Paul Stanley, the driving force behind KISS, the greatest rock band of all time, will appear on the nationally syndicated television show "The Doctors" on Thursday, April 14. Paul will discuss his work with the non-profit House Research Institute, his own hearing loss and his efforts to prevent noise-induced hearing loss amongst teens.
Check your local listings for air times or go to www.thedoctorstv.com for further programming information.
Did you know that rock icon Paul Stanley was born deaf in his right ear?
Did you also know that 1 out of 5 teens has a hearing loss? That's a 30 percent increase just in the last 15 years.
Maybe that explains why the legendary front man who has sold over 100 million albums is so passionate about preventing hearing loss amongst teens.
Stanley, has teamed-up with the non-profit House Research Institute on a major initiative called "It's How You Listen That Counts" to educate millions of teens around the world on preventing noise-induced hearing loss.
Paul will be drawing the attention of teens in New York City and Los Angeles to hearing health issues through an after-school event called Sound Rules!
The event, free for teens, will take place at the Director's Guilds in New York City on May 4 and Los Angeles on May 12.
On Wednesday, May 4 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., the House Research Institute (HRI) will present "Sound Rules! A Sound & Hearing Celebration" at the Director's Guild of America (DGA) Theatre located at 110 West 57th Street in Manhattan in New York City.
On Thursday, May 12 at 3:30 p.m., the House Research Institute will present "Sound Rules! A Sound & Hearing Celebration" at the Director's Guild of America Theatre in Los Angeles, located at 7920 Sunset Boulevard.
Sound Rules! is a FREE hearing loss prevention education and entertainment event for teens that will feature Paul Stanley, lead singer/guitarist of KISS and hearing health experts from the House Research Institute, along with valuable contest prizes and giveaways. Space is limited; reservations are required.
Polish musician Pawel Maciwoda, who has been the bassist for German hard rock veterans SCORPIONS since 2003, revealed during a brand new interview with the "Dzien Dobry TVN" show on Polish TV (see video below) that the band will enter the studio in the fall to lay down a collection of re-recorded versions of SCORPIONS classics. The CD is tentatively due early next year.
The current farewell tour by the iconic band — Klaus Meine (vocals), Matthias Jabs (lead guitar), Rudolf Schenker (guitar), James Kottak (drums) and Pawel Maciwoda (bass) — is in support of their latest album, "Sting In The Tail" (Universal Music Enterprises).
The SCORPIONS' trek — in celebration of 40-plus years in music — has been a massive success in a soft touring economy, with the group filling many of the arenas they performed at in the United States and Canada.
"Sting In The Tail" sold 18,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart. This marks the band's highest chart debut in over 20 years. The CD also landed at No. 6 on the Rock Albums chart.
"Sting In The Tail" was released in North America on March 23, 2010 via Universal Music Enterprises. The CD was recorded at a studio in Hannover, Germany with Swedish producers Mikael "Nord" Andersson and Martin Hansen (the team behind THE RASMUS' "Dead Letters" CD).
It was 25 years ago last month that METALLICA released its epic third studio album, "Master Of Puppets". The disc came out on March 3, 1986 and was produced by Flemming Rasmussen, who also produced 1984's "Ride The Lightning" and 1988's "...And Justice For All" for the band. In an interview with AOL's Noisecreep, Rasmussen was asked how he first got in touch with METALLICA. "They contacted me after they heard the production I did on RAINBOW's 'Difficult To Cure' album," he replied. "They really liked the sound I got on that record, so they reached out to me. The success of 'Ride The Lightning' made it really easy to continue our collaboration for the next couple of albums."
"I actually didn't hear METALLICA until we started making the 'Ride The Lightning' album," he admitted. "The band played 'Kill 'Em All' for me because we were checking out some of the sounds on the record. To be honest, I wasn't impressed with the sound of it, and their playing. But I was blown away by their energy on the album, and that overshadowed their actual performances."
"Master Of Puppets" was the last album to feature bassist Cliff Burton, who died in a tour bus crash in September 1986 and was replaced by Jason Newsted. Rasmussen said about Burton,"It was such a pleasure working with him. I loved his improvising. His solo parts on the instrumental track, 'Orion', were fantastic!"
On how prepared METALLICA was before entering the studio:
"The band made a really good demo of the entire album before we started recording, so everything was planned. Actually, they always demoed everything before we entered the studio."
On whether there was any partying going on during the recording sessions:
"We actually didn't party in the studio. We were all pretty professional during the recording of those albums."
On his favorite songs on "Master Of Puppets":
"If I had to pick my favorite songs on the album, I would go with 'Welcome Home (Sanitarium)', 'Battery' and the title track."
On whether there is anything he would change on "Master of Puppets":
"I listen to it on and off, and there's nothing I would change. It is a masterpiece for its time, and should be left as it is."
"Master Of Puppets" was METALLICA's first gold album, for sales of more than half a million copies. Many songs from the disc, including "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", "Battery", "Leper Messiah" and the title track are still part of the band's live set to this day.
"Chinese Democracy", the 2008 album released by the current edition of GUNS N' ROSES after a 15-year wait, sold around 3,200 copies in the United States in the week ending Sunday, April 3 — nearly three times the units (1,200) it shifted the previous week. As a result, the CD has re-entered The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 198.
As previously reported, "Chinese Democracy" can now be purchased at BestBuy.com for $1.99.
Best Buy was the exclusive U.S. retailer for "Chinese Democracy", reportedly paying $14 million for 1.6 million copies. But the album was a major sales disappointment, moving just 619,000 copies despite the curiosity and hype surrounding its release.
The CD was officially certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 3, 2009 for shipments in the United States in excess of one million copies.
Aside from Billboard and Spinner interviews and answering a number of fan questions at a GUNS N' ROSES message board, singer Axl Rose has done no promotion of any kind for "Chinese Democracy".
"Chinese Democracy" came out 15 years after its predecessor, 1993's "The Spaghetti Incident". It took more than a decade to record, during which every original member of the band except Rose was replaced and four different producers were used.
Nevertheless, Rose hinted in a 2002 interview that the lengthy sessions for the record had left him with enough material for two follow-ups.
Seventeen years ago, NIRVANA singer Kurt Cobain took his own life. There have long been reports that VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan was one of the last people to see the rocker when they wound up on the same flight to Seattle together. VH1 Radio Networks' Dave Basner asked McKagan if that was the case.
"It is true. We did," he replied. "We talked. We were both sort of in the same boat. A couple guys recognizing where each other was at. It's no fun being that completely and utterly addicted. And then we get off at Sea-Tac Airport and it's like, there's a mass rush of people, and all the sudden because it's like him from a big band and me from a big band and all the sudden everybody just stopped and stared at us. Maybe I just remember it this way but everyone just stopped and we were like, 'Okay… where do we go with this thing?' But I went to baggage claim and that was it."
