The members of BLACK SABBATH say that there's still a chance for founding drummer Bill Ward to return to the band. Ward has so far sat out the legendary metal act's reunion — not participating in the recording of a new album or live shows — due to his dissatisfaction with the contract he was offered. But singer Ozzy Osbourne told The Times. "There was no row, there was no argument. The door ain't closed. Whether we work something out up the road, I don't know."
Added guitarist Tony Iommi, "It's not a personal thing. If he phoned us up tomorrow, which he hasn't, but if he did…"
Osbourne previously told NME about Ward's contractual dispute with SABBATH's management, "As far as I know his requests were very unreasonable. Nothing would have been better [than] if he would have been [willing to play with us]. I don't know. I don't deal with the business." Iommi added, "We've tried everything with Bill at the moment, and it's just not happening. Our legal people are dealing with his legal people. It's all nonsense. We haven't actually heard from Bill, any of this stuff. It's all been through his lawyers."
Ward has said that he's ready to travel and rejoin the band if and when a contract is offered that is to his liking.
Ward was present with the rest of the group when they announced a new album — the original lineup's first since 1978 — and world tour at a press conference last November, but went on strike shortly after that.
In the meantime, Iommi was diagnosed with cancer, forcing SABBATH to drastically curtail its touring plans and move the recording of the new CD to London, so that Iommi could remain close to his doctors.
The drum parts on the record are reportedly being played by Tommy Clufetos, who also played an intimate hometown gig in Birmingham, England with SABBATH in May and appeared with the group when it headlined the U.K.'s Download festival in June.
Barring a last-minute breakthrough with Ward, Clufetos will be behind the kit in August when the band appears at Lollapalooza in Chicago.
Added guitarist Tony Iommi, "It's not a personal thing. If he phoned us up tomorrow, which he hasn't, but if he did…"
Osbourne previously told NME about Ward's contractual dispute with SABBATH's management, "As far as I know his requests were very unreasonable. Nothing would have been better [than] if he would have been [willing to play with us]. I don't know. I don't deal with the business." Iommi added, "We've tried everything with Bill at the moment, and it's just not happening. Our legal people are dealing with his legal people. It's all nonsense. We haven't actually heard from Bill, any of this stuff. It's all been through his lawyers."
Ward has said that he's ready to travel and rejoin the band if and when a contract is offered that is to his liking.
Ward was present with the rest of the group when they announced a new album — the original lineup's first since 1978 — and world tour at a press conference last November, but went on strike shortly after that.
In the meantime, Iommi was diagnosed with cancer, forcing SABBATH to drastically curtail its touring plans and move the recording of the new CD to London, so that Iommi could remain close to his doctors.
The drum parts on the record are reportedly being played by Tommy Clufetos, who also played an intimate hometown gig in Birmingham, England with SABBATH in May and appeared with the group when it headlined the U.K.'s Download festival in June.
Barring a last-minute breakthrough with Ward, Clufetos will be behind the kit in August when the band appears at Lollapalooza in Chicago.
According to a posting on new QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre's Facebook page, the band will headline the last day of this year's Halfway Jam, which is set to take place July 26-28 in Royalton, Minnesota. Also scheduled to appear at the three-day event are ENUFF Z'NUFF, LYNCH MOB, STRYPER, BANG TANGO, TRIXTER, JACKYL, BLACKFOOT, MOLLY HATCHET and .38 SPECIAL.
For more information, go to this location.
QUEENSRŸCHE members Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren announced on June 20 that they were parting ways with singer Geoff Tate and recruiting powerhouse vocalist Todd La Torre of CRIMSON GLORY as his replacement. The new QUEENSRŸCHE lineup has already performed live, having played two successful shows in their home city of Seattle under the name RISING WEST.
When asked in a recent interview with RollingStone.com if his former bandmates will be able to play shows as QUEENSRŸCHE before their legal dispute over the group's name is resolved, Tate said, "Well, they shouldn't. Definitely. It's a situation where, in my opinion, they're doing everything the wrong way. If there was a dispute over who is in the band, or who owns the band name, I think that stuff should all be worked out before they try to book gigs with the name QUEENSRŸCHE."
He added, "I'm forced to engage in a lawsuit with them now. This is not something I want to do at all. I want to make records and I want to tour and live a creative life. I don't want to be bogged down in some legal hassle. My God, but they're forcing me into it. I have no other way to go. I can't give up my life's work and walk away from it. These are my ideas, my concepts, my life, that I'm writing about. What are they gonna do — hand it to some kid to sing?"
For more information, go to this location.
QUEENSRŸCHE members Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield and Parker Lundgren announced on June 20 that they were parting ways with singer Geoff Tate and recruiting powerhouse vocalist Todd La Torre of CRIMSON GLORY as his replacement. The new QUEENSRŸCHE lineup has already performed live, having played two successful shows in their home city of Seattle under the name RISING WEST.
When asked in a recent interview with RollingStone.com if his former bandmates will be able to play shows as QUEENSRŸCHE before their legal dispute over the group's name is resolved, Tate said, "Well, they shouldn't. Definitely. It's a situation where, in my opinion, they're doing everything the wrong way. If there was a dispute over who is in the band, or who owns the band name, I think that stuff should all be worked out before they try to book gigs with the name QUEENSRŸCHE."
He added, "I'm forced to engage in a lawsuit with them now. This is not something I want to do at all. I want to make records and I want to tour and live a creative life. I don't want to be bogged down in some legal hassle. My God, but they're forcing me into it. I have no other way to go. I can't give up my life's work and walk away from it. These are my ideas, my concepts, my life, that I'm writing about. What are they gonna do — hand it to some kid to sing?"
NWOBHM legends DIAMOND HEAD were forced to cancel their show tonight (Tuesday, July 3) at the O2 Academy in Islington, London, England after the band's drummer, Karl Wilcox, was admitted to hospital with a suspected blood clot. The group issued an update on his condition later in the day, stating, "Karl has had hospital treatment today and should be fit again by tomorrow morning. We hope to go ahead with the York show tomorrow, but please check with the venue before setting out. The show on Thursday 5th July at Wolverhampton, and the remainder of the tour will go ahead as planned."
DIAMOND HEAD's only previous U.S. appearance was at the Metal Meltdown IV festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey in 2002 for a sold-out show with fellow British stalwarts SAXON and WITCHFYNDE. Now, for the first time ever, DIAMOND HEAD's U.S. fans got the opportunity to see the band perform live.
The tour kicked off in Seattle on August 15 and concluded in New York City on September 1.
DIAMOND HEAD's first-ever appearance with the "Big Four" (METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX and MEGADETH), the artists on whom they had a major influence, at the Sonisphere festivals in the U.K. and France, was followed by their first performances in Canada, playing with MOTÖRHEAD, and MEGADETH at the Heavy TO festival in Toronto, along with an appearance with GIRLSCHOOL, MOTÖRHEAD and KISS, at the Heavy MTL festival in Montreal.
DIAMOND HEAD's only previous U.S. appearance was at the Metal Meltdown IV festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey in 2002 for a sold-out show with fellow British stalwarts SAXON and WITCHFYNDE. Now, for the first time ever, DIAMOND HEAD's U.S. fans got the opportunity to see the band perform live.
The tour kicked off in Seattle on August 15 and concluded in New York City on September 1.
DIAMOND HEAD's first-ever appearance with the "Big Four" (METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX and MEGADETH), the artists on whom they had a major influence, at the Sonisphere festivals in the U.K. and France, was followed by their first performances in Canada, playing with MOTÖRHEAD, and MEGADETH at the Heavy TO festival in Toronto, along with an appearance with GIRLSCHOOL, MOTÖRHEAD and KISS, at the Heavy MTL festival in Montreal.
Hugely influential British melodic hard rockers MAGNUM will release their eighteenth studio album, "On The 13th Day" on September 19 in Scandinavia, September 21 in Germany, September 24 in the rest of Europe and September 25 in the U.S./Canada via on Steamhammer/SPV. A single, "So Let It Rain", will precede the full-length CD at the end of August.
"On The 13th Day" will be available as a limited digipak edition with a bonus CD featuring unreleased, acoustic and live tracks from the MAGNUM vaults, plus as a double colored vinyl LP, standard jewel case CD and download. The cover is once again created by famous fantasy artist Rodney Matthews (ASIA, NAZARETH, ELOY).
"On The 13th Day" track listings:
Limited Digipak
Disc 1
01. All The Dreamers
02. Blood Red Laughter
03. Didn't Like You Anyway
04. On The 13th Day
05. So Let It Rain
06. Dance Of The Black Tattoo
07. Shadow Town
08. Putting Things In Place
09. Broken Promises
10. See How They Fall
11. From Within
Bonus Disc 2
01. Those Were The Days (Demo From 1988-89)
02. Eyes Like Fire (Full Version)
03. Blood Red Laughter (Acoustic Version)
04. We All Need To Be Loved (Live From Prague CZ)
05. Shadow Town (Acoustic Version)
06. Moonking (Live From Mannheim D)
Jewel Case
01. All The Dreamers
02. Blood Red Laughter
03. Didn't Like You Anyway
04. On The 13th Day
05. So Let It Rain
06. Dance Of The Black Tattoo
07. Shadow Town
08. Putting Things In Place
09. Broken Promises
10. See How They Fall
11. From Within
Vinyl Version
LP 1
Side A
01. All The Dreamers
02. Blood Red Laughter
03. Didn't Like You Anyway
Side B
01. On The 13th Day
02. So Let It Rain
03. Dance Of The Black Tattoo
LP 2
Side A
01. Shadow Town
02. Putting Things In Place
03. Broken Promises
Side B
01. See How They Fall
02. From Within
"On The 13th Day" follows the success of "The Visitation", which charted at #19 in Germany, #46 in Sweden, #55 in the U.K. and #56 in Switzerland at the end of January 2011. "On The 13th Day" also picks up where "The Visitation" left off, boasting 11 soaring, brand new totally epic rock songs packed with hook-filled choruses, glorious flowing melodies, luscious keyboards and flowing guitar licks. Right from the opening track, "All The Dreamers" (set to be the new "Sacred Hour"), you get an instant feeling that this album has something very special to offer. "So Let It Rain", the first single to be taken from "On The 13th Day", will without a doubt soon be officially classified as "classic," while "Dance Of The Black Tattoo", which, from the moment the first drum beats crash out of the speakers, mesmerizes from start to finish.
One month after the release of "On The 13th Day", MAGNUM will set off on a 31-date European tour.
"On The 13th Day" will be available as a limited digipak edition with a bonus CD featuring unreleased, acoustic and live tracks from the MAGNUM vaults, plus as a double colored vinyl LP, standard jewel case CD and download. The cover is once again created by famous fantasy artist Rodney Matthews (ASIA, NAZARETH, ELOY).
"On The 13th Day" track listings:
Limited Digipak
Disc 1
01. All The Dreamers
02. Blood Red Laughter
03. Didn't Like You Anyway
04. On The 13th Day
05. So Let It Rain
06. Dance Of The Black Tattoo
07. Shadow Town
08. Putting Things In Place
09. Broken Promises
10. See How They Fall
11. From Within
Bonus Disc 2
01. Those Were The Days (Demo From 1988-89)
02. Eyes Like Fire (Full Version)
03. Blood Red Laughter (Acoustic Version)
04. We All Need To Be Loved (Live From Prague CZ)
05. Shadow Town (Acoustic Version)
06. Moonking (Live From Mannheim D)
Jewel Case
01. All The Dreamers
02. Blood Red Laughter
03. Didn't Like You Anyway
04. On The 13th Day
05. So Let It Rain
06. Dance Of The Black Tattoo
07. Shadow Town
08. Putting Things In Place
09. Broken Promises
10. See How They Fall
11. From Within
Vinyl Version
LP 1
Side A
01. All The Dreamers
02. Blood Red Laughter
03. Didn't Like You Anyway
Side B
01. On The 13th Day
02. So Let It Rain
03. Dance Of The Black Tattoo
LP 2
Side A
01. Shadow Town
02. Putting Things In Place
03. Broken Promises
Side B
01. See How They Fall
02. From Within
"On The 13th Day" follows the success of "The Visitation", which charted at #19 in Germany, #46 in Sweden, #55 in the U.K. and #56 in Switzerland at the end of January 2011. "On The 13th Day" also picks up where "The Visitation" left off, boasting 11 soaring, brand new totally epic rock songs packed with hook-filled choruses, glorious flowing melodies, luscious keyboards and flowing guitar licks. Right from the opening track, "All The Dreamers" (set to be the new "Sacred Hour"), you get an instant feeling that this album has something very special to offer. "So Let It Rain", the first single to be taken from "On The 13th Day", will without a doubt soon be officially classified as "classic," while "Dance Of The Black Tattoo", which, from the moment the first drum beats crash out of the speakers, mesmerizes from start to finish.
One month after the release of "On The 13th Day", MAGNUM will set off on a 31-date European tour.
Jim Rowland of Über Röck recently conducted an interview with former EXODUS and current HATRIOT frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Über Röck: I notice from checking out your website you're looking for a full time drummer right now, how's the search going?
Zetro: The search is going good. We put an ad out on Blabbermouth and on our web site, and the response has been what we expected. The thing is I am 48 years old and I don't have time to fuck around. I don't need somebody coming in all excited, and then a few months down the road go, "Well, I'm not cut out for this." We are looking for somebody who has both the chops and the right attitude, plus they have to have their personal life set up to be able to tour. HATRIOT is going to be a live touring band. It's not a "throw the record out and exploit the EXODUS fan base" kind of thing. Not at all. HATRIOT is going to build it the right way. So to answer the question, yes we have had a lot of people ask about the drummer slot. I am just real picky as to who we let into our fold.
Über Röck: The four-song demo you currently have up on ReverbNation sounds pretty savage. What type of label interest have you had so far?
Zetro: Thank you very much! The songs on the demo are just the beginning of what we have going on. We have a whole slew of other songs written now, and have even put out a killer video for one of them, called "Blood Stained Wings". To be honest, there are a lot of labels that have been knocking at our door. I expect to have a deal signed in the next few weeks. There are two well-respected metal labels right now that are very interested, and we like what they are offering. The thing is I am not interested in just throwing a product out there and milking the EXODUS fan base. I won't sign a deal unless we are guaranteed to go on tour and support the album. I want full creative control as well. Expect a deal to be signed in the very near future!
