According to DNAIndia.com, AEROSMITH is rumored to be planning to perform in India as part of the first edition of a major music festival to be held in Pune. The event, a joint venture by actor Arjun Rampal and entrepreneur Shailendra Singh, is said to be a three-day long "glocal" festival slated to be held November 23-25.
"This is going to be a huge musical gala to look forward to. It will be driven by culture, tradition and soul," says a spokesperson from the organizing team, adding, "And, of course, there are a host of A-list artistes and bands from across the globe who're going to be a part of the event!"
AEROSMITH has delayed the release of its new studio album to September, according to an interview with bassist Tom Hamilton done by a Newfoundland radio station. The disc, originally set for release this spring, has been "pushed back," with no official reason given for the hold-up. The new AEROSMITH album will be the group's first set of all-new material since 2001's "Just Push Play" and first studio effort since the 2004 covers collection, "Honkin' On Bobo".
The veteran hard rock act began working on the new album last year with producer Jack Douglas, who produced classic AEROSMITH albums like "Rocks" and "Toys In The Attic".
The group has had to work around singer Steven Tyler's schedule as a judge on "American Idol", where he is currently in his second season.
The delay means that the yet-to-be-titled CD will follow the band's summer "Global Warming" tour, which begins June 16 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and wraps up in August.
"This is going to be a huge musical gala to look forward to. It will be driven by culture, tradition and soul," says a spokesperson from the organizing team, adding, "And, of course, there are a host of A-list artistes and bands from across the globe who're going to be a part of the event!"
AEROSMITH has delayed the release of its new studio album to September, according to an interview with bassist Tom Hamilton done by a Newfoundland radio station. The disc, originally set for release this spring, has been "pushed back," with no official reason given for the hold-up. The new AEROSMITH album will be the group's first set of all-new material since 2001's "Just Push Play" and first studio effort since the 2004 covers collection, "Honkin' On Bobo".
The veteran hard rock act began working on the new album last year with producer Jack Douglas, who produced classic AEROSMITH albums like "Rocks" and "Toys In The Attic".
The group has had to work around singer Steven Tyler's schedule as a judge on "American Idol", where he is currently in his second season.
The delay means that the yet-to-be-titled CD will follow the band's summer "Global Warming" tour, which begins June 16 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and wraps up in August.
In a brand new interview with SPIN magazine, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich was asked if he was surprised by the reaction to "Lulu", the band's collaborative album with Lou Reed. "It was more spiteful than anyone was prepared for," Lars replied. "Especially against Lou. He is such a sweet man. But when METALLICA do impulsive riffing and Lou Reed is reciting abstract poetry about German bohemians from 150 years ago, it can be difficult to embrace."
Lars also said that he never had second thoughts when sweet Lou came in with lyrics like "I swallow your sharpest cutter / Like a colored man's dick". "I understand that to some 13-year-old in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, it can all seem a little cringe-worthy, but to someone raised in an art community in Copenhagen in the late '60s, that was expected," he said.
On the topic of Orion Music + More — the two-day festival created by METALLICA that will take place on June 23-24 at Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey — and whether it's necessary for METALLICA to charge $150 for a ticket, Lars said, "We're not being paid to play Orion. It costs close to $10 million to put it together. That's gotta come from somewhere other than, 'METALLICA's gonna write a check.'"
"Lulu" polarized fans around the world and earned METALLICA some of the most scathing reviews of its career. The effort features the former THE VELVET UNDERGROUND frontman's spoken-word poetry and lyrics combined with METALLICA's musical assault for a jarring experience that doesn't sound like anything METALLICA has ever attempted before. A concept album based on two early 20th century plays by German author Frank Wedekind, the CD was co-produced by Reed, METALLICA, Hal Willner — who has produced albums for Reed, Marianne Faithfull, and Laurie Anderson, among others — and Greg Fidelman. Fidelman also mixed the record.
The collaboration between METALLICA and Reed was sparked by their performance together of Reed's "Sweet Jane" and "White Light/White Heat" at the 25th anniversary of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at Madison Square Garden in October of 2009.
The songs were all written by Reed with extensive arrangement contributions by METALLICA.
Only two songs on the album are under five minutes in length, while two are more than 11 minutes long and the closing cut, "Junior Dad", clocks in at 19 minutes.
Lars also said that he never had second thoughts when sweet Lou came in with lyrics like "I swallow your sharpest cutter / Like a colored man's dick". "I understand that to some 13-year-old in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, it can all seem a little cringe-worthy, but to someone raised in an art community in Copenhagen in the late '60s, that was expected," he said.
On the topic of Orion Music + More — the two-day festival created by METALLICA that will take place on June 23-24 at Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey — and whether it's necessary for METALLICA to charge $150 for a ticket, Lars said, "We're not being paid to play Orion. It costs close to $10 million to put it together. That's gotta come from somewhere other than, 'METALLICA's gonna write a check.'"
"Lulu" polarized fans around the world and earned METALLICA some of the most scathing reviews of its career. The effort features the former THE VELVET UNDERGROUND frontman's spoken-word poetry and lyrics combined with METALLICA's musical assault for a jarring experience that doesn't sound like anything METALLICA has ever attempted before. A concept album based on two early 20th century plays by German author Frank Wedekind, the CD was co-produced by Reed, METALLICA, Hal Willner — who has produced albums for Reed, Marianne Faithfull, and Laurie Anderson, among others — and Greg Fidelman. Fidelman also mixed the record.
The collaboration between METALLICA and Reed was sparked by their performance together of Reed's "Sweet Jane" and "White Light/White Heat" at the 25th anniversary of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at Madison Square Garden in October of 2009.
The songs were all written by Reed with extensive arrangement contributions by METALLICA.
Only two songs on the album are under five minutes in length, while two are more than 11 minutes long and the closing cut, "Junior Dad", clocks in at 19 minutes.
According to the San Fernando Valley Blog, GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Richard Fortus has re-listed his Woodland Hills, California contemporary home for $429,000 as an approved short sale. The house was originally listed in late 2010 at $549,000.
It was previously reported that Fortus was selling the home because he has moved to St. Louis to be close to family.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the single-story contemporary has an open floor plan, cherry plank flooring and a flat-screen television in the living room that was a housewarming gift from Axl Rose. The kitchen features granite countertops and new stainless-steel appliances. There are three bedrooms, 13/4 bathrooms and 1,500 square feet of living space.
Fortus purchased the home on May 31, 2006 for $700,000. Based on the current asking price, Fortus' lender stands to lose $271,000 not including taxes, commissions, and other related expenses.
A short sale occurs when the homeowner owes more than the current market value of the home, faces a hardship and obtains their lender's approval to sell the home for less than what is owed.
It was previously reported that Fortus was selling the home because he has moved to St. Louis to be close to family.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the single-story contemporary has an open floor plan, cherry plank flooring and a flat-screen television in the living room that was a housewarming gift from Axl Rose. The kitchen features granite countertops and new stainless-steel appliances. There are three bedrooms, 13/4 bathrooms and 1,500 square feet of living space.
Fortus purchased the home on May 31, 2006 for $700,000. Based on the current asking price, Fortus' lender stands to lose $271,000 not including taxes, commissions, and other related expenses.
A short sale occurs when the homeowner owes more than the current market value of the home, faces a hardship and obtains their lender's approval to sell the home for less than what is owed.
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS frontman Scott Weiland has revealed to Greg Prato of RollingStone.com that he and his bandmates will launch a tour in September to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album, "Core". "I'm looking forward to it," Scott said. "We're going to play the album in its entirety. I think it'll be really fun, because the one thing that I got tired of was sort of playing the same basic set list every night. It was like, 'the hits.' This way, it's something different, and I think it will be cool."
Weiland added that he is looking forward to revisiting material on the tour that hasn't been performed in years. "What comes to mind is the first song that we ever wrote with all of us in the band, when we had our first rehearsal with Dean [DeLeo]. He had this guitar riff that turned into 'Where the River Goes'. We haven't played that song in a long time, so I'm looking forward to that."
"Core" remains a classic album nearly two decades after its release, and DeLeo told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that he considers the band's music in general to be timeless. "We never want to date our material," he said. "When I say 'date,' you can almost listen to some stuff and just say, 'Well, that was the drum sound that everybody was using in '95. I think our records are kind of just — the material is kind of timeless, you know, where you can't really date it. I think you'll be able to listen to it 20 years from now and think, 'Wow, it's just timeless,' you know?"
"Core" was released on September 29, 1992.
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS reunited in 2008 for a successful world tour following a six-year hiatus.
Weiland added that he is looking forward to revisiting material on the tour that hasn't been performed in years. "What comes to mind is the first song that we ever wrote with all of us in the band, when we had our first rehearsal with Dean [DeLeo]. He had this guitar riff that turned into 'Where the River Goes'. We haven't played that song in a long time, so I'm looking forward to that."
"Core" remains a classic album nearly two decades after its release, and DeLeo told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that he considers the band's music in general to be timeless. "We never want to date our material," he said. "When I say 'date,' you can almost listen to some stuff and just say, 'Well, that was the drum sound that everybody was using in '95. I think our records are kind of just — the material is kind of timeless, you know, where you can't really date it. I think you'll be able to listen to it 20 years from now and think, 'Wow, it's just timeless,' you know?"
"Core" was released on September 29, 1992.
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS reunited in 2008 for a successful world tour following a six-year hiatus.
VELVET REVOLVER reunited with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland for a one-off performance at the January "Love You Madly: A Concert For John O'Brien" at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California. The band played a four-song set — including a cover version of the PINK FLOYD classic "Wish You Were Here" — at the event, which paid tribute to award-winning ASCAP composer John O'Brien, who was found dead in his Chicago hotel room last August.
When asked by RollingStone.com whether he would be open to a full-fledged VELVET REVOLVER reunion at some point down the road, Weiland said, "Yeah, I definitely would, some time. If Maynard [James Keenan] can do it with A PERFECT CIRCLE and TOOL, then there's no reason why I shouldn't go and do it with both bands [STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and VELVET REVOLVER]."
Speaking to Frankie DiVita, radio personality for 96.7 KCAL Rocks, at the 2012 NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum stated about the experience of playing with Weiland again, "It was cool, man. We hadn't played together in a long time. We soundchecked a few songs. We only played, like, three songs. But it was cool to be on stage and play music again. It was like riding a bike. Everyone had a good time and we raised some money for a really sad situation. John O'Brien passed away and left a pregnant wife and another child. And a lot of people turned out for the show… Amazing turnout."
He added, "We had a good time. Me and Scott worked out some stuff backstage and had talked, and that was nice. He came up to me and he was real humble and really cool. 'Cause stuff happens when you're out on the road and people are tired and you say shit. Everything is on the Internet now; you can't get away with anything.
"Being in the music business for as long as I have been, I'm still learning lessons. We were out on the road for 18 months. And we got tired and things happened. There's a lot of pressure. You think you'd always wanna do it differently, but stuff goes the way it's gonna go; I can't explain it.
