JUDAS PRIEST, WHITESNAKE, SAXON, SLADE and MIKE & THE MECHANICS have been confirmed for the Sofia Rocks festival, set to take place Friday, July 8 at the National Hippodrome Bankya in Bankya (Sofia), Bulgaria. More acts will be announced soon.
KISS entered the studio on April 13 to begin recording the follow-up to 2009's "Sonic Boom" for a late 2011 release. The band has already laid down the basic tracks for five new songs. Tommy Thayer is adding his lead guitar parts right now.
Check out photos from the studio at KissOnline.com.
KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley previously stated about the band's new material, "This album, I'm telling you, everybody agrees, leaves 'Sonic Boom' in the dust."
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."
Darryl Sterdan of the QMI Agency recently conducted an interview with Duff McKagan (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER, LOADED). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
QMI Agency: The new LOADED album seems a lot more aggressive than the last one.
McKagan: Yeah, this was the first record we ever made coming off a tour. We went on tour with our last album, "Sick", and when you play a record live, it gets heavier and heavier because you got four guys on adrenaline and caffeine. And then when you start writing riffs, that's where this record came from. We came off the road and started making demos. Then Terry Date heard a couple of songs and said, "I really want to do this record." And this is how money always plays a part: He usually gets $200,000 to produce a record. But we don't have that kind of money.
QMI Agency: Sure you do. You're loaded. It's even the name of your band. I mean, I presume it originally referred to your drinking. But nowadays, it kind of has a new meaning.
McKagan: Oh God. (Laughs) Yeah, I guess. But if you were to live my life, you'd see I have to work. I have a wife and two kids. Yeah, I've been very fortunate. But rich? People make huge assumptions about the guys in GN'R. They think I'm fucking rolling in it. But trust me, you don't have any idea what I make. So anyway, back to LOADED. Terry knew we were making the record on our own dime. And he offered to be sort of a partner, so he did it for free in the hopes that the record will do well. So it's in his interest to use whatever machine he's got to sell it too.
QMI Agency: Every interview, you're asked about reuniting with GN'R and getting a new singer for VELVET REVOLVER. You must get sick of it.
McKagan: It's just part of life. I've learned to understand it. I had to. I could fucking fight it but there's no use because there's so many people on the planet. I did this signing at a guitar show in England a few weeks ago. There were 1,000 people each day. And the first day, I got asked those questions 1,000 times. Every single fucking person asked. So the second day, they put up a sign that said, "No, GUNS N' ROSES are not getting back together, and VELVET REVOLVER is not doing anything right now." It was hilarious.
ADLER'S APPETITE — the band led by former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler — has been rehearsing with singer Patrick Stone of ACES 'N' EIGHTS following the recent departure of Rick Stitch.
Adler and Stone joined STEEL PANTHER on stage last Monday, April 11 at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California to perform the GUNS N' ROSES classic "Sweet Child O' Mine" (see video below). In addition, the entire ADLER'S APPETITE band — including Stone — played three songs at the '80s Rockers For Japan benefit concert on Saturday, April 16 at Harper's in Tarzana, California.
In a recent interview with Metal Sludge, Adler stated about Stitch's exit from ADLER'S APPETITE, I think he went about it the wrong way, 'cause I didn't even find out that he quit the band from him, I found out from someone else." Guitarist Michael Thomas added, "It was very strange; it was out of the blue. All of a sudden we got a text message saying 'Check your e-mail.' And there was a short little paragraph saying that, 'As of today, I'll no longer be carrying on with the band, I wanna concentrate on my other band, my original band, full time.' So he decided that was where his priority was at, that he was going to work on his original music and continue on with that."
Regarding ADLER'S APPETITE search for Stitch's replacement, Thomas said, "As soon as it went on the Internet that Rick was leaving the band, there was a flood of e-mails and responses [that] came in; it was overwhelming. And now we're weeding through all these people, and what we really wanna do is give a chance to somebody who is a star to walk in the door and sing some of the most legendary rock and roll songs of all time. It's an incredible opportunity. So, for us, we take it very seriously, because we also have to live with this person and create and write with this person, 'cause, as you know, we've released new songs recently — 'Alive', 'Stardog' and 'Fading' — which are actually on iTunes. So they're gonna be singing not only the GUNS stuff, but original material and putting their stamp on this new stuff that we've been writing since we got home from the European tour last month. So there's so much going on; it's a crazy circus. We're just
really excited about the opportunity of working with some new cats that can really come to the table and bring it."
Stitch announced last month that he was leaving ADLER'S APPETITE in order to concentrate on his Los Angeles-based original project LADYJACK.
Stitch's LADYJACK bandmate Robo (guitar), who was filling in for ADLER'S APPETITE guitarist Alex Grossi on the latter group's most recent European tour, will not be continuing with Adler's outfit.
Grossi recently left ADLER'S APPETITE in order to focus on his work with the resurrected QUIET RIOT.
ADLER'S APPETITE is scheduled to kick off a new U.S. tour on May 5 in Redondo Beach, California.
ADLER'S APPETITE in December released two new singles — "Stardog" and "Fading" — via iTunes and other online music stores.
ADLER'S APPETITE entered the studio in November to begin recording its new album with CINDERELLA drummer Fred Coury producing.