Über Röck: Thrash metal has enjoyed something of a revival in more recent years, with many young fans and bands really embracing the spirit of thrash. What do you put that down to?
Zetro: You know, I get asked this a lot, and I think it is because the first wave of thrash came and went so fast. I mean, it started in the mid-'80s and was gone by 1991 or so. The older bands still have something to say, and I feel that's why they are still able to put out great music so many years later. Now the fans that were young kids back then have bands of their own, so these new bands are naturally influenced by the old sound and it has come full circle. Of course, with technology and things like they are today, it is a totally different ballgame when it comes to marketing the music. I don't know that there will ever be another band as big as the "Big Four" or anything, because the business structure just isn't there anymore, but it is really cool to see these new bands carrying the torch of what we helped invent back in the old scene.
Über Röck: I notice from checking out your website you're looking for a full time drummer right now, how's the search going?
Zetro: The search is going good. We put an ad out on Blabbermouth and on our web site, and the response has been what we expected. The thing is I am 48 years old and I don't have time to fuck around. I don't need somebody coming in all excited, and then a few months down the road go, "Well, I'm not cut out for this." We are looking for somebody who has both the chops and the right attitude, plus they have to have their personal life set up to be able to tour. HATRIOT is going to be a live touring band. It's not a "throw the record out and exploit the EXODUS fan base" kind of thing. Not at all. HATRIOT is going to build it the right way. So to answer the question, yes we have had a lot of people ask about the drummer slot. I am just real picky as to who we let into our fold.
Über Röck: The four-song demo you currently have up on ReverbNation sounds pretty savage. What type of label interest have you had so far?
Zetro: Thank you very much! The songs on the demo are just the beginning of what we have going on. We have a whole slew of other songs written now, and have even put out a killer video for one of them, called "Blood Stained Wings". To be honest, there are a lot of labels that have been knocking at our door. I expect to have a deal signed in the next few weeks. There are two well-respected metal labels right now that are very interested, and we like what they are offering. The thing is I am not interested in just throwing a product out there and milking the EXODUS fan base. I won't sign a deal unless we are guaranteed to go on tour and support the album. I want full creative control as well. Expect a deal to be signed in the very near future!
Über Röck: Thrash metal has enjoyed something of a revival in more recent years, with many young fans and bands really embracing the spirit of thrash. What do you put that down to?
Zetro: You know, I get asked this a lot, and I think it is because the first wave of thrash came and went so fast. I mean, it started in the mid-'80s and was gone by 1991 or so. The older bands still have something to say, and I feel that's why they are still able to put out great music so many years later. Now the fans that were young kids back then have bands of their own, so these new bands are naturally influenced by the old sound and it has come full circle. Of course, with technology and things like they are today, it is a totally different ballgame when it comes to marketing the music. I don't know that there will ever be another band as big as the "Big Four" or anything, because the business structure just isn't there anymore, but it is really cool to see these new bands carrying the torch of what we helped invent back in the old scene.
The classic first EP from Los Angeles metal legends ARMORED SAINT will be reissued on August 13 in Europe via Metal Blade Records with bonus tracks and etching on vinyl.
The track listing is as follows:
01. Lesson Well Learned
02. No Reason To Live
03. False Alarm
04. Stricken By Fate
05. On The Way
ARMORED SAINT will be heading back to Europe next week. Singer John Bush states, "I'm very excited for our upcoming summer dates. First, ARMORED SAINT has never played in France. Not only are we doing the awesome Sonisphere show, we are also doing a headline club show in Paris. About fucking time. Also, we're extremely pumped to play the Bang Your Head!!! festival again. It's one of the best metal shows in Germany. Plus, we get to be part of the Dong festival. First time there. The tour wouldn't be complete without playing in Holland, which is the first country ARMORED SAINT ever played in Europe back in 1989; and Zurich, where it will be our first time to headline in the beautiful country of Switzerland.
"ARMORED SAINT doesn't tour all that often so come out and join us, cause you're never sure when or if we'll be touring again. We'll be playing songs from our entire catalog as well as from our most recent record, 'La Raza', which we're extremely proud of."
"La Raza" sold around 2,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 18 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. "La Raza" also entered the German Media Control chart at No. 96 and the Canadian Independent chart at No. 85.
"La Raza" was recorded at Burbank, California's Tranzformer Studios, which is owned by Dave Jerdan (ALICE IN CHAINS, JANE'S ADDICTION), who produced ARMORED SAINT's 1991 classic "Symbol of Salvation" and Bryan Carlstrom, who engineered the same album. The band's first new release since 2001's "Nod to the Old School" was produced by Joey Vera and engineered by Carlstrom and his assistant John Nuss.
The track listing is as follows:
01. Lesson Well Learned
02. No Reason To Live
03. False Alarm
04. Stricken By Fate
05. On The Way
ARMORED SAINT will be heading back to Europe next week. Singer John Bush states, "I'm very excited for our upcoming summer dates. First, ARMORED SAINT has never played in France. Not only are we doing the awesome Sonisphere show, we are also doing a headline club show in Paris. About fucking time. Also, we're extremely pumped to play the Bang Your Head!!! festival again. It's one of the best metal shows in Germany. Plus, we get to be part of the Dong festival. First time there. The tour wouldn't be complete without playing in Holland, which is the first country ARMORED SAINT ever played in Europe back in 1989; and Zurich, where it will be our first time to headline in the beautiful country of Switzerland.
"ARMORED SAINT doesn't tour all that often so come out and join us, cause you're never sure when or if we'll be touring again. We'll be playing songs from our entire catalog as well as from our most recent record, 'La Raza', which we're extremely proud of."
"La Raza" sold around 2,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 18 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. "La Raza" also entered the German Media Control chart at No. 96 and the Canadian Independent chart at No. 85.
"La Raza" was recorded at Burbank, California's Tranzformer Studios, which is owned by Dave Jerdan (ALICE IN CHAINS, JANE'S ADDICTION), who produced ARMORED SAINT's 1991 classic "Symbol of Salvation" and Bryan Carlstrom, who engineered the same album. The band's first new release since 2001's "Nod to the Old School" was produced by Joey Vera and engineered by Carlstrom and his assistant John Nuss.
Canadian metal innovators VOIVOD have confirmed that they have dropped off the inaugural "Shockwave 2012" tour, which is scheduled to kick off on July 6 in Seattle, Washington.
Commented VOIVOD: "Shockwave tour is no longer as advertised. VOIVOD really wanted to be touring, but the situation was out of the band's control and the tour producers could not live up to the promises."
Other bands that were scheduled to take part in "Shockwave 2012" are FEAR FACTORY, CATTLE DECAPITATION, MISERY INDEX, HAVOK, LAST CHANCE TO REASON and THE BROWNING.
Affected dates are as follows:
Jul. 06 - Studio Seven - Seattle, WA
Jul. 07 - Vogue Theatre - Vancouver, BC
Jul. 09 - The Republik - Calgary, AB
Jul. 11 - Pyramid Cabaret - Winnipeg, MB
Jul. 12 - Station 4 - St Paul, MN
Jul. 13 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
Jul. 14 - The Opera House - Toronto, ON
Jul. 15 - The Armouries - Windsor, ON
Jul. 18 - Club Soda - Montreal, QC
Jul. 20 - Northern Lights - Clifton, NY
Jul. 21 - Town Ballroom - Buffalo, NY
Jul. 22 - Reverb - Reading, PA
Jul. 24 - Revolution - Amityville, NY
Jul. 25 - Palladium - Worcester, MA
Jul. 26 - Empire - Springfield, VA
Jul. 27 - Alrosa Villa - Columbus, OH
Jul. 28 - Mojoe's - Joliet, IL
Jul. 29 - Tebala Shrine - Rockford, IL
Jul. 31 - Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO
Aug. 02 - Nakai Hall - Window Rock, AZ
Aug. 03 - The Marqee Theater - Tempe, AZ
Aug. 04 - House Of Blues - Hollywood, CA
Commented VOIVOD: "Shockwave tour is no longer as advertised. VOIVOD really wanted to be touring, but the situation was out of the band's control and the tour producers could not live up to the promises."
Other bands that were scheduled to take part in "Shockwave 2012" are FEAR FACTORY, CATTLE DECAPITATION, MISERY INDEX, HAVOK, LAST CHANCE TO REASON and THE BROWNING.
Affected dates are as follows:
Jul. 06 - Studio Seven - Seattle, WA
Jul. 07 - Vogue Theatre - Vancouver, BC
Jul. 09 - The Republik - Calgary, AB
Jul. 11 - Pyramid Cabaret - Winnipeg, MB
Jul. 12 - Station 4 - St Paul, MN
Jul. 13 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
Jul. 14 - The Opera House - Toronto, ON
Jul. 15 - The Armouries - Windsor, ON
Jul. 18 - Club Soda - Montreal, QC
Jul. 20 - Northern Lights - Clifton, NY
Jul. 21 - Town Ballroom - Buffalo, NY
Jul. 22 - Reverb - Reading, PA
Jul. 24 - Revolution - Amityville, NY
Jul. 25 - Palladium - Worcester, MA
Jul. 26 - Empire - Springfield, VA
Jul. 27 - Alrosa Villa - Columbus, OH
Jul. 28 - Mojoe's - Joliet, IL
Jul. 29 - Tebala Shrine - Rockford, IL
Jul. 31 - Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO
Aug. 02 - Nakai Hall - Window Rock, AZ
Aug. 03 - The Marqee Theater - Tempe, AZ
Aug. 04 - House Of Blues - Hollywood, CA
DEATHRIDERS, the power/thrash metal band led by former ANTHRAX singer Neil Turbin, will embark on a U.S. tour, dubbed "The Metal Beast Is Back", later this month. The trek will see the band headlining the iconic Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California on July 21 as well as returning to the San Francisco Bay Area to headline the Oakland Metro Opera House on August 10, and will include dates in Maryland and Arizona, with more to be announced soon.
According to a press release, "at a recent DEATHRIDERS rehearsal at Hollywood's Swing House Studios, the band sounded fast and heavy with strong old-school 'Fistful Of Metal' vocals which caught the attention of Steven Tyler (AEROSMITH, 'American Idol'). In an even further testament to the 'molten-metal' performance given by the band even at a simple rehearsal, Tyler who had been listening outside the studio, came into the rehearsal room unannounced and stayed to watch the band perform their track 'Give 'Em Hell' and was [seen] headbanging along the whole time."
DEATHRIDERS is currently recording its full-length debut, "The Metal Beast Is Alive", at Blue Pacific Studios in Los Angeles.
DEATHRIDERS is
Neil Turbin (ANTHRAX) - Vocals
Seb Agini (AXECUTOR - Sofia, Bulgaria) - Guitar
Sean Elg (NIHILIST - San Diego, California) - Drums
Arnold Gonzalez - Guitar
Michael Lopez - Bass
DEATHRIDERS tour dates:
Jul. 14 - Sam Ash Music - Cerritos, CA (free show)
Jul. 21 - Whisky a Go-Go - W. Hollywood, CA
Aug. 10 - Oakland Metro Operahouse - Oakland, CA
Aug. 25 - House Of Metal, Malones Bar & Grill - Santa Ana, CA
Dec. 08 - 910 Live - Tempe, AZ
According to a press release, "at a recent DEATHRIDERS rehearsal at Hollywood's Swing House Studios, the band sounded fast and heavy with strong old-school 'Fistful Of Metal' vocals which caught the attention of Steven Tyler (AEROSMITH, 'American Idol'). In an even further testament to the 'molten-metal' performance given by the band even at a simple rehearsal, Tyler who had been listening outside the studio, came into the rehearsal room unannounced and stayed to watch the band perform their track 'Give 'Em Hell' and was [seen] headbanging along the whole time."
DEATHRIDERS is currently recording its full-length debut, "The Metal Beast Is Alive", at Blue Pacific Studios in Los Angeles.
DEATHRIDERS is
Neil Turbin (ANTHRAX) - Vocals
Seb Agini (AXECUTOR - Sofia, Bulgaria) - Guitar
Sean Elg (NIHILIST - San Diego, California) - Drums
Arnold Gonzalez - Guitar
Michael Lopez - Bass
DEATHRIDERS tour dates:
Jul. 14 - Sam Ash Music - Cerritos, CA (free show)
Jul. 21 - Whisky a Go-Go - W. Hollywood, CA
Aug. 10 - Oakland Metro Operahouse - Oakland, CA
Aug. 25 - House Of Metal, Malones Bar & Grill - Santa Ana, CA
Dec. 08 - 910 Live - Tempe, AZ
http://www.blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/deathriderswhisky.jpg
"I'm still waiting to write the ultimate song," explains Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor, a bold statement for a musician who fronts two successful bands, appeals to a wide range of music fans, and, in the age of technical shortcuts, insists on doing all his writing with just a pen, paper and pack of occasional cigarettes.
But maybe that's why Meat Loaf recently called Grammy Award-winning Slipknot a "metal Beethoven," and the band's support system consists of millions of devoted fans that form one, big, head-banging family.
In 1995, bassist Paul Gray and percussionists Joey Jordison and Shawn Crahan began some late-night music sessions at the gas station where Jordison worked. With a lineup of six members, the band self-released Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat on Halloween in 1996. The decision to add more melodic vocals brought in Corey Taylor, who was in Stone Sour at the time.
By 1998, the band had the majority of the line-up that fans know and love today, which has since developed into chaotic combination of besieging musical style and an attention-grabbing image; yet there's also a piercing intellectual element to the science behind the masks and musical prowess. The choreographed anarchism is too multi-faceted to describe. And while they've been described as violent and hateful (perhaps due to the fact that their live shows almost inevitably end up with a band member suffering from broken heels, cracked ribs, bleeding skulls, and, at times, burns from being set on fire), all one must do is listen to the lyrics to understand that the underlying themes consist of personal strife, politics, disaffection and nihilism--there's not even any profanity on 1995's Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)-- just to prove a point that the metal band doesn't rely on it as a means of expression.
