One of the rarest rock t-shirts in the world has sold for $10,000 — the largest sum ever paid for a vintage t-shirt. The record-setting sale of a 1979 LED ZEPPELIN t-shirt on eBay has sent ripples through the competitive vintage clothing community. The item was sold by Kyle Ermatinger of Stormcrow Vintage, one of the top online destinations for sought-after authentic vintage tees. The recent completion of the transaction places the purchase as the world's rarest and most expensive vintage t-shirt.
"When I got the sale notification, my jaw hit the floor," Ermatinger said. "Given this shirt may be one of the only ones in existence, the price tag is completely justifiable. It's a rock relic, beyond rare. Admittedly, I still frequently pinch myself."
As the most scarce LED ZEPPELIN t-shirt ever produced, the article was printed in limited quantity as a unique way to replace conventional backstage passes for one of the band's historic 1979 Knebworth House concerts. Ermatinger acquired the item for $123 from the family who ran the shop that screen-printed the original shirts. "At the time, I thought I may have overpaid, until I got back home, looked it up online and noticed it was ranked #1 as the rarest ZEPPELIN t-shirt."
"Other t-shirts have been priced higher on eBay, but never sold," said James Applegath, eBay award-winning t-shirt vendor at Defunkd.com. "We've documented eBay's highest-selling t-shirts on our blog for years and nothing has come close."
Applegath, a veteran in the vintage business, migrated away from eBay to transform his Defunkd brand into a comprehensive vintage t-shirt resource and active online community. He says the buzz on his site about this story isn't a total surprise. "People are shocked at the value of some vintage t-shirts, but these items have become as collectible as baseball cards and comics."
The only details known about the buyer are that he's located in Australia and he bought a second LED ZEPPELIN t-shirt in the same week as the backstage pass gem. Although he declined to comment about the purchases, one thing is for certain: he's got a whole lotta love for LED ZEPPELIN.
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Ahead of their third Israeli tour, English rock band Deep Purple took a stand against other musicians who cancel their concerts in Israel due to politics, saying artists should not take sides in political conflicts, with drummer Ian Paice calling these musicians "real wimps."
The band spoke at a press conference Wednesday ahead of two concerts they are due to perform in Caesarea on Saturday and Sunday. This visit is Deep Purple's third Israeli tour. The last time they visited was in 2008, when they played four concerts to full crowds of cheering fans.
*
* Published 18:01 11.05.11
* Latest update 18:01 11.05.11
Deep Purple: Only 'wimps' cancel concerts in Israel
Addressing the press ahead of their Caesarea concerts later this week, the English rock band explains why musicians should remain impartial in politics.
By City Mouse Online Tags: Israel news
Ahead of their third Israeli tour, English rock band Deep Purple took a stand against other musicians who cancel their concerts in Israel due to politics, saying artists should not take sides in political conflicts, with drummer Ian Paice calling these musicians "real wimps."
The band spoke at a press conference Wednesday ahead of two concerts they are due to perform in Caesarea on Saturday and Sunday. This visit is Deep Purple's third Israeli tour. The last time they visited was in 2008, when they played four concerts to full crowds of cheering fans.
Deep Purple in Cyprus Concert - May 8 2011 - AP
In this photo taken Sunday, May 8, 2011, Fans of British rock bad Deep Purple react during a concert in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Photo by: AP
Deep Purple's vocalist Ian Gillen stressed to reporters that musicians should remain impartial in political disputes, and likened this to making the assumption that Deep Purple supported all of Tony Blair's policies because they gave a concert in London ten years ago.
Guitarist Steve Morse quipped that left-wing groups did not know what to say to them when they refused to cancel performances in Israel. Saying that in any case, Deep Purple doesn't respect politicians in their native England, and questioned why their attitude would be any different in other countries.
The band also talked about how it feels to have spent so many years in the limelight. Gillen described the change from the early days of the band, when things seemed far less complicated, to today when he needs to ask for his wife's permission before going tour.
Gillen also acknowledged that the band is a product of its time and that there is a difference between their music and what is being produced by new bands today. Touching on other aspects of popular culture, he criticized the unnatural way in which reality TV makes people into stars overnight.
Deep Purple also sent a message to their Israeli fans - they are looking forward to performing in what is sure to be an exciting show.
The Pulse Of Radio reports: Will there be an Ozzfest in 2011? The venerable heavy rock and metal festival, started in 1997 by Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, has gone through a number of changes over the last few years as a result of economic woes and more competition from events like the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem and Uproar festivals. Now for the second time in four years, it's not clear whether Ozzfest will take place at all this summer. No bands have been confirmed, no dates have been set, and there has not even been word on any kind of announcement about either.
Vulgar Display Of Blog reported that the band page at Ozzfest.com is now blank, although it stated until recently "Ozzfest 2011 Bands Coming Soon." A post in the site's fan forums asking fans to suggest bands has also been taken down.
Last year's Ozzfest was a short, six-date run that featured OZZY, MÖTLEY CRÜE, HALFORD, DEVILDRIVER and NONPOINT.
There was no Ozzfest in 2009, while the 2008 edition was a one-day "destination" event in Dallas, Texas, starring OZZY, METALLICA, APOCALYPTICA, KORN's Jonathan Davis and more.
Even with a still-sluggish economy, the summer festival schedule is packed with events and tours like Mayhem, Uproar, Lollapalooza, the MÖTLEY CRÜE/POISON and ROB ZOMBIE/SLAYER double bills, and others.
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According to The Pulse Of Radio, AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson and guitarist Angus Young slammed the creation of instant pop stars through reality shows like "American Idol" in an interview with the Associated Press, with Johnson saying, "There's only one way to do it. You get on the stage, you learn your trade and you get out and play in front of people. You serve your apprenticeship just like anybody else." He added, "The shortcut way leads to tears at the end of the day. It's all hype. And it's not fair on the kids to make them famous one week and then nobodies the next. It's just not right."
Johnson recalled that he began his career singing in British clubs for perhaps 30 people, and that he took buses to get to his gigs.
Young jokingly asked if AEROSMITH vocalist Steven Tyler was "hanging people or something" in his current gig as an "American Idol" judge.
Young and Johnson were interviewed at the London premiere of their new concert DVD, "Live At River Plate", which arrived on Tuesday (May 10).
The disc was filmed at three shows in Buenos Aires, Argentina in December 2009, where the group performed for more than 200,000 fans.
Young and Johnson also hinted that fans won't have to wait very long for a follow-up to their 2008 album "Black Ice", which took eight years to arrive. Young told the Daily Star, "Me and Malcolm [Young, guitarist] have begun trying a few things. Then we'll be back on stage again."
With 2013 marking the band's 40th anniversary, they were asked if any sort of celebration was in the works. Johnson said, "I'll be celebrating by just being here. We could be dead, so to still be standing on a stage after 40 years is good enough for me."
British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST have been focusing on the forthcoming tour — doing press, photos, sorting out stage sets, special effects, and stage clothes etc. In addition, they have started music rehearsals this week so are now poised and getting ready to roll. According to a posting on the band's official web site, "everyone is looking forward to travelling round the world again with the PRIEST machine!"
JUDAS PRIEST's "Epitaph" world tour will kick off on June 7 in Tilburg, Holland.
The first photo of the new JUDAS PRIEST lineup — featuring the band's latest addition, 31-year-old British guitarist Richie Faulkner (LAUREN HARRIS, DIRTY DEEDS) — can be seen below.
Faulkner officially joined JUDAS PRIEST in April as the replacement for the band's founding member Kenneth "K.K." Downing.