A radio edit of the ADLER'S APPETITE single "Alive" was released on July 29, 2010 in conjunction with Adler's tell-all autobiography, "My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N' Roses".
Steven recently joined the cast of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew" for another season.
Adler appeared on season two of "Rehab" and the first season of the spin-off show "Sober House" back in late 2008 and early 2009. Adler then went on to stints in real rehab centers after being ordered to by a judge as part of a DUI bust.
For 30 years, Nikki Sixx has been best known as bassist, lyrical mastermind and resident hellraiser in Mötley Crüe. In recent years, he has become just as well-known for his books The Heroin Diaries and Mötley Crüe's The Dirt. Now, along with a Mötley Crüe US tour, he is working on his own project Sixx:AM.
This month he releases his new book, This Is Gonna Hurt, along with an accompanying album from Sixx:AM and six ten minute documentaries about his photography and the things that have made him the person he is today.
What inspired you to do this project?
The photography came first. I knew I wanted to write a book about what inspired me. Then in time I realised that some of my photography was inspired by my sister, my failed relationships and the issues I had with my mother and father. I realised that those failures actually made me who I am today, and now I am a stronger person because of them.
A lot of the people that I've been able to photograph have been through so much adversity but they were still able to achieve great things. Their outlooks on life have been so inspirational for me. Writing about them and seeing how they'd been judged by society made me start getting high off the energy of the honesty. I love writing and the vulnerability of it. I like to be brutally honest.
Did you feel vulnerable unleashing all of your feelings in the book?
A diary is supposed to be intimate and full of things you'd never tell anybody, and only I would be stupid enough to release a book called The Heroin Diaries! But then I thought it's only through failure that I have been successful so maybe other people can relate to this. When I realised they could I started this journey. I got inspired to write, take photographs, make music and document everything with a film crew.
When I first read the book I felt it would connect with people. I think the documentaries and the music just add extra layers to the project, and I think that's really exciting.
How is the Sixx:AM project coming along?
I'm so lucky to be in a band with those guys. I can't believe I get to be in Mötley Crüe and Sixx:AM. They're very different, but they're both so honest. Somebody told me they thought Sixx:AM stood for "Sixx After Mötley" when in reality the AM stands for Ashba and Michael, the other two guys in the band. I guess people assume that once you achieve success outside of your main project you'll abandon it, but I wouldn't do that.
It's amazing that you've managed to juggle the two even after 30 years with Mötley Crüe.
It's tiring, but at the same time it's really exciting. I will never have this experience again, so why would I ever take it for granted?
Have Sixx:AM played any shows yet?
We played some shows for the last album. We opened a show for Korn and we played some shows on Crüe Fest and I'd love to play some more, but I guess I'm just dancing around the fact that I said we wouldn't tour. I really hate when I make such grandiose statements because it always backfires on me. We want to look at what we can do next that will be special. We didn't know that a book of photography would inspire a record and a documentary, so who knows what's next? The opportunities are endless.
What made you want to make the documentaries?
I met some really inspirational people. In the third episode, I met a girl who'd had her legs amputated and she truly inspired me. She told me that she's not happy that she lost her legs, but she's done so much more with her life than she ever could've imagined because of it.
I feel like a lot of people take things for granted. We have to be reminded that we have a lot of great things going on. I think coming through my addiction made me realise how good we all have it. Sometimes we don't realise how many opportunities we have. People think you can only be one thing, but why can't you be rock 'n' roll and a good father? And look like a disaster at the same time as doing something positive? I'm reinventing the rockstar.
Do you think your work has been a motivation for people who want to beat an addiction?
This has been great because I've had a lot of messages off fans telling me that my book and my music have inspired people to get sober or changed the way they see themselves. I like to use the platform I have to do something positive. People like to compartmentalise others, but I don't see why I can't be a recovering addict, a father, a musician, have more pyro on stage that anyone else on earth and enjoy my life all at the same time. I really love the positive energy and I hope this project continues that.
It's really no different from what Mötley Crüe did with Shout At The Devil. Our message was: don't let people hold you down. It's the same message but in a different package.
What's happening with Mötley Crüe now?
We're going on tour for two and a half months, which is child's play compared to the old days. We're going around America with Poison and New York Dolls, and South America with Buckcherry. We haven't scheduled any European dates yet.
Sixx:AM opened for Mötley Crüe on the Crüe Fest before and I actually had more energy playing in two bands every night than I do with one. I think energy creates more energy. I have this way of looking at things that continues to catapult me and everyone around me into new and positive experiences, and it just keeps getting better.
I truly feel that Mötley Crüe have some of our best days ahead of us. It's hard work, but it's exciting.
In memory and celebration of the late Joey Ramone, who died 10 years ago on April 15, music writer Joel Gausten has published "The Ramones' Brain Drain: The Untold Story", a just-completed 4,000-word essay on the making of the band's 1989 album, at this location. In addition to exclusive interviews with surviving member Marky Ramone and producers Bill Laswell and Daniel Rey, the essay includes several previously untold details about this often-troubled era in the band's celebrated history.
The essay, which began taking shape in 2005, is part of Gausten's book-in-progress "Albums That (Should've) Changed The World". Although Gausten originally posted a brief excerpt from the essay online in the summer of 2007, he finally completed work on the full chapter the evening before the 10th anniversary of Joey's death.
