OZZY OSBOURNE has been confirmed for next year's edition of the Sweden Rock Festival, set to take place June 8-11, 2011 in Sölvesborg in southern Sweden. This will be the singer's first appearance at the event.
Ozzy's recent show at the Stockholm Globe Arena sold out completely soon after the tickets were released and was unanimously hailed by the press, proving Ozzy is as pivotal as ever to the world's rock and metal scene. As Ozzy himself puts it in an upcoming Sweden Rock Magazine cover story: "I would pay to see my fans. I love meeting them and making sure they have a good time."
OZZY OSBOURNE has been confirmed bands for next year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 4-6, 2011 in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany. Also scheduled to appear are AIRBOURNE, BLIND GUARDIAN, APOCALYPTICA, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, AVANTASIA and MAYHEM.
Wacken Open Air was first held in 1990 as a small event for local German bands. By 1998 the event had become the major festival on the European metal calendar and has included over 70 bands from all over Europe, North America and Australia.
Wacken Open Air is usually held at the beginning of August and lasts three days, during which the festival-goers camp on several large camping grounds surrounding the actual festival area. The 70 or more bands perform across four separate stages over the course of the event.
The 2009 edition of Wacken Open Air set a sales record; it sold out on December 30, 2008. All 70,000 tickets were sold over 200 days before the start of the festival.
Wacken Open Air, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, was honored with a Live Entertainment Award in 2008 in the "Festival Of The Year" category. This award recognizes distinguished achievements in live entertainment and is given out by Live Entertainment Award (LEA) committee.
Due to "health issues," guitarist Chris Johnson has left HOLY RAGE, the U.K.-based band led by original JUDAS PRIEST frontman Al Atkins.
Commented the group: "Chris has appeared on three Al Atkins albums and has been friends with Al for many years. He also appears on all tracks on the new HOLY RAGE CD.
"Chris himself is fine and having treatment and still likes a beer, so he ain't that bad.
"Although Chris will no longer be playing for the foreseeable future, he will still be in charge of all band PR and the more technical side.
"We wish him well and a speedy recovery and [we are] sure we will go to a few bars soon."
HOLY RAGE's self-titled debut album is being released today (Monday, October 25) via Z Records.
A track from the CD, "Kingdom Of Hell", is available for streaming on the Z Records MySpace page.
HOLY RAGE recently announced the addition of guitarist Vince O'Regan (ex-BOB CATLEY, EDEN) and bassist/vocalist Steve Mercy (ex-ABIGAIL'S MERCY) to the group's ranks.
Atkins is the co-writer of several PRIEST songs which are included on the band's first two albums "Rocka Rolla" and "Sad Wings of Destiny", both of which eventually went gold. Atkins co-penned the heavy metal classic "Victim of Changes", which was a combination of Rob Halford's song "Red Light Lady" and Atkins' own "Whiskey Woman". He also co-wrote "Winter", "Never Satisfied", "Dreamer Deceiver" and "Caviar and Meths".
It was desperate times for Sheffield and the wider South Yorkshire region in the 1980s. Deep recession had thrown tens of thousands on the dole and its traditional steel industry lay in ruins. But far from accepting its plight, Sheffield became a U.K. leader in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal rock movement, sweeping the nation and attracting one of the most loyal and steadfast following the rock era has ever known, according to "Signing On For The Devil", Neil Anderson's new book.
Sheffield's stairway to hell was led by South Yorkshire band SAXON but no one could have predicted the unrivalled success of DEF LEPPARD, a band that became, and continues to be, one of the hottest properties in the USA.
The city's own Bruce Dickinson helped turn IRON MAIDEN into one of the biggest forces in the heavy metal universe and a pair of former miners, the Bailey brothers, became two of the most influential voices of the movement right across Europe as well as becoming widely recognized as the originators of the "air guitar" phenomenon.
"Signing On For The Devil" is the story of Sheffield's rise to its position as capital of Eighties heavy metal, how the scene started and how its rock scene still thrives today thanks to a new generation of bands like 65DAYSOFSTATIC and BRING ME THE HORIZON. The book contains scores of exclusive interviews with the bands and fans. It is packed with rare and unseen photos.
Neil Anderson said: "Sheffield's contribution to the rock scene over the decades has been quite astonishing. No U.K. city in the 1980s could touch the city in terms of influence, audiences and top-flight musicians. Venues like the Wapentake, Rebels and Sheffield City Hall became legendary right across the country and in many cases the world."
"Signing On For The Devil" will be launched at a massive reunion, Reunite In Rock, that will take place on Friday, November 26 at Sheffield's Casbah venue (formerly the Wapentake), and include former Rebels/Roxy DJ Lez, former Wapentake DJ Ken, former Rebels DJ Bob Maltby, former Roxy/Drop DJ Mutley and former Drop DJ Rice. The event lasts from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Advance tickets are available at £8 each from www.reuniteinrock.co.uk.
"Signing On For The Devil" is published by ACM Retro and is on sale from Amazon and all good bookshops at £12.95 from Monday, November 1.
Renowned British rock journalist Mick Wall will release a new book, "Metallica: Enter Night - The Biography", in hardcover via Orion in the U.K. on November 11.
The book's official description: "Alongside contemporaries SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX, METALLICA came to prominence in the Eighties as one of the 'Big Four' of thrash metal. METALLICA were to thrash, though, what the SEX PISTOLS were to punk. Nearly thirty years on, their tale is one of alcohol, rule breaking and tragically early death. But allied to that are colossal sales figures for their records — they are the fifth-highest selling recording artists of all time — and members with backgrounds that touch on jazz and classical music. METALLICA, in fact, have garnered more critical acclaim than any heavy rock band since LED ZEPPELIN. Fresh from the critical and commercial success of 'When Giants Walked The Earth: A Biography Of Led Zeppelin', Mick Wall takes a similar informed look at the band, a group he has known on and off since their formation in 1981."
As previously reported, Chronicle Books has just released "The Ultimate Metallica" book of photographs by legendary rock photographer Ross Halfin.
Halfin has documented METALLICA for nearly 25 years, from their beginnings as a scrappy, furious garage band to their current status as the heaviest and most popular metal band in the world. Featuring a foreword by METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich and an afterword by guitarist Kirk Hammett, "The Ultimate Metallica" collects the best of Halfin's amazing images, taken over the years with access granted exclusively to him as the band's main lensman. His candid photographs — taken on stage, backstage, on and off tour — are supplemented by text from many people close to the band, including managers and music writers, plus some colorful personal observations from Halfin himself.
Ulrich says of Halfin's work, "He just gets right the fuck in there. . . . Every drop of sweat, every molecule of saliva, every out-of-place nose hair, it all gets captured cuz he's just fucking there."
Ross Halfin has toured with and photographed many bands, including IRON MAIDEN, DEF LEPPARD, KISS, THE CLASH, SEX PISTOLS, and THE WHO. He lives in Surrey, England.
About 19 years ago, I wrote a song with and for Guns N Roses, called 'Get In The Ring'. At that point in our career, we had ceased to be the darlings of critics. When our band started to 'blow up', it became apparent that there was an almost sudden sea-change in how our live shows and records were getting critiqued in the press. No big deal really; you just realize that this kind of stuff comes with the territory.
But what interested me then was: Why would a critic come to our show when it was often openly obvious that he or she didn't like us in the first place? Why waste the time? Why spread a vitriolic point of view? Hence, the first line in that song-
'Why do you look at me when you hate me?'
Flash forward to now: I write for a paper that has music critics. With my history, it interests me as to who our music critics are-in a purely educational way. I can't lie; I actually do keep tabs and have barked loudly internally here at The Weekly when I feel vitriol and prejudice played a part in any review that I might happen upon. I'm sure that my 'friends' here at the paper have dwindled by a writer or two.
A year or so ago, I touched upon the subject of how online news and entertainment sites are sort of just plain taking over. Print newspapers and magazines are dying off. For good or for bad, this is just the way it is. Information-Age economics have dictated a change in MANY areas (music downloads, online movie rentals, and etc).
In writing for The Seattle Weekly, I have benefited first-hand from this change. I have been given the chance to learn how to write to a certain degree-with some good tutelage and encouragement even. But still, I am certainly not a bona-fide journalist, or anything close to it. I'm just a guy who writes stuff.
I am a serious reader too. I believe that when given a responsibility like a weekly column, one should rise to the occasion. Seattle is a very literate city, and I feel honored to be writing for one of its respected periodicals. I have high expectations from others here too.
To do less than one's best is just sloppy, in my view at least.
Although I certainly understand the importance of drawing readers to certain sites by having a juicy scoop or a story with conflict-the more 'hits' a site gets, the higher the advertisement revenue- I just don't get why certain writers think they can either dictate from an Ivory Tower of judgment or just slander recklessly.
You have read these writers, and so have I.
