Rolling Stones Gather to Plot 50th Anniversary Bash
Band will meet in July in London to discuss performing possibilities
The Rolling Stones are strongly considering at least one live concert later this year to mark their 50th anniversary, Stones insiders tell Rolling Stone. Sources add that the band is still considering a tour in 2013. "I'd like to get a couple of shows down and see how it goes," Keith Richards says. "But I'd love it."
The news comes after the band gathered in late April in the New York area for a full week of rehearsals – their first time playing together at such length since the final night of the marathon A Bigger Bang tour at London's O2 arena in August 2007. In July, the band will gather in London to further discuss live performance possibilities. "It's all very hush-hush," Richards says. "I'm going over to London for a bit, so I'll find out more then."
He adds that the band will also use the summit to discuss whether they will be recording their first new LP since 2005's A Bigger Bang. "We're going to talk about that in July and see. I mean, I'd love to get some tracks down and see what songs we've got. And that goes along with part of getting the band back together and getting things moving. So I'd love to cut some tracks, yeah."
Does Richards see himself writing one-on-one with Mick Jagger again? "Oh, yeah," he says. "I have no doubt."
In late April, the Stones began rehearsing in New York and continued working across the Hudson River in Weehawken, New Jersey, inviting a film crew led by director Brett Morgen to shoot footage for a documentary celebrating the group's anniversary, set for a fall release. The Stones blasted through classics including "Beast of Burden," "Respectable," "Fool to Cry" and "Gimme Shelter." "We played everything, really," says Richards. "We're just getting our chops together. It was like playing in the garage, a maintenance check, you know?"
The vibe was joyful, with Keith Richards and Mick Jagger joking around between takes. "Someone would mention a song, and within the second run they had nailed it," Morgen says. "Having screened through 50 years of material over the last six months, I would rank it up there with anything I've ever heard from them. They were extremely tight." Adds Richards, "I thought I'd be quite rusty, after all we hadn't done it for a while, five years or something. But it sounded as fresh as you could hope for. It was a great week."
As one of heavy metal's most successful bands of all-time, Iron Maiden has been packing a punch for more than 30 years. Consisting of singer Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris, drummer Nicko McBrain and guitarists Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers, Iron Maiden has pounded out memorable hits for decades. With close to 100 million albums sold across the world, it's not shocking that a band full of legends is still going strong after all these years.
In 2010, Iron Maiden released their 15th studio album, The Final Frontier. You'd have to wonder about the band slowing down at some point but wouldn't you know that these English stars wound up achieving arguably their greatest feat yet. Not only has the full-length been given laudatory reviews every which way, but it debuted at number one in roughly 30 countries! Fans have remained loyal to the band ever since their inception in 1975 and without question will follow them wherever they go.
Known for their larger-than-life live shows, Iron Maiden recorded their April 10, 2011, performance in Santiago, Chile. Released on March 27, En Vivo! is available on CD, Blu-ray and DVD. If you're thinking about catching one of their extraordinary concerts, you're in luck, as Iron Maiden will be at Jones Beach on June 27, the Susquehanna Bank Center on June 29, and the Prudential Center on July 2.
I recently had the privilege of speaking with one of the world's finest guitarists, Adrian Smith, a few weeks before their North American trek began. Below, Adrian and I discussed the upcoming tour, the band's illustrious history, and his new side-project, Primal Rock Rebellion.
First off, I heard that your notorious aircraft, Ed Force One, isn't going to be making this trip. How are you guys planning to get to America?
We're here already, actually (laughs). We only use the big plane when we're going down to Australia, New Zealand or, you know, South America, where there's really big distances. In America, the distances aren't that big, so we just have a little plane, we don't have the big plane. We just do it normally with trucks and it's like a normal tour.
Some of the songs you're planning on playing on your upcoming tour include "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son," "Can I Play With Madness," "Aces High," etc. What was the reason behind choosing a setlist like that of the famous 1988 excursion, 7th Tour Of A 7th Tour?
Well, we just thought it'd be fun to revisit that period in time—there were some good songs there. It's just great revisiting some of the songs we haven't played for a long while. It keeps us fresh and it's just, you know, we got a lot of new fans coming on board now, a lot of younger fans who probably never saw or were around when we did that tour. That's one factor of it for us revisiting that time and I think there's some good songs from that period, so it's fun to do.
Is there any song that you may not have played in a while that you're looking forward to playing?
Yeah, I mean, the song "Seventh Son [Of A Seventh Son]," we've been rehearsing that all week and it sounds really amazing but it's taking quite a bit of getting together, you know, because it's quite intricate and quite proggy, but yeah, stuff like "Seventh Son." "The Prisoner," we've been playing that, which is great. So that's two right there.
Do you think you're going to see primarily older fans or do you think that there are going to be many younger fans in the audience?
Well, I know we do have younger fans, I mean, hopefully we'll see some younger ones. I think just because of the nature of the way things are set up in America with the amphitheatres [being] quite far out of town and maybe the younger fans might have problems getting to them, but I certainly hope not. We'll see. I think it tends to be mainly the older fans in America. I think the younger fans are mainly in Europe.
Are you going to play any songs off of your latest album, The Final Frontier, and if so, do you know which ones?
No, I don't think—I mean, we did The Final Frontier tour last year or the year before that in America, we played a couple—but no, we're concentrating on kinda the Seventh Son period so we won't be playing anything off of The Final Frontier, no.
Actually, most of the songs, along with "The Prisoner" and "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son" and all that sort of stuff is the older, sort of hits, for lack of a better a word, not that we've ever had any hits, but a lot of the well-known songs.
I happen to think that the band has had quite a few hits…
Well, you know, not in the sense of having Billboard number one singles, but yeah, I mean, songs that a lot of people know. We'll be playing all those ones that people know really well.
Iron Maiden has been together for more than 35 years and yet The Final Frontier hit the number one spot in almost 30 countries. What are your thoughts about this and how does it feel to still be on top of the game?
Well, I think that we've always toured our music and brought our music to people—we've never relied on media and radio play. I think in that way, we've built up a really strong following. And like I said, we've got new fans on board that are rediscovering all the old stuff as well, so I mean, I don't know if there's any secret, I just think the band does it for the right reasons and we're in it because we love the music and I think people get that and they come along for the ride, so that's great.
While The Final Frontier didn't hit the number one spot here in the U.S., it did reach an all-time high for Iron Maiden at number four. What do you think this says about the fans in the States?
Like I say, we built up a fanbase the hard way by doing a lot of touring and I think that those fans kind of stay with you and god bless 'em. We love to keep moving forward. I mean, we're playing a lot of the old stuff on this tour but, you know, we've done tours in the past where we've played a lot of new stuff. It's a lot [like] the band to keep writing and being creative as well and not just recreating the past. This is a celebration if you like, this is a fun thing of playing a lot of old stuff, but that's just a part of what the band's about. The band's about always moving forward as well.
Are you looking forward to anything in particular on the upcoming tour, such as a certain city or a certain venue?
Well we're doing a lot of places we've never done before, which is kind of unusual because sometimes, I look at a map of America and I think I've been everywhere, you know, I've played everywhere—it's quite amazing really. I mean, we're playing places like Sarnia, Ontario. Cadott, Wisconsin—the Chippewa Valley Rock Festival, I mean, all these places we've never played before so that'll be quite interesting to go to and see what that's about.
What do you think it's going to be like working with not only Alice Cooper on the tour, but Coheed And Cambria for select shows as well?
Well, Alice Cooper is great, I know he was a bit of an influence on us all when we were growing up—his showmanship and also, he had great songs and he still does, so that will be fun to play with him. I always like to watch him and he's got a great band as well. Coheed And Cambria I don't know much about so that'll be interesting to see them doing their stuff, so that should be great.
I saw a little while back that Nicko said that he wasn't sure when there will be a new album. Is the band working on anything new at the moment or are you just focusing on touring right now?
No, we're just focusing on this tour. We tend to put all our energy in what we're doing at the time. We don't really get together and rehearse songs or anything on the road. We tend to take a bit of time off it and see maybe next year. We haven't got any plans at the moment but more than likely we'll be doing something.
Speaking of new releases, you just put out your debut CD with Primal Rock Rebellion, Awoken Broken, earlier this year. How different was this than recording a Maiden album and do you think this is just the tip of the iceberg for the group?
Well, Primal Rock Rebellion was a project really, it was me and the singer called Mikee Goodman who used to be in a band called SikTh—who had a bit of a cult following in Europe and a bit more of a nü-style metal from his point of view. He's a younger guy—and I just met up with him, we started hanging out and doing a bit of variety. It was pretty casual, we just did it over a period of years really when we weren't doing anything with our respective bands, just as a bit of a fun side thing and it turned out really cool and I thought it was really different and it sounded good and it was a lot of fun to do, I just did it in my home studio.
It's completely different than doing a Maiden album with a band. Like I say, Primal Rock is just me and Mikee, but I enjoy working with him so it's more of a studio thing though. But it certainly got me into using new studio techniques and stuff like that, so it's cool. I certainly don't think there's anything out there like it. I think we came out with something quite original, which is really, really quite difficult to do but it wasn't something we tried to do. It's just Mikee's very kind of an original type of singer so it was interesting working with him.
How do you think the upcoming U.S. tour is going to differ from in years past?
Well this is a new set, we haven't taken the stage set out, for example, so it's a new stage set, we got new effects. I think it's going to be actually more spectacular than the original tour and probably, technically, you got more stuff now to put into a live show in terms of lighting and that, which will make it quite spectacular, so I think this is going to be pretty special, this tour. What with the songs, we love playing these songs, and with the stage set and effects and of course we got Eddie, he's back, so it should be fun.
Iron Maiden will be at Jones Beach on June 27, the Susquehanna Bank Center on June 29, and the Prudential Center on July 2. For more information, check out ironmaiden.com.
The greatest metal band of all time? Metallica? The most popular metal band of all time? Metallica. The band that will be headlining a two-day music festival at Bader Field in Atlantic City with 35 other bands this weekend? Metallica.
It took 31 years, but the California based quartet known for changing the metal scene forever is finally hosting its own music festival, and they decided to have it in Atlantic City.
The Orion Music + More Festival features Metallica playing full sets each night, including two albums in their entirety, "Ride the Lightning" on Saturday night, and the "Black" album on Sunday. And before they take the stage each night, a diverse lineup including Cage the Elephant, Arctic Monkeys, Modest Mouse, Eric Church, Avenged Sevenfold and even comedian Jim Breuer will entertain the masses while special events hosted by Metallica members (see sidebar) will be offered all day.
Lead singer James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo are metal revolutionaries still creating some of the greatest hard rock and metal on the planet. Now, they want to change how people look at festivals.
Ulrich took the time to talk about Metallica's first festival, and what tens of thousands of fans can expect this weekend.
Q: Why did you pick Atlantic City as a site for your first music festival?
A: We always knew we wanted to be in that zip code — right around your neighborhood — between New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and D.C. We wanted to do it in a place where it would be convenient for people to come from the West Coast or Europe in terms of airport access. Music history is loaded with horror stories about music festivals and events taking place on somebody's farm 90 minutes from a freeway and you have to fight cattle on a one-way road.