Up On The Sunspoke with singer Corey Taylor to discuss new music from Slipknot and Stone Sour, the film production company headed up by him and Clown, and how the band is picking up the pieces after the death of Paul Gray.
Up On The Sun: How are you doing today, Corey?
Corey Taylor: Good! Just about to go to the studio.
Nice what're you guys working on currently?
We're actually working on a new Stone Sour album.
That's awesome. Slipknot is doing a bunch of shows this year, is that confirmation that you guys will be working on new music soon?
Not soon, but yeah, yeah. It's just part of the process, just making our way towards the future basically. The band took a pretty big hit with the loss of Paul and we're just doing what we can to carry on in his memory. And part of that is coming back together as a band. The more tours that we do the more we try to make sense of it all. We're just taking baby steps and trying to do it right. Not rush into anything, and just get to a point where we're ready to make music without Paul. Which is going to be really hard, but we need to go down that road and uh, just coming together as a family again for it to be right."
Who is stepping in to play Paul's parts on tour?
We have a friend of ours named Donnie Steele whose been playing with us since Paul passed. He was actually the original guitar player for Slipknot way, way back, before I was even in the band. It just makes sense to have someone from the family come in and pick up, help us pick up the pieces. And he's been great. But I don't see us ever replacing Paul. There's no replacing. But for now, Donnie is doing a great job and he's been helping us carry on.
There's a rapper in the called UK Professor Green who wants to do a collaboration and has launched a campaign for you and Mushroomhead to tour together. Do you think either of those things might be possibilities in the future?
I don't know. Anything's possible. I learned a long time ago never to say never. Right now, it's much more important to focus on our band than to think of anything like that. It's one of those things that it's not the usual situation, like "This could be cool, let's go out and do this." We're still trying to find ourselves again as a band. For right now, I'd say that there's nothing on the table as far as plans to do anything like that. Right now we're just trying to take care of ourselves, and that's all we need to do."
Last year you recorded a bunch of material with Velvet Revolver. Any chance people will hear the music that came of that?
I did some demos with them in late spring, messing around on some stuff together. But it didn't seem like it was the right thing at the time. Everyone in the band kinda had their own thing going on. It was cool to do and I had a lot of fun working and hanging out with those guys. But it just wasn't meant to be at the time."
Let's talk about Stone Sour. The follow-up to 2010's Audio Secrecy is slated to come out this fall right?
Yes it's coming out later this year, not sure when yet. We're actually working on a double concept album that is a monster. Trust me. Just from the demos we're doing right now, the music is really, really good. It's probably the best we've ever written. And we're really excited about that. When we started working in the studio putting everything together...we're trying to figure out right now if we're going to release the discs together or separately, one at a time. But I've written a really cool story that goes along with it, and we're going to have a bunch of cool artwork and multimedia tied in with it as possible. So it's going to be pretty epic in scale.
What's the concept behind the album?
It's really a morality play. It's about a person trying to find himself, or herself. You know, everyone in their lives finds themselves inevitably at a crossroads when it comes to personal evolution and whatnot. Trying to figure out what they want to do with the rest of their lives. You know, you can either stay where you are and relive the past and run backwards and basically buying into the romance of youth and those things that come with it, stagnating your growth. Or you can keep moving down the path and eventually cross into the next phase of your life. It's basically the story of a man trying to figure it out, and there's a lot of things that go on in a guy's head when he's trying to figure out the right thing to do.
Tell me a bit about Living Breathing Films, the production company that you and Clown started out.
Oh yeah! Me and Clown have been threatening to get into the movie industry for quite some time...
That's a great way to describe it. Threatening.
[Laughs] That's really the only way to put it. We're just really big fans of the movies and art, and movies that stir something in you. He's the budding director and I'm the guy who's the fanatic, interested in the story and where it goes and character development. So together, we decided that it was time to put our money where our mouth is, and start to put movies out there as well. It's not just sitting back and being a critic, but it's helping create something and put it out in the world to shake things up a bit and that's what we plan to do. We've actually got a script under development right now and a handful of other projects we're starting to mess with. The cool thing is we're not just sticking with movies. We just filmed the documentary about the Soundwave Festival in Australia that we were a part of, and really trying to tell the story of that festival and all the bands involved over the years. Just to show people what it's like to be on the road and show the behind-the-stage side. We're following our instincts and our passions.
I was thinking it'd be amazing to see you and Rob Zombie working on a horror film together.
Yeah, yeah. There's a lot of stuff that we wanna do. We want to do psychological thrillers, we wanna do dramas. We don't want our company to be pigeon-holed as a machine to create bad horror films. We want to do it all. We want to do it our way. It will be cool to see what happens next. Our first major thing will probably be that documentary, but it's still very early in the pre-production stage.
You guys haven't put anything out yet, right?
No, not yet. Clown's been doing a series of small short films that we just keep putting up on the website to keep peoples' attention and show people all the little things we can do. Our first major thing will most likely be the documentary, but we are working on a feature film right now, and it's still very, very early in the pre-production stage, but it should be very cool.
So, what is something during the writing process that you absolutely can't live without, in order to do it?
Ah, that's a good question. Um, for me, I need notebook sand pens. I need pens. I'm a nutbag when it comes to that stuff. I know a lot of writers who use their computer but I'm still an old-school guy. I still have piles and piles of notebooks from all the albums I've done lying around...it's probably not the safest place to have that stuff around. But that's the stuff that I need...for me, it's the crafting of it all, you know? There's just something a little impersonal trying to type your poetry into a computer. There's something just close to the heart about ripping pages out of a notebook and filling them with what's in your head. So, paper, pens and the occasional pack of cigarettes.
What are you listening to these days?
When I'm making an album I refuse to listen to the genre I'm writing in. I've been listening to a lot of Elvis lately, actually, from the late '50s/early '60s, to get my head out of that world. If you stay in the metal word too long, you might unconsciously replicate something that you hear. I always like my ideas to stay fresh and to create something hopefully nobody's ever heard before. So I do my very best to keep myself out of that genre, and just, you know, do whatever. But being a music fan I gotta have music. Luckily, I'm into so many different types I have a lot of different things to listen to.
What's your favorite Elvis song?
Oh man, "Mystery Train" is really good. "Hard Headed Woman." "Suspicious Minds" is my jam--I love that song! I'll be driving down the street, [starts singing] "We can't go on together."
Between Slipknot and Stone Sour, do you favor any songs in particular? I'm guessing it probably changes with your mood and what's currently going on in your life.
Yeah, I guess it definitely changes with my mood. The cool thing is that I've kinda had the opportunity to write so many different types of music so I have a lot to choose from. I can sift through my music and find something I'm really feeling. I'm lucky in that respect. But I'm still waiting to write the ultimate song, basically, and luckily I have two great bands I can go to to get that done."
In one of your bios, you say that you aspire to be like such figures as Trent Reznor and David Bowie. Who else do you look up to?
Oh man, writing-wise? God, that's a great question. You know, I've always been a fan of people who distinguish themselves.. The unique singer, the personable singer. I have a hard time listening to people who sound just like everybody else. So for me, I've always been a huge fan of everyone like Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, David Lee Roth...they've just been mimicked so many times it's ridiculous. But each of those people were the originals. I'm a fan of great singers and great performers. You don't necessarily have to be the best, but if you are yourself, then inevitably your personality is going to make you the best.
Slipknot is scheduled to perform Friday, July 6, at Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival at Ashley HomeStore Pavilion.
Jason Roche of LA Weekly recently conducted an interview with SLIPKNOT mastermind/percussionist M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
LA Weekly: During live performances, you often put yourself at risk of physical injury by doing insane stunts on stage. Has your recovery time gotten longer as you've gotten older?
Crahan: Oh, yeah ... I'm always injuring myself. I don't know if it's because I'm a klutz or an idiot, I don't know. I just had major knee surgery. I took a trip to Australia, and when I got back, I couldn't move my left leg. The normal healing time runs up to the exact date of our first show on Rockstar Mayhem. I'm not worried, though, about me. I'm worried about Clown. Clown will take the weakness of me, and tell me to deal with it. And then Clown gets to disappear after the show, but I am stuck with all of the damage. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I treat every show like it's the last. Since the beginning, every show we've told ourselves that this could be the last. My kids know that if I die on stage, that's where I should have gone. I don't want to, though. I want to live for a very long time. I'd like to retire and leave on a good note. Whenever SLIPKNOT calls it a day, I ain't coming back. I'm in Tahiti with my wife, wearing some stupid briefs on a beach with a Corona in my hand, while she is walking around topless.
LA Weekly: You mentioned some of the outside endeavors you want to pursue outside of music. What exactly are your goals with Living Breathing Films?
Crahan: I want to make psychological thrillers. I want to make you look at life differently. I remember seeing "Taxi Driver" while growing up, and my mom would explain how people were in an uproar about Jodie Foster being an underage girl portraying a prostitute. That excited me that you could have that effect on people through cinematography. I've been married 19 years. The first time I watched Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut", I got fifteen minutes into it, pushed "stop" and went upstairs and stared at my wife for half an hour. She looked up and asked, "What's up?" I asked, "Are we all good?" She said, "Of course we are." The next day, I turned the movie on again, I got about seven more minutes in, shut the fucker off until I was confident we were all good. That's the effect I want to have on people in everything I do with my art, my music, my films.
LA Weekly: During live performances, you often put yourself at risk of physical injury by doing insane stunts on stage. Has your recovery time gotten longer as you've gotten older?
Crahan: Oh, yeah ... I'm always injuring myself. I don't know if it's because I'm a klutz or an idiot, I don't know. I just had major knee surgery. I took a trip to Australia, and when I got back, I couldn't move my left leg. The normal healing time runs up to the exact date of our first show on Rockstar Mayhem. I'm not worried, though, about me. I'm worried about Clown. Clown will take the weakness of me, and tell me to deal with it. And then Clown gets to disappear after the show, but I am stuck with all of the damage. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I treat every show like it's the last. Since the beginning, every show we've told ourselves that this could be the last. My kids know that if I die on stage, that's where I should have gone. I don't want to, though. I want to live for a very long time. I'd like to retire and leave on a good note. Whenever SLIPKNOT calls it a day, I ain't coming back. I'm in Tahiti with my wife, wearing some stupid briefs on a beach with a Corona in my hand, while she is walking around topless.
LA Weekly: You mentioned some of the outside endeavors you want to pursue outside of music. What exactly are your goals with Living Breathing Films?
Crahan: I want to make psychological thrillers. I want to make you look at life differently. I remember seeing "Taxi Driver" while growing up, and my mom would explain how people were in an uproar about Jodie Foster being an underage girl portraying a prostitute. That excited me that you could have that effect on people through cinematography. I've been married 19 years. The first time I watched Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut", I got fifteen minutes into it, pushed "stop" and went upstairs and stared at my wife for half an hour. She looked up and asked, "What's up?" I asked, "Are we all good?" She said, "Of course we are." The next day, I turned the movie on again, I got about seven more minutes in, shut the fucker off until I was confident we were all good. That's the effect I want to have on people in everything I do with my art, my music, my films.
"30 Years Sodomized: 1982-2012", a brand new career retrospective from German thrash veterans SODOM compiled by bassist/vocalist, and sole remaining original member, Thomas "Angelripper" Such, has entered the German Medai Control chart at position No. 54.
Released through SPV/Steamhammer, the "30 Years Sodomized: 1982-2012" box set features the single CD "Official Bootleg - The Witchhunter Decade" and double-CD "Thirty Years War", along with 30th-anniversary posters, postcards, stickers and the 32-page book in CD format on the band's history. "The Official Bootleg - The Witch Hunter Decade" was also made available on colored vinyl.
"30 Years Sodomized: 1982-2012" box set track listing:
CD - Official Bootleg – The Witchhunter Decade:
01. Sepulchral Voice (Rehearsal, 1984)
02. Obsessed By Cruelty (Recorded Live In Belgium, 1985)
03. After The Deluge (Recorded Live At Metallize Festival, 1986)
04. Conjuration (Recorded Live At Scum, Holland, 1987)
05. Proselytism Real (Recorded Live At Metallize Festival, 1987)
06. Conqueror (Recorded Live In Holland, 1987)
07. My Atonement (Recorded Live At Scum, Holland, 1987)
08. Outbreak Of Evil (Recorded Live In Germany, Zeche Bochum, 1988)
09. Persecution Mania (Recorded Live In Switzerland, Sargans, 1988)
10. Magic Dragon (Recorded Live In Germany, Braunschweig, 1989)
11. Shellfire Defense (Pre-production, 1990)
12. The Saw Is The Law (Pre-production, 1990)
13. Bloodtrails (Pre-production, 1990)
14. Body Parts (Recorded Live In Japan, 1992)
15. Skinned Alive (Recorded Live At WDR Festival, 1992)
16. Sons Of Hell (Demo Version)
Thirty Years War Double-CD
CD 1:
01. Burst Command 'Til War
02. Brandish The Sceptre
03. My Atonement
04. Electrocution
05. Christ Passion
06. Tired And Red
07. Baptism Of Fire
08. The Saw Is The Law (Splatting Version)
09. Shellfire Defense
10. Tarred Anf Feathered
11. The Crippler
12. Reincarnation
13. Sodomized
14. Delight In Slaying
15. Into Perdition
CD 2:
01. Gathering Of Minds
02. Unwanted Youth
03. Politoximaniac
04. That's What An Unknown Killer Diarized
05. Warlike Conspiracy
06. Spiritual Demise
07. Book Burning
08. Minejumper
09. Genocide
10. Where Angels Die
11. Hatred Of The Gods
12. Lords Of Depravity
13. Kamikaze Terrorrizer
14. In War And Pieces
15. Hellfire
Double-LP: Official Bootleg – The Witchhunter Decade
Side A:
01. Sepulchral Voice (Rehearsal, 1984)
02. Obsessed By Cruelty (Recorded Live In Belgium, 1985)
03. After The Deluge (Recorded Live At Metallize Festival, 1986)
04. Conjuration (Recorded Live At Scum, Holland, 1987)
Side B:
01. Proselytism Real (Recorded Live At Metallize Festival, 1987)
02. Conqueror (Recorded Live In Holland, 1987)
03. My Atonement (Recorded Live At Scum, Holland, 1987)
04. Outbreak Of Evil (Recorded Live In Germany, Zeche Bochum, 1988)
Side C:
01. Persecution Mania (Recorded Live In Switzerland, Sargans, 1988)
02. Magic Dragon (Recorded Live In Germany, Braunschweig, 1989)
03. Shellfire Defense (Preproduction, 1990)
04. The Saw Is The Law (Preproduction, 1990)
Side D:
01. Bloodtrails (Preproduction, 1990)
02. Body Parts (Recorded Live In Japan, 1992)
03. Skinned Alive (Recorded Live At Wdr Festival, 1992)
04. Sons Of Hell (Demo Version)
To order the box set, visit NuclearBlast.de.
