BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi will undertake a select number of signings in the U.K. and New York to promote his upcoming memoir, "Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven And Hell With Black Sabbath". The book will be released in the United States on November 1 in hardback by Perseus Books/DeCapo Press and in Europe on October 13 through Simon & Schuster.
Tony will be signing copies of "Iron Man" at the following locations in the U.K. (more events to be announced):
* Monday, Oct. 17 - London, UK @ HMV FOPP
* Tuesday, Oct. 18 - Birmingham, UK @ HMV
* Wednesday, Oct. 19 - Sheffield, UK @ Waterstones
* Thursday, Oct. 20 - Nottingham, UK @ Waterstones
Admission is free but a ticket is required.
Please visit the sites below for instructions on how to secure your tickets:
* hmv.com/hmvweb/navigate.do
* www.facebook.com/hmv
Please note that Tony will only be signing copies of his book "Iron Man". Any memorabilia or outside items will not be signed.
Da Capo reportedly paid a six-figure amount at auction for the rights to the 352-page book, which was described as "'Angela's Ashes' meets 'The Ground Beneath Her Feet' meets 'Spinal Tap'" by Foundry Literary + Media co-founder Peter McGuigan, who completed the North American rights deal for the memoir.
In a recent interview with Guitar World magazine, Iommi explained how his autobiography came together. "I had a chap called TJ Lammers, who I met many, many years ago when he used to work at Phonogram Records," he said. "He later became a journalist and he had his own magazine. He lives in Holland and we've stayed in touch over the years. I've had a few people say, 'Oh, I can write a book for you,' but I wanted a different outlook to the normal music journalist, and that's what happened. He came over to England and stayed with me for a few days. Then he'd write it up, come back again and do more. The whole thing took a couple years to finish."
When asked how his book will be different to the typical rock biography, Iommi said, "I don't know. I don't read rock biographies, so it could be the same, it could be different. It's just my life, really. It's about what happened and what I grew up from, and how I've gone through life to where I am now. It's something I probably should have done a long time ago because there are so many books out now. I've been meaning to do it for many, many years but never got around to it."
The name "Tony Iommi" sends shivers down the spines of guitarists around the world. As lead guitarist and songwriter of BLACK SABBATH, Tony Iommi is considered to be one of the most influential musicians of the past four decades and the inventor of heavy metal. From working-class, Midlands roots, his unique playing style — a result of a disfiguring hand injury he suffered working in a sheet metal factory — created a dark and gothic sound unlike anything that had been heard before and which captured the mood of its time. SABBATH went on to become a superband, playing to massive audiences around the world and selling millions of records, and Iommi led the life of a rock star to the fullest — with the scars from all the drug-fuelled nights of excess and wildness to show for it.
"Iron Man" is the exclusive account of the life and adventures of one of rock's greatest heroes. It chronicles the story of both pioneering guitarist Tony Iommi and legendary band BLACK SABBATH, dubbed "THE BEATLES of heavy metal" by Rolling Stone magazine. "Iron Man" reveals the man behind the icon yet still captures Iommi's humor, intelligence, and warmth. He speaks honestly and unflinchingly about his rough-and-tumble childhood, the accident that almost ended his career, his failed marriages, personal tragedies, battles with addiction, bandmates, famous friends, newfound daughter, and the ups and downs of his life as an artist.
Everything associated with hard rock happened to BLACK SABBATH first: the drugs, the debauchery, the drinking, the dungeons, the pressure, the pain, the conquests, the company men, the contracts, the combustible drummer, the critics, the comebacks, the singers, the Stonehenge set, the music, the money, the madness, the metal.
Brian May (QUEEN): "Tony Iommi is the true father of heavy metal, a continuously creative genius riff-meister, and one of the world's great human beings."
Eddie Van Halen (VAN HALEN): "Without Tony, heavy metal wouldn't exist. He is the creator of heavy! Tony is a legend. He took rock and roll and turned it into heavy metal."
James Hetfield (METALLICA): "Mr. Iommi, aka . . . The Riffmaster. It's all his fault I am where I am."
Ozzy Osbourne (BLACK SABBATH): "Tony Iommi should be up there with the greats. He can pick up a guitar and play a riff that'd knock your fucking socks off."
Tony will be signing copies of "Iron Man" at the following locations in the U.K. (more events to be announced):
* Monday, Oct. 17 - London, UK @ HMV FOPP
* Tuesday, Oct. 18 - Birmingham, UK @ HMV
* Wednesday, Oct. 19 - Sheffield, UK @ Waterstones
* Thursday, Oct. 20 - Nottingham, UK @ Waterstones
Admission is free but a ticket is required.
Please visit the sites below for instructions on how to secure your tickets:
* hmv.com/hmvweb/navigate.do
* www.facebook.com/hmv
Please note that Tony will only be signing copies of his book "Iron Man". Any memorabilia or outside items will not be signed.
Da Capo reportedly paid a six-figure amount at auction for the rights to the 352-page book, which was described as "'Angela's Ashes' meets 'The Ground Beneath Her Feet' meets 'Spinal Tap'" by Foundry Literary + Media co-founder Peter McGuigan, who completed the North American rights deal for the memoir.
In a recent interview with Guitar World magazine, Iommi explained how his autobiography came together. "I had a chap called TJ Lammers, who I met many, many years ago when he used to work at Phonogram Records," he said. "He later became a journalist and he had his own magazine. He lives in Holland and we've stayed in touch over the years. I've had a few people say, 'Oh, I can write a book for you,' but I wanted a different outlook to the normal music journalist, and that's what happened. He came over to England and stayed with me for a few days. Then he'd write it up, come back again and do more. The whole thing took a couple years to finish."
When asked how his book will be different to the typical rock biography, Iommi said, "I don't know. I don't read rock biographies, so it could be the same, it could be different. It's just my life, really. It's about what happened and what I grew up from, and how I've gone through life to where I am now. It's something I probably should have done a long time ago because there are so many books out now. I've been meaning to do it for many, many years but never got around to it."
The name "Tony Iommi" sends shivers down the spines of guitarists around the world. As lead guitarist and songwriter of BLACK SABBATH, Tony Iommi is considered to be one of the most influential musicians of the past four decades and the inventor of heavy metal. From working-class, Midlands roots, his unique playing style — a result of a disfiguring hand injury he suffered working in a sheet metal factory — created a dark and gothic sound unlike anything that had been heard before and which captured the mood of its time. SABBATH went on to become a superband, playing to massive audiences around the world and selling millions of records, and Iommi led the life of a rock star to the fullest — with the scars from all the drug-fuelled nights of excess and wildness to show for it.
"Iron Man" is the exclusive account of the life and adventures of one of rock's greatest heroes. It chronicles the story of both pioneering guitarist Tony Iommi and legendary band BLACK SABBATH, dubbed "THE BEATLES of heavy metal" by Rolling Stone magazine. "Iron Man" reveals the man behind the icon yet still captures Iommi's humor, intelligence, and warmth. He speaks honestly and unflinchingly about his rough-and-tumble childhood, the accident that almost ended his career, his failed marriages, personal tragedies, battles with addiction, bandmates, famous friends, newfound daughter, and the ups and downs of his life as an artist.
Everything associated with hard rock happened to BLACK SABBATH first: the drugs, the debauchery, the drinking, the dungeons, the pressure, the pain, the conquests, the company men, the contracts, the combustible drummer, the critics, the comebacks, the singers, the Stonehenge set, the music, the money, the madness, the metal.
Brian May (QUEEN): "Tony Iommi is the true father of heavy metal, a continuously creative genius riff-meister, and one of the world's great human beings."
Eddie Van Halen (VAN HALEN): "Without Tony, heavy metal wouldn't exist. He is the creator of heavy! Tony is a legend. He took rock and roll and turned it into heavy metal."
James Hetfield (METALLICA): "Mr. Iommi, aka . . . The Riffmaster. It's all his fault I am where I am."
Ozzy Osbourne (BLACK SABBATH): "Tony Iommi should be up there with the greats. He can pick up a guitar and play a riff that'd knock your fucking socks off."
Guitarist Damon Johnson will be playing guitar and sharing stage with AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler, Jeff Beck on lead guitar, Randy Jackson on bass, Tal Wilkenfeld on bass and Marti Frederiksen on drums for iHeartRadio in Las Vegas, Saturday, September 24. Tune in to hear a special guest bass player on the first song.
iHeartRadio is the biggest live music event in radio history. The artist lineup includes Steven Tyler, Kenny Chesney, Lady GaGa, THE BLACK EYED PEAS, Jennifer Lopez, Bruno Mars, Rascal Flatts, Usher, Kelly Clarkson, and many others.
Johnson is best known as vocalist and guitarist in BROTHER CANE, guitar player for THIN LIZZY and ALICE COOPER. Johnson has also been the vocalist and guitar player in SLAVE TO THE SYSTEM (featuring QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield), and a member of country rock vocal group WHISKEY FALLS.
iHeartRadio is the biggest live music event in radio history. The artist lineup includes Steven Tyler, Kenny Chesney, Lady GaGa, THE BLACK EYED PEAS, Jennifer Lopez, Bruno Mars, Rascal Flatts, Usher, Kelly Clarkson, and many others.
Johnson is best known as vocalist and guitarist in BROTHER CANE, guitar player for THIN LIZZY and ALICE COOPER. Johnson has also been the vocalist and guitar player in SLAVE TO THE SYSTEM (featuring QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield), and a member of country rock vocal group WHISKEY FALLS.
David E. Gehlke of Blistering.com recently conducted an interview with ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
Blistering.com: Was there any set approach for you in terms of the new songs?
