The West Midlands of England, which has been the global home to bands such as BLACK SABBATH, LED ZEPPELIN and NAPALM DEATH, is celebrating its heavy rock heritage through a new project called "Home Of Metal".
"Home Of Metal - Celebrating Music From Birmingham And The Black Country" is a one-of-a-kind exhibit celebrating 40 years of heavy metal and its unique birthplace. The exhibition runs until September 25 at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in Birmingham, England.
"Since we were so-called inventors of this music, and coming from Birmingham and all the surrounding things that are going on, it's really great for Birmingham and it's really great for us all," BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi — who has been involved with the project — tells the BBC in a new podcast which can be streamed below.
He added, "I wasn't familiar with [the term 'heavy metal'] for quite a few years. I mean, I always looked at what we did as heavy rock. And when that term was first mentioned to me… Somebody said, 'Oh, you play heavy metal.' And I said, 'What? What's that?' And this was a journalist from a well-known magazine. He said, 'Well, that's what you play — it's heavy metal.' And I'd been in America for quite awhile, so when I came back and I heard this term, I'd never heard it. And, of course, ever since that, that's been non-stop. I still think we're heavy rock, but you are put into a bag, and I'm quite proud of it now."
Over the past four years, "Home Of Metal" has scoured the U.K. and beyond for relics, artefacts, memorabilia and interesting stories. The show will offer an insight into the region's industrial history, the early blues-rocks sound, the changing music industry, DIY politics and the global impact of the sound as well as a chance to hear stories from both the fans and the artists.
METALLICA's official web site has been updated with the following message:
"San Francisco show?? Well, sort of…
"It all started when Kirk [Hammett, guitar] mentioned that his next-door neighbor had invited us to play at his party in San Francisco and we figured, 'Why not?' After all, it has been quite some time since we've played in our hometown, and we haven't exactly been getting out a lot lately.
"Well, it turns out that Kirk's neighbor, Marc Benioff, is the top dog at a 'small' company called Salesforce.com and his shindig actually lasts for four days and hosts over 30,000 people!
"So much for a little backyard barbeque . . .
"Following in the footsteps of Neil Young, the FOO FIGHTERS, BLACK CROWES, and Stevie Wonder, we are excited to announce that we have been invited to play at the ninth annual Salesforce.com Dreamforce convention at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on Wednesday, August 31. It promises to be quite the party... Where else can you learn everything you ever wanted to know about cloud computing during the day and then rock out with the 'TALLICA at night?
"If you're planning to attend Dreamforce, cool, we look forward to seeing you there and of course, if you're a Met Club [official METALLICA fan club] member, log in and check out how you can win tickets . . . we're giving hundreds away."
Although METALLICA is currently completing work on a surprise collaborative album with Lou Reed, the band is also about to start writing songs for its 10th studio effort on its own. Producer Rick Rubin, who worked with the group for the first time on 2008's "Death Magnetic", told Billboard that he recently met with drummer Lars Ulrich and will return to San Francisco sometime in the next week or so to sit down with the whole band and "explore what the focus is going to be this time around."
Rubin offered a hint of how that initial meeting with the band will go: "I'll ask a lot of questions and we'll probably listen to some of the riffs they've been writing. And usually I'll hear something that will sort of indicate the direction and then we'll talk about it from there."
Rubin did not give a timetable for when he thought METALLICA might begin recording.
The band revealed last week that the "secret recording project" it was working on in May was a collaborative album with Reed, the legendary singer and former VELVET UNDERGROUND frontman.
The project had apparently been in the works since Reed and METALLICA performed together at the 25th anniversary of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at Madison Square Garden in October of 2009.
METALLICA has not indicated when or how the yet-to-be-titled album will be issued.
Regardless of when you're reading this, Guns N' Roses and Sixx: A.M. guitarist DJ Ashba is almost certainly awake and working on something creative right now. As you'll see in our exclusive interview, besides sketching out the legendary band's future live and recording plans alongside Axl Rose, Ashba recently released a second album with Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx under the Sixx: A.M banner.
As if that's not enough, DJ (Daren Jay, not a hip-hop nickname) also owns a design company, and he's writing the script for an animated movie. The least you can do, after all that, is to read our interview with this talented and industrious artist:
You're in Guns N' Roses and Sixx: A.M., plus you have your own clothing, art and ad companies. Do you sleep?
It's all coffee. You know what, actually, I stay up late and I get up early; I sleep about four hours a night. I've done that for years and years, I've been a work-a-holic all my life.
The first rock show you ever saw was Motley Crue, right? Did you ever see Guns N' Roses?
I've never seen Guns N' Roses live, as weird as that is. It was really difficult, living back home [in rural Illinois], to see concerts, because I was raised in a very religious family. So, the only time I could go to a concert was when I visited my real dad, over in Indiana, and the timing just happened to work out. In fact, the only one he ever took me to was Motley Crue, because it was my 16th birthday present.
But you got to see more as you got older, right?
After that, once I got a car, I'd start driving to shows, but it was still a two hour drive, from the country where I lived, and not many bands came through that area. I just watched MTV every day and listened to every record that I could. I had a paper route, so I'd treat myself, buy a little 45 every week, listen to the s–t out of it and then go get another one. Rock music was really kind of scarce where I was from.
Has your role in Sixx: A.M. changed much between the first and second albums?
I don't think it did, not too much. The first record [2007's 'The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack'], we really didn't even know we were making a record at the beginning. It was just one of those thing, it was three best friends, songwriters and producers, just tossing around ideas. Me and Nikki had partnered up out at Funny Farm (their recording studio), we were writing and producing for a lot of different artists. He would go out on tour, that's when I started tinkering around with all the orchestral things in pro-tools. It was like a whole new world opened for me. I created these weird new pieces of music, like 'Xmas in Hell' and 'Intermission.' Nikki came back and heard it, he thought they were cool, and started adding these narratives on top of them, and it turned into something great.
So, what was your approach for the new Sixx: A.M. album, 'This is Gonna Hurt?'
The first album, we were just trying to define what Sixx: A.M. was. The second record, we knew what we sounded like, and we could focus a lot more on the lyrical content and just the music part of it, and take the writing to a whole new level.
Any touring plans for Sixx: A.M.?
There's no tour plan yet. Motley just went out on tour, and Guns N' Roses is talking about going out at the end of the year. Nothing's in stone yet.
Have you seen Tommy Lee's drum roller-coaster yet?
No, not yet, but Nikki wants me to come out to the Hollywood Bowl show, so I'm gonna have Tommy throw me on it during soundcheck or something; I want to ride it.
You mentioned a Guns N' Roses tour. Would that include North America?
Well, I mean, I don't want to put anything out there yet, the only thing that's in stone right now is Rock in Rio, on Oct. 2, but I know that we're all itching to get out there, and one of our main big goals is to tour the States. When everything goes through, obviously, everyone will know about it. I'm hoping it happens; it'll be a lot of fun.
Has Guns N' Roses been recording any new material?
