Paul Rodgers was honored for outstanding contribution to British music at the most prestigious British music awards, Ivor Novello Awards, yesterday in London, England.
The award was presented by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records and the first label to sign Paul with his band FREE.
Other past recipients include, Paul McCartney, Erick Clapton, David Bowie and Elton John.
Given each year, The Ivors, presented by the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters in association with The Performing Rights Society (PRS), are given to celebrate British songwriting and acknowledge the music of the previous twelve months. It is the only British awards ceremony which specifically honors the songwriter.
New York's Q104.3 will presents a screening of Ozzy Osbourne's "Thirty Years After The Blizzard" at the classic rock radio station's P.C. Richard & Son Theater in New York City on Tuesday, May 31, hosted by Maria Milito.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Ozzy's groundbreaking debut album, "Blizzard Of Ozz", the event will feature a screening of the "Thirty Years After The Blizzard" DVD, which chronicles Ozzy's years with Randy Rhoads, including previously unseen footage of Ozzy and Randy, interviews with Ozzy and his wife/manager Sharon. The DVD also contains rare live performances and interviews.
For a chance to win a ticket to the "Thirty Years After The Blizzard" screening, click here. All winners will receive a Q104.3 / Ozzy Osbourne gift pack, including an Ozzy CD and poster.
Located on the ground floor of the Q104.3 New York City headquarters, P.C. Richard & Son Theater is a state-of-the-art live performance space that has hosted dozens of acts, from superstar performers to emerging artists.
The P.C. Richard & Son Theater is Q104.3's live performance home in partnership with the leading electronics/appliance dealer in the tri-state area, P.C. Richard & Son. The 5,500-square-foot performance space has hosted superstar performers like BON JOVI, Mariah Carey, Katy Perry and dozens of other A-list and burgeoning acts.
On May 31, music fans will have their first taste of reissues from rock icon OZZY OSBOURNE's catalog of work with the releases of "Blizzard Of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman". Long revered by rock fans around the world, these two albums created a template for hard rock in the 1980s and beyond as they were marked by the ground-breaking and historic union of Ozzy and the late guitar hero Randy Rhoads. These definitive versions of 1980's "Blizzard Of Ozz" (with previously unreleased bonus tracks) and 1981's "Diary Of A Madman" are available individually on vinyl or CD, or together in a deluxe collector's box. All versions were restored and remastered from the original analog sources by George Marino.
The 30th-anniversary edition of "Blizzard Of Ozz" CD includes the original album in its entirety, restored and remastered for this edition, with bonus tracks, while the new legacy edition of "Diary Of A Madman" includes the original album in its entirety, restored and remastered for this edition, with a bonus second CD of previously unreleased live performances featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads with rhythm section Rudy Sarzo (bass) and Tommy Aldridge (drums). A single-disc version of the remastered "Diary Of A Madman" will also be available.
For serious fans and collectors, the limited edition 30th-anniversary deluxe boxed set houses the restored and remastered vinyl and CD editions of "Blizzard Of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman", the "Ozzy Live" compact disc. Beyond the music, the box set is highlighted by a variety of exclusives including an expansive 100-page coffee table book, a two-sided wall-size poster, a precise and detailed full-size replica of Ozzy's iconic gold cross that he has worn for 30 years, and "Thirty Years After The Blizzard" DVD.
This new "Thirty Years After The Blizzard" DVD chronicles Ozzy's years with Randy Rhoads features previously unseen footage of Ozzy and Randy filmed in 1981 and 1982; it incorporates rare archival photos and films; along with new and revelatory interviews with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Lemmy (MOTÖRHEAD), Steve Vai, Nikki Sixx, Rob Halford, Zakk Wylde, Bill Ward and more. The DVD also contains over 70 minutes of additional rare live performances and interviews; included is the premiere of more than 30 minutes of newly-discovered never-bootlegged footage of Ozzy and Randy from the "Blizzard Of Ozz" tour shot from the front of the stage at New York's fabled Palladium on May 2, 1981. This new feature is a must-see for aficionados of Ozzy's epic release "Blizzard Of Ozz" and its pivotal effect on rock and roll history.
On Tuesday, May 24, at 1:00 p.m. PST, all five members of JUDAS PRIEST — Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Ian Hill, Scott Travis, and the band's latest addition, 31-year-old guitarist Richie Faulkner (LAUREN HARRIS, DIRTY DEEDS) — will be on hand at the Renaissance Hotel at Highland and Hollywood in Los Angeles to answer questions about the upcoming "Epitaph" U.S. tour and to formally introduce Faulkner.
Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
1755 North Highland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 491-1000
On May 9, longtime Spanish heavy metal journalist Rafa Basa of RafaBasa.com conducted an interview with JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford about the departure of the band's founding member, Kenneth "K.K." Downing; the addition of Faulkner; and the group's upcoming "Epitaph" farewell tour.
When asked why JUDAS PRIEST chose to embark on a farewell tour at this point in the band's career, Halford said, "I think we're just being very careful. We wanna be able to still do these big shows and to still give out the same kind of power and energy that we've always been able to do. And so, 40 years later, we're doing that really successfully and we feel that we would like this to be a kind of celebration of many, many things about JUDAS PRIEST and give the fans a really, really great metal show. And then maybe just take things easier next time, you know, because… I wish we were all immortal. [Laughs] Metal is immortal [Laughs], but I don't feel immortal. It's a lot of reasons, and it happens to everybody in one way or another. I think metal touring is very, very difficult. I mean, you've got all the travelling to do and you don't get much sleep. And it's different on your body all these years later. PRIEST is famous for these very big, long
grueling tours, and we just wanna still be able to make our shows, but we just wanna be able to kind of enjoy them and put on a great performance. But just kind of kick back a little bit and enjoy the golden metal years and still be with our fans, but just on a different level now."
Regarding whether the next PRIEST studio album will be similar to the band's last CD, "Nostradamus" (2008), or if it will be a return to a classic PRIEST album format along the lines of "Angel Of Retribution" (2005), Halford said, "Well, I can tell you that it's gonna be a very strong, powerful, solid heavy metal album with all of the famous things people love about PRIEST — all the big sledgehammer heavy metal riffs from Birmingham and the screaming vocals. And it's just a very straightforward record as far as looking at our past and all of the wonderful things that we've done in heavy metal — from 'British Steel' to 'Painkiller' to 'Sad Wings Of Destiny'. We've got this wonderful heritage in our music, so I think we're just letting our heart lead us on this record. It's not as complicated or as complex in the arrangements as 'Nostradamus' was and I think we always felt that it would have been wrong to finish the recording side of PRIEST with
'Nostradamus'; we felt it was very important to kind of re-focus and put the metal in its place that we're most famous for, and I think that's what we're gonna do with this new record. It's coming out next year. It's almost completed. A lot of the songs have been already written, not fully recorded, but all of the arrangements have been made. That's the time-consuming part — the actual writing of the songs and then getting the arrangements right and all the pieces into place. And then when you go in the studio, the studio is generally a pretty straightforward operation. But we're excited, yeah. It's kind of unusual, isn't it?! 'Cause it's farewell, but it's full of new things; we have a new show, new costumes, new setlist and that's we've always tried to do for our fans and for ourselves — to make every tour special, and that's definitely the case with this one."
