According to Musical Instrument Professional, Premier has introduced the "Spirit Of Maiden" drumset, a new kit designed in collaboration with IRON MAIDEN's Nicko McBrain.
Since 1993, the relationship between McBrain and Premier has resulted in a series of drumsets created to support IRON MAIDEN's world tours. This new kit is the first product from Premier that offers fans an affordable drumset officially licensed by IRON MAIDEN.
The artwork depicts the band's mascot Eddie from the "Piece Of Mind" album — the first MAIDEN record to feature McBrain on drums. Finished in two-tone metallic grey and silver, the covering is produced in the U.K. at the same facility used for the drummer's personal tour kits. Each drum includes a silver embossed IRON MAIDEN badge, while the bass drum head includes the Premier logo in MAIDEN's signature font.
Read more from Musical Instrument Professional.
Since 1993, the relationship between McBrain and Premier has resulted in a series of drumsets created to support IRON MAIDEN's world tours. This new kit is the first product from Premier that offers fans an affordable drumset officially licensed by IRON MAIDEN.
The artwork depicts the band's mascot Eddie from the "Piece Of Mind" album — the first MAIDEN record to feature McBrain on drums. Finished in two-tone metallic grey and silver, the covering is produced in the U.K. at the same facility used for the drummer's personal tour kits. Each drum includes a silver embossed IRON MAIDEN badge, while the bass drum head includes the Premier logo in MAIDEN's signature font.
Read more from Musical Instrument Professional.
"You have to feel it," Lou Reed says with a hard look at Metallica singer-guitarist James Hetfield. "You have to believe it."
Reed, Hetfield and the rest of Metallica – drummer Lars Ulrich, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo – are sitting in the band's studio in Marin County, north of San Francisco, talking about "The View," one of the tracks on their unlikely new album, Lulu, due out November 1st. The 10 songs are Reed's – harrowing examinations of sexual taboo and moral peril originally composed for a new Berlin production of works by the German expressionist playwright Frank Wedekind. But Lulu is a true collaboration: Metallica wrote new riffs and arrangements and recorded almost everything, including vocals, live with Reed in this studio.
Today, in the third week of sessions, Reed is going over Hetfield's background part in "The View," a howling response to the cold-blooded obsession in Reed's chantlike singing. Hetfield returns the New York rocker's steely gaze with his own thoughtful intensity. "Lou says, 'You gotta mean it,'" Hetfield reflects later, during a meal break. "Give me a clue. What do you want me to mean? And these lines don't rhyme. There's five syllables in this, two in there." Hetfield then notes that he and Reed, who virtually invented avant-rock in the Sixties with the Velvet Underground, have a lot in common, "in that we are aliens on this planet. 'Nobody is listening. I don't fit in.' It's unbelievable to hear his voice reciting these lyrics. You're captured, man."
Metallica's instrumental track for "The View," cut that day in the same room where they made 2003's St. Anger, is an irregular stomp with a thrash-speed finish. Hetfield overdubs some new roars, then Hammett puts down a white-noise-blues break, not quite a solo but perfectly furious. The result – like the blinding propulsion of "Mistress Dread" and the violent swerves in crunch and rhythm in "Pumping Blood" – is a new kind of doom in metal, a brutal realism propelled by arena brawn. Reed listens to a playback with no expression on his face until the last power chord. "I feel refreshed by this," he says with a grin. "It was awfully good."
"They're as powerful as you can get," Reed says of Metallica out in the studio lounge. "The drums are no joke, and Hetfield is like that." Reed pounds a hand on his heart. "Then you have lyrics that are high-octane. It's so easy, because we're not trying to change anyone."
"It wasn't 'This is my shit, do as you're told,'" Ulrich confirms. "Lou understood we were going to give him something nobody else would." Co-produced by Reed, Metallica, engineer Greg Fidelman and Reed's longtime collaborator Hal Willner, Lulu "is almost like two languages," Ulrich says. "We have m-e-t-a-l in our name. But we can go fucking anywhere and do anything."
Despite the age difference – Reed is 69; Metallica are all in their late forties – and Reed's reputation as a hard case, there is a comfort and mutual admiration in the room between takes. At one point, Hetfield draws a creepy female figure on a sketch pad and hands it to Reed. "This is for you," Hetfield says with a growling chuckle. "This is 'Mistress Dread.'" Reed laughs gratefully. When Hetfield strums an acoustic guitar, humming a melody, Reed looks up sharply. "Is that a song?" he asks. "I'd keep that."
"Lou and us – we're kindred souls," Hammett says. "We both have a clear vision of what you should sound like and say. Also, he has an edge that totally fits. He speaks our language, slightly sarcastic and blunt, like another pea in the pod."
Reed and Metallica first played together in 2009, when the band backed him at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's anniversary shows at Madison Square Garden. Reed immediately suggested they record together. The initial plan was new versions of some of his older songs. But just before the first sessions this spring, Reed proposed a crack at his Lulu score. Ulrich recalls listening with Hetfield to Reed's original "otherworldly" tapes, featuring spare guitar and long drones on cello and an electronic instrument, the Continuum, played by Reed and Sarth Calhoun, a member of Reed's band. (Calhoun also appears on Lulu.)
"He was defensive, ready to roll his eyes," Ulrich says of Hetfield's initial response. "Then you could see this weight lifted off his shoulders. He felt a connection. He had not expected that." One Reed line sung by Hetfield in "Cheat on Me" – "Why do I cheat on myself?/Well I got nobody else" – could have come from 1991's Metallica.
Hammett, whose father died in April, remembers when Reed recorded his vocal for Lulu's closing elegy, "Junior Dad." "I was on the verge of tears," the guitarist says. "I couldn't stay in the room. Ten seconds later, James comes into the kitchen, sobbing. Lou took down the guitar players in Metallica in one fell swoop. After that, anything Lou wanted, he had me. I'd play it."
"Wherever I go, they're still with me," Reed says with gravelly delight. "This whole thing has been the way it should be, in my mind." It's not over. Reed and Metallica are talking about promoting Lulu with some live shows. And Lulu has already had an effect on the writing for Metallica's next album. Instead of starting with riffs, "James is talking about bringing lyrics in first," Ulrich says. "What happens if the music is inspired by that?"
On the phone, a few days after Lulu is mastered, Ulrich describes listening to the album on a late-night car ride. "I was overwhelmed," he confesses. "I also felt, 'This is really unique.'" How unique? He laughs. "This makes... And Justice for All sound like the first Ramones album."
The musical collaboration between Lou Reed and METALLICA, "Lulu", will be released on November 1 in North America via Warner Bros. Records and one day earlier (October 31) in the rest of the world through Universal Music. The CD was co-produced by Reed, METALLICA, Hal Willner — who has produced albums for Reed, Marianne Faithfull, and Laurie Anderson, among others — and Greg Fidelman. Fidelman also mixed the record.
"Lulu" final track listing:
01. Brandenburg Gate (4:19)
02. The View (5:17)
03. Pumping Blood (7:24)
04. Mistress Dread (6:52)
05. Iced Honey (4:36)
06. Cheat On Me (11:26)
07. Frustration (8:33)
08. Little Dog (8:01)
09. Dragon (11:08)
10. Junior Dad (19:28)
"Iced Honey" lyrics:
You can't put a butterfly in a jar
If the effort's too high no matter who you are
You can't catch the moon, or the sun or the stars
It doesn't matter who you are
Iced honey
Now me I've tried a million tricks
To make life cold and make it stick
Not running heat that flames then out
But the proud piece of ice that always floats
Iced honey
If I can't trap a butterfly or a bee
If I can't keep my heart where I want it to be
If no matter how much soul and heart
I put to the wood
If a flaming heart is not that good
Iced honey
If you can't put a butterfly in a jar
If violence mars your final hour
If you make others feel like jam
Poured on a piece of charbroiled lamb
If it's all mixed up and you cannot shout
And your oxygen starts to run out
If your final gasp has the recipe wrong
And instead of hello you say so long
If your energy starts to leak out
And people wonder what you're all about
A heartbreaker with an unattached heart
The story of love gives them all a start
And me, I've always been this way
Not by choice, just this way
I can't put my honey pot in a jar
Or a heart or a fist of some young boy
If you can't put a butterfly in a jar
No wonder no need to wonder where you are
It might seem like Hell, the river Styx
Your affection never sticks
No matter what you say, no matter what you do
A butterfly heart flies right past you
There's nothing to say, nothing to do
See if the ice will melt for you
Iced honey [End of lyrics]
The deluxe version of "Lulu", which will come in a tube-shaped container measuring 13 centimeters x 1.24 meters, will include the following:
* 2xCD digipack package
* A large 1.2 m x 1.6 m poster (with song lyrics)
* 3 photographs by Anton Corbijn (50 cm x 50.8 cm)
Check out photos of the "Lulu" deluxe edition below.
The idea for these two giants of modern music to work together was born after the 25th anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame concerts in New York City in October 2009. METALLICA — singer/guitarist James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo — played with Reed on VELVET UNDERGROUND classics "Sweet Jane" and "White Light/White Heat". "We knew from then that we were made for each other," Reed says.
After that triumphant performance, Reed suggested they all make a record together. At first they planned to record an album of Reedfraven's older material, what Ulrich describes as "some of Lou's lost jewels — songs that he felt he'd like to give a second spin, and we could do whatever it is we do to some of those songs." That idea "hung in the air for a couple of months." Then, a week or two before that session was to begin, "Lou called up and said, 'Listen, I have this other idea.'"
That idea was to record a series of songs Reed had written for American avant-garde theater director Robert Wilson and German theater group the Berliner Ensemble's production of the "Lulu Plays", which premiered in April at the Theatre am Schiffbauerdamm in Berlin, founded by Bertolt Brecht. The songs are inspired by German expressionist Frank Wedekind's early 20th century plays "Earth Spirit" and "Pandora's Box", and were a rewrite of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven", which emerged as a graphic novel on Fantagraphics Press.
"We were very interested in working with Lou," says Hetfield. "I had these giant question marks: What's it going to be like? What's going to happen? So it was great when he sent us the lyrics for the 'Lulu' body of work. It was something we could sink our teeth into. I could take off my singer and lyricist hat and concentrate on the music part. These were very potent lyrics, with a soundscape behind them for atmosphere. Lars and I sat there with an acoustic and let this blank canvas take us where it needed to go. It was a great gift, to be asked to stamp 'TALLICA on it. And that's what we did."
"We had to bring 'Lulu' to life in a sophisticated way, using rock," Reed says. "And the hardest power rock you could come up with would have to be METALLICA. They live on that planet. We played together, and I knew it: dream come true. This is the best thing I ever did. And I did it with the best group I could possibly find. By definition, everybody involved was honest. This has come into the world pure. We pushed as far as we possibly could within the realms of reality."
"It's definitely not a METALLICA album, or a Lou Reed album," adds Hammett. "It's something else. It's a new animal, a hybrid."
"Lulu" final track listing:
01. Brandenburg Gate (4:19)
02. The View (5:17)
03. Pumping Blood (7:24)
04. Mistress Dread (6:52)
05. Iced Honey (4:36)
06. Cheat On Me (11:26)
07. Frustration (8:33)
08. Little Dog (8:01)
09. Dragon (11:08)
10. Junior Dad (19:28)
"Iced Honey" lyrics:
You can't put a butterfly in a jar
If the effort's too high no matter who you are
You can't catch the moon, or the sun or the stars
It doesn't matter who you are
Iced honey
Now me I've tried a million tricks
To make life cold and make it stick
Not running heat that flames then out
But the proud piece of ice that always floats
Iced honey
If I can't trap a butterfly or a bee
If I can't keep my heart where I want it to be
If no matter how much soul and heart
I put to the wood
If a flaming heart is not that good
Iced honey
If you can't put a butterfly in a jar
If violence mars your final hour
If you make others feel like jam
Poured on a piece of charbroiled lamb
If it's all mixed up and you cannot shout
And your oxygen starts to run out
If your final gasp has the recipe wrong
And instead of hello you say so long
If your energy starts to leak out
And people wonder what you're all about
A heartbreaker with an unattached heart
The story of love gives them all a start
And me, I've always been this way
Not by choice, just this way
I can't put my honey pot in a jar
Or a heart or a fist of some young boy
If you can't put a butterfly in a jar
No wonder no need to wonder where you are
It might seem like Hell, the river Styx
Your affection never sticks
No matter what you say, no matter what you do
A butterfly heart flies right past you
There's nothing to say, nothing to do
See if the ice will melt for you
Iced honey [End of lyrics]
The deluxe version of "Lulu", which will come in a tube-shaped container measuring 13 centimeters x 1.24 meters, will include the following:
* 2xCD digipack package
* A large 1.2 m x 1.6 m poster (with song lyrics)
* 3 photographs by Anton Corbijn (50 cm x 50.8 cm)
Check out photos of the "Lulu" deluxe edition below.