Cobain's body was discovered on April 8, 1994 by an electrician who arrived at Kurt's home to install a security system. The rocker had been lying there for days after having shot himself.
A suicide note was found at the scene, addressed to Kurt's childhood imaginary friend, "Boddah," that said, paraphrasing, "I haven't felt the excitement of listening to as well as creating music, along with really writing… for too many years now."
DIO DISCIPLES — the Ronnie James Dio tribute project featuring former DIO members Simon Wright (drums), Craig Goldy (guitar) and Scott Warren (keyboards) along with bassist James Lomenzo (MEGADETH, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, WHITE LION) and singers Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) and Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS, GUN) — is among the newly confirmed bands for this year's edition of the Download festival, set to take place June 10-12, 2011 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, United Kingdom.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
ALICE COOPER
ALL THAT REMAINS
ALTER BRIDGE
ANTI-FLAG
ASKING ALEXANDRIA
AVENGED SEVENFOLD
BAPTIZED IN BLOOD
BELLLIGERENCE
BIOHAZARD
BLACK STONE CHERRY
BLACK VEIL BRIDES
BLITZ KIDS
BOSSHOSS
BOWLING FOR SOUP
BRING ME THE HORIZON
BUCKCHERRY
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
CHEAP TRICK
CHILDREN OF BODOM
CHTHONIC
CKY
CLUTCH
DAN REED
DANZIG
DEAF HAVANA
DEF LEPPARD
DESTROY REBUILD UNTIL GOD SHOWS
DIO DISCIPLES
DISTURBED
DOWN
DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED
ENVY OF THE STATE
ESCAPE THE FATE
FM
FRAMING HANLEY
FRANK TURNER
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
GASLIGHT ANTHEM
GHOST
GWAR
HEIGHTS
HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD
HYRO DA HERO
ILLUMINATUS
JAMESON RAID
KARMA TO BURN
KELLERMENSCH
KORN
KVELERTAK
LETLIVE
LINKIN PARK
LOWER THAN ATLANTIS
MADINA LAKE
MALEFICE
MR BIG
MY DARKEST DAYS
OAF
OCTOBER FILE
PENDULUM
PLAIN WHITE T'S
PUDDLE OF MUDD
RISE TO REMAIN
ROB ZOMBIE
ROCK SUGAR
ROYAL REPUBLIC
SACRED MOTHER TONGUE
SEVENDUST
SILVERSTEIN
SKELETAL DAMAGE
SKUNK ANANSIE
STARSEED
STRAIGHT LINE STITCH
SUICIDE SILENCE
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
T-34
THE CULT
THE DAMNED THINGS
THE DANGEROUS SUMMER
THE DARKNESS
THE DEAD LAY WAITING
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
THE KING BLUES
THE MORNING AFTER
THE PRETTY RECKLESS
THE RODS
THIN LIZZY
TIMES OF GRACE
TRASH TALK
TRC
TURISAS
TWISTED SISTER
VERSAEMERGE
WAYNE STATIC
YASHIN
YOUNG GUNS
YOUR DEMISE
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.
DIO DISCIPLES tour dates:
June 08 - Moscow, Russia - A2 Club
June 09 - St. Petersburg, Russia - Kosmonayt
June 10 - Tampere, Finland - Sauna Open Air
June 11 - East Midlands, UK - Download Festival
June 12 - Newcastle, UK - Academy
June 14 - Glasgow, Scotland - Garage
June 15 - Wolverhampton, UK - Sleigh Rooms
June 16 - Manchester, UK - Academy 2
June 17 - London, UK - Islington Academy
June 19 - Uden, Netherlands - De Pul
June 20 - Aschafensburg, Germany - Colos Saal
June 21 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
June 22 - Berlin, Germany - C Club
June 24 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting
June 25 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix
June 27 - Vienna, Austria - Szene Wien
June 28 - Lucerne, Switzerland - Konzerthaus Schuur
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."
DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell, who had an acrimonious split with Ronnie James Dio (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, HEAVEN & HELL) in the mid-'80s when the two worked together in the first incarnation of Dio's solo band, was recently asked by the Artisan News Service (see video below) for his feelings on the legendary heavy metal singer now that Ronnie has passed on.
"[I have] nothing but great admiration for Ronnie as a singer; he was the best in a genre," Vivian said. "He was a difficult man to work with, for me personally; he and I had a very terse relationship. We did make great music together; I'm very proud of those albums and I always will be. That was it, you know. But sometimes, it's chalk and cheese. It was a strange and difficult time for me. I'm sure it was just as difficult for him to have to deal with me. But it is what it is, or was what it was. But like I said, the music is the important thing, and that's what will endure even after I'm dead. [And] the music was great."
In a 2003 interview posted on DEF LEPPARD's official web site, Campbell talked about his disdain for hard rock. "The real irony of that is I actually don't like hard rock music," he said. "I know it's a strange thing to say, but I don't really care about my past contributions. Even now I still get these guys coming up to me going 'Duuuuuuuude!', giving me the DIO devil sign and yelling 'Holy Diver!!' and 'Rainbow In The Dark', whoo hoo!!' and it's cool that they remember it, but that music never mattered to me — and still doesn't." Campbell went on to praise and rip Ronnie James Dio, saying, "Oh yeah, night after night, [Ronnie] was absolutely on the money. An incredibly strong voice and within that niche genre of dungeons and dragons and rainbows and midgets... You know, the sorta old school heavy metal, he's an incredible talent. But he's an awful businessman and way more importantly, one of the vilest people in the industry."
In honor of the hugely-anticipated "Big Four" festival in Indio, California on April 23, Revolver magazine has put out the "Big Four" special collector's issue, chronicling the history of thrash metal's most legendary bands. The magazine is on newsstands now, as well as available online online here. While making the issue, Revolver talked to some of the "Big Four"'s most heralded musicians about their favorite songs from the other bands. In the latest installment, MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine tells the magazine about his favorite SLAYER song.
"I just started recently getting into SLAYER's music because I was pretty much at odds with those guys for so long. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to hang out over the years, much to my loss. I'd have to say probably my favorite SLAYER song is the one that they close with, 'Angel Of Death' [off 1986's 'Reign In Blood']. Yeah, I love the killer double-kick part at the end of that one."
ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino recently conducted an interview with SLAYER guitarist Kerry King. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
ARTISTdirect.com: What does the "Big Four" mean to you?
Kerry: It means, "I wish there were more!" [Laughs] I would love for it to pick up and be a touring entity and not just do a week in Europe. Obviously, one show in the United States is far from enough. That's my take on it. I'd even take two weeks in a row!
ARTISTdirect.com: What was it about Southern California that fostered this type of heavy metal in the '80s?
