Prior to hitting the stage for the "Mark And Brian Christmas Show" at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles Thursday night, drummer Jason Bonham told KLOS' Sal Cirricione that there is still a chance that we might one day see a DVD release of LED ZEPPELIN's reunion for the Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert at London's O2 Arena in December 2007, with Jason taking his father's place behind the drum kit. "Nothing is official, as yet," Bonham said. "I only know that because Robert [Plant, LED ZEPPELIN singer] had said that he'd watched it. I really do hope that it eventually will see the light of day. It's just nice to know that Robert had seen it, so I knew something, but it was nice that he rang up and said, 'Wow, it sounded great.' Fingers crossed, everybody… fingers crossed."
In a recent interview with U.K.'s Telegraph.co.uk, Plant was asked about the band's 2007 reunion concert. "I really had a wonderful time," said Plant. "It was the best LED ZEPPELIN gig since 1975."
When asked if he would do it again, Plant replied, "I don't think so. You've got to have a lot in common with the people you're working with at this time in your life. Everything has to move on and forward, in all relationships.
"I know that bands that haven't put out a record for 10 years are playing to 20,000 people a night. But that's not the achievement. The achievement is to knock yourself out. It's a very selfish thing. The tail must never wag the dog."
British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN will headline the Swiss edition of the Sonisphere festival, set to take place June 24, 2011 in Basel, St. Jakob. Also scheduled to appear are SLIPKNOT and ALICE COOPER, among others.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
IRON MAIDEN
SLIPKNOT
ALICE COOPER
BRING ME THE HORIZON
IN FLAMES
ARCHITECTS
HATEBREED
For more information, go to this location.
ROB ZOMBIE, WHITESNAKE, JOURNEY, FOREIGNER, SUICIDE SILENCE, FM, GHOST and ALL THAT REMAINS have 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
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.
ROB ZOMBIE 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.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
AGENT STEEL
DAN REED BAND
DESTRUCTION
ELECTRIC WIZARD
FLÄSKET BRINNER
GHOST
GROUNDHOGS
HELLOWEEN
JASON & THE SCORCHERS
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS
JUDAS PRIEST
MASON RUFFNER
MOONSPELL
MUSTASCH
OVERKILL
OZZY OSBOURNE
RAGE (acoustic)
RAUBTIER
RHAPSODY OF FIRE
ROB ZOMBIE
SAXON
STYX
THE DAMNED
THE HAUNTED
WALTER TROUT
SAXON will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its classic album "Denim And Leather" by performing it in its entirety at the event, "spiced with a lot of other immortal SAXON classics and yes, they will bring the eagle!"
MOTÖRHEAD will embark on a North American headlining tour in late January. So far the following dates have been announced:
Jan. 25 - Anaheim CA - House of Blues
Jan. 28 - Reno NV - Knitting Factory
Jan. 29 - Las Vegas NV - HOB
Jan. 31 - San Diego CA - HOB
Feb. 02 - San Francisco CA - Warfield
Feb. 04 - Seattle WA - Sodo
Feb. 05 - Portland OR - Roseland
Feb. 07 - Vancouver BC - Vogue
Feb. 09 - Edmonton AL - EEC
Feb. 10 - Calgary AL - Flames Central
Feb. 12 - Winnipeg MT - Burton
Feb. 15 - Minneapolis MN - 1st Ave
Feb. 16 - Milwaukee WI - Rave Ballroom
Feb. 17 - Kansas City MO - Midland Theatre
Feb. 19 - Chicago IL - Congress
Feb. 20 - St. Louis MO - Pops
Feb. 22 - Grand Rapids MI - Orbit
Feb. 23 - Detroit MI - Royal Oak
Feb. 25 - Kitchener ONT - Elements
Feb. 26 - Toronto ONT - Koolhouse
Feb. 28 - New York NY - Best Buy
Mar. 01 - Boston MA - House of Blues (Avalon)
Mar. 03 - Sayerville NJ - Starland Ballroom
Mar. 04 - Atlantic City NJ - House of Blues
Mar. 08 - Austin TX - Stubb's
Mar. 10 - Tempe AZ - Marquee Theatre
Mar. 11 - Los Angeles CA - Nokia Live
MOTÖRHEAD's new album, "The Wörld Is Yours", will be released in North America on February 8, 2011.
According to BlockShopper.com, Peter Mensch — a co-owner of Q Prime, a talent management company that handles the careers of such artists as METALLICA, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, SHANIA TWAIN and JOSH GROBAN — sold a home at 267 W. 11th St. in New York City for $7.25 million on November 12. The 4,749-square-foot house was built in 1910 in the Greenwich Village Historic District.
In a 2008 interview with the None But My Own blog, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich stated about how METALLICA landed its management deal with Q Prime, "It [was] the summer of '84 and had done a couple of things at that point. We'd done the VENOM tour in Europe [February 84] and recorded 'Ride The Lightning' [album] in Denmark we also did a bunch of dates with TWISTED SISTER in June and then we were back in the States, completely broke. I mean, no money at all. In fact I was still borrowing money from my mom for rent. So where James [Hetfield] and I were living at the time, of course, we didn't have a phone. So we're in July 1984 and I got a message from a guy named Xavier Russell, who was a good friend and one of the first writers at Kerrang! He got a message to me to call him, so I went over to the pay phone and when I had to make overseas phone calls I'd borrow Kirk Hammett's mom's phone card, so I call Xavier in England and he tells me Peter Mensch
wants me to call him . . . Back then we'd be going to record stores and I remember clearly one day we were looking at the DEF LEPPARD record and James and I had this conversation after seeing the back of the album where it said 'Management: Q Prime, Inc.' We saw that and we were like, 'Fuck!,' that just sounds so big time, you know, like polished offices, big conference tables with a bunch of managers sitting around planning every fucking step of DEF LEPPARD's career, just like, you know, how everyone thinks it is now with us! So I get the call and I hear Peter Mensch wants to talk with me and I was like, Fuckin' Peter Mensch.' Oh, my god, this was like getting to talk to the president or something. So I call him up and he was a little rude, [yet] kind of comical, a little obnoxious and certainly sarcastic [and he says], 'If me and partner see one more fucking METALLICA shirt when we're walking around' and 'who are you guys and what are you doing' and
essentially 'we want to meet you.' . . . About a week after the phone call we're playing in New York at Roseland [September 4, 1984] with RAVEN and ANTHRAX was on the bill, too. So yeah, at the time we're with Johnny Z. [as manager] and the day before the show we're staying with this guy named Metal Joe [of the Old Bridge Militia]. So Metal Joe let us borrow his car to drive and meet Peter Mensch's partner, Cliff Burnstein, in Hoboken, New Jersey. So we got directions and we're driving to Hoboken and we're going straight to his house so we figure we're headed to where all the mansions and giant houses are, right? Now Hoboken is a working class neighborhood that looks like every other working class neighborhood in New York/New Jersey, small houses maybe a little on the dirty side, and I don't mean any of this disrespectfully, but we're picturing mansions and golf courses! So we're in Hoboken and I'm thinking I wrote the directions down wrong or
something, we find the street and it's all matching up there's the house and we walk up and knock on the front door. The door opens and this Rasputin Jerry Garcia-looking guy answers the door wearing this smelly old t-shirt and puts out this kind of limp handshake and says, 'Hi, I'm Cliff Burnstein.' We all looked at each other like, 'What the fuck?' It was just so bizarre from what we were expecting, I mean, there's no one in an Armani suit, you know? So we get invited in and the inside of the house was just in shambles and chaos with stacks of shit everywhere with piles of dishes because no one's done them in a week type of thing. So we're sitting with this guy and he was clearly passionate and very smart and wanted to manage us and it blew our minds. In so many ways it was so METALLICA because this guy was so cool and just like us, a nerdy music fan, exactly like the four of us. But we were so wrong with the whole Q Prime Inc. vision of boardrooms
and shit. We played him a copy of 'Ride The Lightning' and then a few weeks later we met his partner [Mensch] in England and he was as unique and charismatic and sort of out there as Cliff Bernstein and off we went, this was the big leagues but we were surprised at the big leagues! They were perfect for METALLICA; they were just like us. . .. Obviously their whole thing is a lot bigger [now] as they've got the CHILI PEPPERS and SHANIA TWAIN, they've had a lot of people come and go, they managed Courtney [Love] for a while, the [SMASHING] PUMPKINS, too. They're not with DEF LEPPARD anymore. But our thing... I mean, I've never been in another band other than METALLICA and I've never, apart from Johnny Z., and god bless him, we've never had any other managers other than Cliff and Peter. So I could never picture being or working with anybody else; it would seem way too odd. Both of them are among my best friends. When we come to New York, we'll go to the
movies or go to dinner, hang out… It's very chill and super-cool."
