IRON MAIDEN's April 8 and April 10 concerts in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santiago, Chile, respectively, will be professionally filmed and recorded for a future DVD release.
In a recent interview with Chile's Futuro 88.9 FM, IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris stated about the DVD upcoming shoot, "We will record two shows. We will use footage from both concerts for the DVD.
"We have amazing supporters in Chile and Argentina and we want to show more of the audiences from those parts of the world. We already filmed some footage there for the 'Flight 666' movie, but only one song per country was used. We will now have a chance to show much more of the crowds in Chile and Argentina.
"Wherever we go, we are always asked what the best audiences in the world are, and we always say that it is South America — Chile, Argentina and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Now we can show it."
When asked if the setlist for the Buenos Aires and Santiago concerts will be the same as the one the band has been playing on the current "Final Frontier World Tour", Harris said, "The setlist that we are playing is basically the same we have been playing on this tour, what you have been able to see on Internet. The sets that we will do in Chile and Argentina will be the same, but for these two special shows that will be recorded, we have prepared more songs and a bigger production. So what you will see in Chile will be a long and big show."
Regarding how many cameras will be used to capture the performances, Harris said, "I think it will be about 10 or 12. I had always been involved in the production and direction of the concert DVDs in the past, but we are now working with a very good company, the guys who made the documentary 'Flight 666'. They are the ones who are responsible for recording these shows, so for me at least it is a great relief."
IRON MAIDEN was honored with a Grammy in the "Best Metal Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards, which was held on February 13 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. IRON MAIDEN was nominated for the track "El Dorado", from the band's 2010 album "The Final Frontier".
"The Final Frontier" sold 63,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 4.
"The Final Frontier" was IRON MAIDEN's fourth U.K. No. 1 album. The band previously topped the chart in 1982 with "The Number of the Beast", in 1988 with "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" and in 1992 with "Fear of the Dark".
Jeb Wright of Classic Rock Revisited recently conducted an interview with WHITESNAKE/ex-DIO guitarist Doug Aldrich. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Classic Rock Revisited: Are you comfortable saying that you're one of the best [guitarists] out there today?
Doug: Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck are still out there playing their asses off; they are the greats. Eric Clapton is still playing. We just lost Gary Moore, who was one of the best. Then you have Michael Schenker and Uli Roth… these are all masters of the guitar. I appreciate what you are saying but I am actually not comfortable with compliments. I know there are certain things I do well and I just try to do them to the best of my ability. I was working on a song with my buddy Derek Sherinian, who is the keyboard player with BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION. At some point, he is going to do another solo record. Derek is a crazy talented musician. We banged out this song and he put it together and sent it back to me. He came over and he was trying to get me to play a part with him and I was like, "Dude, that is hard. I can't do it. I can fake it and do it my way but I can't do it like you do it." He was fine with that but that just shows that I have to do things my
own way. When I do them that way then I can hang in there.
Classic Rock Revisited: What is your take on David Coverdale's intensity?
Doug: For me, honestly, I am not just saying this because I work with him, when I first heard David Coverdale sing I knew that was the type of voice I wanted in a singer. He has the biggest voice and a giant tone. It is like Eddie Van Halen's Brown Sound on guitar, vocally — David is that special. Last tour, we might have cancelled a couple of dates, but David's voice is back 100%. You never really know what someone is like until you are in a room working with him. Trying to capture David's voice on one little microphone is something that just can't happen. I have never said this before, but you can stick a microphone next to an amp and you can get a sound of what is going on, but you don't quite get the total real sound. When you hear David Coverdale sing in the studio, without a microphone, you realize what a giant voice he has. Ronnie James Dio had a giant voice as well.
Classic Rock Revisited: I have to ask you about Ronnie James Dio. He was instrumental in your career when he hired you to be in his band. Tell me your thoughts on losing Ronnie.
Doug: I saw HEAVEN & HELL dates for 2010 and I thought he must be doing better — that is what made it so hard. I was in touch with Ronnie more about sports than music. He loved the New York Giants. It was football season when he got sick. He had asked me to do a tour at the end of 2009. I told them that if he asked David, and that if he was all right with it, then I would be glad to do it. When he got sick, I tried to talk to him about fun things, like football and stuff, instead of burdening him with questions about his health. I might just ask how he was doing and he would go, "This thing is a real pain in the ass but I am doing better." I got a text when I was out of the country telling me that he was really sick and I called Wendy [Dio] right away and she told me that he was not going to make it. I said, "I am coming back home tomorrow. Do you think he will hang in there that long?" She said, "Definitely, he wants to see you but you need to get
here." I was worried about it so I told my wife to get the baby and go see Ronnie. I'm so grateful I did that. She told him that we loved him and he blinked to her so we know he understood. I didn't get to say goodbye, as he passed away before I could get there. It was a huge loss for metal. I feel lucky to have known him and spend time with him, in addition to playing music with him. One time, we went to a sports bar down the street because I wanted to watch an Eagles game. Ronnie went with me to support me. A longtime mate of his named Willie joined us and there was this big guy who was some sort of actor, and he was for the other team and he just would not let up on me. He kept making all these rude comments and Ronnie finally got pissed off. Ronnie jumped up and went nose-to-nose with this big guy. I was like, "Holy shit." We all got chucked out of the place, but how cool is that, Ronnie stuck up for me.
According to a posting on KISS drummer Eric Singer's official web site, the band has commenced the rehearsal sessions for its new album, tentatively due before the end of the year.
KISS is scheduled to enter the studio this week to begin recording the follow-up to 2009's "Sonic Boom" for a late 2011 release. In a March 10, 2011 interview with DJ JC Green of Alfa Rock 105.7 FM and Metal Messiah Radio's "Heavy Metal Thunder" program, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons stated about the forthcoming CD, "The new record, which we already started working on, is gonna be the next step to 'Sonic Boom'. Very similar — straight rock songs, no ballads, no keyboards, no nothing, just rock. . . A lot of the songs [have been] written by the whole band together, so no outside writers, just the band doing what it did on the first three records — writing the songs ourselves." He added, "We have almost all the songs written. In fact, we have too many songs; we have about 20 to 25 things that look and sound good."
KISS has been rocking out arenas for the last four decades and has become one of the most renowned rock bands in the history of music, with popular songs like "Rock And Roll All Nite" and "Calling Dr. Love". They have sold over 100 million albums worldwide and have continued their incredible success with the release of their latest album, "Sonic Boom", in 2009.
"Sonic Boom" sold 108,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart. This marked the band's highest-charting LP ever.
KISS has notched eight Top 10 albums, according to Billboard.com. Its previous highest-charting set was 1998's "Psycho Circus", which debuted and peaked at No. 3 with 110,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The group's other high-charting sets include 1975's "Alive!" (No. 9), 1977's "Love Gun" (No. 4) and 1992's "Revenge" (No. 6).
"Sonic Boom" was released in Europe on October 5, 2009 via Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records. The CD was made available in the U.S. and Canada on October 6, 2009 exclusively via Wal-Mart, Walmart.com and Sam's Club retail locations.
Former DIO members Rudy Sarzo (bass), Simon Wright (drums), Craig Goldy (guitar) and Scott Warren (keyboards) will join forces with singers Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) and Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS, GUN) to play a number of shows in Europe under the name DIO DISCIPLES.
Because of Sarzo's commitment to BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, James Lomenzo (MEGADETH, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, WHITE LION) will join the band for the European dates until Rudy becomes available.
