Jason Newsted (METALLICA, VOIVOD, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM), John Marshall (METAL CHURCH, former METALLICA guitar tech and occasional James Hetfield fill-in), Sean Harris (DIAMOND HEAD), Brian Tatler (DIAMOND HEAD), Biff Byford (SAXON) and APOCALYPTICA joined METALLICA on stage last night (Monday, December 5) for the first of four intimate shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco as part of the week-long celebration of its 30th anniversary as a band for fan club members only.
After opening sets from THE SOUL REBELS brass band and Finnish cello rockers APOCALYPTICA, as well as a salute to Ray Burton, the 86-year-old father of late METALLICA bassist Cliff Burton, by the event's MC, Jim Breuer (comedian, SiriusXM host and diehard METALLICA fan), METALLICA rocked the capacity crowd with a 21-song set which featured selections from all periods of the band's career, including a previously unreleased track from the "Death Magnetic" sessions called "Hate Train".
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. The Call Of Ktulu
02. No Remorse (full version)
03. The Shortest Straw
04. Leper Messiah
05. The Day That Never Comes
06. Carpe Diem Baby (first time performed live)
07. Hate Train (previously unreleased song from "Death Magnetic" sessions)
08. Please Don't Judas Me (acoustic; NAZARETH cover)
09. Wherever I May Roam (with fan-club member John Dent)
10. Sad But True (with John Marshall)
11. (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth (impromptu jam by Robert Trujillo)
12. No Leaf Clover (with APOCALYPTICA)
13. One (with APOCALYPTICA)
14. Harvester Of Sorrow (with Jason Newsted)
15. Damage, Inc. (with Jason Newsted)
16. Motorcycle Man (with Biff Byford)
17. The Prince (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
18. It's Electric (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
19. Helpess (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
20. Am I Evil? (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
21. Seek & Destroy (with everyone)
Fan-flmed video footage and photos can be seen below (more clips will be added later today)
Frontman James Hetfield told The Pulse Of Radio that METALLICA hoped to make the shows special for the people attending. "It is a fan celebration — everyone who's come along the METALLICA ride for 30 years — and we're constantly wanting to give to the fans what they don't normally get from some other band or some other connection," he said. "So these four shows at the Fillmore are something like that."
The other three shows will take place on December 7, December 9, and December 10, with special guests and events, rare songs, varied set lists and more.
Hetfield told The Pulse Of Radio that he hoped Ozzy Osbourne and MOTÖRHEAD bassist/singer Lemmy Kilmister would be among the guests at the shows.
METALLICA plans to begin work on its next studio album early in 2012. The group recently released its collaborative album with Lou Reed, called "Lulu", which flopped saleswise and earned the quartet the worst reviews of its career.
The band has booked several European shows next summer, including one at a venue in Denmark that used to be a prison, at which it will perform its self-titled 1991 effort, a.k.a. "the black album," in its entirety.
METALLICA was formed when Ulrich, who had moved to Los Angeles from Denmark, placed an ad in a local paper called The Recycler looking for other musicians to play with. The ad was answered by guitarists James Hetfield and Hugh Tanner of the band LEATHER CHARM.
METALLICA officially formed in October 1981 and the band's first recording was "Hit The Lights" for the compilation "Metal Massacre".
Bay Area DJ Ron Quintana came up with the group's name: he was debating between using "Metallica" and "Metal Mania" for the name of his radio show and Ulrich encouraged him to use "Metal Mania" so that he could use "Metallica" for his new band.
METALLICA's first full lineup — featuring Hetfield, Ulrich, guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist Ron McGovney — played its first gig on March 14, 1982 at Radio City in Anaheim, California.
After opening sets from THE SOUL REBELS brass band and Finnish cello rockers APOCALYPTICA, as well as a salute to Ray Burton, the 86-year-old father of late METALLICA bassist Cliff Burton, by the event's MC, Jim Breuer (comedian, SiriusXM host and diehard METALLICA fan), METALLICA rocked the capacity crowd with a 21-song set which featured selections from all periods of the band's career, including a previously unreleased track from the "Death Magnetic" sessions called "Hate Train".
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. The Call Of Ktulu
02. No Remorse (full version)
03. The Shortest Straw
04. Leper Messiah
05. The Day That Never Comes
06. Carpe Diem Baby (first time performed live)
07. Hate Train (previously unreleased song from "Death Magnetic" sessions)
08. Please Don't Judas Me (acoustic; NAZARETH cover)
09. Wherever I May Roam (with fan-club member John Dent)
10. Sad But True (with John Marshall)
11. (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth (impromptu jam by Robert Trujillo)
12. No Leaf Clover (with APOCALYPTICA)
13. One (with APOCALYPTICA)
14. Harvester Of Sorrow (with Jason Newsted)
15. Damage, Inc. (with Jason Newsted)
16. Motorcycle Man (with Biff Byford)
17. The Prince (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
18. It's Electric (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
19. Helpess (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
20. Am I Evil? (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
21. Seek & Destroy (with everyone)
Fan-flmed video footage and photos can be seen below (more clips will be added later today)
Frontman James Hetfield told The Pulse Of Radio that METALLICA hoped to make the shows special for the people attending. "It is a fan celebration — everyone who's come along the METALLICA ride for 30 years — and we're constantly wanting to give to the fans what they don't normally get from some other band or some other connection," he said. "So these four shows at the Fillmore are something like that."
The other three shows will take place on December 7, December 9, and December 10, with special guests and events, rare songs, varied set lists and more.
Hetfield told The Pulse Of Radio that he hoped Ozzy Osbourne and MOTÖRHEAD bassist/singer Lemmy Kilmister would be among the guests at the shows.
METALLICA plans to begin work on its next studio album early in 2012. The group recently released its collaborative album with Lou Reed, called "Lulu", which flopped saleswise and earned the quartet the worst reviews of its career.
The band has booked several European shows next summer, including one at a venue in Denmark that used to be a prison, at which it will perform its self-titled 1991 effort, a.k.a. "the black album," in its entirety.
METALLICA was formed when Ulrich, who had moved to Los Angeles from Denmark, placed an ad in a local paper called The Recycler looking for other musicians to play with. The ad was answered by guitarists James Hetfield and Hugh Tanner of the band LEATHER CHARM.
METALLICA officially formed in October 1981 and the band's first recording was "Hit The Lights" for the compilation "Metal Massacre".
Bay Area DJ Ron Quintana came up with the group's name: he was debating between using "Metallica" and "Metal Mania" for the name of his radio show and Ulrich encouraged him to use "Metal Mania" so that he could use "Metallica" for his new band.
METALLICA's first full lineup — featuring Hetfield, Ulrich, guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist Ron McGovney — played its first gig on March 14, 1982 at Radio City in Anaheim, California.
Jason Newsted (METALLICA, VOIVOD, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM), John Marshall (METAL CHURCH, former METALLICA guitar tech and occasional James Hetfield fill-in), Sean Harris (DIAMOND HEAD), Brian Tatler (DIAMOND HEAD), Biff Byford (SAXON) and APOCALYPTICA joined METALLICA on stage last night (Monday, December 5) for the first of four intimate shows at the 1,200-capacity Fillmore in San Francisco as part of the week-long celebration of its 30th anniversary as a band for fan club members only.
According to Benjy Eisen of RollingStone.com, "Audience members had to win a fan club lottery to get tickets, and most people had to travel a great distance. Immediately upon entering the building, it was apparent this wasn't just another METALLICA concert; this was something special. The band literally transformed the venue into their own banquet hall, complete with the Fillmore's Poster Room serving as a makeshift Metallica Museum featuring artwork, instruments and other group memorabilia.
"Frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich strolled onto the stage early to explain the proceedings: 'If you don't know by now, METALLICA is throwing a party, and you're all invited,' said Hetfield. He handed the mic to comedian Jim Breuer, who hosted several 'game shows' using contestants plucked from the audience. The first competition focused on band trivia while a second game was entitled 'Name That Riff.'"
After opening sets from THE SOUL REBELS brass band and Finnish cello rockers APOCALYPTICA, METALLICA rocked the capacity crowd with a 21-song set which featured selections from all periods of the band's career, including a previously unreleased track from the "Death Magnetic" sessions called "Hate Train".
In his review of last night's show, Jim Harrington of the Oakland Tribune writes, "The overall feel of the concert was very informal — more like a bar band (albeit, an unusually talented one) performing before family and friends than that of a multiplatinum act playing for salivating fans. In that sense, it felt so drastically different from the well-rehearsed product one gets with METALLICA's regular arena show.
"The band members took long breaks between many songs, casually talked among themselves and with the audience, and invited several guests onstage — including one fan, who played guitar on 'Wherever I May Roam', and former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted."
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. The Call Of Ktulu
02. No Remorse (full version)
03. The Shortest Straw
04. Leper Messiah
05. The Day That Never Comes
06. Carpe Diem Baby (first time performed live)
07. Hate Train (previously unreleased song from "Death Magnetic" sessions)
08. Please Don't Judas Me (acoustic; NAZARETH cover)
09. Wherever I May Roam (with fan-club member John Dent)
10. Sad But True (with John Marshall)
11. (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth (impromptu jam by Robert Trujillo)
12. No Leaf Clover (with APOCALYPTICA)
13. One (with APOCALYPTICA)
14. Harvester Of Sorrow (with Jason Newsted)
15. Damage, Inc. (with Jason Newsted)
16. Motorcycle Man (with Biff Byford)
17. The Prince (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
18. It's Electric (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
19. Helpess (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
20. Am I Evil? (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
21. Seek & Destroy (with everyone)
Check out photos of the concert at METALLICA's Facebook page. Some of the pictures can be seen below.
James Hetfield told The Pulse Of Radio that METALLICA hoped to make the shows special for the people attending. "It is a fan celebration — everyone who's come along the METALLICA ride for 30 years — and we're constantly wanting to give to the fans what they don't normally get from some other band or some other connection," he said. "So these four shows at the Fillmore are something like that."
The other three shows will take place on December 7, December 9, and December 10, with special guests and events, rare songs, varied setlists and more.
Hetfield told The Pulse Of Radio that he hoped Ozzy Osbourne and MOTÖRHEAD bassist/singer Lemmy Kilmister would be among the guests at the shows.
METALLICA plans to begin work on its next studio album early in 2012. The group recently released its collaborative album with Lou Reed, called "Lulu", which flopped saleswise and earned the quartet the worst reviews of its career.
The band has booked several European shows next summer, including one at a venue in Denmark that used to be a prison, at which it will perform its self-titled 1991 effort, a.k.a. "the black album," in its entirety.
METALLICA was formed when Ulrich, who had moved to Los Angeles from Denmark, placed an ad in a local paper called The Recycler looking for other musicians to play with. The ad was answered by guitarists James Hetfield and Hugh Tanner of the band LEATHER CHARM.
METALLICA officially formed in October 1981 and the band's first recording was "Hit The Lights" for the compilation "Metal Massacre".
Bay Area DJ Ron Quintana came up with the group's name: he was debating between using "Metallica" and "Metal Mania" for the name of his radio show and Ulrich encouraged him to use "Metal Mania" so that he could use "Metallica" for his new band.
METALLICA's first full lineup — featuring Hetfield, Ulrich, guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist Ron McGovney — played its first gig on March 14, 1982 at Radio City in Anaheim, California.
Photos below courtesy of METALLICA's Facebook page
According to Benjy Eisen of RollingStone.com, "Audience members had to win a fan club lottery to get tickets, and most people had to travel a great distance. Immediately upon entering the building, it was apparent this wasn't just another METALLICA concert; this was something special. The band literally transformed the venue into their own banquet hall, complete with the Fillmore's Poster Room serving as a makeshift Metallica Museum featuring artwork, instruments and other group memorabilia.
"Frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich strolled onto the stage early to explain the proceedings: 'If you don't know by now, METALLICA is throwing a party, and you're all invited,' said Hetfield. He handed the mic to comedian Jim Breuer, who hosted several 'game shows' using contestants plucked from the audience. The first competition focused on band trivia while a second game was entitled 'Name That Riff.'"
After opening sets from THE SOUL REBELS brass band and Finnish cello rockers APOCALYPTICA, METALLICA rocked the capacity crowd with a 21-song set which featured selections from all periods of the band's career, including a previously unreleased track from the "Death Magnetic" sessions called "Hate Train".
In his review of last night's show, Jim Harrington of the Oakland Tribune writes, "The overall feel of the concert was very informal — more like a bar band (albeit, an unusually talented one) performing before family and friends than that of a multiplatinum act playing for salivating fans. In that sense, it felt so drastically different from the well-rehearsed product one gets with METALLICA's regular arena show.
"The band members took long breaks between many songs, casually talked among themselves and with the audience, and invited several guests onstage — including one fan, who played guitar on 'Wherever I May Roam', and former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted."
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. The Call Of Ktulu
02. No Remorse (full version)
03. The Shortest Straw
04. Leper Messiah
05. The Day That Never Comes
06. Carpe Diem Baby (first time performed live)
07. Hate Train (previously unreleased song from "Death Magnetic" sessions)
08. Please Don't Judas Me (acoustic; NAZARETH cover)
09. Wherever I May Roam (with fan-club member John Dent)
10. Sad But True (with John Marshall)
11. (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth (impromptu jam by Robert Trujillo)
12. No Leaf Clover (with APOCALYPTICA)
13. One (with APOCALYPTICA)
14. Harvester Of Sorrow (with Jason Newsted)
15. Damage, Inc. (with Jason Newsted)
16. Motorcycle Man (with Biff Byford)
17. The Prince (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
18. It's Electric (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
19. Helpess (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
20. Am I Evil? (with Sean Harris, Brian Tatler)
21. Seek & Destroy (with everyone)
Check out photos of the concert at METALLICA's Facebook page. Some of the pictures can be seen below.
James Hetfield told The Pulse Of Radio that METALLICA hoped to make the shows special for the people attending. "It is a fan celebration — everyone who's come along the METALLICA ride for 30 years — and we're constantly wanting to give to the fans what they don't normally get from some other band or some other connection," he said. "So these four shows at the Fillmore are something like that."
The other three shows will take place on December 7, December 9, and December 10, with special guests and events, rare songs, varied setlists and more.
Hetfield told The Pulse Of Radio that he hoped Ozzy Osbourne and MOTÖRHEAD bassist/singer Lemmy Kilmister would be among the guests at the shows.
METALLICA plans to begin work on its next studio album early in 2012. The group recently released its collaborative album with Lou Reed, called "Lulu", which flopped saleswise and earned the quartet the worst reviews of its career.
The band has booked several European shows next summer, including one at a venue in Denmark that used to be a prison, at which it will perform its self-titled 1991 effort, a.k.a. "the black album," in its entirety.
METALLICA was formed when Ulrich, who had moved to Los Angeles from Denmark, placed an ad in a local paper called The Recycler looking for other musicians to play with. The ad was answered by guitarists James Hetfield and Hugh Tanner of the band LEATHER CHARM.
