Legendary heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne — who has often said in interviews that he is "lucky to be alive" after decades of substance abuse, casual sex and drinking — wants his funeral to be "a celebration, not a mope-fest."
In his health column for the Sunday Times magazine, the 62-year-old Osbourne writes, "I don't care what they play at my funeral; they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle and We Are The Diddymen if it makes 'em happy — but I do want to make sure it's a celebration, not a mope-fest (sic).
"I'd also like some pranks maybe the sound of knocking inside the coffin, or a video of me asking my doctor for a second opinion on his diagnosis of 'death'.
"There'll be no harping on the bad times. I don't want my funeral to be sad. I want it to be a time to say 'thanks.'"
In 2007, Ozzy and his wife/manager Sharon made headlines when they revealed that they agreed to a suicide pact — because she doesn't want to go through the pain her father Don Arden did when he suffered from Alzheimer's.
Sharon claimed she and Ozzy made the mutual decision after music mogul Arden lost his struggle with the neurodegenerative disease and died, aged 81.
She said, "We believe 100 per cent in euthanasia, so have drawn up plans to go to the assisted suicide flat in Switzerland if we ever have an illness that affects our brains. If Ozzy or I ever got Alzheimer's, that's it — we'd be off.
"We gathered the kids around the kitchen table, told them our wishes and they've all agreed to go with it. There's no way I could go through what (my father) did, or put my kids through that.
"My father deteriorated at such a rapid speed he became a shell of himself.
"Some say the disease is hereditary so at the first sign I want to be put out of my misery."
WHOCARES — what hides behind this new band name is in fact the renewed musical union between legendary DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan and none other than BLACK SABBATH's Tony Iommi: the undisputed master of heavy guitar riffs. The duo has recorded two brand new songs with the intent to support the rebuilding of a music school in Gyumri, Armenia.
Both Gillan and Iommi have spent a lot of time in Armenia, fallen in love with the country and the people and have dedicated a lot of work to a nation still shocked after the earthquake that struck Armenia on December 7, 1988.
The collaboration of Gillan and Iommi, who have worked together before on the SABBATH album "Born Again", is in itself an incredible news for all rock and metal fans and will be the best of surprises to get to know who is completing the band: None other than Jon Lord ("Mr. Hammond", partner with Gillan on all the DEEP PURPLE classics), IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain, ex-METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted and HIM guitarist player Mikko "Linde" Lindström are also featured on the two new songs.
WHOCARES will release "Out of My Mind" and "Holy Water" on digital download and limited-edition CD single on May 6: The CD single will also contain the video clip of "Out Of My Mind" and a 40-minute documentary that shows Gillan's and Iommi's involvement with the Armenia cause over the years.
Commented Gillan: "The idea came as Tony and I flew back from Yerevan together after being inspired by the enthusiasm of everyone there to get this thing done.
"It was brilliant working with Tony again after all these years; he makes life easy for a singer.
"The other guys need no introduction, do they?!"
Added Iommi: "Some twenty years ago when the call came, I thought, well at least I've helped, but it was going to Armenia and seeing the actual devastation caused by the earthquake that really made me realize that funds were still needed.
"Despite all the money that was raised last time, here was a music school doing their best, forgotten, in basic tin sheds. After the warmth and honor bestowed upon us during our visit, we just had to help make a difference and get the school rebuilt. And what better way than to hook up with some of rock's greatest players and my old mate Ian, both an honor and a pleasure."
WHOCARES recording lineup:
* Tony Iommi (BLACK SABBATH) - Guitar
* Ian Gillan (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) - Vocals
* Jason Newsted (METALLICA, VOIVOD, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM) - Bass
* Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN) - Drums
* Jon Lord (DEEP PURPLE) - Keyboards
* Mikko "Linde" Lindström (HIM) – Guitar
According to CDJapan.co.jp, WHITESNAKE's "Live At Donington 1990" DVD/live double CD will be released in Japan via Columbia Music Entertainment on May 20 in the following formats:
* DVD+2CD / Limited Edition
* Regular-Edition DVD
* Cardboard Sleeve / Limited Edition
* Regular-Edition CD
WHITESNAKE's "Live At Donington 1990" DVD/live double CD set will be available on June 3 in Europe and June 7 in North America via Frontiers Records. Since the inception of Whitesnake.com more than ten years ago, this DVD has been the most requested product from fans of the 'SNAKE.
On August 18, 1990, WHITESNAKE headlined the legendary Monsters Of Rock at Castle Donington festival (now known as Download). WHITESNAKE's performance at the festival was one of the most memorable events on the "Liquor & Poker World Tour" that saw the band play sold-out shows to over one million people. This incredible, never-before-seen, visual footage captures one of the most musically intense WHITESNAKE lineups performing in front of more than 70,000 fans. Mixed in glorious 5.1 and living, breathing stereo, it's the next best thing to actually being there! WHITESNAKE 1990 featured guitar greats Steve Vai and Adrian Vandenberg, bassist Rudy Sarzo, drummer Tommy Aldridge and, of course, incomparable frontman David Coverdale.
The "Live At Donington" 1990 DVD also includes a substantial gallery of never before seen stills of the band on the "Liquor & Poker World Tour 1990", plus an intimate behind-the-scenes documentary of the making-of the "Slip Of The Tongue" album.
The "Live At Donington 1990" will be available in 2CD set, DVD coverpack, combo 2CD + DVD in digipak and digital edition.
In other news, WHITESNAKE's brand new album, "Forevermore", is out this week on Frontiers Records and is available in multiple configurations. The album is already receiving rave reviews from the press with The Aquarian dubbing it, "excellent…their bluesiest and grittiest release since their 1984 masterpiece 'Slide It In'…", while Hard Rock Hideout declares, "Make no mistake, 'Forevermore', is an early front runner for record of the year." "Forevermore" finds founder/singer/songwriter David Coverdale and company returning to their no-holds-barred, bluesiest, sexiest rock' n' roll roots.
WHITESNAKE is David Coverdale (vocals), Doug Aldrich (guitars), Reb Beach (guitars), Michael Devin (bass) and Brian Tichy (drums).
"Live At Donington 1990" DVD track listing:
01. Slip Of The Tongue
02. Slide It In
03. Judgement Day
04. Slow An Easy
05. Kitten's Got Claws
06. Adagio For Strato
07. Flying Dutchman Boogie
08. Is This Love
09. Cheap An' Nasty
10. Crying In The Rain (featuring Tommy Aldridge drum solo)
11. Fool For Your Loving
12. For The Love Of God
13. The Audience Is Listening
14. Here I Go Again
15. Bad Boys
16. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
17. Still Of The Night
18. Bonus content: The Making of Slip of the Tongue; Slide Show
"Live At Donington 1990" CD 1 track listing:
01. Slip Of The Tongue
02. Slide It In
03. Judgement Day
04. Slow An Easy
05. Kitten's Got Claws
06. Adagio For Strato
07. Flying Dutchman Boogie
08. Is This Love
09. Cheap An' Nasty
10. Crying In The Rain (featuring Tommy Aldridge drum solo)
"Live At Donington 1990" CD 2 track listing:
01. Fool For Your Loving
02. For The Love Of God
03. The Audience Is Listening
04. Here I Go Again
05. Bad Boys
06. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
07. Still Of The Night
WHITESNAKE's new album, "Forevermore", sold around 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 49 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The effort, which came out in North America on March 29 via Frontiers Records, was made available in four different configurations.
"Forevermore" is available as:
* a single CD
* a CD+DVD combo: the DVD features the "Love Will Set You Free" video, the making of "Love Will Set You Free" video, as well as a behind-the-scenes documentary on the recording of "Forevermore"; the CD includes three bonus tracks: "Love Will Set You Free" (alternate mix), "My Evil Ways" (alternate mix with drum solo) and "Forevermore" (acoustic version)
* a double-LP vinyl edition
* a special edition box set which includes the CD, DVD, LPs, as well as a cover litho, a poster and a logo sticker.
"Forevermore" finds founder/singer/songwriter David Coverdale and company returning to their no-holds-barred, bluesiest, sexiest rock n' roll roots. The CD was recorded, produced and mixed by Los Bros Brutalos (Coverdale, guitarist Doug Aldrich and Michael McIntyre).
"Forevermore" track listing:
01. Steal Your Heart Away
02. All Out Of Luck
03. Love Will Set You Free
04. Easier Said Than Done
05. Tell Me How
06. I Need You (Shine A Light)
07. One Of These Days
08. Love And Treat Me Right
09. Dogs In The Street
10. Fare Thee Well
11. Whipping Boy Blues
12. My Evil Ways
13. Forevermore
PAUL RODGERS (BAD COMPANY, FREE, QUEEN) has added a new date to his upcoming US summer tour schedule. The new date is on July 22nd at the Seneca Events Center in Seneca, NY.
All US tour dates are as follows:
April
2 - Eastside Cannery - Las Vegas , NV
July
2 - Atlantic City Hilton - Atlantic City, NJ
5 - Milwaukee Summerfest Miller Lite Stage - Milwaukee, WI
10 - Snowqualmie Casino Mountain View Plaza - Snowqualmie, WA
15 - Moondance Jam - Walker, MN
16 - Treasure Island Resort & Casino, Island Events Center - Red Wing, MN (St.Paul)
22 - Seneca Events Center – Seneca, NY
27 - Orange County Fair, Pacific Amphitheater - Costa Mesa, CA
As previously reported, Rodgers is at long last returning to the UK with his solo band.
"Playing with Queen was brilliant they interpreted my songs on an entire new level," says Rodgers. "With Bad Company the musical fireworks were still there but creating and touring solo is where my heart is."
The first image from Rob Zombie's upcoming film, "The Lords Of Salem", can be viewed below.
Zombie recently told Empire magazine that "The Lords Of Salem" will be his "bleakest" outing yet — this from the man whose four previous directorial efforts include the ultra-violent "The Devil's Rejects" and two grim "Halloween" movies. As for the plot of "Salem", Zombie gave a more detailed outline than before, saying, "There were twenty people that everyone knows about — obviously all innocent — executed as witches in Salem . . . there were a further four who actually were witches, who were killed secretly, and vowed one day to return to wreak havoc on Salem's descendants. That's when the movie jumps ahead to the present day and things start to go wrong."
Zombie said he's had the idea for the movie for years, even before he recorded the song of the same name.
Zombie also revealed that he's no longer involved with a remake of "The Blob", saying, "If it's too similar to the original, everybody wonders what the point was, but if it's too different, everybody complains that it's too different! . . . It's like people have a set of rules in their minds about how these things should function, and you can't work like that."
Zombie told Empire that he still would like to make his biker film, "Tyrannosaurus Rex", someday, and also hopes to make a Western. He also told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago what kind of horror movie he'd like to see Hollywood make again. "It would be so cool to do, like, 'The Return Of Frankenstein', but you do it like Frankenstein looked in all the original Universal films," he said. "That would be so cool to go back and make a totally classic horror movie. Don't jazz it all up like Van Helsing, but make something really classic. I think people would go for it."
Zombie, who directed all his own music videos, made his debut as a feature film writer and director with 2003's "House Of 1000 Corpses".
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/lordsofsalemfirst.jpg
Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has scheduled the following live dates:
Jun. 18 - Slinger, WI - Slinger Rocks
Aug. 13 - Three Forks, MT - Rockin' the Rivers Festival
Aug. 28 - Auburn, MI - DET Energy Center (with ALICE COOPER)
Frehley performed on March 11 outside St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida after the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Ottawa Senators game as part of this season's outdoor concert series.
According to the Bradenton Classic Rock Music Examiner, "Ace wore his favorite number 27 on a Tampa Bay Lightning jersey with his name embedded on the back and wore dark shades throughout the concert. While Ace played and sang, he consistently bombarded the crowd with his guitar picks."
Among the songs Frehley performed were "Snowblind" and "New York Groove" from his first solo album in 1978; "Sister", from his latest CD, "Anomaly"; and "Rock Soldiers" from his second album, "Frehley's Comet".
Ace reminded the Tampa crowd that he was almost electrocuted in Lakeland at the Civic Center in 1976, then immediately jumped into his tune "Shock Me", a song both written and sung by Ace on the KISS "Love Gun" album in 1977. He also banged out KISS favorites "Love Gun" and "Deuce" and ended the concert with "Cold Gin" from the first KISS album.