Wright (AC/DC, DIO, UFO, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, RHINO BUCKET) played drums in DIO for 1990's "Lock Up The Wolves" album. He left the band in 1991 when Ronnie James Dio rejoined BLACK SABBATH. Wright returned to DIO in 1999 and remained the band's drummer until Ronnie's death. Vinny Appice was the DIO drummer from 1993 to 1999.
On guitar is longtime DIO member Craig Goldy (ROUGH CUTT, GIUFFRIA, DAVID LEE ROTH, DIO) who made his DIO debut on 1985's "Sacred Heart" album.
On keyboards is 15-year DIO and HEAVEN & HELL veteran Scott Warren. Scott made his DIO debut on 1996's "Angry Machines" album.
On bass is the multi-talented James Lomenzo (MEGADETH, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, HAIL!, WHITE LION, DAVID LEE ROTH).
On vocals is Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN'S RISING FORCE, BEYOND FEAR, ICED EARTH, HAIL!, CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED).
Joining Owens on vocals from Manchester, U.K. is Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS, FASTWAY, GUN, TOBY AND THE WHOLE TRUTH).
Commented Ronnie James Dio's widow and manager Wendy: "There will never be another Ronnie, but we want to keep his music alive and hope you will support the band and become one of the DIO DISCIPLES.
"We will [announce] the U.K./European tour dates as they are confirmed, and we are planning some U.S. dates also.
"Hope to see you at one of the shows."
Wendy Dio recently revealed to AOL's Noisecreep that Rob Halford (JUDAS PRIEST), Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION), Dave Grohl (FOO FIGHTERS, NIRVANA), Lemmy Kimister (MOTÖRHEAD), Alice Cooper, Sebastian Bach (SKID ROW) and Chris Jericho (FOZZY) are among the artists who will appear on a forthcoming tribute album to Ronnie. Grohl will do the BLACK SABBATH hit "Mob Rules" and Halford will take on "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll". Cooper already has a song in mind, going back to the ELF days, according to Wendy.
"Rainbow In The Dark: The Autobiography Of Ronnie James Dio", the revealing memoir of the heavy metal master, will be published in the spring of 2012 via MTV Books.
With nearly five decades of worldwide success and album sales in the tens of millions as the front man of ELF, RAINBOW, DIO, BLACK SABBATH, and, most recently, HEAVEN & HELL, Ronnie James Dio grabbed the mic, took the stage, and led a movement whose influence resonates to this day. In "Rainbow In The Dark", Dio himself will introduce the reader to this incredible life and the over 50 photographs included will provide readers with an unprecedented all-access pass to the rock concert of a lifetime.
Wendy Dio revealed in a recent interview that Ronnie James Dio's memoir was three-quarters written before the singer's death and that she has until June 2011 to finish it so that it could be released the following spring.
"Everything Ronnie did, lyrics or anything, was always handwritten," Wendy told VH1 Classic Rock Nights. "He didn't do anything on the computer. So he would handwrite it and then he'd give it to me and then I'd give it to my assistant, she'd type it up. So that's how it went and, of course, I'd read it along the way and it's very, very interesting. It's just interesting the way his stories are; he was a storyteller. Ronnie was always a storyteller and it's just great stories."
DEF LEPPARD, Britain's greatest arena rock band, is set to release a brand new live album, "Mirrorball", this summer featuring a mix of live DEF LEPPARD classics (recorded throughout The Sparkle Lounge Tour), three brand new studio songs and a bonus DVD that contains energetic live performances and intimate backstage footage captured on the road. "Mirrorball" is DEF LEPPARD's first ever live album and features rock classics such as "Animal", "Pour Some Sugar On Me", "Photograph", "Nine Lives" and "Rock Of Ages". The album also brings together three brand new studio tracks — "Undefeated", "Kings Of The World" and "It's All About Believin'" — taking their place with ease within this classic setlist.
"When we decided to do (the live album), it just got said — I don't know by who — 'Why don't we chuck a couple of new songs on the end?' " frontman Joe Elliott told Billboard.com. "And that two became three, and in fairness it could've been four if we'd just had a little bit more time. But we wanted to tour this summer, so any fourth or fifth song we had brewing, we'll save them for the next record."
Elliott composed "Undefeated", which he described to Billboard.com as "a very QUEEN-type vocal thing. It even features piano and stuff." Guitarist Phil Collen's "It's All About Believin'" is "a pop-rock song," while bassist Rick Savage's "Kings Of The World" is "a big, epic, rock anthem that will sound great in arenas and stadiums all over the world — kind of 'We Will Rock You' with guitars, if you like."
"They're all very different to each other," Elliott added. "They don't sound specifically like any previous DEF LEPPARD songs, but they sound like DEF LEPPARD songs. They have to have our identity on them, otherwise they might as well be Tom Waits or R.E.M. We have a signature sound that we're not scared of anymore."
"Mirrorball" track listing is as follows:
Disc 1:
01. Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)
02. Rocket
03. Animal
04. C'Mon C'Mon
05. Make Love Like A Man
06. Too Late For Love
07. Foolin'
08. Nine Lives
09. Love Bites
10. Rock On
Disc 2:
01. Two Steps Behind
02. Bringin' On The Heartbreak
03. Switch 625
04. Hysteria
05. Armageddon It
06. Photograph
07. Pour Some Sugar On Me
08. Rock Of Ages
09. Let's Get Rocked
10. Action
11. Bad Actress
12. Undefeated (new studio track)
13. Kings Of The World (new studio track)
14. It's All About Believin' (new studio track)
"Mirrorball" will also be available online, marking the first time the band's music will officially be made available for digital purchase. DEF LEPPARD will also be releasing their new community based website in May, which is being developed to be the ultimate DEF LEPPARD fan experience and go-to destination for all things on the band.
Also set for release this summer is LEPPARD's first coffee table book titled "Def Leppard - The Definitive Visual History", with exclusive photos by legendary rock photographer Ross Halfin. The book is released on June 1.
"Mirrorball" will be released through Bludgeon Riffola/Mailboat Records on the following dates:
Germany, Switzerland, Austria - June 3
Rest Of Europe - June 6
North America - coming this summer, exact date to be announced
Ryan Murphy , creator of the musical TV series "Glee ", finally accepted KINGS OF LEON and FOO FIGHTERS' rejection for the show, but THIN LIZZY guitarist says his band would be happy to have "The Boys Are Back In Town" or "Jailbreak" involved. Scott Gorham tells Artisan News that "it's all publicity. It's all good. Music is music." Check out the video report below.
Elton John recently joined the recent flap over "Glee", slamming artists like KINGS OF LEON, Dave Grohl and Slash who have either refused to allow their music to be used on the show or criticized it outright. Appearing on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" last Thursday night (March 31), Sir Elton said, "Lighten up, you assholes," adding, "It's a compliment when someone records or does one of your songs. It doesn't matter if it's a bad version, it's just a compliment, so I've never lost that thrill. KINGS OF LEON, lighten up guys. Come on."
Murphy arguably got the ball rolling when he slammed KINGS OF LEON after they declined to allow their music on the show. The "Glee" creator called the band "self-centered assholes," leading them to slam him back. He also referred to Slash as someone who is "uneducated and quite stupid."