Joey Belladonna: I took them song by song. I just go in there and do what I can do. All I know is that I wanted to do the best I could with it. And we all know the expectations with it were interesting, but I couldn't do any more than what the songs were letting me take on. I'm glad this stuff wasn't too un-singable or something that didn't fit me. That would have been the worst part of it, to muster up something that wasn't there in the first place. Glad it wasn't something like "Gung Ho" [from "Spreading The Disease"] where everything has to be a mile faster than what it needs to be and there's 50 words per verse. You're lucky if you can get a word in to say it. The songs are laid out fairly decently. I didn't get as far into the record as I could have, though. I sang in a day, three to four hours until I was done with a song entirely. We demoed it, looked at it, changed this, re-do that… none of that. Bang-bang. For some reason, it worked, like my first time I did better than I thought. It's nice when it's spontaneous like that. Would it have been nice if I could have been there from the beginning? It's not always necessary and it doesn't make for a better record. There's no evidence of that. There's people that have spent years on things and I don't even know if they know what they got until they're done with it.
Blistering.com: Did you hear anything that Dan Nelson [former ANTHRAX singer] did [on the original version of "Worship Music" which was never released]?
Belladonna: I heard some ideas, but I can't refer to that stuff. I don't want to be persuaded from anyone else's doings. I heard from the band, we just talked about that stuff. We discussed it as much as we could and even that, none of it was in my head. I had some basic tracks to the songs at the house just so I could hear where the songs were going. Other than three-to-five songs, I had no idea what was coming at me until I turned them on. It worked great for me. That's how I write anyway.
Blistering.com: I've heard you sing "Only" [off "Sound Of White Noise"] so how do you think you would have done on "Sound Of White Noise" or "Volume 8" [which featured John Bush on vocals]?
Belladonna: I would have done fine. They already have someone else on there, so live, I don't want to venture too much into that stuff because I don't want to hold myself to a certain standard of if it's heavy or cool enough. All that shit. I'm not up for that competition now. It happened before and it was just a drag. I don't want to be demeaning. I look at Scott [Ian, guitar], when he said when they did "The Greater Of Two Evils" [2004's remake album, with John Bush re-recording Belladonna's songs], that's how the songs should have or could have been. I was like, "Wow!" I felt like I got smacked across the head on that one. Like, "I was really that bad? You didn't like anything I did before?" I don't hear [those remakes] as remotely close to being better. So I know I could have done those records. If you take what I did now, on the new record, and throw it on the pile, you would get something in that vein. If anything, it was laid out more for me than it is now. I don't think they "thrashed out" anything more than we did earlier in the day. Like "Fuel" or "Room For One More". I could have done my own thing with it. But I never looked at it like, "I wish I could have done it." I never heard it as anything exponentially better than what we did before. Then, of course, when you start comparing [sales] numbers and I can't go there. They did it and I don't know if they needed to go that far, but you get what you get. I'm still in the band and I feel a little bit like, "Are you guys sure? Are you content? Or you just need me right now?"
Blistering.com: Were you as confused as anyone when ANTHRAX kept switching singers?
Belladonna: I got wind of it. I wasn't their first choice to come back into this thing. Put it this way: If John said he wanted to do it, they probably would have taken him. If they would have done the "Big Four" with him and it would be successful? Who knows? Would they finish the record? Who knows? If they didn't have a fight with a guy that first had to finish the record [Dan Nelson] and would have put it out, they would have done that. To me, you got what you got. Somehow, we're all unfortunately happier this way because it's the best solution. I'm not trying to pat myself, it just seems to be the right thing. Unfortunately, I had to wait 20 years to put out another record.
Blistering.com: To me, it's always seemed like you've been ready to do it at any time.
Belladonna: I have. I have been WAY ready. I've always been ready. Even with the [2005] reunion, I was ready to roll. Then they got someone out of the blue. I'd like to know who actually did that. I was like, "What the heck happened? Why do you even bother?" It was two to three years of that. I guess he [Nelson] came up with a great demo for everyone, an expensive one for everyone to try things. But to sell it, that it would be the right way to go, it just shows that it's not an easy thing to muster this up. We are a unique package of musicians and there's no band out there that has a lineup that if you're trying to recreate it, you're not going to have much luck. For ANTHRAX, it's hard for us to pull it off. This thing is a little more intricate.
Blistering.com: Was there any set approach for you in terms of the new songs?
Joey Belladonna: I took them song by song. I just go in there and do what I can do. All I know is that I wanted to do the best I could with it. And we all know the expectations with it were interesting, but I couldn't do any more than what the songs were letting me take on. I'm glad this stuff wasn't too un-singable or something that didn't fit me. That would have been the worst part of it, to muster up something that wasn't there in the first place. Glad it wasn't something like "Gung Ho" [from "Spreading The Disease"] where everything has to be a mile faster than what it needs to be and there's 50 words per verse. You're lucky if you can get a word in to say it. The songs are laid out fairly decently. I didn't get as far into the record as I could have, though. I sang in a day, three to four hours until I was done with a song entirely. We demoed it, looked at it, changed this, re-do that… none of that. Bang-bang. For some reason, it worked, like my first time I did better than I thought. It's nice when it's spontaneous like that. Would it have been nice if I could have been there from the beginning? It's not always necessary and it doesn't make for a better record. There's no evidence of that. There's people that have spent years on things and I don't even know if they know what they got until they're done with it.
Blistering.com: Did you hear anything that Dan Nelson [former ANTHRAX singer] did [on the original version of "Worship Music" which was never released]?
Belladonna: I heard some ideas, but I can't refer to that stuff. I don't want to be persuaded from anyone else's doings. I heard from the band, we just talked about that stuff. We discussed it as much as we could and even that, none of it was in my head. I had some basic tracks to the songs at the house just so I could hear where the songs were going. Other than three-to-five songs, I had no idea what was coming at me until I turned them on. It worked great for me. That's how I write anyway.
Blistering.com: I've heard you sing "Only" [off "Sound Of White Noise"] so how do you think you would have done on "Sound Of White Noise" or "Volume 8" [which featured John Bush on vocals]?
Belladonna: I would have done fine. They already have someone else on there, so live, I don't want to venture too much into that stuff because I don't want to hold myself to a certain standard of if it's heavy or cool enough. All that shit. I'm not up for that competition now. It happened before and it was just a drag. I don't want to be demeaning. I look at Scott [Ian, guitar], when he said when they did "The Greater Of Two Evils" [2004's remake album, with John Bush re-recording Belladonna's songs], that's how the songs should have or could have been. I was like, "Wow!" I felt like I got smacked across the head on that one. Like, "I was really that bad? You didn't like anything I did before?" I don't hear [those remakes] as remotely close to being better. So I know I could have done those records. If you take what I did now, on the new record, and throw it on the pile, you would get something in that vein. If anything, it was laid out more for me than it is now. I don't think they "thrashed out" anything more than we did earlier in the day. Like "Fuel" or "Room For One More". I could have done my own thing with it. But I never looked at it like, "I wish I could have done it." I never heard it as anything exponentially better than what we did before. Then, of course, when you start comparing [sales] numbers and I can't go there. They did it and I don't know if they needed to go that far, but you get what you get. I'm still in the band and I feel a little bit like, "Are you guys sure? Are you content? Or you just need me right now?"
Blistering.com: Were you as confused as anyone when ANTHRAX kept switching singers?
Belladonna: I got wind of it. I wasn't their first choice to come back into this thing. Put it this way: If John said he wanted to do it, they probably would have taken him. If they would have done the "Big Four" with him and it would be successful? Who knows? Would they finish the record? Who knows? If they didn't have a fight with a guy that first had to finish the record [Dan Nelson] and would have put it out, they would have done that. To me, you got what you got. Somehow, we're all unfortunately happier this way because it's the best solution. I'm not trying to pat myself, it just seems to be the right thing. Unfortunately, I had to wait 20 years to put out another record.
Blistering.com: To me, it's always seemed like you've been ready to do it at any time.
Belladonna: I have. I have been WAY ready. I've always been ready. Even with the [2005] reunion, I was ready to roll. Then they got someone out of the blue. I'd like to know who actually did that. I was like, "What the heck happened? Why do you even bother?" It was two to three years of that. I guess he [Nelson] came up with a great demo for everyone, an expensive one for everyone to try things. But to sell it, that it would be the right way to go, it just shows that it's not an easy thing to muster this up. We are a unique package of musicians and there's no band out there that has a lineup that if you're trying to recreate it, you're not going to have much luck. For ANTHRAX, it's hard for us to pull it off. This thing is a little more intricate.
HAIL! — the supergroup featuring a rotating list of musicians, including current and former members of SEPULTURA, TESTAMENT, DREAM THEATER and MEGADETH — will play a festival in at Kucukciftlik Park in Istanbul, Turkey on Saturday, October 15. The band's lineup for this performance will consist of the following musicians:
* Glen Drover (MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, KING DIAMOND) - Guitar
* Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE, LIFE OF AGONY, ANOTHER ANIMAL) - Vocals
* Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) - Drums
* James Lomenzo (MEGADETH, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, WHITE LION) - Bass
As previously reported, HAIL! will embark on an eight-date tour of Russia in December with a lineup consisting of vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, BEYOND FEAR), drummer Paul Bostaph (TESTAMENT, SLAYER, EXODUS, FORBIDDEN) bassist James Lomenzo and guitarist Glen Drover.
* Glen Drover (MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, KING DIAMOND) - Guitar
* Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE, LIFE OF AGONY, ANOTHER ANIMAL) - Vocals
* Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) - Drums
* James Lomenzo (MEGADETH, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, WHITE LION) - Bass
As previously reported, HAIL! will embark on an eight-date tour of Russia in December with a lineup consisting of vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, BEYOND FEAR), drummer Paul Bostaph (TESTAMENT, SLAYER, EXODUS, FORBIDDEN) bassist James Lomenzo and guitarist Glen Drover.
The AU Review recently conducted an interview with former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
The AU Review: Listening to the ["Kicking & Screaming"] album, the sound is very thick and energetic, yet it was composed as a trio. Is this your smallest ensemble to date?