Kerry: It's hard to say because a lot of people think that the Bay Area is where it was at. That area had a great scene as well, but METALLICA definitely imported themselves there. For us and MEGADETH, you have the METALLICA connection there. We all liked the European stuff. To this day, I'm a huge fan of early VENOM. I think they probably shaped us more than anybody — except for maybe JUDAS PRIEST or IRON MAIDEN. We were all into the same thing. It was a little nucleus of people with the same ideas trying to get the same info because back then we were far from Internet [Laughs]. It was about going to a mom and pop store and seeing what kind of imported magazines or imported vinyl they had.
ARTISTdirect.com: Did you share many of the same influences?
Kerry: I knew METALLICA and, of course, I played the first five MEGADETH shows. METALLICA and SLAYER never really talked much though. We weren't buddies; we were acquaintances. Since the "Big Four" shows last summer, I consider them friends now because we actually got time to hang out, have food, have drinks, just be dudes, and not be talking about each other in the press. That was really cool. That was the biggest thing that I got from Europe. It was fun for me. Up until then, we did a show with METALLICA back in the day at The Woodstock in Orange County. They might've been signed already, but we weren't. We've done a random festival here or there over thirty years. We finally got to do a proper "tour" with them, and it's really cool.
ARTISTdirect.com: When did it you realize you'd be in SLAYER as your career?
Kerry: When I was 25-years-old, I didn't think I'd be doing it when I was 40. As your heroes get older and you see other people do it, you're like, "Man, I don't feel old." You get a different perspective on age when you get there, at least I do. I don't feel like I did when I was 20, but I certainly don't feel 46 either. Touring and the stage time keep me in shape. If I didn't drink, I'd be a little skinny bastard, but that's self-medicating to get you through the tour.
RATT frontman Stephen Pearcy will hit the road this June as part of the "Metal In America" tour. Warm-up dates are being scheduled throughout April and May.
Pearcy's touring band includes an impressive pedigree of rock alumni consisting of drummer Greg D'Angelo (ex-WHITE LION), guitarist Greg Walls (ex-ANTHRAX), bassist Mike Duda (W.A.S.P.) and guitarist Erik Ferentinos (ANTIDIVISION; signed to Pearcy's Top Fuel Records).
The "Metal In America" tour is expected to run through end of summer and will include material from RATT's deep catalog of classic rock anthems and Pearcy's impressive solo material.
For tour date information, visit www.stephen-pearcy.com.
In other recent news, Pearcy will team up with renowned New York City chef Chris Santos, who is a judge on the Food Network's "Chopped", to create his own BBQ sauce and hot sauce for High River Sauces.
Pearcy recently signed with the booking agency Popular Music, fronted by music veteran Michael Rand.
In addition to his solo work, Pearcy is focusing on running his record label, Top Fuel Records, as well as launching BATTERING RAMM, a group in which he plays guitar and whose music he has described as "way more aggressive than anything I've done in the past."
Pearcy recently recorded a new version of RATT's '80s hit "Wanted Man" for "Big John's Rock N Lock", the new show featuring world-famous rock and roll bodyguard "Big" John Murray, celebrity reality star of VH1's "Rock Of Love".
Pearcy posted a message on Twitter last month stating that RATT will remain inactive for the remainder of 2011 while he pursues other projects, including the release of a new solo album. He said, "RATT with me involved will not be active [in] 2011, maybe longer. No new record, tour, or life with me until things are back on track! Until then, M.I.A."
"Infestation", the first studio record in 11 years from RATT, sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 30 on the Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on April 20, 2010 via Loud & Proud.
Legendary British power metal mercenaries TANK — featuring Mick Tucker and Cliff Evans on guitar alongside ex-RAINBOW/YNGWIE MALMSTEEN frontman Doogie White and ex-BRUCE DICKINSON bassist Chris Dale — have announced the addition of drummer Mark Cross (FIREWIND, HELLOWEEN, KINGDOM COME) to the group's ranks.
Commented TANK: "We are delighted to welcome Mark into the trenches and everyone connected with the band feels that his addition to our ranks will move the band into a new dimension."
Mark was born in London and has an English father and German mother. He started bashing the tubs at the age of nine and was brought up in three different countries, including Germany.
With FIREWIND, he released three studio albums, three singles, a double live CD and an in concert DVD between 2005 and 2010.
Mick Tucker, TANK's longest serving member (28 years), said the following about this exciting development: "We have now assembled some of the finest metal musicians TANK have ever had. We are now prepared to unleash this awesome line-up on Europe. We hope to see you all on tour."
Mick's guitar partner, Cliff Evans, second longest serving member of the band (26 years) said; "To have someone of Mark's caliber join the band shows just how far we have come this last couple of years. Mark is one of the very best metal drummers around and will really add something to our sound. This is a big move for us and we cannot wait to introduce Mark to the fans on the road later this year."
TANK's latest album. "War Machine", was released on October 25, 2010 in Europe via Metal Mind Productions (December 7 in the U.S. through MVD). The production was handled by Pedro Ferreira (THE DARKNESS, THERAPY?, MEAT LOAF) and the bulk of the recording was done at Pedrock Studios in London. Drums were laid down by Tony Newton at Steve Harris' (IRON MAIDEN) Barnyard Studios.
"War Machine" was made available in four different versions: as a jewel case CD, a limited-edition digipak CD including two bonus tracks and LP with one bonus track. The Japanese edition of the album includes two exclusive bonus tracks which aren't available elsewhere.
Former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy recently spoke to AOL's Noisecreep about new projects, including new band with SYMPHONY X's Russell Allen on vocals, Mike Orlando on guitar, and Paul DiLeo on bass; his work with Steve Morse, Neal Morse, Casey McPherson and Dave LaRue; and his involvement with Neal Morse's latest solo album, "Testimony 2".
"[This] has been an unbelievably productive year for me so far," Portnoy told Noisecreep. "It's only April and I've already recorded three different albums with three different projects and artists, as well as having done a string of U.S. shows with my BEATLES tribute band with Paul Gilbert. I'm enjoying spreading my musical wings and collaborating with so many talented friends and musicians that I admire. My musical taste has always been so broad, and I'm loving tapping into so many different areas and styles."
On his new band with SYMPHONY X's Russell Allen on vocals, Mike Orlando on guitar, and Paul DiLeo on bass:
"[It's] something I'm very excited about. It's super hard-hitting, with strong, slamming tunes, with riffs as big as Zakk [Wylde] and Dime, and vocals as big as Dio. I think this album can make a huge splash in the hard rock and metal scene! I can't wait to hit the road with this baby!"
On his work with Steve Morse, Neal Morse, Casey McPherson and Dave LaRue:
"[It] is filled with some great pop/alternative/singer-songwriter influences, but, of course, rounded out with great playing and musicianship."
On other projects he has planned for the rest of the year:
"I also have a few other exciting things in the works for the summer and beyond. I will continue to plant all of these musical seeds and watch them all grow like a proud farmer."
Mick Stingley of Rocksalt.mx recently conducted an interview with German metal queen Doro Pesch. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Rocksalt.mx: I understand you're recording right now.
Doro: Ja, ja!