Dave Grohl lashed out at Murphy as a result, saying, "It's every band's right, you shouldn't have to do fucking 'Glee'. And then the guy who created 'Glee' is so offended that we're not, like, begging to be on his fucking show . . . Fuck that guy for thinking anybody and everybody should want to do 'Glee'."
After a successful world tour of more than 100 concerts all over the globe in support of their latest CD, "Tinnitus Sanctus", German melodic metallers EDGUY have entered the studio to begin recording a new album. Still under the influence of their arena tour as special guests of the SCORPIONS and the latest AVANTASIA world trek (featuring EDGUY's Tobias Sammet and Felix Bohnke), the members of EDGUY feel it's time they squeeze their energy on tape in a recording studio again. This time the band has chosen the famous Peppermint Park studio (SCORPIONS, PHIL COLLINS) in Hannover, which is described by the group as "a recording temple with a tremendously great-sounding room."
Commented Tobias: "We have chosen the Peppermint Park to record the basics there. I had done a few little bits and pieces for AVANTASIA there, but it's so great to record drums and stuff like Hammond B3 with a big bad fat mean Leslie there. The room is big and the sound is mean!
"We were always striving for a powerful but natural sound. I guess we had a good sound recently, but I think there is always room to improve.
"The more I listen to what's going on in the heavy metal world these days, the more I long for drums that sound like drums. I want them to sound powerful without sounding like Atari.
"Sascha and I came to the conclusion that we have to start from scratch and do things the way they have to be done, not the fashionable way. I don't want a distorted master copy, just so it is loud enough on an iPhone or on PC speakers.
"If you talk to your most fancy producer, he will say something like, 'Well, it's the sign of the times, you have to be able to compete in the loudness war...'
"What the fuck?! If I want it to be loud, I turn up the stereo. I want dynamics, room, a real big sound, not that distorted trendy compression.
"Why don't we all move back a little and record great-sounding music, not loud-sounding music?
"Do a Google search for 'loudness war' and you'll see what I mean.
"Whatever.
"The new songs sound great, we have thirteen of them, and we'll pick maybe ten and put them on the album. We have anthemic melodies, although it's not kitsch.
"When you record anthemic music, you tend to be dangerously close to kitsch, it's a fine line and I think we balance on that fine line pretty well.
"To cut a long story a little insignificantly shorter: I just think it is great, and that's what counts. Real music, you know?"
Quality fan-filmed video footage of EDGUY performing the song "Tears Of A Mandrake" at the Rockweekend festival, which was held on July 9-11, 2009 in Kilafors, Sweden, can be viewed below (courtesy of "framednoise").
"Tinnitus Sanctus" sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD debuted at No. 88 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.
"Tinnitus Sanctus" registered the following first-week chart positions in Europe:
Germany: #19
Austria: #50
MASTODON has announced they will be heading across the European continent and more this summer playing festivals from June 4th through July 16th.
All Mastodon tour dates are as follows:
June
4 - Rock Im Park - Nurnberg, Germany
5 - Rock Am Ring - Nuremburgring, Germany
6 – Gruensoan - Hamburg, Germany
7 - FZM - Dortmund, Germany
8 - Die Rohre - Stuttgart, Germany
10 - Sonisphere Festival - Warsaw, Poland
11 - Sonisphere Festival - Prague, Czech Republic
12 - Norweigan Wood - Oslo, Norway
13 - Plenen - Bergen, Norway
17 - Sonisphere Festival - Athens, Greece
19 - Sonisphere Festival - Istanbul, Turkey
21 - Sonisphere Festival - Sofia, Bulgaria
22 - INmusic Festival - Zagreb, Croatia
24 - Sonisphere Festival - Basel, Switzerland
25 - Sonisphere Festival - - San Marino, Italy
26 – Graspop - Dessel, Belgium
28 – Patronaat - Haarlem, Holand
29 – Metropol - Hengelo, Holand
July
1 - Roskilde Festival - Rosklide, Denmark
2 - Sonisphere Festival - Helsinki, Finland
3 - Glav Club - St. Petersburg, Russia
4 - Arena Moscow - Moscow, Russia
6 - Colos-Saal - Aschanffenburg, Germany
8 - Sonisphere Festival - Amneville, France
9 - Sonisphere Festival - Stockholm, Sweden
10 - Sonisphere Festival - Knebworth, UK
12 - C-Club - Berlin, Germany
13 - Metalcamp Festival - Tolmin, Slovakia
14 - Hegyalja Festival - Tokaj, Hungary
16 - Sonisphere Festival - Madrid, Spain
As previously reported, Mastodon: Live At The Aragon hit store shelves March 15th via Reprise Records. It contains a CD and DVD which captures the band's sonic assault recorded and filmed live October 19th, 2009, at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, IL while touring in support of its critically-applauded album, Crack The Skye.
Mastodon is currently writing new material for their next album, with a view to record later this year.
Los Angeles metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH are rumored to have parted ways with bassist Matt Snell.
The band's management has yet to respond to BLABBERMOUTH.NET's request for a comment/confirmation.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's second album, "War Is The Answer", came out in September 2009. The CD has sold 480,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
"War Is The Answer" was produced by the band and Kevin Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE, IN THIS MOMENT), and was mixed by Randy Staub (METALLICA, MÖTLEY CRÜE, NICKELBACK). According to a press release, "the record evolves the band's already mature sound, ranging from the undeniable melodies in 'Hard to See' to the brutally nihilistic 'Burn It Down' — destined to please fans both new and old."
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's debut album, "The Way Of The Fist", was reissued on November 23, 2010 as a deluxe box set. "The Way Of The Fist: Iron Fist Edition" celebrates the landmark album for the metal genre that has sold over 425,000 copies and continues to scan over 1,000 copies a week three years after its original release.
The "Iron Fist Edition" box set features the original 13 album tracks with all-new artwork, a brand new in-depth documentary DVD, "The Legend of The Fist Vol. 1", (featuring never-before seen footage and interviews spanning FIVE FINGER's career), a bonus CD with 11 B-sides and rarities, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH trading cards, and an exclusive poster and calendar.
THE ANSWER, the award-winning Irish rockers whose emotive music and fearsome live reputation have won them a dedicated international following, will release their first DVD/CD package on May 23 via Spinefarm Records, with whom the band have now signed a worldwide deal.
Titled "412 Days Of Rock 'N' Roll", this two-disc set contains a host of special features, including an hour-long documentary detailing the band's 118 shows as special guests to AC/DC on their "Black Ice" world tour — a tour (2008/2009) that took in over three million fans in 30 different countries.
As the title implies, this extensive run of shows — in stadiums ranging from ten to 90,000 — saw THE ANSWER on the road for a full 412 days, a non-stop period of activity taking in as many headline shows as they could play, two nights at New York's famous Madison Square Garden, TV appearances including the "David Letterman" show, radio sessions and press interviews as could be reasonably fitted in…
Says THE ANSWER frontman Cormac Neeson: "In the course of that year, we got to see the world, whether it was cruising the length and breadth of America and Canada, racing through border controls between Belgrade and Athens in order to make the gig on time, or squeezing in a whistle stop tour of Japan whilst on our Easter break. The sights, the sounds and the people we encountered along the way blew our minds! We truly had to throw caution to the wind and let ourselves be thrown up and spun around by the joyous momentum of it all…"
"412 Days Of Rock 'N' Roll" also features all of the band's promo clips (nine in all — including the clip for new single "Rock 'N' Roll Outlaw"), footage of selected live tracks, both from the "Black Ice" shows in Houston and Dallas and from a sold-out homecoming headliner at the Ulster Hall In Belfast, plus the audio versions of the aforementioned songs; and as a way of bringing things bang up to date, the package — a luxury format boasting band sleeve-notes, previously unseen behind-the-scenes photos plus a 24-page booklet — is rounded off with the video for new single "Rock 'N' Roll Outlaw" (a rousing version of the ROSE TATTOO classic) plus the previously unreleased demo recording "Fooled Me".