For me, a site like The Seattle Weekly's or, say, The Village Voice's, should be a place to sort of come in from the storm. You all should be able to trust us writers at these quasi-esteemed papers. That is my view at least. The writers must earn the trust of the public though. When a writer pens a piece that is outwardly obviously intended to be prejudicial (good or bad), or badly researched, the whole lot of writers for that paper are somewhat soiled. Again, this is just my opinion.
Am I alone in this view?
I've got an editor here at The Weekly, Chris Kornelis. He is a smart dude and has at times 'held me to task' or otherwise questioned the intent of this piece or that. He has made me think and helped me to be better. He has his boss, and it goes up from there. Who holds THOSE guys to task? Those 'editors of editors'? I trust that their experience and drive for excellence does.
I write for The Seattle Weekly because I love to do it. It is a sizeable challenge and it gives me a chance to interact on topics that I am curious or otherwise interested in. There are countless blogs and whatnot out there that have a whole lot less to offer than we have here. You can get biased or sloppily written 'takes' and articles on music at countless sites, I am sure. There are plenty of right or left-leaning political sites too, if you like steeper 'slants'. Online newspapers like this one ARE the new paradigm for the straight-ish dope though, and as such, are the new gate-keepers of truth and insight. Or they should be, from where I sit.
If I don't like, say, Mel Gibson…I will be responsible enough to pull myself out of the running if approached to write an article on his new movie (IF he had and new movie, and IF I didn't like Mel Gibson). It would be biased and not very righteous of me to knowingly sit in the wings for such an easy attack-IF this was the case.
Neither should it be all peaches and cream, though. I like reading people's thoughts and insights, especially when they are intellectual and researched and whatever else.
Being a writer now for online papers these days I think, brings with it, a new burden of self-restraint. There are enough crappy things going on around us in this world and a tainted and spiteful article about someone's art just adds noxious noise.
Marjorie Hernandez of Ventura County Star recently conducted an interview with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS drummer Eric Kretz. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Ventura County Star: After taking such a long break from recording, what was it like getting back in the studio with the rest of the guys?
Kretz: We took quite a long hiatus there and then we started touring for about nine months straight. It was just a natural progression to say, "Let's jump back in and go back in the studio and continue the writing thing." The writing process always comes pretty easy, especially having the DeLeo brothers [Robert and Dean] in the band. There is never a shortage of material. It's just a matter of sifting through it and working with everyone's schedule. The only difficult part was Scott [Weiland, vocals] was finishing up a tour for his solo album. Once he completed his commitments, the record just moved along fine. I am really proud of what we came out with in the end.
Ventura County Star: How is the new record a departure from previous albums?
Kretz: The material itself is always just a collaboration of how we put together Robert and Dean's musical ideas and where Scott takes them. Some songs you love and some songs you don't feel. In some sense, that creative process is still the same. What was different this time was we produced the record ourselves. In the five previous records, we always had Brendan O'Brien as a producer, so we always had an umpire to take charge and settle arguments. By doing it ourselves, you have to tiptoe on people's egos and emotions sometimes. In that sense it was more delicate.
Ventura County Star: What's in the future for STP?
Kretz: Things are going really good. We still have a couple of months touring the album here in America. In December, we will be in South America. After all these years we have never been to Australia, so offers are coming in for Australia, New Zealand and Asia, and probably back to Europe. Then we will see. We're maybe looking at putting out another record next year or touring some more and trying new ideas of how to present music, especially for downloading.
The mighty ANTHRAX finally rolled into town, and I am not kidding with finally. The last time they were supposed to play Colorado was 2006!
ANTHRAX went through the "and who is the singer now" phase the last couple of years and are once again fronted by JOEY BELLADONNA. They just finished a very successful run in Europe and got confirmed to open for MEGADETH and SLAYER on the second leg of the "American Carnage" Tour. I was a bit disappointed that it had not come to this region, only to be super excited once ANTHRAX announced an off-date in Downtown Denver, CO.
Full of anticipation to see the Among the Living line-up (minus DAN SPITZ guitar); again, I headed up to Denver. I also had the chance to chat with lead vocalist JOEY BELLADONNA before the band hit the stage at the Summit Music Hall.
"We are having some interesting fun moments that just happen out of the blue, and you know that kind of stuff makes it more interesting"
Sonic Excess: Hello JOEY, nice to have you back! So how has this tour been going so far?
Joey: Well, it's cool you know. It's nice to wind it all back up again, just like where we left off. I think everything runs smooth, and the musicianship is tight. We are having some interesting fun moments that just happen out of the blue, and you know that kind of stuff makes it more interesting, but all of the shows have been extremely good.
SE: ANTHRAX is only doing two off-dates on the Jagermeister Tour, Oklahoma City and Denver. Was there no time to do any others?
Joey: Not really, it's tough. You have to watch where you play. You can't be too close to a venue where the main tour is also playing. The gear is on their truck (Ed.: MEGADETH), so it's a lot of complications. Even this gig here in Denver was a little tricky. We had to unload everything off MEGADETH’S truck. Then, we got a rental truck for tonight and have to drive to the next gig and unload it all. It's just a little bit inconvenient.
SE: In the last couple of years ANTHRAX really has not been touring in the US, mostly overseas, is there a reason why?
Joey: Well, when I came back the shows were already booked. So the opportunity was golden to have ANTHRAX, MEGADETH, SLAYER, and METALLICA together. That's overseas, that is where we go. Europe has always been great.
SE: You personally, do you prefer touring in Europe or North America?
Joey: It doesn't matter to me. Of course, when you go overseas, you have different currency, travel arrangements, language barriers; you know it's all different. But the shows are extremely good. God you can't beat those shows, but you are also further away from home.
"There will be great opportunities to make that happen. It would be a great history for the fans and us all."
SE: This year at Sonisphere in Europe was the first time since the 1991 Clash of the Titans tour that ANTHRAX shared a stage with SLAYER and MEGADETH. How was that experience, and how was the fan reaction?
Joey: Totally awesome. It was extremely well organized. There were a lot of people at those shows, over 110,000 people at the first gig in Poland alone. I mean it doesn't get much bigger than that. METALLICA puts on a great show. Everything they have is huge. It was an awesome thing to be on it, and hopefully we can do it again.
SE: Of course, this will all be up to METALLICA, because they are by far the biggest of the Big 4, but I heard rumors that it might happen here in North America.
Joey: Yes, it will be up to METALLICA, but anything is possible. Sure, it's probably better now than it would be. Hopefully, there will be great opportunities to make that happen. It would be a great history for the fans and us all.
SE: DAVE LOMBARDO (drums) was the only member of SLAYER when the Big 4 played "Am I Evil" in Sofia. Do you know why?
Joey: No. You know it could have been anything, but I don't know specifically why.
SE: Who chose the set list for this tour?
Joey: We chose the songs according to popularity, but we had time restrictions.
SE: You have 45 minutes on The Jagermeister Music Tour?
Joey: No, we have 40 minutes. We did get 45 minutes on two shows and snuck in a brand new song, but we got that taken away from us. We went over like two minutes and got scolded, so that was that. You know how it is. (laughs)
"It's open to anything at this point, because you get a whole other shot at everything. But they are really happy with what they have"
SE: Speaking of brand new song, the new album was already recorded with prior vocalist DAN NELSON and has to be redone now. I heard that five or six tracks will stay the same, and the rest has to be reworked. So are you putting the final touches on the new album now?
Joey: Well, there are new lyrics being done right now and just the overall vocals are going to be brand new. Music wise there might not be a lot of recording, who knows. Again, it's open to anything at this point, because you get a whole other shot at everything. But they are really happy with what they have, so there is not a lot of finagling going on; if it can be helped, of course. I mean if it’s good and all satisfactory why change it.
SE: Who are the main songwriters in ANTHRAX, music and lyric wise?
Joey: You know, it really moves in every direction. Everyone has ideas. SCOTT IAN (guitar), for the longest time, was doing all of the lyrics. He was coming up with a lot of things. CHARLIE BENANTE (drums) comes up with a lot of guitar parts and FRANKIE BELLO (bass) with melodies. And I come up with my own little ideas once I finally get the drift on what's going on. You know, everyone has moments, but I don't think there is a sole writer per say, as I know of, and I am not there for a lot of it too. So I don't know who in the end finalizes which part.
SE: Who will be producing the new album?
Joey: I have never met him. I don't know who is doing it right now or before. At this point, I have not been introduced to whoever is doing it. Sorry. (Ed.: Joey has only been back in Anthrax since May 2010.)
SE: Actually, just today I read an interview with JOHN BUSH (former Anthrax vocalist), and he was asked how he felt singing songs from your era. Now, how about you? How do you feel singing songs out of the JOHN BUSH era?
Joey: The thing is they have such a great catalog that we could easily do everything and not touch any of their old stuff, but, you know, we already tried one (Ed.: "Only"), and it comes off pretty cool. I don't know if it is necessary to do though. They had years of playing new stuff, so it’s only inevitable that somebody would like to try something. But, if anything, maybe the new material will kind of counter some of it. Well, I don't have a problem with it. It's just getting familiar with the songs and feeling comfortable with it. (Ed.: Joey was not a member of Anthrax for the last four albums.)
