Legendary LED ZEPPELIN guitarist Jimmy Page has posted the following mesasage on his Facebook page:
"On March 20, the Spring Equinox 2012, the title music for 'Lucifer Rising And Other Sound Tracks' will have its premiere and release.
"The title music, along with other musical pieces recorded at my home studio in the early Seventies, have been revisited, remixed and released for the first time.
"This is a musical diary of avant-garde compositions and experiments, one of which was to appear on the film 'Lucifer Rising'.
"The collection has been exhumed and is now ready for public release. This will be available exclusively on [JimmyPage.com].
"There will be a standard release on heavyweight vinyl.
"In addition there will be a special run of 418 numbered copies. The first 93 copies will be signed and numbered.
"There are liner notes and commentary to each track."
"Lucifer Rising And Other Sound Tracks" track listing:
Side One
01. Lucifer Rising - Main Track
Side Two
01. Incubus
02. Damask
03. Unharmonics
04. Damask - Ambient
05. Lucifer Rising - Percussive Return
"On March 20, the Spring Equinox 2012, the title music for 'Lucifer Rising And Other Sound Tracks' will have its premiere and release.
"The title music, along with other musical pieces recorded at my home studio in the early Seventies, have been revisited, remixed and released for the first time.
"This is a musical diary of avant-garde compositions and experiments, one of which was to appear on the film 'Lucifer Rising'.
"The collection has been exhumed and is now ready for public release. This will be available exclusively on [JimmyPage.com].
"There will be a standard release on heavyweight vinyl.
"In addition there will be a special run of 418 numbered copies. The first 93 copies will be signed and numbered.
"There are liner notes and commentary to each track."
"Lucifer Rising And Other Sound Tracks" track listing:
Side One
01. Lucifer Rising - Main Track
Side Two
01. Incubus
02. Damask
03. Unharmonics
04. Damask - Ambient
05. Lucifer Rising - Percussive Return
On March of 1982, Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt was a heavy metal-obsessed, 15-year-old living in Jackson, New Jersey. He was just starting to get serious about the guitar, and he loved the music of Ozzy Osbourne - he even had tickets to see Osbourne play at Madison Square Garden. The show was scheduled for 5 April.
Wielandt is now better known as Zakk Wylde, and he remembers sitting at the kitchen table with his parents a couple of weeks before the concert. "My mother was looking at the paper, and she said, 'Oh, this boy from Ozzy Osbourne's band was killed in a plane crash. You really like him, don't you?' I couldn't believe it. It was unbelievable."
In 1987, Wylde joined Osbourne's band, replacing Jake E Lee, whose tenure as Rhoad's replacement lasted only five years. Wylde would go on to become Osbourne's longest-serving guitarist, (he parted ways with the singer in 2009), performing the music of Randy Rhoads on countless stages across the globe.
As the 30th anniversary of Rhoads' death approaches, we spoke with Zakk Wylde to talk about the impact the late guitarist had on him - and how it felt to step into his hero's spotlight.
Is it hard to believe that it's been 30 years since Randy died?
"It is hard to believe. But you know, the testimony to Randy's greatness is the fact that we all still remember. Whenever my buddies and I get together, we can't help but talk about Randy Rhoads.
"Let's say he didn't have to go up to God's tavern when the good Lord needed him. Let's say he just walked away from it all and went back to teaching, which he was thinking of doing – he wasn't all that comfortable with the fame thing and playing big places – he'd still be a total legend for what he did on those first two Ozzy records.
"What he achieved in just a couple of years is right up there with the best of the best. He did on two albums what most guys can't do on 20. That's pretty remarkable."
Before you had a chance to audition for Ozzy, you were studying Randy's playing.
"Oh, totally. Without a doubt, I studied him. He had unbelievable technique and could do all the things on the guitar that are astounding. His scales, the diminished scales he used – unreal. But it was his writing and the way he composed his solos – I mean, his solos were songs within the songs… He was way ahead of what everybody else was doing."
"I learned all of Randy's solos – before I even got in Ozzy's band. But when I was in the band, I absolutely played them Randy's way. You have to. There's no reason not to. I mean, it's not like you could fill his shoes – that's impossible – but you have to give respect to his music. There is no other way. Whether it was me or Jake E Lee or Gus G or anybody, you've got to play Randy's solos like Randy did.
"To me, each and every one of his solos are like gold, man. They're like Stairway To Heaven or Hotel California – you're waiting for those incredible moments, and when you hear them live, they have to be like on the records."
Take us back to how you came to audition for Ozzy.
"My wife – she was my girlfriend then – Barbaranne, she heard on Howard Stern that Ozzy was looking for a guitar player. Right at the same time, I was in a club and this guy, Dave Feld, said the same thing, and he was friends with Mark Weiss, the big photographer who had just done some shots of Ozzy.
"So I made up a tape and gave it to Dave, and then he gave it to Mark, who got it to Ozzy. I got the phone call to do the audition, and I couldn't believe it.
"I didn't think I had it in the bag or anything. My attitude was, Hey, I'm meeting Ozzy – that's good enough for me. I remember there were all these other dudes at the audition, and they were all older than me and they were saying stuff like, 'Yeah, I hear it's a good-paying gig' – stuff like that. They couldn't give a crap about Ozzy's history or Randy or any of that. They were just into the fame and the money."
What songs did you play at the audition?
"I think we did Bark At The Moon, Suicide Solution, Crazy Train and I Don't Know. I played Randy's stuff accurately – Jake's too. It was an intense thing, but I tried to not let the nervous energy get to me. You can't let anything bother you in a situation like that. If you do that, you'll fail. I remember I just wanted to do well - that was it."
"No. Not at all. Everybody was great. The people were on my side because they knew I was one of the guys. I was on the team, you know? They knew I loved Randy as much as them. Everybody was rooting for me."
In playing Randy's music live, how do you feel it changed you as a guitarist?
"I think any guitarist who's inspired by or influenced by Randy knows what a brilliant soloist he was. I really got my head around where you could go with a solo by playing Randy's music. Construction – playing a beginning, middle and end – that's one of the biggest things I got from him.
"There are other things – scales, diminished scales, hammer-ons and pull-offs – that were all part of Randy's arsenal. But the melodic sense of the solos, how you can tell a whole new story in a song, that's his crowning achievement.
"Randy had what only the greats have – he had feel. Great musicians, you don't just hear them, you feel them. When I listen to Randy Rhoads, I feel every note. I learned a lot from him."
"Randy Rhoads: The Quiet Riot Years", a new book from QUIET RIOT's personal photographer/lighting director Ron Sobol, will be available for pre-order on April 1 from GuitarWorld.com. This book reportedly covers the QUIET RIOT years with Randy Rhoads and is filled with many interviews of the people around for that period as well as a ton of Ron's personal photos that he took of the band, on and offstage. As a bonus, this book comes with a 90-minute DVD documentary of the QUIET RIOT years with Randy, containing interview footage telling the story of the band. The DVD will also feature the song "Hymn 11" from French-Algerian artist Pierre Bensusan, globally known as the "Mozart of Guitar", taken from his "Altiplatos" album.
In a 2007 interview with Glam-Metal.com, bassist Rudy Sarzo, who played with Rhoads in both Ozzy's band and QUIET RIOT, stated about Randy, "Randy was an amazing musician, teacher, musician, friend, performer and composer. Also, Randy was responsible for getting me in Ozzy's band and for keeping the plane from crashing into our tour bus and saving the lives of us who were sleep in the bus."
He added, "Randy's legacy is still growing. Almost every day, I get messages [online] from young fans who have discovered him through their parents' CD collection."
Regarding the fact that he was the only person to have performed with Randy in both QUIET RIOT and OZZY OSBOURNE, Sarzo said, "I was blessed. It gave me the opportunity to see the two sides of Randy's guitar playing. There was the Randy with QUIET RIOT, and the Randy with OZZY. The Randy with QUIET RIOT had a lot of restrictions that were set by what the industry in Los Angeles was all about. Let's face it: QUIET RIOT was a band that was looking for a record deal. So we were pretty much at the mercy of what the industry was dictating. The last metal band to get signed out of the '70s was VAN HALEN. Right after that, they shut the door."
In a 2007 interview with Glam-Metal.com, bassist Rudy Sarzo, who played with Rhoads in both Ozzy's band and QUIET RIOT, stated about Randy, "Randy was an amazing musician, teacher, musician, friend, performer and composer. Also, Randy was responsible for getting me in Ozzy's band and for keeping the plane from crashing into our tour bus and saving the lives of us who were sleep in the bus."
He added, "Randy's legacy is still growing. Almost every day, I get messages [online] from young fans who have discovered him through their parents' CD collection."
Regarding the fact that he was the only person to have performed with Randy in both QUIET RIOT and OZZY OSBOURNE, Sarzo said, "I was blessed. It gave me the opportunity to see the two sides of Randy's guitar playing. There was the Randy with QUIET RIOT, and the Randy with OZZY. The Randy with QUIET RIOT had a lot of restrictions that were set by what the industry in Los Angeles was all about. Let's face it: QUIET RIOT was a band that was looking for a record deal. So we were pretty much at the mercy of what the industry was dictating. The last metal band to get signed out of the '70s was VAN HALEN. Right after that, they shut the door."
Due in stores nationwide in North America on June 5 via Versailles Records, the first "definitive" tibute to Ozzy Osbourne's 40-year reign as the Prince of Darkness over the ever-thriving heavy metal genre he helped invent, "No More Tears: A Millennium Tribute To Ozzy Osbourne - 1971-2012", features rock and metal superstars and many of the hottest rock and metal bands on the rise from around the globe covering Ozzy's BLACK SABBATH and entire solo catalog performed in full-length, hit by hit chronological order over the course of a three-CD set.
