This August, audiences across the country will get an
unrivalled look into the mind of legendary rock icon Ozzy Osbourne in "God
Bless Ozzy Osbourne", an exclusive in-theater event that will be
broadcast to movie theaters nationwide on Wednesday, August 24 and Monday,
August 29 at 7:30 p.m. (local time). Packed with never-before-seen BLACK
SABBATH footage and recent solo tour clips, fans are set to enjoy an
incredibly unique experience, by director/filmmaker and son of the Prince of
Darkness himself, Jack Osbourne. Fellow musicians such as Paul
McCartney, Tommy Lee and others will also share stories, while an
exclusive interview with the Osbourne family explains why bringing Ozzy's
storied history to life — through the eyes of his son Jack — was the
perfect motivation to capture one of music's greatest icons in candid splendor.
Don't miss your chance to see this two-night event on the big screen.
Tickets go on sale to the general public Monday, August 1.
"God Bless Ozzy Osbourne" was co-produced
by Jack Osbourne and is the first film released by Jack's
production company, Jacko Productions. The documentary, which was
originally titled "Wreckage Of My Past: The Ozzy Osbourne Story",
was directed by Mike Fleiss and Mike Piscitelli.
"God Bless Ozzy Osbourne" premiered on April 24 at the Tribeca
Film Festival in New York City and received a positive review from Entertainment
Weekly, which said, "What could have been a glossy, fawning tribute to
the most visible face in heavy metal music history — especially considering it
was co-produced by his son, Jack — actually turned out to be a
remarkably evenhanded look at Ozzy's monumental musical influence as
well as his less exemplary life as an addict and often-absent father."
Critic Joseph Brannigan Lynch added, "'God Bless Ozzy Osbourne' may not answer the question 'What makes Ozzy act so... Ozzy-like?',
but it's hardly a fluffy tribute. This documentary succeeds in offering a
balanced portrait of a man who made many mistakes over the course of his
addiction-riddled life and also happens to be one of the most influential hard
rock singers ever."
Lynch also wrote that the film "starts with Osbourne's poor
childhood in the cramped quarters of inner-city Birmingham, England, and goes
up to his long-sought sobriety following the end of the water-cooler fodder
reality series 'The Osbournes'."
While the movie does not delve into certain aspects of Ozzy's life —
such as his attempted strangulation of wife/manager Sharon years ago —
frank interviews with his five children "portray him as an absentee father
even when he was physically present due to his mind-numbing abuse of pills,
cocaine and liquor," according to Lynch.
The film features interviews with many of Ozzy's family members, friend
and colleagues, including Paul McCartney, the members of BLACK
SABBATH and MÖTLEY CRÜE's Tommy Lee.
Ask
a progressive metal guitarist who the singer in their dream band might be and
chances are good that Tony Martin's name will be around the top of the list.
His five albums with Black Sabbath – Eternal Idol, Headless Cross, TYR, Cross Purposes and Forbidden – constitute a rich body
of work populated by complex lyrical themes and flawless vocals. Listen to the
song "Anno Mundi (The Vision)" from TYR and you'll hear it all –
imagery, technique and delivery. Martin's solo album, Scream, is also a
metal must-have, demonstrating his multi-instrumental talents alongside his
vocal prowess. (The album also features the essential track "Raising Hell" with
late, great drummer Cozy Powell.)
Martin
was actually Black Sabbath's second-longest-serving singer. His first tenure
with the band, from Eternal Idol (1987) through to TYR (1990),
came after a pair of Sabbath albums with Deep Purple alumni Ian Gillan (Born
Again) and Glenn Hughes (Seventh Star, which was supposed to be a
Tony Iommi solo album until the label intervened).
Martin
helped restore some cohesion to the band after that confusing period. Although
he and Black Sabbath parted ways to make way for Ronnie James Dio on 1992's Dehumanizer,
that lineup didn't last, so Martin returned for Cross Purposes (1994)
and Forbidden (1995). Eventually Martin and his Forbidden-era
bandmates were ousted when Tony Iommi reunited with Sabbath's original members,
but the albums Headless Cross and Cross Purposes are true
standouts among the Black Sabbath catalog.
The
multi-talented Martin recently spoke to Gibson.com.
How
do you write your lyrics? Some of your themes and phrases are so evocative that
I'd imagine you do a lot of research and reading.
I
do study lyrics a lot. Sometimes I can get stuck on one line for weeks. Other
times it will flow like water. I never know… but I do know that it has
to have a beginning, middle and end story that flows. If it doesn't have that,
I have to either work it to death until I have the exact line, or I never
listen to it ever again! I am always inspired by the music and the words "tell
me" if it's gonna fit.
Is there any particular
Black Sabbath album that you feel encapsulates your legacy with the band?
Not
only one; most of them. I think Cross Purposes was the best quality one
but Headless Cross and TYR were the most researched. The others
were cool though.
What
are your proudest individual Black Sabbath lyrical and vocal moments? Cross
Purposes in particular is an album that I find myself listening to for the
lyrics just as much as for the songs and performances.
Yeah.
I can see why you may pick up on that one. I was gettin' a bit more real with
lyrics instead of historical. But I actually invented some words and to this day
only one person has found them and questioned me about them. I challenge
anyone to find them, but everyone sings them. It's those things that I find
really interesting.
Whenever
I listen to Headless Cross I can imagine it as a rock opera, like the
QueenWe Will Rock You musical or something. Is that something you'd
ever consider working on?
Absolutely!
I am talking to an old band called Black Widow about such an idea!
How
did you feel about your work on Forbidden?