Downing issued a statement last month regarding his departure from the legendary heavy metal group on the eve of its farewell tour. Downing said, "It is with much regret that I will not be with you this summer. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your concerns about my health. Please rest assured that I am OK. There has been an ongoing breakdown in (the) working relationship between myself, elements of the band, and the band's management for some time. Therefore I have decided to step down rather than to tour with negative sentiments as I feel that this would be a deception to you, our cherished fans. However, I would urge you to please support the PRIEST as I have no doubt that it will be a show not to be missed."
Singer Rob Halford told French magazine Rock Hard, "K.K. leaving was his own decision, for the reasons he made public on his web site. . . K.K. has his own life to live and we can't force him to do anything he doesn't want to do."
Regarding Faulkner's addition to JUDAS PRIEST, Halford said, "K.K. can never be replaced; he's unique, and we didn't want any kind of K.K. copycat. Richie Faulkner came to Glenn's [Tipton, guitar] house to jam, and Glenn simply told me he was absolutely brilliant."
Although PRIEST plans to stop touring after this run, the band will continue to record and intends to issue a new studio album in 2012.
AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler is collaborating with actor Johnny Depp on a song.
"We've been hanging out here and there," Depp told "Extra" on Saturday (May 7). "He's someone I've admired greatly for such a long time. The idea of writing songs with him is a dream come true."
Tyler told Billboard.com last week that he and Depp have been collaborating in his "American Idol" downtime. "He asked me, he said, 'I want you to come over' — he's got a studio here in L.A. — 'and see if I'm playing 'Seasons of Wither' right.' I said, 'Y'know what, Johnny? No matter how you play it, it's gonna be right. It's a beautiful thing,'" said Tyler.
Tyler has released his first-ever U.S. solo single, called "(It) Feels So Good". The singer debuted the tune on Ryan Seacrest's radio show and will premiere the music video this Thursday night (May 12) on "American Idol", where Tyler is serving as a judge this season.
AEROSMITH is set to begin work on a new studio effort later this year, after Tyler completes his "Idol" duties. The band had a weeklong songwriting session earlier this spring in Los Angeles.
Tyler released a memoir called "Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?" last Tuesday (May 3). The book chronicles his struggles with addiction, his feelings about his family and friends, his early life and his more than 40 years with AEROSMITH.
AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler has released his first-ever solo song, called "(It) Feels So Good". The singer debuted the tune on Ryan Seacrest's radio show and will premiere the music video this Thursday night (May 12) on "American Idol", where Tyler is serving as a judge this season. Tyler told The Pulse Of Radio why he thought the time was right to strike out with a solo number. "I just wanted to do something on my own that I didn't have to filter anything through the band," he said. "I could be my own critic, you know, I could be my own worst enemy on this. Just wanted to see what I could do, you know, with my own song. God knows [AEROSMITH guitarist] Joe Perry did it enough times. It's just fun."
The video for "(It) Feels So Good" was shot on April 25 with the Norwegian-born, Los Angeles-based director and photographer Ray Kay (real name: Reinert K. Olsen) and is described by an observer as "everything you would expect to get from a classic AEROSMITH video. Without giving too much away, think: pure, classic Steven Tyler in all of his rock star glory."
AEROSMITH is set to begin work on a new studio effort later this year, after Tyler completes his "Idol" duties. The band had a weeklong songwriting session earlier this spring in Los Angeles.
Tyler released a memoir called "Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?" last Tuesday (May 3). The book chronicles his struggles with addiction, his feelings about his family and friends, his early life and his more than 40 years with AEROSMITH.
METALLICA frontman James Hetfield has appeared in a new video on the Yankees homepage to reassure Yankees fans that the band will perform its classic song "Enter Sandman" at the upcoming "Big Four" date at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York City on September 14.
METALLICA's 1991 classic has been a staple of Yankees games for years, heralding the entrance of the greatest relief pitcher of all time, Mariano Rivera.
In the video, Hetfield says, "Hold on, Mo. Hey, Yankee fans. This is James here from METALLICA. And we know that 'Enter Sandman' over the last decade has been played here in the Bronx because of #42. Now is your chance to hear it live, here, in your house."
"Enter Sandman" was featured as the opening track and lead single from METALLICA's eponymous 1991 album. The song was produced by Bob Rock, and the music was written by Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, and James Hetfield. Vocalist and guitarist Hetfield wrote the lyrics, which deal with the simplest concept of a child's nightmares.
The "Enter Sandman" single was certified gold in the United States for sales in excess of 500,000 copies. Acclaimed by critics, the song is featured on all of METALLICA's live albums and DVDs released after 1991 and has been played live at award ceremonies and benefit concerts. It is considered to be METALLICA's signature song to the general public.
METALLICA's self-titled "black album" has sold more than 15 million copies in the U.S., according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
According to Metro Halifax, concert promoter Harold MacKay is hoping METALLICA's newly announced concert at the 30,000-capacity Garrison Grounds in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada will be a sellout. The concert on July 14 will also feature MATT MAYS, PROTEST THE HERO, SEETHER and COHEED & CAMBRIA.
"You never know what you're going sell, but it's a great site and we've got one of the biggest bands in the world performing so I think we'll be fine," MacKay said.
The Paul McCartney concert on the Common drew only 26,504 ticket holders.
MacKay's new company, Rock The Hill, was registered with the province at the end of March. It's associated with MacKay Entertainment Inc., which is registered by his wife Michele MacKay.
The economic spinoffs will be $6 million to $7 million if 20,000 people buy tickets, predicted MacKay.
Tickets for the METALLICA concert go on sale Thursday, May 12 at noon local time and will be available at RockTheHill.ca or by phone at 1-877-569-7767. General-admission tickets are $99.50 and there are a limited number of VIP tickets for $199.50. Service charges and taxes will apply to all ticket orders. VIP ticket holders will have access to the front of stage pit, their own entrance and concessions, and the all-important special washrooms.
According to San Diego Reader, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and former ANTHRAX guitarist Dan Spitz were spotted Monday morning (May 9) having a 5:00 a.m. meal at Denny's in San Marcos, California, presumably after spending all night working at Mustaine's studio Vic's Garage.
As previously reported, Mustaine and Spitz have joined forced in a brand new project called RED LAMB. The band's debut release, which will consist largely of the music Spitz previously recorded under the DEUXMONKEY banner with vocalist Wade Black (CRIMSON GLORY, SEVEN WITCHES, LEATHERWOLF), ACCEPT bassist Peter Baltes and drummer Patrick Johansson (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, W.A.S.P.), will be mixed by Johnny K (full name: John Karkazis; DISTURBED, SEVENDUST, MACHINE HEAD, STAIND).
Black announced his departure from DEUXMONKEY in April, explaining that the band's "songs were not up to my standards." He added that he gave Spitz "a verbal cease-and-desist on all my lyrics and vocals" in order to ensure that Wade's contributions would be completely wiped off the project's debut release.
In a December 2010 interview, Mustaine revealed that he helped fine-tune the songs on DEUXMONKEY's debut album after hearing some of the material in its early stages of development.
"[Dan] was working on a little side project, and I'd heard it a while ago and it kind of went by in passing 'cause he was just starting it," Mustaine said. "And I heard it about three weeks ago; he was almost done. And I said, 'Man, I love this record.' I said, 'And do you think it's done?' And he goes, 'Yeah.' And he goes, 'Why? What do you think?' And I said, 'Well, I would kind of do this and that.' And he goes, 'Really? Go ahead.' And I went, 'Really?' So I rolled up my sleeves and I completely dedicated myself to Danny's record for the last three weeks, working tirelessly in my studio on this record with him. And it's that good. I heard it and I just went, 'Oh my God!' It's like a cross between, say, DISTURBED, SOUNDGARDEN and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE kind of thing. Little bit of some smatterings of ANTHRAX because of the speed stuff, but it's much more modern and much more heavy sounding."
