Ozzy Osbourne has told UsMagazine.com he is "getting a bit sick" of Lady Gaga, saying the pop star is "just too overexposed".
"I do think Lady Gaga should take a break for a little while," Osbourne told the magazine. "She's getting to be too much, and she doesn't watch the exposure of her clothes. She's just too overexposed. I like her, but I'm getting a bit sick of her. When I turn on the TV, I see her wearing another lamp shade or whatever. She needs to take a break, I think, for an hour or so."
"I love her, I think she's really, really entertaining, but she's doing a bit too much," he added. "Every day it is something else. The specialness of her is gonna get killed if she doesn't calm it down. Who manages her? Someone should whisper in her ear and say back off for a couple of months — let people gain interest back. Let people want you, you know?"
During Gaga's February 5, 2010 appearance on Ryan Seacrest's radio show (hear audio below), Seacrest played the singer an excerpt from an interview he conducted with Ozzy in which Osbourne said of Gaga, "She's very clever, very interesting. She's wacky and I like the zaniness of that woman."
According to MTV.com, this news pleased Gaga to no end. "Are you kidding? I'm the biggest BLACK SABBATH fan on Earth!" She even told Seacrest a story about how when she was a go-go dancer, one of her show-stopping numbers was to the SABBATH tune "Black Sabbath".
Lady Gaga talking to Ryan Seacrest about BLACK SABBATH and Ozzy Osbourne:
Legendary rock band WHITESNAKE has set "Forevermore" as the title of its new album, tentatively due at the end of March 2011 via Frontiers Records. Check out the cover artwork below.
Regarding the CD's title, WHITESNAKE mainman David Coverdale stated, "Don't forget, 'tis ONE word. Otherwise it sounds like a bleedin' Valentine's Day card, which it ain't!"
According to a press release, WHITESNAKE's follow-up to 2008's "Good To Be Bad" will be "a solid, natural progression from the band's last opus, which was awarded by the influential Classic Rock magazine as 'Best Album of the Year' in 2008." "As always, we want to take it to the next level," stated David Coverdale. "I feel that with the last album we achieved a strong WHITESNAKE 'cocktail' that comfortably embraced and mixed all the previous musical aspects and styles of the band's history, while taking our identity a little further... all on one album."
"The new songs are in the very familiar and recognizable WHITESNAKE territory of soulful, bluesy, melodic power rock, with a couple of ballads thrown in for good measure," the singer said. "It can't be a WHITESNAKE album without ballads, mate!"
WHITESNAKE recently announced the addition of bassist Michael Devin to the group's ranks.
Devin, 35, most recently played in LYNCH MOB alongside new WHITESNAKE drummer Brian Tichy (FOREIGNER, BILLY IDOL, OZZY OSBOURNE, VELVET REVOLVER).
WHITESNAKE's current lineup is rounded out by guitarists Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach.
All keyboard tracks on "Forevermore" were played by Timothy Drury, who left WHITESNAKE in September in order to "pursue a solo career."
WHITESNAKE was forced to cancel a number of shows on its 2009 summer U.S. tour with JUDAS PRIEST due to David Coverdale being diagnosed with "severe vocal fold edema and a left vocal fold vascular lesion."
Legendary progressive rock veterans URIAH HEEP are tentatively scheduled to enter the studio in January to begin recording a new album for a late 2011 release.
URIAH HEEP recently announced plans to release a new live album, "Official Bootleg Volume II – Live in Budapest, Hungary 2010", containing recordings from the band's May 4, 2010 concert at the Petofi Hall in Budapest Hungary. The band said, "There are going to be many more recordings from around the world, as this will be an ongoing series, giving fans the chance to hear the band in many different countries.
"These recordings are true official bootlegs in every sense and they reflect that nights performance as it happened, totally untouched. You can almost feel that you are at the concert, so put the CD on, turn it up loud, close your eyes and enjoy a night in Budapest with URIAH HEEP."
"Celebration", the latest album from URIAH HEEP, was released in North America on March 16, 2010 via a new deal between DisManic Distribution and Knife Fight Media.
HEEP history has been an extraordinary journey and it was time that their greatest classics were recorded in studio by the lineup playing them live to fans all over the world for more than 20 years.
For "Celebration", the band re-recorded twelve of their most successful songs — classics like "Free Me", "Gypsy", "The Wizard", "Easy Livin'", and, of course, their all-time smash hit "Lady in Black". In addition to that, they composed and recorded two completely new songs as a special gift to their fans: "Only Human" and "Corridors of Madness", two of their best tracks in years.
URIAH HEEP's progressive heavy metal made the British band one of the most popular hard rock groups of the early '70s. Formed by guitarist Mick Box and vocalist David Byron in the late '60s, URIAH HEEP released their debut album "Very 'eavy... Very 'umble" in 1970. Since then the band has released 21 studio albums and played to millions of fans across the globe.
URIAH HEEP remains one of British rock's most consistent and long-standing acts, with album sales of over 30 million worldwide.
2010 was a landmark year for Slash, and the iconic rock guitarist shows no signs of slowing down in 2011 including a return to the arena circuit this winter and a ceremony (date to be announced) to receive his star on Hollywood's iconic Walk Of Fame.
Slash will join Ozzy Osbourne for a five-week U.S. arena tour beginning January 16 in Omaha, Nebraska and wrapping February 22 in Jacksonville, Florida. For the trek with his bandmates Myles Kennedy (lead vocals), Bobby Schneck (rhythm guitar), Todd Kerns (bass) and Brent Fitz (drums), Slash will pull songs from his first-ever true solo album (Dik Hayd Records via EMI Label Services), a certain selection of GUNS N' ROSES tunes, a little VELVET REVOLVER and even some SNAKEPIT gems.