The idea for these two giants of modern music to work together was born after the 25th anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame concerts in New York City in October 2009. METALLICA — singer/guitarist James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo — played with Reed on VELVET UNDERGROUND classics "Sweet Jane" and "White Light/White Heat". "We knew from then that we were made for each other," Reed says.
After that triumphant performance, Reed suggested they all make a record together. At first they planned to record an album of Reedfraven's older material, what Ulrich describes as "some of Lou's lost jewels — songs that he felt he'd like to give a second spin, and we could do whatever it is we do to some of those songs." That idea "hung in the air for a couple of months." Then, a week or two before that session was to begin, "Lou called up and said, 'Listen, I have this other idea.'"
That idea was to record a series of songs Reed had written for American avant-garde theater director Robert Wilson and German theater group the Berliner Ensemble's production of the "Lulu Plays", which premiered in April at the Theatre am Schiffbauerdamm in Berlin, founded by Bertolt Brecht. The songs are inspired by German expressionist Frank Wedekind's early 20th century plays "Earth Spirit" and "Pandora's Box", and were a rewrite of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven", which emerged as a graphic novel on Fantagraphics Press.
"We were very interested in working with Lou," says Hetfield. "I had these giant question marks: What's it going to be like? What's going to happen? So it was great when he sent us the lyrics for the 'Lulu' body of work. It was something we could sink our teeth into. I could take off my singer and lyricist hat and concentrate on the music part. These were very potent lyrics, with a soundscape behind them for atmosphere. Lars and I sat there with an acoustic and let this blank canvas take us where it needed to go. It was a great gift, to be asked to stamp 'TALLICA on it. And that's what we did."
"We had to bring 'Lulu' to life in a sophisticated way, using rock," Reed says. "And the hardest power rock you could come up with would have to be METALLICA. They live on that planet. We played together, and I knew it: dream come true. This is the best thing I ever did. And I did it with the best group I could possibly find. By definition, everybody involved was honest. This has come into the world pure. We pushed as far as we possibly could within the realms of reality."
"It's definitely not a METALLICA album, or a Lou Reed album," adds Hammett. "It's something else. It's a new animal, a hybrid."
GUNS N' ROSES will embark on its first U.S. tour in five years this fall. The trek will kick off October 28 in Orlando, Florida and will include stops in 30 cities — fueled by Monster Energy — from October to New Year's Eve. Before hitting the States, GN'R will tour Latin America, starting with a sold-out, headline slot for the closing day of the Rock In Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on October 2 in front of 75,000 fans.
The tour is scheduled to hit the following cities:
Oct. 28 - Orlando, FL - Amway Center Arena
Oct. 29 - Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
Oct. 31 - Greenville, SC - Bi-Lo Center Arena
Nov. 02 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
Nov. 04 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
Nov. 05 - Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion
Nov. 08 - Omaha, NE - CenturyLink Center
Nov. 09 - Norman, OK - Lloyd Noble Center
Nov. 12 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
Nov. 13 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
Nov. 15 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
Nov. 17 - East Rutherford, NJ - IZOD Center
Nov. 19 - Hartford, CT - Comcast Theatre
Nov. 20 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
Nov. 25 - Worcester, MA - DCU Center
Nov. 26 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
Dec. 01 - Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
More dates, cities and venue information to be announced very soon.
GUNS N' ROSES made its first U.S. concert appearance in four years and only one of 2010 when it headlined the fifth and final night of the Rock 'N Rev Festival at the 70th annual Sturgis Bike Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota on August 13, 2010.
GUNS N' ROSES last toured the U.S. in 2006, and has not played any other American shows since the November 2008 release of its "Chinese Democracy" album.
"Chinese Democracy" was made available exclusively through Best Buy. The long-in-the-making, 14-song CD finally arrived 17 years after the last full-length collections of original GUNS material, "Use Your Illusion I" and "II", were released, and nine years after the non-album track "Oh My God" surfaced on the soundtrack of the movie "End Of Days".
The tour is scheduled to hit the following cities:
Oct. 28 - Orlando, FL - Amway Center Arena
Oct. 29 - Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
Oct. 31 - Greenville, SC - Bi-Lo Center Arena
Nov. 02 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
Nov. 04 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
Nov. 05 - Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion
Nov. 08 - Omaha, NE - CenturyLink Center
Nov. 09 - Norman, OK - Lloyd Noble Center
Nov. 12 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
Nov. 13 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
Nov. 15 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
Nov. 17 - East Rutherford, NJ - IZOD Center
Nov. 19 - Hartford, CT - Comcast Theatre
Nov. 20 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
Nov. 25 - Worcester, MA - DCU Center
Nov. 26 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
Dec. 01 - Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
More dates, cities and venue information to be announced very soon.
GUNS N' ROSES made its first U.S. concert appearance in four years and only one of 2010 when it headlined the fifth and final night of the Rock 'N Rev Festival at the 70th annual Sturgis Bike Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota on August 13, 2010.
GUNS N' ROSES last toured the U.S. in 2006, and has not played any other American shows since the November 2008 release of its "Chinese Democracy" album.
"Chinese Democracy" was made available exclusively through Best Buy. The long-in-the-making, 14-song CD finally arrived 17 years after the last full-length collections of original GUNS material, "Use Your Illusion I" and "II", were released, and nine years after the non-album track "Oh My God" surfaced on the soundtrack of the movie "End Of Days".
GUNS N' ROSES is among 15 finalists for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Votes will be cast by a group of more than 500 musicians and industry professionals; of the 15 nominees, the five that get the most votes will be announced in January and inducted into the Hall Of Fame at its 27th annual ceremony on April 14, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio, home to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum.
GUNS N' ROSES was nominated in its first year of eligibility.
Speaking to The Miami Herald, former GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan, who is promoring his book "It's So Easy (And Other Lies)", stated about the band's nomination, "I don't really know what to make of that yet. That's quite an honor and we will see what happens. I woke up very early on the West Coast and I got a couple texts from the East Coast — 'Congratulations, congratulations.' I had to get writing and get started for the book release and then go work out with my sensei."
When asked if GUNS N' ROSES' classic lineup would play live again if inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, McKagan said, "Oh, I don't know (laughing). I guess I have to start preparing myself for these questions."
Guitarist Slash, who left GUNS N' ROSES in 1996, told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago that he never imagined he'd still be talking about the group now. "It's weird because the hype and the, you know, sort of mythic whatever about the band has snowballed to where it's at at present, and it's bigger now than it was when the band was still together, which is really sort of, very surreal," he said.
GUNS N' ROSES was nominated in its first year of eligibility.
Speaking to The Miami Herald, former GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan, who is promoring his book "It's So Easy (And Other Lies)", stated about the band's nomination, "I don't really know what to make of that yet. That's quite an honor and we will see what happens. I woke up very early on the West Coast and I got a couple texts from the East Coast — 'Congratulations, congratulations.' I had to get writing and get started for the book release and then go work out with my sensei."
When asked if GUNS N' ROSES' classic lineup would play live again if inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, McKagan said, "Oh, I don't know (laughing). I guess I have to start preparing myself for these questions."
Guitarist Slash, who left GUNS N' ROSES in 1996, told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago that he never imagined he'd still be talking about the group now. "It's weird because the hype and the, you know, sort of mythic whatever about the band has snowballed to where it's at at present, and it's bigger now than it was when the band was still together, which is really sort of, very surreal," he said.
GUNS N' ROSES/SIXX: A.M. guitarist DJ Ashba and his girlfriend, Australian model and actress Nicky Whelan, have split up, according to the Herald Sun.
Ashba confirmed the pair where no longer an item via Twitter.
"After 10 amazing months together, Nicky and I have decided to part ways. I have nothing but love and respect for her and wish her nothing but happiness and success in life," the musician wrote.
He added on Facebook: "Sometimes in life the right things to do are always the hardest ..."
In a May 2011 interview with the Herald Sun, Ashba stated about Whelan, "I had really given up on love when I met Nicky.
"I had a vision of finding that one person, falling in love and living happily ever after but after years in L.A., in my mind I started to really doubt it. I've been screwed over like the next guy many, many times. It was hard for me to trust it.
"But she came in and took a broken soldier and gave me a lot of love. She taught me there is a lot of unconditional love out there, still."
Ashba confirmed the pair where no longer an item via Twitter.
"After 10 amazing months together, Nicky and I have decided to part ways. I have nothing but love and respect for her and wish her nothing but happiness and success in life," the musician wrote.
He added on Facebook: "Sometimes in life the right things to do are always the hardest ..."
In a May 2011 interview with the Herald Sun, Ashba stated about Whelan, "I had really given up on love when I met Nicky.
"I had a vision of finding that one person, falling in love and living happily ever after but after years in L.A., in my mind I started to really doubt it. I've been screwed over like the next guy many, many times. It was hard for me to trust it.
"But she came in and took a broken soldier and gave me a lot of love. She taught me there is a lot of unconditional love out there, still."
Biff Byford, frontman from legendary NWOBHM band SAXON, will guest on WJCU's "Metal On Metal" radio program tonight (Friday, September 30) at 8:00 p.m. EST. Byford will discuss the band's latest album, "Call To Arms", and it current North American tour.
"Metal On Metal" can be heard live at 88.7 FM in the Cleveland, Ohio area or streamed worldwide via the Internet at www.wjcu.org.
"The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal era were my best years of being a heavy metal fan", says "Metal On Metal" show host Bill Peters. "Those were some very exciting years. The underground metal scene was exploding. I collected all of the albums, singles and demos from that time period. SAXON were always one of my favorite bands. I bought their first album as an import in 1979 on the Carrere label and have been a diehard fan ever since.
"The first time I saw SAXON live was on their first U.S. tour supporting the 'Denim And Leather' album back in 1981. They headlined a show at the Cleveland Agora. There were only a hundred or so people in attendance. I remember the band being one of the loudest I had ever heard at the venue. I haven't missed a SAXON Cleveland show since. Their tour is unfortunately bypassing Cleveland this year so I will have to make a road trip to Detroit to see them.
"I've seen SAXON perform at several of the major German heavy metal festivals as well and they always steal the show. They have an arsenal of classic songs we've all heard a hundred times before, but never grow tired of, you just can't deny. When they pull those songs out to close their set, it's game over!"
"Call To Arms", was released in North America on September 27 via UDR Music/EMI.
The digipack version of "Call To Arms" includes a glorious bonus — a free seven-track CD, "Live At Donington 1980".
"Call To Arms" was issued in Europe in June. Recorded at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, U.K. and Brighton Electric Studios in Brighton, U.K., the 11-track album was co-produced by singer/songwriter Biff Byford and Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS). Featuring Byford on lead vocals, Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt on guitars, Nibs Carter on bass and Nigel Glockler on drums, "Call To Arms" is bang on-the-money brilliant SAXON music, a confident embrace of the aura and writing values from their early years married perfectly to a modern SAXON crunch.
"Metal On Metal" can be heard live at 88.7 FM in the Cleveland, Ohio area or streamed worldwide via the Internet at www.wjcu.org.
"The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal era were my best years of being a heavy metal fan", says "Metal On Metal" show host Bill Peters. "Those were some very exciting years. The underground metal scene was exploding. I collected all of the albums, singles and demos from that time period. SAXON were always one of my favorite bands. I bought their first album as an import in 1979 on the Carrere label and have been a diehard fan ever since.