So we didn't want that. When. A.C. came up, we jumped on it because we wanted the experience to be pleasant. There's access. There's hotel rooms. It's a logical place to do it.
Q: Metallica has been around for more than 30 years. Why now?
A: We've wanted to do it for years. Call us ignorant or crazy or dreamers or whatever but it's an idea we've been floating around for about four years. Since we did Bonnaroo in 2008, we felt like we've been doing these things in Europe and all over with diverse lineups for 25 years … and we felt we could do something like that here by ourselves and that we could make it fun.
So when we decided to do it, we looked for people we can trust and work with to protect our vision and keep it pure and about the music and experience and the musician's lifestyle. It's not about commerce and $9 water bottles and all that other bulls-t.
Q: So are you happy the way it came together?
A: We're not particularly careful. We like to jump in and make the most of it. I think one of many fun elements is not knowing what will happen. We are all in this together, and we think it has the potential to be something pretty cool that can hopefully become a yearly event.
All of the fan club tickets sold out quick, so it's buzzing. Any time you venture outside of the ordinary, you never really know. We don't want to take it for granted that 40,000 people will show up and we can keep doing this. But if they do some and have a cool experience and are psyched about what we put together … if we can find a way to keep doing it, we will.
Q; You have some non-metal acts such as Jim Breuer, Eric Church. Was that to create diversity?
A: A lot of the big European festivals are institutions. They sell out before they even announce the full lineup because they are amazing experiences. But a big part of their success is that they offer a complete cross-section of musical experiences and options. So we're trying to find that balance. We never wanted it to be just about Metallica. We want it to be diverse and awesome musically, but also offer lifestyle things that are inspired by what the bands are into, especially what we are into. (See sidebar.)
There will be things that show all of our passions. James Hetfield is pretty into cars. The drummer is pretty into film and movies and that type of thing. Kirk and Rob are manic surfers, and Kirk loves horror movies and posters. There are endless possibilities. We just didn't want it to become too much and in a situation where we overpromised and under delivered. We're sort of figuring it all out.
Q: So what will your sets be like this weekend?
A: Well, we are doing "Ride the Lightning" (Saturday) and the "Black" album (Sunday), and we rarely play full albums. We did "Master of Puppets" a couple of years ago in Europe, and that was fun. But we're always cautious about doing stuff like that. We don't want to turn into a nostalgic act. But with an anniversary lurking under every stone you turn with us, it seemed cool to do it.
We never did "Ride the Lightning" before. So that's a first go-around. And we play long enough so that the set is not totally dominated by one album.
Q: It's amazing you still play with the intensity that you do.
A: We do what we can. Playing at that energy, you have to keep in shape and not eat too many s---y cheeseburgers before you go on stage. We tend to clock in at the two-hour mark — that seems to be our groove.
Q: What will be the best part of this whole weekend for you?
A: Since we are the hosts of this thing, we are all hanging around. It's not like we are rolling in a stretch limo 20 minutes before we go on. We are going to be there and partake and hang and listen to music and take in the whole thing. I look forward to that side of it. We are so used to going from one place to another to show up and play and leave. I look to loitering. There are going to be a f-k load of cool people in A.C. that weekend. That's the cool part.
British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN kicked off the "Maiden England World Tour" earlier tonight (Thursday, June 21) at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Charlotte, North Carolina. The trek closely mirrors, in terms of production and content, the original 1988 concert video of the same name, shot on the "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Tour". This opening section of the world tour is the band's most extensive visit to North America for many years and includes a number of cities the band have not played in a very long time, such as Atlanta, Buffalo, Indianapolis and Salt Lake City.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. Moonchild
02. Can I Play With Madness
03. The Prisoner (performed for first time since September 21, 1991)
04. 2 Minutes To Midnight
05. Afraid To Shoot Strangers (performed for first time since December 12, 1998)
06. The Trooper
07. The Number Of The Beast
08. Phantom Of The Opera
09. Run To The Hills
10. Wasted Years
11. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (performed for first time since December 12, 1988)
12. The Clairvoyant
13. Fear Of The Dark
14. Iron Maiden
Encore:
15. Aces High
16. The Evil That Men Do
17. Running Free
"Maiden England" marks the third chapter in the history of IRON MAIDEN, a journey which began in 2004 with "The Early Days" DVD and subsequent 2005 "Early Days Tour". Part two followed in 2008 with the "Live After Death" DVD — the seminal 1984 concert recorded at Long Beach Arena in California during the "World Slavery Tour" — and the band embarking on their groundbreaking "Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 2008/9", which saw them play to over two million fans in almost 40 countries.
Comments vocalist Bruce Dickinson: "We have great fun playing the history of MAIDEN tours because it gives us an opportunity between new albums to go out and play songs from our earlier catalogue. It's always fantastic seeing the crowd reaction from a new generation of fans who have never experienced some of these tracks performed live before, and of course we know our longstanding fans will enjoy seeing the original 'Seventh Son Tour' revisited — with many other surprises! Our intention is to play about two thirds of the original track list of 'Maiden England', including some songs we have not played live in a very,very long time, plus other favourites we just know the fans are going to want to hear! We always try to give our fans a great show musically, but we have always tried to make it as entertaining and memorable an experience as we can visually. And we all feel this show is going to do that splendidly!"
The extraordinary and legendary ALICE COOPER is IRON MAIDEN's very special guest on all shows up to July 21. After that date, special guest will be COHEED AND CAMBRIA, the inspiring, cutting-edge band from New York.
For a complete list of "Maiden England" 2012 tour dates, visit IronMaiden.com.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. Moonchild
02. Can I Play With Madness
03. The Prisoner (performed for first time since September 21, 1991)
04. 2 Minutes To Midnight
05. Afraid To Shoot Strangers (performed for first time since December 12, 1998)
06. The Trooper
07. The Number Of The Beast
08. Phantom Of The Opera
09. Run To The Hills
10. Wasted Years
11. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (performed for first time since December 12, 1988)
12. The Clairvoyant
13. Fear Of The Dark
14. Iron Maiden
Encore:
15. Aces High
16. The Evil That Men Do
17. Running Free
"Maiden England" marks the third chapter in the history of IRON MAIDEN, a journey which began in 2004 with "The Early Days" DVD and subsequent 2005 "Early Days Tour". Part two followed in 2008 with the "Live After Death" DVD — the seminal 1984 concert recorded at Long Beach Arena in California during the "World Slavery Tour" — and the band embarking on their groundbreaking "Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 2008/9", which saw them play to over two million fans in almost 40 countries.
Comments vocalist Bruce Dickinson: "We have great fun playing the history of MAIDEN tours because it gives us an opportunity between new albums to go out and play songs from our earlier catalogue. It's always fantastic seeing the crowd reaction from a new generation of fans who have never experienced some of these tracks performed live before, and of course we know our longstanding fans will enjoy seeing the original 'Seventh Son Tour' revisited — with many other surprises! Our intention is to play about two thirds of the original track list of 'Maiden England', including some songs we have not played live in a very,very long time, plus other favourites we just know the fans are going to want to hear! We always try to give our fans a great show musically, but we have always tried to make it as entertaining and memorable an experience as we can visually. And we all feel this show is going to do that splendidly!"
The extraordinary and legendary ALICE COOPER is IRON MAIDEN's very special guest on all shows up to July 21. After that date, special guest will be COHEED AND CAMBRIA, the inspiring, cutting-edge band from New York.
For a complete list of "Maiden England" 2012 tour dates, visit IronMaiden.com.
The greatest metal band of all
time? Metallica? The most popular metal band of all time? Metallica. The band
that will be headlining a two-day music festival at Bader Field in Atlantic City
with 35 other bands this weekend? Metallica. It took 31 years, but the
California based quartet known for changing the metal scene forever is
finally hosting its own music festival, and they decided to have it in
Atlantic City.
The Orion Music + More Festival features Metallica
playing full sets each night, including two albums in their entirety,
“Ride the Lightning†on Saturday night, and the “Black†album on Sunday.
And before they take the stage each night, a diverse lineup including
Cage the Elephant, Arctic Monkeys, Modest Mouse, Eric Church, Avenged
Sevenfold and even comedian Jim Breuer will entertain the masses while
special events hosted by Metallica members (see sidebar) will be offered all
day.
Lead singer James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich,
guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo are metal
revolutionaries still creating some of the greatest hard rock and metal
on the planet. Now, they want to change how people look at festivals.
Ulrich took the time to talk about Metallica’s first festival, and what tens
of thousands of fans can expect this weekend.
Q: Why did you pick Atlantic City as a site for your first music festival?
A: We always knew we wanted to be in that zip code â€"
right around your neighborhood â€" between New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and D.C. We wanted to do it in a place where it would be
convenient for people to come from the West Coast or Europe in terms of
airport access. Music history is loaded with horror stories about music
festivals and events taking place on somebody’s farm 90 minutes from a
freeway and you have to fight cattle on a one-way road.
So we didn’t want that. When. A.C. came up, we jumped on it because we wanted
the experience to be pleasant. There’s access.
There’s hotel rooms. It’s a logical place to do it.
Q: Metallica has been around for more than 30 years. Why now?
A: We’ve wanted to do it for years. Call us ignorant
or crazy or dreamers or whatever but it’s an idea we’ve been floating
around for about four years. Since we did Bonnaroo in 2008, we felt like we’ve
been doing these things in Europe and all over with diverse
lineups for 25 years … and we felt we could do something like that here
by ourselves and that we could make it fun.
So when we decided to do it, we looked for people we
can trust and work with to protect our vision and keep it pure and about the
music and experience and the musician’s lifestyle. It’s not about
commerce and $9 water bottles and all that other bulls-t.
Q: So are you happy the way it came together?
A: We’re not particularly careful. We like to jump in and make the most of it.
I think one of many fun elements is not
knowing what will happen. We are all in this together, and we think it
has the potential to be something pretty cool that can hopefully become a yearly
event.
All of the fan club tickets sold out quick, so it’s
buzzing. Any time you venture outside of the ordinary, you never really
know. We don’t want to take it for granted that 40,000 people will show
up and we can keep doing this. But if they do some and have a cool
experience and are psyched about what we put together … if we can find a way
to keep doing it, we will.
Q; You have some non-metal acts such as Jim Breuer, Eric Church. Was that to
create diversity?
A: A lot of the big European festivals are
institutions. They sell out before they even announce the full lineup
because they are amazing experiences. But a big part of their success is that
they offer a complete cross-section of musical experiences and
options. So we’re trying to find that balance. We never wanted it to be
just about Metallica. We want it to be diverse and awesome musically,
but also offer lifestyle things that are inspired by what the bands are
into, especially what we are into. (See sidebar.)
There will be things that show all of our passions.
James Hetfield is pretty into cars. The drummer is pretty into film and
movies and that type of thing. Kirk and Rob are manic surfers, and Kirk
loves horror movies and posters. There are endless possibilities. We
just didn’t want it to become too much and in a situation where we
overpromised and under delivered. We’re sort of figuring it all out.
Q: So what will your sets be like this weekend?
A: Well, we are doing “Ride the Lightning†(Saturday) and the “Blackâ€
album (Sunday), and we rarely play full albums. We did
“Master of Puppets†a couple of years ago in Europe, and that was fun.