Here's an interview with Slash where he talks about heading out with Ozzy; what fans can expect on the road; shooting the steamy clip "Beautiful Dangerous" with Fergie; and what surprises him most about his career so far.
Q: You and Ozzy have been friends for a long time, he sang one of the songs here on your album, "Crucify The Dead", which you wrote together along with Kevin Churko. You're also going on tour with him in early 2011, which will mark the first official arena tour on this album cycle. Can you talk about your anticipation of these shows?
Slash: "We have done a bunch of arenas, but this will be the first arena tour straight. The thing I am looking forward to most is just working with Ozzy. I have done a lot of gigs with him and we see each other a lot here and there, but to just do a tour with Ozzy, I am looking forward it. Being in a sort of day-after-day arena setting will be interesting. All things considered, I show up and we go for it; I have no definitive expectations on this. I just know it will be a blast. Our band did eight months of touring earlier this year, all the way up until October, so we have the whole rig basically together. For the tour with Ozzy, we are changing some songs out and bringing some new songs in."
Q: Tell us about the song selection for the upcoming tour…what is the balance you are looking to achieve?
Slash: "We do a lot of songs from the new record just because it was so well-received and then we play a certain selection of GUNS N' ROSES songs and a little bit VELVET REVOLVER stuff and even a couple SNAKEPIT songs. We're probably playing from 50 minutes to an hour on this run with Ozzy. We sort of have to squeeze all in, so I will take the highlights of the whole thing and put it all together."
Q: For your current single "Beautiful Dangerous", you teamed up with Fergie of BLACK EYED PEAS. What do you feel she added as a vocalist to the song?
Slash: "Fergie's style and demeanor is a raw and sexy kinda thing, and that is what I was looking for in the song. I thought of her automatically because I'd worked with her before and knew she had a certain rock element with a certain kind of easy charm that nobody was familiar with coming from her."
Q: The video with Fergie is provocative — she slips you a roofie — and it contains some steamy romance scenes. Can you describe the chemistry between the two of you in this video?
Slash: "Fergie and I've been friends for awhile now and have a kinship personality-wise so when I was thinking about doing a video, I called her up and told her we needed a concept and she came back immediately wanting to play an 'overzealous stalker fan.' I just knew what she was talking about and I know she knew GN'R back in the day plus I know she has a perspective on that whole rock-star trip and the kind of fans that become really obsessive. We threw the concept together and she basically ran the show as far as her character. She came out and went for it, like, 'Bam, this is me, I am going to be this,' and I, of course, was going to play myself. It looks steamy, but it was just our vision of what that situation would look like. It was an easy shoot — she is very professional and I would like to think I am professional. We got through a two-location shoot in one day. "
Q: What has surprised you most in your career so far?
Slash: "All things considered, a day doesn't go by where I don't get surprised by something. I love playing music as much as if not more so than I did when I was 19; that compared to most of my peers is pretty surprising. I wake up every day and get really excited about doing stuff that I have been doing for the last 30 years. I just love it."
On December 4, five video game systems were stolen from Carolinas Medical Center in North Carolina. Surveillance cameras captured footage of a man taking the systems, which are used by young patients undergoing cancer treatment.
When MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx heard what happened at the treatment center, he decided to do something about it. With the help of his syndicated radio show "Sixx Sense", Sixx — who was recently involved with the Pablove Foundation for a charity event to fund pediatric cancer research — reached out to Sony, Disney, Activision and Nintendo. As soon as those four companies learned what happened, they rushed to donate replacement consoles as well as games. EA Games and Microsoft also stepped in a big way as well by donating Xbox 360 consoles and games.
According to The Charlotte Observer, Charles Everett Hinton, 45, was arrested Friday afternoon (December 17) after Charlotte-Mecklenburg police issued warrants in the theft. Hinton was charged with burglary, larceny after burglary and damage to property, police said.
No patients were in the treatment center when the systems were stolen, police said.
According to Billboard.com, punk pioneers the RAMONES will receive Grammy Awards for lifetime achievement next year, organizers said on Wednesday. They will receive their statuette at an event in Los Angeles on February 12, a day before the 53rd annual Grammy Awards ceremony is held.
Tommy Ramone is the only surviving member of the original RAMONES lineup — Joey died from lymphatic cancer in 2001, Dee Dee from a drug overdose in 2002, and Johnny from prostate cancer in 2004.
RAMONES' only record with enough U.S. sales to be certified gold was the compilation album "Ramones Mania". Recognition of the band's importance built over the years, and they are now cited in many assessments of all-time great rock music, such as the Rolling Stone list of the "50 Greatest Artists Of All Time" and VH1's "100 Greatest Artists Of Hard Rock". In 2002, the RAMONES were ranked the second-greatest band of all time by Spin magazine, trailing only THE BEATLES. On March 18, 2002, the RAMONES — including the three founders and drummers Marky and Tommy Ramone — were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
MADBALL, CRIMSON GLORY, LIFE OF AGONY and PSYCHOTIC WALTZ have been confirmed for the "Aardschok" stage at next year's Zwarte Cross (Black Cross) festival, set to take place July 15-17, 2011 in Lichtenvoorde, Holland.
The billing for the "Aardschok" stage is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
ANTHRAX
CRIMSON GLORY
DISABUSE
LIFE OF AGONY
MADBALL
PSYCHOTIC WALTZ
Zwarte Cross has grown into one of the most unique festivals in Europe, having welcomed 148,000 visitors in 2010.
For more information, visit www.zwartecross.nl.
"Ironiclast", the debut album from THE DAMNED THINGS — the new band featuring members of FALL OUT BOY (Joe Trohman, Andy Hurley), ANTHRAX (Scott Ian, Rob Caggiano) and EVERY TIME I DIE (Keith Buckley, Josh Newton) — sold 6,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 1 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.