"We made some good records [with Scott]. The second record [2007's 'Libertad'] didn't get as much action as the first one [2004's 'Contraband'], but I think it's a cool record, too. I liked a lot of that record, and working with [producer] Brendan O'Brien. The first record, obviously, was a huge success for us."
When asked about whether there is any chance of VELVET REVOLVER working with Weiland again, Sorum said, "I don't know… We'll see what happens. [VELVET REVOLVER guitarist] Slash is booked up for about another year [touring in support of his upcoming solo album], so I don't know what's gonna go on with anything, to be honest. We haven't discussed it. . . I don't know… I can't say. It hasn't really been discussed, so I don't wanna speak out of turn."
On the topic of why it's been so hard for VELVET REVOLVER to find a replacement for Weiland, Sorum said, "We were trying [to find a new singer last year], but it didn't work out that way. . . We had Corey Taylor [from SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR coming in and writing songs with us]; it's kind of well known. We did some songs, and it just didn't turn everybody on completely. So we, basically, put the brakes on that. I think I was a little bit excited to get going, but maybe that was more excitement than… I thought it was cool, but Slash wasn't into it. And if we're not all firing on the same cylinders, we don't usually… We respect that, you know."
VELVET REVOLVER's setlist for the January 12 performance with Scott Weiland at the "Love You Madly: A Concert For John O'Brien" event was as follows:
01. Sucker Train Blues
02. She Builds Quick Machines
03. Slither
04. Wish You Were Here (PINK FLOYD cover)
When asked by RollingStone.com whether he would be open to a full-fledged VELVET REVOLVER reunion at some point down the road, Weiland said, "Yeah, I definitely would, some time. If Maynard [James Keenan] can do it with A PERFECT CIRCLE and TOOL, then there's no reason why I shouldn't go and do it with both bands [STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and VELVET REVOLVER]."
Speaking to Frankie DiVita, radio personality for 96.7 KCAL Rocks, at the 2012 NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum stated about the experience of playing with Weiland again, "It was cool, man. We hadn't played together in a long time. We soundchecked a few songs. We only played, like, three songs. But it was cool to be on stage and play music again. It was like riding a bike. Everyone had a good time and we raised some money for a really sad situation. John O'Brien passed away and left a pregnant wife and another child. And a lot of people turned out for the show… Amazing turnout."
He added, "We had a good time. Me and Scott worked out some stuff backstage and had talked, and that was nice. He came up to me and he was real humble and really cool. 'Cause stuff happens when you're out on the road and people are tired and you say shit. Everything is on the Internet now; you can't get away with anything.
"Being in the music business for as long as I have been, I'm still learning lessons. We were out on the road for 18 months. And we got tired and things happened. There's a lot of pressure. You think you'd always wanna do it differently, but stuff goes the way it's gonna go; I can't explain it.
"We made some good records [with Scott]. The second record [2007's 'Libertad'] didn't get as much action as the first one [2004's 'Contraband'], but I think it's a cool record, too. I liked a lot of that record, and working with [producer] Brendan O'Brien. The first record, obviously, was a huge success for us."
When asked about whether there is any chance of VELVET REVOLVER working with Weiland again, Sorum said, "I don't know… We'll see what happens. [VELVET REVOLVER guitarist] Slash is booked up for about another year [touring in support of his upcoming solo album], so I don't know what's gonna go on with anything, to be honest. We haven't discussed it. . . I don't know… I can't say. It hasn't really been discussed, so I don't wanna speak out of turn."
On the topic of why it's been so hard for VELVET REVOLVER to find a replacement for Weiland, Sorum said, "We were trying [to find a new singer last year], but it didn't work out that way. . . We had Corey Taylor [from SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR coming in and writing songs with us]; it's kind of well known. We did some songs, and it just didn't turn everybody on completely. So we, basically, put the brakes on that. I think I was a little bit excited to get going, but maybe that was more excitement than… I thought it was cool, but Slash wasn't into it. And if we're not all firing on the same cylinders, we don't usually… We respect that, you know."
VELVET REVOLVER's setlist for the January 12 performance with Scott Weiland at the "Love You Madly: A Concert For John O'Brien" event was as follows:
01. Sucker Train Blues
02. She Builds Quick Machines
03. Slither
04. Wish You Were Here (PINK FLOYD cover)
Niclas Müller-Hansen of Sweden's Metalshrine recently conducted an interview with Myles Kennedy of ALTER BRIDGE and Slash's (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES) solo band. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metalshrine: Tell me about the new Slash album ["Apocalyptic Love"]? How many songs were actually written since there's a bunch of different bonus tracks?
Myles: Yeah, I'm trying to remember… I think the total written might hover around 18 or something in that area and then I think we ended up recording 15 of them. I believe so.
Metalshrine: How did you work? Was it you and Slash doing the most of it or was it a group effort?
Myles: As far as the writing goes, Slash and I wrote the songs and brought the songs to Todd [Kerns, bass] and Brent [Fitz, drums] and started arranging them as a band and they were very helpful in that respect, as was Eric Valentine, the producer. There were different stages that helped us achieve our goal.
Metalshrine: What did Valentine bring to the whole production of the album? Did he bring ideas for songs as well?
Myles: Eric's great and a really great filtering process, which is what you want with a producer. Somebody whose instincts you trust, so he would certainly help with the arrangements and parts and he was very involved. I have a lot of respect for Eric and he's probably one of the best producers in the business. He's so passionate and he works so hard. Not only was he producing it, but he was engineering and he mixed it and mastered it. He did everything in that respect, so it was pretty incredible.
Metalshrine: Your solo album, is that finally coming out this year or what's the plan?
Myles: Nah, with this record coming out, we're gonna be touring extensively so there is just no window of time. That is probably the hardest part, trying to get that finished up and out there and just finding a period where I can promote it somewhat. Not just throw it to the wind and it'll disappear.
Metalshrine: Is it all done?
Myles: You know what, it's written and the music is all recorded and we just have to take about two weeks and record the vocals. The lyrics are done and all that. My friend Brian Sperber, who did the record with me, I just have to go to his studio in New York and knock out the tracks and finish them up and mix them.
Metalshrine: What other guys are on the record?
Myles: It's actually a lot of friends, local friends of mine from here in the north west for the time being and Slash was kind enough to offer his guitar prowess on a track which turned out really cool and then I have some other friends to bring in as well, so we shall see.
Metalshrine: What kind of style of music is it? Leaning towards ALTER BRIDGE or Slash's stuff?
Myles: You know, it's actually… people who have heard it say it's closer to my previous band back in the late '90s, THE MAYFIELD FOUR. It kinda has that vibe to it. It's something that I'm really excited to get out one of these days. It's definitely different from both SLASH AND THE CONSPIRATORS and ALTER BRIDGE stuff.
Metalshrine: Tell me about the new Slash album ["Apocalyptic Love"]? How many songs were actually written since there's a bunch of different bonus tracks?
Myles: Yeah, I'm trying to remember… I think the total written might hover around 18 or something in that area and then I think we ended up recording 15 of them. I believe so.
Metalshrine: How did you work? Was it you and Slash doing the most of it or was it a group effort?
Myles: As far as the writing goes, Slash and I wrote the songs and brought the songs to Todd [Kerns, bass] and Brent [Fitz, drums] and started arranging them as a band and they were very helpful in that respect, as was Eric Valentine, the producer. There were different stages that helped us achieve our goal.
Metalshrine: What did Valentine bring to the whole production of the album? Did he bring ideas for songs as well?
Myles: Eric's great and a really great filtering process, which is what you want with a producer. Somebody whose instincts you trust, so he would certainly help with the arrangements and parts and he was very involved. I have a lot of respect for Eric and he's probably one of the best producers in the business. He's so passionate and he works so hard. Not only was he producing it, but he was engineering and he mixed it and mastered it. He did everything in that respect, so it was pretty incredible.
Metalshrine: Your solo album, is that finally coming out this year or what's the plan?
Myles: Nah, with this record coming out, we're gonna be touring extensively so there is just no window of time. That is probably the hardest part, trying to get that finished up and out there and just finding a period where I can promote it somewhat. Not just throw it to the wind and it'll disappear.
Metalshrine: Is it all done?
Myles: You know what, it's written and the music is all recorded and we just have to take about two weeks and record the vocals. The lyrics are done and all that. My friend Brian Sperber, who did the record with me, I just have to go to his studio in New York and knock out the tracks and finish them up and mix them.
Metalshrine: What other guys are on the record?
Myles: It's actually a lot of friends, local friends of mine from here in the north west for the time being and Slash was kind enough to offer his guitar prowess on a track which turned out really cool and then I have some other friends to bring in as well, so we shall see.
Metalshrine: What kind of style of music is it? Leaning towards ALTER BRIDGE or Slash's stuff?
Myles: You know, it's actually… people who have heard it say it's closer to my previous band back in the late '90s, THE MAYFIELD FOUR. It kinda has that vibe to it. It's something that I'm really excited to get out one of these days. It's definitely different from both SLASH AND THE CONSPIRATORS and ALTER BRIDGE stuff.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, guitarist Neal Schon says that the only way to see Steve Perry back on stage with JOURNEY would be alongside current vocalist, sound-alike Arnel Pineda. Schon, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, and Pineda spoke to The Huffington Post to publicize the new documentary, "Don't Stop Believin'': Everyman's Journey", which premiered at New York City's Tribeca Film Festival, and talked candidly about what it would take to have Steve Perry ever rejoin JOURNEY, with Schon saying, "I don't think there's any way not to have Arnel at this point. Who can say never? You can never say it's never going to happen. Maybe ten years from now? Six years? Who knows? But if that situation ever came up, I think it would be the both of them. And I think it would be at the point where it's a farewell tour. . . and we're done. That's the only appropriate way to go about it."
He recalled the search to find Pineda after going through two frontmen following Perry's departure. Schon explained, "We needed someone to really nail our catalog. I looked for a couple of days, non-stop on YouTube. It was a different way to go about it, instead of flying people in from all over the world. I looked and looked for like two days, and Arnel popped up at the last minute in a link. I heard the voice and went, 'He's got the high tenor voice.' I realized he was very, very strong and covered a lot of area."
Jonathan Cain added that there's a difference between being a straight mimic and doing what Pineda does. "He's not a tribute band singer," Cain said. "The tribute band singers are scary because they are kind of clones, you know? We did have a guy that we looked at, but he was so much like Steve Perry, it was crazy. It was too creepy. But, it was kind of neat to get next to that and see it for a second. A lot of these tribute guys, they can sing the old stuff, but, you try to put a new song in their mouth and they can't do it."
Pineda was asked if he's ever met Steve Perry. "No, but I've been wanting to," he said. "I hope I can sing with him, you know, side by side. If he would welcome that. That would be awesome. I think, especially the hardcore fans, they would love it."