Rocksalt.mx: Have you written the whole album yet, or is it still..?
Doro: Oh, no, Mick, no! It was just, actually, the last tour we just came off the tour with MOTÖRHEAD — we played with MOTÖRHEAD here in Europe and then we had our own tour started about four weeks ago, so it's just the beginning.
Rocksalt.mx: Just the beginning then.
Doro: Ja. We have this one song, though, I want to write for Ronnie James Dio to pay respect. I was always such a big fan, like so many other people, [I] just adored him and loved him. But there's one song, we will be working on that and I think it will be wonderful. But I first want to show it to Wendy Dio [Ronnie's wife/manager] and let her listen to it, so that's one thing. I kind of want to make many versions of that song, I think it's beautiful and I like it a lot. And we have some other songs but I don't know which ones will make the record. Definitely the one for Ronnie; but everything else, we usually write as much as we can and pick and choose the nicest ones.
Rocksalt.mx: Do you have a title for the song about Ronnie James Dio?
Doro: Oh, yes! (whispering) It's called 'Hero' and it has a beautiful melody and I would like to make many versions of it, like an acoustic version and a full-blown band version and maybe an orchestral version… and we are just working on it. I definitely want to take care of that one — that song's nice. But first I want to let Wendy listen to it. I'm really hoping… but I'm sure she will like it a lot, ja. Every time everybody is listening to it in the studio everybody is crying and so — wow — so touching.
Rocksalt.mx: Not to dwell on sadness, but you did get to record with Peter Steele [late TYPE O NEGATIVE frontman], on "Descent". I wonder if you could talk about that for a moment.
Doro: Oh, ja… he was a great guy and definitely the biggest person I've ever met! He was so super-sweet and so nice. And — wow — it was great, ja. I thought he did such a great job on "Descent".
Rocksalt.mx: Can you talk a bit about how that came to be?
Doro: Oh… I think I just called him up. I had this song and I thought it would be great if maybe somebody with this great low, dark voice would sing on it and then I thought, maybe I will just give it a shot. So I called him up and he said he would like to hear it. So then I went over to his apartment and we had a very nice dinner, and he was very, very polite, like a total gentleman, and we talked and talked. And then he said, "I would like to do it!" And then my bass player, Nick, he had been getting all the files together, and then we mixed it and it was awesome! And then we did a photo shoot and the photographer said, you know, maybe Pete should sit down because if he stands up you look like the little daughter! (laughs) And that's how I feel when I look up, like the eight year-old girl! But he was so nice! But he was a great guy and, you know. I didn't know him as well as I knew Ronnie, of course, or even Lemmy, since we toured together. But I met
Pete just a couple of times and he was super-nice, ja!
CAVALERA CONSPIRACY — the project featuring former SEPULTURA members Max (guitar, vocals) and Igor Cavalera (drums) — will be supported by Midwest thrashers LAZARUS A.D. on a short run of U.S. dates in late April/early May. The details are as follows:
Apr. 28 - W. Hollywood, CA - House Of Blues
Apr. 29 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues
Apr. 30 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
May 02 - Englewood, CO - Gothic Theatre
May 04 - Chicago, IL - The Bottom Lounge
May 10 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
"Blunt Force Trauma", the sophomore album from CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's debut CD, "Inflikted", opened with 9,000 units to enter the chart at No. 72.
"Blunt Force Trauma" was once again tracked with ex-MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader, who co-produced the LP with Max. Logan also mixed the follow-up to the band's debut album, "Inflikted", which has sold less than 50,000 copies in the United States since its March 2008 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The brothers Cavalera co-founded SEPULTURA, the Brazilian metal band that redefined and established the genre outside of the U.S. and Europe. After Max exited the band, there was a rift between himself and his brother, one that was eventually repaired through the redemptive power of music. Some time had passed and Max and Igor were unable to resist the musical pull in their magnetic fields and their musical collaboration was renewed. The duo are back for round two with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.
CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's lineup is filled out by guitarist Marc Rizzo, who plays with Max in SOULFLY, and bassist Johnny Chow.
Dave Borgioli-Jones of NZRock recently conducted an interview with Max Cavalera (SEPULTURA, NAILBOMB, SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
NZRock: So the new CAVALERA CONSPIRACY album "Blunt Force Trauma", its heavier, its faster and its more aggressive than the first CAVALERA CONSPIRACY album. Was that the aim?
Max: Yeah, we wanted to make a more brutal and more direct album. We loved the work that was done on "Inflikted", but we thought we could take a step further into the heaviness and the brutality. I thought it was a good time for that, we felt very strongly about making a stronger album with a somehow heavier feeling to it going through all the songs. So we just went for it. It was an idea that came up in the studio and we just decided to go with it. So the first half of the album was a lot of fast songs and a lot of kind of like hardcore thrash metal and then the other half had more like a groove vibe. And then when you put the two together it made it into a good album. So it was a combination work between the fast stuff, the thrash stuff and the groovy stuff and then you have the basic CAVALERA material.
NZRock: You seem to have perfected the art of creating a crushing wall of sound in your music. What's the secret?
Max: I think the secret is how you record four guitars. In the old days we only used to do two guitars and now we do four, so you get two guitars on each speaker and you get two different sounds of the guitar so you create some kind of wall of guitar sound. And by having four different kinds of distortion because you have four guitars, you combine them all together and then you get something really super extra heavy. And that's my goal with SOULFLY and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, it's to try to create the heaviest guitar sound but which is still clean so you can still hear the notes so it's not just noise. So you still hear the proper notes but it still is a wall of guitar sound and I think I'm getting pretty close, I think the CAVALERA CONSPIRACY "Blunt Force Trauma" album is the heaviest guitar sound I've got on an album and I'm really happy with the sound of it.
NZRock: You've worked with many musicians over the years. Who would you still like to work with but haven't had the chance yet?
Max: Probably Ozzy Osbourne and James Hetfield. Ozzy is, of course, the Godfather of metal and BLACK SABBATH and his solo career. I've played with him many times and I know him personally, but I've never got to actually ask him to record anything yet. But I think at one point the chance will definitely come. I would also like to do something with James Hetfield because I love old METALLICA and I've always been a big fan of the thrash that METALLICA brought and I like James' vocals. I thought a thrash song with me and James singing would have been really cool, too.
NZRock: When you look back over your whole musical career, what are you the most proud of in terms of recordings that you've done?
Max: Well, of course, I'm really proud of the SEPULTURA work because we broke internationally and we came out of Brazil. And "Roots" was one of my favorite albums of SEPULTURA and we explored the Brazilian roots on it and it was really exciting to do that. I'm also really proud of SOULFLY because when I left SEPULTURA, I had to start over again with SOULFLY and it wasn't easy. It was a really hard beginning and we had to create everything again from scratch. The first SOULFLY album is huge to me, it was a great album to me, and it was the album which defined my career, if I was going to continue playing or not. That first SOULFLY album is a career-defining moment of my life and I owe a lot to that record. I love the way that record turned out and it's really powerful. SOULFLY took off from that point on and I got to continue to making music.