Cathy A. Campagna of The Aquarian Weekly recently conducted an interview SOUNDGARDEN/ex-AUDIOSLAVE singer Chris Cornell. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
The Aquarian Weekly: SOUNDGARDEN is writing new songs now. What have you noticed to be different about that whole process now with the passing of time? Have the perimeters of the band widened even more?
Cornell: The one thing that I have noticed that is different is that we are a lot more relaxed. I think we were always relaxed, but more so than ever. And the main reason for that is that we don't have a release date. We don't have a calendar with an "X" on it that says you have to be done by this day. We don't have that, we are just recording, and it will be done when we decided it's done. That was the act that was always chasing after us, was that we were this indie band that did whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted, then we became part of this bigger business. Then that sort of began the cyclical album, tour thing and there were always dates proposed and tours happening. When you go in to start writing for example, and someone is slating that it will be released at a specific time — that just doesn't make any sense. With SOUNDGARDEN especially, it didn't work well with us, and that was a big part of why we stopped being SOUNDGARDEN. Now that is
gone. I always speculate a lot that that was the biggest factor, and now that I see that it's not there, I see that is the biggest factor. We have been working in the same way we always did in terms of effort, showing up and being excited creatively. We have done a lot in a pretty short period of time without the constraints of a schedule, without somebody plotting out tours for us, and that we would have to go whether we feel like we are finished with the record or not.
The Aquarian Weekly: I had interviewed you once before when AUDIOSLAVE just came out, and you said about your time in SOUNDGARDEN that you were a bit of a control freak, and would sometimes stonewall producers.
Cornell: Uh-huh.
The Aquarian Weekly: Has that tendency dissipated over time?
Cornell: Yeah, I think we are exactly the same way. Like right now, we are working with Adam Kasper, who we worked with on "Down On The Upside", and it's more of including someone into our process that fits in comfortably with us and has ideas and works like another band member, like an extension of the band. As opposed to someone who comes in with the role of producer and starts telling us how to be us. That's why we stonewalled producers; as soon as somebody told us anything about a song arrangement that we didn't like we would just shut it down. Maybe be they could have come up with good ideas later in the process, but we weren't interested. And a lot of that had to do with how familiar someone is with what you do and how quick they get it. And we just didn't have that experience that often. We certainly had it with Adam, we had it with Jack Endino in the beginning of our recording period. We had it with Stuart XX who was the first person who recorded
us where it sounded like us, but then we had a lot of people we didn't know that well come in, and it just didn't feel like they were going to capture us better than us. So they would just become engineers as far as we were concerned.
Seattle progressive rockers QUEENSRŸCHE will release their twelfth studio album, "Dedicated To Chaos" on June 28 in North America via Loud & Proud Records, a Roadrunner Records imprint focusing on established artists. The band is currently planning a tour in support of the new opus, which was recorded in the group's hometown and produced by Kelly Gray.
"Modern life moves fast," singer Geoff Tate stated about the album. "Plug into the rhythm of the now with our twelfth studio album, 'Dedicated To Chaos'. The clash and slash of musical experimentation anchored by the pulse of digital code." He did issue one suggestion to listeners as well, saying, "Enjoy — headphones are a must."
When asked about the progress of the recording sessions for the new QUEENSRŸCHE CD, Tate said in a recent interview, "We've been working on it steadily. We're kind of in the final stages of it now. And I'm looking forward to getting that done. It's a really long record, with really interesting, different music. I'm really excited for people to hear it because it's another kind of step in a different direction for us . . . We've been experimenting a lot with different musical brushstrokes [laughs], kind of pushing the envelope a little bit on everybody's performance and pushing them outside of comfortable ground and trying to do some different stuff. Which is kind of what got us into making records in the first place — the experimental side of painting the audio picture. And everybody still shares that way of thinking, which is pretty phenomenal when you think of a bunch of guys hanging out together for 30 years [laughs] — that we'd still have
something to say."
In a 2010 interview with Attention Deficit Delirium, QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield revealed that the band's upcoming CD is taking the quintet in some new directions.
"I add a lot of film score elements or sound effects [into my drum work], especially on the new thing we're working on right now," Rockenfield said. "Geoff and I have really spent a lot of time together redesigning the QUEENSRŸCHE thing, which you're going to love. It's huge rock but with a great dance vibe to it, real modern dance. It's kind of like 'Rage' ['For Order'] through a time tunnel, bringing it into the now. There are a lot of electronic elements to it. It's a big rock thing that is going to have a lot of color to it — it's good and really intense."
Regarding whether the new QUEENSRŸCHE album is a conceptual effort, Tate said, "In a sense, it is. It's a very contemporary record.
He continued, "'Empire' was a record of the time. Rock music was really the music of the times in 1990. Unfortunately, rock music isn't the music of the times anymore — it's very underground.
"What we're doing with this record is we're taking the 'Empire' song structure, in a sense, where it's very strong songs, very melodic, but we kind of restructured the rhythm section, and Scott's done an amazing job on restructuring that — him and Eddie [Jackson, bass] have just really gone to town, and they've made it very contemporary-sounding.
"These days, in comparison to the old days, people used to sit in their houses and listen to music right in the front room on their stereo system. People don't do that anymore. They plug in and they're mobile and they're moving and they're doing stuff and the music, they're listening to it as they're doing stuff. This music has that feel. It's very contemporary in the sense that it's very rhythmatic. The rhythm structure kind of reflects the way modern life is — we're all busy, we're all doing stuff. And Scott being the incredible drummer that he is, the various time signatures, the feel of the record, it's now — it's very, very now."
DOWN 'N' OUTZ — a project fronted by DEF LEPPARD's Joe Elliott, backed by THE QUIREBOYS and playing rare tracks connected only by MOTT THE HOOPLE — is about to unleash its first live DVD, "Live At The Hammersmith Odeon".
Shot at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo Hammersmith Odeon in London on October 6, 2009 when DOWN 'N' OUTZ opened for the reunited MOTT THE HOOPLE, the DVD will be first available at merchandise stands at shows on the British PAUL RODGERS/DOWN 'N' OUTZ tour later this month. A limited edition of only 500 copies will be made available initially, all of which personally signed and numbered by Joe and the rest of the band. Any remaining copies, and a regular (unsigned) version will be available through our web site shortly after the tour.
The track listing is as follows:
01. Golden Opportunity
02. Overnight Angels
03. One More Chance To Run
04. Storm
05. Shouting And Pointing
06. Career (No Such Thing As Rock 'n' Roll)
07. Who Do You Love
08. By Tonight
09. England Rocks
10. Good Times
Bonus material includes footage from the Dave Kilner tribute show (featuring DEF LEPPARD bass player Rick Savage), three promo videos and a behind-the-scenes documentary.
This summer, DEF LEPPARD will release a new album and tour with HEART but before then, singer Joe Elliott will be touring the U.K. with DOWN 'N' OUTZ. Last July, the guys released their debut album, "My ReGeneration", featuring covers of songs by MOTT THE HOOPLE, Ian Hunter and BRITISH LIONS, the music DOWN 'N' OUTZ performed as the support act for MOTT THE HOOPLE at one of the legendary band's 2009 reunion shows. Fans who bought the disc might have noticed that this CD is marked "Volume 1." That implies there is more to come and Joe told VH1 Radio Networks' Dave Basner what to expect from the band in the future.
"Originally, we said we'd do the second album would be more of the same but including MOTT THE HOOPLE songs which the first one didn't, the third one would've been a combination of artists from the same era and the fourth one was going to be [original] stuff, but I think we might just jump straight to the fourth one and make it the third one," he said.
Joe went on to explain why they might do that. "We've got some ideas I don't consider LEPPARD-like, if you like, that would be perfect for DOWN 'N' OUTZ," he said. "Those guys can write, too, so we can sit down and kind of bang some stuff out. Even on this tour in April we'll probably play each other a few ideas and it'll set us up to put them to one side until we get the chance to record them."
"Overnight Angels", the latest video from DOWN 'N' OUTZ, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Lee Ford.
"My ReGeneration" was produced by Joe Elliott, with co-production by Ronan McHugh, and was recorded at Elliott's own studio Joe's Garage and Moor Hall studio in Bedfordshire.
"My ReGeneration" track listing (with original recording artist listed in parenthesis):
01. Golden Opportunity (Ian Hunter)
02. Storm (Mott)
03. Overnight Angels (Ian Hunter)
04. Career (No Such Thing As Rock 'n' Roll) (Mott)
05. England Rocks (Ian Hunter)
06. Shouting And Pointing (Mott)
07. By Tonight (Mott)
08. Who Do You Love (Ian Hunter)
09. One More Chance To Run (BRITISH LIONS)
10. Good Times (Mott, originally recorded by THE EASYBEATS)
DOWN 'N' OUTZ last year parted ways with bass player Ronnie Garrity. Elliott stated: "Of course we wish Ronnie all the best in his future endeavors. We will announce a new bass player shortly, but I can say now that it won't be [DEF LEPPARD bassist Rick Savage]!"
In addition to Joe Elliott (vocals, guitar, keyboards), DOWN 'N' OUTZ features THE QUIREBOYS' Paul Guerin (guitar), Guy Griffin (guitar), Keith Weir (keyboards) and Phil Martini (drums).
MANOWAR has released the following statement regarding the passing of the band's former drummer, Scott Columbus:
"With great sorrow we announce the passing of our brother Scott. A rare talent, equally a rare individual, a father, friend and a brother of metal.
"All the great moments we spent together are burnished in our hearts and memories forever. We know he is in a good place and at peace. He will never be forgotten."
Columbus joined MANOWAR in 1983 but left the band in 1990 when his son fell ill. He returned to the fold for the "Louder Than Hell" album in 1996 and remained with the group April 2008. He explained in a 2010 interview that his final departure from the band came after he disagreed with MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio on "a few points of interest," but said they remained on speaking terms, adding, "Why let something professional interrupt something personal? I tend to make friends for life." He also dismissed any suggestion that he'd left the band because of ill health, insisting, "I'm in the best shape of my life. I mean, I'm 112 years old, but I'm in the best shape."
"I had a long and wonderful career with MANOWAR. I have no regrets — but life moves on."
His girlfriend of nearly four years, Nancy, wrote in an online post, "I cannot get the words out. Please send your thoughts and prayers — I can't believe he is gone. He was the absolute love of my life."
In the months prior to this death, Columbus was working on an instrumental project called INSTRUMETAL. He described it as "very heavy, very rhythmically driven. I call it heavy metal elevator music; you pop the CD in your car and before you know it, you're driving 125 miles an hour!"
Scott Columbus was only 54 years old.
Video footage of ANTHRAX's Scott Ian tracking guitars for the band's new song "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't" with Jay Ruston can be viewed below.
"Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't" is expected to appear on ANTHRAX's next studio album, tentatively due before the end of the year via Nuclear Blast Records.
In a recent interview with RockMusicStar.com, ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna was asked if working on the band's new songs was a challenge because of the fact that most of the material was written for previous vocalist, Dan Nelson. "I kind of hate that someone was already singing this stuff and now I have to kind of dance around it and do it all over," he said. "They (ANTHRAX) have in their mind already how they want it to sound, so it's kind of hard to shake it away. They are not going to say to me, 'Go on and do something totally different and we will just dig it.' [Laughs] It's hard, but I'm not worried about it."
Regarding Belladonna's vocal performance on last fall's Jägermeister Music Tour with SLAYER and MEGADETH, Ian told the Artisan News Service, "Joey's singing now better on this tour, I would say... He sounds like he did when he joined this band, on the 'Spreading The Disease' record; he sounds like a kid singing. I mean, there's not many dudes that could sing in the register that he's singing. At the age we are — not to give anything away here — but none of us are 21 years old anymore. And he's hitting some notes, man, that I'm, like, 'Holy cow! How does he do this?' It blows me away every night."
ANTHRAX performed "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't" with Belladonna for the first time during the October 8, 2010 concert at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York as part of the Jägermeister Music Tour with SLAYER and MEGADETH. Watch fan-filmed video footage of the performance below.
ANTHRAX released the "Live At The Sonisphere" 10-inch single — a picture disc featuring the tracks "Medusa" and "Only" from the "The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria" DVD and Blu-ray — on November 26, 2010 via Metal Club, a group of record stores throughout the U.S. and Canada that work to connect the vibrant metal community with their local record store.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qJ-H-t-CAs&feature=player_embedded
According to Autism Key, former ANTHRAX guitarist Dan Spitz — twin sons were born in 2007 and both have since been diagnosed with autism — has become an autism advocate. He has used his celebrity to help raise awareness about the disorder, particularly among those within the music community. Additionally, Spitz and his wife, Candi, are strong supporters of Autism Speaks and have recently been featured in one of the organization's videos promoting its autism walks (see below).