Well Forbidden is… I want to say crap, but it's actually not. The songs
worked really well in rehearsals, and then things started to get political, and
I got wind of an Ozzy reunion – not from Sabbath directly, of course. But
before that came, there was a meeting at the Sabbath offices in London to which we were
summoned to discuss the possibility of doing a Run-D.M.C. type of album. I
thought it wouldn't work, and voiced that. Cozy Powell thought it wouldn't
work. I was never sure that most of the others were convinced, but we were
kinda steered into a "Rap Sabbath" album. Then I was told that Ice-T was gonna
be doing it and they couldn't or wouldn't tell me if he was doing the whole
thing or just one track... and I still didn't know the answer to that
when I was in the studio singing the tracks. They said they were gonna take it
and see what Ice-T wanted to do. So it has a distinct ill feeling about it. The
album eventually didn't really work, although some fans love it. And it was the
penultimate album to my being removed from the band, the last album to be
released being Sabbath Stones, a compilation album, which kept my name
in the band to span 10 years and six albums.
How is your new project
with Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) and Magnus Rosen (Hammerfall) going? What's
it sound like? Will you tour?
Well,
we are all doing individual projects and other things right now. We are talking
often about how we progress but until we have finished our current projects we
can't really get it on the road. The plan is to release the music in a
controlled way that will be different to the normal record label release. We
have two songs written that sound very unique and we are excited about those.
It's very accessible dark rock.
How
did you develop your multi-instrumentalism? Did you have formal training or is
it more organic for you?
Well
I started playing things when I was five years old. I had my first guitar when
I was seven, which I still own! It's an acoustic guitar that is completely
warped and the action is about half an inch! But I got sounds out of it and I
kept exploring with other things – electronic projects and taking things apart
and rebuilding them. The most famous of my musical explorations was harmonizing
with my mother's Hoover!
I learned a lot about note interaction just by using the constant drone note
from the vacuum. Also I had an AKAI 1721 reel-to-reel machine and I wanted to
multi-track record stuff. I figured out that if I unsoldered the wires off the
erase head, I could get it to record over a previous take. It of course faded
the more times I recorded over it, but it was another step in exploring stuff.
It hasn't stopped to this day. I still explore with samples and sounds and
electronic stuff. Guitars are my main instrument. If I want to write, I always
pick up the guitar first. My original first pride was a Gibson 335 semi, which
I am gutted to say I sold for £2 sterling when I was 14. Clearly had no idea
what I was holding! And I also destroyed a Reslo ribbon microphone – a genuine
1940s-ish one – in the interest of exploring the inner workings… I don't think
I want to reveal anything else or I might slash my wrists!
You
played the majority of instruments on Scream. Will we get to hear more
material like this?
I
am sure I will be exploring other forms of presenting my music. I tend to get
inspired by what is at hand at the time. If it happens to be a stick and a
cowbell, so be it. It never has been a stick and a cowbell, but you get
my point!
British heavy metal
legends IRON MAIDEN round off their "The Final Frontier World
Tour" at London, England's O2 Arena on Friday,
August 5 and Saturday, August 6.
As most fans know, MAIDEN's official photographer, John McMurtrie,
travelled with the band on board their Boeing 757 jet named Ed Force One from January 2008, capturing on camera not only the five continents visited on
the "Somewhere Back In Time World Tour" but also the "Round
The World In 66 Days" leg of "The Final Frontier World
Tour" earlier this year. This extensive coverage will be made
available later this year as a photographic book, entitled "On Board
Flight 666". Published by Orion Books, it will feature hundreds
of stunning photos with explanatory text, giving an exclusive,
behind-the-scenes pictorial documentation of both tours.
To celebrate IRON MAIDEN's appearance at the O2, the British Music
Experience (located at the O2 Bubble) will be offering, for a limited
period only, the opportunity to view a specially selected sample of prints from
the book in an intimate setting within the British Music Experience.
This unique presentation starts on Friday, August 5 to coincide with IRON
MAIDEN's first show at the O2 so if you're going to the concert, why not
come down early and grab a sneak preview during the day? Big Eddie from "Somewhere
Back In Time" will be there at the entrance of the museum to greet
you.
Entry to the photographic preview is included in general admission to the British
Music Experience, and John McMurtrie himself hopes to be present
during the first two days of the showing. As an added bonus, IRON MAIDEN fan-club members will have access to an exclusive discount voucher allowing
them and two guests to get into the British Music Experience for just £5
each (usual price £12) for the days of the IRON MAIDEN shows.
For more information, visit www.britishmusicexperience.com.
Click
here to download an 18-page preview of this book as a PDF file.
Slash's (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES)
"homecoming" gig on July 24 at the Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent
— the town where Slash was raised — was filmed for a DVD release,
tentatively due in October.
"I've been wanting to do this for a long time and for some reason it just
never seemed possible," said Slash.
"One of the things about doing the solo record and setting up my own tour
was that I told the powers-that-be that I wanted to play in places I'd never
played before. And so Stoke was something that was high on my list and I told
them just make it happen."
Slash, whose real name is Saul Hudson, left Stoke-on-Trent
when he was five years old. But he said he still had "vivid memories"
of the city.
"I have memories that I went to school there, of the basic neighbourhood
that I lived in. I remember exactly what the house looked like. Just everything
in general, for some reason my memory is really clear. Better than my memory of
later years."
The Stoke-on-Trent concert sold out in less
than two hours after tickets went on sale on May 6.
Over 1,500 fans attended the show, which marked Slash's first-ever
concert in his hometown.
David Bradbury, Group Press Officer of the Ambassador Theatre Group,
told StaffsLive, "We always knew the gig was going to be popular
and the fact that the gig sold out in less than two hours is brilliant.
"Slash is a local hero, he's from Stoke-on-Trent
and not a lot of people know that. I think he lived here until he was 11 so
this is a bit of a homecoming gig."