The members of MEGADETH were presented with double-platinum-award plaques in Sydney, Australia last night (Saturday, December 18) for "The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria" DVD, which sold over 30,000 copies in Australia.
Commented MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson: "Last night was an awesome show in Sydney on the 'No Sleep Til' tour and just before the show we were bestowed with a double platinum award for 'The Big Four: Live In Sofia, Bulgaria' DVD. What a great way to celebrate with our Australian fans who have been so loyal to us all these years."
Video footage of the awards presentation can be viewed below.
The "The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria" DVD and Blu-ray, filmed last June at a concert starring METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX, has reached gold status in Norway, Portugal, New Zealand, and Germany, and double platinum in France and Australia.
"The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard "Top Music Videos" sales chart earlier this month with sales of 22,000 copies. The set also debuted at No. 1 in Canada, the U.K. and Austria, while entering at No. 4 in Germany.
The show was part of a two-week European tour featuring the four biggest names from the Eighties thrash metal era. The idea first came up last year and METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told The Pulse of Radio he was glad to finally see it happen. "It's pretty amazing if you think about it, that it's the first time basically in 25 years or 30 or whatever that the four of us have actually played shows together," he said. "So it was a lot of fun, a lot of memories, a lot of fun times — new fun times, and fun times talking about the old fun times. So it sort of was a, it was a winner on every front."
According to The Pulse Of Radio, VELVET REVOLVER is apparently circling a new vocalist to finally replace singer Scott Weiland, more than two years after the band fired the STONE TEMPLE PILOTS frontman over his erratic behavior. Drummer Matt Sorum told The Pulse Of Radio that after several more auditions the group has finally zeroed in on someone. "We got somebody that we're really liking a lot," he said. "We can't make the announcement yet because we're 'dating,' you know. We haven't consummated the relationship, we haven't sat down this gentleman and made the agreement together, but we're very excited and I think this could be a real turning point for the band. And I know it's been like this long-winded 'oh, VELVET REVOLVER this, VELVET REVOLVER that,' you know — we're tired of it, believe me. But we don't have the ability to just jump out there with any singer. We can't do it."
Sorum added that the potential new singer was a "known guy" who was "younger and stronger."
MANOWAR will play its first U.K. show in years on March 27, 2011 at O2 Academy in Birmingham. It is not presently clear if additional U.K. dates will follow.
MANOWAR bassist and producer Joey DeMaio recently released a new video message in which he offered an update on the status of the songwriting and recording sessions for the band's next album, "Hammer Of The Gods". You can watch it below.
Stated DeMaio: "A couple of people were wanting to know what's going on with the new album, 'Hammer Of The Gods'. Well, the truth is this: [original MANOWAR drummer] Donnie Hamzik is officially back in the band, and that changed everything for us. So all the songs that were written have been completely fucking thrown out, completely ditched — gone, never to be heard from again. The writing has changed because Donnie's back in the band and he's burning like a mad motherfucking demon on drums. So this album is gonna basically sound like I told you before — like somebody put gasoline on your fucking balls and lit it. So it'll be worth the fucking wait, 'cause when it comes, it's coming back."
"Hammer Of The Gods" was previously described as the first installment of "The Asgard Saga", the band's unique multimedia fantasy adventure with best-selling author Wolfgang Hohlbein.
MANOWAR recently decided that its fans deserved to hear the songs from its debut album, 1982's "Battle Hymns", with the massive sound and production that has become the group's signature over recent years and records.
"Battle Hymns 2011" features two never-before-released live versions of "Death Tone" and "Fast Taker" recorded during the band's very first concerts in 1982. These are the rarest bonus materials ever released to date in MANOWAR's career.
MANOWAR's latest DVD in the "Hell On Earth" series was released on November 27, 2009. "Hell On Earth V" covers MANOWAR's recent world tours, including Germany, Norway, Spain, Finland, Russia, Romania, Turkey, USA and Canada. It features live performances of old and new classics such as "Gloves Of Metal", "The Crown And The Ring", "Hand Of Doom", "Hymn Of The Immortal Warrior", "Father", "God Or Man" and many others.
Brian Rademacher of Rock Eyez recently conducted an interview with legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. An excerpt from the chat follows below.
Rock Eyez: You have Christmas coming up. What is one of the things you might want as a gift?
Yngwie Malmsteen: I just bought myself a new Ferrari; it's my fourth one, I'm collecting them now. The best thing I could say; I would like everything to stay the way they are everything is going very well right now. Everything is great. I love what I do, I love my family and if everything could stay this way. I'm happy.
Rock Eyez: Did you ever think as a kid your life would end up this way?
Yngwie Malmsteen: No way, not even a little. Dude, I came to America with as a teenager with a toothbrush and a guitar and my dream was that I wouldn't have to flip burgers on the side. (laughs) If I didn't have to do that, I would be happy if I could make enough money to live day by day making music — that would be it — but things turned out a little differently. Twenty nine years later I could have never imagined in my life things would go so well and things stayed going on so well for so long. I'm extremely pleased; I kiss the pillow every night.
Rock Eyez: What do you feel your biggest accomplishment in music is?
Yngwie Malmsteen: The most rewarding thing is I've never compromised and I've done everything from the heart. I wanted to play honest music and a result of that I've influenced a lot of people. Growing up in Sweden as a kid, they said I wouldn't make it because I was playing off the beaten path, so do speak, I was playing too crazy and too loud and too fucking fast. My music would never be commercial and I said, "This is what I do — take it or leave it." I did everything blood, sweat and tears from the heart and didn't do things to get on the radio. And, yeah, back in the Eighties I wrote a couple more slick tunes; I guess that was a small compromise. I am also happy with the longevity, I'm very happy and blessed with that.
Rock Eyez: How do you feel when a young kid guitarist comes up to you and asks for your autograph?
Yngwie Malmsteen: It's great and awesome. It's happens so much these days I think 'cause of the YouTube thing. I remember people coming up to me and saying, "Hey, man, what band are you in?" and really didn't know me but knew I was in a band. Now they know exactly who I am. I drive down the street and people are holding signs saying, "Hey, fucking Yngwie." I was a little skeptical with the whole YouTube thing and Guitar Hero, but it all ended up being a good thing to me.
As BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported on Novemeber 2, Metal Blade Records has now officially announced the signing of the legendary doom metal act PENTAGRAM. The band, now entering its 40th year anniversary, will release a full-length album titled "Last Rites", in the spring of 2011 featuring all-new tracks, with a DVD to follow in late 2011.
The doomed duo of Bobby Liebling and Victor Griffin has united once again to celebrate the 40th anniversary of PENTAGRAM! Spring 2011 will bear witness to the revered pair's first studio album together in 17 years. Only days out of the sessions, the band will unleash these newborn heavies live! Monstrous new riffs and more will be freed the nights of January 6, at Europa in NYC and January 7, at Club Hell in Providence, Rhode Island. Also playing live with the band will be PENTAGRAM alumni and current full-time bass player Greg Turley with Tim Tomaselli (PLACE OF SKULLS) filling in on drums.
Bobby Liebling comments on working with Metal Blade Records: "I reflect on how PENTAGRAM is coming into its 40th year and how it finally feels like we are entering into the major leagues. With Metal Blade now at our side, it feels like we made the World Series! I'll quote John Lennon from 'A Hard Day's Night' and ask the loyal rivetheads out there, 'Did we pass the audition?'"
Victor Griffin adds; "Neither Bobby nor myself ever imagined we'd play together again. It's an honor to be reunited and celebrate the 40th anniversary of PENTAGRAM, and the 30th anniversary of our musical relationship with a new album on Metal Blade Records! As always, we did it our way…thanks for making us survivors!"
Comments Brian Slagel, Chairman/CEO of Metal Blade Records: "I am very excited to welcome PENTAGRAM to the Metal Blade family. It is really amazing for us to work with such a legendary band and we look forward to a great success!"
Working songtitles set to appear on the CD:
* Walk In The Blue Light
* Horseman
* Virgin Death
* Figure Eight
* Everything's Turning To Night
* Mark My Word
* Sunday's Child
* Old Man
* Thrill Of The Kill
Cult rock legend Bobby Liebling has been churning out genre-defining and highly admired hard rock/doom metal for over 40 years with PENTAGRAM. Within its first decade, the band is largely regarded as co-creating two subgenres of hard rock — heavy metal at the birth of the 1970s and doom towards its death.