The tribute will feature exclusive liner-note commentary from a wide range of record producers who worked with Ozzy in the studio, including Ron Nevison, Duane Baron, Keith Olsen, and Michael Beinhorn; and the track listing features star appearances from:
* Vince Neil (MÖTLEY CRÜE)
* George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB)
* Stu Hamm (STEVE VAI band)
* Gregg Bissonette (JOE SATRIANI, SPINAL TAP, DAVID LEE ROTH)
* Derrick LeFevre (LILLIAN AXE)
* Chris Poland (MEGADETH)
* Mark Slaughter (SLAUGHTER, VINNIE VINCENT INVASION)
* Brad Gillis (NIGHT RANGER, OZZY OSBOURNE)
* Gary Moon (THREE DOG NIGHT, NIGHT RANGER)
* Eric Singer (KISS, BLACK SABBATH, BADLANDS, THE CULT)
* Paul Taylor (WINGER)
* Keri Kelli (ALICE COOPER, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, L.A. GUNS, RATT)
* Richard Kendrick (NEAR LIFE EXPERIENCE)
The box set also features bands from around the globe celebrating Ozzy's legacy, including:
From USA, Canada
* LEAVING EDEN
* BUGSY PARKER
* SLANT
* KINGSHIFTER
* HIGH VOLTAGE
* THE MADELEINE HAZE
* FIERCE ATMOSPHERES
* ENDLESS VENDETTA
* TATTOO FRANK
* SHANE DOSS
* METALHORSE
* SANTAGATA
* TAKARA
* MR. THUMB
* DAWN OF THE FINAL DAY
* IN HIS BLOOD
* CRYPTIC CHAOS
* MR. MURRAY
* DENNIS DEEN
* RAVAGE
* A NEW DECREE
* SKYSCREAMERS
* ALL BUT IMPOSSIBLE
* SAGE4
* JERIES ALFREIH
* SNAKESKYN WHISKEY
* TITAN'S EVE
* ROSE REITER
From Europe:
* DIRTY ROSE
* ANNIHILATION
* ATTICA RAGE
* CRITICAL SOLUTION
* DOOM DOGS
* JUST ONE FIX
* W.A.N.T.E.D.
* SNOWBLIND
* MATANUSKA
* CORNIVUS
* CRY HAVOC
* BLACK IRIS
* CRITICAL SOLUTION
* ERLING SOLEM
* STONEDIRT
* STALWART
* TRELLEBORG
* QUATERMOC
Australia, South America, Mexico
* KINOATH
* REACT
* OZZMOSIS
* RIFFUZ
* NASTY REPUTATION
* MATVEY
* AL SOLO / MANURI
The tribute will feature exclusive liner-note commentary from a wide range of record producers who worked with Ozzy in the studio, including Ron Nevison, Duane Baron, Keith Olsen, and Michael Beinhorn; and the track listing features star appearances from:
* Vince Neil (MÖTLEY CRÜE)
* George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB)
* Stu Hamm (STEVE VAI band)
* Gregg Bissonette (JOE SATRIANI, SPINAL TAP, DAVID LEE ROTH)
* Derrick LeFevre (LILLIAN AXE)
* Chris Poland (MEGADETH)
* Mark Slaughter (SLAUGHTER, VINNIE VINCENT INVASION)
* Brad Gillis (NIGHT RANGER, OZZY OSBOURNE)
* Gary Moon (THREE DOG NIGHT, NIGHT RANGER)
* Eric Singer (KISS, BLACK SABBATH, BADLANDS, THE CULT)
* Paul Taylor (WINGER)
* Keri Kelli (ALICE COOPER, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, L.A. GUNS, RATT)
* Richard Kendrick (NEAR LIFE EXPERIENCE)
The box set also features bands from around the globe celebrating Ozzy's legacy, including:
From USA, Canada
* LEAVING EDEN
* BUGSY PARKER
* SLANT
* KINGSHIFTER
* HIGH VOLTAGE
* THE MADELEINE HAZE
* FIERCE ATMOSPHERES
* ENDLESS VENDETTA
* TATTOO FRANK
* SHANE DOSS
* METALHORSE
* SANTAGATA
* TAKARA
* MR. THUMB
* DAWN OF THE FINAL DAY
* IN HIS BLOOD
* CRYPTIC CHAOS
* MR. MURRAY
* DENNIS DEEN
* RAVAGE
* A NEW DECREE
* SKYSCREAMERS
* ALL BUT IMPOSSIBLE
* SAGE4
* JERIES ALFREIH
* SNAKESKYN WHISKEY
* TITAN'S EVE
* ROSE REITER
From Europe:
* DIRTY ROSE
* ANNIHILATION
* ATTICA RAGE
* CRITICAL SOLUTION
* DOOM DOGS
* JUST ONE FIX
* W.A.N.T.E.D.
* SNOWBLIND
* MATANUSKA
* CORNIVUS
* CRY HAVOC
* BLACK IRIS
* CRITICAL SOLUTION
* ERLING SOLEM
* STONEDIRT
* STALWART
* TRELLEBORG
* QUATERMOC
Australia, South America, Mexico
* KINOATH
* REACT
* OZZMOSIS
* RIFFUZ
* NASTY REPUTATION
* MATVEY
* AL SOLO / MANURI
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/ozzytributecd.jpg
Earlier today at a press conference in Bucharest, Romania, MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio and promoter Sorin Sararu of Project Events announced the band's headlining performance at OST Fest 2012, set to take place June 15-17 place at the Zone Arena in Bucharest. MANOWAR is scheduled to perform on June 16. Also confirmed for the three-day event are MÖTLEY CRÜE, MOTÖRHEAD, DIMMU BORGIR, EUROPE, MEGADETH and OVERKILL, among others.
During the press conference, Sararu revealed that the new MANOWAR album will be released on June 16. In addition, he said that the first 5,000 people that purchase a ticket to MANOWAR's appearance at OST Fest via Biletoo.ro will be able to download the CD for free on June 1.
Said DeMaio: "I know that a lot of people don't wanna wait another five years for a MANOWAR record, but we hope that people are gonna think that it was worth waiting the time. Because, you know, you go to a restaurant and you order dinner, if the waiter walks in the kitchen and comes back out two seconds later and puts the dinner on the table, I really don't know what you're gonna get. Every now and then I like McDonald's, too — it doesn't mean something fast is not good — but we're not a fast-food restaurant with MANOWAR. We think it's quality, so we hope you're gonna feel the same way."
During the press conference, Sararu revealed that the new MANOWAR album will be released on June 16. In addition, he said that the first 5,000 people that purchase a ticket to MANOWAR's appearance at OST Fest via Biletoo.ro will be able to download the CD for free on June 1.
Said DeMaio: "I know that a lot of people don't wanna wait another five years for a MANOWAR record, but we hope that people are gonna think that it was worth waiting the time. Because, you know, you go to a restaurant and you order dinner, if the waiter walks in the kitchen and comes back out two seconds later and puts the dinner on the table, I really don't know what you're gonna get. Every now and then I like McDonald's, too — it doesn't mean something fast is not good — but we're not a fast-food restaurant with MANOWAR. We think it's quality, so we hope you're gonna feel the same way."
GLORYHAMMER is the "heroic fantasy power metal" project led by Christopher Bowes, the mastermind behind pirate metal sensation ALESTORM, with a desire to explore the more symphonic and epic side of metal.
Due in late 2012 via Napalm Records, GLORYHAMMER's debut album, "Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife", will tell an original story based in an alternate-history medieval Scotland, where magic and dark sorcery reigns supreme. The CD will be recorded at LSD Studios in Germany. A concept of such epic proportions requires a truly talented vocalist, and for this purpose Thomas L. Winkler from Swiss power metal band EMERALD was hired to provide majestic soaring vocals. The lineup is completed by Paul Templing, James Cartwright, and Ben Turk, who honed their battle skills in various underground U.K. metal bands.
GLORYHAMMER is:
Christopher Bowes - Keyboards
Thomas Winkler - Vocals
Paul Templing - Guitars
James Cartwright - Bass
Ben Turk - Drums
Due in late 2012 via Napalm Records, GLORYHAMMER's debut album, "Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife", will tell an original story based in an alternate-history medieval Scotland, where magic and dark sorcery reigns supreme. The CD will be recorded at LSD Studios in Germany. A concept of such epic proportions requires a truly talented vocalist, and for this purpose Thomas L. Winkler from Swiss power metal band EMERALD was hired to provide majestic soaring vocals. The lineup is completed by Paul Templing, James Cartwright, and Ben Turk, who honed their battle skills in various underground U.K. metal bands.
GLORYHAMMER is:
Christopher Bowes - Keyboards
Thomas Winkler - Vocals
Paul Templing - Guitars
James Cartwright - Bass
Ben Turk - Drums
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/gloryhammer2012new.jpg
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/gloryhammer2012.jpg
Former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler has joined forces with Lonny Paul (ADLER'S APPETITE) and Jacob Bunton (LYNAM, MARS ELECTRIC) in a brand new band simply called ADLER. The group has completed eight songs for its debut album, which will feature a guest appearance by Adler's former GUNS N' ROSES bandmate Slash. The Los Angeles recording sessions are being helmed by producers Jeff Pilson (former DOKKEN and current FOREIGNER/TOOTH AND NAIL bassist) and Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER, ADRENALINE MOB).
"I love the music that we're creating!" states Adler. "I haven't been this excited about my band since the GN'R days. Jacob is exactly the singer I have been searching for. He has an amazing range and is a great writer and frontman. Lonny is an amazing guitarist and songwriter and the vibe is amazing!" He added, "I'm so excited for everyone to hear this record!"
Steven spent the past several years touring and recording with ADLER'S APPETITE, which played original material alongside cover versions of songs from GUNS' classic debut album, "Appetite For Destruction".
In 2010, Adler collaborated with Slash on the latter's self-titled debut solo album. He appeared on the track "Baby Can't Drive", along with RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist Flea, Alice Cooper and Nicole Scherzinger. The song was featured on an expanded edition of the album released by Classic Rock magazine.
Adler, Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, singer Axl Rose and guitarist Izzy Stradlin will all be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame next month in Cleveland, along with later GUNS N' ROSES members, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and drummer Matt Sorum.
"I love the music that we're creating!" states Adler. "I haven't been this excited about my band since the GN'R days. Jacob is exactly the singer I have been searching for. He has an amazing range and is a great writer and frontman. Lonny is an amazing guitarist and songwriter and the vibe is amazing!" He added, "I'm so excited for everyone to hear this record!"
Steven spent the past several years touring and recording with ADLER'S APPETITE, which played original material alongside cover versions of songs from GUNS' classic debut album, "Appetite For Destruction".
In 2010, Adler collaborated with Slash on the latter's self-titled debut solo album. He appeared on the track "Baby Can't Drive", along with RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist Flea, Alice Cooper and Nicole Scherzinger. The song was featured on an expanded edition of the album released by Classic Rock magazine.
Adler, Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, singer Axl Rose and guitarist Izzy Stradlin will all be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame next month in Cleveland, along with later GUNS N' ROSES members, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and drummer Matt Sorum.
SYSTEM OF A DOWN, SLIPKNOT, MARILYN MANSON and LAMB OF GOD are the first confirmed bands for the Heavy T.O. and Heavy MTL festivals, set to take place August 11-12, 2012 at Downsview Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, respectively.