Legendary rock band THE CULT has inked a deal with Cooking Vinyl Records. The group, which took part in the "Love Live Tour" last year and also recorded a four-track release with Chris Goss (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, MASTERS OF REALITY), is back in the studio with Goss recording a new album.
"I feel we have reached our zenith in terms of our writing and performing skills," singer Ian Astbury recently said. "We intend to deliver on all levels."
THE CULT's "Capsule 2: New Blood Deep Cuts" featured new songs "Embers" and "Until The Light Takes Us", live recordings of some of the band's huge hits and an intimate look into THE CULT's rehearsal space, with a never-before-seen warm-up performance of "Black Angel".
Rather than revisit the traditional method of releasing a long form CD, the band pioneered a new way of providing material. Capsules span multiple media formats including vinyl, digital, USB, CD and DVD formats, and can be purchased at CultCapsuleStore.com.
THE CULT is Ian Astbury (vocals), Billy Duffy (guitar), Chris Wyse (bass), John Tempesta (drums) and Mike Dimkich (rhythm guitar).
According to the Facebook page of Australia's new travelling festival Soundwave Revolution, VAN HALEN, ALICE COOPER, BAD RELIGION, HOLE, MACHINE HEAD, DANZIG, ALTER BRIDGE, SISTERS OF MERCY, VERSA EMERGE and THE PRETTY RECKLESS have been confirmed for the event, which will take place in late September/early October.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
ALICE COOPER
ALL TIME LOW
ALTER BRIDGE
ATTACK! ATTACK!
BAD RELIGION
BLACK VEIL BRIDES
CRO-MAGS
DANZIG
DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL
DESTROY REBUILD UNTIL GOD SHOWS
DEVIN TOWNSEND
EVERY TIME I DIE
FACE TO FACE
FOUR YEAR STRONG
FRAMING HANLEY
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
GOJIRA
HELLOGOODBYE
HELLYEAH
HOLE
HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD
HOLY GRAIL
IN THIS MOMENT
KVELERTAK
MACHINE HEAD
MADINA LAKE
MAKE DO AND MEND
PANIC! AT THE DISCO
RELIENT K
SET YOUR GOALS
SISTERS OF MERCY
SKINDRED
STEEL PANTHER
STORY OF THE YEAR
STREET DOGS
SUM 41
TERRIBLE THINGS
THE ACACIA STRAIN
THE DAMNED THINGS
THE DANGEROUS SUMMER
THE PRETTY RECKLESS
THE SWELLERS
THE USED
THE WORD ALIVE
THIS PROVIDENCE
THRICE
THURSDAY
TIMES OF GRACE
UNEARTH
VAN HALEN
VERSA EMERGE
WATAIN
WE ARE THE IN CROWD
WE ARE THE OCEAN
WHITECHAPEL
YELLOWCARD
YOUNG GUNS
ZEBRAHEAD
Soundwave Revolution 2011 dates:
Saturday, Sep. 24 - Brisbane Revolution
Sunday, Sep. 25 - Sydney Revolution
Friday, Sep. 30 - Melbourne Revolution
Saturday, Oct. 1 - Adelaide Revolution
Monday, Oct. 3 - Perth Revolution
For more information, visit the festival's official web site.
"This Is Gonna Hurt", the sophomore album from SIXX: A.M. — the band consisting of Nikki Sixx (also of MÖTLEY CRÜE), DJ Ashba (also of GUNS N' ROSES) and James Michael — sold 30,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on May 3, the 11-track CD is a companion piece to Sixx's "This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography And Life Through The Distorted Lens Of Nikki Sixx" book, a follow-up to his New York Times bestseller, "The Heroin Diaries".
"This Is Gonna Hurt" is part photo, part journal — but all Nikki Sixx. It is a collection of compelling snapshots and stories that capture the rage, love, optimism, darkness, and determination that shape his work. Told with the raw authenticity that defined his New York Times bestseller "The Heroin Diaries", "This Is Gonna Hurt" chronicles Sixx's experience, from references to his early years filled with toxic waste to his success with MÖTLEY CRÜE, his death from an OD and rebirth to his addictions to music, photography, and love along with the journey of photographing these images over the past couple of years.
The "This Is Gonna Hurt" album as a whole deals with many raw, human issues. Nikki talks about the CD as "pulling back the veil on your internal truth," saying, "We are who we are… Either poisonous and evil or honest and willing… Willing to make a difference… I haven't led the life of a saint nor do I intend on it now." The album — produced entirely by James Michael with writing credits going to Sixx, Michael, Ashba and band friends John William Lowrey and Blair Daly — dives deep into meandering emotions through epic melodies. The resulting work is a deep, dark and intoxicatingly addictive mix of sounds and passion.
"This Is Gonna Hurt" album track listing:
01. This Is Gonna Hurt
02. Lies of the Beautiful People
03. Are You With Me
04. Live Forever
05. Sure Feels Right
06. Deadlihood
07. Smile
08. Help Is On the Way
09. Oh My God
10. Goodbye My Friends
11. Skin
Songwriting credits:
* This is Gonna Hurt (Michael, Sixx, Ashba)
* Lies Of The Beautiful People (Michael, Sixx, John William Lowrey, Ashba)
* Live Forever (Michael, Sixx, Ashba)
* Are You With Me Now (Michael, Sixx, Ashba)
* Sure Feels Right (Michael, Sixx, Ashba)
* Deadlihood (Michael, Sixx, Blair Daly)
* Smile (Michael, Sixx)
* Oh My God (Michael, Sixx, Ashba)
* Goodbye Dear Friends (Michael, Sixx, Ashba)
* Skin (Michael, Blair Daly)
* Help Is On The Way (Michael, Sixx, Ashba)
Expect SIXX: A.M. to announce a run of tour dates in support of the release.
According to Robin Leach of Las Vegas Weekly, "a slimmed down, tan and happy" MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil and his wife Lia Gerardini strolled into Sugar Factory American Brasserie at the Paris in Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday, May 9 for lunch. The couple separated last year but have been in contact. They also shopped at the retail store and purchased logo T-shirts, an "I Love Candy" tank top and Hello Kitty Couture Pops.
Check out new photos of Vince and Lia at Las Vegas Weekly.
In a 2010 interview, Neil said about his separation from his fourth wife, "You know, we'd been together for ten years. It was a long time. All of a sudden you feel like you're roommates — you're not husband and wife anymore. Sometimes you just drift apart."
Last week, Vince was ordered by a Las Vegas judge to stay away from and not to have contact with his ex-girlfriend, Alicia Jacobs.
Neil pleaded not guilty today through his attorneys to a charge of battery constituting domestic violence for allegedly striking Jacobs in the chest with his finger. He also pleaded not guilty to another misdemeanor charge, disorderly conduct for allegedly harassing Jacobs' friends, Patricia McCrone, and John Katsilometes, who is a Las Vegas Sun columnist and editor.
Justice of the Peace Pro Tem Linda Norvell Marquis set Neil's trial for 8:30 a.m. August 8 in Las Vegas Justice Court.
Neil last month completed all of the requirements of his sentence stemming from his DUI case from last June. The sentence ordered him to serve 15 days of jail time, 15 days of house arrest, pay a $585 fine, attend DUI school and attend a victim-impact panel online.