On the topic of the future of JUDAS PRIEST after the "Epitaph" tour, Halford said, "It's a very open set of opportunities, of course. We will still be making shows, we won't be going out on these long, massive world tours as much. But we'll still be getting together every now and again and doing a festival here and there. Personally, I don't see any reason why we need to stop the writing and the recording, because that's always a great joy and pleasure and it's not as stressful and difficult, physically and mentally, as a tour. So yeah, the future is not really laid out for certain, but I guess we'll just be and do what we've always tried to do as a metal band, which is, in one way or another, still keep recording and still do some shows."
When asked about JUDAS PRIEST's decision to hire a relatively unknown guitar player to replace K.K. Downing, Halford said, "I think it would have diluted the moment if we would have gone with one of our friends. We know some very famous metal guitar players and I'm sure that they would have said, 'Yeah, I'll help you out if you need the help.' But I think we wanted to give this moment its own special feeling. Obviously, nobody can replace K.K. entirely, so I think we worked really hard to find someone of the same caliber and with the same kind of discipline and guitarmanship as K.K.'s always displayed, and I think we found that in Richie. Richie's been around for awhile; he's already had a successful career up until this point with his solo activities and some of the other bands that he's worked with. But this is a big leap for Richie to go into a band like PRIEST. And he's gonna be the right man for the job, you know. It is gonna be a tremendously
exciting moment for Richie as a player. I can only imagine what's going on in his mind. I suppose it's the same as when Ripper walked out each night; you just have to go out and do your very best, and that's what Richie's gonna do. I think he's gonna show the metal world that he's a very competent, exciting player that's gonna not only be able to do the parts he needs to play but also inject his own special style and technique. And I think the metal fans are really grateful that Richie's there, because if Richie was not in the spot, this tour would have been canceled. So, yeah, it's gonna be tremendous for Richie to be able to do what's gotta do and he's gonna do it really well. And I think the fans are gonna love him."
Thiago Sarkis of Brazil's Roadie Crew magazine recently conducted an interview with Wendy Dio, the wife/manager of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio. During the chat, Wendy shared her thoughts on Norwegian singer Jorn Lande's "Dio" album; ex-DIO and current DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell; BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW; and talked about her husband's favorite songs; religious persuasion; and feelings towards death. A few excerpts from the interview follow below (provided exclusively to BLABBERMOUTH.NET by Thiago Sarkis).
On people accusing her of cashing in on Ronnie's death:
Wendy Dio: "I feel very, very, very sad. It's very hurtful, but I know what I'm doing for the fans. I know what Ronnie and I had together, so, you know, it's a shame that people say things like that, but people do always say things like that. I'm sorry for them. Most of the fans are fantastic; [they are] wonderful fans that loved Ronnie so much and who know that I wouldn't do anything to hurt Ronnie's reputation. We've always fundraised. Ronnie and I always fundraised. For animals, for children, for everything. It's only right that I continue in Ronnie's aim to do that."
On whether she believes that those accusations are rooted in the fact that she and Ronnie were not involved as a couple for a number of years prior to his passing:
Wendy Dio: "Maybe. But in any relationships there are ups and downs. You part, and you go back. Then you part and you go back. Ronnie and I married in 1974. It's a long time to be together with somebody who is a musician. Sometimes there are ramblings of people who don't really know you, who don't really know what's going on… these people always say things."
On the meaning of death to Ronnie James Dio:
Wendy Dio: "I don't think he was afraid. No, he wasn't afraid of death. He was just pissed off that he didn't get to do and finish things he wanted to do."
On Ronnie's faith and religious persuasion:
Wendy Dio: "Ronnie was raised a Catholic, and he believed in something. Not necessarily the Catholic religion, but he did believe. He believed in an ultimate being. He believed the same that I do… That you are reborn, you come back, and there's reincarnation. I hope he comes back at the same time as I do, so we can be together again."
On what the band HEAVEN & HELL meant to Ronnie:
Wendy Dio: "It was a joy. I think that it was really nice that he was able to finish what he began with BLACK SABBATH and to be with them again onstage."
On Norwegian singer Jorn Lande's "Dio" album and other musicians who who have paid tributes to Ronnie:
Wendy Dio: "Ah… I don't know. I was very upset about the fact that [Jorn's 'Dio' album] was released. Yes, I was. When somebody dies, if you wanna record a couple of tracks [as a tribute to that artist], that's fine. But… to do a whole album of Ronnie's songs? Why would you want to buy a reproduction when you can buy the original? There have been IRON MAIDEN songs dedicated to Ronnie live. That's a real tribute. Rob Halford [JUDAS PRIEST] was an incredible friend of Ronnie. He did many tributes to Ronnie. Ian Gillan [DEEP PURPLE] was another friend of Ronnie. Klaus Meine [SCORPIONS] was a friend of Ronnie. All these people were friends of Ronnie and they all paid tributes to him in their own way without cashing in on anything."
On whether there are any unreleased Ronnie tracks and if there is any possibility of them seeing the light of day:
Wendy Dio: "There are maybe five, but I didn't look at anything. I closed the studio up. I don't have the strength to go in there right now. It's still so hard to think about those things. We will see what happens and how it goes. I work all the time. There's not a day that goes by that I don't miss Ronnie."
On Ronnie's reaction when he was invited to join BLACK SABBATH:
Wendy Dio: "He wasn't quite sure that it was the right band for him. But it turned out that it was. Monetarily-wise, we finally had some money, because we didn't have any money in RAINBOW. We were finally able to buy a house, and that was nice. He was treated very well in SABBATH. I mean, they were all equal."
On the controversy surrounding Ronnie's relationship with ex-DIO guitarist Vivian Campbell (in a 2003 interview Vivian called Ronnie "an awful businessman and, way more importantly, one of the vilest people in the industry."):
Wendy Dio: "[Vivian] always said that he hated all the albums that he played on with Ronnie, and that was very hurtful to Ronnie. Very hurtful. Would you like someone who said something like that about your albums? He said a lot of things in the press that I don't wanna get into, because it really wasn't Ronnie's feud at all. Ronnie didn't fire him. I fired [Vivian]. He wanted as much money as Ronnie wanted. He thought he was as important as Ronnie was, and that was just wrong. But I don't wanna get into that. It's water under the bridge. It doesn't matter."
On Ronnie's favorite songs that he wrote himself:
Wendy Dio: "His favorite song was probably 'Heaven And Hell' [BLACK SABBATH]. But again, if you look at 'Stargazer' [RAINBOW] and 'Gates Of Babylon' [RAINBOW]… oh, these were majestic songs."
According to the Courthouse News Service, Rob Zombie, WHITESNAKE and folk musician Dave Mason have filed a federal class action against UMG Recordings (Universal Music Group), accusing the label of not paying artists to license their music as digital downloads and ringtones.
The suit follows a victory on similar grounds several months ago by producers of Eminem's early recordings, and a similar suit filed last month by the estate of Rick James.
According to The New York Times, "In all of these cases, the artists or their associates say that their record company violated their contracts by counting a digital download as a sale instead of a licensing, which would result in a substantially higher royalty."
The definition could mean the difference between 10-15%, and a 50% cut for artists.
"Plaintiffs here allege, and the Ninth Circuit found, that digital download and ringtone income received by UMG derives from a license," according to the complaint.
