DEF LEPPARD frontman Joe Elliott has posted the following message on the band's official web site:
"OK, just to nip in the bud any Twitter/Facebook rumours you may have read regarding our recent performance at Saratoga Springs where the band didn't do an encore, here's the deal...
"After the Boston gig, which was the first show on the whole tour where it was actually cold afterwards, I caught a hacking cough which just ripped the hell out of my voice. Despite all the usual stuff singers do such as lemon tea, steam, etc. it just wasn't going to heal overnight, but with sufficient rest and plenty of warming up I thought I might manage to do the following show in Saratoga Springs. I was tough and I was ploughing through it as best I could, but by the time we got to 'Photograph', there was barely anything left in the tank and it was starting to hurt, so I decided after struggling through 'Sugar' that I had to make a decision... do the encore and risk doing so much damage that we might have to cancel a bunch of shows, or blow out one song and sort out a doctor to have a look at me, which we did the following morning.
"The result being after a couple of cortisone shots, I seem to be mending quite nicely!! The cough has gone, and the gig in Bangor, Maine on Wednesday night, albeit challenging, was a big improvement and with today being a day off, it's a perfect opportunity for me to rest up and address this issue, which seems to have a few people unduly worried about my health!!
"In most occupations, a cough doesn't really affect your ability to work — not so for people who use their voice for a living!! I've had a couple of tough gigs, it's happened before and no doubt it'll happen again, but for now, I'm OK, the tour will roll on, we will ALL give our all, as we do every night, and we move on.
"Thank you to all of you who have publicly & privately supported me on this."
"OK, just to nip in the bud any Twitter/Facebook rumours you may have read regarding our recent performance at Saratoga Springs where the band didn't do an encore, here's the deal...
"After the Boston gig, which was the first show on the whole tour where it was actually cold afterwards, I caught a hacking cough which just ripped the hell out of my voice. Despite all the usual stuff singers do such as lemon tea, steam, etc. it just wasn't going to heal overnight, but with sufficient rest and plenty of warming up I thought I might manage to do the following show in Saratoga Springs. I was tough and I was ploughing through it as best I could, but by the time we got to 'Photograph', there was barely anything left in the tank and it was starting to hurt, so I decided after struggling through 'Sugar' that I had to make a decision... do the encore and risk doing so much damage that we might have to cancel a bunch of shows, or blow out one song and sort out a doctor to have a look at me, which we did the following morning.
"The result being after a couple of cortisone shots, I seem to be mending quite nicely!! The cough has gone, and the gig in Bangor, Maine on Wednesday night, albeit challenging, was a big improvement and with today being a day off, it's a perfect opportunity for me to rest up and address this issue, which seems to have a few people unduly worried about my health!!
"In most occupations, a cough doesn't really affect your ability to work — not so for people who use their voice for a living!! I've had a couple of tough gigs, it's happened before and no doubt it'll happen again, but for now, I'm OK, the tour will roll on, we will ALL give our all, as we do every night, and we move on.
"Thank you to all of you who have publicly & privately supported me on this."
METALLICA's August 24 and August 25 concerts at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada will be shot in 3D for the band's upcoming 3D feature-film project.
The group earlier in the year tapped award-winning director Nimród Antal to helm the movie. Charlotte Huggins ("Journey To The Center Of The Earth", "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island") will produce.
The film will be a marriage of narrative and concert and will star the "five" members of METALLICA — James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, and the fans. It will be released in the summer of 2013.
Earlier today (Thursday, August 23), METALLICA's official web site was updated with the following message:
"You may have heard us mention just once or twice (or 700 times!) that a METALLI-3D movie is in the works... we now need your help to finish filming it!!
"This Monday, August 27, we will be shooting what we hope will be the final live portion of the movie and have our last chance for quite some time to play on the gigantic, massive over-the-top stage that we rolled out in Mexico City, took to Edmonton and end our film excursion/mini tour with in Vancouver.
"As we have been saying a lot recently, we would love to have you join us and be a part of our movie making adventure.
"Here's how it works: We will be running though the full live show one last time at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, but unlike the Friday and Saturday shows, there will be lots of breaks in it to allow for cameras and lights to be repositioned as the director sees fit. Since it is way more fun for us to have YOU there, tickets will be available for just $5 (no extra fees or service charges!) and all the proceeds will benefit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
"Tickets will be available in a special Ticketmaster pre-sale tomorrow, August 24 at 9:00 a.m. Click here to obtain a password and then head over to link text. Fan-club members should log in to www.metallica.com NOW for more details about a special pre-sale starting later today. Finally, tickets will be available to the general public Sunday, August 26 at 9:00 a.m. There will be no floor tickets for sale (too many cameras!) and there is a four-ticket-per-person limit. Lower-bowl tickets will be assigned a section, but are G.A. within that section.
"Doors open at 5:00 p.m. for this 'show,' and we hit the stage at 6:30 p.m. sharp... we're starting a little early to allow the movie people to do what they do. So please come and plan to stay for a full night of fun and games... and who knows, maybe we'll see you on the big screen next summer!"