But we’re always cautious about doing stuff like that. We don’t want to
turn into a nostalgic act. But with an anniversary lurking under every
stone you turn with us, it seemed cool to do it.
We never did “Ride the Lightning†before. So that’s a first go-around. And
we play long enough so that the set is not totally dominated by one album.
Q: It’s amazing you still play with the intensity that you do.
A: We do what we can. Playing at that energy, you
have to keep in shape and not eat too many s---y cheeseburgers before
you go on stage. We tend to clock in at the two-hour mark â€" that seems
to be our groove.
Q: What will be the best part of this whole weekend for you?
A: Since we are the hosts of this thing, we are all
hanging around. It’s not like we are rolling in a stretch limo 20
minutes before we go on. We are going to be there and partake and hang
and listen to music and take in the whole thing. I look forward to that
side of it. We are so used to going from one place to another to show up and
play and leave. I look to loitering. There are going to be a f-k
load of cool people in A.C. that weekend. That’s the cool part.
time? Metallica? The most popular metal band of all time? Metallica. The band
that will be headlining a two-day music festival at Bader Field in Atlantic City
with 35 other bands this weekend? Metallica. It took 31 years, but the
California based quartet known for changing the metal scene forever is
finally hosting its own music festival, and they decided to have it in
Atlantic City.
The Orion Music + More Festival features Metallica
playing full sets each night, including two albums in their entirety,
“Ride the Lightning†on Saturday night, and the “Black†album on Sunday.
And before they take the stage each night, a diverse lineup including
Cage the Elephant, Arctic Monkeys, Modest Mouse, Eric Church, Avenged
Sevenfold and even comedian Jim Breuer will entertain the masses while
special events hosted by Metallica members (see sidebar) will be offered all
day.
Lead singer James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich,
guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo are metal
revolutionaries still creating some of the greatest hard rock and metal
on the planet. Now, they want to change how people look at festivals.
Ulrich took the time to talk about Metallica’s first festival, and what tens
of thousands of fans can expect this weekend.
Q: Why did you pick Atlantic City as a site for your first music festival?
A: We always knew we wanted to be in that zip code â€"
right around your neighborhood â€" between New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and D.C. We wanted to do it in a place where it would be
convenient for people to come from the West Coast or Europe in terms of
airport access. Music history is loaded with horror stories about music
festivals and events taking place on somebody’s farm 90 minutes from a
freeway and you have to fight cattle on a one-way road.
So we didn’t want that. When. A.C. came up, we jumped on it because we wanted
the experience to be pleasant. There’s access.
There’s hotel rooms. It’s a logical place to do it.
Q: Metallica has been around for more than 30 years. Why now?
A: We’ve wanted to do it for years. Call us ignorant
or crazy or dreamers or whatever but it’s an idea we’ve been floating
around for about four years. Since we did Bonnaroo in 2008, we felt like we’ve
been doing these things in Europe and all over with diverse
lineups for 25 years … and we felt we could do something like that here
by ourselves and that we could make it fun.
So when we decided to do it, we looked for people we
can trust and work with to protect our vision and keep it pure and about the
music and experience and the musician’s lifestyle. It’s not about
commerce and $9 water bottles and all that other bulls-t.
Q: So are you happy the way it came together?
A: We’re not particularly careful. We like to jump in and make the most of it.
I think one of many fun elements is not
knowing what will happen. We are all in this together, and we think it
has the potential to be something pretty cool that can hopefully become a yearly
event.
All of the fan club tickets sold out quick, so it’s
buzzing. Any time you venture outside of the ordinary, you never really
know. We don’t want to take it for granted that 40,000 people will show
up and we can keep doing this. But if they do some and have a cool
experience and are psyched about what we put together … if we can find a way
to keep doing it, we will.
Q; You have some non-metal acts such as Jim Breuer, Eric Church. Was that to
create diversity?
A: A lot of the big European festivals are
institutions. They sell out before they even announce the full lineup
because they are amazing experiences. But a big part of their success is that
they offer a complete cross-section of musical experiences and
options. So we’re trying to find that balance. We never wanted it to be
just about Metallica. We want it to be diverse and awesome musically,
but also offer lifestyle things that are inspired by what the bands are
into, especially what we are into. (See sidebar.)
There will be things that show all of our passions.
James Hetfield is pretty into cars. The drummer is pretty into film and
movies and that type of thing. Kirk and Rob are manic surfers, and Kirk
loves horror movies and posters. There are endless possibilities. We
just didn’t want it to become too much and in a situation where we
overpromised and under delivered. We’re sort of figuring it all out.
Q: So what will your sets be like this weekend?
A: Well, we are doing “Ride the Lightning†(Saturday) and the “Blackâ€
album (Sunday), and we rarely play full albums. We did
“Master of Puppets†a couple of years ago in Europe, and that was fun.
But we’re always cautious about doing stuff like that. We don’t want to
turn into a nostalgic act. But with an anniversary lurking under every
stone you turn with us, it seemed cool to do it.
We never did “Ride the Lightning†before. So that’s a first go-around. And
we play long enough so that the set is not totally dominated by one album.
Q: It’s amazing you still play with the intensity that you do.
A: We do what we can. Playing at that energy, you
have to keep in shape and not eat too many s---y cheeseburgers before
you go on stage. We tend to clock in at the two-hour mark â€" that seems
to be our groove.
Q: What will be the best part of this whole weekend for you?
A: Since we are the hosts of this thing, we are all
hanging around. It’s not like we are rolling in a stretch limo 20
minutes before we go on. We are going to be there and partake and hang
and listen to music and take in the whole thing. I look forward to that
side of it. We are so used to going from one place to another to show up and
play and leave. I look to loitering. There are going to be a f-k
load of cool people in A.C. that weekend. That’s the cool part.
RUSH plans to bring a string ensemble out on tour with the band for the first time ever in its career, according to The Pulse Of Radio. Orchestrations provided by well-known arranger David Campbell are used on several tracks from the band's new album, "Clockwork Angels", and guitarist Alex Lifeson told The Pulse Of Radio that the trio intends to recreate that sound on the road. "We can't take a symphony. We'll take a group of musicians — let's say an efficient ensemble of strings," he said. "We'll probably have about eight, somewhere between eight and 10 musicians. A couple of cellos and the rest will be violins."
Lifeson told Billboard.com that the band may have the string section perform during older numbers in the setlist as well.
RUSH begins its North American tour on September 7 in Manchester, New Hampshire, and Lifeson suggested that Campbell, who is also the father of alternative artist Beck, may join them for a few shows.
"Clockwork Angels", RUSH's first new studio set in five years, sold 103,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart.
Lifeson told Billboard.com that the band may have the string section perform during older numbers in the setlist as well.
RUSH begins its North American tour on September 7 in Manchester, New Hampshire, and Lifeson suggested that Campbell, who is also the father of alternative artist Beck, may join them for a few shows.
"Clockwork Angels", RUSH's first new studio set in five years, sold 103,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart.
RUSH's first new collection of original material in over five years and their first studio release via Anthem/Roadrunner Records, "Clockwork Angels", has registered the following first-week chart positions:
Canada: #1
USA: #2
Japan: #2
Norway: #10
Germany: #11
Holland: #11
Switzerland: #21
"Clockwork Angels" sold 103,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
RUSH's 18th studio album, "Snakes & Arrows", debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart in May 2007 with sales of 93,000 copies. The disc was the first collection of all-new RUSH material since 2002's "Vapor Trails" and the 27th RUSH release to make the Billboard album chart. The band's chart peak was in 1993, when "Counterparts" debuted at No. 2.
The recording of "Clockwork Angels" began in April 2010 with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, DEFTONES) — who also collaborated with the band on their last studio album, 2007's "Snakes & Arrows".
Lyrically, "Clockwork Angels" chronicles a young man's quest across a lavish and colorful world of steampunk and alchemy as he attempts to follow his dreams. The story features lost cities, pirates, anarchists, an exotic carnival, and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life. The novelization of "Clockwork Angels" is being written by science fiction writer Kevin J. Anderson in collaboration with RUSH drummer and lyricist Neil Peart.
"Clockwork Angels" track listing:
01. Caravan
02. BU2B
03. Clockwork Angels
04. The Anarchist
05. Carnies
06. Halo Effect
07. Seven Cities Of Gold
08. The Wreckers
09. Headlong Flight
10. BU2B2
11. Wish Them Well
12. The Garden
Canada: #1
USA: #2
Japan: #2
Norway: #10
Germany: #11
Holland: #11
Switzerland: #21
"Clockwork Angels" sold 103,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
RUSH's 18th studio album, "Snakes & Arrows", debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart in May 2007 with sales of 93,000 copies. The disc was the first collection of all-new RUSH material since 2002's "Vapor Trails" and the 27th RUSH release to make the Billboard album chart. The band's chart peak was in 1993, when "Counterparts" debuted at No. 2.
The recording of "Clockwork Angels" began in April 2010 with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, DEFTONES) — who also collaborated with the band on their last studio album, 2007's "Snakes & Arrows".
Lyrically, "Clockwork Angels" chronicles a young man's quest across a lavish and colorful world of steampunk and alchemy as he attempts to follow his dreams. The story features lost cities, pirates, anarchists, an exotic carnival, and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life. The novelization of "Clockwork Angels" is being written by science fiction writer Kevin J. Anderson in collaboration with RUSH drummer and lyricist Neil Peart.
"Clockwork Angels" track listing:
01. Caravan
02. BU2B
03. Clockwork Angels
04. The Anarchist
05. Carnies
06. Halo Effect
07. Seven Cities Of Gold
08. The Wreckers
09. Headlong Flight
10. BU2B2
11. Wish Them Well
12. The Garden
DEEP PURPLE's Ian Gillan and BLACK SABBATH's Tony Iommi took everybody by surprise in 2011 by releasing a charity single, "Out Of My Mind", renewing the collaboration that led the pair to record an album in 1984, "Born Again", under the BLACK SABBATH moniker. For the occasion, the two rock legends called a few friends and were soon joined by Jason Newsted (METALLICA, VOIVOD, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM), Jon Lord (DEEP PURPLE) and Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN). Not only jamming together for the sheer fun of things, this new project has united for a cause — rebuilding and helping the music school in Gyumari, Armenia. The single was a joyful and inspired moment. Iommi and Gillan have now decided to make WHOCARES an album for their devoted fans. Classic songs and a lot of rarities and unreleased material in two CDs of fantastic rare music.
The single was a joyful and inspired moment. The spark to bring Iommi and Gillan in a studio, together again was to finance the rebuilding of a music school in Armenia they had visited together on various occasions in past years.
Far from being a spectacular charity project, WHOCARES was a nice gesture, done with class, from two musicians with nothing to prove, willing to support music, where music is considered a luxury.
"As I said once in the song 'Razzle Dazzle' (DEEP PURPLE's 'Bananas' album), 'It's a real fine line between an orgy of destruction and a wonderful time,'" Gillan tells PanArmenian.net about the forthcoming CD. "The destruction of conformity in this case: Some of these pieces never really fitted into their contemporary program and got side-lined or forgotten, and some of the album tracks never had much exposure. As the track listing for this album came together, I noticed many of the titles had character similarities; a combination of freshness as they finally felt the sun on their backs and rebellion in a 'yeah told you so' kind of way. And that adds up to a wonderful time. And that adds up to more money for the music school we are building in Armenia."