Former SODOM drummer Chris "Witchhunter" Dudek died on September 8, 2008 due to vital organ failure.
SODOM in 2010 announced the addition of drummer Markus "Makka" Freiwald to the group's ranks.
Freiwald previously played for the German bands DESPAIR and FLAMING ANGER and was involved with the VOODOOCULT project. In addition, he played percussion as a session musician on the MOONSPELL album "Irreligious" and is featured on the 1996 LP "Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers" by Greek extreme metallers ROTTING CHRIST.
SODOM in November 2010 parted ways with drummer Bobby Schottkowski due to "personal and private problems between Tom [bassist/vocalist Thomas 'Angelripper' Such] and Bobby," according to a statement released by the band.
SODOM's latest album, "In War And Pieces", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 64. The CD was released in North America on January 11, 2011 via SPV/Steamhammer.
Released through SPV/Steamhammer, the "30 Years Sodomized: 1982-2012" box set features the single CD "Official Bootleg - The Witchhunter Decade" and double-CD "Thirty Years War", along with 30th-anniversary posters, postcards, stickers and the 32-page book in CD format on the band's history. "The Official Bootleg - The Witch Hunter Decade" was also made available on colored vinyl.
"30 Years Sodomized: 1982-2012" box set track listing:
CD - Official Bootleg – The Witchhunter Decade:
01. Sepulchral Voice (Rehearsal, 1984)
02. Obsessed By Cruelty (Recorded Live In Belgium, 1985)
03. After The Deluge (Recorded Live At Metallize Festival, 1986)
04. Conjuration (Recorded Live At Scum, Holland, 1987)
05. Proselytism Real (Recorded Live At Metallize Festival, 1987)
06. Conqueror (Recorded Live In Holland, 1987)
07. My Atonement (Recorded Live At Scum, Holland, 1987)
08. Outbreak Of Evil (Recorded Live In Germany, Zeche Bochum, 1988)
09. Persecution Mania (Recorded Live In Switzerland, Sargans, 1988)
10. Magic Dragon (Recorded Live In Germany, Braunschweig, 1989)
11. Shellfire Defense (Pre-production, 1990)
12. The Saw Is The Law (Pre-production, 1990)
13. Bloodtrails (Pre-production, 1990)
14. Body Parts (Recorded Live In Japan, 1992)
15. Skinned Alive (Recorded Live At WDR Festival, 1992)
16. Sons Of Hell (Demo Version)
Thirty Years War Double-CD
CD 1:
01. Burst Command 'Til War
02. Brandish The Sceptre
03. My Atonement
04. Electrocution
05. Christ Passion
06. Tired And Red
07. Baptism Of Fire
08. The Saw Is The Law (Splatting Version)
09. Shellfire Defense
10. Tarred Anf Feathered
11. The Crippler
12. Reincarnation
13. Sodomized
14. Delight In Slaying
15. Into Perdition
CD 2:
01. Gathering Of Minds
02. Unwanted Youth
03. Politoximaniac
04. That's What An Unknown Killer Diarized
05. Warlike Conspiracy
06. Spiritual Demise
07. Book Burning
08. Minejumper
09. Genocide
10. Where Angels Die
11. Hatred Of The Gods
12. Lords Of Depravity
13. Kamikaze Terrorrizer
14. In War And Pieces
15. Hellfire
Double-LP: Official Bootleg – The Witchhunter Decade
Side A:
01. Sepulchral Voice (Rehearsal, 1984)
02. Obsessed By Cruelty (Recorded Live In Belgium, 1985)
03. After The Deluge (Recorded Live At Metallize Festival, 1986)
04. Conjuration (Recorded Live At Scum, Holland, 1987)
Side B:
01. Proselytism Real (Recorded Live At Metallize Festival, 1987)
02. Conqueror (Recorded Live In Holland, 1987)
03. My Atonement (Recorded Live At Scum, Holland, 1987)
04. Outbreak Of Evil (Recorded Live In Germany, Zeche Bochum, 1988)
Side C:
01. Persecution Mania (Recorded Live In Switzerland, Sargans, 1988)
02. Magic Dragon (Recorded Live In Germany, Braunschweig, 1989)
03. Shellfire Defense (Preproduction, 1990)
04. The Saw Is The Law (Preproduction, 1990)
Side D:
01. Bloodtrails (Preproduction, 1990)
02. Body Parts (Recorded Live In Japan, 1992)
03. Skinned Alive (Recorded Live At Wdr Festival, 1992)
04. Sons Of Hell (Demo Version)
To order the box set, visit NuclearBlast.de.
Former SODOM drummer Chris "Witchhunter" Dudek died on September 8, 2008 due to vital organ failure.
SODOM in 2010 announced the addition of drummer Markus "Makka" Freiwald to the group's ranks.
Freiwald previously played for the German bands DESPAIR and FLAMING ANGER and was involved with the VOODOOCULT project. In addition, he played percussion as a session musician on the MOONSPELL album "Irreligious" and is featured on the 1996 LP "Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers" by Greek extreme metallers ROTTING CHRIST.
SODOM in November 2010 parted ways with drummer Bobby Schottkowski due to "personal and private problems between Tom [bassist/vocalist Thomas 'Angelripper' Such] and Bobby," according to a statement released by the band.
SODOM's latest album, "In War And Pieces", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 64. The CD was released in North America on January 11, 2011 via SPV/Steamhammer.
Vocalist/guitarist, founder, and visionary Ivan Sekyra of the cult Czech metal band DRAKAR died on Saturday, June 30 after a long illness. He was 59 years old.
"Let Draka/Flight Of The Dragon", a double disc reissue of DRAKAR's two releases that came out in 1990 (with the Czech version of the album occupying the first disc and the English version the second), was made available last year via I Hate Records.
When asked in a 2011 interview with Teeth Of The Divine about the DRAKAR sound, Sekyra said, "I've always relied on the strongest musical motifs which I wrote. The music of DRAKAR is deliberately riddled with practices that are banned in classical music. There is important work with rhythms. None of the drummers wanted to play like that because they used to play different from it. But finally they understood. Although you may hear influences of bands that I liked, in the music of DRAKAR it is mainly my own sound and expression. [As for the vocals], we could not find right singer, so I started to sing of necessity alone. A few people told me that I have an interesting timbre of voice, and so I tried to take advantage of it. The vocal should sound like when Big Brother speaks to you, a hundred times intensified."
"Let Draka/Flight Of The Dragon", a double disc reissue of DRAKAR's two releases that came out in 1990 (with the Czech version of the album occupying the first disc and the English version the second), was made available last year via I Hate Records.
When asked in a 2011 interview with Teeth Of The Divine about the DRAKAR sound, Sekyra said, "I've always relied on the strongest musical motifs which I wrote. The music of DRAKAR is deliberately riddled with practices that are banned in classical music. There is important work with rhythms. None of the drummers wanted to play like that because they used to play different from it. But finally they understood. Although you may hear influences of bands that I liked, in the music of DRAKAR it is mainly my own sound and expression. [As for the vocals], we could not find right singer, so I started to sing of necessity alone. A few people told me that I have an interesting timbre of voice, and so I tried to take advantage of it. The vocal should sound like when Big Brother speaks to you, a hundred times intensified."
Guitar maestro Marty Friedman, known for his exemplary work in Cacophony and Megadeth as well as for his solo work, finally looks all set to release three of his recent solo albums in North America via Prosthetic Records on August 14. "Future Addict" and "Bad D.N.A." will be released in this territory for the first time ever, while the 2006 Shrapnel records release "Loudspeaker" will see a re-issue. Being the huge Megadeth fan that I am, I've always had a fascination towards Marty's style of playing, and this is an interview I've been wanting to do since the day I started this website. I was thrilled to get a chance to do this a couple of days ago, and I got to ask him about this North American release, touring plans, life in Japan, playing technique, and a couple of other things. I think his manner of answering questions is quite reflective of his personality as a musician, and fans will enjoy reading the conversation below. Also check out a song off of "Bad D.N.A." using the YouTube player embedded near the bottom of this page, and keep an eye on the official Marty Friedman website for info on album orders and tour dates.
First of all, let's talk about the North American release of three of your albums, out of which "Future Addict" and "Bad D.N.A." are being released Stateside for the first time ever. Why did it take you so long to decide on a North America release for these albums? Were you just waiting for the right record deal?
As much as I wanted everyone in the US to hear my latest music, I was in no rush to release them just for the sake of releasing them. It had to be done by a company who understands my music and sees potential in it that I might not see myself. The fine people at Prosthetic blew me away with their enthusiasm towards these records, so I was happy to have them do the releases.
Of late, the general opinion amongst your fans has been, 'Marty Friedman cares only about his Japanese fan-base. He doesn't think about other fans anymore'. Do you hope that these releases would finally put an end to this misconception?
That would be nice. I have the same amount of love for any fan of my music, wherever they are. When I came to Japan, things went a whole lot better for me than I ever would have expected. I got year-long TV commitments and some big projects so there wound up being no time left over to make the rest of the world a priority anymore. I would make an effort once in a while and do short tours and events outside of Japan, and the fans there were just fantastic. I had an awesome time. Those shows planted the seed for me to seriously do more stuff outside of Japan.
After the release of these albums, are you also planning on touring these territories and playing some shows?
I will tour Europe in October 2012, and I'm planning a US tour for 2013.
What will it be like? Are you going to bring a backing band with you or will it be more like a G3 kind of thing with other solo guitarists?
It will be spectacular, or else there is no reason or inspiration to do it at all. It will be worth the wait.
You've worked with various musicians over the years. I don't mean to put you on the spot here, but whom did you most enjoy working with?
I have enjoyed everyone I`ve worked with a lot. I`ve been lucky. There is no one in my career that I wouldn't want to see again sometime.
I interviewed Chris Poland two years ago, and he said, 'After I was out of Megadeth, Marty Friedman is the only Megadeth guitarist I ever cared about.' Have you had a chance to interact with Chris in recent years?
That's nice of him to say. What we have in common is that we are both strange musos but we both had a certain magic within Megadeth`s framework that just worked. Chris and I toured the US in 2003, along with Alex Skolnick. Chris is a beast of a guitarist, with an immediately identifiable style.
Have you written any material for your next solo album?
I'm watching the drums for it get edited right now as we speak.
If you were to pick guest musicians for the next album or for any of your future endeavors, whom would you ideally want to work with?
There are a lot of younger guys like my friend Keshav Dhar from Skyharbor who I would enjoy working with.
It's well known that you're a mainstream musician in Japan. But when you first moved there, how much time did it take you to achieve that level of recognition?
I was very lucky to start touring and recording almost immediately with a J-pop legend, Aikawa Nanase. That opened some doors to a lot of new things musically, but doing TV really took me into the mainstream more than anything. I hadn't planned on that.
Musicians in metal bands mostly stay away from the mainstream styles of music, but you're an exception to that, as you are getting to experience the mainstream in Japan. When that first happened, did it change your perception about music and make you relatively open-minded as compared to the average metal guitarist?
If I'm anything at all, I'm open minded, even to a fault, if that is possible. Sometimes in the metal world, people pride themselves on being underground, I get it, and that's fine, but I'm not like that at all, and I don't care about any movement. My goal is to make music I love, as best as I can, and to have as many people enjoy it as possible.
Even though you spent a lot of your time in California to work on Cacophony and Megadeth, and a few years in Hawaii before that, you grew up in Laurel, Maryland. What were those early days like, and how much were you into music and musicianship back then?
I never cared about musicianship because I believe musicianship should be taken for granted. I mean, every musician should have plenty of musicianship! Rather, I always cared about the music itself, because making good new music is the goal of those creating it. Musicianship, if you get caught up in the mechanics of it, can wind you up as a teacher and not an artist. This I knew from even the earliest days.
You've always been an improviser on the guitar. In recent years, have you incorporated any newer elements into your guitar playing that we might not have heard in the music you did with Cacophony, Megadeth or your earlier bands?
Oh, absolutely, my playing changes constantly and with every single thing I do. My subconscious goal, with anything that I plan to release, has always been to never repeat myself, ever. I'm sure I can't achieve that 100% of the time, but that concept is a big part of my playing, so naturally my newer stuff will have evolved considerably since when I was in those bands.
Among musicians, you're also known for a unique playing technique that's hard to find, and certainly hard to duplicate. Was there a purpose or intention behind the uniqueness in this technique when you started playing guitar? Or was it just a natural thing?
I think my style is unique possibly in part due to the fact that I ignore all the recognized techniques, cliche scale patterns, modes, tricks like tapping and using tremolo bars, common guitar playing trappings. What you have left is only music, the notes that I choose to play. It's very natural for me, but the idea to play this way probably was born out of sucking at all of those normal guitar things when I first started playing. Everybody in the neighborhood was already good at those things anyway. So where a lot of people put their efforts in being able to play Paganini's music or Flight of the Bumblebee, or any other practice-intensive piece, I put that kind of effort into understanding why I liked what I liked, and how I could use that information to make my own music.
Lastly, I was at a clinic you did at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, in January 2009. I thought it was great, and you gave some very cool insights into your musicianship. Do you intend to do any more of those outside of Japan?
Thank you very much. Actually I rarely do those in Japan, but sometimes I do them elsewhere, I enjoy them a lot because I get to meet my fans in person and have a chat with them.