METALLICA officially formed in October 1981 and the band's first recording was "Hit The Lights" for the compilation "Metal Massacre".
Bay Area DJ Ron Quintana came up with the group's name: he was debating between using "Metallica" and "Metal Mania" for the name of his radio show and Ulrich encouraged him to use "Metal Mania" so that he could use "Metallica" for his new band.
METALLICA's first full lineup — featuring Hetfield, Ulrich, guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist Ron McGovney — played its first gig on March 14, 1982 at Radio City in Anaheim, California.
Photos below courtesy of METALLICA's Facebook page
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=166935
METALLICA performed a previously unreleased song from the "Death Magnetic" sessions called "Hate Train" last night (Monday, December 5) at the first of four intimate shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco as part of the week-long celebration of its 30th anniversary as a band for fan club members only.
A rough-mix version of the studio recording of "Hate Train" has since been e-mailed to members of METALLICA's official fan club and can now be streamed in the YouTube clip below.
"Hate Train" lyrics:
Hate is a train
That thunders aimless through my head
And hate is the fame
Chained to the wheel until I'm dead
Rage is a flame
Creates a touch to boil the seas
And rage is to blame
Forever sorry I shall be
And from a darkness I descend
Clenching a torch of sweet revenge
You took away tomorrow, still I stand
I ride into the sorrow, still I stand
You took away tomorrow, still I stand
Straight down into the sorrow, but still I stand
Wrath is the name
Branding suffer onto you
And wrath takes the shame
And holds me down until its through
And from a darkness I descend
Clenching a torch of sweet revenge
You took away tomorrow, still I stand
I ride into the sorrow, still I stand
You took away tomorrow, still I stand
I sink into the sorrow, but still I stand
And hate is a train
A beast awakened by your call
And hate is a train
A beast that never slows at all
And from a darkness I descend
Clenching a torch of sweet revenge
Burst into flame, the bitter end
And shake the gates of hell again
I'm left to drown in sorrow…
You took away tomorrow, still I stand
I ride into the sorrow, still I stand
You took away tomorrow, still I stand
You left me here with sorrow, still I stand (End of lyrics)
"Death Magnetic" was officially certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 28, 2010 for shipments in the United States in excess of two million copies.
METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told The Pulse of Radio in an October 2008 interview that he didn't understand the controversy that had broken out over the audio quality of "Death Magnetic" shortly after the LP's release. Some fans and publications had accused the group and producer Rick Rubin of mixing the album at such a loud volume that the music is distorted and difficult to listen to. But Ulrich said that he's more than happy with the way it turned out. "I listen to this record, and I listen to it every couple of days," he said. "And when I hear it, it puts a smile on my face and it blows me away, and I don't understand what people are talking about. Somebody told me the other day that there were 12,000 people that had signed a petition to remix the record. We've sold two and a half million copies [worldwide] of 'Death Magnetic'. You do the math yourself."
A number of fans said online that they prefer the versions of the CD's tracks prepared for the Guitar Hero video game, which are mixed differently.
Ted Jensen, the engineer who mastered the album at Sterling Sound in New York, responded to fan complaints that the CD is too loud and the audio is pushed to distortion levels by writing, "I'm certainly sympathetic to your reaction, I get to slam my head against that brick wall every day. In this case the mixes were already brick-walled before they arrived at my place. Suffice to say I would never be pushed to overdrive things as far as they are here. Believe me, I'm not proud to be associated with this one, and we can only hope that some good will come from this in some form of backlash against volume above all else."
Mastering is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device, the "master," from which all copies will be produced.
Blame for the sound quality has been laid at the feet of the band itself, producer Rick Rubin and his recording engineer, Greg Fidelman.
A rough-mix version of the studio recording of "Hate Train" has since been e-mailed to members of METALLICA's official fan club and can now be streamed in the YouTube clip below.
"Hate Train" lyrics:
Hate is a train
That thunders aimless through my head
And hate is the fame
Chained to the wheel until I'm dead
Rage is a flame
Creates a touch to boil the seas
And rage is to blame
Forever sorry I shall be
And from a darkness I descend
Clenching a torch of sweet revenge
You took away tomorrow, still I stand
I ride into the sorrow, still I stand
You took away tomorrow, still I stand
Straight down into the sorrow, but still I stand
Wrath is the name
Branding suffer onto you
And wrath takes the shame
And holds me down until its through
And from a darkness I descend
Clenching a torch of sweet revenge
You took away tomorrow, still I stand
I ride into the sorrow, still I stand
You took away tomorrow, still I stand
I sink into the sorrow, but still I stand
And hate is a train
A beast awakened by your call
And hate is a train
A beast that never slows at all
And from a darkness I descend
Clenching a torch of sweet revenge
Burst into flame, the bitter end
And shake the gates of hell again
I'm left to drown in sorrow…
You took away tomorrow, still I stand
I ride into the sorrow, still I stand
You took away tomorrow, still I stand
You left me here with sorrow, still I stand (End of lyrics)
"Death Magnetic" was officially certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 28, 2010 for shipments in the United States in excess of two million copies.
METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told The Pulse of Radio in an October 2008 interview that he didn't understand the controversy that had broken out over the audio quality of "Death Magnetic" shortly after the LP's release. Some fans and publications had accused the group and producer Rick Rubin of mixing the album at such a loud volume that the music is distorted and difficult to listen to. But Ulrich said that he's more than happy with the way it turned out. "I listen to this record, and I listen to it every couple of days," he said. "And when I hear it, it puts a smile on my face and it blows me away, and I don't understand what people are talking about. Somebody told me the other day that there were 12,000 people that had signed a petition to remix the record. We've sold two and a half million copies [worldwide] of 'Death Magnetic'. You do the math yourself."
A number of fans said online that they prefer the versions of the CD's tracks prepared for the Guitar Hero video game, which are mixed differently.
Ted Jensen, the engineer who mastered the album at Sterling Sound in New York, responded to fan complaints that the CD is too loud and the audio is pushed to distortion levels by writing, "I'm certainly sympathetic to your reaction, I get to slam my head against that brick wall every day. In this case the mixes were already brick-walled before they arrived at my place. Suffice to say I would never be pushed to overdrive things as far as they are here. Believe me, I'm not proud to be associated with this one, and we can only hope that some good will come from this in some form of backlash against volume above all else."
Mastering is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device, the "master," from which all copies will be produced.
Blame for the sound quality has been laid at the feet of the band itself, producer Rick Rubin and his recording engineer, Greg Fidelman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsui73xPCeE&feature=player_embedded
As most of the rock 'n' roll world now knows, Motley Crue are set to take over Sin City with their upcoming residency Feb. 3-19, 2012, at the Joint at Hard Rock Casino. The band is promising a show of epic proportions, like nothing you've ever seen before.
The band is hoping to give Vegas the rock infusion it desperately needs, so move over Celine Dion and Wayne Newton, Dr. Feelgood's moving in.
Shortly after the announcement, Motley drummer Tommy Lee caught up with Loudwire to talk about the details of their residency, as well as some other pressing Crue topics like when we can expect new music from the band and whatever happened to that film adaptation of the band's notorious book 'The Dirt'?
Congratulations on the Vegas residency! When some people think Vegas, Cher and Celine Dion come to mind. How are you planning to change that mindset with this groundbreaking run?
I guess people should probably lose all preconceptions, because we have set up to make it something that nobody's ever seen or participated in before. It's going to be something that's very interactive; by the time we're done with this, you're going to see the show, wear the show, drink the show.
It will definitely be an experience, we're taking over the entire Hard Rock, and the show won't only be inside The Joint, if you know what I'm saying. That's our mission here, to do something really different, that no one else has ever done. So don't even think about those other things; those are terrible! It won't be anything like that, I guarantee you!
You're asking fans for feedback on your website; any chance the band would open up the set list up to fan participation to mix it up a bit?
We'll have to switch up the set a lot since we'll be doing several shows in a row, we'll have have to change things up because on the weekend people might come see us a few times. Some maniacs that I know will probably come every night, so we've already talked about making some different portions of the show that will require a lot of change; that's probably going to happen, I'd imagine.
Production-wise, I know you guys are keeping things under wraps, but can you tell us if we'll be seeing the return of your 360 roller-coaster kit?
Just know that there's going to be a roller coaster, yes. The answer is yes.
It's been awhile since we've heard new music from the Crue and I think a lot of people were hoping the announcement might include that. Are you planning on recording new music together?
I saw a lot of people's tweets and Facebook comments guessing that we were making a new record, I saw those. I'm sure we're due for one. All of us have been writing individually, I write, Nikki's been writing, and Mick as well, at some point here, we'll pull all of our ideas together as we always do, and then we'll start sorting through it at that point. But we haven't gotten to that point yet. I would imagine we'll probably get there some time in the next year and start working on that.
You all have your own solo projects, and you mentioned that you've been writing individually. When you write for Motley Crue, do you bring in those collective ideas and go from there, or do you go in with a clean slate?
You know what's weird, I just write to write, with no intention, I just write. For me personally, I'll write something and think, "Wow, that's crazy, that's good for 'this,' that sounds like it might be good for Motley." It just depends what comes out, and then they kind of find homes. I don't specifically sit down to write a Motley Crue song, so for me that's how it works. The things that sound like they might be Crue, I put aside on my hard drive and keep them in that pile.
What can you tell us on the status of the movie version of 'The Dirt,' (the band's 2001 autobiography) because we've been teased with the possibility but it hasn't come to fruition just yet.
I know that we've got a director on board; we've got storyboards out now that we've all looked at. It's definitely on its way, its way closer than it's been. I would imagine we could tell people that will also be under way in the next year.
You were honest about when you reunited with the band and went in for pre-production for 'Saints of Los Angeles' back in 2008 and wondering how Mick Mars would do out on the road, given his medical condition. I don't think he's missed a show since then. Are you blown away by what he does night after night?
Yes, I totally am. I have a lot of respect for him. I know he has good and bad days where if you were to look at him or talk to him you wouldn't see or feel that anything was wrong with him. Then he has days when he's in a lot of pain … but yet rather than sitting at home, I think he prefers being up there doing what he does. It's good, I think this upcoming residency is going to be cool for him, and it doesn't require a ton of traveling so I think he's going to be happy about that. He's a f—ing trooper, isn't he?
For more from Tommy Lee, including his thoughts on Motley Crue matching the longevity of the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith, visit Ultimate Classic Rock.
Jason Witte (BLEED/YOUR/FAITH, GOADED) will be singing at 10 a.m. on Sunday, December 18 at MEGALife Ministry along with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson.
Founded by Ellefson, MEGALife Ministry is a new Christian-based ministry headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. As an outreach ministry it is focused on serving all people in their development of faith. The ministry is designed to help engage the needs of both churched and un-churched individuals and families worldwide.
Through the endowment of MEGALife's music ministries, personal testimonies and captivating multi-media, it offers a dynamic center for developing a faith in Jesus Christ, especially to those who are new to Christianity or seeking a new church home.
MEGALife Ministry
9400 East Mountain View Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
In a September 2011 interview with Metalfan, Ellefson was asked about his role in the MEGALife Ministry. "Initially, I helped start and vision-cast the MEGALife Ministry church in Scottsdale, Arizona," he said. "It's now grown to a point where we've purchased a brand new building, hired new staff and the mission carries on. I was initially the worship leader for a few years and that allowed me some great musical opportunities to write, play and develop some great friendships in that community. God gave me my musical talent so I found it fitting that for a few years I should give some of it back to Him for his use. Now that I'm back in MEGADETH full time, I've called in new people to take over my music position but I try to help out whenever I'm off the road. I get great joy in doing it and do it for free and for fun."
When asked if he is bothered by the fact that most of the metalheads don't go to church very often, Ellefson said, "No, it doesn't bother me and I totally understand. I grew up having to go to church every Sunday with my family and I hated it. I would sit and draw KISS logos and stage designs on my church bulletins, while daydreaming about playing music! But, now as an adult I put my boy-ish ways behind me and see the benefit of a solid faith life. I think the fallacy is that only perfect people go to church, but that couldn't be farther from the truth… at least not the churches I go to!!! After all I'm there and I'm certainly not perfect! In reality, our world is not your friend so don't get too friendly with it. That is my motive for developing a faith walk and that seems to be pretty good, orderly, direction (G.O.D)."
Founded by Ellefson, MEGALife Ministry is a new Christian-based ministry headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. As an outreach ministry it is focused on serving all people in their development of faith. The ministry is designed to help engage the needs of both churched and un-churched individuals and families worldwide.
Through the endowment of MEGALife's music ministries, personal testimonies and captivating multi-media, it offers a dynamic center for developing a faith in Jesus Christ, especially to those who are new to Christianity or seeking a new church home.
MEGALife Ministry
9400 East Mountain View Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
In a September 2011 interview with Metalfan, Ellefson was asked about his role in the MEGALife Ministry. "Initially, I helped start and vision-cast the MEGALife Ministry church in Scottsdale, Arizona," he said. "It's now grown to a point where we've purchased a brand new building, hired new staff and the mission carries on. I was initially the worship leader for a few years and that allowed me some great musical opportunities to write, play and develop some great friendships in that community. God gave me my musical talent so I found it fitting that for a few years I should give some of it back to Him for his use. Now that I'm back in MEGADETH full time, I've called in new people to take over my music position but I try to help out whenever I'm off the road. I get great joy in doing it and do it for free and for fun."
When asked if he is bothered by the fact that most of the metalheads don't go to church very often, Ellefson said, "No, it doesn't bother me and I totally understand. I grew up having to go to church every Sunday with my family and I hated it. I would sit and draw KISS logos and stage designs on my church bulletins, while daydreaming about playing music! But, now as an adult I put my boy-ish ways behind me and see the benefit of a solid faith life. I think the fallacy is that only perfect people go to church, but that couldn't be farther from the truth… at least not the churches I go to!!! After all I'm there and I'm certainly not perfect! In reality, our world is not your friend so don't get too friendly with it. That is my motive for developing a faith walk and that seems to be pretty good, orderly, direction (G.O.D)."
Get ready for a raucous night of comedy, charity and chaos! Guitar World is proud to announce the magazine's first-ever Rock & Roll Roast with inaugural honoree Zakk Wylde. Presented by Epiphone guitars and sponsored by Monster Energy Drink, EMG pickups, Revolver magazine, Marshall amplification, Dunlop, Eagle Rock and Samson, the exclusive event will take place at The Grove in Anaheim, California on Thursday, January 19, 2012; a portion of all proceeds will go to the MusiCares charity. Zakk Wylde was recently named one of the 100 greatest living rock stars by Revolver magazine.