The complete lineup for both festivals will be revealed at noon tomorrow (Friday, March 16).
The complete lineup for both festivals will be revealed at noon tomorrow (Friday, March 16).
Heavy MTL will return to Montreal, Qebec, Canada at Parc Jean-Drapeau on August 11 and August 12.
As of now, weekend passes for Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 12 at Parc Jean-Drapeau are going on sale via HeavyMTL.com, by phone at (514) 790-2525 or 1-877-668-8269 in person at the Bell Centre box office.
As a special offer, clients who buy Reserved Seating Weekend Passes and the first 500 clients who buy General Admission Weekend Passes are entitled to receive a download of the new album from Serj Tankian of SYSTEM OF A DOWN that is scheduled for release this August and one download of SCARS OF BROADWAY's new album coming this fall. Two full album downloads per individual ticket purchase. More details and redemption instructions to follow.
The Heavy MTL festival billing is shaping up as follows:
Saturday, August 11:
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
CANNIBAL CORPSE
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
JOB FOR A COWBOY
KATAKLYSM
PERIPHERY
THE FACELESS
VEIL OF MAYA
GOATWHORE
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE
ROSE FUNERAL
ORIGIN
EXHUMED
Sunday, August 12:
SLIPKNOT
MARILYN MANSON
LAMB OF GOD
GOJIRA
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
OVERKILL
HIGH ON FIRE
PROTEST THE HERO
CANCER BATS
THE AGONIST
IWRESTLEDABEARONCE
A few more bands will be added to this lineup and other events that will take part of the festival will be announced soon.
As of now, weekend passes for Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 12 at Parc Jean-Drapeau are going on sale via HeavyMTL.com, by phone at (514) 790-2525 or 1-877-668-8269 in person at the Bell Centre box office.
As a special offer, clients who buy Reserved Seating Weekend Passes and the first 500 clients who buy General Admission Weekend Passes are entitled to receive a download of the new album from Serj Tankian of SYSTEM OF A DOWN that is scheduled for release this August and one download of SCARS OF BROADWAY's new album coming this fall. Two full album downloads per individual ticket purchase. More details and redemption instructions to follow.
The Heavy MTL festival billing is shaping up as follows:
Saturday, August 11:
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
CANNIBAL CORPSE
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
JOB FOR A COWBOY
KATAKLYSM
PERIPHERY
THE FACELESS
VEIL OF MAYA
GOATWHORE
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE
ROSE FUNERAL
ORIGIN
EXHUMED
Sunday, August 12:
SLIPKNOT
MARILYN MANSON
LAMB OF GOD
GOJIRA
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
OVERKILL
HIGH ON FIRE
PROTEST THE HERO
CANCER BATS
THE AGONIST
IWRESTLEDABEARONCE
A few more bands will be added to this lineup and other events that will take part of the festival will be announced soon.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, KATAKLYSM and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES are among the newly confirmed bands for the Heavy T.O. festival, set to take place August 11-12 at Downsview Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
Saturday, August 11:
SLIPKNOT
MARILYN MANSON
LAMB OF GOD
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
GOJIRA
OVERKILL
HIGH ON FIRE
PROTEST THE HERO
Sunday, August 12:
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
CANNIBAL CORPSE
KATAKLYSM
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
VEIL OF MAYA
JOB FOR A COWBOY
GOATWHORE
THE FACELESS
PERIPHERY
EXHUMED
Tickets are on sale now at HeavyTO.com.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
Saturday, August 11:
SLIPKNOT
MARILYN MANSON
LAMB OF GOD
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
GOJIRA
OVERKILL
HIGH ON FIRE
PROTEST THE HERO
Sunday, August 12:
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
CANNIBAL CORPSE
KATAKLYSM
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
VEIL OF MAYA
JOB FOR A COWBOY
GOATWHORE
THE FACELESS
PERIPHERY
EXHUMED
Tickets are on sale now at HeavyTO.com.
TONY MARTIN'S HEADLESS CROSS, the touring project led by former BLACK SABBATH singer Tony Martin, will make its live debut on Friday, July 27 at The Asylum in Birmingham, England. Tickets are £10 in advance and £12 at the door.
HEADLESS CROSS, whose live set celebrates the SABBATH album "Headless Cross", consists of the following musicians:
* Tony Martin (BLACK SABBATH, THE CAGE) - Vocals
* Danny "Danté" Needham (VENOM) - Drums
* Geoff Nicholls (ex-BLACK SABBATH) - Keyboards
* Dario Mollo (VOODOO HILL, THE CAGE) - Guitar
* Magnus Rosén (ex-HAMMERFALL) - Bass
A slightly different lineup of HEADLESS CROSS — with Martin, Nicholls and Needham as the only holdovers — was scheduled to tour the U.S. in 2009 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of "Headless Cross", but was forced to cancel the trek at the last minute, reportedly due to promoter issues.
BLACK SABBATH released six albums with Tony Martin on vocals: "The Eternal Idol" (1987), "Headless Cross" (1989), "Tyr" (1990), "Cross Purposes" (1994), "Cross Purposes Live" (1995) and "Forbidden" (1995).
In a 2011 interview with CriticalMass.se, Martin made it clear that he was not interested in reuniting with BLACK SABBATH again. "Not the band," he said. "But I don't have any problems with the people, though. For example, I would work with Tony Iommi, maybe. It's just that I wouldn't like to do the same thing that I did before. Just singing Ozzy songs, Dio songs and all the rest of it and my music being pushed aside. That was my issue.
Martin also revealed that made fans will, unfortunately, not see him on tour that much anymore. "It's just too hard," he explained. "Every time we go out on the road, we lose money. They expect us to play for free or for less and less each time and we can't run an operation like that. It's just not possible. That's disappointing, 'cause I want to be out on the road! It's a natural place for a musician to be. Playing gigs is part of the fun. But you can't do it for nothing, and if you have to sell your house or your car or have to get a day job as an electrician or something to pay to go and play, then that's no fun and it's also damaging to your family and your life."
Martin's last solo album, "Scream", was released in November 2005 via MTM Music. The CD featured legendary drummer Cozy Powell (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE) on the track "Raising Hell" as well as songwriting contributions by another SABBATH member, Geoff Nicholls.
HEADLESS CROSS, whose live set celebrates the SABBATH album "Headless Cross", consists of the following musicians:
* Tony Martin (BLACK SABBATH, THE CAGE) - Vocals
* Danny "Danté" Needham (VENOM) - Drums
* Geoff Nicholls (ex-BLACK SABBATH) - Keyboards
* Dario Mollo (VOODOO HILL, THE CAGE) - Guitar
* Magnus Rosén (ex-HAMMERFALL) - Bass
A slightly different lineup of HEADLESS CROSS — with Martin, Nicholls and Needham as the only holdovers — was scheduled to tour the U.S. in 2009 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of "Headless Cross", but was forced to cancel the trek at the last minute, reportedly due to promoter issues.
BLACK SABBATH released six albums with Tony Martin on vocals: "The Eternal Idol" (1987), "Headless Cross" (1989), "Tyr" (1990), "Cross Purposes" (1994), "Cross Purposes Live" (1995) and "Forbidden" (1995).
In a 2011 interview with CriticalMass.se, Martin made it clear that he was not interested in reuniting with BLACK SABBATH again. "Not the band," he said. "But I don't have any problems with the people, though. For example, I would work with Tony Iommi, maybe. It's just that I wouldn't like to do the same thing that I did before. Just singing Ozzy songs, Dio songs and all the rest of it and my music being pushed aside. That was my issue.
Martin also revealed that made fans will, unfortunately, not see him on tour that much anymore. "It's just too hard," he explained. "Every time we go out on the road, we lose money. They expect us to play for free or for less and less each time and we can't run an operation like that. It's just not possible. That's disappointing, 'cause I want to be out on the road! It's a natural place for a musician to be. Playing gigs is part of the fun. But you can't do it for nothing, and if you have to sell your house or your car or have to get a day job as an electrician or something to pay to go and play, then that's no fun and it's also damaging to your family and your life."
Martin's last solo album, "Scream", was released in November 2005 via MTM Music. The CD featured legendary drummer Cozy Powell (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE) on the track "Raising Hell" as well as songwriting contributions by another SABBATH member, Geoff Nicholls.
Five of the biggest classic '80s rock bands will unite for the summer's "America Rocks Tour". The trek will feature kick-ass sets, headlined by JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE and featuring FASTER PUSSYCAT, BULLETBOYS, PRETTY BOY FLOYD and LILLIAN AXE.
First confirmed dates:
June 20 - Loveland, CO - Phaze Events Center
June 22 - Savage, MN - Neisen's Concert Hall
June 24 - Vienna, WV - Yellow Beards
June 29 - Columbus, OH - Alrosa Villa
June 30 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
Jack Russell's GREAT WHITE went from metal/hard rock to mainstream radio airplay with their breakthrough smash "Once Bitten Twice Shy" and haven't looked back, as they celebrate 30 years of the band's history by performing all their hits!
Hollywood's FASTER PUSSYCAT bring their notorious live show back to North American stages, and they promise to go deep into their extensive catalog including "House Of Pain" and "Poison Ivy"!
BULLETBOYS perform their numerous smash hits such as "Smooth Up In Ya" and "For The Love Of Money" off their platinum selling classic self-titled debut, which dominated both MTV and radio airwaves, and remain relevant to this day in heavy rotation on VH1's "Metal Mania" and Internet (SiriusXM's Hair Nation, KNAC.COM, etc.) radio throughout the world!
PRETTY BOY FLOYD took the Sunset Strip by storm in hair metal's heyday and continue to have a die hard following to this day! Their classic album "Leather Boys With Electric Toys" will be well represented as well as other surprises!
Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame members LILLIAN AXE have proven their success with over a million albums sold worldwide. They are known for thought-provoking lyrics with their melodic song structure and the musical chops to back it up.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/americarocksupdated.jpg
First confirmed dates:
June 20 - Loveland, CO - Phaze Events Center
June 22 - Savage, MN - Neisen's Concert Hall
June 24 - Vienna, WV - Yellow Beards
June 29 - Columbus, OH - Alrosa Villa
June 30 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
Jack Russell's GREAT WHITE went from metal/hard rock to mainstream radio airplay with their breakthrough smash "Once Bitten Twice Shy" and haven't looked back, as they celebrate 30 years of the band's history by performing all their hits!
Hollywood's FASTER PUSSYCAT bring their notorious live show back to North American stages, and they promise to go deep into their extensive catalog including "House Of Pain" and "Poison Ivy"!