The "Rock 'N' Roll Outlaw" video skillfully mixes highlights from the "412 Days…" documentary with footage from the original ROSE TATTOO clip (1978), and TATTOO frontman Angry Anderson has recently spoken out about this new rendition of his band's signature song. "It's sacred ground for us," he reflects, "but hearing THE ANSWER play it brought a lump to my throat… not only a killer version but they make it their own… well done, lads, you do us proud!"
In support of Record Store Day on April 16, "Rock 'N' Roll Outlaw" and "Fooled Me" will be available as a limited-edition seven-inch-only single on Spinefarm, and the band will be visiting record stores in Belfast and Dublin, both to sign copies of the seven-inch and to play short acoustic sets; the four have confirmed an appearance at Head Records in Belfast in the morning with the acoustic set at 1 p.m., then they'll be stopping off at Tower Records in Dublin in the late afternoon and playing again at 6 p.m.
The following month, on Wednesday, May 18, THE ANSWER will play a special one-off show at the Borderline in London; a launch event for the "412 Days…" package, this will also see the Downpatrick rockers — now 10 years in the saddle — showcasing new songs from their forthcoming third studio album, produced by the Grammy-nominated Chris "Frenchie" Smith (THE DATSUNS, YOUNG HEART ATTACK) and currently being mixed by Chris Sheldon (FOO FIGHTERS, FEEDER). An autumn release is being planned, preceded by festival appearances in the summer.
"We've got a lot of plans," concludes Neeson, "and we can't wait to get back on the road. We've got 17 brand new songs ready to go and we're fuckin' loving it! Rehearsals are so exciting, piecing together different set lists with the old and the new material. When it properly kicks off, that'll be us on the road for the next two years!"
By now, the musical exploits of Scott "Wino" Weinrich are the stuff of legend. THE OBSESSED. SAINT VITUS. SPIRIT CARAVAN. THE HIDDEN HAND. SHRINEBUILDER. After releasing his solo debut in 2009, Wino went acoustic in early 2011 with "Adrift", a gut-wrenchingly personal album written by a man who has survived a lifetime of gut-wrenching scenarios and lived to tell the tales.
Wino's latest project sees him plugged back in — both to his amplifier and the full-band format. Enter PREMONITION 13, a musical entity that finds its genesis in jam sessions dating back two decades, when Wino first met fellow guitarist Jim "Sparky" Karow. "Jim and I have known each other for about 20 years," Wino explains. "His wife was basically the first manager of THE OBSESSED. We played guitars together one day and then we had this really good conversation about magnetism. We realized we had a common love of Mesoamerican stuff and ancient cultures. So we've been jamming together for about 15 or 20 years — just me and him, two guitars, no drums or anything like that."
And so what started as a series of informal jams out at Karow's spread in the high California desert — a place once inhabited by "Brave New World" author and LSD enthusiast Aldous Huxley — eventually became songwriting sessions. After enlisting the talents of OSTINATO drummer Matthew Clark and former MEATJACK bassist Brian Daniloski, they began playing live under the moniker PREMONITION. But a subsequent Internet search turned up quite a few bands with that very name, so Wino proposed a numerical addendum. "13 is one of my favorite numbers," he explains. "It's actually a very positive number, but it's been misconstrued quite a bit throughout history. Friday the 13th is considered bad luck in America, but that's just another fear trip. It's also considered good luck by some esoterically-minded folks because Friday the 13th was the day that Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, was burned at the stake. As he was being burned,
he cursed the pope and the king, and they were both dead within a year."
Recorded at RTX guitarist Brian McKinley's unnamed studio in Costa Mesa, California, PREMONITION 13's debut sees Wino venturing into territories both new and familiar. "The band has two guitarists, first off, which I did for the first time in SHRINEBUILDER just a couple of years ago," he explains. "But I've also found that that there's a little bit of humor in this band. There're some tongue-in-cheek lyrical things; it's not quite as serious as some of the other stuff I've done. But at the same time, it is serious: we make some comments on conspiracy, the negative effects of control, and all the stuff one might protest against."
Musically, Wino cites BLACK SABBATH, KING CRIMSON and his previous conspiracy-minded band THE HIDDEN HAND as reference points for PREMONITION 13. He and Karow also make generous use of the E-Bow, a handheld guitar effect that sustains notes in a battery-powered electromagnetic field. "It's still pretty heavy, but it's definitely a departure from other bands I've been in," Wino offers. "I'm just excited for it to get out there so people can hear it."
PREMONITION 13's debut release a two-song seven-inch is available now in a limited 1000-unit pressing as well as being available digitally. The seven-inch features two songs that will not be on the band's full-length release that is set for release on the Summer Solstice.
Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM are working on a photo book, and you can be a part of it. The band states, "it's dedicated to the whole worldwide Hate Crew and that's why we want you to be in it. We've been shooting life on the road, the Hate Crew and all kinds of crazy shit for over two years. Photography will continue at the shows this summer — stay tuned for more info soon. Keep an eye out for our Facebook page to know where we'll be shooting!"
"Relentless Reckless Forever", the new album from CHILDREN OF BODOM, sold nearly 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, 2008's "Blooddrunk", opened with 19,000 units to land at No. 22. This number was roughly four times the opening tally of "Blooddrunk"'s predecessor, "Are You Dead Yet?", which premiered with 5,000 units back in October 2005 to enter the chart at No. 195.
"Relentless Reckless Forever" was certified gold in the band's home country for first-day sales of over 10,000 copies. The CD was recorded in Finland's Petrax Studios with famed rock producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, MONSTER MAGNET).
According to Greg Prato of UGO.com, producer/singer/guitarist Greg Hampton (ALICE COOPER, BOOTSY COLLINS, LITA FORD), ex-MONSTER MAGNET guitarist Ed Mundell and current GOV'T MULE bassist Jorgen Carlsson have joined forces in a new band called 9 CHAMBERS. Vinny Appice (HEAVEN & HELL, DIO, BLACK SABBATH) has played drums on the recordings up to now, and there will be an array of different renowned drummers playing on the record.
Regarding the band's sound, Hampton stated, "Ed said our record collections are very similar. We're both from a certain era that's real honest music. There's like, CAPTAIN BEYOND — not a lot of guys dig that. And we were on an Armageddon kick for a while. A lot of Paul Kossoff and FREE stuff. But there's a lot of stuff with weird tunings that we've been goofing around with, like some of the stuff that Jimmy Page did, and implementing them into the intent of what we're unconsciously moving towards."
9 CHAMBERS has currently signed on with management, and is negotiating a record label deal. An official web site was also been launched featuring audio samples of four tunes.