"Many of us wouldn't have careers — or even lives — if the RAMONES hadn't inspired us to do what we do," Gausten says. "As the 10th anniversary of Joey's passing approached, I felt it was time to finally complete work on this chapter and offer it online as a free tribute to my one of true heroes."
In addition to authoring several music-related books, Joel Gausten is the host of "Glory Is Noise", a bi-weekly online radio show featuring an eclectic mix of music and exclusive interviews with mainstream and underground recording artists.
According to Interbridge.com's "The Late Night TV Page", BLACK LABEL SOCIETY/ex-OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Zakk Wylde will guest on the Wednesday, April 20 edition of "Lopez Tonight", comedian George Lopez's talk show on TBS.
The show, which premiered in November 2009, features audience interaction using a high-energy format. The program airs Monday through Thursday at 12:00 a.m. (midnight) Eastern/9:00 p.m. Pacific in the United States.
For more information, visit www.lopeztonight.com.
Wylde performed the SAMMY HAGAR classic "Heavy Metal" with James Durbin, the 22-year-old rocker from Santa Cruz, California, on the April 13 episode of "American Idol".
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's new album, "The Song Remains Not The Same", will be released on May 10 via Entertainment One Music. The offering features unplugged versions of material from BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's latest album, "Order Of The Black", as well as additional material recorded during the "Order Of The Black" sessions. "The Song Remains Not The Same" was conceived, created and compiled by BLS mainman Zakk Wylde himself and the title is, of course, a nod to one of Wylde's favorite bands, LED ZEPPELIN.
A little more than a month after original drummer Mike Portnoy's sudden departure from DREAM THEATER, the band held three days of auditions in New York City. Over an amazing and productive three-day period, the band played, jammed and spoke candidly with seven of the world's greatest drummers, learning about them musically, personally and professionally, and assessing the fit of each drummer's incredible chops with the band's trademark prog-rock sound.
DREAM THEATER have been extremely sensitive to the fact that this is not only a monumental decision in their own lives, but also a critical moment in the lives of their fans around the world. "The departure of our lifelong bandmate and friend was an unexpected and truly heartbreaking blow," says guitarist John Petrucci. "The fact that as a result of that event we'd be introduced to seven infinitely capable and uniquely talented drummers was heartening."
DREAM THEATER would like to share with its fans some of the intense process, along with the musical joy, that went into choosing a new drummer.
So who is the best fit behind the kit?
Go to DREAM THEATER's Facebook page on Thursday, April 21 at 11 a.m. to sign up for the mailing list and to receive more details about an exclusive and intimate look at the auditions, and to find out exactly when and how the momentous announcement about the band's new lineup will be made. Fans will be able to find out information about the band's upcoming 2011 world tour via Facebook as well.
According to QUIET RIOT's official Twitter feed, the previously announced "Metal Health" tour of Australia and New Zealand featuring QUIET RIOT, WARRANT and L.A. GUNS (the Phil Lewis version) has been canceled.
Affected dates are as follows:
Apr. 29 - The Palace - Melbourne
Apr. 30 - Anu Bar - ACT
May 02 - The Powerstation - Auckland (NZ)
May 05 - HQ Complex - Adelaide
May 06 - Metro City - Perth
May 07 - The Tivoli - Brisbane
May 08 - The Metro – Sydney
Jeb Wright of Classic Rock Revisited recently conducted an interview with Mark Huff, the San Diego, California-based vocalist who has signed on as lead singer for QUIET RIOT, succeeding Kevin DuBrow, who died in 2007.
"I am honored and very excited to be QUIET RIOT's new singer," exclaimed Huff. "I am also humbled and feel a bit of pressure. Who wouldn't feel pressure? Kevin DuBrow was a one-of-a-kind songwriter, musician and a consummate performer. He had an incredible vocal range; I have mass respect for Kevin."
Regarding what fans should expect to see from the new lineup of QUIET RIOT, Huff said, "I don't think trying to duplicate Kevin's every sound or movement is what honors Kevin DuBrow or QUIET RIOT. It's important for me to stay true to the songs as they were written, as the fans remember them, and to bring the live show to full strength. I am not here to replace Kevin DuBrow."
He continued, "Frankie [Banali, drums] summed it up best when he said, 'Kevin DuBrow was one of a kind and cannot be replaced.' I am here to help QUIET RIOT continue to keep the music alive in the most flattering way possible."
QUIET RIOT 2011 is:
Chuck Wright - Bass
Alex Grossi - Guitar
Frankie Banali - Drums
Mark Huff - Vocals
WARRANT has set "Rockaholic" as the title of its new album, due in May via Frontiers Records. The CD was produced by Keith Olsen, who has previously worked with OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE and SCORPIONS, among others.
When asked if WARRANT's new material — which will appear on the group's forthcoming studio album — will have that same Sunset Strip influence as the band's earlier stuff, singer Robert Mason told the Green Bay Press-Gazette, "The new material doesn't sound exactly like the old stuff did, because we're all a little older and wiser — and maybe a little more sober, I don't know, slightly more sober — but it's still the same spirit. You can take the kid out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the kid, ya know?"