"The first time I saw SAXON live was on their first U.S. tour supporting the 'Denim And Leather' album back in 1981. They headlined a show at the Cleveland Agora. There were only a hundred or so people in attendance. I remember the band being one of the loudest I had ever heard at the venue. I haven't missed a SAXON Cleveland show since. Their tour is unfortunately bypassing Cleveland this year so I will have to make a road trip to Detroit to see them.
"I've seen SAXON perform at several of the major German heavy metal festivals as well and they always steal the show. They have an arsenal of classic songs we've all heard a hundred times before, but never grow tired of, you just can't deny. When they pull those songs out to close their set, it's game over!"
"Call To Arms", was released in North America on September 27 via UDR Music/EMI.
The digipack version of "Call To Arms" includes a glorious bonus — a free seven-track CD, "Live At Donington 1980".
"Call To Arms" was issued in Europe in June. Recorded at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, U.K. and Brighton Electric Studios in Brighton, U.K., the 11-track album was co-produced by singer/songwriter Biff Byford and Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS). Featuring Byford on lead vocals, Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt on guitars, Nibs Carter on bass and Nigel Glockler on drums, "Call To Arms" is bang on-the-money brilliant SAXON music, a confident embrace of the aura and writing values from their early years married perfectly to a modern SAXON crunch.
SOUNDGARDEN/ex-AUDIOSLAVE singer Chris Cornell will perform on the Wednesday, October 12 episode of ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (which will actually air the morning of Thursday, October 13).
Cornell's video for his new song "The Keeper" can be seen below. The clip was helmed by Isaac Rentz (CAGE THE ELEPHANT, MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA) and serves as the lead single from the soundtrack to the movie "Machine Gun Preacher".
Based on a true story, "Machine Gun Preacher" is directed by Marc Forster ("Finding Neverland", "Monster's Ball") and stars Gerard Butler ("300", "The Phantom Of The Opera") as Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing criminal who finds faith leading him on a path to East Africa. Shocked by the mayhem in Sudan, Childers becomes a crusader for hundreds of refugee children fleeing death and enslavement.
In a recent interview with ARTISTdirect, Cornell stated about "The Keeper", "I think the song really sticks with the idea of imagining that Sam Childers is singing it. What is he singing? It's a sort of testimonial to the kids he puts his life on the line for. In that testimonial, the singer is really saying, 'I'm not Moses. I'm not this grandiose savior to be worshipped. I'm just a guy who has faults, and I know it as much as anybody.' However, this person who does have faults and who isn't Moses is going to be here until he dies doing what he does for others. That was my way of being able to really get into the song without saying that I lived it because I haven't."
When asked if he was reading anything while writing "The Keeper", Cornell said, "I wasn't when I was writing 'The Keeper'. For 'The Keeper', I'd read the script and focused on the web site. There was a photo gallery on the 'Angels Of East Africa' web site that I focused on just because I wanted to get a sense of the environment. That, combined with the story, is where the ideas and musical feel came from because the photos are very moving. Some are difficult to see. There are some photos where it looks like the children are suffering. However, most of the pictures in the photo gallery show Sam with a smile surrounded by a bunch of kids who look very happy. They look tended to, cared for, and loved. In the photos, the children are together playing. You'll notice the atmosphere which is unusual. There are pictures of a couple kids standing next to a crashed plane that people have ripped parts off of. There's a photo of kids near a derailed train where the cars have been left and no one's ever done anything. It's an unusual world, but the theme was you did see children who appeared loved and cared for and therefore were happy. They're acting like you'd see my children in a photograph, smiling and being kids. That really influenced the writing of the individual song more than anything."
Cornell said in the ARTISTdirect interview that the music SOUNDGARDEN has written for its upcoming album is "different than anything" the group has done before. Asked how the new SOUNDGARDEN material compared to "The Keeper", the singer replied, "Well, no matter what, SOUNDGARDEN is always going to be heavier. However, I also think musically the new SOUNDGARDEN stuff is different than anything we've ever done . . . every time we've made a record it wasn't really that easy to compare it to the previous one — other than that we're the same band. I think there may be some moments that are sort of sonically quieter and more stripped-down. On the whole, it's a rock record. That's what we do."
Cornell's video for his new song "The Keeper" can be seen below. The clip was helmed by Isaac Rentz (CAGE THE ELEPHANT, MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA) and serves as the lead single from the soundtrack to the movie "Machine Gun Preacher".
Based on a true story, "Machine Gun Preacher" is directed by Marc Forster ("Finding Neverland", "Monster's Ball") and stars Gerard Butler ("300", "The Phantom Of The Opera") as Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing criminal who finds faith leading him on a path to East Africa. Shocked by the mayhem in Sudan, Childers becomes a crusader for hundreds of refugee children fleeing death and enslavement.
In a recent interview with ARTISTdirect, Cornell stated about "The Keeper", "I think the song really sticks with the idea of imagining that Sam Childers is singing it. What is he singing? It's a sort of testimonial to the kids he puts his life on the line for. In that testimonial, the singer is really saying, 'I'm not Moses. I'm not this grandiose savior to be worshipped. I'm just a guy who has faults, and I know it as much as anybody.' However, this person who does have faults and who isn't Moses is going to be here until he dies doing what he does for others. That was my way of being able to really get into the song without saying that I lived it because I haven't."
When asked if he was reading anything while writing "The Keeper", Cornell said, "I wasn't when I was writing 'The Keeper'. For 'The Keeper', I'd read the script and focused on the web site. There was a photo gallery on the 'Angels Of East Africa' web site that I focused on just because I wanted to get a sense of the environment. That, combined with the story, is where the ideas and musical feel came from because the photos are very moving. Some are difficult to see. There are some photos where it looks like the children are suffering. However, most of the pictures in the photo gallery show Sam with a smile surrounded by a bunch of kids who look very happy. They look tended to, cared for, and loved. In the photos, the children are together playing. You'll notice the atmosphere which is unusual. There are pictures of a couple kids standing next to a crashed plane that people have ripped parts off of. There's a photo of kids near a derailed train where the cars have been left and no one's ever done anything. It's an unusual world, but the theme was you did see children who appeared loved and cared for and therefore were happy. They're acting like you'd see my children in a photograph, smiling and being kids. That really influenced the writing of the individual song more than anything."
Cornell said in the ARTISTdirect interview that the music SOUNDGARDEN has written for its upcoming album is "different than anything" the group has done before. Asked how the new SOUNDGARDEN material compared to "The Keeper", the singer replied, "Well, no matter what, SOUNDGARDEN is always going to be heavier. However, I also think musically the new SOUNDGARDEN stuff is different than anything we've ever done . . . every time we've made a record it wasn't really that easy to compare it to the previous one — other than that we're the same band. I think there may be some moments that are sort of sonically quieter and more stripped-down. On the whole, it's a rock record. That's what we do."
Carla Gillis of Toronto's Now magazine recently conducted an interview with former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
On his new solo album, "Kicking & Screaming":
"I made the album while running. I love putting on my iPod and getting into that runner's high. I started listening to demos about two years ago, and I'd run and listen to them, thinking of ways to make them better. When we started making the album in February, I listened to it everyday when running. If I can get into it then, to me that's the sign of a good album. It gives you energy. Especially during the last part of a run when you don't think you can go any more. You'll hear some music and go, 'Fuck this, man!' I know I'm done when I want to shake you by the collar and go, 'You gotta hear this. I love it. I'm so into it.'"
On his father, the late David Bierk, the Canadian landscape painter who founded the successful non-profit gallery Artspace:
"My dad was the ultimate example. He picked something that he loved to do and did it. He loved to paint so he just painted. I saw that in him innately. It was all he ever talked about – painting pictures. He would come home and his arms were always caked with paint. I think that's what killed him. Those acrylics in the '70s. He was always covered in paint. That's all he talked about. I remember one night at dinner I went, "Dad, can we please talk about something other than art? Please?"
On his childhood:
"Before I was a singer. I was the class clown. I would make everybody laugh. But I was a weirdo because I was into heavy metal. In the '70s in Peterborough, you were one of the weird kids if you liked KISS and stuff. It was so much fun jumping around your bedroom with a tennis racket, playing air guitar. When you hear a song that you liked as a kid, [like CHICAGO's 'Saturday In The Park'] that just makes me feel like a little boy playing Frisbee in the sun. That doesn't happen when I watch a movie from the '70s. Music makes you feel more than anything else in the world. And it gave me so much strength."
On trying to make it while living in Canada:
"For a long time I was bitter that I couldn't get signed in Canada because I was from Canada. I had to move to the States to get signed and I didn't understand why. But I learned later in life that Canadian major labels don't really sign a lot of bands. They're more like outposts of the American company. It wasn't anything personal. Still, I could never understand why HAYWIRE had a record deal."
On whether he still feels like he's fighting to make his dreams come true:
"There is one real dream that I have and that's to go on tour as a solo artist the way I could with SKID ROW. Everyone is asking me when I'm playing here and I say, 'I'll fucking play here anytime.' But a lot of the promoters are so into this reunion tour stuff. They'd rather have a band with the name even if it doesn't include the original members. And everyone just goes and waves their beer in the air. That's just not me. Not me at all. I'm more into the content of what I'm doing than the form of it.
"I'm always dangled this carrot, like, 'If you get back with the old band, we'll give you this.' And it's like, I'm not getting back with the fucking old band. Maybe I will someday but it's not happening now.' Ozzy was able to become Ozzy after he left BLACK SABBATH. I can still tour, but the promoters are just so into this fucking reunion thing. So I fight against that all the time."
On his new solo album, "Kicking & Screaming":
"I made the album while running. I love putting on my iPod and getting into that runner's high. I started listening to demos about two years ago, and I'd run and listen to them, thinking of ways to make them better. When we started making the album in February, I listened to it everyday when running. If I can get into it then, to me that's the sign of a good album. It gives you energy. Especially during the last part of a run when you don't think you can go any more. You'll hear some music and go, 'Fuck this, man!' I know I'm done when I want to shake you by the collar and go, 'You gotta hear this. I love it. I'm so into it.'"
On his father, the late David Bierk, the Canadian landscape painter who founded the successful non-profit gallery Artspace:
"My dad was the ultimate example. He picked something that he loved to do and did it. He loved to paint so he just painted. I saw that in him innately. It was all he ever talked about – painting pictures. He would come home and his arms were always caked with paint. I think that's what killed him. Those acrylics in the '70s. He was always covered in paint. That's all he talked about. I remember one night at dinner I went, "Dad, can we please talk about something other than art? Please?"
On his childhood:
"Before I was a singer. I was the class clown. I would make everybody laugh. But I was a weirdo because I was into heavy metal. In the '70s in Peterborough, you were one of the weird kids if you liked KISS and stuff. It was so much fun jumping around your bedroom with a tennis racket, playing air guitar. When you hear a song that you liked as a kid, [like CHICAGO's 'Saturday In The Park'] that just makes me feel like a little boy playing Frisbee in the sun. That doesn't happen when I watch a movie from the '70s. Music makes you feel more than anything else in the world. And it gave me so much strength."
On trying to make it while living in Canada:
"For a long time I was bitter that I couldn't get signed in Canada because I was from Canada. I had to move to the States to get signed and I didn't understand why. But I learned later in life that Canadian major labels don't really sign a lot of bands. They're more like outposts of the American company. It wasn't anything personal. Still, I could never understand why HAYWIRE had a record deal."
On whether he still feels like he's fighting to make his dreams come true:
"There is one real dream that I have and that's to go on tour as a solo artist the way I could with SKID ROW. Everyone is asking me when I'm playing here and I say, 'I'll fucking play here anytime.' But a lot of the promoters are so into this reunion tour stuff. They'd rather have a band with the name even if it doesn't include the original members. And everyone just goes and waves their beer in the air. That's just not me. Not me at all. I'm more into the content of what I'm doing than the form of it.
"I'm always dangled this carrot, like, 'If you get back with the old band, we'll give you this.' And it's like, I'm not getting back with the fucking old band. Maybe I will someday but it's not happening now.' Ozzy was able to become Ozzy after he left BLACK SABBATH. I can still tour, but the promoters are just so into this fucking reunion thing. So I fight against that all the time."