PENTAGRAM's classic "Death Row"-era line-up and the band's debut album, "Relentless" (1984), was inducted into Decibel magazine's Hall of Fame in 2010. Guitarist Victor Griffin's invention of the "Drop B" tuning is first heard here. This heavy-handed hallmark went on to influence handfuls of players and defined a subgenre. These numbers recently included Jack White and his band THE DEAD WEATHER who cover "Forever My Queen" (Liebling) live. It was also played on late night talk shows worldwide and even released as a single on White's own Third Man Records.
Ex-DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy has revealed that he made a recent attempt to rejoin his former bandmates but was rebuffed by the group he formed and led for 25 years. Writing on his official forum, Portnoy states, "Just for the record, this is indeed true..
"Fairly recently, I reached out to the guys to try and make amends and offered to reconcile for the sake of having peace back in our lives… (plus I know how much it meant to a lot of the fans…)
"I figured it was still possible to try and save us, because they hadn't made any announcements yet or begun any public activity with another drummer… but sadly, they declined my offer (well, actually their lawyer did… they didn't even tell me themselves….)
"Sorry, gang, I honestly gave it my all…
"So now the fans on my Twitter and Facebook can please stop asking me to go back to DREAM THEATER… I tried, and the door is now shut… The ball is now in their court, not mine…
"I'm not crying or looking for mercy by posting this… I am merely trying to set the record straight as that is always the most important thing about my relationship with you guys… No BS, no spins, nothing to hide… and for better or for worse, I tell it like it is… I've also recently seen some people accuse my online activity of 'looking for attention or media coverage,' or 'looking for sympathy,' but it's honestly none of the above… I merely value having an open and active communication with my fans… Always have, always will… It is the cornerstone of everything I've done since day #1 with DREAM THEATER…
"This was posted here FOR YOU GUYS to know about... here on MY message board on MY website... If it ends up on Blabbermouth or wherever else, that is THEIR choice to spread, I did not request it or send out a 'press release'...
"Anyways, onward and upward...
"I've got a lot of great music and ideas waiting to come out of me and alot of exciting collaborations in the works....so goodbye 2010...bring on 2011!"
AVENGED SEVENFOLD issued a statement late on Friday (December 17) regarding the dismissal of Portnoy, who played on the band's latest album, "Nightmare", and toured with them during the past year following the death last December of original drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan. The band's statement read in part, "For the past few months, we've been blessed with Mike Portnoy's talent and humanity. When Mike agreed to tour with us, it was only through the end of 2010. We always knew we'd need to find another solution for 2011 and beyond. And it's time for us to take that next step."
As for why Portnoy himself was not their man, the statement said, "[Portnoy] is a brilliant writer, producer and, of course, drummer. Because of that, the world and we would always see it as AVENGED SEVENFOLD with Mike Portnoy. We take a lot of pride in AVENGED SEVENFOLD being about something greater then any individuals."
Portnoy himself broke the news via his Facebook page on Thursday, following several days of rumors about his status.
AVENGED SEVENFOLD frontman M. Shadows told The Pulse Of Radio that the band was not happy about the public way in which Portnoy's split with DREAM THEATER was played out, which may have soured Portnoy's relationship with AVENGED. "We were actually a little more shocked," M. Shadows said. "We felt that maybe both parties could have handled it a little more internally without being so press release-happy about what had happened between them. Because we're a band that, really, when it comes to news all over web sites or this or that about bands, you know, we don't tweet much, we don't try to put ourselves out that much, and all the drama and controversy wasn't something that we wanted at all."
In an interview over the weekend with LA Weekly, AVENGED manager Larry Jacobson said, "The plan had always been for Mike Portnoy to play with the band through 2010. Nothing changed there but it was confusing (because) Mike gave interviews suggesting he may be touring with the band beyond 2010."
Brian Fischer-Giffin of Australia's Loud magazine recently conducted an interview with German metal queen Doro Pesch. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
On her first tour of Japan, which took place earlier this year:
Doro: "I heard from some people that back in the '80s, some people who were in charge, they were so traditional and it was a problem that I was a woman. And I thought, 'Really? A woman who screams and does things better? Well, that couldn't be it!' But now, it was no problem at all. The fans were great and there were tons of girls in the audience, and they greeted us with open arms. It was really great, like I'd always heard from so many bands that Japanese fans do so many wonderful things. So now I'm sitting at home in my living room looking at all the little jars and things... it's really awesome."
On her latest DVD release, "25 Years In Rock... And Still Going Strong":
Doro: "The DVD has everything except for three songs that had some technical mistakes that were not fixable because they were on all ten microphones. When I love something, when I feel good about something, I can let the fans hear it or see it. When I don't feel good about something then I think, well if I don't like it, nobody will like it. I try to go totally by feel. On this new DVD, it's seven hours long. But everything from the 25th-anniversary concert is on there except for like three songs, so it's nearly three hours and there's a documentary on there which talks about the concert and has all the great guests and everybody has such stories to tell. And the 2500th show is on there, and the highlights of all the great shows we did last year like Wacken and the Metal Female Voices Fest."
On having members of the SCORPIONS perform at her 25th-anniversary concert:
Doro: "The first time that [WARLOCK] played this huge festival in England at Castle Donington, it was the legendary Monsters of Rock festival and it was in '86 and it was my first time there and I saw the SCORPIONS live and I thought 'Wow!' So I called Rudolf [Schenker, SCORPIONS guitarist] on the phone. I actually called him up and said it was my 25th anniversary and he said, 'Already?', and I said, 'Yes, would it be possible for you guys to come and celebrate?'. And he checked the tour schedule and called me back and said, 'Doro, we are coming!' It was such an honour. I was a little girl when I first saw those guys, and we have played together a couple of times and we always saw each other over the years at different events. It was super. It definitely brought back good memories."
On other guests that appeared at the 25th-anniversary concert, including Tarja Turunen, Jean Beauvoir, Axel Rudi Pell, OVERKILL's Bobby Blitz and Warrel Dane (NEVERMORE, ex-SANCTUARY):
Doro: "My first big tour in America was with MEGADETH and SANCTUARY, and I asked Warrel Dane if he would come and sing an old WARLOCK song with us, and he actually had the longest trek, like 30 hours on so many planes from Seattle... it was a joy to see it all. It was great to see all the guests and musicians, everyone gave it their all. Even at the after show party with all the fans, it just meant so much. And I was 80% there when it was being put together because it was my most concern to make sure everyone looked good. I was in the cutting room making sure that I gave it all back to them in the best shape and form."
On how much she has learned from touring with different types of bands over the years:
Doro: "I definitely had the greatest learning experience when I was on tour with so many great bands in the '80s. My first big tour was with JUDAS PRIEST, and they were my heroes! And my second big tour was with Ronnie James Dio in '87 and then it was the Monsters of Rock festival with all those great bands: MOTÖRHEAD, the SCORPIONS, OZZY OSBOURNE and DEF LEPPARD, and I think in England it was with MOTÖRHEAD and BON JOVI and another band... in Germany it was a little bit of a different lineup, but I had the greatest opportunity to learn from the best! And I always got treated so good."
JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE — a unique trifecta of an amazing rock concert featuring the unforgettable blues-rock of LED ZEPPELIN, an over-the-top video and light show as well as the personal history that Jason Bonham shares in commemoration of his father with the legendary rock n' roll band — just wrapped a successful 39-city North American tour.
The critically acclaimed North American trek stunned audiences and featured Jason Bonham on drums, Tony Catania on guitar and theremin, Michael Devin on bass, Stephen Leblanc on keyboardists/pedal-steel guitars and James Dylan on lead vocals. The tour included a roof-raising, jam-packed show at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood late last month which saw Jason's younger sister Zoe Bonham perform blues-harp on the ZEPPELIN classic "When The Levee Breaks".
"I never imagined we'd receive the reaction we've been getting," explains Jason. "It's beyond my wildest dreams to come out represent my family, my father and the music of LED ZEPPELIN."
Here is the JASON BONHAM LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE setlist from the Los Angeles show.