This Saturday, May 14 at the Sunset Station Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, vocalist Paul Shortino (ROUGH CUTT, THE CUTT, BADD BOYZ, SHORTINO) and bassist Sean McNabb will join QUIET RIOT on stage to perform the song "Stay With Me Tonight" from the band's 1988 fourth album, "QR". Drummer Frankie Banali states, "Paul, Sean and I have not played this song together since 1989 in Tokyo, Japan!"
"QR" is the only QUIET RIOT album which features Shortino on lead vocals and McNabb on bass. It is also the only QUIET RIOT album which does not feature the late Kevin DuBrow on lead vocals or any other then-surviving original members.
QUIET RIOT's current lineup includes the San Diego, California-based vocalist Mark Huff, who succeeded DuBrow.
"I am honored and very excited to be QUIET RIOT's new singer," Huff said in a recent interview. "I am also humbled and feel a bit of pressure. Who wouldn't feel pressure? Kevin DuBrow was a one-of-a-kind songwriter, musician and a consummate performer. He had an incredible vocal range; I have mass respect for Kevin."
Regarding what fans should expect to see from the new lineup of QUIET RIOT, Huff said, "I don't think trying to duplicate Kevin's every sound or movement is what honors Kevin DuBrow or QUIET RIOT. It's important for me to stay true to the songs as they were written, as the fans remember them, and to bring the live show to full strength. I am not here to replace Kevin DuBrow."
He continued, "Frankie [Banali, drums] summed it up best when he said, 'Kevin DuBrow was one of a kind and cannot be replaced.' I am here to help QUIET RIOT continue to keep the music alive in the most flattering way possible."
QUIET RIOT 2011 is:
Chuck Wright - Bass
Alex Grossi - Guitar
Frankie Banali - Drums
Mark Huff - Vocals
Syracuse, New York-based hard rock band BRAND NEW SIN has inked a deal with Goomba Music. The group will enter the studio in late May to begin recording its new CD for a fall release.
BRAND NEW SIN's fourth full-length album, "Distilled", included the first single to feature Kris Wiechmann (guitarist, principal songwriter and lyricist) on lead vocals, entitled "Summertime". The track was recorded at Subcat Music Studios in Skaneateles, New York.
The band's acclaimed 2006 album "Tequila" was recorded at Method of Groove studios in Brooklyn with producer Joey Z (LIFE OF AGONY, STEREOMUD). The disc, mastered by the acclaimed George Marino (METALLICA, AC/DC, GUNS N' ROSES) at Sterling Sound, featured a guest vocal appearance by Peter Steele (TYPE O NEGATIVE) on the track "Reaper Man".
BRAND NEW SIN is Kris Wiechmann on vocals and guitar, Chuck Kahl on bass, Kevin Dean on drums and Tommy Matkowski on guitar.
Will Romano of Goldmine magazine recently conducted an interview with TESTAMENT/ex-SAVATAGE guitarist and leader of ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO, Alex Skolnick. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Goldmine: [ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO's] new record, "Veritas", has touches of metal, but is mostly a jazz album.
Skolnick: It's definitely jazz. I'm playing with jazz musicians and even an upright bassist [Nathan Peck]. I'm playing a hollow guitar with F holes. It's the music I love and these days I want to play the music I love.
Goldmine: Why did you switch from metal to jazz?
Skolnick: I can't explain why I'm drawn to certain things. I think it's like explaining why I played guitar in the first place. I had come from an academic background. My mother's a law professor and I was expected to go into some profession similar to that, like law or medicine. The thing is, I don't like hospitals. I do like guitar strings, however. I think it's that simple. I like holding the guitar. It feels good. So, when it came to jazz it became such a part of me as a listener and fan. I was compelled to make that a part of me as a musician.
Goldmine: The title of the TRIO's new album is "Veritas". What does the idea of truth mean to you as a musician?
Skolnick: Two main thoughts that come to mind: one is that when you play music, or you're any kind of artist in the public eye, you are written about, a lot. You are described; it is part of the process. It's not often that your own voice and your own image of yourself get through all the clutter. This was doubly true for me, because I come from the heavy metal world, which I was playing professionally since I was 16. You're immediately categorized as a certain type of person, a certain type of musician, and I feel like I'm finally able to assert who I am outside of all of that stuff. So that's one reason. The other is that the artists that I gravitate towards are truth tellers. One example would be Pat Metheny. When you see Pat Metheny play, he's telling it like it is. He's not looking for trends.
Goldmine: Your interpretation of other artists' material is intriguing. In some cases it's difficult to discern what song you're actually playing.
Skolnick: I think RUSH's "Tom Sawyer", from "Last Day in Paradise", was the first time we'd recorded a cover and it wasn't obvious, until late in the song, that we were covering anybody. The JUDAS PRIEST song, "Electric Eye", from "Transformation", was a little bit like that, because we changed the beat. It was arranged in the style of modern jazz piano music. The first album, "Goodbye to Romance: Standards for a New Generation", was nearly all covers. Since then we've recorded a number of original songs that we're really proud of and are going over well live. While we were in rehearsals on the road … we just decided to jam on [METALLICA's] "Fade to Black". But we're in the process of including more originals in our live sets. So, the fact that we chose to record "Fade to Black" is perfect, because it's like a statement about phasing out the covers.
Goldmine: After TESTAMENT, you recorded with SAVATAGE and later the band that evolved from it, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA (TSO). What can you tell us about those experiences?
Skolnick: SAVATAGE was a very bittersweet situation. On the one hand, I got to do an album with a band that I liked in high school. The flipside is that the gig came about because of a tragedy: SAVATAGE guitarist Criss Oliva had passed away in 1993. That was around the time that I had left my band, TESTAMENT, because things hadn't been working out, and I found playing with SAVATAGE appealing. It was like, "Hey, why not?" Then again, I knew I was heading in a different direction from the band, but I just didn't know where. For some reason, joining SAVATAGE just didn't feel right. I'm not sure why that is. It's a little like our conversation earlier — who knows why things happen? It wasn't one particular thing. Maybe I felt I needed to … be one of the main creative voices in the band. If I had stayed with SAVATAGE, I wouldn't have been.
British thrashers EVILE will release their third album, "Five Serpents' Teeth", on August 29 via Earache Records. The CD was recorded at Parlour Studios in Kettering, U.K., with producer Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR), who also worked on the band's previous CD, 2009's "Infected Nations".
Speaking exclusively to NME.com, EVILE guitarist Ol Drake revealed that the band's new effort will feature a song inspired by the group's late bassist Mike Alexander, who died in 2009 following a blot clot on his lungs.
"It goes without saying that there would be some element of the new album which was for Mike alone," Drake said.
"We had a few ideas floating around which were out of the ordinary for EVILE, and when Mike passed away, those ideas just started to make more and more sense."
He added: "''In Memoriam''s initial intention was for Mike and Mike alone.
"All of us in the band have different views and thoughts on what the song means and who it is for, but it was born out of a want to include something special for Mike, his family and ourselves.
"As the song grew, it started to take on a life of its own, so to speak.
"It is for anyone who's lost anyone close to them. There is a lot of meaning behind this song, and I expect a few people will question EVILE doing such a song, but if the sentiment isn't understood, I couldn't care less.
"As our producer, Russ Russell, said: 'It's a brilliant song for a brilliant guy.'"
Steven Rosen of Ultimate-Guitar.com recently conducted an interview with drummer Chris Adler of Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: Who were some of the double-bass players you were listening to back in the day?