HE IS angry about the carbon tax and he is doing something about it.
Angry Anderson has joined the Nationals with the intention of running for a seat at the next federal election.
"If between the party and I, we can agree, I feel I can best serve the Australian people on the national stage," the 63-year-old rock singer told The Sunday Telegraph.
"I've always liked big stages. We're in discussions at the moment - listen to me, all of a sudden I sound like a politician" he laughs.
The former Labor supporter said he chose the Nationals because he didn't feel that he would be free enough to express his opinions in either of the major parties.
"I am a lapsed Labor supporter," Anderson said.
"I have over the last 10 to 15 years drifted towards the conservative side of politics. I've said before I don't want to be silenced by a major party."
While Anderson cited the Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce as a key influence, he said it was "good friend" and NSW Liberal Upper House member Charlie Lynn who suggested he consider the Nationals "as more of a better fit".
The former Rose Tattoo frontman said being drawn into politics was a natural extension of his community service work.
"You can reach a stage like I have where you've done as much as you can in your profession in my case music and a political career becomes an extension of the community work I'm doing," he said.
Anderson has been a prominent campaigner against the carbon tax, appearing at rallies around the country.
He said he was not committed to running for a specific seat and wasn't afraid to tackle a safe Labor seat.
"I'll have those discussions with the party," he said. "If they think I'm the best qualified person to run for a seat, any seat, I'll run. If not, I'm a team player: you have to be in a band. I'll be a foot soldier instead."
Legendary NWOBHM act CLOVEN HOOF has announced the addition of singer Ash Cooper (pictured below) to the group's ranks. According to the band, "Ash's vocal delivery is brutal and aggressive, yet he can tackle ballads with great sensitivity and emotion. Ash sings with his heart on his sleeve with great power and passion."
Regarding singer Russ North's departure from CLOVEN HOOF, the band said, "After much soul searching and respect to CLOVEN HOOF's future aspirations, Russ can no longer be part of the band on a full-time basis. Commitments in his personal life have made it impossible for him to continue singing heavy metal. Last year he helped the band out on a temporary basis for which they will always be eternally grateful. His great legacy will always live on in re releases such as 'Dominator' and the much-awaited re-release of 'A Sultan's Ransom'. Fans will be pleased to know there is still archive live recordings featuring Russ and unreleased demos that will see the light of day at some point in the future. Russ will always be a proud part of the band's history."
CLOVEN HOOF is:
Lee Payne - Bass
Joe Whelan - Guitar
Mark Gould - Drums
Ash Cooper - Lead Vocals
CLOVEN HOOF last year released a five-song EP entitled "Throne Of Damnation". It contained three new songs — "Prime Time", "Running Man" and "Freak Show" — along with reworked versions of "Whore Of Babylon" and "Night Stalker", the latter of which is featured on the Brütal Legend game.
CLOVEN HOOF re-recorded 24 of its classic songs for a two-part "best-of" compilation, "The Definitive Part One" and "The Definitive Part Two".
CLOVEN HOOF is:
Lee Payne - Bass
Joe Whelan - Guitar
Mark Gould - Drums
Ash Cooper - Lead Vocals
CLOVEN HOOF last year released a five-song EP entitled "Throne Of Damnation". It contained three new songs — "Prime Time", "Running Man" and "Freak Show" — along with reworked versions of "Whore Of Babylon" and "Night Stalker", the latter of which is featured on the Brütal Legend game.
CLOVEN HOOF re-recorded 24 of its classic songs for a two-part "best-of" compilation, "The Definitive Part One" and "The Definitive Part Two".
Swedish guitar legend and classical metal master Yngwie Malmsteen will make his triumphant return to North American stages with a fall headlining tour. In support of Malmsteen's latest release, "Relentless", the trek will kick off on Thursday, October 13 at New York City's Irving Plaza.
Of the upcoming dates, Malmsteen commented, "I am very much looking forward to playing new pieces from 'Relentless', as well as Malmsteen classics. Fans can expect the unexpected...I raise the bar with every performance I do and this tour will be no different."
The dates are as follows:
Oct. 13 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
Oct. 14 - Albany, NY - Northern Lights
Oct. 18 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda
Oct. 19 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix
Oct. 21 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
Oct. 23 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
Oct. 26 - San Francisco, CA - Fillmore
Oct. 28 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues
Oct. 29 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia
Nov. 01 - Houston, TX - House Of Blues
Nov. 02 - Dallas, TX - House Of Blues
Nov. 04 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues
Nov. 05 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
Of the upcoming dates, Malmsteen commented, "I am very much looking forward to playing new pieces from 'Relentless', as well as Malmsteen classics. Fans can expect the unexpected...I raise the bar with every performance I do and this tour will be no different."
The dates are as follows:
Oct. 13 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
Oct. 14 - Albany, NY - Northern Lights
Oct. 18 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda
Oct. 19 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix
Oct. 21 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
Oct. 23 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
Oct. 26 - San Francisco, CA - Fillmore
Oct. 28 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues
Oct. 29 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia
Nov. 01 - Houston, TX - House Of Blues
Nov. 02 - Dallas, TX - House Of Blues
Nov. 04 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues
Nov. 05 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON will perform on BBC's television show "Later... With Jools Holland" on Tuesday, October 18 at 10 p.m. and then again on Friday, October 21 at 11 p.m.
"Later…" began in October 1992 and is series produced by Alison Howe, executive-produced by Mark Cooper and directed by Janet Fraser Crook. It is now the longest-running music show in British TV history aside from "Top Of The Pops".
MASTODON's new album, "The Hunter", is likely to sell between 35,000 and 40,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to industry web site Hits Daily Double. The estimate was based on one-day sales reports compiled after the record arrived in stores on September 27 via Reprise Records.
MASTODON's previous CD, "Crack The Skye", opened with 41,000 units back in April 2009 to land at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's 2006 effort, "Blood Mountain", came in with just over 24,000 units — significantly more than the 8,000 first-week tally registered by its predecessor, 2004's "Leviathan" — which put it at No. 32.
"The Hunter" was made available in several configurations that feature an exciting interactive 3D experience known as Augmented Reality. The technology, created by Los Angeles-based company Total Immersion, combines virtual and real worlds to create a 3D one-of-a-kind interactive experience that users can control. Just by using a camera on a computer, their own face and the cover art on "The Hunter", the user can turn themselves into "The Hunter" sculpture that is pictured on the cover.
"The Hunter" was recorded at Doppler Studios in Atlanta with producer Mike Elizondo. Drum tracks were previously completed in Los Angeles at the legendary Sound City Studios where NIRVANA's masterwork "Nevermind" was recorded.
"Later…" began in October 1992 and is series produced by Alison Howe, executive-produced by Mark Cooper and directed by Janet Fraser Crook. It is now the longest-running music show in British TV history aside from "Top Of The Pops".
MASTODON's new album, "The Hunter", is likely to sell between 35,000 and 40,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to industry web site Hits Daily Double. The estimate was based on one-day sales reports compiled after the record arrived in stores on September 27 via Reprise Records.
MASTODON's previous CD, "Crack The Skye", opened with 41,000 units back in April 2009 to land at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's 2006 effort, "Blood Mountain", came in with just over 24,000 units — significantly more than the 8,000 first-week tally registered by its predecessor, 2004's "Leviathan" — which put it at No. 32.
"The Hunter" was made available in several configurations that feature an exciting interactive 3D experience known as Augmented Reality. The technology, created by Los Angeles-based company Total Immersion, combines virtual and real worlds to create a 3D one-of-a-kind interactive experience that users can control. Just by using a camera on a computer, their own face and the cover art on "The Hunter", the user can turn themselves into "The Hunter" sculpture that is pictured on the cover.
"The Hunter" was recorded at Doppler Studios in Atlanta with producer Mike Elizondo. Drum tracks were previously completed in Los Angeles at the legendary Sound City Studios where NIRVANA's masterwork "Nevermind" was recorded.
Greek/German heavy metallers MYSTIC PROPHECY will release their seventh album, "Ravenlord", on November 25 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at Prophecy Music Factory studios with singer/producer Roberto Dimitri Liapakis (MYSTIC PROPHECY, SUICIDAL ANGELS, VALLEY'S EVE, INSIDEAD) and was mixed by Fredrik Nordström (DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY, IN FLAMES). The effort marks the recording debut of the band's new drummer, Claudio Sisto, who joined MYSTIC PROPHECY in June 2010. The artwork was created by Jonas Kawalek, who previously with the group on their fifth album, "Satanic Curses".
"Ravenlord" track listing:
01. Ravenlord (4:06)
02. Die Now (3:34)
03. Eyes Of The Devil (5:21)
04. Cross Of Lies (3:26)
05. Hollow (4:32)
06. Wings Of Destiny (4:25)
07. Endless Fire (4:30)
08. Damned Tonight (3:25)
09. Reckoning Day (3:41)
10. Miracle Man (OZZY OSBOURNE cover) (3:15)
11. Back With The Storm (bonus track) (3:23)
The cover artwork was designed by Jonas Kawalek and can be seen below.
MYSTIC PROPHECY mainman Roberto Dimitri Liapakis previously stated about "Raven Lord": "MYSTIC PROPHECY is now more than ever in a turning point in their history. 'Fireangel' overcame our expectations and our fans have shown us their support in the best possible way. The tour we did with STRATOVARIUS gave the band the chance to get a very good sense of unity and groove which is generated by every member contributing to whole which finally is presented to the fans. This is what will make a difference in our upcoming album. The feeling of unity, amongst us, enhances the effect we bring out. More power, more feeling, more combined ideas, more diversity, but all in the thread that goes through it all which is MYSTIC PROPHECY. Two minds work better than one, so imagine all five of us contributing equally to the final result. I am confident that we'll do our best to express what's in our souls and hope the fans like it. Up 'till now we seem to have a common ground so this album will only enforce this bond with our fans and help us create new ones."
"Fireangel", the sixth album from the MYSTIC PROPHECY, entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 77.
MYSTIC PROPHECY in 2008 announced the addition of DESCENDING/ex-NIGHTRAGE guitarist Constantine to the group's ranks.
"Ravenlord" track listing:
01. Ravenlord (4:06)
02. Die Now (3:34)
03. Eyes Of The Devil (5:21)
04. Cross Of Lies (3:26)
05. Hollow (4:32)
06. Wings Of Destiny (4:25)
07. Endless Fire (4:30)
08. Damned Tonight (3:25)
09. Reckoning Day (3:41)
10. Miracle Man (OZZY OSBOURNE cover) (3:15)
11. Back With The Storm (bonus track) (3:23)
The cover artwork was designed by Jonas Kawalek and can be seen below.
MYSTIC PROPHECY mainman Roberto Dimitri Liapakis previously stated about "Raven Lord": "MYSTIC PROPHECY is now more than ever in a turning point in their history. 'Fireangel' overcame our expectations and our fans have shown us their support in the best possible way. The tour we did with STRATOVARIUS gave the band the chance to get a very good sense of unity and groove which is generated by every member contributing to whole which finally is presented to the fans. This is what will make a difference in our upcoming album. The feeling of unity, amongst us, enhances the effect we bring out. More power, more feeling, more combined ideas, more diversity, but all in the thread that goes through it all which is MYSTIC PROPHECY. Two minds work better than one, so imagine all five of us contributing equally to the final result. I am confident that we'll do our best to express what's in our souls and hope the fans like it. Up 'till now we seem to have a common ground so this album will only enforce this bond with our fans and help us create new ones."
"Fireangel", the sixth album from the MYSTIC PROPHECY, entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 77.
MYSTIC PROPHECY in 2008 announced the addition of DESCENDING/ex-NIGHTRAGE guitarist Constantine to the group's ranks.
A new band photo of the reunited '80s cult metal outfit SANCTUARY — which features in its ranks current NEVERMORE frontman Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard — can be seen below.
SANCTUARY recently tapped Brad Hull (FORCED ENTRY) to play second guitar for the band.
Hull and Shannon Sharp, one of the moderators at Metalguitarist.org, were the top picks for the position. Brad, having previously toured with SANCTUARY, was given the opportunity to play the dates in Atlanta (ProgPower USA XII festival) and Greece.