"Ironiclast" was released in North America on December 14 (one day earlier internationally) via Island/Def Jam.
"Ironiclast" track listing:
01. Handbook For The Recently Deceased
02. Bad Blood
03. Friday Night (Going Down In Flames)
04. We've Got A Situation Here
05. Black Heart
06. A Great Reckoning
07. Little Darling
08. Ironiclast
09. Grave Robber
10. Blues Having The Blues
"It's gratifying," Trohman recently told MTV News about the fans' reaction to the new group. "I love the band and love the record, and everybody else in the band loves the band and loves the record, and that's, first and foremost, the most important thing to me. And we all have made music in the past partly for ourselves and partly for other people, so it's nice to see people digging it whether they want to or not. ... I'm actually happy to see that there's people that really, really like it, or don't like it, because of the fact that we're able to invoke some sort of strong feeling. It's a good thing, I think."
"We've Got A Situation Here", the first video from THE DAMNED THINGS, can be viewed below. The clip was written and directed by Brendon Small, the co-creator of Adult Swim's "Metalocalypse".
THE DAMNED THINGS will perform on the Thursday, January 13 episode of ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (which will actually air the morning of Friday, January 14).
THE DAMNED THINGS is:
Keith Buckley: Lead Vocals
Scott Ian: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Rob Caggiano: Rhythm, Lead Guitar, Vocals
Joe Trohman: Rhythm, Lead Guitar, Vocals
Andy Hurley: Drums, Percussion
Josh Newton: Bass
As part of the "Rockin' Christmas Festival" series, Swiss hard rock veterans KROKUS performed last Friday in Bern, Switzerland.
Looking back at a very successful year for the band and this year's concert finale weekend — in the spirit of the season — KROKUS wanted to give back something to the less fortunate and the ones that need our support the most: The children of the world.
This year, Switzerland's "Jeder Rappen Zählt" (English translation:"Every Cent Counts") is collecting money to benefit children who are the victims of war and conflict. This multimedia concept goes out live on radio, TV and online, 24 hours a day for six days.
The idea is as great as it is simple: three presenters live together in a glass box constructed in the square in front of the Swiss federal parliament building in Bern. They welcome celebrity visitors, and collect money for a good cause. Donations are generated by a whole variety of initiatives.
Commented KROKUS bassist Chris Von Rohr: "The suffering of millions of kids on this planet (every day more than 50,000 deaths due to hunger and sickness) is ultimately a failure on our part! Children are our future and all of us have a responsibility to come up with ways to help and support more than ever the ones that are incapable of helping themselves, the weakest of this world — each one of us in their own unique way!"
Prior to the concert, Chris Von Rohr visited the "glass box" and donated on behalf of KROKUS a genuine "Hoodoo" platinum record award (the same one that the bandmembers were presented with last May) that was auctioned off for a good cause in support of kids in Africa.
Added Chris Von Rohr: "We would like to take this opportunity and thank all of you that made this an unbelievable year for KROKUS — your loyalty and your heartfelt support are much appreciated! KROKUS wish you a graceful, peaceful and happy holiday celebration — a wham baba luba bam boom!"
"Hoodoo", the new album from KROKUS, was certified platinum in the band's home country for sales in excess of 30,000 copies. Sony Music presented the bandmembers with their gold and platinum plaques prior to the first concert of the "Hoodoo Tour" on April 30 in Zuchwil.
"Hoodoo", which entered the Swiss chart at No. 1 in its first week of release, was made available in the U.S. on May 25 via SonyMusic Independent Network (SIN). The CD was produced by bassist and founding member Chris Von Rohr and was recorded by Dennis Ward (who previously worked on KROKUS' "Hellraiser" album) at House of Music Studios in Winterbach, Germany, with additional recordings at Pink Bild and Ton (engineered by ex-KROKUS member Jürg Naegeli) in Solothurn, Switzerland and Henson Studios, Los Angeles. Photography, artwork and graphic design was handled by Martin Häusler.
Partnered with Ariola and Arista, KROKUS became an international success and ran up the charts with their hit albums "Metal Rendez-Vous" (1980), "Hardware" (1981), "One Vice At A Time" (1982), "Headhunter" (1983), "The Blitz" (1984) and "Change Of Address" (1986).
DallasObserver.com recently conducted an interview with former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN lighting/guitar technician John Graham. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
DallasObserver.com: You've said that the first tour you did with PANTERA and SKID ROW was one of the greatest times you've had in your life. What stands out in your mind from that period the most?
John Graham: Watching the show from underneath an onstage stairway, with (PANTERA drum tech) Kat Brooks. There was a curtain that blocked us from being seen by the audience, but looking straight across the stage at the show, we were right there. We could see everything. Clearly the best seats in the house. We went all over the world, became pretty close with the SKID ROW guys, and fell victim to an uncountable amount of pranks from Dimebag. It was all great. It's really hard to single out any one thing from that time. Everything about it was an amazing experience.
DallasObserver.com: What did you spend most of your time working on when DAMAGEPLAN was ramping up?
John Graham: One of the most fun things was getting in all of Dime's new gear he had coming from Dean Guitars, and from another company they had called Kettner. Dime and the guys could never remember the exact name, so they were always calling it "Ketchup and Mustard." But this awesome stuff would arrive — amps and gear — and I would set it all up, and start fuckin' around with it, and Dime would call me up and ask what I thought of it. Then he'd come down and try it out. When DAMAGEPLAN first went out on the road, they had another guy doing stage tech work, but he left at some point, and they asked me to jump in and do it.
DallasObserver.com: That, of course, was when tragedy struck, and everything for DAMAGEPLAN came to a grinding halt. Did you go back to real estate and bartending again?