2010 marked the 20th anniversary of U.K. doom metal legends MY DYING BRIDE. To commemorate two decades of doom and gloom from the elite British act, the band embarked upon a special project to re-work familiar melodies and themes from its extensive catalogue into long, flowing symphonic compositions, incorporating new vocals and passages from vocalist, Aaron Stainthorpe. These arrangements have been brought to life in co-operation with keyboard maestro Johnny Maudling (of BAL-SAGOTH fame), as well as a clutch of talented classical musicians, and shared vocals courtesy of professional opera singer Lucie Roche. The collection — titled "Evinta" — will be released on May 31 via Peaceville Records as a two-disc set and deluxe three-disc edition with 64-page book inspired by MY DYING BRIDE's illustrious recordings of the past two decades.
"Evinta" track listing:
Disc 1
01. In Your Dark Pavilion
02. You Are Not The One Who Loves Me
03. Of Lilies Bent With Tears
04. The Distance, Busy With Shadows
05. Of Sorry Eyes In March
Disc 2
01. Vanité Triomphante
02. That Dress And Summer Skin
03. And Then You Go
04. A Hand Of Awful Rewards
Commented the band: "'Evinta'. A project almost 15 years in the making. An idea that has sat smoldering and never really had a reason to burn alive until now. Nine albums worth of darkness recreated anew to mark 20 years of MY DYING BRIDE. Music arranged to the soundscapes of sorrows past. Finally the 20th anniversary allows us to release this music in a form it has been desperately, woefully waiting for. Enjoy the darkness."
MY DYING BRIDE has been the leading light of doom metal since the debut album, "As the Flower Withers", was released on Peaceville Records back in 1992. Influenced by acts such as CELTIC FROST and CANDLEMASS, the band's heavy atmospherics have carved a huge worldwide following over the years, as it remains a pinnacle of the genre.
MY DYING BRIDE's "Albion In Ruin" tour dates:
May 18 - The Electric Ballroom - London, England ?
May 19 - Manchester Academy - Manchester, England ?
May 20 - Wulfren Hall – Wolverhampton, England ?
May 21 - Button Factory – Dublin, Ireland ?
May 22 - The Spring & Airbrake – Belfast, N. Ireland?
Vocalist/guitarist Tim Branom (FIFTH ANGEL, BRANOM, CLOUD NINE) has started recording a new album in a Los Angeles studio.
Branom was a forerunner of the Seattle metal scene when he sang with GYPSY ROSE, which briefly contained future ALICE IN CHAINS members Jerry Cantrell and Mike Starr. After he moved to Los Angeles, he worked behind the scenes as a producer and sometimes as a live musician for Carly Smithson (WE ARE THE FALLEN, "American Idol") and as a studio musician for Travis Meeks (DAYS OF THE NEW) for one album.
"It's always a surprise to change direction," Branom says, "but fans of bands like the FOO FIGHTERS and AUDIOSLAVE will love this stuff. I chose a studio with a '70s vibe and fat sounds. We started recording at Barry Paul Recording studios in North Hollywood. If only the walls could talk. It served as a rehearsal hall and home for some of the great California songwriters and bands of the mid-'70s."
All the vocals, guitars, bass and keyboards will be produced and performed solely by Tim Branom. Drum tracks for over twenty songs have already been recorded utilizing veteran drummer Chris Ross (John Waite, Terry Reid, Mick Taylor, Stu Hamm, Jeff Pilson, Steve Lukather). One song also features a contribution from cellist Sarah O'Brien (Ozzy Osbourne, ELO).
Sixteen songs will be chosen for the album, including such titles as "Four On The Floor", "Bloody Mary", "Upside / Down", "Never Return", "Follow You", "Blind", "Revolver", "What If", "Scum", "Junk From Your Trunk", "Xperiment", "Enemy", "Taxman", "Mystery Writer", and "Buried Alive" (a bonus track previously released on iTunes).
Branom explains, "I wrote all the songs except for 'Taxman', a CHEAP TRICK song off their first album, which I just had to have. Another song pays tribute to Seattle heroes Mike Starr and Layne Staley. And because of the state of the music industry, no one really knows what comes next. So I've decided to shoot a music video for every song."
You can hear demo versions of some songs on the official web site, www.timbranom.com.
Reporter Jens Lundell of Swedish web magazine CriticalMass.se conducted an interview with guitarist Nige Rockett of U.K. thrashers ONSLAUGHT when the band played in Gothenburg, Sweden on April 2, 1011. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
CriticalMass.se: Drummer and founding member Steve Grice recently quit the band. In his statement he claims that you temporally used another drummer and that he wasn't informed about it.
Nige: "That is completely untrue! I have e-mails I can show you where I asked him about these shows. I asked him twice: 'Are you willing to cancel your holiday to play these shows?' These shows were very big shows, [playing to] potentially 25,000 people, 10,000 in Germany, 10,000 in Austria and 5,000 in Switzerland. [They were] very important shows for a band like us that wants to move forward but he didn't want to cancel his holiday. Our alternatives were to cancel these shows, which would be a very bad move for the band, or to find a replacement drummer. He knew very well about them, he's done this to us before when we went touring South America. He said that he wouldn't do it so we went away and worked with two or three different drummers within a month to make sure that we got the right guy for the job. It cost us a lot of money, time and effort. A week before we were about to tour, Steve turns up and says that he has changed his mind. He just wasted
all this money, time and effort so this time around we didn't give him any opportunity. We were going to do these three shows with another drummer and when we got home, Steve was still going to be in ONSLAUGHT and that would be the end of the story. I think there are other issues to why he quit. He wasn't really in the band, he didn't want to rehearse that much and it's been evident for the last two years that he clearly doesn't like touring. It's quite awkward that he dropped this upon us two weeks before the tour. Luckily, Jeff [Williams, bass] knows Mike [Hourihan] from DESECRATION, who has done a fantastic job in ten days and knows the set perfectly. We have not discussed any full-time replacement, though. We will think about that after the tour."
CriticalMass.se: He also wrote that his decision follows a series of events that, in his opinion, have seen the recurrence of old patterns of behavior that fuelled the band's original demise in 1991.
Nige: "Well, I think that this is just Steve's sort of bitterness. When he told us that he was leaving, nobody questioned it, everybody accepted it and we all agreed to move on. I think he is annoyed that nobody tried to talk him out of it and I don't really understand his comment about why we split in the first place. At that time we lost our record deal with Polygram, Steve Grimmett [vocals] quit the band to go solo and things weren't that great. I don't think there were any issues going on internally in the band; I think that the band appeared to come to the end of its natural cycle. The grunge came along which had a big impact on thrash, there was no sign of any new record deals being offered and it was like, 'Where do we go from here?' I think that the natural thing to do was to split the band."
CriticalMass.se: There seems to be a few hard feelings between you two.
Nige: "Yeah, I guess. As I said, I think he is a little upset that we didn't ask him to rethink his decision. He said, 'I'm going to quit' and we said, 'Fine, we'll move on.' We don't want to get into a war of words with him but he seems to try that at the moment. We don't want to get involved in any public argument; it's not good for us. We just try to keep being professional about it and move on.
"The Unforgiving", the fifth studio album from Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION, sold around 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 50 on The Billboard 200 chart.
Released on March 29, "The Unforgiving" was produced by Daniel Gibson and is based on a comic book story written by script writer Steven O'Connell (BloodRayne, Dark 48). The band asked comic artist Romano Molenaar (Witchblade, Darkness, X-Men) to draw the characters and scenery of "The Unforgiving", which was made available via Sony Music in Continental Europe and Roadrunner Records in the U.S., U.K. and Ireland, Japan and Australia.