Hull has spent the last two years playing the role of "James Hetfield" in the METALLICA tribute band BLISTERED EARTH, which plays "classic songs ranging from 1983's 'Kill 'Em All' to 1991's self-titled 'Metallica'."
SANCTUARY's current touring lineup:
Warrel Dane - Vocals
Lenny Rutledge - Guitar
Brad Hull - Guitars
Jim Sheppard - Bass
Dave Budbill – Drums
In a recent interview, Dane stated about how SANCTUARY's reformation came about, "[SANCTUARY guitarist Lenny Rutledge and I] always talked to each other, but never really been friends again. And when the whole thing came about, that we were actually friends again, that's when we started talking more about doing it. And it definitely wasn't because NEVERMORE was imploding... which it was, at that point . . . We all just started talking with each other again. That was kind of the groundwork for it. And then we started saying, 'Well, gosh, let's make music again.' And my god! Lenny is writing some stuff that is so friggin great! Obviously, he's been bottling this up for years, because he really hasn't been doing anything... Well, he's had bands here and there. But he's really writing some great stuff that's really inspiring me, and making me fall in love with music again, with the creative process... everything that revolves around that. Really inspiring me to write really evil lyrics."
Regarding the sound of SANCTUARY's upcoming studio album, tentatively titled "The Year The Sun Died", Dane said, "This record is not going to sound like the other two. It might sound very similar to the second one ('Into The Mirror Black'). It's definitely not going to sound like the first one, because we're all a little bit older and I can't come up with a c-clamp for a scrotum and a helium tank . . . It's not going to sound like the old ones... it's 2011. It's still gonna be that good, I think, and there's gonna be high-pitched screaming. I'm making sure of that. With NEVERMORE, high-pitched screaming was never really called for. You know, with SANCTUARY... of course it is."
SANCTUARY played its first U.S. show in more than 20 years on January 21 at El Corazon in Seattle, Washington.
SANCTUARY recently tapped Brad Hull (FORCED ENTRY) to play second guitar for the band.
Hull and Shannon Sharp, one of the moderators at Metalguitarist.org, were the top picks for the position. Brad, having previously toured with SANCTUARY, was given the opportunity to play the dates in Atlanta (ProgPower USA XII festival) and Greece.
Hull has spent the last two years playing the role of "James Hetfield" in the METALLICA tribute band BLISTERED EARTH, which plays "classic songs ranging from 1983's 'Kill 'Em All' to 1991's self-titled 'Metallica'."
SANCTUARY's current touring lineup:
Warrel Dane - Vocals
Lenny Rutledge - Guitar
Brad Hull - Guitars
Jim Sheppard - Bass
Dave Budbill – Drums
In a recent interview, Dane stated about how SANCTUARY's reformation came about, "[SANCTUARY guitarist Lenny Rutledge and I] always talked to each other, but never really been friends again. And when the whole thing came about, that we were actually friends again, that's when we started talking more about doing it. And it definitely wasn't because NEVERMORE was imploding... which it was, at that point . . . We all just started talking with each other again. That was kind of the groundwork for it. And then we started saying, 'Well, gosh, let's make music again.' And my god! Lenny is writing some stuff that is so friggin great! Obviously, he's been bottling this up for years, because he really hasn't been doing anything... Well, he's had bands here and there. But he's really writing some great stuff that's really inspiring me, and making me fall in love with music again, with the creative process... everything that revolves around that. Really inspiring me to write really evil lyrics."
Regarding the sound of SANCTUARY's upcoming studio album, tentatively titled "The Year The Sun Died", Dane said, "This record is not going to sound like the other two. It might sound very similar to the second one ('Into The Mirror Black'). It's definitely not going to sound like the first one, because we're all a little bit older and I can't come up with a c-clamp for a scrotum and a helium tank . . . It's not going to sound like the old ones... it's 2011. It's still gonna be that good, I think, and there's gonna be high-pitched screaming. I'm making sure of that. With NEVERMORE, high-pitched screaming was never really called for. You know, with SANCTUARY... of course it is."
SANCTUARY played its first U.S. show in more than 20 years on January 21 at El Corazon in Seattle, Washington.
oe Daly of The Nervous Breakdown recently conducted an interview with CHICKENFOOT/ex-VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
The Nervous Breakdown: The advance reviews for "Chickenfoot III" have been wildly positive, to say the least. I know that Sammy [Hagar, CHICKENFOOT/ex-VAN HALEN singer] said that it's the best record that he's ever been a part of. What has it been like for you?
Michael Anthony: You know what? I'd have to agree with Sammy. Every now and then you hit on something. I mean, the chemistry in this band, right off the bat, is something that I experienced early on in VAN HALEN and then again when Sammy joined VAN HALEN. Once an album's over, you don't think it's gonna happen again, and with CHICKENFOOT, it was kind of like, "Oh, my God…" We just got together as four friends and said "Man, this is great. Let's just hang out and play some music." Who would have known it was going to turn out into one album and tour much less? I've gotta say that from all aspects of this album, it's one of the best things that I've been involved with. And that I can proudly say I've been involved with.
The Nervous Breakdown: For you, what's the biggest difference between playing with Joe Satriani and Eddie Van Halen?
Michael Anthony: (pauses) You know, I don't know. I really can't. Playing with both guys, I really just try to lock in with the drummer. Because here are two guys who can really go into outer space with what they play, and if it what's happening behind them isn't solid… CREAM was the only band that I know of that could do something that almost sounded like three guys playing three different songs and then be able to dive right back in where they're supposed to come in and be playing the same thing again. You don't want everything to get disjointed when the solo comes up. They're different players, obviously, but they're both on that same level, so I treat it all the same.
The Nervous Breakdown: You wrote the foreword for Sammy's bio ("Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock").
Michael Anthony: I had never been asked to do anything like that in my life and I said, "You know, Sammy, I'm just gonna talk from the heart, and I'm gonna just throw something down and not try to embellish anything." And his co-writer on that book, Joel Selvin, was trying to… obviously, people are going to try to get you to spew out some dirt and stuff like that, and I had him re-write it about three or four times. I said, "No, I'm not gonna say that kind of shit, I'm not gonna talk about that, I'm not that kind of guy. I'm not gonna dis our fans. You write it like I want it to be written." Everyone used to call me "Mr. Switzerland." I'm not the kind of guy who smack talks anybody or whatever. Whenever I do an interview and people ask me VAN HALEN questions, I say "You know what, if you want the smack talking, ask one of the other guys. They might be ready to talk all the shit." I always want harmony within the band. I want it to work. I want everyone to get together great musically and socially, and personality-wise, because that's when the shit is happening. There was a long time in VAN HALEN when Roth was in the band, and we had that camaraderie. And when Sammy was in the band, there was a time when we called ourselves the "four-headed monster" 'cause it was like, "Nobody's gonna stop this band." That's the way I like to see it run. When you see something start slipping… that kind of shit really bums me out.
The Nervous Breakdown: The advance reviews for "Chickenfoot III" have been wildly positive, to say the least. I know that Sammy [Hagar, CHICKENFOOT/ex-VAN HALEN singer] said that it's the best record that he's ever been a part of. What has it been like for you?
Michael Anthony: You know what? I'd have to agree with Sammy. Every now and then you hit on something. I mean, the chemistry in this band, right off the bat, is something that I experienced early on in VAN HALEN and then again when Sammy joined VAN HALEN. Once an album's over, you don't think it's gonna happen again, and with CHICKENFOOT, it was kind of like, "Oh, my God…" We just got together as four friends and said "Man, this is great. Let's just hang out and play some music." Who would have known it was going to turn out into one album and tour much less? I've gotta say that from all aspects of this album, it's one of the best things that I've been involved with. And that I can proudly say I've been involved with.
The Nervous Breakdown: For you, what's the biggest difference between playing with Joe Satriani and Eddie Van Halen?
Michael Anthony: (pauses) You know, I don't know. I really can't. Playing with both guys, I really just try to lock in with the drummer. Because here are two guys who can really go into outer space with what they play, and if it what's happening behind them isn't solid… CREAM was the only band that I know of that could do something that almost sounded like three guys playing three different songs and then be able to dive right back in where they're supposed to come in and be playing the same thing again. You don't want everything to get disjointed when the solo comes up. They're different players, obviously, but they're both on that same level, so I treat it all the same.
The Nervous Breakdown: You wrote the foreword for Sammy's bio ("Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock").
Michael Anthony: I had never been asked to do anything like that in my life and I said, "You know, Sammy, I'm just gonna talk from the heart, and I'm gonna just throw something down and not try to embellish anything." And his co-writer on that book, Joel Selvin, was trying to… obviously, people are going to try to get you to spew out some dirt and stuff like that, and I had him re-write it about three or four times. I said, "No, I'm not gonna say that kind of shit, I'm not gonna talk about that, I'm not that kind of guy. I'm not gonna dis our fans. You write it like I want it to be written." Everyone used to call me "Mr. Switzerland." I'm not the kind of guy who smack talks anybody or whatever. Whenever I do an interview and people ask me VAN HALEN questions, I say "You know what, if you want the smack talking, ask one of the other guys. They might be ready to talk all the shit." I always want harmony within the band. I want it to work. I want everyone to get together great musically and socially, and personality-wise, because that's when the shit is happening. There was a long time in VAN HALEN when Roth was in the band, and we had that camaraderie. And when Sammy was in the band, there was a time when we called ourselves the "four-headed monster" 'cause it was like, "Nobody's gonna stop this band." That's the way I like to see it run. When you see something start slipping… that kind of shit really bums me out.
Norwegian metallers MANIFEST will release their third album, "Written In Blood", on November 11 via the band's own record label, Violent Media.
Violent Media has inked a distribution deal with Norway's top metal distributor Indie Distribution for this album.
"Written In Blood" was recorded in MANIFEST's hometown of Trondheim and produced by Knut "Fug" Prytz (KEEP OF KALESSIN, NECROPHAGIA, BLOODTHORN).
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Tonnie Von Adelaine
02. They'll Have To Carry Me Home
03. Food For Flies
04. The Worst Is Yet To Come
05. Pitch Black Inside
06. A .45 To Pay The Rent
07. Lullaby (Bedtime For Bastards)
08. Letter From The Grave
09. Irreversible
10. Savage
11. Written In Blood
MANIFEST in March 2009 announced the addition of bassist Johnny Wangberg (GRIFFIN, WATTAMEZZ) to the group's ranks.
MANIFEST's last album, "Hedonism", came out in Norway on December 3, 2007 via Morningstar Records. The follow-up to 2005's "Half Past Violence" was recorded at Spiren Studio with producer Prytz.
Violent Media has inked a distribution deal with Norway's top metal distributor Indie Distribution for this album.
"Written In Blood" was recorded in MANIFEST's hometown of Trondheim and produced by Knut "Fug" Prytz (KEEP OF KALESSIN, NECROPHAGIA, BLOODTHORN).
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Tonnie Von Adelaine
02. They'll Have To Carry Me Home
03. Food For Flies
04. The Worst Is Yet To Come
05. Pitch Black Inside
06. A .45 To Pay The Rent
07. Lullaby (Bedtime For Bastards)
08. Letter From The Grave
09. Irreversible
10. Savage
11. Written In Blood
MANIFEST in March 2009 announced the addition of bassist Johnny Wangberg (GRIFFIN, WATTAMEZZ) to the group's ranks.
MANIFEST's last album, "Hedonism", came out in Norway on December 3, 2007 via Morningstar Records. The follow-up to 2005's "Half Past Violence" was recorded at Spiren Studio with producer Prytz.
Jesse James Dupree is recuperating at home following a motorcycle accident on Route 411 by the Georgia / Alabama state line. Dupree was struck by an automobile, suffering a broken left ankle and foot, fractured right arm, and significant bruising to his lower back, alongside a severe case of road rash. The JACKYL frontman and co-star of "Full Throttle Saloon" on Tru-TV is expected to make a full recovery.
