Legendary rocker Alice Cooper will be on hand to sign autographs at this spring's edition of the Chiller Theatre toy, model and film expo in Parsippany, New Jersey. The three-day event will take place April 27-29 at Hilton Parsippany.
For more information, visit ChillerTheatre.com.
For more information, visit ChillerTheatre.com.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/chiller2012.jpg
According to Interbridge.com's "The Late Night TV Page", KISS will perform on the Tuesday, March 20 episode of ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (which will actually air the morning of Wednesday, March 21). Check your local listings for details.
KISS has completed recording its new album, "Monster", for a late spring release. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "It's A Long Way Down", "Back To The Stone Age", "Shout Mercy", "Out Of This World", "Wall Of Sound" and "Hell Or Hallelujah".
KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley recently admitted that he's never surprised by how deep KISS' fan devotion continues to run worldwide. "It really for me, resoundingly once again, I guess validates for me why this band exists," he told The Pulse Of Radio. "It's not a tepid recreation of the past, it's really an ageless beast that dominates at will. It's timeless."
KISS has completed recording its new album, "Monster", for a late spring release. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "It's A Long Way Down", "Back To The Stone Age", "Shout Mercy", "Out Of This World", "Wall Of Sound" and "Hell Or Hallelujah".
KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley recently admitted that he's never surprised by how deep KISS' fan devotion continues to run worldwide. "It really for me, resoundingly once again, I guess validates for me why this band exists," he told The Pulse Of Radio. "It's not a tepid recreation of the past, it's really an ageless beast that dominates at will. It's timeless."
New honorees, presenters, performers and special guests have been announced for the fourth annual Revolver Golden Gods, presented by Epiphone, America's only hard-rock and heavy-metal award show. The event will take place Wednesday, April 11, at Club Nokia in Downtown Los Angeles and is almost sold out. Fans without tickets can still watch the show though, as it will be broadcast live in its entirety on XBOX LIVE, as well as on the XBOX and Revolver Facebook pages. The award show live broadcast is the first ever of its kind and kicks off globally at 6 p.m. PDT/9 p.m. EDT.
The Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by XBOX LIVE, will go to prog-rock pioneers RUSH, who will release their highly anticipated 19th studio album, "Clockwork Angels", this year on Roadrunner Records. (Previous honorees include hard-rock and metal legends MÖTLEY CRÜE, Lemmy Kilmister of MOTÖRHEAD and Ozzy Osbourne.) The award will be presented by Jack Black and Kyle Gass of TENACIOUS D, whose new record, "Rize Of The Fenix", hits stores on May 15. RUSH's Neil Peart commented, "We are honored and delighted to receive this honor — especially because it will be presented by Jack and Kyle. Our 'lifetimes' are not over yet, and we dearly hope our 'achievements' are not either, so I suppose you could say that to us this is the 'So Far, So Good' award." Of presenting the award, Black commented, "RUSH was the most impressive band, musically, when I was just learning about rock. Weirdly, they got your body moving in interpretive-dancing ways, but it was still aggressive. Their stuff was just so complex and so tasty!"
Right before the official start of the show, PANTERA will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their landmark album, "Vulgar Display of Power", with the worldwide debut of their first music video in 12 years, for the previously unreleased song, "Piss", from the "Vulgar" recording sessions. PANTERA drummer Vinnie Paul commented, "'Piss' is the only unheard complete PANTERA track in existence. It was recorded at the same time as 'Vulgar Display Of Power' and it's 100 percent PANTERA with attitude and our signature groove! After mixing it, I can't believe it didn't make the record! So it's 2012 and 20 years later and new PANTERA music has been delivered. Cheers!"
Adding to the festivities, The 2012 Revolver Golden Gods Awards show will feature one-of-a-kind special performances and collaborations. Newly announced performers include KORN, who are nominated for multiple Golden Gods awards. "Revolver rocks! We are psyched to be nominated for Album of the Year — looking forward to rocking the house, too!" said KORN frontman Jonathan Davis. Heavy-metal heavyweights TRIVIUM have also been added to this jam-packed bill, as well as legendary guitar shredder Yngwie Malmsteen, who will open the show, playing "The Star Spangled Banner", alongside a full military color guard. Finally, TWISTED SISTER's Dee Snider is set to appear with previously announced performers BLACK VEIL BRIDES for a performance of his band's '80s anthem "I Wanna Rock".
The live concert will also include MARILYN MANSON, who appears on the cover of the latest issue of Revolver; iconic Grammy-winning guitarist — featuring Myles Kennedy and the CONSPIRATORS; EVANESCENCE; and SIXX: A.M., featuring Nikki Sixx of MÖTLEY CRÜE, acclaimed rock producer and songwriter James Michael, and DJ Ashba of GUNS N' ROSES, in their first performance in almost four years.
Also on April 11, the Grammy Museum, next door to Club Nokia, will open its new exhibit Golden Gods: The History of Heavy Metal. Mounted in coordination with Revolver, the exhibit will feature never-before-displayed artifacts including instruments, stage props, handwritten lyrics, clothing and costumes, alongside original album artwork, posters and live-performance and interview footage. The exhibit will also feature a variety of interactive displays.
The Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by XBOX LIVE, will go to prog-rock pioneers RUSH, who will release their highly anticipated 19th studio album, "Clockwork Angels", this year on Roadrunner Records. (Previous honorees include hard-rock and metal legends MÖTLEY CRÜE, Lemmy Kilmister of MOTÖRHEAD and Ozzy Osbourne.) The award will be presented by Jack Black and Kyle Gass of TENACIOUS D, whose new record, "Rize Of The Fenix", hits stores on May 15. RUSH's Neil Peart commented, "We are honored and delighted to receive this honor — especially because it will be presented by Jack and Kyle. Our 'lifetimes' are not over yet, and we dearly hope our 'achievements' are not either, so I suppose you could say that to us this is the 'So Far, So Good' award." Of presenting the award, Black commented, "RUSH was the most impressive band, musically, when I was just learning about rock. Weirdly, they got your body moving in interpretive-dancing ways, but it was still aggressive. Their stuff was just so complex and so tasty!"
Right before the official start of the show, PANTERA will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their landmark album, "Vulgar Display of Power", with the worldwide debut of their first music video in 12 years, for the previously unreleased song, "Piss", from the "Vulgar" recording sessions. PANTERA drummer Vinnie Paul commented, "'Piss' is the only unheard complete PANTERA track in existence. It was recorded at the same time as 'Vulgar Display Of Power' and it's 100 percent PANTERA with attitude and our signature groove! After mixing it, I can't believe it didn't make the record! So it's 2012 and 20 years later and new PANTERA music has been delivered. Cheers!"
Adding to the festivities, The 2012 Revolver Golden Gods Awards show will feature one-of-a-kind special performances and collaborations. Newly announced performers include KORN, who are nominated for multiple Golden Gods awards. "Revolver rocks! We are psyched to be nominated for Album of the Year — looking forward to rocking the house, too!" said KORN frontman Jonathan Davis. Heavy-metal heavyweights TRIVIUM have also been added to this jam-packed bill, as well as legendary guitar shredder Yngwie Malmsteen, who will open the show, playing "The Star Spangled Banner", alongside a full military color guard. Finally, TWISTED SISTER's Dee Snider is set to appear with previously announced performers BLACK VEIL BRIDES for a performance of his band's '80s anthem "I Wanna Rock".
The live concert will also include MARILYN MANSON, who appears on the cover of the latest issue of Revolver; iconic Grammy-winning guitarist — featuring Myles Kennedy and the CONSPIRATORS; EVANESCENCE; and SIXX: A.M., featuring Nikki Sixx of MÖTLEY CRÜE, acclaimed rock producer and songwriter James Michael, and DJ Ashba of GUNS N' ROSES, in their first performance in almost four years.
Also on April 11, the Grammy Museum, next door to Club Nokia, will open its new exhibit Golden Gods: The History of Heavy Metal. Mounted in coordination with Revolver, the exhibit will feature never-before-displayed artifacts including instruments, stage props, handwritten lyrics, clothing and costumes, alongside original album artwork, posters and live-performance and interview footage. The exhibit will also feature a variety of interactive displays.
MARILYN MANSON will release his long-awaited new album, "Born Villain", on May 1 (one day earlier internationally) via Cooking Vinyl and Manson's own label Hell, Etc.
The CD's first single, "No Reflection", was premiered on March 7 on the Los Angeles radio station KROQ and will be made available exclusively on iTunes this Tuesday, March 13.
"The new record put simply has the ambition and determination of how I started making music in the first place," Manson says. "It sounds like the first record in that it's not afraid to do anything. I had to remove myself from my lifestyle and start fresh."
In a recent interview with Revolver magazine, Manson stated about his new CD, "It doesn't really sound like any of my old records. In fact it sort of sounds like what I listened to before I made records — KILLING JOKE, JOY DIVISION, REVOLTING COCKS, BAUHAUS, BIRTHDAY PARTY … It's very rhythm-driven. It's actually very bluesy. It's the first record where I repeat verses. I just sign the words in a different key, the next time. I've never done that before, because I've always felt like I needed to write a lot of words in the past … I think this will probably be the grandest concept record of all."
Manson's U.S. theater tour is scheduled to kick off April 27.
The singer last September unveiled a new music video for the song "Born Villain" directed by actor Shia LaBeouf.
Drummer Ginger Fish (real name: Kenneth Robert Wilson) quit MARILYN MANSON in February 2011 and has since joined ROB ZOMBIE. He has been replaced by the Los Angeles-based drummer Jason Sutter.
MARILYN MANSON in 2009 parted ways with longtime record label Interscope following the disappointing sales performance of "The High End Of Low".
"The High End Of Low" was Manson's first album with longtime bassist Twiggy Ramirez since 2000's "Holy Wood".
The CD's first single, "No Reflection", was premiered on March 7 on the Los Angeles radio station KROQ and will be made available exclusively on iTunes this Tuesday, March 13.
"The new record put simply has the ambition and determination of how I started making music in the first place," Manson says. "It sounds like the first record in that it's not afraid to do anything. I had to remove myself from my lifestyle and start fresh."
In a recent interview with Revolver magazine, Manson stated about his new CD, "It doesn't really sound like any of my old records. In fact it sort of sounds like what I listened to before I made records — KILLING JOKE, JOY DIVISION, REVOLTING COCKS, BAUHAUS, BIRTHDAY PARTY … It's very rhythm-driven. It's actually very bluesy. It's the first record where I repeat verses. I just sign the words in a different key, the next time. I've never done that before, because I've always felt like I needed to write a lot of words in the past … I think this will probably be the grandest concept record of all."
Manson's U.S. theater tour is scheduled to kick off April 27.
The singer last September unveiled a new music video for the song "Born Villain" directed by actor Shia LaBeouf.
Drummer Ginger Fish (real name: Kenneth Robert Wilson) quit MARILYN MANSON in February 2011 and has since joined ROB ZOMBIE. He has been replaced by the Los Angeles-based drummer Jason Sutter.
MARILYN MANSON in 2009 parted ways with longtime record label Interscope following the disappointing sales performance of "The High End Of Low".
"The High End Of Low" was Manson's first album with longtime bassist Twiggy Ramirez since 2000's "Holy Wood".
According to AL.com, MEGADETH, THE CULT and JANE'S ADDICTION are among the confirmed artist for the 2012 edition of the Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil, a music and food festival set to take place May 4-5 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Alabama.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on March 16 through Ticketmaster, and at America's First Federal Credit Union locations. Advance ticket prices are $30 for a day pass, $49.50 for a weekend pass. Advance VIP tickets will cost $75 per day, $140 for a weekend pass.
The Crawfish Boil, founded in 1986, gradually evolved from a casual backyard party to a large charity benefit, and then, to a professionally-run business that has attracted audiences of 20,000-40,000 people.
For more information, visit SchaefferCrawfishBoil.com.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on March 16 through Ticketmaster, and at America's First Federal Credit Union locations. Advance ticket prices are $30 for a day pass, $49.50 for a weekend pass. Advance VIP tickets will cost $75 per day, $140 for a weekend pass.
The Crawfish Boil, founded in 1986, gradually evolved from a casual backyard party to a large charity benefit, and then, to a professionally-run business that has attracted audiences of 20,000-40,000 people.
For more information, visit SchaefferCrawfishBoil.com.
QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield was recently invited to the 20th Century Fox film studios in Los Angeles to meet with film composer Steve Jablonsky (all three "Transformers" films) and attend his orchestral recording sessions for the new blockbuster film "Battleship".
Says Rockenfield: "Jablonsky has been a longtime QUEENSRŸCHE fan and we had a great time meeting and discussing our work. He is an amazing talented individual and I have been a HUGE fan of his work for many years! I was honored to be personally invited. Also at the session was legendary recording mixer/engineer Alan Meyerson ('Gladiator', 'Batman: The Dark Knight', 'Pirates Of The Caribbean'). Alan is also a big QUEENSRŸCHE fan! I was then invited to stay an extra day and visit them both at composer Hans Zimmer's Remote Control studios. I met with the entire staff and hung out for the mixing sessions for the 'Battleship' movie. Great people and an inspiring invitation!"
Scott first started composing music for film and television in the late '80s during his time spent with Michael Kamen. During that time, Kamen asked Scott to work on some additional drums and percussion for the 1993 film "Last Action Hero", starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. This began Scott's exciting new journey scoring music for film and television. After only a few years in the specialty, Scott received a coveted Grammy Award nomination for "Best Original Music" for the animated feature film "Televoid" in 1998. Scott has done a variety of projects since then, including the additional music and all live drums for the immensely popular video game "Call of Duty: Black Ops". Released in November 2010, the game set a new five-day sales record with an estimated take of approximately $650 million worldwide. Just prior to his involvement with "Call of Duty: Black Ops", Scott did the orchestrated and electronic score for the horror flick "Albino Farm", released in September of 2009.
Says Rockenfield: "Jablonsky has been a longtime QUEENSRŸCHE fan and we had a great time meeting and discussing our work. He is an amazing talented individual and I have been a HUGE fan of his work for many years! I was honored to be personally invited. Also at the session was legendary recording mixer/engineer Alan Meyerson ('Gladiator', 'Batman: The Dark Knight', 'Pirates Of The Caribbean'). Alan is also a big QUEENSRŸCHE fan! I was then invited to stay an extra day and visit them both at composer Hans Zimmer's Remote Control studios. I met with the entire staff and hung out for the mixing sessions for the 'Battleship' movie. Great people and an inspiring invitation!"
Scott first started composing music for film and television in the late '80s during his time spent with Michael Kamen. During that time, Kamen asked Scott to work on some additional drums and percussion for the 1993 film "Last Action Hero", starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. This began Scott's exciting new journey scoring music for film and television. After only a few years in the specialty, Scott received a coveted Grammy Award nomination for "Best Original Music" for the animated feature film "Televoid" in 1998. Scott has done a variety of projects since then, including the additional music and all live drums for the immensely popular video game "Call of Duty: Black Ops". Released in November 2010, the game set a new five-day sales record with an estimated take of approximately $650 million worldwide. Just prior to his involvement with "Call of Duty: Black Ops", Scott did the orchestrated and electronic score for the horror flick "Albino Farm", released in September of 2009.
Dee Snider, the unmistakable front-man of the rock band TWISTED SISTER, will release his new studio album, "Dee Does Broadway", on May 8 via Razor & Tie. The CD features Dee's powerful voice and theatrical persona as he exudes his rock ' n' roll take on several Broadway classics. The new album will coincide with the release of his first-ever autobiography, "Shut Up And Give Me The Mic" (Gallery Books) on May 8.