Set I:
01. "Rock and Roll", (Led Zeppelin IV), 1969
02. "Celebration Day", (Led Zeppelin III), 1970
03. "Black Dog", (Led Zeppelin IV), 1971
04. "Your Time Is Gonna Come", (Led Zeppelin), 1969
05. "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You", (Led Zeppelin), 1969
06. "Dazed & Confused", (Led Zeppelin), 1969
07. "What Is and What Should Never Be", (Led Zeppelin II), 1969
08. "Thank You", (Led Zeppelin II), 1969
09. "The Lemon Song", (Led Zeppelin II), 1969
10. "Moby Dick", (Led Zeppelin II), 1969
Set II:
01. "Good Times Bad Times", (Led Zeppelin), 1969
02. "I'm Gonna Crawl", (In Through The Out Door), 1979
03. "Since I've Been Loving You", (Led Zeppelin III), 1970
04. "When The Levee Breaks", (Led Zeppelin IV), 1971
05. "The Ocean", (Houses Of The Holy), 1973
06. "Over The Hills And Far Away", (Houses Of The Holy), 1973
07. "How Many More Times", (Led Zeppelin), 1969
08. "Stairway To Heaven", (Led Zeppelin IV), 1971
09. "Kashmir", (Physical Graffiti), 1975
Encore:
10. "Whole Lotta Love", (Led Zeppelin II), 1976
Former METAL CHURCH/LILLIAN AXE and current PRESTO BALLET vocalist Ronny Munroe has released his free iPhone app featuring music, videos, photos, tour dates and all the up-to-date and current news. It's available now via the Apple store by typing in the search box "Ronny Munroe". (iPhone app developed by Ignacio Orellana at Digmetalworld.)
Munroe's solo album, "The Fire Within", was released in April 3009 via Rat Pak Records. The singer had 15 original songs to choose from for the CD, which was co-produced by Ronny and former METAL CHURCH guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof.
PRESTO BALLET's new album, "Invisible Places", will be released on February 4, 2011 via SAOL / H'Art / Zebralution. The cover artwork for the CD can be viewed below.
PRESTO BALLET's current lineup consists of Vanderhoof, Munroe, drummer Bill Raymond, keyboardist Kerry Shacklett and bassist Bobby Ferkovich.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/reviewpics/munroeapp.jpg
Former SKID ROW drummer Phil Varone, who recently reunited with his first band, SAIGON KICK, is featured on the cover of the December 2010 issue of Playgirl magazine.
Varone, who claims to have slept with over 3,000 women, is ecstatic about his Playgirl debut. Tattooed, raw and real, this 21st-century man is an actor, standup comedian, author, swinger, rock drummer and can now add Playgirl's first rocker centerfold to his many credits. Varone adds his irreverent edge and fierce sex appeal to the legendary magazine's image, taking the publication to the next level and baring himself completely, down to his swinging lifestyle. He's breaking ground not only as the first rocker to achieve Playgirl centerfold status, but also in bringing rock photographer Todd Kancar to the spread. The magazine will remain on newsstands through February 2011. The extensive 16-page feature consists of hardcore strip downs where Varone's no-holds-barred approach adds a special kind of controversy. In his intimate confessions, he reveals details about his swinging lifestyle in the hope of demystifying the taboos of sex.
"Ignorance toward this lifestyle is only fueled by lack of knowledge," said Varone. "The fact that we have sex with others has nothing to do with the core relationship, in fact it makes it stronger."
Varone is no stranger to the limelight or being known for deviating from the norm. Over the past couple years, he's appeared on a number of television shows, including "The Oprah Winfrey Show", NBC's "The Today Show", "The Tyra Banks Show" and "Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew", a VH1 spinoff of "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew". He's also appeared as a guest star on a number of hit television shows, including "Californication" and "Numbers", and has performed standup at legendary venues like the Improv. Varone has also created and hosts the Sex Stand Up Rock And Roll Show.
"It's great to be channeling my sexual energy in a positive way," said Varone.
Varone's Playgirl debut reveals his naughty by nature ways for which his fans have come to adore him. The tantalizing spread combined with his witty persona breaks him through the status quo without sacrificing his beliefs.
"To be Mr. December just puts the icing on the cake," he said. "I've been having fun with my friends, telling them to address me as Mr. December from this point forward."
Phil recently responded to ex-SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach's claim that Varone's decision to pose nude for an Playgirl is "further proof that the name 'SKID ROW' has completely lost all credibility, cool, accuracy and is now devoid of all meaning in every way." Varone told the New York Post, "I'm grateful and proud of my time in SKID ROW and sorry [Sebastian] feels that way." Playgirl representative Daniel Nardicio defended Varone: "This coming from a man [Bach] who preceded David Hasselhoff in 'Jekyll & Hyde' on Broadway? Now that's the epitome of uncool."
Varone joined SKID ROW in 2000 — about four years after Bach parted ways with the group.
Coming off a triumphant headlining tour in the U.K. last month with support from GRAND MAGUS, CHTHONIC and MALEFICE, Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY have entered Sweet Spot Studio in the south of Sweden to begin recording their new studio album for a tentative May 2011 release via Century Media Records. The CD is being produced by the band and engineered/mixed by Rickard Bengtsson (who previously worked with the group on 2005's "Doomsday Machine").
Commented ARCH ENEMY drummer Daniel Erlandsson: "After an intense but inspiring stay in the studio, I've just completed recording the drum tracks for the upcoming ARCH ENEMY album! We're working once again with Rickard Bengtsson, who produced 'Doomsday Machine', and he quickly dialed in an absolutely pristine drumtone! I've also had the expertise of local drum guru Beppe Wackelin at hand, helping out with tuning and kindly letting me use some of his vintage drums.
"This time around I've used a Pearl Reference drum kit, while incorporating various snare drums on songs that demanded a slightly different feel.
"We had a very inspiring and creative time writing this album. I think this is definitely evident when listening to the new songs. There's tons of variation in the material, ranging all the way from very melodic to extremely heavy.
"As you can expect there's no shortage of killer riffs and intricate guitar work; the Amott brothers [Michael and Chris] have come up with some very cool yet demanding ideas!
"This album has some of the fastest songs I've ever recorded, along with a bunch of heavy pounding mid tempo songs.
"As always, it's difficult to describe music in words, but rest assured — this album will be one heavy fucker!"
Frontiers Records has a February 18, 2011 European release date (February 15 in North America) for PRIMAL FEAR singer Ralf Scheepers' solo debut album, entitled "Scheepers".
Scheepers has built himself quite a reputation for being one of the finest German heavy metal singers. With a career spanning three decades (he debuted with TYRAN PACE's "Eye to Eye" album in 1983), Scheepers sung on true power metal manifesto releases such as GAMMA RAY's first three albums before starting PRIMAL FEAR in 1997 with Mat Sinner. His voice is high-pitched and tenor-esque and his abilities were often compared to some of the finest hard rock and heavy metal singers ever (from Rob Halford to Ronnie James Dio and Ian Gillan). In addition, oth HELLOWEEN and JUDAS PRIEST considered him for the singer position in their respective bands.
Over the years Ralf wrote and collected a few tracks that did not fit exactly in the PRIMAL FEAR concept. As often happens, he was just waiting for the right chance to present itself and that happened when he, his buddy Mat Sinner and Frontiers Records president Serafino Perugino sat together and discussed plans for the future in… 2007! Over three years later and the results are finally here and in Scheepers' words "I'm really proud of the result!"
Scheepers' artistic intention was to please the existing PRIMAL FEAR fan base, but he also wanted to add some surprises and include as much variation as he could in the recording. So he went ahead and covered one of his own favorite — albeit atypical — JUDAS PRIEST songs, "Before the Dawn", and for the first time, Ralf played all instruments on a track, except the fantastic guitar solos added by Victor Smolski (RAGE). "Compassion" is another special track with a very positive vibe, recorded only with acoustic instruments. Two of the songs were composed with former PRIMAL FEAR guitarist Stefan Leibing, while GAMMA RAY's Kai Hansen added guitar on "The Pain Of The Accused". HALFORD's "Metal" Mike Chlasciak played lead guitar on the album opener "Locked In The Dungeon". One more highlight is the vocal duet with Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) on "Remission Of Sin". Additional guest appearances include Sander Gommans
(AFTER FOREVER), Snowy Shaw (KING DIAMOND, THERION, DREAM EVIL) and Scheepers' PRIMAL FEAR bandmates Magnus Karlsson, Alex Beyrodt and Mat Sinner. The album was mixed and mastered by Achim Köhler and produced by Mat Sinner.
"Scheepers" track listing:
01. Locked In The Dungeon
02. Remission Of Sin
03. Cyberfreak
04. The Fall
05. Doomsday
06. Saints Of The Rock
07. Before The Dawn
08. Back On The Track
09. Dynasty
10. The Pain Of The Accused
11. Play With The Fire
12. Compassion
Swedish/British modern metallers SONIC SYNDICATE 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
EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS
FARMER BOYS
HAIL OF BULLETS
HAYSEED DIXIE
J.B.O.