Sebastian: Yes, yes. This is the only record I've ever done as a trio, but that's because of my guitar player, Nick Sterling. He came into the band at the age of 19 and this is his first big worldwide release. But, you know, it's like they say you have your whole life to write your first album, well he's been working on these songs his short life. He just came into this with so many great ideas that he just crushed me with ideas, and that's an amazing opportunity for him and for me. He plays the bass on it, because the demos he would show me he would play all the instruments — drums, too. So I got Bobby [Jarzombek], he's like the best drummer in the world, and I let Nick play all the bass and all the guitars, because if another bass player came in, I'd just tell him, "Just play what Nick played." I think it adds to the tightness of the record. When you listen to VAN HALEN, Eddie and Alex are brothers and you can kinda tell when they play together, they're very tight together. Like PANTERA with Dimebag and Vinnie [Paul Abbott], they're very, very, very tight cause they're family members. Nick's like playing with his own self, not playing with himself but… [laughs] But it's a very tight record, the performances are, like, super-tight. I listened to it twice again today and was like, "Damn! That's a good album!"
The AU Review: The album starts off with a hard-rock track, "Kicking & Screaming", but finishes with softer and moving "Wishin'". When you are constructing the actual album, do you see an art or a formula in the actual placement of the tracks?
Sebastian: Well, people these days don't care about sequencing, I really do. I am one of the last guys that I know that loves to make albums. Like, I keep reading on Blabbermouth that Tommy Lee doesn't wanna make albums.
The AU Review: Yeah, I don't understand that myself.
Sebastian: Yeah, well, I want to keep on making records. I don't just listen to singles, I listen to albums. I love the BLACK VEIL BRIDES new album, "Set The World On Fire", it's a great album. I like HELLYEAH when they put out records, I think they put out great albums, and I love putting out albums, for sure. I think I always will. I don't believe in this "just put out a single" thing. I don't know, maybe I'm old school or something, but I want a full album that I can listen to from start to the finish and be entertained by it. I'm still trying to make the perfect album and I totally put tons of time and effort into planning the sequencing of the songs and this album is meant to be listened to in order. Don't press shuffle! [Laughs]
The AU Review: Yeah, I couldn't for this. This album is a true, flowing story.
Sebastian: Yeah, good. They're designed for that. Like the first SKID ROW album [and] "Slave To The Grind", you guys have been listening to those albums for 20 years! So I know what you all expect — you expect an album of that caliber and quality. Those weren't fluke albums; I wasn't lucky I made those records, and I'm not trying to put down my old band, but I'm very specific, I'm like a task-master in the studio with musicians because I know what I want to hear. They'll tell you I'm hard to work with, but I'll tell you that I refuse to suck! [Laughs]
The AU Review: Yeah, to be honest, that shows now; they're definitely not as hard-sounding as they were when you were a part of SKID ROW.
Sebastian: No, because that's why they will tell you have I have a big ego or something. It's absolutely ridiculous. My father was a painter, he painted pictures, he was a hard-ass, too. His boss was his art. I don't want to boss anyone around, I get along great with Nick Sterling because we just have a great relationship together but the SKID ROW guys came to the point at the end of the band where they would tell me, "We wrote this song. We are the songwriters, you are the singer, you have to sing it," and I'd go, "But it sucks!" [Laughs] And they'd go, "How dare you say that! You're the singer," and I'd go, "No, no, no, no, no, no. You guys can write a song if you want and if it's good, I'll sing it," but go listen to those albums without me. I wouldn't sing those songs. They're not, and I would say to them, "Dude, this is not '18 And Life', man! Like, I don't know what your hearing or what you're thinking," but I don't know. I think that my records are of the same level of quality as those old SKID ROW albums.
The AU Review: Listening to the ["Kicking & Screaming"] album, the sound is very thick and energetic, yet it was composed as a trio. Is this your smallest ensemble to date?
Sebastian: Yes, yes. This is the only record I've ever done as a trio, but that's because of my guitar player, Nick Sterling. He came into the band at the age of 19 and this is his first big worldwide release. But, you know, it's like they say you have your whole life to write your first album, well he's been working on these songs his short life. He just came into this with so many great ideas that he just crushed me with ideas, and that's an amazing opportunity for him and for me. He plays the bass on it, because the demos he would show me he would play all the instruments — drums, too. So I got Bobby [Jarzombek], he's like the best drummer in the world, and I let Nick play all the bass and all the guitars, because if another bass player came in, I'd just tell him, "Just play what Nick played." I think it adds to the tightness of the record. When you listen to VAN HALEN, Eddie and Alex are brothers and you can kinda tell when they play together, they're very tight together. Like PANTERA with Dimebag and Vinnie [Paul Abbott], they're very, very, very tight cause they're family members. Nick's like playing with his own self, not playing with himself but… [laughs] But it's a very tight record, the performances are, like, super-tight. I listened to it twice again today and was like, "Damn! That's a good album!"
The AU Review: The album starts off with a hard-rock track, "Kicking & Screaming", but finishes with softer and moving "Wishin'". When you are constructing the actual album, do you see an art or a formula in the actual placement of the tracks?
Sebastian: Well, people these days don't care about sequencing, I really do. I am one of the last guys that I know that loves to make albums. Like, I keep reading on Blabbermouth that Tommy Lee doesn't wanna make albums.
The AU Review: Yeah, I don't understand that myself.
Sebastian: Yeah, well, I want to keep on making records. I don't just listen to singles, I listen to albums. I love the BLACK VEIL BRIDES new album, "Set The World On Fire", it's a great album. I like HELLYEAH when they put out records, I think they put out great albums, and I love putting out albums, for sure. I think I always will. I don't believe in this "just put out a single" thing. I don't know, maybe I'm old school or something, but I want a full album that I can listen to from start to the finish and be entertained by it. I'm still trying to make the perfect album and I totally put tons of time and effort into planning the sequencing of the songs and this album is meant to be listened to in order. Don't press shuffle! [Laughs]
The AU Review: Yeah, I couldn't for this. This album is a true, flowing story.
Sebastian: Yeah, good. They're designed for that. Like the first SKID ROW album [and] "Slave To The Grind", you guys have been listening to those albums for 20 years! So I know what you all expect — you expect an album of that caliber and quality. Those weren't fluke albums; I wasn't lucky I made those records, and I'm not trying to put down my old band, but I'm very specific, I'm like a task-master in the studio with musicians because I know what I want to hear. They'll tell you I'm hard to work with, but I'll tell you that I refuse to suck! [Laughs]
The AU Review: Yeah, to be honest, that shows now; they're definitely not as hard-sounding as they were when you were a part of SKID ROW.
Sebastian: No, because that's why they will tell you have I have a big ego or something. It's absolutely ridiculous. My father was a painter, he painted pictures, he was a hard-ass, too. His boss was his art. I don't want to boss anyone around, I get along great with Nick Sterling because we just have a great relationship together but the SKID ROW guys came to the point at the end of the band where they would tell me, "We wrote this song. We are the songwriters, you are the singer, you have to sing it," and I'd go, "But it sucks!" [Laughs] And they'd go, "How dare you say that! You're the singer," and I'd go, "No, no, no, no, no, no. You guys can write a song if you want and if it's good, I'll sing it," but go listen to those albums without me. I wouldn't sing those songs. They're not, and I would say to them, "Dude, this is not '18 And Life', man! Like, I don't know what your hearing or what you're thinking," but I don't know. I think that my records are of the same level of quality as those old SKID ROW albums.
GlideMagazine.com recently conducted an interview with former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
GlideMagazine.com: Sebastian, the new album ["Kicking & Screaming"] is really hot. It's really getting back to the good, old down-and-dirty rocking and rolling.
Bach: Yeah (laughs). You know, I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel here. I'm just trying to make a new CD that fits along with the other CDs that I've put in your iPod, like the first SKID ROW album and "Slave To The Grind" and "Subhuman Race" and "Angel Down". I'm doing the exact same thing on this record that I did on all those records. I'm kicking ass and screaming rock and roll. (laughs)
GlideMagazine.com: I'm glad to see it really rocking.
Bach: Well, you know that's what I like. That's the music I like. A lot of people love the first SKID ROW album and they hold on to those songs like it's a fluke or something how great that record was. That's not a fluke. That's me in there, you know, rocking and rolling with my band and that's what "Kicking & Screaming" is. It's the same-kind-of-feeling music, that high-energy rock and roll with good riffs and cool grooves and kick-ass screams and amazing guitar solos and sleazy drums and cowbell and all that kind of stuff. And that is what this record is. And I really love the album.
GlideMagazine.com: [A] favorite song is the second track, "My Own Worst Enemy".
Bach: Yeah, that is one of my favorite ones. To me, what is weird about that song is my singing. To me, I sound like a little boy in that song. I don't know why but just the sound of my voice, I sound like a teenager and I'm definitely not a teenager. [laughs] I attribute it all to clean living. But that song, "My Own Worst Enemy", to me sounds like a bunch of pissed off teenagers. I don't know why God gave me this voice that has a life of its own, but a lot of the songs on this record — "As Long As I Got The Music", "Caught In A Dream" — I just sound very youthful, just very, very young sounding and I don't know how the fuck I pulled that off. [laughs]
GlideMagazine.com: I was going to say, you have different voices on different songs, your versatility is amazing.
Bach: Yes. I know my voice very, very well after all this time and I know how to and what to do. Like "Dream Forever", when that song starts, it's me singing as low as I can. As the day goes on, my voice gets like higher-pitched and higher-pitched. I don't know why that is, that's just the way it works. So that song, "Dream Forever", when I really want to sing low like that, [singing] "All I believe is what I see," like that's really low for me. But I'll record right when I get up in the morning and I won't even speak. I'll go to the microphone without even talking as soon as I get up and I'll have the producer there with a coffee in my hand and I'll sing that very, very low range, and it sounds like fucking velvet. It sounds like so, very, very resonate; has a very good tone. So if I want to sing low, I make sure I do it early in the morning and then I can get that really silky smooth kind of tone. But you can really hear it in "Dream Forever". I fucking nailed it on that one. [laughs]
GlideMagazine.com: Sebastian, the new album ["Kicking & Screaming"] is really hot. It's really getting back to the good, old down-and-dirty rocking and rolling.
Bach: Yeah (laughs). You know, I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel here. I'm just trying to make a new CD that fits along with the other CDs that I've put in your iPod, like the first SKID ROW album and "Slave To The Grind" and "Subhuman Race" and "Angel Down". I'm doing the exact same thing on this record that I did on all those records. I'm kicking ass and screaming rock and roll. (laughs)
GlideMagazine.com: I'm glad to see it really rocking.