Slash stated after the concert: "Stoke was a [fuckin'] blast!!
Great vibe and energy. It's going to make a killer DVD. We'll be back next year
definitely!"
Slash's setlist was as follows:
01. Been There Lately (SLASH'S SNAKEPIT song)
02. Nightrain (GUNS N' ROSES song)
03. Ghost
04. Mean Bone (SLASH'S SNAKEPIT song)
05. Back From Cali
06. Rocket Queen (GUNS N' ROSES song)
07. Civil War (GUNS N' ROSES song)
08. Nothing To Say
09. Promise
10. Starlight
11. Doctor Alibi (with Todd Kerns on vocals)
12. Speed Parade (SLASH'S SNAKEPIT song)
13. Watch This
14. Beggars & Hangers-On (SLASH'S SNAKEPIT song)
15. Patience (GUNS N' ROSES song)
16. Guitar Solo / Godfather Theme
17. Sweet Child O' Mine (GUNS N' ROSES song)
18. Slither (VELVET REVOLVER song)
Encore:
19. By The Sword
20. Mr. Brownstone (GUNS N' ROSES song)
21. ParadiseCity (GUNS N' ROSES
song)
A
new video update from former HANOI ROCKS guitarist Andy McCoy can
be seen below.
McCoy recently completed work on the debut album from his side project GREASE
HELMET (which features members of AMORPHIS) and has begun recording
a new solo album for a 2012 release.
McCoy previously stated about his upcoming solo CD, "It will be
released under the name Andy McCoy." He added, "There's
already heavy interest from the labels. We are looking at the way to release it
simultaneously worldwide."
Regarding the musical direction of the album, Andy stated, "I am
really trying to get back to my roots with the new material."
McCoy's decadent autobiography, "Sheriff McCoy: Legend of Hanoi Rocks", is
available in English in a deluxe hardcover edition through North American
publisher Bazillion Points.
A national icon in his native Finland, McCoy has been called the Finnish Keith Richards — except Richards only fell out of a coconut tree; Andy McCoy fell from a fourth-story
balcony and lived to tell the tale. His over-the-top image and streetwise
bending of punk, glam, and old-fashioned rock 'n' roll inspired a generation of
platinum-selling bands — rock authors Slash of GUNS N' ROSES and Nikki
Sixx of MÖTLEY CRÜE have already admitted their musical and
stylistic debts. Now the real McCoy speaks from the heart on subjects
including rock stardom, true love, his arsenal of vintage guitars, and
surviving every imaginable variety of intoxication.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i733ZlBvlZ0&feature=player_embedded
Guitarist Kim Thayil of reunited grunge legends SOUNDGARDEN spoke to Hannah Levin of SeattleWeekly.com about the progress of the band's new CD,
its first since 1996's "Down On The Upside" and since
reuniting last year.
When asked what the timeline on the new record is, Thayil replied,
"There's no timeline, except that our target — roughly — is early 2012. We
are focused on this tour and these shows and we have a few dates in October,
but in the interim, we'll do some studio work. We have a few more guitars to do
and some vocals. And some of the songs are still being arranged. We want to
make sure it's absolutely the most satisfying for us, and put the best foot
forward that we can put. I would assume our fans will also get into it
then."
Regarding whether SOUNDGARDEN's approach to writing together has
changed, Thayil said, "It's actually not much different, because we
really didn't have a set way we wrote in the past. The only thing that might
have been consistent is a band member being a complete author — meaning words
and music — which Chris [Cornell, vocals/guitar] did a lot of.
But even if Chris writes a complete song, or Ben [Shepherd,
bass] writes a complete song . . . sometimes we wrote a song as a jam. All the
different combinations were always there; there was never a set thing like 'Jagger/Richards,'
you know?"
On the topic of why SOUNDGARDEN chose to get back together, Thayil said, "I have nooooo idea. I ask myself that question. I think it's one of
those things that just fell back into our laps. We initially were attending to
shared properties, both financial and legal, and from mainly there we realized
there was an absence of online presence in terms of a web site or Facebook . . . we kind of had neglected our merchandise over the last decade. Our
catalog had been neglected. I was constantly meeting people who now had
junior-high-aged kids who had learned instruments and learned [to play via SOUNDGARDEN].
We agreed to start a web site and have Ten Club handle it — Tim
Bierman who handles PEARL JAM's stuff. So it started from that. Then
Internet gossip led to promoters inquiring about our status and offering us
shows and pretty good billings that we considered. So we got into a room
together and jammed and enjoyed each other's company. Eventually we decided to
start playing live and to release [greatest-hits and rarities compilation] 'Telephantasm' and the live record ['Live on I-5']. Putting out an unreleased SOUNDGARDEN song was a thrill for us, and we started thinking about going back into the
studio again. Every time we got together to rehearse, it was good."
According to The Pulse Of Radio, the people and
officials of Aberdeen, Washington
have officially rejected a proposal to rename the town's Young
Street Bridge
as the Kurt Cobain Bridge.
The City Council voted 10 to one on Wednesday (July 27) against the idea after
it drew a strong negative reaction from residents. Several citizens who came to
the council meeting to voice their disapproval, along with a number of council
members, were not pleased with the prospect of naming the bridge after a
musician who used drugs. The final vote was reportedly met with applause from
the audience.
All was not lost, however: a small park near the bridge will still be named the
Cobain Landing.
The bridge that would have been named in the late NIRVANA frontman's
honor is allegedly the one under which Cobain lived for a while in his
younger days, an experience he wrote about in the song "Something In
The Way".
As previously reported, Facebook has denied that the cover art from NIRVANA's
classic 1991 album "Nevermind" was banned from the social network
because it contained nudity — specifically a naked baby floating in a pool.