SE: As far as I know, you also will be singing a NEIL TURBIN era song, "Metal Thrashing Mad". So you are familiar with songs from other records?
Joey: True. Done the whole record almost, except for a couple of songs. I have done that before. I am always forgetting about that. Like, hold on, when I first joined the band, I had no material, except for the brand new stuff when it finally came about.
SE: Are you doing any vocal exercises before a show?
Joey: Nope
SE: What are you doing during your downtime on this tour?
Joey: Watching lots of sports. Actually, since the football season is in full bloom, I am digging that.
SE: And you are a fan of whom?
Joey: The Minnesota Vikings. I love them. They won yesterday, and I am happy about that. Overall, there are a lot of things, and we are actually working on some new material on the bus as well. During the day, everyone is working on some stuff, and a lot of eating. (laughs) There is a lot of food going around.
"I am also working on my own new album right now. I have three quarters of it done. It's more heavy metal, rock, heavier kind of stuff."
SE: What job would you do, JOEY, if you were not a singer, performer, and musician?
Joey: Well, actually this has been my job. I have been doing this since I was in seventh grade; sooner actually. We were jamming in my garage when we were very young. Right out of the box, as soon as I started listening to the BEATLES, I knew that I wanted to be a musician.
SE: So worst-case scenario, would you have a day job to fall back to?
Joey: I have done stuff. I have worked for this lady; her name is BEEZIE PATTON. She is an Olympic jumper (Ed.: Equestrian
), and they are pretty successful. She won two Olympics. They have a huge complex, kind of like a sports complex with million dollar horses, and I was going in and taking care of the whole facility; the ground's grooming and grasses. We were doing everything, like painting the jumps, cutting the grass, weed eating, painting the fences, you know. I was doing this when I was out of the band. I have done some jobs.
SE: Quick question about the RONNIE JAMES DIO tribute, were you asked to perform?
Joey: Yes, RONNIE'S wife WENDY asked me to, but I had known RONNIE. I had known him for a while. I have been in a band with members of ELF, (Ed.: Previous band Ronnie James Dio had fronted) before I joined ANTHRAX, and the guys lived up by me. So, I was honored to be asked, and hopefully we can do a tribute record. I want to put out the song that I did, you know. I really want to put that out and am just waiting on Wendy to give me the go-ahead; what she wants to do and how she wants me to do it. I want it all to go to charity.
SE: Trivial question, but when ANTHRAX recorded "I am the Man", did CHARLIE BENANTE play the drums or did you?
Joey: CHARLIE did. See, I have my own cover band. I play drums all night long, and I sing. I cover RUSH, JOURNEY, FOREIGNER, LED ZEPPELIN, DEEP PURPLE, BAD COMPANY, THE WHO, and PINK FLOYD, and I am also working on my own new album right now. I have three quarters of it done. It's more heavy metal, rock, heavier kind of stuff.
SE: But playing "I am the Man" live, you didn't want to sing?
Joey: Well, that stuff, it was all kind of put together (laughs), and I fell into the shoes of playing it live. It's ok, and it gave CHARLIE a chance to go there. That was the cool part about it, I got to get up behind the drums, and he was up front.
SE: And now the famous last words...
Joey: Hey, it's good to be back. I am very happy, and hopefully you'll get a new record soon. Thanks for being supportive.
Sonic Shocks recently conducted an interview with German metal queen Doro Pesch. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Sonic Shocks: What's the place in the world you haven't played yet and you would really love to?
Doro: Places where, unfortunately, it hasn't been possible for political reasons, like Iran and Iraq. I know it's very difficult to go there and play right now, but if with time that will change I would love to go; I know there are many fans and a very strong metal scene there, because they come to the Turkish shows. We played in Turkey a couple of times and a lot of people from Iran and Iraq came there and they put their lives on the line, it was really quite dangerous to get in and out, and they said, "That would really be a dream if you could come one day to our country;" I said, "Yeah," but I guess it's even harder being a woman. Metal is not allowed there, let alone from a female singer! It's not the right time now, but I really hope I can play there some day. Another country where we haven't played yet is India, there was a promoter trying to organize but didn't happen this year.
Sonic Shocks: Hopefully it will be possible someday!
Doro: Yes! Unfortunately, sometimes you have to play by the rules. We always wanted to go to China, and then a couple of years ago we went for the first time and it was fantastic. We had to tweak a couple of things, send all the music and the lyrics in and there was some censorship, but once we got there we could play pretty much everything; it felt much more "hardcore" when we were getting into the country, but then once we got there everything was cool and everyone was happy. There's actually quite a strong new metal scene, and can be a big fan base in the next couple of years for any metal band, it's a quite marketable country. Certain things are just different, but I don't mind playing by the rules if I can see the fans.
Sonic Shocks: You celebrated 25 years of career not long ago; when did you start thinking you would get this far?
Doro: Actually, the years ran by, all went so fast and exciting, definitely never boring. When we started, I thought maybe we could do it for a couple of years, but had no idea, and now it's been almost 26 years and I still make record after record! I didn't even think about it, and now it feels unbelievable. But I love music, since I was three years old: I heard Cliff Richard's "Lucille" and I was infected, and I've been totally addicted to music since; then was glam rock time, with all the British bands, and a bit later I started thinking about having my own band, and realized there was this growing metal scene worldwide, the first magazines started coming out… In 1983 we (WARLOCK) had our first record out and a couple of years later I quit my regular job to be a musician full time.
Sonic Shocks: What was your regular job?
Doro: I was a graphic artist, and I was actually using my job to do little posters and artwork, it came in very handy!
Sonic Shocks: Are you still involved in that?
Doro: I still work together with the graphic artist for merchandise and artwork, and it's always nice coming up with an idea, but a painter does all the album covers now, and he's a great painter from England: his name is Geoffrey Gillespie, and I loved his work since he did the first cover for us for "Thriumph And Agony", and then since we always tried to get him to do the next cover, if it's an album where we think we should have a painting. Sometimes you think, "Mmm, maybe a black-and-white shot would be better here," but when we want a painting I always call him up, explain him what the record is all about and ask if he can do something nice for it.
Raven put on a vigorous and animated performance in Portland, OR on October 3rd, 2010 at Peter's Room. The audience was small but fanatical. I placed a call to John a week later to catch with him and talk about the new album, their tour plans leading them from year's end into early 2011.
You guys have been kicking since 1974. 36 years later here you are. What's the secret behind the band's longevity?
Yeah, we've been playing since '74. We're going into our 4th decade of our career. As for our longevity? It's pretty simple really; we enjoy what we do. We feed off the energy of the music. When we hit those big power chords it's like getting a shot of 240 volts into your body. We put on a very physical show, there have been times where I've been sick and I've been walking around prior to the show like a little old man but when we get on stage we have a show to do. We have a reputation as a good live band and when we are on stage we deliver.
Your vocals have held up pretty well. You sound much like you did 25 years ago when I first heard Raven.
I take care of myself singers are at times a hypochondriacs. I'm no different, my voice is my instrument and I have to take care of it. It also helps that I'm healthy. I don't drink, I don't smoke and I've never done any nasty stuff, which certainly helps. When people are partying all night the first thing to go is the voice. We have a reputation therefore I have an obligation to deliver live. When someone has paid his hard earned money to see us we need to give them a show.
Raven are one of the pioneers of metal. One of the bands that lead the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. You've made a contribution to the metal scene world wide yet you're still the underdog. What are your thoughts on this?
Yeah, that one of those things that you can look at it in two different ways. The first would be on a business level and the second would be on an artistic level. We didn't get into this on a business level we got this on an artistic level; no one sounds like us, we're the best Raven sounding band there is because no one sounds like us. That was one of the cool things about the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal bands they are were different from one another; Def Leppard, Saxon, Iron Maiden, Diamond Head and Raven. We were all heavy but we all had our own identity. These days that's harder to find because everyone seems to be copying each other. We have a lot of music left in us as you can hear in the new album Walk Through Fire. This year has been a great year for us as we have played in places that we haven't been to in a while because of the trials tribulations that we've had over the course of the past few years.
You've released 12 studio albums the latest Walk Through Fire on Metal Blade Records (for the United States). You've been on a major label in the past (Atlantic Records) and you been on indies. Which do you prefer and why?
With the major label we like the fact that the distribution was there, but the fact was when the guy that signed us got fired and things changed. Then we have the department looking at us like a commodity; they thought "hey these guys are good, if we dress them up like clowns and we make them sound commercial maybe we can make a lot of money." The communication thing with a major was that we were dealing with people who had no idea what we were about and didn't know what to do with us. Thinking back they didn't care what we were the just wanted to make us different, which was ridiculous. I like the communication with smaller labels, they know what they are getting with us, they know what we are about and we're happier. It's been a long tortuous process but we figured it out.