Bach: Well, you know that's what I like. That's the music I like. A lot of people love the first SKID ROW album and they hold on to those songs like it's a fluke or something how great that record was. That's not a fluke. That's me in there, you know, rocking and rolling with my band and that's what "Kicking & Screaming" is. It's the same-kind-of-feeling music, that high-energy rock and roll with good riffs and cool grooves and kick-ass screams and amazing guitar solos and sleazy drums and cowbell and all that kind of stuff. And that is what this record is. And I really love the album.
GlideMagazine.com: [A] favorite song is the second track, "My Own Worst Enemy".
Bach: Yeah, that is one of my favorite ones. To me, what is weird about that song is my singing. To me, I sound like a little boy in that song. I don't know why but just the sound of my voice, I sound like a teenager and I'm definitely not a teenager. [laughs] I attribute it all to clean living. But that song, "My Own Worst Enemy", to me sounds like a bunch of pissed off teenagers. I don't know why God gave me this voice that has a life of its own, but a lot of the songs on this record — "As Long As I Got The Music", "Caught In A Dream" — I just sound very youthful, just very, very young sounding and I don't know how the fuck I pulled that off. [laughs]
GlideMagazine.com: I was going to say, you have different voices on different songs, your versatility is amazing.
Bach: Yes. I know my voice very, very well after all this time and I know how to and what to do. Like "Dream Forever", when that song starts, it's me singing as low as I can. As the day goes on, my voice gets like higher-pitched and higher-pitched. I don't know why that is, that's just the way it works. So that song, "Dream Forever", when I really want to sing low like that, [singing] "All I believe is what I see," like that's really low for me. But I'll record right when I get up in the morning and I won't even speak. I'll go to the microphone without even talking as soon as I get up and I'll have the producer there with a coffee in my hand and I'll sing that very, very low range, and it sounds like fucking velvet. It sounds like so, very, very resonate; has a very good tone. So if I want to sing low, I make sure I do it early in the morning and then I can get that really silky smooth kind of tone. But you can really hear it in "Dream Forever". I fucking nailed it on that one. [laughs]
German metallers IRON SAVIOR, who feature in their ranks guitarist/vocalist/producer Piet Sielck (URIAH HEEP, BLIND GUARDIAN, SAXON), have inked a deal with AFM Records. The band is putting the finishing touches on its new album, tentatively due in early 2012.
IRON SAVIOR's latest album, entitled "Megatropolis", was released in June 2007 via Dockyard 1.
The group performed at the ProgPower USA IX festival in September 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia.
IRON SAVIOR's latest album, entitled "Megatropolis", was released in June 2007 via Dockyard 1.
The group performed at the ProgPower USA IX festival in September 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH recently spent time not only putting finishing touches to their new album, "Imaginaerum", but also planning a movie of the same name.
"Imaginaerum" is one of the projects which recently received grants from the Finnish government institution called the Finnish Film Foundation. The movie, directed by Stobe Harju, about an old man on his deathbed who glimpses a childhood dream in which he refuses to grow old, and fights aging with his imagination, will get $575,000 toward its $3.7 million budget.
During a September 8 interview with Petri Silas of Finland's Soundi magazine, NIGHTWISH mainman/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen revealed that all the filming for the "Imaginaerum" movie will be done in Canada with mostly Canadian actors/actresses. Post-production will take place in Canada and Finland. He aso revealed the names of the actors who have two of the main roles in the film: Marianne Farley and Quinn Lord.
Several photos from the "Imaginaerum" movie shoot can be found at this location. A couple of the pictures are also available below.
The "Imaginaerum" album will be released in the U.S. on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 via Roadrunner Records; in Finland on Wednesday, November 30 and the rest of Europe on Friday, December 2 via Nuclear Blast Records.
"Imaginaerum" track listing:
01. Taikatalvi
02. Storytime
03. Ghost River
04. Slow, Love, Slow
05. I Want My Tears Back
06. Scaretale
07. Arabesque
08. Turn Loose The Mermaids
09. Rest Calm
10. The Crow, The Owl And The Dove
11. Last Ride Of The Day
12. Song Of Myself
13. Imaginaerum
A track-by-track breakdown of the album by NIGHTWISH keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen can be found at Metalhammer.co.uk.
NIGHTWISH's new single, "Storytime", will be released on Friday, November 11 via Nuclear Blast Records.
Regarding the musical direction of the forthcoming album, NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon wrote on her official blog, "I think it's a great and varied CD. The feelings in it are great and there are a lot of elements in it, so I am sure it will have many different favorite songs for the listeners since the songs are so different in styles and sound. [2007's] 'Dark Passion Play' is a great album and this one, too, so I don't know yet which one I like more, but, of course, for me personally, this one feels better to do since the songs are more adjusted to my voice and my style."
NIGHTWISH will kick off the "Imaginaerum" world tour in Los Angeles. The very first show of the trek will take place at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California on Saturday, January 21. This will be the biggest NIGHTWISH show production ever on North American soil and strictly a one-off — there will be no U.S. tour until later in 2012.
"Imaginaerum" is one of the projects which recently received grants from the Finnish government institution called the Finnish Film Foundation. The movie, directed by Stobe Harju, about an old man on his deathbed who glimpses a childhood dream in which he refuses to grow old, and fights aging with his imagination, will get $575,000 toward its $3.7 million budget.
During a September 8 interview with Petri Silas of Finland's Soundi magazine, NIGHTWISH mainman/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen revealed that all the filming for the "Imaginaerum" movie will be done in Canada with mostly Canadian actors/actresses. Post-production will take place in Canada and Finland. He aso revealed the names of the actors who have two of the main roles in the film: Marianne Farley and Quinn Lord.
Several photos from the "Imaginaerum" movie shoot can be found at this location. A couple of the pictures are also available below.
The "Imaginaerum" album will be released in the U.S. on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 via Roadrunner Records; in Finland on Wednesday, November 30 and the rest of Europe on Friday, December 2 via Nuclear Blast Records.
"Imaginaerum" track listing:
01. Taikatalvi
02. Storytime
03. Ghost River
04. Slow, Love, Slow
05. I Want My Tears Back
06. Scaretale
07. Arabesque
08. Turn Loose The Mermaids
09. Rest Calm
10. The Crow, The Owl And The Dove
11. Last Ride Of The Day
12. Song Of Myself
13. Imaginaerum
A track-by-track breakdown of the album by NIGHTWISH keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen can be found at Metalhammer.co.uk.
NIGHTWISH's new single, "Storytime", will be released on Friday, November 11 via Nuclear Blast Records.
Regarding the musical direction of the forthcoming album, NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon wrote on her official blog, "I think it's a great and varied CD. The feelings in it are great and there are a lot of elements in it, so I am sure it will have many different favorite songs for the listeners since the songs are so different in styles and sound. [2007's] 'Dark Passion Play' is a great album and this one, too, so I don't know yet which one I like more, but, of course, for me personally, this one feels better to do since the songs are more adjusted to my voice and my style."
NIGHTWISH will kick off the "Imaginaerum" world tour in Los Angeles. The very first show of the trek will take place at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California on Saturday, January 21. This will be the biggest NIGHTWISH show production ever on North American soil and strictly a one-off — there will be no U.S. tour until later in 2012.
HEADCAT (formerly THE HEAD CAT), the high-energy, "take-no-prisoners" combo featuring Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD), Slim Jim Phantom (THE STRAY CATS) and Danny B. Harvey (ROCKATS, 13 CATS, LONESOME SPURS), will make a rare in-store appearance at Amoeba Records in Hollywood, California on Tuesday, October 11 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This signing engagement is limited to the first 300 people in line. The new HEADCAT album, "Walk The Walk...Talk The Talk", will be specially priced the day of the event, and purchase will guarantee your CD to be signed.
"Walk The Walk...Talk The Talk" sold around 700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD debuted at No. 49 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Walk The Walk...Talk The Talk" was released on July 5 through Niji Entertainment Group, the record label Wendy Dio and her and late husband Ronnie James Dio formed before his untimely passing.
HEADCAT was formed in 2000 after recording an Elvis Presley tribute special to which all band members contributed.
Slim Jim Phantom (drums, percussion), was born in Brooklyn and listened to his parents' jazz records. At the age of ten he took up the drums although he always says that the drums chose him. He is an exceptional drummer who cemented his place among rock royalty long time ago and inspires and excites audiences worldwide.
Danny B. Harvey (guitar, piano) is Texas-born and also discovered his love for music very early. He started playing the guitar at the age of six and even got a full scholarship to study classical guitar. He developed a finger picking guitar style that's very unique and based on his idols Merle Travis and Chet Atkins but also a result of his classical-technique education.
Lemmy Kilmister (vocals, bass, harmonica) was born and raised in England and started to play the guitar at the age of sixteen. With a laughing eye he always said that he only took the guitar to impress the girls. He is an autodidact and changed early to bass as he stated he wasn't a good guitar player. After founding MOTÖRHEAD in 1975 he knows the ups and downs in the business and has reached the status of an icon all over the world.
Twelve fantastic songs for "Walk The Walk, Talk The Talk" were chosen easily. HEADCAT prepare to take over the airwaves with their first single, "American Beat". "American Beat" is a song written in the studio — Lemmy had the words and the rest came together very quickly. "I Ain't Never" is one of the songs Lemmy really likes and Danny knew it — a real country, rockabilly number, full of love and ready to take you drifting away. "Let It Rock" is one of their favorite Chuck Berry tunes — THE ROLLING STONES did it a lot in their live show in the '70s — HEADCAT plays a different version. "Something Else" is a classic Eddie Cochran — Lemmy came on stage with the STRAY CATS and jammed on it at a show in the '90s at Hammersmith Odeon so it came quite natural to take this on the record as well.