Phil Lewis' L.A. GUNS is not to be confused with the Tracii Guns-led version of the group, which is also continuing to record and perform under the L.A. GUNS moniker.
L.A. GUNS' latest album, "Tales from the Strip", was released in August 2005 in the U.S. via Shrapnel Records. The CD, which was produced by Andy Johns (LED ZEPPELIN, THE ROLLING STONES), was lyrically inspired by a historically significant rock scene that L.A. GUNS had a strong hand in creating.
LIZZY BORDEN frontman/namesake has issued the following update:
"2010 was an amazing year for LIZZY BORDEN, touring in Europe, Japan and the States with our 'Appointment With Death' show. The festivals and headline dates in every country were all very special to us in one way or another. This was all possible due to our very well-received 'Appointment With Death' record. We created two epic videos that aired on MTV (one of which was nominated for video of the year on 'Headbangers Ball') and a brand new stage show that proved to everyone that this was a new era for LIZZY BORDEN.
"The 'Appointment With Death' show and record took a giant leap forward into a whole new generation of fans all around the world. (Don't miss our year-end summary video).
"We are now in the writing process for a new LIZZY BORDEN record as well as new video's and a brand new stage show soon to follow.
"Because we do not wish to repeat ourselves, we are taking our time with this new release to make sure we create songs that inspire us for the visual medium as well as our usual audio mayhem. This new record is already heading in a more (individual) song-oriented direction, and it is my hope that we end up with at least ten new songs that can stand on their own and will be the soundtrack for our new generation of LIZZY BORDEN fans, all the while satisfying our dedicated fans who have been with us from the beginning.
"We learned so much from last year in what you want from us from switching songs in and out of the set based on reaction, all of that is starting to feed into the writing for the new record. At one point last year, we had seven songs in the set from 'Appointment With Death' and the only complaint we had was to play longer! It is our strong desire that we have that same problem for our upcoming release.
"Because we want this new release to be very special and something very different than anything we have done before, we are on the hunt to find the right producer that can understand the misunderstood. Finding that 'right producer' may be the biggest task we have at hand.
"Having said all of the above, we can't stay off the stage for too long or we will start to go studio-crazy, so you just may find us out and about playing shows in 2011 while we work on the new record, possibly here and there all over the world. Please check-in to our Facebook fan page for upcoming shows and more recording updates throughout 2011.
"We hope to see you all very soon."
LIZZY BORDEN recruited guitarist A.C. Alexander (WARRIOR, HATETIMESNINE) for the band's last European tour.
LIZZY BORDEN is:
Lizzy Borden: Vocals
Joey Scott: Drums
Marten Andersson: Bass
Dario Lorina: Guitar
A.C. Alexander: Guitar
Over the past couple of years, the LIZZY BORDEN "Appointment With Death" show produced spectacular performances in 11 countries (from North America to Europe) and on the main stages of some of biggest festivals like, Sweden Rock (Sweden), Bang Your Head!!! (Germany), Kobetasonic (Spain) and Rocklahoma (USA), with several critics supposedly declaring LIZZY BORDEN the hit of the festivals and comparing the LIZZY BORDEN show to a KISS concert.
LIZZY BORDEN's most recent shows were best-of performances, incorporating songs from the band's entire catalog, including the latest record, "Appointment With Death". The group is performing all of the classic songs like "Me Against The World", "American Metal" and "Master Of Disguise" as well as tracks "Tomorrow Never Comes" and "Under Your Skin" from the latest CD.
Danish hard rockers PRETTY MAIDS have issued the following update:
"PRETTY MAIDS would like to announce Rene Shades as the new temporary bass player, replacing recently departed Hal Patino [KING DIAMOND]. Shades has been a longtime friend of the band, and did actually play a couple of gigs with us back in 2004 as a second guitarist. Through the years, Shades has played in various bands, Mike Tramp amongst others.
"To begin with, Shades has agreed to step in for the summer festival tour and will make his debut with the band in Tivoli (Copenhagen) on April 22.
"We're all happy to welcome Shades onboard and we hope that all our fans, friends and supporters will give him a warm welcome."
Video footage of PRETTY MAIDS's December 2, 2010 performance at Amager Bio in Copenhagen, Denmark can be viewed below.
"Pandemonium", the latest album from PRETTY MAIDS, registered the following first-week chart positions:
Denmark: #15
Switzerland: #63
Sweden: #45
Germany: #85
Patino made his live debut with PRETTY MAIDS on May 8 in Aalborg, Denmark.
"Pandemonium" was released on June 8, 2010 in the U.S. via Frontiers Records.
According to a press release, "Pandemonium" "truly shows the band in their finest moment [and] is their best effort in many years." It is said to be "a return to the 'Future World' / 'Red Hot and Heavy' era of the Eighties but with an updated sound and freshness that consolidates that PRETTY MAIDS are as strong as ever."
FINNTROLL, TURISAS, ALESTORM, ARKONA TROLLFEST and SKÁLMÖLD will join forces for the Heidenfest 2011 tour, set to take place between September 30 and October 23.