"Dee Does Broadway" features several special guest stars, including Broadway and television icon Bebe Neuwirth on the DAMN YANKEES song "Whatever Lola Wants", Broadway legend Patti LuPone on a "West Side Story" medley "Tonight/Somewhere", pop icon Cyndi Lauper on SWEET CHARITY's "Big Spender", Clay Aiken of "American Idol" on the GUYS AND DOLLS classic "Luck Be a Lady Tonight", the stars of the Broadway hit musical "Priscilla Queen Of The Desert" (Will Swenson, Tony Sheldon, and Nick Adams) on SOUTH PACIFIC's "There Is Nothin' Like A Dame", Mark Wood of the TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA playing violin on the "Phantom Of The Opera" ballad "Music Of The Night", as well a special rendition of "The Joint Is Jumpin" from "Ain't Misbehavin'" with Dee's oldest son, Jesse "Blaze" Snider. Songs are also featured from classic Broadway shows including "Cabaret", "Chicago", "The Threepenny Opera", "Anything Goes" and "Sweeney Todd".
"Dee Does Broadway" was spawned from a number of voicemails exchanged featuring "Broadway tunes" sung as messages between Dee Snider and Alice Cooper in 2009 and Dee's 2010 Broadway run in the Broadway rock musical "Rock Of Ages". Inspired to take this musical journey, the classically trained countertenor (who sang with his high school choir and always loud as hell) Snider enlisted producers Bob Kulick and Brett Chassen (whom Dee worked with on the metalized Frank Sinatra tribute called "Sin-atra"). The album was mixed by the legendary Ric Wake and Gustavo Celis, and features the incredible orchestrations and playing by the renowned composer/arranger Doug Katsaros and the bass guitar playing of one of rock's prolific players, the legendary Rudy Sarzo.
Dee Snider explains the process: "Over the past year, I have worked closely with my team and collaborators picking from decades of musical hits with only two rules: The song had to speak to me as a singer on some level, and it could not be a rock song to begin with. No 'Jesus Christ Superstar', 'Grease', 'Hair', 'Rent', 'Rocky Horror', etc. What would be the challenge in that?" He continues, "There are many who think doing an album of rocked out show tunes is pure insanity on my part. Apparently, they haven't seen any photos of me from the '70s and '80s. Could I have been in a more theatrical band? Ever since I was a kid, I'd heard the real power inherent in a lot of songs from musicals and this record gives me the chance to show it".
"Dee Does Broadway" track listing:
01. Cabaret
02. The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd
03. Big Spender (with Cyndi Lauper)
04. Mack the Knife
05. Whatever Lola Wants (with Bebe Neuwirth)
06. Music Of The Night (with guest violinist Mark Wood)
07. The Joint Is Jumpin' (with Jesse Blaze Snider)
08. Luck Be A Lady (with Clay Aiken)
09. I Get A Kick Out Of You
10. There Is Nothin' Like A Dame (with the stars of "Priscilla Queen Of The Desert": Will Swenson, Tony Sheldon and Nick Adams)
11. Razzle Dazzle
12. Tonight/Somewhere (with Patti LuPone)
Listen to the track "Cabaret" (to be released as a single on March 27) from "Dee Does Broadway" below.
Filled with entertaining anecdotes and candid confessions, "Shut Up And Give Me The Mic" takes you through the good times and bad with a heavy metal star who worked as hard as he played, and who did it all for his wife, four kids, and millions of fans. As lead singer and songwriter of TWISTED SISTER, Dee Snider became the poster boy for heavy metal, hair bands, and the wild side of rock. Now, in his twisted new memoir, he reveals the real stories behind the crazy makeup, the big hair, and badass hits like "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock". In his journey from every parent's worst teenage nightmare to Renaissance man, Dee avoided the usual pitfalls associated with rock stars. But that didn't stop Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center from targeting him — a fight that led him to testify before Congress with Frank Zappa. He may have been slapped with a Parental Advisory warning label, but, through it all, Snider stayed positive and focused on being the best he could be.
"Shut Up And Give Me The Mic" book signings:
May 07 - Ridgewood, NJ - Bookends 7 p.m.
May 08 - Huntington, NY - Book Revue 7 p.m.
May 09 - Mendham, NJ - Mendham Books 7 p.m.
May 10 - Madison, CT - R.J. Julia 7 p.m.
May 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Barnes & Noble 6 p.m.
May 12 - Detroit, MI - Barnes & Noble 4 p.m.
May 14 - Skoki, IL - Barnes & Noble 7 p.m.
May 15 - Kansas City, MO - Unity Temple on the Plaza 7 p.m.
May 16 - Norma, OK - Hastings 7 p.m.
May 17 - Tucson, AZ - Barnes & Noble 7 p.m.
May 18 - Tempe, AZ - Changing Hands Bookstore 7 p.m.
"Dee Does Broadway" features several special guest stars, including Broadway and television icon Bebe Neuwirth on the DAMN YANKEES song "Whatever Lola Wants", Broadway legend Patti LuPone on a "West Side Story" medley "Tonight/Somewhere", pop icon Cyndi Lauper on SWEET CHARITY's "Big Spender", Clay Aiken of "American Idol" on the GUYS AND DOLLS classic "Luck Be a Lady Tonight", the stars of the Broadway hit musical "Priscilla Queen Of The Desert" (Will Swenson, Tony Sheldon, and Nick Adams) on SOUTH PACIFIC's "There Is Nothin' Like A Dame", Mark Wood of the TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA playing violin on the "Phantom Of The Opera" ballad "Music Of The Night", as well a special rendition of "The Joint Is Jumpin" from "Ain't Misbehavin'" with Dee's oldest son, Jesse "Blaze" Snider. Songs are also featured from classic Broadway shows including "Cabaret", "Chicago", "The Threepenny Opera", "Anything Goes" and "Sweeney Todd".
"Dee Does Broadway" was spawned from a number of voicemails exchanged featuring "Broadway tunes" sung as messages between Dee Snider and Alice Cooper in 2009 and Dee's 2010 Broadway run in the Broadway rock musical "Rock Of Ages". Inspired to take this musical journey, the classically trained countertenor (who sang with his high school choir and always loud as hell) Snider enlisted producers Bob Kulick and Brett Chassen (whom Dee worked with on the metalized Frank Sinatra tribute called "Sin-atra"). The album was mixed by the legendary Ric Wake and Gustavo Celis, and features the incredible orchestrations and playing by the renowned composer/arranger Doug Katsaros and the bass guitar playing of one of rock's prolific players, the legendary Rudy Sarzo.
Dee Snider explains the process: "Over the past year, I have worked closely with my team and collaborators picking from decades of musical hits with only two rules: The song had to speak to me as a singer on some level, and it could not be a rock song to begin with. No 'Jesus Christ Superstar', 'Grease', 'Hair', 'Rent', 'Rocky Horror', etc. What would be the challenge in that?" He continues, "There are many who think doing an album of rocked out show tunes is pure insanity on my part. Apparently, they haven't seen any photos of me from the '70s and '80s. Could I have been in a more theatrical band? Ever since I was a kid, I'd heard the real power inherent in a lot of songs from musicals and this record gives me the chance to show it".
"Dee Does Broadway" track listing:
01. Cabaret
02. The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd
03. Big Spender (with Cyndi Lauper)
04. Mack the Knife
05. Whatever Lola Wants (with Bebe Neuwirth)
06. Music Of The Night (with guest violinist Mark Wood)
07. The Joint Is Jumpin' (with Jesse Blaze Snider)
08. Luck Be A Lady (with Clay Aiken)
09. I Get A Kick Out Of You
10. There Is Nothin' Like A Dame (with the stars of "Priscilla Queen Of The Desert": Will Swenson, Tony Sheldon and Nick Adams)
11. Razzle Dazzle
12. Tonight/Somewhere (with Patti LuPone)
Listen to the track "Cabaret" (to be released as a single on March 27) from "Dee Does Broadway" below.
Filled with entertaining anecdotes and candid confessions, "Shut Up And Give Me The Mic" takes you through the good times and bad with a heavy metal star who worked as hard as he played, and who did it all for his wife, four kids, and millions of fans. As lead singer and songwriter of TWISTED SISTER, Dee Snider became the poster boy for heavy metal, hair bands, and the wild side of rock. Now, in his twisted new memoir, he reveals the real stories behind the crazy makeup, the big hair, and badass hits like "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock". In his journey from every parent's worst teenage nightmare to Renaissance man, Dee avoided the usual pitfalls associated with rock stars. But that didn't stop Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center from targeting him — a fight that led him to testify before Congress with Frank Zappa. He may have been slapped with a Parental Advisory warning label, but, through it all, Snider stayed positive and focused on being the best he could be.
"Shut Up And Give Me The Mic" book signings:
May 07 - Ridgewood, NJ - Bookends 7 p.m.
May 08 - Huntington, NY - Book Revue 7 p.m.
May 09 - Mendham, NJ - Mendham Books 7 p.m.
May 10 - Madison, CT - R.J. Julia 7 p.m.
May 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Barnes & Noble 6 p.m.
May 12 - Detroit, MI - Barnes & Noble 4 p.m.
May 14 - Skoki, IL - Barnes & Noble 7 p.m.
May 15 - Kansas City, MO - Unity Temple on the Plaza 7 p.m.
May 16 - Norma, OK - Hastings 7 p.m.
May 17 - Tucson, AZ - Barnes & Noble 7 p.m.
May 18 - Tempe, AZ - Changing Hands Bookstore 7 p.m.
Former KYUSS bassist Scott Reeder has commented on the reaction to the news that he and fellow ex-KYUSS member Josh Homme (guitar) have filed a federal lawsuit against other former KYUSS members John Garcia (vocals) and Brant Bjork (drums) alleging "trademark infringement and consumer fraud" over the use of the KYUSS name.
Garcia, Bjork and ex-KYUSS bassist Nick Oliveri reunited for shows last year under the KYUSS LIVES! banner, in which they were joined by guitarist Bruno Fevery. The band has since toured on both sides of the Atlantic and is said to be currently working on a live album for a late 2012 release. There are also tentative plans for the group to record a brand new studio CD.
Homme and Reeder released a statement on Saturday via public relations firm Nasty Little Man in which they claimed that they "made every attempt to help [Garcia, Bjork and Oliveri] continue KYUSS LIVES! respectfully. Only to discover while they looked us in the eye, KYUSS LIVES! management and band had filed federal documents in 2011 in an attempt to steal the name KYUSS. This is desperately what we were trying to avoid."
Writing on his Facebook page earlier today (Sunday, March 11), Reeder said, "Maaaaaaan, I've been called every foul name in the book [on Saturday], and all I did was make a choice to stand up to defend and retain small rights that I should be able to keep sacred and unhindered for the rest of my life and beyond. I didn't have much of a choice: lose all of the rights in two weeks, or keep them forever. I didn't choose to be in this situation at all — I was forced to react very quickly with a looming deadline, and it's been rough. I saw people bitterly divided [yesterday] over this stupid stuff… crazy. But the overwhelming support from friends and family was very much appreciated and needed. Thank you."
Reeder played a handful of European live dates with KYUSS LIVES! last year as a fill-in for Oliveri. He was also a "special guest" at KYUSS LIVES!'s homecoming show on November 18, 2011 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles.
Reeder played bass on KYUSS' classic LPs "Welcome to Sky Valley" and "...And the Circus Leaves Town" and was also a member of doom legends THE OBSESSED.
Regarding why Homme is not involved in the KYUSS reunion, Garcia previously told Rock Sound magazine, "I have nothing bad to say about Josh — he's extremely intelligent, very smart, a great guitar player, great songwriter, a great vocalist — he is a bad-ass, there is no question, and I love him dearly but he is busy with his own thing. He has THEM CROOKED VULTURES, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, he's a father, a businessman and even if we asked him to do it, I don't think he'd say yes, so I don't want to set myself up for a big fat no which is 99.9 percent what he would say."
In a 2010 interview, Homme explained his hesitation to participate in a KYUSS reformation.
"The offers come in all the time," he said. "They're getting more and more expensive, and more and more elaborate. The money is crazy, but I've never been tempted — I don't really care about the money, I never have. That's not what KYUSS was about, so to punctuate the end of our sentence with that would be blasphemy… KYUSS has such a great history that it would be a total error. I like that nobody saw KYUSS, and that it was largely misunderstood. That sounds like a legend forming to me. I'm too proud of it to rub my dick on it."
Garcia, Bjork and ex-KYUSS bassist Nick Oliveri reunited for shows last year under the KYUSS LIVES! banner, in which they were joined by guitarist Bruno Fevery. The band has since toured on both sides of the Atlantic and is said to be currently working on a live album for a late 2012 release. There are also tentative plans for the group to record a brand new studio CD.
Homme and Reeder released a statement on Saturday via public relations firm Nasty Little Man in which they claimed that they "made every attempt to help [Garcia, Bjork and Oliveri] continue KYUSS LIVES! respectfully. Only to discover while they looked us in the eye, KYUSS LIVES! management and band had filed federal documents in 2011 in an attempt to steal the name KYUSS. This is desperately what we were trying to avoid."
Writing on his Facebook page earlier today (Sunday, March 11), Reeder said, "Maaaaaaan, I've been called every foul name in the book [on Saturday], and all I did was make a choice to stand up to defend and retain small rights that I should be able to keep sacred and unhindered for the rest of my life and beyond. I didn't have much of a choice: lose all of the rights in two weeks, or keep them forever. I didn't choose to be in this situation at all — I was forced to react very quickly with a looming deadline, and it's been rough. I saw people bitterly divided [yesterday] over this stupid stuff… crazy. But the overwhelming support from friends and family was very much appreciated and needed. Thank you."
Reeder played a handful of European live dates with KYUSS LIVES! last year as a fill-in for Oliveri. He was also a "special guest" at KYUSS LIVES!'s homecoming show on November 18, 2011 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles.
Reeder played bass on KYUSS' classic LPs "Welcome to Sky Valley" and "...And the Circus Leaves Town" and was also a member of doom legends THE OBSESSED.
Regarding why Homme is not involved in the KYUSS reunion, Garcia previously told Rock Sound magazine, "I have nothing bad to say about Josh — he's extremely intelligent, very smart, a great guitar player, great songwriter, a great vocalist — he is a bad-ass, there is no question, and I love him dearly but he is busy with his own thing. He has THEM CROOKED VULTURES, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, he's a father, a businessman and even if we asked him to do it, I don't think he'd say yes, so I don't want to set myself up for a big fat no which is 99.9 percent what he would say."
In a 2010 interview, Homme explained his hesitation to participate in a KYUSS reformation.
"The offers come in all the time," he said. "They're getting more and more expensive, and more and more elaborate. The money is crazy, but I've never been tempted — I don't really care about the money, I never have. That's not what KYUSS was about, so to punctuate the end of our sentence with that would be blasphemy… KYUSS has such a great history that it would be a total error. I like that nobody saw KYUSS, and that it was largely misunderstood. That sounds like a legend forming to me. I'm too proud of it to rub my dick on it."
Niclas Müller-Hansen of Sweden's Metalshrine recently conducted an interview with vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth of veteran New Jersey thrashers OVERKILL. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metalshrine: How long did you work on [the new OVERKILL album, "The Electric Age"]?