On May 26 in Europe and June 14 in the USA, Scarlet Records will release a special edition of BULLDOZER's 2009 album "Unexpected Fate", including four bonus tracks ("Minkions", "Micro V.I.P.", "Willfull Death" and the "IX/Desert" medley) recorded live at Rock Hard Festival 2010 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, where the band annihilated the audience with its notoriously electrifying performance. "Unexpected Fate Special Edition" will be made available in a captivating digipack CD format.
Strengthened by the renewed legacy of original members AC Wild and Andy Panigada, BULLDOZER released its long-awaited comeback album "Unexpected Fate" in 2009, after signing a worldwide deal with Scarlet Records. The CD was a huge success among all the real thrash metal purists around the globe: fast and furious as never before, with a lethal dosage of heavy riffs and disturbing vocals, plenty of attitude, an intriguing lyrical concept and special guest appearances by renowned musicians Jennifer Batten and Billy Sheehan.
Tad Hendrickson of Spinner.com recently conducted an interview with TESTAMENT/ex-SAVATAGE guitarist and leader of ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO, Alex Skolnick. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
On ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO's 2002 album "Goodbye To Romance: Standards For A New Generation", which caused a stir in several jazz and rock publications because it prominently featured classic tunes by KISS, THE WHO, JUDAS PRIEST and others rearranged as if they were jazz classics:
"When we did the first album, we were very determined to do a traditional guitar trio album and keep it within the generally accepted ideas of what that is as far as tones, dynamics and arrangements. The only thing that was different was that we were doing SCORPIONS and KISS jams. There were a few moments of distorted guitar that were unexpected, but it was done in a way that we felt was interesting. We put some confines on it because that was part of the challenge."
On ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO being stuck paying some dues that you'd expect to see in a "Spinal Tap" sequel:
"We started getting booked on the wrong types of shows. The trio would be on this bill where all the opening bands were shred-prog-metal bands. I would ask the promoters why they would even think to put us on these kinds of bills and they would say things like, 'You played in TESTAMENT.' I would say to them: 'Did you listen to the music? Because we play acoustic jazz. I'm playing through this little amp and I'm supposed to follow guys with arena rock setups?' Most of the time they'd admit that they didn't even listen to our music before they booked us. It's been challenging."
On the self-appointed jazz police, who cry foul whenever they perceive a transgression from the true path of jazz:
"There's a parallel between the jazz fans and metal fans. It's the whole 'Is it jazz or isn't it jazz?' thing. It's the same with metal — 'Is it metal or isn't it?' It's the same thing with a different look. Then there is the fact that both jazz and metal are constantly written off by the mainstream media, but then every once in a while there is an album that comes out that goes mainstream. These genres keep going no matter how much they are written off and I find that fascinating."
On the early success of the new ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO album, "Veritas":
"No matter what, that kind of success is something that not a lot of people get to experience. I know musicians who have only played jazz their whole lives who have not been able to experience that. If something like this success would have happened instantly I might have been uncomfortable with it, but it's been so many years. I've paid my dues, and some weird dues too. Yet the music always feels so real and so great."
Finnish female-fronted symphonic metallers AMBERIAN DAWN will enter the studio in the summer to begin recording their new album. AMBERIAN DAWN mainman, keyboardist and guitarist Tuomas Seppälä composed all ten songs for the CD and vocalist Heidi Parviainen has already started working on the lyrics.
Commented Tuomas: "There's going to be some changes in our working methods and the next album is going to sound different compared to our previous albums. We're going to use backing vocalists, for example. Earlier we have had only guest lead singers and no backing vocalists at all. There's some really fast songs on this album and also some '80s- style songs like 'Valkyries' and 'Kokko' from our previous albums. Technically, there's great challenges for the band and all the skills possessed by the new lineup will be essential. We're going to break some new limits again and lift the level of our quality even higher than before. With some guest vocalists or musicians on this album, just like on all our previous albums, this new album is going to be more solid than our latest album, 'End Of Eden'."
Added Heidi: "There's going to be some new elements on the lyrics, for example some horror themes".
"Arctica", the latest video from AMBERIAN DAWN, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Markus Nieminen of Routafilmi.
"Arctica" comes off AMBERIAN DAWN's third album, "End Of Eden", which was released in October 2010 via Spinefarm Records.
"End Of Eden" features a guest appearances by keyboardist Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), opera singer Markus Nieminen and vocalist Peter James Goodman.
In other news, AMBERIAN DAWN last year parted ways with Tommi Kuri (bass), Emil Tobias Pohjalainen (guitar) and Joonas Pykälä-aho (drums) and replaced them with Jukka Koskinen (NORTHER, WINTERSUN), Kimmo Korhonen (WALTARI, HELION, SOLACIDE) and Heikki Saari (NORTHER, NAILDOWN), respectively.
AMBERIAN DAWN's current lineup:
* Heidi Parviainen - Vocals
* Tuomas Seppälä - Keyboards, Guitar
* Kasperi Heikkinen - Guitar
* Kimmo Korhonen (WALTARI, HELION, SOLACIDE) - Guitar
* Jukka Koskinen (NORTHER, WINTERSUN) - Bass
* Heikki Saari (NORTHER, NAILDOWN) - Drums
For more information, visit www.amberiandawn.com.
One band that many veteran metalheads feel should have hit the big time was New York's THE RODS. Comprised of members David "Rock" Feinstein (guitar/lead vocals), Garry Bordonaro (bass/vocals), and Carl Canedy (drums/vocals), THE RODS would go on to open arena shows for such renowned groups as IRON MAIDEN, TWISTED SISTER, JUDAS PRIEST, OZZY OSBOURNE (the "Blizzard Of Ozz" tour), SCORPIONS, RAINBOW (Joe Lynn Turner era), and during the mid-'80s, even had a then-unknown METALLICA opening a headlining tour for them. Add to it the fact that Feinstein is the cousin of the late, great Ronnie James Dio (both played together in ELF) and Canedy is an acclaimed metal producer (having worked on classic early releases by MEGADETH, ANTHRAX, OVERKILL, etc.), and it makes it even more baffling why THE RODS never got their due.
But this appears to changing quickly, as the trio has signed on with the Niji Entertainment Group, a label that was created by Ronnie James Dio and his wife/manager, Wendy Dio.
The band's seventh release overall (and sixth release overall for Niji) is titled "Vengeance" and will be made available on May 24 (postponed from the previously announced March 29). The release comes hot on the heels of Feinstein's recently-released solo album, "Bitten by the Beast".
The first single off "Vengeance" will be "The Code", which features vocals from none other than Ronnie James Dio (one of the very last songs that Ronnie ever recorded, before his untimely death in May of 2010).