Spitz underwent open-heart surgery on June 5, 2009 after it was discovered that the main artery to his heart was almost "completely closed."
Spitz took part in the reunion of ANTHRAX's classic lineup in 2005 and 2006 but left the band after ANTHRAX's most recent split with singer Joey Belladonna.
Spitz is a born-again Christian and Messianic Jew and in interviews, has frequently cited his faith as an influential component to his life.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl feels he's at last moved "out of the shadow" of his previous band, NIRVANA, enough that he felt comfortable inviting former NIRVANA bassist Krist Novoselic to contribute to a song called "I Should Have Known" on the new FOO FIGHTERS album, "Wasting Light". Grohl, who was unknown when he joined NIRVANA on drums, told the Sun, "I've tried to establish this band in its own right and try to get out of the shadow of NIRVANA and I do that in the most respectful way. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for NIRVANA, I owe everything to that band."
Grohl also opens up about his days in NIRVANA in the new FOO FIGHTERS documentary, "Back And Forth", and told The Pulse Of Radio why he decided to finally speak at length about that period. "I think I knew that I had to really tell the truth," he said. "I mean, there's some interviews where you just sort of gloss over it, because it's not something that you want to talk about all day, every day. But in this case, James (Moll, documentary director) was there for a reason, and I don't know how he did it, but he made you feel sort of safe in really confessing things that you may have never owned up to."
"Back And Forth" was screened at more than 80 movie theaters around the country on Tuesday (April 5), followed by a live 3D broadcast of a FOO FIGHTERS performance. The documentary tells the entire story of the group's career, from Grohl's first demo recordings to the making of "Wasting Light". The movie will also air on April 8 on VH1, VH1 Classic and Palladia.
"Wasting Light" comes out the following Tuesday (April 12).
The album was recorded in Grohl's garage and produced by Butch Vig, who produced NIRVANA's landmark 1991 album "Nevermind", on which Grohl made his debut with that group. This is the first time Grohl, Vig and Novoselic have worked together since making that record.
FOO FIGHTERS will play in the garages of fans in eight cities later this month before launching a full North American tour in May.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, ALICE IN CHAINS has relaunched its official band web site and says that a "special concert announcement" will be coming next Monday (April 11). There's no further word on what that might entail. ALICE IN CHAINS has mostly off the road since completing the touring cycle behind its 2009 comeback album, "Black Gives Way To Blue", late last year.
"Black Gives Way To Blue" was the first all-new ALICE IN CHAINS album since 1995 and the first to feature singer/guitarist William DuVall. DuVall told The Pulse Of Radio last year that he expects the band to take a lot less time to make a follow-up. "You don't come this far and do all this work just to then stop for (laughs), for another 15 years or, you know, stop forever or whatever," he said. "We are on a path, and just as it was in the beginning, we still don't know where it's gonna lead. But we're digging what we're doing and we're very happy with the reception that we've gotten."
ALICE IN CHAINS began touring again in 2006 and DuVall officially became a member of the band before recording began on "Black Gives Way To Blue".
Tuesday (April 5) was the ninth anniversary of the death of original ALICE IN CHAINS frontman Layne Staley, who died in 2002 after a long battle with drug addiction.
The band's founding bassist, Mike Starr, passed away last month at the age of 44. Starr, who was kicked out of the band in 1993 for drug problems and had been a recent cast member of "Celebrity Rehab", was found dead in a house in Salt Lake City. The cause of death is still pending, although Starr had been arrested a month prior for possession of a controlled substance.
JOURNEY's new single, "City Of Hope", has just been made available digitally at all European online music stores. The song is described as a "classic JOURNEY-style anthem" by MelodicRock.com.
JOURNEY is currently touring Latin America in front of packed audiences. Following shows in Santiago, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Lima and Caracas, JOURNEY will play dates in Guatemala, Panama and Mexico.
JOURNEY's new album, "Eclipse" will be released on Scarecrow Records in Mexico, WET Music in Brazil and D.B.N. in the rest of Latin America.
The first single from "Eclipse" in South America is "Human Feel", also available digitally from April 4. Online stores carrying the new single include iTunes and Telcel in Mexico; Claro, Telefonica and Comcel in Colombia; and Porta in Ecuador.
"Eclipse" will be released in the U.S. and Canada on May 24 exclusively at Walmart and beginning June 3 in Europe on Frontiers Records. The 12 tracks were written over the past 18 months by the core team of guitarist Neal Schon and keyboard player Jonathan Cain, with collaboration from singer Arnel Pineda.
"Eclipse" track listing:
01. City Of Hope
02. Edge Of The Moment
03. Chain Of Love
04. Tantra
05. Anything Is Possible
06. Resonate
07. She's A Mystery
08. Human Feel
09. Ritual
10. To Whom It May Concern
11. Someone
12. Venus
"I'm in love with this record, which I haven't said about one of our albums for a long time," says founding member and lead guitarist, Neal Schon. "It's a rock record and it sounds amazing." Commenting on the upcoming tour, Schon continues, "We've got a lot of hits to play and there's plenty of time to do some new stuff too, so we're gonna mix it up. We haven't toured with FOREIGNER for over 10 years, so we're really looking forward to this run."
JOURNEY debuted five news songs from "Eclipse" — "Edge Of The Moment", "Resonate", "Chain Of Love", "City Of Hope" and "Human Feel" — on February 23, 2011 at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in las Vegas, Nevada.
In a recent interview with Boomerocity.com, Cain stated about "Eclipse", "It's very guitar-driven. This album has very little of me, keyboard-wise. Neal wanted to do a heavier rock album. So, this is kind of his baby. I wrote the lyrics on the thing and lots of the melodies that sit above the guitars. So, then I had to find some place to play in the nooks and crannies."
He continued, "It's a very hard-hitting record that has some conscience to it. It's about lots of things — spirituality, sexuality. There's a song called 'Tantra' on it about tantric circles. I was fascinated with all of that. It's definitely a departure from what we've done before. It's more like a concept record. I think Arnel shines. He sounds great. It's probably one of Neal's best guitar albums. I think he's on a mission on this album — to play, and he did."
To follow the release of "Eclipse", JOURNEY will launch the "Eclipse Tour" with FOREIGNER, and special guest NIGHT RANGER, beginning July 21 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. Fans can expect to hear new songs from "Eclipse" as well as classics such as "Don't Stop Believin'", "Any Way You Want It", "Faithfully", "Lights", "Separate Ways", "Wheel In The Sky", and many more.
POISON and MÖTLEY CRÜE are teaming up for the first time in their history on a North American co-headlining tour with special guests the NEW YORK DOLLS.
New tour dates on August 6th in Moline, IL and on August 7th in Omaha, NE have now been added.
Presale tickets for the new dates go on sale for fan Club members starting April 6th. Public on-sale starts April 9th.
Updated tour dates are as follows:
May
29 - Pryor, OK - Rocklahoma
June
7 - Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion
9 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
10 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
12 - Albuquerque, NM - Hard Rock Pavilion
14 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
15 - San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
17 - Phoenix, AZ - Desert Sky Pavilion
18 - Las Vegas, NV - Venue TBD
19 - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
21 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
22 - Maryland Heights, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
24 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
25 - Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
26 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
28 - Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheatre
29 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
July
1 - Tinley Park, IL - FMB Amphitheatre
2 - Noblesville, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
3 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
5 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena
6 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
8 - Biloxi, MS - Mississippi Coast Coliseum
9 - Pelham, AL - Verizon Wireless Music Center *
10 - Atlanta, GA - Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood
12 - Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
13 - Hershey, PA - Star Pavilion at Hersheypark
15 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
16 - Camden, NJ - Susquehannna Bank Center
19 - Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center
20 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
22 - Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
23 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center
24 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
27 - Cheyenne, WY - Frontier Days **
29 - Youngstown, OH - Covelli Centre
30 - Frederick, MD - Outlaw Jam 2011
31 - Scranton, PA - Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain
August
5 - Tomah, WI - Fort McCoy
6 - Moline, IL - iWireless Center
7 - Omaha, NE - Qwest Center
* Mötley Crüe and New York Dolls only
** Mötley Crüe only
When reporters recently asked Bret Michaels if there was any bad blood between the bands, Michaels laughs "there may be some friendly competition but there is no bad blood at all on my part. Nikki and I have spoken several times on the phone recently and the conversations went great."
Michaels continues, "Music is a universal language and I am extremely excited that this tour has come together as are the fans, they are truly going to see a great show. Honestly, I could care less about all the mudslinging, it gets nobody nowhere, and after all I have been through health wise in the last year, I am going to try to focus on what does matter which is the show, the fans, fun and personally throwing a hell of a backstage party."
According to TMZ.com, MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman Vince Neil has been charged with domestic violence and disorderly conduct for allegedly pushing his ex-girlfriend with his finger and leaving a bruise on her shoulder. The alleged confrontation between Neil and Alicia Jacobs took place last month at the Las Vegas Hilton.
According to the Las Vegas Sun, Neil shouted obscenities at Jacobs, a Vegas TV reporter, as well as a publicist and a writer for the Las Vegas Sun, who were sitting at a table together. The incident took place at a show by comedian Hal Sparks, who wrote on Twitter, "Sooooo... Vince Neil storms into my show.. Yells FU at 2 women.. Gets pushy... Cops get called... Good times."
Neil denied jabbing Jacobs, telling Las Vegas Weekly, "I never touched her! She's the one who followed me out into the casino afterwards. I was with four hotel executives. They know it didn't happen."
Neil later claimed that he was considering filing charges himself, alleging that Jacobs had left bloody marks on his arm.
Neil's lawyer, David Chesnoff, tells The Associated Press that the singer will plead not guilty to the battery and disorderly conduct charges. He's due May 2 in Las Vegas Justice Court.
Jacobs split with Neil in March after a seven-month relationship, shortly after he finished a short prison stint stemming from a DUI arrest last June.
Although he claims he has given up alcohol, Neil has been seen partying around Vegas, according to reports.
"Blunt Force Trauma", the sophomore album from CAVALERA CONSPIRACY — the project featuring former SEPULTURA members Max (guitar, vocals) and Igor Cavalera (drums) — 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.
"Blunt Force Trauma" CD/DVD/LP track listing:
Vinyl:
01. Warlord
02. Torture
03. Lynch Mob
04. Killing Inside
05. Thrasher
06. I Speak Hate
07. Target
08. Genghis Khan
09. Burn Waco
10. Rasputin
11. Blunt Force Trauma
12. Psychosomatic
13. Jihad Jow
14. Electric Funeral (BLACK SABBATH cover)
15. Six Pack (BLACK FLAG cover)
CD:
01. Warlord
02. Torture
03. Lynch Mob
04. Killing Inside
05. Thrasher
06. I Speak Hate
07. Target
08. Genghis Khan
09. Burn Waco
10. Rasputin
11. Blunt Force Trauma
12. Psychosomatic *
13. Jihad Joe *
14. Electric Funeral (BLACK SABBATH cover) *
* Bonus tracks
DVD - Live at Les Eurockéennes Festival, Belfort, France - July 5, 2008 (except *):
01. Inflikted
02. Sanctuary
03. Territory
04. Terrorize
05. The Doom Of All Fires
06. Inner Self/Nevertrust
07. Arise/Dead Embryonic Cells
08. Desperate Cry/Propaganda
09. Wasting Away
10. Black Ark
11. Holiday In Cambodia/Biotech Is Godzilla
12. Hearts Of Darkness
13. Refuse/Resist
14. Troops Of Doom
15. Must Kill
16. Roots Bloody Roots
17. Sanctuary (music video) *
Keyboardist Per Wiberg has been relieved of his duties as a member of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH as part of a mutual decision with the band. Keyboard duties on upcoming tours will be handled by a musician who is already rehearsing with the band. Said musician's identity will be released at a later date.
OPETH vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt released the following statement on the matter: "Well, it's been somewhat of a revolving door of members during the last couple of years, and now Per is no longer a member. [Martin] Mendez [bass], Axe [Martin Axenrot, drums] and Fredrik [Åkesson, guitar] and I came to the decision that we should find a replacement for Per right after the recordings of the new album, and this came as no surprise to Per. He had, in turn, been thinking about leaving, so you could say it was a mutual decision. There's no bad blood, just a relationship that came to an end, and that's that. We wish Per the best, and he did a splendid job recording keyboards for the last record, which stands as his final recording with OPETH."