Blitz: You know, we're always working on stuff. We're very blue-collar. Nobody sits down and pines over how we're not being treated like pampered superstars. We're happy with our tools on and off. D.D. [Verni, bass] collects the riffs and I think if you're a riff collector, you never let one go by. I mean, the guy's always has some kinda recording device on him and he's either always humming into it or playing acoustic guitar into it or collecting a riff at a soundcheck or on the bus. That started as soon as "Ironbound" was released and we were on the road, he started collecting these things, but the actual assembly started in June 2011. That's when the demos started happening. Songs started developing from riffs into full songs, so from a period of June 2011 until we delivered in January 2012, this was the assembly process.
Metalshrine: How do you usually write songs? Is it mainly you and D.D.?
Blitz: Primarily. He starts them and I finish them. It goes through a metamorphosis at the center. You know, Dave Linsk is the longest-standing guitar player in this band and he's got great input. He's got almost the exact studio as D.D. has, in Florida. So D.D. is in Jersey and Dave's in Florida and they can exchange ideas via web, Wave files, but we also have to be in that room, I think. We're a combination of what was and what is. What was is, in a room I remember a boom box and somebody hitting record and the tape started rolling and that's how we started getting ideas. Now it's a little bit more advanced than that, but we have to be able to be in that room and sweat. But then afterwards we use that technology to trade ideas back and forth. I have a small home studio where I download the idea to my computer and boom, it's off to these two guys. I think we're a good balance between old and new.
Metalshrine: I know you also shot a video recently. I'm thinking, videos these days gotta be mainly for YouTube, right? There are no other channels for it.
Blitz: Absolutely! But isn't that what we talked about earlier with regard how bands write songs these days? It's really all about the Internet, isn't it. I'm sitting here thinking to myself some days, "I don't need cable TV or satellite. I can watch what I wanna watch on the Internet and then I can at least choose to do so." I think that's what it's about is that people can now choose to watch it when they want to watch it. It becomes even a more personal type of promotion with these videos because it's not jammed down your throat with regard to advertising. You actually have to log on or go to that site if I wanna see OVERKILL's "Electric Rattlesnake" to see what they came up with. I think it's a unique time right now when it comes to video and probably much more personal than it's been in the past. It's about choice.
Metalshrine: I read that you're not an Obama fan. What do you think about the U.S. election?
Blitz: It's unique. I can't say I'm not a fan. I mean, I never rooted for the guy to do not well. You want them to do well regardless of what they're political affiliation is. We also talked about me working for myself for a 20-year period of time and also my father. My father sat me down when I was about 17 and he goes, "You're gonna be able to vote next year." And he said to me, "I work for myself and it makes me a Republican. They want smaller government and they wanna take less of your money. If you're not like so, you probably wanna be a Democrat." As time went on, I started working for myself and saw that. I really have a distinct view of what Republicans and Democrats are and I'm really a blend of both. Obviously, I wanna help people and I don't wanna see people do bad. I do think a change is necessary. When a guy stands up and pounds his fist and says, "Not one dime will I raise your taxes!" and the first thing he does is do it. (laughs) It's just not fucking OK. (laughs) I think his attentions are correct, but I think a change is obviously necessary and to some degree I lean myself towards Ron Paul and doing this whole thing like a business.
Metalshrine: How long did you work on [the new OVERKILL album, "The Electric Age"]?
Blitz: You know, we're always working on stuff. We're very blue-collar. Nobody sits down and pines over how we're not being treated like pampered superstars. We're happy with our tools on and off. D.D. [Verni, bass] collects the riffs and I think if you're a riff collector, you never let one go by. I mean, the guy's always has some kinda recording device on him and he's either always humming into it or playing acoustic guitar into it or collecting a riff at a soundcheck or on the bus. That started as soon as "Ironbound" was released and we were on the road, he started collecting these things, but the actual assembly started in June 2011. That's when the demos started happening. Songs started developing from riffs into full songs, so from a period of June 2011 until we delivered in January 2012, this was the assembly process.
Metalshrine: How do you usually write songs? Is it mainly you and D.D.?
Blitz: Primarily. He starts them and I finish them. It goes through a metamorphosis at the center. You know, Dave Linsk is the longest-standing guitar player in this band and he's got great input. He's got almost the exact studio as D.D. has, in Florida. So D.D. is in Jersey and Dave's in Florida and they can exchange ideas via web, Wave files, but we also have to be in that room, I think. We're a combination of what was and what is. What was is, in a room I remember a boom box and somebody hitting record and the tape started rolling and that's how we started getting ideas. Now it's a little bit more advanced than that, but we have to be able to be in that room and sweat. But then afterwards we use that technology to trade ideas back and forth. I have a small home studio where I download the idea to my computer and boom, it's off to these two guys. I think we're a good balance between old and new.
Metalshrine: I know you also shot a video recently. I'm thinking, videos these days gotta be mainly for YouTube, right? There are no other channels for it.
Blitz: Absolutely! But isn't that what we talked about earlier with regard how bands write songs these days? It's really all about the Internet, isn't it. I'm sitting here thinking to myself some days, "I don't need cable TV or satellite. I can watch what I wanna watch on the Internet and then I can at least choose to do so." I think that's what it's about is that people can now choose to watch it when they want to watch it. It becomes even a more personal type of promotion with these videos because it's not jammed down your throat with regard to advertising. You actually have to log on or go to that site if I wanna see OVERKILL's "Electric Rattlesnake" to see what they came up with. I think it's a unique time right now when it comes to video and probably much more personal than it's been in the past. It's about choice.
Metalshrine: I read that you're not an Obama fan. What do you think about the U.S. election?
Blitz: It's unique. I can't say I'm not a fan. I mean, I never rooted for the guy to do not well. You want them to do well regardless of what they're political affiliation is. We also talked about me working for myself for a 20-year period of time and also my father. My father sat me down when I was about 17 and he goes, "You're gonna be able to vote next year." And he said to me, "I work for myself and it makes me a Republican. They want smaller government and they wanna take less of your money. If you're not like so, you probably wanna be a Democrat." As time went on, I started working for myself and saw that. I really have a distinct view of what Republicans and Democrats are and I'm really a blend of both. Obviously, I wanna help people and I don't wanna see people do bad. I do think a change is necessary. When a guy stands up and pounds his fist and says, "Not one dime will I raise your taxes!" and the first thing he does is do it. (laughs) It's just not fucking OK. (laughs) I think his attentions are correct, but I think a change is obviously necessary and to some degree I lean myself towards Ron Paul and doing this whole thing like a business.
Metal Mark of SkullsNBones.com recently conducted an interview with PRONG mainman Tommy Victor. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
SkullsNBones.com: The new PRONG album, "Carved Into Stone", is coming out on April 24. After all the hard work you put into the record, how excited are you to finally get it into people's hands?
Tommy: I'm super-excited, man! I'm just glad that it came out the way it did! Hopefully it gets great exposure and people hear it and like it. I really think all PRONG fans will enjoy this record.
SkullsNBones.com: The press release says that the album is quintessentially PRONG. What does that mean in your mind?
Tommy: I think it reflects all of the previous PRONG releases in the right way. It's not that it's a retro record, but it reflects some of the early hardcore/thrash moments, how it's recorded, everything played, no electronics, no samples, almost done like "Beg To Differ" was done. We basically got together and just rocked it out. What we played is what you hear and that's what PRONG is all about.
SkullsNBones.com: Steve Evetts produced the new record and you previously said that you've never worked this hard in the studio before. You've put out a number of albums in your career, so why was this time different?
Tommy: Well, I produced the last few albums and I didn't want that this time. Steve was so active in getting certain arrangements together, the vocal patterns, guitar solos, the sounds, the mixes, everything man. He was completely active in all aspects of the record and I really needed that. He was very demanding, yet open to our suggestions, and that's why he was the perfect choice to produce the album. He pushed me as far as I could go, vocally and musically, but the end result is exactly what I wanted. So yeah, it was a definitely a hard process, but he got the best out of the band and I, for sure.
SkullsNBones.com: Was it hard for you to kind of step back and let someone take over the production since you've been doing it for so long?
Tommy: It wasn't as hard as you would think. I made the decision early that I didn't want it all on my shoulders, so to have someone else do it was great. I wanted someone who has done it for years and knows what he's doing and Steve was the perfect choice. I put a lot of faith in him and it worked out for sure. Of course, there are times where you are like, "What's going on? What's he doing?" Shit like that. But he knew exactly what he was doing the whole time. When you record, you only hear bits and pieces at a time, and I would want to hear the whole thing, and then I had to stop and realize he has it under control. You sort of lose touch some times in the studio when you are working so hard, so I had to catch myself a few times and take a breath and realize it wasn't all on me this time ya know. We just had to put all of our faith in him in the end and it worked out great in our minds.
SkullsNBones.com: The new PRONG album, "Carved Into Stone", is coming out on April 24. After all the hard work you put into the record, how excited are you to finally get it into people's hands?
Tommy: I'm super-excited, man! I'm just glad that it came out the way it did! Hopefully it gets great exposure and people hear it and like it. I really think all PRONG fans will enjoy this record.
SkullsNBones.com: The press release says that the album is quintessentially PRONG. What does that mean in your mind?
Tommy: I think it reflects all of the previous PRONG releases in the right way. It's not that it's a retro record, but it reflects some of the early hardcore/thrash moments, how it's recorded, everything played, no electronics, no samples, almost done like "Beg To Differ" was done. We basically got together and just rocked it out. What we played is what you hear and that's what PRONG is all about.
SkullsNBones.com: Steve Evetts produced the new record and you previously said that you've never worked this hard in the studio before. You've put out a number of albums in your career, so why was this time different?
Tommy: Well, I produced the last few albums and I didn't want that this time. Steve was so active in getting certain arrangements together, the vocal patterns, guitar solos, the sounds, the mixes, everything man. He was completely active in all aspects of the record and I really needed that. He was very demanding, yet open to our suggestions, and that's why he was the perfect choice to produce the album. He pushed me as far as I could go, vocally and musically, but the end result is exactly what I wanted. So yeah, it was a definitely a hard process, but he got the best out of the band and I, for sure.
SkullsNBones.com: Was it hard for you to kind of step back and let someone take over the production since you've been doing it for so long?
Tommy: It wasn't as hard as you would think. I made the decision early that I didn't want it all on my shoulders, so to have someone else do it was great. I wanted someone who has done it for years and knows what he's doing and Steve was the perfect choice. I put a lot of faith in him and it worked out for sure. Of course, there are times where you are like, "What's going on? What's he doing?" Shit like that. But he knew exactly what he was doing the whole time. When you record, you only hear bits and pieces at a time, and I would want to hear the whole thing, and then I had to stop and realize he has it under control. You sort of lose touch some times in the studio when you are working so hard, so I had to catch myself a few times and take a breath and realize it wasn't all on me this time ya know. We just had to put all of our faith in him in the end and it worked out great in our minds.
Jerry Gaskill, drummer for legendary rockers KING'S X, suffered a heart attack February 26, and was rushed to the hospital where he underwent an emergency operation.
In a new Facebook posting, KING'S X frontman Doug Pinnick states about Gaskill's current condition, "Saw Jerry and he smiled and gave the thumbs up. He seemed to recognize everyone and seems on it. Really cool. He is having some difficulty with the breathing, but overall looks sharp. Feel much better about this. Very excited. Just want to share that with you guys. Julie [Jerry's fiancée] is amazing."
To help Gaskill pay his medical bills, KING'S X is offering a special MP3 download-only title, "Burning Down Boston: Live at The Channel 6.12.91". This release was edited and mastered from a stereo FOH (front-of-house) recording. While the audio is far from perfect sonically, the performance documents yet another magical night on tour while supporting the "Faith Hope Love" album. The band expands many of the cuts featured here, including performances that are blistering ("Moanjam"), heavy and funk-laden ("We Are Finding Who We Are"), beautiful ("The Burning Down"), and truly transcendental ("Over My Head"). A few songs from the show were omitted due to tape damage. However, three bonus tracks have been included (an additional 15 minutes) from the same show that were not presented in the main track listing.
In addition to the gift with this download, anyone who wants to further make a personal gift to Jerry to help him with his medical bills can send a check made out to Jerry Gaskill. Mail it to: Jerry Gaskill, c/o World Entertainment Inc., P.O. Box 3095, Sea Bright, NJ 07760. One hundred percent of your gift goes to Jerry Gaskill to help him defray his medical expenses. Jerry Gaskill is an individual and not a charity. Any funds given to him would be a gift and no further tax deduction for charitable contributions would be coming from him.
For more information, visit www.molkenmusic.com.
In a new Facebook posting, KING'S X frontman Doug Pinnick states about Gaskill's current condition, "Saw Jerry and he smiled and gave the thumbs up. He seemed to recognize everyone and seems on it. Really cool. He is having some difficulty with the breathing, but overall looks sharp. Feel much better about this. Very excited. Just want to share that with you guys. Julie [Jerry's fiancée] is amazing."
To help Gaskill pay his medical bills, KING'S X is offering a special MP3 download-only title, "Burning Down Boston: Live at The Channel 6.12.91". This release was edited and mastered from a stereo FOH (front-of-house) recording. While the audio is far from perfect sonically, the performance documents yet another magical night on tour while supporting the "Faith Hope Love" album. The band expands many of the cuts featured here, including performances that are blistering ("Moanjam"), heavy and funk-laden ("We Are Finding Who We Are"), beautiful ("The Burning Down"), and truly transcendental ("Over My Head"). A few songs from the show were omitted due to tape damage. However, three bonus tracks have been included (an additional 15 minutes) from the same show that were not presented in the main track listing.
In addition to the gift with this download, anyone who wants to further make a personal gift to Jerry to help him with his medical bills can send a check made out to Jerry Gaskill. Mail it to: Jerry Gaskill, c/o World Entertainment Inc., P.O. Box 3095, Sea Bright, NJ 07760. One hundred percent of your gift goes to Jerry Gaskill to help him defray his medical expenses. Jerry Gaskill is an individual and not a charity. Any funds given to him would be a gift and no further tax deduction for charitable contributions would be coming from him.
For more information, visit www.molkenmusic.com.
Elliot Levin of the NY Hard Rock Music Examiner recently conducted an interview with ADRENALINE MOB guitarist Mike Orlando. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Examiner: Rich Ward [FOZZY, STUCK MOJO] was in the band at one point. How does going from two guitars to one change things?
Mike: Rich Ward was never on any recordings, and he really was only for that tour. Paul DiLeo [bass] as well. We came out as a five-piece, but what anybody ever heard was only [Mike] Portnoy [drums; ex-DREAM THEATER], myself, and Russell [Allen; vocals; SYMPHONY X]. That was always the core of the band. We brought them in for the tour, but, unfortunately, schedules and things like that, there were too many conflicts. And we didn't want them to get in the way of our touring, and vice versa, so we parted ways. And now the band is a four-piece and sounds better than ever, and we cannot wait to unleash it on the world.
Examiner: Last summer you and the band gave the first listen of ADRENALINE MOB at Hiro Ballroom [in New York City], and while you've released some videos and streaming songs online, [the March 12] show [at Hiro] will really be debut of the finished songs again. What made you decide that live shows were the best way to present the music, both last summer and this time around?
Mike: Because we're a live band. There's no doubt. The energy that comes between me, Russ, and Portnoy is just electric, and now that we have John Moyer [bass; DISTURBED] in the band, it's on fire. This is a live band. There is no shadow of a doubt about that. We take the songs to a different level. Energy-wise, power-wise, we feed off each other on that stage. People always say, "You look like you're having so much fun." We are! We're having a blast playing together. We just get each other psyched up on this. I've been in so many lineups over the years, and this is pretty magical.
Examiner: What's the long term plan for ADRENALINE MOB? You have John from DISTURBED on bass, and obviously DISTURBED is on hiatus for now, but are you guys planning more than six months or a year ahead at this point?