I love the track "Running Around In Circles" on the new album it's vintage Raven but commercial. It could have come off of the Raven records of my youth The Pack Is Back, Life's A Bitch or Stay Hard.
Really? That's cool because I came up with that one…I was a little unsure about it because it was really commercial. We thought that if we put enough aggression and we put it on the album with the other songs it should work out fine. It's a part of what the band is about; an interesting mix of noise, aggression, craziness with a smile, heavy metal, rock 'n' roll and melody. When it's all in there you wind up with a very good Raven album. If you take a song like "Train Wreck" off the new album it's a throwback, the riff sounds like it could have been taken from a Slade song or something. We took a longtime picking songs for this record. Nothing depresses me more than an album that is frontloaded with 2-3 good songs and the rest crap that was thrown together at the last minute.
Maybe the lack of good albums or music has made people's attention span lessen. I mean it's not uncommon for people to briefly scan through an album and listen to seconds of each song. It just seems like in the age of computers, iPods and mp3's no one takes the time to listen to an album from beginning to end. I'll speak ourselves do yourself a favor spend a few minutes and listen to the entire Walk Through Fire album, you'll be surprised.
Raven has tackled some great covers in the past Thin Lizzy's "The Rocker," Spencer Davis Group's "Gimmie Some Lovin'" and now Montrose's "Space Station #5." Why that particular track?
Why not?! It's one of the best songs rock 'n' roll songs of all time in my opinion. The Montrose album is one of the best heavy metal albums there is. When this album came out there was albums that rocked, but they had ballads or an acoustic song on there. This album didn't, this one rocked from start to finish. Those guys are absolute legends; Ronnie Montrose, Sammy Hagar, Denny Carmassi and Bill Church. When they came to England they blew everyone away, me included. It's funny that Van Halen later modeled themselves after Montrose, even going as far as getting the same producer and engineer. They wanted that kind of sound and impact and they got it too. As we were finishing up Walk Through Fire we were in the studio talking and we decided to do a cover. I said "let's do Space Station." The other guys said "alright." One, two, three, boom, boom it was done. It came naturally because it was a song that we had done in New Castle
growing up so we knew the song very well. We didn't rehearse it, we just went for it. We've done a lot of Montrose in rehearsals or sound check; "Rock Candy" and "Rock The Nation" included.
Raven is based out of the United States these days correct? How did that come to be?
We've lived in The States since 1984. It's funny when we hear fans say "it's so great that you made it here from England!" (laughs) We came over here in 1984 to tour, we got a record deal and agent, we then went home for the holidays and came right back. With time we got families and everything and we never went away.
I didn't know you were based out of the U.S. until a few weeks ago. All those years and I didn't know.
That's right! I live two doors down from you! (laughs)
Do you keep in touch with your former drummer Rob Hunter? What's he doing these days?
When Rob quit he did it through a third part and naturally we were upset by it. 10 years went by before we talked. We had a conversation for a couple of hours and he was doing well for himself. On occasion I'll get some message from him on Facebook about what he's up to. He's worked doing production and engineering music by Bradford Marsalis the saxophone player. He's basically become a studio guy. It's funny he quit the band to be close to his family and now he's away from his family because Bradford tours all over the world and Rob is doing the live sound for him. Rob's a very talented guy, he a good guitarist, drummer and producer. We wish him well and we're very happy for him.
As the year winds down what are Raven's plans in the way of touring or plans for new music?
In about two weeks we'll be headed to Texas for a some shows there. In November we'll be going to Brazil, which will be first for Raven as we've never been down there before. Then we'll shut things down for the holidays and we'll be doing the 70 Thousand Tons Of Metal Cruise in January of 2011with 30 other bands. I envision there will be a lot pillaging and the boat will burn down. Should be a lot of fun actually, we'll get to hang out with the fans and some of our friends in other bands.
Well I hope you make it back in piece from that one.
Yeah, I think we'll just lock ourselves in our cabin in think! (laughs)
Right after that we'll be doing some shows in California and Las Vegas and then we'll think about the rest of 2011.
Thank you for your time John.
Thank you and we'll see you again real soon.
Thanks are in order to Vince @ Metal Blade and thanks once again to John Gallagher for his time.
www.ravenlunatics.com/
www.70000tons.com/home.htm
www.metalblade.com/
A CD-release party for "Purgatory", the debut album from WHERE ANGELS SUFFER (W.A.S.) — the new band featuring Chris Holmes (guitar; ex-W.A.S.P.), Randy Piper (guitar; ANIMAL, ex-W.A.S.P.), Steve Unger (bass; ex-METAL CHURCH), Rich Lewis (vocals; ANIMAL) and Stet Howland (drums; ex-W.A.S.P.) — will be held on Saturday, October 30 at The Viper Room in West Hollywood, California. In addition to a performance by WHERE ANGELS SUFFER, the event will feature appearances by NIGHTMARE, HEAVY THE WORLD and A WELCOME DISTRACTION.
"Purgatory" is scheduled for release on October 31. Most of the recording sessions for the CD took place in Ft. Myers, Florida where the band comes together "to share ideas and tap the endless well of creativity their union has inspired," according to a press release.
"Purgatory" track listing:
01. Cardiac Arrest
02. Can't Stop
03. Don't Wanna Die
04. Crying Eagle
05. Unnatural High
06. Judgment Day
07. Zombie (CRANBERRIES cover)
08. Lust
09. Violent New Breed
10. Morning After
11. Eye of the Storm
12. Boom
Check out audio samples at Amazon.com.
According to a press release, WHERE ANGELS SUFFER "will embrace their metal history while simultaneously astounding their fans with groundbreaking original songs that could only be created by the exceptional chemistry and passion these professional musicians discovered when they came together again."
Piper, an original member of W.A.S.P. along with Chris Holmes and Blackie Lawless, helped create the sound that took the band's first two records to gold status. "I play from the heart!" Randy says.
Randy's credit to heavy metal can not be summed up very easily as he is continually embarking on creative pursuits and is still very much a part of the metal scene. "You can't go back, but you can definitely move ahead," he says.
Holmes has etched out a stellar career which can be traced back to the early days of the metal scene that infiltrated L.A. and the Sunset Strip. A California native himself, Holmes is also well known for his role in "The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years" and other projects, both in film and music, having played with the "A" list of metal musicians.
Piper and Holmes, who were an essential part of W.A.S.P., have stayed in close contact and feel now is the perfect time to launch the much-anticipated project fans have been waiting for.
Longtime drummer of W.A.S.P., Howland was featured on ten albums (studio and live) and has toured with all the top metal acts, including BLACK SABBATH, a personal highlight during his W.A.S.P. years. Aside from W.A.S.P., the ever-active Howland's resume includes TEMPLE OF BRUTALITY, RUN 21, KILLING MACHINE, BELLADONNA, BLACKFOOT and LITA FORD, just to name a few. Howland resides in Florida, where he has a recording studio to keep him busy on a variety of projects, including his newest one, a reality show that will be filmed at his home and studio.
"We're going out and were rocking," says Howland, who sees WHERE ANGELS SUFFER as an opportunity to bring some great musicians together and make some "real music."
Steve Unger, who played with METAL CHURCH, is a talented bassist in his own right: his contribution to WHERE ANGELS SUFFER completes the dynamic of the band. Grateful for the opportunity to play on the project, he and the other band members have a mutual respect for one another because of the unbelievable talent of each artist involved.
Unger, who comes from Seattle, Washington, has had a long career with METAL CHURCH and has been a key contributor to their success over the years. He believes this album will be one of the best culminations of talent the metal scene has seen in a long time. Unger commented that the music is so relevant today because it is "a high-bred cross-breed between old and new."
Lewis, a longtime friend and fellow musician of Piper and Holmes, was a natural choice for WHERE ANGELS SUFFER frontman and has become a key component to this venture. He has played alongside many greats artists, including his current bandmates, some of whom where in ANIMAL. He has been compared to greats like Ronnie James Dio, Bruce Dickinson and Lawless, but his signature style has blended with the dynamic sound of his bandmates that sets this album apart from the rest.
WHERE ANGELS SUFFER is a unification of style, brought together by each bandmember's tenacious effort and dedication to bring the fans the music they love. Whether it was the alignment of the planets or simply the right timing, the production of the album and the formation of the band came together seamlessly.
San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans VICIOUS RUMORS have inked a worldwide deal (excluding Japan) with SPV/Steamhammer. The band's new album, "Razorback Killer", will be released in March 2011. The 10-track CD was recorded at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California with producers Juan Urteaga and VICIOUS RUMORS mastermind/guitarist Geoff Thorpe. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Razorback Blade" (see performance video below), "Deal with the Devil", "All I Want Is You", "Axe to Grind" and "Murderball".