BULLETBOYS perform their numerous smash hits such as "Smooth Up In Ya" and "For The Love Of Money" off their platinum selling classic self-titled debut, which dominated both MTV and radio airwaves, and remain relevant to this day in heavy rotation on VH1's "Metal Mania" and Internet (SiriusXM's Hair Nation, KNAC.COM, etc.) radio throughout the world!
PRETTY BOY FLOYD took the Sunset Strip by storm in hair metal's heyday and continue to have a die hard following to this day! Their classic album "Leather Boys With Electric Toys" will be well represented as well as other surprises!
Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame members LILLIAN AXE have proven their success with over a million albums sold worldwide. They are known for thought-provoking lyrics with their melodic song structure and the musical chops to back it up.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/americarocksupdated.jpg
PRETTY BOY FLOYD will headline a special 40th-anniversary party for Rainbow Bar & Grill on Sunday, April 15 at the legendary Sunset Strip rock hangout's parking lot in West Hollywood, California. Also scheduled to perform at the event are HURRICANE, COLD BLUE REBELS, LONDON, MANDY LION, DC4, DESECRATE and RATTLEHEAD.
For more information, go to this location.
Rainbow Bar & Grill was founded in early 1972 by Elmer Valentine, Lou Adler, Mario Maglieri and others., opening on April 16, 1972 with a party for Elton John. At the time, the word "rainbow" signified peace and freedom. It quickly became known as a hangout for celebrities of all types.
For more information, go to this location.
Rainbow Bar & Grill was founded in early 1972 by Elmer Valentine, Lou Adler, Mario Maglieri and others., opening on April 16, 1972 with a party for Elton John. At the time, the word "rainbow" signified peace and freedom. It quickly became known as a hangout for celebrities of all types.
Geoff Charles of the Providence, Rhode Island classic rock radio station 94HJY conducted an interview with former VAN HALEN and current CHICKENFOOT frontman Sammy Hagar this week. You can now listen to the chat below.
When asked how it feels to see his former VAN HALEN bandmates out there touring with their original singer David Lee Roth, Sammy said, "I'm happy as a lark. I think it's the coolest thing that they've done for their fans since the '04 reunion with me, and then before that, look how long it was, so…. I was always dogging them about, 'Why don't these guys do something?' I'd be walking down the street and people would come up to me all the time [and say], 'Sammy, why don't you guys get back together' 'Hey, how come you and Eddie [Van Halen] can't make a new record?' 'Hey, why can't you and Eddie get along and go and tour? Man, the fans really need it. We really miss you guys. We really want. We really want.' And when I wrote my book, I just wanted to put that to rest and say, 'Here's why it can't happen: We don't get along.' And whose problem it is, it doesn't matter — we couldn't make it work. And I wanted to write the book and make that statement. But when I heard that they were doing this, everybody is going, 'Wow, how do you feel?' And I'm going, 'I feel great! I don't wanna be in that band. I'm in CHICKENFOOT!' Mike [Anthony, former VAN HALEN and current CHICKENFOOT bassist] and I are loving Joe [Satriani, guitar], and Chad [Smith, drums] and Kenny [Aronoff, drums]. This is like a love fest over here. I don't need any better musicianship than what I've got here. So for them to go out and do it, I'm happy for the fans, and… Hey, they're doing great! I can't dog 'em anymore. You know, that's the only thing I'm upset about — now I can't dog 'em, 'cause they're out doing it. [Laughs]"
Although he told Rolling Stone last fall that he would be the "first guy in line" to buy "A Different Kind Of Truth", VAN HALEN's new album with Roth, Hagar admitted to the Boston Phoenix that he has only heard a little bit of the record since it came out last month — but that still hasn't stopped him from bashing it.
Hagar said, "When I heard 'Tattoo', that single . . . it wasn't a song that made me run out and buy their record. And so I haven't heard it. I haven't downloaded it, I haven't done anything." He added, "I heard another one that was kinda goofy too, and then I heard, on the radio, 'She's The Woman', and I thought that was kinda cool. That one sounds like what I would expect from VAN HALEN, a little closer to it. The other stuff didn't sound like what I was expecting, that's for sure."
According to The Pulse Of Radio, Hagar also spoke about the current lineup of VAN HALEN ignoring all the material from his four albums with the band in its new live show. Hagar explained, "The difference between Dave and I in that band, besides all the other million things, is that he can't sing any of the Van Hagar-era songs. Maybe he could do 'Finish What Ya Started', possibly — so that makes it kind of weird for [Alex and Eddie Van Halen], I think, to take 11 years out of that thing."
During his time in the band, Hagar himself only ever agreed to perform four songs from VAN HALEN's first six albums with Roth. That left a lot of the group's all-time classics out of the set for Hagar's own decade in the lineup.
CHICKENFOOT is launching a spring tour in May that will find the band playing in Los Angeles right around the same time as VAN HALEN. Hagar admitted that he was ticked off about the scheduling initially, saying, "It's just gonna cause a needless competition between the fans, and I don't like that. I want the fans to feel like they can love VAN HALEN and that they can love CHICKENFOOT totally the same."
When asked how it feels to see his former VAN HALEN bandmates out there touring with their original singer David Lee Roth, Sammy said, "I'm happy as a lark. I think it's the coolest thing that they've done for their fans since the '04 reunion with me, and then before that, look how long it was, so…. I was always dogging them about, 'Why don't these guys do something?' I'd be walking down the street and people would come up to me all the time [and say], 'Sammy, why don't you guys get back together' 'Hey, how come you and Eddie [Van Halen] can't make a new record?' 'Hey, why can't you and Eddie get along and go and tour? Man, the fans really need it. We really miss you guys. We really want. We really want.' And when I wrote my book, I just wanted to put that to rest and say, 'Here's why it can't happen: We don't get along.' And whose problem it is, it doesn't matter — we couldn't make it work. And I wanted to write the book and make that statement. But when I heard that they were doing this, everybody is going, 'Wow, how do you feel?' And I'm going, 'I feel great! I don't wanna be in that band. I'm in CHICKENFOOT!' Mike [Anthony, former VAN HALEN and current CHICKENFOOT bassist] and I are loving Joe [Satriani, guitar], and Chad [Smith, drums] and Kenny [Aronoff, drums]. This is like a love fest over here. I don't need any better musicianship than what I've got here. So for them to go out and do it, I'm happy for the fans, and… Hey, they're doing great! I can't dog 'em anymore. You know, that's the only thing I'm upset about — now I can't dog 'em, 'cause they're out doing it. [Laughs]"
Although he told Rolling Stone last fall that he would be the "first guy in line" to buy "A Different Kind Of Truth", VAN HALEN's new album with Roth, Hagar admitted to the Boston Phoenix that he has only heard a little bit of the record since it came out last month — but that still hasn't stopped him from bashing it.
Hagar said, "When I heard 'Tattoo', that single . . . it wasn't a song that made me run out and buy their record. And so I haven't heard it. I haven't downloaded it, I haven't done anything." He added, "I heard another one that was kinda goofy too, and then I heard, on the radio, 'She's The Woman', and I thought that was kinda cool. That one sounds like what I would expect from VAN HALEN, a little closer to it. The other stuff didn't sound like what I was expecting, that's for sure."
According to The Pulse Of Radio, Hagar also spoke about the current lineup of VAN HALEN ignoring all the material from his four albums with the band in its new live show. Hagar explained, "The difference between Dave and I in that band, besides all the other million things, is that he can't sing any of the Van Hagar-era songs. Maybe he could do 'Finish What Ya Started', possibly — so that makes it kind of weird for [Alex and Eddie Van Halen], I think, to take 11 years out of that thing."
During his time in the band, Hagar himself only ever agreed to perform four songs from VAN HALEN's first six albums with Roth. That left a lot of the group's all-time classics out of the set for Hagar's own decade in the lineup.
CHICKENFOOT is launching a spring tour in May that will find the band playing in Los Angeles right around the same time as VAN HALEN. Hagar admitted that he was ticked off about the scheduling initially, saying, "It's just gonna cause a needless competition between the fans, and I don't like that. I want the fans to feel like they can love VAN HALEN and that they can love CHICKENFOOT totally the same."
According to Amazon.com, original KISS drummer Peter Criss will publish his memoir, "Makeup To Breakup", on October 23 via the Simon & Schuster imprint Scribner. A press release promises, "From sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll to multiple brushes with death, 'Makeup To Breakup' will be Peter Criss' unvarnished and eye-opening life story."
Criss is writing the book with the help of Larry "Ratso" Sloman.
When Criss was inducted on January 14 as part of the latest Drum Legend class during the grand finals of Guitar Center's annual Drum-Off at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California, he told Artisan News about his upcoming book (see video below), "You'll enjoy it. It's about my life. It's not about just… Of course, it's about drugs, sex and rock and roll. But it's about my parents, my growing up, getting through Brooklyn, going through gangs, getting into drugs, getting out of them, getting through cancer. I'm four years free of cancer now, so that's why I've got my pink shoelaces on. I'm doing great."
In a press release issued last year, Criss said, "I am so blessed that I am finally going to write my autobiography, and I hope you enjoy the ride. The best of all is I get to share my true feelings of my love for God, family, friends and fame. It's been a wonderful life."
While some men feel embarrassed because of "this macho crap," Criss told CNN surviving breast cancer was actually a blessing. He was treated before the tumor could spread and said he was speaking about male breast cancer to raise the profile of this rare disease.
Criss, who played drums for KISS and was known as "Catman," offered this advice to men who spot lumps in their breast: "Don't sit around playing Mr. Tough Guy. Don't say 'It's going to go away.' It might not and you might not see life anymore and how beautiful that is."
Criss, who is currently working on a new rock album, told Reuters his bout with cancer had affected his songwriting.
"My lyrics are not so deep and dismal," he said. One of the tracks on the album, expected next year, is called "Hard Rock Knockers".
Criss is writing the book with the help of Larry "Ratso" Sloman.
When Criss was inducted on January 14 as part of the latest Drum Legend class during the grand finals of Guitar Center's annual Drum-Off at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California, he told Artisan News about his upcoming book (see video below), "You'll enjoy it. It's about my life. It's not about just… Of course, it's about drugs, sex and rock and roll. But it's about my parents, my growing up, getting through Brooklyn, going through gangs, getting into drugs, getting out of them, getting through cancer. I'm four years free of cancer now, so that's why I've got my pink shoelaces on. I'm doing great."
In a press release issued last year, Criss said, "I am so blessed that I am finally going to write my autobiography, and I hope you enjoy the ride. The best of all is I get to share my true feelings of my love for God, family, friends and fame. It's been a wonderful life."