"By this lawsuit, Plaintiffs seek to compel UMG to account to and pay its other recording artists and music producers (i.e. those not directly involved in the [Eminem] litigation) their rightful share of the licensing income paid to UMG for downloads and mastertones [ringtones] of the recorded music licensed by UMG to these entities," the lawsuit states.
Packing an armory of steel-coated riffs and songwriting swagger, British hard rock legends SAXON will release their 19th studio album titled "Call To Arms" via Militia Guard Music, UDR and EMI on the following dates:
* Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway: June 3
* U.K., Finland, Denmark: June 6
* Greece, Poland: June 8
* France: June 10
Recorded at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, U.K. and Brighton Electric Studios in Brighton, U.K., the 11-track album was co-produced by singer/songwriter Biff Byford and Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS). Featuring Byford on lead vocals, Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt on guitars, Nibs Carter on bass and Nigel Glockler on drums, "Call To Arms" is bang on-the-money brilliant SAXON music, a confident embrace of the aura and writing values from their early years married perfectly to a modern SAXON crunch.
"This is probably the best album we've written and recorded in the last 20 years," states Biff Byford unapologetically. "I know a lot of bands say that, but 'Call To Arms' really does feel like that to me. It's the perfect embrace of our past with a great modern edge."
Between the furious riffage of "Hammer Of The Gods" all the way through to "Ballad Of The Working Man", SAXON also found time to invite fans to sing on the nostalgic stomp of "Back In '79" thanks to a Byford brainwave the night before recording.
"We put something up on our website 24 hours before recording the track in Brighton, and funnily enough we had exactly 79 people show up on time to sing on the song. It was a fantastic result which is a direct tribute to 'Denim & Leather' where we did the same exact thing."
There is also a guest appearance from keyboard legend Don Airey (RAINBOW, ELO, OZZY OSBOURNE, DEEP PURPLE) on "When Doomsday Comes".
"We were at the American embassy in different lines queuing for our visas and by the time we'd got them, Don had agreed to come and play on the song," chuckles Byford.
It will also feature alongside the track "No Rest For The Wicked" in the forthcoming movie "Hybrid Theory", a sci-fi thriller which follows a group of British soldiers who find themselves in a life or death battle with an enemy far beyond their wildest nightmares. The film is directed by James Erskin, who made "One Night In Turin" about England at the World Cup in 1990.
"We've done our darker albums, our full-on metal albums, we've been to those spaces and experimented with them and people came on the journey with us," says Byford, "and with 'Call To Arms' you have the culmination of those 10 years and the 20 years before it. I love this album. I love the songs. I love the sounds. It's right on the money."
"Call To Arms" track listing:
01. Hammer Of The Gods
02. Back In '79
03. Surviving Against The Odds
04. Mists Of Avalon
05. Call To Arms
06. Chasing The Bullet
07. Afterburner
08. When Doomsday Comes (Hybrid Theory)
09. No Rest For The Wicked
10. Ballad Of The Working Man
11. Call To Arms (orchestral version)
Steven Rosen of Ultimate-Guitar.com recently conducted an interview with GUNS N' ROSES/SIXX: A.M. guitarist DJ Ashba. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: Is it a totally different experience working with GUNS N' ROSES as opposed to working with SIXX: A.M.?
Ashba: They're very much completely two totally different beasts. I know Axl [Rose, GUNS N' ROSES frontman] tends to get a bad rap because people believe what the media force-feeds them and they believe what they wanna believe. 'Cause I think when anybody gets that big, it's the media's job, they feel, if we don't tear 'em down then we're not doing our jobs. The media loves to build people up just to tear 'em down. I'll never get that because if you actually sit down and get to know Axl, he is very intelligent, very talented, and probably one of the funniest guys I've ever met in my life. He's constantly cracking jokes left and right; he's really just a good-hearted person.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: Nobody could have survived all of these years without a lot of talent.
Ashba: He's like anybody else; the thing I like about Axl is he's the real deal. He gives you the option — you can either be his friend or fuck him over. So I think he's like anybody only he doesn't pussyfoot around the subject. If you do him wrong, he's gonna call you out on it. But he gives everybody the opportunity to be cool; he treats you like you treat him. He's just a cool fuckin' guy and I can't really say enough nice things about him. He's got more talent in his pinkie than most people out there. It's sickening to sit there and watch this guy play piano in his hotel room and he's singing shit equally as great as "November Rain" that has never been recorded. I just sit there with my mouth open and I'm like, "Holy fuck." He's like, "This is just stuff I'm tinkering around on" and I'm like, "Dude, you gotta get this out to the public. This is sick." So he has a lot of great songs up his sleeve that I pray to god the world could hear one day
'cause it's gonna blow people's minds.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: Do you bring a different guitar personality to the GUNS songs than you do to the SIXX: A.M. songs?
Ashba: Yeah; I approach 'em both completely different. Obviously I grew up a fan of GUNS N' ROSES and I respect what they've done for the world of music. I always look at it like, "Listen, I'm joining something that has been around for many, many years that is already huge" and is one of the biggest bands in the world. I'm stepping in the shoes of legendary guitar player so it's like separating yourself from the song as a producer. I could come into this and go, "You know what? I wanna play my own solos and do my own thing in "Sweet Child 'O Mine". But me as a fan, if I were to show up and see some new guy on stage, what would I really want to hear? Well you'd want to hear somebody staying as true to what you grew up listening to. So for me with all the songs that have already been recorded, of course I'm bringing my own flair and style to 'em but I'm trying to do 'em justice by staying as true to these songs as I possibly can. Because I just feel like
they deserve that; they're so classic that you can't really vary off of them too much because at that point it becomes over-playing and showing off.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: You were a fan of GUNS back in the day?
Ashba: GUNS have been a big influence on my life. It's easy for me to fall into that because it's part of my style, too, so it's very natural for me to play similar to the stuff Slash plays. He has a very blues-based thing and I grew up heavily on that. It isn't like I'm playing some foreign style that I'm not used to.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: You're also involved in a number of business ventures including Ashba Media and Ashbaland Studios.
Ashba: I don't look at myself as a rock star; I look at myself as a businessman and an entrepreneur. I love to create and I'm very artistic. I have a great clothing line called Ashba Swag; I'm bringing my stage clothing to the fans. Ashba Media is a graphic design agency and we're creating a lot of cool products. We have the Demented Collection of guitars and we're working on a signature Les Paul. We have the Ashba Tuner on iTunes, which is a professional guitar tuner. And, of course, Ashbaland Studios is where I create all the music: produce, write and I'm starting to get into scoring. I'm signing on to do a really cool horror movie and it's just a lot of fun. I love creating.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: Do you think that Nikki [Sixx] is more fulfilled in SIXX: A.M. than he is in MÖTLEY CRÜE?
Ashba: I think he has a love for both; I think it's two completely different animals. Obviously he grew up with MÖTLEY and they grew up as kids and they're best friends. I think SIXX: A.M. is fresh and it's new and it's fun and exciting and it allows him — just like me — to be artistically free. It's hard to find a project that actually does well in this world that people accept when you're being this artsy with it. So I think, yeah, we're all getting huge pleasure out of being able to really be just free and true to our art. I think Nikki is able to do things in MÖTLEY that obviously SIXX: A.M. would never do. So I think it's just two totally different things and thank god they're both very successful. And the same with GUNS; I get to do stuff in GUNS N' ROSES that I would never be able to get away with in SIXX: A.M. and vice versa. It's a great headspace to go from the SIXX: A.M. world to jumping out on tour and writing GUNS N' ROSES songs. It's
awesome as an artist to be able to change it up and switch gears and go, "OK, now we're in GUNS N' ROSES land and let's focus in on really kick-ass, sleazy, dirty rock and roll." I just love it.