John Graham: I was living with Vinnie Paul [PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer] during that time. I didn't really do much of anything for a while after all that. I was pretty shell-shocked, pretty beat up in the head. Eventually, Vinnie and I started up his label, and I was made vice president of Big Vin Records. The first thing we wanted to do was put out REBEL MEETS REBEL (featuring 3/4 of PANTERA and vocalist David Allan Coe). They had been mixing that record when I re-entered the picture, right before DAMAGEPLAN got started. We really wanted to see what we could do with Hillbilly Orchestra, too.
Three-quarters of NIRVANA's "In Utero" touring lineup — Krist Novoselic (bass), Dave Grohl (guitar, vocals) and Pat Smear (guitar) — reunited on stage for the fist time since 1997 during last night's (Tuesday, December 21) "secret" concert by Grohl's post-NIRVANA band FOO FIGHTERS at Paladino's in Tarzana, California. The trio performed the song "Marigold", which was written and composed by Grohl and was first released on "Pocketwatch", an album Grohl issued under the pseudonym LATE! in 1992.
"Marigold" (originally titled "Color Pictures of a Marigold") is perhaps best known for the version that was recorded and released in 1993 by NIRVANA as a B-Side to the "Heart-Shaped Box" single. A live version was later featured on the FOO FIGHTERS' release "Skin And Bones" in 2006, garnering "Marigold" the notable distinction of being the only song released by both NIRVANA and FOO FIGHTERS, two of Grohl's most distinguished bands.
Novoselic recently recorded a guest appearance on the next album from FOO FIGHTERS, due out in 2011. The CD is being produced by Butch Vig, who helmed NIRVANA's landmark 1991 album, "Nevermind", which also marked Grohl's recording debut with the alternative trio.
Grohl and Novoselic had not recorded together since NIRVANA cut its final song back in 1993, "You Know You're Right".
The new FOO FIGHTERS set will follow up 2007's "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace", which won a Grammy for album of the year. The band went on hiatus after touring behind the disc, as Grohl worked with THEM CROOKED VULTURES.
SLIPKNOT/ROB ZOMBIE drummer Joey Jordison is featured on the cover of the January 2011 issue of Rhythm, the U.K.'s leading magazine for drummers and percussionists. The publication states, "We go behind the mask of multi-talented drum star Joey Jordison to find out about the future of SLIPKNOT, performing with ROB ZOMBIE, resurrecting ghoul rockers MURDERDOLLS and of course topping Rhythm's 'Greatest Drummer Of The Last 25 Years' poll, including a personal thanks from Joey to all who voted.We also get an up-close look at Joey's monster Pearl/Paiste/Remo set-up and pick out our favourite tracks from the metal master's illustrious career so far."
Each issue comes with a huge double-sided Joey poster and a 2011 wall calendar.
In the same issue, FEAR FACTORY's Gene Hoglan talks about his time at the kit with some of extreme metal's seminal acts and reveals all about his monstrous double-bass technique. In addition, Roy Mayorga (STONE SOUR, ex-SOULFLY) picks out his life-defining tracks.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/reviewpics/joeyrhythm.jpg
DREAM EVIL, AVATAR and AMARANTHE have been confirmed for the Rockbåten cruise, which will leave the Gothenburg, Sweden port on March 4, 2011 for Kiel, Germany and return two days later.
For more information, click here.
Driven Music Group, the label created by former KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, has announced a licensing deal with Nuclear Blast Records in Germany for FLOTSAM AND JETSAM's new album, "The Cold". Nuclear Blast will handle distribution and marketing for the album in Europe, Japan and Australia.
Due on February 18, 2011, "The Cold"'s cover artwork, which can be viewed below, was created by Travis Smith, who has previously worked with OPETH, NEVERMORE, AMORPHIS and KING DIAMOND, among others.
Commented drummer Craig Nielsen: "It is with great anticipation and sincere positivity that FLOTSAM AND JETSAM join forces with such a respected and professional record company as Nuclear Blast! This brings tremendous optimism to our future success with 'The Cold'."
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM will perform at club Caradura in Mexico City, Mexico on January 14 and January 15. The band's lineup for the concerts will include guitarists Michael Gilbert and Edward Carlson, who will share the stage for the first time in about 14 years.
"The Cold" was released in North America on September 14.
Swedish metallers STEELWING will support reformed heaby metal legends ACCEPT on their European tour in early 2011.
Commented STEELWING: "There's IRON MAIDEN, there's JUDAS PRIEST and then there's ACCEPT. They have always been one of our favorite bands and biggest influences, so to be able to go on tour with them is not only a good opportunity and a great honor — it's a dream come true for heavy metal fans like us!
"When we got the offer, we were absolutely speechless, but it was a no-brainer...
"We're really looking forward to getting back to Continental Europe to see all our fans and friends again, and hopefully meet a lot of new ones.
"The recordings of our second album might get pushed back a bit as a result of this, but we will definitely deliver it in 2011, so stay tuned, crank the metal and we'll see you all very soon!"