Roastmaster Sharon Osbourne and other metal-loving luminaries such as Ozzy Osbourne, Chris Jericho, ANTHRAX's Scott Ian, Stone Cold Steve Austin, SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor, as well as comedy and roast veterans Jim Norton, Brian Posehn, Jim Florentine and more will all take aim at the BLACK LABEL SOCIETY frontman and guitar icon, best known for his incredible axe chops, his golden locks and his signature Bullseye guitar line. Fresh from her recent stint on the JUDAS PRIEST tour, Lady Starlight (Lady Gaga's resident DJ) will also be on hand to serve as the evening's official DJ.
Roastee Wylde commented, "How can they roast me? I'm a good Catholic boy..." Roastmaster Sharon Osbourne explained, "Zakk has always called me his Mom, but I think my boy needs a good kicking." Editorial director of Guitar World, Brad Tolinski added, "We're excited to kick-off this new annual event, and who better than Zakk Wylde, to be our first... victim."
This show will kick off on the opening night of the 2012 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.
This live charity event is not open to the public, but, if you want to attend and learn more about being a sponsor for this once-in-a-lifetime event and be part of a great charity and cause, please visit www.rockandrollroast.com for more information and sponsorship opportunities.
Roastmaster Sharon Osbourne and other metal-loving luminaries such as Ozzy Osbourne, Chris Jericho, ANTHRAX's Scott Ian, Stone Cold Steve Austin, SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor, as well as comedy and roast veterans Jim Norton, Brian Posehn, Jim Florentine and more will all take aim at the BLACK LABEL SOCIETY frontman and guitar icon, best known for his incredible axe chops, his golden locks and his signature Bullseye guitar line. Fresh from her recent stint on the JUDAS PRIEST tour, Lady Starlight (Lady Gaga's resident DJ) will also be on hand to serve as the evening's official DJ.
Roastee Wylde commented, "How can they roast me? I'm a good Catholic boy..." Roastmaster Sharon Osbourne explained, "Zakk has always called me his Mom, but I think my boy needs a good kicking." Editorial director of Guitar World, Brad Tolinski added, "We're excited to kick-off this new annual event, and who better than Zakk Wylde, to be our first... victim."
This show will kick off on the opening night of the 2012 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.
This live charity event is not open to the public, but, if you want to attend and learn more about being a sponsor for this once-in-a-lifetime event and be part of a great charity and cause, please visit www.rockandrollroast.com for more information and sponsorship opportunities.
He's been the voice of Soundgarden and Audioslave, his baritone holding its own against the onslaught of heavy alternative-rock songs with every amp turned to 11.
Chris Cornell
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13.
Where: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St.
Admission: $39 and $49.
Details: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com.
But Chris Cornell's upcoming concert in Mesa features the singer alone on acoustic guitar, recasting songs from his career in stripped-down, unplugged treatments, as captured on the recently released live album "Songbook."
Here's Cornell on the solo tour and how it felt to reunite with Soundgarden 13 years after their breakup.
Question: What inspired you to reinvent these songs acoustically?
Answer: I've written a lot of songs on acoustic and done a lot of demos that were just that, really. "Seasons" (from the Cameron Crowe film "Singles") was the first time I had done that where a lot of people heard it, but even previous to Soundgarden releasing anything, I had acoustic songs that were kind of psychedelic in nature that would get played on KCMU, the local college station. I recorded them on four-track, and I knew some of the DJs. Kim Thayil was a DJ there for a while. But Soundgarden is what I was concentrating on, and Soundgarden wasn't a band that was going to embrace acoustic songs.
Q: So how did you decide to do a full tour that way?
A: When I was in Audioslave, I started out doing one or two acoustic songs in the middle of the set, and it ended up being five or six. I like that feeling, in the middle of a rock show, to be able to strip it down to one guy and a guitar. And I started doing that on my solo tours even when I had a band out with me. I would do a long acoustic set in the middle. Then, I did this show in Stockholm a few years back that was recorded, and when I got back to the U.S., some of it was being played on the radio. And at that point, I just felt like, OK, people obviously want to hear me do this. So I did a few shows in Los Angeles over the last couple years, and they were great. But it was still not me taking it out on the road and discovering what it could be. So at some point I thought I'm just gonna book a 25-date tour and see what this becomes. And that's what "Songbook" was.
Q: At what point could you tell that you were really onto something?
A: I've gotten to the point where I feel really comfortable, and it feels really satisfying to go out and be able to play to a packed house on acoustic guitar. But it's also kind of driven me to see what other places I can take a one-man show. What other instruments can I add that I would play myself, keeping it a one-man show? What other elements can I bring to it and allow it to grow over the years, and continue to do it but have it be always fresh to me and to the audience? It feels like a first chapter. And another thing that I would want to approach after the next Soundgarden album comes out would be an album of original songs that's largely done the same way, all new material done acoustic.
Q: I would assume that with some songs, it's just obvious that they would work this way.
A: Some songs just lend themselves to that. Some songs were written on an acoustic guitar that nobody would even know, like "Spoonman," for example. The original demo is just acoustic guitar, but when I do it acoustically as a performance live, I don't think it really works. It's not nearly as good as it is when it's Soundgarden playing. And it doesn't become a different thing that's also good in its own right. I'm sure there's a way to do it that might work, but I haven't really found that way.
Q: What brought you back around to Soundgarden?
A: It seemed to reveal itself that our music was lasting, it was aging well, and we were actually getting new fans and still had the old fans, but no one was really servicing the legacy. At all. And it kind of occurred to us that that was gonna have to be our responsibility. Having young children, I would go into a store with baby clothes and I would see Ramones T-shirts, and I would think, "That's so great. I can buy Ramones T-shirts for my children." But there's no Soundgarden T-shirts (laughs). So we started taking meetings, trying to figure out what were the different things that we would want to try to do, which led to conversations of maybe playing a show.
And once we were playing together, we started working on ideas for new music. It was also fun because we were going back and relearning arrangements from songs that were written and recorded so long ago. I hadn't really listened to some of that in years, and I suddenly became really proud of us and the decisions that we made, of who we were and what we'd done. Some of the vocal performances were a little embarrassing to me because I was a 23-year-old kid and I wouldn't make those same decisions now. But in terms of the songwriting and song arrangements and production, I felt like we did great.
Former DOWN/PANTERA and current KILL DEVIL HILL bassist Rex Brown was one of the guests on this past weekend's episode of VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show".
Commenting on his departure from DOWN, Brown said, "There's no animosity there whatsoever; I talk to Philip [Anselmo, DOWN/ex-PANTERA singer] all the time. It was [time for a] change, man. I met the KILL DEVIL HILL] guys and it was time for a change — for me, musically. And that's the way it down."
Brown, who in 2009 was diagnosed with pancreatitis, a sudden inflammation of the pancreas which can have severe complications and high mortality despite treatment, stated about his current health status, "It took them about five years to figure out what was going on. I had polyps on my pancreas, and what they did is they had to open me up. And I've never felt better in the last five years. . . I was in constant pain."
During an April 2011 interview with High Times, Anselmo said that that since he underwent surgery in 2005 to repair several damaged disks in his back, he's helped many friends get clean and that he has about a 50 precent success rate in getting them sober. One person that he said he couldn't seem to help was Brown. "That's the only rift between me and Rex; other than that, we're fucking best friends," Anselmo said. "He just can't stop fucking drinking."
He added, "I've tried. I gave it my all and I love Rex Brown with all of my fucking heart and soul. But, goddamnit, he will not put down that fucking bottle for any of us. He is, and has been told, he is going to die. I'm gonna tell you this: He's not gonna die on my time, because he ain't drinking around 'The Kid.' Straight up. And that means he can't be around right now, 'cause he's fucking drinking. And that's that. That's that fucking story in a nutshell."
Brown's replacement in DOWN is Patrick Bruders, who is also a member of the New Orleans sludge metal legends CROWBAR alongside DOWN guitarist Kirk Windstein.
Rex in October signed a deal with Da Capo Press to write a memoir. Due in the fall of 2012, "Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story Of Pantera" is described as a "starkly honest and revealing" book about Rex's time in one of the most influential and enduringly popular bands in heavy metal history, offering Brown's shocking personal insight into a band that had swapped the grimy clubs of Texas for arenas around the world but whose story would ultimately be touched by tragedy.
KILL DEVIL HILL recently inked a deal with SPV/Steamhammer. The group's debut album is tentatively scheduled for a March 2012 release. The self-titled effort is being produced by Warren Riker, who is best known for his work with DOWN, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, SUBLIME and CATHEDRAL.
Commenting on his departure from DOWN, Brown said, "There's no animosity there whatsoever; I talk to Philip [Anselmo, DOWN/ex-PANTERA singer] all the time. It was [time for a] change, man. I met the KILL DEVIL HILL] guys and it was time for a change — for me, musically. And that's the way it down."
Brown, who in 2009 was diagnosed with pancreatitis, a sudden inflammation of the pancreas which can have severe complications and high mortality despite treatment, stated about his current health status, "It took them about five years to figure out what was going on. I had polyps on my pancreas, and what they did is they had to open me up. And I've never felt better in the last five years. . . I was in constant pain."
During an April 2011 interview with High Times, Anselmo said that that since he underwent surgery in 2005 to repair several damaged disks in his back, he's helped many friends get clean and that he has about a 50 precent success rate in getting them sober. One person that he said he couldn't seem to help was Brown. "That's the only rift between me and Rex; other than that, we're fucking best friends," Anselmo said. "He just can't stop fucking drinking."
He added, "I've tried. I gave it my all and I love Rex Brown with all of my fucking heart and soul. But, goddamnit, he will not put down that fucking bottle for any of us. He is, and has been told, he is going to die. I'm gonna tell you this: He's not gonna die on my time, because he ain't drinking around 'The Kid.' Straight up. And that means he can't be around right now, 'cause he's fucking drinking. And that's that. That's that fucking story in a nutshell."
Brown's replacement in DOWN is Patrick Bruders, who is also a member of the New Orleans sludge metal legends CROWBAR alongside DOWN guitarist Kirk Windstein.
Rex in October signed a deal with Da Capo Press to write a memoir. Due in the fall of 2012, "Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story Of Pantera" is described as a "starkly honest and revealing" book about Rex's time in one of the most influential and enduringly popular bands in heavy metal history, offering Brown's shocking personal insight into a band that had swapped the grimy clubs of Texas for arenas around the world but whose story would ultimately be touched by tragedy.
KILL DEVIL HILL recently inked a deal with SPV/Steamhammer. The group's debut album is tentatively scheduled for a March 2012 release. The self-titled effort is being produced by Warren Riker, who is best known for his work with DOWN, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, SUBLIME and CATHEDRAL.
Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON lend seven songs to the latest downloadable content for Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC's first-person shooter video game title Resistance 3, developed exclusively for the PlayStation 3 by Insomniac Games. Releasing to the PlayStation Network starting today, December 6, MASTODON will be the only artist featured in the Resistance 3 Brutality Pack. Their music will become the score as player's battle against the deadly Chimera aliens.
Says Ted Price, President and CEO of Insomniac Games: "I'm a longtime MASTODON fan. These guys are masters of their craft and when you see them play live, it's mind-blowing. They bring raw intensity and incredible energy to everything they do. Their chugging roar is a perfect fit for Resistance and especially for the Brutality Pack where it's you, a sledgehammer, and some very, very hungry Chimera. We're sincerely honored that MASTODON is now a part of the Resistance universe."
The seven songs included in the Resistance 3 Brutality Pack include three songs from MASTODON's new album "The Hunter": "Spectrelight", "Black Tongue", and "Dry Bone Valley", plus "The Ruiner" — a bonus track that appears on "The Hunter" Deluxe Edition. Also featured are "Crystal Skull" and "Circle of Cysquatch" from 2006's "Blood Mountain" and "Deathbound", a previously unreleased track from 2009's "Crack The Skye" sessions.
MASTODON is among the nominees for the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The band's Grammy nomination is for "Curl Of The Burl", the first single from MASTODON's new album, "The Hunter".
MASTODON received its first Grammy nomination in 2006 for the single "Colony Of Birchmen", from the band's Reprise Records debut album, "Blood Mountain".
Says Ted Price, President and CEO of Insomniac Games: "I'm a longtime MASTODON fan. These guys are masters of their craft and when you see them play live, it's mind-blowing. They bring raw intensity and incredible energy to everything they do. Their chugging roar is a perfect fit for Resistance and especially for the Brutality Pack where it's you, a sledgehammer, and some very, very hungry Chimera. We're sincerely honored that MASTODON is now a part of the Resistance universe."
The seven songs included in the Resistance 3 Brutality Pack include three songs from MASTODON's new album "The Hunter": "Spectrelight", "Black Tongue", and "Dry Bone Valley", plus "The Ruiner" — a bonus track that appears on "The Hunter" Deluxe Edition. Also featured are "Crystal Skull" and "Circle of Cysquatch" from 2006's "Blood Mountain" and "Deathbound", a previously unreleased track from 2009's "Crack The Skye" sessions.
MASTODON is among the nominees for the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The band's Grammy nomination is for "Curl Of The Burl", the first single from MASTODON's new album, "The Hunter".
MASTODON received its first Grammy nomination in 2006 for the single "Colony Of Birchmen", from the band's Reprise Records debut album, "Blood Mountain".
"Lillie: F-65", the eighth studio album from doom legends SAINT VITUS — and their first since 1995 — will be released on March 27, 2012 in North America (four days earlier in Europe) via Season Of Mist.
Speaking to Terrorizer magazine, SAINT VITUS frontman Scott "Wino" Weinrich stated about the title, "Y'know the reason we called it 'Lillie: F-65'? It was a powerful downer back in our day and well, Dave [Chandler, guitar] really had a thing for his downers."
SAINT VITUS' current lineup features Chandler, drummer Henry Vasquez, bassist Mark Adams and Weinrich.
"Making this album was really a blast," said Chandler. "Being able to live in an environment where all we had to concentrate on was the new material, became very inspiring. And along with our new drummer, Henry Vasquez, and label, Season Of Mist, this record has given us a new opportunity to show everyone that we still have more to shove in your face."
When asked why he thinks SAINT VITUS' music continues to resonate, Wino said in an interview, "Because it comes from the gut. The music has that low tone and it hits you in those emotional places. I've always tried to make the lyrics just as interesting as the music. It's always been a little bit dark but I'm not drawn to the happy stuff. I like music that grabs you by the balls."
"Superskum" (web site) has uploaded quality video footage of SAINT VITUS performing a brand new song, "Blessed Night" on March 29, 2011 in Denver, Colorado.
Speaking to Terrorizer magazine, SAINT VITUS frontman Scott "Wino" Weinrich stated about the title, "Y'know the reason we called it 'Lillie: F-65'? It was a powerful downer back in our day and well, Dave [Chandler, guitar] really had a thing for his downers."
SAINT VITUS' current lineup features Chandler, drummer Henry Vasquez, bassist Mark Adams and Weinrich.
"Making this album was really a blast," said Chandler. "Being able to live in an environment where all we had to concentrate on was the new material, became very inspiring. And along with our new drummer, Henry Vasquez, and label, Season Of Mist, this record has given us a new opportunity to show everyone that we still have more to shove in your face."