Steve Perry, who over the years co-wrote such JOURNEY classics with Neal Schon as "Don't Stop Believin'", "Stone In Love", "Lights" and "Any Way You Want It", told The Pulse Of Radio that during the band's heyday, Neal Schon literally had uncut gems flowing from his fingers. "It was challenging, because Neal Schon is a goldmine of potential ideas and he doesn't know, really, which are the best or not — 'cause they're all interesting to him," he said. "But in come my set of ears and he'd play stuff and I'd hear melodies, I'd say, 'Wait, what was that?!' And (he'd say) 'Oh, I don't know, it's just 'diddle-a doh' over this with a fifth. . .' I'd say, 'I don't care what you call it — what was that?' 'I don't know, it's just an idea I came up with last night.' I'd say, 'Well, why don't you keep playing that for a second while I come up with a melody?'"
He recalled the search to find Pineda after going through two frontmen following Perry's departure. Schon explained, "We needed someone to really nail our catalog. I looked for a couple of days, non-stop on YouTube. It was a different way to go about it, instead of flying people in from all over the world. I looked and looked for like two days, and Arnel popped up at the last minute in a link. I heard the voice and went, 'He's got the high tenor voice.' I realized he was very, very strong and covered a lot of area."
Jonathan Cain added that there's a difference between being a straight mimic and doing what Pineda does. "He's not a tribute band singer," Cain said. "The tribute band singers are scary because they are kind of clones, you know? We did have a guy that we looked at, but he was so much like Steve Perry, it was crazy. It was too creepy. But, it was kind of neat to get next to that and see it for a second. A lot of these tribute guys, they can sing the old stuff, but, you try to put a new song in their mouth and they can't do it."
Pineda was asked if he's ever met Steve Perry. "No, but I've been wanting to," he said. "I hope I can sing with him, you know, side by side. If he would welcome that. That would be awesome. I think, especially the hardcore fans, they would love it."
Steve Perry, who over the years co-wrote such JOURNEY classics with Neal Schon as "Don't Stop Believin'", "Stone In Love", "Lights" and "Any Way You Want It", told The Pulse Of Radio that during the band's heyday, Neal Schon literally had uncut gems flowing from his fingers. "It was challenging, because Neal Schon is a goldmine of potential ideas and he doesn't know, really, which are the best or not — 'cause they're all interesting to him," he said. "But in come my set of ears and he'd play stuff and I'd hear melodies, I'd say, 'Wait, what was that?!' And (he'd say) 'Oh, I don't know, it's just 'diddle-a doh' over this with a fifth. . .' I'd say, 'I don't care what you call it — what was that?' 'I don't know, it's just an idea I came up with last night.' I'd say, 'Well, why don't you keep playing that for a second while I come up with a melody?'"
Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records has set an August 21 release date for "Last Of A Dying Breed", LYNYRD SKYNYRD's first studio album since the September, 2009 release of "God & Guns", which debuted at No. 18 on The Billboard 200 chart and gave the band their highest debut since 1977. "Last Of A Dying Breed" reunites the band with producer Bob Marlette, who helmed "God & Guns".
"It was great to get back in the studio with Bob for this new album," said Gary Rossington. "We kind of went back old school this time. All of us playing together in the studio as a band, tracking songs and creating licks. We had a lot of fun and the music really flowed for us, so that's when you know you are on to something good. We can't wait to let the fans hear these songs and play 'em live."
Led by core members Gary Rossington (guitar), Johnny Van Zant (vocals) and Rickey Medlocke (guitar), along with longtime drummer Michael Cartellone, LYNYRD SKYNYRD have recorded an album that continues the tremendous legacy that began over 35 years ago in Jacksonville, Florida, a legacy that was halted for a decade after the 1977 plane crash that killed three bandmembers, including Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines. Since then, the band tragically lost Billy Powell, Ean Evans, Allen Collins, Leon Wilkeson and Huey Thomasson, yet they rock on.
Joining LYNYRD SKYNYRD will be bass player Johnny Colt, an original member of THE BLACK CROWES, who has also played with TRAIN and ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA. When asked about receiving a phone call from Rickey Medlocke on behalf of LYNYRD SKYNYRD to join the band, Johnny said, "What else do you say to Medlocke, Rossington and Van Zant? We're talking southern rock royalty. We're talking LYNYRD SKYNYRD. The only thing out of my mouth was when and where!"
With a catalog of over 60 albums, sales beyond 30 million worldwide and their beloved classic American rock anthem "Sweet Home Alabama" having over two million downloaded ringtones, Rock And Roll Hall Of Famers LYNYRD SKYNYRD remain a cultural icon that appeals to all generations.
"It was great to get back in the studio with Bob for this new album," said Gary Rossington. "We kind of went back old school this time. All of us playing together in the studio as a band, tracking songs and creating licks. We had a lot of fun and the music really flowed for us, so that's when you know you are on to something good. We can't wait to let the fans hear these songs and play 'em live."
Led by core members Gary Rossington (guitar), Johnny Van Zant (vocals) and Rickey Medlocke (guitar), along with longtime drummer Michael Cartellone, LYNYRD SKYNYRD have recorded an album that continues the tremendous legacy that began over 35 years ago in Jacksonville, Florida, a legacy that was halted for a decade after the 1977 plane crash that killed three bandmembers, including Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines. Since then, the band tragically lost Billy Powell, Ean Evans, Allen Collins, Leon Wilkeson and Huey Thomasson, yet they rock on.
Joining LYNYRD SKYNYRD will be bass player Johnny Colt, an original member of THE BLACK CROWES, who has also played with TRAIN and ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA. When asked about receiving a phone call from Rickey Medlocke on behalf of LYNYRD SKYNYRD to join the band, Johnny said, "What else do you say to Medlocke, Rossington and Van Zant? We're talking southern rock royalty. We're talking LYNYRD SKYNYRD. The only thing out of my mouth was when and where!"
With a catalog of over 60 albums, sales beyond 30 million worldwide and their beloved classic American rock anthem "Sweet Home Alabama" having over two million downloaded ringtones, Rock And Roll Hall Of Famers LYNYRD SKYNYRD remain a cultural icon that appeals to all generations.
FEAR FACTORY, VOIVOD, CATTLE DECAPITATION and MISERY INDEX are among the confirmed bands for the "Shockwave 2012" tour, set to take place in July/August.
The complete lineup for the trek is as follows:
FEAR FACTORY
VOIVOD
CATTLE DECAPITATION
MISERY INDEX
REVOCATION
HAVOK (rotating slot with DIRGE WITHIN)
DIRGE WITHIN
LAST CHANCE TO REASON
VILDHJARTA
THE BROWNING
FORGED IN FLAME
The dates are as follows:
Jul. 06 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
Jul. 07 - Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theatre
Jul. 11 - Winnipeg, MB - Pyramid Cabaret
Jul. 12 - St. Paul, MN - Station 4
Jul. 13 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
Jul. 14 - Toronto, ON - Kool Haus
Jul. 17 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial Theater
Jul. 18 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda
Jul. 20 - Clifton, NY - Northern Lights
Jul. 21 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
Jul. 22 - Reading, PA - Reverb
Jul. 25 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
Jul. 26 - Springfield, VA - Empire
Jul. 29 - Rockford, IL - Tebala Shrine
Aug. 02 - Window Rock, AZ - Nakai Hall
Aug. 03 - Tempe, AZ - The Marquee Theater
Aug. 04 - Hollywood, CA - House Of Blues
More shows will be announced soon.
The complete lineup for the trek is as follows:
FEAR FACTORY
VOIVOD
CATTLE DECAPITATION
MISERY INDEX
REVOCATION
HAVOK (rotating slot with DIRGE WITHIN)
DIRGE WITHIN
LAST CHANCE TO REASON
VILDHJARTA
THE BROWNING
FORGED IN FLAME
The dates are as follows:
Jul. 06 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
Jul. 07 - Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theatre
Jul. 11 - Winnipeg, MB - Pyramid Cabaret
Jul. 12 - St. Paul, MN - Station 4
Jul. 13 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
Jul. 14 - Toronto, ON - Kool Haus
Jul. 17 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial Theater
Jul. 18 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda
Jul. 20 - Clifton, NY - Northern Lights
Jul. 21 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
Jul. 22 - Reading, PA - Reverb
Jul. 25 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
Jul. 26 - Springfield, VA - Empire
Jul. 29 - Rockford, IL - Tebala Shrine
Aug. 02 - Window Rock, AZ - Nakai Hall
Aug. 03 - Tempe, AZ - The Marquee Theater
Aug. 04 - Hollywood, CA - House Of Blues
More shows will be announced soon.
Extreme-metal drummer Gene ''The Atomic Clock" Hoglan (DETHKLOK, FEAR FACTORY, TESTAMENT, DEATH, DARK ANGEL, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) has issued the following update:
"Hey everybody, I just got back from Chile, where I played with TESTAMENT at The Metal Fest and boy, was it a hoot! I swear, the swirling mass of metalheads was a site to see indeed. You young'ns with yer karate choppin', believe me, you would get mowed down in the psychosis that is a Chilean pit, no doubt about it.
"There was somewhere around 10-12,000 ragers there [see video below], and at some points there were at least 4,000 lunatics running in that circle, and all innocents would be cut down like weeds in that wall of utter brutality. My hat's off to ya, Chilean Metalhead, you know how to bring it.
"It was also great to hang out (albeit briefly) with my bros in FORBIDDEN, ANTHRAX (who were on FIRE, [by the way]!), KREATOR, DESTRUCTION, OBITUARY, EXODUS, and FEAR FACTORY. I wish I could have stayed the next day to see what the ragers would have done for EXODUS. 'Toxic Waltz'? 'Toxic Death Sprint of the Apocalypse' is more like it.
"I do have some maddeningly sad news to report, however. Somewhere at the venue, the Movistar Arena, my gear bag was stolen, containing my two Alesis DM5's, my triggers, my stickbag, my in-ears, my leg weights, but most importantly, my BOOTS. The same boots I've played and recorded in for almost the last decade.
"Sentimentality aside, they don't make these boots anymore, as the company who makes them, Boodaz, went out of business around the time I got them. Or else I would just be forced to go out and pick up another pair of size 13 Flameboots. Since I can't do that, I am going to appeal to you directly, my Chilean friends.
"If, for whatever reason, you were to gain knowledge of the whereabouts of my bag (or the bag itself), especially my boots, could I ask you to contact me in care of Rob Shallcross, my manager, at rob@reversedrecords.com. Those boots mean an awful lot to me, and you would have me as friend for life if you would find a way to have them returned to me. Y'see, though the contents of my gear bag can be replaced (at QUITE a cost to me personally), the boots can't.
"So of course, I'd love for the entire gear bag to be returned to me, but I would REALLY appreciate it if at least the boots were. I wouldn't be able to thank you enough, my Chilean friends.
"Thank you so much, Gene.
"P.S.: I had to play in tennis shoes for the first time in 17 years this weekend. They might as well have been ballet slippers. Okay, I'm gonna stop sniveling about it now. Thanks for listening, my friends."
"Hey everybody, I just got back from Chile, where I played with TESTAMENT at The Metal Fest and boy, was it a hoot! I swear, the swirling mass of metalheads was a site to see indeed. You young'ns with yer karate choppin', believe me, you would get mowed down in the psychosis that is a Chilean pit, no doubt about it.