Michael Ballard's "Full Throttle Saloon" is the "World's Largest Biker Bar," a 30-acre enormous indoor/outdoor bar with several large stages, a burn-out pit, a tattoo parlor, zip lines, a wrestling ring, restaurants, dozens of stores, hundreds of cabins for rent and parking for thousands of bikes. It opens for two weeks annually around the Sturgis rally, and the indelible color of the sights and sounds of Sturgis are documented and aired on Tru-TV. Currently seen in 91 million U.S. households, the 17-year-old network features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can't normally experience. The show will return for a third season this November.
Formed in 1990, JACKYL has enjoyed a career stretching two decades, bringing a hybrid of Southern metal to millions. From the band's debut in 1992 via Geffen Records, through today, they are notorious as one of the hardest working bands in rock. JACKYL holds two Guiness world records, one for staging 100 shows in 50 days, and another for performing 21 concerts in a 24-hour period. Jesse James Dupree and partner Michael Ballard also brew Jessie James Dupree's America's Outlaw Beer.
Michael Ballard's "Full Throttle Saloon" is the "World's Largest Biker Bar," a 30-acre enormous indoor/outdoor bar with several large stages, a burn-out pit, a tattoo parlor, zip lines, a wrestling ring, restaurants, dozens of stores, hundreds of cabins for rent and parking for thousands of bikes. It opens for two weeks annually around the Sturgis rally, and the indelible color of the sights and sounds of Sturgis are documented and aired on Tru-TV. Currently seen in 91 million U.S. households, the 17-year-old network features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can't normally experience. The show will return for a third season this November.
Formed in 1990, JACKYL has enjoyed a career stretching two decades, bringing a hybrid of Southern metal to millions. From the band's debut in 1992 via Geffen Records, through today, they are notorious as one of the hardest working bands in rock. JACKYL holds two Guiness world records, one for staging 100 shows in 50 days, and another for performing 21 concerts in a 24-hour period. Jesse James Dupree and partner Michael Ballard also brew Jessie James Dupree's America's Outlaw Beer.
Sean Palmerston, who handles media relations for Sonic Unyon, the Hamilton, Ontaro, Canada label whose roster includes the heavy likes of UNTIMELY DEMISE, SACRIFICE and AUGURY, spoke to The Canadian Press about this week's announcement that a new category will be added to the Juno Awards (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards) roster in 2012: "Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year", making a total of 41 categories up for grabs. The 41st annual Juno Awards will be held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, March 26 - April 1, 2012.
"It seems like these musicians are paying their dues, making great records and they definitely deserve at least a little bit of a tip of a hat of an award, just so people can recognize how great they are," said Palmerston, who began campaigning the academy about a year and a half ago, after struggling to find an appropriate category to submit an album by Quebec metal innovators VOIVOD.
"Hopefully it'll just make (fans) say, 'Hey, we have good metal bands in our own backyard.' ... I definitely think it's going to make people pay attention."
"People have always said to me, 'How come metal doesn't get celebrated the way that alternative does?"' he said.
"I think that Canada is ready for a metal category. I don't think it'll come as too much of a surprise."
Palmerston, who will serve as co-chair of the metal committee for the Junos, says that judges will consider heavy bands from all angles of the metallic spectrum.
"There's a lot of diversity in metal," he said. "We're not doing this and hoping that it's going to be a band that sounds like GUNS N' ROSES that gets this.
"We really want submissions across the board and for people to really open their ears to the different sonic palette of what constitutes metal in 2011."
This new category is an award to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the Canadian recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position. Eligible albums include metal, metalcore, hardcore, heavy rock, thrash metal, death metal and their respective sub-genres including (but not limited to) nu-metal, power metal, grindcore, extreme metal, industrial metal, viking metal, folk metal, doom metal, gothic metal, speed metal, and sludge metal.
Submissions for the 2012 Juno Awards open October 1, 2011. Apply online at junosubmissions.ca.
For more information about Canadian Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences (CARAS) and the Juno Awards, go to www.junoawards.ca.
"It seems like these musicians are paying their dues, making great records and they definitely deserve at least a little bit of a tip of a hat of an award, just so people can recognize how great they are," said Palmerston, who began campaigning the academy about a year and a half ago, after struggling to find an appropriate category to submit an album by Quebec metal innovators VOIVOD.
"Hopefully it'll just make (fans) say, 'Hey, we have good metal bands in our own backyard.' ... I definitely think it's going to make people pay attention."
"People have always said to me, 'How come metal doesn't get celebrated the way that alternative does?"' he said.
"I think that Canada is ready for a metal category. I don't think it'll come as too much of a surprise."
Palmerston, who will serve as co-chair of the metal committee for the Junos, says that judges will consider heavy bands from all angles of the metallic spectrum.
"There's a lot of diversity in metal," he said. "We're not doing this and hoping that it's going to be a band that sounds like GUNS N' ROSES that gets this.
"We really want submissions across the board and for people to really open their ears to the different sonic palette of what constitutes metal in 2011."
This new category is an award to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the Canadian recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position. Eligible albums include metal, metalcore, hardcore, heavy rock, thrash metal, death metal and their respective sub-genres including (but not limited to) nu-metal, power metal, grindcore, extreme metal, industrial metal, viking metal, folk metal, doom metal, gothic metal, speed metal, and sludge metal.
Submissions for the 2012 Juno Awards open October 1, 2011. Apply online at junosubmissions.ca.
For more information about Canadian Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences (CARAS) and the Juno Awards, go to www.junoawards.ca.
Swedish metallers SABATON have released the following statement:
"The last shows in Canada [were] the first shows in 12 years that Pär [Sundström, bass] had to sit over a show due to a knee injury caught during the band's current North American tour.
"Pär has after two days in hospital made the decision to return home and is now recovering.
"We have faith that Pär will be playing bass again on the closing shows of the world war tour and until then we will have a replacement bass player."
Added Pär: "It hurts to leave from the middle of a tour and I never thought I see the day when I had to pass on a show.
"I hope to see you all in the future and cannot wait to return to the stage that I love so much and especially North America to finish what we started.
"The show must go on."
"World War Live: Battle Of The Baltic Sea", the first-ever live album from SABATON, was released on August 5 via Nuclear Blast Records.
SABATON has set "Kings Of War" as the working title of its next album, tentatively due before the end of 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.
The band will play the final show of its current tour on December 18 at Trix/Hof Ter Lo in Antwerp, Belgium. The group stated, "This will be a one-off and we will not bring a setlist or respect any venue curfew."
"The last shows in Canada [were] the first shows in 12 years that Pär [Sundström, bass] had to sit over a show due to a knee injury caught during the band's current North American tour.
"Pär has after two days in hospital made the decision to return home and is now recovering.
"We have faith that Pär will be playing bass again on the closing shows of the world war tour and until then we will have a replacement bass player."
Added Pär: "It hurts to leave from the middle of a tour and I never thought I see the day when I had to pass on a show.
"I hope to see you all in the future and cannot wait to return to the stage that I love so much and especially North America to finish what we started.
"The show must go on."
"World War Live: Battle Of The Baltic Sea", the first-ever live album from SABATON, was released on August 5 via Nuclear Blast Records.
SABATON has set "Kings Of War" as the working title of its next album, tentatively due before the end of 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.
The band will play the final show of its current tour on December 18 at Trix/Hof Ter Lo in Antwerp, Belgium. The group stated, "This will be a one-off and we will not bring a setlist or respect any venue curfew."
French progressive metallers GOJIRA have issued the following update:
"A lot happened since our last message so we wanted to give you some news today and let you know we are still alive!
"We know you are all eagerly awaiting the Sea Sheperd EP release. We are sorry for the delay. Some of the material was on a hard drive that crashed but we are nearing the end of a long and difficult recovery process.
"Now the good news: the new Album is ready! All the music and lyrics are waiting to be recorded. Joe [guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier] is already in New York to check out the studio and make sure everything is sorted so we can begin to record next month.
"A new website is being built and we are working on ways to improve the communication between the band and our fans."
Joseph Duplantier recently spoke to U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine about the progress of the songwriting sessions for GOJIRA's next studio album, which is not expected to arrive until early 2012. Duplantier revealed that, rather than the heavily researched themes of the last CD, lyrics for the upcoming, yet-to-be-titled effort — which may end up getting produced by Greg Fidelman (METALLICA, SLAYER, HIGH ON FIRE, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) — are a lot more spontaneous, with "stream of consciousness"-style "spiritual" compositions.
"I've been about spirituality since the first album," he said. "It's hard to define what spirituality is, but it's more like getting closer to [oneself]. It's where each thing we do is sacred; not like going to a church or when you are with a dying person, but waking up in the morning… I've tried to take this dimension when I've written the music, like sometimes I don't even know what I'm going to sing and the words come out fluently. It's not a concept album like in the past, it's more about being spontaneous with feeling, and it's more true and honest."
The quartet is currently without a label home, having parted ways with Listenable Records after the release of 2008's "The Way Of All Flesh".
"Listenable did an amazing job with us, we're very good friends with the owner and we are still working with them on stuff, but now it's time for us to move on to something a bit bigger; we need to bring some fresh energy and new blood into GOJIRA," said Duplantier.
"A few record companies have now put a bit more money on the table, so it feels like something really important is happening. We don't know where we're going to go for the next album, but everything is moving and we'll be recording by the end of the summer."
GOJIRA last year entered the studio to record a new four-song EP, the proceeds from which will benefit Sea Shepherd, an anti-whaling organization. The CD will feature guest appearances by Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD), Fredrik Thordendal (MESHUGGAH), Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD), Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES) and Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SEPULTURA).
"It's almost finished — it's been almost finished for months now and I still have gaps to fill with voices," Duplantier told Terrorizer. "Some of the singers are on tour, so I had to change my plans a bit and contact different singers. This is something so important to us, it's completely non-profit and we've spent a lot of time and energy on it already, but we don't want to release it until we're 100 percent happy with it."
Also in the works is a GOJIRA live DVD with a bonus section entitled "The Way Of All Flesh From The Inside", with footage from rehearsals demoing the album, studio and the tour that was filmed by the bandmembers themselves.
"It's very lo-fi, but it's real!" enthused Duplantier. "It's an hour-long movie and I'm even more excited by this than the live stuff. It will be in our deal with the next record company and will probably come out January 2012."
"A lot happened since our last message so we wanted to give you some news today and let you know we are still alive!
"We know you are all eagerly awaiting the Sea Sheperd EP release. We are sorry for the delay. Some of the material was on a hard drive that crashed but we are nearing the end of a long and difficult recovery process.
"Now the good news: the new Album is ready! All the music and lyrics are waiting to be recorded. Joe [guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier] is already in New York to check out the studio and make sure everything is sorted so we can begin to record next month.
"A new website is being built and we are working on ways to improve the communication between the band and our fans."
Joseph Duplantier recently spoke to U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine about the progress of the songwriting sessions for GOJIRA's next studio album, which is not expected to arrive until early 2012. Duplantier revealed that, rather than the heavily researched themes of the last CD, lyrics for the upcoming, yet-to-be-titled effort — which may end up getting produced by Greg Fidelman (METALLICA, SLAYER, HIGH ON FIRE, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) — are a lot more spontaneous, with "stream of consciousness"-style "spiritual" compositions.
"I've been about spirituality since the first album," he said. "It's hard to define what spirituality is, but it's more like getting closer to [oneself]. It's where each thing we do is sacred; not like going to a church or when you are with a dying person, but waking up in the morning… I've tried to take this dimension when I've written the music, like sometimes I don't even know what I'm going to sing and the words come out fluently. It's not a concept album like in the past, it's more about being spontaneous with feeling, and it's more true and honest."
The quartet is currently without a label home, having parted ways with Listenable Records after the release of 2008's "The Way Of All Flesh".
"Listenable did an amazing job with us, we're very good friends with the owner and we are still working with them on stuff, but now it's time for us to move on to something a bit bigger; we need to bring some fresh energy and new blood into GOJIRA," said Duplantier.
"A few record companies have now put a bit more money on the table, so it feels like something really important is happening. We don't know where we're going to go for the next album, but everything is moving and we'll be recording by the end of the summer."