When asked why he thinks SAINT VITUS' music continues to resonate, Wino said in an interview, "Because it comes from the gut. The music has that low tone and it hits you in those emotional places. I've always tried to make the lyrics just as interesting as the music. It's always been a little bit dark but I'm not drawn to the happy stuff. I like music that grabs you by the balls."
"Superskum" (web site) has uploaded quality video footage of SAINT VITUS performing a brand new song, "Blessed Night" on March 29, 2011 in Denver, Colorado.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell participated recently in a chat at ESPN.com, where he was asked about the status of a follow-up to the band's 2009 comeback album, "Black Gives Way To Blue". Cantrell replied that a new disc will come out "whenever we're done," adding, "We're never really forced to make music. If it doesn't happen, then it doesn't. We've been writing a lot. I also had shoulder surgery earlier this year. I'm at the tail end of rehabbing that. That put us back a little bit. But we have some stuff . . . Hopefully we'll have it out next year. We'll put it out when we feel that it's worth putting out."
ALICE IN CHAINS released "Black Gives Way To Blue" after a 14-year hiatus between full-length albums.
During that period, original singer Layne Staley died in 2002 and the band was all but defunct for a few years.
But they re-emerged and began playing shows again in 2006, with singer/guitarist William DuVall joining the band.
Cantrell said about that period, "It kind of grew into something a lot larger than we anticipated . . . To recreate ourselves without losing our identity and having the fans support us through that and have the quality of music come out like it did. Transitioning from the old lineup of the band and moving on, it was a lot. It's a career worth of changes in six, seven years. It's nice to have a second life and we're in the midst of that."
ALICE IN CHAINS has not toured since last year, but did recently play some shows in Chile and Brazil.
Professionally filmed video footage of ALICE IN CHAINS' entire November 12, 2011 concert at the Maquinaria Festival in Santiago, Chile can be seen below.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. Them Bones
02. Dam That River
03. Rain When I Die
04. Again
05. Check My Brain
06. It Ain't Like That
07. Your Decision
08. Got Me Wrong
09. We Die Young
10. Last of My Kind
11. Down In A Hole
12. Nutshell
13. Acid Bubble
14. Angry Chair
15. Man In The Box
Encore:
16. Rooster (with Duff McKagan)
17. No Excuses
18. Would?
ALICE IN CHAINS released "Black Gives Way To Blue" after a 14-year hiatus between full-length albums.
During that period, original singer Layne Staley died in 2002 and the band was all but defunct for a few years.
But they re-emerged and began playing shows again in 2006, with singer/guitarist William DuVall joining the band.
Cantrell said about that period, "It kind of grew into something a lot larger than we anticipated . . . To recreate ourselves without losing our identity and having the fans support us through that and have the quality of music come out like it did. Transitioning from the old lineup of the band and moving on, it was a lot. It's a career worth of changes in six, seven years. It's nice to have a second life and we're in the midst of that."
ALICE IN CHAINS has not toured since last year, but did recently play some shows in Chile and Brazil.
Professionally filmed video footage of ALICE IN CHAINS' entire November 12, 2011 concert at the Maquinaria Festival in Santiago, Chile can be seen below.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. Them Bones
02. Dam That River
03. Rain When I Die
04. Again
05. Check My Brain
06. It Ain't Like That
07. Your Decision
08. Got Me Wrong
09. We Die Young
10. Last of My Kind
11. Down In A Hole
12. Nutshell
13. Acid Bubble
14. Angry Chair
15. Man In The Box
Encore:
16. Rooster (with Duff McKagan)
17. No Excuses
18. Would?
IN FLAMES, OPETH, ARCH ENEMY, GRAVEYARD and THE HAUNTED have been nominated for a P3 Guld award from Swedish radio station P3 in the "Best Rock/Metal Album Of The Year" category. The winners will be announced on January 21, 2012 during a live awards ceremony broadcast from the Lisebergshallen in Gothenburg, Sweden.
For first the first time in the eight-year history of the awards, it will be up to the public to cast their votes rather than industry professionals.
P3 Guld nominees in the "Best Rock/Metal Album of the Year" category are as follows:
* ARCH ENEMY - "Khaos Legions"
* GRAVEYARD - "Hisingen Blues"
* THE HAUNTED - "Unseen"
* IN FLAMES - "Sounds Of A Playground Fading"
* OPETH - "Heritage"
For first the first time in the eight-year history of the awards, it will be up to the public to cast their votes rather than industry professionals.
P3 Guld nominees in the "Best Rock/Metal Album of the Year" category are as follows:
* ARCH ENEMY - "Khaos Legions"
* GRAVEYARD - "Hisingen Blues"
* THE HAUNTED - "Unseen"
* IN FLAMES - "Sounds Of A Playground Fading"
* OPETH - "Heritage"
SOULFLY has set "Enslaved" as the title of its eighth album, due on March 13, 2012 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at Tallcat Studios in Phoenix, Arizona and was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, the seasoned knob twiddler behind some of the most notable bands in metal today, such as SHADOWS FALL, HATEBREED, THE RED CHORD and more. SOULFLY vocalist/guitarist Max Cavalera also shared production duties.
SOULFLY's current lineup features Max and guitar dynamo Marc Rizzo, with STATIC-X's Tony Campos taking up the bass. The lineup is rounded out by drummer David Kinkade (BORKNAGAR, ARSIS, MALEVOLENT CREATION), a new-school, extreme skinsman whose brutality behind the kit brings a new flavor to the band.
While many groups barely make it to a third album, SOULFLY is still going strong two decades deep. 2012 also marks the band's 15th anniversary of making a tribally-influenced metallic racket and what better way to celebrate than with a new record? The album will be released via longtime label Roadrunner, which has been SOULFLY's home for the course of its career. The label has also been Cavalera's home for the duration of his career, which began in the '80s as a member of SEPULTURA, who essentially rewrote the rules of heavy music when they arrived on the scene; Max continues to do the same today.
As is customary with SOULFLY, the band will introduce some new and unexpected elements into the mix, including a guest violinist. SOULFLY also collaborates with two metal veterans: Dez Fafara of DEVILDRIVER and Travis Ryan of CATTLE DECAPITATION. With Dez and Max sharing a longtime connection through the Roadrunner family, it was only a matter of time before Fafara guested on a SOULFLY album.
Cavalera wrote a song, "Revengeance", about his slain stepson Dana Wells, whose death was the catalyst for the creation of SOULFLY. He partners with his sons Igor and Richie on vocals, while his other son Zyon plays drums. It is the first time Max has performed with three of his sons.
The band tracked 14 songs, 11 of which will be on the record, with the other three being made available for the special edition.
Track titles are as follows:
* Resistance
* World Scum
* Intervention
* Gladiator
* Legions
* American Steel
* Redemption Of Man By God
* Treachery
* Plata O Plomo
* Revengeance
* Chains
* Slave
* Bastards
* Soulfly VIII
Travis Ryan — who was a replacement for SOULFLY's original choice, OCEANO's Adam Warren — recorded his portion of the vocals at Frick'in Studios in San Marcos, California with engineer Dan Frick.
Commented Ryan: "It's an honor to receive a call from someone you had pictures of on your wall as a kid asking you to be on a new album of theirs. I literally had a picture of Max [Cavalera, SOULFLY mainman] and Gloria [Max's wife and manager] holding [Gloria's son] Richie in her arms that I ripped out of a copy of Metal Maniacs on my wall when I was 15 or 16. Now they're asking for my artistic hand in one of their creations; [it] just doesn't get much more surreal than that. Very honored and the song is very 'death metal-ish' and completely crushes. Happy to be a part of it!"
Zeuss stated about Travis' contribution, "The vocals fucking rule!!!! Fits the song perfect… Very refreshing for me to hear these days."
SOULFLY's current lineup features Max and guitar dynamo Marc Rizzo, with STATIC-X's Tony Campos taking up the bass. The lineup is rounded out by drummer David Kinkade (BORKNAGAR, ARSIS, MALEVOLENT CREATION), a new-school, extreme skinsman whose brutality behind the kit brings a new flavor to the band.
While many groups barely make it to a third album, SOULFLY is still going strong two decades deep. 2012 also marks the band's 15th anniversary of making a tribally-influenced metallic racket and what better way to celebrate than with a new record? The album will be released via longtime label Roadrunner, which has been SOULFLY's home for the course of its career. The label has also been Cavalera's home for the duration of his career, which began in the '80s as a member of SEPULTURA, who essentially rewrote the rules of heavy music when they arrived on the scene; Max continues to do the same today.
As is customary with SOULFLY, the band will introduce some new and unexpected elements into the mix, including a guest violinist. SOULFLY also collaborates with two metal veterans: Dez Fafara of DEVILDRIVER and Travis Ryan of CATTLE DECAPITATION. With Dez and Max sharing a longtime connection through the Roadrunner family, it was only a matter of time before Fafara guested on a SOULFLY album.
Cavalera wrote a song, "Revengeance", about his slain stepson Dana Wells, whose death was the catalyst for the creation of SOULFLY. He partners with his sons Igor and Richie on vocals, while his other son Zyon plays drums. It is the first time Max has performed with three of his sons.
The band tracked 14 songs, 11 of which will be on the record, with the other three being made available for the special edition.
Track titles are as follows:
* Resistance
* World Scum
* Intervention
* Gladiator
* Legions
* American Steel
* Redemption Of Man By God
* Treachery
* Plata O Plomo
* Revengeance
* Chains
* Slave
* Bastards
* Soulfly VIII
Travis Ryan — who was a replacement for SOULFLY's original choice, OCEANO's Adam Warren — recorded his portion of the vocals at Frick'in Studios in San Marcos, California with engineer Dan Frick.
Commented Ryan: "It's an honor to receive a call from someone you had pictures of on your wall as a kid asking you to be on a new album of theirs. I literally had a picture of Max [Cavalera, SOULFLY mainman] and Gloria [Max's wife and manager] holding [Gloria's son] Richie in her arms that I ripped out of a copy of Metal Maniacs on my wall when I was 15 or 16. Now they're asking for my artistic hand in one of their creations; [it] just doesn't get much more surreal than that. Very honored and the song is very 'death metal-ish' and completely crushes. Happy to be a part of it!"
Zeuss stated about Travis' contribution, "The vocals fucking rule!!!! Fits the song perfect… Very refreshing for me to hear these days."
CIRCLE II CIRCLE, the band led by former SAVATAGE frontman Zak Stevens, has parted ways with guitarist Rollie Feldmann and drummer Johnny Osborn and has replaced them with Andy Lee and Jayson Moore, respectively.
Commented the group: "CIRCLE II CIRCLE would like to announce the return of guitarist Andy Lee to our full-time lineup after a leave-of-absence from touring this year. CIRCLE II CIRCLE is also announcing the addition of our new drummer Jayson Moore. Jayson shares quite the musical history with Zak Stevens while they were growing up and he performed alongside Zak in the drum line at Brookland-Cayce High School in West Columbia, South Carolina.
"The CIRCLE II CIRCLE lineup (Zak Stevens - vocals, Mitch Stewart - bass/vocals, Andy Lee - guitars/vocals, and Jayson Moore - drums) is ready to go and will be featured at all live shows going forward and on the new CIRCLE II CIRCLE album, 'Seasons Will Fall', to be released in spring/summer 2012.
"Consequently, this means the departures of guitarist Rollie Feldmann and drummer Johnny Osborn from the lineup.
"We want to wish Rollie and Johnny all the best in their future endeavors and successes and we thank them for all the hard work they put into CIRCLE II CIRCLE while they were with us. Onward...
"We currently have 12 songs for the new CD. All of the bass and drum tracks are complete and recording will resume after Christmas."
CIRCLE II CIRCLE has been confirmed for next year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 2-4, 2012 in Wacken, Germany. The group will be joined at the event by special guest guitarist Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) for a special performance of the classic 1997 SAVATAGE album "The Wake Of Magellan" (which featured both Stevens and Caffery) in its entirety.
CIRCLE II CIRCLE released its fifth album, entitled "Consequence Of Power", in September 2010 via AFM Records. The second concept effort for the band was recorded at Sweet Spot Studios and was described in a press release as "a melodic power metal album catering to all fans from the old SAVATAGE era to all CIRCLE II CIRCLE European fans and breaking new ground for an all new fan base in America."
Commented the group: "CIRCLE II CIRCLE would like to announce the return of guitarist Andy Lee to our full-time lineup after a leave-of-absence from touring this year. CIRCLE II CIRCLE is also announcing the addition of our new drummer Jayson Moore. Jayson shares quite the musical history with Zak Stevens while they were growing up and he performed alongside Zak in the drum line at Brookland-Cayce High School in West Columbia, South Carolina.
"The CIRCLE II CIRCLE lineup (Zak Stevens - vocals, Mitch Stewart - bass/vocals, Andy Lee - guitars/vocals, and Jayson Moore - drums) is ready to go and will be featured at all live shows going forward and on the new CIRCLE II CIRCLE album, 'Seasons Will Fall', to be released in spring/summer 2012.
"Consequently, this means the departures of guitarist Rollie Feldmann and drummer Johnny Osborn from the lineup.
"We want to wish Rollie and Johnny all the best in their future endeavors and successes and we thank them for all the hard work they put into CIRCLE II CIRCLE while they were with us. Onward...
"We currently have 12 songs for the new CD. All of the bass and drum tracks are complete and recording will resume after Christmas."
CIRCLE II CIRCLE has been confirmed for next year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 2-4, 2012 in Wacken, Germany. The group will be joined at the event by special guest guitarist Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) for a special performance of the classic 1997 SAVATAGE album "The Wake Of Magellan" (which featured both Stevens and Caffery) in its entirety.
CIRCLE II CIRCLE released its fifth album, entitled "Consequence Of Power", in September 2010 via AFM Records. The second concept effort for the band was recorded at Sweet Spot Studios and was described in a press release as "a melodic power metal album catering to all fans from the old SAVATAGE era to all CIRCLE II CIRCLE European fans and breaking new ground for an all new fan base in America."
Vocalist Randy Blythe of Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD says that he "loves reading the bashings" of his band's music on BLABBERMOUTH.NET because it helps him "sleep extra-soundly knowing we done good once again."
A new LAMB OF GOD track, "Ghost Walking", was made available for streaming earlier today and has received a mixed array of responses, with some fans praising the band for"sticking" to a tried-and-tested formula and others slamming the group for releasing a track that shows "zero evolution" since LAMB OF GOD's last album, 2009's "Wrath".
In a series of postings on his Twitter profile earlier today, Blythe spoke about the criticism his band has received on BLABBERMOUTH.NET, saying, "So I'm about to go on Blabbermouth (which I normally avoid religiously) to check out the comments on 'Ghost Walking'. I need a good laugh.
"I'm grinning ear to ear right now after reading Blabbermouth. They HATE IT, so I'll sleep extra-soundly knowing we done good once again.