"There was somewhere around 10-12,000 ragers there [see video below], and at some points there were at least 4,000 lunatics running in that circle, and all innocents would be cut down like weeds in that wall of utter brutality. My hat's off to ya, Chilean Metalhead, you know how to bring it.
"It was also great to hang out (albeit briefly) with my bros in FORBIDDEN, ANTHRAX (who were on FIRE, [by the way]!), KREATOR, DESTRUCTION, OBITUARY, EXODUS, and FEAR FACTORY. I wish I could have stayed the next day to see what the ragers would have done for EXODUS. 'Toxic Waltz'? 'Toxic Death Sprint of the Apocalypse' is more like it.
"I do have some maddeningly sad news to report, however. Somewhere at the venue, the Movistar Arena, my gear bag was stolen, containing my two Alesis DM5's, my triggers, my stickbag, my in-ears, my leg weights, but most importantly, my BOOTS. The same boots I've played and recorded in for almost the last decade.
"Sentimentality aside, they don't make these boots anymore, as the company who makes them, Boodaz, went out of business around the time I got them. Or else I would just be forced to go out and pick up another pair of size 13 Flameboots. Since I can't do that, I am going to appeal to you directly, my Chilean friends.
"If, for whatever reason, you were to gain knowledge of the whereabouts of my bag (or the bag itself), especially my boots, could I ask you to contact me in care of Rob Shallcross, my manager, at rob@reversedrecords.com. Those boots mean an awful lot to me, and you would have me as friend for life if you would find a way to have them returned to me. Y'see, though the contents of my gear bag can be replaced (at QUITE a cost to me personally), the boots can't.
"So of course, I'd love for the entire gear bag to be returned to me, but I would REALLY appreciate it if at least the boots were. I wouldn't be able to thank you enough, my Chilean friends.
"Thank you so much, Gene.
"P.S.: I had to play in tennis shoes for the first time in 17 years this weekend. They might as well have been ballet slippers. Okay, I'm gonna stop sniveling about it now. Thanks for listening, my friends."
"Satchurated: Live In Montreal", the live-concert film from Joe Satriani, one of the most respected and innovative guitarists in the world today, sold 2,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 3 on the "Top Music Videos" chart.
Commented Joe: "'Satchurated' DVD is #3!!! Big thanks to all of my fans worldwide for making this happen. See you out there on the road!"
"Satchurated: Live In Montreal" was filmed during Satriani's "The Wormhole Tour", supporting his studio album, "Black Swans And Wormhole Wizards", at the Metropolis in Montreal, Canada. The December 12, 2010 concert was filmed by Grammy- and Emmy-award-winning concert filmmakers Pierre and Francois Lamoureux. With a total of ten cameras working to capture the sold-out concert, Satriani's musical best was recorded in both 2D and 3D HD formats. The high-definition filming makes Satriani's playing as much a pleasure to watch as it is to hear. Every chord change is captured and presented as if one were experiencing a living room concert of your very own! The soundtrack from "Satchurated" was produced by Satriani and Mike Fraser and will be released on April 10 through Epic Records.
Over the last two decades, Satriani has traveled the world, playing to sold-out crowds as both a headliner and as founder of the all-star "G3" guitar extravaganza. His studio and live recordings have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide to date and of his many solo albums, two have gone platinum and four others went gold, with 15 Grammy nominations between them.
Commented Joe: "'Satchurated' DVD is #3!!! Big thanks to all of my fans worldwide for making this happen. See you out there on the road!"
"Satchurated: Live In Montreal" was filmed during Satriani's "The Wormhole Tour", supporting his studio album, "Black Swans And Wormhole Wizards", at the Metropolis in Montreal, Canada. The December 12, 2010 concert was filmed by Grammy- and Emmy-award-winning concert filmmakers Pierre and Francois Lamoureux. With a total of ten cameras working to capture the sold-out concert, Satriani's musical best was recorded in both 2D and 3D HD formats. The high-definition filming makes Satriani's playing as much a pleasure to watch as it is to hear. Every chord change is captured and presented as if one were experiencing a living room concert of your very own! The soundtrack from "Satchurated" was produced by Satriani and Mike Fraser and will be released on April 10 through Epic Records.
Over the last two decades, Satriani has traveled the world, playing to sold-out crowds as both a headliner and as founder of the all-star "G3" guitar extravaganza. His studio and live recordings have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide to date and of his many solo albums, two have gone platinum and four others went gold, with 15 Grammy nominations between them.
Ed Lanouette (DARK DAY SUNDAY) is filling in for SHADOWS FALL bassist Paul Romanko on the Massachusetts metal band's current U.S. tour.
Ed earned his bachelor's degree at Berklee College Of Music and graduated with a master's degree in jazz performance from the Boston Conservatory. He cites his main influences as Jaco Pastorius and BLACK SABBATH's Geezer Butler.
In addition to Lanouette, DARK DAY SUNDAY features in its ranks FATES WARNING guitarist Frank Aresti and SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner.
Fan-filmed video footage of SHADOWS FALL's April 27 concert at Downtown in Little Rock, Arkansas can be seen below.
SHADOWS FALL's new album, "Fire From The Sky", is scheduled for a May 15 release via Razor & Tie. Recorded at Zing Studios in late 2011, the CD reunites SHADOWS FALL with longtime friend, producer/engineer and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE/TIMES OF GRACE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, ALL THAT REMAINS). The album was mixed by Brian Virtue and features some of the band's most complex and melodic material in years.
The cover artwork for "Fire From The Sky" was designed by Aaron Marsh of Forefathers.
Ed earned his bachelor's degree at Berklee College Of Music and graduated with a master's degree in jazz performance from the Boston Conservatory. He cites his main influences as Jaco Pastorius and BLACK SABBATH's Geezer Butler.
In addition to Lanouette, DARK DAY SUNDAY features in its ranks FATES WARNING guitarist Frank Aresti and SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner.
Fan-filmed video footage of SHADOWS FALL's April 27 concert at Downtown in Little Rock, Arkansas can be seen below.
SHADOWS FALL's new album, "Fire From The Sky", is scheduled for a May 15 release via Razor & Tie. Recorded at Zing Studios in late 2011, the CD reunites SHADOWS FALL with longtime friend, producer/engineer and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE/TIMES OF GRACE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, ALL THAT REMAINS). The album was mixed by Brian Virtue and features some of the band's most complex and melodic material in years.
The cover artwork for "Fire From The Sky" was designed by Aaron Marsh of Forefathers.
AVENGED SEVENFOLD was forced to cancel its May 1 concert due to "safety concerns."
Commented the band in a statement: "Over the years, Jakarta, with its many loyal A7X fans, has become one of our favorite cities to visit. And so it is with the deepest regret that we announce tonight's (May 1) concert in Jakarta, Indonesia has been cancelled.
"Upon arriving at the venue in the morning and consulting with local production staff, it was determined that the stage at Carnaval Beach was not safe and would endanger the band and the thousands of fans who had purchased tickets. Although the building of a stage is the responsibility of the promoter, not the band, our production crew made every effort to work with local staff to find a way to overcome concerns and put on a safe event. Unfortunately, the safety concerns were too great and made it impossible for us to perform.
"You may read reports from others that the show was cancelled because the band was worried about its security. Do not believe it. There is only one reason the show was cancelled: the stage had numerous defects and was not safe and our fans, as well as the band and crew, could have been hurt.
"Words cannot adequately express how disappointed we are at missing the opportunity to play in Jakarta."
According to The Jakarta Post, North Utara Police Chief Sr. Comr. Muhammad Iqbal denied that the cancelation was because of "security reasons," as claimed by the concert promoter.
"Even though there were many rallies in Jakarta on Tuesday commemorating May Day, there were no reports of violence acts. Jakarta is safe and sound, particularly North Jakarta," he told The Jakarta Post.
The paper also reported that the band asked the promoter Melanie Subono to send them home to the United States. Subono reportedly took to her own Twitter account to comment, saying, "Luckily, we managed to get tickets for them. If we had not, maybe they would have asked to stay at my place because of the panic they were in."
Commented the band in a statement: "Over the years, Jakarta, with its many loyal A7X fans, has become one of our favorite cities to visit. And so it is with the deepest regret that we announce tonight's (May 1) concert in Jakarta, Indonesia has been cancelled.
"Upon arriving at the venue in the morning and consulting with local production staff, it was determined that the stage at Carnaval Beach was not safe and would endanger the band and the thousands of fans who had purchased tickets. Although the building of a stage is the responsibility of the promoter, not the band, our production crew made every effort to work with local staff to find a way to overcome concerns and put on a safe event. Unfortunately, the safety concerns were too great and made it impossible for us to perform.
"You may read reports from others that the show was cancelled because the band was worried about its security. Do not believe it. There is only one reason the show was cancelled: the stage had numerous defects and was not safe and our fans, as well as the band and crew, could have been hurt.
"Words cannot adequately express how disappointed we are at missing the opportunity to play in Jakarta."
According to The Jakarta Post, North Utara Police Chief Sr. Comr. Muhammad Iqbal denied that the cancelation was because of "security reasons," as claimed by the concert promoter.
"Even though there were many rallies in Jakarta on Tuesday commemorating May Day, there were no reports of violence acts. Jakarta is safe and sound, particularly North Jakarta," he told The Jakarta Post.
The paper also reported that the band asked the promoter Melanie Subono to send them home to the United States. Subono reportedly took to her own Twitter account to comment, saying, "Luckily, we managed to get tickets for them. If we had not, maybe they would have asked to stay at my place because of the panic they were in."
During the time off between BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE albums, frontman and chief songwriter Matt Tuck grew restless. Recruiting Jason Bowld (PITCHSHIFTER, KILLING JOKE), routinely touted as the best session drummer in the U.K., and engineer Martyn "Ginge" Ford (BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, TRIVIUM), Matt set to creating monster riffs and intricate metal melodies at the Atrium recording studios in Cardiff, Wales. The project proved fertile ground for Matt to explore the darker, heavier side of his appetite for metal, and soon enough Matt was recruiting co-conspirators to the cause, including Synyster Gates of AVENGED SEVENFOLD delivering a finger-burning guitar solo on standout track "Vultures".
Choosing a vocalist to match the intensity of the music was easy, says Matt. "The first phone call I made was to Liam [Cormier, of CANCER BATS]. We've toured the world together and I've always admired the furious energy he brings to a performance." Liam flew over from his native Canada to join Matt and Jason at the studio and began recording his trademark searing vocals that took the then-unnamed project to the next level. "That was when it really hit me," continues Matt, "we had something special here, way more than just a studio project. We've gotta take this show on the road!" Guitarist Mike Kingswood (GLAMOUR OF THE KILL) and Joe Copcutt (ex-RISE TO REMAIN) were handpicked to join the lineup and a metal supergroup AXEWOUND was born.