"Vengeance" track listing:
01. Raise Some Hell
02. I Just Wanna Rock
03. Rebels Highway
04. Ride Free Or Die
05. The Code (feat. Ronnie James Dio)
06. Livin' Outside The Law
07. Let It Ripp
08. Fight Fire With Fire
09. Madman
10. Runnin Wild
11. Vengeance
Brazilian female-fronted metallers SHADOWSIDE will release their third album, "Inner Monster Out", on June 7 via SHP Records. The CD was produced, mixed and mastered at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden by Fredrik Nordström, who has previously worked with AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, SOILWORK and BRING ME THE HORIZON, among others. It features guest vocals from Björn "Speed" Strid (SOILWORK), Mikael Stanne (DARK TRANQUILLITY), and Niklas Isfeldt (DREAM EVIL).
"Inner Monster Out" track listing:
01. Gag Order
02. Angel with Horns
03. Habitchual
04. In the Name of Love
05. Inner Monster Out (feat. Björn "Speed" Strid, Mikael Stanne, Niklas Isfeldt)
06. I'm Your Mind
07. My Disrupted Reality
08. A Smile Upon Death
09. Whatever Our Fortune
10. A.D.D.
11. Waste of Life
"I believe it's safe to say this is our best material to date," said vocalist Dani Nolden of the 11 new tracks on "Inner Monster Out". "It's very heavy and angry, but also very musical. We worked a lot on the melodies to make them catchy, yet elaborate, just to the right extent."
She added, "Working with Fredrik was fantastic and everything went smoothly. He is a perfectionist, and really helped push ourselves to our best. We were pretty much living in the studio for a month, so the whole band was completely focused on the album and on nothing else.
"I can't wait to have this album out and play these songs live. That's what they were written for!"
Nolden previously stated about SHADOWSIDE's new CD, "'Inner Monster Out' is about letting your hidden persona show through, and about everything we always classify as not normal in human beings. The lyrics deal with everyone's fears, reactions, perversions, personality disorders and although it can be seen as a dark album, it also makes it clear that we all have a little bit of crazy and disturbed in a certain way. It's a musically intense album, with lots of angry guitars, bringing together the best of 'Dare To Dream' and 'Theatre Of Shadows', but with new and better things that we didn't try before. I'm especially proud and happy about the result we achieved on this album... we wrote and recorded songs that we like to hear and play and it's by far our best material so far."
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/shadowsideband.
MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee told the Artisan News Service that he would love to one day work with pop superstar Lady Gaga — and not just because she is one of the biggest artists in the world.
"I totally get it, man," he said. "And depending on what she's influenced by, I can tell — because I see her rocking MÖTLEY CRÜE shirts, so she's definitely a rocker, and she obviously, stylistically, with her music, she's very talented; she plays crazy piano and sings her ass off. She likes the modern dance and club shit, so she's basically throwing it all in there, and that's what I'm into, and that's what I'm doing — essentially throwing it all in there, from electro to fucking metal; I like it all. There's a girl I would love to do something with one day, man; it'd be really cool. We would probably come up with some sick shit."
REDEMPTION, the U.S. progressive metal band featuring in its ranks legendary FATES WARNING vocalist Ray Alder and guitarist/songwriter Nick van Dyk, will headline this year's edition of the ProgPower Europe festival and embark on a European mini-tour.
"We are extremely excited for the opportunity to come to Europe and play for our fans" said Nick van Dyk. "We are hard at work in pre-production on our upcoming release, 'This Mortal Coil', and we look forward to performing new music from it at these European shows."
The twelfth installment of the ProgPower Europe festival will take place in Baarlo, Holland, October 1-2.
REDEMPTION will play the last show on this visit at the inaugural edition of the Denmark Rock Festival on October 8 in Copenhagen, Denmark at the venue The Rock.
The mini-tour will see REDEMPTION play a selected number of concerts across Europe, giving European fans a chance to finally see the band live (their only European show so far was five years ago at the Headway festival in Amsterdam, Holland) and, of course, to witness a live rendition of material from their acclaimed current studio album release "Snowfall On Judgment Day".
REDEMPTION's mini-tour is shaping up as follows:
Oct. 01 - London, UK, The Underworld
Oct. 02 - Baarlo, The Netherlands, Progpower Europe
Oct. 04 - Pratteln, Switzerland, Galery Music Bar/Z-7
Oct. 07 - Essen, Germany, Turock
Oct. 08 - Copenhagen, Denmark, Denmark Rock Festival
Direct support act on these shows will come from the Italian proggers KINGCROW, who released their fourth album, "Phlegethon", through Scarlet Records last year.
"This Mortal Coil" is being produced by Neil Kernon, who has previously worked with such acts as NEVERMORE, NILE, QUEENSRŸCHE and DEICIDE. The CD will feature the following working songtitles, among others: "Noonday Devil", "No Tickets To The Funeral", "Rain In My Soul", "Focus", "Dreams From The Pit", "Path Of The Tornado", "Blink Of An Eye", "Perfect" and "Departure Of The Pale Horse".
IMMORTAL, SATYRICON, MAYHEM and ENSLAVED have been confirmed for this year's edition of the Hole In The Sky festival (a.k.a. Bergen Metal Fest XI), set to take place August 24-27 in Bergen, Norway. In addition, the festival organizers have announced that the 2011 installment of the event will mark its "final chapter."
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
IMMORTAL (NO)
MAYHEM (NO)
SATYRICON (NO)
ENSLAVED (NO)
GHOST (SE)
MARDUK (SE)
NEGATIVE PLANE (US)
GODFLESH (UK)
VIRUS (NO)
SAINT VITUS (US)
DEVIL (NO)
Commented the organizers: "There's a saying that all good things must come to an end.
"For twelve years we've been fortunate enough to meet many of our favorite artists, shared some incredible metal moments with fans coming from all over the world, and worked with some of the best in the scene.
"Twelve years is a long time and we've always invested a lot of time and effort in making the festival the best it possible can be and never compromise.
"Hole In The Sky has been a thing we've taken great pride in and it would be a very sad thing to let the festival suffer due to other commitments and responsibilities that comes along as you get older, so basically we want go out on a high note when we still feel inspired and on top of the game. Mind you, we will go out in a spectacular fashion.
"Hole In The Sky started out with the aim of showcasing the best the underground metal scene has to offer.
"Norway has been on the forefront of extreme metal since 1991, that's 20 years and counting, so we've decided to invite four of the most crucial acts in terms of developing the scene.
"To close the final Hole In The Sky chapter: The Last Supper, we give you IMMORTAL, SATYRICON, MAYHEM and ENSLAVED (The Big 4 of extreme metal?).
"IMMORTAL opened the very first Hole In The Sky festival in 2000 and will close the proceedings on the 2011 festivals final day.
"SATYRICON has headlined the festival with huge success two times earlier.