[ Note: If you're seeing the facebook & twitter share counts as '0' in the plugin below, it's due to a glitch in the ShareThis plugin. The actual number of shares is a lot higher than zero! ]
LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe posted 4 million Czech Koruna bail (approximately $200,000) at noon today (Tuesday, July 3) but will remain in Czech custody for at least the next few days.
Blythe has been jailed in Prague, the Czech Republic, where he is accused of causing the death of a fan at one of the band's shows in 2010.
Due to statutory deadlines and the two-day holiday in the Czech Republic at the end of this week, Blythe — who still hasn't been officially charged in the case — will likely see his release sometime next week.
According to judge Petr Fassati of Prague 8 district court, the prosecutor has three working days to decide whether to approve Blythe's release. Since Thursday and Friday are public holidays in the Czech Republic, the deadline for the prosecutor to make a decision regarding a possible release is Monday, July 9. Even if the prosecutor was to make his/her decision today regarding a possible release, Blythe would not be able to leave the country until next week because the court has another three days to provide an official comment on the prosecutor's approval. If the prosecutor was to oppose Blythe's release, an official complaint would be sent to the municipal court. If both the court and the prosecutor agree to oppose Blythe's release, the bail would likely be canceled and returned to the singer.
Blythe was arrested last week at the Prague airport in connection with a 2010 Prague concert at which he allegedly either pushed or struck a 19-year-old fan named Daniel N. — a guitarist in a local metal band — who had come on stage, and that person died 14 days later of bleeding in the brain.
Blythe faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
A number of Blythe's fellow rockers have come to his defense, with many of them citing the 2004 shooting death onstage of PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott as the reason why musicians are so defensive nowadays about fans invading the stage.
DISTURBED frontman David Draiman said on Twitter, "The kid jumped on stage and started a brawl, and Randy defended himself. That his life was lost in the process is truly unfortunate, but Randy is my friend and he's no murderer. I feel for the child and for the family and for Randy, but you have to understand that ever since Dimebag Darrell was assaulted, shot, and murdered on stage by a 'fan,' all of us have been very defensive/cautious of anyone jumping up on stage."
Draiman's bandmate and drummer Mike Wengren told The Pulse Of Radio not along after Dimebag was shot that his death had cast a shadow over live performing. "I think one of the most scariest things is, you go up onstage, and there's this energy transfer between the band and the crowd, and you almost feel invincible. You feel very empowered. Never in a million years would anyone ever think something like that was even possible, and I think it just caught everyone off guard. It's pretty scary."
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH bassist Chris Kael simply tweeted, ""Everything changed on December 8, 2004. #stayoffthestage #FreeRandyBlythe."
Slash also posted the "Free Randy Blythe" hashtag, while ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian wrote, "It's complete and utter bullshit for him to be treated like a criminal for something he didn't do. Now fans can see firsthand why there's no stage diving anymore. Especially in the post-Darrell world we live in . . . Of course it's sad that this person died, it's a tragedy, but it's not Randy's fault."
LAMB OF GOD had been touring Europe in support of its latest album, "Resolution", when Blythe was arrested. The band canceled the rest of its shows and returned home to Richmond, Virginia on Sunday (July 1) — all, of course, except Blythe.
LAMB OF GOD's publicist, Adrenaline PR, issued a statement on Friday stressing that "under no circumstances was there a fight of any kind involved [during LAMB OF GOD's 2010 concert]. This incident deals with a fan that three times during the concert jumped the barricade and rushed Randy during the performance. It is alleged that the third time, security was not able to reach him and that Randy pushed him back into the audience where supposedly he fell and hit his head."
Blythe has been jailed in Prague, the Czech Republic, where he is accused of causing the death of a fan at one of the band's shows in 2010.
Due to statutory deadlines and the two-day holiday in the Czech Republic at the end of this week, Blythe — who still hasn't been officially charged in the case — will likely see his release sometime next week.
According to judge Petr Fassati of Prague 8 district court, the prosecutor has three working days to decide whether to approve Blythe's release. Since Thursday and Friday are public holidays in the Czech Republic, the deadline for the prosecutor to make a decision regarding a possible release is Monday, July 9. Even if the prosecutor was to make his/her decision today regarding a possible release, Blythe would not be able to leave the country until next week because the court has another three days to provide an official comment on the prosecutor's approval. If the prosecutor was to oppose Blythe's release, an official complaint would be sent to the municipal court. If both the court and the prosecutor agree to oppose Blythe's release, the bail would likely be canceled and returned to the singer.
Blythe was arrested last week at the Prague airport in connection with a 2010 Prague concert at which he allegedly either pushed or struck a 19-year-old fan named Daniel N. — a guitarist in a local metal band — who had come on stage, and that person died 14 days later of bleeding in the brain.
Blythe faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
A number of Blythe's fellow rockers have come to his defense, with many of them citing the 2004 shooting death onstage of PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott as the reason why musicians are so defensive nowadays about fans invading the stage.
DISTURBED frontman David Draiman said on Twitter, "The kid jumped on stage and started a brawl, and Randy defended himself. That his life was lost in the process is truly unfortunate, but Randy is my friend and he's no murderer. I feel for the child and for the family and for Randy, but you have to understand that ever since Dimebag Darrell was assaulted, shot, and murdered on stage by a 'fan,' all of us have been very defensive/cautious of anyone jumping up on stage."
Draiman's bandmate and drummer Mike Wengren told The Pulse Of Radio not along after Dimebag was shot that his death had cast a shadow over live performing. "I think one of the most scariest things is, you go up onstage, and there's this energy transfer between the band and the crowd, and you almost feel invincible. You feel very empowered. Never in a million years would anyone ever think something like that was even possible, and I think it just caught everyone off guard. It's pretty scary."
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH bassist Chris Kael simply tweeted, ""Everything changed on December 8, 2004. #stayoffthestage #FreeRandyBlythe."
Slash also posted the "Free Randy Blythe" hashtag, while ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian wrote, "It's complete and utter bullshit for him to be treated like a criminal for something he didn't do. Now fans can see firsthand why there's no stage diving anymore. Especially in the post-Darrell world we live in . . . Of course it's sad that this person died, it's a tragedy, but it's not Randy's fault."
LAMB OF GOD had been touring Europe in support of its latest album, "Resolution", when Blythe was arrested. The band canceled the rest of its shows and returned home to Richmond, Virginia on Sunday (July 1) — all, of course, except Blythe.
LAMB OF GOD's publicist, Adrenaline PR, issued a statement on Friday stressing that "under no circumstances was there a fight of any kind involved [during LAMB OF GOD's 2010 concert]. This incident deals with a fan that three times during the concert jumped the barricade and rushed Randy during the performance. It is alleged that the third time, security was not able to reach him and that Randy pushed him back into the audience where supposedly he fell and hit his head."
GWAR frontman Oderus Urungus is one of a number of musicians who have come out in support of LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe, who is facing manslaughter charges in the Czech Republic.
Blythe, 41, is accused of causing the fatal injury that occurred at LAMB OF GOD's May 24, 2010 show in Prague. The singer apparently either pushed or struck a 19-year-old fan named Daniel N. who had come on stage, and that person died 14 days later of bleeding in the brain.
In a series of tweets, Oderus wrote, "[I am] waiting anxiously to hear the fate of the human Randy. He is a honorary slave who has died for GWAR many times. [I am] alarmed by the lack of outrage in the entertainment community. If this was a pop artist, the media would be all over this. That's right — I am fucking appalled at the LACK of concern in the U.S. media for the fate of Randy Blythe… Naw, just because Randy is in a nasty metal band, you can just throw his ass in jail anytime you want. The whole of music media should come the fuck out and condemn this arrest and detainment. This whole thing stinks of a shakedown. And for all you Blythe haters, eat a bowl of dick. Randy is one of the coolest mofos on the planet. Don't be hating, that's my job. Where are the leaders of the American metal community voicing outrage about the idiotic arrest of one of our own… SHAME on you, rock star!"
Both GWAR and LAMB OF GOD hail from Richmond, Virginia and have toured together.
The crime of which Blythe is being accused is punishable by up to ten years in prison, according to popular Czech news web site Novinky.cz.
Blythe, 41, is accused of causing the fatal injury that occurred at LAMB OF GOD's May 24, 2010 show in Prague. The singer apparently either pushed or struck a 19-year-old fan named Daniel N. who had come on stage, and that person died 14 days later of bleeding in the brain.
In a series of tweets, Oderus wrote, "[I am] waiting anxiously to hear the fate of the human Randy. He is a honorary slave who has died for GWAR many times. [I am] alarmed by the lack of outrage in the entertainment community. If this was a pop artist, the media would be all over this. That's right — I am fucking appalled at the LACK of concern in the U.S. media for the fate of Randy Blythe… Naw, just because Randy is in a nasty metal band, you can just throw his ass in jail anytime you want. The whole of music media should come the fuck out and condemn this arrest and detainment. This whole thing stinks of a shakedown. And for all you Blythe haters, eat a bowl of dick. Randy is one of the coolest mofos on the planet. Don't be hating, that's my job. Where are the leaders of the American metal community voicing outrage about the idiotic arrest of one of our own… SHAME on you, rock star!"
Both GWAR and LAMB OF GOD hail from Richmond, Virginia and have toured together.
The crime of which Blythe is being accused is punishable by up to ten years in prison, according to popular Czech news web site Novinky.cz.
Niclas Müller-Hansen of Sweden's Metalshrine recently conducted an interview with guitarist Bill Kelliher of Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metalshrine: You've toured for so long now, are you already planning new stuff, coming up with riffs for the next album?
Heafy: We have nine songs pretty much completely recorded as pre-production, recorded on our bass player's laptop, and it actually sounds better than our first record. Paolo's [Gregoletto] really good at recording shit. It's all programmed drums, but programmed in a way that Paolo programmed the bass part, like the underlying drum tracks and Nick [Augusto, drums] would sit with him and rewrite them, but on the computer. We tracked guitars, we tracked bass and we're gonna track vocals soon, we tracked solos and I've got an album title, album arts, song names. We've got about 15 songs and everything's planned out. Video ideas, photo shoot ideas, everything. But we just can't reveal anything.
Metalshrine: Next album then, when it comes to producing, same thing as the last one?
Heafy: We don't exactly know. We've got the plan, but we can't reveal. It's also kinda far to tell, but it will be different again. The new stuff sounds amazing and I know every bands says that, but yeah, it's really great. The fact that we're all working on it so much already, we know that it's something really special.
Metalshrine: Right. Do you ever get writer's block?
Heafy: With TRIVIUM, yeah, yeah. Luckily we're not on what needs to be considered writing time. We don't have to write for the new record but since creativity is popping up anyway we figured we'd take advantage of it. Whenever we're forced to write, I feel like, "Yeah, I can't write.", but if I don't have to write, then I'll write good stuff.
Metalshrine: Releasing a new album and the music industry being what it is, don't you ever fell like starting up a label of your own?
Heafy: Our initial contract with Roadrunner is, like, one [album] with a bunch of options, so we're still bound to them. We've always been partners with our label and they've always done a great job distributing us and spreading the word of our band. I don't know where it's gonna go. Every year that we release a new record, the music industry changes drastically. Every time we release a CD, it seems like the CD buying is 30 percent less. We just had 40 of our friends fired from Roadrunner international and that was a huge drag. I don't know what the result of it is. I'm sure it's a domino effect of people not buying music, people not putting value in music anymore, but it's hard to bring that up because people take a lot of offense of that, but it's true. Because there is no value in music for some people and they feel like it should be a free commodity, bands are disappearing. People can't argue that bands aren't disappearing, that bands aren't going away because they can't afford to exist. That's why we're so fortunate that we can tour this much. Everything is disposable and instantly accessible and it's sad that there isn't value in going to the CD store and waiting for the CD to come out. It's all about "I need this instantly and if I don't get if for free, that band's a dick!" I don't know when that sense of entitlement came around and I think it's mainly due to the Internet thing becoming such a huge thing. It's unfortunate but you have to adapt with the times. I mean, there isn't really a matter of changing it, but you have to adapt and make it work for you. We've learned that cool metal doesn't sell records, but I think it's because people weren't really buying music when we started releasing records and I guess there are 100 times more metal bands than there were back when TESTAMENT and MEGADETH were selling records. I don't know, but I know that touring and merchandise is the way for us to be able to stay alive, even though people get cuts of that that we do. I don't know if the kids know, but there are lots and lots of people getting cuts of every single thing that a band does. Their merchandising, their touring, their endorsements… people get cuts of all that.
Metalshrine: I don't think they see that. They only see all these rappers with the houses and the cars.
Heafy: Exactly! The kids go, "So what's it like being a millionaire?" and I'm like, "Are you kidding me? I'm trying to make my fucking rent, kid!" [laughs] But what I've learned too is that when touring in the U.S., there's a huge chunk that doesn't listen to the Internet or that doesn't download, but listens purely off the radio and still buys CDs, so there are portions of the world that are not connected to the Internet and that's also weird. There's no right way and there's no formula, you just gotta adapt.
Metalshrine: You've toured for so long now, are you already planning new stuff, coming up with riffs for the next album?
Heafy: We have nine songs pretty much completely recorded as pre-production, recorded on our bass player's laptop, and it actually sounds better than our first record. Paolo's [Gregoletto] really good at recording shit. It's all programmed drums, but programmed in a way that Paolo programmed the bass part, like the underlying drum tracks and Nick [Augusto, drums] would sit with him and rewrite them, but on the computer. We tracked guitars, we tracked bass and we're gonna track vocals soon, we tracked solos and I've got an album title, album arts, song names. We've got about 15 songs and everything's planned out. Video ideas, photo shoot ideas, everything. But we just can't reveal anything.
Metalshrine: Next album then, when it comes to producing, same thing as the last one?
Heafy: We don't exactly know. We've got the plan, but we can't reveal. It's also kinda far to tell, but it will be different again. The new stuff sounds amazing and I know every bands says that, but yeah, it's really great. The fact that we're all working on it so much already, we know that it's something really special.
Metalshrine: Right. Do you ever get writer's block?
Heafy: With TRIVIUM, yeah, yeah. Luckily we're not on what needs to be considered writing time. We don't have to write for the new record but since creativity is popping up anyway we figured we'd take advantage of it. Whenever we're forced to write, I feel like, "Yeah, I can't write.", but if I don't have to write, then I'll write good stuff.