"And what about WHOCARES… this ad-hoc benefit band put together by Tony Iommi and myself on a flight home from Yerevan, where we'd been deeply humbled by the honors and expectations bestowed upon us. Well that's it really, in a nutshell, so to speak, what more can I say; it's all there in the music."
Among the tracks set to appear on the upcoming album are the two original WHOCARES songs; DEEP PURPLE's unreleased studio jam "Dick Pimple"; a song from REPO DEPO (a band Ian Gillan formed before the DEEP PURPLE reunion which never released any material); two previously unreleased songs from Tony Iommi featuring Glenn Hughes; obscure collaborations, B-sides lost on seven-inch vinyl; and exclusive live versions recorded live on radio.
The album is set for release on July 13 via earMUSIC..
CD1
01. WHOCARES "Out Of My Mind" (fi rst time on an album)
Featuring Jon Lord, Linde Lindström (HIM), Jason Newsted (METALLICA), Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN)
02. BLACK SABBATH "Zero The Hero"
03. Ian Gillan feat. Iommi, Ian Paice and Roger Glover "Trashed"
04. M. Rakintzis feat. Ian Gillan "Get Away" (fi rst release on a Gillan album, only released in Greece before)
05. Tony Iommi feat. Glenn Hughes "Slip Away" (fi rst time on CD)
06. Gillan "Don't Hold Me Back"
07. Ian Gillan "She Thinks It's A Crime" (vinyl single B-side, fi rst time on CD)
08. Repo Depo feat. Ian Gillan "Easy Come, Easy Go" (previously unreleased)
09. DEEP PURPLE feat. Ronnie James Dio "Smoke On The Water" (live with the Royal Philaarmonic Orchestra)
CD2
01. WHOCARES "Holy Water" (fi rst time on an album)
Featuring Jon Lord, Linde Lindström (HIM), Jason Newsted (METALLICA), Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN)
02. BLACK SABBATH "Anno Mundi"
03. Tony Iommi feat. Glenn Hughes "Let it Down Easy" (fi rst time on CD)
04. Ian Gillan "Hole in My Vest" (7" vinyl single B-side, fi rst time on CD)
05. Gillan & Glover feat. Dr. John "Can't Believe You Wanna Leave me"
06. Ian Gillan & The Javelins "Can I Get A Witness"
07. Garth Rockett & The Moonshiners aka IG "No Laughing in Heaven" (rare track)
08. Ian Gillan "When A Blind Man Cries" (Live at Absolute Radio, previously unreleased)
09. DEEP PURPLE "Dick Pimple"
The single was a joyful and inspired moment. The spark to bring Iommi and Gillan in a studio, together again was to finance the rebuilding of a music school in Armenia they had visited together on various occasions in past years.
Far from being a spectacular charity project, WHOCARES was a nice gesture, done with class, from two musicians with nothing to prove, willing to support music, where music is considered a luxury.
"As I said once in the song 'Razzle Dazzle' (DEEP PURPLE's 'Bananas' album), 'It's a real fine line between an orgy of destruction and a wonderful time,'" Gillan tells PanArmenian.net about the forthcoming CD. "The destruction of conformity in this case: Some of these pieces never really fitted into their contemporary program and got side-lined or forgotten, and some of the album tracks never had much exposure. As the track listing for this album came together, I noticed many of the titles had character similarities; a combination of freshness as they finally felt the sun on their backs and rebellion in a 'yeah told you so' kind of way. And that adds up to a wonderful time. And that adds up to more money for the music school we are building in Armenia."
"And what about WHOCARES… this ad-hoc benefit band put together by Tony Iommi and myself on a flight home from Yerevan, where we'd been deeply humbled by the honors and expectations bestowed upon us. Well that's it really, in a nutshell, so to speak, what more can I say; it's all there in the music."
Among the tracks set to appear on the upcoming album are the two original WHOCARES songs; DEEP PURPLE's unreleased studio jam "Dick Pimple"; a song from REPO DEPO (a band Ian Gillan formed before the DEEP PURPLE reunion which never released any material); two previously unreleased songs from Tony Iommi featuring Glenn Hughes; obscure collaborations, B-sides lost on seven-inch vinyl; and exclusive live versions recorded live on radio.
The album is set for release on July 13 via earMUSIC..
CD1
01. WHOCARES "Out Of My Mind" (fi rst time on an album)
Featuring Jon Lord, Linde Lindström (HIM), Jason Newsted (METALLICA), Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN)
02. BLACK SABBATH "Zero The Hero"
03. Ian Gillan feat. Iommi, Ian Paice and Roger Glover "Trashed"
04. M. Rakintzis feat. Ian Gillan "Get Away" (fi rst release on a Gillan album, only released in Greece before)
05. Tony Iommi feat. Glenn Hughes "Slip Away" (fi rst time on CD)
06. Gillan "Don't Hold Me Back"
07. Ian Gillan "She Thinks It's A Crime" (vinyl single B-side, fi rst time on CD)
08. Repo Depo feat. Ian Gillan "Easy Come, Easy Go" (previously unreleased)
09. DEEP PURPLE feat. Ronnie James Dio "Smoke On The Water" (live with the Royal Philaarmonic Orchestra)
CD2
01. WHOCARES "Holy Water" (fi rst time on an album)
Featuring Jon Lord, Linde Lindström (HIM), Jason Newsted (METALLICA), Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN)
02. BLACK SABBATH "Anno Mundi"
03. Tony Iommi feat. Glenn Hughes "Let it Down Easy" (fi rst time on CD)
04. Ian Gillan "Hole in My Vest" (7" vinyl single B-side, fi rst time on CD)
05. Gillan & Glover feat. Dr. John "Can't Believe You Wanna Leave me"
06. Ian Gillan & The Javelins "Can I Get A Witness"
07. Garth Rockett & The Moonshiners aka IG "No Laughing in Heaven" (rare track)
08. Ian Gillan "When A Blind Man Cries" (Live at Absolute Radio, previously unreleased)
09. DEEP PURPLE "Dick Pimple"
As a heavy-rock journalist and editor of Metal Hammer magazine, Kirk Blows gained a backstage pass into a crazy, chaotic and comedic world in which hedonistic habits, excess-fueled egos and behind-the-scenes bust-ups were as common as skin-tight spandex, gratuitous guitar solos and songs about Satan. Whether being threatened by MOTÖRHEAD, sipping soup with Ozzy Osbourne, sharing a stage with METALLICA, drinking with UFO, crossing sexual paths with KISS or enjoying candid conversation with QUEEN, Blows presents a unique collection of adventures, anecdotes and interview experiences that noisily explore the stairways to heaven and highways to hell.
Featuring exclusive encounters with rock gods such as IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, ALICE COOPER, DEF LEPPARD, DEEP PURPLE, PEARL JAM, Henry Rollins, STATUS QUO, LYNYRD SKYNYRD and GUNS N' ROSES, among others, "Hammered: Heavy Tales From The Hard-Rock Highway" is full of air-guitar exploits, power-chord confessions and high-voltage humour.
Kirk Blows has written for, edited and launched magazines in both music and sport. As a rock journalist, he edited Metal Hammer and Metal CD magazines and contributed to titles as diverse as RAW, Music Week, Rock CD, Tower Records magazine, International Musician, Guitar magazine, What's On In London and Penthouse, among others. More recently, he has been a staff sports writer for The London Paper and sub-editor of The Sun. "Hammered" is his seventh book.
"Hammered: Heavy Tales From The Hard-Rock Highway" will be published by Plexus in paperback in July.
Featuring exclusive encounters with rock gods such as IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, ALICE COOPER, DEF LEPPARD, DEEP PURPLE, PEARL JAM, Henry Rollins, STATUS QUO, LYNYRD SKYNYRD and GUNS N' ROSES, among others, "Hammered: Heavy Tales From The Hard-Rock Highway" is full of air-guitar exploits, power-chord confessions and high-voltage humour.
Kirk Blows has written for, edited and launched magazines in both music and sport. As a rock journalist, he edited Metal Hammer and Metal CD magazines and contributed to titles as diverse as RAW, Music Week, Rock CD, Tower Records magazine, International Musician, Guitar magazine, What's On In London and Penthouse, among others. More recently, he has been a staff sports writer for The London Paper and sub-editor of The Sun. "Hammered" is his seventh book.
"Hammered: Heavy Tales From The Hard-Rock Highway" will be published by Plexus in paperback in July.
Duff McKagan (VELVET REVOLVER, DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED, GUNS N' ROSES) finally got his high school diploma in Seattle, Washington earlier this week, more than 30 years after dropping out of Roosevelt High School in the 10th grade. The 48-year-old musician later went on to take his General Educational Development (GED) tests, which is widely accepted by employers as an alternative to a traditional high school diploma from an accredited high school. He returned to his hometown on Tuesday, June 19 for the Class of 2012's graduation ceremony, and he was given an honorary diploma after giving a speech at the event.
Writing on his Twitter profile, he said, "Finally got my high school diploma today. I did the not-so-popular 48-year plan."
AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry offered, "Congratulations to Duff McKagan from me and [wife] Billie Perry on your long-awaited diploma."
While in his thirties, McKagan went to business school. "It took me twice as long as an 18- or 19-year-old just out of high school to do the homework, but I got through it," he said of getting a college degree. He has since launched a wealth management company Meridian Rock in order to help other musicians figure out where their money is going.
As previously reported, McKagan will be this year's Grand Marshal of the Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade in downtown Seattle, Washington.
This year's parade is on Saturday, July 28, at 7:30 p.m. As always, it starts at Seattle Center and heads downtown along Fourth Avenue on a 2-1/2 mile route.
Writing on his Twitter profile, he said, "Finally got my high school diploma today. I did the not-so-popular 48-year plan."
AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry offered, "Congratulations to Duff McKagan from me and [wife] Billie Perry on your long-awaited diploma."
While in his thirties, McKagan went to business school. "It took me twice as long as an 18- or 19-year-old just out of high school to do the homework, but I got through it," he said of getting a college degree. He has since launched a wealth management company Meridian Rock in order to help other musicians figure out where their money is going.
As previously reported, McKagan will be this year's Grand Marshal of the Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade in downtown Seattle, Washington.
This year's parade is on Saturday, July 28, at 7:30 p.m. As always, it starts at Seattle Center and heads downtown along Fourth Avenue on a 2-1/2 mile route.
British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH recently entered Grindstone Studios in Suffolk, England with producer Scott Atkins (SYLOSIS, GAMA BOMB) to begin recording their tenth CD for a fall release. The band's vocalist, Dani "Filth" Davey, states, "The album has now progressed into the mixing stage, with nothing more than the choirs and female vocals to be scraped into the smelting pot. All the music and my vocals have been committed (as have their protagonists!) to the greater picture and it all sounds truly amazing, rest assured worrisome warts, with the final two songs, 'Succumb To This' and 'Nightmares Of An Ether Drinker', titulary being added to the final roster."