While some men feel embarrassed because of "this macho crap," Criss told CNN surviving breast cancer was actually a blessing. He was treated before the tumor could spread and said he was speaking about male breast cancer to raise the profile of this rare disease.
Criss, who played drums for KISS and was known as "Catman," offered this advice to men who spot lumps in their breast: "Don't sit around playing Mr. Tough Guy. Don't say 'It's going to go away.' It might not and you might not see life anymore and how beautiful that is."
Criss, who is currently working on a new rock album, told Reuters his bout with cancer had affected his songwriting.
"My lyrics are not so deep and dismal," he said. One of the tracks on the album, expected next year, is called "Hard Rock Knockers".
Legendary Swedish doom metallers CANDLEMASS will release their 11th and final album, "Psalms For The Dead", in June via Napalm Records. A limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single contaning two album tracks —"Dancing In The Temple Of The Mad Queen Bee" and "The Killing Of The Sun" — will precede the full-length effort on April 13.
"This record represents everything that is CANDLEMASS," the band's bassist and main songwriter Leif Edling states. "It is big, fat, epic and heavy, and it's also metal as fuck! We couldn't have done a better album! It's our last one and we put just all we had into it. 'Psalms For The Dead' is an album about the presence and absence of time, false prophets and inner demons....hymns, regret and farewell. Let there be doom!"
Other songtitles set to appear on the effort include "Prophet", "Sadness Run Deep" and "Water Witch".
Check out the cover artwork for the album and the single below.
Despite the fact that "Psalms For The Dead" is being billed as CANDLEMASS' final studio album, Edling told Terrorizer magazine in a recent interview that the group is not planning on hanging it up anytime soon.
"We're not splitting up," he said. "Yes, this is to be our last album, but we don't plan to disappear from the scene for quite awhile. We will tour this year, hopefully the next one as well, and then there's our upcoming 30th anniversary. So plenty more doom to come! It's just that we want to stop before we get too old and start putting out half-lame albums. Instead, we'll slowly fade away into the sunset with our dignity intact. We're not young anymore. Actually, some of the stuff I've been writing for this album ism in fact, about saying goodbye. It's a bit psalm-like in parts and has got a big epic vibe."
He added, "I have got a very good feeling about this album. It's so metal, so heavy, so doomy, so epic.. It's fucking colossal! I think this will turn out as good as [2009's] 'Death Magic Doom', something I thought would be impossible."
CANDLEMASS celebrated its 25-year anniversary by performing an extra-long, two-and-a-half-hour set at Debaser Medis in Stockholm on December 18, 2010. The band's classic debut album, "Epicus Doomicus Metalicus", was played in its entirety for the first time with the original singer Johan Längqvist.
CANDLEMASS released a new DVD, "Ashes To Ashes - Live", in North America on June 29, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records (April 23, 2010 in Europe). The set contains footage of the band's performance at Sweden Rock Festival in front of 30,000 people as well as CANDLEMASS' entire October 2009 concert in Athens, Greece. It also includes a 30-minute interview and two photo galleries. The DVD was released as a CD+DVD, with the Sweden Rock show as the audio CD.
"Death Magic Doom", the last album from CANDLEMASS, debuted at No. 79 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Death Magic Doom" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 52. The group's previous CD, "King of the Grey Islands", debuted at No. 83 back in June 2007.
"This record represents everything that is CANDLEMASS," the band's bassist and main songwriter Leif Edling states. "It is big, fat, epic and heavy, and it's also metal as fuck! We couldn't have done a better album! It's our last one and we put just all we had into it. 'Psalms For The Dead' is an album about the presence and absence of time, false prophets and inner demons....hymns, regret and farewell. Let there be doom!"
Other songtitles set to appear on the effort include "Prophet", "Sadness Run Deep" and "Water Witch".
Check out the cover artwork for the album and the single below.
Despite the fact that "Psalms For The Dead" is being billed as CANDLEMASS' final studio album, Edling told Terrorizer magazine in a recent interview that the group is not planning on hanging it up anytime soon.
"We're not splitting up," he said. "Yes, this is to be our last album, but we don't plan to disappear from the scene for quite awhile. We will tour this year, hopefully the next one as well, and then there's our upcoming 30th anniversary. So plenty more doom to come! It's just that we want to stop before we get too old and start putting out half-lame albums. Instead, we'll slowly fade away into the sunset with our dignity intact. We're not young anymore. Actually, some of the stuff I've been writing for this album ism in fact, about saying goodbye. It's a bit psalm-like in parts and has got a big epic vibe."
He added, "I have got a very good feeling about this album. It's so metal, so heavy, so doomy, so epic.. It's fucking colossal! I think this will turn out as good as [2009's] 'Death Magic Doom', something I thought would be impossible."
CANDLEMASS celebrated its 25-year anniversary by performing an extra-long, two-and-a-half-hour set at Debaser Medis in Stockholm on December 18, 2010. The band's classic debut album, "Epicus Doomicus Metalicus", was played in its entirety for the first time with the original singer Johan Längqvist.
CANDLEMASS released a new DVD, "Ashes To Ashes - Live", in North America on June 29, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records (April 23, 2010 in Europe). The set contains footage of the band's performance at Sweden Rock Festival in front of 30,000 people as well as CANDLEMASS' entire October 2009 concert in Athens, Greece. It also includes a 30-minute interview and two photo galleries. The DVD was released as a CD+DVD, with the Sweden Rock show as the audio CD.
"Death Magic Doom", the last album from CANDLEMASS, debuted at No. 79 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Death Magic Doom" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 52. The group's previous CD, "King of the Grey Islands", debuted at No. 83 back in June 2007.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/candlemasspsalms.jpg
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/candlemasssingle.jpg
According to RT, a third member of the Russian all-girl punk rock band PUSSY RIOT has been arrested for staging a protest "concert" at Moscow's Christ the Saviour cathedral.
Irina Loktina, who had earlier acted as a witness in this case, will remain in jail until April 24.
On February 21, five members of PUSSY RIOT broke into the cathedral and stormed the altar, performing a song called "Holy Shit" whose lyrics are said to be a condemnation of the Russian Orthodox church's close ties to Vladimir Putin. "Holy Mother, Blessed Virgin," they sang, "chase Putin out!"
"Our patriarch is not ashamed of wearing watches worth $40,000, which is intolerable when so many families in Russia are on the edge of poverty," PUSSY RIOT explained. "Our position is to think critically, to doubt all 'natural' things, and find lies."
According to Reuters, PUSSY RIOT's performance, which was posted on the Internet (see video below), offended Orthodox believers because the bandmembers stood in a part of the church reserved exclusively for priests.
The other two musicians who are in custody, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhin, have begun a hunger strike to protest the conditions of their arrest, which will see them kept behind bars until a late April hearing.
Irina Loktina, who had earlier acted as a witness in this case, will remain in jail until April 24.
On February 21, five members of PUSSY RIOT broke into the cathedral and stormed the altar, performing a song called "Holy Shit" whose lyrics are said to be a condemnation of the Russian Orthodox church's close ties to Vladimir Putin. "Holy Mother, Blessed Virgin," they sang, "chase Putin out!"
"Our patriarch is not ashamed of wearing watches worth $40,000, which is intolerable when so many families in Russia are on the edge of poverty," PUSSY RIOT explained. "Our position is to think critically, to doubt all 'natural' things, and find lies."
According to Reuters, PUSSY RIOT's performance, which was posted on the Internet (see video below), offended Orthodox believers because the bandmembers stood in a part of the church reserved exclusively for priests.
The other two musicians who are in custody, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhin, have begun a hunger strike to protest the conditions of their arrest, which will see them kept behind bars until a late April hearing.
Former EXODUS guitarist Rick Hunolt will join Nevada metallers PAIN CLINIC on stage on Friday, April 13 at the latter band's CD-release party at the Knitting Factory in Reno. Hunolt will play several EXODUS tracks with PAIN CLINIC as well as some of PAIN CLINIC's original material.
Hunolt, who previously performed two songs with PAIN CLINIC on January 8 at the Thrashocalypse festival at the Workshop in Ceres, California (near Modesto), has agreed to lay down at least one guitar solo on PAIN CLINIC's upcoming album, "World In Chaos".
At the Thrashocalypse show, Hunolt and PAIN CLINIC performed a cover version of the EXODUS classic "A Lesson In Violence" as well as an original PAIN CLINIC song, "Wrapped In Plastic".
Hunolt, who left EXODUS in 2005 in order to focus on his family life, rejoined his former bandmates at a special concert in celebration of EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt and Lisa Perticone's wedding on September 24, 2011 at Avalon in Santa Clara, California.
Hunolt, who previously performed two songs with PAIN CLINIC on January 8 at the Thrashocalypse festival at the Workshop in Ceres, California (near Modesto), has agreed to lay down at least one guitar solo on PAIN CLINIC's upcoming album, "World In Chaos".
At the Thrashocalypse show, Hunolt and PAIN CLINIC performed a cover version of the EXODUS classic "A Lesson In Violence" as well as an original PAIN CLINIC song, "Wrapped In Plastic".
Hunolt, who left EXODUS in 2005 in order to focus on his family life, rejoined his former bandmates at a special concert in celebration of EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt and Lisa Perticone's wedding on September 24, 2011 at Avalon in Santa Clara, California.
Swedish melodic metallers GOLDEN RESURRECTION have parted ways with drummer Rickard Gustafsson and keyboardist Kenneth Lillqvist and are currently seeking replacements.
"Man With A Mission", the latest video from GOLDEN RESURRECTION, can be seen below. The song is the title cut of the band's second album, "Man With A Mission", which was released last October.
GOLDEN RESURRECTION vocalist Christian Liljegren's rock-star dream began in his room as a child while living in Habo, a small village in the south of Sweden.
"YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, EUROPE and others were the musical heroes in my teens," he said. "They are still big influences in my music. Their breakthrough in Japan was huge and I dreamed about my own success in Japan."
In 1997, Christian's dream came true when his band NARNIA signed a deal with Pony Canyon in Japan — the same label as YNGWIE MALMSTEEN.
Since then, over 15 releases in the Japanese market have sprung from Christian's own record label from such bands as GOLDEN RESURRECTION, DIVINEFIRE, NARNIA and AUDIOVISION.
As the lead singer for some of these acts, Christian's relationship with the record companies and media in Japan has become close. Several tours in Japan have opened up doors for his musical career.
In 2008 Liljegren joined forces with Tommy Johansson, a 20-year-old super-talented vocalist and guitar hero. Both shared a big passion for melodic neoclassical metal and GOLDEN RESURRECTION was born.