Mike: Without a doubt! I plan on talking to you on our eighth album! We plan to keep John in the fold as well and all write together and it's going to be incredible. We plan to build this... John said it perfectly in an interview he did. He said, "I plan to make ADRENALINE MOB have the same success DISTURBED did." That's the plan! I echo his words.
Examiner: Rich Ward [FOZZY, STUCK MOJO] was in the band at one point. How does going from two guitars to one change things?
Mike: Rich Ward was never on any recordings, and he really was only for that tour. Paul DiLeo [bass] as well. We came out as a five-piece, but what anybody ever heard was only [Mike] Portnoy [drums; ex-DREAM THEATER], myself, and Russell [Allen; vocals; SYMPHONY X]. That was always the core of the band. We brought them in for the tour, but, unfortunately, schedules and things like that, there were too many conflicts. And we didn't want them to get in the way of our touring, and vice versa, so we parted ways. And now the band is a four-piece and sounds better than ever, and we cannot wait to unleash it on the world.
Examiner: Last summer you and the band gave the first listen of ADRENALINE MOB at Hiro Ballroom [in New York City], and while you've released some videos and streaming songs online, [the March 12] show [at Hiro] will really be debut of the finished songs again. What made you decide that live shows were the best way to present the music, both last summer and this time around?
Mike: Because we're a live band. There's no doubt. The energy that comes between me, Russ, and Portnoy is just electric, and now that we have John Moyer [bass; DISTURBED] in the band, it's on fire. This is a live band. There is no shadow of a doubt about that. We take the songs to a different level. Energy-wise, power-wise, we feed off each other on that stage. People always say, "You look like you're having so much fun." We are! We're having a blast playing together. We just get each other psyched up on this. I've been in so many lineups over the years, and this is pretty magical.
Examiner: What's the long term plan for ADRENALINE MOB? You have John from DISTURBED on bass, and obviously DISTURBED is on hiatus for now, but are you guys planning more than six months or a year ahead at this point?
Mike: Without a doubt! I plan on talking to you on our eighth album! We plan to keep John in the fold as well and all write together and it's going to be incredible. We plan to build this... John said it perfectly in an interview he did. He said, "I plan to make ADRENALINE MOB have the same success DISTURBED did." That's the plan! I echo his words.
The cover artwork for "Midnight In The Labyrinth", an orchestral album which reinvents tracks from CRADLE OF FILTH's first four albums and includes choirs, strings and some narration, can be seen below. Due on Record Store Day (April 21) in participating countries and as a strictly limited-edition two-disc set of delectable magic in the rest of the world, the effort will contain narrated nightmares courtesy of CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani "Filth" Davey, plus additional vocals from Sarah Jezebel Deva, on disc 1, while disc 2 will include purely orchestral and symphonic recordings.
"Midnight In The Labyrinth" is the latest, inspired work, from British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH, traversing an ethereal cinematic landscape of classical and symphonic darkness; a style the band has always woven seamlessly into their compositions.
Taking the most requested tracks from the first four official releases, CRADLE OF FILTH have fulfilled audience desire by creating an album based on their most popular older tracks, but one that is delivered orchestrally to create a rich, haunting sonic landscape in the vein of soundtrack composers such as Jerry Goldsmith, Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer.
Ten songs make up this 78-minute meisterwerk (including the addition of a thirteen-minute exclusive aural séance on CD1), indulging such CRADLE OF FILTH classics as "Funeral In Carpathia", "The Twisted Nails Of Faith" and "Summer Dying Fast", which has already been showcased on last year's "Evermore Darkly" EP to a more than rapturous audience response.
Filth stated in a recent interview about the band's decision to record an orchestral album, "We've been talking about it for ages. We've always been fans of soundtracks and being cinematic and gracing our albums with that sort of similar content. We just wanted to do an album that stood alone. The opportunity came to re-record, as other bands have done, some earlier material. But we thought no, why not re-imagine select songs the fans really like from our first few releases, and then interpret them as orchestral pieces?"
Filth previously described "Midnight In The Labyrinth" as "no elevator music (or indeed the theme music to 'Schindler's Lift'!); this is a full-on horror film soundtrack in the vein of Danny Elfman, Christopher Young or Jerry Goldsmith. Musical scores to whittle away the evil winter months to…"
"Midnight In The Labyrinth" is the latest, inspired work, from British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH, traversing an ethereal cinematic landscape of classical and symphonic darkness; a style the band has always woven seamlessly into their compositions.
Taking the most requested tracks from the first four official releases, CRADLE OF FILTH have fulfilled audience desire by creating an album based on their most popular older tracks, but one that is delivered orchestrally to create a rich, haunting sonic landscape in the vein of soundtrack composers such as Jerry Goldsmith, Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer.
Ten songs make up this 78-minute meisterwerk (including the addition of a thirteen-minute exclusive aural séance on CD1), indulging such CRADLE OF FILTH classics as "Funeral In Carpathia", "The Twisted Nails Of Faith" and "Summer Dying Fast", which has already been showcased on last year's "Evermore Darkly" EP to a more than rapturous audience response.
Filth stated in a recent interview about the band's decision to record an orchestral album, "We've been talking about it for ages. We've always been fans of soundtracks and being cinematic and gracing our albums with that sort of similar content. We just wanted to do an album that stood alone. The opportunity came to re-record, as other bands have done, some earlier material. But we thought no, why not re-imagine select songs the fans really like from our first few releases, and then interpret them as orchestral pieces?"
Filth previously described "Midnight In The Labyrinth" as "no elevator music (or indeed the theme music to 'Schindler's Lift'!); this is a full-on horror film soundtrack in the vein of Danny Elfman, Christopher Young or Jerry Goldsmith. Musical scores to whittle away the evil winter months to…"
On May 21, Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM will release "Holiday At Lake Bodom (15 Years Of Wasted Youth)", a very special CD+DVD career retrospective in celebration of the band's 15th anniversary. The release will spotlight specially selected tracks from every one of the group's critically acclaimed albums (1997's "Something Wild", 1999's "Hatebreeder", 2000's "Follow The Reaper", 2003's "Hate Crew Deathroll", 2005's "Are You Dead Yet?", 2008's "Blooddrunk" and 2011's "Relentless Reckless Forever"), plus two newly recorded (and undeniably fun) cover songs and detailed liner notes penned by the members of CHILDREN OF BODOM themselves. The DVD portion of the package will include "candid touring and backstage footage from around the world", plus the never-before-seen music video for "Relentless Reckless Forever"'s "Shovel Knockout".
"'15 Years Of Wasted Youth' is the sound of CHILDREN OF BODOM working hard, partying hard, being relentless and stubborn," says the band's guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho. "We went through many brick walls to get to where we are, and after seven studio albums, two live albums, non-stop touring, bleeding and breaking a lot of bones, I think we are justified in putting this album out. Let the music speak for itself. You have been warned."
The release of "Holiday At Lake Bodom (15 Years Of Wasted Youth)" continues CHILDREN OF BODOM's year-long anniversary celebration, which kicked off with the band's highly successful "15th Anniversary" headlining tour of North America.
In an interview with MusikUniverse.net, Laiho said that the band is scheduled to commence the songwriting sessions for its next album this fall for a 2013 release. "I have ideas, but I haven't done anything about it," Alexi said. "'Cause the thing is, I can't write when I'm touring; it's not the right kind of environment for me. I know a lot of people do it, but I just can't. And it's OK, 'cause I build a lot of ideas in my head, and my memory sucks, but one thing that I never forget is the riffs; they're always in my head somehow. So it's really not a problem."
CHILDREN OF BODOM's last album, "Relentless Reckless Forever", sold nearly 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, 2008's "Blooddrunk", opened with 19,000 units to land at No. 22. This number was roughly four times the opening tally of "Blooddrunk"'s predecessor, "Are You Dead Yet?", which premiered with 5,000 units back in October 2005 to enter the chart at No. 195.
"Relentless Reckless Forever" was certified gold in the band's home country for first-day sales of over 10,000 copies. The CD was recorded in Finland's Petrax Studios with famed rock producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, MONSTER MAGNET).
"'15 Years Of Wasted Youth' is the sound of CHILDREN OF BODOM working hard, partying hard, being relentless and stubborn," says the band's guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho. "We went through many brick walls to get to where we are, and after seven studio albums, two live albums, non-stop touring, bleeding and breaking a lot of bones, I think we are justified in putting this album out. Let the music speak for itself. You have been warned."
The release of "Holiday At Lake Bodom (15 Years Of Wasted Youth)" continues CHILDREN OF BODOM's year-long anniversary celebration, which kicked off with the band's highly successful "15th Anniversary" headlining tour of North America.
In an interview with MusikUniverse.net, Laiho said that the band is scheduled to commence the songwriting sessions for its next album this fall for a 2013 release. "I have ideas, but I haven't done anything about it," Alexi said. "'Cause the thing is, I can't write when I'm touring; it's not the right kind of environment for me. I know a lot of people do it, but I just can't. And it's OK, 'cause I build a lot of ideas in my head, and my memory sucks, but one thing that I never forget is the riffs; they're always in my head somehow. So it's really not a problem."
CHILDREN OF BODOM's last album, "Relentless Reckless Forever", sold nearly 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, 2008's "Blooddrunk", opened with 19,000 units to land at No. 22. This number was roughly four times the opening tally of "Blooddrunk"'s predecessor, "Are You Dead Yet?", which premiered with 5,000 units back in October 2005 to enter the chart at No. 195.
"Relentless Reckless Forever" was certified gold in the band's home country for first-day sales of over 10,000 copies. The CD was recorded in Finland's Petrax Studios with famed rock producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, MONSTER MAGNET).
Chicago heavy rockers SOIL will release their first-ever DVD, entitled "Re-LIVE-Ing The Scars", on May 8 via Bieler Bros. Records. The two-disc set, which was recorded live on October 14, 2011 at Electric Ballroom in London, England, will contain an audio CD version of the same concert. Also included is over one hour of backstage and behind-the-scenes bonus footage and photos.
SOIL's current lineup consists of founding members Ryan McCombs (vocals; ex-DROWNING POOL), Tim King (bass) and Adam Zadel (guitar) alongside former STAIND drummer Jon Wysocki.
"Re-LIVE-Ing The Scars" track listing:
01. Breaking Me Down
02. Need To Feel
03. My Own
04. Redefine
05. Cross My Heart
06. Inside
07. The One
08. Wide Open
09. Black 7
10. Unreal
11. Halo
12. Pride
The 10th-anniversary edition of SOIL's breakthrough album "Scars" — featuring the hits "Halo" and "Unreal" — was made available digitally on October 10 through Sony Music. The release features the rare B-side "Center" and the previously unreleased track "Damaged You" from the "Scars" recording sessions.
SOIL's current lineup consists of founding members Ryan McCombs (vocals; ex-DROWNING POOL), Tim King (bass) and Adam Zadel (guitar) alongside former STAIND drummer Jon Wysocki.
"Re-LIVE-Ing The Scars" track listing:
01. Breaking Me Down
02. Need To Feel
03. My Own
04. Redefine
05. Cross My Heart
06. Inside
07. The One
08. Wide Open
09. Black 7
10. Unreal
11. Halo
12. Pride
The 10th-anniversary edition of SOIL's breakthrough album "Scars" — featuring the hits "Halo" and "Unreal" — was made available digitally on October 10 through Sony Music. The release features the rare B-side "Center" and the previously unreleased track "Damaged You" from the "Scars" recording sessions.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/soildvd.jpg
MINISTRY, the reactivated industrial metal pioneers led by Al Jourgensen, have released the following statement:
"Dearest MINISTRY fans! Someone has erroneously issued a press release to media stating that Al Jourgensen will be attending SXSW [South By Southwest in Austin, Texas] and conducting a panel with Clown of SLIPKNOT entitled 'Seeing Red Aesthetics & Visuals of Metal' scheduled for March 15th from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. in Room 11AB at the Austin Convention Center.
"While 13th Planet [the record label founded by Al Jourgensen and his wife, Angelina, in 2004] supports both SXSW and Clown of SLIPKNOT, no one ever contacted Al's management to invite Al to participate in this panel, and Al WILL NOT BE attending SXSW nor participating in any panel of any kind whatsoever. Any notice or announcement of Al Jourgensen's presence at SXSW or participation in any panel is FALSE."
MINISTRY's new album, "Relapse", will be released on March 26. The CD was recorded last fall at Jourgensen's industrial compound studio in with his favorite co-conspirators Mike Scaccia (RIGOR MORTIS), Tony Campos (STATIC-X), Tommy Victor (PRONG) and Casey Orr (RIGOR MORTIS, GWAR).
Reaching back to his punk rock roots, Jourgensen and his MINISTRY pirates cover S.O.D.'s "United Forces" — a track written 20 years ago still relevant today as a call to arms for the unrighteous and to those who feel disenfranchised by the "system" as it stands today.
"Dearest MINISTRY fans! Someone has erroneously issued a press release to media stating that Al Jourgensen will be attending SXSW [South By Southwest in Austin, Texas] and conducting a panel with Clown of SLIPKNOT entitled 'Seeing Red Aesthetics & Visuals of Metal' scheduled for March 15th from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. in Room 11AB at the Austin Convention Center.
"While 13th Planet [the record label founded by Al Jourgensen and his wife, Angelina, in 2004] supports both SXSW and Clown of SLIPKNOT, no one ever contacted Al's management to invite Al to participate in this panel, and Al WILL NOT BE attending SXSW nor participating in any panel of any kind whatsoever. Any notice or announcement of Al Jourgensen's presence at SXSW or participation in any panel is FALSE."
MINISTRY's new album, "Relapse", will be released on March 26. The CD was recorded last fall at Jourgensen's industrial compound studio in with his favorite co-conspirators Mike Scaccia (RIGOR MORTIS), Tony Campos (STATIC-X), Tommy Victor (PRONG) and Casey Orr (RIGOR MORTIS, GWAR).
Reaching back to his punk rock roots, Jourgensen and his MINISTRY pirates cover S.O.D.'s "United Forces" — a track written 20 years ago still relevant today as a call to arms for the unrighteous and to those who feel disenfranchised by the "system" as it stands today.
Reunited Los Angeles heavy metal legends MALICE will release their new album, "New Breed Of Godz", on May 22 in the U.S./Canada, May 25 in Germany and May 28 in the rest of Europe through SPV/Steamhammer. The band recently entered Silvercloud Recording studio in Redondo Beach, California with producer Joe Floyd (HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON, WARRIOR) to record updated versions of eight classic MALICE metal anthems such as "Stellar Masters" and "Sinister Double" as well as "four killer new tracks" for the CD, which will be made available as a high-class digipak with a bonus DVD.
"New Breed Of Godz" track listing:
CD:
01. New Breed Of Godz (new song)
02. Hell Rider
03. Against The Empire
04. Branded (new song)
05. Sinister Double
06. Circle Of Fire
07. Stellar Masters
08. Winds Of Death (Angel Of Light) (new song)
09. Air Attack
10. Chain Gang Woman
11. Slipping Through The Cracks (new song)
12. Godz Of Thunder
DVD contents (running time: approximately 60 minutes)
* Rare live footage from 1987
* Three live tracks from 2011 edition of Keep It True festival in Germany
* Making of "New Breed Of Godz" album
MALICE will hit the road in the fall, with dates to be announced soon. Stepping in for Mark Behn on the live front will be Robert Cardenas (AGENT STEEL), who also laid down the bass tracks on the new songs in the studio.