A.V. Club recently conducted an interview with Tommy Stinson (THE REPLACEMENTS, GUNS N' ROSES, SOUL ASYLUM). An excerpt from the chat follows below.
A.V. Club: How did you end up with GN'R?
Stinson: It was kind of a fluke. A friend of mine, Josh Freese, was playing drums with them, and I asked him what he was up to, and he was like, "Oh, fuck, I can't really talk about it, but I'll tell you anyway." And it turned out he was playing drums, and working on the record. He said, "It's funny that you're asking me, because Duff [McKagan] just quit, and we need a bass player." I was just joking with him: "Oh, that would be a fucking hoot," given my thoughts about GUNS N' ROSES at that time. But I did it anyway just as a laugh, and it turned out pretty good. They didn't really audition anyone else. They liked me, and because Josh was doing it, it was a compelling notion. At the time, coincidentally, I was about to get kind of screwed by yet another record label with the PERFECT record. I felt like, "You know what? This is enough." It's been five years of trying to get this thing going, I keep getting screwed, and I just want a break. So I looked at
it as something to do until I figured out my next move. And it worked out pretty good, all things considered.
A.V. Club: "Chinese Democracy" took all of 10 years to make. What was the recording process like? I mean, you couldn't have been working at it every day for 10 years.
Stinson: At first we were in there a lot. We were working on the writing aspect of it, but it just kept going on. We had [Interscope chairman] Jimmy Iovine intervening in a not-so-productive way, and we had other guys coming and going with nutty ideas. My summation of the whole thing is that Interscope, when they took over Geffen, really led Axl [Rose] to believe that Jimmy Iovine would be involved, and would help get this record done and make it happen. But basically what he did was let it completely fall apart. Then he had this great idea to bring in [producer] Roy Thomas Baker to make it sound better. All he did was re-record everything three or four different times, trying to make it sound like something it didn't need to sound like, and spend $10 million in the process. My two cents on the whole thing is that I really think Jimmy Iovine fucked the whole thing up. It was a bummer. Most of the songs that are on the record now were done 10 fucking
years ago. But all the talking heads in the mix were saying, "Make 'em sound better! Make 'em sound better!" So we kept redoing this and that. And it ended up coming back down to the same fucking songs that they were 10 years ago, except that now they were a super-dense mishmash of a bunch of instrumentation. That whole era pretty much sums up what happened to the record industry. Those kinds of people, making those kinds of decisions and not really helping the artist.
Mike Thiel of PostCrescent.com recently conducted an interview with former GUNS N' ROSES and current ADLER'S APPETITE drummer Steven Adler. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
PostCrescent.com: ADLER'S APPETITE shows blend original music with GUNS N' ROSES songs. Why do you still play GN'R?
Adler: Because those are my songs. My name's on there. I had a part of writing those songs so I'm always gonna play 'em. Out of all my musician friends I have that have made records for the last 30 years, none of them listen to any of their music. I love my records. I still listen to my music. I asked Sebastian [Bach], "You listen to SKID ROW?" He said, "No." I asked Fred Coury, "You ever listen to your CINDERELLA records?" He goes, "No." The only person who listens to their records that I know is Steven Tyler. He feels the same way. He goes, "Man I love my music. I always listen to it." (laughs)
PostCrescent.com: How long have you been clean?
Adler: I got off the heroin and the crack and the pills in 2008 when I first started working with Dr. Drew. And then I went on a marijuana maintenance program and that was working for a little while, but like all things, it started bringing me down and it kept me from getting to the next level. So I talked to Dr. Drew and he had me come work with him again on the new "Celebrity Rehab" that comes out June 29 to get off of marijuana and Jägermeister. I was drinking the loud mouth soup and smoking the herb. I was able to get to a certain level in my life and my career but the pot and Jäger were holding me back, so I worked with him and it was very successful. … It was just a blessing to be able to work with Dr. Drew and Bob Forrest again. In 2008, I feel like I made a 170-degree turn and now, this recent stint I've been working with Dr. Drew, I made a whole 180-degree turn in my life.
PostCrescent.com: Steven Tyler was quoted in his new memoir saying some things about you and "Celebrity Rehab". Here's one part: "It didn't seem to me all that ethical using actual (expletive) people like Steven Adler in a reality show. … They then sensationalize on a melo-(expletive)-dramatic reality show, which so traumatizes them they end up in worse shape than ever — from the drugs they bought with the money from the show."
Adler He's right in a way and he's wrong in a way. … To make a couple bucks is a good thing, plus all of us that did the show have hit rock bottom, so we didn't have the money to survive, but the people could either take in the money, take an opportunity to get sober like I did and start my life again — or I could've taken the money and went and bought drugs with it, which most of the people who did the show did do. But Dr. Drew gave everybody an opportunity to get their lives together, and doing it for me, personally, doing it on camera helped me so much. I say to anybody out there who has somebody in their life that's an addict or an alcoholic, videotape them when they're high or drunk. You know how people have those blackouts and their friends say, "Look, you did this and you did that." And the person goes, "No I didn't, you're crazy." You videotape them and they see how terrible they act, I'm telling you, it will change their whole world on what
they're doing to themselves. When I did "Sober House" after "Celebrity Rehab", I showed up with a bag of heroin and syringes and aluminum foil, wasted, and they videotaped me. I have to speak for myself, but I would do drugs because it made me feel more comfortable around people. It'd make me feel like I was better looking. I felt like I was taller. I was funnier. But I saw myself high on heroin and I was not funnier. I was not taller and I was not better looking. So seeing that really opened my eyes. … I didn't want to be like that anymore.
In the July 2011 issue of Guitar World magazine, you can find the debut installment of "Mega Bass" column penned by MEGADETH's David Ellefson. The first column, "Broadening Horizon", focuses on increasing your musicality through diversity, plus bass riffs from the MEGADETH song "Peace Sells".
The following is an excerpt from David's first column: "This month, I'd like to talk about how playing diverse styles of music can help you improve your musical abilities. In my opinion, there are certain skills that can never be emphasized enough — technique, timing, playing well with other musicians, and the art of listening. But I'm also constantly reminded that versatility is a vital part of our craft, regardless of the genre(s) we may prefer to play in."
The magazine is out on newsstands May 31.
MEGADETH has tapped Johnny K (full name: John Karkazis; DISTURBED, SEVENDUST, MACHINE HEAD, STAIND) to produce the band's new album, tentatively due this fall via Roadrunner Records. The drum tracking for the CD began earlier this month, with the entire recording process expected to be completed by the time the group hits the road this summer as part of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival with DISTURBED and GODSMACK.
In a brand new online posting, MEGADETH drummer Shawn Drover writes, "As of last night, I have completed five drum tracks, with song #6 and #7 in line to be done today and I am really happy with the way things are going thus far. Johnny K has been a blast to work with as he shares the same vision as we do, which is to make a solid, heavy record. We are definitely on the right path here...
"We have one song completely done and submitted for a video game. Without going into the details of it, anybody who knows me and what I like musically, this tune put a big smile on my face. In time, you will all hear what I am talking about, but for now, it's back to work at Vic's Garage [MEGADETH's studio in San Marcos, California]."