"Walk The Walk...Talk The Talk" track listing:
01. American Beat
02. Say Mama
03. I Ain't Never
04. Bad Boy
05. Shaking All Over
06. Let It Rock
07. Something Else
08. The Eagle Flies On Friday
09. Trying To Get To You
10. You Can't Do That
11. It'll Be Me
12. Crossroads
Lemmy previously stated about HEADCAT, "[It's all about] having fun. Fun for the sake of it. No ulterior motive. No politics. No gender. No fucking around! (laughs)"
When asked what each member of HEADCAT brings to the sound of the band, Lemmy replied, "I don't know. You'd be the one to tell me that! . . . Well, you'd have to because I can't judge it, because I'm in it! (laughs) You can't judge what you're in the middle of. It's for the outsiders to judge that. It's for the fans to interpret a song, you know. You can write a song and three different people will write three different stories. I can't tell you what we bring to it. We bring what we got."
"Walk The Walk...Talk The Talk" sold around 700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD debuted at No. 49 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Walk The Walk...Talk The Talk" was released on July 5 through Niji Entertainment Group, the record label Wendy Dio and her and late husband Ronnie James Dio formed before his untimely passing.
HEADCAT was formed in 2000 after recording an Elvis Presley tribute special to which all band members contributed.
Slim Jim Phantom (drums, percussion), was born in Brooklyn and listened to his parents' jazz records. At the age of ten he took up the drums although he always says that the drums chose him. He is an exceptional drummer who cemented his place among rock royalty long time ago and inspires and excites audiences worldwide.
Danny B. Harvey (guitar, piano) is Texas-born and also discovered his love for music very early. He started playing the guitar at the age of six and even got a full scholarship to study classical guitar. He developed a finger picking guitar style that's very unique and based on his idols Merle Travis and Chet Atkins but also a result of his classical-technique education.
Lemmy Kilmister (vocals, bass, harmonica) was born and raised in England and started to play the guitar at the age of sixteen. With a laughing eye he always said that he only took the guitar to impress the girls. He is an autodidact and changed early to bass as he stated he wasn't a good guitar player. After founding MOTÖRHEAD in 1975 he knows the ups and downs in the business and has reached the status of an icon all over the world.
Twelve fantastic songs for "Walk The Walk, Talk The Talk" were chosen easily. HEADCAT prepare to take over the airwaves with their first single, "American Beat". "American Beat" is a song written in the studio — Lemmy had the words and the rest came together very quickly. "I Ain't Never" is one of the songs Lemmy really likes and Danny knew it — a real country, rockabilly number, full of love and ready to take you drifting away. "Let It Rock" is one of their favorite Chuck Berry tunes — THE ROLLING STONES did it a lot in their live show in the '70s — HEADCAT plays a different version. "Something Else" is a classic Eddie Cochran — Lemmy came on stage with the STRAY CATS and jammed on it at a show in the '90s at Hammersmith Odeon so it came quite natural to take this on the record as well.
"Walk The Walk...Talk The Talk" track listing:
01. American Beat
02. Say Mama
03. I Ain't Never
04. Bad Boy
05. Shaking All Over
06. Let It Rock
07. Something Else
08. The Eagle Flies On Friday
09. Trying To Get To You
10. You Can't Do That
11. It'll Be Me
12. Crossroads
Lemmy previously stated about HEADCAT, "[It's all about] having fun. Fun for the sake of it. No ulterior motive. No politics. No gender. No fucking around! (laughs)"
When asked what each member of HEADCAT brings to the sound of the band, Lemmy replied, "I don't know. You'd be the one to tell me that! . . . Well, you'd have to because I can't judge it, because I'm in it! (laughs) You can't judge what you're in the middle of. It's for the outsiders to judge that. It's for the fans to interpret a song, you know. You can write a song and three different people will write three different stories. I can't tell you what we bring to it. We bring what we got."
New York hardcore legends SICK OF IT ALL have been confirmed for next year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 2-4, 2012 in Wacken, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AMON AMARTH
AXEL RUDI PELL
CRADLE OF FILTH
DARK FUNERAL
DIMMU BORGIR
ENDSTILLE
FORBIDDEN
GAMMA RAY
HAMMERFALL
HENRY ROLLINS (spoken word)
IN EXTREMO
MINISTRY
MOONSPELL
NAPALM DEATH
PARADISE LOST
SCORPIONS
SICK OF IT ALL
SIX FEET UNDER
U.D.O.
WATAIN
WINTERFYLLETH
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AMON AMARTH
AXEL RUDI PELL
CRADLE OF FILTH
DARK FUNERAL
DIMMU BORGIR
ENDSTILLE
FORBIDDEN
GAMMA RAY
HAMMERFALL
HENRY ROLLINS (spoken word)
IN EXTREMO
MINISTRY
MOONSPELL
NAPALM DEATH
PARADISE LOST
SCORPIONS
SICK OF IT ALL
SIX FEET UNDER
U.D.O.
WATAIN
WINTERFYLLETH
CHICKENFOOT, the supergroup featuring guitar hero Joe Satriani, former VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony and frontman Sammy Hagar and drummer Kenny Aronoff (filling in for RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Chad Smith) — has announced "The 2011 Road Test Tour", the first performances in support of the band's forthcoming sophomore album, "III", due on September 27 via eOne Music in North America and in the rest of the world through earMUSIC/Edel. The tour is taking CHICKENFOOT to San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Chicago and New York in early November. Venues and ticket on-sale information will be announced October 3.
The dates are as follows:
Nov. 01 - San Francisco, CA
Nov. 02 - Los Angeles, CA
Nov. 04 - St. Louis, MO
Nov. 05 - Chicago, IL
Nov. 08 - New York, NY
Check Chickenfoot.us on October 3 for venue and ticket information.
CHICKENFOOT will offer fans a free live concert webcast on September 27, the same day that "III" comes out. The band will perform tracks from the disc at 9:00 p.m. ET at TRI Studios in Marin County, California, followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session with fans at the band's official web site. Fans can submit questions through the site and should stay tuned to CHICKENFOOT's social sites to find out how to become a member of the studio audience.
The webcast will be rebroadcast on the the band's official web site on September 28 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
The dates are as follows:
Nov. 01 - San Francisco, CA
Nov. 02 - Los Angeles, CA
Nov. 04 - St. Louis, MO
Nov. 05 - Chicago, IL
Nov. 08 - New York, NY
Check Chickenfoot.us on October 3 for venue and ticket information.
CHICKENFOOT will offer fans a free live concert webcast on September 27, the same day that "III" comes out. The band will perform tracks from the disc at 9:00 p.m. ET at TRI Studios in Marin County, California, followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session with fans at the band's official web site. Fans can submit questions through the site and should stay tuned to CHICKENFOOT's social sites to find out how to become a member of the studio audience.
The webcast will be rebroadcast on the the band's official web site on September 28 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
New York-based rock/metal/gothic band HOLYHELL has announced the addition veteran John Macaluso to the group's ranks.
HOLYHELL and Macaluso first played together in March 2011, with performances in sold-out shows in Worcester, Massachusetts and Cleveland, Ohio.
"The energy was so amazing, you can hear it effortlessly in the performances," said HOLYHELL front woman and songwriter Maria Breon. "We want to share this experience with our fans! Join us on Facebook — and on the road!"
Macaluso has been the recording and touring drummer for world-renowned acts such as YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ARK, JAMES LABRIE, TNT, RIOT, POWERMAD, STARBREAKER, CHRIS CAFFERY and KRS-ONE.
"Playing with 'Mac' has been a revelation and a pleasure for the whole band. He's a monster drummer with impeccable timing and a strong sense for the music," said musical director Francisco Palomo.
"Johnny Mac is a perfect fit for HOLYHELL. The band sounds killer!" adds Joe Stump.
HOLYHELL has earned high praise for its debut album HOLYHELL. The thirteen-song concept effort taps into the dichotomy of its namesake, as the members of HOLYHELL explore, lyrically and musically, the eternal struggle between darkness and light, life and death, evil and divine. HOLYHELL have gathered a growing following with their live performances in Europe and the U.S. over the last couple of years.
The band is working on their new album, set for release in 2012.
The next opportunity to witness the infernal energy of HOLYHELL and Macaluso are two upcoming shows in November: November 18 at the Dublin Pub in New Hyde Park, Long Island, New York and November 19, at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey.
The free live version of "Revelations' from HOLYHELL's debut album will be available on the band's Facebook page as of midnight, September 23.
HOLYHELL and Macaluso first played together in March 2011, with performances in sold-out shows in Worcester, Massachusetts and Cleveland, Ohio.
"The energy was so amazing, you can hear it effortlessly in the performances," said HOLYHELL front woman and songwriter Maria Breon. "We want to share this experience with our fans! Join us on Facebook — and on the road!"
Macaluso has been the recording and touring drummer for world-renowned acts such as YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ARK, JAMES LABRIE, TNT, RIOT, POWERMAD, STARBREAKER, CHRIS CAFFERY and KRS-ONE.
"Playing with 'Mac' has been a revelation and a pleasure for the whole band. He's a monster drummer with impeccable timing and a strong sense for the music," said musical director Francisco Palomo.
"Johnny Mac is a perfect fit for HOLYHELL. The band sounds killer!" adds Joe Stump.
HOLYHELL has earned high praise for its debut album HOLYHELL. The thirteen-song concept effort taps into the dichotomy of its namesake, as the members of HOLYHELL explore, lyrically and musically, the eternal struggle between darkness and light, life and death, evil and divine. HOLYHELL have gathered a growing following with their live performances in Europe and the U.S. over the last couple of years.
The band is working on their new album, set for release in 2012.
The next opportunity to witness the infernal energy of HOLYHELL and Macaluso are two upcoming shows in November: November 18 at the Dublin Pub in New Hyde Park, Long Island, New York and November 19, at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey.
The free live version of "Revelations' from HOLYHELL's debut album will be available on the band's Facebook page as of midnight, September 23.
DEVIL'S TRAIN, the new band featuring MYSTIC PROPHECY mainman/producer R.D. Liapakis, STRATOVARIUS drummer Jörg Michael, guitarist Lakis Ragazas, and SYMFONIA/ex-STRATOVARIUS bassist Jari Kainulainen, has inked a deal with earMUSIC/Edel. The group's self-titled debut album was recorded at Prophecy and Music Factory studios with the production team of Liapakis and Christian Schmid. A February 17, 2012 release is expected.