Chris: The guy that really kind of set me off on a tangent anywhere and in the direction I wanted to was this guy, Shannon Larkin, who played with WRATHCHILD AMERICA; I think he plays with GODSMACK now and he's been in a million bands all over the place. But he really brought a really interesting progressive voice to the drums, which was lacking in a lot of the hair metal that was apparently given out fairly free in the white suburbs where I grew up. But the speed thing, I think everybody can go back to the song "One" by METALLICA where Lars goes into that infamous double bass part. Now of course, Dave Lombardo for the really fast double kick stuff and the aggression and all that stuff. I think between Shannon Larkin and another guy, Gar Samuelson, who was the first drummer for MEGADETH who brought kind of a jazzy feel into the metal, those were the guys that I kinda wanted to sound like. I did that kind of in a strange way where I was learning how to
play like Stewart Copeland songs and hoping to bring some of that — not necessarily THE POLICE — but just different styles to what we were doing. And I think overall that's definitely one of the things that has helped me stand out as a player probably more than anything.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: In your book for the song "Letter To The Unborn", you talk about playing 16th notes at 200+ bpm. Obviously that was challenging as a player but is faster always better?
Chris: No! [laughs] In fact it's an endless endeavor in frustration to only follow that. No, I think for me that any day of the week, style and groove are far more important than speed. I think at the time I was focused on that like a lot of guys get wrapped up in that whole world of speed and lose the flavor and the love in the music. It's hard for me to listen back to that album and think there was any flavor or love because I was so aggressive and I was so trying to be the fastest and hit the hardest and I was caught in that race. But as I go back through the albums now, I can find where I really started to understand my place and really started to feel good about what I did.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: Ultimate-Guitar.com interviewed Brann Dailor [MASTODON] recently and he talked about this same thing. What you're talking about is serving the song and not your own ego.
Chris: Yeah. Including "Black Label", which is the one song that kinda took off out of that record, but all the songs that have elevated the career of the band are when we got out of the individual mode and when we started looking at the song as a whole. We started understanding the band and got out of playing for our own ego; that's when things really started to take off. When you could pay attention to what the song needed and not necessarily what you could do. In my clinics I talk about that just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should do it and that's been a very important lesson for me. On "New American Gospel" in most cases, I had not learned that lesson yet so I was overdoing it and overplaying quite a bit. Since then, as I now approach my 40 years on the planet, I'm starting to realize that sometimes it's better not to play.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: You've touched earlier on your "A Throne With A View" drum clinic tour and how it has provided positive input for you?
Chris: It was a really great tour and I've been invited now to take it overseas and I'm considering all those things. But for me, yeah, it was great to kind of face that challenge that I didn't think I would be particularly good at. I don't know, I've always had very good luck in taking on things that I think are over my head and somehow getting through them and this was certainly one of them. Where I feel like I'm kind of a rock and roll kid that learned how to play over a whole lot of Miller Lite. This was kind of the antithesis of my playing; I don't know how to teach and I've never taken lessons and doing a clinic tour I felt like I was playing in somebody else's backyard. So to get through it successfully and to have everybody as happy as they were about it was initially a huge sigh of relief. But it also did make me feel a little more confident in what I do and that I'm not alone out there in that I didn't go to school or take lessons to do this.
There's a lot of people out there that wanna hear that kind of story and are inspired by that kind of story. So, yeah, I think it was great for me and like I said I feel a little more comfortable in my skin and going into this record I think it's going to show.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: While you've brought up the new album, can you talk about it at all?
Chris: We're doin' pretty well; we've got 24 ideas and we're up to about 10 of them in line of just kind of working through [them]. We've got plenty of time to work it out this year but we're really just getting started. But we have more material than we could ever use so we're pretty happy.
"Wrong", the first single from "Glorious Collision", the latest album from Swedish metallers EVERGREY, was certified gold in the band's home country for sales in excess of 10,000 copies. This marks EVERGREY's first award in Sweden as well the first award for Steamhammer/SPV in a Scandinavian country.
The "Wrong" video was directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among many others.
Commented EVERGREY frontman Tom Englund: "Once again Patric Ullaeus and the Revolver film crew made five stupid guys from Sweden look like a million dollars; well, maybe not like a million, but for sure better than the 20-dollar hookers we normally look like.
"The song will give all dark, tough and depressed people a soundtrack and most certainly a legit reason to cry your hearts out.
"If crying is not your thing, see if you're man enough to match that guitar solo. Or you can just enjoy the vid and the damn song!"
"Wrong" comes off EVERGREY's new album, "Glorious Collision", which was released in February via Steamhammer/SPV.
"Glorious Collision" track listing:
01. Leave It Behind Us
02. You
03. Wrong
04. Frozen
05. Restoring The Loss
06. To Fit The Mold
07. Out Of Reach
08. The Phantom Letters
09. The Disease ...
10. It Comes From Within
11. Free
12. I'm Drowning Alone
13. ... And The Distance
14. ... And The Distance (Carina bonus track)
"Glorious Collision" sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 49 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.
EVERGREY's current lineup includes Englund and keyboardist Rikard Zander alongside new members Marcus Jidell (guitar), Hannes Van Dahl (drums) and Johan Niemann (bass).
Finnish metal/hard rock outfit AMORAL will release the first single from its new album, "Beneath", on May 17. "Same Difference" gives a little taste of things to come on the upcoming CD, due for release in October.
"'Same Difference' is one of my favorite tracks off the new album," guitarist Ben Varon says of the new single. "Ari [Koivunen, vocals] sounds better than ever on it, and the back-to-back leads with our new guitarist Masi Hukari are something new for us. Hard rockin', lots of riffs and big choruses, just like we like it!"
"Same Difference" will be available as a digital single from the iTunes Store. The song will make its debut on Finnish radio station Radio Rock on May 16 at 18.00 CET. You can listen to the station online at www.radiorock.fi.
"Beneath" was recorded at Sound Supreme studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland, and was produced by Janne Saksa and guitarist Ben Varon.
"I'd describe the album as 'three steps forward, one step back,'" says Varon. "There are several nods to our past in form of long songs, intricate riffs and growling vocals. But the main focus is still on the strong melodies, big choruses and catchy riffs, just as was on our last album, 'Show Your Colors'."
"Beneath" marks the recording debut of AMORAL's new guitarist Masi Hukari. Hukari — who joined the group late in the songwriting process — immediately wrote two songs together with Varon, both which ended up on the album. Another first is that, from now on, AMORAL has two lead guitar players.
"Masi is such a talent, it would have been a crime to make him 'just' the rhythm guitarist," Ben explains. "It's been killer to be able to do lead trade-off for the first time in the band's history, for example. Masi is responsible for many of the guitar highlights of the album."
AMORAL will end its months-long break from playing live by doing a one-off show at On The Rocks in Helsinki on June 3. The idea is to break in the new guitarist, as well as try out several brand new songs onstage for the first time.
Norwegian musician and composer Andreas Nergård has spent the past year writing material for a metal musical entitled "Memorial For A Wish". The musical is currently being recorded at the Trondheim Studio in Trondheim, Norway with producer Conor Patrick for release as two separate albums ("Act 1" and "Act 2") during 2011-2012. A promo EP entitled "In The Beginning" will be released on May 30 containing three tracks from the musical, with special guest appearances by Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR, GAMMA RAY), Tony Mills (TNT, SHY), Mike Vescera (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, LOUDNESS).