VICIOUS RUMORS 2010 is:
Larry Howe - Drums
Brian Allen (LAST EMPIRE, MALICE, WILD DOGS) - Vocals
Kiyoshi Morgan - Guitar
Stephen Goodwin - Bass
Geoff Thorpe - Guitar
Guest musicians on the CD include Mark McGee (ex-VICIOUS RUMORS; guitar on two songs), Brad Gillis (NIGHT RANGER, OZZY OSBOURNE; lead guitar on one song) and Eric Peterson (TESTAMENT; wicked harmony and shred solo on the the track "Murderball").
High-quality photos of VICIOUS RUMORS's October 17, 2010 performance at Bibelot in Dordrecht, The Netherlands can be found at Metal-Experience.com. Also available is fan-filmed video footage of VICIOUS RUMORS's October 16, 2010 concert at at The Rock Temple in Kerkrade, The Netherlands (see below).
VICIOUS RUMORS will co-headline the Keep It True festival in Germany in April 2011 with a special tribute to late VR singer Carl Albert featuring Kevin Albert on vocals (Carl's son), along with appearances by other former members of the band.
Legendary Swedish doomsters CANDLEMASS will celebrate their 25-year anniversary by performing an extra-long set at Debaser Medis in Stockholm on December 18. The band's classic debut album, "Epicus Doomicus Metalicus", will be played in its entirety for the first time with the original singer Johan Längqvist.
Commented the band: "CANDLEMASS will play for nearly 2.5 hours! A set that definitely will leave you gobsmacked!! The band have also been in the studio recording a couple of cover songs especially for a limited vinyl maxi that will be sold on the evening of the show. If the gods of doom are with us, the five-CD 'Doomology' box will also be available at Debaser Medis, together with extra-cool shirts and posters!! Don't miss this historical event!"
"Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" was re-released on fat 180-gram blood-red vinyl in numbered gatefold sleeve on June 28 via Peaceville Records. The gatefold sleeve features the original artwork (red text and skull not white as on the CD) on a matt-laminated sleeve with logo and text on front in spot varnish. It also includes new sleeve notes written by the band.
CANDLEMASS released a new DVD, "Ashes To Ashes - Live", in North America on June 29 via Nuclear Blast Records (April 23 in Europe). The set contains footage of the band's performance at last year's Sweden Rock Festival in front of 30,000 people as well as CANDLEMASS' entire October 2009 concert in Athens, Greece. It also includes a 30-minute interview and two photo galleries. The DVD was released as a CD+DVD, with the Sweden Rock show as the audio CD.
"Death Magic Doom", the latest album from CANDLEMASS, debuted at No. 79 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Death Magic Doom" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 52. The group's previous CD, "King of the Grey Islands", debuted at No. 83 back in June 2007.
"Sounds Of Violence", the fifth album from British thrashers ONSLAUGHT, will be released in Japan on December 15 via Universal Music. The Japanese version of the CD will include a bonus track.
"Sounds Of Violence" will be made available in Europe in early 2011 via Germany's AFM Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Killing Peace" was recorded and mixed at Hansen Studio in Ribe, Denmark with acclaimed Danish producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, MERCENARY, VOLBEAT, HEAVEN SHALL BURN).
Regarding the direction of ONSLAUGHT's new material, guitarist Nige Rockett previously said, "Musically and lyrically, this is definately the most brutal and intense ONSLAUGHT album to date. It's full of machine-gun riffs, ferocious drum patterns and some pretty fucked up lyrical content.
"This album was never meant to be pretty. It's not a concept album by any measure but there's a definite theme to the whole package, right through from the sleeve design to the music and onto the words;, it's violence all the way.
"There's a lot of hate in 'Sounds of Violence' and a whole lot of reality in there, too, much of it straight from the heart."
An audio sample of the pre-production/demo version of the new ONSLAUGHT song "Born For War" can be heard at the band's MySpace profile.
ONSLAUGHT recently signed a deal with Enorm Music, the publishing arm of ICS, which organizes the Wacken Open Air festival.
The band recorded its performance at the Damnation Festival on November 22, 2008 in Leeds, U.K. for a live CD, "Live Damnation", which was released on July 20, 2009 through Candlelight Records.
"Beyond Hell/Above Heaven", the fourth album from Danish metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT, will be released digitally in the U.S. on November 9 and as a physical CD on December 15.
"Beyond Hell/Above Heaven" registered the following first-week chart positions in Europe:
Denmark: #1
Finland: #1
Sweden: #1
Austria #2
Germany: #3
Switzerland: #7
Holland: #8
Norway: #8
"Beyond Hell/Above Heaven" was released in Germany on September 10 and in most parts of Europe on September 13 via Vertigo/Universal. The CD was once again recorded at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen. The cover artwork was created by illustrator Karsten Wrysand and can be viewed below.
"Beyond Hell/Above Heaven" track listing:
01. The Mirror And The Ripper
02. Heaven Nor Hell
03. Who They Are
04. Fallen
05. A Better Believer
06. 7 Shots
07. A New Day
08. 16 Dollars
09. A Warrior's Call
10. Magic Zone
11. Evelyn
12. Being 1
13. Thanks
"Beyond Hell/Above Heaven" features guest appearances by MERCYFUL FATE guitarist Michael Denner, NAPALM DEATH's Mark "Barney" Greenway and KREATOR's Mille Petrozza. Additionally, Jacob Oelund of the Copenhagen rockabilly outfit TAGGY TONES and songwriter Hanrik Hall swung by the studio to lay down some seriously swinging double bass and harmonica.
Massachusetts metallers UNEARTH have released the following statement:
"After three-plus years of touring the world together and playing on our latest album, 'The March', we have parted ways with drummer Derek Kerswill. The most notable reason for the split are the creative differences.
"The time has come for UNEARTH to write a new album and creating music with a tight unit is the only way we can assure the best collection of songs possible.
"The differences between Kerswill and the band started off as subtle, but became increasingly obvious over the past few months and it was time for both parties to go their separate ways.
"We have shared a ton of great experiences and achieved many of the goals we set for ourselves in the time he was in the band. There is no ill will from either side of this decision and we wish him only the best moving forward... UNEARTH won't skip a beat, though, as we will be announcing a replacement drummer for our upcoming European stint on the Persistence Tour shortly.
"Lastly some exciting plans are coming together for the recording to the follow-up to 'The March', sometime early in 2011."
Kerswill stated about his departure from UNEARTH: "Creative differences are real and unfortunately have gotten the best of me. I wish the guys luck in the future and thank you to everyone who ever loved and supported 'The March'."
The deluxe version of UNEARTH's latest album, "The March", was released in November 2009. The CD comes with a bonus DVD containing a tour documentary entitled "The Three Day March", featuring footage shot by acclaimed director Doug Spangenberg (LAMB OF GOD, EVERY TIME I DIE, JOB FOR A COWBOY) during UNEARTH's recent tour of the northeastern U.S. The DVD also features footage from inside the studio during the band's recording sessions for "The March" as well as party footage from the group's tour with TESTAMENT, entitled "Gig Life". In addition to the candid behind-the-scenes material, live footage of four songs are included from the Wacken Open Air festival in 2008. Rounding out the DVD are the three music videos shot for "The March" — "My Will Be Done", "Grave Of Opportunity" and "Crow Killer".
Finnish hard rockers ANCARA have commenced work on their fourth album for a 2011 release. No further details are currently available.
"Nicole", the latest video from ANCARA, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's third album, "Chasing Shadows", which entered the official chart in the band's home country last October at position No. 32. According to the group, the CD's release was "postponed by two months because the band decided to release the album independently though their own Dks Music label and give the Finnish distribution in to Bonnier Amigo Music's hands. Co-operation with Timo Kotipelto (STRATOVARIUS, KOTIPELTO) [who released ANCARA's last album, 2007's 'Beyond the Dark', through his High & Loud label] still continues."
British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH will embark on their first North American tour since 2009, a headlining run dubbed "FEARnet and Decibel Presents: Creatures From The Black Abyss Tour", in February 2011. Support on the trek will come from NACHTMYSTIUM, TURISAS and DANIEL LIONEYE.
Tickets for the "FEARnet and Decibel Presents: Creatures From The Black Abyss Tour" will go on sale on October 30, while special preorder tickets and VIP meet-and-greet ticket packages will go on sale tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. local market time exclusively through Artist Arena. Meet-and-greet packages are limited, so fans are encouraged to seize this rare opportunity before it's too late.
"FEARnet and Decibel Presents: Creatures From The Black Abyss Tour" dates:
Feb. 01 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
Feb. 02 - Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom
Feb. 04 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
Feb. 05 - Pomona, CA @ Fox Theater
Feb. 06 - Las Vegas, NV@ House of Blues
Feb. 08 - Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia Live
Feb. 09 - San Francisco, CA@ Regency Ballroom
Feb. 11 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox Theatre
Feb. 12 - Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
Feb. 13 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
Feb. 15 - Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Events Center
Feb. 16 - Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall Ballroom
Feb. 18 - Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
Feb. 20 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
Feb. 21 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
Feb. 23 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Zoo
Feb. 25 - Detroit, MI @ Harpo's
Feb. 26 - Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy
Feb. 27 - Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
Feb. 28 - Quebec City, QC @ Imperial de Quebec
Mar. 02 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
Mar. 03 - New York, NY @ Best Buy Theater
Mar. 04 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium
Mar. 05 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Mar. 06 - Baltimore, MD @ Bourbon Street Ballroom
Mar. 08 - Norfolk, VA @ Norva Theatre
Mar. 09 - Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
Mar. 11 - Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
Mar. 12 - Orlando, FL @ Firestone
Mar. 13 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
Santa Barbara, California metallers DEVILDRIVER have set "Beast" as the title of their fifth album, due on February 22, 2011 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas with producer Mark Lewis (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, ALL THAT REMAINS) and is currently being mixed by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY) at his Backstage studio in Derbyshire, England. The band recorded 14 songs during the "Beast" sessions, with 11 or 12 tracks expected to make the final cut.