Axl has so many songs up his sleeve from the 'Chinese Democracy' era. He has three albums of really amazing stuff. He's played me quite a bit of it, it's really good. I've been demoing tons of stuff in my studio; I think the ultimate goal is to sit down and go through everything, and put together what he feels would be the next best thing for Guns N' Roses. I'll do whatever I can to help him meet that vision.
What are your favorite songs from 'Chinese Democracy,' and which are the most fun to play live?
Probably 'This I Love' is one that really hooked me, because it's just a great song, lyrically and musically; it goes through a rollercoaster of emotions. It's very heartfelt, you can tell. I love playing that, but once you get out there live, stuff like 'Shackler's Revenge' and 'Chinese Democracy' comes alive. They all really do translate live very well, they're just high-energy and fun to play. 'Street of Dreams' is also great.
The band played a three-and-a-half hour show in Tokyo a while back. Was that a dare or something?
No, we were just having an absolute blast. We went, I think, almost four hours. It was one of those things where we came back [from the main set], it had been 3 hours and 16 minutes, and we had no idea.
You really didn't notice?
Not really, because every show we've been doing a two-and-a-half to three-hour show; we've been doing some long nights. The crowd was going nuts; we kind of lost ourselves. We went back out for the encore, we were gonna do two or three songs, and we ended up doing quite a few more. By the time we got off, we realized we beat the all-time Guns N' Roses record for longest show, which we didn't set out to do, but it was cool.
You also own your own ad agency?
Ashba Media, it's a graphic design agency, a creative agency. We do everything from, gosh … you name it. Right now, I'm working on an animated movie script that I wrote, and my company is designing all the characters. We're starting to design some Guns N' Roses merchandise; we did some of the stage design, all the art on Axl's piano. We do a lot of work with Ovation guitars, just a lot of different things. It's just a really cool way to tie in my love for art and my love for music.
Any last thoughts you'd like to share with the readers?
I'm excited about the new Sixx: A.M. record. I'm really happy that radio is playing the s–t out of it, that fans are really getting it. We really dumped our heart and souls into it, as we did the last time, but this one is real special to all of us. We really tried to step it up in terms of the whole overall message, to make a solid record from beginning to end. I think we did that, and it's nice to see people are enjoying it!
MÖTLEY CRÜE/SIXX: A.M. bassist Nikki Sixx will take over the airwaves of the U.K. digital radio station Planet Rock for one hour on Sunday, June 26 at 7 p.m. (U.K. time) as part of the "My Planet Rocks" series. Sixx will share his lifelong love of rock 'n' roll and select his favorite artists for Planet Rock. He will play tracks from the likes of GARBAGE, THE ROLLING STONES, JIMMY REED and many more.
Now in its seventh series, "My Planet Rocks" has seen some of the world's greatest rock stars take to the airwaves. Since the series first began, the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, IRON MAIDEN's Bruce Dickinson, Lemmy from MOTÖRHEAD, THE WHO's Pete Townshend, Meat Loaf, Alice Cooper, blues legend Gary Moore and the late, great Ronnie James Dio have all taken control of the radio station for an hour to play their favorite songs and talk about their greatest influences.
Planet Rock broadcasts on digital radio, Sky 0110, Virgin Media 924, Freesat 730, online www.planetrock.com and on iPhone.
TORONTO - The stereotypical metalhead has long hair, wears mostly jeans and black T-shirts — usually adorned with a skull, ghoul or satanic imagery — and lives to thrash around violently when the tunes are cranked.
Of course, it's just a generalization, and many heavy metal fans are total softies, even if they do love giving and getting bruises in a wild mosh pit.
Dave Mustaine is one of those guys.
Yes, he named his band Megadeth and chose a ghoulish skeleton named Vic Rattlehead as its mascot. But he's also a born-again Christian, a proud, doting father who gushes about his kids, and he passionately speaks out against the escalating violence in hockey.
And these days, he's more interested in writing about his feelings on politics, not the really dark subject matter that's typical of metal lyrics.
"When you start to talk about things that are really intense in nature or even fantasy-related you really narrow your audience down," an articulate Mustaine said in a recent interview, explaining his recent approach to songwriting.
"I've tried to sing about something that everybody experiences — and that's feelings."
And today, Mustaine is increasingly playing the part of a businessman — although he's clearly not a suit and tie guy — paying a lot more attention to the money behind his mega-selling band, and even managing some other acts on the side, include Baptized in Blood from London, Ont.
It's a far cry from the reckless Mustaine who nearly derailed his career with alcohol and drugs. As documented in his candid book, "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir," Mustaine was a founding member of Metallica but was kicked out before the bestselling act took off.
It took a little longer for Mustaine's band to soar to the top of the metal world, although they're now mentioned in the same breath as Metallica. In fact, the two bands make up half of metal's so-called "Big Four," along with Slayer and Anthrax, which are playing some gigs together this summer.
Megadeth has picked up numerous Grammy Award nominations and has sold more than 125 million records worldwide. Still, Mustaine thought the band could've been bigger, although he's quick to insist that he's more than content with where his life has taken him.
His autobiography, released last summer, details how drinking, heroin and cocaine use nearly cost him everything, including his marriage. In 2002, after suffering a serious arm injury that crippled his ability to play guitar, he declared that Megadeth was no more. It was around that time that he also found religion, which he credits with turning his life around, and a couple years later, Megadeth was back together.
"We're not as big as I'd hoped to be right now, but there were some decisions I'd made while I was growing up, not only in my own personal life but as a band leader and as a businessman, there were some decisions I made that would've probably been better if I decided to make the opposite choice of what I did," he said.
"But I'm absolutely 100 per cent content with who and what I am right now. I don't want to come off like a sour grape, dude. I'm not discontent with anything right now, I'm so happy I can't even imagine what life was like before this.
"I don't wish I was in a bigger band right now, I'm totally happy with who I am."
Mustaine is hoping to pick up some new fans this summer as Megadeth tours with a metal festival that stops in Toronto and Montreal next month (although Megadeth is not playing at the Montreal event).
In the U.S., Megadeth will be sharing a stage with more mainstream acts such as Godsmack and Disturbed, which have had more commercial radio success. Mustaine doesn't expect to get on the radio any time soon but hopes fans of mainstream hard rock will dig his stuff.
"The average (person) doesn't want to hear about killing or savagery or brutality or most of the things people in metal bands sing about — AC/DC gets played on the radio because they're a rock 'n' roll band," Mustaine said.
"So the potential to play to a new audience is just really interesting for me, to be able to get exposure in different genres.
"The intent of both Disturbed and Godsmack is to be popular and heavy at the same time, and those are two things we are."
Megadeth is nearing the end of its contract with Roadrunner Records and Mustaine is excited about charting the future for the band. But he isn't planning on anything experimental and won't be self-releasing albums like Radiohead has done.
"I think the record business is just like anything else, it's going to regulate itself, it's going to correct itself, the problem is that all the pigs were in there with their hands on the steering wheel and they got what they deserved," said Mustaine, who has no interest in going strictly digital with future releases, given piracy concerns.