The dates are as follows:
Sep. 30 - Geiselwind, Germany - Music Hall *
Oct. 01 - Gieben, Germany - Hessenhallen *
Oct. 03 - Warsaw, Poland - Stodola
Oct. 04 - Krakow, Poland - Studio
Oct. 05 - Berlin, Germany - Postbahnhof
Oct. 06 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
Oct. 07 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA Longhorn *
Oct. 08 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle *
Oct. 09 - Tilburg, Netherlands - 013 *
Oct. 10 - Leeuwarden, Netherlands - Poppodium
Oct. 11 - London, England - HMV Forum
Oct. 12 - Lille, France - Aeronef
Oct. 13 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
Oct. 14 - München, Germany - Backstage
Oct. 15 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
Oct. 16 - Antwerpen, Belgium - Trix
Oct. 17 - Lindau, Germany - Vaudeville
Oct. 18 - Bologna, Italy - Estragon
Oct. 19 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Cvetlicarna Mediapark
Oct. 20 - Budapest, Hungary - Club 202
Oct. 21 - Wien, Austria - Arena
Oct. 22 - Linz, Austria - Posthof
Oct. 23 - Innsbruck, Austria - Hafen
* extended show with WINTERSUN + one more special guest
For more information, visit www.heidenfest.eu.
"Stand Up And Fight", the third album from TURISAS, entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 5. The CD was released in North America on March 8 via Century Media Records. It was made available in the following formats:
* Limited mediabook with bonus CD (two additional tracks, special acoustic live performance as CD enhancement)
* CD
* Gatefold LP plus the entire album on CD
* Digital download
TURISAS filmed a video for the title track of its new album, "Stand Up And Fight", on February 7 in the California desert with director Iain Sclater. Influenced by the film "Mad Max" and the band's own image, the clip is sure to provide a thrilling new look at TURISAS in the band's first-ever U.S.-shot music video.
"Nifelvind", the latest album from FINNTROLL, was released in North America on March 9 , 2010 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland and was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios. The album cover artwork was created once again by the band's guitarist Skrymer.
ALESTORM will release its third album, "Back Through Time", via Napalm Records on the following dates:
June 1 - Spain, Finland, Sweden
June 3 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Italy
June 6 - Rest Of Europe
June 14 - U.S./Canada
The CD was produced by Lasse Lammert at LSD Studios in Lübeck, Germany.
"Back Through Time" will be made available as a jewelcase, mediabook, LP, and special-edition boxset "featuring bonus tracks and other mad shite!"
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/Heidenfest2011.jpg
STONE SOUR has released the following statement:
"We regret to announce that [STONE SOUR bassist] Shawn Economaki has gone home for personal issues. For the time being, we will continue to tour with a replacement bassist. We wish him all the best."
STONE SOUR is currently taking part in the "Avalanche Tour" with SKILLET, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, HALESTORM and ART OF DYING.
The band's third album, "Audio Secrecy", has sold 163,000 copies in the United States since its September 2010 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
STONE SOUR's latest video, "Hesitate", was filmed on September 20, 2010 in Los Angeles with director Paul Brown (JACK WHITE/ALICIA KEYS, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, JOHN MAYER) and directing collective Beta Movement/Skulley FX.
Jamey Jasta of HATEBREED and KINGDOM OF SORROW will release a solo album, simply titled "Jasta", on July 26 via eOne Music. The CD will be made available in Europe one day earlier through Century Media Records.
A record many years in the making, this is a very different project for Jasta.
A three-minute video clip in which Jasta explains his decision to release the CD can be viewed below.
Jamey said, "It's a bunch of tracks that I recorded throughout 2008, 2009, 2010.
"A lot of people have said, 'Why are you doing a new project? You already have enough projects.' But these are all songs that I recorded over the last three years. And they didn't really fit with HATEBREED or KINGDOM OF SORROW. And plus those recipes are so successful that I wouldn't wanna change it or switch it up. So basically I'm just doing this record for fun. It's got a lot of different material on there, a lot of different influences of mine throughout the years.
"When I've written these songs, if they didn't get used, I basically kept them and reworked them and made them better and made them catchier and made them heavier or made them more melodic — I just tried to incorporate a lot of different influences that I wouldn't incorporate in a my other projects. I'm singing differently on some songs, I'm writing a lot of different style of riffs, and just collaborating with other people and doing a lot of guest appearances."
"Jasta" will feature guest appearances by a number of artists, including Tim Lambesis (AS I LAY DYING), pro skater Mike Vallely, Philip Labonte (ALL THAT REMAINS), Randy Blythe and Mark Morton (LAMB OF GOD), and guitar legend Zakk Wylde.
Jamey will present and perform at this year's Revolver Golden Gods Awards this week at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
Jamey will be tour with KINGDOM OF SORROW this summer on the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.
Reactivated Florida-based melodic metallers CRIMSON GLORY will celebrate their 25th anniversary by embarking on a headlining tour of Europe with support from TRIOSPHERE and CIRRHA NIVA.
Like the proverbial Phoenix ascending from the embers, the return of these formerly masked prog-power pioneers marks an occasion that followers of the band across Europe are eagerly awaiting. With shows ranging from intimate venues to large festivals, including Keep It True in Germany and Karmoygeddon in Norway, the fans will have a unique opportunity to take part in one of the most anticipated and triumphant anniversary tours of the genre.