Speaking to U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine stated about the band's upcoming album, "This is our 13th studio record, and we've already had a bunch of weird things happen. Car problems, stuff disappearing, a guy who worked for me that was the most white-laced guy you could imagine falling out on drugs and disappearing...but this one's got me excited!"
MEGADETH's platinum-certified 1986 masterpiece, "Peace Sells… But Who's Buying?", has been digitally remastered for the first time and expanded for a special 25th-anniversary release in multiple configurations. It will be released July 12 by Capitol/EMI.
All of the versions, including a 2CD lift-top box, digital album and a deluxe 5Disc+3LP box set, contain a previously unreleased 1987 concert from the band's first world tour and new liner notes written by Mustaine and METALLICA's Lars Ulrich.
San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans TESTAMENT are currently writing material for the follow-up to 2008's "The Formation Of Damnation" for a tentative late 2011/early 2012 release. The new CD will be recorded this summer with British producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with MEGADETH, ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE, EXODUS and MACHINE HEAD, among others.
In a brand new posting on his Twitter profile, TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick writes, "Another tune done! My riffs from last week [plus] some of [fellow TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson's plus] new ones we wrote today. Planning one more, then we've got more than we need."
Regarding the musical direction of the new TESTAMENT material, the band's vocalist, Chuck Billy, stated in a 2010 interview, "The new album will most likely be a culmination of 'The Gathering' [1999] and 'The Formation of Damnation', but we're definitely not going to forget who we are or our roots. I think we've found a comfortable spot in our writing style."
"The Formation Of Damnation" was reissued on February 23, 2010 in a deluxe tour edition. The two-disc edition includes the band's comeback album plus bonus footage of classic tracks and more.
Prosthetic Records recently re-released TESTAMENT's out-of-print 1995 hometown-show album "Live At The Fillmore" on CD. The LP was reissued digitally last spring.
The "Live At The Fillmore" re-release includes expanded artwork and new layout by Carson Slovak and new liner notes by Robert Deutsch.
Prosthetic previously reissued four TESTAMENT efforts: the acclaimed late-'90s studio albums "Demonic" and "The Gathering"; the re-recordings compilation "First Strike Still Deadly"; and the vintage live album "Live At Eindhoven '87".
Paul Anthony of U.K.'s Rock Radio conducted an interview with vocalist James LaBrie of progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER this past Wednesday night (May 18). Click on the audio player below to hear James talk about the departure of Mike Portnoy, the search for new drummer Mike Mangini and how much the band is looking forward to coming back to the U.K. for the High Voltage festival in July.
When asked about the status of the recording sessions for the follow-up to 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" album, LaBrie said, "Right now, I'm talking to you, and then, literally, within about a half an hour after we're done talking, I'm going into the studio and I start doing vocals for the new DREAM THEATER. So I'm about six songs into the album. I'm recording up in Canada, and as I'm recording my vocals, Jordan [Rudess] is currently recording his keyboards, piano and putting on all his amazing sounds from his various software that he has, and he's doing that down in New York. The drums, the guitar and the bass are all done, so it's just a matter of Jordan and I finishing our parts, and the mix is to commence… I think May 30 or the 31st we're supposed to start mixing the album. But it's all going incredible and it's all moving ahead. We're looking at an early September release — somewhere around the 7th or the 10th, somewhere around there is
the release indication at this point."
Rob Cavuoto of Guitar International has just conducted an interview with legendary guitarist George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB, SOULS OF WE). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Guitar International: I really thought the reunion [of the classic DOKKEN lineup] was going to happen when you went on Eddie Trunk's "That Metal Show". I assumed, as most fans, that this was a done deal.
George Lynch: I feel like a fool because I got played again for the last fucking time! Like an idiot I went along with it but looking back I see what he was really doing. He was blowing wind in his sails by creating the impression that there was a reunion pending. That people were going to wake up and pay attention, that his guarantees were going to go up, and people are going to show up to his shows thinking I'm in the band. If we did reunite we would all be working for him. He's a miserable guy and he will stay miserable in his own skin. I wouldn't want to have 100 million dollars and live in that guy's brain and skin. He is just a piece of shit.
Guitar International: I'm not sure Don has a lot of credibility these days and think most fans realize that.
George Lynch: When the band was intact, he had to maintain a certain level of professionalism. He had to maintain his voice, his behavior and what he said. He didn't like that. He is a very lazy person. He doesn't have a good work ethic and he surrounds himself with himself. He will never be happy. What he will never get, and I told him, it's not about the money and success, though you want people to hear the music. It's about giving the fans something they would like and enjoy. It's not about you, we are just the conduits. It comes through us but it's not about us. He doesn't get it. When musicians start to take themselves too seriously that's when it gets ugly in believing all the hype. My heroes are blue-collar people that work for a living. Not assholes like him who take credit for shit they don't do and expect everything handed to them on a silver platter. Have some respect for the people who are paying your bills.
TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider will release an album called "Dee Does Broadway" on Razor & Tie Records in September. He writes on his Twitter profile, "Just finished recording two more vocals for my 'Dee Does Broadway' record. Six down, four more tracks to go. Back in studio tomorrow."
Dee previously said that it was his personal hope for this year "to bridge the gap between Broadway and rock 'n' roll and introduce the hard rock audience to the amazing music of the Great White Way!"
Snider joined the cast of the Tony-nominated musical "Rock Of Ages" last October at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
The singer, who was seen in the A&E reality show "Growing Up Twisted", played nightclub owner Dennis for an 11-week engagement beginning October 11 and continuing through December 24. He also hosted "Rock Senate Hearings," a weekly Tuesday-night talkback series.
Snider recently spoke to MTV News about his stint as a cast member of "Rock Of Ages".
"The entire situation is completely surreal," Snider said. "Imagine an actual Tyrannosaurus on the set of 'Jurassic Park'. They've got an actual '80s guy in a show about the '80s. I know the people who sing those songs were a little uncomfortable the first few nights."
"The biggest difference between a concert situation and a theater situation is that you can't curse out the audience. I'm used to addressing situations. If something is going on in the house that I don't like at a concert, or if the audience is not energized or enthusiastic — or if they're particularly energized and enthusiastic — I will stop a song just to comment on what's going on. I quickly realized that was unacceptable on Broadway. I just have to stay in character and stay in the show."
"While it's a comedy, it's frighteningly accurate. Especially when it comes to frontmen, and how the rest of the band regards them as complete assholes. And I sit there and feel shame. I was a pompous ass. But I feel better now."
On how he landed the gig:
"I would love to tell you that somebody knocked on the door and said, 'We want you!' But the truth is: I was invited to the premiere of the off-Broadway production, where I saw my two songs in the show, and I turned to my wife and said, 'I want to do that. I could play Dennis Dupree.' So I let it be known, and it took two years to get asked out on that date."
SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor will appear as a guest speaker at the Oxford University next month.
Taylor will address the Oxford Union in early June, according to the schedule published on the union's web site.
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford. Founded in 1823, it is Britain's second oldest University Union (only the Cambridge Union Society is older), and has gained a worldwide reputation for the cut and thrust of its debate, proving a valuable training ground for many future politicians from Britain and other countries.