"We were all amazed at the great crowd response and turnout for the gigs we played in 2011, and it feels great to have a well-known label like SPV behind us, be in the studio with a veteran lineup and have a killer producer," stated MALICE guitarist Jay Reynolds. "There will no longer be an absence of MALICE!"
In an early 2011 interview with KNAC.COM, Zane stated about MALICE's present incarnation, "Pete's been out on the road with MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP for the last ten years and he's doing some dates with BLACK 'N BLUE. . . We're excited to have James Rivera come in and [play] with us. He did a great job on the VICIOUS RUMORS 'Warball' record. . . Brian Allen, who did our last reunion show, is now singing with VICIOUS RUMORS and we even approached Tim 'The Ripper' Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) at one point."
Regarding MALICE's forthcoming album, Zane told KNAC.COM, "We have some killer new songs in the can and we're really stoked at the thought of getting back in the studio and releasing a new MALICE record. We released a new CD of rare and unreleased tracks [in 2010] on Retrospect Records that's been doing very well. Everyone's really going to like the new stuff."
The band released an album titled "The Rare And Unreleased" in 2010 on Retrospect Records.
MALICE's two Atlantic releases — "In the Beginning" (1985) and "License to Kill" (1986) — are available Stateside on WEA label Wounded Bird and have continued to sell over the years.
MALICE is:
Jay Reynolds - Guitar
Mick Zane - Guitar
Mark Behn - Bass (on re-recorded versions of old songs)
Robert Cardenas - Bass (on new songs)
James Rivera - Vocals
Pete Holmes – Drums
For more information, visit MALICE's official web site, www.malicemusic.com.
"New Breed Of Godz" track listing:
CD:
01. New Breed Of Godz (new song)
02. Hell Rider
03. Against The Empire
04. Branded (new song)
05. Sinister Double
06. Circle Of Fire
07. Stellar Masters
08. Winds Of Death (Angel Of Light) (new song)
09. Air Attack
10. Chain Gang Woman
11. Slipping Through The Cracks (new song)
12. Godz Of Thunder
DVD contents (running time: approximately 60 minutes)
* Rare live footage from 1987
* Three live tracks from 2011 edition of Keep It True festival in Germany
* Making of "New Breed Of Godz" album
MALICE will hit the road in the fall, with dates to be announced soon. Stepping in for Mark Behn on the live front will be Robert Cardenas (AGENT STEEL), who also laid down the bass tracks on the new songs in the studio.
"We were all amazed at the great crowd response and turnout for the gigs we played in 2011, and it feels great to have a well-known label like SPV behind us, be in the studio with a veteran lineup and have a killer producer," stated MALICE guitarist Jay Reynolds. "There will no longer be an absence of MALICE!"
In an early 2011 interview with KNAC.COM, Zane stated about MALICE's present incarnation, "Pete's been out on the road with MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP for the last ten years and he's doing some dates with BLACK 'N BLUE. . . We're excited to have James Rivera come in and [play] with us. He did a great job on the VICIOUS RUMORS 'Warball' record. . . Brian Allen, who did our last reunion show, is now singing with VICIOUS RUMORS and we even approached Tim 'The Ripper' Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) at one point."
Regarding MALICE's forthcoming album, Zane told KNAC.COM, "We have some killer new songs in the can and we're really stoked at the thought of getting back in the studio and releasing a new MALICE record. We released a new CD of rare and unreleased tracks [in 2010] on Retrospect Records that's been doing very well. Everyone's really going to like the new stuff."
The band released an album titled "The Rare And Unreleased" in 2010 on Retrospect Records.
MALICE's two Atlantic releases — "In the Beginning" (1985) and "License to Kill" (1986) — are available Stateside on WEA label Wounded Bird and have continued to sell over the years.
MALICE is:
Jay Reynolds - Guitar
Mick Zane - Guitar
Mark Behn - Bass (on re-recorded versions of old songs)
Robert Cardenas - Bass (on new songs)
James Rivera - Vocals
Pete Holmes – Drums
For more information, visit MALICE's official web site, www.malicemusic.com.
German alcoholic thrashers TANKARD have entered a studio in Buchen/Odenwald with producer Michael Mainx (ONKELZ, DER W, DISBELIEF, D-A-D) to record their 30th-anniversary album, due later in the year via the band's new label home, Nuclear Blast Records.
Commented Mainx: "I'm really looking forward to go on the second round with TANKARD to record the songs for their 30-years anniversary album worthily and sustain the successful and direfully work together with the thrash metal veterans from Frankfurt."
Added TANKARD vocalist Andreas "Gerre" Geremia: "We're shaking like a leaf because it's very near that Michael Mainx is going to screw us again... sternness apart: we are also very excited about working with him together again. Especially I, as the singer of the band, treasured him because at 'Vol(l)ume 14', he brought out the best in me, had ingenious ideas and was the bodily patience! Let's do it again!"
TANKARD's fourteenth studio album, "Vol(l)ume 14", was released on December 17, 2010 via AFM Records. The limited-edition digipak version of the album includes a bonus DVD containing footage of TANKARD's performance at the 2009 edition of the Headbangers Open Air festival, which took place July 23-25, 2009 in in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany.
Pictured below (from left to right): Mick Zane, Jay Reynolds, James Rivera, Robert Cardenas, Pete Holmes
Commented Mainx: "I'm really looking forward to go on the second round with TANKARD to record the songs for their 30-years anniversary album worthily and sustain the successful and direfully work together with the thrash metal veterans from Frankfurt."
Added TANKARD vocalist Andreas "Gerre" Geremia: "We're shaking like a leaf because it's very near that Michael Mainx is going to screw us again... sternness apart: we are also very excited about working with him together again. Especially I, as the singer of the band, treasured him because at 'Vol(l)ume 14', he brought out the best in me, had ingenious ideas and was the bodily patience! Let's do it again!"
TANKARD's fourteenth studio album, "Vol(l)ume 14", was released on December 17, 2010 via AFM Records. The limited-edition digipak version of the album includes a bonus DVD containing footage of TANKARD's performance at the 2009 edition of the Headbangers Open Air festival, which took place July 23-25, 2009 in in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany.
Pictured below (from left to right): Mick Zane, Jay Reynolds, James Rivera, Robert Cardenas, Pete Holmes
Swedish glam rockers CRASHDÏET are in the process of writing and recording pre-production demos for their as-yet-untitled fourth album. A two-minute "sneak peek" into the sessions is available below.
CRASHDÏET's third album, "Generation Wild", was recently released on vinyl. This gatefold LP features the new bonus track "Hollywood Teaze" as well as updated artwork.
"Generation Wild" entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 3. The CD, which was made available in Sweden in April 2010 through Gain/Sony Music, was helmed by RamPac, the production and songwriting team formed by Johan Ramström and Patrik Magnusson, in Gröndal, Sweden and was mixed by Tobias Lindell.
CRASHDÏET in 2009 announced the addition of Simon "Simme" Cruz from the Stockholm act JAILBAIT as the group's new lead singer.
The band parted ways with its previous vocalist, the Finland-based H. Olliver Twisted, in July 2008.
CRASHDÏET's third album, "Generation Wild", was recently released on vinyl. This gatefold LP features the new bonus track "Hollywood Teaze" as well as updated artwork.
"Generation Wild" entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 3. The CD, which was made available in Sweden in April 2010 through Gain/Sony Music, was helmed by RamPac, the production and songwriting team formed by Johan Ramström and Patrik Magnusson, in Gröndal, Sweden and was mixed by Tobias Lindell.
CRASHDÏET in 2009 announced the addition of Simon "Simme" Cruz from the Stockholm act JAILBAIT as the group's new lead singer.
The band parted ways with its previous vocalist, the Finland-based H. Olliver Twisted, in July 2008.
Karlstad, Sweden-based metal/rock band SPARZANZA recently entered the studio to begin recording its sixth album, to be released later in the year via Spinefarm Records. The group states, "Almost all the parts are done except for Fred [Fredrik Weileby], who has some singing left, and after that we will start the mixing session. This time we have dug a little bit further in our minds, trying to create a really dark and heavy album, but still having focus on writing good melodies. We also added a lot more percussion parts, dark choirs and live strings. It sounds so good and we know that you will be blown away. We also started with the artwork for the cover. It seems that it will include some hands, checker flag and statues... but who knows where it will end up."
SPARZANZA's fifth album, "Folie À Cinq", was released in February 2011 via Spinefarm. The CD was recorded between September and November 2010 at Leon Music with producer Rikard Löfgren, who helmed the band's previous two CDs and has also worked with such other artists as HELLFUELED, VOMITORY and DEATHSTARS.
SPARZANZA is:
Fredrik Weileby - Vocals
Calle Johannesson - Guitar
Magnus Eronen - Guitar
Anders Åberg - Drums
Johan Carlsson – Bass
SPARZANZA's fifth album, "Folie À Cinq", was released in February 2011 via Spinefarm. The CD was recorded between September and November 2010 at Leon Music with producer Rikard Löfgren, who helmed the band's previous two CDs and has also worked with such other artists as HELLFUELED, VOMITORY and DEATHSTARS.
SPARZANZA is:
Fredrik Weileby - Vocals
Calle Johannesson - Guitar
Magnus Eronen - Guitar
Anders Åberg - Drums
Johan Carlsson – Bass
Joe Bosso of MusicRadar.com recently conducted an interview with RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello about the enduring influence of Randy Rhoads (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT) who died in a plane crash 30 years ago this month. A couple of excerpts from the chat follows below.
MusicRadar.com: Do you recall the first time you heard Randy Rhoads?
Morello: Sure. I remember the exact moment. I was packed in the back of somebody's mom's hatchback in Libertyville. The radio was turned to The Loop in Chicago, and this song called "Crazy Train" by OZZY OSBOURNE came on. The other people in the car were more New Wave fans, and they were talking over it, but suddenly I was yelling, "Everybody, shut up! What is that?" This blistering riff came at me, followed by an incredible solo, and of course, there was Ozzy — I recognized his voice as the guy from BLACK SABBATH — and by the end of it, I was like, "What just happened?" There was no "interweb" at the time, so I had to wait for the next Circus magazine to explain to me what it was. And then I ran out and bought the "Blizzard Of Ozz" cassette.
MusicRadar.com: Did Randy spark your interest in playing the guitar?
Morello: I had already started playing, but it was right around the same time. I was big fan of punk rock and the whole do-it-yourself ethic, so for a guitar player to come along and rekindle the spirit and reset the bar for hard rock guitar players was a pretty big deal. See, I was never a big fan of the whole "party-hard-we're-gonna-rock-harder" world. I liked music. But I could see myself in Randy, how he was a real student of music. The fact that he practiced for hours on end really appealed to me. He was serious, and he wanted only to get better at his craft. When I was practicing eight hours a day, his was the poster I had on my wall. Almost immediately after hearing him for the first time, he became my favorite guitar player. I remember buying "Diary Of A Madman" when it came out, and somebody at the record store was making fun of me because of the album cover. I had to explain to this person that, while I certainly liked Ozzy, I was really a big Randy Rhoads fan — that's why I was buying the record. It was like, "Well, the guitar player doesn't have raspberry jelly coming out of his mouth…" Randy was a serious, you know?"
MusicRadar.com: Do you recall the first time you heard Randy Rhoads?
Morello: Sure. I remember the exact moment. I was packed in the back of somebody's mom's hatchback in Libertyville. The radio was turned to The Loop in Chicago, and this song called "Crazy Train" by OZZY OSBOURNE came on. The other people in the car were more New Wave fans, and they were talking over it, but suddenly I was yelling, "Everybody, shut up! What is that?" This blistering riff came at me, followed by an incredible solo, and of course, there was Ozzy — I recognized his voice as the guy from BLACK SABBATH — and by the end of it, I was like, "What just happened?" There was no "interweb" at the time, so I had to wait for the next Circus magazine to explain to me what it was. And then I ran out and bought the "Blizzard Of Ozz" cassette.
MusicRadar.com: Did Randy spark your interest in playing the guitar?
Morello: I had already started playing, but it was right around the same time. I was big fan of punk rock and the whole do-it-yourself ethic, so for a guitar player to come along and rekindle the spirit and reset the bar for hard rock guitar players was a pretty big deal. See, I was never a big fan of the whole "party-hard-we're-gonna-rock-harder" world. I liked music. But I could see myself in Randy, how he was a real student of music. The fact that he practiced for hours on end really appealed to me. He was serious, and he wanted only to get better at his craft. When I was practicing eight hours a day, his was the poster I had on my wall. Almost immediately after hearing him for the first time, he became my favorite guitar player. I remember buying "Diary Of A Madman" when it came out, and somebody at the record store was making fun of me because of the album cover. I had to explain to this person that, while I certainly liked Ozzy, I was really a big Randy Rhoads fan — that's why I was buying the record. It was like, "Well, the guitar player doesn't have raspberry jelly coming out of his mouth…" Randy was a serious, you know?"
Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TED NUGENT), Roy Z (JUDAS PRIEST, HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON) and Bobby Rondinelli (RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH) have joined forces in a new "supergroup called COMMUNION.
The band's official web site has been launched at http://williebasse.com/Communion/comm/communion.html
The band's official web site has been launched at http://williebasse.com/Communion/comm/communion.html
According to a posting on the site, COMMUNION is "the new supergroup of grounded, seasoned, professional rock stars who have come together to share in the purpose of mass participation in life."
COMMUNION is:
* Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ROYAL HUNT) - Vocals
* Roy Z (JUDAS PRIEST, HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON) - Guitar
* Bobby Rondinelli (RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH) - Drums
* Edward Roth (HALFORD, GLENN HUGHES) - Keyboards
* Willie Basse (BLACK SHEEP) - Bass
COMMUNION is:
* Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ROYAL HUNT) - Vocals
* Roy Z (JUDAS PRIEST, HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON) - Guitar
* Bobby Rondinelli (RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH) - Drums
* Edward Roth (HALFORD, GLENN HUGHES) - Keyboards
* Willie Basse (BLACK SHEEP) - Bass
Reunited '80s melodic heavy rock band DRIVER — featuring powerhouse vocalist Rob Rock (IMPELLITTERI, JOSHUA, WARRIOR, AVANTASIA, AXEL RUDI PELL) and acclaimed guitarist/producer Roy Z (BRUCE DICKINSON, HALFORD, JUDAS PRIEST, SEBASTIAN BACH, ROB ROCK, TRIBE OF GYPSIES, HELLOWEEN) — has completed work on its new album, "Countdown", to be released later in the year via Metal Heaven in Europe, King Records in Japan and RockZilla in the U.S.
According to a press release, "Countdown" is a mixture of brand new material and several rescued-from-the-vaults demo gems, which interlock seamlessly for a classic DRIVER-style album, aided by Roy Z's emphasis on vintage production values that harken back to the glory days of early 80's heavy metal ala DIO's "Holy Diver" and OZZY OSBOURNE's "Diary Of A Madman".
DRIVER is centered around Rock and Roy and features original drummer Reynold "Butch" Carlson (JAG PANZER, JOEY TAFOLLA, TRIBE AFTER TRIBE), along with seasoned players Ed Roth (GLENN HUGHES, RONNIE MONTROSE, IMPELLITTERI) on keyboards and Aaron Samson (ODIN, GEORGE LYNCH, JOHN 5) on bass.
Chiefly recorded and mixed at Roy Z's California-based studio, "Countdown" features additional contributions coming from bassists Ray Burke (LIFE AFTER DEATH, BRUCE DICKINSON) and Daniel Cordova (SHADES OF CRIMSON, VENGEANCE RISING), as well as veteran vocalist Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ROYAL HUNT). Mastering duties were again handled by Maor Appelbaum (HALFORD, SEPULTURA, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN).