He adds, "The album has been split over two working studios; I have been based at CRADLE's resident studio Springvale under the helmsmanship of Mark Harwood for the last month or so, whilst the music has been captured not ten miles up the road at Scott Atkins' Grindstone studio, enabling us to work parallel to one another and thus aid not only the creative itch, but the speed of the recording process too. Though typically that very first day I started and for the first time in over fifty years, the local farmer decides to dig up two hundred-odd tonnes of earth from the plot outside the studio, and bury it behind a subsiding barn on the hill, using as many clanking leviathans of machinery possible. The utter cad!
"There is little point describing the new tracks as such as it's downright obvious that the usual cliches of 'it's our best one yet', 'it's much harder, darker, faster' (been there, done that) and 'this is going back to our roots' may well apply, just be aware that, if anything, the album has a definite 'Midian' vibe to it, insomuch that it isn't a conceptual album full tilt but more like lots of fabulous little satellites orbiting a main overarching theme. And that theme on this particular slay-ride is one of demons and monsters, both personal and world-enslaving, and the music peoples it perfectly.
"Musically we have tried new things, expanding on our ever-increasing canon to greater, more unbiblical effect with all instruments. Hence the music is unique, almost experimental in its dark places, but at heart still the CRADLE OF FILTH people have come to know, love and hate! Hence also why it's almost impossible for me to paint this new pantheon in anything other than the absolute jet black that I usually do… for no matter how goresome it will inevitably be, we will always have our steadfast detractors like so many fat, unavoidable moths to our ever-growing flame (sits, sighs and weeps in a graveyard!).
"So, as it stands, we have entered the mix stage of this, as-yet-untitled tenth studio album with gusto. Everything is sounding better then we could've imagined, with a decidedly more (super) natural feel to the proceedings, from the slathering Titanomachian onslaughts of 'The Abhorrent' and 'Siding With the Titans' through to the savage, ravaging beast that is 'Manticore' and onto the blood-tinged nocturnal illuminaries that are 'Illicitus', 'Pallid Reflection' and 'Death, The Great Adventure', this album is packed to the Lovecraftian gills with Cradle classics….. I fib you not.
"And with so much already caught hissing and seething in the can, the release date of All Hallow's Eve 2012 seems inevitable, preceded as it should be by the album's first video release and a multitude of press… invariably to cover a multitude of sins!
"There is also news pending of our forthcoming European tour featuring none other than GODSEED and ROTTING CHRIST to whet your proverbial whistles, invading during the last wintry months of this year. Watch the skies for more information on this triple Xcursion very, very shortly.
"So, there you have it, we shall reconvene in a few weeks to survey the wreckage left over from the finishing of the mix. Hopefully then I shall regale you with a permanent album title ('Shitsville', 'Smell the Glove' and 'My First Cradle Album - Complete With Crayons' notwithstanding), final tour dates, a prospective first sneak-peak at one of the songs, the first of many album related competitions, news of the video and updated Summer merchandise. Christ, maybe even a cookery corner!"
He adds, "The album has been split over two working studios; I have been based at CRADLE's resident studio Springvale under the helmsmanship of Mark Harwood for the last month or so, whilst the music has been captured not ten miles up the road at Scott Atkins' Grindstone studio, enabling us to work parallel to one another and thus aid not only the creative itch, but the speed of the recording process too. Though typically that very first day I started and for the first time in over fifty years, the local farmer decides to dig up two hundred-odd tonnes of earth from the plot outside the studio, and bury it behind a subsiding barn on the hill, using as many clanking leviathans of machinery possible. The utter cad!
"There is little point describing the new tracks as such as it's downright obvious that the usual cliches of 'it's our best one yet', 'it's much harder, darker, faster' (been there, done that) and 'this is going back to our roots' may well apply, just be aware that, if anything, the album has a definite 'Midian' vibe to it, insomuch that it isn't a conceptual album full tilt but more like lots of fabulous little satellites orbiting a main overarching theme. And that theme on this particular slay-ride is one of demons and monsters, both personal and world-enslaving, and the music peoples it perfectly.
"Musically we have tried new things, expanding on our ever-increasing canon to greater, more unbiblical effect with all instruments. Hence the music is unique, almost experimental in its dark places, but at heart still the CRADLE OF FILTH people have come to know, love and hate! Hence also why it's almost impossible for me to paint this new pantheon in anything other than the absolute jet black that I usually do… for no matter how goresome it will inevitably be, we will always have our steadfast detractors like so many fat, unavoidable moths to our ever-growing flame (sits, sighs and weeps in a graveyard!).
"So, as it stands, we have entered the mix stage of this, as-yet-untitled tenth studio album with gusto. Everything is sounding better then we could've imagined, with a decidedly more (super) natural feel to the proceedings, from the slathering Titanomachian onslaughts of 'The Abhorrent' and 'Siding With the Titans' through to the savage, ravaging beast that is 'Manticore' and onto the blood-tinged nocturnal illuminaries that are 'Illicitus', 'Pallid Reflection' and 'Death, The Great Adventure', this album is packed to the Lovecraftian gills with Cradle classics….. I fib you not.
"And with so much already caught hissing and seething in the can, the release date of All Hallow's Eve 2012 seems inevitable, preceded as it should be by the album's first video release and a multitude of press… invariably to cover a multitude of sins!
"There is also news pending of our forthcoming European tour featuring none other than GODSEED and ROTTING CHRIST to whet your proverbial whistles, invading during the last wintry months of this year. Watch the skies for more information on this triple Xcursion very, very shortly.
"So, there you have it, we shall reconvene in a few weeks to survey the wreckage left over from the finishing of the mix. Hopefully then I shall regale you with a permanent album title ('Shitsville', 'Smell the Glove' and 'My First Cradle Album - Complete With Crayons' notwithstanding), final tour dates, a prospective first sneak-peak at one of the songs, the first of many album related competitions, news of the video and updated Summer merchandise. Christ, maybe even a cookery corner!"
Kennesaw, Georgia-based rockers JACKYL will release their new single, "Screwdriver", next week. An audio sample of the song is available at Amazon.co.uk.
JACKYL ended 2010 with a bang by collaborating with Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame legend Darryl "DMC" Matthews McDaniels from RUN DMC on the single "Just Like A Negro".
The single is available for purchase at Jackyl.com and comes with a limited-edition "JACKYL featuring DMC" poster. It can also be downloaded from iTunes.
Formed in 1990, JACKYL has enjoyed a career stretching two decades, bringing a hybrid of Southern metal to millions. From the band's debut in 1992 via Geffen Records, through today, they are notorious as one of the hardest-working bands in rock. JACKYL holds two Guiness world records, one for staging 100 shows in 50 days, and another for performing 21 concerts in a 24-hour period. Jesse James Dupree and partner Michael Ballard also brew Jessie James Dupree's America's Outlaw Beer.
JACKYL ended 2010 with a bang by collaborating with Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame legend Darryl "DMC" Matthews McDaniels from RUN DMC on the single "Just Like A Negro".
The single is available for purchase at Jackyl.com and comes with a limited-edition "JACKYL featuring DMC" poster. It can also be downloaded from iTunes.
Formed in 1990, JACKYL has enjoyed a career stretching two decades, bringing a hybrid of Southern metal to millions. From the band's debut in 1992 via Geffen Records, through today, they are notorious as one of the hardest-working bands in rock. JACKYL holds two Guiness world records, one for staging 100 shows in 50 days, and another for performing 21 concerts in a 24-hour period. Jesse James Dupree and partner Michael Ballard also brew Jessie James Dupree's America's Outlaw Beer.
SPIN.com recently conducted an interview with SLIPKNOT co-founder/conceptualist/percussionist Shawn M. Crahan (a.k.a. Clown). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
On SLIPKNOT's upcoming greatest-hits album, "Antennas To Hell":
"The songs were put in a certain order by us, so you get a very unique listening experience; it's like its own piece of art. Not even a machine could do that. Also, I spent two months on the CD booklet. You don't just get a little piece of paper that goes inside the album cover. You get a huge booklet of some sculpture, photographs and theory that kids can ponder, conceptualize and really enjoy."
On SLIPKNOT's original guitarist Donnie Steele, who will join the band on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival shows and will again be playing bass from backstage, out of the view of the crowd:
"What gives him the right to be onstage with us right now? When we're going through an experience like this with our fans, they need to concentrate on the eight members that are grieving [over the loss of SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray, who was found dead of an overdose of morphine and fentanyl at a hotel in Urbandale, Iowa in May 2010], not on someone new. This isn't a diss on Donnie. I love Donnie, but we chose to tour for just one reason — to share the tragedy, pain and grief of what happened to Paul with our fans instead of going through it alone."
On SLIPKNOT's plans to record the follow-up to 2008's "All Hope Is Gone" (drummer Joey Jordison has written 30 new songs, vocalist Corey Taylor has penned lyrics, and guitarists Jim Root and Mick Thomson are busy writing riffs):
"That's how everyone is coping with the loss of Paul, by writing. Will all of that stuff be used? No. Will some of it be used? Of course. But until we get to that area I can't tell anybody anything. It's like asking me who the next bass player is. I'm not gonna give you an answer 'cause I don't have to think about it right now. I need about a year to grieve get my shit together so I can control my emotions in the studio, which is something I can't do right now. I want to be able to go in there and realize my brother's not there. And then when I'm asked to do a part, I can control myself and give Paul, the band and the fans everything that SLIPKNOT needs to be."
On SLIPKNOT's upcoming greatest-hits album, "Antennas To Hell":
"The songs were put in a certain order by us, so you get a very unique listening experience; it's like its own piece of art. Not even a machine could do that. Also, I spent two months on the CD booklet. You don't just get a little piece of paper that goes inside the album cover. You get a huge booklet of some sculpture, photographs and theory that kids can ponder, conceptualize and really enjoy."
On SLIPKNOT's original guitarist Donnie Steele, who will join the band on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival shows and will again be playing bass from backstage, out of the view of the crowd:
"What gives him the right to be onstage with us right now? When we're going through an experience like this with our fans, they need to concentrate on the eight members that are grieving [over the loss of SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray, who was found dead of an overdose of morphine and fentanyl at a hotel in Urbandale, Iowa in May 2010], not on someone new. This isn't a diss on Donnie. I love Donnie, but we chose to tour for just one reason — to share the tragedy, pain and grief of what happened to Paul with our fans instead of going through it alone."
On SLIPKNOT's plans to record the follow-up to 2008's "All Hope Is Gone" (drummer Joey Jordison has written 30 new songs, vocalist Corey Taylor has penned lyrics, and guitarists Jim Root and Mick Thomson are busy writing riffs):
"That's how everyone is coping with the loss of Paul, by writing. Will all of that stuff be used? No. Will some of it be used? Of course. But until we get to that area I can't tell anybody anything. It's like asking me who the next bass player is. I'm not gonna give you an answer 'cause I don't have to think about it right now. I need about a year to grieve get my shit together so I can control my emotions in the studio, which is something I can't do right now. I want to be able to go in there and realize my brother's not there. And then when I'm asked to do a part, I can control myself and give Paul, the band and the fans everything that SLIPKNOT needs to be."
Metal On Metal Records has announced the signing of the England's traditional metal brigands ARKHAM WITCH.