"I normally don't read Blabbermouth because when somebody I know dies (unfortunately, this has happened a few times recently), or even when somebody tries to do something GOOD (charity, etc.), some fucking tool on there starts talking shit — 'Oh, too bad they didn't die sooner' or 'Fucking asshole should raise $ to buy a gun and shoot himself.' These are real things I have read about people I know. So I try to avoid that site like the plague. But a new track or LAMB OF GOD record comes out? I LOVE READING THE BASHINGS. It's unbelievably amusing to me.
"It is just so fucking funny to me, picturing these dudes hunched over their computers, tapping bravely away on their keyboards. I just love the imagery, for some reason. Plus I love raising critical bile, and if Blabbermouth is good for anything, it's a bunch of self-appointed music experts spewing forth a bunch of hateful bullshit! So now I've gotten my fill til the record comes out.
"Let the bashing begin!"
He continued, "Anyway, the Blabbermouth thing to me is really amusing as it pertains to ME AND MY BAND — I THRIVE on hatred. But it does bum me out when they say nasty shit about my friends or just humans trying to do something [with] their lives in general. Makes me wanna dish out knuckle sandwiches."
Blythe's remarks were followed by supportive tweets from several other musicians and associated music-industry figures, including Sebastian Bach (former SKID ROW lead singer), Jeremy Wagner (former BROKEN HOPE guitarist and author of "The Armageddon Chord" novel) and Rita Haney (longtime girlfriend of late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott).
Rita Haney (to Randy): "I know what ya mean. Dime and myself have taken quite a bashing there, too."
Randy (in response to Rita): "I know! It's unfucking real what people will say behind the safety of a computer. People speak ill of the dead, for fuck's sake."
Jeremy Wagner (to Randy): "The [Blabbermouth] douchebags who comment [with] 'virtual courage' are wasted loads. The shit I've read about my dead friends on there is pathetic."
Randy (in response to Jeremy): "Yes, it's fucking sickening, isn't it? [By the way], the term 'Broken Hope' is a lyric in 'Ghost Walking', and not by accident ;) SHOUT OUTS!"
Sebastian Bach (to Randy): "I dont give a fuck what is said about me, because I signed up [for] this shit. But when they go after the [ones] I love, I WANT TO KILL."
Randy (in response to Sebastian): "EXACTLY, bro. I know what I signed up for too, so I could care less what they say about ME — but fuck with my people? Grrrr..."
"Ghost Walking" comes off LMAB OF GOD's new album, "Resolution", which will be released in North America on January 24, 2012 via Epic Records (one day earlier internationally through Roadrunner Records). The CD was recorded at various studios in Virginia and New York with producer Josh Wilbur, who worked on the band's last effort, 2009's "Wrath".
"Resolution" will feature 14 songs and will come in a digipack with artwork by longtime art director Ken Adams.
The "Resolution" cover artwork can be seen below.
"Resolution" track listing:
01. Straight For The Sun
02. Desolation
03. Ghost Walking
04. Guilty
05. The Undertow
06. The Number Six
07. Barbarosa
08. Invictus
09. Cheated
10. Insurrection
11. Terminally Unique
12. To The End
13. Visitation
14. King Me
The "Ghost Walking" video will begin airing tomorrow (Tuesday, December 6) on VEVO and all other video outlets.
During its 2012 world tour, LAMB OF GOD, in connection with Epic Records and 914 Films, will shoot a feature film documenting fans and their personal stories of how they use the band's music to cope with their everyday lives.
"Wrath" sold around 68,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 2 (behind TAYLOR SWIFT's "Fearless") on The Billboard 200 chart.
LAMB OF GOD performed at the sixth edition of D-TOX Rockfest on June 17 in Montebello, Quebec, Canada. This marked the group's first and only 2011 appearance.
A new LAMB OF GOD track, "Ghost Walking", was made available for streaming earlier today and has received a mixed array of responses, with some fans praising the band for"sticking" to a tried-and-tested formula and others slamming the group for releasing a track that shows "zero evolution" since LAMB OF GOD's last album, 2009's "Wrath".
In a series of postings on his Twitter profile earlier today, Blythe spoke about the criticism his band has received on BLABBERMOUTH.NET, saying, "So I'm about to go on Blabbermouth (which I normally avoid religiously) to check out the comments on 'Ghost Walking'. I need a good laugh.
"I'm grinning ear to ear right now after reading Blabbermouth. They HATE IT, so I'll sleep extra-soundly knowing we done good once again.
"I normally don't read Blabbermouth because when somebody I know dies (unfortunately, this has happened a few times recently), or even when somebody tries to do something GOOD (charity, etc.), some fucking tool on there starts talking shit — 'Oh, too bad they didn't die sooner' or 'Fucking asshole should raise $ to buy a gun and shoot himself.' These are real things I have read about people I know. So I try to avoid that site like the plague. But a new track or LAMB OF GOD record comes out? I LOVE READING THE BASHINGS. It's unbelievably amusing to me.
"It is just so fucking funny to me, picturing these dudes hunched over their computers, tapping bravely away on their keyboards. I just love the imagery, for some reason. Plus I love raising critical bile, and if Blabbermouth is good for anything, it's a bunch of self-appointed music experts spewing forth a bunch of hateful bullshit! So now I've gotten my fill til the record comes out.
"Let the bashing begin!"
He continued, "Anyway, the Blabbermouth thing to me is really amusing as it pertains to ME AND MY BAND — I THRIVE on hatred. But it does bum me out when they say nasty shit about my friends or just humans trying to do something [with] their lives in general. Makes me wanna dish out knuckle sandwiches."
Blythe's remarks were followed by supportive tweets from several other musicians and associated music-industry figures, including Sebastian Bach (former SKID ROW lead singer), Jeremy Wagner (former BROKEN HOPE guitarist and author of "The Armageddon Chord" novel) and Rita Haney (longtime girlfriend of late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott).
Rita Haney (to Randy): "I know what ya mean. Dime and myself have taken quite a bashing there, too."
Randy (in response to Rita): "I know! It's unfucking real what people will say behind the safety of a computer. People speak ill of the dead, for fuck's sake."
Jeremy Wagner (to Randy): "The [Blabbermouth] douchebags who comment [with] 'virtual courage' are wasted loads. The shit I've read about my dead friends on there is pathetic."
Randy (in response to Jeremy): "Yes, it's fucking sickening, isn't it? [By the way], the term 'Broken Hope' is a lyric in 'Ghost Walking', and not by accident ;) SHOUT OUTS!"
Sebastian Bach (to Randy): "I dont give a fuck what is said about me, because I signed up [for] this shit. But when they go after the [ones] I love, I WANT TO KILL."
Randy (in response to Sebastian): "EXACTLY, bro. I know what I signed up for too, so I could care less what they say about ME — but fuck with my people? Grrrr..."
"Ghost Walking" comes off LMAB OF GOD's new album, "Resolution", which will be released in North America on January 24, 2012 via Epic Records (one day earlier internationally through Roadrunner Records). The CD was recorded at various studios in Virginia and New York with producer Josh Wilbur, who worked on the band's last effort, 2009's "Wrath".
"Resolution" will feature 14 songs and will come in a digipack with artwork by longtime art director Ken Adams.
The "Resolution" cover artwork can be seen below.
"Resolution" track listing:
01. Straight For The Sun
02. Desolation
03. Ghost Walking
04. Guilty
05. The Undertow
06. The Number Six
07. Barbarosa
08. Invictus
09. Cheated
10. Insurrection
11. Terminally Unique
12. To The End
13. Visitation
14. King Me
The "Ghost Walking" video will begin airing tomorrow (Tuesday, December 6) on VEVO and all other video outlets.
During its 2012 world tour, LAMB OF GOD, in connection with Epic Records and 914 Films, will shoot a feature film documenting fans and their personal stories of how they use the band's music to cope with their everyday lives.
"Wrath" sold around 68,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 2 (behind TAYLOR SWIFT's "Fearless") on The Billboard 200 chart.
LAMB OF GOD performed at the sixth edition of D-TOX Rockfest on June 17 in Montebello, Quebec, Canada. This marked the group's first and only 2011 appearance.
Bruce Kulick (KISS, UNION, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD), Uli Jon Roth (SCORPIONS), Richie Kotzen (POISON, MR. BIG) and Tony Macalpine will perform at the NAMM Jam 2012, set to take place Saturday, January 21 at the Key Club in West Hollywood, California.
Tickets are $18 in advance and $23 on the day of the show.
This is an 18-and-over event.
For more information, visit KeyClub.com.
Tickets are $18 in advance and $23 on the day of the show.
This is an 18-and-over event.
For more information, visit KeyClub.com.
Trivium optimizes what makes a metal band today. They have the songs, the massive ability and the appeal and now they have In Waves, a metal master stroke for the ages. Recently Corey Beaulieu took the time to sit down with Metal Exiles to make you the fan aware of what has made In Waves so great.
An interview with Corey Beaulieu of Trivium.
By Jeffrey Easton
Metal Exiles: When you sat down to write In Waves, you had several ways to lean like with Shogun, The Crusade and you found a way to combine all three. Is this where you guys are at right now in knowing what you want?
Corey Beaulieu: In writing the record we wanted to make sure everything was cohesive and flowed really well. We did not want an oddball song in there, just wanted the record to flow together. We wrote a lot of stuff and if it did not fit the overall vibe of the record we dropped it and keep writing. A lot of stuff came easily to us and there is a lot of variety within the songs like all singing and all screaming and within one sentence a morph of the two. I think we touched upon everything that we do well in the band and did something different.
Metal Exiles: What do you think is the strongest point of the band?
Corey: We love heavy and melodic stuff and we take everything we like about music and incorporate it into our sound. Entwining the brutality and melodic stuff within the same song and making it fit together is how we want our music to sound. The harmony guitar underneath the vocals is one of our trademarks as well as a guitar melody going along with the vocals as well which is the Iron Maiden influence in us, not a lot of stand along guitar parts. When we did Ascendancy there were two guitar players in the band for the first time so everything just became natural with guitar harmonies.
Metal Exiles: How did you write the album from the guitars point of view?
Corey: We did not want to be technical for the sake of being technical on this album, we wanted to write fun cool riffs that made an impact. We thought that writing straight to the point, simpler songs would impact the listener on first listen instead having to listen to it several times for the song to grasp the listener. After doing the last album where you had long songs and more technical parts we felt like it would be better to not have to play at your full technical ability all the time. We thought we would just put the technical stuff in there where it needs to be, where it counts.
Metal Exiles: Do you think trying to be over technical in the past lost some fans?
Corey: I think with Shogun overtime people came to think that as our best album and the fans that we have that are musicians appreciate that record but not all of our fans are musicians. A lot of fans say that Ascendancy is their fav album and where as there are technical parts that album is more straight forward; it was driven on the songs so when you do too much sometimes people just do not get it. Someone might think a song is amazing where as someone might just hear a bunch of mumbo jumbo. Writing songs that can catch people is the focus and writing great songs makes a career as it is not about showing off an soloing all over the place.
Metal Exiles: It is the songs that keep a career going, not a solo. There have been hundreds of shred records released and very remember them but everybody remembers a great song.
Corey: Metallica did all the long technical stuff and they became very popular doing it but when they put out the black album with a song like Enter Sandman they became a global powerhouse because a song like Enter Sandman can reach a normal fan listening to rock music but not the thrash stuff.
Metal Exiles: What were you guys tuned in and how did it affect how you wrote the album?
Corey: When we started writing we were playing in Drop D like we did on Ascendancy. On previous albums we were messing around with different tunings so with this record we wanted to write in just one tuning and that helped with keeping everything cohesive with the songs having the same tonality like they were all on the same album. So we started writing in Drop D but we got to a point with some of the notes Matt was trying to sing were a little to high where he was straining to get there so we tried a half step lower, Drop D Flat, which made the vocals better. When we played in that tuning it gave the songs a darker feel, it separated it from the other records, gave it its own character. The songs sounded good before but the half step down gave it a darker mood which fit the vibe we were going for.
Metal Exiles: In the past you guys have been compared to different bands. Do you think with In Waves this record puts you out there on your own?
Corey: When we wrote this album we wanted to put a stamp on our sound. With the previous albums we did a lot of experimenting, trying different things but with this album we had time to solidify who we are and what we sound like and taking the best parts of what we have done and blending it into what we did on this record it is us. It doesn't sound like anybody doing metal these days and for all the bands we have compared to there is nothing on this record sounds like them at all. I think we have finally nailed down what we do and learned to write songs that sound like Trivium.
Metal Exiles: Do you think this is your definitive album or has that yet to come out of you?
Corey: When we were writing this record we wanted it to be THE Trivium record but it is not up to us it is up to the listener to judge that but we think this is our best record. This was the first album that we wrote with Nick Augusto and with the touring and other experiences with Nick that we will have under our belts before the next album even better
Metal Exiles: This indeed was your first record with Nick, how did he fit in with the recording process?
Corey: It was great, skill wise he can play anything you throw at him. He can take an idea, digest it and play it on the spot. Writing the record was fast paced, he could keep up with us writing riffs on the spot. We had more time to work on this record which helped with having a new member in the writing process.
Metal Exiles: With all of the tours you have been given why did Roadrunner afford you so much time to work on this record?
Corey: We wrote and demoed for a few months and we were supposed to start recording in mid-September but the guy we wanted, Collin Richardson, was doing another record which was having delays itself so we did not start recording until January of the next year. The label wanted us to work with Collin on this record so we were in no rush and in hindsight it was good that we were delayed because we did a lot of stuff that was important for these songs and we were able to take them to the next step. If we had of recorded when we were supposed to I think the songs would not have sounded the way it does now.
Metal Exiles: You are using Jackson now. What brought you over to that company?
Corey: I played Jackson early in my career but Jackson was bought by Fender and Fender started running Jackson like they run fender so I was just a nobody starting out. So Matt and I had an opportunity to work with Dean where the wanted to work with us, build us guitars by our designs so it was great to learn those processes. We got to a point where we were not happy with Dean so we severed ties with them and Matt went right back to playing Gibson's so with me not being repped by anybody I just went back to playing my Jackson's. Jackson is great now, they have some amazing people who have built me some great guitars.
Metal Exiles: A few years ago I caught you guys on the Roadrunner Road Rage tour and you have outlasted the 3 bands you were touring with along with a score of other bands that have come and gone. What do you think attributes to your longevity?
Corey: I think it comes down to songs. We did the U.S. and Europe with that Roadrunner package and we came out with a lot of energy and a "take over the world" feel and with our record at the time we just wrote songs for impact. We toured our asses off and just played in front of as many people as possible and we were just lucky. I think what we did caught on with a lot of people and people just got into us. A lot of bands come and go and if you have 10 bands come there are always at least two or three that make the long haul with it and the rest just fade out, they just do not have that it factor to stand out. We are still on our way up, just taking baby steps to get to the next level.