"Gearing up for this tour has been an amazing, intense experience," says lead guitarist Jon Drenning. "As the band has coalesced and centered around [vocalist] Todd La Torre, it's helped to both ease the loss of [former vocalist] Midnight, as well as remind us that we still have so much more to accomplish as a band. I know that there have been a lot of mixed feelings about CRIMSON GLORY carrying on without Midnight, but I know for certain that he would be very proud to know that his legacy marches on, and I truly believe that his fans worldwide will feel the same as we rise up, shake off the ashes and sear across the darkened sky. We're entering the next chapter of CRIMSON GLORY's 'Transcendence', and with Todd now fully integrated both as a singer and a brother, the band sounds as special, true, unique, and bad-ass as ever!"
The 2011 "Phoenix Rising" European spring tour has been in the works following the unveiling of Todd La Torre as the new frontman for the band at an intimate venue in Atlanta late last year. La Torre's spot-on performance was well-received and met with rave reviews, and it was immediately clear that the time had come to take CRIMSON GLORY back on the road.
The 25th anniversary marks more than just a milestone in the band's history — it is also a final chance to share late vocalist Midnight's legacy with fans across Europe:
"This is a real honor for me," says La Torre. "I'm looking forward to hitting the stage and proving myself to all our fans across Europe. This is a new beginning for me and CRIMSON GLORY, but I would also like to personally dedicate CRIMSON GLORY's 25th-anniversary tour and classic songs to Midnight. He was and will always be a legend in my mind. I will be developing my own style and have more influence on the band's sound as time goes on, of course, but I proudly carry the torch and will do my best to always keep Midnight's spirit alive by performing all the classic songs true to his original vision and in his honor."
"It will be a healing experience for a lot of people, including us," Drenning adds. "There are so many fans of ours out there who never had the chance to see Midnight perform live with the band, and so these performances will at least allow them to feel his presence within the music we created together. Todd [La Torre] has not only displayed the technical ability to emulate Midnight, but he also has the emotional ability to convey the triumph and the torment that Mid lent to every song. This tour will be an honorable and fitting way for fans to say farewell to a legend, while celebrating the life and legacy of our late brother now and into the future of CRIMSON GLORY. Midnight will always be a part of us; in our hearts, our music, and our lives... forever."
The band will also have keyboardist John Zahner (CIRCLE II CIRCLE, JON OLIVA'S PAIN, SAVATAGE) onboard. Zahner also accompanied CRIMSON GLORY on their 1989 "Transcendence" world tour.
"We're very excited and honored to have John Zahner playing with us again," says CRIMSON GLORY bassist Jeff Lords. "John is obviously very familiar with our material, having played with us before on many occasions and we're looking forward to his presence adding to the atmosphere and well-rounded sound that is so intrinsic to CRIMSON GLORY's music."
CRIMSON GLORY will also be joined by the Norwegian progressive metal band TRIOSPHERE. This will be the group's first European tour since the release of their acclaimed new album, "The Road Less Travelled".
TRIOSPHERE singer/bassist Ida Haukland had this to say about performing alongside CRIMSON GLORY: "It is with great pleasure that TRIOSPHERE can announce that they will be joining the legendary CRIMSON GLORY as support on their European gigs in April/May 2011! CRIMSON GLORY was one of my biggest influences with regard to both bass and vocals, and we recommend EVERYONE (be it heavy/extreme metal heads or AOR rockers) to take this very rare opportunity to check out one of the most sincere and extraordinary bands of the 1980s and 1990s."
Dutch metalers CIRRHA NIVA will also support CRIMSON GLORY on their European tour.
"We are tremendously proud to join the ultimate proggers of CRIMSON GLORY on their 25th-anniversary tour through Europe," says CIRRHA NIVA guitarist Rob Willemse. "It's a great happening that this cult band is hitting the stage again and it's even greater to be part of it! The tour with CRIMSON GLORY and TRIOSPHERE will be the biggest thrill we have had since the release of our album, 'For Moments Never Done'. We are all looking forward to starting the tour on Dutch soil and in venues we are very familiar with, but at the same time we are eager to play on stages outside Holland to spread our music; CRIMSON GLORY is giving us that chance!"
Vocalist Tarek "MS" Maghary (METALFORCE, MAJESTY) has released the following statement:
"With this statement I want to tell all fans, friends and partners that we decided that it is time for MAJESTY to officially come back to the glorious heavy metal world.
"It might sound strange to some of you that after only three years when we said that the band is not existent anymore we return but I really want to try to explain to you all the thoughts, feelings and economic reasons which led to that decision.
"I know that many of you were shocked when we put MAJESTY to sleep in 2008 and I can never properly explain you the exact reasons why we did that step and honestly, I don't even know them myself. The only thing I know is that it was a decision which hurt the feelings of many dedicated and loyal fans standing together with us side by side through the years.
"I will never forget the sadness of a young fan coming to me after we stopped as MAJESTY. He had tears in his eyes and told me, that he does not know if he should be sad or angry but I knew that it was a mixture of both and I felt those exact same feelings in the last two years too many times.
"Don't misunderstand me, we also had a lot of fun as METALFORCE and played an incredible tour but we never could achieve the magic we had with MAJESTY and therefore we decided it is a wise step to recall that magic and return as the band which has always been our purpose in life.