KALMAH
KAMPFAR
KVELERTAK
MARDUK
PRIMORDIAL
SALTATIO MORTIS
SKELETONWITCH
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.
Due to "personal and private issues," former MANOWAR drummer Kenny "Rhino" Earl has left BLACK REIGN, the band featuring vocalist Wade Black (LEATHERWOLF, CRIMSON GLORY, SEVEN WITCHES), guitarist Rick Renstrom (ROB ROCK, LEASH LAW, TIWANAKU) and bassist Rich Marks.
Commented Renstrom: "Albeit short lived, its unfortunate that Rhino has had to leave. Call it what you want, but we can only respect him and wish him all the best. He was only a piece in this puzzle and I am confident we will have some better news very soon."
As a result of Rhino's departure, BLACK REIGN has canceled its previously announced New Year's Eve (December 31) concert at The Cabana Inn in Sarasota, Florida.
In other news, BLACK REIGN has uploaded two new song samples, "Aftermath" and "Creation", to its MySpace page.
BLACK REIGN is working on material for its debut album, "Conflict In Creation", which will feature "12 brand new tracks that tie into an exciting story using historic and fictional themes," according to a press release.
Previous incarnations of BLACK REIGN have included such musicians as Pete Blakk, guitarist for the classic KING DIAMOND lineup that recorded the legendary albums "Them", "Conspiracy" and "The Eye"; and Jesse Martillo (CRIMSON GLORY) on drums.
Swedish hard rockers THE POODLES have completed work on their fourth album, "Performocracy", for an April 15, 2011 release via Frontiers Records. The CD was produced by Mats Valentin and was mixed by Tobias Lindell (EUROPE, MUSTASCH).
"Performocracy" track listing.
01. I Want It All
02. Until Our Kingdom Falls
03. Father To A Son
04. I Believe In You
05. Cuts Like A Knife
06. As Time Is Passing By
07. Love Is All
08. Your Time Is Now
09. Action!
10. Bring Back The Night
11. Vampire's Call
12. Into The Quiet Night
The first single from album is planned for release in late January 2011.
THE POODLES' "No Quarter" CD and "In The Flesh" DVD were released in November through Frontiers Records.
"In The Flesh" is an in-depth look at THE POODLES, featuring interviews with all bandmembers, behind-the stage footage and promotional clips for the "Clash Of The Elements" album. The live CD, plus the previously unreleased song "Lullaby For Jimmy" as a CD exclusive, shows that behind the look and the words there is a solid band playing great music!
THE POODLES' third album, "Clash Of The Elements", was released in Europe on August 28, 2009 via Blistering Records.
The CD entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 5.
THE POODLES in 2008 recruited guitarist Henrik Bergqvist (SOUTHFORK, TIAMAT) to replace Pontus Norgren, who left the group to join HAMMERFALL. The new axeman made his live debut with THE POODLES in June 2008 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden.
THE POODLES is:
* Jakob Samuel - Vocals
* Pontus Egberg - Bass
* Christian Lundqvist - Drums
* Henrik Bergqvist - Guitars
Bassist Oliver "Ollie" Riedel of German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN revealed during an interview with MusikUniverse.net (see video below) that the band's recent concerts in New York and Montreal were filmed for a forthcoming DVD. In addition, the group is planning to release a "best-of" collection in April 2011 featuring two previously unreleased songs.
The Madison Square Garden performance was the only U.S. show by the Berlin-based six-piece band, which had not performed in the United States since 2001. The show was announced September 27, tickets went on sale for the show Friday, October 8 at noon Eastern and before an hour passed, tickets were officially sold out. This made RAMMSTEIN the first German band in history to accomplish such a feat.
RAMMSTEIN first stormed America in 1998, touring with a set based on their Grammy-nominated breakthrough second release, "Sehnsucht", featuring "Du Hast", the song prominently featured in David Lynch's film "Lost Highway".
RAMMSTEIN's latest album, "Liebe Ist Für Alle Da", sold 22,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 13 on The Billboard 200 chart. Previously, the group's best rank came with its 1998 chart debut, "Sehnsucht", which peaked at No. 45 off the strength of its only U.S. radio chart hit, "Du Hast".
"Liebe Ist Für Alle Da" arrived in stores on October 20, 2009 through a marketing and distribution deal with Vagrant Records and Universal Music Germany. The album was produced by Jacob Hellner and RAMMSTEIN, with recording done at Northern California's Sonoma Mountain Studio. The first single from the 11-track release was "Pussy", which was released as a digital single on September 22, 2009 and accompanied by one of the year's most viral videos.
RAMMSTEIN is:
Till Lindemann - Vocals
Paul Landers - Guitar
Richard Z. Kruspe - Guitar
Oliver Riedel - Bass
Christoph Schneider - Drums
Flake Lorenz – Keyboards
AVENGED SEVENFOLD manager Larry Jacobson has told LA Weekly's "West Coast Sound" blog that there is no correlation between drummer Mike Portnoy's departure from the band and the cancelation of the group's participation in the Australian Soundwave festival. He writes, "The plan had always been for Mike Portnoy to play with the band through 2010. Nothing changed there but it was confusing [because] Mike gave interviews suggesting he may be touring with the band beyond 2010. There will be another drummer behind the kit for the band's 'Nightmare After Christmas' tour [in January/February] as well as for the many other dates around the world that are underway into 2011 and beyond. As for Australia, the timing is completely unrelated. If you've read any of the juvenile and public attacks by the [Soundwave] promoter, you can probably figure out why the band had legitimate doubts they could work with him to be able to put on the professional show their fans
expect. They're not in Australia every day so each tour needs to be the best the band has to offer."
AVENGED SEVENFOLD issued a statement yesterday explaining that "we know we are not ready to add another permanent member of AVENGED SEVENFOLD [following last year's passing of drummer Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan]. We don't know if we will ever be. But if we do, it will only be with someone who is not only a brilliant drummer, but also someone we've gotten to know well on the road and off, and who you the fans have had a chance to get to know, and hopefully accept. In other words, in this family, we take these steps together, band and our extended fan family."
The group added, "Mike and the band agree that can't be him. Why? Long before there was an AVENGED SEVENFOLD, there were members of this band who looked up to Mike and, in Jimmy's case, learned a lot from watching Mike play. He is a brilliant writer, producer and, of course, drummer. Because of that, the world and we would always see it as AVENGED SEVENFOLD with Mike Portnoy."
AVENGED SEVENFOLD is slated to hit the road in the U.S. next month as part of the "Nightmare After Christmas" tour, along with STONE SOUR and HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD.
James Sullivan, AVENGED SEVENFOLD's founding drummer, was found dead in his California home last December 28 of a fatal mixture of drugs and alcohol.
Legendary Canadian metallers ANVIL have been added to PRIMAL FEAR's February 27, 2011 concert at Carioca Club in Pinheiros, São Paulo, Brazil.
As previously reported, Swedish fans of ANVIL have launched a Facebook campaign to put the band's classic song "Metal On Metal" at the top of Sweden's single chart in time for Christmas. Dubbed "Anvil Aid", the campaign was started "out of love for and devotion to the band," and is meant to prevent yet another insipid song from the "Idol" reality show and singing competition from hitting No. 1.
To take part in the campaign, all you need to do is to purchase the standalone track "Metal On Metal" on iTunes at a cost of 9 SEK (approximately $1.3).
The campaign started on Wednesday, December 15 and will end on December 22. More than 7,000 people have reportedly already purchased the track, making "Metal On Metal" the No. 1 song in the Swedish iTunes store.
ANVIL recently signed a new recording contract with The End Records. The band is currently recording its new album, entitled "Juggernaut of Justice", at Dave Grohl's (NIRVANA, FOO FIGHTERS) Studio 606 in Northridge, California with famed producer Bob Marlette (BLACK SABBATH, AIRBOURNE, FILTER, ATREYU, ALICE COOPER). A spring 2011 relase is expected. Prior to the arrival of the new CD, The End will release the definitive ANVIL anthology. The collection will be comprised of classics old and new, with some surprises, and will showcase the band's entire career spanning back to 1978.