A strict Omerta-like code of silence prevailed around the camp as finishing touches were added to the record and in March the tracks were shipped off to be mixed by Machine (LAMB OF GOD, THE BRONX) at his studio in New Jersey.
AXEWOUND's lead track, "Post Apocalyptic Party", was aired this past Monday night (April 30) on the BBC Radio 1 "Rock Show" and is available for free download from the band's web site at www.axewounduk.com.
Tuck admitted in an interview with the "Rock Show" that he is looking forward to not being the singer and leader. "It's going to be different, not being the main vocalist, but it's something I look forward to, [to] just enjoy being a guitar player and a songwriter," Tuck said. "It's not something I ever wanted to do, [to] be the frontman of the band. I was always the guitar player who could sing at the same time and that is how I ended up doing what I do."
He added, "It's going to be a different experience. I've never not been in a band without singing so it'll be quite odd to be up there without a microphone in my face for the whole show. But Liam is a dream to work with and one of the most ferocious vocalists."
AXEWOUND is:
Matt Tuck (BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) - Guitar, Vocals
Liam Cormier (CANCER BATS) – Vocals
Mike Kingswood (GLAMOUR OF THE KILL) - Guitar
Joe Copcutt (RISE TO REMAIN) - Bass
Jason Bowld (ex-PITCHSHIFTER) - Drums
Tuck first revealed that he was collaborating with other musicians on a "metal-as-fuck" side project last October during an interview with "Metal Zone" host Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco, California radio station 107.7 The Bone. Tuck said at the time, "It's, like, far more like SLIPKNOT, PANTERA… It's metal as fuck, you know what I mean?! Stepping away from the melodic, not giving a fuck… 'Cause obviously BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE is a business and we have our formula, and what we do works — it's great — so we won't stray from that. So it's nice to step out of that comfort zone and do something fucking ridiculous and not worry about what people are gonna think, because it doesn't exist yet. . . We wanted to go in there with kind of like a SLIPKNOT attitude of just everything… Like the 'Iowa' album — just fucking violent. Let it all out. No holds barred."
AXEWOUND will kick off a European tour on May 31 in Utrecht, Netherlands and will make a number of festival appearances, including at Download (U.K.), Rock Am Ring/Rock Im Park (Germany), Gods Of Metal (Italy) and Graspop Metal Meeting (Belgium).
Upcoming AXEWOUND shows:
May 31 - Tivoli, Holland (special guest to KILLSWITCH ENGAGE)
Jun. 02 - Rock Im Park, Germany
Jun. 03 - Rock Am Ring, Germany
Jun. 04 - Substage, Germany (special guest to KILLSWITCH ENGAGE)
Jun. 06 - O2 Islington Academy, UK
Jun. 08 - Download Festival, UK
Jun. 10 - Nova Rock, Austria
Jun. 22 - Gods Of Metal, Italy
Jun. 23 - Ear Shaker Days, Switzerland
Jun. 24 – Grasspop Metal Meeting, Belgium
Choosing a vocalist to match the intensity of the music was easy, says Matt. "The first phone call I made was to Liam [Cormier, of CANCER BATS]. We've toured the world together and I've always admired the furious energy he brings to a performance." Liam flew over from his native Canada to join Matt and Jason at the studio and began recording his trademark searing vocals that took the then-unnamed project to the next level. "That was when it really hit me," continues Matt, "we had something special here, way more than just a studio project. We've gotta take this show on the road!" Guitarist Mike Kingswood (GLAMOUR OF THE KILL) and Joe Copcutt (ex-RISE TO REMAIN) were handpicked to join the lineup and a metal supergroup AXEWOUND was born.
A strict Omerta-like code of silence prevailed around the camp as finishing touches were added to the record and in March the tracks were shipped off to be mixed by Machine (LAMB OF GOD, THE BRONX) at his studio in New Jersey.
AXEWOUND's lead track, "Post Apocalyptic Party", was aired this past Monday night (April 30) on the BBC Radio 1 "Rock Show" and is available for free download from the band's web site at www.axewounduk.com.
Tuck admitted in an interview with the "Rock Show" that he is looking forward to not being the singer and leader. "It's going to be different, not being the main vocalist, but it's something I look forward to, [to] just enjoy being a guitar player and a songwriter," Tuck said. "It's not something I ever wanted to do, [to] be the frontman of the band. I was always the guitar player who could sing at the same time and that is how I ended up doing what I do."
He added, "It's going to be a different experience. I've never not been in a band without singing so it'll be quite odd to be up there without a microphone in my face for the whole show. But Liam is a dream to work with and one of the most ferocious vocalists."
AXEWOUND is:
Matt Tuck (BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) - Guitar, Vocals
Liam Cormier (CANCER BATS) – Vocals
Mike Kingswood (GLAMOUR OF THE KILL) - Guitar
Joe Copcutt (RISE TO REMAIN) - Bass
Jason Bowld (ex-PITCHSHIFTER) - Drums
Tuck first revealed that he was collaborating with other musicians on a "metal-as-fuck" side project last October during an interview with "Metal Zone" host Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco, California radio station 107.7 The Bone. Tuck said at the time, "It's, like, far more like SLIPKNOT, PANTERA… It's metal as fuck, you know what I mean?! Stepping away from the melodic, not giving a fuck… 'Cause obviously BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE is a business and we have our formula, and what we do works — it's great — so we won't stray from that. So it's nice to step out of that comfort zone and do something fucking ridiculous and not worry about what people are gonna think, because it doesn't exist yet. . . We wanted to go in there with kind of like a SLIPKNOT attitude of just everything… Like the 'Iowa' album — just fucking violent. Let it all out. No holds barred."
AXEWOUND will kick off a European tour on May 31 in Utrecht, Netherlands and will make a number of festival appearances, including at Download (U.K.), Rock Am Ring/Rock Im Park (Germany), Gods Of Metal (Italy) and Graspop Metal Meeting (Belgium).
Upcoming AXEWOUND shows:
May 31 - Tivoli, Holland (special guest to KILLSWITCH ENGAGE)
Jun. 02 - Rock Im Park, Germany
Jun. 03 - Rock Am Ring, Germany
Jun. 04 - Substage, Germany (special guest to KILLSWITCH ENGAGE)
Jun. 06 - O2 Islington Academy, UK
Jun. 08 - Download Festival, UK
Jun. 10 - Nova Rock, Austria
Jun. 22 - Gods Of Metal, Italy
Jun. 23 - Ear Shaker Days, Switzerland
Jun. 24 – Grasspop Metal Meeting, Belgium
Zach Shaw of Metal Insider conducted an interview with bassist Mike D'Antonio of Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE prior to the band's April 22 appearance at New England Metal & Hardcore Festival in Worcester, Massachusetts. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metal Insider: At what point did it become apparent that KILLSWITCH ENGAGE was no longer going to move forward with [vocalist] Howard Jones?
Mike: When we started writing the new record, there was just no creative juices flowing on his end. And after the last record, we kind of got a sense that things weren't going right. Then the interim, in between the two years that we had off and writing the new record, it was just not going into the proper direction. We could tell that it was stifled, a very stifled situation. So that's all I can really say. It was easy to tell.
Metal Insider: When did the idea of bringing Jesse Leach back into the group come up? I know that he went through an audition process, but when did his name first pop up?
Mike: I mean, it's pretty much the first thing that comes up when you're thinking about replacing. The third vocalist never works out. But we wanted to try everyone we could possibly think of. We had a really short list of names that we thought were appropriate, and Jesse was at the top. We tried out a bunch of people; you never know if there's that diamond in the rough that you haven't heard or sat down with and played with. You just never know what's going to come out of a situation like that. So we had a little audition in New York City, and Jesse was involved in that. We had started about 11:30 in the morning, and about every fifteen minutes it was a new guy coming in and auditioning. We were playing the same two to three songs over and over and over. So by 4 o'clock, we were shot. We didn't want to play anymore. And then Jesse walked in, and this energy hit us. We proceeded to play like 12 tunes, like "Bang, bang, bang, bang!" And they all just felt right and no one wanted to stop, and that's the energy you need if you're going to pick yourself up and keep going. We all felt it, looked at each other and said, "Wow! We haven't felt like this with anybody who's come through here yet, and there's probably a good reason for that."
Metal Insider: I know that Jesse will be singing a good amount of Jones' material. Were there any hesitations about doing this, from both him and the band?
Mike: It was a priority to whoever was going to step into Jones' shoes to be able to sing his songs because they're the ones that really propelled us. Fans will say what they want to say, but the songs' videos were the ones that got us moving in the right direction. And pretty much every video is Howard and his stuff. So it had to happen that way. We don't want to gyp fans. Fans want to see songs they know and like. There's a good mix, it's about half and half. And Jesse's cool with it. Jesse puts his own spin on it, which is also really cool. It's not going to sound like exactly Howard Jones. It's going to sound like an angst-ridden Jesse Leach screaming stuff out with his own vibe. But it works really well, and I think fans are going to be very satisfied. It's not a cover version.
Metal Insider: At what point did it become apparent that KILLSWITCH ENGAGE was no longer going to move forward with [vocalist] Howard Jones?
Mike: When we started writing the new record, there was just no creative juices flowing on his end. And after the last record, we kind of got a sense that things weren't going right. Then the interim, in between the two years that we had off and writing the new record, it was just not going into the proper direction. We could tell that it was stifled, a very stifled situation. So that's all I can really say. It was easy to tell.
Metal Insider: When did the idea of bringing Jesse Leach back into the group come up? I know that he went through an audition process, but when did his name first pop up?
Mike: I mean, it's pretty much the first thing that comes up when you're thinking about replacing. The third vocalist never works out. But we wanted to try everyone we could possibly think of. We had a really short list of names that we thought were appropriate, and Jesse was at the top. We tried out a bunch of people; you never know if there's that diamond in the rough that you haven't heard or sat down with and played with. You just never know what's going to come out of a situation like that. So we had a little audition in New York City, and Jesse was involved in that. We had started about 11:30 in the morning, and about every fifteen minutes it was a new guy coming in and auditioning. We were playing the same two to three songs over and over and over. So by 4 o'clock, we were shot. We didn't want to play anymore. And then Jesse walked in, and this energy hit us. We proceeded to play like 12 tunes, like "Bang, bang, bang, bang!" And they all just felt right and no one wanted to stop, and that's the energy you need if you're going to pick yourself up and keep going. We all felt it, looked at each other and said, "Wow! We haven't felt like this with anybody who's come through here yet, and there's probably a good reason for that."
Metal Insider: I know that Jesse will be singing a good amount of Jones' material. Were there any hesitations about doing this, from both him and the band?
Mike: It was a priority to whoever was going to step into Jones' shoes to be able to sing his songs because they're the ones that really propelled us. Fans will say what they want to say, but the songs' videos were the ones that got us moving in the right direction. And pretty much every video is Howard and his stuff. So it had to happen that way. We don't want to gyp fans. Fans want to see songs they know and like. There's a good mix, it's about half and half. And Jesse's cool with it. Jesse puts his own spin on it, which is also really cool. It's not going to sound like exactly Howard Jones. It's going to sound like an angst-ridden Jesse Leach screaming stuff out with his own vibe. But it works really well, and I think fans are going to be very satisfied. It's not a cover version.