Reports circulated on Wednesday that Facebook had taken the cover art
down because it violated Facebook standards.
According to NME, Facebook issued a statement saying, "The
photo on the cover of 'Nevermind' does not actually violate Facebook's
terms. Facebook does allow photos of naked children 'that are clearly
unable to stand on their own' in a non-sexual situation — so in other words,
babies. Why? Put it this way — if a parent wanted to share some photos of a
newborn with their grandparents, we wouldn't want them to not be able to share
them on Facebook."
"Nevermind" will be reissued on September 27 in both standard
and deluxe editions to commemorate its 20th anniversary.
Elliot Levin of NY Hard Rock Music Examiner recently conducted an interview
with guitarist Phil Demmel of San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE
HEAD. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
NY Hard Rock Music Examiner: I know you've had some medical issues in
recent years. Obviously you feel confident enough to be [taking part in the Rockstar
Energy Drink Mayhem Festival], but are there any precautions you have to
take, especially with the heat in the summer?
Phil: You know, in the past, it wasn't really the heat. In a couple of
incidents, it might have been, but it's more depression and stress-related, and
this vasovagal syndrome, which causes me to pass out sometimes, hasn't happened
in a couple of years, and so it's more related to that. My father passed away
about four years ago, and it was during that time when everything kind of
escalated. I had a lot of other stuff going on, so a lot of contributing
factors that have since been taken away, so it's been a lifestyle change. I've
met the love of my life [keyboardist Marta Peterson of Orange County,
California's BLEEDING THROUGH], and things are going well with my son,
and so my headspace is just a thousand times better than it was, so that helps.
NY Hard Rock Music Examiner: That's great to hear. Are you still able to
party on tour, or do you have to be careful on the road?
Phil: Well, too much of anything is not good, so I've been trying to eat
better, trying not to drink as much as I was back then, just more responsible
now, and when I was drinking more before, it really affected how I was playing
too, so I'm concentrating on playing better on stage and things to that effect.
NY Hard Rock Music Examiner: So everyone's excited to hear the new
record ["Unto The Locust"]. You released this new song, "Locust",
which you're also playing live on this tour... In interviews over the past
year, you guys have been quoted as saying that you're not trying to make "The
Blackening Part 2", but I listened to it online, I got to hear it live
on Sunday in Hartford, [and] I think this does sound like it could be on that
album, in a good way, of course. Are other songs being written in another
style?
Phil: Oh yeah, for sure. There are seven songs on this record, and every
song is different from the rest. "The Blackening"? Hmm, I
don't know if "Locust" could've fit on there. Maybe. But we're
not trying to match the same overall fire of that record. There's more of a
classical vibe on this record, more of a melodic flavor to it. When you hear a
couple of the other songs, you'll see what I mean, but I guess if you just have "Locust", it's kind of still in that vein. Definitely, we
didn't have any of the booty-shaking grooves that the "Locust" verses have on "The Blackening", so it's a little bit
different.
NY Hard Rock Music Examiner: Is there any power ballad like "Halo" on the record?
Phil: I don't really see "Halo" as a power ballad...
NY Hard Rock Music Examiner: I was about to say, I don't think that's
the right term, but I meant something with a super-melodic and catchy hook or
chorus.
Phil: Well, I think "Locust" falls into that, actually.
I think that "Locust" has that hook, but there's a song called
"Darkness Within", which is kind of acoustic, and kind of dark,
folksy. There's a four-string quartet of strings in it, too. It's a departure
from MACHINE HEAD, it's something that we haven't done yet, but it's
something that I'm proud of and pretty exciting to have out there.
NY Hard Rock Music Examiner: Whose idea was it to use such a different
production technique on the song?
Phil: Well, I had this riff lying around for awhile, and then Robb [Flynn, guitar/vocals] kind of took that, and played it acoustically and
wrote this really dark, kind of brooding ode to his family while he's away, and
it's really personal and really emotional, and man, it was his idea. He's our
leader in that department. I come up with riffs and structures and stuff, but
at the end of the day, he's got the better ear for things, and we all lean on
him for that. Dave's [McClain, drums] contributed a few things to
this record, and I've helped him lyrically on four out of seven songs. So yeah,
it's Robb's direction.
Bassist Scott Reeder (GOATSNAKE, THE
OBSESSED, KYUSS) will fill in for Nick Oliveri at the
following KYUSS LIVES! shows:
Aug. 02 - Lokerse Feesten - Lokeren, Belgium
Aug. 03 - FZW - Dortmund, Germany
Aug. 04 - Stadtpark - Hamburg, Germany
Aug. 05 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, Germany
KYUSS LIVES! is the project featuring three-quarters of KYUSS,
the influential American stoner rock/metal band, originally from Palm Desert, California:
bassist Nick Oliveri, drummer Brant Bjork and singer John
Garcia along with guitarist Bruno Fevery, who most recently played
with Garcia in the GARCIA PLAYS KYUSS project.
Commented Reeder on his Facebook page: "So, yeah… got a call
yesterday…. leaving tomorrow to temporarily fill in on a quick trip to Europe for four gigs with John, Brant, and Bruno
Fevery. Got two hours of music to brush up on today, laundry, bass surgery,
etc. Crazy. Gonna be fun!"
Oliveri was arrested on July 12 in Hollywood, California for suspicion of
domestic violence after a five-hour standoff with police.
The police was called to the scene by Oliveri's neighbor who reported a
"disturbance" between the 39-year-old rocker and his girlfriend. A
two-hour standoff between a SWAT team and Nick ensued before Oliveri finally agreed to let his girlfriend exit the duplex.