One cannot think of a better location to loudly celebrate a metal anniversary than the legendary Wacken Open Air festival. German power metallers GRAVE DIGGER never thought twice than to mark their 30th anniversary with a metal extravaganza that would allow their most loyal fans to celebrate with them at the metal Mecca. This once-in-a-lifetime evening delivered the band's classic "Tunes of War" in its entirety. Thousands of headbangers shared in the enjoyment of timeless anthems such as "Scotland United", "The Dark Of The Sun", and, of course, "Rebellion". Staying true to the evening's theme, frontman Chris Boltendahl performed in "Braveheart"-inspired garb. Yet he had more surprises up his sleeve, as he welcomed guest artists VAN CANTO, Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN), and metal queen Doro Pesch to join him on stage.
Due on March 7, 2011 via Napalm Records, "The Clans Are Still Marching" DVD captures the energy of this unique evening and delivers it to living rooms everywhere. The DVD also comprises backstage footage, interviews, the video of "Highland Farewell" and its respective "Making of...", as well as all the live tracks on CD.
Check out the "Rebellion" performance clip from the "The Clans Are Still Marching" DVD below.
DVD
01. Intro: Scotland The Brave (feat. Bauluy Muluy Pipes & Drums Band)
02. Scotland United
03. The Dark Of The Sun
04. William Wallace (Braveheart)
05. The Bruce
06. The Battle Of Flodden
07. The Ballad Of Mary (feat. Doro)
08. The Truth
09. Cry For Freedom
10. Killing Time
11. Rebellion (feat. Hansi Kürsch)
12. Culloden Muir
13. Ballad Of A Hangman
14. Excalibur
15. Heavy Metal Breakdown
Bonus material:
* Behind the scenes
* Interview in English
* Interview in German
* Axel Ritt's iPhone clips
* "Highland Farewell" video clip
* Photo galleries
CD:
01. Intro: Scotland The Brave (feat. Bauluy Muluy Pipes & Drums Band)
02. Scotland United
03. The Dark Of The Sun
04. William Wallace (Braveheart)
05. The Bruce
06. The Battle Of Flodden
07. The Ballad Of Mary (feat. Doro)
08. The Truth
09. Cry For Freedom
10. Killing Time
11. Rebellion (feat. Hansi Kürsch)
12. Culloden Muir
13. Ballad Of A Hangman
14. Excalibur
15. Heavy Metal Breakdown
GRAVE DIGGER's latest album, "The Clans Will Rise Again", was released in Europe on October 1 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded between mid-May and mid-July at the Meadow Studios, which is owned by GRAVE DIGGER's new guitarist Axel Ritt, and Principal Studios, where all of GRAVE DIGGER albums since 1995's "Heart Of Darkness" have been tracked. It was produced by Chris Boltendahl and mixed by Jörg Umbreit.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/reviewpics/graveclansdvd.jpg
Scottish folk/power metal band ALESTORM has issued the following update:
"It is my very great pleasure to announce that on January 10th ALESTORM will be heading to the studio to record our third album, which we're gonna call 'Back Through Time'. It's gonna be an epic adventure through piratical badassery in 11 tracks, with more drunken singalong anthems than you can shake a stick at. There will be songs about midgets. There will be songs about Wisconsin. There will be songs about travelling through time to kill Vikings. And, of course, loads of songs about pirates doing what they do best; kicking your ass and stealing your wenches!
"Lasse Lammert will once again be at the helm of the production, at his LSD Studios in Lubeck, Germany. We'll be there for about a month (one week of recording, three weeks of alcohol abuse), and we're hopefully looking at a release in early summer, in time for us to kick your asses with these songs at all the festivals.
"In no particular order, here's the songtitles that we've got penned for the album:
* The Sunk'n Norwegian
* Shipwrecked (Pure Dead Banjaxed)
* Buckfast Powersmash
* Rum
* Back Through Time
* Swashbuckled
* Death Throes Of The Terrorsquid
* Midget Saw
* Scraping The Barrel
* Rumpelkombo
* Barrett's Privateers
"Of course these are all possibly subject to change, if we go crazy in the studio. There will inevitably also be a silly digipak version with a bunch of daft covers as bonus tracks as well, the exact details of which we'll announce at a later date."
ALESTORM's latest album, "Black Sails At Midnight", landed at position No. 87 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart. The Heatskeers chart 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.
ALESTORM released its debut album, "Captain Morgan's Revenge", in January 2008 through Napalm.
According to a press release, the quartet "plays Scottish 'pirate metal,' by their own definition, and musically resembles the great battle metal bands such as KORPIKLAANI or TURISAS, albeit with a unique touch and Scottish instrumentation."
Former NIGHTWISH frontwoman Tarja Turunen has 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
EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS
FARMER BOYS
HAIL OF BULLETS
HAYSEED DIXIE
J.B.O.
KALMAH
KAMPFAR
KVELERTAK
MARDUK
PRIMORDIAL
SALTATIO MORTIS
SKELETONWITCH
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.
Finnish gothic metallers CHARON have completed work on a new "album demo" called "Pakoilevat Rallit". According to the band, the effort features "songs with mourning melodies, gloomy guitars — and sweeping synths."
"A-Sides, B-Sides & Suicides", the first-ever compilation album from CHARON, entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 21.
"A-Sides, B-Sides & Suicides" was released on June 23. The two-disc set includes almost 40 songs and two and a half hours of music spanning the band's entire career — from its first demo tape to the most recent recordings. In addition to the album cuts, there are outtakes, cover songs and demos.
Italy's OGEN has inked a deal with Kolony Records. The band's first EP, entitled "Black Metal Unbound", is scheduled for release in the spring.
Hartagga will enter Elfo Studio in Tavernago, Italy with producer Daniele Mandelli (FORGOTTEN TOMB, DARK HORIZON) in early 2011. Drums on the effort will be laid down by guest musician Mjøllnir, while all other instruments will be handled by Hartagga himself. "Black Metal Unbound" will also feature a guest appearance by singer George Kosmas (BE'LAKOR).
OGEN was formed in 2010 as a solo project of mastermind Hartagga who had the desire to explore the field of extreme metal, pushing his lifelong musical quest further. The path to follow was clear since the beginning: from the early stages of the project, OGEN was meant to contribute its view and compositions to the ever-changing genre of black metal. With this in mind, the songwriting process started to flow easily, revealing OGEN's ability to forge tunes made of both black metal edges and episodes of not-so-obvious harmonic tapestry. An EP was born, set to firstly declare OGEN's will to provide the world of metal with an enchantingly estranging extreme metal outfit, which never lacks perspective and whose wall of sound, easily more relevant than speed for speed's sake, will take listeners on a trip to the deep heart of forgotten landscapes.
A preview of the upcoming EP is available below.
Gothenburg, Sweden-based metal sextet MARIONETTE has inked a worldwide publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia (MESHUGGAH, SABATON). The band is currently mixing its as-yet-untitled third album at Studio PH in Gothenburg with Pontus Hjelm (DEAD BY APRIL). Songtitles seto appear on the CD include "Something Forgotten", "Remember Your Name", "Stand In Line" and "Lights Out".
Commented Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia's Sanken Sandqvist: "Sweden has continued to produce quality metal acts for over twenty years now. But MARIONETTE stands out above all for its focus on creating quality metal that is innovative and unconventional while putting on an excellent, interactive, live show that is above and beyond what most bands with dudes in jeans and t-shirts can do in concert. We look forward to working with these young guys from Gothenburg and helping them grow to new heights."
Added MARIONETTE guitarist, backing vocalist, and founding member Aron Parmerud: "We are proud to announce that we have signed with Warner Chappell for publishing our previous two albums and our future material. This worldwide deal will give us the support of one of the worlds largest publishing companies, allowing us to focus on creating new and innovative music, which has been our goal since 2005.
"Everyone at the MARIONETTE camp has been 100% focused on the mixing of our third album, which is occurring (as I type) at Studio PH with Pontus Hjelm.
"This album is by far our most mature release to date; there are a lot of new elements we are introducing to the MARIONETTE sound.
"We expect to turn a lot of heads with this release, and so far the response to the new material we played live on our 'The SlaughTour 2010' headline tour of the U.K. and dates with DARK TRANQUILLITY earlier this year was received extremely well, both by MARIONETTE fans and people who have never seen or heard us before.
"After our album is mastered in January, we look forward to getting back on the road and sharing more new material with everyone who sees us live next year."
MARIONETTE's "The SlaughTour 2010" U.K. headline tour and Scandinavian dates with DARK TRANQUILLITY marked the band's first performances with new vocalist Alexander Andersson (ELDRIMNER), who joined the band in the spring.