GOJIRA last year entered the studio to record a new four-song EP, the proceeds from which will benefit Sea Shepherd, an anti-whaling organization. The CD will feature guest appearances by Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD), Fredrik Thordendal (MESHUGGAH), Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD), Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES) and Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SEPULTURA).
"It's almost finished — it's been almost finished for months now and I still have gaps to fill with voices," Duplantier told Terrorizer. "Some of the singers are on tour, so I had to change my plans a bit and contact different singers. This is something so important to us, it's completely non-profit and we've spent a lot of time and energy on it already, but we don't want to release it until we're 100 percent happy with it."
Also in the works is a GOJIRA live DVD with a bonus section entitled "The Way Of All Flesh From The Inside", with footage from rehearsals demoing the album, studio and the tour that was filmed by the bandmembers themselves.
"It's very lo-fi, but it's real!" enthused Duplantier. "It's an hour-long movie and I'm even more excited by this than the live stuff. It will be in our deal with the next record company and will probably come out January 2012."
Guitarist Jojo Draven has joined the cast of Blue Man Group — a unique theatrical performance of music, comedy and multimedia — in Las Vegas as one of its guitarists. She will take part in her first show in October 2011.
Blue Man Group Las Vegas also enlists another notable rocker — drummer Blas Elias (SLAUGHTER).
Draven was the guitarist for the '90s all-female band PHANTOM BLUE and the founding member of THE IRON MAIDENS, the all-female tribute to IRON MAIDEN, which she left in 2005 to pursue TV and film scoring.
Blue Man Group Las Vegas also enlists another notable rocker — drummer Blas Elias (SLAUGHTER).
Draven was the guitarist for the '90s all-female band PHANTOM BLUE and the founding member of THE IRON MAIDENS, the all-female tribute to IRON MAIDEN, which she left in 2005 to pursue TV and film scoring.
On November 1, Los Angeles hardcore/metal band TERROR will release the "Defining The Faith" DVD as part of the special deluxe reissue of the group's latest CD, "Keepers Of The Faith". Produced, edited, and authored by Carlo Oppermann and Ambitious.Films, "Defining The Faith" features a full live set that is composed of three different TERROR shows in three distinct settings: a small club, a big hall, and a massive European festival. These live performances were filmed at the following concerts: Mach1 festival in Montabaur (June 24), Cafe Central in Weinheim (June 28), and Essigfabrik in Köln (June 29), and the complete set-list for the DVD is below.
"Defining The Faith" live DVD set-list
01. Stick Tight
02. Out Of My Face
03. One With The Underdogs
04. Push it Away
05. Never Alone
06. Lowest Of The Low
07. Betrayer
08. Spit My Rage
09. Always The Hard Way
10. Keep Your Mouth Shut
11. Hell And Back
12. Life & Death
13. You're Caught
14. You're Enemies Are Mine
15. Overcome
16. Keepers Of The Faith
"Defining The Faith" also features a European tour documentary with band interviews, backstage footage, and more-plus, four music videos taken from the band's "Keepers Of The Faith" album: "Stick Tight", "Keepers Of The Faith", "Return To Strength", and "You're Caught". And as yet another additional bonus, the making-of footage for the band's latest music video, "You're Caught", will also be included in the DVD.
The second trailer for the DVD can be seen below.
In support of this upcoming release, TERROR will be back on the road this fall with THE ACACIA STRAIN, STRAY FROM THE PATH, and HARM'S WAY for the "God Damn" tour.
TERROR's fifth album, "Keepers Of The Faith", sold around 2,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 11 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.
"Keepers Of The Faith" was released on August 30, 2010 in Europe and September 14, 2010 in North America via Century Media Records. Doom Patrol issued the album in Japan on September 1. The CD contains 13 new tracks produced by Chad Gilbert of NEW FOUND GLORY at Buzzbomb Studios in Orange County, California. It was engineered by Paul Miner (DEATH BY STEREO, ADAMANTIUM) and mixed by Matt Hyde (SLAYER, HATEBREED).
"Keepers of The Faith" was made available in three different versions worldwide, with the U.S. and European editions each released as a digipak with a special fold-out poster.
"Defining The Faith" live DVD set-list
01. Stick Tight
02. Out Of My Face
03. One With The Underdogs
04. Push it Away
05. Never Alone
06. Lowest Of The Low
07. Betrayer
08. Spit My Rage
09. Always The Hard Way
10. Keep Your Mouth Shut
11. Hell And Back
12. Life & Death
13. You're Caught
14. You're Enemies Are Mine
15. Overcome
16. Keepers Of The Faith
"Defining The Faith" also features a European tour documentary with band interviews, backstage footage, and more-plus, four music videos taken from the band's "Keepers Of The Faith" album: "Stick Tight", "Keepers Of The Faith", "Return To Strength", and "You're Caught". And as yet another additional bonus, the making-of footage for the band's latest music video, "You're Caught", will also be included in the DVD.
The second trailer for the DVD can be seen below.
In support of this upcoming release, TERROR will be back on the road this fall with THE ACACIA STRAIN, STRAY FROM THE PATH, and HARM'S WAY for the "God Damn" tour.
TERROR's fifth album, "Keepers Of The Faith", sold around 2,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 11 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.
"Keepers Of The Faith" was released on August 30, 2010 in Europe and September 14, 2010 in North America via Century Media Records. Doom Patrol issued the album in Japan on September 1. The CD contains 13 new tracks produced by Chad Gilbert of NEW FOUND GLORY at Buzzbomb Studios in Orange County, California. It was engineered by Paul Miner (DEATH BY STEREO, ADAMANTIUM) and mixed by Matt Hyde (SLAYER, HATEBREED).
"Keepers of The Faith" was made available in three different versions worldwide, with the U.S. and European editions each released as a digipak with a special fold-out poster.
Rody Walker (vocals; PROTEST THE HERO) and Travis Orbin (drums; ex-PERIPHERY, SKY EATS AIRPLANE) have been added to the list of musicians who will contribute to "Volume 1", the debut album from STAR MONARCHY, the new project launched by bassist Ray Riendeau (HALFORD, JAMES LABRIE). The release will feature songs written by Ray and some collaborations with other artists. It will be recorded by an ongoing cast of players/singers in various metal genres. Also scheduled to appear on "Volume 1" are Francesco Artusato (ALL SHALL PERISH) guitar, Dan Tompkins (TESSERACT) vocals and Peter Wildoer (DARKANE, JAMES LABRIE) drums. More players will be announced soon.
U.K. extreme metallers ANAAL NATHRAKH — consisting of Mick Kenney and David Hunt — are currently working on the follow-up to "Passion", released earlier this year via Candlelight Records. Hunt commented from the studio, "The songs we've recorded so far have come out very well. They are stylistically quite heterogeneous yet somehow sounding focused at the same time. And there's one section that's completely from left field, which we've included as a personal tribute. It's all still in a raw, hardly mixed and not-yet-mastered state, but it's all sounding quite powerful.
"There was an earthquake here a couple of days ago, which we're taking as a portent. But there's a fair way to go yet — we're about half way through the main body of it, and we're looking forward to getting back to tearing things open over a grindstone."
Decibel magazine is currently offering up a free, limited-edition flexi disc from ANAAL NATHRAKH with the online purchase of the November 2011 issue. Go here for ordering info.
ANAAL NATHRAKH was created for one purpose — to be the soundtrack for armageddon, the audial essence of evil, hatred and violence, the true spirit of necro taken to its musical extremes. Since being founded in 1999, the band has gained a reputation for embodying precisely these things, with a history including not only the release of four albums and an EP to rapturous acclaim, but collaborations with such legendary figures as Attila Csihar (MAYHEM), Shane Embury and Danny Herrera (NAPALM DEATH), Nick Barker (TESTAMENT, DIMMU BORGIR), Joe Horvath (CIRCLE OF DEAD CHILDREN), Sethlans Teitan (WATAIN) and so on. This, alongside appearing on BBC Radio 1 at the personal behest of sadly missed icon John Peel, headlining a stage at the renowned cult Inferno Festival in Norway as their debut international live appearance, countless placings in "Best Album Of The Year" polls and "Album Of The Month" awards in the press and cover appearances on leading magazines such as Terrorizer… ANAAL NATHRAKH's status as one of the leading lights in extreme metal is undeniable.
Hallmarked by breathtaking musical ferocity, inventiveness and breadth, married with a mercurial, intensely misanthropic and sharp intelligence, ANAAL NATHRAKH's sound is imbued with a palpable sense of menace that is virtually unmatched in metal.
"There was an earthquake here a couple of days ago, which we're taking as a portent. But there's a fair way to go yet — we're about half way through the main body of it, and we're looking forward to getting back to tearing things open over a grindstone."
Decibel magazine is currently offering up a free, limited-edition flexi disc from ANAAL NATHRAKH with the online purchase of the November 2011 issue. Go here for ordering info.
ANAAL NATHRAKH was created for one purpose — to be the soundtrack for armageddon, the audial essence of evil, hatred and violence, the true spirit of necro taken to its musical extremes. Since being founded in 1999, the band has gained a reputation for embodying precisely these things, with a history including not only the release of four albums and an EP to rapturous acclaim, but collaborations with such legendary figures as Attila Csihar (MAYHEM), Shane Embury and Danny Herrera (NAPALM DEATH), Nick Barker (TESTAMENT, DIMMU BORGIR), Joe Horvath (CIRCLE OF DEAD CHILDREN), Sethlans Teitan (WATAIN) and so on. This, alongside appearing on BBC Radio 1 at the personal behest of sadly missed icon John Peel, headlining a stage at the renowned cult Inferno Festival in Norway as their debut international live appearance, countless placings in "Best Album Of The Year" polls and "Album Of The Month" awards in the press and cover appearances on leading magazines such as Terrorizer… ANAAL NATHRAKH's status as one of the leading lights in extreme metal is undeniable.
Hallmarked by breathtaking musical ferocity, inventiveness and breadth, married with a mercurial, intensely misanthropic and sharp intelligence, ANAAL NATHRAKH's sound is imbued with a palpable sense of menace that is virtually unmatched in metal.
Chicago's KOMMANDANT has inked a deal with the Italian record label Aeternus Tenebrarum Music Foundation. The band's new full-length album, "The Draconian Archetype", is being recorded and engineered by Chris Djuricic at Belle City Sound in Racine, Wisconsin for an early 2012 release.
Commented the band in a statement: "KOMMANDANT has grown tremendously as a band over the last year and has really come into its own. We view Aeternus Tenebrarum Music Foundation as important allies and look forward to flying under their banner."
"The Draconian Archetype" preliminary track listing:
01. Hate Is Strength
02. Call Of The Void
03. Arbiter Of Enslavement
04. Obsidian Gravitational Torrent
05. The Transition
06. Atavistic Species
07. We Are The Angels Of Death
08. Of Blood And Iron
09. Fore-Aft Synthesis
10. Downfall
KOMMANDANT guitarist James Bresnahan previously said about the band's new album, "We have been constantly pushing the KOMMANDANT sound into new extremes. 'The Draconian Archetype' is the best representation yet of who we are and what we stand for. ['Draconian archetype'] is the idea of applying an older or more traditional set of values or rules to modern situations. [The] songs explore the concept of promoting strength, decisiveness and traditional virtues instead of coddling weakness and obfuscation. Obviously metal in general promotes stripped-down hyper-masculine concepts like war, and in that respect we are similar, but that's where the similarity generally ends. I think it would be rather short-sighted to classify us as simply a 'war metal' band, since our songs range quite a bit beyond conflict in their subject matter."
Commented the band in a statement: "KOMMANDANT has grown tremendously as a band over the last year and has really come into its own. We view Aeternus Tenebrarum Music Foundation as important allies and look forward to flying under their banner."