GOLDEN RESURRECTION's debut album, "Glory To My King", was released in Japan in October 2010 via King Records.
"Man With A Mission", the latest video from GOLDEN RESURRECTION, can be seen below. The song is the title cut of the band's second album, "Man With A Mission", which was released last October.
GOLDEN RESURRECTION vocalist Christian Liljegren's rock-star dream began in his room as a child while living in Habo, a small village in the south of Sweden.
"YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, EUROPE and others were the musical heroes in my teens," he said. "They are still big influences in my music. Their breakthrough in Japan was huge and I dreamed about my own success in Japan."
In 1997, Christian's dream came true when his band NARNIA signed a deal with Pony Canyon in Japan — the same label as YNGWIE MALMSTEEN.
Since then, over 15 releases in the Japanese market have sprung from Christian's own record label from such bands as GOLDEN RESURRECTION, DIVINEFIRE, NARNIA and AUDIOVISION.
As the lead singer for some of these acts, Christian's relationship with the record companies and media in Japan has become close. Several tours in Japan have opened up doors for his musical career.
In 2008 Liljegren joined forces with Tommy Johansson, a 20-year-old super-talented vocalist and guitar hero. Both shared a big passion for melodic neoclassical metal and GOLDEN RESURRECTION was born.
GOLDEN RESURRECTION's debut album, "Glory To My King", was released in Japan in October 2010 via King Records.
Uddevalla, Sweden-based metallers HELLENNIUM will release their self-titled debut album on May 30 via Gothenburg, Sweden's Rambo Music, a division of Gain Music Entertainment (which is distributed and partly owned by Sony Music). The CD was mixed and mastered at Andy La Rocque's (KING DIAMOND) Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden.
Check out the cover artwork below.
In a 2011 interview with TheUnderground.in, HELLENNIUM bassist Linus Palmqvist stated about the band's upcoming CD, "The theme, though, is already chosen, and was probably the easiest decision we've ever taken, seeing as it never was a decision. The songs sort of wrote themselves and united around the common theme that our values create. It's the soundtrack to the battlefield of life! To have a record about anything else would be to go against all of the things that we and HELLENNIUM stand for."
HELLENNIUM is:
Khaled El Tayara: Vocals
Martin Lindberg: Guitar
David Borg-Hansen: Guitar
Linus Palmqvist: Bass
Dave O'Neill: Drums
Check out the cover artwork below.
In a 2011 interview with TheUnderground.in, HELLENNIUM bassist Linus Palmqvist stated about the band's upcoming CD, "The theme, though, is already chosen, and was probably the easiest decision we've ever taken, seeing as it never was a decision. The songs sort of wrote themselves and united around the common theme that our values create. It's the soundtrack to the battlefield of life! To have a record about anything else would be to go against all of the things that we and HELLENNIUM stand for."
HELLENNIUM is:
Khaled El Tayara: Vocals
Martin Lindberg: Guitar
David Borg-Hansen: Guitar
Linus Palmqvist: Bass
Dave O'Neill: Drums
London, England-based, female-fronted metallers MORTAD will enter the studio in November with producer Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR, EVILE) to begin recording their sophomore album for a 2013 release.
MORTAD's debut CD, "The Myth Of Purity", was made available last month with the February 2012 issue of Metal Hammer magazine and will receive a more "official" release later in the year. The album was recorded last October with Russ Russell.
"The Myth Of Purity" track listing:
01. All That's Born Must Be Destroyed
02. Waste Of My Rage
03. The Heights
04. Mirage
05. Feels Like Suffocation
06. The Myth Of Purity
07. I'm Not Interested In Being Interesting
08. By Default
09. The Voice
10. That Which Is Humane
MORTAD was formed in 2009 by Iranian vocalist Somi Arian , whose lyrics take aim at the hypocrisy of religion and the government as well as seeking inner truth and strength in the face of such oppression.
MORTAD released a music video and an EP, entitled "Pandemic Paranoia", in early 2011. This effort brought the band immense attention on the social media sites, placing the group as the No. 1 metal band on ReverbNation London metal chart, and attracting over 40,000 Facebook fans.
MORTAD's new video, "Waste Of My Rage", can be seen below. The clip was sponsored by the Alchemy apparel clothing brand and produced by the Manchester-based video production company Video Ink. More than a dozen actors were cast for the video, including Collette Von Tora, who agreed to have her head shaved for this video shoot.
MORTAD's debut CD, "The Myth Of Purity", was made available last month with the February 2012 issue of Metal Hammer magazine and will receive a more "official" release later in the year. The album was recorded last October with Russ Russell.
"The Myth Of Purity" track listing:
01. All That's Born Must Be Destroyed
02. Waste Of My Rage
03. The Heights
04. Mirage
05. Feels Like Suffocation
06. The Myth Of Purity
07. I'm Not Interested In Being Interesting
08. By Default
09. The Voice
10. That Which Is Humane
MORTAD was formed in 2009 by Iranian vocalist Somi Arian , whose lyrics take aim at the hypocrisy of religion and the government as well as seeking inner truth and strength in the face of such oppression.
MORTAD released a music video and an EP, entitled "Pandemic Paranoia", in early 2011. This effort brought the band immense attention on the social media sites, placing the group as the No. 1 metal band on ReverbNation London metal chart, and attracting over 40,000 Facebook fans.
MORTAD's new video, "Waste Of My Rage", can be seen below. The clip was sponsored by the Alchemy apparel clothing brand and produced by the Manchester-based video production company Video Ink. More than a dozen actors were cast for the video, including Collette Von Tora, who agreed to have her head shaved for this video shoot.
NEKROFEIST, the controversial and outspoken Australian groove/thrash metal outfit whose frontman, Dave Tinelt, was recently recruited by thrash veterans MORTAL SIN, is working on its debut album, "Without Reserve Or Regret", with producer Darren "jENK" Jenkins.
NEKROFEIST is funding the recording sessions independently and will seek a suitable label to release the CD once the effort has been completed.
A five-minute video clip featuring footage from the studio can be seen below. Featured in the video is a surprise phone call the band received from Australian comedy legend Rodney Rude.
NEKROFEIST lead vocalist and band founder Dave Tinelt is renowned for his broad, powerful, stentorian-like vocal abilities. Whether smooth and clean or throaty and aggressive, Dave has an incredible depth and tone to his voice, and is proud to present these varied qualities in the forefront of NEKROFEIST's music. For his lyrics, Dave draws on very personal life experiences, which lends NEKROFEIST's music an honesty and raw integrity seldom found in today's scene.
NEKROFEIST's debut EP was released in 2010. The CD was recorded at Gadigal Studios with producer Ash Manning (TOURETTES) and engineer Lachlan Mitchell (NAXZUL, HENRY'S ANGER).
NEKROFEIST is:
Dave Tinelt - Vocals
Rob Giles - Bass
Paul Gilroy - Drums
Damon Bishop – Guitar
NEKROFEIST is funding the recording sessions independently and will seek a suitable label to release the CD once the effort has been completed.
A five-minute video clip featuring footage from the studio can be seen below. Featured in the video is a surprise phone call the band received from Australian comedy legend Rodney Rude.
NEKROFEIST lead vocalist and band founder Dave Tinelt is renowned for his broad, powerful, stentorian-like vocal abilities. Whether smooth and clean or throaty and aggressive, Dave has an incredible depth and tone to his voice, and is proud to present these varied qualities in the forefront of NEKROFEIST's music. For his lyrics, Dave draws on very personal life experiences, which lends NEKROFEIST's music an honesty and raw integrity seldom found in today's scene.
NEKROFEIST's debut EP was released in 2010. The CD was recorded at Gadigal Studios with producer Ash Manning (TOURETTES) and engineer Lachlan Mitchell (NAXZUL, HENRY'S ANGER).
NEKROFEIST is:
Dave Tinelt - Vocals
Rob Giles - Bass
Paul Gilroy - Drums
Damon Bishop – Guitar
Reactivated Swedish death/thrash metallers THE CROWN will play their first concert with returning vocalist Johan Lindstrand, on May 5 at Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg, Sweden. This will mark the band's first appearance in Gothenburg in 12 years and will likely be the group's only show in Sweden this year.
THE CROWN is currently writing material for a new studio album, tentatively due late 2012 via Century Media Records.
Commented Lindstrand: "We do have plenty of songs to fill a whole album.
"We have rehearsed on 5-6 songs now and they sound truly amazing. [They contain] a lot of variation, for sure, but with a pretty visible red line through it all.
"There's still a couple of songs left to start messing with and a lot of lyrics to be written, but you can definitely begin to see an album getting formed and shaped into a real classic.
"There's no date set for entering the studio but Marko [Tervonen, guitar] will handle the engineering and mixing and there's no doubt that he will create a killer sound.
"We're all very excited and we wanna start recording right now, but, as I've said before, there's no room for mistakes. There's only room for death fucking metal in the best possible way, so therefore we will not rush anything."
Several photos of THE CROWN's January 2012 rehearsal taken by Lindstrand can be seen below.
THE CROWN's current lineup:
Johan Lindstrand - Vocals
Magnus Olsfelt - Bass
Marko Tervonen - Rhythm Guitar
Janne Saarenpää - Drums
Marcus Sunesson - Lead Guitar
THE CROWN's latest album, "Doomsday King", came out in September 2010 via Century Media Records. The CD was the group's first — and only — release to feature vocalist Jonas Stålhammar.
THE CROWN is currently writing material for a new studio album, tentatively due late 2012 via Century Media Records.
Commented Lindstrand: "We do have plenty of songs to fill a whole album.
"We have rehearsed on 5-6 songs now and they sound truly amazing. [They contain] a lot of variation, for sure, but with a pretty visible red line through it all.
"There's still a couple of songs left to start messing with and a lot of lyrics to be written, but you can definitely begin to see an album getting formed and shaped into a real classic.
"There's no date set for entering the studio but Marko [Tervonen, guitar] will handle the engineering and mixing and there's no doubt that he will create a killer sound.
"We're all very excited and we wanna start recording right now, but, as I've said before, there's no room for mistakes. There's only room for death fucking metal in the best possible way, so therefore we will not rush anything."
Several photos of THE CROWN's January 2012 rehearsal taken by Lindstrand can be seen below.
THE CROWN's current lineup:
Johan Lindstrand - Vocals
Magnus Olsfelt - Bass
Marko Tervonen - Rhythm Guitar
Janne Saarenpää - Drums
Marcus Sunesson - Lead Guitar
THE CROWN's latest album, "Doomsday King", came out in September 2010 via Century Media Records. The CD was the group's first — and only — release to feature vocalist Jonas Stålhammar.