"Musicians that say they don't care, that they'd give it away for free are stupid, they've never been hungry," Mustaine said.
"If you're just going out there and being reckless and careless and just letting your songs be downloaded for free and not caring it's probably going to be reflected in your longevity."
Mustaine, who's in the process of wrapping up the recording of the band's new album, expected in the fall, said he popped out of the studio every chance he could during the Stanley Cup finals to watch bits and pieces of the games.
An avid hockey fan, Mustaine said he's disappointed with the direction the game is going in.
"My son's playing hockey and I'm worried for him," he said.
"I know the game is very physical and I love the physical part of it, but I also love the finesse part that a lot of the European players have brought to the game. Every once in a while there's something that happens that you just ask yourself, 'Why did he do that?'
"Now the game is so fast and players hit so hard and it seems that has taken over the game, the physical part of it, instead of the sportsmanship part of it."
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Heavy T.O. festival - http://www.heavyto.com/
Heavy Montreal festival - http://www.heavymtl.com/
On June 25, former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman will perform with Tibetan songstress Alan at MTV's charity event for victims of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Marty will also play one of his own songs, with a very special "secret" guest Japanese guitarist, at this unique event, which features TSUCHIYA ANNA, AI, MAY J., TOKIO HOTEL, ICONIQ and several others.
Many domestic and international stars such as James Blunt and Lady Gaga are selling their personal goods for the charity at the flea market.
Marty covered Alan's "Asu e no Aanka" song on his ninth solo album, "Tokyo Jukebox", which was released in Europe on February 22, 2010 via Mascot Records. The CD featured extensive liner notes (written by Friedman in the "story behind the song" format) which are exclusive to the European release.
Marty Friedman's tenth solo album, "Bad D.N.A.", was released in Japan on August 25, 2010 via Avex. The CD was produced by Marty and engineered by Steve Hardy and Shinnosuke Miyazawa (LADY GAGA, GUNS N' ROSES) this April/May at The Village in Los Angeles, California.
Progressive metallers FATES WARNING will play a handful of shows in Europe this summer, including a support slot at DREAM THEATER's August 2 concert at Terra Vibe in Athens, Greece.
Commented guitarist Jim Matheos: "We're looking forward to playing in Europe again this summer, particularly Headbangers Open Air in Germany and, of course, returning to Greece for shows in Athens and Larissa. These will most likely be our last shows before beginning work on a new FATES WARNING [album] for 2012, so we hope to see a lot of you there."
FATES WARNING 2011 is:
Ray Alder (vocals)
Jim Matheos (guitar)
Frank Aresti (guitar)
Joey Vera (bass)
Bobby Jarzombek (drums)
The "Parallels" lineup of FATES WARNING played a number of shows in 2010 in support of the recently released special edition of the album, which was made available through Metal Blade Records. In addition to remastered audio, there is a second audio disc of live and demo material. The package also includes a DVD with nearly three hours of material, including a complete live show from the 1992 "Parallels" tour and a documentary on the making of "Parallels" which includes live, studio, and current day interview footage with all the band members, Terry Brown (producer) and Brian Slagel (CEO of Metal Blade Records).
InsideOut Music in 2005 released a FATES WARNING DVD entitled "Live In Athens". The DVD shot was on February 20, 2005 at Gagarin in Athens, Greece and was mixed by Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM).
FATES WARNING's latest CD, "X", was released in 2004 on Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2000's "Disconnected" was recorded at Carriage House studios in Stamford, Connecticut and features cover artwork by renowned record-cover artist Ioannis (DREAM THEATER, SEPULTURA, DEEP PURPLE, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, KING CRIMSON, BIOHAZARD, VOIVOD, UFO, OVERKILL).
San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD have set "Unto The Locust" as the title of their new album, due in late September via longtime label Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at JingleTown Studios in Oakland, with frontman Robb Flynn producing, and it is sure to level anything and everything that happens upon its path.
MACHINE HEAD will prepare for the release of their new album by appearing on the main stage of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival for key dates, while headlining the Extreme Stage for others, this summer, which kicks off this July. This is the band's second tour of duty on Mayhem, as they appeared on the festival during its inaugural run in 2008.
An advance mix of the new MACHINE HEAD song "Locust" was released via iTunes on June 14 and will be included on an iTunes Mayhem digital sampler. Download cards for the digital sampler will be distributed at every date of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival so fans can redeem the song after being summarily kicked in the face by MACHINE HEAD's always devastating live show.
Flynn previously stated about the meaning of the song, "'Locust' is a metaphor. Locusts fly in a swarm, but they can't control which direction they fly; they float on the wind, they land, cause massive destruction, and then float away on the wind to leave you in the aftermath. The song is a metaphor for a type of person that sometimes comes into your life and has a similar effect."
Musically, the song is the essence of what MACHINE HEAD have been doing for nearly two decades. "It feels like the culmination of what we've been doing for the last 17 years: power grooves, patented MACHINE HEAD harmonics, crushing guitars and dark melodies, but taken to a new level," Flynn said. "It's a natural progression from [2007's] 'The Blackening', but different than anything on that record. In the past, when we debuted a new song, it was usually the fastest, thrashiest tune. This time we wanted to go with something just straight-up heavy."
The song is eight minutes in length, which is not unfamiliar territory for the band. Flynn even joked, "We still can't seem to write a damn song under six minutes. But MACHINE HEAD aren't writing music for the radio or MTV. This is for us. This is for the metalhead who let's music take him on a journey. This for the metalhead for whom music is the only thing that matters, to whom music is a savior. The music fan who's going to study every detail of the artwork, go online and find the lyrics and memorize every word, and let it take them away from their fucked up life for a while. It's for the music freak, who maybe just wants to get hammered, air-guitar and sing at the top of his lungs, and act like an friggin' idiot while starting a moshpit in their living room with reckless abandon. Because that's who wrote this song, and that is the only people we care about connecting with."
"Locust" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below (courtesy of Roadrunner Records).
[Note: This version of the song was mixed by Juan Urteaga (EXODUS, SADUS, TESTAMENT, NIGHT RANGER, VICIOUS RUMORS, HEATHEN, VILE, CATTLE DECAPITATION). The final mix will be handled by longtime MACHINE HEAD producer Colin Richardson (BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY, TRIVIUM).]
MACHINE HEAD will embark on a European headlining tour, dubbed "The Eighth Plague", in the fall. Support on the trek will come from BRING ME THE HORIZON, DEVILDRIVER and DARKEST HOUR.
"This will no doubt be the heaviest show you're going to see this year," states Flynn. "A lot of the greatest shows of our last touring cycle were in Europe and the U.K., so the prospect of this lineup combined with these crowds has us extremely stoked to get out there and tear it up! New material, great venues, killer fans... we absolutely cannot wait!"
Adds BRING ME THE HORIZON vocalist Oliver Sykes, "We're proper excited for these dates with MACHINE HEAD! We were listening to them before we even started BMTH, so to be going on tour with them is blowin' our minds! These will be our last U.K./Euro dates before we take a break to record our next album as well, so it's gonna be mental! We honestly can't wait."