Relapse Records has announced the signing of New York City doom-dwellers SERPENTINE PATH.
A true pedigree of the doom underworld, SERPENTINE PATH consists of current and former members of ELECTRIC WIZARD, RAMESSES and UNEARTHLY TRANCE.
The band — Tim Bagshaw on guitar, Jay Newman on bass, Darren Verni on drums and Ryan Lipynsky on vocals — released its debut seven-inch single, "Depraved", earlier this year via Parasitic Records.
SERPENTINE PATH recently completed work on its self-titled full-length debut for a fall release.
Commented Newman: "SERPENTINE PATH is honored to announce that our debut album will be released by Relapse Records! The four of us aim for nothing but the most uncompromising and intense death/doom metal songs we can possibly create."
A true pedigree of the doom underworld, SERPENTINE PATH consists of current and former members of ELECTRIC WIZARD, RAMESSES and UNEARTHLY TRANCE.
The band — Tim Bagshaw on guitar, Jay Newman on bass, Darren Verni on drums and Ryan Lipynsky on vocals — released its debut seven-inch single, "Depraved", earlier this year via Parasitic Records.
SERPENTINE PATH recently completed work on its self-titled full-length debut for a fall release.
Commented Newman: "SERPENTINE PATH is honored to announce that our debut album will be released by Relapse Records! The four of us aim for nothing but the most uncompromising and intense death/doom metal songs we can possibly create."
Italian folk/power metallers ELVENKING have parted ways with bassist Gorlan and have replaced him with Jakob.
Commented the band: "[Jakob] already recorded the bass in the new album and the ones of you that have already seen him live [on the recent tour with RHAPSODY OF FIRE] know he's got some skills! Obviously, this also means that we have to say goodbye to Gorlan, one of our dearest friends inside the band who was with us for so many years. This is life... especially in a band like ELVENKING, but one sure thing is that we and Gorlan will always be friends even if we won't share the stage anymore."
Added Gorlan in a statement: "After more than ten years, I would like to thank all the great fellows in the ELVENKING family, especially the older ones. While I'm writing this words, I'm not sad or angry: I'm leaving a great part of my life, but I need to direct my efforts towards my personal life, even if this mean leaving the band.
"As you can imagine, being an ELVENKING member is a heavy duty...they smell like hell, you have to live together in a van full of every kind of shit many days a month and the worst thing is that they love to take showers all together… OK, I like these weird kind of things, but I prefer to stop! We have run so many miles side by side, at this time I pick a different choice but the direction is the same so we'll see what the future will bring!"
In other news, ELVENKING has re-signed with AFM Records for another two albums.
ELVENKING entered Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland on February 24 with producer Nino Laurenne (AMORPHIS, LORDI, SONATA ARCTICA, APOCALYPTICA) to begin recording its new album for a mid-2012 release. Nino previously worked with the band on "The Winter Wake" and "The Scythe" CDs.
Drummer Zender left ELVENKING last year for "personal" reasons and was replaced by Symohn.
ELVENKING's "Your Heroes Are Dead" video can be viewed below. The song comes off ELVENKING's most recent album, "Red Silent Tides", which was released on September 17, 2010 in Europe (November 9 in North America) via AFM Records. The CD was recorded at Piranha studios in Karsdolf, Germany with producer Dennis Ward (ANGRA, PINK CREAM 69, PRIMAL FEAR). The album's cover artwork was created by Samuel Araya, who has previously worked on CRADLE OF FILTH's "Thornography" CD.
Commented the band: "[Jakob] already recorded the bass in the new album and the ones of you that have already seen him live [on the recent tour with RHAPSODY OF FIRE] know he's got some skills! Obviously, this also means that we have to say goodbye to Gorlan, one of our dearest friends inside the band who was with us for so many years. This is life... especially in a band like ELVENKING, but one sure thing is that we and Gorlan will always be friends even if we won't share the stage anymore."
Added Gorlan in a statement: "After more than ten years, I would like to thank all the great fellows in the ELVENKING family, especially the older ones. While I'm writing this words, I'm not sad or angry: I'm leaving a great part of my life, but I need to direct my efforts towards my personal life, even if this mean leaving the band.
"As you can imagine, being an ELVENKING member is a heavy duty...they smell like hell, you have to live together in a van full of every kind of shit many days a month and the worst thing is that they love to take showers all together… OK, I like these weird kind of things, but I prefer to stop! We have run so many miles side by side, at this time I pick a different choice but the direction is the same so we'll see what the future will bring!"
In other news, ELVENKING has re-signed with AFM Records for another two albums.
ELVENKING entered Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland on February 24 with producer Nino Laurenne (AMORPHIS, LORDI, SONATA ARCTICA, APOCALYPTICA) to begin recording its new album for a mid-2012 release. Nino previously worked with the band on "The Winter Wake" and "The Scythe" CDs.
Drummer Zender left ELVENKING last year for "personal" reasons and was replaced by Symohn.
ELVENKING's "Your Heroes Are Dead" video can be viewed below. The song comes off ELVENKING's most recent album, "Red Silent Tides", which was released on September 17, 2010 in Europe (November 9 in North America) via AFM Records. The CD was recorded at Piranha studios in Karsdolf, Germany with producer Dennis Ward (ANGRA, PINK CREAM 69, PRIMAL FEAR). The album's cover artwork was created by Samuel Araya, who has previously worked on CRADLE OF FILTH's "Thornography" CD.
PRONG's new album, "Carved Into Stone", sold around 1,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 13 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Carved Into Stone" was released on April 24 in North America via Long Branch Records/SPV. The CD was recorded with producer Steve Evetts, who has previously worked with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SYMPHONY X, SEPULTURA and HATEBREED, among others. The cover artwork was created by Vance Kelly (DOWN, THE SWORD) and can be seen below.
According to a press release, "Carved Into Stone" "is quintessentially PRONG. It stretches into the band's earliest and dirtiest foundations on which the band was founded on New York's Lower East Side to the present as a staple of today's post-metal and rock scenes."
Comments Tommy Victor: "It was hardest I've ever worked in the studio on any record I've ever been involved with."
PRONG — whose lineup is rounded out by bassist Tony Campos and drummer Alexei Rodriguez — has taken a major step forward in their constantly evolving brand of sonic schematics.
"I always believed there were many dimensions to PRONG," says Tommy. "Every record we've been associated with different scenes — hardcore, metal, industrial — even dance! I think this record brings all of that together and sounds very modern at the same time."
"Carved Into Stone" track listing
01. Eternal Heat
02. Keep On Living In Pain
03. Ammunition
04. Revenge ... Best Served Cold
05. State of Rebellion
06. Put Myself to Sleep
07. List of Grievances
08. Carved Into Stone
09. Subtract
10. Path of Least Resistance
11. Reinvestigate
Founded in 1986, PRONG is considered to be a pioneer of the American post-hardcore and post-metal scenes whose influence is still being felt today.
PRONG's last release was "Power Of The Damn Mixxxer", the remix counterpart to the band's 2007 album "Power of The Damager".
"Carved Into Stone" was released on April 24 in North America via Long Branch Records/SPV. The CD was recorded with producer Steve Evetts, who has previously worked with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SYMPHONY X, SEPULTURA and HATEBREED, among others. The cover artwork was created by Vance Kelly (DOWN, THE SWORD) and can be seen below.
According to a press release, "Carved Into Stone" "is quintessentially PRONG. It stretches into the band's earliest and dirtiest foundations on which the band was founded on New York's Lower East Side to the present as a staple of today's post-metal and rock scenes."
Comments Tommy Victor: "It was hardest I've ever worked in the studio on any record I've ever been involved with."
PRONG — whose lineup is rounded out by bassist Tony Campos and drummer Alexei Rodriguez — has taken a major step forward in their constantly evolving brand of sonic schematics.
"I always believed there were many dimensions to PRONG," says Tommy. "Every record we've been associated with different scenes — hardcore, metal, industrial — even dance! I think this record brings all of that together and sounds very modern at the same time."
"Carved Into Stone" track listing
01. Eternal Heat
02. Keep On Living In Pain
03. Ammunition
04. Revenge ... Best Served Cold
05. State of Rebellion
06. Put Myself to Sleep
07. List of Grievances
08. Carved Into Stone
09. Subtract
10. Path of Least Resistance
11. Reinvestigate
Founded in 1986, PRONG is considered to be a pioneer of the American post-hardcore and post-metal scenes whose influence is still being felt today.
PRONG's last release was "Power Of The Damn Mixxxer", the remix counterpart to the band's 2007 album "Power of The Damager".
Norwegian metallers PURIFIED IN BLOOD will release their new album, "Flight Of A Dying Sun", in Europe on June 15 via Indie Recordings. The cover artwork was created by Jondix Mahashakti and can be seen below.
A single, "Mot Grav", was made available late last month and can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.
"This is the missing link between 'Reaper Of Souls' and 'Under Black Skies'," says PURIFIED IN BLOOD singer Hallgeir S. Enoksen.
PURIFIED IN BLOOD's new album was recorded with Jacob Bredahl, who previously worked with band on 2006's "Reaper Of Souls", a CD known for its rawness and intensity.
This time around, PURIFIED IN BLOOD's second singer Glenn Reaper was not involved in the recording process and Hallgeir faced a new challenge being the band's sole vocalist — a challenge he stepped up to for the past one and a half year with no problems whatsoever. His voice range has developed a lot the past year singing alone and he takes on the task "with no remorse, no repent."
"Flight Of A Dying Sun" features guest appearances by Glenn Reaper on the power anthem "Iron Hands"; Erlend Hjelvik (KVELERTAK) on "Mot Grav"; Kjetil Møster (DATAROCK, ULTRALYD, MØSTER) on saxophone, Ådne Sæverud on organ and Jens Borge (SKADNE KREK) on double bass. Last but certainly not least they have Siberian throat singer Albert Kuvezin on board to start the whole album with his voice of war.
"Flight Of A Dying Sun" track listing:
01. The Absolute
02. Storm Of Blood
03. Mot Grav
04. Iron Hands
05. Mind Is Fire
06. Escape To Solace
07. Void
08. Flight Of A Dying Sun
A single, "Mot Grav", was made available late last month and can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.
"This is the missing link between 'Reaper Of Souls' and 'Under Black Skies'," says PURIFIED IN BLOOD singer Hallgeir S. Enoksen.
PURIFIED IN BLOOD's new album was recorded with Jacob Bredahl, who previously worked with band on 2006's "Reaper Of Souls", a CD known for its rawness and intensity.
This time around, PURIFIED IN BLOOD's second singer Glenn Reaper was not involved in the recording process and Hallgeir faced a new challenge being the band's sole vocalist — a challenge he stepped up to for the past one and a half year with no problems whatsoever. His voice range has developed a lot the past year singing alone and he takes on the task "with no remorse, no repent."