Songtitles set to appear on the CD include:
* Dead to Rights
* Hardened
* Bring The Fight (To the Floor)
* Shitlist
* Talons Out (Teeth Sharpened)
* Blur
* You Make Me Sick (Sacred Secrets)
* The Blame Game
* Coldblooded
* Crowns of Creation
* Lend Myself to the Night
"The record is extreme," vocalist Dez Fafara told Revolver magazine. "And it attacks from start to finish. If you liked [2007's] 'The Last Kind Words', this is like that on steroids and crank, driving a Buick Skylark 200 miles an hour straight to Vegas."
"I felt like I was waking up and experiencing a moment of clarity that brought out all these pissed off, negative emotions," Fafara said of making the album. "It's an all-out release of pain.
"It's been a beast of a year and a half, and it's still going," he added.
Regarding the new album's musical direction, drummer John Boecklin stated, "It's interesting to me — it's not the fastest shit we have done, nor the slowest, [but it] just [has] lots of groove. But to me, when people say 'it's got groove,' I think it's a nice way of saying simple and boring these days. We wanted to avoid this.
"Our record has a great contrast of dark riffs, stomp bouncing drums with the right amount of blasts and double bass, and outstanding vocal delivery from Dez that takes it past your average approach of the metal attempt. I'm not talking about reinventing the wheel or nothing. I just think our new album sits in its own corner from any of our other albums."
DEVILDRIVER's latest CD, "Pray For Villains", sold around 14,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 35 on The Billboard 200 chart.
DEVIL, the Norwegian heavy doom rock band featuring members of VESEN, RIKETS CRUST, CEASE.AND.DESIST, FUCK YOU ALL and FAUSTCOVEN, has posted three songs from its "Magister Mundi Xum" demo on the group's MySpace page.
DEVIL is:
Field Marshal Eric Old - Guitar
Frank Anden - Drums
Tom Lloyd Garret - Bass
S.E. Toliver Murdock - Guitar
Jimmy C. Rudabaugh - Vocals
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/devilband.
THE INIQUITY DESCENT, the new extreme-metal project featuring vocalist Mathias "Vreth" Lillmåns of Finnish folk metallers FINNTROLL, has set "Trust The Serpent" as the title of its debut EP. The CD will contain four songs (out of 11 that were recently tracked) and will be mastered tomorrow (Tuesday, October 26) at Nordic Audio Labs by Sami "Hannu" Koivisto.
"Trust The Serpent" EP track listing:
01. Obedience Torn
02. Decimate, Disintegrate
03. Trust The Serpent
04. Asinine & Absurd
For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.
"Nifelvind", the latest album from FINNTROLL, was released in North America in March via Century Media Records.
"Loneliness In Supremacy", the debut album from VIOLET SUN, the Italian symphonic melodic metal band led by PLATENS/ex-THY MAJESTIE vocalist Dario Grillo, will be released on November 19 via MelodicRock Records. The CD comes with 12 powerful tracks and a deluxe 16-page booklet featuring the outstanding artwork of Ciao Caldas.
Commented MelodicRock Records owner Andrew McNeice: "There is nothing harder in this scene than breaking in a new name, but just as my other signings have impressed, so to did VIOLET SUN. One listen and I called upon Dario to sign up. I wasn't looking for a heavier project to add to the label, but taking each release on its merits, this just screamed out for attention. The production is simply world class. Intense themes, immense arrangements and the power and emotion of the material appealed to me instantly. I am very happy to have such a strong group of artists involved in the label and VIOLET SUN only enhances that."
"Loneliness In Supremacy" track listing:
01. Dust In The Wind
02. Inside Out
03. Midnight [Instrumental]
04. When The Lights Go Down
05. Cross The Line
06. Falling In Love
07. Where Is My Way Home
08. My Flame Still Burns
09. Pray On The Grave
10. Break Your Chains
11. Synthetic Pleasures
12. Loneliness In Supremacy [Instrumental]
"Loneliness In Supremacy" recording lineup:
* Alessandra Amata: Lead Vocals, Piano
* Alex Grillo: Drums, Percussion
* Dario Grillo: Guitars, Vocals, Bass, Keyboards, Backing vocals, Orchestral scores and production.
Guest musicians:
* Giuseppe Finocchiaro: Sax
* Biagio Lentini, Roberto Mauro, Ignazio Gervasi, Alex Grillo, Massimo Grillo, Monica Benevento, Alessia Grillo, Loredana Aureli, Giovanni Palanica, Fabrizio Nocera: Opera Choir
* Lorencè Brahem: Oriental Instruments
Mika Jussila mastered the album in the early days of January 2010 at Finnivox Studios (NIGHTWISH, HIM, STRATOVARIUS, MASTERPLAN) in Helsinki, Finland.
For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.
TRIPTYKON and SABATON are among the newly condirmed artists who will perform at next year's edition of the Helsinki Metal Meeting, set to take place February 17-19, 2011 at the Cable Factory in Helsinki, Finland.
February 17 is Industry Day, featuring a seminar at Virgin Oil Co., with the Finnish Metal Expo scheduled to take place place February 18-19 at Cable Factory.
Scheduled performers:
ACCEPT
TRIPTYKON
SABATON
MYGRAIN
DEATHCHAIN
THE MAN-EATING TREE
DREAMSHADE
BATTLE BEAST
The Finnish Metal Awards gala will take place on Saturday, February 19 as part of the Finnish Metal Expo.
More artists will be announced on October 25.
Tickets for the event will go on sale on November 1.
For more information, visit www.fme.fi.
Tom Trakas of the None But My Own blog recently conducted an interview with current TRIPTYKON and former HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST singer, guitarist, and main songwriter Tom Gabriel Warrior. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
None But My Own: You're in a unique position to be viewed as a "new" artist, especially here in America. How do you approach this, being perceived as "new?"
Tom Gabriel Warrior: Well, I'm not afraid to work, you know? If I was, I never would have left CELTIC FROST. I knew exactly what I was doing; I knew I'd have to start from scratch again. I'm not dead yet, so I'm here and we will work as hard as we can for however long it takes.
None But My Own: Your decision to leave CELTIC FROST was a huge decision, yet at the end of the day, this day in particular it must mean a lot to be in this position, to know you followed your heart and here you are.
Tom Gabriel Warrior: I had to follow my instinct. That and I know the idiot that broke up CELTIC FROST is back in Switzerland, he's not touring the world, so indeed it is vindication.
None But My Own: Starting with [CELTIC FROST's] "Monotheist" release, you started licensing your music to different companies here and abroad. The initial TRIPTYKON releases are following the same suit, you basically taking control.
Tom Gabriel Warrior: I control everything we do! That's the only way to approach the business these days, you have to be in full control of what it is you do. This is the only way to do things because I don't trust anyone I choose to do it myself. Very simple, really.
None But My Own: This business regimen. Does the past eat at you concerning all the things CELTIC FROST went through?
Tom Gabriel Warrior: It can. I wish this was the way the business was handled back in the '80s but I will say this. There's no way I could have taken control of everything back then. I was too inexperienced in both the business as well as life, too young and immature for that.
None But My Own: When I think back about the improbable climb CELTIC FROST faced in the early to mid-2000s only to be cut down in its second prime, it's hard to comprehend. I mean to come back after the initial hiatus with "Monotheist" was something I never thought I'd see.
Tom Gabriel Warrior: That's because we worked very carefully around that release. We didn't just do it for a check, you know? We had a record company very interested in us coming back, but that didn't matter, we wanted to do it and do it right. We took our time and it didn't matter how long it took to record, it HAD to be the right album and I believe that's why we succeeded. I've looked at TRIPTYKON in the exact same way.
None But My Own: TRIPTYKON has done some festivals and other European touring, you're close to finishing your first U.S. run. Where do you go from here?
Tom Gabriel Warrior: I just want to create music, that's all that matters to me. I know that's such a cliché thing to say, but in my case all I can say is it's very, very true. But exactly where TRIPTYKON can go from here, I have no idea. We're going to be focused on making albums of total quality and that's about as much as I can say for now.