WITHIN TEMPTATION singer Sharon den Adel gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on March 30. Logan Arwin Westerholt, who weighed in at five pounds, 8.7 ounces and measured 47 centimeters long, came into the world a little over five weeks early but both mother and son are doing fine.
Logan is the third child of Sharon den Adel and WITHIN TEMPTATION guitarist Robert Westerholt. The couple has a one-year-old son, Robin Aiden Westerholt, and a five-year old daughter named Eva Luna den Adel.
WITHIN TEMPTATION North American tour dates:
Sep. 07 - Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
Sep. 08 - Metropolis - Montreal, PQ
Sep. 09 - Palladium - Worcester, MA
Sep. 10 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY
Sep. 12 - Ram's Head Live - Baltimore, MD
Sep. 13 - Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
Salt Lake City, Utah's progressive/power metal veterans KATAGORY V have tapped German/American producer Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69, ANGRA, PRIMAL FEAR, SILENT FORCE) to take care of the mixing and mastering duties for the band's upcoming fifth album, "Resurrect The Insurgence".
Commented bassist/songwriter and founding member Dustin Mitchell: "I know it has been quite a while since we have had any official updates concerning the new album, and many of you were becoming concerned that we had fallen off the face of the earth, but I can finally say we are seeing progress and the KATAGORY V machine is in full motion once again!
"First things first. We finalized the vocal tracks around the beginning of December, and also brought in guest vocalists, Norman Skinner (SKINNER, TRAMONTANE, ex-IMAGIKA), Shane Provstgaard (SONIC PROPHECY) and John Yelland (SHADOWSEER, DISFORIA), to help with many of the backing vocals, a first for KATAGORY V! These guys were amazing and we want to officially thank them for delivering a brilliant performance in the studio!
"We officially wrapped up recording for the album in its entirety in January, at which point we took a little time off before tracking down an individual that could tackle the mixing and mastering of our new album, We needed someone that would have and ear and understanding for the direction the band is currently taking.
"This is also another first for KATAGORY V, as we have never handed over our music to anyone outside of the band, and we knew it was time to take another step forward and do something different. We already had in mind a few people that would be able to help with our vision for this new album, but one particular name kept coming up over and over, and that was Dennis Ward.
"We are proud to announce that Dennis has agreed to take on this challenge, and will be putting his amazing talents to use with our music. His abilities behind the board are without question, and are key to the path we are taking with 'Resurrect The Insurgence'. After hearing some of the initial mixes, we are confident that he will help us deliver a high-quality album that will easily overshadow anything we have done previously both musically and sonically."
Stated Dennis Ward: "Mixing and mastering the new KATAGORY V album has been a real pleasure. The new songs have a progressive touch along the lines of RUSH-meets-IRON MAIDEN, it also surprised me to hear some good ol' hard rock riffing! The band has done a great job self-recording/producing this latest offering, and I think this is the start of a new chapter for KATAGORY V. I am sure fans of all rock genres will enjoy this album."
"Resurrect The Insurgence" will be the first KATAGORY V album to be recorded, produced, and engineered by long-time bassist and songwriter Dustin Mitchell, who is the sole remaining original member in the band.
The CD marks the recording debut of the new KATAGORY V lineup:
Dustin Mitchell - Bass
Albert Rybka - Vocals
Matthew "Bizzaro" LeFevre - Drums
Marc Hanson - Guitar
Kris Krompel - Guitar
KATAGORY V's most recent album, "Hymns of Dissension", was released in September 2007 in Europe through Burning Star Records and in October 2007 in the U.S. on Nightmare Records.
Tom Conway of the South Bend Tribune recently conducted an interview with POISON singer Bret Michaels. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
On suffering a brain hemorrhage that nearly killed him in April 2010:
Bret: "It was totally life-changing, as you might expect. The doctors said, 'If you have children, you need to bring them down.' Those are words you never want to hear. It transcends scary. It's really the deepest, most wrenching kind of fear."
"When I got out of the hospital, I feel like a lot of people expected me to sit at home and wait for the sky to fall, and that's not me," he says. "If anything, the experience said to me, 'Life is short and life is fragile, so you better go live it.' ... Rock and roll has been my life. It has truly been my savior. So for me, getting back on tour probably saved me, at least on a mental/spiritual level. If I sat around the house letting the world pass me by, my soul would have deteriorated. There would have been nothing left of me."
On reuniting with his POISON bandmates this summer for a 25th-anniversary tour with MÖTLEY CRÜE:
Bret: "I think I did imagine a lifelong career with them. Life is about loyalty to me. You stick together. I'm still amazed by POISON and by what we've done together in our career so far. We turned nothing into something. And we never faked it."
"As far as writing all-new material, I'm not sure when that will happen. But I'm sure that it will one day. I love writing music and I love those guys as though they're my brothers. When the time is right and the inspiration hits, I'm sure we'll all find ourselves back in the studio together."
On his appearances on such reality shows as VH1's "Rock Of Love With Bret Michaels" and "The Celebrity Apprentice":
Bret: "'Rock Of Love' granted me access to a whole new generation of fans, who I have embraced and I feel have embraced me. We had a blast on the show, and all the girls were great to be around. I always say that they were the real rock stars.
"Right now in my life, as everyone saw on 'Life as I Know It', I'm focused on trying to make my family be as good as it can be. Kristi [Bret's on-again girlfriend] was there by my side when my world almost came crashing down."
"'Celebrity Apprentice' was unbelievably awesome. I had the best time. I was excited to show the world that I'm driven and determined and a hard worker. ... It was coming off of 'Rock Of Love', which was such a blast, but I wanted to let the world know there was more to me than just partying it up. I've worked very hard my whole life. I felt up to the challenge, and, obviously, I did something right. ... And the fact that I was working to support diabetes research and that my winnings were to a cause that's so important to me, that was a huge motivator."
Vocalist Mark Hunter of Cleveland, Ohio metallers CHIMAIRA has commented on the departure of the band's keyboardist/programmer Chris Spicuzza. Writing on the group's official forum, Hunter said, "All hail Spicuzza. [It's] good to see the love you guys express for him. The feelings are mutual.
"As we know, this news sucks… Hopefully this cheers you up a little
"There are definitely samples, keys, electronics, and all sorts of other wizardry on [the upcoming CHIMAIRA album].
"We've spent the past 12 years creating the atmospheric side of CHIMAIRA, and we can't imagine listening to us without those cool bits either.
"Each album brought new noises and a vibe to accompany that particular record. Nothing has changed in that regard.
"This has always been an evolution.
"While it may seem like the end of days, we see this as another chapter.
"CHIMAIRA developed our sound together with Chris, and although he is gone, his spirit, class, and the foundation he helped lay, will always remain.
"You know us. we don't drive our cars looking through the rearview mirror. Never have, never will.
"Keep the glasses half full, amigos. it makes for a much more interesting ride…. and we're just getting started."
Hunter also addressed speculation regarding the status of CHIMAIRA guitarist Rob Arnold who recently joined Florida-based death metallers SIX FEET UNDER.
"Rob is still in CHIMAIRA," he wrote. "SIX FEET UNDER is a side project [for Rob]. Maynard James Keenan sings for three bands. Rob plays guitar for three. It's all gravy."