ACCEPT and STEELWING tour dates:
Jan. 14 - Osnabrück (GER), Halle Gartlage
Jan. 15 - Bad Arolsen / Kassel (GER), Outback
Jan. 16 - Antwerp (B), Hof ter Lo
Jan. 18 - Paris (F), Elysee Montmartre
Jan. 19 - Biarritz (F), L`attabal
Jan. 21 - Madrid (E), La Riviera
Jan. 22 - Bilbao (E), Rockstar Live
Jan. 23 - Barcelona (E), Razzmatazz 2
Jan. 25 - Pratteln (CH), Z7
Jan. 27 - Milan (I), Magazzini
Jan. 28 - Tuttlingen (GER), Stadthalle
Jan. 29 - Geiselwind (GER), Eventcentrum Strohofer
Jan. 31 - Stuttgart (GER), LKA
Feb. 01 - Vienna (A), Arena
Feb. 02 - Budapest (HUN), Diesel
Feb. 04 - Krakow (PL), Studio
Feb. 05 - Warsaw (PL), Stodola
Feb. 06 - Wroclav (PL), Eter
Feb. 08 - Hamburg (GER), Große Freiheit
Feb. 09 - Cologne (GER), Live Music Hall
Feb. 10 - Munich (GER), Tonhalle
Feb. 12 - Zlin (CZ), Masters of Rock Cafe
Feb. 15 - Gothenburg (Sweden), Trädgårn
Feb. 16 - Oslo (Norway), Rockefeller
Feb. 17 - Stockholm (Sweden), Arenan
STEELWING was awarded a record deal as part of a contest launched by the Austrian management and booking company Rock The Nation. This unique competition was presented and promoted by all leading European metal magazines, including the German, Italian, Spanish and Greek editions of Metal Hammer; Terrorizer (U.K.); Metallian (France); Scream (Norway); Rock Tribune (Belgium); Spark (Czech Republic); and the Dutch webzine LordsOfMetal.nl.
Danish thrash metal veterans ARTILLERY have entered Medley Studios in Copenhagen to begin recording their sixth album. "My Blood", for a March 21 European release via Metal Mind Productions (April 5 in the U.S. through MVD and March 9 in Japan via King Records). 14 songs are being laid down during the sessions — 10 brand new tracks, a remake of "Ain't Giving In" (from 1992's "Mind Factory" demo) and three bonus tracks which are all new versions of timeless classics from the 1985 album "Fear Of Tomorrow" ("The Eternal War", "The Almighty" and "Show Your Hate").
"My Blood" will feature the following songs, among others:
* The Great Satan
Søren Adamsen (vocals): "It's a song about the decadence of the western society and evil empires all around the world."
* Monster
Søren Adamsen: "A song about serial killers. None in particular."
* Death Is An Illusion
Søren Adamsen: "A track about life and death."
* The End Of Eternity
Søren Adamsen: "Dealing with depression and thoughts about starting a new life."
* Mi Sangre
Søren Adamsen: "It's about my son. It's a seven-and-a-half-minute song, almost an epic endeavor."
* Concealed In The Dark
Søren Adamsen: "Two words — David Sharp. Go search for it on the Internet; it's an interesting story."
* Dark Days
Søren Adamsen: "It's about the change in the climate."
* Warrior Blood
Søren Adamsen: "A song about fighting. Soldiers, prize-fighters, people who are struggling with deadly diseases."
Regarding what fans can expect to hear on the new album, guitarist Michael Stützer says, "The sound is a bit more heavy than it was on 'When Death Comes'. The music is a mixture of our previous albums, 'When Death Comes' and 'By Inheritance', with a slight touch of 'Terror Squad' and 'Fear of Tomorrow' with some oriental pieces." Producer Søren Adamsen adds, "There is an almost rock´n roll feeling in some of the songs."
ARTILLERY's fifth album, "When Death Comes", was released in Europe on June 15, 2009 (via Metal Mind Productions) and in Japan on July 23, 2009 (King Records). The CD, which was issued in North America on August 11, 2009 (through MVD), was recorded at Medley with producer Søren Andersen.
Metal Mind Productions released ARTILLERY's "One Foot in the Grave, The Other One in the Trash" DVD on June 16, 2008 in Europe and August 5, 2008 in the USA (via MVD). According to a press release, the DVD features "a fantastic gig the thrash veterans gave at Metalmania Festival 2008. The outstanding guitar play of brothers Stützer, charismatic Carsten Nielsen's powerful drums and the uncompromising thrash energy of Søren Adamsen's voice ruthlessly hammered their way into the hearts of the headbangers assambled on that occasion.
German thrash metal veterans SODOM have been confirmed for next year's installment of the Summer Breeze festival, set to take place August 18-20, 2011 in Dinkelsbühl, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
ARCH ENEMY
BOLT THROWER
CALIBAN
CORVUS CORAX
DECAPITATED
EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS
FARMER BOYS
HAIL OF BULLETS
HAYSEED DIXIE
J.B.O.
KALMAH
KAMPFAR
KVELERTAK
MARDUK
MOONSORROW
PRIMORDIAL
SALTATIO MORTIS
SKELETONWITCH
SODOM
SONIC SYNDICATE
TARJA
THE HAUNTED
TURISAS
TÝR
VOMITORY
WITCHERY
Tickets can be purchased for 72 euros (excluding pre-sale fees, including parking/camping) at Silverdust-Shop.de. The first 10,000 tickets get a free DVD with live footage and impressions from the 2009 edition of the festival.
FAR AND AWAY, the new project featuring three former members of the Raleigh, North Carolina-based progressive doom metal band CONFESSOR — guitarists Brian Shoaf and Chris Nolan, along with drummer Steve Shelton — will make its live debut on Friday, February 4, 2011 at DIVEbar in Raleigh. Also appearing on the bill is PARASITE DRAG, the "fuzzed-out desert rock" band featuring Cary Rowells (bass; also ex-CONFESSOR) and Marcus Williams (ex-AGE OF DESPAIR).
FAR AND AWAY plans to enter the studio early next year to begin recording material for its debut album. In the meantime, you can hear demo versions of three songs — "Ed Won't Call Me Back", "Drifting" and "Fall" — using the TuneWidget below.