Said the label in a statement: "We met and saw ARKHAM WITCH live when we went to the Doomsday festival in Wakefield, U.K. in February 2011. They instantly captured us with their incredibly catchy songs and the show that was pure mighty fun! We got their 2009 demo and later on their first album, which was a stellar piece of doomy heavy metal, so when they contacted us after their previous label closed, we eagerly offered them a deal."
ARKHAM WITCH was formed in 2008 by the couple behind THE LAMP OF THOTH (vocalist Simon and drummer Emily), so obviously there are many similarities to their previous band (that for now is on hold). It's still straightforward, doom-laden heavy metal of the old (read: with heaps of NWOBHM influences), occult, but with a tinge of humor, with the trademark bard/brigand type vocals of Simon. The group takes their inspiration from bands like DEEP SWITCH, HELL, WITCHFINDER GENERAL, JUDAS PRIEST, MANILLA ROAD, CIRITH UNGOL, PENTAGRAM and SAINT VITUS (with Scott Reagers).
ARKHAM WITCH has just finished recording its sophomore album, the follow-up to last year's "On Crom's Mountain", entitled "Legions Of The Deep" and scheduled for October release. The band also contributed with an exclusive, previously unreleased song "For Metal" to "Compendium Of Metal Vol. 5" compilation CD, released in April by Metal On Metal Records.
Said the label in a statement: "We met and saw ARKHAM WITCH live when we went to the Doomsday festival in Wakefield, U.K. in February 2011. They instantly captured us with their incredibly catchy songs and the show that was pure mighty fun! We got their 2009 demo and later on their first album, which was a stellar piece of doomy heavy metal, so when they contacted us after their previous label closed, we eagerly offered them a deal."
ARKHAM WITCH was formed in 2008 by the couple behind THE LAMP OF THOTH (vocalist Simon and drummer Emily), so obviously there are many similarities to their previous band (that for now is on hold). It's still straightforward, doom-laden heavy metal of the old (read: with heaps of NWOBHM influences), occult, but with a tinge of humor, with the trademark bard/brigand type vocals of Simon. The group takes their inspiration from bands like DEEP SWITCH, HELL, WITCHFINDER GENERAL, JUDAS PRIEST, MANILLA ROAD, CIRITH UNGOL, PENTAGRAM and SAINT VITUS (with Scott Reagers).
ARKHAM WITCH has just finished recording its sophomore album, the follow-up to last year's "On Crom's Mountain", entitled "Legions Of The Deep" and scheduled for October release. The band also contributed with an exclusive, previously unreleased song "For Metal" to "Compendium Of Metal Vol. 5" compilation CD, released in April by Metal On Metal Records.
Spawned from Central Virginia, SAINT DIABLO is an unmovable force to be reckoned with. Bringing with them a fresh and unique tone of hardcore metal and Latino melodies, the band is set stun heavy music fans with the release of their new album, entitled "Saint Diablo", on July 10. The new record is the third full-length from the band and is being released through Eclipse Records (MUSHROOMHEAD, SCUM OF THE EARTH). Known as a live show powerhouse, the band is ready to push that power to the masses with their biggest record yet.
"This new CD, 'Saint Diablo', is a combined effort of so many wonderful people. We have such an awesome group of investors, supporters, handlers, and producers behind the curtain that I see this CD as just the BEGINING of the future," states vocalist Tito Quinones. "For example, we have always done bilingual music and blended multi-cultural aspects of rock, metal, and groove; but this time we are also doing entirely Spanish versions of some if our most favorite tunes. We did this to expand our musical horizons, make new fans in countries and cultures that would otherwise have language barriers, and to have fun."
Since 1995, the band has had eight independent releases. In 2003, the band released their debut album, which featured the Grammy-nominated artist Anousheh Khalili on "Why Now?" Also, the singles "Senoria Paranoia" and "Renaissance" pushed the band through new barriers and helped land them a spot on the 2003 Eat'M Showcase in Las Vegas and Salem Or-be Tour featuring Busta Rhymes in New York. In 2008, the band released REPUBLICA through 925 Records. The band has also been featured on many nationally released compilations produced by Project Independent, StreetTeam.com, and Royal Blunts.
As mentioned above, SAINT DIABLO prides itself in performing on stage and bringing a raw, energetic live show to their fans every night. The band is set to head out on a tour of several U.S. states with SLAVES OF DOPE, running from July 24 in Rochester, New York to August 14 in Poughkeepsie, New York. Before and after the tour, the band has booked several additional East Coast tour dates, including stops in Baltimore, Maryland; Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia and more.
"Tour, I love being on tour! That's our life blood," says guitarist Justin Adams. "Being on stage and performing for our fans is the grass roots of what we do. The energy, the smell, the taste of being in a packed room with a bunch of metal crazed fans, who wouldn't want to be a part of that?! The interaction of the fans and meeting new people and hearing their stories all over the country… that's what I look forward to on tour. It's about the brotherhood of living in a van with your band mates and the experiences, things you have to overcome."
"This new CD, 'Saint Diablo', is a combined effort of so many wonderful people. We have such an awesome group of investors, supporters, handlers, and producers behind the curtain that I see this CD as just the BEGINING of the future," states vocalist Tito Quinones. "For example, we have always done bilingual music and blended multi-cultural aspects of rock, metal, and groove; but this time we are also doing entirely Spanish versions of some if our most favorite tunes. We did this to expand our musical horizons, make new fans in countries and cultures that would otherwise have language barriers, and to have fun."
Since 1995, the band has had eight independent releases. In 2003, the band released their debut album, which featured the Grammy-nominated artist Anousheh Khalili on "Why Now?" Also, the singles "Senoria Paranoia" and "Renaissance" pushed the band through new barriers and helped land them a spot on the 2003 Eat'M Showcase in Las Vegas and Salem Or-be Tour featuring Busta Rhymes in New York. In 2008, the band released REPUBLICA through 925 Records. The band has also been featured on many nationally released compilations produced by Project Independent, StreetTeam.com, and Royal Blunts.
As mentioned above, SAINT DIABLO prides itself in performing on stage and bringing a raw, energetic live show to their fans every night. The band is set to head out on a tour of several U.S. states with SLAVES OF DOPE, running from July 24 in Rochester, New York to August 14 in Poughkeepsie, New York. Before and after the tour, the band has booked several additional East Coast tour dates, including stops in Baltimore, Maryland; Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia and more.
"Tour, I love being on tour! That's our life blood," says guitarist Justin Adams. "Being on stage and performing for our fans is the grass roots of what we do. The energy, the smell, the taste of being in a packed room with a bunch of metal crazed fans, who wouldn't want to be a part of that?! The interaction of the fans and meeting new people and hearing their stories all over the country… that's what I look forward to on tour. It's about the brotherhood of living in a van with your band mates and the experiences, things you have to overcome."
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/saintdiablocd.jpg
Former American recording artists MANMADE GOD are reforming for a Bay Area appearance on July 21 at the New Parish in Oakland, California. It will be the first time all four members have played together in since January 2005 when they abruptly and unexpectedly called it a day.
MANMADE GOD's self-titled debut album was released in 2004 under Rick Rubin's guidance while co-produced by Brian Joeseph Dobbs and later mixed by Sean Beavan. The CD was acclaimed by fans and critics but extremely underexposed and not properly supported after its release. That turned into the frustration that led to their inevitable breakup.
Singer Pann Reed, guitarist Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN, SPIRALARMS), bassist James Walker (formerly of SPIRALARMS) and drummer Steve Jacobs (formerly of FORBIDDEN and former SPIRALARMS) got into the same room together and felt at ease with one another immediately. There was undeniable chemistry.
The video blog catches the days leading into the first time they all saw each other and caught their genuine emotions. The band has also decided to share a previously unreleased track. "Swallow The Sun" was originally recorded and mixed in the same sessions as the debut album but left unused.
Commented Locicero: "Sometimes emotions are painful things to bury and other times it helps to dig them up. MANMADE GOD reforming for this show has been nothing but therapeutic for me. It feels great mostly because how quickly everything ended the first time. We feel we wrote music from our souls for everybody else to enjoy as much as we did making it. I'm very fortunate to have a lot of great music in my life and believe there is always room for more with my bros."
He continued, "I think 'Swallow The Sun' was a good example of the emotional heights MANMADE GOD could reach that other bands have a hard time of letting themselves fall into. It's a great way to re-introduce our sound. Pann's vocal performance is stellar!"
Added Reed: "I feel like the time is right. We are all mature enough to really enjoy the experience that lays before us...All of it, in all of its complexities and forms. It's good to have my brothers back by my side."
MANMADE GOD's self-titled debut album was released in 2004 under Rick Rubin's guidance while co-produced by Brian Joeseph Dobbs and later mixed by Sean Beavan. The CD was acclaimed by fans and critics but extremely underexposed and not properly supported after its release. That turned into the frustration that led to their inevitable breakup.
Singer Pann Reed, guitarist Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN, SPIRALARMS), bassist James Walker (formerly of SPIRALARMS) and drummer Steve Jacobs (formerly of FORBIDDEN and former SPIRALARMS) got into the same room together and felt at ease with one another immediately. There was undeniable chemistry.
The video blog catches the days leading into the first time they all saw each other and caught their genuine emotions. The band has also decided to share a previously unreleased track. "Swallow The Sun" was originally recorded and mixed in the same sessions as the debut album but left unused.
Commented Locicero: "Sometimes emotions are painful things to bury and other times it helps to dig them up. MANMADE GOD reforming for this show has been nothing but therapeutic for me. It feels great mostly because how quickly everything ended the first time. We feel we wrote music from our souls for everybody else to enjoy as much as we did making it. I'm very fortunate to have a lot of great music in my life and believe there is always room for more with my bros."
He continued, "I think 'Swallow The Sun' was a good example of the emotional heights MANMADE GOD could reach that other bands have a hard time of letting themselves fall into. It's a great way to re-introduce our sound. Pann's vocal performance is stellar!"
Added Reed: "I feel like the time is right. We are all mature enough to really enjoy the experience that lays before us...All of it, in all of its complexities and forms. It's good to have my brothers back by my side."
The satanically satirical Seattle thrash legends COVEN have reformed for a series of live performances and a new studio album. A re-release of their classic LP "Blessed Is The Black" is also being considered.
COVEN remain as one of the earlier and more notorious shock-comedy thrash bands. Formed in Seattle, Washington in the mid-1980s, the original lineup consisted of Dean Babbitt and Paul Hash on guitars, Neal Babbitt on drums, Gary Peebles on bass and Jay Clark on vocals. They recorded and produced their debut album, "Blessed Is The Black", in 1986 and it was eventually released on Ever Rat Records in 1988. Musically the band offered straight ahead thrash with some of the most vile and offensive lyrics imaginable. Songs like "Iron Dick", "6669" and "McDonaldland Massacre" quickly became underground classics. No target was spared the bands caustic brand of humor but a particular favorite seemed to be organized religion, specifically Christianity.
Now after a long hiatus the band is back and known as COVEN[metal]. Due to a legal dispute over the name, they decided to add the moniker [metal] to distinguish them from the '60s band of the same name. But make no mistake, they are back and pissed and sicker than ever!