Oliveri was taken into custody about 10:30 p.m. after Los Angeles police officers knocked down his
front door.
Nick's girlfriend reportedly told police Oliveri hit her during
an argument the day before and she had returned to collect her stuff so she
could move out.
During a search of Nick's home on Hobart Boulevard, cops reportedly found a
fully loaded high-powered rifle.
Oliveri has since been released after posting $100,000 bail.
KYUSS LIVES! recently revealed that it will record a new studio album
following the band's current tour.
KYUSS, the inventors of Desert Rock, have been in the last ten years
much more popular than when they were still around in the early Nineties. So,
due to massive public demand over the years to play songs from his old cult
band KYUSS, John finally made the decision to give the fans what
they want.
The reformed LYNCH MOB, featuring former DOKKEN guitarist George Lynch, was set to begin its summer U.S. tour on Friday, July 29 in Houston. It was a surprise to the Texas crowd when the
dynamic band showed up without singer Oni Logan, who decided to sit this
tour out at home. Chaz West of BONHAM will now be replacing Logan on this
trek.
Commented the band in a statement: "Oni let the band and our fans
down. He quit the band at 5:30 a.m. before our 7:30 a.m. scheduled flight. He
left us high and dry and did not fulfill his commitment. We are saddened and
disappointed — but as a band, we are committed to honoring our
obligations." George also stated that he plans on emulating the
vocals with his guitar, if necessary!
In 2009, Lynch reformed LYNCH MOB and released "Smoke And
Mirrors", which was followed by an extended tour.
In a January 2010 interview with PureGrainAudio.com, Oni stated
about his return to LYNCH MOB, "I never thought it would happen,
honestly. I am glad that it did happen, and now that it has, it is like going
back in time and visiting an old friend and kind of just picking up where we
left off. This is such a natural thing for me and George. Our chemistry
is great, he does the music and I do the lyrics and what you have is 'Smoke
And Mirrors'."
When asked how he prepares for the physical demands of a tour, Oni said,
"Well, we try to do some different things as opposed to years ago when we
were younger. We are pretty level-headed guys and I think we have a way of
dealing with touring, for sure. I try to stay fit as much as I can. Obviously,
when you are out on the road, you do not get to eat quite as well and you are
pretty much sleep-deprived at times. It is all a matter of trying to find ways
to keep yourself happy and sane. It is a pretty crazy rock and roll world out
there, you know. Fans come out to have a good time, which is great, but there
are a lot of things that come along with that as well. We try to keep
level-headed and press on, because it is all about the music and nothing
else."
LYNCH MOB is working on a new album, due out later this year.
The band's current touring lineup is as follows:
George Lynch - Guitar
Chaz West (BONHAM) - Lead Vocals
Robbie Crane (RATT) - Bass/Vocals
Scott Coogan - Drums/Vocals
U.K.
doom metal legends MY DYING BRIDE have issued the following update:
"MY DYING BRIDE are back in the studio to record a three-part EP
due for release later in the year. No titles revealed just yet, but the news is
that it is to be a concept EP of effectively one track of over 25 minutes long
split into three 'acts.' Recording is to take place at Futureworks Studios in late August with long-term sound engineer Mags once again taking the
pain.
"The new LP is being delayed as the band are simply not ready to record
this yet as 'things are progressing in a very interesting manner.'
"This release is to be a precursor of things to come."
2010 marked the 20th anniversary of MY DYING BRIDE. To commemorate two
decades of doom and gloom from the elite British act, the band embarked upon a
special project to re-work familiar melodies and themes from its extensive
catalogue into long, flowing symphonic compositions, incorporating new vocals
and passages from vocalist, Aaron Stainthorpe. These arrangements have
been brought to life in co-operation with keyboard maestro Johnny Maudling (of BAL-SAGOTH fame), as well as a clutch of talented classical
musicians, and shared vocals courtesy of professional opera singer Lucie
Roche. The collection — titled "Evinta" — was released on
May 31 via Peaceville Records as a two-disc set and deluxe three-disc
edition with 64-page book inspired by MY DYING BRIDE's illustrious
recordings of the past two decades.
MY DYING BRIDE has been the leading light of doom metal since the debut
album, "As the Flower Withers", was released on Peaceville
Records back in 1992. Influenced by acts such as CELTIC FROST and CANDLEMASS,
the band's heavy atmospherics have carved a huge worldwide following over the
years, as it remains a pinnacle of the genre.
British glam veterans WRATHCHILD UK will release
their long-awaited fourth studio album, "Stakkattakktwo", on
August 23 via Perris Records. A tour, dubbed "Glam Godz –
Stalkin' The Earth Tour", will follow later in the year.
Commented the band: "We are really excited that the album is going to be
distributed worldwide and that all of our fans will finally get to hear what
we've been up to these last few years.
"We thought long and hard about who to do this record with, but at the end
of the day it was a no-brainer — the guys at Perris cut their teeth
getting off on the same vibes that we we've been into from the start of the WRATHCHILD journey. Perris Records (USA)
have distribution networks worldwide second to none, and more importantly, they
truly worship at the altar of all that is rock 'n' roll!"
"Stakkattakktwo" track listing:
01. Goin' Down
02. All About U
03. Cherie Cherie
04. Trikk Or Treat
05. HollywoodOr Bust
06. Nice 'N' Eazy
07. White Hot Fever
08. I'll Be Your Rokk 'N' Roll
09. Bad Billy
10. I Luv The Night
11. Sycophantic Suicide
WRATHCHILD UK's current lineup:
Gaz "Psychowrath" Harris - Lead Vocals
Marc Angel - Bass, Backing vocals
Phil "Wrathchild" Vokins - Guitar, Backing vocals
Eddie Star - Drums, Backing vocals
WRATHCHILD, who released three albums in the 1980s ("Stakk
Attakk", "The Biz Suxx" and "Delirium"),
have long hinted at reforming and indeed it was reported in 2005 that the group
was rehearsing with three-quarters of the most popular lineup — vocalist Rocky
Shades, Star and Angel, plus original guitarist Phil
Vokins. However, in an about-turn, the band chose a new singer in Gaz
Harris and decided to call themselves PSYCHOWRATH instead (before
reverting to the WRATHCHILD moniker in 2009).