The last DRIVER album, "Sons Of Thunder", was released in September 2008 via Metal Heaven.
DRIVER issued a widely circulated five-song cassette EP demo in 1990 that garnered the band a dedicated worldwide following as well as attained cult status as one of the most underrated hard rock acts of its time. Since then, Rock and Roy Z have forged ahead to garner long successful careers in the music business. 2008 saw the reunion of the band which resulted in the recordings of the aforementioned CD.
DRIVER is:
Rob Rock - Vocals
Roy Z - Guitars
Reynold "Butch" Carlson - Drums
Ed Roth - Keyboards
Aaron Samson – Bass
According to a press release, "Countdown" is a mixture of brand new material and several rescued-from-the-vaults demo gems, which interlock seamlessly for a classic DRIVER-style album, aided by Roy Z's emphasis on vintage production values that harken back to the glory days of early 80's heavy metal ala DIO's "Holy Diver" and OZZY OSBOURNE's "Diary Of A Madman".
DRIVER is centered around Rock and Roy and features original drummer Reynold "Butch" Carlson (JAG PANZER, JOEY TAFOLLA, TRIBE AFTER TRIBE), along with seasoned players Ed Roth (GLENN HUGHES, RONNIE MONTROSE, IMPELLITTERI) on keyboards and Aaron Samson (ODIN, GEORGE LYNCH, JOHN 5) on bass.
Chiefly recorded and mixed at Roy Z's California-based studio, "Countdown" features additional contributions coming from bassists Ray Burke (LIFE AFTER DEATH, BRUCE DICKINSON) and Daniel Cordova (SHADES OF CRIMSON, VENGEANCE RISING), as well as veteran vocalist Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ROYAL HUNT). Mastering duties were again handled by Maor Appelbaum (HALFORD, SEPULTURA, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN).
The last DRIVER album, "Sons Of Thunder", was released in September 2008 via Metal Heaven.
DRIVER issued a widely circulated five-song cassette EP demo in 1990 that garnered the band a dedicated worldwide following as well as attained cult status as one of the most underrated hard rock acts of its time. Since then, Rock and Roy Z have forged ahead to garner long successful careers in the music business. 2008 saw the reunion of the band which resulted in the recordings of the aforementioned CD.
DRIVER is:
Rob Rock - Vocals
Roy Z - Guitars
Reynold "Butch" Carlson - Drums
Ed Roth - Keyboards
Aaron Samson – Bass
The exhibition "Worlds Away - The Art of Michel Langevin" will be part of this year's edition of the Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands. The exhibition will feature work by VOIVOD drummer and artist Michel "Away" Langevin, who, along with his bandmates, is curating the special Au-delà du Réel event at Roadburn this year. Gust Van Dijk, Home To Contemporary Art, will host the exhibition. The gallery is located just around the corner and up the street from the 013 and Patronaat venues.
Langevin, 48, was born under the sign of Gemini, which seems apt for someone who is consistently described as down to earth but whose art is revered for being so far out. As the drummer and founding member of the mighty VOIVOD, he began touring the globe in the mid-Eighties and hasn't stopped yet. As an artist, he likes nothing more than to retire to his studio in splendid isolation to create with his pencils, inks and computer. These contradictions are alive and well in his art, where ancient history collides with the future, aliens meet archetypes, and insects share a tender embrace against a backdrop of warheads.
Growing up in Kenogami, a small town north of Montreal, the din of nearby factories and news reports of nuclear proliferation fed Michel's anxiety and dystopian visions. Initially, music and art offered an escape; later, they became an outlet. Michel credits myriad publications, films and music with influencing his art and providing inspiration, such as Philippe Druillet (Metal Hurlant), whose mutant warriors in Urm le Fou sowed the seeds of imagination for the Voivod character.
Scenes from films that impressed him at a young age would weave their way into his artwork: once the stuff of nightmares, he enlisted the giant arachnid from "The Incredible Shrinking Man" to tow a carnival trailer on "Angel Rat", VOIVOD's sixth album. Rodney Matthews' cover art for NAZARETH's "No Mean City" made an indelible impression but it was the prog band MAGMA that provided Michel with the template for the first VOIVOD shirts. The one-time chemistry student is a true alchemist at heart.
Those spidery lines, those imploring stares, the astronomical symbols, the phantasmagoric landscapes, the alien nations, and the alienation itself: you can tell Michel's work from a million light years away.
Worlds Away - The Art Of Michel Langevin
April 12 - May 6
Gust Van Dijk, Home To Contemporary Art
Tivolistraat 22, 5017 HP Tilburg
Open 3 p.m. – 9 p.m. during Roadburn (April 12-15) and otherwise by appointment.
Langevin, 48, was born under the sign of Gemini, which seems apt for someone who is consistently described as down to earth but whose art is revered for being so far out. As the drummer and founding member of the mighty VOIVOD, he began touring the globe in the mid-Eighties and hasn't stopped yet. As an artist, he likes nothing more than to retire to his studio in splendid isolation to create with his pencils, inks and computer. These contradictions are alive and well in his art, where ancient history collides with the future, aliens meet archetypes, and insects share a tender embrace against a backdrop of warheads.
Growing up in Kenogami, a small town north of Montreal, the din of nearby factories and news reports of nuclear proliferation fed Michel's anxiety and dystopian visions. Initially, music and art offered an escape; later, they became an outlet. Michel credits myriad publications, films and music with influencing his art and providing inspiration, such as Philippe Druillet (Metal Hurlant), whose mutant warriors in Urm le Fou sowed the seeds of imagination for the Voivod character.
Scenes from films that impressed him at a young age would weave their way into his artwork: once the stuff of nightmares, he enlisted the giant arachnid from "The Incredible Shrinking Man" to tow a carnival trailer on "Angel Rat", VOIVOD's sixth album. Rodney Matthews' cover art for NAZARETH's "No Mean City" made an indelible impression but it was the prog band MAGMA that provided Michel with the template for the first VOIVOD shirts. The one-time chemistry student is a true alchemist at heart.
Those spidery lines, those imploring stares, the astronomical symbols, the phantasmagoric landscapes, the alien nations, and the alienation itself: you can tell Michel's work from a million light years away.
Worlds Away - The Art Of Michel Langevin
April 12 - May 6
Gust Van Dijk, Home To Contemporary Art
Tivolistraat 22, 5017 HP Tilburg
Open 3 p.m. – 9 p.m. during Roadburn (April 12-15) and otherwise by appointment.
Australian thrash metal veterans MORTAL SIN have recruited Dave Tinelt as their new vocalist. The group states, "Dave comes to us from another great Aussie band, NEKROFEIST, we are very excited for him to join the family. Our first show with Dave will be this Saturday at Venom in Sydney, [with] more shows to follow in the next few weeks."
A photo of the new MORTAL SIN lineup can be seen below.
For a sample of Tinelt's vocal work, check out video for NEKROFEIST's "Kills Everything" below.
Vocalist Mat Maurer quit MORTAL SIN last month "for personal reasons and irreconcilable differences." He added, "Last year was an incredibly difficult year for me personally and I have decided to put my family first."
MORTAL SIN's latest album, "Psychology Of Death", was released in Europe on November 18, 2011 via NoiseArt Records. The effort includes the group's classic debut LP, "Mayhemic Destruction", as a bonus disc in the limited digipak version. The follow-up to 2007's "An Absence of Faith" was mixed with producer/engineer Darren "jENK" Jenkins and marks the recording debut of guitarist Ryan Huthnance, who replaced Mick Sultana.
Once hailed as the next METALLICA, MORTAL SIN have become legends in their home country Australia, having been inducted into the Kerrang! Heavy Metal Hall of Fame in 2005 and being the only Australian band to have played with the big five of thrash — METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX, MEGADETH and TESTAMENT — on tours in Australia and overseas.
A photo of the new MORTAL SIN lineup can be seen below.
For a sample of Tinelt's vocal work, check out video for NEKROFEIST's "Kills Everything" below.
Vocalist Mat Maurer quit MORTAL SIN last month "for personal reasons and irreconcilable differences." He added, "Last year was an incredibly difficult year for me personally and I have decided to put my family first."
MORTAL SIN's latest album, "Psychology Of Death", was released in Europe on November 18, 2011 via NoiseArt Records. The effort includes the group's classic debut LP, "Mayhemic Destruction", as a bonus disc in the limited digipak version. The follow-up to 2007's "An Absence of Faith" was mixed with producer/engineer Darren "jENK" Jenkins and marks the recording debut of guitarist Ryan Huthnance, who replaced Mick Sultana.
Once hailed as the next METALLICA, MORTAL SIN have become legends in their home country Australia, having been inducted into the Kerrang! Heavy Metal Hall of Fame in 2005 and being the only Australian band to have played with the big five of thrash — METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX, MEGADETH and TESTAMENT — on tours in Australia and overseas.
DEVILDRIVER bassist Aaron "Bubble" Patrick has been hospitalized with pneumonia and is currently undergoing tests to determine how serious it is. Filling in for Patrick for the first few shows of DEVILDRIVER's Metal Alliance Tour will be his former BURY YOUR DEAD bandmate Chris Towning.
The Metal Alliance Tour — which also features THE FACELESS, DYING FETUS, JOB FOR A COWBOY, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, IMPENDING DOOM and WRETCHED — is scheduled to kick off this coming Thursday, March 15 at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
Patrick joined DEVILDRIVER as the replacement for Jonathan Miller, who quit the band in March 2011, calling it "the most difficult decision of my life" but "something that I needed to do for myself."
DEVILDRIVER recently took part in the European "The Eighth Plague Tour" with MACHINE HEAD, BRING ME THE HORIZON and DARKEST HOUR.
"The Eighth Plague Tour" kicked off on November 1 in Oslo, Norway and wrapped on December 6 in Manchester, England.
"Beast", the fifth album from DEVILDRIVER, sold a little over 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The Metal Alliance Tour — which also features THE FACELESS, DYING FETUS, JOB FOR A COWBOY, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, IMPENDING DOOM and WRETCHED — is scheduled to kick off this coming Thursday, March 15 at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
Patrick joined DEVILDRIVER as the replacement for Jonathan Miller, who quit the band in March 2011, calling it "the most difficult decision of my life" but "something that I needed to do for myself."
DEVILDRIVER recently took part in the European "The Eighth Plague Tour" with MACHINE HEAD, BRING ME THE HORIZON and DARKEST HOUR.
"The Eighth Plague Tour" kicked off on November 1 in Oslo, Norway and wrapped on December 6 in Manchester, England.
"Beast", the fifth album from DEVILDRIVER, sold a little over 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart.
Danish modern metallers MNEMIC have set "Mnemesis" as the title of their fifth album, due later in the year via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Antfarm studios in Aabyhøj, Denmark with longtime producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, HIMSA, SICK OF IT ALL). The cover artwork was created by Metastazis (MORBID ANGEL, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, PARADISE LOST, ULVER) and can be seen below.
Commented guitarist Mircea Gabriel Eftemie: "We can say that the new record is done, completed and our mission is finally accomplished.
"Since the disruption and chaos within the band last year, and the acquirement of new members, I never thought we would make it this far. Today everything converged and we ascended from the depths of turmoil, catharsis and hard work everyone has put into this new record, which is entitled 'Mnemesis'. Yes, again we chose something no one can pronounce, just like our band mname.
"For the ones that are curious about our new opus, I can say it's more melodic than what we've done in the past, but at the same time more energetic and not so technical. We tried to incorporate the traditional MNEMIC-esque sound and universe into the compositions, as good as we could. At the same time, we tried to move forward, like everything else in life. All in all, it's more of an atmospheric and melodic record, at least for me."
Working songtitles set to appear on the new MNEMIC album:
* Empty Planet
* Haven At The End Of The World
* Valves
* Blue Desert In A Black Hole
* Transcend
* Junkies On The Storm
MNEMIC last year parted ways with drummer Brian "Brylle" Rasmussen and guitarist Rune Stigart and replaced them with Brian Larsen and Victor-Ray Salomonsen, respectively.
MNEMIC 2012 is:
Guillaume Bideau - Vocals
Mircea Gabriel Eftemie - Guitar
Victor-Ray Salomonsen - Guitar
Simone Bertozzi - Bass
Brian Larsen - Drums
MNEMIC's fourth studio album, "Sons Of The System", was released in Europe on January 15, 2010 and in North America on January 26, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.
Commented guitarist Mircea Gabriel Eftemie: "We can say that the new record is done, completed and our mission is finally accomplished.
"Since the disruption and chaos within the band last year, and the acquirement of new members, I never thought we would make it this far. Today everything converged and we ascended from the depths of turmoil, catharsis and hard work everyone has put into this new record, which is entitled 'Mnemesis'. Yes, again we chose something no one can pronounce, just like our band mname.
"For the ones that are curious about our new opus, I can say it's more melodic than what we've done in the past, but at the same time more energetic and not so technical. We tried to incorporate the traditional MNEMIC-esque sound and universe into the compositions, as good as we could. At the same time, we tried to move forward, like everything else in life. All in all, it's more of an atmospheric and melodic record, at least for me."
Working songtitles set to appear on the new MNEMIC album:
* Empty Planet
* Haven At The End Of The World
* Valves
* Blue Desert In A Black Hole
* Transcend
* Junkies On The Storm
MNEMIC last year parted ways with drummer Brian "Brylle" Rasmussen and guitarist Rune Stigart and replaced them with Brian Larsen and Victor-Ray Salomonsen, respectively.
MNEMIC 2012 is:
Guillaume Bideau - Vocals
Mircea Gabriel Eftemie - Guitar
Victor-Ray Salomonsen - Guitar
Simone Bertozzi - Bass
Brian Larsen - Drums
MNEMIC's fourth studio album, "Sons Of The System", was released in Europe on January 15, 2010 and in North America on January 26, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/mnemesis.jpg
After a long absence from the public eye, intergalactic front-thing Oderus Urungus of the mighty GWAR will once again grace the cable-waves with his unlordly presence, as our wanna-be sports commentator appears on "The Dan Patrick Show" next week! That's right, Oderus in all his fetid glory will enter the man-cave, meet the Danettes, and bask in the glow that is sure to emanate from the luminary figure that we all know Dan Patrick to be! Oderus will share the mike with the man who actually got to touch the Super Bowl trophy and Brooklyn Decker's hand. The appearance is scheduled for Monday, March 19 and the show airs from 9:00 a.m. EST to 12:00 p.m. EST.
Said Oderus: "I'm not gonna lie. I am a big Dan fan, and a proud member of the Dan-nation. I find his smarmy charm most ingratiating. I also hope he can help me with my hair," said the warty one, reached at his Antarctic abode.
"I'm not gonna lie...I hate people that say 'I'm not gonna lie'. I mean, what does that mean, that someone usually does lie when they talk to you? That unless they preface everything they say to you with 'I'm not gonna lie", you should assume they are lying to you? Dan Patrick would never do that. Dan's a straight-shooter."
Oderus is expected to talk about his new FEARnet TV show "Holliston", the future of GWAR, and, of course, sports. Our stinky ruler has been known to pen sports columns on occasion, and his obsession with the Washington Redskins is known by his thousands of twitter followers. He has even prepared a bracket for the upcoming NCAA tournament which he plans to present on the show.
''I have the VCU Rams triumphing over the Jamaican bob-sled team", said our confused leader.