They played their first show live after 20 years at Studio Seven in Seattle, Washington on May 30, opening for German legends DESTRUCTION and the crowd response was amazing. Dean Babbitt had this to say about the show: "It was crazy, man! We actually didn't know what to expect and we get on stage and they (the fans) were chanting 'COVEN,' it kinda blew us away and made us way more excited to some more shows that's for sure!"
COVEN's new lineup consists of:
Dean Babbitt - Guitar
Neal Babbitt - Drums
Jamie Carter - Vocals
Eric Close - Bass
The Underbishop – Guitar
COVEN remain as one of the earlier and more notorious shock-comedy thrash bands. Formed in Seattle, Washington in the mid-1980s, the original lineup consisted of Dean Babbitt and Paul Hash on guitars, Neal Babbitt on drums, Gary Peebles on bass and Jay Clark on vocals. They recorded and produced their debut album, "Blessed Is The Black", in 1986 and it was eventually released on Ever Rat Records in 1988. Musically the band offered straight ahead thrash with some of the most vile and offensive lyrics imaginable. Songs like "Iron Dick", "6669" and "McDonaldland Massacre" quickly became underground classics. No target was spared the bands caustic brand of humor but a particular favorite seemed to be organized religion, specifically Christianity.
Now after a long hiatus the band is back and known as COVEN[metal]. Due to a legal dispute over the name, they decided to add the moniker [metal] to distinguish them from the '60s band of the same name. But make no mistake, they are back and pissed and sicker than ever!
They played their first show live after 20 years at Studio Seven in Seattle, Washington on May 30, opening for German legends DESTRUCTION and the crowd response was amazing. Dean Babbitt had this to say about the show: "It was crazy, man! We actually didn't know what to expect and we get on stage and they (the fans) were chanting 'COVEN,' it kinda blew us away and made us way more excited to some more shows that's for sure!"
COVEN's new lineup consists of:
Dean Babbitt - Guitar
Neal Babbitt - Drums
Jamie Carter - Vocals
Eric Close - Bass
The Underbishop – Guitar
Prosthetic Records has announced the signing of acclaimed Canadian progressive metallers HEAVEN'S CRY. The band's third album is due in the fall. An appearance at the prestigious ProgPower Europe festival in the Netherlands on October 5 will coincide with the CD release.
Commented HEAVEN'S CRY in a statement: "We are extremely proud to be a part of the Prosthetic family and to work with one of the most genuine labels in the world! Having worked with Prosthetic on a managerial level during my DESPISED ICON years, I've come to understand that these guys don't compromise in terms of putting out creative music and are true believers of what's original and innovative. The variety of bands and the quality of music they released in the past years speaks for itself. We are very much honored that our music earned its place among their ranks!"
The band added, "Going back to play the ProgPower festival in Europe after 10 years is amazing, but headlining the first night of the festival is just unreal! We're glad to travel back to the old continent and this time, we will have a brand new album to present to the European public. It's going to be a blast to perform with some of the finest prog bands out there. ProgPower festival is definitely the place to be for all fans of Progressive music!'
HEAVEN'S CRY was formed in the beginning of the '90s as a progressive rock band with a metal tangent. From a French part of Canada in the city of Montreal, Pierre St-Jean (vocals, guitars) and Sylvain Auclair (vocals, bass) decided to join their efforts, building a dual-voice-oriented band.
Beginning their career opening for bands like MARILLION and SAGA, the band signed with a Canadian label Hypnotic Records in 1995 and recorded their first album called "Food For Thought Substitute" in 1996. A follow-up effort, "Primal Power Addiction", was released in Europe in October 2002 on the reputed Dutch label DVS Records. The feedback has been enormous. They travelled to Europe to be part of the ProgPower festival in The Netherlands followed by a tour supporting THRESHOLD in Belgium, Germany and Denmark. The album was released in North America in March 2003 and the band performed in Canada in support for bands like ANVIL, PLANET X, ARENA and NIGHTWISH throughout 2004.
After a seven-year hiatus, the band decided it was time to reform to offer brand new music to their loyal fans that kept on supporting them while the members were busy crafting their art under other musical projects. The band performed for the occasion at the legendary Montreal club Les Foufounes Electriques on September 18, 2011 as support act for Swedish band KATATONIA.
Commented HEAVEN'S CRY in a statement: "We are extremely proud to be a part of the Prosthetic family and to work with one of the most genuine labels in the world! Having worked with Prosthetic on a managerial level during my DESPISED ICON years, I've come to understand that these guys don't compromise in terms of putting out creative music and are true believers of what's original and innovative. The variety of bands and the quality of music they released in the past years speaks for itself. We are very much honored that our music earned its place among their ranks!"
The band added, "Going back to play the ProgPower festival in Europe after 10 years is amazing, but headlining the first night of the festival is just unreal! We're glad to travel back to the old continent and this time, we will have a brand new album to present to the European public. It's going to be a blast to perform with some of the finest prog bands out there. ProgPower festival is definitely the place to be for all fans of Progressive music!'
HEAVEN'S CRY was formed in the beginning of the '90s as a progressive rock band with a metal tangent. From a French part of Canada in the city of Montreal, Pierre St-Jean (vocals, guitars) and Sylvain Auclair (vocals, bass) decided to join their efforts, building a dual-voice-oriented band.
Beginning their career opening for bands like MARILLION and SAGA, the band signed with a Canadian label Hypnotic Records in 1995 and recorded their first album called "Food For Thought Substitute" in 1996. A follow-up effort, "Primal Power Addiction", was released in Europe in October 2002 on the reputed Dutch label DVS Records. The feedback has been enormous. They travelled to Europe to be part of the ProgPower festival in The Netherlands followed by a tour supporting THRESHOLD in Belgium, Germany and Denmark. The album was released in North America in March 2003 and the band performed in Canada in support for bands like ANVIL, PLANET X, ARENA and NIGHTWISH throughout 2004.
After a seven-year hiatus, the band decided it was time to reform to offer brand new music to their loyal fans that kept on supporting them while the members were busy crafting their art under other musical projects. The band performed for the occasion at the legendary Montreal club Les Foufounes Electriques on September 18, 2011 as support act for Swedish band KATATONIA.
French melodic metallers ASYLUM PYRE have inked a deal with Massacre Records. The band's second album, "Fifty Years Later", will be released on November 23. The CD was recorded and mixed by Didier Chesneau and mastered by Elektra Mastering.
Mixing influences and styles, ASYLUM PYRE can't be shut in a closed and predefined universe. From speed metal to progressive, passing through lyrical or ambient metal, ASYLUM PYRE draws elements from multiple genres so as to create its own identity. This band's trademark is to build songs around catchy melodies and rhythms breaks that alternate quiet parts and powerful tempos. The result is both swinging and poignancy for one of the force of ASYLUM PYRE lays in the messages expressed in its songs. All the tracks are then well thought out and offer a succession of simples and complexes parts, where melodies and lyrics, sung by the original voices of Chaos Heidi and Johann, carry senseful messages all the way through.
ASYLUM PYRE's debut album, "Natural Instinct?", came out in 2009.
ASYLUM PYRE is:
Julien Peuch - Bass
Tony Decaillon - Keyboards
Chaos Heidi - Vocals
Johann Cadot - Vocals, Guitar
Hervé Schiltz – Guitar
Mixing influences and styles, ASYLUM PYRE can't be shut in a closed and predefined universe. From speed metal to progressive, passing through lyrical or ambient metal, ASYLUM PYRE draws elements from multiple genres so as to create its own identity. This band's trademark is to build songs around catchy melodies and rhythms breaks that alternate quiet parts and powerful tempos. The result is both swinging and poignancy for one of the force of ASYLUM PYRE lays in the messages expressed in its songs. All the tracks are then well thought out and offer a succession of simples and complexes parts, where melodies and lyrics, sung by the original voices of Chaos Heidi and Johann, carry senseful messages all the way through.
ASYLUM PYRE's debut album, "Natural Instinct?", came out in 2009.
ASYLUM PYRE is:
Julien Peuch - Bass
Tony Decaillon - Keyboards
Chaos Heidi - Vocals
Johann Cadot - Vocals, Guitar
Hervé Schiltz – Guitar
New Jersey-based symphonic/power metallers OPERATIKA have issued the following update:
"To stop any ongoing rumors, we'd like to let everyone know that our band is going through a major transformation but please stay tuned for a lot more news to come soon. We'll reveal details on the changes, new musicians involved, what we are getting ready to do and our plans for the future. Thanks for your ongoing support!"
OPERATIKA's debut album, "The Calling", was released in Europe in October 2008 through Scarlet Records. According to a press release, the album has been described as "the perfect combination of singer Slava Popova's harmonious operatic vocals, powerful guitar riffs and solos, melodic keyboard harmonies, intense bass (handled by Michael LePond of SYMPHONY X) and fierce drumming" — a "must-have for every fan of NIGHTWISH, STRATOVARIUS, HELLOWEEN, CHILDREN OF BODOM and PRIMAL FEAR."
OPERATIKA has previously shared the stage with such internationally renowned artists as NIGHTWISH, HELLOWEEN, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TWISTED SISTER, STRATOVARIUS, SONATA ARCTICA, SEBASTIAN BACH and KAMELOT.
OPERATIKA's "Dreamworld" four-song EP came out in 2005.
"To stop any ongoing rumors, we'd like to let everyone know that our band is going through a major transformation but please stay tuned for a lot more news to come soon. We'll reveal details on the changes, new musicians involved, what we are getting ready to do and our plans for the future. Thanks for your ongoing support!"
OPERATIKA's debut album, "The Calling", was released in Europe in October 2008 through Scarlet Records. According to a press release, the album has been described as "the perfect combination of singer Slava Popova's harmonious operatic vocals, powerful guitar riffs and solos, melodic keyboard harmonies, intense bass (handled by Michael LePond of SYMPHONY X) and fierce drumming" — a "must-have for every fan of NIGHTWISH, STRATOVARIUS, HELLOWEEN, CHILDREN OF BODOM and PRIMAL FEAR."
OPERATIKA has previously shared the stage with such internationally renowned artists as NIGHTWISH, HELLOWEEN, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TWISTED SISTER, STRATOVARIUS, SONATA ARCTICA, SEBASTIAN BACH and KAMELOT.
OPERATIKA's "Dreamworld" four-song EP came out in 2005.
According to TMZ.com, Chicago area rocker Mark Durante — who played guitar for REVOLTING COCKS on their 1990 U.S. tour and their 1991 European tour and who appeared on the band's "Beers, Steers And Queers Remixes" EP — filed a federal lawsuit against Kevin Durant, claiming the NBA all-star stole the nickname "Durantula" and is misleading consumers looking for his recordings and T-shirts.
Durante says he adopted the name "Durantula" for his "on-stage and performance persona" — and has used it to market "music, recordings, apparel, t-shirts, guitars, and related merchandise."
"Due to a licensing and promotional campaign marketing which has flooded the marketplace with references to Kevin Durant as DURANTULA, Defendants have nearly consumed Plaintiff Mark Durante's valuable, hard-earned identity which he has been cultivating and developing for nearly two decades," the suit said.
"I'm certainly not a rich old rock star that has plenty of money nothing to worry about," Durante told the Chicago Tribune. "I have to support myself and my family."