OPETH entered Atlantis studios (formerly Metronome studios) in Stockholm on January 31 to begin recording its tenth album for a fall 2011 release via Roadrunner Records. Jens Bogren (SOILWORK, KATATONIA, PARADISE LOST, BLOODBATH) engineered the effort while mixing duties ere handled by Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE). The new material has been described by the band as "good."
OPETH's last album, "Watershed" (2008), sold more than 19,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart. Its predecessor, "Ghost Reveries", debuted at No. 64 on the Billboard chart back in September 2005 with first-week sales of just under 15,000. OPETH's 2003 album, "Damnation", opened with a little over 5,000 copies.
As part of the ongoing celebration of their 20th anniversary, OPETH released live footage and audio from the band's performance at London's famed Royal Albert Hall. The concert (recorded on April 5, 2010) included two sets, the first consisting of the band performing 2000's now-classic, breakthrough epic "Blackwater Park" in its entirety, and the second, a chronologically arranged selection of material from the rest of OPETH's extensive catalogue, totaling almost three hours of music. "In Live Concert At The Royal Albert Hall" is, like the rest of OPETH's greatest work, "purposefully warped in all the right places" (Decibel). The front cover artwork concept pays tribute to DEEP PURPLE's "Concerto for Group and Orchestra", underlining the band's longstanding love for their prog-rock roots.
Florida metallers TRIVIUM are putting the finishing touches on their new album at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with the production/mixing team of Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY) and Martin "Ginge" Ford. The follow-up to 2008's "Shogun"will be mixed in England later this spring got a summer release via Roadrunner Records.
A video update on the recording process from TRIVIUM guitarist Corey Beaulieu can be viewed below.
In a July 2010 interview with the WMHB 89.7 FM metal radio show "Metal Mutilation", Beaulieu stated about the band's new material, "We've been concentrating more on [making] more to-the-point, catchier songs without going off too much — there's no seven- or eight-minute songs on this one. There's a lot of really cool riffs and a lot of really cool parts, and, obviously, there's guitar solos all over the place. It doesn't sound like 'Shogun', but it sounds like TRIVIUM. It's a got a different feel than 'Shogun' — it's a lot more in your face and heavier and faster. It kind of balances out everything — we've got four or five songs that are all screaming, we've got a couple of songs that are all singing, and huge songs that are kind of a mix — kind of 'Acendancy' [2005] kind of vocal style, [with both] screaming and singing, so there's a good variety, which makes it really interesting to listen to, because each song has its own thing going on, so
they all stand out really well and fit together, too. It's got a good balance of everything, but the energy and the intensity is just a lot more up there. I guess if you compare it to anything as far as being aggressive, it's probably more towards 'Ascendancy' than anything else."
Swedish metallers IN FLAMES will release a new digital single, "Deliver Us", via Century Media Records on the following dates:
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Australia, New Zealand: Friday, May 6
UK: Sunday, May 8
North America, Spain, Italy: Tuesday, May 10
Finland, Hungary: Wednesday, May 11
Rest Of Europe: Monday, May 9
The song comes off the band's tenth album, "Sounds Of A Playground Fading", which will be released on the following dates:
Sweden: June 15
Germany: June 17
Rest Of Europe: June 20
North America: June 21
13 songs were laid down for the CD, which was recorded at the band's IF Studios in Gothenburg with engineer Roberto Laghi (HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, LOK, SONIC SYNDICATE).
In an exclusive interview with the Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet, IN FLAMES vocalist Anders Fridén, 38, revealed that "Sounds Of A Playground Fading" will almost certainly challenge the band's fans' musical expectations.
"We have some songs that pretty much go against the hard rock formula," he said. "There's a song called 'The Attic' where we have an accordion playing the chorus instead of me singing it. Another song begins with a spoken-word part that evolves into a kind of hard DEPECHE MODE-type thing. We also have some really fast, typical IN FLAMES tunes.
He added, "We've never denied where we come from, but at the same time we like to challenge our listeners."
"Sounds Of A Playground Fading" is the first IN FLAMES album to be recorded without founding guitarist Jesper Strömblad, who quit the band in February 2010 in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction.
"It's a really sad situation," Anders said. "We're talking about a friend whom we've known for a really long time. It's like a relationship that has burnt out. It just didn't work out anymore. He's a really great guy in many ways, but it's important that everybody can get along. If they don't, it affects a lot of people."
He continued, "We've lived with this for many years, and it's really sad that things are the way they are. I wish they weren't."
Fridén also talked about the often dark lyrical content on "Sounds Of A Playground Fading".
"Some people I know have passed away, and then you have kids being born," he explained. "I've got two kids myself and, of course, it has affected the songwriting. Suddenly you're not alone anymore."
IN FLAMES recently recruited Niclas Engelin from fellow Swedes ENGEL as the band's new second guitarist.
IN FLAMES's latest album, "A Sense of Purpose" (2008), shifted 20,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release. This was slightly less than the opening tally of "Come Clarity" (Ferret), which sold just under 24,000 copies in February 2006 to debut at position No. 58.
MURDERDOLLS frontman Wednesday 13 is currently working on a few different projects to donate money to the people of Japan.
While on tour in Japan, Wednesday 13 and the rest of MURDERDOLLS experienced first-hand the magnitude-8.9 earthquake that rocked the country. It was the fifth most powerful earthquake recorded since 1900.
Commented Wednesday 13: "That was the scariest day of my life, without a doubt. It's almost beyond words to explain what we felt and witnessed.
"Japan is my favorite country to visit, tour and I'm just truly, truly saddened by this tragedy."
Wednesday 13 will put up five auctions for custom-made canvas prints (20" x 32"). Each canvas print will be hand-signed, numbered and will contain a songtitle on the back. Proceeds from these sales will go to Save The Children.
Save the Children, which has worked in Japan since 1986, has an immediate goal of $5 million to launch longer-term recovery for children affected by Japan's March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Prior to the earthquake, Wednesday 13 was working on a special remix CD, "Re-animated". He has taken five songs from his "Skeletons" CD and given them a new life.
For the first month of release, Wednesday 13 will take a portion of all sales and donate to the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross is currently supporting and advising the Japanese Red Cross, which continues to assist the government in its response.
A digital release date for "Re-animated" will be announced shortly.
In an effort to continuously evolve its Grammy Awards process, The Recording Academy announced today that it has restructured the Grammy categories across all genres and fields, bringing the total number of categories to be recognized at the 54th Grammy Awards in 2012, to 78 from 109. As a result, instead of separate "Best Metal" and "Best Hard Rock" performance prizes, there will now be a single "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" award.
The announcement was made this morning at The Academy's headquarters by President/CEO Neil Portnow, Academy Board Chair Emeritus and five-time Grammy winner Jimmy Jam, and Vice President of Awards Bill Freimuth. Additionally, a minimum of 40 distinct artist entries will be required in each category (up from 25).
"Every year, we diligently examine our Awards structure to develop an overall guiding vision and ensure that it remains a balanced and viable process," said Portnow. "After careful and extensive review and analysis of all categories and fields, it was objectively determined that our Grammy categories be restructured to the continued competition and prestige of the highest and only peer-recognized award in music. Our Board of Trustees continues to demonstrate its dedication to keeping The Recording Academy a pertinent and responsive organization in our dynamic music community."
For 53 years, The Recording Academy has recognized musical excellence with the Grammy Awards — the most prestigious and only peer-recognized award in music — and the awards have grown from 28 categories in 1959, to awards in 109 categories for the most recent 53rd Grammys. This growth springs from a tradition of honoring specific genres and/or subgenres within a field, and it has basically been approached one category at a time without a current overall guiding vision and without consistency across the various genre fields. In 2009, The Academy initiated a first-ever comprehensive evaluation of its awards process, which led to a desire for change. A transformation of the entire awards structure would ensure that all fields would be treated with parity. Diligent research, careful analysis, and thoughtful discussion of all fields resulted in an overarching framework and a restructuring of categories to 78, and ensures that every submission continues to
have a home.
In addition to the restructuring of categories, two rule changes have been established and four fields have been renamed. It is now expected that each category shall have at least 40 distinct artist entries, up from 25. If a category receives between 25 and 39 entries, only three recordings would receive nominations that year. Should there be fewer than 25 entries in a category, that category would immediately go on hiatus for the current year — no award given — and entries would be screened into the next most logical category. If a category receives fewer than 25 entries for three consecutive years, the category would be discontinued, and submissions would be entered in the next most appropriate category.
The second rule change is regarding voting. Previously, voting members were allowed to vote in up to nine genre fields plus the general field on the first ballot and eight genre fields plus the general field on the second ballot, including every category within each chosen Field. Now, on each ballot, voters may vote in up to 20 categories in the genre fields plus the four categories of the general field — which includes "Record Of The Year", "Album Of The Year", "Song Of The Year", and "Best New Artist".
Orange Amps will be launching a new, full-color coffee-table book at the Frankfurt Musikmesse 2011, celebrating over forty years of their history with a massive, detailed archive of press cuttings, photographs and promotional material. This unique 200-page large-format Flipbook gives the reader a comprehensive, invaluable insight both into Orange Amps the product and Orange the brand.
Start the flipbook from one side and "The Book of Orange" tells you about the innovation and technology that is an intrinsic part of the Orange story so far. Always at the forefront of the development of amplification, with years spent studying, experimenting and testing in order to improve on the best: in the words of Orange founder and CEO, Cliff Cooper, "The 'Orange sound' didn't just happen, it has taken years to perfect." "The Book of Orange" tells an illustrated story of this quest, showing how Orange Amps truly did become the 'Voice of the World'.
Turn over, and building the brand takes you from the late 1960s when Cliff Cooper established the Orange Recording Studios, Orange Shop and Orange Amplification, through to the present day and the proud launch of the Orange Personal Computer (OPC) designed and developed in-house by Orange.
The history is told using material from the archives: remember the cartoon comic strips, the Orange amp crest, the Orange world tree, and the Orange amp log books? Then there are the pictures — a who's who of rock and roll. This book is lavishly illustrated with images of the greats using Orange Amps including James Brown, Frank Zappa, Stevie Wonder, John Lennon, LED ZEPPELIN, Johnny Cash, John Miles, and more recently Monte Pittman (MADONNA), OASIS, Geddy Lee, SLIPKNOT, SCISSOR SISTERS, Travis and MANIC STREET PREACHERS.
This coffee-table book is a psychedelic nostalgia trip for all those hip baby boomers out there, and it's a mine of new knowledge for tomorrow's young guitar stars who love the Orange brand and its heritage. Orange Amps have become a global phenomenon, and they are now justly celebrating the fact in this showcase of their work, and the artists who have used their equipment.
It will sit proudly on any coffee-table, keeping the reader entertained with insightful, thought-provoking memorabilia. The pictures are a feast for the eyes; the commentary is lively and full of warmth and wit — flicking through is a joy. And there's an added bonus: it even feels good, as the hardback cover is finished in beautiful velvet... Orange, of course!
Sample pages taken from this unique and wonderful book about the world of Orange Amps will be posted on the Orange web site shortly before it is launched at Musikmesse 2011.
To take a look at the new book as well as all the other Orange amp products go to Orange music booth F60 Hall 4.0.
Former SLAYER/TESTAMENT drummer Jon Dette will fill in for HEATHEN's Darren Minter on the Bay Area thrash band's upcoming North American tour with DESTRUCTION and WARBEAST.
Commented HEATHEN: "Darren is unable to join us on the North American tour due to previous work commitments during that time. We will miss him on the tour, but we are happy to have found Jon to fill in. We're looking forward to seeing everyone on the road!"
HEATHEN played its first show with returning bassist Jason VieBrooks on February 4 at Madhouse in San Francisco, California.
VieBrooks is filling in for regular HEATHEN bassist Jon Torres, who was forced to sit out the San Francisco show and the recently completed European tour with OVERKILL and DESTRUCTION in order "to focus on his health."
HEATHEN's lineup for the upcoming tour will be as follows:
David White - Vocals
Lee Altus - Guitar
Kragen Lum - Guitar
Jason VieBrooks - Bass
Jon Dette - Drums
HEATHEN's latest album, "The Evolution Of Chaos", was released in the U.S. on February 16, 2010. The CD was issued in Japan on December 23, 2009 via King Records and was made available on January 25 in Europe via Holland's Mascot Records.