Metalshrine: Releasing a new album and the music industry being what it is, don't you ever fell like starting up a label of your own?
Heafy: Our initial contract with Roadrunner is, like, one [album] with a bunch of options, so we're still bound to them. We've always been partners with our label and they've always done a great job distributing us and spreading the word of our band. I don't know where it's gonna go. Every year that we release a new record, the music industry changes drastically. Every time we release a CD, it seems like the CD buying is 30 percent less. We just had 40 of our friends fired from Roadrunner international and that was a huge drag. I don't know what the result of it is. I'm sure it's a domino effect of people not buying music, people not putting value in music anymore, but it's hard to bring that up because people take a lot of offense of that, but it's true. Because there is no value in music for some people and they feel like it should be a free commodity, bands are disappearing. People can't argue that bands aren't disappearing, that bands aren't going away because they can't afford to exist. That's why we're so fortunate that we can tour this much. Everything is disposable and instantly accessible and it's sad that there isn't value in going to the CD store and waiting for the CD to come out. It's all about "I need this instantly and if I don't get if for free, that band's a dick!" I don't know when that sense of entitlement came around and I think it's mainly due to the Internet thing becoming such a huge thing. It's unfortunate but you have to adapt with the times. I mean, there isn't really a matter of changing it, but you have to adapt and make it work for you. We've learned that cool metal doesn't sell records, but I think it's because people weren't really buying music when we started releasing records and I guess there are 100 times more metal bands than there were back when TESTAMENT and MEGADETH were selling records. I don't know, but I know that touring and merchandise is the way for us to be able to stay alive, even though people get cuts of that that we do. I don't know if the kids know, but there are lots and lots of people getting cuts of every single thing that a band does. Their merchandising, their touring, their endorsements… people get cuts of all that.
Metalshrine: I don't think they see that. They only see all these rappers with the houses and the cars.
Heafy: Exactly! The kids go, "So what's it like being a millionaire?" and I'm like, "Are you kidding me? I'm trying to make my fucking rent, kid!" [laughs] But what I've learned too is that when touring in the U.S., there's a huge chunk that doesn't listen to the Internet or that doesn't download, but listens purely off the radio and still buys CDs, so there are portions of the world that are not connected to the Internet and that's also weird. There's no right way and there's no formula, you just gotta adapt.
"L'Enfant Sauvage", the fifth album from French progressive metallers GOJIRA, has entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 7 (No. 17 on the digital chart). The band's previous CD, "The Way Of All Flesh", debuted at No. 28 back in 2008.
"L'Enfant Sauvage" (which translates to "The Wild Child") features 11 tracks of mind-bending, thunderous metal. The CD was recorded at Spin Recording Studios in Long Island City, New York with co-producer Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD).
In a recent interview with Metalshrine, GOJIRA guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier stated about the new album title, "We couldn't call it 'The Wild Child', because it's hard to translate 'L'Enfant Sauvage'. It's not really the wild child as understood in English, because a wild child for me, has an aspect like someone out of control somehow. 'L'Enfant Sauvage' in French… 'Sauvage' is something that is not educated or something that is like free and completely free in nature. A wild flower that goes wherever she wants and becomes something beautiful. The idea with 'L'Enfant Sauvage' is like with a human that would grow up in nature, raised by wolves, for example, without the influence from others and the influence from institutions or society in general. Without a social security number. [laughs] Not even a name. This is what you are and I am on the inside, right? How much the education and the culture, emotions and the guilt are interacting with us and it changes us and how far are we from this pure child inside? That's the question we had on this album."
A special collector's package of "L'Enfant Sauvage" features two bonus tracks and a double-colored vinyl version of the record, along with an exclusive t-shirt.
"L'Enfant Sauvage" track listing:
01. Explosia
02. L'Enfant Sauvage
03. The Axe
04. Liquid Fire
05. The Wild Healer
06. Planned Obsolescence
07. Mouth Of Kala
08. The Gift Of Guilt
09. Pain Is A Master
10. Born In Winter
11. The Fall
GOJIRA will release a new DVD/Blu-ray, "The Flesh Alive", in the U.S. on July 31 via Mascot. The set will be made available in the following formats:
* 2-DVD+CD
* Blu-ray+CD with free poster
The three-disc "The Flesh Alive" chronicles the making of GOJIRA's 2008 album, "The Way Of All Flesh", and the touring activity that followed the CD's release.
"L'Enfant Sauvage" (which translates to "The Wild Child") features 11 tracks of mind-bending, thunderous metal. The CD was recorded at Spin Recording Studios in Long Island City, New York with co-producer Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD).
In a recent interview with Metalshrine, GOJIRA guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier stated about the new album title, "We couldn't call it 'The Wild Child', because it's hard to translate 'L'Enfant Sauvage'. It's not really the wild child as understood in English, because a wild child for me, has an aspect like someone out of control somehow. 'L'Enfant Sauvage' in French… 'Sauvage' is something that is not educated or something that is like free and completely free in nature. A wild flower that goes wherever she wants and becomes something beautiful. The idea with 'L'Enfant Sauvage' is like with a human that would grow up in nature, raised by wolves, for example, without the influence from others and the influence from institutions or society in general. Without a social security number. [laughs] Not even a name. This is what you are and I am on the inside, right? How much the education and the culture, emotions and the guilt are interacting with us and it changes us and how far are we from this pure child inside? That's the question we had on this album."
A special collector's package of "L'Enfant Sauvage" features two bonus tracks and a double-colored vinyl version of the record, along with an exclusive t-shirt.
"L'Enfant Sauvage" track listing:
01. Explosia
02. L'Enfant Sauvage
03. The Axe
04. Liquid Fire
05. The Wild Healer
06. Planned Obsolescence
07. Mouth Of Kala
08. The Gift Of Guilt
09. Pain Is A Master
10. Born In Winter
11. The Fall
GOJIRA will release a new DVD/Blu-ray, "The Flesh Alive", in the U.S. on July 31 via Mascot. The set will be made available in the following formats:
* 2-DVD+CD
* Blu-ray+CD with free poster
The three-disc "The Flesh Alive" chronicles the making of GOJIRA's 2008 album, "The Way Of All Flesh", and the touring activity that followed the CD's release.
Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM have released the following statement:
"It is with great regret that we are forced to cancel tonight's show in Oslo [Norway] as well as tomorrow night's show in Malmö [Sweden].
"Alexi [Laiho, guitar/vocals] was rushed to the Oslo hospital earlier this evening with extreme stomach pain. The doctors in the emergency unit checked him and while we are still waiting for a diagnosis, they made clear that he will not be able to perform within the next 48 hours.
"We apologize to all our fans who have bought tickets to these shows — we will try to reschedule both Oslo and Malmö at the earliest possibility. Keep your fingers crossed with us that Alexi will get well again soon!"
CHILDREN OF BODOM recently inked a worldwide deal (excluding Japan) with Nuclear Blast Records. The band, which kicked off a year-long celebration of its 15th anniversary with a successful North American tour alongside labelmates ELUVEITIE, has a new studio album planned for release in 2013.
"Holiday At Lake Bodom (15 Years Of Wasted Youth)", a very special CD+DVD career retrospective in celebration of CHILDREN OF BODOM's 15th anniversary, sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The effort spotlights specially selected tracks from every one of CHILDREN OF BODOM's critically acclaimed albums (1997's "Something Wild", 1999's "Hatebreeder", 2000's "Follow The Reaper", 2003's "Hate Crew Deathroll", 2005's "Are You Dead Yet?", 2008's "Blooddrunk" and 2011's "Relentless Reckless Forever"), plus two newly recorded (and undeniably fun) cover songs and detailed liner notes penned by the members of CHILDREN OF BODOM themselves. The DVD portion of the package includes "candid touring and backstage footage from around the world", plus the "Shovel Knockout" video.
"It is with great regret that we are forced to cancel tonight's show in Oslo [Norway] as well as tomorrow night's show in Malmö [Sweden].
"Alexi [Laiho, guitar/vocals] was rushed to the Oslo hospital earlier this evening with extreme stomach pain. The doctors in the emergency unit checked him and while we are still waiting for a diagnosis, they made clear that he will not be able to perform within the next 48 hours.
"We apologize to all our fans who have bought tickets to these shows — we will try to reschedule both Oslo and Malmö at the earliest possibility. Keep your fingers crossed with us that Alexi will get well again soon!"
CHILDREN OF BODOM recently inked a worldwide deal (excluding Japan) with Nuclear Blast Records. The band, which kicked off a year-long celebration of its 15th anniversary with a successful North American tour alongside labelmates ELUVEITIE, has a new studio album planned for release in 2013.
"Holiday At Lake Bodom (15 Years Of Wasted Youth)", a very special CD+DVD career retrospective in celebration of CHILDREN OF BODOM's 15th anniversary, sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The effort spotlights specially selected tracks from every one of CHILDREN OF BODOM's critically acclaimed albums (1997's "Something Wild", 1999's "Hatebreeder", 2000's "Follow The Reaper", 2003's "Hate Crew Deathroll", 2005's "Are You Dead Yet?", 2008's "Blooddrunk" and 2011's "Relentless Reckless Forever"), plus two newly recorded (and undeniably fun) cover songs and detailed liner notes penned by the members of CHILDREN OF BODOM themselves. The DVD portion of the package includes "candid touring and backstage footage from around the world", plus the "Shovel Knockout" video.
"Ascending To Infinity", the new album from the Italian "cinematic" metal band LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY, entered the German Media Control chart at the position No. 32.
Commented singer Alessandro Conti: "Well, there are no words to describe our inner feelings for this historical result. We want to virtually embrace all our German brothers and sisters for what we were able to achieve thanks to their enormous and unique support. The artistic sincerity of this album is endless and this result shows once more that true emotions always win!"
Added guitarist Dominique Leurquin: "Actually, we are preparing ourselves for the European leg of the 'Ascending To Infinity Cinematic World Tour' this fall. You should not miss it as each concert of this ambitious tour won't be just a typical show but instead a spectacular live event, full of legendary songs, visual surprises and unique atmospheres. Mostly important it will be a great chance for us to meet all of you, in Germany, all around Europe, in many countries where we never played before, and later also in the rest of the world. Therefore see you soon, dear friends, and be ready for the ultimate cinematic live experience!"
The "Dark Fate Of Atlantis" video was filmed in Stockholm, Sweden by Swedish director Owe Lingvall of Dreamday Media (THE RASMUS, KAMELOT's "The Great Pandemonium"). The song comes off LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY's new album, "Ascending To Infinity", which will be released on June 22 via Nuclear Blast. The song was edited and made shorter for the video while on the CD it will appear in its original version of 6 minutes and 29 seconds.
In August 2011, RHAPSODY OF FIRE guitarist Luca Turilli and keyboardist Alex Staropoli announced their decision to go their separate ways.
Due to legal reasons, Staropoli will continue under the RHAPSODY OF FIRE name. Turilli, on the other hand, will make his future efforts available under the RHAPSODY moniker (RHAPSODY OF FIRE's original name), in which he will be joined by guitarist Dominique Leurquin, bassist Patrice Guers, singer Alessandro Conti (TRICK OR TREAT) and drummer Alex Landenburg (AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR, MEKONG DELTA, STRATOVARIUS).
"Ascending To Infinity" track listing:
01. Quantum X
02. Ascending To Infinity
03. Dante's Inferno
04. Excalibur
05. Tormento E Passione
06. Dark Fate Of Atlantis
07. Fantasia Gotica
08. Clash Of The Titans
09. Of Michael The Archangel And Lucifer's Fall
I. Alma Mundi
II. Fatum Mortalis
III. Ignis Divinus
You can check out the "Ascending To Infinity" cover artwork below.
The album has a running time of around 65 minutes.
Commented singer Alessandro Conti: "Well, there are no words to describe our inner feelings for this historical result. We want to virtually embrace all our German brothers and sisters for what we were able to achieve thanks to their enormous and unique support. The artistic sincerity of this album is endless and this result shows once more that true emotions always win!"
Added guitarist Dominique Leurquin: "Actually, we are preparing ourselves for the European leg of the 'Ascending To Infinity Cinematic World Tour' this fall. You should not miss it as each concert of this ambitious tour won't be just a typical show but instead a spectacular live event, full of legendary songs, visual surprises and unique atmospheres. Mostly important it will be a great chance for us to meet all of you, in Germany, all around Europe, in many countries where we never played before, and later also in the rest of the world. Therefore see you soon, dear friends, and be ready for the ultimate cinematic live experience!"
The "Dark Fate Of Atlantis" video was filmed in Stockholm, Sweden by Swedish director Owe Lingvall of Dreamday Media (THE RASMUS, KAMELOT's "The Great Pandemonium"). The song comes off LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY's new album, "Ascending To Infinity", which will be released on June 22 via Nuclear Blast. The song was edited and made shorter for the video while on the CD it will appear in its original version of 6 minutes and 29 seconds.
In August 2011, RHAPSODY OF FIRE guitarist Luca Turilli and keyboardist Alex Staropoli announced their decision to go their separate ways.
Due to legal reasons, Staropoli will continue under the RHAPSODY OF FIRE name. Turilli, on the other hand, will make his future efforts available under the RHAPSODY moniker (RHAPSODY OF FIRE's original name), in which he will be joined by guitarist Dominique Leurquin, bassist Patrice Guers, singer Alessandro Conti (TRICK OR TREAT) and drummer Alex Landenburg (AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR, MEKONG DELTA, STRATOVARIUS).
"Ascending To Infinity" track listing:
01. Quantum X
02. Ascending To Infinity
03. Dante's Inferno
04. Excalibur
05. Tormento E Passione
06. Dark Fate Of Atlantis
07. Fantasia Gotica
08. Clash Of The Titans
09. Of Michael The Archangel And Lucifer's Fall
I. Alma Mundi
II. Fatum Mortalis
III. Ignis Divinus
You can check out the "Ascending To Infinity" cover artwork below.
The album has a running time of around 65 minutes.
AFM Records has announced the signing of the Los Angeles-based metal act ALL HAIL THE YETI. The band's debut album will be released in August.