FAR AND AWAY is:
Brian Shoaf - Guitar
Chris Nolan - Guitar
Steve Shelton - Drums
James Dale - Bass
Ed Nicholson - Vocals
Vocalist Scott Jeffreys left CONFESSOR in early 2009 "due to job demands," causing the band to go on "permanent hiatus."
CONFESSOR's "Live in Norway" DVD was recorded in September 2005 in Oslo, Norway and was released in 2006 via Season of Mist.
CONFESSOR released its latest full-length album, "Unraveled", in 2005 via Season of Mist. The CD was produced by Dick Hodgin (ex-CORROSION OF CONFORMITY producer) and is "a wonderful representation of the classic CONFESSOR twisted guitar riffing and complex drumming, meshed with some more straightforward parts and a toned down and very melodic vocal approach," according to Jeffreys.
CONFESSOR split up in the early '90s after releasing one full-length album (1991's "Condemned") and EP (1992's "Confessor"), with the with the rhythm section going on to form FLY MACHINE. CONFESSOR reformed in 2002 following the death of guitarist Ivan Colon, who passed away due to cardiac complications.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna is planning his debut solo tour for sometime in early 2011, possibly in February or March. The singer will play about three weeks of dates in small, intimate venues to support his first solo disc, "Avalon". Erna told The Pulse Of Radio that he wants to make sure that people know the difference between his solo work and GODSMACK. "It really is a separate band," he said. "I mean, I think people need to understand that Sully Erna is more of a brand name than it is my name when it comes to this solo project. It's always gonna be completely separate from GODSMACK. It has no business being in the same area as GODSMACK because it doesn't compete with it. It's a whole different genre of music."
"Avalon" came out on September 14 and is very different from GODSMACK's catalog. It features flutes, cellos, hand drums and other exotic instrumentation, along with female vocals.
Erna emphasized that "Avalon" was "not a rock record" in several online posts and interviews.
The singer hopes to take out the same six or seven musicians who worked with him on the record to recreate it on the road.
GODSMACK's latest effort, "The Oracle", came out earlier this year. The current single is "Love Hate Sex Pain".
Austrian symphonic melodic metallers SERENITY will release their third album, "Death & Legacy", on February 25, 2010 via Napalm Records. The CD was produced by Oliver Philipps, Jan Vacik, Thomas Buchberger and Georg Neuhauser and it features guest appearances by Ailyn (SIRENIA), Amanda Somerville (AVANTASIA, EPICA, KISKE/SOMERVILLE) and Charlotte Wessels (DELAIN). The album was mixed and mastered by Jan Vacik at Dreamsound Studios in Munich, Germany. The artwork was created by Stefan Heilemann (LEAVES' EYES, ATROCITY, SONS OF SEASONS) and it "represents the historical based concept dealing with famous characters such as Galileo Galilei, Sir Francis Drake, Marco Polo and many more," acording to the band. "An angel of of death holding the book of time, symbolizing their legacy."
"Death & Legacy" track listing:
01. Set Sail To… (intro)
02. New Horizons
03. The Chevalier
04. Far From Home
05. Heavenly Mission
06. Prayer (interlude)
07. State Of Siege
08. Changing Fate
09. When Canvas Starts To Burn
10. Serenade Of Flames
11. Youngest Of Widows (limited edition only)
12. Below Eastern Skies (interlude)
13. Beyond Desert Sands
14. To India's Shores (limited edition only)
15. Lament (interlude)
16. My Legacy
Polish progressive metal/rock outfit QUBE has signed a deal with Electrum Production for the European release of its second album, "Incubate". The CD was recorded early this year in Mantis Studio and was released in Poland in the second part of 2010. The album received very positive feedback and the band decided to present its music to wider audience. Thanks to Twilight Vertrieb distribution, "Incubate" will be released Europe-wide on January 21, 2011.
Originating from Lublin, this five-piece mixes progressive and technical elements with hardcore, energetic nu-metal, psychodelic artrock atmosphere, complex shapes and sometimes even funk.
"Incubate" track listing:
01. Nothing
02. Mantis
03. Obsession
04. In The Name Of God
05. Blame
06. Way To Nowhere
TRIPTYKON — the group formed by former HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST singer, guitarist, and main songwriter Tom Gabriel Warrior — has been confirmed for next year's edition of the Graspop Metal Meeting, set to take place June 24-26, 2011 in Dessel, Belgum.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
Friday, June 24:
SCORPIONS
VOLBEAT
JOURNEY
FOREIGNER
ICED EARTH
EPICA
PARKWAY DRIVE
THE DAMNED THINGS
MASTERS OF REALITY
HEAVEN SHALL BURN
SEPULTURA
ANGEL WITCH
KVELERTAK
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
FM
REVOKER
Saturday, June 25:
OZZY OSBOURNE
JUDAS PRIEST
WHITESNAKE
ARCH ENEMY
MOONSPELL
ELECTRIC WIZARD
ADEPT
SPIRITUAL BEGGARS
SUICIDE SILENCE
FIREWIND
GHOST
Sunday, June 26:
SLIPKNOT
ROB ZOMBIE
AMORPHIS
SOILWORK
TERROR
ALL THAT REMAINS
ARCHITECTS
ESCAPE THE FATE
WHILE SHE SLEEPS
Note: It is not presently clear when TRIPTYKON's performance will take place.