Says DEVILDRIVER vocalist Dez Fafara, "We always love touring in packages that offer a diversity of styles of metal. This is yet another one of those packages. I would like to personally thank Robb Flynn for inviting us to the party. See you in the fucking pit."
"We are so excited to announce our upcoming winter European tour with MACHINE HEAD, BRING ME THE HORIZON, and DEVILDRIVER," exclaims DARKEST HOUR vocalist John Henry. "European audiences are true purists when it comes to their love for metal music and great metal concerts, so there's no better place in a world for this tour to go down. It will take us to cities we haven't been to in a decade, as well as a few new ones. Meeting new friends and exploring other cultures has always been something we enjoy as a band, and getting to explore some of these places with this great bill for the first time is both a great privilege and an honor. If you can make it out to one of these shows please do, you won't be let down."
KILL DEVIL HILL — the new band featuring Vinny Appice (HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, DIO) on drums, Rex Brown (DOWN, PANTERA) on bass, Mark Zavon (RATT, W.A.S.P., 40 CYCLE HUM) on guitar and Jason "Dewey" Bragg (PISSING RAZORS) on vocals — has scheduled the following dates:
?Aug. 08 - Las Vegas @ The Crown Theater (Rio Casino)
Aug. 10 - Hollywood @ Whisky A Go Go
KILL DEVIL HILL made its live debut on April 29 at the Key Club in Hollywood, California. The group played a 30-minute set which was previously described as "an introduction to what's to come!"
Dimension Films has announced that fans of Michael Myers should put a big red circle around October 26, 2012 on their calendars.
That's when the company is expected to release Halloween 3D.
Of course, at this time, we have no clue who is directing or which script they are going with. Patrick Lussier and Todd Farmer penned a draft which picks up after the events of Rob Zombie's Halloween II. The story concerns Laurie Strode in a mental hospital and there's a part for Tom Atkins to co-star.
Lussier and Farmer, however, are neck-deep in the Hellraiser redo script.
Are the Weinstein brothers pulling the duo off that project to get Halloween 3D rolling?
Despite all their achievements and career highs, it's interesting to note that Quebec prog metal trailblazers Voivod have never released a live album with their classic lineup. Back in 2000, they released Voivod Lives, a live collection recorded during their trio phase. And while no live full-length with deceased guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour, who played with the band from their beginnings in 1982 until he passed away in 2005, has ever surfaced, Voivod delivered the next best thing with the recently released Warriors of Ice.
The live album captures three-fourths of the band's classic lineup -- drummer Michel "Away" Langevin, bassist Jean-Yves "Blacky" Thériault and vocalist Denis "Snake" Bélanger, along with guitarist Daniel Mongrain, who does as good a job as anyone possibly could filling Piggy's shoes -- at a very triumphant Montreal hometown concert recorded in 2009 by Glen Robinson.
"I feel like it's an achievement because there was a point where we weren't sure if there was going to be a new Voivod album," Langevin tells Exclaim! in a recent interview. "It's not a studio album but still something we're very proud of. It's good vintage Voivod."
Given Voivod's successful return to the live arena as of late after a post-Piggy hiatus, fans have been ravenous for anything from the band -- new material being top of the list, but a live album documenting the band with vocalist Snake has also been something Voivodians have clamoured for. Langevin agrees that a live disc with what is almost the original lineup has been a long time coming.
"Yeah, it's long overdue," he admits. "There was never really a live album with Snake and Blacky since the one before was us as a trio with [ex-bassist/vocalist] Eric Forrest. So, yeah, it's refreshing to have an album with almost the original lineup involved."
While it would be one nice final tip of the hat to Piggy to release an official live album from his time in the band, Langevin says that won't be the case, but he does drop one teaser about some upcoming treats for Voivod followers.
"There are no professional [unreleased] recordings in the vaults [with Piggy]," he says, "but we are re-releasing a few albums in the upcoming months with bonus live material from the '80s."
But it's not all repackaged live versions of classics and re-releases from the Voivod camp right now, as the guys are actually hard at work on a new album, which will be the first album without the contributions of Piggy, really marking a brave and bold step forward for the band, one they are feeling very confident about.
"We have four songs completed and about five other ones in progress and it's more in the progressive metal vein, so it's reminiscent of the Dimension Hatross era," says Langevin. "We hope to record in the fall and have a new album out in the spring of 2012, so before the end of the world."
So while Warriors of Ice marks the end of an era for the band, it also signifies a whole new adventure for the long-running group, even if it is a new adventure that must begin by saying goodbye to Piggy, in the form of this live album, which Langevin says was actually conceived as a way to honour him.
"Of course it's mainly on the road when we play songs that we feel Piggy's presence hovering above us," he says. "The goal of the live album was to pay tribute to him in the first place. He will always be there with us."
Warriors of Ice is out now through Indica Records.
Niclas Müller-Hansen of Sweden's Metalshrine blog recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Billy Graziadei of the seminal New York City hardcore/metal band BIOHAZARD. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metalshrine: Well, the obvious question first. Why did [bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld] leave?
Billy: It dropped like a bombshell. It kind of came up from left field. We finished tracking the [new BIOHAZARD] record in late February and really didn't have much contact with him that much. Everything was through management and I was working on the mix with [producer] Toby [Wright] and some additional overdubs and different ideas and some piano and keyboard stuff. Then a couple of weeks ago he calls up and says, "I can't do it anymore!" He's got a bunch of personal stuff and it's mostly secret. But it's personal between… it's what's going on in his life, but he made a decision and we weren't happy about it, but we made our decision to continue and keep going. It would be great if he was here and I know he's proud of the record and as happy as it came out as we are. We were all there and made it together and focused equally on it, but rather to let it die out, we said, "You know what? Fuck it! We're all psyched and happy and even though things are
different it doesn't mean much has changed!" The heart and soul of the band is still intact and we're gonna continue.
Metalshrine: How's Scott [Roberts, who played on the band's 2005 "Means To An End" album] working out?
Billy: He's great! He was the guy [that joined BIOHAZARD] after Bobby [Hambel left]. It took us a long time to find him, but we knew him and he filled in for us at the last minute, but he stepped up and did it. It was a tough obstacle to overcome but we did it. We played Download [festival in England], which was cool and the next day we played the Metal Hammer boat and that was a phenomenal show! All the kids were like, "Wow!" and even the editors of the magazine were like… and they've been doing this for ten years and in the past three of four years with ANTHRAX and HELLYEAH and they were like, "Nobody's rocked the boat like you guys did!" It was cool! What happens in the future when I go home, we'll sort that out, but right now I'm just here to talk about the record.
Metalshrine: As I understand it, Scott is not gonna be a permanent member and you're gonna find someone else.