Commented vocalist Connor Garritty: ""This is a dream come true for us. We have worked so hard to get to this point, and are very excited to be a part of the AFM family. When we started talking to them, it was immediately apparent that they understood who we are and what we've been trying to do.
"It's been a long road for us, simply trying to stand on our own. To write good, solid songs while remaining as heavy as anyone out there — especially here in Los Angeles.
"Our record not only sums up where we've been over the past few years but more importantly, where we're going. We put all of our blood and sweat into it and it shows.
"There needs to be a cleansing in the heavy metal world! We are the hundred-year storm, to wash away the filth!!! Follow us into the Woods!"
Since coming together in 2006, the brainchild of Canadian vocalist and tattoo artist Connor Garritty, and guitarist K.J Duval, ALL HAIL THE YETI earned a local following with their swampy, chaotic guitar tone and Garritty's "look 'em dead in the eyes" stage demeanor.
An EP titled "Trees On Fire With Songs OF Blood" was released in 2010. It began to satiate local fans with live favorites like "Deep Creek".
Without waiting for the "industry" to take notice of what their audience already knew, ALL HAIL THE YETI entered the studio in late 2011 to record their debut full-length with producers Tommy Decker and Mike Sarkisyan. The results prove that ALL HAIL THE YETI has learned to master the riff and make it feel as good as it is savage. While the likes of "Suicide Woods" is lean and mean, "After The Great Fire" verges on an epic journey, its churning vocal melody courtesy of bassist Nick Diltz proving that ALL HAIL THE YETI have yet to show all of their creative cards.
Now with their lineup rounded out by drummer Skylar Feigel and guitarist Craw NeQuent, ALL HAIL THE YETI are ready to take over the world with no intention of turning back.
How would Garritty describe just what the hell ALL HAIL THE YETI is about? "The best way to describe our sound is to capture how it makes each individual feel," says the frontman. "Our songs touch on topics of death, life, love, love lost, the paranormal, crypto zoology, mythical creatures, partying, etc. It's tough to describe our sound with one sentence."
ALL HAIL THE YETI is:
Connor Garritty (vocals)
Nicholas Diltz (bass)
Skylar Feigel (drums)
Craw NeQuent (guitar)
Commented vocalist Connor Garritty: ""This is a dream come true for us. We have worked so hard to get to this point, and are very excited to be a part of the AFM family. When we started talking to them, it was immediately apparent that they understood who we are and what we've been trying to do.
"It's been a long road for us, simply trying to stand on our own. To write good, solid songs while remaining as heavy as anyone out there — especially here in Los Angeles.
"Our record not only sums up where we've been over the past few years but more importantly, where we're going. We put all of our blood and sweat into it and it shows.
"There needs to be a cleansing in the heavy metal world! We are the hundred-year storm, to wash away the filth!!! Follow us into the Woods!"
Since coming together in 2006, the brainchild of Canadian vocalist and tattoo artist Connor Garritty, and guitarist K.J Duval, ALL HAIL THE YETI earned a local following with their swampy, chaotic guitar tone and Garritty's "look 'em dead in the eyes" stage demeanor.
An EP titled "Trees On Fire With Songs OF Blood" was released in 2010. It began to satiate local fans with live favorites like "Deep Creek".
Without waiting for the "industry" to take notice of what their audience already knew, ALL HAIL THE YETI entered the studio in late 2011 to record their debut full-length with producers Tommy Decker and Mike Sarkisyan. The results prove that ALL HAIL THE YETI has learned to master the riff and make it feel as good as it is savage. While the likes of "Suicide Woods" is lean and mean, "After The Great Fire" verges on an epic journey, its churning vocal melody courtesy of bassist Nick Diltz proving that ALL HAIL THE YETI have yet to show all of their creative cards.
Now with their lineup rounded out by drummer Skylar Feigel and guitarist Craw NeQuent, ALL HAIL THE YETI are ready to take over the world with no intention of turning back.
How would Garritty describe just what the hell ALL HAIL THE YETI is about? "The best way to describe our sound is to capture how it makes each individual feel," says the frontman. "Our songs touch on topics of death, life, love, love lost, the paranormal, crypto zoology, mythical creatures, partying, etc. It's tough to describe our sound with one sentence."
ALL HAIL THE YETI is:
Connor Garritty (vocals)
Nicholas Diltz (bass)
Skylar Feigel (drums)
Craw NeQuent (guitar)
Illinois-based Vikings thrashers THE HORDE have inked a deal with Abyss Records. The follow-up to 2011's "Thy Blackened Reign" is tentatively titled "Destroyer... Slayer Of Men" and is scheduled for release in the fall.
Commented guitarist Tim Matthews: "THE HORDE are thrilled to have signed with Abyss Records. This is a match made in Valhalla as they will suit up in their armor and go to war with us as we ride into the flames of battle!
"We are currently working on our third album. Some songtitles are 'Pray Hater', '10,000 Strong' and 'Firevurm'. We'll be entering Mercenary Digital Studios in Zion, Illinois at some point this winter to record with Scott Creekmore."
THE HORDE is slated to appear at Spring Bash IV in April 2013 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin alongside DECEASED, MORTA SKULD and other acts. More U.S. festival appearances for 2013 are in the works.
Commented guitarist Tim Matthews: "THE HORDE are thrilled to have signed with Abyss Records. This is a match made in Valhalla as they will suit up in their armor and go to war with us as we ride into the flames of battle!
"We are currently working on our third album. Some songtitles are 'Pray Hater', '10,000 Strong' and 'Firevurm'. We'll be entering Mercenary Digital Studios in Zion, Illinois at some point this winter to record with Scott Creekmore."
THE HORDE is slated to appear at Spring Bash IV in April 2013 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin alongside DECEASED, MORTA SKULD and other acts. More U.S. festival appearances for 2013 are in the works.
BONZ, the new band led by original STUCK MOJO vocalist Bonz, has entered into an agreement with Virtuo Productions to record its upcoming EP at Virtuo Sound Studio in Canton, Georgia. The effort will be produced by Josh Hack and co-produced by Bonz.
"We are beyond excited to get into the studio with Josh," says Bonz. "We all connected on so many levels, and believe that he will get an incredible-sounding record out of us."
BONZhopes to have the EP finished before it heads out on "The Mouth Of Mojo" tour, which starts August 16 in Atlanta, Georgia and sees the band covering the United States and Europe in the coming months.
After years of speculation, and many rumors, regarding his musical career, Bonz is back on the scene with a new band and new music that is sure to excite fans and impress critics. The group's first single, "Broken Silence", includes some of the most insightful and poignant lyrics of his career, and he has assembled a band that enables him to explore avenues that he has wanted to go to for many years.
Bonz recruited his friend, Curt Taylor, formerly of PRIMER 55, as well as Erin Stagg and Troi Mosby to complete the lineup. The band also has a number of friends and surprises who make guest appearances on the recordings, truly making this a team effort.
After creating the first few demos, Bonz and his bandmates knew that something really new and invigorating was in store, and the music reflects that feeling. This is a "new" Bonz, with all of the flair and attitude that only he can bring, as part of a band that delivers the goods night in and night out, reiterating that the "Mouth Of Mojo" is indeed back in fine form.
Bonz in 2010 collaborated with former SOULFLY bassist Bobby Burns in the KILLER IN THE WORKPLACE project.
"We are beyond excited to get into the studio with Josh," says Bonz. "We all connected on so many levels, and believe that he will get an incredible-sounding record out of us."
BONZhopes to have the EP finished before it heads out on "The Mouth Of Mojo" tour, which starts August 16 in Atlanta, Georgia and sees the band covering the United States and Europe in the coming months.
After years of speculation, and many rumors, regarding his musical career, Bonz is back on the scene with a new band and new music that is sure to excite fans and impress critics. The group's first single, "Broken Silence", includes some of the most insightful and poignant lyrics of his career, and he has assembled a band that enables him to explore avenues that he has wanted to go to for many years.
Bonz recruited his friend, Curt Taylor, formerly of PRIMER 55, as well as Erin Stagg and Troi Mosby to complete the lineup. The band also has a number of friends and surprises who make guest appearances on the recordings, truly making this a team effort.
After creating the first few demos, Bonz and his bandmates knew that something really new and invigorating was in store, and the music reflects that feeling. This is a "new" Bonz, with all of the flair and attitude that only he can bring, as part of a band that delivers the goods night in and night out, reiterating that the "Mouth Of Mojo" is indeed back in fine form.
Bonz in 2010 collaborated with former SOULFLY bassist Bobby Burns in the KILLER IN THE WORKPLACE project.
Florida-based death metal veterans MORBID ANGEL have announced that they will play a set of "all-time classic songs" on their upcoming European tour with KREATOR, NILE and FUELED BY FIRE, which kicks off on November 1 in Antwerp, Belgium.
A complete list of dates can be found on the poster below.
On February 24 (February 28 in North America), Season of Mist released a compilation of remixed tracks from MORBID ANGEL's latest album, "Illud Divinum Insanus". Far from being just revamped versions of the seminal extreme metal band's newest songs, this collection presents the work of 39 artists from the electro / industrial, techno and club scene.
MORBID ANGEL's latest album, "Illud Divinum Insanus", sold around 3,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 141. The effort marks MORBID ANGEL's first CD to feature bassist/vocalist David Vincent since 1995's "Domination".
A complete list of dates can be found on the poster below.
On February 24 (February 28 in North America), Season of Mist released a compilation of remixed tracks from MORBID ANGEL's latest album, "Illud Divinum Insanus". Far from being just revamped versions of the seminal extreme metal band's newest songs, this collection presents the work of 39 artists from the electro / industrial, techno and club scene.
MORBID ANGEL's latest album, "Illud Divinum Insanus", sold around 3,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 141. The effort marks MORBID ANGEL's first CD to feature bassist/vocalist David Vincent since 1995's "Domination".
http://www.blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/morbidangelkreatortour.jpg
Indie Recordings has announced the signing of POSTHUM
The sound of POSTHUM is the sound of dark, Norwegian forests and endless snow-covered plains. It is melancholic, atmospheric and hypnotizing Norwegian black metal.
POSTHUM released its self-titled debut album in 2009, received great reviews from the underground press and triggered a strong demand for a swift sequel.
The band was formed in 2004 in a small town in the east of Norway, and until 2009 POSTHUM kept fairly isolated from other musical communities and groups. This resulted in their music not being particularly influenced by the trends in the scene, and despite their obvious roots in Norwegian black metal, POSTHUM sounds new and fresh. Their debut record ensured them some well-deserved attention that led to a European tour with legendary SATYRICON and SHINING (Sweden) the same year. In fact, POSTHUM's first concert ever was supporting SATYRICON and SHINING in front of a completely sold-out venue with 800 fans in Antwerp, Belgium. Since then, Posthum has played at Under The Black Sun festival in Germany, done several shows in Norway and a toured Europe again with NARGAROTH and CHAOS INVOCATION.
The name "Posthum" means "after exitus," which especially refers to compositions and tributes to dead artists. For the band, "Posthum" is a tribute and reminder to all life that has existed before them.
Commented POSTHUM: "It's fascinating to know that what surrounds us are the results of the efforts of ordinary mortal explorers, of flesh and blood, and that one day we too will be history, but what we leave behind is something very alive, the music."
The sound of POSTHUM is the sound of dark, Norwegian forests and endless snow-covered plains. It is melancholic, atmospheric and hypnotizing Norwegian black metal.
POSTHUM released its self-titled debut album in 2009, received great reviews from the underground press and triggered a strong demand for a swift sequel.
The band was formed in 2004 in a small town in the east of Norway, and until 2009 POSTHUM kept fairly isolated from other musical communities and groups. This resulted in their music not being particularly influenced by the trends in the scene, and despite their obvious roots in Norwegian black metal, POSTHUM sounds new and fresh. Their debut record ensured them some well-deserved attention that led to a European tour with legendary SATYRICON and SHINING (Sweden) the same year. In fact, POSTHUM's first concert ever was supporting SATYRICON and SHINING in front of a completely sold-out venue with 800 fans in Antwerp, Belgium. Since then, Posthum has played at Under The Black Sun festival in Germany, done several shows in Norway and a toured Europe again with NARGAROTH and CHAOS INVOCATION.
The name "Posthum" means "after exitus," which especially refers to compositions and tributes to dead artists. For the band, "Posthum" is a tribute and reminder to all life that has existed before them.
Commented POSTHUM: "It's fascinating to know that what surrounds us are the results of the efforts of ordinary mortal explorers, of flesh and blood, and that one day we too will be history, but what we leave behind is something very alive, the music."
Resurrected 1990s Florida-based death metallers MASSACRE will release a seven-inch single, "Condemned To The Shadows", on July 30, in time for the group's appearance at the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany. The single, which is now available for pre-order at CMDistro.com, will contain two brand new songs — "Succumb To Rapture" and "Back From Beyond" — that were recorded in February at CGM Studios in Altamonte Springs, Florida with Tim Vazquez at the helm.
The cover artwork for "Condemned To The Shadows" was created by Richard Schouten and can be seen below . According to MASSACRE guitarist Frederick "Rick Rozz" DeLillo, "the art will wrap around from front to back of the seven-inch."
MASSACRE played "Succumb To Rapture" for the first time during the group's January 14 headlining concert at The Brass Mug in Tampa, Florida. Video footage of the performance can be seen below (courtesy of Brutal Broadcast).
The Brass Mug show marked the first-ever appearance by MASSACRE's new lineup, which consists of bassist Terry Butler and guitarist Frederick "Rick Rozz" DeLillo alongside the band's latest additions, Mike Mazzonetto (drums; M INC., PAIN PRINCIPLE) and Ed Webb (vocals; DIABOLIC, GENERICHRIST, DESTINED TO RUIN).
MASSACRE's current lineup is as follows:
* Mike Mazzonetto (M INC., PAIN PRINCIPLE) - Drums
* Ed Webb (DIABOLIC, GENERICHRIST, DESTINED TO RUIN) - Vocals
* Frederick "Rick Rozz" DeLillo (MANTAS, DEATH) – Guitar
* Terry Butler (OBITUARY, SIX FEET UNDER, DEATH) – Bass
MASSACRE recently inked a worldwide deal with Century Media Records.