"Flight Of A Dying Sun" features guest appearances by Glenn Reaper on the power anthem "Iron Hands"; Erlend Hjelvik (KVELERTAK) on "Mot Grav"; Kjetil Møster (DATAROCK, ULTRALYD, MØSTER) on saxophone, Ådne Sæverud on organ and Jens Borge (SKADNE KREK) on double bass. Last but certainly not least they have Siberian throat singer Albert Kuvezin on board to start the whole album with his voice of war.
"Flight Of A Dying Sun" track listing:
01. The Absolute
02. Storm Of Blood
03. Mot Grav
04. Iron Hands
05. Mind Is Fire
06. Escape To Solace
07. Void
08. Flight Of A Dying Sun
Bassist Simone Bertozzi of Danish modern metallers MNEMIC will miss the first three shows of the band's upcoming tour due to "some last-minute kidney issues." He says, "I'm feeling well already, but, unfortunately, I'm forced to miss the [dates] in order to take the necessary medical tests and treatment measures. No panic, though, 'cause longtime friend Bo Lund (also known as THE HAUNTED's sound engineer) will provide the proper low-end dose on the first gig in Lyngby (Denmark), and the guys will increase their headbanging for the Czech Republic gigs to fill my empty spot. I will get back on the road with my fellas starting from Sunday, May 6th in Ferrara, Italy."
MNEMIC will release its fifth album, "Mnemesis", in Europe on June 8 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Antfarm studios in Aabyhøj, Denmark with longtime producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, HIMSA, SICK OF IT ALL). The cover artwork was created by Metastazis (MORBID ANGEL, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, PARADISE LOST, ULVER) and can be seen below.
Commented guitarist Mircea Gabriel Eftemie: "The arrival of 'Mnemesis' is getting closer and closer. With this said, we are announcing the full track list of the album, and later on we will be releasing some tunes for you all to hear. In other news we are actually going on tour next month! More precisely we are taking a run out in Europe, and later this year we are hitting Australia for the very first time. We're very excited about this, and looking forward very much to be playing in this corner of the world!"
"Mnemesis" track listing:
01. Transcend
02. Valves
03. Junkies On The Storm
04. I've Been You
05. Pattern Platform
06. Mnemesis
07. There's No Tomorrow
08. Haven At The End Of The World
09. Ocean Of Void
10. Blue Desert In A Black Hole
11. Empty Planet (bonus track)
MNEMIC last year parted ways with drummer Brian "Brylle" Rasmussen and guitarist Rune Stigart and replaced them with Brian Larsen and Victor-Ray Salomonsen, respectively.
MNEMIC 2012 is:
Guillaume Bideau - Vocals
Mircea Gabriel Eftemie - Guitar
Victor-Ray Salomonsen - Guitar
Simone Bertozzi - Bass
Brian Larsen - Drums
MNEMIC's fourth studio album, "Sons Of The System", was released in Europe on January 15, 2010 and in North America on January 26, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.
MNEMIC will release its fifth album, "Mnemesis", in Europe on June 8 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Antfarm studios in Aabyhøj, Denmark with longtime producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, HIMSA, SICK OF IT ALL). The cover artwork was created by Metastazis (MORBID ANGEL, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, PARADISE LOST, ULVER) and can be seen below.
Commented guitarist Mircea Gabriel Eftemie: "The arrival of 'Mnemesis' is getting closer and closer. With this said, we are announcing the full track list of the album, and later on we will be releasing some tunes for you all to hear. In other news we are actually going on tour next month! More precisely we are taking a run out in Europe, and later this year we are hitting Australia for the very first time. We're very excited about this, and looking forward very much to be playing in this corner of the world!"
"Mnemesis" track listing:
01. Transcend
02. Valves
03. Junkies On The Storm
04. I've Been You
05. Pattern Platform
06. Mnemesis
07. There's No Tomorrow
08. Haven At The End Of The World
09. Ocean Of Void
10. Blue Desert In A Black Hole
11. Empty Planet (bonus track)
MNEMIC last year parted ways with drummer Brian "Brylle" Rasmussen and guitarist Rune Stigart and replaced them with Brian Larsen and Victor-Ray Salomonsen, respectively.
MNEMIC 2012 is:
Guillaume Bideau - Vocals
Mircea Gabriel Eftemie - Guitar
Victor-Ray Salomonsen - Guitar
Simone Bertozzi - Bass
Brian Larsen - Drums
MNEMIC's fourth studio album, "Sons Of The System", was released in Europe on January 15, 2010 and in North America on January 26, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.
"Tragic Idol", the new album from British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST, sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 32 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.
Released on April 24 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records, "Tragic Idol" was recorded in part at The Chapel studios in Lincolnshire, England and features cover art by by Parisian designer Valnoir, who has previously worked with MORBID ANGEL, LAIBACH, ULVER and WATAIN, among others.
"Tragic Idol" track listing:
01. Solitary One (04:08)
02. Crucify (04:08)
03. Fear Of Impending Hell (05:25)
04. Honesty In Death (04:08)
05. Theories From Another World (05:02)
06. In This We Dwell (03:55)
07. To The Darkness (05:09)
08. Tragic Idol (04:35)
09. Worth Fighting For (04:12)
10. The Glorious End (05:23)
In addition to the standard CD, "Tragic Idol" was made available in the following formats:
* 180-gram gatefold LP (black vinyl)
* Limited 2-CD box set including:
- Alternative cover artwork in matte/glossy print on the box
- CD Digipak, coated in silver foil, imprinted with glossy varnish
- Extended 24-page booklet, imprinted with glossy varnish and special Pantone gold color
- Bonus CD including one brand new studio track "Ending Through Changes" and the SPEAR OF DESTINY cover version "Never Take Me Alive"
* Strictly limited deluxe box set (box with a golden foil print)
* EMP edition (200 copies) including:
- Limited 2-CD box set
- Gatefold LP (gold colored vinyl)
- 7-Inch (gold colored vinyl)
- PARADISE LOST army cap
- A1 "Tragic Idol" poster
- Tragic Idol slipmat
- Hand-numbered certificate of authenticity
* Amazon edition (GER 400 copies & FR 200 copies) including:
- Limited 2-CD Box Set
- Gatefold LP (White Colored Vinyl)
- 7-inch (White Colored Vinyl)
- Paradise Lost Army Cap
- A1 Tragic Idol poster
- "Tragic Idol" slipmat
- Hand-numbered certificate of authenticity
* Nuclear Blast edition (400 copies) including:
- Limited 2CD box set
- Gatefold LP (dark-blue-colored vinyl)
- 7-inch (dark-blue-colored vinyl)
- PARADISE LOST army cap
- A1 "Tragic Idol" poster
- "Tragic Idol" slipmat
- Hand-numbered certificate of authenticity
Band edition (250 copies) including:
- Strictly limited 2CD box set
- Gatefold LP (dark sand marbled colored vinyl)
- 7-inch (dark sand marbled colored vinyl)
- PARADISE LOST Army Cap
- A1 "Tragic Idol" poster
- "Tragic Idol" slipmat
- Hand-numbered certificate of authenticity
A track from "Tragic Idol" entitled "Crucify" can be streamed below. Singer Nick Holmes stated about the song, "My father always used to say that typical life stresses were crucifying him. I always thought it was such a dramatic way of stating that. He was just uncomfortable with a situation that would soon be remedied. I also refer to an actual person as a literal crucifixion at the end. The words 'for eternity you're my sentence' is my favorite line on the whole album."
PARADISE LOST's new video, "Honesty In Death", can be seen below. The clip was filmed in the United Kingdom with director Matt Green, who previously helmed the "Cathedrals Of Dread" video for Mackintosh's death metal side project VALLENFYRE.
Commented guitarist Greg Mackintosh: "We are very excited about the premiere of our 'Honesty In Death' video. In my opinion, it is the best video we have ever done. Matt Green, who I had previously worked with on the VALLENFYRE 'Cathedrals Of Dread' video, directed it. He did such a great job with VALLENFYRE that we knew he would be able to do something really special for PARADISE LOST. The result is a very powerful, but very grim short film with brief cameos by the band, that is sure to resonate with people who see it."
Released on April 24 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records, "Tragic Idol" was recorded in part at The Chapel studios in Lincolnshire, England and features cover art by by Parisian designer Valnoir, who has previously worked with MORBID ANGEL, LAIBACH, ULVER and WATAIN, among others.
"Tragic Idol" track listing:
01. Solitary One (04:08)
02. Crucify (04:08)
03. Fear Of Impending Hell (05:25)
04. Honesty In Death (04:08)
05. Theories From Another World (05:02)
06. In This We Dwell (03:55)
07. To The Darkness (05:09)
08. Tragic Idol (04:35)
09. Worth Fighting For (04:12)
10. The Glorious End (05:23)
In addition to the standard CD, "Tragic Idol" was made available in the following formats:
* 180-gram gatefold LP (black vinyl)
* Limited 2-CD box set including:
- Alternative cover artwork in matte/glossy print on the box
- CD Digipak, coated in silver foil, imprinted with glossy varnish
- Extended 24-page booklet, imprinted with glossy varnish and special Pantone gold color
- Bonus CD including one brand new studio track "Ending Through Changes" and the SPEAR OF DESTINY cover version "Never Take Me Alive"
* Strictly limited deluxe box set (box with a golden foil print)
* EMP edition (200 copies) including:
- Limited 2-CD box set
- Gatefold LP (gold colored vinyl)
- 7-Inch (gold colored vinyl)
- PARADISE LOST army cap
- A1 "Tragic Idol" poster
- Tragic Idol slipmat
- Hand-numbered certificate of authenticity
* Amazon edition (GER 400 copies & FR 200 copies) including:
- Limited 2-CD Box Set
- Gatefold LP (White Colored Vinyl)
- 7-inch (White Colored Vinyl)
- Paradise Lost Army Cap
- A1 Tragic Idol poster
- "Tragic Idol" slipmat
- Hand-numbered certificate of authenticity
* Nuclear Blast edition (400 copies) including:
- Limited 2CD box set
- Gatefold LP (dark-blue-colored vinyl)
- 7-inch (dark-blue-colored vinyl)
- PARADISE LOST army cap
- A1 "Tragic Idol" poster
- "Tragic Idol" slipmat
- Hand-numbered certificate of authenticity
Band edition (250 copies) including:
- Strictly limited 2CD box set
- Gatefold LP (dark sand marbled colored vinyl)
- 7-inch (dark sand marbled colored vinyl)
- PARADISE LOST Army Cap
- A1 "Tragic Idol" poster
- "Tragic Idol" slipmat
- Hand-numbered certificate of authenticity
A track from "Tragic Idol" entitled "Crucify" can be streamed below. Singer Nick Holmes stated about the song, "My father always used to say that typical life stresses were crucifying him. I always thought it was such a dramatic way of stating that. He was just uncomfortable with a situation that would soon be remedied. I also refer to an actual person as a literal crucifixion at the end. The words 'for eternity you're my sentence' is my favorite line on the whole album."