Sick Drummer Magazine and Perseverance Holdings Ltd. have announced the "Death To All Tour 2012" in benefit of Sweet Relief. This five-city tour will feature a majority of DEATH's amazing musicians, as well as special guests. This tour is to celebrate the life and music of Chuck Schuldiner, as well as to raise awareness of Sweet Relief Musicians Fund — a charity that provides financial assistance to career musicians faced with illness, disability or age-related problems.
This tour will kick off in San Francisco, California and work its way to Orlando, Florida — stopping in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York along the way.
The drums will be handled by Gene Hoglan ("Individual Thought Patterns", "Symbolic") and Sean Reinert ("Human"). On bass will be Steve DiGiorgio ("Human", "Individual Thought Patterns") and Scott Clendenin ("The Sound Of Perseverance"). Guitar duties will be shared by Paul Masvidal ("Human"), Shannon Hamm ("The Sound of Perseverance") and Bobby Koelble ("Symbolic").
The dates are as follows:
June 22 - The Regency Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
June 23 - House of Blues – West Hollywood, CA
June 26 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
June 28 - Irving Plaza – New York, NY
June 30 - The Beacham - Orlando, FL
This tour will kick off in San Francisco, California and work its way to Orlando, Florida — stopping in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York along the way.
The drums will be handled by Gene Hoglan ("Individual Thought Patterns", "Symbolic") and Sean Reinert ("Human"). On bass will be Steve DiGiorgio ("Human", "Individual Thought Patterns") and Scott Clendenin ("The Sound Of Perseverance"). Guitar duties will be shared by Paul Masvidal ("Human"), Shannon Hamm ("The Sound of Perseverance") and Bobby Koelble ("Symbolic").
The dates are as follows:
June 22 - The Regency Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
June 23 - House of Blues – West Hollywood, CA
June 26 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
June 28 - Irving Plaza – New York, NY
June 30 - The Beacham - Orlando, FL
North Carolina's DAYLIGHT DIES has completed the recording process for its fourth full-length album. The CD will be mixed by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden beginning on April 1. The band states, "Jens was also responsible for mixing 'Lost To The Living' and 'Dismantling Devotion' and we couldn't imagine the new album being in more capable hands."
As previously reported, DAYLIGHT DIES's new material is its most varied yet, due in part to bassist Egan O'Rourke's "significant songwriting contributions" this time around.
DAYLIGHT DIES played three shows in Europe in December — including at the third edition of the Madrid Is The Dark festival on December 8-10 at the Old School venue in Getafe, Spain.
DAYLIGHT DIES's latest album, "Lost To The Living", was released in the U.S. in June 2008 via Candlelight Records. The CD features captivatingly dark original artwork from renowned artist Travis Smith, who has worked with the band before and whose other previous collaborations include OPETH, ANATHEMA and KATATONIA.
As previously reported, DAYLIGHT DIES's new material is its most varied yet, due in part to bassist Egan O'Rourke's "significant songwriting contributions" this time around.
DAYLIGHT DIES played three shows in Europe in December — including at the third edition of the Madrid Is The Dark festival on December 8-10 at the Old School venue in Getafe, Spain.
DAYLIGHT DIES's latest album, "Lost To The Living", was released in the U.S. in June 2008 via Candlelight Records. The CD features captivatingly dark original artwork from renowned artist Travis Smith, who has worked with the band before and whose other previous collaborations include OPETH, ANATHEMA and KATATONIA.
On March 15, Aniruddh "Andrew" Bansal of Metal Assault conducted an interview with drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz of Florida death metallers CANNIBAL CORPSE. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metal Assault: I feel that the music on [the new CANNIBAL CORPSE album, "Torture"] is what people would have expected from you, but there are some songs that are slightly different from what you did on previous albums. Would you say that you've made progress since the last album, musically?
Paul: I would think so. We're always trying to make progress. I do believe that these songs are the best songs we've ever written, the most diverse songs, with a lot of individuality to all of them. The fact that we've had Rob [Barrett, guitar] and Pat [O'Brien, guitar] write a little bit more on this record helped, I think. We're always trying to step up our game. We're CANNIBAL CORPSE, we're going to do what we do, we're brutal death metal, but at the same time we do want to feel that we're moving forward, especially in the songwriting department. I think we've got some really catchy, heavy songs on this record, and it's something we've always strived to do, to keep bettering ourselves in every way possible.
Metal Assault: I also feel that your drums are sounding stronger than ever. Firstly, do you agree with that, and secondly, why do think that's the case?
Paul: Yeah, I do agree with that, and I really think I've stepped it up a lot on this album. I've worked harder than I ever have. Not that I didn't work hard before, but for some reason I just went through a lot of changes personally with the drumming, changing up some little things, working on some things I felt I needed to improve upon, like changing sticks, setting up a little higher, using different pedals, and that kind of thing. The big key with that is, we incorporated the click track while writing the last album, "Evisceration Plague", but this time around I felt a lot more comfortable working with the click track. I think it has really opened me up to be able to play a little bit more freely and to be able to do things around the click that I wasn't able to do with "Evisceration Plague", being that it was so new at the time. So I think all those factors really came into play, and like I said, I just stepped it up and tried to do my best. I'm glad that people are noticing that the drumming is a little bit stronger on this record, and like you said, arguably the best I've ever played, or one of my best performances.
Metal Assault: CANNIBAL CORPSE has such a huge reputation when it comes to the violent lyrical themes, songtitles and everything. Do you feel any kind of pressure of living up to that reputation while writing lyrics?
Paul: Well, we just do what we do. That's all we've always done for everything, writing music and writing lyrics. We feel that it's inside us, but, of course, we want to do something different than the last time around. I think as long as we come up with some good subject matter and we have some good titles, the stories will come. That's the key, and that's the way I write my lyrics. Most of the guys in the band come up with the title first, and then the subject matter follows because of the title and the concept that we came up with. That was important, just coming up with those, and we just took it from there. So I don't think there was any added pressure of needing to do anything specific or feeling like we have to outdo ourselves. Obviously there are going to be a lot of parallels with the lyrics and stories we've written on past albums, because we're horrific death metal. We try to write horror stories, some of them might be a little similar in nature because of writing about zombies, killing and all this kind of stuff, but we keep it fresh in our minds and as long as we do those little subtle different things that I was talking about earlier, we'll be okay. And we have done okay on this one.
Metal Assault: Normally, when do you start writing the lyrics? Does it come as the final step for a new album?
Paul: For me, it's always the final step. I think for all of us, it's the final step. We think about music first, and that's always been the case. We obviously want to write the song and that's the most important thing, because if you don't have the song, you won't have anything to put the lyrics over. So that's the way we've always worked. We might have a song title in mind, but until after the song is done musically, that's when we typically start working on those patterns and fitting the lyrics into the song. So they come at the end, and that's probably the way we'll always work.
Metal Assault: I feel that the music on [the new CANNIBAL CORPSE album, "Torture"] is what people would have expected from you, but there are some songs that are slightly different from what you did on previous albums. Would you say that you've made progress since the last album, musically?
Paul: I would think so. We're always trying to make progress. I do believe that these songs are the best songs we've ever written, the most diverse songs, with a lot of individuality to all of them. The fact that we've had Rob [Barrett, guitar] and Pat [O'Brien, guitar] write a little bit more on this record helped, I think. We're always trying to step up our game. We're CANNIBAL CORPSE, we're going to do what we do, we're brutal death metal, but at the same time we do want to feel that we're moving forward, especially in the songwriting department. I think we've got some really catchy, heavy songs on this record, and it's something we've always strived to do, to keep bettering ourselves in every way possible.
Metal Assault: I also feel that your drums are sounding stronger than ever. Firstly, do you agree with that, and secondly, why do think that's the case?
Paul: Yeah, I do agree with that, and I really think I've stepped it up a lot on this album. I've worked harder than I ever have. Not that I didn't work hard before, but for some reason I just went through a lot of changes personally with the drumming, changing up some little things, working on some things I felt I needed to improve upon, like changing sticks, setting up a little higher, using different pedals, and that kind of thing. The big key with that is, we incorporated the click track while writing the last album, "Evisceration Plague", but this time around I felt a lot more comfortable working with the click track. I think it has really opened me up to be able to play a little bit more freely and to be able to do things around the click that I wasn't able to do with "Evisceration Plague", being that it was so new at the time. So I think all those factors really came into play, and like I said, I just stepped it up and tried to do my best. I'm glad that people are noticing that the drumming is a little bit stronger on this record, and like you said, arguably the best I've ever played, or one of my best performances.
Metal Assault: CANNIBAL CORPSE has such a huge reputation when it comes to the violent lyrical themes, songtitles and everything. Do you feel any kind of pressure of living up to that reputation while writing lyrics?
Paul: Well, we just do what we do. That's all we've always done for everything, writing music and writing lyrics. We feel that it's inside us, but, of course, we want to do something different than the last time around. I think as long as we come up with some good subject matter and we have some good titles, the stories will come. That's the key, and that's the way I write my lyrics. Most of the guys in the band come up with the title first, and then the subject matter follows because of the title and the concept that we came up with. That was important, just coming up with those, and we just took it from there. So I don't think there was any added pressure of needing to do anything specific or feeling like we have to outdo ourselves. Obviously there are going to be a lot of parallels with the lyrics and stories we've written on past albums, because we're horrific death metal. We try to write horror stories, some of them might be a little similar in nature because of writing about zombies, killing and all this kind of stuff, but we keep it fresh in our minds and as long as we do those little subtle different things that I was talking about earlier, we'll be okay. And we have done okay on this one.
Metal Assault: Normally, when do you start writing the lyrics? Does it come as the final step for a new album?
Paul: For me, it's always the final step. I think for all of us, it's the final step. We think about music first, and that's always been the case. We obviously want to write the song and that's the most important thing, because if you don't have the song, you won't have anything to put the lyrics over. So that's the way we've always worked. We might have a song title in mind, but until after the song is done musically, that's when we typically start working on those patterns and fitting the lyrics into the song. So they come at the end, and that's probably the way we'll always work.
NEGURA BUNGET drummer Negru's folk project DIN BRAD will releae its long-awaited debut album, "Dor", via Prophecy Productions on the following dates:
Germany, Austria: April 20
Rest Of Europe: April 23
North America: June 5
Everywhere else: April 23
"Dor" is composed out of two distinct elements: On one side there are authentic Romanian traditional songs, sung by local performers and recorded in their original environment. On the other side there are some personal visions and reinterpretations of Romanian traditional music, performed and recorded in the studio. Both are fused together by the same unifying feeling. While the first part is the result of years of DIN BRAD's investigations into what is still alive today from the Romanian musical and spiritual ancestral traditions, the second part is a personal expression influenced by understanding and living on the lands that gave birth to the musicians.