DEVIL'S TRAIN is a project Liapakis had been working on with Greek guitarist Lakis Ragazas for a year and as soon as Michael heard it, he asked to become part of it as the group's drummer.
Commented Liapakis: "I am rock and roll down to my veins and I always had diverse influences in my music, a great part of which are expressed in the music I write with MYSTIC PROPHECY. However, the style of music I have been preparing for DEVIL'S TRAIN with Lakis Ragazas isn't the style that would fit MYSTIC PROPHECY and this is why I decided to initiate a side band. Luckily, other people with whom I have common musical background share my vice for rock 'n' roll and Jörg, as I found out when we toured together [in] January [2010], is one of them."
DEVIL'S TRAIN is a project Liapakis had been working on with Greek guitarist Lakis Ragazas for a year and as soon as Michael heard it, he asked to become part of it as the group's drummer.
Commented Liapakis: "I am rock and roll down to my veins and I always had diverse influences in my music, a great part of which are expressed in the music I write with MYSTIC PROPHECY. However, the style of music I have been preparing for DEVIL'S TRAIN with Lakis Ragazas isn't the style that would fit MYSTIC PROPHECY and this is why I decided to initiate a side band. Luckily, other people with whom I have common musical background share my vice for rock 'n' roll and Jörg, as I found out when we toured together [in] January [2010], is one of them."
Little Rock, Arkansas traditional doom metallers PALLBEARER have inked a deal with Profound Lore Records. The band's debut album, "Sorrow and Extinction", will be released in February 2012,
Having generated a huge buzz within the doom metal scene solely based on its 2010 demo, PALLBEARER's brand of emotionally charged epic doom metal comes across as a glorious mix of CANDLEMASS, TROUBLE, and WARNING, with touches of '70s prog.
You can stream/download PALLBEARER's 2010 demo at Bandcamp.com.
Having generated a huge buzz within the doom metal scene solely based on its 2010 demo, PALLBEARER's brand of emotionally charged epic doom metal comes across as a glorious mix of CANDLEMASS, TROUBLE, and WARNING, with touches of '70s prog.
You can stream/download PALLBEARER's 2010 demo at Bandcamp.com.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of their "Resisting Success" album, reunited '80s/'90s metallers HADES have announced their only European show of 2012: Saturday, July 28 at the Headbangers Open Air festival in Brande-Hoernerkirchen Germany. HADES will perform songs from its first two LPs, "Resisting Success" and "If At First You Don't Succeed". A warm-up show will likely take place in New Jersey several days prior to the band's Headbangers Open Air appearance.
HADES' lineup for these shows will feature Alan Tecchio on vocals, Dan Lorenzo and Ed Fuhrman on guitars, Tom Coombs on drums and former NON-FICTION bassist Kevin Bolembach.
Commented Lorenzo: "We all love [former HADES guitarist] Scott [LePage], but being that he lives in Texas it just makes it harder from a logistical standpoint. Ed hasn't played with HADES since 2002 but he's ready to go."
Professionally filmed footage of Fuhrman performing with HADES can be viewed below.
HADES' April 2010 reunion show is documented on the DVD "Reunited & Re-Ignited", available at DanLorenzo.net. The disc also includes footage of NON-FICTION's reunion show at Dingbatz in November 2009.
HADES' lineup for these shows will feature Alan Tecchio on vocals, Dan Lorenzo and Ed Fuhrman on guitars, Tom Coombs on drums and former NON-FICTION bassist Kevin Bolembach.
Commented Lorenzo: "We all love [former HADES guitarist] Scott [LePage], but being that he lives in Texas it just makes it harder from a logistical standpoint. Ed hasn't played with HADES since 2002 but he's ready to go."
Professionally filmed footage of Fuhrman performing with HADES can be viewed below.
HADES' April 2010 reunion show is documented on the DVD "Reunited & Re-Ignited", available at DanLorenzo.net. The disc also includes footage of NON-FICTION's reunion show at Dingbatz in November 2009.
BENT SEA, the grindcore band formed by multi-instrumentalist Dirk Verbeuren, is putting the finishing touches on its debut EP, "Noistalgia". Drums and guitars for the EP were recorded and performed by Verbeuren at his own Die Crawling Studio, while ABORTED mastermind Sven De Caluwé tracked his vocals at Masterdisk Studio in Tel Aviv, Israel. A soon-to-be-announced bass player also contributed to the recording while SOILWORK/SCARVE guitarist Sylvain Coudret, added a dash of soloing flair.
BENT SEA is the creative child of respected drummer Dirk Verbeuren, arguably most well known for his drumming skills in Sweden's SOILWORK. Yet Verbeuren has roots planted in various metal grounds.
Storming onto the metal scene in the early Nineties as a founding member and songwriter for SCARVE, Verbeuren raised the bar for drummers across the globe.
Verbeuren has endorsement deals with Tama, Meinl, Evans and Toontrack, to name a few, and has recorded alongside such metal gurus as Devin Townsend, Jeff Loomis, Warrel Dane and Fredrik Thordendal; not to mention bands like ABORTED, SUBLIME CADAVERIC DECOMPOSITION and ANATOMY OF I.
"I'm a musician at heart," states Verbeuren. "I play drums because music is what I love. It's my life, my expression and my outlet. I work hard day in and out on so many projects that I'm completely proud of and then at night, or while I'm driving in my car I'm listening to what got me here and where it all began. Grindcore is what planted the seed. Sure, I listen to many styles of music but if I had to choose what music I identify with most, it's grindcore. So I started to listen to what was brewing inside of me and it came out in the form of BENT SEA. I wrote the whole album and recorded each instrument in under six weeks. It was just seeping from my pours. I had to get it out." He goes on to say, "This is my baby. I'm very proud of BENT SEA and I'm passionate about it. Every musician has something they do when they're at home, isolated in their thoughts and this is mine. I'm excited to share this side of my work with fans."
Due on November 11, "Noistalgia" will be made available exclusively as a digital download through www.bentsea.comwhile a limited-edition physical release is also in the works.
"Noistalgia" is eleven tracks in length and a rare initial release will include an EXTREME NOISE TERROR cover as a bonus track
BENT SEA is the creative child of respected drummer Dirk Verbeuren, arguably most well known for his drumming skills in Sweden's SOILWORK. Yet Verbeuren has roots planted in various metal grounds.
Storming onto the metal scene in the early Nineties as a founding member and songwriter for SCARVE, Verbeuren raised the bar for drummers across the globe.
Verbeuren has endorsement deals with Tama, Meinl, Evans and Toontrack, to name a few, and has recorded alongside such metal gurus as Devin Townsend, Jeff Loomis, Warrel Dane and Fredrik Thordendal; not to mention bands like ABORTED, SUBLIME CADAVERIC DECOMPOSITION and ANATOMY OF I.
"I'm a musician at heart," states Verbeuren. "I play drums because music is what I love. It's my life, my expression and my outlet. I work hard day in and out on so many projects that I'm completely proud of and then at night, or while I'm driving in my car I'm listening to what got me here and where it all began. Grindcore is what planted the seed. Sure, I listen to many styles of music but if I had to choose what music I identify with most, it's grindcore. So I started to listen to what was brewing inside of me and it came out in the form of BENT SEA. I wrote the whole album and recorded each instrument in under six weeks. It was just seeping from my pours. I had to get it out." He goes on to say, "This is my baby. I'm very proud of BENT SEA and I'm passionate about it. Every musician has something they do when they're at home, isolated in their thoughts and this is mine. I'm excited to share this side of my work with fans."
Due on November 11, "Noistalgia" will be made available exclusively as a digital download through www.bentsea.comwhile a limited-edition physical release is also in the works.
"Noistalgia" is eleven tracks in length and a rare initial release will include an EXTREME NOISE TERROR cover as a bonus track
Norwegian symphonic black metal band DIMMU BORGIR has added three shows to its previously announced European tour. There will be no support band and DIMMU will perform two sets. The first set will be a full album in its entirety as chosen by the fans and the second set will include a variety of DIMMU classics.
The dates are as follows:
Nov. 10 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
Nov. 11 - Haarlem, The Netherlands - Patronat
Nov. 12 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix Hall
Nov. 14 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2
Nov. 15 - Colchester, UK - Arts Centre
Nov. 16 - Norwich, UK - Waterfront
Nov. 18 - Glasgow, UK - Classic Grand
Nov. 19 - Leeds, UK – The Cockpit
Nov. 20 - Cardiff, UK - Great Hall 2
Nov. 21 - Stoke, UK – Sugarmill
Nov. 23 - London, UK – Islington Academy
Nov. 24 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms
Nov. 25 - Manchester, UK - Academy 3
Nov. 26 - Birmingham, UK - 02 Academy 2
Nov. 28 - Belfast, Ireland - Spring And Airbrake
Nov. 29 - Dublin, Ireland - Academy
Fans can vote for the following three albums on DIMMU's official Facebook page.
A) 1994's "For All Tid"
B) 1996's "Stormblåst"
C) 1997's "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant"
DIMMU BORGIR's most recent touring lineup included Geir Bratland (APOPTYGMA BERZERK, THE KOVENANT) on keyboards and Terje Andersen (a.k.a. Cyrus; SUSPERIA) on bass.
"Abrahadabra", the ninth album from DIMMU BORGIR, sold 9,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "In Sorte Diaboli", opened with 14,000 units back in May 2007 to debut at No. 43. This was more than double the 6,400 first-week tally achieved by its predecessor, "Death Cult Armageddon", which came out in September 2003 and landed at position No. 169 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The word "abrahadabra" (which roughly translates into "I will create as I speak") first publicly appeared in Chapter III of "Liber AL vel Legis" (commonly referred to as "The Book of the Law") written by Aleister Crowley in Cairo, Egypt in 1904.
"Abrahadabra" was released in Germany on September 24, 2010, in the rest of Europe on September 27, 2010, and it was made available in North America on October 12, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.