Durante says he adopted the name "Durantula" for his "on-stage and performance persona" — and has used it to market "music, recordings, apparel, t-shirts, guitars, and related merchandise."
"Due to a licensing and promotional campaign marketing which has flooded the marketplace with references to Kevin Durant as DURANTULA, Defendants have nearly consumed Plaintiff Mark Durante's valuable, hard-earned identity which he has been cultivating and developing for nearly two decades," the suit said.
"I'm certainly not a rich old rock star that has plenty of money nothing to worry about," Durante told the Chicago Tribune. "I have to support myself and my family."
Massachusetts metallers ALL THAT REMAINS have completed tracking their new studio album, "A War You Can Not Win", for a September release via Razor & Tie/Prosthetic. The CD sees the band reunited with longtime producer Adam Dutkiewicz (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, AS I LAY DYING, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE). The record is the culmination of an intense writing period for the group that began shortly after their 18-month tour in support of "For We Are Many".
Commented ALL THAT REMAINS singer Phil Labonte: "We really busted our asses and tried to do some new stuff (like we always do) and we're really happy about what came out of it. Some of it is pretty different and is REALLY gonna blow you guys away. Some of it is gonna sound just like what you expect from ALL THAT REMAINS. And I'm sure all of it is gonna make the internet have a conniption fit! Release is gonna be this fall and we're already working on a co-headline tour to show some of it off! Get into it."
Dutkiewicz previously helmed ALL THAT REMAINS' latest album, 2010's "For We Are Many", as well as 2004's "This Darkened Heart" and 2006's "The Fall of Ideals".
"For We Are Many" sold 29,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The band's previous CD, "Overcome", opened with just under 29,000 units in September 2008 to enter The Billboard 200 chart at No. 16.
Commented ALL THAT REMAINS singer Phil Labonte: "We really busted our asses and tried to do some new stuff (like we always do) and we're really happy about what came out of it. Some of it is pretty different and is REALLY gonna blow you guys away. Some of it is gonna sound just like what you expect from ALL THAT REMAINS. And I'm sure all of it is gonna make the internet have a conniption fit! Release is gonna be this fall and we're already working on a co-headline tour to show some of it off! Get into it."
Dutkiewicz previously helmed ALL THAT REMAINS' latest album, 2010's "For We Are Many", as well as 2004's "This Darkened Heart" and 2006's "The Fall of Ideals".
"For We Are Many" sold 29,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The band's previous CD, "Overcome", opened with just under 29,000 units in September 2008 to enter The Billboard 200 chart at No. 16.
Aniruddh "Andrew" Bansal of Metal Assault recently conducted an interview with Karl Sanders of outh Carolina-based extreme technical death metallers NILE. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metal Assault: The new [NILE] album, "At The Gate Of Sethu", is coming out in a few weeks. I was listening to it, and I think it's a bit more organic than your previous couple of albums. So would you say that it's more like an early-era NILE album in many ways?
Sanders: I'd say, yes. That's true. There are a lot of old elements incorporated along with the newer ones. We wanted to do things compositionally that would appeal to NILE fans no matter which kind of NILE fan it is, whether it be the older NILE fan or the newer fan. Everyone can find something to enjoy on this new record.
Metal Assault: As for your own vocals, do you think it's naturally changed over the past few albums?
Sanders: Well, I hadn't been doing too much vocals on recent albums, so that is one thing we wanted to change. Everybody in the band was of the opinion that we should make better use of my vocals. On this album, there are some vocal styles that I haven't used on NILE records in a while. We're also now using Todd Ellis as our third vocalist, so we wanted to expand on the vocals with this album, to try and put in a bit more variation. Of course, there are death metal vocals on this record, but there's also the mid-range kind of sound. And there's also a little bit more clean stuff. So I think you can definitely say that we've gone in with more variation on the vocals this time.
Metal Assault: In terms of the artwork, I honestly feel this is the best album cover that NILE has put out. What was the process behind designing the artwork. Was it like your thoughts being translated by the artist?
Sanders: When our drummer George Kollias told us that the artist Seth Siro Anton was interested in doing the cover for the record, we were very excited. I, in particular have been a SEPTICFLESH fan for many, many long years. And since Seth has worked with that band, I thought this was a really great idea to have him on board for our album. We gave him the lyrics, let him hear the music, and he came up with the ideas on his own, and I was like, "Fuck yeah! Just do whatever you want!" And it turned out great.
Metal Assault: After the previous album was released, you guys have toured a lot, probably more than ever before. Did that make it hard to write this new album or was it just a usual thing for you?
Sanders: We don't write songs while we're on tour, so in that respect it was kind of like, we had to wait till we finished touring to start the writing. By the end of the touring cycle, I in particular was not very healthy, and was suffering from tour sickness. When you're always touring, you can never get rid of the tour sickness. It just keeps getting worse. So after we completed the last European tour, I took a month to rest, and then I started writing songs in May of 2011. I kept working on that, and finally we finished the record in March of this year. So it took ten months from the start of songwriting to the end of mixing.
Metal Assault: The new [NILE] album, "At The Gate Of Sethu", is coming out in a few weeks. I was listening to it, and I think it's a bit more organic than your previous couple of albums. So would you say that it's more like an early-era NILE album in many ways?
Sanders: I'd say, yes. That's true. There are a lot of old elements incorporated along with the newer ones. We wanted to do things compositionally that would appeal to NILE fans no matter which kind of NILE fan it is, whether it be the older NILE fan or the newer fan. Everyone can find something to enjoy on this new record.
Metal Assault: As for your own vocals, do you think it's naturally changed over the past few albums?
Sanders: Well, I hadn't been doing too much vocals on recent albums, so that is one thing we wanted to change. Everybody in the band was of the opinion that we should make better use of my vocals. On this album, there are some vocal styles that I haven't used on NILE records in a while. We're also now using Todd Ellis as our third vocalist, so we wanted to expand on the vocals with this album, to try and put in a bit more variation. Of course, there are death metal vocals on this record, but there's also the mid-range kind of sound. And there's also a little bit more clean stuff. So I think you can definitely say that we've gone in with more variation on the vocals this time.
Metal Assault: In terms of the artwork, I honestly feel this is the best album cover that NILE has put out. What was the process behind designing the artwork. Was it like your thoughts being translated by the artist?
Sanders: When our drummer George Kollias told us that the artist Seth Siro Anton was interested in doing the cover for the record, we were very excited. I, in particular have been a SEPTICFLESH fan for many, many long years. And since Seth has worked with that band, I thought this was a really great idea to have him on board for our album. We gave him the lyrics, let him hear the music, and he came up with the ideas on his own, and I was like, "Fuck yeah! Just do whatever you want!" And it turned out great.
Metal Assault: After the previous album was released, you guys have toured a lot, probably more than ever before. Did that make it hard to write this new album or was it just a usual thing for you?
Sanders: We don't write songs while we're on tour, so in that respect it was kind of like, we had to wait till we finished touring to start the writing. By the end of the touring cycle, I in particular was not very healthy, and was suffering from tour sickness. When you're always touring, you can never get rid of the tour sickness. It just keeps getting worse. So after we completed the last European tour, I took a month to rest, and then I started writing songs in May of 2011. I kept working on that, and finally we finished the record in March of this year. So it took ten months from the start of songwriting to the end of mixing.
AFTER OBLIVION is the the first death metal band to be signed by Metal On Metal Records. Label owner Jowita Kaminska-Peruzzi states: "We are not much into death metal. We like some classic and even contemporary bands, but really very few, so obviously we are extremely picky as fans when it comes to this genre. And a death metal band has to completely blow us away to pique our interest as the label. Such was the case with AFTER OBLIVION. When they contacted us, we listened to the three songs from their 2011 EP, 'Vultures', then listened again... and again. We could (and did) listen to them on a loop for hours... Why? 'Cause we love DEATH and AFTER OBLIVION is so uncannily similar to Chuck's [Schuldiner] band, in particular their '90s era (when you hear those vocals, you may think it's Chuck himself!), we could only succumb to this new amazing band."
AFTER OBLIVION hails from the still undiscovered country when it comes to metal music: Bosnia and Herzegovina. The mastermind behind the band, guitarist, vocalist, composer and the sole member in the beginning, Adnan Hatic, formed it in 2007 on the ashes of his previous death metal band PATH BEYOND SERENITY (in which he had played since 1999). The band plays technical and atmospheric death metal with some thrash elements that should appeal not only to all fans of DEATH, but also PESTILENCE, ATHEIST, KREATOR, SACRIFICE, VEKTOR, GORGUTS, AGONIZE (another band with Adnan on vocals and guitars), CYNIC and CORONER.
AFTER OBLIVION's full-length debut, "Stamina", will be released in October.
AFTER OBLIVION hails from the still undiscovered country when it comes to metal music: Bosnia and Herzegovina. The mastermind behind the band, guitarist, vocalist, composer and the sole member in the beginning, Adnan Hatic, formed it in 2007 on the ashes of his previous death metal band PATH BEYOND SERENITY (in which he had played since 1999). The band plays technical and atmospheric death metal with some thrash elements that should appeal not only to all fans of DEATH, but also PESTILENCE, ATHEIST, KREATOR, SACRIFICE, VEKTOR, GORGUTS, AGONIZE (another band with Adnan on vocals and guitars), CYNIC and CORONER.
AFTER OBLIVION's full-length debut, "Stamina", will be released in October.
Chilean death metallers THORNAFIRE will release their third full-length album, "Eclipse Nox Coagula", via Australis Records as a deluxe digipack on June 30 and through Ibex Moon on vinyl in July.
Commented THORNAFIRE guitarist Victor Mcnamara: "This is an ugly and twisted album. Personally I haven't stopped to listening it on my way to my miserable office work.
"As part of the release of this new album, we will be touring in Europe playing in many festivals, these intensive shows of Latin malevolent death metal, will be supported on drums by Sebastian Rojas (a.k.a. Chupete).
"We hope people enjoy our 'manufactured in a workshop' death metal made away from the bored current era of digital overproduction and absurd speed of the majority of death metal releases."
"Eclipse Nox Coagula" track listing:
01. Carnaval Caos
02. Malefactor Manifesto
03. Ruptura
04. Vulgar Medium Ectoplasma
05. Inmortal Agonía
06. Desintegración
07. Disarmónica Tensión
08. Sumisión
09. Final
10. Soluto
Commented THORNAFIRE guitarist Victor Mcnamara: "This is an ugly and twisted album. Personally I haven't stopped to listening it on my way to my miserable office work.
"As part of the release of this new album, we will be touring in Europe playing in many festivals, these intensive shows of Latin malevolent death metal, will be supported on drums by Sebastian Rojas (a.k.a. Chupete).
"We hope people enjoy our 'manufactured in a workshop' death metal made away from the bored current era of digital overproduction and absurd speed of the majority of death metal releases."
"Eclipse Nox Coagula" track listing:
01. Carnaval Caos
02. Malefactor Manifesto
03. Ruptura
04. Vulgar Medium Ectoplasma
05. Inmortal Agonía
06. Desintegración
07. Disarmónica Tensión
08. Sumisión
09. Final
10. Soluto
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