Legendary sports host Dan Patrick entertains America in morning drive along with his producers, The Danettes. "The Dan Patrick Show" features the most extensive A-list interviews from the world of sports entertainment. The radio show which airs in over 270 markets, features astute knowledge, a dry sense of humor and Patrick's unique perspective, as well as a style which provides a "comfort zone" for his co-hosts. Fans can also see "The Dan Patrick Show" live on TV each day on DirecTV and across all regional sports networks (FOX Sports Net, Comcast SN, MSG+, Root Sports).
In other GWAR news, your lords and masters have been confirmed to headline the New York Zombie Prom on June 9 at Irving Plaza in New York City. GWAR will close the event, which also features a pageant of the undead and a killer raffle for an original full page drawing from "The Walking Dead" comic book series. Half of the proceeds from the raffle will benefit The Smoot Family Fund. Tickets are available now and can be purchased here.
GWAR is set to kick off the second leg of "The Return Of The World Maggot" tour this Friday in Richmond, Virginia with a special tribute show for their fallen brother Cory Smoot a.k.a. Flattus Maximus. The show will feature giveaways, raffles and much more as we celebrate the life of Cory Smoot. All proceeds from the show will go to The Smoot Family Fund.
Said Oderus: "I'm not gonna lie. I am a big Dan fan, and a proud member of the Dan-nation. I find his smarmy charm most ingratiating. I also hope he can help me with my hair," said the warty one, reached at his Antarctic abode.
"I'm not gonna lie...I hate people that say 'I'm not gonna lie'. I mean, what does that mean, that someone usually does lie when they talk to you? That unless they preface everything they say to you with 'I'm not gonna lie", you should assume they are lying to you? Dan Patrick would never do that. Dan's a straight-shooter."
Oderus is expected to talk about his new FEARnet TV show "Holliston", the future of GWAR, and, of course, sports. Our stinky ruler has been known to pen sports columns on occasion, and his obsession with the Washington Redskins is known by his thousands of twitter followers. He has even prepared a bracket for the upcoming NCAA tournament which he plans to present on the show.
''I have the VCU Rams triumphing over the Jamaican bob-sled team", said our confused leader.
Legendary sports host Dan Patrick entertains America in morning drive along with his producers, The Danettes. "The Dan Patrick Show" features the most extensive A-list interviews from the world of sports entertainment. The radio show which airs in over 270 markets, features astute knowledge, a dry sense of humor and Patrick's unique perspective, as well as a style which provides a "comfort zone" for his co-hosts. Fans can also see "The Dan Patrick Show" live on TV each day on DirecTV and across all regional sports networks (FOX Sports Net, Comcast SN, MSG+, Root Sports).
In other GWAR news, your lords and masters have been confirmed to headline the New York Zombie Prom on June 9 at Irving Plaza in New York City. GWAR will close the event, which also features a pageant of the undead and a killer raffle for an original full page drawing from "The Walking Dead" comic book series. Half of the proceeds from the raffle will benefit The Smoot Family Fund. Tickets are available now and can be purchased here.
GWAR is set to kick off the second leg of "The Return Of The World Maggot" tour this Friday in Richmond, Virginia with a special tribute show for their fallen brother Cory Smoot a.k.a. Flattus Maximus. The show will feature giveaways, raffles and much more as we celebrate the life of Cory Smoot. All proceeds from the show will go to The Smoot Family Fund.
Norwegian thrashers DEAD TROOPER have released a live album with a bit of a difference. The eight-track effort, "No Tan En Vivo En Mexico", with artwork by Danny Larsen, was released digitally on March 9, and is inspired by the band's appearance at Mexico's Wild Metal Fest last year which was rained off only one and a half songs into the set. As a result, the group decided to release a live studio recording of what would have been the entire show as a tribute to the fans who took DEAD TROOPER to their hearts after they performed an impromptu set at a local biker bar following the cancelation of the festival.
Commented DEAD TROOPER frontman Meister Muller: "To cut a long story short, DEAD TROOPER went to Mexico last year to play their biggest outdoor concert to date at the Wild Metal Fest 2011. We hit the stage and what did we get? Rain. Insane amounts of it, which drowned the stage and cut the power. So much rehearsing and anticipation for this gig and we only got to play 1.5 songs before Mother Nature pissed on us.
"We don't need to tell you how passionate Mexican fans are about their metal and with the festival called off, there ensued the usual riot, fire, fists and shit kickers. After quite a few depressing cervesas and tequilas, we got word that a bunch of disgruntled fans thirsty for Norwegian metal were gathered at a local biker bar, together with a local band and back line, so we headed off to the Route 666 bar and shredded through some songs, including a bunch of covers, together with eminent guests! The bar exploded! We were welcomed as stars! Unbelievable! The intensity, heat and adrenaline of the packed club was only matched by the rain of bear hugs, kisses, praise and love from the crazy metalheads of Cancun when we eventually stumbled off stage.
"Before we were due to appear, we had made this brilliant studio recording of our intended live set, which really captured our live sound in the best way possible and which was only meant for us to dissect and analyze for the sake of perfecting the set. But we had to give something back to Mexico for treating us like metal royalty! 'No Tan En Vivo En Mexico' is the set we intended to play at Wild Metal Fest, and here it is, raw, dirty, heavy, and passionate! This album is for you, Mexico! Te amamos, you bastards!!"
The members of DEAD TROOPER, who describe their music as "groovy, aggressive thrash metal," are currently on the hunt for a label to release what will be their sophomore full-length album. The band's next live appearance will take place at the Inferno Festival in Oslo on April 6.
"Kiss of the Kannibal", a track from "No Tan En Vivo En Mexico", along with other songs from DEAD TROOPER can be heard using the SoundCloud player below. Also available is audio of Meister Muller explaining the decision to release "No Tan En Vivo En Mexico" during a recent interview with DJ Malice for Canada's Nuclear Holocaust Radio.
For more information, visit www.deadtrooper.com.
Commented DEAD TROOPER frontman Meister Muller: "To cut a long story short, DEAD TROOPER went to Mexico last year to play their biggest outdoor concert to date at the Wild Metal Fest 2011. We hit the stage and what did we get? Rain. Insane amounts of it, which drowned the stage and cut the power. So much rehearsing and anticipation for this gig and we only got to play 1.5 songs before Mother Nature pissed on us.
"We don't need to tell you how passionate Mexican fans are about their metal and with the festival called off, there ensued the usual riot, fire, fists and shit kickers. After quite a few depressing cervesas and tequilas, we got word that a bunch of disgruntled fans thirsty for Norwegian metal were gathered at a local biker bar, together with a local band and back line, so we headed off to the Route 666 bar and shredded through some songs, including a bunch of covers, together with eminent guests! The bar exploded! We were welcomed as stars! Unbelievable! The intensity, heat and adrenaline of the packed club was only matched by the rain of bear hugs, kisses, praise and love from the crazy metalheads of Cancun when we eventually stumbled off stage.
"Before we were due to appear, we had made this brilliant studio recording of our intended live set, which really captured our live sound in the best way possible and which was only meant for us to dissect and analyze for the sake of perfecting the set. But we had to give something back to Mexico for treating us like metal royalty! 'No Tan En Vivo En Mexico' is the set we intended to play at Wild Metal Fest, and here it is, raw, dirty, heavy, and passionate! This album is for you, Mexico! Te amamos, you bastards!!"
The members of DEAD TROOPER, who describe their music as "groovy, aggressive thrash metal," are currently on the hunt for a label to release what will be their sophomore full-length album. The band's next live appearance will take place at the Inferno Festival in Oslo on April 6.
"Kiss of the Kannibal", a track from "No Tan En Vivo En Mexico", along with other songs from DEAD TROOPER can be heard using the SoundCloud player below. Also available is audio of Meister Muller explaining the decision to release "No Tan En Vivo En Mexico" during a recent interview with DJ Malice for Canada's Nuclear Holocaust Radio.
For more information, visit www.deadtrooper.com.
The cover artwork for "Trial Through Fire", the sophomore album from CITY OF FIRE — the band featuring Burton C. Bell (FEAR FACTORY), bassist Byron Stroud (3 INCHES OF BLOOD, FEAR FACTORY, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD), guitarist Terry "Sho" Murray, and drummer Bob Wagner — can be seen below. The CD was recorded at The Factory studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and is tentatively due late summer.
In a recent interview with The Sanctuary Of Rock, Bell stated about CITY OF FIRE's forthcoming CD, "The writing process is very similar to other bands. The guys had music ideas and were recorded on a demo. I would sit with Terry in the studio and just sing out ideas. I usually have some words to 'throw down' and I try to incorporate them into the song. A lot of times, I just say things that come out, like speaking in tongues.
"There is no theme, but everything we were writing about was happening in our lives, so that is why we call the album 'Trial Through Fire'.
"It was a very difficult writing process. We were all going through personal issues, and also the band was dealing with business issues.
"I am very proud of the work we have done. We 'found' our sound on this record."
He added, "The main difference [between the recording process for 'Trial Through Fire' compared to that of CITY OF FIRE's 2010 self-titled debut] was that we knew what we wanted to achieve. We knew what are strong points were with the band's music. We all had a great understanding of the band itself. Terry has a great sense of what my voice can do, so he and the guys were able to write the music that suited everyone. We were very 'cohesive' as a band. We knew everyone's strong points."
Funding for the new CITY OF FIRE CD was aided by the PledgeMusic.com project, which encourages fans to contribute funds to the recording of albums and the artists themselves to donate to charity as a part of their fundraising.
Said Burton: "That was our [manager's idea]. She found success in it with another band she has worked with. It was a fantastic idea. Not only did it generate the funds we needed, it also created a grass-roots fan base that is important for a new band. It created a personal network between the band and our new fans, and they are a very happy, as we are."
CITY OF FIRE's "Bad Motivator" video can be seen below (courtesy of Metal Hammer magazine). The clip was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with director Cody Calahan, who previously co-created, produced and directed a pilot for a television show called "The Rusty Kitchen".
Commented Burton: "The video was created through the program MuchMusic in Canada — it is Canada's MTV. Every year, they give grants to new bands to make a video. We applied and got the grant. The video was made through all Canadian videographers, directors etc. . . It was the first time I met Cody Calahan, and I look forward to working with him again. He is very ambitious and I like his creative ideas."
In a recent interview with The Sanctuary Of Rock, Bell stated about CITY OF FIRE's forthcoming CD, "The writing process is very similar to other bands. The guys had music ideas and were recorded on a demo. I would sit with Terry in the studio and just sing out ideas. I usually have some words to 'throw down' and I try to incorporate them into the song. A lot of times, I just say things that come out, like speaking in tongues.
"There is no theme, but everything we were writing about was happening in our lives, so that is why we call the album 'Trial Through Fire'.
"It was a very difficult writing process. We were all going through personal issues, and also the band was dealing with business issues.
"I am very proud of the work we have done. We 'found' our sound on this record."
He added, "The main difference [between the recording process for 'Trial Through Fire' compared to that of CITY OF FIRE's 2010 self-titled debut] was that we knew what we wanted to achieve. We knew what are strong points were with the band's music. We all had a great understanding of the band itself. Terry has a great sense of what my voice can do, so he and the guys were able to write the music that suited everyone. We were very 'cohesive' as a band. We knew everyone's strong points."
Funding for the new CITY OF FIRE CD was aided by the PledgeMusic.com project, which encourages fans to contribute funds to the recording of albums and the artists themselves to donate to charity as a part of their fundraising.
Said Burton: "That was our [manager's idea]. She found success in it with another band she has worked with. It was a fantastic idea. Not only did it generate the funds we needed, it also created a grass-roots fan base that is important for a new band. It created a personal network between the band and our new fans, and they are a very happy, as we are."
CITY OF FIRE's "Bad Motivator" video can be seen below (courtesy of Metal Hammer magazine). The clip was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with director Cody Calahan, who previously co-created, produced and directed a pilot for a television show called "The Rusty Kitchen".
Commented Burton: "The video was created through the program MuchMusic in Canada — it is Canada's MTV. Every year, they give grants to new bands to make a video. We applied and got the grant. The video was made through all Canadian videographers, directors etc. . . It was the first time I met Cody Calahan, and I look forward to working with him again. He is very ambitious and I like his creative ideas."
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/cityoffiretrial.jpg
Although they only managed to release two albums in their short career in the '80s, DEATHWISH still managed to help influence not only the vibrant thrash scene of the time, but also the burgeoning death metal movement that would soon take over the underground. The English combo's 1986 "Sword Of Justice" demo became a staple on tape trading lists throughout the globe, and their "At The Edge Of Damnation" debut album the next year garnered the group rave reviews and set up what seemed to be a bright future for the speedsters.
In 1988 DEATHWISH unleashed their sophomore album, a menacing slab of vinyl entitled "Demon Preacher". Packed with biting lyrics and one machete-sharp riff after the other, the nine-song collection should have propelled DEATHWISH to the commercial league bands like OVERKILL, KREATOR and EXODUS were running in, but a series of setbacks ultimately killed off any chance of that happening.
Divebomb Records reissue of "Demon Preacher" contains not only newly remastered audio but archival photos provided by the band and a brand new interview with David Brunt and Brad Sims conducted by editor-in-chief of AOL Music's Noisecreep, Carlos Ramirez.
For more information, visit www.divebombrecords.com.
In 1988 DEATHWISH unleashed their sophomore album, a menacing slab of vinyl entitled "Demon Preacher". Packed with biting lyrics and one machete-sharp riff after the other, the nine-song collection should have propelled DEATHWISH to the commercial league bands like OVERKILL, KREATOR and EXODUS were running in, but a series of setbacks ultimately killed off any chance of that happening.
Divebomb Records reissue of "Demon Preacher" contains not only newly remastered audio but archival photos provided by the band and a brand new interview with David Brunt and Brad Sims conducted by editor-in-chief of AOL Music's Noisecreep, Carlos Ramirez.
For more information, visit www.divebombrecords.com.
AHAB, the German funeral doom metal band featuring former MIDNATTSOL members Daniel Droste (guitar/vocals) and Christian Hector (guitar), has completed work on its third album, "The Giant", to be released later in the year via Napalm Records. The CD features cover artwork (see below) by acclaimed artist Sebastian Jerke (LONG DISTANCE CALLING) and a guest appearance by ENSLAVED vocalist/keyboardist Herbrand Larsen.
AHAB's sophomore album, "The Divinity Of Oceans", was released in July 2009 via Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2006's "The Call of the Wretched Sea" contains seven songs and is based on the wreckage of the Essex.
AHAB is named after Captain Ahab, a character in the novel "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville. Along with its name, the band also draws thematic and lyrical inspiration from "Moby Dick" — some songs even feature direct quotations from the book.
AHAB is:
Daniel Droste: Guitar, Voices, Synths
Christian Hector: Guitar
Stephan Wandernoth: Bass
Cornelius Althammer: Drums
AHAB's sophomore album, "The Divinity Of Oceans", was released in July 2009 via Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2006's "The Call of the Wretched Sea" contains seven songs and is based on the wreckage of the Essex.
AHAB is named after Captain Ahab, a character in the novel "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville. Along with its name, the band also draws thematic and lyrical inspiration from "Moby Dick" — some songs even feature direct quotations from the book.
AHAB is:
Daniel Droste: Guitar, Voices, Synths
Christian Hector: Guitar
Stephan Wandernoth: Bass
Cornelius Althammer: Drums
Thiago Sarkis of Brazil's Roadie Crew magazine recently conducted an interview with bassist Shane Embury of British grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH. Several excerpts from the chat follow below.