"The Draconian Archetype" preliminary track listing:
01. Hate Is Strength
02. Call Of The Void
03. Arbiter Of Enslavement
04. Obsidian Gravitational Torrent
05. The Transition
06. Atavistic Species
07. We Are The Angels Of Death
08. Of Blood And Iron
09. Fore-Aft Synthesis
10. Downfall
KOMMANDANT guitarist James Bresnahan previously said about the band's new album, "We have been constantly pushing the KOMMANDANT sound into new extremes. 'The Draconian Archetype' is the best representation yet of who we are and what we stand for. ['Draconian archetype'] is the idea of applying an older or more traditional set of values or rules to modern situations. [The] songs explore the concept of promoting strength, decisiveness and traditional virtues instead of coddling weakness and obfuscation. Obviously metal in general promotes stripped-down hyper-masculine concepts like war, and in that respect we are similar, but that's where the similarity generally ends. I think it would be rather short-sighted to classify us as simply a 'war metal' band, since our songs range quite a bit beyond conflict in their subject matter."
Drummer Varyen Chylinski (AGAINST THE PLAGUES, FOREST OF IMPALED, DAMNATION) has joined ROAD'S END, the band led by bassist Marcin "Novy" Nowak (BEHEMOTH, VADER). This is the first project that Novy has assembled himself and he's looking forward to having Varyen assist him during live performances.
Chylinski and Nowak have known each other for a long time, having both grown up in the Polish heavy metal scene.
Novy previously described ROAD'S END's musical direction as "American-style heavy metal with a European soul."
ROAD'S END last week began the audition process for a permanent lead singer and lead guitarist. Individuals interesting in auditioning should already have touring experience, their own equipment and ideally be in the Chicago, Illinois area or at least be willing to relocate. For the lead singer, gender is not important, but the ability to sound like the singer on the streaming audio tracks is critical.
Novy has recorded 17 full-length CDs and taped five official DVDs, all with worldwide distribution. He was also named one of the best bass players in all of the industry-related magazines.
Novy is an extremely versatile musician who is inspired not only by heavy metal, but also jazz, classical and other "good" music.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/roadsendofficial.
Chylinski and Nowak have known each other for a long time, having both grown up in the Polish heavy metal scene.
Novy previously described ROAD'S END's musical direction as "American-style heavy metal with a European soul."
ROAD'S END last week began the audition process for a permanent lead singer and lead guitarist. Individuals interesting in auditioning should already have touring experience, their own equipment and ideally be in the Chicago, Illinois area or at least be willing to relocate. For the lead singer, gender is not important, but the ability to sound like the singer on the streaming audio tracks is critical.
Novy has recorded 17 full-length CDs and taped five official DVDs, all with worldwide distribution. He was also named one of the best bass players in all of the industry-related magazines.
Novy is an extremely versatile musician who is inspired not only by heavy metal, but also jazz, classical and other "good" music.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/roadsendofficial.
IWRESTLEDABEARONCE's feature film "A Beary Scary Movie" will be premiered at the Rock And Shock Film Festival at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts on October 16. The film will be featured as the headlining movie of the day at this convention that exhibits the best independent horror films from around the world and boasts New England's largest gathering of horror and heavy metal fans. The edgy horror film stars IWRESTLEDABEARONCE's Steven Bradley, Krysta Cameron, Mikey Montgomery, Michael "Rickshaw" Martin and John Ganey, along with actors Larry Parks, John Dillion, Phillip Wright, Jim Babel, Charlie Huffman and Kelly Keodara, with a special appearance by Jake Busey.
"A Beary Scary Movie" was written and directed by Justin Beasley of KOTK Productions.
"IWABO lovers and haters rejoice! The time has finally come to watch us all get brutally murdered! Our friends at KOTK Productions have managed to outdo even themselves on this one," says IWRESTLEDABEARONCE's Steven Bradley. "We are all HUGE horror movie fans, particularly old-school cheesy fun horror fans, so this project has definitely been the most insane and enjoyable undertaking in the history of our band."
IWRESTLEDABEARONCE will also participate in signings, panels and other appearances at Rock And Shock, along with the convention's other featured guests — including Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Bill Moseley, Lance Henriksen, Gary Busey, Jake Busey, Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery, Ace Frehley, Roddy Piper, Heather Langenkamp, Amanda Wyss, Derek Mears, Tim Thomerson, Miko Hughes and many more.
About "A Beary Scary Movie": IWRESTLEDABEARONCE are part of one of the most fucked up, crazy-ass twisted motherfucking fantastical adventures that has ever been told in the history of metal. Something monstrous and mentally deranged from the '80s hair metal scene has been sent straight from hell to shred through their "experimental" metal flesh and leave their bodies — not to mention today's metal scene — bloody, battered, and torn apart. Steven, Mikey, John, Krysta, and Ricky are in the fight of their lives as they face the insane bloodthirsty flesh fiend known as Shreddy. Watch as Shreddy slaughters each member one by one while they sleep. The only limits are those of the insane minds of IWRESTLEDABEARONCE. Can they make it out of this bizarre and gruesome tale alive? Will IWRESTLEDABEARONCE continue or will they perish at the hands of this madman? Only those brave enough to watch "A Beary Scary Movie" will find out...
"A Beary Scary Movie" was written and directed by Justin Beasley of KOTK Productions.
"IWABO lovers and haters rejoice! The time has finally come to watch us all get brutally murdered! Our friends at KOTK Productions have managed to outdo even themselves on this one," says IWRESTLEDABEARONCE's Steven Bradley. "We are all HUGE horror movie fans, particularly old-school cheesy fun horror fans, so this project has definitely been the most insane and enjoyable undertaking in the history of our band."
IWRESTLEDABEARONCE will also participate in signings, panels and other appearances at Rock And Shock, along with the convention's other featured guests — including Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Bill Moseley, Lance Henriksen, Gary Busey, Jake Busey, Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery, Ace Frehley, Roddy Piper, Heather Langenkamp, Amanda Wyss, Derek Mears, Tim Thomerson, Miko Hughes and many more.
About "A Beary Scary Movie": IWRESTLEDABEARONCE are part of one of the most fucked up, crazy-ass twisted motherfucking fantastical adventures that has ever been told in the history of metal. Something monstrous and mentally deranged from the '80s hair metal scene has been sent straight from hell to shred through their "experimental" metal flesh and leave their bodies — not to mention today's metal scene — bloody, battered, and torn apart. Steven, Mikey, John, Krysta, and Ricky are in the fight of their lives as they face the insane bloodthirsty flesh fiend known as Shreddy. Watch as Shreddy slaughters each member one by one while they sleep. The only limits are those of the insane minds of IWRESTLEDABEARONCE. Can they make it out of this bizarre and gruesome tale alive? Will IWRESTLEDABEARONCE continue or will they perish at the hands of this madman? Only those brave enough to watch "A Beary Scary Movie" will find out...
Brazil's Som Extremo recently conducted an interview with legendary extreme-metal drummer Pedro "Pete" Sandoval (MORBID ANGEL, TERRORIZER). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Som Extremo: How is your back? When will you return to MORBID ANGEL?
Pete Sandoval: My back is still healing, but I can't wait no more, I'm all ready beating on my drums with or no pain; it's do it or slowly die! No pain, no gain. So by now everybody knows about me and TERRORIZER returning early next year with our new ultimate and brutal grinding record and a worldwide tour after that, I hope so. There will be a break from MORBID for a couple of years or so; I'm mainly concentrating on having fun with TERRORIZER for a couple of years, you know, and I know anybody the loves grind will anxiously love to witness TERRORIZER live four the first time ever!
Som Extremo: Do you think your way of playing drums influenced the pain in your back? Is there a "right" or a "wrong" way of playing drums?
Sandoval: Yes! Absolutely! 20-plus years of extreme death metal blasting on my drums will do it! And yes, there are right and wrong ways ...but you learn with every step you take up on the ladder....
Som Extremo: What is your opinion about the new album of MORBID ANGEL, "Illud Divinum Insanus"?
Sandoval: No comment! I don't play on that album!
Som Extremo: If you had recorded the album, what do you think you would have done different in "Illud Divinum Insanus"?
Sandoval: More exreme deathgrind metal and less DJ, boring awful typical I care less industrial experimental same as everybody boring bull! This is not what MORBID has been all about! ...Hmmmmmm, and I really care less...!
Som Extremo: What's the news about TERRORIZER?
Sandoval: I already said it but I'll say it again, TERRORIZER is alive with a new excellent, original and fun album coming out early next year and a long long wordwide tour right after that! That's what's in our minds right now! And that's what we hope!
Som Extremo: When you started TERRORIZER and MORBID ANGEL, have you ever imagined that one day both of the bands would have become two of the most important bands of the extreme music?
Sandoval: No, I didn't! It's all magic at first! And working hard and believing in yourself...never losing hope, or the faith, and always pushing yourself to the limits like if it was not a tomorrow! No pain, no gain!
Som Extremo: Which TERRORIZER and MORBID ANGEL do you prefer? Why?
Sandoval: I love variation in life, so I would say I love and I have enjoyed all these years playing with MORBID ANGEL, but I also have the desire and ambition to experience the phenomenom of grinding the neverstopping one-foot blast with TERRORIZER!!! This is gonna be fun!! :) It's another zone!! I can't hardly wait to play live next year!!!
Som Extremo: Do you have another bands beside MORBID ANGEL and TERRORIZER nowadays? Which ones?
Sandoval: No, I dont, just a bunch of ideas of my own for a musical drum solo, instructional drum video at the same time. It's in the works now... The way I started, how I have got here and so on..... It'll be very interesting, fun to watch and let me tell you with your jaws open: UNBELIEVABLE! INCREDIBLE! UNSTOPABLE! NEVER SEEN OR HEARD BEFORE!!! I know you will all satisfy your drumming hunger with it! :=)
Som Extremo: How is your back? When will you return to MORBID ANGEL?
Pete Sandoval: My back is still healing, but I can't wait no more, I'm all ready beating on my drums with or no pain; it's do it or slowly die! No pain, no gain. So by now everybody knows about me and TERRORIZER returning early next year with our new ultimate and brutal grinding record and a worldwide tour after that, I hope so. There will be a break from MORBID for a couple of years or so; I'm mainly concentrating on having fun with TERRORIZER for a couple of years, you know, and I know anybody the loves grind will anxiously love to witness TERRORIZER live four the first time ever!
Som Extremo: Do you think your way of playing drums influenced the pain in your back? Is there a "right" or a "wrong" way of playing drums?
Sandoval: Yes! Absolutely! 20-plus years of extreme death metal blasting on my drums will do it! And yes, there are right and wrong ways ...but you learn with every step you take up on the ladder....
Som Extremo: What is your opinion about the new album of MORBID ANGEL, "Illud Divinum Insanus"?
Sandoval: No comment! I don't play on that album!
Som Extremo: If you had recorded the album, what do you think you would have done different in "Illud Divinum Insanus"?
Sandoval: More exreme deathgrind metal and less DJ, boring awful typical I care less industrial experimental same as everybody boring bull! This is not what MORBID has been all about! ...Hmmmmmm, and I really care less...!
Som Extremo: What's the news about TERRORIZER?
Sandoval: I already said it but I'll say it again, TERRORIZER is alive with a new excellent, original and fun album coming out early next year and a long long wordwide tour right after that! That's what's in our minds right now! And that's what we hope!
Som Extremo: When you started TERRORIZER and MORBID ANGEL, have you ever imagined that one day both of the bands would have become two of the most important bands of the extreme music?
Sandoval: No, I didn't! It's all magic at first! And working hard and believing in yourself...never losing hope, or the faith, and always pushing yourself to the limits like if it was not a tomorrow! No pain, no gain!
Som Extremo: Which TERRORIZER and MORBID ANGEL do you prefer? Why?
Sandoval: I love variation in life, so I would say I love and I have enjoyed all these years playing with MORBID ANGEL, but I also have the desire and ambition to experience the phenomenom of grinding the neverstopping one-foot blast with TERRORIZER!!! This is gonna be fun!! :) It's another zone!! I can't hardly wait to play live next year!!!
Som Extremo: Do you have another bands beside MORBID ANGEL and TERRORIZER nowadays? Which ones?
Sandoval: No, I dont, just a bunch of ideas of my own for a musical drum solo, instructional drum video at the same time. It's in the works now... The way I started, how I have got here and so on..... It'll be very interesting, fun to watch and let me tell you with your jaws open: UNBELIEVABLE! INCREDIBLE! UNSTOPABLE! NEVER SEEN OR HEARD BEFORE!!! I know you will all satisfy your drumming hunger with it! :=)
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