The story of "Memorial For A Wish" is set in Dublin, Ireland, in 1890: A young man by the name of Peter O'Donnell is arrested and wrongfully accused of a burglary which he did not commit. After a short trial, he is sentenced to prison for twenty years. In desperation he is forced to leave his pregnant wife behind and live in solitude behind the prison walls. Twenty long years pass by and Peter is released from jail, only to find out that his beloved wife died many years ago while giving birth to their daughter. The friends he once had turn their backs on him and let him face the grief all alone. This eventually tears him apart. As the sorrow and despair become too much to handle, he ends up committing suicide.
"Memorial For A Wish" recording lineup:
* Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR, GAMMA RAY)
* Tony Mills (TNT, SHY)
* Mike Vescera (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, LOUDNESS)
* Åge Sten Nilsen (WIG WAM)
* Göran Edman (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JOHN NORUM)
* Helge Engelke (FAIR WARNING)
* David Reece (BANGALORE CHOIR, ACCEPT)
More singers will be confirmed during May and June.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/memorialforawish.
Vocalist Maurice Swinkels of Dutch thrashers LEGION OF THE DAMNED has issued the following update:
"After guitarist Richard Ebisch quit the band around three weeks ago, we have not been sitting still. The day after Richard's departure, I already had in mind to call guitarist Twan van Geel. I've known him for more than 10 years already and I knew he would be the perfect replacement. I called Twan that evening to tell him the situation in LEGION OF THE DAMNED and asked him if he would be interested in a meeting with Harold, Erik and me. It didn't really took long before he called me back and said he would be looking forward to it.
"After we invited Twan and spoke to him about the ins and outs of LEGION OF THE DAMNED, one week later we met up in our rehearsal room playing 'Son Of The Jackal', 'Cult Of The Dead' and 'Death's Head March' that he already prepared at home, it truly felt as if the band is complete again. The next day Harold, Erik and me had another meeting with the three of us and decided to take Twan van Geel as a permanent guitar player.
"Since the departure of Richard, I had no intentions to cancel any of our shows therefore we welcome Twan van Geel and we are very happy with his arrival.
"Although it's sad Richard left the band, we were not planning on finding a second Richard; Twan is a different person with different opinions and other inspirations, which I think will only turn out positive in the musical direction of LEGION OF THE DAMNED. We also want to thank every other person who emailed us for auditions or were able to help us out, we appreciate their input. Thank you!"
Added Twan: "It was really a surprise when Maurice called me. We have known each other for some years, but he has never called me on the phone before, so I knew that whatever he was about to tell me had a special meaning, I knew that he would not call me about the weather, of course.
"Asking me to be their new guitar player struck me as a bomb, LEGION OF THE DAMNED has become a band that no one can deny or go around it, of course. Therefore it didn't really take me a long time before I decided to take the shot and meet the rest of the gang."
"Being able to play in LEGION OF THE DAMNED is an offer I can't refuse, being able to finally play with the big boys, so to speak!
"Richard has been part of LEGION OF THE DAMNED since the very beginning and together with Maurice, Harold and Erik, he made what LEGION OF THE DAMNED is today. Replacing Richard won't be an easy task, that's for sure, but nevertheless and humble as well as honored I am to replace his spot and complete the band again and ready to strike with full force."
LEGION OF THE DAMNED's new album, "Descent Into Chaos", was released on January 7 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at Abyss Studios in Pärlby, Sweden with producer and PAIN/HYPOCRISY mainman Peter Tägtgren, who also makes a guest appearance on the limited-edition bonus track "Legion Of The Damned".
"Redemption At The Puritan's Hand", the new album from Irish pagan metal masters PRIMORDIAL, has registered the following chart positions:
Finland: #23
Germany: #31
Sweden: #54
Switzerland: #90
Commented PRIMORDIAL vocalist Alan "Nemtheanga" Averill: "What goes around comes around, my friends. You can't keep a good band down, whatever the cliché might be!
"The industry may have changed vastly even since we released 'To The Nameless Dead', but for a band like PRIMORDIAL that resolutely goes against the grain without compromise charting at #31 [in Germany] is still a remarkable achievement so thanks to everyone who has supported the band through thick and thin over the last 20 years and to Metal Blade for their part in our gradual ascent since the release of 'The Gathering Wilderness'.
"Coming from such an underdog nation as Ireland this is also a fantastic moment. We have had to work several times as hard as others to get to this point, but no harm, it has given us character and the willpower to keep going regardless of what's thrown at us. So cheers and have a drink on us. See you down the front."
"Redemption At The Puritan's Hand" track listing:
01. No Grave Deep Enough
02. Lain With The Wolf
03. Bloodied Yet Unbowed
04. God's Old Snake
05. The Mouth Of Judas
06. The Black Hundred
07. The Puritan's Hand
08. Death Of The Gods
SCELESTUS (pronounced sha-less-tus), the new project featuring former MUSHROOMHEAD frontman Jason Popson (a.k.a. J Mann), current MUSHROOMHEAD drummer Steve "Skinny" Felton, and ex-THE AUTUMN OFFERING guitarist Tommy Church, has just released its self-titled EP via Filthy Hands/Megaforce. A full-length album will follow in the fall.
The story of SCELESTUS can be traced back to the '90s when an encounter in a rundown rehearsal facility resulted in J Mann joining MUSHROOMHEAD. J Mann and Skinny subsequently collaborated on such other projects as (216), 10,000 CADILLACS, and CROSSFADER, as well as the independent record label SMDC.
"I had found a musical soulmate," says J Mann. "We were family. Over the course of a decade, we literally achieved our dreams and goals, and we did it together."
Although J Mann amicably left MUSHROOMHEAD in 2004, gossip had led to confusion and misunderstanding between Felton and the singer. "Tragically, it took the loss of MUSHROOMHEAD's founding guitar player John 'J.J. Righteous' Sekula in October of 2010 for us to not only face each other but face ourselves as well," J Mann admits. "We hugged, we cried, we laughed and we gave a fitting send-off to a fallen comrade in front of 2,200 people at the Agora Theatre. We also vowed to work together again. Immediately."
A few months later, in February of 2011, J Mann and Skinny followed up on that vow. "[Skinny] called and said he had a free week, and this badass guitar named Tommy Church from North Carolina was in town, did I wanna jam?" says J Mann. "We decided to do it like back in the day; for fun, no egos, no over-analyzing, throw-and-go and get-it-out." And in four days, the trio did just that, producing a solid four tracks that now stand as the debut self-titled release from SCELESTUS.
"I stand by it because it came from the heart," J Mann states. "It's honest, and that seems to have become a rare commodity."
Prior to their appearance at this year's edition of The Bamboozle festival, which was held April 29 - May 1 at the New Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Chicago's VEIL OF MAYA was busy in the nation's capital demoing new material with their great friend and Sumerian labelmate Misha Mansoor (PERIPHERY) for their as-yet-untitled new record that will be dropping in the fall. Guitarist Marc Okubo comments, "The tracks we are demoing are coming out amazing and give me the chills!
"We have spent lots of time on the road with PERIPHERY and now working with Misha is an added bonus. He is beyond a genius and understands our focus for this next record. Things are faster, more technical and beyond any of our efforts thus far."
VEIL OF MAYA will take the summer off from touring in order to finish writing and recording its new album. However, the band will play a few select shows to gear up for something special this fall. Drummer Sam Applebaum states, "We can't wait for everyone to hear what we have been working on. We plan to make this the most over-the-top and best VEIL OF MAYA record yet.
"We will be hitting the road in the fall, so get stoked for a sick ass tour that will be a party every single night."