Speaking on Kansas radio station 98.9 The Rock, Taylor revealed he had been approached to speak but was surprised as he hadn't done very well in school himself.
He said: "I've been asked to speak at Oxford University, which is very ironic seeing as I didn't graduate from high school. They took a vote about who they would want to speak at their student union and I was the number one pick, apparently, so I was like 'Yeah, okay, let's do this.' I'm probably going to swear and sweat a lot."
A listing for the event, scheduled for June 8, notes that Taylor joined SLIPKNOT "after being approached by the original band members whilst working in a sex shop in Des Moines," adding that his "commitment to the rock and roll lifestyle saw him develop an alcohol problem, overdose on cocaine and attempt to commit suicide."
Taylor has reportedly been clean since 2006.
Orange County, California's AVENGED SEVENFOLD has released the following statement:
"We are very sorry to inform you that, due to an illness in the band, the [AVENGED SEVENFOLD] concert tonight [Thursday, May 19 at Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie, Texas] is being postponed. We're planning to reschedule the date right now and will honor all tickets for tonight's concert on the rescheduled date. Additional information will be posted on VerizonTheatre.com tomorrow. We are so disappointed to be missing our fans in Dallas tonight and look forward to seeing you really soon."
AVENGED SEVENFOLD's fifth album, "Nightmare", has been certified gold for sales of more than half a million copies.
The band is currently on its "Welcome To The Family" headlining U.S. tour, which will wrap up on May 21 at Rock On The Range in Columbus, Ohio.
AVENGED SEVENFOLD has also contributed a brand new track called "Not Ready To Die" to the newest content pack for Call Of Duty: Black Ops, the wildly successful seventh installment in the Call Of Duty video game series. The pack, called Black Ops Escalation, is ready for download worldwide through the Xbox Live network and features four new multiplayer maps.
"Not Ready To Die" is the first AVENGED studio track to feature Arin Ilejay on drums.
Brendan Crabb of Australia's Loud magazine recently conducted an interview with vocalist Angela Gossow of Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Loud: The band has had a strong touring work ethic for some time now, but with CD sales in such a poor state, you've now got to work even harder on the road.
Angela: Yeah, I mean you sell like 250 CDs and you're like fucking gold in some countries, in the top ten, you know? CD sales are… It's not even really worth talking about because you don't usually even recoup (from sales). A band now just needs to tour… I think it's possible for bands who like grew up being more studio projects, people who weren't as interested in the touring to still be around, but it's very difficult to have a band these days, because you want to make a living off it.
Loud: Mike (Amott, guitar) has been quoted as saying that this album was a case of "more is more." Can you elaborate on that?
Angela: Oh, well, if you listen to it, you'll understand there's a lot of shit happening. Musically, it's quite an extreme journey. I'm not sure if anybody's going to like it, because it goes from, I don't know, like a very extreme part; let's say "Cruelty Without Beauty" or "Cult of Chaos", then it goes into this very sweet, almost Eurovision Song Contest kind of guitar part, and then in (to) a very long, drawn out solo part. You know, there's a lot of different things in it that define ARCH ENEMY, but we kind of simplified our songwriting a little on the last couple of albums, so we stepped back from that again and this time we thought, more is more. Now it's a lot less simple I think and there's a lot of stuff happening. I think it'll be very interesting when you listen to the album; musically, it's all over the place.
Loud: You mentioned a DVD earlier and the band has recorded a wide range of covers and bonus tracks for stopgap releases in the past. What other projects are in the works for this album cycle?
Angela: We actually recorded 21 tracks for the album; we're putting 17 tracks on the album and then we've got a couple of songs left over that are going to come out on an EP, I think in the spring of 2012. So we've got something new out there for the next round of touring. Then we plan to release a DVD, maybe at the end of 2012, then the new album in spring 2013. We are planning releases; we don't plan on abandoning the touring and music circuit anytime soon — we've got plans (laughs).
Loud: I understand you do manage the band, as well as SPIRITUAL BEGGARS (Mike Amott's '70s-style hard rock supergroup) and correct me if I'm wrong here, CARCASS as well. How did that come about?
Angela: No, no, CARCASS is self-managed; I think Jeff Walker does all that. But that's actually where I got the idea from; when Michael joined CARCASS again and I went, "wow, they're having none of this baggage," you know? They're having none of the booking agents and no management to try and tell them what to do, and just get approached by people in different countries to do tours. They just do it totally their own way, and it was so much easier for them actually, it was so much easier. That's where I got the idea from; but ARCH ENEMY was a lot more established in its set-up. We are a business, but we have to approach things differently. We have people in the U.K. and a publicist contract, and we have to do accounting and all that. And for many things we have the important people you need (helping us), but they're on our payroll, so it's the other way around for once (laughs). Nobody's saying, "you guys have to do this tour" or anything, we just make
our own decisions these days. So, it's nice, but it's a lot of work too.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is zooming through the recording of its third album, with nine of the planned 14 songs already completed. The band is working on the set in Las Vegas, which three of its four current members call home, and guitarist Zoltan Bathory told The Pulse Of Radio living and working in Sin City can be distracting. "Writing a record is not like a nine-to-five job," he said. "It's a 24/7 job, you know. Once you're done with the studio, you have to go home and we still, you know, keep writing. So that's how it gets distracting because, you know, you kind of — you worked already whole day, you want to relax, but in the second you want to relax for a second, Las Vegas will get you. You know, there's always something going on and you have to force yourself to not be distracted."
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is recording the album with producer Kevin Churko, who produced Ozzy Osbourne's 2010 effort "Scream".
The band tentatively plans to release the disc in the first week of September.
The new CD will follow up 2009's "War Is The Answer", which has sold 505,000 copies since its release. "War Is The Answer" included the singles "Walk Away", "Bad Company" and "No One Gets Left Behind".
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH recently confirmed the departure of bassist Matt Snell, but a replacement has yet to be named.
Former TROUBLE members Ron Holzner, Jeff "Oly" Olson and Eric Wagner will perform "a classic set of TROUBLE" at the Days Of The Doomed Fest, set to take place June 17-18, 2011 at The P.L.A.V. in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Also newly added to the bill is THE GATES OF SLUMBER.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
Friday, June 17
THE GATES OF SLUMBER
KIN OF ETTINS
SLEESTAK
ADMIRAL BROWNING
BACKWOODS PAYBACK
ZEBULON
PIKE
SINISTER REALM
PALE DIVINE
Saturday, June 18
CARBELLION
RETRO GRAVE
PALLBEARER
APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE
ARGUS
BLACK PYRAMID
ORODRUIN
REVELATION
LAS CRUCES
EARTHEN GRAVE
BLACKFINGER
IRON MAN
For more information, visit www.daysofthedoomed.com.
According to The Quietus, seminal U.K. doom metal act CATHEDRAL will play its last-ever show on December 3 at the London Kentish Town Forum. Support will be provided by kindred spirits GRAND MAGUS, COMUS, and GENTLEMAN'S PISTOLS. The band will record one final studio album entitled "The Last Spire", to be released in 2012 as a follow-up to last year's "The Guessing Game". There will be no live shows to support the album, as frontman Lee Dorrian claims that it's time for CATHEDRAL to "move on" and hopes "to leave our recorded legacy to linger."