Ryan Shuck (guitar), Amir Derakh (guitar), Bobby Hewitt (drums) and Paige Haley (bass) of ORGY, the "death pop" band from Bakersfield, California, have released the following statement:
"As of October 26, Jay Gordon [vocals] will be leaving the original band ORGY.
"We don't know what this means for the future of ORGY, but we are assuming that Jay intends to release new music under the name ORGY. We don't know if Jay has a new band waiting in the wings to replace us, or if he plans on doing it all on his own — but we do know that Jay is a talented writer, and we are sure that he will come up with something great.
"Over the last few years we have tried to get the band together and tour or write new music — even though we are juggling multiple businesses as well as three original music projects (JULIEN-K, DEAD BY SUNRISE, and CIRCUIT FREQ), we have always been willing to make time for ORGY.
"It saddens us that Jay is choosing to carry on the ORGY name without his brothers that helped build and create that name, but we truly wish him all the best.
"Thank you all for your continued support on the many projects that we are all involved in, and for being our friends, family, and fans over the years."
ORGY wasshot out of the hard-rock cannon in 1998 with the band's platinum album, "Candyass". Its ear-candy hooks, crushing riffs and razor-edge electronic sonics laid the scorched-earth groundwork for 2000's gold "Vapor Transmission" and 2004's "Punk Statik Paranoia". The videos for "Blue Monday", "Stitches" and "Fiction (Dreams in Digital)", meanwhile, created an indelible visual impression of post-punk artifice; the hair, the makeup, the costumes — all conspired to shroud the band in a cloak of dark menace.
After the release of 2000's "Vapor Transmission", ORGY left Reprise Records and had already severed ties with KORN's Elementree Records, which issued ORGY's first two albums. Gordon then started his own independent record label, D1 Music, which released the band's third album, "Punk Statik Paranoia", in 2004.
Norwegian/Mexican symphonic metal band ANCESTRAL LEGACY has issued the following update:
"As it happens, the original members of ANCESTRAL LEGACY (Eddie Risdal, Kjell-Ivar Aarli and Øyvind Rosseland), have found themselves together in a studo this autumn and are now putting the finishing touch on a forthcoming album containing some of the true classics from our jurassic era. Stay tuned and look out for 'Legacy Of Emptiness'! No more details will be revealed yet, but we promise you to be back with more info and sound samples before the end of the year."
ANCESTRAL LEGACY's debut album, "Nightmare Diaries", was released last year via has Femme Metal Records.
ANCESTRAL LEGACY is:
Isadora Cortina - Vocals
Eddie Risdal - Guitar, vocals, synth
Tor Arvid Larsen - Guitar
Anton Dead - Bass
Christopher Vigre - Drums
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/ancestrallegacy.
On Wednesday, October 20, THE OCEAN, who are currently on tour supporting THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN in Europe, were robbed on a highway near Madrid. Said the band in a statement: "Two guys in a black BMW pulled us over with fake police IDs. They asked for our van papers and IDs and wanted to know if we had any money to declare. We were not skeptical at this point, as it is normal in Europe that you have to declare larger amounts of money when you're crossing borders, so we told them we had merch money with us, and the guy wanted to see it. When we showed them the merch wallet, the guy reached through the open window, seized it and ran back to the BMW in front of us, where his colleague was waiting with the engine running. Unfortunately, our van and trailer don't match the speed of a BMW, but fortunately it's not allowed to carry guns in Europe, as otherwise we would be in jail now for shooting the guy in the face.
"We are facing a loss of 6000-plus euros of merch income of the last days and fees. The exact amount is still to be determined.
"As some of you may or may not know, conditions on support tours are usually grim. Fees are low and barely cover expenses for van, gas, highway tolls, ferries etc. There is no accommodation arrangements, we've been crashing out on people's floors for weeks. Losing more than 6000 euros is something we simply cannot afford at this point.
"We are asking everyone who is planning to order [the new THE OCEAN album] 'Anthropocentric' in the next few weeks through our shop to help out. You can do so by donating five euros when you place your order. All income generated through this will make the loss smaller for us.
"Everyone who donates five euros will receive a copy of the police report and a 'thank you' card signed by all band members.
"We would like to thank you in advance for your support!"
On November 22, Century Media will release a box set containing all the releases Swiss metal experimentalists SAMAEL recorded for the label. "A Decade In Hell" will consist of a 60-page booklet plus nine CDs and two DVDs:
* Worship Him
* Blood Ritual
* Ceremony Of Opposites
* Rebellion
* Passage
* Exodus
* Eternal
* Era One
* Lesson In Magic #1
* Black Trip DVD 1
* Black Trip DVD 2
For more information, go to this location.
SAMAEL will release a new EP, "Antigod", on November 19 via Nuclear Blast Records.
The track listing for the effort is as follows:
01. Antigod
02. Into The Pentagram (2010)
03. Reign Of Light (Live)
04. Slavocracy (Live)
05. Antigod (Dark Night Remix)
06. Ten Thousand Years
Three weeks after returning from Germany where the band spent time going over every new song with longtime collaborator Waldemar Sorychta (MOONSPELL, LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT, GRIP INC.), SAMAEL entered the studio on August 10 to begin recording its new album for an early 2011 release.
SAMAEL's latest CD, "Above" (2009), entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 99.
RAM-ZET's Miriam Renvag (also known as SfinX) will make a guest appearance on "Abyss Masterpiece", the fourth album from Portuguese dark/goth metallers HEAVENWOOD, tentatively due in early 2011 via an as-yet-undetermined record label. SfinX will appear on a track titled "Leonor".
Commented HEAVENWOOD: "We felt SfinX's vocals on 'Leonor' as if she was just side by side composing this melodramatic vocal lines for this song with us. She did a really fantastic work… A piece from her heart and soul is absolutely hand-delivered to you by SfinX enigmatic and very emotional voice on 'Leonor'."
"Abyss Masterpiece" was recorded at Ultrasound Studios in Braga, Portugal during August and September 2010 under the guidance of Daniel Cardoso, Pedro Mendes and Ricardo Dias (HEAVENWOOD). Mixing and mastering will take in Germany with a soon-to-be-announced producer.
Commented HEAVENWOOD guitarist Ricardo Dias: "'Abyss Masterpiece' perfectly symbolizes all the feelings that flow on each one of the songs included in this album — an album that will be dark, deep, melancholic, and above all with a very intense sound on which each song have their own soul. We consider 'Abyss Masterpiece' another step forward in HEAVENWOOD's career."
Songtitles set to appear on "Abyss Masterpiece":
* The Arcadia Order
* Fading Sun
* Sudden Scars
* Leonor
* Poem For Mathilde
* Her Lament
* September Blood
* Morning Glory
* Like Yesterday
* Burden
* Winter Slave
HEAVENWOOD's "13th Moon" video can be viewed below. The clip was shot on May 30, 2009 in Braga, Portugal with the production team of Carlos Barros, Rui Correia and Ricardo Coutinho (NomedeCena.com), who are described as "young talented Portuguese video/filmmakers, designers and photographers." The video concept is based on the Zodiac signs.
"13th Moon" comes off HEAVENWOOD's third album, "Redemption", which was released in August 2008. The CD was mixed at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren (OPETH, SOILWORK, AMON AMARTH). The initial recording sessions for the album took place at Ultrasound Studios with Daniel Cardoso and Ricardo Dias. The CD features guest appearances by ANNIHILATOR guitarist Jeff Waters (in the song "Bridge To Neverland"), FIREWIND guitarist Gus G. (in the track "One Step to Devotion") and singer Tijs Vanneste of the Belgian progressive metallers OCEANS OF SADNESS (in the song "Obsolete").
HEAVENWOOD is:
Ernesto Guerra - Vocals
Ricardo Dias - Guitars and Vocals
Bruno Silva - Guitar
Pedro Mendes - Bass
Daniel Cardoso - Session Drummer
Night Of The Vinyl Dead has reissued "Apocalypse Inside", the classic 1993 album from Canadian thrashers SACRIFICE, on limited-edition gatefold vinyl. The 250 hand-numbered copies feature the following track listing:
Side A
01. My Eyes See Red
02. Apocalypse Inside
03. Flesh
04. Salvation
05. Beneath What You See
Side B
01. Incarcerated
02. Ruins Of The Old
03. The Lost
04. Freedom Slave
For more information, go to this location.
War On Music Records released "The Ones I Condemn", the latest album from SACRIFICE, on vinyl for the first time on March 26. It was made available as a limited pressing gatefold LP. The first three albums from SACRIFICE — "Torment in Fire" (1986), "Forward to Termination" (1987) and "Soldiers Of Misfortune" (1990) — were also re-released on vinyl via War On Music Records (on February 26).
For more information, visit www.waronmusic.com.
"The Ones I Condemn" was made available in July 2009 via Brazil's Marquee Records. The CD was recorded at Rouge Valley Studio in Toronto, Ontario with engineer Darius Szczepaniak, who has previously worked with I MOTHER EARTH, SUM 41 and EDWIN, among many others. Guest musicians on the album include Jed Simon (ZIMMERS HOLE, TENET, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, ARMOROS), who "[laid] down a total whammy-bar barrage," and the band's old Scarborough metal comrade Dave Hewson (SLAUGHTER, STRAPPADO), who lent some guest vocals to "The Devil's Martyr".