For more information, visit www.wrathchildofficial.com.
DISTURBED singer David Draiman spoke to Billboard.com about the persistent rumors that the band
will call it quits once it completes its South American tour in August.
Draiman said in a previous interview that the band will not headline a sixth "Music As A Weapon" tour in 2012 and that the group has
"some things going on internally . . . some personal things going
on."
"This is really not due to any animosity — I want to make that very
clear," Draiman tells Billboard.com. "In fact, we just had
dinner together last night. Believe me, it's not like we can't work with each
other anymore or we don't get along. This isn't a bad blood thing, and I don't
ever want people to get that impression of it. . . [We have just decided to] go
away for... an indefinite period of time," adding that "it's just the
right time to step away for awhile."
Regarding why DISTURBED has chosen to go on an indefinite hiatus after
five studio albums — four of which have debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 —
and worldwide sales of more than 13 million, Draiman tells Billboard.com,
"Many of those reasons are personal reasons, and many of those reasons
have to do with the state of the music industry in general and the demise of
hard rock and metal right now. The industry is still in a state of reformation;
it is on the verge of collapse, in my opinion. It's a frightening time, and I
think after 10 to 12 years straight of touring it's just a good time for DISTURBED to go away for awhile and wait for the Phoenix to rise from the ashes."
When asked if this could be the end of DISTURBED, Draiman says,
"It could be a concern. We don't know. I can't definitely tell you at this
point one way or another. Depending on how far those individual interests end
up taking us, and depending on how much we end up missing (the band) over the
course of time — which, of course, at some point I'm sure we will — that will
determine if and when we return."
As to what the bandmembers plan on doing while on a break from DISTURBED, Draiman says that he, guitarist Dan Donegan, bassist John
Moyer and drummer Mike Wengren are all looking forward to pursuing
other opportunities, musical and otherwise. "I know that Danny has
wanted to do some production work on his own, and there's some bands I've
wanted to work with as well," Draiman says. "We've had things
we've wanted to do as individuals for the past 10, 12 years and we haven't been
able to because DISTURBED is so all-encompassing. This is going to give
all of us an opportunity to just kind of go in different directions,
creatively, as people and just see if the opportunities that have been kind of
passing us by...are still around and if we feel fulfilled in doing them."
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH frontman Ivan Moody's
classic 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang Coupe is up for sale via Celebrity Cars Las Vegas.
Ryan Hamilton of Celebrity Cars Las Vegas tells BLABBERMOUTH.NET,
"[Ivan] built the car himself and actually got teary-eyed when we
picked it up. He didn't need to sell it, but has had it for long time and is
ready for a new toy. He said he wanted to put a reasonable price on it as well
so someone else can enjoy it."
Moody's car, which was used in the recently filmed video for FIVE
FINGER DEATH PUNCH's new single, "Under It And Over It",
is available for viewing at Celebrity Cars Las Vegas' showroom in The
Palazzo hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's third album, "American
Capitalist", is scheduled to hit stores on October 11.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH played its first show with new bassist Chris
Kael on July 1 at Boonstock in Gibbons, Alberta,
Canada.
Greek old-school thrashers SUICIDAL ANGELS will enter Prophecy & Music Factory Studios in Kempten, Germany
early October to begin recording the follow-up to last year's "Dead
Again". The band will once again work with Greek producer Roberto
Dimitri Liapakis, who helmed SUICIDAL ANGELS' last CD and is said to
"know better than anyone else which sound the group is looking for."
According to the band, "Everybody is looking forward to be working
together on the new album. Never change a winning team."
SUICIDAL ANGELS' as-yet-untitled new album is scheduled for release in
early 2012 via NoiseArt Records.
SUICIDAL ANGELS' "Final Dawn" video can be viewed
below. The song comes off the band's third album, "Dead Again",
which was released on November 19, 2010 via NoiseArt Records. The
winners of the Rock The Nation awards 2009, which was presented by
magazines from all over Europe, the quartet
has found itself a perfect home as the label is a division of Rock The
Nation, which also serves as the band's booking agency. The CD's cover
artwork was created by Ed Repka, who has previously worked with MEGADETH and DEATH, among many others.
SUICIDAL ANGELS last year toured Europe
alongside KREATOR, EXODUS and DEATH ANGEL as part of the Thrashfest
Tour 2010.
Eight years after the release of "Blot",
legendary Viking metal act EINHERJER will issue its comeback album, "Nørrøn",
on September 9 via Indie Recordings. The CD was recorded at Studio
Borealis and was produced by EINHERJER's Frode Glesnes. Matt
Hyde (SLAYER, MONSTER MAGNET) mixed the effort. The cover
artwork was painted by Renathe H. Bryn.
According to a press release, "Nørrøn" is "an album which
combines the best qualities from all of EINHERJER's previous albums.
It's dark bombastic and aggressive, but still atmospheric, beautiful and
melancholic. 'Norrøn' has the quality to send you on a musical journey
where your present dies and all your senses starts to relive the music. Where
you are plunged into a life of forgotten wisdom, beliefs and forces. Where all
that was lost and taken has been resurrected. Where you stand steadfast on Norse
ground, calling for revenge from your heathen heart."