Spicuzza announced his departure from CHIMAIRA earlier in the week, explaining that the "situation in CHIMAIRA had ultimately become a negative environment that I had to get out of. Secondly, the music industry is completely fucked and honestly, I became concerned for my future. The amount of work and stress I took on got the best of me. I guess if you're not happy or having fun, what's the point?"
CHIMAIRA has tapped Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL, MURDERDOLLS, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD) to mix the band's new album, due in August in North America, South America and Japan via eOne Music. The CD was recorded with producer Ben Schigel, who has previously worked with DROWNING POOL and WALLS OF JERICHO, among others.
Bassist Jim LaMarca left CHIMAIRA last year in order to focus on family life. He was temporarily replaced by DAATH guitarist Emil Werstler.
CHIMAIRA released a DVD/CD set, "Coming Alive", on July 20, 2010 via Ferret Music.
CHIMAIRA recently released its cover version of THE TROGGS' hit song "Wild Thing" as a tribute to actor Charlie Sheen.
Sheen's iconic Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn character was featured in "Major League", the 1989 American satire comedy film written and directed by David S. Ward.
Pennsylvania's WAR OF AGES has extended its deal with Facedown Records for another album. The band will enter the studio this fall to record the CD for an early 2012 release.
Known as an unstoppable touring machine, WAR OF AGES' summer will be packed with activity. They will soon be announcing U.S. summer tours to go along with their headlining European summer tour, which will include European festivals. They will also appear at Cornerstone and Sonshine destivals during Facedown Night.
Commented Facedown labelhead Jason Dunn: "I am beyond excited to continue our relationship with WAR OF AGES. I view them as a flagship band for Facedown and one of the hardest-working bands in metal today. From our start with them in 2005 on Strike First Records, these guys have proven themselves as individuals and as artists. Every album they write gets better than the previous and it's an honor to be able to work with them on their upcoming fifth album and to have them headlining night 1 of Facedown Fest and Facedown Night at Cornerstone festival."
Added WAR OF AGES frontman Leroy Hamp: "We are honored and excited to continue our career with Facedown Records! In 2005 Facedown looked to the north western tip of Pennsylvania to find five passionate guys who loved to play music with a purpose. We promised to work hard and do so with honor and integrity, holding onto every value God has given us. With six years of album writing, touring, ups and downs, bumps and busies, Facedown stood behind us, pushing WAR OF AGES every step of the way. As we grow as men, every album gets better and better due to the strong foundation Facedown has built. We are blessed to not only call them our label, but family!"
Finnish metallers AMORPHIS will release a new digital single, "You I Need", in Finland on April 20 and in other countries on April 22. The song will be premiered on the AMORPHIS Facebook page and various radio stations on Monday, April 11.
On Easter Sunday, April 24, AMORPHIS will participate in the charity gala "Idols tekee hyvää" and perform the new song for a large TV audience (MTV3, 7:15 p.m.). The proceeds of the event, which brings the popular American format "Idol Gives Back" to Finland for the first time, will be directed to education projects for children and teenagers in poverty-stricken countries such as Haiti and Cambodia.
AMORPHIS has set "The Beginning Of Times" as the title of its new album, due on May 27 via Nuclear Blast Records.
"The Beginning Of Times" is described as "the most challenging AMORPHIS album so far in terms of both music and lyrics." Its central character is the iconic hero of Finnish mythology, Väinämöinen, whose tale has been masterfully retold by lyricist Pekka Kainulainen.
"The Beginning Of Times" was produced by the band; vocals were recorded under the guidance of Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT) in his home studio in Kuopio. Like its predecessors, the album was mixed by Mikko Karmila. Its cover artwork shows Travis Smith's magnificent interpretation of the mythological birth of the world from a goldeneye's egg.
"The Beginning Of Times" track listing:
01. Battle For Light
02. Mermaid
03. My Enemy
04. You I Need
05. Song Of The Sage
06. Three Words
07. Reformation
08. Soothsayer
09. On A Stranded Shore
10. Escape
11. Crack In A Stone
12. Beginning Of Time
13. Heart's Song (digipack bonus track)
In June, AMORPHIS will embark on the extensive "The Beginning Of Times" tour, which is scheduled to continue through 2012.
"Skyforger", the latest album from AMORPHIS, was certified gold in Finland for sales in excess of 15,000 copies. (Note: The sales requirement for albums to reach gold status in Finland was recently lowered to 10,000, but because "Skyforger" was released before this change took effect, the old rules still apply.) The bandmembers were presented with their gold plaques on July 6, 2010 at a release party for their first-ever live DVD, "Forging The Land Of Thousand Lakes", at Cinema Andorra in Helsinki.
"Skyforger" was honored in the "Metal Album Of The Year" category at last year's Emma Gaala (Finnish Grammy equivalent).
AMORPHIS was nominated in two categories at the Emma Gaala — "Metal Album Of The Year" and "Domestic Artist Of The Year".
Metro.co.uk recently conducted an interview with actress Jada Pinkett Smith (wife of Will Smith). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metro.co.uk: Would you resurrect your metal band WICKED WISDOM?
Jada: I love rock 'n' roll but you have to stay on the road to do it. For me to be available for what [Jada's kids] Jaden and Willow are doing means I've had to let it go. Part of Willow's passion for music came from being on the road with me. She and Jaden loved going with me from place to place to perform. I stopped when Jaden did "The Pursuit Of Happyness" — they were so upset to stop touring. Now I get to travel and watch them perform. It's an extraordinary transition.
Metro.co.uk: Which are your favourite metal bands?
Jada: I love MASTODON, CROWBAR, SKINDRED and CULT OF LUNA.
Metro.co.uk: Will we see that influence in Willow's music?
Jada: Probably, as she gets older. She loves heavy music. She loves a group called LAMB OF GOD and one of her favorite albums is "Killadelphia".
Metro.co.uk: You've had such a diverse career — what's been the secret of your success?
Jada: When I played metal music, I was mocked. I got death threats when I was added to the Ozzfest lineup but I stuck with it. At the end of that, people got on board. Me doing metal was one of my biggest learning experiences. A lot of my success is down to not being afraid. I came to Hollywood by myself when I was 18. If my mother had thought "What's going to happen?" and kept me in the house, I'd never have had the life I have.
Metro.co.uk: Death threats seem a bit over the top. Did they worry you?
Jada: The Ozzfest kids were like, "Hell no," and I got tons of death threats. I didn't pay attention to them, Will dealt with it. I just thought it was people on their computers with nothing better do to than spew stupid crap. It got to the point my husband considered, but never did which I respect him for, asking me not to do it.
German progressive black metallers SECRETS OF THE MOON have tapped former HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST and current TRIPTYKON mainman Tom Gabriel Fischer and V. Santura (real name: Victor Bullok) (TRIPTYKON, OBSCURA, PESTILENCE) to mix their new album, "Seven Bells", at Woodshed Studio in Bavaria, Germany.
Commented Fischer: "Back once again at V. Santura's Woodshed Studio in the Bavarian countryside near Landshut, Germany, this time to mix the new album by SECRETS OF THE MOON, 'Seven Bells', together with V. These sessions easily rank among the most fascinating, enthralling, and constructive I have ever been a part of. The friendship with SECRETS OF THE MOON, which has begun in such a unique manner, shall hopefully persist for a very long time."
"Seven Bells" track listing:
01. Seven Bells
02. Blood Into Wine
03. Goathead
04. Stillborn Icon
05. Worship
06. The Three Beggars (Satan's Church)
07. Nyx
SECRETS OF THE MOON's last album, "Privilegivm", was produced by Markus Stock.