When asked if he feels he has achieved all he could with CATHEDRAL, Dorrian told The Quietus, "Yes, way beyond what we ever thought we could achieve, to be honest. For a start, when we first formed the band, we seriously never saw beyond making a demo. What we were doing was purely out of love for our favorite doom metal bands, and they were so few and far between. To have had the opportunity to develop as a band and follow our own path has been nothing short of a miracle in the face of adversity. We had no plan, we just let it happen and we are utterly grateful to the people that have supported us, enabling it to come this far."
Regarding what his happiest and weirdest memories are from being the frontman of CATHEDRAL, Dorrian said, "So many things, not just being the frontman but being part of it. When me and Gaz first got the band together, we had no idea that we would become friends with members of WITCHFINDER GENERAL, TROUBLE, THE OBSESSED, PENTAGRAM, et cetera. Tony Iommi [BLACK SABBATH] actually played on one of our albums. These are things that mean the world to us above any kind of commercial success."
Andrew Matte of The Regina Leader-Post recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow of Canadian heavy metal legends ANVIL. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
On the success of "Anvil! The Story of Anvil", a documentary produced by a former roadie that gave the band more notoriety and fame that it was unable to generate on its own:
"The momentum of the movie doesn't seem to dissipating. More and more people are seeing it. It went from the theatres and it was shown on VH1 in the States. It's still circulating in the pay TV circuit and I think it might reach another plateau when it reaches regular TV.
"We're still considered an attraction and people want to come and see us, particularly in places we've never been."
On ANVIL's new album, "Juggernaut Of Justice":
"When you create music for an album, it reflects where you are in your life. And this couldn't be a higher point for us. It's like whatever happened in the past never even happened. This has been a total rebirth. This is the start on a whole new level.
"There are labels, management, producers, all the things that you need to be successful has finally surrounded the band. When you have that kind energy and support, then you stand up and be counted. When we wrote music in the past, we were always like, 'Are we going to be able to put this out? Are people going to like this? Who's going to produce it?' In this case, those questions were answered. So we just set out to make the best possible music because we knew we'd get heard. We knew we'd get seen."
Former Metal Blade recording artists HERETIC have reformed and are rehearsing and writing material for a new studio album, to be released in 2012. The band's current lineup features original members Julian Mendez on vocals, Brian Korban on guitar and Dennis O'Hara on bass, along with new additions Glenn Rogers (ex-HIRAX) on guitar and Federico Dupay on drums.
A couple of new rehearsal photos can be viewed below.
According to The BNR Metal Pages, "HERETIC was a rather typical power/thrash metal band of the Eighties, managing one EP and one album before calling it a day. At least part of the reason for the band breakup was vocalist Mike Howe's departure to METAL CHURCH — ironically, the man he replaced there, David Wayne, recruited two HERETIC members for his then-new band, REVEREND."
Swedish hard rockers ELECTRIC EARTH will release their third full-length album, "Touching The Void", on June 20 via the band's own label TySS Music.
ELECTRIC EARTH started out in Trollhättan, Sweden in 2001, inspired by both old traditional hard rock bands and more modern bands like BLACK SABBATH, KISS, LED ZEPPELIN, FOO FIGHTERS, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and SOUNDGARDEN. Still, they adopted a sound and style of their own.
The new CD is described in a press release as "something of a comeback for ELECTRIC EARTH. After several tough years with a number of personal setbacks, including the tragic death of vocalist Peter Gottlieb's wife in March 2009, their passion and love for music made them over come all the difficulties they had gone through. With "Touching The Void" they are back in full force, determined to once again do what they do best — rock hard!
At ELECTRIC EARTH's official web site, you can sign up for the band's newsletter/mail list. By doing so, you will be able to immediately download the title track from the upcoming CD for free. In addition you will be able to, during the next twelve months, download one song per month from ELECTRIC EARTH or related artists. This includes demo tracks, alternate mixes, cover songs or songs from the members' old bands.
ELECTRIC EARTH's next performance will be the "Touching The Void" CD-release party on May 28 in Trollhättan.
Dutch female-fronted gothic rock outfit NEMESEA has set "The Quiet Resistance" as the title of its third album, due this summer via Napalm Records. The CD was produced and mixed by Joost van den Broek, who has previously played with AFTER FOREVER, AYREON, SUN CAGED and VANDENBERG.
Commented the band: "We can tell you that Joost is almost done with the mix, so in a few weeks the promotion of the new album will start. We're really looking forward to share our music with all of you, but we have to be patient a little while longer!"
NEMESEA will debut some of the new material at its June 5 concert at Atak in Enschede, the Netherlands with THE GATHERING.
The band previously stated about the new record, "There's a lot of emotion on this album, as well as power and anxiety.
"The upcoming album is filled with strong and powerful songs, as well as beautiful fragile ballads."
NEMESEA recently parted ways with drummer Steven Bouma and replaced him with Frank Van Der Star.
A teaser clip for the forthcoming CD can be viewed below.
NEMESEA recorded its July 2 and July 3, 2009 concerts at P3 in Purmerend, Holland for a live album, "Pure: Live @ P3", which was released in September 2009. The shows were unique in the sense that the audience was able to hear the band perform live in Surround Sound 7.0 as part of an innovative project that was conducted in co-operation with students from the Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU).
NEMESEA's second album, "In Control", was produced by Tony Platt (AC/DC, BOB MARLEY) and Ronald Prent (RAMMSTEIN) and was released in June 2007.
NEMESEA is:
Manda Ophuis - Vocals
Hendrik Jan de Jong - Guitar
Sonny Onderwater - Bass
Frank Van Der Star - Drums
Lasse Dellbrügge - Keyboards
For more information, visit www.nemesea.com.
Swedish extreme metallers SHINING will release a CD single which will only be available in their home country. The single will contain two tracks — "Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel", taken from the band's new album, "VII / Född Förlorare"; and a previously unreleased cover of the ALICE COOPER song "Prince Of Darkness". This will be the first time that SHINING has released a single, and founder and front man Niklas Kvarforth is hopeful that the new video, which was filmed recently and is currently being edited, will be included along with the two tracks. "We are trying to get the video included, but the people behind the single are a little nervous, and probably quite rightly so given its subject matter and content. We are looking into the possibility of maybe including a censored version. We'll see how that pans out, but whatever happens, the uncensored version will definitely appear very soon, so SHINING fans who have been waiting for it, will not be
disappointed".
Following the Swedish release, the band will consider the possibility of releasing a different version of the single elsewhere.
SHINING recently filmed a video for a song from "VII / Född Förlorare", which in English means "Born Loser". According to the band, the clip, which will make its online debut on May 25, "might not be the most extreme thing you will ever see, but it will definitely be one of the most uncomfortable."
Following on from the recent news that SHINING had parted company with Indie Recordings and signed with Spinefarm Records, the band has debuted a track from "VII / Född Förlorare". The track "Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel" can be heard using the SoundCloud player below.
All the music and lyrics for "VII / Född Förlorare", which is due for release on May 25, were written by SHINING's founder and frontman Niklas Kvarforth, and the album was recorded over what the band describes as "three long years" inside the Slaughterhouse studios in Sweden, with Rickard Bengtsson once again producing.
Kvarforth himself defines the finished result as "THE" SHINING album. "It is", he commented, "the natural successor to our fifth album 'V/Halmstad', rather than to our last release, 'VI/Klagopsalmer', which I have always thought of as more of an experiment both in terms of writing and performance."