In My opinion Trivium already have arrived. With In Waves they have made a progression that reminds me of the most seasoned of bands.
An interview with Corey Beaulieu of Trivium.
By Jeffrey Easton
Metal Exiles: When you sat down to write In Waves, you had several ways to lean like with Shogun, The Crusade and you found a way to combine all three. Is this where you guys are at right now in knowing what you want?
Corey Beaulieu: In writing the record we wanted to make sure everything was cohesive and flowed really well. We did not want an oddball song in there, just wanted the record to flow together. We wrote a lot of stuff and if it did not fit the overall vibe of the record we dropped it and keep writing. A lot of stuff came easily to us and there is a lot of variety within the songs like all singing and all screaming and within one sentence a morph of the two. I think we touched upon everything that we do well in the band and did something different.
Metal Exiles: What do you think is the strongest point of the band?
Corey: We love heavy and melodic stuff and we take everything we like about music and incorporate it into our sound. Entwining the brutality and melodic stuff within the same song and making it fit together is how we want our music to sound. The harmony guitar underneath the vocals is one of our trademarks as well as a guitar melody going along with the vocals as well which is the Iron Maiden influence in us, not a lot of stand along guitar parts. When we did Ascendancy there were two guitar players in the band for the first time so everything just became natural with guitar harmonies.
Metal Exiles: How did you write the album from the guitars point of view?
Corey: We did not want to be technical for the sake of being technical on this album, we wanted to write fun cool riffs that made an impact. We thought that writing straight to the point, simpler songs would impact the listener on first listen instead having to listen to it several times for the song to grasp the listener. After doing the last album where you had long songs and more technical parts we felt like it would be better to not have to play at your full technical ability all the time. We thought we would just put the technical stuff in there where it needs to be, where it counts.
Metal Exiles: Do you think trying to be over technical in the past lost some fans?
Corey: I think with Shogun overtime people came to think that as our best album and the fans that we have that are musicians appreciate that record but not all of our fans are musicians. A lot of fans say that Ascendancy is their fav album and where as there are technical parts that album is more straight forward; it was driven on the songs so when you do too much sometimes people just do not get it. Someone might think a song is amazing where as someone might just hear a bunch of mumbo jumbo. Writing songs that can catch people is the focus and writing great songs makes a career as it is not about showing off an soloing all over the place.
Metal Exiles: It is the songs that keep a career going, not a solo. There have been hundreds of shred records released and very remember them but everybody remembers a great song.
Corey: Metallica did all the long technical stuff and they became very popular doing it but when they put out the black album with a song like Enter Sandman they became a global powerhouse because a song like Enter Sandman can reach a normal fan listening to rock music but not the thrash stuff.
Metal Exiles: What were you guys tuned in and how did it affect how you wrote the album?
Corey: When we started writing we were playing in Drop D like we did on Ascendancy. On previous albums we were messing around with different tunings so with this record we wanted to write in just one tuning and that helped with keeping everything cohesive with the songs having the same tonality like they were all on the same album. So we started writing in Drop D but we got to a point with some of the notes Matt was trying to sing were a little to high where he was straining to get there so we tried a half step lower, Drop D Flat, which made the vocals better. When we played in that tuning it gave the songs a darker feel, it separated it from the other records, gave it its own character. The songs sounded good before but the half step down gave it a darker mood which fit the vibe we were going for.
Metal Exiles: In the past you guys have been compared to different bands. Do you think with In Waves this record puts you out there on your own?
Corey: When we wrote this album we wanted to put a stamp on our sound. With the previous albums we did a lot of experimenting, trying different things but with this album we had time to solidify who we are and what we sound like and taking the best parts of what we have done and blending it into what we did on this record it is us. It doesn't sound like anybody doing metal these days and for all the bands we have compared to there is nothing on this record sounds like them at all. I think we have finally nailed down what we do and learned to write songs that sound like Trivium.
Metal Exiles: Do you think this is your definitive album or has that yet to come out of you?
Corey: When we were writing this record we wanted it to be THE Trivium record but it is not up to us it is up to the listener to judge that but we think this is our best record. This was the first album that we wrote with Nick Augusto and with the touring and other experiences with Nick that we will have under our belts before the next album even better
Metal Exiles: This indeed was your first record with Nick, how did he fit in with the recording process?
Corey: It was great, skill wise he can play anything you throw at him. He can take an idea, digest it and play it on the spot. Writing the record was fast paced, he could keep up with us writing riffs on the spot. We had more time to work on this record which helped with having a new member in the writing process.
Metal Exiles: With all of the tours you have been given why did Roadrunner afford you so much time to work on this record?
Corey: We wrote and demoed for a few months and we were supposed to start recording in mid-September but the guy we wanted, Collin Richardson, was doing another record which was having delays itself so we did not start recording until January of the next year. The label wanted us to work with Collin on this record so we were in no rush and in hindsight it was good that we were delayed because we did a lot of stuff that was important for these songs and we were able to take them to the next step. If we had of recorded when we were supposed to I think the songs would not have sounded the way it does now.
Metal Exiles: You are using Jackson now. What brought you over to that company?
Corey: I played Jackson early in my career but Jackson was bought by Fender and Fender started running Jackson like they run fender so I was just a nobody starting out. So Matt and I had an opportunity to work with Dean where the wanted to work with us, build us guitars by our designs so it was great to learn those processes. We got to a point where we were not happy with Dean so we severed ties with them and Matt went right back to playing Gibson's so with me not being repped by anybody I just went back to playing my Jackson's. Jackson is great now, they have some amazing people who have built me some great guitars.
Metal Exiles: A few years ago I caught you guys on the Roadrunner Road Rage tour and you have outlasted the 3 bands you were touring with along with a score of other bands that have come and gone. What do you think attributes to your longevity?
Corey: I think it comes down to songs. We did the U.S. and Europe with that Roadrunner package and we came out with a lot of energy and a "take over the world" feel and with our record at the time we just wrote songs for impact. We toured our asses off and just played in front of as many people as possible and we were just lucky. I think what we did caught on with a lot of people and people just got into us. A lot of bands come and go and if you have 10 bands come there are always at least two or three that make the long haul with it and the rest just fade out, they just do not have that it factor to stand out. We are still on our way up, just taking baby steps to get to the next level.
In My opinion Trivium already have arrived. With In Waves they have made a progression that reminds me of the most seasoned of bands.
As one of the biggest up-and-coming bands in the nation, Five Finger Death Punch is going full-throttle while trying to establish themselves as a legitimate force in the world of heavy metal. Since their inception in 2005, the gang has toured all over the globe, including March 2010's trip to Iraq to play roughly a dozen shows in front of the U.S. troops.
Coming into 2011, Five Finger Death Punch had released two albums: 2007's The Way Of The Fist and 2009's War Is The Answer. While both managed to achieve gold status, the band is hoping their brand new release, American Capitalist, does even better. And with American Capitalist launching to number three on the Billboard charts after its first week of sales, you can bet the house that it will certainly eclipse its predecessors.
Five Finger Death Punch will be making some stops in the Tri-State area as part of their Share The Welt tour. You can catch them along with Hatebreed and All That Remains on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at the Best Buy Theater in NYC, Saturday, Nov. 26 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes Barre, PA, and at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ, on Sunday, Nov. 27.
I recently spoke with guitarist Jason Hook to talk about the band's new album, the recent departure of bassist Matt Snell, and the band's future plans. The conversation is below.
I see that you're a few shows in on the Share The Welt tour. How has it been going so far?
The tour is rad McAwesome sauce, and you can print that! Tonight is a festival called Freakers Ball [Oct. 21] so the lineup is a little different. We have Anthrax and we have a costume contest so you can see that it's not really the full Share The Welt tour.
What can you tell me about the new album American Capitalist and how did you guys select the title of it?
We always sort of try to pick titles that are a little outside of the politically correct zone. Things that might make you scratch your head and go 'Geez, why are they saying that, what does that mean?' Certainly, War Is The Answer—we had all sorts of fun with that one. But we liked American Capitalist instantly.
The definition of capitalist is somebody with wealth, who is into investing and seeking business opportunities and things like that. And so we wanted to sort of clarify that our statement is more about the personality type, the thought process that drives those types of people to success.
People that are considered capitalists [such as] investors, people with money and things, they don't just turn a corner and fall into the success hole, it all starts off with a decision: I'm going to push myself to be that guy. I'm going to push myself to work harder so that I can have tons of money and buy things that make me comfortable.
So our statement has more to do with the personality type than just talking about blowing cash and having cash. It's more about pushing yourself to be that type of a thinker, you dig? And to us, that's everything. It's like, choose to push yourself and be successful instead of just accepting what you think life has handed you and therefore settling.
In what way do you think American Capitalist compares with War Is The Answer, if at all?
I look at it like this: It wasn't that long ago that we made War Is The Answer. The record came out the end of September 2009 and we started writing this record in December 2010. So on a personal level and on a musical level, we're pretty much the same people that did War Is The Answer. I've been telling people that if you liked War Is The Answer, you'll love American Capitalist. It could have easily been sides three and four of War Is The Answer, a natural addition to that record.
The album just came out last week and it's already at number three on the Billboard charts. What do you think this says about the band?
That we're pretty fuckin' lucky (laughs). We're keeping it real honest here. We've been developing skills our whole existence to be able to take one shot at this so it's not like it's a fluke. I mean, we've been studying hit songs, song structure, hooky elements of music, rhythms that transmit to the audience, I mean, all those things—how to perform, you know, everything. It was designed to work and the fact that people get it doesn't really surprise us.
That's kind of the way we wanted it to be and we are only doing what comes natural. Nothing is forced, contrived or fabricated, it's what we are and who we are and we're extremely picky. If there's a section in a song that doesn't seem to need to be there or it's not going to speak or it's the weakest part of the song, we just chop it out. We're brutal with each other to try and edit our music down to moments that only speak to the listener.
Have you paid attention to the reviews so far for the album or do you not really pay attention to that sort of thing?
It doesn't matter to me, all I care is that people get a feeling from it because if they don't get a feeling from your music than it will probably be on the downs. If critics get it, that's great. If they don't get it, that doesn't matter to me, but I have read that the reviews are pretty good.
It was announced in April that the original bassist for the band, Matt Snell, had departed. What was the transition like going from Matt to the current bassist, Chris Kael?
Seamless. I mean, Matt had a pretty limited role in the band. He wasn't part of the writing team so whatever was intact before he left was still intact after he left. The main requirement for a new member was a good musical ability, a good vocal ability and then beyond that, it was like, we hope we find someone who's healthy, as far as mentally healthy. Someone who's not a drug addict, not an alcoholic, not an angry person, you know what I mean?
[Those things] are always available to play around with but if you're really trying to be in business and do stuff long term, that stuff will interfere and so we certainly didn't want to bring somebody in new that had any of those elements as a problem already, obviously. I think that would be pretty much standard for any business person that was looking to hire somebody new or add somebody new. Why would you want to hand-pick somebody who's got problems, you know? It's a great story.
Shooting your latest video, "Under And Over It," must have been amazing.
Yes! For me, it's real simple. Everyone was trying to find a deep meaning like, "The video, was that a satire on the rap genre? What was that? Was that a parody of rich people?" No, it's us throwing a party with cameras rolling. I mean, it's pretty simple. It was a good time.
I saw in a recent interview that lead singer Ivan Moody said that he vomits before each show. Do you partake in any pre-show rituals?
Drink. Heavily drink. That's what I do. I drink three or four Monster Energys before I go on. He likes to throw up, I don't know why. I think it might be something like having a full stomach or having anything in your stomach prevents him from either bouncing around or singing properly or something, I don't know. He might do it because he likes to watch our faces when we're grossed out, it's hard to tell.
Seeing as how you guys are becoming pretty well-known worldwide, do you think 5FDP is received better in the U.S. or in other parts of the world?
I think the U.S. is pretty much dominating at this point. Our second biggest market is Canada and our third biggest market is the U.K. so we'll take it from wherever. There is something going on in the U.K. I mean, there's a lot of popularity and excitement around the band there for whatever reason. They seem to like it, so that's a great thing.
Do you have anything planned for after the U.S. tour is over?
I think the next thing we're talking about is going to Canada for a tour. You know, I'm Canadian and in the winter date they still like to come out and go to concerts where in other parts of the world, no one likes to be active during the winter so it's a good time to go and squeeze in the Canadian thing, you know?
Five Finger Death Punch will perform at the Best Buy Theater on Nov. 23, the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes Barre, PA, on Nov. 26 and the Starland Ballroom on Nov. 27. For more information, go to fivefingerdeathpunch.com.
Guitarist Matt DeVries has released the following statement to ThePRP.com regarding his decision to leave Cleveland metallers CHIMAIRA:
"I wanted take a moment away from the road and personally reach out to each and every one of you to reflect on my recent decision to leave CHIMAIRA.
"I've been with CHIMAIRA for over 10 years now, and in that period of time, I've had the chance to achieve a number of goals I set for myself early in life establishing myself as a musician, finding my own style and developing it within a band, touring every corner of the world, and connecting with people from all walks of life. I'm fortunate that my skills as a guitar player and musician have afforded me the opportunities to reach those goals.
"Over the past year, I looked closely at what drove me, and asked myself where I wanted to go as both an artist and as a person. What motivated me as a kid from Cleveland wasn't necessarily the same thing that now drives me today as a man with a family. I realized that as much as CHIMAIRA had defined my past decade and made me who I am today, it was time to explore my next decade of music, and grow into the person I need to be. For that reason, I have decided to leave CHIMAIRA.
"It goes without saying that CHIMAIRA has some of the best fans in the world, and I'd like to thank each and every one of you out there who has ever supported us. Every show, every photograph, every backstage meet-and-greet, every truck stop, every scorching hot day on a summer festival, and every cold night out by the bus I will never forget you. You have inspired me, driven me, and taught me humility through your own personal experiences and words in ways I never thought possible. I am forever in debt to you. Thank you.
"To my brothers in CHIMAIRA both past and present, both band and road crew thank you for your support, your desire to go for it in the face of adversity, and most of all, your passion to pursue a dream together. To my sponsors ESP guitars, Peavey, In Tune guitar picks, EMG pickups, ISP technologies, Keetch clothing, Scorpion cases, Guitar-Cable.com, Dean Markley strings, Jagermeister Music we've had some great years together, and I'm looking forward to many more writing great music with you behind me. The Matt DeVries rocket has only just taken off!
"Music's in my blood, it's who I am, and it's my life. You might wonder if my departure from CHIMAIRA will change that, and my answer is simple no way. Planning for 2012 is already underway! For starters, I'm looking forward to the opportunities within SIX FEET UNDER, and seeing what potential lies ahead. I'm also very excited about the possibility of providing instruction to other guitar players through online educational platforms, and am currently in talks with JamPlay to make that happen. I'm also a big believer in the next generation of social media, and am committed to connecting with those interested in working with me or wanting to follow me. To help me do that, I will be launching a massive online campaign in 2012, complete with a new website, significant Facebook presence, revitalized Twitter feed, and fresh YouTube content all with a surprise in mind.