SECRETS OF THE MOON is:
Ar - Guitar
LSK - Bass
sG - Guitar and Vocals
T. Thelemnar - Drums
September 3, 2010 saw three releases by SECRETS OF THE MOON pressed on black gold vinyl.
1. "Them Bones / This Inner Soil" gatefold vinyl single
This seven-inch single contains two previously unreleased songs: the ALICE IN CHAINS cover version "Them Bones", recorded during the "Privilegivm" sessions, and the original track "This Inner Soil" from the "Antithesis" sessions. This single is released in a noble, elaborate gatefold cover and is limited to 500 copies.
2. "Antithesis" gatefold 2LP
SECRETS OF THE MOON's third studio album "Antithesis" (2006) is available on vinyl for the first time. This album was released as a double LP in gatefold format and will contain the previously unreleased bonus track "Father". Limited to 500 copies!
3. "The Ambience Of A Dead Star" 12-inch mini-album
Another first-time release on vinyl is the mini-album "The Ambience Of A Dead Star", previously only available as bonus CD to the deluxe edition of "Carved In Stigmata Wounds" (2004). The artwork is designed specifically for this re-release on vinyl to visually highlight the stand-alone character of the mini-album. Limited to 500 copies!
SECRETS OF THE MOON belongs to the most prestigious group of bands in the German black metal underground, with their first demo release dating back to 1995. The band was formed out of the ashes of one of the very first black metal outfits stemming from German scene, MARTYRIUM.
Dutch extreme metallers THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT have parted ways with their guitarist of the last nine years, Martijn Moes, and have replaced him with session/touring axeman Ivo Hilgenkamp.
"Aslimu!!! - All Slain Those Who Brought Down Our Highly Respected Symbols To The Lower Status Of The Barren Earth", a brand new song from THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT, can be streamed using the player below.
Commented guitarist/vocalist Michiel Dekker: "The lyrical theme of this track is mainly based on Lawrence Wright's book 'The Looming Tower'. Besides that I was inspired by the Dua-e-Sanam-e-Quraish curse and the events around the Muslim Brotherhood.
"This is a rare track which we recorded to let the people know what we are doing.
"Writing a THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT song costs a lot of time, because of all the lyrical research and musical fine-tuning. There is a huge change that the final album track will be totally different from this one, but that is how we work.
"The lyrics of this song were written during the summer/autumn of 2010 and vocals were recorded in the X-mass holiday of the same year. To our surprise, the subject became extremely relevant because of the turmoil in the Middle East region. Everybody who watched the speech of the Libyan Bedouin tent revolutionary on Al-Jazeera will understand that we MUST write a track about Muammar Gaddafi."
"Omnivium", the new album from the progressive death metal act OBSCURA, sold around 2,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 11 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.
OBSCURA's previous album, "Cosmogenesis", opened with 900 units to debut at No. 71 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart.
A track-by-track description of"Omnivium" by the band's guitarist/singer Steffen Kummerer can be found at the LoudTrax web site.
"Omnivium" was released in North America on March 29 on CD, double LP, and digitally via Relapse. Two versions of the "Omnivium" CD are available for pre-order now — the standard and limited deluxe version that comes in a digipak with exclusive bonus track, embroidered OBSCURA patch, guitar pick, and an "Omnivium" album cover sticker.
The "Omnivium" artwork was designed and laid out by Orion Landau (ORIGIN, DYING FETUS, ZEKE, DISFEAR) and can be viewed below.
"Omnivium" track listing:
01. Septuagint
02. Vortex Omnivium
03. Ocean Gateways
04. Euclidean Elements
05. Prismal Dawn
06. Celestial Spheres
07. Velocity
08. A Transcendental Serenade
09. Aevum
"Omnivium" was recorded at Woodshed Studio in southern Germany with engineer V. Santura (TRIPTYKON, DARK FORTRESS). The album is based on Friedrich Schelling's "On Nature's Connection to the Spirit World".
Commented drummer Hannes Grossman: "The recording process was intense and time-consuming, but it brought us many steps forward as musicians both individually and collectively.
"The songs are still catchy, but there are more epic parts involved, as well as faster and more melodic songs. The extremes of the band's sound extend on all sides, so to say. Expect some things which have never been done before like this in death metal!"
OBSCURA will embark on a four-week European tour alongside HATE ETERNAL and BENEATH THE MASSACRE in late April.
California deathcore masters SUICIDE SILENCE have set "The Black Crown" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in July via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded with heavyweight producer Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, EVERY TIME I DIE, HATEBREED) and will feature the following songtitles, among others: "Human Violence", "Cancerous Skies" and "Fuck Everything".
GALLHAMMER — the Japanese extreme metal group that draws on black metal, doom metal, and crust punk — will release its third studio album, "The End", on May 31 via Peaceville Records.
According to a press release, "The End" "evolves further from the foundations of GALLHAMMER's previous effort, 'Ill Innocence', and its debut, 'Gloomy Lights', with an album of disturbing and dark drone music, consisting of a hypnotic bass and drum combination mixed with the band's raw black metal and punk origins."
Founding member Vivian Slaughter (bass/vocals) describes the overall album direction as "strange and psychedelic experimental sounds of doom."
The CD was recorded at Void)))Lab in Tokyo in October 2010 and was mastered in Oslo, Norway in February 2011 by Vivian and Maniac (SKITLIV, ex-MAYHEM).
"The End" track listing:
01. The End
02. Rubbish CG202
03. Aberration
04. Sober
05. Entropy G35
06. Wander
07. 108=7/T-NA
The release of "Ill Innocence" in 2007 brought GALLHAMMER to the attention of the metal world with its uncompromising and raw blackened doom sounds. The band followed the release with multiple European tours, culminating in cover stories with the U.K.'s Terrorizer and Zero Tolerance magazines.
GALLHAMMER is:
Vivian Slaughter – Bass, Vocals, Saxophone
Risa Reaper – Drums, Vocals??
Guitarist/vocalist Mika Penetrator left GALLHAMMER last year to concentrate on her other band.
GALLHAMMER's DVD release, "Ruin of a Church", captured the band live and in scintillating form at Colchester Arts Centre, a stunning venue on the site of a deconsecrated church, on their 2007 European tour. The DVD includes additional footage from the tour, plus promo videos, gallery, and an intriguing video interview with the band. The audio mix and production was executed by Justin Broadrick (NAPALM DEATH, GODFLESH, JESU).
DARKTHRONE drummer Gylve "Fenriz" Nagell will contribute a "Band Of The Month" feature to the Swedish metal magazine Close-Up beginning with the publication's May issue. He will pick one group each month that he thinks deserves extra attention and he will write about it.
Fenriz's "Band Of The Week" blog, which has up until now been available on his and DARKTHRONE's MySpace pages, is being moved to a separate web site.
In a 2010 interview, Fenriz stated about the "Band Of The Week" blog, "When I started doing interviews in 1988, I quickly thought the namedropping other bands section was the most important parts of interviews. But even before that, I was always lending out albums and making tapes in the early '80s and mid-'80s, too, before I started to play, and this is what I live for: sharing music!! I make countless compilations of totally different music, most notably for you out there. These get downloaded by thousands of people, and it's better than all the DJing I did, 'cause then people don't really pay attention, only drink beer."
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