PARADISE LOST's new video, "Honesty In Death", can be seen below. The clip was filmed in the United Kingdom with director Matt Green, who previously helmed the "Cathedrals Of Dread" video for Mackintosh's death metal side project VALLENFYRE.
Commented guitarist Greg Mackintosh: "We are very excited about the premiere of our 'Honesty In Death' video. In my opinion, it is the best video we have ever done. Matt Green, who I had previously worked with on the VALLENFYRE 'Cathedrals Of Dread' video, directed it. He did such a great job with VALLENFYRE that we knew he would be able to do something really special for PARADISE LOST. The result is a very powerful, but very grim short film with brief cameos by the band, that is sure to resonate with people who see it."
California metallers DEVILDRIVER have been forced to cancel their previously announced Australian tour with SIX FEET UNDER and DARKEST HOUR.
Commented DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara: "I've NEVER cancelled a tour before. EVER...
"I have pneumonia and I'm restricted from flying for at least two weeks. So, unfortunately, we have to cancel our Australian tour.
"I respectfully apologize to all our Australian fans, SIX FEET UNDER; DARKEST HOUR and the folks at Soundwave Touring, who worked so hard to put this tour together.
"Thank you for your support. We'll make it up to you on the next tour."
Ticket holders can go back to the point of purchase for a refund.
The DEVILDRIVER-headlined Metal Alliance Tour — which also featured THE FACELESS, DYING FETUS, JOB FOR A COWBOY, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, IMPENDING DOOM and WRETCHED — kicked off on March 15 at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas and concluded on April 21 in Houston, Texas.
When asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for DEVILDRIVER's sixth album, Fafara told Peek From The Pit in a March 2012 interview, "We used to put a record every two years. I don't think it's gonna be [like that this time]. We are free agents right now, which means we're [no longer signed to Roadrunner Records and we're] talking to many record companies. It's gonna be a very critical record for us, when it does come out, and we're gonna take time to write it. I actually heard one track the other night that is incredible. We all started writing vocals to it right when we were sitting in the back [of the bus], so if it's gonna stay on that route, I think it's gonna be an incredible record."
Dez also spoke about the the musical direction of DEVILDRIVER's new material and whether the band will attempt to make the next record even more "brutal" than "Beast". "We continue to make our records diverse, which is cool," he said. "Every record is different with DEVILDRIVER, so I think we're gonna surpass what we've done in the past. And then going into the 'brutal' question, it's like, man, everybody is as brutal as everybody now. So we wanna have some diversity and we wanna have some moments and some clarity within the songs. I think the thing we're really focused on is songwriting. We don't have a producer chosen, we don't have the [studio] time [booked]. We don't even know if we're gonna release a record in 2013, maybe 2014, or maybe fall of 2013; we're not sure. So there's all this stuff up in the air. But what we do know is we're having a good time writing and exchanging feelings on the songs. . . Like I said, it's gonna be a very important record in our career, so we're gonna take time and we're gonna craft it."
As previously reported, DEVILDRIVER bassist Aaron "Bubble" Patrick sat out the Metal Alliance Tour after being diagnosed with Streptococcus pneumonia, an inflammation and swelling of the lung, caused by an infection with the bacteria. Filling in for Patrick was his former BURY YOUR DEAD bandmate Chris Towning.
Patrick joined DEVILDRIVER as the replacement for Jonathan Miller, who quit the band in March 2011, calling it "the most difficult decision of my life" but "something that I needed to do for myself."
Commented DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara: "I've NEVER cancelled a tour before. EVER...
"I have pneumonia and I'm restricted from flying for at least two weeks. So, unfortunately, we have to cancel our Australian tour.
"I respectfully apologize to all our Australian fans, SIX FEET UNDER; DARKEST HOUR and the folks at Soundwave Touring, who worked so hard to put this tour together.
"Thank you for your support. We'll make it up to you on the next tour."
Ticket holders can go back to the point of purchase for a refund.
The DEVILDRIVER-headlined Metal Alliance Tour — which also featured THE FACELESS, DYING FETUS, JOB FOR A COWBOY, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, IMPENDING DOOM and WRETCHED — kicked off on March 15 at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas and concluded on April 21 in Houston, Texas.
When asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for DEVILDRIVER's sixth album, Fafara told Peek From The Pit in a March 2012 interview, "We used to put a record every two years. I don't think it's gonna be [like that this time]. We are free agents right now, which means we're [no longer signed to Roadrunner Records and we're] talking to many record companies. It's gonna be a very critical record for us, when it does come out, and we're gonna take time to write it. I actually heard one track the other night that is incredible. We all started writing vocals to it right when we were sitting in the back [of the bus], so if it's gonna stay on that route, I think it's gonna be an incredible record."
Dez also spoke about the the musical direction of DEVILDRIVER's new material and whether the band will attempt to make the next record even more "brutal" than "Beast". "We continue to make our records diverse, which is cool," he said. "Every record is different with DEVILDRIVER, so I think we're gonna surpass what we've done in the past. And then going into the 'brutal' question, it's like, man, everybody is as brutal as everybody now. So we wanna have some diversity and we wanna have some moments and some clarity within the songs. I think the thing we're really focused on is songwriting. We don't have a producer chosen, we don't have the [studio] time [booked]. We don't even know if we're gonna release a record in 2013, maybe 2014, or maybe fall of 2013; we're not sure. So there's all this stuff up in the air. But what we do know is we're having a good time writing and exchanging feelings on the songs. . . Like I said, it's gonna be a very important record in our career, so we're gonna take time and we're gonna craft it."
As previously reported, DEVILDRIVER bassist Aaron "Bubble" Patrick sat out the Metal Alliance Tour after being diagnosed with Streptococcus pneumonia, an inflammation and swelling of the lung, caused by an infection with the bacteria. Filling in for Patrick was his former BURY YOUR DEAD bandmate Chris Towning.
Patrick joined DEVILDRIVER as the replacement for Jonathan Miller, who quit the band in March 2011, calling it "the most difficult decision of my life" but "something that I needed to do for myself."
Toulouse, France-based post-apocalyptic metal monsters ERYN NON DAE. (formerly END.) have finished mixing and mastering their sophomore album. The follow-up to 2009's "Hydra Lernaia" is said to be "about metamorphosis," and will feature such songtitles as "Scarlet Rising", "Chrysalis", "The Great Downfall" and "Black Obsidian Pyre". The CD was recorded at Mobo's ConKrete Studio in Bordeaux, France.
Professionally filmed video footage of ERYN NON DAE. performing the new track "Scarlet Rising" on April 19, 2011 at the Impetus Festival in Montbéliard, France can be viewed below.
According to a press release, ERYN NON DAE. gives the metal scene exactly what is needed — something unique, groundbreaking, and a new style of extreme to follow upon. Much like fellow homeland heroes GOJIRA, ERYN NON DAE. pulls off a signature sound that can immediately be picked up by the metal critics. ERYN NON DAE.'s ever-evolving brand of extreme music makes for an open-minded listen from start to finish. Their technicality not only stands out, but also goes towards metal's advantage, expanding the genre. ERYN NON DAE. delivers complex and brutal structures while at the same time adding doses of dark and apocalyptic moods, keeping you addicted. Their creativity, power, and aesthetics without a doubt will stun the metal genre."
ERYN NON DAE. is:
Mathieu B. Nogues: Vocals
Franck Quintin: Guitar/Vocals
Yann Servanin: Guitar
Mickael André: Bass
Julien Rufié: Drums
For more information, visit the band's Facebook page.
Professionally filmed video footage of ERYN NON DAE. performing the new track "Scarlet Rising" on April 19, 2011 at the Impetus Festival in Montbéliard, France can be viewed below.
According to a press release, ERYN NON DAE. gives the metal scene exactly what is needed — something unique, groundbreaking, and a new style of extreme to follow upon. Much like fellow homeland heroes GOJIRA, ERYN NON DAE. pulls off a signature sound that can immediately be picked up by the metal critics. ERYN NON DAE.'s ever-evolving brand of extreme music makes for an open-minded listen from start to finish. Their technicality not only stands out, but also goes towards metal's advantage, expanding the genre. ERYN NON DAE. delivers complex and brutal structures while at the same time adding doses of dark and apocalyptic moods, keeping you addicted. Their creativity, power, and aesthetics without a doubt will stun the metal genre."
ERYN NON DAE. is:
Mathieu B. Nogues: Vocals
Franck Quintin: Guitar/Vocals
Yann Servanin: Guitar
Mickael André: Bass
Julien Rufié: Drums
For more information, visit the band's Facebook page.
Long-running German death metallers RESURRECTED have set "Morbus" as the title of their upcoming five-track EP. The effort, which will be mixed at the end of May by Jörg Uken at Soundlodge Studios in Rhauderfehn, Germany, will contain two new songs ("Covered With Maggots" and "Bewareness Of Truth") alongside a re-recording of "Butchered In Excrement" and cover versions of FEAR FACTORY's "Self Bias Resistor" and MASSACRE's "Dawn Of Eternity".
Vocalist Carsten Scholz recently left RESURRECTED for health reasons and was replaced by Christoph Mieves (GRIND INC.). In addition, drummer Hazim Fouad exited the group due his move to Bremen. Going forward, RESURRECTED's drum duties are being handled by Dennis Thiele, who is described by the band as "a good friend and dedicated death metal maniac."
RESURRECTED 2012 is:
Christoph Mieves - Vocals
Dennis Thiele - Drums
Ben Bays - Bass
Thomas Granzow - Guitar
RESURRECTED released its sixth album, "Fierce", in 2009 via Metal Age Productions. The CD was recorded at Soundlodge studios in Rhauderfehn, Germany with Jörk Uken (GOD DETHRONED, OBSCENITY).
Vocalist Carsten Scholz recently left RESURRECTED for health reasons and was replaced by Christoph Mieves (GRIND INC.). In addition, drummer Hazim Fouad exited the group due his move to Bremen. Going forward, RESURRECTED's drum duties are being handled by Dennis Thiele, who is described by the band as "a good friend and dedicated death metal maniac."
RESURRECTED 2012 is:
Christoph Mieves - Vocals
Dennis Thiele - Drums
Ben Bays - Bass
Thomas Granzow - Guitar
RESURRECTED released its sixth album, "Fierce", in 2009 via Metal Age Productions. The CD was recorded at Soundlodge studios in Rhauderfehn, Germany with Jörk Uken (GOD DETHRONED, OBSCENITY).
Relapse Records has announced the vinyl reissue of MORBID SAINT's criminally underrated debut album "Spectrum Of Death". Originally released in 1988, this death/thrash cult classic, produced by Eric Greif, was light years ahead of its peers, leaving posers crushed in a heap of destruction! The long-out-of-print album has been repressed in celebration of the band's reunion performance at this year's Maryland Deathfest.
"Spectrum Of Death" will see a June 19 re-release, with pre-orders and an officially licensed exclusive shirt available now at this location.
"Spectrum Of Death" will see a June 19 re-release, with pre-orders and an officially licensed exclusive shirt available now at this location.
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