German Viking metallers VARG will release their new album, "Wolfskult", on March 4, 2011 via NoiseArt Records. The artwork was created by Thomas Ewerhard and can be seen below. A limited-edition two-CD digipak version of the album will be made available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The track listing is as follows:
CD 1:
01. Jagd
02. Wir Sind Die Wölfe
03. Schwertzeit
04. Wolfskult
05. Naglfar
06. Glorreiche Tage
07. Phönix
08. Blutdienst III
09. Sehnsucht
10. Glutsturm
CD 2 (digipak)
01. Rotkäppchen (feat. Anna Murphy of ELUVEITIE)
02. Aus Der Asche Ins Licht
03. Helden Der Nacht
04. Nichts Zu Fürchten
05. Urd (acoustic version)
06. Verdandi (Wolfszeit acoustic version feat. Masha of ARKONA)
07. Skuld (Skal acoustic version)
08. [Hidden Track]
"Wolfskult" was once again produced by Andy Classen (LEGION OF THE DAMNED, BELPHEGOR, DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER) at Stage One Studios in Kassel, Germany.
Commented the band: "We are still blown away by the killer production which Andy Classen did for the album. The sound is outstandingly amazing, and the main riff of 'Wolfskult' will tear your spine in pieces. A choir of 50 real and true VARG fans and maniacs from Germany and Austria can be heard on 'Wir Sind Die Wölfe' and with the 10-minute epic 'Sehnsucht' we've accomplished the biggest and best piece in music of our history so far!"
Video footage from the studio can be viewed below.
VARG released its sophomore album, "Blutaar", on January 22, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/reviewpics/Varg_Wolfskult.jpg
Santa Barbara, California metallers DEVILDRIVER will release their fifth album, "Beast", 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 was 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 12 tracks making the standard version of the CD and all 14 songs appearing on the special edition, which also comes with a bonus DVD. The special edition includes the band's documentary "You May Know Us From The Stage" (shot by filmmaker Daniel J. Burke, a.k.a. Bruce Wayne) and official music videos spanning DEVILDRIVER's career thus far.
"Beast" special edition track listing:
01. Dead To Rights (4:53)
02. Bring The Fight (To The Floor) (3:33)
03. Hardened (5:46)
04. Shitlist (4:04)
05. Talons Out (Teeth Sharpened) (4:20)
06. You Make Me Sick (5:18)
07. Coldblooded (4:06)
08. Blur (4:58)
09. The Blame Game (4:00)
10. Black Soul Choir (16 HORSEPOWER cover) (5:07)
11. Crowns Of Creation (4:55)
12. Lend Myself To The Night (4:01)
Bonus tracks:
13. Lost
14. Fortune Favors The Brave
15. Grinfucked (live)
"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.
New York hardcore legends AGNOSTIC FRONT have finished recording their new album at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida for a March 4, 2011 European and March 22, 2011 North American release via Nuclear Blast Records. The as-yet-untitled CD (the previously announced title "My Life, My Way" has now apparently been scrapped) features 13 new powerful and anthemic songs laid down by Erik Rutan (MADBALL, GOATWHORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, etc.) under the watchful guide of producer Freddy Cricien of MADBALL. The record was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (SEPULTURA, SUFFOCATION, UNEARTH) in New Windsor, New York.
Commented AGNOSTIC FRONT vocalist Roger Miret: "After all is said and done, we are amazed on how great our new record turned out! It's by far our catchiest record to date and it's going to make everyone want to sing along for sure. Freddy killed it on the production end, just capturing that hardcore vibe that only he can get out of AGNOSTIC FRONT. The boys all put nothing but passion into the songs, and Erik Rutan just dialed it all in to make AGNOSTIC FRONT sound as natural and as organic as ever. This one will definitely be a classic once it's heard worldwide!"
The first edition of Graspop Metal Meeting took place way back in 1986 as a local pop festival with mainly local acts. Two decades later, Graspop has evolved from a small-scale family affair to a major and internationally acclaimed metal event.
KVELERTAK and GHOST have been confirmed to 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
SABATON
TRIPTYKON
SYMFONIA
KVELERTAK
GHOST
TURMION KÄTILÖT
DEATHCHAIN
THE MAN-EATING TREE
MYGRAIN
CORRODED
DREAMSHADE
FOR THE IMPERIUM
BATTLE BEAST
ZEROSCAPE
The Finnish Metal Awards gala will take place on Saturday, February 19 as part of the Finnish Metal Expo.
Artists for the Industry Day at the Virgin Oil Co. will be announced later.
Century Media Records' band contest "Suomi Metal Star" has now advanced to the public voting phase. Voting period ends on December 31 and the four bands that receive the most votes will perform at the "Suomi Metal Star" finals at the Finnish Metal Expo on Saturday, February 19.
For more information, visit www.fme.fi.
RAVENS CREED, the "VENOM-worshipping scumbags" featuring Steve Watson (ex-IRON MONKEY), Jason Graham, former SABBAT bassist Frazer Craske, and newly added vocalist Al Osta (a.k.a. The Syrian Destroyer), will release a brand new EP, "Nestless And Wild" (formerly "Black Bullets"), in January 2011 via Doomentia Records.
The track listing for the EP is as follows:
01. Stampede Of Skeletons
02. Breaking The Lord
03. Shoot The Wounded
04. The Wires Will Kill You
RAVENS CREED previously stated about the upcoming EP, "This is a great way of introducing the new lineup, so [four] tracks that we have already recorded for our second album (the power that dare not speak its name) will be used for the EP and the six songs we've written for the third LP will replace the ones that will be on the EP."
ORANGE GOBLIN's Ben Ward decided to leave RAVENS CREED due to "a lack of available time to commit to the band." He said in a statement, "It has reached the point that I can no longer give [RAVENS CREED] the time and energy that it deserves and I feel that by leaving now it will allow Steve, Jay and Frazer the opportunity to get somebody who is as passionate and dedicated to the band as they all are."
RAVENS CREED's debut album, "Albion Thunder", was released in July 2009 via Doomentia Records. The CD contains 12 songs with a running time of 39 minutes.
Revolver TV recently conducted an interview with the Las Vegas, Nevada-based post-hardcore band ESCAPE THE FATE. You can now watch the chat below.