The dates are as follows:
Nov. 10 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
Nov. 11 - Haarlem, The Netherlands - Patronat
Nov. 12 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix Hall
Nov. 14 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2
Nov. 15 - Colchester, UK - Arts Centre
Nov. 16 - Norwich, UK - Waterfront
Nov. 18 - Glasgow, UK - Classic Grand
Nov. 19 - Leeds, UK – The Cockpit
Nov. 20 - Cardiff, UK - Great Hall 2
Nov. 21 - Stoke, UK – Sugarmill
Nov. 23 - London, UK – Islington Academy
Nov. 24 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms
Nov. 25 - Manchester, UK - Academy 3
Nov. 26 - Birmingham, UK - 02 Academy 2
Nov. 28 - Belfast, Ireland - Spring And Airbrake
Nov. 29 - Dublin, Ireland - Academy
Fans can vote for the following three albums on DIMMU's official Facebook page.
A) 1994's "For All Tid"
B) 1996's "Stormblåst"
C) 1997's "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant"
DIMMU BORGIR's most recent touring lineup included Geir Bratland (APOPTYGMA BERZERK, THE KOVENANT) on keyboards and Terje Andersen (a.k.a. Cyrus; SUSPERIA) on bass.
"Abrahadabra", the ninth album from DIMMU BORGIR, sold 9,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "In Sorte Diaboli", opened with 14,000 units back in May 2007 to debut at No. 43. This was more than double the 6,400 first-week tally achieved by its predecessor, "Death Cult Armageddon", which came out in September 2003 and landed at position No. 169 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The word "abrahadabra" (which roughly translates into "I will create as I speak") first publicly appeared in Chapter III of "Liber AL vel Legis" (commonly referred to as "The Book of the Law") written by Aleister Crowley in Cairo, Egypt in 1904.
"Abrahadabra" was released in Germany on September 24, 2010, in the rest of Europe on September 27, 2010, and it was made available in North America on October 12, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.
VENOM, the hugely influential U.K. outfit now celebrating a full 30 years since the release of its "Welcome To Hell" debut, will have a brand new studio album released on November 28 via Spinefarm Records/Universal. Titled "Fallen Angels" and featuring 13 fresh recordings produced by mainman/bassist Conrad "Cronos" Lant, this is the follow-up to 2008's "Hell" release, and sees the trio (completed by guitarist Rage and drummer Dante) adopting a style highly redolent of classic early VENOM with modern studio technology employed only to increase the general level of nastiness.
The first limited edition pressing of "Fallen Angels" will come with two bonus tracks, "Annunaki Legacy" and "Blackened Blues".
Prior to the album's release, on October 31, a double-A side single, "Hammerhead" / "Hail Satanas", will be made available on 12-inch vinyl and digital download, also through Spinefarm/Universal.
Says Cronos: "When we make an album, it usually takes a few tracks to get into the vibe, although this album's vibe was very much present during the ideas stage… everything came together so naturally.
"We all started throwing ideas together on the South American tour, and then again during the live shows of 2010, and so we knew from the start that we had some amazing new songs to make a great album.
"With any new album, you look for a few songs to put into the live set, although that is going to be very difficult with this record, as we can nail the entire album live if we want!
"'Fallen Angels' is the result of a band that has spent nearly two years touring and growing as a unit, and as the band grows tighter, so the songs get better and heavier, and we instinctively know what each other is thinking, and the ideas flow easier.
"This album is only the very start for this lineup; there will be many more albums and live shows to come for VENOM.
"It has taken a long time and a lot of changes to finally deliver a VENOM that can attack black metal the way it should be — fast, furious, tight and terrifying. All hell breaks loose… hell fucking yeah!!!!!"
"Fallen Angels" will feature the following songs:
* Hammerhead
* Nemesis
* Pedal To The Metal
* Lap Of The Gods
* Damnation Of Souls
* Beggarman
* Hail Satanas
* Sin
* Punk's Not Dead
* Death Be Thy Name
* Lest We Forget
* Valley Of The Kings
* Fallen Angels
Regarding what fans can expect to hear from the next VENOM studio LP, Cronos told The Quietus, "The new tracks are tremendous. Basically, if you think of the way [former VENOM drummer] Antton [Antony Lant, who is also Cronos' brother] was playing, especially on the last album 'Hell', he is a nu-metal drummer and comes from that kind of background. He's hung 'round VENOM most of his life and it was just good to introduce him to the whole VENOM concept of playing like the way [original VENOM drummer] Abaddon used to play. Basically Abaddon came from a rock background and then basically developed a black metal, speed metal, thrash metal style. The nu-metal drumming is very different and it was a steep learning curve for him. At the end of the day he's got his own style and he wants to be known for what he's done and not be in my shadow, which is totally understandable. Some of the guys we had coming to the rehearsals were not ex-CRADLE OF FILTH but they were still, 'I've been in this band, I've been in that band,' but they were all far too young, you know. We were looking for someone in their thirties upwards who understood rock music."
When asked how the new songs compare to those off "Hell", Cronos said, "I would say more like those off 'Metal Black'. More like our earlier stuff. 'Hell' was getting a bit too much like session tracks. Too . . . polished. And polish isn't a good word for VENOM songs. VENOM songs need to be off the cuff, loose, a little bit thrash. Once you start polishing songs up a bit much you end up going in the wrong direction. There's a spontaneity about VENOM songs that I've always loved. When we're coming up with new VENOM songs there's one thing that I always try and keep in mind: 'Is that kid in his bedroom on his knees playing air guitar and going 'Yeah! Get in!'' You know? I'm not interested in Joe Satriani sitting there and discussing whether it's technically correct or not! That's the last thing on my mind."
The first limited edition pressing of "Fallen Angels" will come with two bonus tracks, "Annunaki Legacy" and "Blackened Blues".
Prior to the album's release, on October 31, a double-A side single, "Hammerhead" / "Hail Satanas", will be made available on 12-inch vinyl and digital download, also through Spinefarm/Universal.
Says Cronos: "When we make an album, it usually takes a few tracks to get into the vibe, although this album's vibe was very much present during the ideas stage… everything came together so naturally.
"We all started throwing ideas together on the South American tour, and then again during the live shows of 2010, and so we knew from the start that we had some amazing new songs to make a great album.
"With any new album, you look for a few songs to put into the live set, although that is going to be very difficult with this record, as we can nail the entire album live if we want!
"'Fallen Angels' is the result of a band that has spent nearly two years touring and growing as a unit, and as the band grows tighter, so the songs get better and heavier, and we instinctively know what each other is thinking, and the ideas flow easier.
"This album is only the very start for this lineup; there will be many more albums and live shows to come for VENOM.
"It has taken a long time and a lot of changes to finally deliver a VENOM that can attack black metal the way it should be — fast, furious, tight and terrifying. All hell breaks loose… hell fucking yeah!!!!!"
"Fallen Angels" will feature the following songs:
* Hammerhead
* Nemesis
* Pedal To The Metal
* Lap Of The Gods
* Damnation Of Souls
* Beggarman
* Hail Satanas
* Sin
* Punk's Not Dead
* Death Be Thy Name
* Lest We Forget
* Valley Of The Kings
* Fallen Angels
Regarding what fans can expect to hear from the next VENOM studio LP, Cronos told The Quietus, "The new tracks are tremendous. Basically, if you think of the way [former VENOM drummer] Antton [Antony Lant, who is also Cronos' brother] was playing, especially on the last album 'Hell', he is a nu-metal drummer and comes from that kind of background. He's hung 'round VENOM most of his life and it was just good to introduce him to the whole VENOM concept of playing like the way [original VENOM drummer] Abaddon used to play. Basically Abaddon came from a rock background and then basically developed a black metal, speed metal, thrash metal style. The nu-metal drumming is very different and it was a steep learning curve for him. At the end of the day he's got his own style and he wants to be known for what he's done and not be in my shadow, which is totally understandable. Some of the guys we had coming to the rehearsals were not ex-CRADLE OF FILTH but they were still, 'I've been in this band, I've been in that band,' but they were all far too young, you know. We were looking for someone in their thirties upwards who understood rock music."
When asked how the new songs compare to those off "Hell", Cronos said, "I would say more like those off 'Metal Black'. More like our earlier stuff. 'Hell' was getting a bit too much like session tracks. Too . . . polished. And polish isn't a good word for VENOM songs. VENOM songs need to be off the cuff, loose, a little bit thrash. Once you start polishing songs up a bit much you end up going in the wrong direction. There's a spontaneity about VENOM songs that I've always loved. When we're coming up with new VENOM songs there's one thing that I always try and keep in mind: 'Is that kid in his bedroom on his knees playing air guitar and going 'Yeah! Get in!'' You know? I'm not interested in Joe Satriani sitting there and discussing whether it's technically correct or not! That's the last thing on my mind."
British grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH have re-signed with Century Media Records. The band's as-yet-untitled 14th studio album was recorded earlier this year at Parlour Studio in Kettering, U.K. with longtime producer Russ Russell and is scheduled for release in early 2012.
Jens Prüter, head of A&R at Century Media Records in Europe, states: "NAPALM DEATH is not only one of the most important and influential extreme metal bands, they are also a band that always raises their voice against social ills — and even against record companies (remember 'Enemy Of Music Business'). Therefore I'm even more glad about NAPALM DEATH re-signing to Century Media for more great albums of intelligent and meaningful noise.
"Have you ever seen a weak NAPALM DEATH show? I haven't, and I have seen them MANY times and will never get tired to see them again and again.
"Thanks to Mitch, Danny, Shane and Barney for their resilience and resistance — and a special thanks to Marc from M.A.D. for fighting on their side."
Added NAPALM DEATH vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway: "We're very happy to be re-signing to Century Media. In fact, I think it's the first time we've actually re-signed on a longer term deal with anybody since the days when we didn't strictly know that we could be digging ourselves a big hole with labels...
"It's important for NAPALM to stay with an independent and Century proved to us with their overall enthusiasm and attention that this is where we needed to be. There's a perfect balance of getting the band out there in people's faces whilst still understanding the point that not everything is acceptable or 'ethical' promotion. It's more like working with friends who actually care, and who could argue with that?"