"Finally, I'm thrilled at the possibility of writing new music for organizations that I have long been interested in, and also at working the daily grind in two new ground-floor startups that I'm developing with those close to me. The music industry of tomorrow will merge technology with music, and it will flourish only by developing younger artists in a unique way that sits outside traditional thinking. I'm proud to be part of that movement in 2012.
"If you get a chance to see me on this final tour run with CHIMAIRA, please feel free to stop by and say hi. It's a great tour with a great lineup, and I'm having a blast talking with friends and fans alike on my final run.
"2012 is gonna be a great year. Let's make it happen together!"
Matt DeVries and fellow CHIMAIRA guitarist Rob Arnold will be leaving the band at the end of 2011 Vocalist Mark Hunter says, "We understand that life invades art, everything runs its course, and we have to take different paths. We respect their decision and wish them only the best. We made heavy metal history together and that is all that matters at the end of the day. 'Chimaira Christmas 12' will be their last show, and we've been preparing to make it one that you'll never forget."
CHIMAIRA's new album, "The Age Of Hell", sold more than 7,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 54 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "The Infection", opened with 15,000 units back in April 2009 to land at No. 30. This figure was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by CHIMAIRA's 2007 album, "Resurrection", which shifted 16,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 42.
"The Age Of Hell" was released in the U.S. on August 16 via eOne Music; in Germany on August 26; and in the United Kingdom, Australia and the rest of Europe on August 29 through Long Branch Records.
"I wanted take a moment away from the road and personally reach out to each and every one of you to reflect on my recent decision to leave CHIMAIRA.
"I've been with CHIMAIRA for over 10 years now, and in that period of time, I've had the chance to achieve a number of goals I set for myself early in life establishing myself as a musician, finding my own style and developing it within a band, touring every corner of the world, and connecting with people from all walks of life. I'm fortunate that my skills as a guitar player and musician have afforded me the opportunities to reach those goals.
"Over the past year, I looked closely at what drove me, and asked myself where I wanted to go as both an artist and as a person. What motivated me as a kid from Cleveland wasn't necessarily the same thing that now drives me today as a man with a family. I realized that as much as CHIMAIRA had defined my past decade and made me who I am today, it was time to explore my next decade of music, and grow into the person I need to be. For that reason, I have decided to leave CHIMAIRA.
"It goes without saying that CHIMAIRA has some of the best fans in the world, and I'd like to thank each and every one of you out there who has ever supported us. Every show, every photograph, every backstage meet-and-greet, every truck stop, every scorching hot day on a summer festival, and every cold night out by the bus I will never forget you. You have inspired me, driven me, and taught me humility through your own personal experiences and words in ways I never thought possible. I am forever in debt to you. Thank you.
"To my brothers in CHIMAIRA both past and present, both band and road crew thank you for your support, your desire to go for it in the face of adversity, and most of all, your passion to pursue a dream together. To my sponsors ESP guitars, Peavey, In Tune guitar picks, EMG pickups, ISP technologies, Keetch clothing, Scorpion cases, Guitar-Cable.com, Dean Markley strings, Jagermeister Music we've had some great years together, and I'm looking forward to many more writing great music with you behind me. The Matt DeVries rocket has only just taken off!
"Music's in my blood, it's who I am, and it's my life. You might wonder if my departure from CHIMAIRA will change that, and my answer is simple no way. Planning for 2012 is already underway! For starters, I'm looking forward to the opportunities within SIX FEET UNDER, and seeing what potential lies ahead. I'm also very excited about the possibility of providing instruction to other guitar players through online educational platforms, and am currently in talks with JamPlay to make that happen. I'm also a big believer in the next generation of social media, and am committed to connecting with those interested in working with me or wanting to follow me. To help me do that, I will be launching a massive online campaign in 2012, complete with a new website, significant Facebook presence, revitalized Twitter feed, and fresh YouTube content all with a surprise in mind.
"Finally, I'm thrilled at the possibility of writing new music for organizations that I have long been interested in, and also at working the daily grind in two new ground-floor startups that I'm developing with those close to me. The music industry of tomorrow will merge technology with music, and it will flourish only by developing younger artists in a unique way that sits outside traditional thinking. I'm proud to be part of that movement in 2012.
"If you get a chance to see me on this final tour run with CHIMAIRA, please feel free to stop by and say hi. It's a great tour with a great lineup, and I'm having a blast talking with friends and fans alike on my final run.
"2012 is gonna be a great year. Let's make it happen together!"
Matt DeVries and fellow CHIMAIRA guitarist Rob Arnold will be leaving the band at the end of 2011 Vocalist Mark Hunter says, "We understand that life invades art, everything runs its course, and we have to take different paths. We respect their decision and wish them only the best. We made heavy metal history together and that is all that matters at the end of the day. 'Chimaira Christmas 12' will be their last show, and we've been preparing to make it one that you'll never forget."
CHIMAIRA's new album, "The Age Of Hell", sold more than 7,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 54 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "The Infection", opened with 15,000 units back in April 2009 to land at No. 30. This figure was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by CHIMAIRA's 2007 album, "Resurrection", which shifted 16,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 42.
"The Age Of Hell" was released in the U.S. on August 16 via eOne Music; in Germany on August 26; and in the United Kingdom, Australia and the rest of Europe on August 29 through Long Branch Records.
The North American metal scene just got a lot heavier. The launch of Rock The Nation America celebrates a groundbreaking booking agency partnership between KATAKLYSM frontman Maurizio Iacono, his agent and Canadian metal promoter Stephan Mellul, and Century Media Records.
Rock The Nation America will be focused on bringing the best names in heavy metal to North American audiences, while maintaining a razor-sharp focus on emerging acts and artist development. Iacono will capitalize on his decade as frontman of the Canadian death metal band KATAKLYSM as he heads the agency's artist relations efforts, while Mellul will build on his history as one of Canada's premier metal promoters and agents. Based out of the same Los Angeles offices that the Century Media and Nuclear Blast record labels call home, the pair will be supported by Century Media for all marketing and administrative needs.
"I spent the last 15 years touring and learning what being on the road is all about, and my partner, Stephan Mellul, has been booking shows for 18 years — together, we decided to bring something different to the industry," says Iacono. "We decided to create an agency that will help new artists develop, as well as preserve and grow the careers of established bands. I'm a soldier on the field, I understand the touring life, I still live it... and the fans deserve unselfish packages and lineups that are worth paying the ticket price. We thank Europe's premier agency, Rock The Nation, for joining forces."
"Rock The Nation going overseas was always a big wish of RTN Europe," says Stefan Hattinger, CEO of RTN Group Europe. "We found experienced and hard-working people in Maurizio and Steph who know the market and what the artists need, thus the right people to run Rock The Nation America."
At their launch, the Rock The Nation America roster contains more than two dozen acts spanning the extreme metal market, including HAMMERFALL, HYPOCRISY, KATAKLYSM, WINTERSUN and more. The agency's first tour will be Paganfest USA Tour 2012, a package featuring worldwide metal acts TURISAS (Finland), ALESTORM (Scotland), EX DEO (Rome), ARKONA (Russia) and HUNTRESS (USA).
"What really excites me about this agency is that it is a true metal organization," says Century Media founder Robert Kampf. "From metal agents, metal bookers and metal bands, straight to metal fans — when I heard of this I wanted nothing more than to be a part of it... Horns up!"
Visit Rock The Nation America online at www.rockthenationusa.com.
Rock The Nation America will be focused on bringing the best names in heavy metal to North American audiences, while maintaining a razor-sharp focus on emerging acts and artist development. Iacono will capitalize on his decade as frontman of the Canadian death metal band KATAKLYSM as he heads the agency's artist relations efforts, while Mellul will build on his history as one of Canada's premier metal promoters and agents. Based out of the same Los Angeles offices that the Century Media and Nuclear Blast record labels call home, the pair will be supported by Century Media for all marketing and administrative needs.
"I spent the last 15 years touring and learning what being on the road is all about, and my partner, Stephan Mellul, has been booking shows for 18 years — together, we decided to bring something different to the industry," says Iacono. "We decided to create an agency that will help new artists develop, as well as preserve and grow the careers of established bands. I'm a soldier on the field, I understand the touring life, I still live it... and the fans deserve unselfish packages and lineups that are worth paying the ticket price. We thank Europe's premier agency, Rock The Nation, for joining forces."
"Rock The Nation going overseas was always a big wish of RTN Europe," says Stefan Hattinger, CEO of RTN Group Europe. "We found experienced and hard-working people in Maurizio and Steph who know the market and what the artists need, thus the right people to run Rock The Nation America."
At their launch, the Rock The Nation America roster contains more than two dozen acts spanning the extreme metal market, including HAMMERFALL, HYPOCRISY, KATAKLYSM, WINTERSUN and more. The agency's first tour will be Paganfest USA Tour 2012, a package featuring worldwide metal acts TURISAS (Finland), ALESTORM (Scotland), EX DEO (Rome), ARKONA (Russia) and HUNTRESS (USA).
"What really excites me about this agency is that it is a true metal organization," says Century Media founder Robert Kampf. "From metal agents, metal bookers and metal bands, straight to metal fans — when I heard of this I wanted nothing more than to be a part of it... Horns up!"
Visit Rock The Nation America online at www.rockthenationusa.com.
X-UFO, the band featuring card-carrying UFO members Laurence Archer, Danny Peyronel and Clive Edwards, along with Rocky Newton from UFO spin-off MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, is about to release a new live album. Recorded in Hannover, Germany with producer Steve Mann, the effort includes "blistering" new recordings of UFO classics "Lights Out", "Only You Can Rock Me", "Rock Bottom", "Doctor Doctor" and more. The band is also busy writing material for a new studio CD, to be made available next year.
The X-UFO live album can be pre-ordered from Nigel Hart of Nitro Management at nigel.hart@bt.com.
X-UFO recently played well-received sets at both the Aero Rock Starz festival in Bulgaria and at the Hard Rock Hell festival in Ibiza as well as a sold-out show in Milan.
The X-UFO live album can be pre-ordered from Nigel Hart of Nitro Management at nigel.hart@bt.com.
X-UFO recently played well-received sets at both the Aero Rock Starz festival in Bulgaria and at the Hard Rock Hell festival in Ibiza as well as a sold-out show in Milan.
NEUROSIS' two landmark records, "Souls At Zero" (originally released in 1992) and "Enemy Of The Sun" (originally released in 1993), will be made available on LP for the first time in nearly two decades and for the first time ever in their full form on vinyl, on February 14, 2012 via Relapse Records. Both albums have been fully remastered and presented with newly expanded artwork.
The initial pressing for "Souls At Zero" will be 1,000 180-gram black 2XLPs and 1,000 180-gram grey marble 2XLPs and the initial pressing of "Enemy Of The Sun" will be 1,000 180-gram black 2XLPs and 1,000 180-gram red/black marble 2XLPs. Each album comes packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on style jacket with a custom finish and two printed inner sleeves.
The initial pressing for "Souls At Zero" will be 1,000 180-gram black 2XLPs and 1,000 180-gram grey marble 2XLPs and the initial pressing of "Enemy Of The Sun" will be 1,000 180-gram black 2XLPs and 1,000 180-gram red/black marble 2XLPs. Each album comes packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on style jacket with a custom finish and two printed inner sleeves.
Marseille, France-based female-fronted metalcore band ETHS has set "III" as the title of its third album, due on March 12, 2012 in North America (March 2 in Europe) via Season Of Mist.
Commented vocalist Candice Clot on her recording sessions: "Sensitivity, right tone, right grunt, breath, emotion, be exposed, introspection, re-do, re-do, tiredness, insomnia, re-do, feel emptiness, fall, get back up, get there, re-do, give everything, achieve the goal, just sing. The voice recordings can be such a pain but in the end the result is always worth it... This album kills."
ETHS has announced the first leg of its upcoming tour in support of "III". Joining the band on most of the dates inMarch, April and May 2012 will be fellow French metallers KELLS, who will release their new album, "Anachromie", on January 20.
As previously reported, ETHS was recently rejoined by the band's original drummer, Guillaume Dupré.
ETHS' sophomore album, "Tératologie", was released in France in October 2007 and was made available in other parts of Europe in April 2008 via Season of Mist. The band's sound is described in a press release as "dark and powerful metal with tortured atmospheres, led by charismatic female singer Candice Clot, who with her amazing voice sings, talks, whispers and growls."
Commented vocalist Candice Clot on her recording sessions: "Sensitivity, right tone, right grunt, breath, emotion, be exposed, introspection, re-do, re-do, tiredness, insomnia, re-do, feel emptiness, fall, get back up, get there, re-do, give everything, achieve the goal, just sing. The voice recordings can be such a pain but in the end the result is always worth it... This album kills."
ETHS has announced the first leg of its upcoming tour in support of "III". Joining the band on most of the dates inMarch, April and May 2012 will be fellow French metallers KELLS, who will release their new album, "Anachromie", on January 20.
As previously reported, ETHS was recently rejoined by the band's original drummer, Guillaume Dupré.
ETHS' sophomore album, "Tératologie", was released in France in October 2007 and was made available in other parts of Europe in April 2008 via Season of Mist. The band's sound is described in a press release as "dark and powerful metal with tortured atmospheres, led by charismatic female singer Candice Clot, who with her amazing voice sings, talks, whispers and growls."
GWAR and the family of Cory Smoot have released a statement regarding the official cause of the guitarist's death. Cory had played the character of Flattus Maximus for over ten years, and was discovered dead on the band's tour bus on November 3 of this year. He was 34 years old.
Stated North Dakota coroner William Masselo, MD: "We have finalized the autopsy report and death certificate. I have determined that Cory died from a coronary artery thrombosis brought about by his pre-existing coronary artery disease."
The band, which will continue as a four-piece until the current tour schedule is complete, has officially retired the character of Flattus Maximus, and has announced no plans regarding a new GWAR-tarist.
Metal Blade and GWAR have since set up the Smoot Family Foundation to raise funds for Cory's wife, Jaime, and their unborn child. Donations can be made here.
MENSREA, CANNABIS CORPSE and DAVE BROCKIE EXPERIENCE are among the artists who will perform at the upcoming Cory Smoot memorial concert, set to take place on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at The Canal Club in Richmond, Virginia.
For more information, go to this location.
Smoot joined GWAR in 2002 and first appeared on the band's 2004 album "War Party". He was the fifth guitarist to play the character of Flattus Maximus, known by his red face, white dreadlocks, dinosaur-head shoulder pads and reptile feet.
Born August 25, 1977, Smoot previously played in metal bands MISGUIDED and LOCUS FACTOR and continued to play with MENSREA, in addition to establishing his own solo project, THE CORY SMOOT EXPERIMENT.