Rozz started his career at the age of 16 when he formed MANTAS with Chuck Schuldiner. The band's "Death By Metal" demo from 1984 was as influential on the early death metal scene as early recordings by POSSESSED (who released their infamous "Death Metal" demo the same year) and HELLHAMMER's 1983 demos. MANTAS changed its name to DEATH later in 1984, followed by the creation of MASSACRE, with Butler joining the group a short time later. After recording and touring as members of DEATH, Rozz and Butler released the MASSACRE death metal cult classic "From Beyond" in 1991, influencing generations of extreme metal bands worldwide.
"From Beyond" was reissued as a limited-edition digipak CD via Earache Records.The long-out-of-print album was made available on CD with four bonus EP tracks and comes housed in a digipak with extended artwork and a fold-out poster.
A different version of MASSACRE — consisting of DENIAL FIEND members Sam Williams (guitar), Curt Beeson (drums; NASTY SAVAGE), along with Terry Butler, Steve Swanson (guitar) and Kam Lee (vocals; MASSACRE, DEATH, MANTAS) — completed a European tour in late 2007.
The cover artwork for "Condemned To The Shadows" was created by Richard Schouten and can be seen below . According to MASSACRE guitarist Frederick "Rick Rozz" DeLillo, "the art will wrap around from front to back of the seven-inch."
MASSACRE played "Succumb To Rapture" for the first time during the group's January 14 headlining concert at The Brass Mug in Tampa, Florida. Video footage of the performance can be seen below (courtesy of Brutal Broadcast).
The Brass Mug show marked the first-ever appearance by MASSACRE's new lineup, which consists of bassist Terry Butler and guitarist Frederick "Rick Rozz" DeLillo alongside the band's latest additions, Mike Mazzonetto (drums; M INC., PAIN PRINCIPLE) and Ed Webb (vocals; DIABOLIC, GENERICHRIST, DESTINED TO RUIN).
MASSACRE's current lineup is as follows:
* Mike Mazzonetto (M INC., PAIN PRINCIPLE) - Drums
* Ed Webb (DIABOLIC, GENERICHRIST, DESTINED TO RUIN) - Vocals
* Frederick "Rick Rozz" DeLillo (MANTAS, DEATH) – Guitar
* Terry Butler (OBITUARY, SIX FEET UNDER, DEATH) – Bass
MASSACRE recently inked a worldwide deal with Century Media Records.
Rozz started his career at the age of 16 when he formed MANTAS with Chuck Schuldiner. The band's "Death By Metal" demo from 1984 was as influential on the early death metal scene as early recordings by POSSESSED (who released their infamous "Death Metal" demo the same year) and HELLHAMMER's 1983 demos. MANTAS changed its name to DEATH later in 1984, followed by the creation of MASSACRE, with Butler joining the group a short time later. After recording and touring as members of DEATH, Rozz and Butler released the MASSACRE death metal cult classic "From Beyond" in 1991, influencing generations of extreme metal bands worldwide.
"From Beyond" was reissued as a limited-edition digipak CD via Earache Records.The long-out-of-print album was made available on CD with four bonus EP tracks and comes housed in a digipak with extended artwork and a fold-out poster.
A different version of MASSACRE — consisting of DENIAL FIEND members Sam Williams (guitar), Curt Beeson (drums; NASTY SAVAGE), along with Terry Butler, Steve Swanson (guitar) and Kam Lee (vocals; MASSACRE, DEATH, MANTAS) — completed a European tour in late 2007.
Aniruddh "Andrew" Bansal of Metal Assault recently conducted an interview with vocalist Travis Ryan of San Diego-based deathgrind masters CATTLE DECAPITATION. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metal Assault: I've always loved the album covers CATTLE DECAPITATION have put out, and I think the cover artwork for "Monolith Of Inhumanity" is probably the best one since "Humanure". Would you say it's a good representation of the band and the music on the album?
Travis: Yeah, but it's kind of more conceptual. It requires some explanation to somebody looking at it with the naked eye, I would think. I guess, in that respect, so does the music, for people wondering how or why we've changed our sound or whatever, or how we've stepped it up. I don't think it's so much of a changed sound, but it's more to do with the approach towards songwriting, you could say. I think, in that respect, it's progressed from previous albums in the same way as the cover. And a lot of people are picking up on that, which is cool.
Metal Assault: In terms of the music on the album, you said that it's more of a changed approach. I think the music has come out more intense and straightforward as compared to some of your recent albums. It's not as technical, I'd say. Would you agree with that?
Travis: I think it's just put together a little better. Usually, I don't really feel like we don't enough time to write. We had a year to do this one, but we did it at a slower pace. We did about the same amount of writing that we do in five or six months usually, but had to do it at a slower pace because of the way everybody's jobs were conflicting with each other and stuff like that. We all have regular day jobs and it's just a pain in the ass to keep it going and make things happen. But we manage to somehow sling it and pull it off. It was just a lot of elbow grease as far as scheduling and stuff like that. I think may be because we did it at a slower pace, it gave us more time to decide whether or not we liked certain parts of whatever. I think that helped a lot.
Metal Assault: That's interesting. Because this slower pace of writing has clearly helped you with this album, do you think you'll take more time with future albums also?
Travis: Yeah, who knows?! We don't write on the road and we never have a tour bus. So it's not like we can sit there and write all day, sip coffee and have a nice time. [laughs] We bust our asses when we're out there on the road. It's kind of a pain in the butt, but we're probably always going to write the same way where we just come home from tour supporting a whole album, and then just sit back, write the new record and do it in a cycle like that instead of constantly writing and putting the songs together. Although I think everybody has already started getting at least the riffs together, so may be it won't take so long next time. [laughs]
Metal Assault: You mentioned that all of you have jobs. Whenever I hear that from any band, it makes me curious about how you get to take so much time off from your jobs, to do long tours. How does that work? Are your employers cool with it all the time?
Travis: Luckily, they are! I mean, I'm self-employed so I don't have to worry about it, but the other guys have regular jobs. Dave [McGraw, drummer] works at a drum store, so they are used to dealing with musicians in bands and them taking time off and all that stuff. The other guys are just waiting for the one day when they can't do this band anymore, and luckily that day hasn't come yet. [laughs] We'll see what happens. It is something that we're kind of constantly worried about, but it's pretty much a new development for a couple of us. There's always been at least one guy who's been complaining about having to leave the job and then come back. Sometimes they don't have a job when they come home. For our first-ever U.S. tour, I had to quit my job, a job that I loved. A lot of people I've known, seen and talked to over the years lost their band members to jobs that weren't even anywhere near as cool as the one I had. So I was like, shit. All this time I felt bad about quitting my job, but I found out that people leave their jobs all the time. So it's just something that you have to do, I guess. But luckily, we haven't had to do that in a long time.
Metal Assault: I've always loved the album covers CATTLE DECAPITATION have put out, and I think the cover artwork for "Monolith Of Inhumanity" is probably the best one since "Humanure". Would you say it's a good representation of the band and the music on the album?
Travis: Yeah, but it's kind of more conceptual. It requires some explanation to somebody looking at it with the naked eye, I would think. I guess, in that respect, so does the music, for people wondering how or why we've changed our sound or whatever, or how we've stepped it up. I don't think it's so much of a changed sound, but it's more to do with the approach towards songwriting, you could say. I think, in that respect, it's progressed from previous albums in the same way as the cover. And a lot of people are picking up on that, which is cool.
Metal Assault: In terms of the music on the album, you said that it's more of a changed approach. I think the music has come out more intense and straightforward as compared to some of your recent albums. It's not as technical, I'd say. Would you agree with that?
Travis: I think it's just put together a little better. Usually, I don't really feel like we don't enough time to write. We had a year to do this one, but we did it at a slower pace. We did about the same amount of writing that we do in five or six months usually, but had to do it at a slower pace because of the way everybody's jobs were conflicting with each other and stuff like that. We all have regular day jobs and it's just a pain in the ass to keep it going and make things happen. But we manage to somehow sling it and pull it off. It was just a lot of elbow grease as far as scheduling and stuff like that. I think may be because we did it at a slower pace, it gave us more time to decide whether or not we liked certain parts of whatever. I think that helped a lot.
Metal Assault: That's interesting. Because this slower pace of writing has clearly helped you with this album, do you think you'll take more time with future albums also?
Travis: Yeah, who knows?! We don't write on the road and we never have a tour bus. So it's not like we can sit there and write all day, sip coffee and have a nice time. [laughs] We bust our asses when we're out there on the road. It's kind of a pain in the butt, but we're probably always going to write the same way where we just come home from tour supporting a whole album, and then just sit back, write the new record and do it in a cycle like that instead of constantly writing and putting the songs together. Although I think everybody has already started getting at least the riffs together, so may be it won't take so long next time. [laughs]
Metal Assault: You mentioned that all of you have jobs. Whenever I hear that from any band, it makes me curious about how you get to take so much time off from your jobs, to do long tours. How does that work? Are your employers cool with it all the time?
Travis: Luckily, they are! I mean, I'm self-employed so I don't have to worry about it, but the other guys have regular jobs. Dave [McGraw, drummer] works at a drum store, so they are used to dealing with musicians in bands and them taking time off and all that stuff. The other guys are just waiting for the one day when they can't do this band anymore, and luckily that day hasn't come yet. [laughs] We'll see what happens. It is something that we're kind of constantly worried about, but it's pretty much a new development for a couple of us. There's always been at least one guy who's been complaining about having to leave the job and then come back. Sometimes they don't have a job when they come home. For our first-ever U.S. tour, I had to quit my job, a job that I loved. A lot of people I've known, seen and talked to over the years lost their band members to jobs that weren't even anywhere near as cool as the one I had. So I was like, shit. All this time I felt bad about quitting my job, but I found out that people leave their jobs all the time. So it's just something that you have to do, I guess. But luckily, we haven't had to do that in a long time.
Guitarist/vocalist Adam "Nergal" Darski of Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH is putting the finishing touches on his autobiography, "Sacrum Profanum", for an October release. The book, whicih was previously described by Nergal as "a really long in-depth interview," will initially only be made available in Polish, but "depending on interest, we might be translating this into English," he says.
The "Sacrum Profanum" cover photo was taken by Ivo Ledwozyw, with post-production by Seth Siro Anton (PARADISE LOST, KAMELOT, MOONSPELL, SOILWORK, EXODUS, JOB FOR A COWBOY, DECAPITATED, VADER).
In addition to publishing the book, Nergal will be working with Polish producers Grupa 13, with whom he had previously collaborated on the BEHEMOTH videos "At The Left Hand Ov God" and "Ov Fire And The Void", on several promotional clips.
"We're shooting some trailers to support it," Nergal told Terrorizer magazine. "The episodes will be little portraits of certain chapters of the book."
In December 2010, Darski underwent a bone marrow transplant procedure after being diagnosed with a life-threatening form of leukemia.
In a recent interview with Turbo from RSU Radio and the Metal Meltdown, Darski was asked how long fans will have to wait for a new BEHEMOTH studio album. "I've got plenty of stuff written down — not completely finished lyrics, but a lot of ideas and verses here and there and some choruses here and there," Nergal replied. "It's a slow process. I'm screwing around with some riffs here and there at the backstage of the venue or the back lounge [of the bus], I'm just jamming out. I think there's plenty of ideas, but sometimes it takes me weeks to realize or to come up with something that I consider, myself, 'Wow, this is it. This is the stuff that should be on the next BEHEMOTH record.' It looks like, with the tenth record, it's worse and worse for me to come up with something I will feel that is great.
He added, "I've always said that... Right now we're good musicians, and we could easily fabricate anything. Metal Blade would have the record fucking in three months — if we want that — but it wouldn't be honest. It wouldn't be 'us.' I just tear out a piece of my heart and soul and my skin and I just fucking put it into my art. Otherwise it makes no sense to me. So this process sometimes takes time and energy and experience, and I'm collecting these experiences by now. But you can be sure that the next BEHEMOTH album is coming out next year; that's for sure. I just can't say if it's before or after summer, but we [will] start working [on it] intensively this summer."
The "Sacrum Profanum" cover photo was taken by Ivo Ledwozyw, with post-production by Seth Siro Anton (PARADISE LOST, KAMELOT, MOONSPELL, SOILWORK, EXODUS, JOB FOR A COWBOY, DECAPITATED, VADER).
In addition to publishing the book, Nergal will be working with Polish producers Grupa 13, with whom he had previously collaborated on the BEHEMOTH videos "At The Left Hand Ov God" and "Ov Fire And The Void", on several promotional clips.
"We're shooting some trailers to support it," Nergal told Terrorizer magazine. "The episodes will be little portraits of certain chapters of the book."
In December 2010, Darski underwent a bone marrow transplant procedure after being diagnosed with a life-threatening form of leukemia.
In a recent interview with Turbo from RSU Radio and the Metal Meltdown, Darski was asked how long fans will have to wait for a new BEHEMOTH studio album. "I've got plenty of stuff written down — not completely finished lyrics, but a lot of ideas and verses here and there and some choruses here and there," Nergal replied. "It's a slow process. I'm screwing around with some riffs here and there at the backstage of the venue or the back lounge [of the bus], I'm just jamming out. I think there's plenty of ideas, but sometimes it takes me weeks to realize or to come up with something that I consider, myself, 'Wow, this is it. This is the stuff that should be on the next BEHEMOTH record.' It looks like, with the tenth record, it's worse and worse for me to come up with something I will feel that is great.
He added, "I've always said that... Right now we're good musicians, and we could easily fabricate anything. Metal Blade would have the record fucking in three months — if we want that — but it wouldn't be honest. It wouldn't be 'us.' I just tear out a piece of my heart and soul and my skin and I just fucking put it into my art. Otherwise it makes no sense to me. So this process sometimes takes time and energy and experience, and I'm collecting these experiences by now. But you can be sure that the next BEHEMOTH album is coming out next year; that's for sure. I just can't say if it's before or after summer, but we [will] start working [on it] intensively this summer."
http://www.blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/nergalauto.jpg
__._,_.___
.
__,_._,___
0 comments:
Post a Comment