Billy: We don't know what we're gonna do right now. Yes, the answer was that Scott was just temporary, but who knows? He did a great job and the feedback from everybody was like, "Wow!" He looks a little like [Evan] and he sounds a little like him, but we're not looking at this as a replacement, it's more like a change. Something different, you know, but it's still BIOHAZARD. There's opportunity to bring something new to the table and we'll see. Right now it's just playing and doing a lot of press. I haven't had one second to have a crap by myself, let alone anything else. (laughs)
Metalshrine: What's the title of the album?
Billy: We had a title. We had a few titles but we settled on a title and was like, "OK, that's it!" and I was ready to tell everybody and at the last minute, at Download or Metal Hammer, something came up and we were like, "Oh, that's pretty cool!" so we decided to hold off instead of spit out a title and have it changed next week. Within a week you'll have the title and the artwork!
Metalshrine: Is that a hard thing coming up with? Do you always go through bunch of titles and then change it?
Billy: No! I remember "State Of The World Address" spit right out, "Urban Discipline" spit right out, "Mata Leao", we went back and forth with different ideas and then I came up with an idea and I liked the fact that it was a different language and the whole idea was not telling anybody what it was about. Let it mean what you want it to mean, which was stupid because people are like, "Just tell me! Please tell me what it means?" "Kill Or Be Killed" was supposed to be called "Never Forgive, Never Forget" and it was all about what happened on September 11th in New York, our home. We were all there and those lyrics all came out the first two months after September 11th, but we realized it's a marketing machine behind our records and the record label is gonna blow that up and capitalize on that horrible thing that was world changing for everyone. We changed it. We didn't want to cash in on that horrific event, so we changed that title at the last minute.
Horrific artwork and I hated it. That record was a different era for us. That was a hit record and by that I mean, we aimed, we wanted it to sound ill and aggressive like the subject matter that we were dealing with and we did. We didn't want it to sound nice and pretty. It sounded like we were in a garage and recorded it.
GENERATION KILL, the crossover metal outfit featuring EXODUS frontman Rob Dukes, has set "Red White And Blood" as the title of its debut album, due on September 16 in Europe and September 27 in North America via Season Of Mist. A digital single containing the CD's title track and a cover of the NINE INCH NAILS classic "Wish" will precede the full-length effort on July 4.
"Red White And Blood" was recorded at J. Rod Production Studios in New City, New York (where the vocal tracks for EXODUS' "Let There Be Blood" and OVERKILL's "Ironbound" were previously laid down).
Commented the writing team of Rob Dukes and Rob Moschetti (bass, backing vocals): "This release is the most diverse project that either of the two of us been a part of. This is an honest, no-holds-barred album containing various styles of music. In a way, it is a bit of a selfish record. We wrote the kind of material that we like. You can't please everybody, so you might as well please yourself. Honestly, that's what true art is. Freedom of expression."
The song "Red White And Blood" is available for streaming on the band's Facebook page.
According to a press release, "The original concept of the band was to break away from the current formula by embracing their roots and incorporating them into the project.
"GENERATION KILL is a true crossover band. Each song has its own identity, and mood, which gives the band its original sound without abandoning their influences.
"By adding two lead guitarist/songwriters to the band, a whole new dimension has been introduced to GENERATION KILL.
"While Jason Trenczer adds technical guitar work, Lou Lehman adds catchy riffs and solos. The final ingredient to the band is veteran drummer Sam Inzerra. Sam has a death metal background which adds speed and power to the project.
"Each member of the band takes part in the writing process.
"While each member has established himself in legendary and underground bands, let it be known that this is no side project."
GENERATION KILL is:
Rob Dukes - Vocals
Rob Moschetti - Bass/Backing Vocals
Lou Lehman - Lead Guitar
Jason Trenczer - Lead Guitar
Sam Inzerra - Drums
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/genkillcd.jpg
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Four musicians who performed on KING DIAMOND's 1990 album, "The Eye" — guitarists Andy La Rocque and Pete Blakk, bassist Hal Patino and drummer Snowy Shaw — are featured on "Get It On", the new single from Patino's son, 20-year-old Danish rock singer Maryann Cotton (born Jackie Patino). The track will be made available soon via iTunes. Blakk, Hal Patino and Shaw will also be part of Cotton's touring band, which is expected to begin playing shows before the end of the year.
Maryann Cotton's career was launched in 2006 when he performed live on Danish TV as part of the "Scenen Er Din" program (Danish version of "Star Search").
According to a press release, "Maryann has been on the phone with King and [they have] also been mailing each other quite a lot lately. They have been talking about many things, and both of them have a lot of ideas and plans for the future... [King] has been extremely positive, supporting and helpful."
King Diamond stated about Maryann's previous single (which also featured appearances by La Rocque, Blakk, Hal Patino and Shaw), "I checked out the Maryann Cotton song 'Shock Me' the other day. I really liked it. It reminded me in a positive way of Alice Cooper 1971. I think his vocals fit really well in the music, and the few backing vocals he did seemed to make everything sound a lot bigger. Normally horn sections really give me the creeps, but the way they used it in this song, I didn't mind. Great musicians, of course. I really look forward to hear more songs from him, so I can begin to get the full picture."
Norwegian "Despots of Deathpunk" TURBONEGRO have called upon old friend, legendary Londoner and former DUKES OF NOTHING frontman Tony Sylvester to step in as their new vocalist.
Sylvester, 38, cuts a formidable figure. A longtime stalwart of the British hardcore punk scene and music industry veteran, he was the President of the London chapter of the Turbojugend fan club and has previously worked with the band as their U.K. press officer.
Tony is a connoisseur of the finer things in life, especially music of all genres and 19th century English literature, in addition to being a part time plus-size model (for, amongst others, Burberry) and member of the men's fashion editorial staff at GQ Style magazine.
TURBONEGRO has been on a two-year hiatus since the split with former vocalist Hans Erik "Hank Von Helvete" Dyvik Husby in 2009, after his decision to pursue a career in acting, the Church of Scientology and goth rock.
Sylvester will perform his first show with TURBONEGRO at the Turbojugend World Days in Hamburg, Germany on July 15.
Commented lead guitarist Euroboy: "Well into the second song we played with Tony, I stopped thinking this was an audition — it was just a great sound! We ran through a bunch of songs and had a lot of fun, he knew all of them! Tony pulled off the songs with a raw-yet-elegant attitude to his performance that makes him an obvious choice as the new singer of our band. We had a list with a few other names on, which we ripped in two and left on the floor of our rehearsal place."
Added bass player Happy-Tom: "Tony is the fan who we in turn became fans of early on, before becoming close friends. He has the powerful, soulful voice and the presence we have always been looking for in a singer and we are STOKED to have this magical gentleman or gentle THUG aboard!"
Stated Tony Sylvester himself: "I was incredibly honored to get the call up and blown away by the way the sound came together so quickly. It's going to be different for sure — there's a little more filth in my pipes, but as a longtime jugend, I want to assure the Turbojugend that the legacy is in safe hands."
The new lineup is already working on songs for a new album.
DARK FOREST has inked a deal with Cruz del Sur Music for the release of the band's second full-length album, "Dawn Of Infinity". The group entered the studio on June 18 to begin recording the CD, which will be made available in the fall.