Original TROUBLE drummer and RETRO GRAVE mainman Jeff "Oly" Olson was interviewed on the April 2, 2011 edition of the "Maximum Threshold" show. He discussed details of the upcoming RETRO GRAVE debut show, set to take place on April 23 at The Studio at Webster Hall in New York City as well as a possible live reunion with former TROUBLE bandmates Eric Wagner and Ron Holzner this June 18 at the Days Of The Doomed festival in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Olson also revealed that former TROUBLE bass player Sean McAllister will be present at the Days Of The Doomed festival, adding, "Who knows what could happen?" The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
RETRO GRAVE's debut full-length album, "Again", was released in February 2010.
On March 31, Lithium magazine conducted an interview with KORN guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Lithium: "Korn III" gets referred to as a "comeback album" for KORN. I don't really see it that way. In order to come back, you have to have gone away... and I don't feel like KORN went away at all. I feel "Korn III" is a little snappier than your past few albums — punchier maybe… but it's still a valid progression of KORN in my books.
Munky: Yeah, it's a bit more in your face, a little less electronic. We think it's a more organic album.
Lithium: KORN has had some fantastic remixes over the years as well, letting their source material get mixed up by DJs and electronic production.
Munky: I definitely think there is room in our music creatively for all of that, you know? I don't think we have limited ourselves to being (finger quotes) "just a metal band." We have always been open to trying different stuff. Even on the very first record — there is a song on there called "Helmet In The Bush" that sounds quite industrial. That track has a drum machine on it, and we included it because we felt we could grow into that sound and play in that arena a bit more. I think through the years we have sort of tried different stuff. You have to see what sticks; what stays interesting through the years. I think the core of the band — our base sound if you will — that has stayed true on all of our albums. We've retained an energetic drum sound on all of our albums.
Lithium: And a signature bass and guitar sound. KORN's music sounds like KORN from album one through to the last untitled album that came out in 2007. KORN music has a certain snap to it.
Munky: Yes. That's the essence of our material. That's KORN. And when we picked Ross [Robinson] to produce this latest record, that essence is what we were looking for once again. We were open to whatever the outcome was going to be.
Lithium: At the twenty-year mark in your careers as KORN, how would you describe recording now compared to your early demos and first album? Is it harder to find your mojo now? Does KORN's music come together the same way as it did back in the day?
Munky: It really is exactly the same for us.
Lithium: Seriously?
Munky: I swear to God — it's crazy, especially with getting Ross back into the room. He really makes us feel open to try different stuff, more challenging stuff. He removes that fear somehow and pushes you. He's very supportive that way. If it becomes a bad idea after a few takes… it's OK, you know? It will just come off on the next idea, or that failed idea will develop into something on another song. Ross will push you on a thing until it develops into something great. He can see that little seed and he will just keep nurturing the idea until it becomes something great. He does that with every member of the band. That is something that we have regained through recording with him.
Lithium: You've been with Roadrunner for about a year now, James. How have you found them as a home for KORN?
Munky: They're great. We really like them. They offer everything that a major label offers — good distribution and promotion. Everyone at the label is really cool. All the regional reps are always there to say hello at our shows and help us out in any way they can. They feel like a family to us, like a small, tightly-knit family of people who really care about music and work for the label. I don't think they're doing things for any huge financial advancements either… I think they really do it because they love music. When I talk to the people at the label, or swing by the offices in New York, I get the impression that these guys are die-hard music fans.
Vocalist Kyle Thomas of legendary New Orleans metallers EXHORDER has penned the following tribute to the band's bassist, Frankie Sparcello, who passed away on March 22, 2011:
"When Frankie joined EXHORDER back in 1990, I believe, it just so happened to be amid some of our darkest days as a band. We were struggling to find a good tour that everyone in the band could actually participate in and had to come up with the successor of our debut album.
"I knew Frankie beforehand, but only casually from hanging out at Last Stop. My earliest memory was him kicking my ass in pool in a random game. He was so polite about it, though; he didn't gloat once.
"When he joined the band, he immediately got settled in and clowned around as if he had always belonged. This, of course, rubbed me wrong. I was so unhappy with many things in my life at that time and somehow I managed to channel it onto him sometimes. He tried to make friends with me, but I wasn't having it. Don't get me wrong — we got along okay, but anyone that knows me knows that I'm particular about my closest circle and I can make things difficult when I choose to.
"We toured together across the U.S. and Europe, and all the while just kind of coexisted. The state of the band really just put an exclamation point on the whole thing. It wasn't until we had broken up and reformed in 2001 that I finally softened up to him.
"I bumped into Frankie at Pat's Pub one night shortly after Katrina. Very few people were home yet, and since Pat's was one of the only bars open, it was always busy. We got to talking and after we told each other our horror stories about the hurricane, I told him how great it was to see him and invited him over to the house. He suddenly stopped and looked at me with an incredulous look on his face and simply said, 'Really?' I affirmed my offer and when I asked him why he asked he said bluntly, 'I didn't even think you liked me.' Boy, did I feel about an inch tall at that moment! Immediately I sat down with him, ordered us a couple of drinks and bared my soul to him.
"Truly, I did not harbor any ill will or dislike for him, it was again just bad timing for him when he joined. EXHORDER was a band in turmoil and everything that went on internally back then was usually not without issue or friction.
"Ever since that night I have made sure that I hugged Frankie when I saw him, we told each other we love each other upon ending a conversation — not every single time, but enough.
"Frankie was welcome in my home, and never behaved disrespectfully to my wife or children.
"Although our friendship was not deeply rooted as many of his other friendships were, it was genuine. I only wish I could tell him all of this again.
"Frankie was never a guy that we really had to wonder where he was. If we were jamming, he was there.
"I am a decent bass player, but Frankie was easily one of the best of his kind. Take that from me, I know what it takes and he had it. We have had some very talented bass players come through over the years and try to win the job, but he just made it look easy where they struggled. The dude flat-out ripped.
"It will be tough to step on the stage without him, but I know Frankie would want us to keep going.
"I have a feeling that we are going to have some tough moments in the upcoming shows.
"To Bobbi, her children, Frankie's children and his family, my words will never take away the pain that we all share in the loss of such a great guy. Still, I express to each and every one of you that my heart is with you all in this awful tragedy. Frankie belonged to all of us at some point and we should all cherish the gift of him that we shared. May we all find comfort in one another and keep the good memories of Frankie alive. It's what he would have wanted, I am quite sure. He always managed to get us laughing when the road got hard for EXHORDER. I can only imagine how it was in his everyday life outside of the band.
"Frankie, I love you, I miss you and I hope you are jamming out hard with Randy Rhoads somewhere."
Vocalist Kyle Thomas of legendary New Orleans metallers EXHORDER has sent the following update to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
"Although the tough time that we are experiencing right now is far from over, we have begun the arduous task of healing following the passing of our friend and bandmate, Frankie Sparcello [EXHORDER bassist who passed away on March 22. — Ed.].
"We would like to thank everyone that reached out to us in so many ways during the last two weeks. It has meant so much to us and Frankie's family that so many have shown such immense support and love.
"Many people are asking or wondering exactly what happened to him that caused his untimely death, but at this time it is not known for certain. Medical reports from the coroner have not returned and may not for several weeks, so until then we all must wait, unfortunately. In the meantime, we would like to say that in Frankie's honor and memory we have decided to play all of the shows we have booked in April and May. April 15-17 we will play Ft. Worth, Austin and New Orleans respectively, and May 28 we will play the Maryland Deathfest. It has been decided based on how excited Frankie was about playing these shows, and how much he loved the band both as a member and a fan of the music he played with us.
"We are looking forward to our return to our home away from home, the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area. Many friends await, and we are excited to play with RIGOR MORTIS, WORLD BENEATH WORLD, and the rest of the great bands on these bills.
"EXHORDER will get past these difficulties that face us at this moment. Even though we have already gotten into the writing process of our new album after working in new drummer Seth Davis, the time to focus on diving in to these songs could not be more imminent. We are aware that this recording is way overdue, but the inspiration could not be more tangible than it is now to deliver this to our fan base.
"Thanks, once again, to all that have been so kind and supportive to us in our darkest days. We will not let you down."
Sparcello joined EXHORDER prior to the recording sessions for the band's sophomore album, "The Law", which came out in 1992. The group broke up a short time later and reformed with its original lineup a few years later. Sparcello rejoined EXHORDER in 2009 and was scheduled to perform with the band at this year's Maryland Deathfest IX, which is set to take place May 26-29, 2011 at Sonar in Baltimore.
"Surtur Rising", the eighth studio album from Swedish melodic death metal tyrants AMON AMARTH, sold around 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 34 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Twilight of the Thunder God", opened with more than 11,000 copies back in 2008 to land at No. 48.
Named in tribute to Surtur, leader of the fire giants of Muspelheim ("flame land") and the oldest being in the nine worlds of Norse mythology, "Surtur Rising", which came out in North America on March 29 via Metal Blade Records, features 10 tracks of sword-wielding, fist-pumping, hyper climactic battle anthems. The album was once again recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren and features strikingly brutal cover art by Tom Thiel.
"Surtur Rising" track listing:
01. War Of The Gods
02. Töck's Taunt - Loke's Treachery Part II
03. Destroyer Of The Universe
04. Slaves Of Fear
05. Live Without Regrets
06. The Last Stand of Frej
07. For Victory Or Death
08. Wrath Of The Norsemen
09. A Beast Am I
10. Doom Over Dead Man
Vocalist Johan Hegg was interviewed on the January 28-30, 2011 edition of Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show. When asked about the title of AMON AMARTH's new album, Hegg said, "Surtur is a very intriguing character in the Scandinavian mythology. Basically, he's one of the oldest existing beings in the Universe. He was there when the Universe was created and also at the end of the world, [during the events of] Ragnarök, which is like the Norse Armageddon, he will arise to burn everything. So he's kind of responsible for... He was there when the world was created, but he's also responsible for when the end comes. He's connected with flames and fire... He's a fire giant, so to speak."
Regarding the the new CD's production, he said, "I think that we felt that with the previous album [2008's 'Twilight Of The Thunder God'], it was good production, but we felt it kind of lacked a little bit of an edge. It's nothing that we noticed right away; it's kind of when you listen to the album for a little while, you realize that it felt like something was missing from the production. We wanted a bit more aggression, a little bit more guitar in the production to make it more heavy and aggressive — an angrier sound, almost — so that's definitely something what we went for. Also kind of trying to explore the more brutal side of the songwriting, so that also came into play."
On the topic of once again working with producer Jens Bogren, Hegg said, "He's very meticulous, he's very thorough in his work, and he cares very much about the production and we felt that when we sat down and talked to him about some of the stuff that we wanted to develop and [achieve] with this recording, we felt that he really had good ideas and we felt that he had a commitment to the band and to the recording that was really something that we wanted to have other than the production. And he's just a great guy to work with; he's almost like a slavedriver when you're in the studio, but then again he gets results, and that's also what we need — somebody to kick us in the butt to get things the way they should be. [Laughs]"
DOCTOR MIDNIGHT & THE MERCY CULT, the new Scandinavian supergroup featuring former/current members of such acts as TURBONEGRO, MARILYN MANSON, SATYRICON and EXTOL, will release its debut album, "I Declare : Treason", on June 7 (one day earlier internationally) via Season Of Mist. A seven-inch vinyl single, "(Don't) Waste It", will precede the full-length CD on May 9. It will come with a digital download card and a sticker.
"I Declare : Treason" track listing:
01. You Are God (Intro)
02. Sign My Name
03. I Declare: Treason
04. Bleed Idiot Bleed
05. (Don't) Waste It
06. Blame Is The Game
07. OK (We're Just About To Die)
08. Misconception
09. Glory (Throw The Axe)
10. Revenge
11. Victorious
The limited-edition digipak will include two exclusive bonus tracks, and the vinyl LP version will include yet another bonus track.
The song "(Don't) Waste It" is described in a press release as "a dark, catchy-as-hell rocker with a heavy stomping groove" while the "fast-paced, pumping" "Sacrifice (The Napoleon Iscariot Chant)" appears as an exclusive single B-side.
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"Unseen", the seventh studio album from Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED, sold around 1,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 33 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
THE HAUNTED's previous album, "Versus", opened with 1,600 units back in October 2008, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
"Unseen" has registered the following first-week chart positions:
Sweden: #5
Finland: #26
The Swedish chart position marks the highest chart entry ever in THE HAUNTED's home territory.