"Dor" can now be pre-ordered as digipak CD and strictly limited collector's edition (digipak CD wrapped up in hamp cloth and tied up with a hamp rope, including a handnumbered certificate, limited to 150 copies).
"Dor" track listing:
01. Amar
02. Îmbratisat De Dor
03. Poarce'n Suflet Greu Pacatu
04. Doina
05. Cîntecul Cununei
06. Dor
07. Of, Of, Viata
08. Durere
09. Foaie Verde, Odolean
10. Cine Iubeste si Lasa
11. Bradule, Bradutule
Germany, Austria: April 20
Rest Of Europe: April 23
North America: June 5
Everywhere else: April 23
"Dor" is composed out of two distinct elements: On one side there are authentic Romanian traditional songs, sung by local performers and recorded in their original environment. On the other side there are some personal visions and reinterpretations of Romanian traditional music, performed and recorded in the studio. Both are fused together by the same unifying feeling. While the first part is the result of years of DIN BRAD's investigations into what is still alive today from the Romanian musical and spiritual ancestral traditions, the second part is a personal expression influenced by understanding and living on the lands that gave birth to the musicians.
"Dor" can now be pre-ordered as digipak CD and strictly limited collector's edition (digipak CD wrapped up in hamp cloth and tied up with a hamp rope, including a handnumbered certificate, limited to 150 copies).
"Dor" track listing:
01. Amar
02. Îmbratisat De Dor
03. Poarce'n Suflet Greu Pacatu
04. Doina
05. Cîntecul Cununei
06. Dor
07. Of, Of, Viata
08. Durere
09. Foaie Verde, Odolean
10. Cine Iubeste si Lasa
11. Bradule, Bradutule
German melodic blackened death metal hopefuls DECEMBER FLOWER have inked a deal with Cyclone Empire Records. The band is currently writing material for its sophomore album for a 2013 release.
DECEMBER FLOWER's debut CD, "When All Life Ends…", was released last December via Cyclone Empire through a licensing deal with Imperium Productions (which released the vinyl version of the effort).
Commented the band: "We are very happy about the fact, that we have the possibility to cooperate with Cyclone Empire for our next releases. The great job they did with the licensing of our debut made it an easy decision for us to choose them as our future companion. Besides preparing for some live assaults during the next months, we are already writing some new stuff. So we hope to present our next release sometime in 2013."
Rising from the ashes of CHRONICLES OF TYRANTS, DECEMBER FLOWER "have gathered in unholy congregation to teach the doctrine of old-school melodic blackened death metal in the vein of UNANIMATED, DISMEMBER, CARDINAL SIN, GATES OF ISHTAR or old DARK TRANQUILLITY, delivering a fierce and relentless assault of uncompromising death metal ferocity," according to a press release.
DECEMBER FLOWER is:
Manuel Siewert - Vocals
Michael Tybussek - Guitar
Torsten Horstmann - Guitar
Ben Bays - Bass
Daniel Dickmann – Drum
DECEMBER FLOWER's debut CD, "When All Life Ends…", was released last December via Cyclone Empire through a licensing deal with Imperium Productions (which released the vinyl version of the effort).
Commented the band: "We are very happy about the fact, that we have the possibility to cooperate with Cyclone Empire for our next releases. The great job they did with the licensing of our debut made it an easy decision for us to choose them as our future companion. Besides preparing for some live assaults during the next months, we are already writing some new stuff. So we hope to present our next release sometime in 2013."
Rising from the ashes of CHRONICLES OF TYRANTS, DECEMBER FLOWER "have gathered in unholy congregation to teach the doctrine of old-school melodic blackened death metal in the vein of UNANIMATED, DISMEMBER, CARDINAL SIN, GATES OF ISHTAR or old DARK TRANQUILLITY, delivering a fierce and relentless assault of uncompromising death metal ferocity," according to a press release.
DECEMBER FLOWER is:
Manuel Siewert - Vocals
Michael Tybussek - Guitar
Torsten Horstmann - Guitar
Ben Bays - Bass
Daniel Dickmann – Drum
After a five-year tenure with Dutch death metal veterans HOUWITSER, bassist Ramon Ploeg has left the band. He states, "I can't combine the band with my jobs anymore. Thanks to everyone who supported me and I've met in the last years! It was a great time! I wish all the guys of HOUWITSER all the best!"
HOUWITSER is currently seeking a replacement. The remaining members of the group say, "The bass player HOUWITSER is looking for must be experienced with live shows, have his own gear and can practice once a week in Zoetermeer. HOUWITSER is writing new material for their sixth CD and Doomstar is booking shows/festivals for the summer onto the end of this year. If you think you are the bass player HOUWITSER is looking for, you can contact them on info@houwitser.nl or houwitsermedia@gmail.com."
HOUWITSER was recently rejoined by its original singer Mike van Mastrigt. In addition, the group recruited Marten van Kruijssen (DICTATED, NIBIRUS) as its new drummer.
Vocalist Stan Blonk left HOUWITSER at the end of last year for personal reasons.
HOUWITSER's fifth album, "Bestial Atrocity", was released in 2010 via Sevared Records.
For more information, visit www.houwitser.nl.
HOUWITSER is currently seeking a replacement. The remaining members of the group say, "The bass player HOUWITSER is looking for must be experienced with live shows, have his own gear and can practice once a week in Zoetermeer. HOUWITSER is writing new material for their sixth CD and Doomstar is booking shows/festivals for the summer onto the end of this year. If you think you are the bass player HOUWITSER is looking for, you can contact them on info@houwitser.nl or houwitsermedia@gmail.com."
HOUWITSER was recently rejoined by its original singer Mike van Mastrigt. In addition, the group recruited Marten van Kruijssen (DICTATED, NIBIRUS) as its new drummer.
Vocalist Stan Blonk left HOUWITSER at the end of last year for personal reasons.
HOUWITSER's fifth album, "Bestial Atrocity", was released in 2010 via Sevared Records.
For more information, visit www.houwitser.nl.
Stockholm, Sweden-based label Threeman Recordings, which is owned and run by members of ENTOMBED, has launched a new collaboration with Ninetone Records. More informatiom about the first release from this new association will follow soon.
ENTOMBED's latest album, "Serpent Saints - The Ten Amendments", was released in the U.S. on July 31, 2007 via Candlelight/Threeman Recordings. The 10-song effort marked the group's first release with drummer Olle Dahlstedt (ALPHA SAFARI, ex-MISERY LOVES CO.), who replaced Peter Stjärnvind in 2006. Mastering duties were handled by Soren Elofsson at Cosmos Mastering in Stockholm, Sweden.
"Serpent Saints - The Ten Amendments" entered the Swedish national chart at position No. 3. This was the highest chart position in the band's career.
The current lineup of ENTOMBED features Victor Brandt (TOTALT JÄVLA MÖRKER, AEON, SATYRICON) and second guitarist Nico Elgstrand (who previously played bass for the group).
In a May 2011 interview with the Stormbringer.at webzine, ENTOMBED guitarist Alex Hellid stated about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the long-awaited follow-up to "Serpent Saints", "We're just taking our time getting the pieces together properly this time. We just wanna make sure that it's a really good album. Now we have a complete lineup again also, and a lot of fresh, new blood as well. So it's gonna be fun to create something new now. . . We wanna get the group together and get a strong foundation to create something good; that's the goal here. . . We'll just concentrate on [creating] something great."
He added, "I [try not] to focus on too much at the same time. [My attitude] is 'Let's just make one great song to start with,' and then we'll take it from there. . . We have a pretty broad palette of things we can do, and we'll try and find a place for anything. 'Cause we enjoy everything from the fastest death/black metal stuff to whatever, so the songs that we come up with, we'll just have to find a space for them — some stuff might be [releases as] an album, some stuff might be a single…"
He continued, "I think it's kind of boring, in a way, to just think in terms of a full-length] 'album,' especially when nobody seems to really create classic albums anymore, and a lot of people don't even buy them anymore. If wanna record our favorite cover songs, there should be a place for that as well.
"It's been four years [since the last album came out] and I feel that we have so much creativity in the band and so many things that we can all put under this roof of things that we like collectively. And what I wanna do is for us to find a way to channel all our creativity and also make it the best and the greatest it can be."
ENTOMBED's latest album, "Serpent Saints - The Ten Amendments", was released in the U.S. on July 31, 2007 via Candlelight/Threeman Recordings. The 10-song effort marked the group's first release with drummer Olle Dahlstedt (ALPHA SAFARI, ex-MISERY LOVES CO.), who replaced Peter Stjärnvind in 2006. Mastering duties were handled by Soren Elofsson at Cosmos Mastering in Stockholm, Sweden.
"Serpent Saints - The Ten Amendments" entered the Swedish national chart at position No. 3. This was the highest chart position in the band's career.
The current lineup of ENTOMBED features Victor Brandt (TOTALT JÄVLA MÖRKER, AEON, SATYRICON) and second guitarist Nico Elgstrand (who previously played bass for the group).
In a May 2011 interview with the Stormbringer.at webzine, ENTOMBED guitarist Alex Hellid stated about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the long-awaited follow-up to "Serpent Saints", "We're just taking our time getting the pieces together properly this time. We just wanna make sure that it's a really good album. Now we have a complete lineup again also, and a lot of fresh, new blood as well. So it's gonna be fun to create something new now. . . We wanna get the group together and get a strong foundation to create something good; that's the goal here. . . We'll just concentrate on [creating] something great."
He added, "I [try not] to focus on too much at the same time. [My attitude] is 'Let's just make one great song to start with,' and then we'll take it from there. . . We have a pretty broad palette of things we can do, and we'll try and find a place for anything. 'Cause we enjoy everything from the fastest death/black metal stuff to whatever, so the songs that we come up with, we'll just have to find a space for them — some stuff might be [releases as] an album, some stuff might be a single…"
He continued, "I think it's kind of boring, in a way, to just think in terms of a full-length] 'album,' especially when nobody seems to really create classic albums anymore, and a lot of people don't even buy them anymore. If wanna record our favorite cover songs, there should be a place for that as well.
"It's been four years [since the last album came out] and I feel that we have so much creativity in the band and so many things that we can all put under this roof of things that we like collectively. And what I wanna do is for us to find a way to channel all our creativity and also make it the best and the greatest it can be."
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