"ENSLAVED has delivered some historic sets, both the anniversary concert in 2009, featuring a wide array of metal royalty, and them playing the whole 'Eld' album in 2005.
"MAYHEM are the godfathers of the scene and went at it in spectacular fashion in 2007. We're glad to have them back for on final round this year."
Added booking manager Torgrim Øyre: "It's been a tremendous ride and we've experienced things we've never dreamt of when we first started out.
"Hole In The Sky has been an extremely important and personal thing to everyone involved, something that we've been very proud of.
"Over the last year we've felt some sort of fulfillment that we've come full circle, so to speak. So in fear of carrying on without the same fire as before, we feel it's better to end it on a high note than let a great thing like this diminish into obscurity.
"We're eternally grateful to everyone who has supported us over the years and hope that most of you can make it one last time. It's going to be one spectacular week.
Satyr (SATYRICON): "Judging by our standards, no other Norwegian festival comes close in terms of the quality of the booking. We've played there several times and we have a very good relationship with the locals and all the traveling visitors in general. In that case, it's a sad thing that Hole In The Sky is now coming to an end. Nevertheless, we're very proud of being one of the headliners of what will become The Last Supper. Quite simply, we're really going to deliver one fucking blinder of a show."
Abbath Doom Occulta (IMMORTAL): "VENOM has played Hole In The Sky, that says it all!"
Grutle (ENSLAVED): "Many of my best personal concert memories, both as a viewer and as a musician, took place at our beloved festival.
"ENSLAVED have had many great moments, playing in front of a fantastic audience in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009 and now hopefully also in 2011.
"As a member of a crazy and dedicated metal audience, I have witnessed great performances by acts like AUTOPSY, CARCASS, MORBID ANGEL, ENTOMBED, IMMORTAL, DANZIG, OPETH, CANDLEMASS, VOIVOD, MAYHEM, DESTRUCTION, SODOM and PAUL DI'ANNO, just to mention a very few. I am sure I have witnessed a lot more gigs than I am able to remember, 'cause, let's not deny it, it has been a helluva party, too!
"We've had a great time partying with fellow metalheads from all over the globe. The only thing I probably won't miss about this festival is the severe hangover that follows, hehe. But who knows? Maybe we'll all miss just that the first week of September in 2012. Because something will be missing, no doubt about it. The biggest event of the year for many, many fans of metal will take place no more.
But before the goodbye hugs and the streams of tears in the name of metal begin to flow: Let us bow in awe for the people of the Hole In The Sky board throughout the years, all the volunteer workers, all the fantastic bands, the staff at Garage, the staff at USF and last but not least; you, the audience that made the whole thing possible for 12 years! LET HOLE IN THE SKY PASS INTO HISTORY WITH A MOTHER OF A BLOWOUT!! SKÅL!"
Chairwoman of the board Silje Wergeland: "Throughout 12 years of awesomeness, we've been hosting some of the best artists in metal, visited by dedicated metal heads from all over the world and working with the best crew. For over a decade Hole In The Sky has made a huge impact on our lives, and developed itself to be a vital part of the Bergen music scene. We are extremely proud of what we've achieved and truly thankful for the support over the years."
For more information, visit www.holeinthesky.no.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/holeskyfinal.jpg
Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven, renowned vocalist/guitarist of the Norwegian black metal band SATYRICON, will host an informal wine-tasting event during this year's Inferno Festival at the Clarion Royal Christiania hotel in Oslo, Norway on Friday, April 22 from 15.30 to 17.00. Satyr will introduce his own wines and share his passion for well-made traditional wines. This tasting event is suitable for anyone who likes wine.
Wongraven last year partnered with Luca Roagna (pictured below with Satyr), a fifth-generation winemaker from Piedmont, Italy, to launch Satyr's own brand of wine. Wongraven chose the best wines from the Roagna winery and made them available with his name on each bottle in gothic letters and black background with an outline illustration of the devil on the label.
Two wines are available from the Wongraven brand:
* Langhe Rosso Alleanza Nero di Wongraven 2009
* Barolo Unione Nero di Wongraven 2006
Wongraven and Roagna first met in the spring of 2003 while SATYRICON was on tour in Italy and spent several months last year creating two classic wines that represent a combination of Roagna's skilled vineyard work and Satyr's vision of traditional Piedmontese wines.
"When I explain my role in the process to musician friends who have no knowledge of wine, I tell them that Luca created the songs and recorded the album, while I mixed it," Wongraven told Adressa.no in an interview.
Authenticity is the common denominator in Satyr's music and wine.
Wongraven admits that he himself is skeptical when he sees other people lending their names to wine brands.
"I think that people who know me understand why I have chosen to lend my name to these wines," he explained. "I have made wines that I am proud of."
Wongraven is currently working on a book about wine, to be released in the fall.
San Francisco Bay Area metallers SKINLAB entered Different Fur Studios last week to begin recording an EP, "Fleshwounds... Under The Influence", containing one new song and covers versions of five underground metal classics. The group's bassist/vocalist Steev Esquivel states, "We're paying tribute to five of our biggest influences and bands that weve always looked up to.
"Fleshwounds... Under The Influence" will include the following covers:
* NAILBOMB - Wasting Away
* ACID BATH - Paegan Love Song
* CROWBAR - Planets Collide
* LEVEL - Push
* MACHINE HEAD - Ten Ton Hammer
Added Esquivel: "[We are] really stoked about this project. It's a great way to introduce [new SKINLAB guitarist] Provo [Provenzano, ex-RIKETS] and have something new out before [the end of] 2012, which we're hoping to have a new album out then."
SKINLAB's last album, "The Scars Between Us", was released on September 15, 2009 via Stand And Deliver Records.
Los Angeles-based progressive death metal titans THE FACELESS have announced the addition of bassist Evan Brewer (ANIMOSITY, REFLUX) to the group's ranks.
Brewer, who was called "the sickest bass player in the game" by his new bandmates, is reportedly working on a solo album, to be released through Sumerian Records.
Video footage of some of Brewer's solo material can be viewed below.
THE FACELESS recently re-signed with Sumerian Records. The band entered guitarist's Michael Keene's studio in March to begin recording its third album for a summer release. Keene described the band's forthcoming CD as "the most musical and progressive record we've made." He added, "Since recording 'Planetary Duality', the goals of THE FACELESS have changed a bit. You can still expect a fast, technical and blistering record, but I personally am less focused on a musical aesthetic and more on musicality and making an expressive, unique, moody and expansive record. Speed picking, flying double bass and skin melting guitar solos are certainly still in order. However, you can also expect more clean vocals with big harmonies, some unique instrumentation, dark moody passages, interesting keyboards, synth guitars, vocoder and sequenced segments. It's going to be the most focused and depressive FACELESS record to date."
Bazillion Points Books has revealed that legendary Norwegian black metal pioneer Fenriz of DARKTHRONE has contributed a foreword to the upcoming 744-page hardcover book "Metalion: The Slayer Mag Diaries", by Jon Kristiansen. Fenriz's connection to Slayer mag dates to the 1980s when he was just beginning to play music and Kristiansen was already a respected figure in the Scandinavian underground scene.