"Unseen" was released on March 29 via Century Media Records. The CD was once again recorded with longtime producer Tue Madsen (MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY, GOREFEST, SICK OF IT ALL) at his Antfarm Studio in Århus, Denmark.
In addition to the regular CD as well as a limited LP version (180-gram black vinyl with the full album on CD as bonus!) and the digital download format of the record, a very special limited edition (pictured on top!) of "Unseen" was released in Europe as a silver-foil-wrapped digipak, including not only classy packaging and extended artwork but also three bonus audio tracks: The brand new song "Attention" as well as radio-session live versions of the tracks "The Reflection" and "The Fallout".
Regarding the "Unseen" cover artwork, which can be seen below, THE HAUNTED said, "The artwork design was made by our friend Frode, who also did the art for [2004's] 'rEVOLVEr'. We really like his design aesthetic, and he seems to come up with something unique every single time."
"Unseen" track listing:
01. Never Better
02. No Ghost
03. Catch 22
04. Disappear
05. Motionless
06. Unseen
07. The Skull
08. Ocean Park
09. The City
10. Them
11. All Ends Well
12. Done
Keyboardist/programmer Chris Spicuzza has left Cleveland, Ohio metallers CHIMAIRA. "The choice was extremely tough and stewed around in my mind for quite awhile," he told ThePRP.com. "Many things led to this decision. The situation in CHIMAIRA had ultimately become a negative environment that I had to get out of. Secondly, the music industry is completely fucked and honestly, I became concerned for my future. The amount of work and stress I took on got the best of me. I guess if you're not happy or having fun, what's the point?:
He added, "As far as the new CHIMAIRA album, I have not contributed to it. There is no doubt in my mind that CHIMAIRA's sound will not suffer minus my presence. The demos I heard showed great potential and I'm sure the album will melt faces. I'm proud to say I was on five CHIMAIRA albums and wish those guys the best."
CHIMAIRA has tapped Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL, MURDERDOLLS, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD) to mix the band's new album, due in August in North America, South America and Japan via eOne Music. The CD was recorded with producer Ben Schigel, who has previously worked with DROWNING POOL and WALLS OF JERICHO, among others.
Bassist Jim LaMarca left CHIMAIRA last year in order to focus on family life. He was temporarily replaced by DAATH guitarist Emil Werstler.
CHIMAIRA released a DVD/CD set, "Coming Alive", on July 20, 2010 via Ferret Music.
CHIMAIRA recently released its cover version of THE TROGGS' hit song "Wild Thing" as a tribute to actor Charlie Sheen.
Sheen's iconic Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn character was featured in "Major League", the 1989 American satire comedy film written and directed by David S. Ward.
"We're Here Because We're Here", the eighth studio album from the U.K. atmospheric rock band ANATHEMA, will receive its long-overdue U.S. release on June 7 on The End Records. A special, limited-edition deluxe edition will include three bonus tracks, a seven-inch single with two unreleased tracks, and a DVD 5.1 Surround Sound version of the album, along with the stereo version, both mixed by Steven Wilson of PORCUPINE TREE.
"We're Here Because We're Here" deluxe edition track listing:
01. Thin Air
02. Summer Night Horizon
03. Dreaming Light
04. Everything
05. Angels Walk Among Us
06. Presence
07. A Simple Mistake
08. Get Off Get Out
09. Universal
10. Hindsight
Bonus tracks:
01. Angels Walk Among Us - Demo Mix
02. Presence - Demo Mix
03. A Simple Mistake - Demo Mix
Special limited edition will include the above plus:
Seven-inch single:
01. Dreaming Light - Orchestral Version
02. Universal - Orchestral Version
DVD:
5.1 Surround Sound & High Resolution 24-bit stereo album mix
Download Track:
* Everything - Demo Mix
ANATHEMA will tour North America for the first time ever as special guests to BLACKFIELD on the East Coast/Canadian leg of their tour.
This trek comes at the perfect time for ANATHEMA, which is currently in the studio recording a new collection of songs.
"We're Here Because We're Here" was originally released in May 2010 via Kscope Records. The self-produced CD was mixed by Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE) and features the exquisite string arrangements of Dave Stewart (STEWART/GASKIN, PORCUPINE TREE) and mastering skills of legendary Jon Astley (THE WHO, LED ZEPPELIN). The song "Angels Walk Among Us" features subtle backing vocals by Ville Valo of HIM.
"'We're Here Because We're Here' is ANATHEMA's most expansive album to date and by the far best thing we've ever done," commented ANATHEMA's Danny Cavanagh. "Not only have we improved as writers, but because we took our time, we had the opportunity to select the very best material and concentrate on it. We gave the songs the chance to breathe and come alive by themselves and it's ended up being magical — every song is as good as the rest of them. This album features the best performances by the band ever; Vincent's [Cavanagh] greatest vocals and John's [Douglas, drums] and my best writing."
ANATHEMA's Vincent Cavanagh went further in explaining the origins of the album's enigmatic title: "The title 'We're Here Because We're Here' is inspired by a song that was first heard across the Allied trenches of World War One. Sung to the tune of 'Auld Lang Syne', the song served as a defiant rallying-call keeping up the morale of those who had to endure the incessant carnage and almost unimaginable horror. The spirit behind those words, and the deep questions they raised immediately struck all of us. Therefore we have appropriated these words to reflect the spirit and bond that all six members of the group have with each other. We have shared some incredible experiences, on all levels, and the fact that we have emerged stronger, more determined, and confident in our common vision is a testament to our resilience, both as individuals and collectively."
Danny continued: "The bond is deeper than the music and you might say the direction of music is a product of our connection to each other; a real family in every sense of the word."
DARK TRANQUILLITY, ELUVEITIE, DEATH ANGEL, VARG (rotating slot), MERCENARY (rotating slot) and OMNIUM GATHERUM will join forces for the Neckbreaker's Ball Tour 2011 in October/November. The dates are as follows:
Oct. 28 - München, Germany - Backstage
Oct. 29 - Linz, Austria - Posthof
Oct. 30 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Majestic Music Club
Oct. 31 - Wien, Austria - Arena
Nov. 01 - Budapest, Hungary - Club 202
Nov. 02 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Cvetlicarna
Nov. 03 - Milan, Italy - Live Club
Nov. 04 - Klagenfurt, Austria - Messehalle
Nov. 05 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA Longhorn
Nov. 06 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix
Nov. 07 - London, England - Electric Ballroom
Nov. 08 - Paris, France - Bataclan
Nov. 10 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage
Nov. 11 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
Nov. 12 - Geiselwind, Germany - Music Hall
Nov. 13 - Hengelo, Netherlands - Metropol
Nov. 14 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp
Nov. 15 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
Nov. 16 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
Nov. 17 - Warsaw, Poland - Progresja
Nov. 18 - Berlin, Germany - Postbahnhof
Nov. 19 - Dortmund, Germany - FZW
Nov. 20 - Hannover, Germany - Faust
"We Are The Void", the ninth album from DARK TRANQUILLITY, sold around 2,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 15 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"We Are The Void" was released in North America on March 9, 2010 via Century Media Records. The LP was made available in Europe as a CD, digital download and strictly limited-edition die-cut digipak featuring two bonus songs ("Stars Of Nothingness" and "To Where Fires Cannot Feed") and a bonus DVD.
"Everything Remains (As It Never Was)", the latest album from ELUVEITIE, sold around 1,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 23 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Everything Remains (As It Never Was)" was released on February 19, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was mixed at Nott-In Pill studios in Wales with Colin Richardson (SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, KREATOR, BEHEMOTH, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) and Martyn "Ginge" Ford.
"Relentless Retribution", the latest album from DEATH ANGEL, sold 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 10 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. The band's previous album, "Killing Season", opened with around 2,300 units back in March 2008. This number was in line with the performance of its predecessor, "The Art of Dying", which registered a first-week sales tally of around 2,100 back in May 2004.
"Relentless Retribution" was released in the U.S. on September 14, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER). The cover artwork was created by Brent Elliot White (JOB FOR A COWBOY, CARNIFEX, WHITECHAPEL).
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California rock veterans Y&T have officially announced the addition of bassist Brad Lang to the group's rank. Those who have witnessed Brad's infectious energy on stages around the world during last year's "Facemelter" tour — as he so graciously subbed for late Y&T bassist Phil Kennemore — know how much he brings to the band.
Commented Y&T guitarist/vocalist Dave Meniketti: "I have been thinking a lot in the last eight months as to how I would feel about Y&T and what might happen to this band when Phil were to pass. I've had so many feelings and scenarios that have gone on in my head, tearing at me in many different ways, but I always seemed to come back to the same conclusion. However, before I was prepared to make any hard and fast decisions I also wanted to know how Phil felt about this as well. So we talked about this exact thing, alone, during his last months of life on this planet. I suspected what he would have said, but I wanted to hear it from his lips and feel it from his heart.
"Put simply, Phil expressed to me with no uncertainty that he wished Y&T to go on, no matter what happened to him. I understood, because we are lifetime Y&T people and lifelong musicians. This is what we know and where we have received much of our joy throughout our lives.
"There is so much of us invested in Y&T, and I don't mean monetarily, but emotionally and spiritually.
"This band has always had a special life force that is hard to describe, but has had a hold on us for almost four decades. This relationship we have had with ourselves, the band members, and the fans is what everyone always hopes for in their lives — a job to be proud of and look forward to.
"Now, having said that, I also questioned any decision to continue, regardless of all of the above, simply because I know how I had felt about other bands that have continued to play with only one remaining original member and wondered if I wasn't going to be a hypocrite by holding this band to a different criteria. Well, maybe I am, but the bottom line, as many of us have come to as a life lesson, is that many times you can't truly understand a situation until you actually experience it first-hand.
"So . . . with current experiences in hand, I have made my decision to continue with Y&T. As quickly as I say this, I am also a realist, and if the fans seem to lose interest in the band, so be it, I will move on and do something else. However, if we continue to go along how it has been without Phil so far, then I feel privileged to continue to bring the music to the people, along with John, Mike and Brad.
"I know that some have already said and will continue to say 'The band isn't the same any longer,' etc, etc. I don't need to elaborate, you all know what folks will say and have said, in front of us and in private. I understand it because I've heard it all before — in fact on and off for the last 25 years, since we let Leonard, Joey, and others go throughout our long career. Though it's been a dagger thrown at us for many years, we learned to deal with it.
"I've always known that no one else can answer for what I do with my life but myself. Certainly no anonymous person on the net is going to influence how I go about my decisions, which is as it should be. Negative opinions cast from persons that are not directly or deeply invested in another's life can't actually offer anything more than an opinion from a position of little actual understanding. As such, I take these with little credence. We are all responsible for our decisions, and if we do what feels right and make decisions done with the best of intentions, then I believe we can go forward with little reservations and in good conscience, and let the rest go by the wayside.
"The bottom line in all of this is that if the band weren't up to the task of presenting a valid and compelling show every night, then I wouldn't be inspired to go forward, no matter the other reasons. But the plain fact is that this band in its current form is as good a band as Y&T has ever been. Sure, different in ways from previous iterations of the band, but equally as good, if not better with what experience brings to seasoned performers. We mean business and our passions are still on that stage with every performance.
"So come on out to the shows and let's share in some great moments together. Now, more than ever, we all need to have some happy and positive experiences in our lives and music is one of those things that has the ability to deliver that in spades, especially at a live performance.
"There's nothing that says it better than as Phil so eloquently coined on our new CD — on with the show!"
Y&T's first studio album in 13 years, "Facemelter", was released in Europe on May 21, 2010 via Frontiers Records.
North Carolina sludge crusaders WEEDEATER were forced to cancel the last few shows of the U.S. leg of their "Jason... The Dragon" tour after guitarist Shep broke his hand and could no longer wield his mighty axe of six strings. These dates were in the Southeast U.S. and will be rescheduled at a later date.
As with every previous injury WEEDEATER has sustained — while on or off of tour — Shep has been healing his mangled bones and the band will be getting back out there to hit you all with a dose of their inhumanly heavy live show almost immediately. And, of course, it follows that WEEDEATER's upcoming European tour and appearance at Roadburn 2011 are still happening, so Europe , get ready to be pummeled.