"There is also one other side to it. Many promoters all around the world told us that they would love to book the band to come to their venues and festivals. But not as METALFORCE because we were told that the fans do not even know about that band. The people demand MAJESTY and now we will respond to their demands.
"We are all dedicated musicians and we are living to play live on stage not only a few limited shows a year like we had to do with METALFORCE but to hit the stages around the word as often as fucking possible. We need the direct contact with our brothers and sisters and therefore we will work as fucking hard as possible to come to your town.
"The first release as MAJESTY will already come out this summer. 'Own The Crown' which will among the greatest hits of the band feature two brand new songs, the rerecording of the demo song 'Snow Is On The Mountains' and the complete first demo tape of the band. Many more specials which will stir the blood of every fan can be found on the 2CD box set which will be sold for a 1CD unit price.
"I know that a bright future lies before us now and we will try to play as many shows as possible all over the planet and finally do again what we were born for: heavy metal — our strength and our religion."
HELLO DEMONS MEET SKELETONS, the solo project of SEVENDUST guitarist Clint Lowery, has released a new EP titled "Words That Sing Well" exclusively via ClintLowery.net. The guitarist's newly designed web site is the only place to find physical copes of the new release. The first 1,000 copies of the record also include a newly remastered version of Lowery's 2008 EP, "Chills". Both records are due Tuesday, April 19 on iTunes, Amazon and other online digital retailers.
Lowery worked with his brother Corey and New Jersey recording studio Architekt Music on the release in January/February 2011.
"Words That Sing Well" track listing:
01. Summertime
02. Sweet Insecure
03. December
04. Done For
05. Love Becomes War
Lowery is a founding member of SEVENDUST and is currently touring with the band on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's "Welcome to the Family" North American tour.
Jay Nanda of the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner recently conducted an interview with vocalist Phil Labonte of Massachusetts metallers ALL THAT REMAINS. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow.
San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: This San Antonio show will probably feel light years away from what you just went through in Japan. What was the most harrowing part of that experience?
Labonte: Yeah. Well, it was nothing really harrowing for us. First of all, the actual earthquake, the epicenter, was 250 miles away. We felt the shaking in Tokyo, a 5.5, but you walked out of the building, and that was it. In Japan, a 5.5 is fairly regular. I wouldn't say fairly regular, but they build their buildings up to codes for that. The biggest thing was that it shut the airport down, and we had to wait in lines when we had to leave. It wasn't like, "We've gotta get out of here now."
San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: You guys have had labels thrown at you such as metalcore, and lately some say you're more mainstream or melodic. How would you describe the band's music?
Labonte: I would just say we're a metal band. There's a bunch of different styles of metal that are out there and that we touch on. We create our style. I think it's just metal. It's a fairly all-encompassing kind of term nowadays. It used to be if you were metal in the '80s, it was fairly easy to figure out what metal was between '83 and '88. There was not a lot of sub-genres. You had metal and hardcore that got mixed a little bit, bands like BIOHAZARD or AGNOSTIC FRONT. But in the '90s, there were bands like EARTH CRISIS. We do so many kind of things when it comes to vocal styles. Like the song "Two Weeks", Oli and Mike never play the same riffs. That's a very thrash metal progressive way to write a song. There's a complete moron riff, and I'm doing some CANNIBAL CORPSE type of lows. We don't sweat what we're labeled. We're just a metal band.
San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: Stubb's in Austin (in Feb. 2010) was one of the first shows you played as a fill-in for KILLSWITCH ENGAGE for (singer) Howard (Jones). How was it playing shows and performing their songs?
Labonte: It was fun, man. You know, it's not my job, you know what I mean? It's not my band, so I just went up there and did my thing to put on a good show. Most of the bands that came out were really cool and pumped that the show was happening. It started out with the guys in KILLSWITCH saying, "Let's do a few shows, and pay the bills." They were thinking it was going to be just a little bit, and it turned into a special thing, like, "Hey, you're not going to be able to see this again." When we were in New York and New England, Jesse (Leach) — who used to be in KILLSWITCH before Howard and sings in TIMES OF GRACE — came out and did a few shows, too.
San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: ALL THAT REMAINS is coming up on 10 years of the first record. What comes to mind when you reflect on the past decade, and where do you see the band 10 years from now?
Labonte: Oh, I don't know. To be honest with you, being in a band isn't what it was 10 or 15 years ago. It gets harder and harder to make a living. When you get older, you don't want to leave on tour as much just because you're never around. Gas is $5 a gallon, the music industry is at an all-time low for people buying CDs. People who think ALL THAT REMAINS is loaded, they're completely wrong. I've never made six figures. So I don't know if there will be another 10 years of ALL THAT REMAINS, but . . . (chuckles)
PARADISE LOST guitarist Gregor Mackintosh's father recently passed away from cancer. Greg's brother, Ross Mackintosh, has written a book about his experience, entitled "Seeds", which is due to be released soon.
All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to cancer charities.
"Seeds", which has already received a number of fantastic reviews, can be ordered from Amazon.com.
PARADISE LOST was forced to postpone six shows on its late 2009 European tour due to Greg Mackintosh's father's cancer battle. Milly Evans, PARADISE LOST's long-standing guitar technician and keyboardist from TERRORVISION, filled in for Greg for the other dates.
Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers DELAIN have announced the addition of guitarist Timo Somers to the group's ranks. The band states, "Timo's been rehearsing with us for quite some time and we're very confident that we've found the best possible new DELAIN team member in him; this guy's got music in his blood.
"You'll be getting to know more about Timo in the upcoming weeks through our updated member profiles [on our official web site] and through the shows of our upcoming European tour, where he'll make his debut.
"We're looking forward to our first shows with Timo on tour."
DELAIN will release its third album later in the year via Roadrunner Records.
The band last year announced the addition of bassist Otto "The Baron" Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (DETONATION) to the group's ranks.
DELAIN's second album, "April Rain", was released in North America on June 30, 2009 via Sensory Records (with U.S. distribution through Ryko and Canadian distribution through Sonic Unyon). The North American version of the album features a bonus track — "Come Closer" — which was previously only available on the limited-edition digipack version of the LP.
"April Rain" benefitted from the return of NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala who provided male vocals on two tracks, as well as world-renowned cellist Maria Ahn.
Guitarist Noah Carpenter of the New York-based death metallers SKINLESS has issued the following update:
"We know that many of our fans are restless and wondering what is happening with SKINLESS, and for the last few years we haven't even known either.
"I'm not going to go into a deep, detailed description of what has transpired since the 'Trample' album, but we were plagued with lineup issues once again. The frustration of one step forward and two steps back forced me to just put the band on hiatus and try to recharge the batteries for a while.
"In June 2010 we reunited the old lineup (from the first two CDs) for a show in New York, and I had anticipated that we'd end up writing a new album in that formation. When the time came for serious discussions about moving forward with the album, a couple of the guys told me they didn't have the 'fire' and/or time to dedicate to the project. For several months afterwards I continued to work on new material and jammed with potential new band members. But, much like the other guys, I concluded that I didn't have the 'fire' either, and my inspiration was more directed towards my other band ARMOR COLUMN.
"This certainly isn't an easy thing for me to do, as I have dedicated my entire adult life thus far to SKINLESS.
"We all have shifting priorities throughout life, and we feel that SKINLESS has run its course. To continue at this point would be forced and uninspired.
"SKINLESS has always been about energy and intensity, and doing anything half-heartedly wouldn't be true to what the band stands for.
"Members of SKINLESS will continue on in the music world. Joe plays in the killer band STREETSWEEPER and Sherwood works as a production manager in Colorado. Bob Beaulac has a new band ready to destroy Albany, New York very soon. I hope that many of you will check out my other band ARMOR COLUMN. It's not brutal death but those into thrash and heavy power metal can rock out. Some say it's a mixture of HELSTAR and EXODUS. Brand new album, 'Maximum Collateral Damage', has just been released.
"SKINLESS would like to thank everyone who has ever helped us in any way, from the initial fans in New York that helped springboard us to international recognition, to all the fans around the world, and of course the labels, promoters, booking agents, zines, bands etc. We've had the great honor to share the stage with many metal greats, to see much of the world, and have made tons of friends along the way.
"THANK YOU ALL!!!"
SKINLESS' latest album, "Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead", was released in June 2006 via Relapse Records. The CD was the band's first to feature new vocalist Jason Keyser. The follow-up to 2002's "From Sacrifice to Survival" was recorded with longtime engineer Brett Portzer at his Max Trax Studios and was mastered by Scott Hull at Visceral Sound.
British melodic death metal act THE SOULLESS (formerly IGNOMINIOUS INCARCERATION) will release its new album, "Isolated", in Europe on May 16 and North America on June 7 via Earache Records.
"Isolated" track listing:
01. Unaltered
02. The Path
03. Earthbound
04. 13th Morning
05. New Perspective
06. Clones
07. Revelation
08. Our Return
09. Unite Us
10. You Are Nothing To Me
11. Without Heart
The CD's cover artwork can be viewed below.
Commented THE SOULLESS vocalist Andy Wardle: "We chose Ryohei Hase for our artwork. He did the art for IGNOMINIOUS INCARCERATION's album and although we wanted something quite different, we know he does an awesome job.
"The guy on the front is supposed to be hung up as an outcast from society. He is isolated, which ties in with the album title and lyrical themes within.
"We are really happy with the bleak colors and the overall look."
"Isolated" was recorded at Outhouse Studios in Reading, England with producer John Mitchell (ARCHITECTS, FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, ENTER SHIKARI).
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/soullessisolated.jpg
According to Stuff.co.nz, a man who confessed to the brutal murder of the lead singer of one of New Zealand's longest-running death metal bands, BACKYARD BURIAL, was killed by a train hours after being questioned by detectives.
Police were warned that Timothy Parlane, who once sang for fellow death metal band BULLETBELT, was suicidal and the woman to whom he confessed pleaded for him to be given help.
Parlane told the woman he went to Hall's house with two knives and stabbed him.
"I told them I was seriously concerned for his mental health," the woman told The Dominion Post. "I feel that he was absolutely let down by the system," she said.
BACKYARD BURIAL frontman Matthew John Hall, 35, who went by the stage name "Blaps Warmonger", was found dead with multiple stab wounds by his roommate at his Wellington apartment on February 15.
BACKYARD BURIAL released its debut album, titled "Symptoms Of Psychopathology", in 1999.
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