal songs stay under your skin long after the actual listening is over with. Thanks for the compliment, by the way.
Rue-Morgue.com: The musical landscape has evolved so much since 1995, both artistically and technologically. So many bands have retroactively copped your style, the imagery you once introduced that was so shocking at the time is fairly commonplace in the genre, and there's just so many more bands to compete with now. How does a band such as AUTOPSY establish itself as a trailblazing act again?
Reifert: Thanks for the ego boost. Haha! Yeah, there sure are a lot of bands around but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The exceptions will still stand out and be recognized. Not all of 'em, of course, due to sheer volume but that's nothing new. Regarding AUTOPSY, all we can do is stay true to ourselves, therefore staying true to the fans. There's nothing artificial or forced going on here. We'll just keep playing the songs the way they're supposed to be played and writing new stuff that is worthy of the AUTOPSY name.
German deathcore powerhouse FUCK YOUR SHADOW FROM BEHIND has issued the following update:
"We decided to disband FUCK YOUR SHADOW FROM BEHIND.
"Due to musical differences and the fact that we have to consider our personal aims and perspectives for the future, the band cannot be pursued under the [current] circumstances.
"Briefly, half of the band will live, work and study spread all over Germany and this will make a further existence very difficult or to be precise impossible.
"With FUCK YOUR SHADOW FROM BEHIND, we had one of the best times of our lives and we gathered as much experience as never before.
"Without the help of our loyal friends and fans, promotors and, of course, Christian and the rest of the staff behind Bastardized Recordings, we would have never come this far and we really thank you all for that!
"Our farewell show will take place [on] September [24] in our hometown Würzburg."
FUCK YOUR SHADOW FROM BEHIND released its debut album, "Freigeist", on February 26, 2010 via Bastardized Recordings.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Das Erlöschen Der Qual (Pt. I)
02. Der Wahrheit Zweites Gesicht
03. Wandel Und Replik
04. Es War Die Zeit
05. Verse Der Freiheit
06. Zwielicht
07. Die Abkehr
08. Tristesse
09. Ein Tagwerk
10. Auf Reise
The video for the track "Tristesse" can be viewed below.
FUCK YOUR SHADOW FROM BEHIND was formed in August 2007 by Tobias Jaschinsky, Adrian Schler, Nikita Kamprad, Sven Lutz and Benedikt Willnecker in Würzburg, Germany. After a short time, Fabian Klinker joined the band on drums and the first demo CD was recorded.
FUCK YOUR SHADOW FROM BEHIND is/was:
Tobias Jaschinsky - Vocals
Adrian Schler - Vocals
Nikita Kamprad - Guitar
Sven Lutz - Guitar
Benedikt Willnecker - Bass
Fabian Klinker – Drums
Listenable Records has announced the signing of French death/black metalers SVART CROWN. The band recently completed work on its sophomore album, "Witnessing The Fall", at St. Marthe studio with producer Francis Caste (KICKBACK, ARKHON INFAUSTUS, PHAZM) for an early 2011 release.
Spawned in France by guitarist/vocalist J.B. Le Bail, SVART CROWN was born in 2005 with the idea to push the boundaries of extreme music and create a new dimension of brutality and blackness. Following numerous tours in its native land, SVART CROWN released its first album, "Ages Of Decay", in early 2008. The band has been promoting this first effort since then, with countless shows and two European runs.
Featuring Le Bail, guitarist Clément "Klem" Flandrois, bassist L. Veyssière and drummer Gaël Barthélemy (DIABOLIC, DROWNING, BALROG, ANTAEUS), SVART CROWN "successfully mixes an old-school feeling with various modern influences," according to a press release. "'Witnessing The Fall' is simply the new face of the band: a black beast, full of anger, a symbol of humanity in perdition."
Swedish death metallers PUTERAEON have parted ways with guitarist Hasse Sörensson and have replaced him with Rune Foss (EXEMPT, AGGRO, RECLUSION).
PUTERAEON entered Studio Decay in late July with producer D.K. (TAETRE) to begin recording their new album, "The Esoteric Order", for an early 2011 release. The CD will be mixed and mastered at KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque's Sonic Train studio in Varberg, Sweden.
Songtitles set to appear on the CD include:
* Storms Over Devil's Reef
* Coma
* Whispers Of The Dead
* Into The Deep
* Re-Animation
* Graverobber
* The Plague
* Castle Of Despair
* The Extraordinary Work Of Herbert West
* Experience Zombiefication
* Dead Once More
* The Innsmouth Insanity
* The End Of All
Coming from the Gothenburg area, PUTERAEON caused quite a bit of a stir with its three demo CDs, "Fascination For Mutilation", "The Requiem" and "The Extraordinary Work Of Herbert West".
PUTERAEON was spawned in 2008 by mainman Jonas Lindblood (TAETRE, THORIUM), who states the following: "I started doing some riffs that took me back to my roots in death metal, the glorious early '90s!"
In addition to Jonas (vocals, guitars) and Foss, PUTERAEON features Anders Malmström (NOMINON, PROPHANITY, IMMEMORIAL, INVERTED) on drums, and Daniel Vandija (13ITCH) on bass.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/puteraeon666.
Jim Kjell, former vocalist/guitarist for the Swedish melodic death metal band GARDENIAN, has launched a brand new project called HERA. Kjell is currently seeking a vocalist, lead guitarist and bass player to complete the group's lineup lineup.
According to the project's official bio, "HERA was started a couple of years ago and was heading towards a record deal with the complete package. Jim turned it down since he had to take care of himself and three years later HERA is very much alive and the ideas of the music is starting to shape up. Right now the focus is put on whether it should be more brutal or more laid back than before. New songs are written and are of a variety of styles. But yet he stays true to his roots and brutality is mixed with nice melodies and choruses."
For music and contact information, visit www.myspace.com/hera0666.
The double-CD reissue of GARDENIAN's "Soulburner" (1999) and "Sindustries" (2000) albums came out in February 2008 via Metal Mind Productions. The limited-edition digipack release (limited to 2,000 copies) was made available on golden disc, digitally remastered using 24-bit technology.
GARDENIAN was yet another spawn of the Swedish metal community, but unlike many other bands from the Gothenburg region, they managed to stand up to the fathers of the genre and deliver a huge dose of solid melodic death metal, at the same time presenting a sound of their own.
The two GARDENIAN albums that were originally released through Nuclear Blast — "Soulburner" and "Sindustries" — received an impressive number of positive reviews over the years, but GARDENIAN sadly never managed to get the acclaim it deserved, resulting in the band's eventual breakup.
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