WEEDEATER's fourth full-length release, "Jason... The Dragon", was released on March 15 via Southern Lord Recordings. As with the band's Southern Lord debut, "God Luck And Good Speed", the "Jason..." album was mastered by the legendary John Golden at Golden Studios in southern California, unearthing the true grit that this band dumps forth. With no argument to be had, "Jason..." is by far WEEDEATER's most varied and organic recording to date, taking their caustic, chest-collapsing, resin-coated ultrasludge to new otherworldly new realms of delirium just by taking it all closer to home, stripping their tonal onslaught down to acoustic bass at times, perfectly infusing a bit of banjo and piano, and even utilizing some new vocal tactics. Diehards fear not; this IS still WEEDEATER. It's just WEEDEATER at their finest hour... yet.
Due to circumstances beyond the band's control, Australian metallers PEGAZUS have been forced to postpone their previously announced "In Metal We Trust" tour until later in the year.
Commented guitarist and founding member Johnny Stoj: "Recently, we were hit with some unexpected situations which were unfortunately out of our hands.
"We feel very disappointed that the band won't be in Europe for this summer as planned for our club shows tour and festivals appearances. Now we have to wait a few more months before we can hit the European stages and do what we love to do best! The great news is that PEGAZUS will be touring the world later in the year for our 'In Metal We Trust' tour. See you all out on the road soon!!!"
An audio sample of PEGAZUS' cover version of the JUDAS PRIEST classic "Metal Gods" can be streamed below. The track comes off the group's first studio album in nine years, "In Metal We Trust", which will be released on April 15 through Black Leather Records (with distribution from Twilight Vertrieb). According to a press release, the CD contains "11 brand new classic heavy metal songs with original singer Justin Fleming back on vocals! As a tribute to the great guitarists of the '80s, PEGAZUS has invited Ross The Boss (MANOWAR, ROSS THE BOSS, THE DICTATORS), Jeff Watson (NIGHT RANGER, MOTHER'S ARMY) and David Shankle (MANOWAR, DSG) to contribute a solo to the song "Old Skool Metal Dayz".
"In Metal We Trust" track listing :
01. Metal Messiah
02. Road Warrior
03. Old Skool Metal Dayz
04. We Live To Rock
05. Haunting Me
06. Eye For An Eye
07. Ghost Rider
08. Metal Gods (JUDAS PRIEST cover)
09. End Of The World
10. Death Or Glory
11. Old Skool Metal Dayz (extended version feat. David Shankle, Ross the Boss, Jeff Watson
BigMusicGeek.com recently conducted an in-depth interview with former HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST and current TRIPTYKON mainman Tom Gabriel Fischer. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
BigMusicGeek.com: When you and Martin [Ain] initially formed HELLHAMMER, did either of you have any idea the impact your music would ultimately have? Did you feel as if you were creating music that would withstand the test of time?
Tom: "No, not at all. HELLHAMMER was formed for deeply personal reasons. We didn't do it for that reason and couldn't have foreseen that happening. The actual truth is that in the time when HELLHAMMER existed, the biggest band was AC/DC. There was no extreme metal scene. There was no METALLICA or SLAYER. The only extreme bands out there were VENOM and MOTÖRHEAD, both at the time very much in the underground. Extreme metal as such didn't exist, so even the heavy metal scene, and I'm not just talking about the people on the street, laughed at us, derided us and put blocks in our path to make it more difficult for us. No one took us seriously, so we thought we'd remain a basement band forever. We were practicing in our basement and no one took us seriously, so there was absolutely no way in hell we could have foreseen what was going to happen. The other things is that it took ten years after the demise of HELLHAMMER for the band to gain any type of fame.
HELLHAMMER only became the name that is today after the first big wave of black metal that took place in Norway in the '90's. Up until then, HELLHAMMER was just another band that had been all but forgotten about."
BigMusicGeek.com: At what point did you realize that your tenure with CELTIC FROST was once again coming to an end? Was there a specific scenario or series of events or was it more of an inevitability that the group had run its course?
Tom: "To be quite honest, I had sensed it for some time. I just didn't want to admit it. CELTIC FROST was much more than just a band to me. It was my life, my ideology and pretty much represented my entire being. Of course I didn't want to see it destroyed again, so despite having all the inside information, I tried to disrupt its destruction and probably stayed too long even though it was fairly obvious that I couldn't face the band. Actually, I blame the final drummer of CELTIC FROST for the destruction of the band. If (former CELTIC FROST bassist Martin (Ain) has any part of this, it's his inactivity that opened the door to this. He simply did not want to involve himself in anything negative, which on one hand is commendable, but on the other hand, it's simply not realistic in this world or within a band that works under pressure twenty four hours a day. You simply have to be a man and be involved, especially if certain personal conflicts threaten the
whole band. Martin was initially reluctant to become involved and that basically opened the door for one person to let his ego run freely until there was really nothing left of the band."
BigMusicGeek.com: CELTIC FROST obviously underwent several line-up changes. With that in mind, do you feel the current TRIPTYKON line-up has the intestinal fortitude to successfully withstand the trials and tribulations of the industry?
Tom: "Unfortunately, almost every band probably comes to a point once or twice in their existence where they have to make a line-up change. Somebody either gets tired or there is some sort of personal conflict. But even if such a change is legitimate and necessary, in my opinion, after thirty years of being in heavy metal, such a change will always hurt a band. There is a certain chemistry when you form a band and when you lose a member, even when it's justified, some of the magic is lost. Having said that, of course we will do everything we can to keep this line-up stable. We are experiencing an extreme sense of friendship and even family within TRIPTYKON. I was very careful when I assembled this line-up, especially with the experiences I had with CELTIC FROST. I wanted this band to consist of friends. I think I can speak for the whole band in saying that we all feel exactly the same and will do whatever it takes to keep this line-up together.
Everything on this earth is subject to change, but we will do whatever it takes to keep this particular line-up together as long as humanly possible."
BigMusicGeek.com: Retrospectively speaking, how do you feel regarding the "Cold Lake" era of CELTIC FROST? Considering the passage of time, have your opinions on material such as "Cherry Orchards" and "Juices Like Wine" changed?
Tom: "It was a very difficult period. We had all completely lost our path. If you look at the people that recorded the breakthrough CELTIC FROST album 'Into The Pandemonium' in 1987, of the three people involved with that album, none of us were able to create something meaningful afterwards. Martin left the band and didn't get involved in serious music again until CELTIC FROST was reformed, (drummer) Reed St. Mark joined MINDFUNK, but quickly exited and MINDFUNK never really took off and I recorded an album that was really a piece of shit, a total aberration. I think the band was completely burned out, not just musically, but we also had great difficulties on a business level. We had spent fourteen months legally fighting our record company at the time (Noise Records) which bankrupted the band and pitched everyone against each other. At the end of this, we had regained our artistic freedom, but there simply wasn't a band left to exploit this. Each one of
us tried to deal with it in their own way. I tried to record an album with people that had nothing to do with CELTIC FROST and the results were disastrous. None of us were able to connect to the recent past of CELTIC FROST. I view this era as very tragic and difficult and the resulting music is awful. I don't even own a copy of the album. It's not a time I like to look back on. …When I think about CELTIC FROST, I usually think about the first three albums and then it starts all over with 'Monotheist' These are the four albums that I personally rate as being classic CELTIC FROST. I know tastes and opinions will always vary, but this is my personal opinion regarding the music of CELTIC FROST."
BigMusicGeek.com: At this point in your career, can you definitively say that CELTIC FROST has permanently ceased to exist? Is there any chance that a reconciliation between yourself and Martin could potentially lead to a final resurrection?
Tom: "Yes. That I can. There are a lot of things you can't say with an air of being definite, but this I can say. I have absolutely no interest in resurrecting CELTIC FROST once again. When I last resurrected CELTIC FROST, I did it with absolute conviction and I put a huge amount of money, time and energy into it. I counted on the other people in the band to do the same, but unfortunately, I feel as if I had been betrayed and stabbed in the back and I'm not about to once again make this gargantuan effort in my life without people I can trust. As much as I loved CELTIC FROST and as much as I loved the music, I can't see myself getting into that again. But on the other hand, I formed TRIPTYKON to be as close as humanly possible to CELTIC FROST. As I've said before, the differences were on a human level and not on a musical level. I'm trying to further the musical legacy and further develop my style and songwriting exactly as I would have done it in CELTIC
FROST, so hopefully it will be better with this TRIPTYKON line-up. CELTIC FROST, at least with me involved, will not be resurrected again. I can't imagine it without me being involved, but unfortunately, I really wouldn't put anything past them, either."
According to The Pulse Of Radio, A PERFECT CIRCLE drummer Josh Freese has done it again: to celebrate the release of his new solo EP, "My New Friends", last Friday (April 1), Freese has unveiled a line of "deluxe" editions of the album ranging in price from five bucks for a digital download of the record to $75,000 for an exclusive package that features Freese joining your band or becoming your personal assistant for a month, one of his drum sets, a five-song EP written and recorded about you, taking mushrooms and cruising around Hollywood with TOOL drummer Danny Carey, and 500 copies of the new record.
Freese's previous solo effort, 2009's "Since 1972", made headlines when the drummer offered a similar unique pricing plan, with sales packages involving going to his house to pick clothes out of his closet, a trapeze lesson with Robin Finck from NINE INCH NAILS , taking possession of Freese's used Volvo station wagon, and a miniature golf outing with Maynard James Keenan of TOOL.
Four of the people who bought packages last time are featured on the cover of "My New Friends".
This time around, according to Chart Attack, Freese was initially skeptical of doing the pricing plans. He explained, "I didn't want to go the whole 'wacky special package' route again, but after coming up with a few things that were making me laugh, I decided that I should have a little fun with it again. C'mon, who wouldn't want to evoke spirits under an angry moon with Tommy Lee or go to the horse track with Johnny Knoxville?"
Among the deals offered this time: for $7,500, you can evoke spirits with Freese, MÖTLEY CRÜE's Tommy Lee and NINE INCH NAILS' Danny Lohner. The same price will also get you a day at the spa plus an arts and crafts class with Twiggy Ramirez from Marilyn Manson's band, or a private ride in THE OFFSPRING frontman Dexter Holland's plane, or a day at the horse races with "Jackass" star Johnny Knoxville. $10,000 gets you Freese's Volvo station wagon , having him as a member of your band for two days, and the chance to "motorboat" his wife's friend Sarah for a minute.
Freese, one of the music business' most in-demand session drummers, has also played on albums by THE OFFSPRING, GUNS N' ROSES, STAIND, PUDDLE OF MUDD and many others.
"Celestial Completion", the fourth album from Atlanta, Georgia-based metallers BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE, sold around 2,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 7 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Celestial Completion" was released on March 29 via Solid State Records. The CD was produced by Matt Goldman (UNDEROATH, THE CHARIOT, COPELAND) and contains 11 tracks.
"Celestial Completion" track listing:
01. The Resonant Frequency of Flesh
02. The Magnetic Sky
03. Internal Illumination
04. Path Of The Beam
05. Music Of The Spheres: Requiem Aeternam Part I (instrumental)
06. Elemental Wrath: Requiem Aeternam Part II
07. Xenosynthesis: Requiem Aeternam Part III
08. Invisible Creature (instrumental)
09. Cardiac Rebellion
10. Reflect/Refract
11. Breathing Light
"The Magnetic Sky", the new video from BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE, can be viewed below. The clip is described in a press release as "an 8-bit fantasy adventure that finds the members of BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE wandering through a sci-fi landscape in the format of an old Nintendo game, fighting their way through a wasteland of terrifying creatures to fulfill an arcane mission."
Commented BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist "Count" Seth Hecox: "'The Magnetic Sky' is good introduction to the wild metal adventure of 'Celestial Completion' — it's not exactly what you would call standard metal, but neither does it become as completely unhinged as other album tracks.
"'Magnetic Sky' features a healthy dose of Jason's [Wisdom, vocalist/bassist] vocal range and style, as well as clean vocals by Daniel [Gailey, guitarist] and me. It's got a lot of the elements that this record has, but doesn't go off the deep end in terms of experimentation. That makes it a good first impression for both longtime fans and recent fans."
Giving a glimpse into an unorthodox writing process that yields unorthodox results, Seth continues: "Jason would walk around singing 'riffs' into his phone to remember them. Then he would go to Daniel and say, 'I got this idea for a riff that goes 'bing, bing, bicki bing, bicki bing, bicki bing bing' and poor Daniel would have to figure out how to translate the sounds Jason made with his mouth come out of his guitar."