Stated North Dakota coroner William Masselo, MD: "We have finalized the autopsy report and death certificate. I have determined that Cory died from a coronary artery thrombosis brought about by his pre-existing coronary artery disease."
The band, which will continue as a four-piece until the current tour schedule is complete, has officially retired the character of Flattus Maximus, and has announced no plans regarding a new GWAR-tarist.
Metal Blade and GWAR have since set up the Smoot Family Foundation to raise funds for Cory's wife, Jaime, and their unborn child. Donations can be made here.
MENSREA, CANNABIS CORPSE and DAVE BROCKIE EXPERIENCE are among the artists who will perform at the upcoming Cory Smoot memorial concert, set to take place on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at The Canal Club in Richmond, Virginia.
For more information, go to this location.
Smoot joined GWAR in 2002 and first appeared on the band's 2004 album "War Party". He was the fifth guitarist to play the character of Flattus Maximus, known by his red face, white dreadlocks, dinosaur-head shoulder pads and reptile feet.
Born August 25, 1977, Smoot previously played in metal bands MISGUIDED and LOCUS FACTOR and continued to play with MENSREA, in addition to establishing his own solo project, THE CORY SMOOT EXPERIMENT.
Dutch female-fronted symphonic rock outfit DELAIN has set "We Are The Others" as the title of its third studio album, due next spring via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at various studios in Stockholm, Sweden with producer Jacob Hellner, renowned for his work with RAMMSTEIN and APOCALYPTICA, alongside the Epicentre team of Fredrik Thomander and Anders Wikström (SCORPIONS, BACKYARD BABIES).
In other news, DELAIN will embark on a European headlining tour in April with support from TRILLIUM, the metal project masterminded by American singer/songwriter Amanda Somerville.
The dates are as follows:
Apr. 26 - GER - Hamburg - Grünspan
Apr. 27 - GER - Berlin - Lido
Apr. 28 - POL - Warsaw - Progresja
Apr. 29 - CZE - Zlin - Masters Of Rock Cafe
May 02 - HUN - Budapest - Club 202
May 03 - AUT - Wien - Arena
May 04 - GER - München - Backstage
May 05 - ITA - Romagnano Sesia - Rock 'n' Roll Arena
May 06 - SWI - Pratteln - Z7
May 08 - GER - Köln - Gloria
May 09 - BEL - Vosselaar - Biebob
May 10 - GER - Karlsruhe - Substage
May 11 - FRA - Paris - Alhambra
May 12 - GBR - Birmingham - HMV Institute 2
May 13 - GBR - Sheffield - Corporation
May 15 - GBR - Manchester - O2 Academy
May 16 - GBR - London – Koko
DELAIN in April announced the addition of guitarist Timo Somers to the group's ranks.
The band was last year joined by bassist Otto "The Baron" Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (DETONATION).
DELAIN's second album, "April Rain", was released in North America on June 30, 2009 via Sensory Records (with U.S. distribution through Ryko and Canadian distribution through Sonic Unyon). The North American version of the album features a bonus track — "Come Closer" — which was previously only available on the limited-edition digipack version of the LP.
"April Rain" benefitted from the return of NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala who provided male vocals on two tracks, as well as world-renowned cellist Maria Ahn.
In other news, DELAIN will embark on a European headlining tour in April with support from TRILLIUM, the metal project masterminded by American singer/songwriter Amanda Somerville.
The dates are as follows:
Apr. 26 - GER - Hamburg - Grünspan
Apr. 27 - GER - Berlin - Lido
Apr. 28 - POL - Warsaw - Progresja
Apr. 29 - CZE - Zlin - Masters Of Rock Cafe
May 02 - HUN - Budapest - Club 202
May 03 - AUT - Wien - Arena
May 04 - GER - München - Backstage
May 05 - ITA - Romagnano Sesia - Rock 'n' Roll Arena
May 06 - SWI - Pratteln - Z7
May 08 - GER - Köln - Gloria
May 09 - BEL - Vosselaar - Biebob
May 10 - GER - Karlsruhe - Substage
May 11 - FRA - Paris - Alhambra
May 12 - GBR - Birmingham - HMV Institute 2
May 13 - GBR - Sheffield - Corporation
May 15 - GBR - Manchester - O2 Academy
May 16 - GBR - London – Koko
DELAIN in April announced the addition of guitarist Timo Somers to the group's ranks.
The band was last year joined by bassist Otto "The Baron" Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (DETONATION).
DELAIN's second album, "April Rain", was released in North America on June 30, 2009 via Sensory Records (with U.S. distribution through Ryko and Canadian distribution through Sonic Unyon). The North American version of the album features a bonus track — "Come Closer" — which was previously only available on the limited-edition digipack version of the LP.
"April Rain" benefitted from the return of NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala who provided male vocals on two tracks, as well as world-renowned cellist Maria Ahn.
Former SKID ROW and SAIGON KICK drummer Phil Varone has been nominated for two AVN Awards in the categories of "Best Celebrity Sex Tape" and "Best Overall Marketing Campaign" for his Vivid Entertainment movie, "Phil Varone's Secret Sex Stash".
The 29th annual AVN Awards, hosted by Bree Olsen and Sunny Leone, will be held January 21, 2012 inside The Joint at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Phil Varone, the rock 'n' roll drummer who claims he's had sex with over 3,000 women, shows us his XXX style in "Phil Varone's Secret Sex Stash".
The two-disc CD set of the Vivid-Celeb imprint is available in stores nationwide.
"Phil Varone's Secret Sex Stash" takes the viewer inside the raucous sex life of the drummer for SAIGON KICK, SKID ROW and PRUNELLA SCALES. "Granted, it's been pretty easy for me to meet many groupies along the way," says Varone, "but I still feel a charge each time with each new girl. It's a very personal, very explicit experience and never gets old," he added. "This was the first time for me with the incredible five girls in the movie and I loved every minute I had with each of them."
"Sex has been the defining element in my life and both the movie and my website document my continuing extraordinary adventures," says Varone, who notes that viewers of the movie online will see bonus footage and the site will be updated monthly with more scenes.
The movie also reflects Varone's all-encompassing attitude toward sex. "I believe everyone should have sex with as many partners as possible, in as many ways as possible," he says, noting that he and his fiancé have an open relationship and enjoy sexual encounters with multiple lovers.
Over the years Varone has been branded as a sex addict and has appeared on VH1's "Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew" show. "They've got an addiction claim for everything you can do, but I never considered myself a sex addict because sex never screwed up the rest of my life or my ability to function at a high level," Varone says.
Varone has appeared on many TV shows, including "Miami Ink", "Californication", "NUMB3RS", "Oprah", "The Tyra Banks Show", "The Today Show" and many others.
Phil last fall responded to ex-SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach's claim that Varone's decision to pose nude for the cover of the December 2010 issue of Playgirl magazine is "further proof that the name 'SKID ROW' has completely lost all credibility, cool, accuracy and is now devoid of all meaning in every way." Varone told the New York Post, "I'm grateful and proud of my time in SKID ROW and sorry [Sebastian] feels that way." Playgirl representative Daniel Nardicio defended Varone: "This coming from a man [Bach] who preceded David Hasselhoff in 'Jekyll & Hyde' on Broadway? Now that's the epitome of uncool."
Varone joined SKID ROW in 2000 — about four years after Bach parted ways with the group.
The 29th annual AVN Awards, hosted by Bree Olsen and Sunny Leone, will be held January 21, 2012 inside The Joint at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Phil Varone, the rock 'n' roll drummer who claims he's had sex with over 3,000 women, shows us his XXX style in "Phil Varone's Secret Sex Stash".
The two-disc CD set of the Vivid-Celeb imprint is available in stores nationwide.
"Phil Varone's Secret Sex Stash" takes the viewer inside the raucous sex life of the drummer for SAIGON KICK, SKID ROW and PRUNELLA SCALES. "Granted, it's been pretty easy for me to meet many groupies along the way," says Varone, "but I still feel a charge each time with each new girl. It's a very personal, very explicit experience and never gets old," he added. "This was the first time for me with the incredible five girls in the movie and I loved every minute I had with each of them."
"Sex has been the defining element in my life and both the movie and my website document my continuing extraordinary adventures," says Varone, who notes that viewers of the movie online will see bonus footage and the site will be updated monthly with more scenes.
The movie also reflects Varone's all-encompassing attitude toward sex. "I believe everyone should have sex with as many partners as possible, in as many ways as possible," he says, noting that he and his fiancé have an open relationship and enjoy sexual encounters with multiple lovers.
Over the years Varone has been branded as a sex addict and has appeared on VH1's "Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew" show. "They've got an addiction claim for everything you can do, but I never considered myself a sex addict because sex never screwed up the rest of my life or my ability to function at a high level," Varone says.
Varone has appeared on many TV shows, including "Miami Ink", "Californication", "NUMB3RS", "Oprah", "The Tyra Banks Show", "The Today Show" and many others.
Phil last fall responded to ex-SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach's claim that Varone's decision to pose nude for the cover of the December 2010 issue of Playgirl magazine is "further proof that the name 'SKID ROW' has completely lost all credibility, cool, accuracy and is now devoid of all meaning in every way." Varone told the New York Post, "I'm grateful and proud of my time in SKID ROW and sorry [Sebastian] feels that way." Playgirl representative Daniel Nardicio defended Varone: "This coming from a man [Bach] who preceded David Hasselhoff in 'Jekyll & Hyde' on Broadway? Now that's the epitome of uncool."
Varone joined SKID ROW in 2000 — about four years after Bach parted ways with the group.
Florida-based death metallers SIX FEET UNDER have demoed 26 songs for their forthcoming album, tentatively due in early 2012 via Metal Blade Records. According to singer Chris Barnes, "14 or 15" tracks will make the final cut for the follow-up to 2008's "Death Rituals", which will mark the recording debut of SIX FEET UNDER's current lineup — guitarist Rob Arnold (CHIMAIRA), drummer Kevin Talley (DAATH, MISERY INDEX, CHIMAIRA), Barnes and guitarist Steve Swanson. CHIMAIRA guitarist Matt DeVries is handling bass duties on the road, but it not expected to become an official member of SIX FEET UNDER.
When asked about the musical direction of the material SIX FEET UNDER has written for its next album, Barnes said in a recent interview, "The music is gonna be, really, kind of an accelerated version of what we were doing before — faster-paced, more interesting time signatures as well as really wild choruses and some heavy vocals. I think people are really gonna be interested in this album. It's something different, but it's something the same. The feel of it is SIX FEET UNDER, but we've pushed it and added some horsepower."
Bassist Terry Butler and drummer Greg Gall announced their departures from SIX FEET UNDER in January. Butler has since joined OBITUARY as a permanent member.
Capital Chaos has uploaded quality multi-camera footage of SIX FEET UNDER performing the song "Feasting On The Blood Of The Insane" at the July 28, 2011 Sacramento, California stop of the "Summer Slaughter Tour". Check out the clip below.
SIX FEET UNDER's "Wake The Night! Live In Germany" DVD was released on January 31 in Europe (three days earlier in Germany) and February 1 in North America via Metal Blade Records. The set consists footage of the band's August 8, 2009 performance at the Party.San Open Air festival in Bad Berka, Germany. The gig was filmed by Roax Films with nine cameras and recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound, picture size 16:9.
SIX FEET UNDER's current touring lineup is:
* Rob Arnold (CHIMAIRA) - Guitar
* Kevin Talley (DAATH, MISERY INDEX, CHIMAIRA) - Drums
* Chris Barnes (CANNIBAL CORPSE) - Vocals
* Steve Swanson - Guitar
* Matt DeVries (CHIMAIRA) – Bass
When asked about the musical direction of the material SIX FEET UNDER has written for its next album, Barnes said in a recent interview, "The music is gonna be, really, kind of an accelerated version of what we were doing before — faster-paced, more interesting time signatures as well as really wild choruses and some heavy vocals. I think people are really gonna be interested in this album. It's something different, but it's something the same. The feel of it is SIX FEET UNDER, but we've pushed it and added some horsepower."
Bassist Terry Butler and drummer Greg Gall announced their departures from SIX FEET UNDER in January. Butler has since joined OBITUARY as a permanent member.
Capital Chaos has uploaded quality multi-camera footage of SIX FEET UNDER performing the song "Feasting On The Blood Of The Insane" at the July 28, 2011 Sacramento, California stop of the "Summer Slaughter Tour". Check out the clip below.
SIX FEET UNDER's "Wake The Night! Live In Germany" DVD was released on January 31 in Europe (three days earlier in Germany) and February 1 in North America via Metal Blade Records. The set consists footage of the band's August 8, 2009 performance at the Party.San Open Air festival in Bad Berka, Germany. The gig was filmed by Roax Films with nine cameras and recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound, picture size 16:9.
SIX FEET UNDER's current touring lineup is:
* Rob Arnold (CHIMAIRA) - Guitar
* Kevin Talley (DAATH, MISERY INDEX, CHIMAIRA) - Drums
* Chris Barnes (CANNIBAL CORPSE) - Vocals
* Steve Swanson - Guitar
* Matt DeVries (CHIMAIRA) – Bass
French tech-death metallers GOROD have begun mixing their new album with producer Frédéric "Elmobo" Motte for an early 2012 release.
Elmobo oversaw the recording of the drums, bass and vocals, while all guitars were tracked by GOROD's mastermind Matthieu Pascal at his Bud Records Studio.
The mix and the mastering are being done at Elmobo's Conkrete Studio by Pascal and Elmobo.
Mobo states: "The new album is fantastic, you guys should prepare yourselves for a blaaast!"
Check out a video update below.
GOROD will joining OBSCURA on for the "Omnivium Europe 2012" tour in March/April. Als appearing on the bill are SPAWN OF POSSESSION and EXIVIOUS.
GOROD's latest full-length album, "Process Of A New Decline", came out in 2009 via Listenable Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Leading Vision" marked the recording debut of GOROD's new drummer, Samuel Santiago.
GOROD's "Transcendence" EP came out this past spring. The disc included a 15-minute-long new song, one acoustic track, a CYNIC cover and two re-recorded songs from the band's first two albums.
Elmobo oversaw the recording of the drums, bass and vocals, while all guitars were tracked by GOROD's mastermind Matthieu Pascal at his Bud Records Studio.
The mix and the mastering are being done at Elmobo's Conkrete Studio by Pascal and Elmobo.
Mobo states: "The new album is fantastic, you guys should prepare yourselves for a blaaast!"
Check out a video update below.
GOROD will joining OBSCURA on for the "Omnivium Europe 2012" tour in March/April. Als appearing on the bill are SPAWN OF POSSESSION and EXIVIOUS.
GOROD's latest full-length album, "Process Of A New Decline", came out in 2009 via Listenable Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Leading Vision" marked the recording debut of GOROD's new drummer, Samuel Santiago.
GOROD's "Transcendence" EP came out this past spring. The disc included a 15-minute-long new song, one acoustic track, a CYNIC cover and two re-recorded songs from the band's first two albums.
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