Commented EINHERJER drummer Gerhard Storesund: "This is an
album that has caused much joy and despair in the creative process. I hope and
believe all the blood, sweat and hard work reflect and color our relentless
pursuit of creating something beautiful, original and epic, and at the same
time giving you the raw and attacking feeling of the real Viking metal
spirit."
"Nørrøn" track listing:
01. Norrøn Kraft
02. Naglfar
03. Alu Alu Laukar
04. Varden Brenne
05. Malmting
06. Balladen Om Bifrost
EINHERJER was one of the very first bands to use the Viking thematic and
the Norse mythology in metal, and are one of the founders of this now widely
acclaimed metal sub-genre. Their name also has its roots in the Norse mythology
as EINHERJER is a Viking's life after death. When a Viking was slain in
battle, he was brought up to Valhalla by the
Valkyries to join the army of Einherjers and help the Gods in their clash
against the Giants in the age of Ragnarok.
EINHERJER disbanded in 2004 after the release of its album "Blot" through Tabu Recordings. EINHERJER reformed in 2008 and a year
later played the Wacken Open Air, Ragnarock and Kaltenbach festivals, along with other select dates on the Paganfest 2009 tour.
Norwegian metallers PURIFIED IN BLOOD will perform
under the name TOMMY, HALLGEIR, SANDER, STIG, GLENN AND ANDERS at the
conclusion of The Tall Ships Races at Vågen in Stavanger, Norway
this Saturday night, July 30.
According to Aftenbladet.no, the members of PURIFIED IN BLOOD decided to drop their name for the concert because they felt that their moniker
was inappropriate in the context of the horrifying attacks in Oslo and Utøya in which 77 Norwegians lost
their lives.
"We made this decision as a way of showing our respect to all who are
touched by the tragic events of Utøya and Oslo
on Friday, July 22," says rhythm guitarist Tommy Svela.
"Like everyone else, we are strongly impacted by the events of last week,
and we therefore chose to close out the event Saturday night," he adds.
PURIFIED IN BLOOD is:
Hallgeir S. Enoksen - Vocals
Sander Sagblad Loen - Lead Guitar
Tommy Svela - Guitar
Stig Skog Andersen - Bass
Anders Mosness - Battery
Glenn Reaper - Vocals
PURIFIED IN BLOOD's sophomore full-length album, "Under Black
Skies", was released in June 2010 via Spinefarm Records. The CD
was produced by Ashley Stubbert (a U.S.
producer/engineer/mixer who moved to Norway
two years ago) in the band's hometown of Stavanger,
and mixed by Matt Bayles (MASTODON, ISIS, BOTCH) in
Seattle.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/pib2011.jpg
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/piblogo.jpg
Brendan Crabb of Australia's Loud recently conducted an interview with drummer Mario
Duplantier of French progressive metallers GOJIRA. A couple of excerpts
from the chat follow below.
On GOJIRA's forthcoming four-song EP, the proceeds from which will
benefit Sea Shepherd, an anti-whaling organization ,and featuring guest
appearances by Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD), Fredrik
Thordendal (MESHUGGAH), Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD), Anders
Fridén (IN FLAMES) and Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA
CONSPIRACY, SEPULTURA):
"The music is ready, but we're waiting on [a] vocalist. We want to release
it as soon as possible, maybe August or September. When you ask to put singers
on the record, it makes it difficult. If it's just Joe [Duplantier;
guitar/vocals] on voice, that makes it easier, but it's not easy . . . The
music has been ready for six months, but the people who accepted to be part of
the project had a lot of scheduling conflicts. Each song has different
vocalists; it will be four very different songs. It's not an album, so we
decided to have fun. One is very fast, one is very slow, one has a very rock
vibe — it's very different to the album."
On the collaboration with by Devin Townsend:
"We decided to invite him because we've known him since a long time, when
we shared a stage in 2006. We were big fans of STRAPPING YOUNG LAD,
we're amazed by his work. He told us he had a lot of respect [for] and loved
our music as well. We wanted to share something and when Joe decided to
make the project, Devin was the first guy we decided to contact. He
agreed to participate as he was a big fan of GOJIRA, but he was also a
big fan of the project."
On GOJIRA's next full-length album which the band hopes to finish
recording in October for an early 2012 release:
"We don't have the name of the album or the songs yet, as that usually
comes later."
On GOJIRA's forthcoming DVD, featuring live footage with a bonus section
entitled "The Way Of All Flesh From The Inside":
"It's to close [2008's] 'The Way Of All Flesh' [touring cycle]. We
toured for three years on that. Some shows had some great shots and we wanted
to immortalize it. We are also working on a documentary, one hour talking about
the three years of the band on the road. It's a way to finish that period. . .
Maybe (they'll use) one show, but we have three or four very good quality shows
[recorded]. But we have to choose one. Maybe it will be one we did in a small
venue in France…
The atmosphere was fantastic and the fans were crazy. We have a festival one,
but that is a different energy. We may decide to put a couple of songs from
each show."
Tommaso Riccardi, Cristiano Trionfera and Francesco
Paoli of Italian brutal/symphonic horde FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE recently
answered a number of questions sent in by fans via Facebook and Twitter.
Part one of the question-and-answer session can be seen below.
"The Violation", the new Salvatore Perrone-directed
video from FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, can be viewed below. The song comes off
the band's second full-length album, "Agony", which is
scheduled for release on August 9 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD's
intricate cover design was handled by Marco Hasmann, who previously
worked with the band on the "Mafia" and "Oracles" releases.