On the metal and punk roots of NAPALM DEATH:
Shane: "Well, this lineup of the band has been together since 1991, but all of us at one time were metalheads; that's our background as kids! Speaking for myself, I got into punk around 1982-83, and I think the other guys who are younger just a little later. I got into hardcore through my friend's stepbrother and then into tape trading in 1984 and then finally it kept growing up until I came across the punk scene in Birmingham, but I have always held onto my metal roots. I got into guitar music at the age of 6 with bands like SLADE and THE SWEET as my mom used to buy me the records, I then heard JUDAS PRIEST when I was 9 or 10 and it went from there, really. I was always attracted to the loudness of the music, the craziness and the guitar sound. I used to bash the shit out of my grandmother's water buckets, so I think when you do that as a kid, you are not going to join a reggae band! Some of my favorite metal bands are JUDAS PRIEST, BLACK SABBATH (the Dio period is my favorite), TYGERS OF PAN TANG, RAVEN, SAXON, SATAN, DIAMOND HEAD, ACCEPT… Too many to mention."
On new songs and upcoming releases:
Shane: "In the future, we want o be able to do more stuff like [the single 'Legacy Was Yesterday']. We are planning to release some splits in the future as well and so we are going to record some songs next month, actually. It's fun. We have plenty more songs to record, so 'Legacy Was Yesterday' was especially for Albert at Decibel [magazine] and it's nice to have an exclusive like that. We have a split planned with THE MELVINS which will come out this year and also another couple of split with some other bands but for now it's a secret. They are certainly fun to do."
On the friendship between the members of NAPALM DEATH:
Shane: "We are good friends, and also, I guess you could say, brothers. But as most brothers do, we fight at times about what we feel is right and at times this can cause uncomfortableness, but it passes and we move forward. Sometimes I don't know how we get over the arguments and move on, but we do. Sometimes life on the road can feel like a very surreal journey and you feel very disconnected from home and each other, but we have been together as friends so long now that we can give each other space, and yes, we have fun not all the time, but we still have some great laughs on the road. It's also still very nice and important to meet our friends from around the world. It's at these times that you realize how lucky you are to be doing what you do, but perhaps we are an exception, since I have seen a lot of bands who don't interact that well with each other. We are lucky."
On illegal music downloading:
Shane: "I know that 'Smear Campaign' was available to download two weeks after we had finished the record, but I think other powers were at work there. It [illegal downloads] is obviously affecting the record labels, but we, as a band, have been touring like crazy the past few years and perhaps that is a little bit down to kids downloading the record and checking it out. I just don't know. My feelings are mixed on this whole subject and I think that stems from me being a tape-trader back in the day. I think that genuine fans will probably buy the record or a version of it if they like it. I have to be honest — especially here in the U.K., when CDs first came out, they were just too fucking expensive and technology came along and kicked the industry in the ass. I just know that as a musician the rules have changed, but playing live which for me is a big part of the whole thing is as intense as it's always been."
On the early days of NAPALM DEATH:
Shane: "I live very close the place where I first saw NAPALM DEATH. It's a pub called The Mermaid. They are knocking that building down now. NAPALM DEATH was a three-piece and I loved the band instantly. They had the perfect blend of CELTIC FROST-inspired metal riffs and blasting savage hardcore. Mick [Harris], as a drummer, was so exciting to see they became my favorite band and I became great friends with the three of them and traveled with them to many shows. My biggest regret, really, is that I did not join them when Nic Bullen asked me too as I would have played on 'Scum', on the B-side in reality. I just sat in the studio when they recorded the A-side, but the band made such a massive impact on my life and still does to this day."
On his pre-NAPALM DEATH bands WARHAMMER and AZAGTHOTH:
Shane: "I came from a very small town called Broseley, which is in the county of Shropshire — 40 miles from Birmingham. I was one of four friends into metal and we were tape-trading with Bill Steer and people like that and we were getting into faster music like POSSESSED and DEATH, so we formed WARHAMMER, who were, I guess, the first death metal band in the U.K. before ONSLAUGHT. We had a demo called 'Abbattoir Of Death' and I originally started playing drums in that band. I had always wanted to play in a band since I was 6 or 7, so this was one step further towards my dream. AZAGTHOTH was a band I played in with the guitar player of WARHAMMER, a guy called Pete Giles, who later played in many bands, one of them being SCALPLOCK. WARHAMMER's and AZAGTHOTH's music was very intense death metal."
On the possibility of new material from INSIDIOUS DISEASE, his side-project with DIMMU BORGIR's Silenoz:
Shane: "I saw Silenoz in Oslo the other week when my other band LOCK UP played and we discussed working on some new material. Let's hope we can do something again soon."
On his memories of "Utopia Banished", the NAPALM DEATH album which was released 20 years ago:
Shane: "That was the first album that Danny Herrera [drums] played on, so it was I guess an important one as everyone was looking to see if we could pull it off without Mick. We had a lot of fun in the studio. I feel the guitars are not loud enough on that mix of the record, though, but as an album, it's a very intense record with a lot of manic riffs. We were very young, but as a band we were enjoying hanging out together a lot and we were very focused on making the record a good album. I am very proud of the album. As I said, I think it could have had louder guitars on the album but Danny's drumming on that album is great and very spontaneous."
On NAPALM DEATH's plans for the immediate future:
Shane: "The band will head to the States for the first time in three years to play the Maryland Deathfest. NAPALM also plans to release a few split releases this year, all being well, with MELVINS, CONVERGE and MUNICIPAL WASTE. These will take time to come together, though, but it's a nice break from the norm of just recording album after album."
On the metal and punk roots of NAPALM DEATH:
Shane: "Well, this lineup of the band has been together since 1991, but all of us at one time were metalheads; that's our background as kids! Speaking for myself, I got into punk around 1982-83, and I think the other guys who are younger just a little later. I got into hardcore through my friend's stepbrother and then into tape trading in 1984 and then finally it kept growing up until I came across the punk scene in Birmingham, but I have always held onto my metal roots. I got into guitar music at the age of 6 with bands like SLADE and THE SWEET as my mom used to buy me the records, I then heard JUDAS PRIEST when I was 9 or 10 and it went from there, really. I was always attracted to the loudness of the music, the craziness and the guitar sound. I used to bash the shit out of my grandmother's water buckets, so I think when you do that as a kid, you are not going to join a reggae band! Some of my favorite metal bands are JUDAS PRIEST, BLACK SABBATH (the Dio period is my favorite), TYGERS OF PAN TANG, RAVEN, SAXON, SATAN, DIAMOND HEAD, ACCEPT… Too many to mention."
On new songs and upcoming releases:
Shane: "In the future, we want o be able to do more stuff like [the single 'Legacy Was Yesterday']. We are planning to release some splits in the future as well and so we are going to record some songs next month, actually. It's fun. We have plenty more songs to record, so 'Legacy Was Yesterday' was especially for Albert at Decibel [magazine] and it's nice to have an exclusive like that. We have a split planned with THE MELVINS which will come out this year and also another couple of split with some other bands but for now it's a secret. They are certainly fun to do."
On the friendship between the members of NAPALM DEATH:
Shane: "We are good friends, and also, I guess you could say, brothers. But as most brothers do, we fight at times about what we feel is right and at times this can cause uncomfortableness, but it passes and we move forward. Sometimes I don't know how we get over the arguments and move on, but we do. Sometimes life on the road can feel like a very surreal journey and you feel very disconnected from home and each other, but we have been together as friends so long now that we can give each other space, and yes, we have fun not all the time, but we still have some great laughs on the road. It's also still very nice and important to meet our friends from around the world. It's at these times that you realize how lucky you are to be doing what you do, but perhaps we are an exception, since I have seen a lot of bands who don't interact that well with each other. We are lucky."
On illegal music downloading:
Shane: "I know that 'Smear Campaign' was available to download two weeks after we had finished the record, but I think other powers were at work there. It [illegal downloads] is obviously affecting the record labels, but we, as a band, have been touring like crazy the past few years and perhaps that is a little bit down to kids downloading the record and checking it out. I just don't know. My feelings are mixed on this whole subject and I think that stems from me being a tape-trader back in the day. I think that genuine fans will probably buy the record or a version of it if they like it. I have to be honest — especially here in the U.K., when CDs first came out, they were just too fucking expensive and technology came along and kicked the industry in the ass. I just know that as a musician the rules have changed, but playing live which for me is a big part of the whole thing is as intense as it's always been."
On the early days of NAPALM DEATH:
Shane: "I live very close the place where I first saw NAPALM DEATH. It's a pub called The Mermaid. They are knocking that building down now. NAPALM DEATH was a three-piece and I loved the band instantly. They had the perfect blend of CELTIC FROST-inspired metal riffs and blasting savage hardcore. Mick [Harris], as a drummer, was so exciting to see they became my favorite band and I became great friends with the three of them and traveled with them to many shows. My biggest regret, really, is that I did not join them when Nic Bullen asked me too as I would have played on 'Scum', on the B-side in reality. I just sat in the studio when they recorded the A-side, but the band made such a massive impact on my life and still does to this day."
On his pre-NAPALM DEATH bands WARHAMMER and AZAGTHOTH:
Shane: "I came from a very small town called Broseley, which is in the county of Shropshire — 40 miles from Birmingham. I was one of four friends into metal and we were tape-trading with Bill Steer and people like that and we were getting into faster music like POSSESSED and DEATH, so we formed WARHAMMER, who were, I guess, the first death metal band in the U.K. before ONSLAUGHT. We had a demo called 'Abbattoir Of Death' and I originally started playing drums in that band. I had always wanted to play in a band since I was 6 or 7, so this was one step further towards my dream. AZAGTHOTH was a band I played in with the guitar player of WARHAMMER, a guy called Pete Giles, who later played in many bands, one of them being SCALPLOCK. WARHAMMER's and AZAGTHOTH's music was very intense death metal."
On the possibility of new material from INSIDIOUS DISEASE, his side-project with DIMMU BORGIR's Silenoz:
Shane: "I saw Silenoz in Oslo the other week when my other band LOCK UP played and we discussed working on some new material. Let's hope we can do something again soon."
On his memories of "Utopia Banished", the NAPALM DEATH album which was released 20 years ago:
Shane: "That was the first album that Danny Herrera [drums] played on, so it was I guess an important one as everyone was looking to see if we could pull it off without Mick. We had a lot of fun in the studio. I feel the guitars are not loud enough on that mix of the record, though, but as an album, it's a very intense record with a lot of manic riffs. We were very young, but as a band we were enjoying hanging out together a lot and we were very focused on making the record a good album. I am very proud of the album. As I said, I think it could have had louder guitars on the album but Danny's drumming on that album is great and very spontaneous."
On NAPALM DEATH's plans for the immediate future:
Shane: "The band will head to the States for the first time in three years to play the Maryland Deathfest. NAPALM also plans to release a few split releases this year, all being well, with MELVINS, CONVERGE and MUNICIPAL WASTE. These will take time to come together, though, but it's a nice break from the norm of just recording album after album."
TARDY BROTHERS, the project featuring John Tardy (vocals) and Donald Tardy (drums) of Florida-based death metal veterans OBITUARY, will play only its second show ever on March 31 at the Brass Mug in Tampa, Florida.
TARDY BROTHERS made its live debut on October 21, 2011 at the Brass Mug. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below (video by Eric Grant).
TARDY BROTHERS' debut album, "Bloodline", came out in April 2009. The CD was described in a press release as an opportunity for the Tardy brothers to "expand their musical playcard showcasing not only a new artistic outlet but also extending opportunity for them to take their global fan base on an exciting new journey."
"Bloodline" featured guitar work by Ralph Santolla (OBITUARY, DEATH, DEICIDE), original XECUTIONER (pre-OBITUARY) guitarist Jerry Tidwell and solo work from 19-year-old John Lee and longtime friend Scott Johnson.
Said John Tardy of the project: "This is something Donald and I have talked about and planned for many years and we just never had the time to do it. With the addition of our new studio, it has finally given us the abilitity to get this music recorded. It is not going to affect anything that OBITUARY is doing nor is it supposed to sound like OBITUARY."
TARDY BROTHERS made its live debut on October 21, 2011 at the Brass Mug. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below (video by Eric Grant).
TARDY BROTHERS' debut album, "Bloodline", came out in April 2009. The CD was described in a press release as an opportunity for the Tardy brothers to "expand their musical playcard showcasing not only a new artistic outlet but also extending opportunity for them to take their global fan base on an exciting new journey."
"Bloodline" featured guitar work by Ralph Santolla (OBITUARY, DEATH, DEICIDE), original XECUTIONER (pre-OBITUARY) guitarist Jerry Tidwell and solo work from 19-year-old John Lee and longtime friend Scott Johnson.
Said John Tardy of the project: "This is something Donald and I have talked about and planned for many years and we just never had the time to do it. With the addition of our new studio, it has finally given us the abilitity to get this music recorded. It is not going to affect anything that OBITUARY is doing nor is it supposed to sound like OBITUARY."
Death metal veterans SIX FEET UNDER will release their new album, "Undead", in May via Metal Blade Records. The CD was mixed at Audiohammer studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM).
Comments SIX FEET UNDER singer Chris Barnes: "SIX FEET UNDER is not dead! We are 'Undead'!
"With our return to the European festivals this summer, and the addition of new bandmembers to the group's lineup, SIX FEET UNDER is poised to murder and KILL!!
"With the release of the new SIX FEET UNDER album, 'Undead', this spring we will prove that the undead shall rise from the crypts of Germany and Europe in 2012!"
SIX FEET UNDER's European tour will kick off on August 11 in Jaromer, Czech Republic and will conclude on August 18 in Hamburg, Germany. Support on the trek will come from DEW-SCENTED.
SIX FEET UNDER recently parted ways with bassist Matt DeVries and replaced him with Jeff Hughell, formerly of the Santa Cruz, California technical death metal band BRAIN DRILL and Concord, California death metal group VILE, and currently of RECIPROCAL.
Bassist Terry Butler and drummer Greg Gall announced their departures from SIX FEET UNDER in January 2011. Butler has since joined OBITUARY as a permanent member.
SIX FEET UNDER is:
* Rob Arnold (CHIMAIRA) - Guitar
* Kevin Talley (DAATH, MISERY INDEX, CHIMAIRA) - Drums
* Chris Barnes (CANNIBAL CORPSE) - Vocals
* Steve Swanson - Guitar
* Jeff Hughell (RECIPROCAL, BRAIN DRILL, VILE) - Bass
Comments SIX FEET UNDER singer Chris Barnes: "SIX FEET UNDER is not dead! We are 'Undead'!
"With our return to the European festivals this summer, and the addition of new bandmembers to the group's lineup, SIX FEET UNDER is poised to murder and KILL!!
"With the release of the new SIX FEET UNDER album, 'Undead', this spring we will prove that the undead shall rise from the crypts of Germany and Europe in 2012!"
SIX FEET UNDER's European tour will kick off on August 11 in Jaromer, Czech Republic and will conclude on August 18 in Hamburg, Germany. Support on the trek will come from DEW-SCENTED.
SIX FEET UNDER recently parted ways with bassist Matt DeVries and replaced him with Jeff Hughell, formerly of the Santa Cruz, California technical death metal band BRAIN DRILL and Concord, California death metal group VILE, and currently of RECIPROCAL.
Bassist Terry Butler and drummer Greg Gall announced their departures from SIX FEET UNDER in January 2011. Butler has since joined OBITUARY as a permanent member.
SIX FEET UNDER is:
* Rob Arnold (CHIMAIRA) - Guitar
* Kevin Talley (DAATH, MISERY INDEX, CHIMAIRA) - Drums
* Chris Barnes (CANNIBAL CORPSE) - Vocals
* Steve Swanson - Guitar
* Jeff Hughell (RECIPROCAL, BRAIN DRILL, VILE) - Bass
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