A young band based out of Birmingham, England, DARK FOREST has been knocking skulls around for a few years now, after the release of its self-titled debut album on Eyes Like Snow Records in January 2009. Their traditional take on heavy metal is as British-sounding as some of the best NWOBHM bands, reinterpreted with a modern production's punch able to make them stand out alone.
If your heart has a soft spot for IRON MAIDEN, ANGEL WITCH, ISEN TORR or early DEEP PURPLE, DARK FOREST boasts the kind of fist-pumping old-school classic metal to make your day.
Gibson USA has introduced the limited-edition Sammy Hagar Explorer. Crafted in the image of the original Explorer of 1958 — a guitar that was blindingly ahead of its time back in the day — and graced with an original blend of Sammy's Red Rocker and CHICKENFOOT styling, the Sammy Hagar Explorer is an eye-catching axe from every angle, and equipped for everything from searing to sublime tonal adventures, too.
Product features:
* Solid Mahogany body with cream top Binding and unique "Red Rocker" finish
* Bound Rosewood fingerboard with acrylic dot inlays
* Zebra-coiled '57 Classic in the neck and a slightly hotter zebra-coiled BurstBucker 3 in the bridge
* Ghosted CHICKENFOOT logo on the back
* Mini Grover kidney button tuners with 14:1 tuning ratio
Check it out now at your authorized Gibson dealer, and grab a scorching slab of red-rockin' action. All guitars include a Gibson hardshell case with owner's manual, adjustment literature, and Gibson's limited lifetime warranty and 24/7/365 customer service.
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"Twenty-five years is a long time for any relationship, but especially a rock 'n' roll band," said Rikki Rockett, drummer of the band Poison, who will be performing Wednesday night with Motley Crue at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.
"We've been through a lot together, but honestly, I think we are all playing better than we ever have."
It has been two years since the group (still with all original members, guitarist C.C. Deville, bassist Bobby Dahl and front man Bret Michaels) have toured together, but Rockett feels fans are in for a treat. "We were in rehearsals for this 25th Anniversary Tour, and we sound really, really good," Rockett said. "I know that I am playing better, and I think every one of us is getting better as we go along."
Rockett had hoped the band would have some new music by the time this tour came along, but that never happened for many reasons.
"When you take a band like us, we all live separate lives when we're not together. Getting it all together to record an album is a daunting task," Rockett said. "It's just a hard thing to do. We finished our last tour after nearly a year and a half on the road, and we needed a break."
New music is still in the offing.
"We are going to finish this tour, take a little time off and then, hopefully, we can begin writing and recording new material," Rockett said. "We have been tossing things around, for sure."
The two-year hiatus of the band does not mean that they have been relaxing on a beach somewhere. Michaels has been busy with the "Rock of Love" and "Life As We Know It" television series and touring solo with the Bret Michaels band. Rockett has been busy with his own small company, Rockett Drum Works, and collobarting with his wife, Melanie Martel,and her music.
"Oh yeah, I haven't been lounging around being a bum, that's for sure," Rockett said. "My drum company, which I am not striving to be a huge company to begin with, is taking off at the speed I want. We make custom drum kits designed by myself, specifically tailored to the person who orders them. I mean from the wood type, drum type and paint design. They are custom, and not cheap, as you won't be finding them in stores across the country. We deal directly with the person who orders them, and each set is a one-of-a-kind. So, actually, I get my creative release out of that when I am off the band thing."
Working with his wife playing gigs also helps Rockett hone his talent.
"I love working with Melanie and her music," Rockett said. "Doing gigs with her, which is such a different style other than what we as a band do, has also helped my playing. As one gets older, no matter what instrument they play, you learn control and expression by learning and performing every kind of music that you can. I believe that played a huge part in the success of Poison."
Poison learned many styles of music in the early day, starting out as a garage band.
"It's the best learning tool that any musician can have," Rockett said. "You start a band with a few buddies, and you have to learn to play all kinds of music, especially the Top 40 stuff to be able to get gigs. It's from that is where you form your own sound."
Rockett said Poison is still a garage band, aside the fact that they have attained fame and fortune.
"We really still are like a garage band in a sense, because that's how we come up with new music," Rockett said. "In rehearsals for this tour, we started jamming and playing around, coming up with cool riffs and grooves. It got to the point where we had to stop ourselves and get back to the business of putting our show together for this tour. But there is new music just waiting to burst out of us, and we know that's what has to be next for us."
Meanwhile, the band is out with Motley Crue this summer on a tour that has been talked about for years but that many fans thought would never happen.
"It's taken a long time to get together, for one reason or another," Rockett said, "but we finally pulled it off, and it's the biggest, most-awaited rock 'n' roll tour of the year that's out there."
Rockett said everything is going just fine so far.
"We are having a great time with Motley on the road," Rockett said. "No one is taking the 'rock star' attitude, and everybody is getting along fine. The audience is the real winner in this deal ... they get hit after hit after hit in this show."
Who: Motley Crue and Poison
When: 7 tonight
Where: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Tickets: $25- $120
How: www.livenation.com
A PERFECT CIRCLE guitarist Billy Howerdel says that the band is close to finishing up a new song which it will play on the band's upcoming summer North American tour. As for whether the yet-to-be-titled track will lead to a full album's worth of material, Howerdel told The Pulse Of Radio that he doesn't see a full-length record happening. "I like records," he said. "I still like records. I have great memories of having anticipation of hearing a whole album and ingesting it slowly and drinking it all in. To me, I have desires of making a record, but it just doesn't seem like people are interested. It just seems that everyone likes to digest things much quicker and have less patience."
A PERFECT CIRCLE will tour North America for the first time in six years this summer. The tour kicks off next Wednesday (June 29) in Portland, Oregon.
These will be the band's first live dates since a mini-tour they did last fall, in which they played each of their three studio albums over the course of three nights in five cities.
The 2010-2011 lineup of A PERFECT CIRCLE includes singer Maynard James Keenan, Howerdel, drummer Josh Freese, former SMASHING PUMPKINS guitarist James Iha and bassist Matt McJunkins.
Freese announced last month that he will not be performing with the band on its summer tour. Freese issued a statement at his official web site in which he said his decision was "maybe the hardest . . . I've ever had to make professionally and it hasn't been easy on me. I've been looking forward to APC reforming for years now and the timing just couldn't have been worse. I'd already committed the time to WEEZER and I am a man of my word. As much as I hate to have to miss the APC tour there wasn't a whole lot I could do about it."
Jeff Friedl of ASHES DIVIDE and PUSCIFER will fill in on drums for A PERFECT CIRCLE until Freese returns.
A PERFECT CIRCLE currently does not have a record deal.
PUSCIFER, the project ringleader Maynard James Keenan describes as "'Twin Peaks' in the desert," will release "Conditions Of My Parole" on October 18 via Puscifer Entertainment.
"Man Overboard", the first single from the album, will be available via iTunes and other digital service providers on July 19.