VEIL OF MAYA is preparing to head overseas to annihilate the masses on the Sumerian Records "European Invasion Tour 2011" alongside labelmates BORN OF OSIRIS and THE FACELESS.
VEIL OF MAYA's latest album, "[id]", sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 1 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.
"[id]" was released on April 6, 2010 via Sumerian Records. The CD was produced by Michael Keene (THE FACELESS), who previously worked with the group on its last album, 2008's "The Common Man's Collapse".
SERPENTCULT — the Belgian band featuring former members of THEE PLAGUE OF GENTLEMEN and WELKIN — has inked a deal with Listenable Records. The group's new album, "Raised By Wolves", will be released in the summer.
"Raised By Wolves" track listing:
01. Raised By Wolves
02. Crippled And Frozen
03. Longing For Hyperborea
04. Growth Of The Soil
SERPENTCULT last year parted ways with singer Michelle Nocone "for both personal and band-related reasons." The remaining members of the band — drummer Frederik Cosemans, bassist Steven Van Cauwenbergh and guitarist Frédéric Caure — have since vowed to carry on as a three-piece "with a few other musicians, who will join us in the realization and creation of our visions and music. These members will be very close to the band, but will not be permanent SERPENTCULT members."
SERPENTCULT's full-length debut, "Weight of Light", came out in North America on January 27, 2009 via Rise Above Records.
Hailing from Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, SERPENTCULT delivers punishing, downtuned music that transcends the standard doom fare into a maze of monolithic, molten metal. SERPENTCULT's massive sound, a self-described "neck-breaking, down tuned riffing apocalypse," has drawn parallels to CELTIC FROST, CATHEDRAL and ELECTRIC WIZARD and met with much critical acclaim within the underground metal community since the band's formation in 2006.
"Under The Sign Of Hell 2011", the re-recording of GORGOROTH's third album, will be released by Regain Records on June 20. On the LP, Pest and Infernus repeat their roles as vocalist and guitarist/bassist, respectively, from the original 1996 recording, while Tomas Asklund handles the drums.
The track listing is as follows:
01. Revelation of Doom
02. Krig
03. Funeral Procession
04. Profetens åpenbaring
05. Ødeleggelse og undergang
06. Blood Stains the Circle
07. The Rite of Infernal Invocation
08. The Devil Is Calling
As for the still-untitled next GORGOROTH album consisting of new material, the band states that "66,6 % of the material has now been written, and work on the album is continuing at a steady pace. If all goes according to plan, the album will be recorded later this year."
GORGOROTH's ninth album, "Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt", was released on October 21, 2009 in Europe via Regain Records. The CD, which was made available in the U.S. on November 11, 2009, was recorded at Monolith Studio and featured Infernus on guitar, OBITUARY's Frank Watkins (a.k.a. Bøddel) on bass, Pest on vocals and Asklund on drums.
"Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt" was produced by Infernus and co-produced/engineered by Tomas Asklund. It was mastered at the Cutting Room in Stockholm.
Black metal cultivators WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM are currently fully immersed in the process of harvesting their next full-length album. The we-yet-untitled CD will be the third WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM full-length for Southern Lord Recordings. Aaron and Nathan Weaver, the founding and only full-time members of the band, will collaborate once again with producer/mystic Randall Dunn (EARTH, SUNN O))), BORIS) who produced WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM's mammoth "Two Hunters" and "Black Cascade" albums.
Commented Aaron Weaver: "I got into a daily rhythm of greeting the weak winter sun in the morning, working outside in the rain until midday, then retiring to our studio to work on the music late into the night. I did this nearly every day for two months. Quite a monastic lifestyle, actually. I didn't see many people. We were totally lost inside the record. Once the record was conceived from beginning to end, we met with Randall and started to slowly build the tracks at his studio in Seattle.
"I think that this album will be the best thing that WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM has created. We've never been able to devote this much time to writing and recording. It feels like this will be the culmination of everything we've done up to this point."
In addition to the Weaver brothers, the album will also feature a vocal appearance by Jessika Kenny, who contributed so much to the transcendent tone of the band's massive "Two Hunters" album.
For more information, visit www.wittr.com.
Black Mark has set a July 18 U.K. release date for a limited-edition BATHORY vinyl box set. The collection, which is being released in honor of the band's late mastermind Quorthon, contains the following:
* Three double gatefold LPs
* 48-page booklet
* BATHORY "Goat" poster (70x100cm)
* Picture-disc recreation of the original BATHORY "yellow goat" 1984 pressing of the band's debut album.
All packaged together in a deluxe box.
For more information and to pre-order, go to this location.
Rare video footage from the DVD that accompanied BATHORY's career-spanning box set, "In Memory of Quorthon", can be viewed below in three parts.
Released in June 2006 via Black Mark, "In Memory of Quorthon" contains three CDs, one DVD, a book and a poster. Börje "Boss" Forsberg — owner of Black Mark Records and father of late BATHORY mainman Thomas "Quorthon" Forsberg — had previously stated that the package would contain "Quorthon's and BATHORY's complete musical history."
Quorthon was found dead in his apartment in Stockholm, Sweden on June 7, 2004. The 39-year-old, widely considered to be one of black metal's founding fathers, reportedly died of heart failure.
Finnish black crusaders ARCHGOAT will record five new hyms of "angelslaying black fucking metal" this coming July. The mini-album should be released in October of this year.
In other news, the layout for both ARCHGOAT full-lengths, "Whore Of Bethlehem" and "The Light-Devouring Darkness", is currently being reworked by Finnish artist Helgorth from Babalon Graphics for an upcoming picture 12-inch vinyl reissue via Debemur Morti Productions.
Last but not least, ARCHGOAT is set to headline the Deathkult Open Air festival in Gera, Thüringen, Germany this coming June 4 as well as The Return Of Darkness & Evil Festival IV in Clifton, New Jersey on August 13. This will be the band's first and only East Cost appearance.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/archgoatlogo.jpg
Greek avantgarde black metal act AENAON has inked a deal with Code666, a sublabel of Aural Music, for the release of the group's debut album, "Cendres et Sang". The effort was mastered by Tom Kvalsvoll at Strype Audio (EMPEROR, DHG, 1349) and is tentatively due in June.
Formed in 2005 and quickly amassing a solid fan-base with its breed of experimental and original black metal, AENAON has released two critically acclaimed EPs (2009's "Phenomenon" and 2010's "A Parallel Zoetrope").
Commented frontman and original member Astrous: "We were looking for a deal for this album following our split with Bleak Art Records, and Code666 stepped up and laid out exactly what we wanted. We could not be happier. Code666 is an established label, home to many impressive and quality acts, specialized in the avant-garde black metal field, discovering bands such as EPHEL DUATH, ABORYM, NEGURA BUNGET, DIABOLICUM, FEN, AMESOEURS, THE AXIS OF PERDITION… Code666 are in the fray to provide us with the support we need to release our album in the best way. Regarding our album, expect an essential music journey that crosses the black metal feeling with the experimental needs of free thinking musicians; Lyrical themes are reflecting the humanity as a whole and explores the labyrinth of psychotic disorders, the forms of life and death...."
"Cendres et Sang" (translating "Ashes and Blood") was recorded between April 2010 and February 2011 at more than five different studios. The cover artwork was created by the visionary Polish artist Lukasz Wodynski.