The Canadian version of "The Ones I Condemn", featuring an exclusive bonus track — a cover of RUSH's "Athem" — is available in the USA through Relapse, Metal Haven Chicago, The End Records and Century Media mailorders.
Dutch extreme metal act CONSPIRACY has just released its third full-length album, "Irremediable", via Pulverised Records. The CD offers 12 warring tracks with artwork (see below) inspired by controversial 17th century artist Félicien Rops.
Previously helmed by sole member Alex "Carpathian Wolf" (formerly known as Al' Hazred of MELECHESH fame), CONSPIRACY now features Wolf alongside German guitarist, composer and orchestrator Aryan Blaze.
Elaborated Wolf on the latest offering: "This time CONSPIRACY doesn't just spit rage and hatred but presents the symphony of sinister entertainment for the elite black metal consumer.
"The material on 'Irremediable' ranges from blackened heavy metal with melodic and harmonious guitar solos to black metal with unorthodox elements, which will pleasantly surprise even the most spoilt listeners.
"The cover art is based on the painting by the Belgian Satanist painter Félicien Rops (1833-1898), which goes really fine with the dark poetry of Aleister Crowley, Charles Baudelaire and some other classical masters.
"As an additional treat, some of the songs that are on 'Irremediable' will feature pre-recorded drum performances by Dirk Verbeuren (ABORTED, SOILWORK, SCARVE, etc.) taken from 'The Library Of The Extreme - Blasts & Fills by Toontrack'."
"Irremediable" track listing:
01. Nocturnal Hunters
02. Ouverture (instrumental)
03. Black Mass
04. End Of Religion
05. Pentagram
06. The Invocation Of Hecate
07. Irremediable
08. The Hag
09. Armageddon Broke
10. A Dream Of Fear
11. Carpathian Sunset (instrumental)
12. Bukovina
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/metalconspiracy.
ASESINO — the death metal/grindcore project featuring FEAR FACTORY/DIVINE HERESY guitarist Dino Cazares and ex-STATIC-X bassist Tony Campos (on bass/vocals) — will perform at the Monstros Del Rock festival on Saturday, November 13 at Pico Rivera Sports Arena in Pico Rivera, California.
The festival billing is as follows:
SKA P
SEKTA CORE
VOODOO GLOW SKULLS
LIRAN ROLL
ASESINO
8 KALACAS
LA RESISTENCIA
VIERNES 13
RASKAHUELE
MATAMOSKA
PRO FE CIA
FZ10
MAFIA RUSA
NO MORAL
LA PLEBE
NME
ASESINO's latest album, "Cristo Satanico" ("Satanic Christ"), was issued in the U.S. via Dino's label Odio Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Coridos De Muerte" was recorded at Undercity Studios in Los Angeles and contains "15 songs of filthy perversion, satanism, molestation, rape, sodomy, murder, death, oh, and of course, love," according to a press release. The first single, "Regresando Odio" ("Returning the Hate"), features HATEBREED's Jamey Jasta as El Odio on backing vocals and Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA) as Sepulculo on lead guitar.
ASESINO teamed up with DANZIG, LACUNA COIL, THE HAUNTED and BELPHEGOR for Glenn Danzig's Blackest of the Black Tour, which was revived in November 2006 for a two-week West Coast run.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/asesino.
Maryland-based death/black metallers AURORA BOREALIS recently entered Nightsky Studios to begin recording their sixth album, "Timeline: The Beginning And End Of Everything", for a tentative early 2011 release. The CD, which is being produced by the band's guitarist/vocalist Ron Vento, will mark the recording debut of drummer Mark Green. It will consist of nine tracks and two narratives. The album is a conceptual effort that starts from the beginning of all existence and continues through until the very end of universe and the eventual retraction and rebirth of it all.
Commented Vento: "The CD is what I consider to be a true chronological explanation of how everything was started and what will happen over the next 100 billion years and beyond.
"I try to touch on everything from the Big Bang, to the formation of planets and stars, life in the universe, evolution and creationism, eventual space colonization, the fabric of the universe itself, time travel, other dimensions and species trying to preserve their races. I also explain how I think it all will one day end.
"There are literally hundreds of hours wrapped up into this cd so far and we still have a good ways to go but the release should be out very early 2011.
"The CD will have a limited hard copy run with fairly elaborate package. However, we plan to also put up a link with a ZIP file of the entire package's artwork and layout as well as high-quality lossless audio files on the web site for people who cannot afford to buy the CD.
"I want anyone who wants the CD to have it.
"It's not about making money on this, it's about putting out a great CD and getting into the hands of people who want it."
New video footage from the studio can be viewed below.
AURORA BOREALIS' fourth album, "Relinquish", was released in 2006 on Nightsky Productions. The CD featured Tony Laureano (ANGELCORPSE, NILE, DIMMU BORGIR) on drums and had a running time of 37 minutes.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/auroraborealisofficial.
Finnish death metallers DE LIRIUM'S ORDER have announced the addition of bassist Erkki Silvennoinen (NORTHERN KINGS, AMORAL) to the group's ranks. The band will enter the studio on October 31 to record one song, "Maximum Sentence".
DE LIRIUM'S ORDER's third album will be tracked during February 2011 for a tentative summer release. The mixing sessions will take place between February 7 and February 21 at Seawolf studios.
DE LIRIUM'S ORDER's founding guitarist Juha Kupiainen has been composing new material during the past year, and at the same time, seeking new members to complete the group's current lineup. Joining Kupiainen in DE LIRIUM'S ORDER's latest incarnation are Silvennoinen, guitarist Mika Sundvall, drummer Perttu Kurttila (TRACEDAWN, LITHURIA) and vocalist Jukka Pihlajaniemi (THE UNDIVINE, GHOUL PATROL).
Formed in 1998, DE LIRIUM'S ORDER "embodies unmerciful brutality and insanity put to music," according to a press release. "The band combines grinding blast beats, technical riffs, catchy thrash-lines, obscure melodies and manic guitar leads to create death metal onslaught. In 2003 the band signed a recording contract with Woodcut Records and during the following year the debut album, 'Victim No. 52', featuring Corpse (now DEATHCHAIN) in vocals, was released. This cold-blooded assault received praising response from the critics and death metal fiends worldwide.
"In the beginning of 2007, the band signed with Shadow World Records and the album 'Diagnosis' was released in August, reaching the Finnish charts position #30. This time the vocals were manhandled by Mynni from the leading Finnish death metal act SOTAJUMALA."
"On Divine Winds", the second full-length album from HAIL OF BULLETS — the Dutch death metal band featuring GOREFEST drummer Ed Warby, THANATOS guitarists Stephan Gebédi and Paul Baayens, former PESTILENCE/ASPHYX singer Martin Van Drunen and former HOUWITSER bass player Theo van Eekelen — has entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 75.
Comments the band: "HAIL OF BULLETS soar into the German album charts 'On Divine Winds'!
"We're extremely proud of our first-ever chart entry, and it only makes sense that this would happen in the most metal-minded country in the world.
"We salute our loyal fans for greasing the gears of war; this isn't just our victory but yours as well! Death metal supreme!"
A track-by-track breakdown of "On Divine Winds" can be found on the Metal-Hammer.de web site.
"On Divine Winds" was released in North America on October 12 via Metal Blade Records (one day earlier internationally). The group recorded 11 songs plus an intro for the CD, which, like its predecessor, was produced by Ed Warby was mixed by Swedish producer/multi-instrumentalist Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE).
HAIL OF BULLETS' debut album "…Of Frost And War" was a concept album about the Eastern front war of Germany. "On Divine Winds" is another concept effort, this time covering the Pacific battles between Japan and the USA.
The album title "On Divine Winds" is a translation of the Japanese word "kamikaze," as kami stands for "God" and kaze means "wind."
"On Divine Winds" features 12 tracks on the limited first digibook edition and 11 song on the regular jewelcase version.
"On Divine Winds" track listing:
01. The Eve Of Battle
02. Operation Z
03. The Mukden Incident
04. Strategy Of Attrition
05. Full Scale War
06. Guadalcanal
07. On Coral Shores
08. Unsung Heroes
09. Tokyo Napalm Holocaust
10. Sugar Loaf Hill (bonus track on limited first digibook edition)
11. Kamikaze
12. To Bear The Unbearable
Comments the group: "December 7, 1941 and October 18, 2010 — two dates that will live in infamy: on the first Japan attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, on the second HAIL OF BULLETS launch their new video for 'Operation Z', a song about this very attack from their crushing new album, 'On Divine Winds'! Combining explosive live footage from the BULLETS' appearance at this year's Summer Breeze festival with authentic WWII footage, the video shows the band captured in full scale war mode by a fearless camera crew. Banzai!"
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