"The Verde Valley is an intrinsic part of what PUSCIFER is," explains Keenan. "It's equal parts 'Twilight Zone', 'Mayberry' and 'Road Warrior'. The ghosts and aliens, Republicans and Democrats, cowboys and artists living side by side with hostile creatures such as scorpions, spiders, rattlesnakes, javelina and hippies are just a few of the spicy ingredients that give 'Conditions Of My Parole' its unique flavor."
"Conditions Of My Parole" was recorded in Jerome, Arizona this spring with tracking done amidst the wine barrels from Keenan's Caduceus Cellars. The album was produced by Keenan, Mat Mitchell, and Josh Eustis. Contributing musicians for the new album include the aforementioned Keenan, Mitchell, and Eustis as well as Carina Round, Juliette Commagere, Matt McJunkins, Jeff Freidl, Gil and Rani Sharone, Jonny Polonsky, Tim Alexander, Devo Keenan, Alessandro Cortini, Sarah Jones, and Jon Theodore.
PUSCIFER's debut album, the infamously censored "V is for V*****" (2007), charted on both the rock and dance singles charts simultaneously (the full album at #9 on the Billboard Rock Album and "C*ntry Boner" at #1 on Billboard's Dance Singles Chart). "V is for V*****" entered The Billboard 200 at #25. The band turned multimedia troupe carried out Keenan's vision of an evening that seamlessly combined music, recorded skits and live character sketches over two U.S. tours which were described as an "X-rated episode of 'Hee-Haw'" (Spin) and "a performance art spectacle equal parts comedy cabaret show and guerilla theater" (Las Vegas Review-Journal). Keenan has often stated in interviews that his concept for PUSCIFER required nearly two decades to pass before the technology was available to create the live performance.
A North American tour kicks off in early November, with more information to come.
British progressive metal act BEECHER has announced that it will be playing no further shows together and there will be no new material; the band is once again calling it a day.
BEECHER was signed to Earache Records, having released two albums and toured extensively before splitting up in 2005. They reformed to play three shows earlier this year, but have so far remained non-committal as to what the future may hold for them.
Commented frontman Ed Godby: "When we knocked it on the head in 2005, our personal lives were in various states of disarray and we had no inclination to continue with things. Several years on, lives sorted out a bit and the urge to pick up where we left off was strong, so we planned a few shows to see how we felt about the whole thing.
"The shows were fantastic, especially London and our hometown show in Manchester, but instead of feeling like a new beginning, it felt like an appropriate full stop to all things BEECHER."
Ed has a new band called CASTLES, which will be recording its debut album with Chris Fielding at Foel Studio, Wales this summer. Dave Hopkinson (bass), Mark Lyons (guitar) and Daniel Jones (drums) are in the early stages of a new band together, with Jones also playing in DAY FOR AIRSTRIKES. Dan Shaw (guitar) currently plays in THE ERGON CAROUSEL and PINE BARRENS.
EVANESCENCE is currently recording its self-titled third album at a Nashville studio with producer Nick Raskulinecz (RUSH, FOO FIGHTERS, VELVET REVOLVER, DEATH ANGEL, TRIVIUM) for a tentative October 4 release via Wind-up Records.
In a brand new interview with U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine, EVANESCENCE vocalist Amy Lee was asked how the material for the new CD came together. "It was a completely different way of doing things for us, but it was exactly what we needed," she said. "As we started to hear the body of work back in the studio, it's become really clear to me that this is a band record. I feel more connected and in sync with my band than I ever have before. Everyone has been involved with the process from the ground up and that's a first for us. This time we all got in a room together to make something, which was scary and different but it's been about letting go of control and being more collaborative. It's paid off in a way I never would have expected. The lineup we have now is really strong and I'm proud to have these guys by me."
Regarding how this new EVANESCENCE sounds, Lee said, "Looser. This album is not so glossy or tight. It's more instinctive. It's big on groove and there's some real musicianship that we're really proud of. Everyone knows our sound but that's just a foundation and we've danced on top of that! It's still very heavy and dark but we're having fun with it. Musically I don't feel trapped. I'm a lot more secure than I used to be. I used to have a lot of silly, self-imposed rules but we're breaking them all on this album. By loosening up, it feels like it's going to a higher place."
On the topic of her lyrical inspirations this time around, Amy said, "It's about life. I'm in a healthier place than I was before, when I was writing some heavy-hearted songs. But that doesn't mean the music sounds happy. I can pull from all sorts of sources and look at different things with a new perspective. The music is about me [and] my relationships. The music and the lyrics have gotten more aggressive than they ever were before too; that's one of the things making this album great."
Lee began recording an album last year with producer Steve Lillywhite (DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, U2) that leaned heavily in the direction of electronic and dance music, but her label reportedly rejected that project and made her start from scratch on a more traditional EVANESCENCE offering.
Guitarist Troy McLawhorn recently officially rejoined EVANESCENCE after leaving SEETHER in March. McLawhorn first joined EVANESCENCE in 2007 but left a year later and was hired by SEETHER. He quit that group three months ago, claiming "personal friction" with one of the band members, with SEETHER frontman Shaun Morgan saying at the time that McLawhorn was returning to EVANESCENCE.
EVANESCENCE's management denied that McLawhorn was coming back, but he announced it on June 14 at his Facebook page.
The new EVANESCENCE album comes five years after the band's last effort, 2006's "The Open Door".
Jacksonville, Florida hard rock band ALLELE has signed a two-album deal with the Chicago-based Goomba Music. The group's sophomore album, "Next To Parallel", will be released on September 27. The CD was produced by the band and mixed/mastered at Jacksonville's MyPlatinumSound by Paul Lapinski (RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS, ALICIA KEYS, EVERGREEN TERRACE, PUDDLE OF MUDD, MOLLY HATCHET, YELLOWCARD). The vocal tracks were engineered by Pete Charell (bassist of TRAPT) at Dexter Dog Studios in Laguna, California.
ALLELE (pronounced Uh-Leel) was formed in 2002 by vocalist Wally Wood and guitarist Lane Maverick (who has since departed the band).
Former COLD axeman Kelly Hayes is now a full-time member of ALLELE, having previously played with the group on a side-project basis.
ALLELE is:
Wally Wood - Vocals
Kelly Hayes - Lead Guitar
Mason Romaine - Rhythm Guitar
Giancarlo Autenzio - Drums
Tim Tobin – Bass
French black metal extremists SVART CROWN have announced the addition of drummer Nicolas Muller to the group's ranks. Nicolas joined the fold in time for the band's performance at this year's Hellfest and will continue cracking skulls behind the kit when SVART CROWN storms the stage at Le Sezamo in Nice, France and again when they take part in Czech Republic's Brutal Assault festival on August 12.
Video footage of Nicolas rehearsing the song "Colosseum", from SVART CROWN's most recent album, "Witnessing The Fall", can be viewed below.
"Witnessing The Fall" was released on February 8 in North America via Listenable Records. The CD was recorded at St. Marthe studio with producer Francis Caste (KICKBACK, ARKHON INFAUSTUS, PHAZM).