Reunited California metallers DÉTENTE — whose most recent lineup featured original members Dennis Butler (drums), Caleb Quinn (guitar) and Steve Hochheiser (bass) alongside new vocalist Tiina Teal — have released the following statement:
"Today the Cognitive Records reissue of 'Recognize No Authority' [1986] sold out. With nearly 3,000 copies sold, we would call it successful, given a few years ago DÉTENTE were more of a trivia question (despite selling tens of thousands of copies in the '80s). DÉTENTE's [latest album] 'Decline' has also done well, with over 1,000 sold in the first few months.
"The band has put much work into the reunion and believes that while it has been hard work that it has been a positive experience; having the opportunity to see so many of our friends on our last European tour was especially cool! The fact is, like everyone else, the band has daily responsibilities and the logistics of keeping DÉTENTE moving is no longer possible. While it is conceivable that we could get together for a festival in the future we believe it is time to call it a day.
"Thanks to everyone who has helped along the way, we value your effort and friendships."
"Decline" was released in June in the U.S. via the band's own Cognitive label with MVD Audio distribution. The CD was recorded with engineer Bill Metoyer, who has previously worked with SLAYER, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, D.R.I. and SACRED REICH, among others.
"In God We Trust", the latest video from DÉTENTE, can be viewed below.
Teal joined DÉTENTE as the replacement for Ann Boleyn (HELLION).
Having originally started out behind the kit as a drummer, Tiina has been singing and screaming for the last 10 years. With influences ranging from Jarboe to Nina Simone as well as STRAPPING YOUNG LAD's Devin Townsend, she has collaborated with various musicians and bands in Los Angeles and was named "Best Anti-War Band" with her metal group BURN THE EMPIRE.
"Recognize No Authority" was reissued in July 2007 via MVD Audio.
"Recognize No Authority" was a critically acclaimed recording that maintains a cult following to this day. It was also the launching ground for nu-metal metal producer Ross Robinson (KORN, SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY, SOULFLY) who plays guitar on the album. The CD also marked the first full-length release by FEAR OF GOD's Dawn Crosby, who sadly passed away on December 15, 1996.
Swedish Viking metallers AMON AMARTH have announced the following European headlining tour dates with support from THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER:
May 13 - Oslo, NOR - Betong
May 14 - Stockholm, SWE - Tyrol
May 15 - Gothenburg, SWE - Tradgarn (no THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER)
May 17 - Copenhagen, DEN - Vega
May 18 - Hamburg, GER - Grosse Freiheit 36
May 19 - Antwerp, BEL - Hof Ter Lo
May 20 - Amsterdam, NET - Melkweg
May 21 - Cologne, GER - E-Werk
May 22 - Paris, FRA - Elysee Montmarte
May 24 - Munich, GER - Tonhalle
May 25 - Milan, ITA - Limelight
May 27 - Dessau, GER - Metalfest Germany
May 28 - Mining, AUT - Metalfest Austria
May 29 - Pratteln, SWI - Metalfest Switzerland
AMON AMARTH has set "Surtur Rising" as the title of its eighth studio album, due on March 29, 2011 via Metal Blade Records. Frontman Johan Hegg told Terrorizer magazine, "Obviously, the songs are going to be AMON AMARTH — that's what we've always done — but we wanted to put a little more edge to our sound, so hopefully that's going to come out after the mixing and everything. We've laid down ten tracks, and as is usual for us, every one of them is going to end up on the album."
The drums for "Surtur Rising" were recorded at Park Studios in Stockholm while the rest of the instruments are being laid down at Fascination Street Studio in Örebro, Sweden.
Surtur is a jötunn, a giant in Norse mythology; according to Wikipedia, "Surtur is foretold as being a major figure during the events of Ragnarök; carrying his bright sword, he will go to battle against the Æsir, he will do battle with the major god Freyr, and afterward the flames that he brings forth will engulf the Earth."
AMON AMARTH's seventh full-length album, "Twilight of the Thunder God", sold more than 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 48 on The Billboard 200 chart.
Los Angeles thrashers ANGER AS ART have commenced the songwriting process for their fourth full-length album, tentatively titled "Hubris, Inc." According to guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines, the subject matter will once again "about rising against." He adds, "At this point, I cannot say anything more than it sounds like ANGER, the logical next step after 'Disfigure'. Songtitles set to appear on "Hubris, Inc." include:
* Lead You To Betray
* Divided We Fall
* Speed Kills
* Time Devours Life
* This is Why I Hate
* Head Of The Snake
* The Evil You Create
ANGER AS ART's concert DVD, "Live Dissent", was released this past spring. The disc features footage from the February 21, 2010 concert at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, California, clips of the band on tour in Europe and in the USA, and a segment of the recording process for the "Disfigure" album. It was made available for the first time on Saturday, May 8 at the fifth annual Thrasho de Mayo show in Los Angeles.
ANGER AS ART's third album, "Disfigure", was released in November 2009 via Old School Metal Records. The bulk of the tracking was done at Trench Studio in Corona, California with John Haddad, while the vocals and "extra stuff" was overseen by Chris Trent at CT Audio.
ANGER AS ART's current lineup:
Steve Gaines - vocals, guitar
Angelo Espino - bass guitar
Rob Alaniz - drums
Daniel Oliverio - guitar, vocals
ANGER AS ART's sophomore album, "Callous and Furor", came out on October 31, 2006 via Old School Metal Records.
The Scream Queen recently conducted an interview with vocalist Mitch Lucker of California deathcore masters SUICIDE SILENCE. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
The Scream Queen: You guys are working on a new album... Could you tell me some details about what's going on with that?
Mitch: Yeah. Well, we don't know who's going to produce it. I mean, we don't even have a name for the title of the album yet. But we have songs written. It's going to be another brutal-ass fuckin' SUICIDE SILENCE record. I mean, this one's going to be definitely the hookiest, catchiest of the three that we've done. This one we're really going to push to a whole new... like, take heavy metal, this form of heavy metal, further than anyone's ever taken it, just because all everyone's heads are at right now. It's moreso in the writing process and then having guest vocalists that can actually sing, like in harmonies, just doing all of this crazy stuff. We always do stuff that I know other bands are afraid to do and we're just going to do a whole bunch of that again on this record and just make it that much more badass than everyone else's because we're not afraid to do anything, like making music.
The Scream Queen: When you film the DVD, what is it that you want to translate from the stage to your fans' TV when they watch it?
Mitch: Just the violence that is our live show and on this tour. Like I said, tonight we weren't able to use any of our production because the stage is so small. But at these venues the stage is massive and we're going to have (counts) 3, 6, 9... 12 guitar cabs. But, just being able to do the full thing and have it captured on film, it's just going to be like, "Holy fuck! Look at that!" I remembered seeing pictures of PANTERA's backline, when you watch the "Cowboys From Hell" DVDs, and you're just like, "Oh my God, look at all of those cabs!" And me being that young and seeing that on my TV, where it's like, "Holy shit! Like, that's a concert!! There's like a-hundred speakers behind him!" And then being able to be in those shoes and like give that to someone who was my age and have them be like, "Holy fuck! That's badass!" And that's how I felt about PANTERA when I was that little. And if kids are that young and are feeling that way about our band now,
then that's amazing. You know, that's big shoes to fill, big people to follow; we're just following in their [PANTERA's] footsteps.
The Scream Queen: How do you want SUICIDE SILENCE to be remembered decades from now?
Mitch: I just want to be known as a badass heavy metal band that put on a badass live show. Like, that's it. Think about anytime people have seen SLIPKNOT or like, PANTERA, or even like KORN, it's like, "Oh, that band was badass! And that show was badass!" It's not just like, "Oh, they sound good on CD, but their shows kind of suck." Or "The show's good, but they suck on CD. I want the whole package, badass metal band, badass live show, badass CD's." I just want to be a badass metal band! (laughs)
MORBID ANGEL and BLOWISIGHT 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
BLOWISIGHT
CHILDREN OF BODOM
CRADLE OF FILTH
EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS
HEAVEN SHALL BURN
HAYSEED DIXIE
IN SOLITUDE
JUDAS PRIEST
KHOLD
KNORKATOR
MAYHEM
MORBID ANGEL
MOTÖRHEAD
OZZY OSBOURNE
PRIMAL FEAR
RHAPSODY OF FIRE
RUSSKAJA
SEPULTURA
SKÁLMÖLD
SKI KING
SMACK BALLZ
SODOM
STIER
SUBWAY TO SALLY
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
THE HAUNTED
THE PROPHECY²³
TOKYO BLADE
TRIVIUM
TSJUDER
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS
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.