"Cendres et Sang" track listing:
01. Kafkaesque
02. Suncord
03. Psychonautic Odyssey
04. Grand Narcotic Harvest (feat. V'gandr of Helheim)
05. Once Finite
06. Carnivora's Lair
07. Necroscope
08. Kraanerg
09. Black Nerve
10. In Heaven (cover from David Lynch's movie "Eraserhead")
KILL RITUAL, the new band featuring former members of IMAGIKA, DARK ANGEL and ELDRITCH, will enter Fang Studios in San Mateo, California on June 13 to begin recording its debut album, "Serpentine Rituals", for a 2011 late release via a yet-to-be-determined label. Lead guitarist Steve Rice will engineer the recordings and co-produce/mix the CD with Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND) at Andy's Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden. La Rocque will also make a guest appearance on the album with his guitar playing prowess. Art design will be handled by Jobert Mello of Sledgehammer Graphix.
KILL RITUAL is looking for a suitable label to release "Serpentine Rituals". Interested parties can contact the band at killritualmetal@gmail.com.
Formed in late 2010 by former IMAGIKA lead guitarist Steven Rice and drummer Wayne De Vecchi, KILL RITUAL is completed by former ELDRITCH guitarist Roberto Proietti, former DARK ANGEL bassist Danyael Williams and Bay Area vocalist Josh Gibson.
Commented Steven: "After the demise of IMAGIKA, Wayne and I decided to form a new band that would bring life to the music we had been working on after IMAGIKA called it a day. We had a goal in mind of writing music that reflected our influences from thrash, classic, progressive, power, whatever-kicks-ass metal and this required bringing in experienced players that have been there and done that. We were lucky enough to come in contact with Roberto and Danyael, who had the kind of pedigree and experience we were definitely looking for.
"Having both been in bands that have released numerous albums worldwide and toured extensively, they are a perfect fit for this new band. The missing element was, of course, vocalist Josh, who came into the band with the work ethic, experience and attitude that is essential as a vocalist to help the songs take on a life of their own. His unique and identifiable vocal style is the change we needed from our past projects as we definitely had the idea of KILL RITUAL taking a new direction from our collective past bands and I think we have achieved that. I mean, what's the point of rehashing what you've already done? I feel the four rough demo tracks [we have released] show this and are only a hint of what's to come."
KILL RITUAL is:
Josh Gibson - Vocals
Steven Rice - Lead Guitar
Roberto Proietti - Guitar
Wayne De Vecchi - Drums
Danyael Williams - Bass
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/killritual.
Belgian black metallers ENTHRONED have inked a new deal with Regain Records. The band is currently writing material for its new album for a late 2011 release.
Commented the group: "We've been working on the successor to 'Pentagrammaton' for the last months and even if there's still some parts of the book to be written, the overall idea looks very promising."
In other news, ENTHRONED's touring guitarist Tzelmoth has quit playing and performing in order to focus on his private life.
ENTHRONED released its eighth album, "Pentagrammaton", on March 22, 2010 via Regain Records.
ENTHRONED last year parted ways with Nguaroth (guitar) and Ahephaim (drums) and replaced them with Neraath and Garghuf (ex-GORGOROTH), respectively.
Black Market Activities, the label helmed by THE RED CHORD frontman Guy Kozowyk, has announced a new distribution and artist development deal with Good Fight Entertainment.
Founded in 2010 by the metal/hardcore pioneers behind Ferret Music, Good Fight Entertainment consists of a record label and music management company, united under one roof. The label's roster boasts FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, MADBALL, THE CHARIOT, CANCER BATS and more, while the management roster features the likes of BEHEMOTH, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, CANNIBAL CORPSE, CHILDREN OF BODOM, EVERY TIME I DIE, JOB FOR A COWBOY, SICK OF IT ALL, TERROR, and TORCHE.
Black Market Activities' Guy Kozowyk, who ended his label's distribution deal with Metal Blade Records earlier this year, says this about Black Market Activities' new deal with Good Fight: "The new deal keeps us distributed through Sony's RED Distribution, whom we have worked with for years now via our prior distributor, Metal Blade Records, and also opens up new doors for artist development. With Good Fight, we have the management team responsible for artists like BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, BEHEMOTH, CANNIBAL CORPSE, and JOB FOR A COWBOY, lending a hand with developing bands on the Black Market Activities roster."
With the Good Fight deal in place, Black Market Activities reveals a stellar list of new releases lined up for early summer, including new music by ENGINEER, KHANN, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY, ED GEIN, and Black Market Activities' newest signing, the legendary TODAY IS THE DAY.
* June 7 - ENGINEER's "Crooked Voices
* June 7 - KHANN's "Erode"
* June 21 - FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY's The Process Of Human Extermination
* June 21 - ED GEIN's "Bad Luck"
* To be announced - TODAY IS THE DAY's "Pain Is A Warning"
Kozowyk expands more on what fans can expect from Black Market Activities: "This deal marks an exciting new chapter for Black Market Activities.
"When we were out searching for a new distro deal, working with Good Fight just felt right for everybody involved. I have known those guys through the scene for years and I have so much respect and admiration for everything they have done with every avenue of their companies. They have been extremely open and responsive to several new progressive ideas we have brought to the table, which is very important since the music industry is changing so rapidly. Among those ideas is that of functioning on a more limited model — the idea that, in this age of digital music, there's still a place for CDs and vinyl, it's just on a more limited, 'collector's item' basis.
"As a music fan, I'm the type of person who wants to read the layout cover to cover and have the artwork and lyrics in my music collection. With many of our upcoming releases, we will be issuing limited runs of CDs and colored vinyl with download cards for those of you, like me, who want the physical product. There will be limited shirt and music package deals in our webstore and, of course, the albums will be available digitally.
"Thank you for your continued support of Black Market Activities, our artists and of all extreme music. And a huge thank you to all at Metal Blade for all of their help in making our artists available for the past seven years."
Polish technical death metal band DECAPITATED will release their fifth studio album, "Carnival Is Forever", in North America and Poland on July 12 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD's cover art was created by Lukasz Jaszak and can be seen below.
Commented DECAPITATED guitarist Waclaw "Vogg" Kieltyka: "[The album cover is] very intriguing and quite strange for a metal album but surely staying in memory. A vital thing is that it's a photo. We did not want any computer graphics this time or anything artificial or plastic. The same regards the production of the album. We had actually been thinking about getting a painting for the cover but unfortunately we couldn't do it. Maybe next time."
The follow-up to 2006's "Organic Hallucinosis", "Carnival Is Forever" was recorded at Radio Gdansk Studio in Poland with producer Wacek Kieltyka and engineer Malta Arkadiusz Malczewski. Drums were tracked with Daniel Bergstrand (BEHEMOTH, MESHUGGAH, DIMMU BORGIR, KEEP OF KALESSIN, DEFLESHED), who also handled mixing duties.
Regarding the album title, Vogg previously said: "Carnival: war, rape, lies, pathology, evil displayed through certain events and situations of the latest years in the world. Is Forever — I guess it doesn't need explaining. Both in the text and the title, there is bitter irony. The author of the title and all lyrics is Jarek Szubrycht (Lex Occulta, author of "No Mercy", the world's first biography of thrash metal legends SLAYER."
DECAPITATED's new album will be released through Nuclear Blast Records in all territories except the band's home country where the group will make the CD available via its own label.
DECAPITATED's lineup includes Waclaw "Vogg" Kieltyka on guitar, Kerim "Krimh" Lechner (THORNS OF IVY, TONE INTIMACY) on drums, Rafal Piotrowski (KETHA, FORGOTTEN SOULS) on lead vocals, and Filip "Heinrich" Halucha (VESENIA, ROOTWATER, UNSUN, MASACHIST) on bass.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/decapitatedcarnival.jpg
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