"Metalion's bad review of a demo tape by my band BLACK DEATH back in '87 was very painful," begins Fenriz. "I had to live with that hurt slowly and daily. And even before BLACK DEATH got the painful mention in Slayer mag, Metalion first sent a letter that kicked my ass. It was devastating-but it served me right..."
Part anthology, part memoir, and years in the making, "Metalion" includes over 600 reproduction pages from every issue of Slayer mag, spanning from the early 1980s through 2010. In addition, author Jon Kristiansen recounts his life's story, from alienated outsider to central figure in Norwegian black metal to world-weary metal survivor. The book also features over 100 rare photographs, including two color sections and a portrait gallery of photographs taken by Kristiansen himself.
"The greatest heavy metal story ever told" will be available June 6, 2011, wherever books are sold, and is available for preorder now with two bonus limited patches from Bazillion Points Books, "America's smallest but heaviest book publisher."
For more information, visit www.metalionbook.com.
AOL's Noisecreep recently spoke with guitarist/vocalist Adam "Nergal" Darski of Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH about his health issues, his experiences battling leukemia, and how that has influenced the writing of his forthcoming record. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Noisecreep: So how did you originally discover something was wrong with you? Do you remember the first signs of the illness?
Nergal: I found out that I was sick in the hospital when the diagnosis came. It was in August [2010], but the symptoms came approximately two months prior to when I was diagnosed with leukemia. The symptoms were I had bumps all over my head. Everywhere where my hair was I has like this skin infection or something underneath my fingers. I thought it was a skin infection or skin disease or allergy or something. I had no clue. I left for a tour and it wouldn't disappear. It was still there. I felt fine but I was playing shows every day. I was drinking alcohol. Everything was fine. This time, I would have diarrhea pretty much all that time. I would lose weight but I was in good spirits all the time. It was weird. After that, because of the concerts starting, I started having breathing problems and started sweating like a pig. Two days before I officially got to the hospital it was pretty disastrous.
Noisecreep: Does this whole experience seem surreal to you, that you got a clean bill of health while other patients may not?
Nergal: To be honest, for some reason, I was aware. Everything was so great [for me]. I know there were people dying and people leaving in black body bags. I saw that. With the others being there, it could happen to anyone there, but everyone else's health cases are different. For some reason, I had to find strength, and in my case it's going to be not as heavy and not as dangerous as others. I had this faith and I never questioned it. I never doubted that. On one hand, I'm relatively young when this happened to me. I was in really good shape because my whole life I've been taking good care of myself. I was never a heavy drinker or doing drugs. I was doing sports. Probably if it had been a different person, [there may be] more damage and may go probably the other way. I'm saying I had one hundred percent faith and I was aware that everything was so great. I was making plans for BEHEMOTH. I've been working... not every day... but constantly I've been
working on new projects... a DVD and a book and doing some interviews here and there. I tried to make plans. That's me thriving through the whole process. Stay there and be decadent. Stay there in the hospital and go, "Let's see what happens. Let's see what doom brings." No fuckin' way! It's myself who determines my doom. That's how I see it.
Noisecreep: During this time, your fanbase really came together for you.
Nergal: It was crazy. I never expected that. I don't expect massive feedback from people. I'm not that egotistic like when I get sick, everyone's going to help me out. Let's see what happens. If I mean something to people, they're going to help me out. They're going to give me support. I'm not that arrogant to say that everyone's going to support me. I was fucking shocked! All the metal community would help me out and gave me strength. It definitely kept me motivated during this hard time. It meant a lot.
Noisecreep: When do you resume playing shows?
Nergal: We're doing some shows in Poland in October. I'm excited about it. We're probably doing some Asian and Australian dates around December. Full-on European and U.S. headlining tours are planned for spring 2012. Get ready. It's going to be a full-on tour. We need to complete the "Evangelion" cycle and then we start recording the next record. We're not rushing. We want to make sure that the comeback tour is planned with pyro and the craziness. BEHEMOTH is better than before!
American technical death metal innovators ORIGIN will release their new album, "Entity", on June 7 in North America and June 10 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Expulsion Of Fury
02. Purgatory
03. Conceiving Death
04. Swarm
05. Saliga
06. The Descent
07. Fornever
08. Committed
09. Banishing Illusion
10. Consequence Of Solution
11. Evolution Of Extinction
Bonus track:
12. You Fail!
One of the most intense and technical forces of the contemporary death metal world, ORIGIN has returned to stake its claim as the leader of metal's new wave of extremity with its fifth studio effort. As expected, the death grind trio of Mike Flores (bass, vocals), Paul Ryan (guitar, vocals) and John Longstreth (drums) continues to churn out frantic, hell-paced grids of metal torment, but now further complements the arrangements with a newfound propensity for churning grooves and the hook-laden approach that first reared its ugly, but accessible head on the band's 2007 offering, "Antithesis". The band once again returned to Chapman Recording Studios in Lenexa, Kansas to work with longtime engineer and friend Robert Rebeck.
As stated multiple times in the past, ORIGIN proves once again that they stand head and shoulders above their peers.
Commented drummer John Longstrength: "As you can see, we're getting closer and closer to having a new album available for you.
"This has been a project that has been a long time in the making with all the unexpected twists and turns that come with creating an album and we are almost there.
"So, this is the new album cover! Designed by the band and executed flawlessly by artist extraordinaire, Colin Marks.
"As you can see, this time there's no aliens, no scary faces, no silly comic book imagery, no bullshit. It's back to basics for the people that don't fall for, or appreciate, bullshit trends that currently compromise the validity of this art.
"Let this album cover with its grey, dead, coldness reflect our disdain for the misconception that ORIGIN is represented by a giant, planet eating, scary face that's aimlessly roaming the cosmos like an idiot.
"Like the cover, the music on this album is stone, it's cold, it's serious, it's desolate, it's very angry, it's the band unified and working overtime to create what we feel will be the finest 45 minutes ORIGIN has created yet. This album is its own bitter entity."
Added artist Colin Marks: "It's been a real pleasure collaborating with the ORIGIN guys on the artwork for 'Entity'.
"From the beginning John had a very specific vision of how this record should look and I tried to interpret that as accurately as possible.
"The whole look of the album, the way I see it, is a suffocating vision of absolute solitude and isolation, with huge barren otherworldly landscapes. It's a simple concept, but it works well and hopefully reflects the bleak tones and heaviness of the new songs."
Catch the band, with their new frontman Jason Keyser, on tour with HATE ETERNAL, VITAL REMAINS and ABYSMAL DAWN in North America starting on June 15 at Emo's in Austin, Texas. Look for ORIGIN on the road in Europe, South America, Mexico, Asia, Australia and the rest of the world in 2011 and 2012.
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