ESCAPE THE FATE has scheduled a massive amount of North American headlining tour dates that begin on January 20 in Tucson, Arizona and extend all the way into March, finishing on the 12 of that month in San Diego. The announcement of the "Dead Masquerade" tour followed the news that the group pulled out of a European trek with BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE that was supposed to begin last month so that bassist Max Green could enter rehab for drug and alcohol addiction.
ESCAPE THE FATE's self-titled album sold 18,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 25 on The Billboard 200 chart. The video for the CD's first single, "Issues", was directed by Paul R. Brown, who has previously worked with STONE SOUR, SLIPKNOT, MÖTLEY CRÜE, KORN, GODSMACK and AVENGED SEVENFOLD.
ESCAPE THE FATE's "City Of Sin" video can be viewed below. The clip was filmed last month at the group's raucous record-release party at famed Los Angeles strip club Crazy Girls and it showcases ESCAPE THE FATE at its incendiary best flanked by sexy lingerie-clad dancers.
Reactivated California death metal pioneers POSSESSED are looking for a "killer guitarist and bass player." All applicants "must be professional, down to work, [and] able to practice in the Los Angeles area three times per week." Interested parties can contact POSSESSED frontman Jeff Becerra by email at jeffbecerra@live.com. Serious inquiries only please. The first round of try-outs will be held in February.
POSSESSED's most recent lineup featured sole original member Becerra (vocals) backed by musicians from California's SADISTIC INTENT.
In the October 2008 issue of Guitar World magazine, Becerra talked candidly about the 1989 shooting that left him paralyzed from the chest down, his battle with drugs and alcohol, the early days of the Bay Area thrash metal scene and his future as a wheelchair-bound frontman for the death metal legends.
Regarding the robbery that left him paralyzed, Becerra said: "The first bullet went into my chest about six inches above the nipple, went through the lung and stuck on the inside of my spine. I put my hand up as I was going down, and the second bullet clipped the top of my ring finger off. But at least it didn't hit me in the head. So I was on the ground, and the first guy put the gun to my head and pulled the trigger, and the gun jammed — luckily for me, some criminals don't know how to clean their automatic weapons."
On performing at the 2007 Wacken Open Air festival in Germany, Becerra told Guitar World: "The show was amazing, and it was a great way for me to get back into the scene — but I was terrified, just shaking onstage in front of like 60,000 people. It was really emotional for me to be back out there, and I was really hoping that people wouldn't look at the chair and see 'poor Jeff.' I just didn't want to make a fool of myself and of the POSSESSED name — I didn't want to lose the only thing I ever was, you know?"
MORGOTH, TAUTHR and SIRENIA have been confirmed 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.
The festival billing is now shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
ACCU§ER
APOCALYPTICA
AVANTASIA
BLAAS OF GLORY
BLIND GUARDIAN
BLOWSIGHT
CHILDREN OF BODOM
CRADLE OF FILTH
EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS
HEAVEN SHALL BURN
HAYSEED DIXIE
ICED EARTH
IN SOLITUDE
JUDAS PRIEST
KHOLD
KNORKATOR
MAYHEM
MORBID ANGEL
MORGOTH
MOTÖRHEAD
OZZY OSBOURNE
PRIMAL FEAR
RHAPSODY OF FIRE
RUSSKAJA
SEPULTURA
SIRENIA
SKÁLMÖLD
SKI KING
SMACK BALLZ
SODOM
STIER
SUBWAY TO SALLY
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
TAUTHR
THE HAUNTED
THE PROPHECY²³
TOKYO BLADE
TRIVIUM
TSJUDER
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS
VREID
WARRANT
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.
Pete Hammoura, ex-drummer and founding member of the South Carolina death metal band NILE, has launched a new project called PSYCHO SPOON. The group, whose musical style is described by Pete as "raw rock and roll [and] not death metal," is preparing to hit the studio with producer Karl Sanders (NILE guitarist/vocalist) to begin recording its debut CD for a 2011 release.
PSYCHO SPOON was formed in the fall of 2009 by longtime friends and musical collaborators Rick Ballenger (vocals) and Hammoura. They had a clear vision of what they wanted to accomplish with this band, and that was to play rock and roll from the heart. They immediately went to work auditioning players. The lineup was soon rounded out by Gene Jewell (guitar) and Justin Bond (bass). Collaboration ensued and five songs were written in a short period of time, at which point the band entered the studio to lay down the tracks. To perform live shows, the band knew they needed a second guitarist to fill out the sound — this is where Matt Nations stepped into the picture.
PSYCHO SPOON's goal as a band is to continue writing songs and playing to live audiences as often as possible because they are very much a live audience band. You'll be able to tell that they love what they do from the moment they hit the stage. Their purpose is "to lay down pure, live rock and roll!"
REV 16:8 — the Swedish metal band formerly known as BLOODSHED — has inked a deal with Germany's AFM Records. The band's second album, "Ashlands", is scheduled for release on April 8, 2011. The CD was recorded at Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, NOMINON, AVERSE SEFIRA, FUNERAL MIST, MORK GRYNING, ADORIOR) in Alvik, Sweden between May and July 2010 and was mixed and mastered by Sverker Widgren. The cover artwork and layout was handled by Rafael Tavares. Guest vocals on the track "The Chase" were provided by Acerbus of ONDSKAPT.
REV 16:8's "Flame Salvation" video can be viewed below. The clip was shot by Dino Medanhodzic in the old ruins located next to the Haga Park in Stockholm.
"Flame Salvation" comes off REV 16:8's full-length debut, "Grand Tidal Rave", which was released in July 10, 2009 via Temple Of Darkness Records. Check out audio samples on the group's MySpace page.
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