COLDWORKER — the Örebro, Sweden-based "blasting" death metal band consisting of current and former/current members of such acts as NASUM, RELENTLESS, RUIN and PHOBOS — has entered Soundlab Studios in the group's hometown to begin recording its third album for an early 2011 release. COLDWORKER states, "We're doing the same sort of recording procedure this time as with [2008'a] 'Rotting Paradise' — the drums will be tracked in Soundlab, the guitars in Ülgnor Studios with Johan Berglund, the bass at my home studio A Noble Home and the vocals at Coldworker Studios. We have a few days booked for the drums now and will do the rest early next year. Dan Swanö [EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE] will mix it all at Unisound. We will record 14 songs where one is a cover to be put on the Japanese edition of the album. Some songtitles are 'The Reprobate', 'Flesh World', 'Monochrome Existance', 'Becoming the Stench' and 'The Phantom Carriage'."
The band adds, ""We've been working a long time on these songs and needless to say we are very proud of them and they are definitively 'the next level' for COLDWORKER."
Video footage of COLDWORKER frontman Joel Fornbrant laying down pre-production vocals to a song called "Murderous" can be viewed below.
"Rotting Paradise" was released in the U.S. on May 13, 2008 via Relapse Records.
COLDWORKER is:
Joel Fornbrant - Vocals
Anders Bertilsson - Guitar
Daniel Schröder - Guitar
Oskar Pålsson - Bass
Anders Jakobson – Drum
RATOS DE PORÃO, MALEVOLENT CREATION and YOB are among the first confirmed bands for next year's edition of the SWR Barroselas Metalfest, set to take place April 29 - May 1, 2011 in the small village of Barroselas, in the north of Portugal.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
ABYSSE
ALCEST
BIRUSHANAH
COUGH
DISGORGE
DISHAMMER
FRONTAL
GRIMNESS 69
INHUME
KRUGER
MALEVOLENT CREATION
NECROS CHRISTOS
PURGATORY
RATOS DE PORÃO
SOURVEIN
TODAY IS THE DAY
YOB
For more information, visit www.swr-fest.com.
Carrying on the tradition that it started in 2008, Norway's "anti"-label, Misantrof, has, for the third year, released its "anti"-Christmas compilation. Titled "Holy Fucking ANTIChristmas Volume III", the album takes an irreverent poke and what Christmas has become. This year's compilation contains 15 tracks, of varying genres, all loosely based on the various facets of Christmas, and which have either been newly written and recorded, or adapted, especially for album. Like all Misantrof releases the 15-track "Holy Fucking ANTIChristmas Volume III" is available for free download, together with cover art and information about the bands involved, at this location.
CARPATHIAN FOREST bassist Daniel Vrangsinn, who founded Misantrof in 2007, heads what he calls the "anti" label, which he set up as an alternative way for bands to release music. By making Misantrof entirely non-profit and allowing the bands to keep all the rights to their music and control all decisions regarding their releases, he has offered bands a viable alternative to the established labels, especially at time when few, if any, are willing to take risks with new bands.
Regarding the "ANTIChristmas" albums, Vrangsinn explains: "Christmas has now lost whatever religious significance it had to all but a small handful of people, and it has become an orgy of exploitation where everyone is encouraged to spend money they probably don't have. We just want to give everyone something for free, and hopefully at the same time make people sit back and realise that there are ways to have fun that do not require vast sums of money. All the bands featured have allowed us to use their music for free, even paying their own studio costs — it's a 55-minute reality check on Christmas, from 15 different artists, and made for pure enjoyment and cost-free self-indulgence."
The track listing is as follows:
* 26Z - "Santa Baby"
* A WASTE OF TALENT - "This Shallow World"
* AVVIST - "Unvelkommen"
* ELECTRONIC CHAOS - "We Eat So We Kill"
* PLAAG - "The Genius Of Christmas"
* IGNOTUS - "Existence Nihil"
* PAAL POTET - "Gjaer Faen I Jul'
* THE SMALL PENIS SYNDROMES - "Christmas Penis"
* VRANGSINN - "Your Average Jesus"
* ION VADER - "Resist The NWO"
* JESUS HITLER ONE MAN GANGBANG BAND - "Jesus Der Nacht Der Welt"
* GLOMB - "Nachten"
* RH - "Lamb Song II"
* PHOEBUSNEX - "Stolen"
* NIERTY - "Ballistic Angel" (previously unreleased bonus track)
Swedish black metallers INFUNERAL will release their second album, "Torn From The Abyss", on January 7, 2011 via Blackcrowned Records. According to a press release, the CD contains "eight tracks of fast and majestic black metal played in the Swedish way." The album will be made available on CD and as a limited-edition DVD box (100 copies) containing a sticker and a postcard.
Dutch death metallers SINISTER have announced the addition of bassist Joost van der Graaf (CYPHER, CREEPMIME) to the group's ranks. The band states, "We practiced now a couple of times together and it's going fucking amazing... The band is really happy with him and we cannot wait to show this to you by one of our live gigs."
SINISTER released its new album, "Legacy of Ashes", on December 17 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at Soundlodge studios in Rhauderfehn, Germany with producer Jörg Uken (GOD DETHRONED, OBSCENITY).
"Legacy of Ashes" track listing:
01. Herd Of Damnation (intro)
02. Into The Blind World '
03. The Enemy Of My Enemy
04. Anatomie Of A Catastrophe
05. The Sin Of Sodomy
06. Legacy Of Ashes
07. The Hornet's Nest
08. Righteous Indignations
09. The Living Sacrifice
The limited-edition digipack includes four exclusive bonus tracks.
Swedish death/black metallers APOSTASY have announced the addition of guitarist Peter Huss to the group's ranks. The band states, "Peter Huss has done tons of session/live works and can play any type of music. He will be a great addition to APOSTASY on our upcoming songwriting/recording/live/drinking sessions.
"We're excited to have this amazing guitarist onboard. And the best thing beside his chops is that he's a really nice and easygoing dude with a great sense of humor and great passion for music.
"Peter also plays guitar in the legendary Swedish band SHINING. He has toured with SINERGY in 1999 as a session guitarist, replacing Alexi Laiho.
"Some of the bands/albums Peter has participated on lately are Swedish death metal band RUINED SOUL, Dutch/Belgian death metal band UNLOCKED, Norwegian metal band PANTHEON I, and he did all guitars on the ISSA 'Sign Of Angels' album with monster drummer Uli Kusch, among others."
APOSTASY recently inked a deal with Gothenburg, Sweden's Rambo Music, a division of Gain Music Entertainment (which is distributed and partly owned by Sony Music), for the release of the band's third album, "Nuclear Messiah".
A medley of tracks that will appear on "Nuclear Messiah", which is tentatively due in April 2011, can be heard by clicking on the graphic below.
Vocalist Fredric Edin previously stated about the upcoming CD, "It's been a rocky road for us when we lost [guitarist] Henrik [Johansson], but now we are stronger than ever and can guarantee you folks that this will surely be the most brutal and most technical we have ever made, so what I want to say is: We don't slow down like everybody else does, we just accelerate and make it more brutal. It is worth waiting for!"
Guitarist Ludvig Johansson left APOSTASY in September "for personal reasons." He said in a statement, "It has been a hard decision to make, and there's no hard feelings involved. It's been a great time and I wish all the guys in the band the best luck in their future endeavors."
APOSTASY recently announced the addition of drummer Thomas Olsson (THE PROJECT HATE, KAMTJATKA) to the group's ranks.
APOSTASY made national headlines in Sweden in 2006 when the group's guitarist, Henrik Johansson, was stabbed to death by his girlfriend. At 3:55 a.m. on March 9, 2006, the 19-year-old woman dialed 112 (the Swedish equivalent of 911 in the U.S. or 999 in the U.K.) and said that her boyfriend was lying bleeding on the floor in the couple's apartment in Kramfors, Sweden. When the paramedics and police arrived, Johansson was already dead.
Three years after the release of the band's highly acclaimed fifth album, "Wreath of Thevetat", Finnish black metallers ALGHAZANTH have arisen from the depths and are preparing to unleash their brand new full-length offering titled "Vinum Intus". The album contains 54 minutes of majestic black metal full of grim beauty and burning passion for the "Master." This piece of black art will be unveiled to the world by Woodcut Records on January 1, 2011 as a digipak CD and in February as a gatefold double LP.
"Vinum Intus" track listing:
01. A Living Grave
02. With A Thorn In Our Hearts
03. Only The Reflection Bleeds
04. Under The Arrow Star
05. Our Ascent Of The Tower
06. Wine Within
07. For Thirteen Moons
08. Triunity
09. The Way Of The Scales
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