Spawned in France by guitarist/vocalist J.B. Le Bail, SVART CROWN was born in 2005 with the idea to push the boundaries of extreme music and create a new dimension of brutality and blackness. Following numerous tours in its native land, SVART CROWN released its first album, "Ages Of Decay", in early 2008. The band has been promoting this first effort since then, with countless shows and two European runs.
Featuring Le Bail, guitarist Clément "Klem" Flandrois, bassist L. Veyssière and drummer Gaël Barthélemy (DIABOLIC, DROWNING, BALROG, ANTAEUS), SVART CROWN "successfully mixes an old-school feeling with various modern influences," according to a press release. "'Witnessing The Fall' is simply the new face of the band: a black beast, full of anger, a symbol of humanity in perdition."
Swedish thrash/death/black metallers DEVIAN have released the following statement:
"We have decided to put DEVIAN to rest.
"After the tour with UNLEASHED in 2009, we started to focus on the third DEVIAN opus. After a few months of hard work on the album, Legion [a.k.a. Erik Hagsted, vocals] announced that he'd leave the band. About that time we also parted ways with the label that released our two first albums, Century Media.
"Some months later, we started to negotiate with various labels, but never did found anything that would meet even our budget for recording. During this period of time, we started to feel that we had lost the glow we once had for the band and the music.
"We recorded a demo with a new direction to more ordinary metal with lots of clean vocals, [which] you can still hear [below]. This gave a new spark to the band, but it was only temporary.
"At this time Joinus [Jonas Mattson, guitar/vocals] decided to leave the band. He was 'tired' of the music DEVIAN was playing. After all, 20 years playing death/thrash metal in various acts is a long time. And the step to the direction he (and some other members) was trying to reach was a step to far and would only disappoint all of you who listened to what DEVIAN once started out as, a death metal act.
"And after Joinus left, Emil [Dragutinovic, drums], Tomas [Nilsson, guitar] and Carl [Stjärnlöv, bass] decided to put DEVIAN to sleep, forever…
"But to give up music would be to give up life. Nowadays you can find the members in the following acts;
"Joinus plays '60s and '70s rock 'n' roll in the Luciferian-themed YEAR OF THE GOAT (just released a mini-LP / mini-CD through VÁN Records) and garage smelling, denim action rock in THE HORSEHEAD UNION (album released during autumn 2011 with artwork from Skrymer / FINNTROLL).
"Tomas has teamed up with Roberth Karlsson (ex-DEVIAN, ex-EDGE OF SANITY, FACEBREAKER, SCAR SYMMETRY) and released a few hardcore-oriented albums on the hardcore Swedish label Halvfabrikat Records. This project is called Aktiv Dödshjälp. Sometime ago a well-known extreme metal band offered him the bass duties in their band. He accepted the offer and is right now sweating his guts out in a rehearsal room in Stockholm; preparing to get out on tour again [as soon as possible]! 'DEVIAN has been a good run and really cool experience for me that I'll never forget!'
"Emil has quit all his 'official' musical activities and has his studio-based two-man death metal act RUPTURE and says that he will not participate in any new projects/bands at the time being. [He says], 'As the other DEVIAN members, I came across other priorities so it just feels natural to let the band go and focus on what's to come. I hope to come across a new goal in music which doesn't involve death metal, my studio project RUPTURE is enough at the time being when it comes to extreme music. Possessed as I am with creating music, I will for sure not stop doing music, that's my life, my passion that I'll never stop doing, no matter what I'm into at the moment.'
"Carl is currently busier than ever with DIABOLICAL. 'Ars Vitae' was released earlier this year and the band has been on tour in Russia. Right now they are planning more shows and new material is being written for a new album. [He says], 'Sadly we decided to put DEVIAN to sleep, but it was obviously the right thing to do given that most members had lost the spark for the band. I'd guess that none of us will quit doing music so keep a close eye at what we're doing in our respective bands and projects. I've had tons of good times with the guys from DEVIAN and I would be very happy to play with them again in some context. I wouldn't be surprised if it happens, because personal and musical chemistry of the caliber that we've had doesn't come along very often.'
"We want to thank everyone involved in the story of DEVIAN from the bottom of our hearts. Without you this journey wouldn't have been worth anything."
Swedish black metallers DARK FUNERAL have been rejoined by drummer Nils Fjallstrom (a.k.a. Dominator) i
Commented Nils: "After a short break of focusing on other aspects of my life, it's a great privilege for me to announce my return to DARK FUNERAL. The time off has fueled my inspiration and urge to get back behind the kit and annihilate. It's an honor to play alongside my fellow brothers again. May DARK FUNERAL rise to Dominate once more."
Added guitarist Lord Ahriman: "It feels absolutely killer to be working with Dominator again. He's not only an amazing drummer, but also a very good friend. And I'm glad he's back in the band. A massive welcome back brother! Now, let's together set the world ablaze and conquer the universe once and for all!"
Stated guitarist Chaq Mol: "Finally, a missing brother is back from his walkabout. And the search for a drummer is officially over. Once again we have the honor to play with the best drummer ever. Welcome back, Dominator, my brother!"
DARK FUNERAL last year parted ways with vocalist Magnus "Masse" Broberg (a.k.a. Emperor Magus Caligula), Nils Fjellström and bassist B-Force.
DARK FUNERAL played its final show with Emperor Magus Caligula) on August 21, 2010 at the Summer Breeze festival in Dinkelsbühl, Germany. "Since this was a very special performance in many ways, we not only put on our biggest pyro show ever, we also captured this gig with 10 cameras (including one crane)," said Lord Ahriman. "So you can be sure to expect a DVD release from this killer show in the near future."
Broberg announced his departure from DARK FUNERAL in July 2010, explaining that "my life has taken a new turn lately, and I am also getting married this year, whereof my priorities in life lie somewhere else." Guitarist and founding member Lord Ahriman added, "I understand when people change course and get new priorities in life. And I fully respect that. Life moves on, after all, and so will DARK FUNERAL.
"Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus", the latest album from DARK FUNERAL, was released in North America on January 26, 2010 via Regain Records. The CD, which was made available in most European countries between November 18, 2009 and November 27, 2009, was recorded at Abyss Studio in Grangärde, Sweden with famed engineer and legendary producer Peter Tägtgren (PAIN, HYPOCRISY).
According to Otago Daily Times, police investigators are still looking for three knives that might be connected to the murder of the lead singer of one of New Zealand's longest-running death metal bands, BACKYARD BURIAL.
35-year-old Matthew Hall (pictured below) was murdered in a ferocious and personal attack in his home in Johnsonville on February 15.
The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thornton, said close to 20 detectives were working on the investigation and still had more work to do to identify Hall's killer.
"During this investigation there has been several people of interest. One of these people is Timothy Parlane, who made alleged admissions about being responsible for Mr. Hall's death, before his sudden death in March. Given Mr. Parlane is now deceased it has made it challenging for police to corroborate this."
BACKYARD BURIAL released its debut album, titled "Symptoms Of Psychopathology", in 1999.
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