"Celestial Completion" is a wildly ferocious, relentlessly creative and breathtakingly risky album that will redefine BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE for fans, skeptics and critics alike. Like the bandmembers themselves, the album is uncompromisingly metal, yet unafraid to show a sense of playfulness as it pushes the limits of heavy music to the very breaking point. There are horns. There is Middle Eastern sitar. There is a choir of sopranos. Needless to say, paint-by-numbers metal this is not. But one bone-crushingly heavy, imaginative tour de force it certainly is.
Speaking of the band's sense of musical adventure, guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist "Count" Seth Hecox says, "Everyone should know that we have championed a great juxtaposition between heavy music and world music on 'Celestial Completion'. Complete with BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE-patent keyboards, epic riffs and Jason Wisdom's incredible lead vocals, all the elements of great music are firing on all cylinders."
After lying dormant for six years, Boston-based hardcore/punk band BLOOD FOR BLOOD will make its American return at this year's New England Metal And Hardcore Festival on Friday, April 15. The band has also announced plans to record a new album this year, its first since 2004's "Serenity".
BLOOD FOR BLOOD reunited last year for the European Persistence Tour, which also featured SICK OF IT ALL, UNEARTH and EVERGREEN TERRACE.
"The amount letters from our fans were so overwhelming asking when or if we were ever gonna play again," said vocalist Buddha. "It seemed now is the time to make our long over-due return. But, as always, we decide the terms as to what, when, and where BLOOD FOR BLOOD will play. We do what we want and we play 'cause we want to and not 'cause we need to."
BLOOD FOR BLOOD 2011 consists of the longtime core of Buddha, guitarist Rob Lind, and bassist Ian McFarland, along with drummer Neal Dike.
Special guests Billy Graziadei (BIOHAZARD) and Craig Silverman (ONLY LIVING WITNESS) will lend their guitars to live shows in Lind's absence from the stage due to personal reasons. "We are pumped to have them join us on the road," Buddha enthused.
BLOOD FOR BLOOD's history began when kindred spirits Lind and Buddha met back in high school. "We were both consumed by a pervasive yet initially directionless hatred and hostility that went WAY beyond even the most troubled adolescent angst," Lind explained. "Music spoke to this turmoil in me. And spoke for it."
Lind found some solace in jamming with any and all musicians he could find, and his friend Buddha was right there along with him. "Eventually I started sticking a mic in his hand so he wouldn't just have to stand there while me and some dudes did bad covers of BLACK SABBATH and THE ANTI-HEROS and CARNIVORE," said Lind. "It turned out Buddha could sing and had a pretty distinctive voice even back then."
The two fell out of touch for a brief period and fatefully found each other once again. The pair immediately reconnected and the seeds of BLOOD FOR BLOOD were sewn. After six albums, the band parted ways for a variety of reasons, from family to business ventures, but the bond the guys formed would never be broken.
"I realized something when I finally met up with them personally after four years or so," Lind recalled. "One way or the other, for better or for worse, we're a fucked up family. I don't mean that in some hardcore, tough-guy way. I mean family in the literal sense. When you've spent so much time together and have been through such intense experiences together, the collective experience transcends friendship and becomes something... larger, something immutable. Family is not necessarily a beautiful, rosy thing. Families can be the source of some of the deepest hatreds and conflicts and resentments. But at the same time, you are still family and nothing changes that. We've only just begun to do what we want to do again, but it's been comfortable and easy and natural."
BLOOD FOR BLOOD plans to begin work on their seventh full-length album for an undetermined label in the near future.
"I am sitting on more material than at any other point in my life," Lind said. "Over the last five or six years, I crawled through darkness up to light. And I have many tales of dread to tell the kiddies. We intend to come back the way we always have after an absence... to write another chapter. That's been the M.O. of BLOOD FOR BLOOD from the beginning."
The New England Metal And Hardcore Festival will take place Thursday, April 14 through Saturday, April 16 at the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada's CONFLICTED will release its new album, "Never Be Tamed", on April 12 via Nightmare Records.
"Never Be Tamed" is said to be "full of addictive, musically adventurous yet instantly memorable songs featuring virtuosic performances delivered with a fire and passion." Intense, high energy progressive/power metal abounds on the CD, which features the four-octave vocals of Jason Orton.
CONFLICTED will hold a special "Never Be Tamed" album-release show on April 16 at The Rockpile in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada. Also scheduled to appear are BEFORE THE DAMNED, 7TH REGION and JUSTICE PRIEST. The show is all ages and admission is only $10 at the door (no advance tickets). Doors open at 8 p.m.
CONFLICTED creates a truly unique, category-defying, genre-expanding modern progressive/power metal sound via a combination of seasoned technical ability, a fervency for volume, and a passion for power. Formed in 2008, the band has successfully released two critically acclaimed EPs and has become one of the most revered and "must-see" live acts in its region. Based on the strength of these two releases, a reputation for putting on stunning live performances and a rapidly growing international fan base, CONFLICTED was named "Best Metal Band" at the 2010 Toronto Independent Music Awards and also earned three prominent ImageFM Radio 2010 Annual Independent Music Awards ("Male Vocalist of the Year", "Guitarist Of The Year" and "Progressive Single Of The Year").
CONFLICTED is:
Jason Orton - Lead Vocals
Mark Owen - Guitar, Back-Up Vocals
Ron De Coste - Keyboards
John Kolodziej - Bass
Corey Stoll - Drums, Back-Up Vocals
For more information, visit www.conflicted.ca.
Nera, the singer of the Polish metal band DARZAMAT, will release her debut solo album, "Foresting Wounds", under the name NERANATURE on May 9 in Europe via Metal Mind Productions and on July 12 in the U.S. through MVD.
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23-year-old Greek guitarist Gus Drax (BIOMECHANICAL, PARADOX) has joined forces with bassist Vasilis Liakos, drummer Kostas Milonas and vocalist Bill Georgiou (INNOSENSE) in a brand new band called SUNBURST. The group is currently working on material for its debut album, tentatively due later in the year. A three-song demo will be released during the coming months.
Liakos previously played on Drax's instrumental album "In Search Of Perfection" and will also appear on Gus' next CD, along with Milonas.
Florida-based death metal veterans MORBID ANGEL will release their long-awaited eighth studio album, "Illud Divinum Insanus", on June 7 (one day earlier internationally) via Season of Mist. The cover artwork was designed by Gustavo Sazes and can be viewed below.
"Illud Divinum Insanus" track listing:
01. Omni Potens
02. Too Extreme!
03. Existo Vulgoré
04. Blades for Baal
05. I Am Morbid
06. 10 More Dead
07. Destructos Vs. the Earth / Attack
08. Nevermore
09. Beauty Meets Beast
10. Radikult
11. Profundis - Mea Culpa
Norwegian death/thrashers EXELOUME have inked a deal with the Swedish label ViciSolum Productions as their first non-Swedish band. The group's debut album, "Fairytale Of Perversion", will be released on Friday, May 13. Produced by Rune Stavnesli (KEEP OF KALESSIN, BLOODTHORN) and mixed/mastered by Dan Swanö, the CD does features guest appearances from Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND) and Dan Swanö (ex-EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE). The artwork was created by Ed Repka (DEATH, ATHEIST, MEGADETH).
"Fairytale Of Perversion" track listing:
01. Lex Talionis (intro)
02. Blind Billions
03. Ignorance is Bliss (feat. Andy LaRoque)
04. Fairytale of Perversion
05. Locus Ceruleus
06. Share My Pain (Stalingrad)
07. Hellhole
08. Psychopath
09. Tool Of God
10. Faceless Children
11. The Bitsa Maniac
12. Our Poisonous Creation (feat. Dan Swanö)
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/exeloumethrash.
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Greek demons SEPTICFLESH will release their new album, "The Great Mass", on April 18 in Europe (April 19 in North America) via Season Of Mist. The new opus will be made available in the following formats:
* CD + Blu-ray digipak
* Collector's book, including 2 CDs + Blu-ray
* 12" gatefold LP
* CD jewel case
* Digital download
The cover artwork of the album's jewel case edition was designed by Seth Siro Anton himself.
"The Great Mass" track listing:
01. The Vampire From Nazareth
02. A Great Mass Of Death
03. Pyramid God
04. Five-Pointed Star
05. Oceans Of Grey
06. The Undead Keep Dreaming
07. Rising
08. Apocalypse
09. Mad Architect
10. Therianthropy
A teaser clip for "The Great Mass" can be viewed below.
You can now witness the Suicidal God statue in all its gruesome glory, the final part that completes the cover artwork of the CD+DVD digipak, the gatefold LP and the dust jacket of the artbook edition. Check it out below.
Commented Seth: "This is a small fragment of the artwork that will dress the new artistic experiment of SEPTICFLESH, 'The Great Mass'. It is a small part of an occult machine made from marble and flesh, fantasy and reality, order and chaos. A great machine composed from the blasphemous union of strange figures, creations of Man, the creator of the gods and demons. Their grotesque purpose will be revealed soon, when all the cover editions of the new album will be presented and will be combined together… Let the great self-cannibalistic symposium begin."
The main artwork for "The Great Mass" will appear on the limited digipak edition, the gatefold LP and the dust jacket of the collector's book.
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Chicago, Illinois-based death metal quintet BLACK SEPTEMBER has inked a deal with Prosthetic Records. The band, which formed in 2006 based on the bandmembers' love of acts such as BOLT THROWER, HIS HERO IS GONE and BATHORY, amongst others, has released several EPs as well as last year's full-length album, "The Forbidden Gates Beyond". Prosthetic will re-release "The Forbidden Gates Beyond", this summer.
Commented the band: "The time has come. BLACK SEPTEMBER is proud to announce that we have signed an alliance with Prosthetic Records for the CD release of our debut LP, 'The Forbidden Gates Beyond'. We are honored to work with a label that supports the devotion and dedication we have to our music."
Drums on "The Forbidden Gates Beyond" were recorded at Gremlen Studios in Aurora, Illinois and the rest of the album was tracked at Bricktop Recording (VEIL OF MAYA, MILLIONS, SET YOUR GOALS) in Chicago, Illinois. It was mastered by Collin Jordan at the Boiler Room (NACHTMYSTIUM, MINSK, THE GATES OF SLUMBER, ZOROASTER).
BLACK SEPTEMBER, which has shared the stage with the likes of RWAKE, THOU, MASAKARI and MAGRUDERGRIND, will announce a tour in the coming weeks.
New Orleans extreme metallers GOATWHORE will enter the studio in late July to begin recording their new album for a late 2011 release.
GOATWHORE's latest CD, "Carving Out The Eyes Of God", sold around 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 190. The album landed at No. 67 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Carving Out The Eyes of God" was released in the U.S. on June 23, 2009 via Metal Blade Records.
British melodic death metallers THE SOULLESS (formerly IGNOMINIOUS INCARCERATION) have announced the addition of guitarist Kristen Dawson and drummer Dan Wilding (ABORTED, TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED) to the group's fans.
THE SOULLESS on Dawson: "We auditioned guitarists for months, with not much luck for the perfect shredder. The band WHILE SHE SLEEPS are great friends of ours and recommended a guy from their area. They said he was perfect for the band and we trust their opinion so we gave him a shot. He sent us an audition video for the song 'Earthbound'. His was by far the best audition video so we invited him down to the studio while we were recording 'Isolated', the debut SOULLESS album. We wanted Kristen to hear the album to ensure it was the music he was interested in. He loved what we were doing and really wanted to be involved. He stayed with us over the duration of the studio time. This allowed us to test him out as we could get him to play along to the studio tracks as if recording, so we could hear every mistake. He nailed what we gave him, especially considering the short time he had to learn the songs. We spent two weeks with him and got on well so the
decision was easy.
THE SOULLESS on Wilding: "Sam Bailey, who played drums for IGNOMINIOUS INCARCERATION, helped us out by recording the drums for the album, but was leaving the band to pursue other projects. So we needed a drummer. We asked a few friends to see if they could fill in whilst we searched for a permanent member. We knew Dan Wilding from friends TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED, and asked if he could fill in while not busy with other projects. He came to check the album out during the mixing process and liked the material so much that he asked to be a permanent member. The band was really happy with this as we knew Dan to be an amazing, really professional drummer who happened to be a super nice guy too. So, of course, we said yes and THE SOULLESS lineup was complete and ready to shred!"
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