NAPALM DEATH frontman Mark "Barney" Greenway has recorded a guest appearance on the new album from British crossover thrashers SSS, entitled "Problems To The Answer". Greenway performs guest vocals on the tracks "The Kill Floor", "Here Comes The Neighbourhood" and "Roar".
"Problems To The Answer" will be released in Europe on June 6 and in North America on July 12 via Earache Records. The CD was recorded at Whitewood Studios in the band's hometown of Liverpool and was produced by Rob Whiteley along with SSS bassist Mark Magill.
Commented Greenway: "[SSS frontman] Foxy really knows his musical onions and when he had some parts for me to do, I knew it was going to be a gas. The main part had a DISCHARGE-y feel to it, so I was sold on that instantly. Went in, shouted, went home. No fucking about. Good stuff."
Added SSS frontman Foxy: "Barney was on a shortlist of one — it was him or no one. Knew he'd be into the direction of our latest musical outing and the stance the songs take were right up his street. Some serious barking was required and his dulcet tones didn't disappoint."
"Problems To The Answer" features 25 of the most vicious, snarling, hardcore punk/metal tracks. The effort is available to pre-order now on CD as well as limited-edition picture-disc vinyl.
German death metallers SEPTEMBER MURDER have parted ways with bassist Guntar Elsaßer and have replaced him with Marcus Kühne (METZGORE).The band states, "This development is neither a result of arguments nor of other discrepancies, but of [Guntar's] lack of time and possibilities in the future to share the stage with us. As much as he and of course we wished for this, it is impossible for him to accomodate professional and private issues in a way that enables him to be part of the band further on."
SEPTEMBER MURDER is putting the finishing touches on its sophomore album for a late 2011 release.
The band's full-length debut, "Agony In Flesh", came out in 2009 via Maintain Records. The CD was mastered by Peter Neuber, who had previously done work with NASUM, VOMITORY and WAR FROM A HARLOTS MOUTH.
According to a press release, SEPTEMBER MURDER's "After Every Setting Sun" EP (November 2007) drew the attention of the European press with its explosive sound that has been described as a mixture of CANNIBAL CORPSE, ENTOMBED and SUFFOCATION.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/septembermurder.
Relapse Records has announced the signing of Swedish technical death metallers SPAWN OF POSSESSION. The band is currently writing material for its new album for a fall release.
SPAWN OF POSSESSION (Jonas Bryssling: guitar, Dennis Röndum: vocals, Erlend Casperson: bass, Henrik Schönström: drums, Christian Münzner: guitar) formed in 1997 and has previously released two full-length albums. The band's latest CD, "Noctambulant", received international critical acclaim for its blend of musical chops and unfettered extremity.
Commented SPAWN OF POSSESSION guitarist Jonas Bryssling: "We are very excited to have become part of the Relapse family and their amazing roster.
"The new album will contain nine tracks plus an instrumental intro which we'll be recording throughout the summer starting in June.
"Once again we'll be teaming up with producer Mankan Sedenberg at Pama Studios in Sweden.
"Right now we're prepping the recording and straightening out the last details of the material.
"More good news is on the way so keep your eyes open for a brand new SPAWN OF POSSESSION website which will be launched soon.
"As usual we like to keep what is coming under wraps, but rest assured this record will be quite a slab of imaginative brutality for you guys to sink your teeth into."
SPAWN OF POSSESSION's sophomore album, "Noctambulant", was released in 2006 via Neurotic Records. The CD was recorded at Pama Studios in Kristianopel, Sweden with producer Magnus Sedenberg.
Los Angeles-based progressive death metal titans THE FACELESS have parted ways with vocalist Derek Rydquist. In a statement to Lambgoat, Rydquist said about his exit from the group, "As you Internet sleuths have deduced, I have left THE FACELESS. I left the band a couple months ago, and we were waiting until they had everything sorted out on their end before saying anything about it, but I guess I'll take it upon myself to break the news. I am no longer emotionally or artistically fulfilled by being the vocalist for the group, and that's how I arrived at my decision.
"Touring's luster has worn off, and I have found myself reconsidering the role I would like to take in creating and presenting music. Also, being a 'professional musician' was kind of ruining my love for music because when you rely on this stuff to make you money, as with anything, it is easy to become bitter towards it. Not that it was all bad — I had the best times I will ever have being in this band — but it is time for me to move on.
"I'd like to thank the band and the friends I've made through the band for making this not only a life-altering experience, but a life-shaping one. There is an immense amount of talent in this band, and the new vocalist they have is doing a great job, so please keep supporting THE FACELESS. I can now join you in anticipating the new album.
"If you're interested, I'm now playing in another group with some dudes from some awesome bands. Check it out at [this location]. We're mixing the album right now, so we should have some music up soon."
According to Lambgoat, Geoff Ficco (KAMIKABE, ORGONE) has been taking care of the vocal duties in THE FACELESS for some of the band's most recent shows.
THE FACELESS recently re-signed with Sumerian Records. The band entered guitarist's Michael Keene's studio in March to begin recording its third album for a summer release. Keene described the band's forthcoming CD as "the most musical and progressive record we've made." He added, "Since recording 'Planetary Duality', the goals of THE FACELESS have changed a bit. You can still expect a fast, technical and blistering record, but I personally am less focused on a musical aesthetic and more on musicality and making an expressive, unique, moody and expansive record. Speed picking, flying double bass and skin melting guitar solos are certainly still in order. However, you can also expect more clean vocals with big harmonies, some unique instrumentation, dark moody passages, interesting keyboards, synth guitars, vocoder and sequenced segments. It's going to be the most focused and depressive FACELESS record to date."
Guitarist Alex Paul, drummer Edwin van den Eeden and bassist Joost van der Graaf have left Dutch death metallers SINISTER. Vocalist Aad Kloosterwaard, who is the only remaining member of SINISTER, has vowed to relaunch the band with a brand new lineup and "let the SINISTER flame burn for some more years to come."
Poland's Metal Mind Productions released an exclusive box containing SINISTER's full discography on February 14 in Poland, February 21 in Europe and April 5 in the USA. Entitled "Altered Since Birth", the set contains eight studio albums, a live DVD, a compilation of demo tracks, plus a booklet containing a full biography based on an exclusive interview, the complete discography, lyrics to all songs and a selection of amazing archive photos. The cover artwork was created by the well-known Polish graphic designer Graal.
SINISTER's latest album, "Legacy of Ashes", came out on December 17, 2010 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at Soundlodge studios in Rhauderfehn, Germany with producer Jörg Uken (GOD DETHRONED, OBSCENITY).
Swedish melodic death metal band WITHIN Y has completed work on its fourth album for a late 2011 release. The group states, "A short while ago we received the final master from Jacob Hansen, and it sounds KILLER! Now we are waiting in eager anticipation for Gustavo Sazes to send us the final artwork!"
WITHIN Y's third album, "The Cult", entered the Swedish national chart at position No. 24 back in March 2008. The CD artwork was created by Niklas Sundin of DARK TRANQUILLITY and Cabin Fever Media.
WITHIN Y's sophomore album, "Portraying Dead Dreams", was released in Sweden in the spring of 2006 via Gain.
WITHIN Y is:
Erik Hagström - Drums
Jonas Larsson - Bass
Niknam Moslehi - Guitars
Mikael Nordin - Guitars
Andreas Solveström - Vocals
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