Renowned as one of the most reliable and hardest-working bands in extreme music, NAPALM DEATH is currently on the road all across Russia, will head over to Canada in October and has already confirmed appearances at the 2012 editions of the Wacken Open Air (Germany), Neurotic Deathfest (Netherlands) and Maryland Deathfest (USA) festivals.
NAPALM DEATH earlier in the year contributed a brand new track called "Legacy Was Yesterday" to Decibel magazine's monthly flexi disc series. The song — the band's first new material since 2009's "Time Waits for No Slave" LP — was recorded at Rapture Audio with James Walford and mastered by Russ Russell.
"Time Waits For No Slave" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 95. The CD, which was released in the U.S. in February 2009 via Century Media Records, was recorded with producer Russ Russell. Drums were tracked at Parlour Studios in Kettering and guitars, bass and vocals were done at Foel Studios in Wales. The band then returned to Parlour for the mixing sessions.
Jens Prüter, head of A&R at Century Media Records in Europe, states: "NAPALM DEATH is not only one of the most important and influential extreme metal bands, they are also a band that always raises their voice against social ills — and even against record companies (remember 'Enemy Of Music Business'). Therefore I'm even more glad about NAPALM DEATH re-signing to Century Media for more great albums of intelligent and meaningful noise.
"Have you ever seen a weak NAPALM DEATH show? I haven't, and I have seen them MANY times and will never get tired to see them again and again.
"Thanks to Mitch, Danny, Shane and Barney for their resilience and resistance — and a special thanks to Marc from M.A.D. for fighting on their side."
Added NAPALM DEATH vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway: "We're very happy to be re-signing to Century Media. In fact, I think it's the first time we've actually re-signed on a longer term deal with anybody since the days when we didn't strictly know that we could be digging ourselves a big hole with labels...
"It's important for NAPALM to stay with an independent and Century proved to us with their overall enthusiasm and attention that this is where we needed to be. There's a perfect balance of getting the band out there in people's faces whilst still understanding the point that not everything is acceptable or 'ethical' promotion. It's more like working with friends who actually care, and who could argue with that?"
Renowned as one of the most reliable and hardest-working bands in extreme music, NAPALM DEATH is currently on the road all across Russia, will head over to Canada in October and has already confirmed appearances at the 2012 editions of the Wacken Open Air (Germany), Neurotic Deathfest (Netherlands) and Maryland Deathfest (USA) festivals.
NAPALM DEATH earlier in the year contributed a brand new track called "Legacy Was Yesterday" to Decibel magazine's monthly flexi disc series. The song — the band's first new material since 2009's "Time Waits for No Slave" LP — was recorded at Rapture Audio with James Walford and mastered by Russ Russell.
"Time Waits For No Slave" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 95. The CD, which was released in the U.S. in February 2009 via Century Media Records, was recorded with producer Russ Russell. Drums were tracked at Parlour Studios in Kettering and guitars, bass and vocals were done at Foel Studios in Wales. The band then returned to Parlour for the mixing sessions.
Germany's ATLANTEAN KODEX has been hard writing its as-yet-untitled sophomore full-length album. The follow-up to the band's heralded debut, "The Golden Bough", is "one of the most anticipated albums for fans of grand, epic and pure heavy metal," according to a press release.
Commented guitarist Manuel Trummer: "The new album is slowly starting to take shape. So far we have around 30 minutes of all new, unreleased material. There won't be any demo songs or older songs from previous releases on the album. Regarding the general direction, you can expect the same sound and atmosphere as on 'The Golden Bough'. There won't be any change in style whatsoever. The stuff we have written so far ranges from nice headbanging up-tempo anthems to some of the slowest and most epic stuff we have done... it's safe to say that our key coordinates still are 'Into Glory Ride'-era MANOWAR, Viking-era BATHORY, arcane '80s U.S. metal served with a healthy dose of NWOBHM, folk and '70s vibes. All regressive, all ATLANTEAN KODEX."
ATLANTEAN KODEX's new album is scheduled for release sometime in late 2012 or early 2013.
"The Golden Bough", released by Italy's Cruz Del Sur Music in 2010, took fans of the most epic classic, power and doom metal by surprise, reaping incredible acclaim from critics and publications of all caliber and from diehard fans of pure heavy metal worldwide, and closing out the year on countless year-end lists.
ATLANTEAN KODEX is:
Markus Becker - Vocals, Speculative Archeology
Michael Koch - Lead Guitar, Cryptozoology
Florian Kreuzer - Bass Guitar, Ur-Theology
Manuel Trummer - Guitar, Experimental Theosophy
Mario Weiß - Battery, Gnosticism
Commented guitarist Manuel Trummer: "The new album is slowly starting to take shape. So far we have around 30 minutes of all new, unreleased material. There won't be any demo songs or older songs from previous releases on the album. Regarding the general direction, you can expect the same sound and atmosphere as on 'The Golden Bough'. There won't be any change in style whatsoever. The stuff we have written so far ranges from nice headbanging up-tempo anthems to some of the slowest and most epic stuff we have done... it's safe to say that our key coordinates still are 'Into Glory Ride'-era MANOWAR, Viking-era BATHORY, arcane '80s U.S. metal served with a healthy dose of NWOBHM, folk and '70s vibes. All regressive, all ATLANTEAN KODEX."
ATLANTEAN KODEX's new album is scheduled for release sometime in late 2012 or early 2013.
"The Golden Bough", released by Italy's Cruz Del Sur Music in 2010, took fans of the most epic classic, power and doom metal by surprise, reaping incredible acclaim from critics and publications of all caliber and from diehard fans of pure heavy metal worldwide, and closing out the year on countless year-end lists.
ATLANTEAN KODEX is:
Markus Becker - Vocals, Speculative Archeology
Michael Koch - Lead Guitar, Cryptozoology
Florian Kreuzer - Bass Guitar, Ur-Theology
Manuel Trummer - Guitar, Experimental Theosophy
Mario Weiß - Battery, Gnosticism
The vinyl reissue of "Strappado", the debut album from Canadian death/thrash metal pioneers SLAUGHTER, will be made available through the Canadian vinyl label War On Music Records.
"Strappado" is an essential classic and cult masterpiece of Canadian metal, long out of print. SLAUGHTER famously included Chuck Shuldiner on guitar for a brief moment in the mid-'80s before Shuldiner resumed his frontman duties in DEATH.
The War On Music release of "Strappado" will be the first-ever vinyl pressing using the remixed/remastered 1986 Fringe audio, and features tree additional tracks not included on the original LP.
Track listing:
01. Disintegrator / Incinerator
02. Nocturnal Hell
03. F.O.D. (Fuck Of Death)
04. Tortured Souls
05. Parasites
06. The Curse
07. Strappado
08. Maim to Please
09. One Foot in the Grave
10. Tyrant of Hell
11. Death Dealer
12. Tales of the Macabre
SLAUGHTER was a crucial player in te early Toronto thrash metal scene alongside genre heavyweights RAZOR, SACRIFICE and EXCITER. SLAUGHTER guitarist Dave Hewson recently made a guest vocal appearance on the latest SACRIFICE album, "The Ones I Condemn".
"Strappado" is an essential classic and cult masterpiece of Canadian metal, long out of print. SLAUGHTER famously included Chuck Shuldiner on guitar for a brief moment in the mid-'80s before Shuldiner resumed his frontman duties in DEATH.
The War On Music release of "Strappado" will be the first-ever vinyl pressing using the remixed/remastered 1986 Fringe audio, and features tree additional tracks not included on the original LP.
Track listing:
01. Disintegrator / Incinerator
02. Nocturnal Hell
03. F.O.D. (Fuck Of Death)
04. Tortured Souls
05. Parasites
06. The Curse
07. Strappado
08. Maim to Please
09. One Foot in the Grave
10. Tyrant of Hell
11. Death Dealer
12. Tales of the Macabre
SLAUGHTER was a crucial player in te early Toronto thrash metal scene alongside genre heavyweights RAZOR, SACRIFICE and EXCITER. SLAUGHTER guitarist Dave Hewson recently made a guest vocal appearance on the latest SACRIFICE album, "The Ones I Condemn".
Guitarist/vocalist Jim Malone of Virginia-based melodic tech death metallers ARSIS will be forced to sit out the band's "Frets Of Fury" tour with FIREWIND, WHITE WIZARD and NIGHTRAGE in October "due to professional and personal commitments." Filling in for him during the trek will be Mike Parks on vocals and Brandon Ellis on guitar.
Commented the group: "Mike Parks is the obvious choice as he has helped us out in the past when Malone lost his voice, and was actually the singer of the band that became ARSIS. He is a longtime friend and an extremely strong singer, and we're happy to have him with us."
Regarding Ellis' addition to ARSIS' touring lineup, the band said, "This is something incredibly special. He is a young guy who plays with the kind of maturity that has become rare in the modern metal and shred scene. His presence will take the guitar chops in ARSIS to a new high."
A video statement from ARSIS guitarist Nick Cordle that includes clips of pre-production demos of brand new songs can be seen below.
ARSIS' latest album, "Starve For The Devil", sold 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 13 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.
"Starve For The Devil" was released in North America on February 9, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The album was recorded at Planet Z Studios in Hadley, Massachusetts with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with MUNICIPAL WASTE, AGNOSTIC FRONT and HATEBREED, among others.
Commented the group: "Mike Parks is the obvious choice as he has helped us out in the past when Malone lost his voice, and was actually the singer of the band that became ARSIS. He is a longtime friend and an extremely strong singer, and we're happy to have him with us."
Regarding Ellis' addition to ARSIS' touring lineup, the band said, "This is something incredibly special. He is a young guy who plays with the kind of maturity that has become rare in the modern metal and shred scene. His presence will take the guitar chops in ARSIS to a new high."
A video statement from ARSIS guitarist Nick Cordle that includes clips of pre-production demos of brand new songs can be seen below.
ARSIS' latest album, "Starve For The Devil", sold 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 13 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.
"Starve For The Devil" was released in North America on February 9, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The album was recorded at Planet Z Studios in Hadley, Massachusetts with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with MUNICIPAL WASTE, AGNOSTIC FRONT and HATEBREED, among others.
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