"Agony" track listing:
01. Temptation
02. The Hypocrisy
03. The Imposition
04. The Deceit
05. The Violation
06. The Egoism
07. The Betrayal
08. The Forsaking
09. The Oppression
10. Agony
11. Heartwork (CARCASS cover; iTunes exclusive bonus track)
Commented the group: "The album cover is about the eternal struggle of
mankind; we're condemned to live facing our evil side, which dwells in every
one of us. We are like tied to the ground, forced in chains that can't be
broken, so the man in the cover is representing all humanity and its eternal
agony, knowing that it's almost impossible to liberate ourselves from the
obscurity of our nature. Unless we decide to admit to ourselves who we are and
face our doom, that would be the only way to free our kind and rise to an
higher conscience, someday."
With only two releases, "Oracles" (2009) and the "Mafia" EP (2010), and a successful U.S.
debut tour alongside SUFFOCATION and THE FACELESS under its belt, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE has already become one of the most talked about
bands in the underground. Their unique blend of technical death metal with
symphonic elements has quickly made them a favorite with fans and critics
alike.
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE is:
Tommaso Riccardi - Lead Vocals, Guitars
Paolo Rossi - Vocals, Bass
Cristiano Trionfera - Vocals, Guitars
Francesco Paoli - Drums, Guitars and Vocals
Francesco Ferrini - Piano, Orchestra
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE's last full-length CD, "Oracles",
was recorded in May 2008 at 16th Cellar Studio.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/fleshgodapocalypse.
New Orleans
natives GOATWHORE are hard at work on the follow-up to their most
successful album to date, "Carving Out The Eyes Of God". Once
the band wraps up recording with Erik Rutan at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida,
they will immediately hit the road for headlining shows starting in Tampa. From there, they
will join the EXHUMED tour starting on October 26 in Gallup, New Mexico.
Support on the trek will come from CEPHALIC CARNAGE and HAVOK.
Commented GOATWHORE bassist James Harvey: "It has been a
while since we toured with our friends in EXHUMED and CEPHALIC
CARNAGE. We are looking forward to having some chaos injected nights of
wicked metal with them all."
He added, "Things are going great in the studio with Rutan. He's a
master and definitely brings out the best in us!"
GOATWHORE was honored in the "Best Heavy Metal" category at the Big Easy Awards, which was held on April 25 at Harrah's in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Also nominated for the award were ARSON ANTHEM and HAARP. GOATWHORE drummer Zack Simmons and guitarist Sammy Duet accepted the gong.
The Big Easy Awards in 2010 recognize achievement in local music and
theater from 2010.
"Carving Out The Eyes Of God" sold around 2,700 copies in the United States
in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No.
190. The album landed at No. 67 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers)
chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists,
defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
It has been two long years since vocalist Luke Kenny and rest of Australian masters of grind THE BERZERKER graced a stage in
anger.
Completely fed up with the music industry, Luke threw in the towel in
2009 and pursued his interest in glamour photography.
Even though the members of THE BERZERKER have gone their separate ways, Luke is still in contact with Ed Lacey and Todd Hansen. Hansen has moved to Canada to pursue his drumming career, Ed Lacey has finished
law school, Damien Palmer has a new metalcore band and Tim Aldridge is off playing in other bands.
Commented Luke: "Over the past 14 years, the music industry has
drained every ounce of passion I had for extreme music. I was very unfilled
(even when performing on stage) and at the end I was not the best person to be
around.
"We played our final show in 2009 in Melbourne,
Australia on Halloween and it was awesome!! Great crowd,
great show, great send-off! Shortly after that I relocated to a warmer climate
and started to pursue my photography career by shooting swimsuit models. I
quickly got work filming for FashionTV and then started my own magazine, Evokke magazine for iPhone and iPad.
"The main difference between THE BERZERKER and Evokke is now
is I spend my days with beautiful women instead of sweaty men."
Swedish melodic death metal band WITHIN Y has
released a new digital EP, "Asylum", via Spotify and iTunes.
The three-song single serves as a teaser for the group's forthcoming fourth
album, which is scheduled for a September 28 release via Gain Music Entertainment.
According to the band, "The song 'Asylum' shows the diversity of
the new album which contains guest vocals (Niclas Bergstrand, Sun
Wahlberg), guest musicians and a lot of new elements that we´ve never used
before. The EP also contains two more songs ['Lost' and '…At The End
Of The Rope'] that will also be featured on the album."
WITHIN Y's third album, "The Cult", entered the Swedish
national chart at position No. 24 back in March 2008.
WITHIN Y is:
Erik Hagström - Drums
Jonas Larsson - Bass
Niknam Moslehi - Guitars
Mikael Nordin - Guitars
Andreas Solveström – Vocals
Belgian black metallers GORATH will release their
fifth album, "Apokálypsis - Unveiling The Age That Is Not To Come",
on September 2 via Twilight Vertrieb. The CD was recorded at Crestfallen
Home Studio and Shumcot Studio by Reinier Schenk. It was
mastered at Necromorbus Studio in Alvik, Sweden by Tore
Stjerna.
According to a press release, "Apokálypsis - Unveiling The Age That Is
Not To Come" is "about the Apocalypse of John. Many have tried to
interpret these visions, but very few have managed to look beyond the madness,
beyond the deceit of the false 'God' that so many weaklings worship. Those
desperate fools who put their faith and hope in the final judgment by their
'God' are up for an unpleasant revelation, for He is not who He claims to be.
Cursed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy and doomed are those who
hear and who keep what is written therein."
"Apokálypsis - Unveiling The Age That Is Not To Come" track
listing:
01. Before The Throne Of The Demiurge
02. The Seven Seals
03. Wrath Of God
04. Le Porteur De Lumière
05. Beasts From The Earth And The Sea
06. Whore Of Babylon
07. Millennium (Thousand Years Of Darkness)
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