Antal is best known for writing and directing the Hungarian-language film "Kontroll" (2003) that won several awards, including the Award of Youth at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and the Gold Hugo prize at the Chicago International Film Festival. He also received a European Film Award nomination for Best Director. His credits include "Vacancy", starring Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson, and "Armored", starring Matt Dillon and Laurence Fishburne. In 2010 he was hired by Robert Rodriguez to direct "Predators", featuring Adrien Brody.
"I've been a fan of Nimród's since his first Hungarian film, 'Kontroll', showed up at Cannes in 2004 and blew everybody away," said METALLICA's Lars Ulrich. "I've watched with excitement his career in Hollywood blossom over the last few years. Within five minutes of meeting him I was addicted to his enthusiasm, his take on the creative process and his 'thinking outside of the box' personality. Let's get on with it!!!"
"METALLICA has always been a huge part of my life, and it's an incredible opportunity when we get to work with our heroes," said Antal. "We are going to harness the powerful and almighty energy of METALLICA's live shows, inject a narrative into it, and shoot it in 3D to elevate the entire experience."
When METALLICA recently confirmed reports that it was working on a 3D movie, the band was vague about what exactly the project would entail or when it come out. The Pulse Of Radio asked Ulrich for more info and he said that film production is new territory for the group which they're taking very slowly. "It's been an idea that's been kind of circling in everybody's heads for about the last two years," he said. "Getting your own 3D movie off the ground is easier said than done . . We just want to make sure that we don't throw ourselves out into something that gets so completely overwhelming that the whole thing just blows up in our face."
Entertainment industry web site Deadline first broke the news in October that METALLICA was looking to self-finance its own 3D feature film, and had Huggins to develop the project for them.
Ulrich did hint to Rolling Stone a few months back what the film might be like, saying, "Imagine if you took [LED ZEPPELIN's concert film] 'The Song Remains The Same', which is 75 percent concert, 25 percent other stuff, and flipped it around. And all the non-concert footage, instead of being about the band members, is a story that unfolds, set against the backdrop of the concert."
The group earlier in the year tapped award-winning director Nimród Antal to helm the movie. Charlotte Huggins ("Journey To The Center Of The Earth", "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island") will produce.
The film will be a marriage of narrative and concert and will star the "five" members of METALLICA — James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, and the fans. It will be released in the summer of 2013.
Earlier today (Thursday, August 23), METALLICA's official web site was updated with the following message:
"You may have heard us mention just once or twice (or 700 times!) that a METALLI-3D movie is in the works... we now need your help to finish filming it!!
"This Monday, August 27, we will be shooting what we hope will be the final live portion of the movie and have our last chance for quite some time to play on the gigantic, massive over-the-top stage that we rolled out in Mexico City, took to Edmonton and end our film excursion/mini tour with in Vancouver.
"As we have been saying a lot recently, we would love to have you join us and be a part of our movie making adventure.
"Here's how it works: We will be running though the full live show one last time at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, but unlike the Friday and Saturday shows, there will be lots of breaks in it to allow for cameras and lights to be repositioned as the director sees fit. Since it is way more fun for us to have YOU there, tickets will be available for just $5 (no extra fees or service charges!) and all the proceeds will benefit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
"Tickets will be available in a special Ticketmaster pre-sale tomorrow, August 24 at 9:00 a.m. Click here to obtain a password and then head over to link text. Fan-club members should log in to www.metallica.com NOW for more details about a special pre-sale starting later today. Finally, tickets will be available to the general public Sunday, August 26 at 9:00 a.m. There will be no floor tickets for sale (too many cameras!) and there is a four-ticket-per-person limit. Lower-bowl tickets will be assigned a section, but are G.A. within that section.
"Doors open at 5:00 p.m. for this 'show,' and we hit the stage at 6:30 p.m. sharp... we're starting a little early to allow the movie people to do what they do. So please come and plan to stay for a full night of fun and games... and who knows, maybe we'll see you on the big screen next summer!"
Antal is best known for writing and directing the Hungarian-language film "Kontroll" (2003) that won several awards, including the Award of Youth at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and the Gold Hugo prize at the Chicago International Film Festival. He also received a European Film Award nomination for Best Director. His credits include "Vacancy", starring Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson, and "Armored", starring Matt Dillon and Laurence Fishburne. In 2010 he was hired by Robert Rodriguez to direct "Predators", featuring Adrien Brody.
"I've been a fan of Nimród's since his first Hungarian film, 'Kontroll', showed up at Cannes in 2004 and blew everybody away," said METALLICA's Lars Ulrich. "I've watched with excitement his career in Hollywood blossom over the last few years. Within five minutes of meeting him I was addicted to his enthusiasm, his take on the creative process and his 'thinking outside of the box' personality. Let's get on with it!!!"
"METALLICA has always been a huge part of my life, and it's an incredible opportunity when we get to work with our heroes," said Antal. "We are going to harness the powerful and almighty energy of METALLICA's live shows, inject a narrative into it, and shoot it in 3D to elevate the entire experience."
When METALLICA recently confirmed reports that it was working on a 3D movie, the band was vague about what exactly the project would entail or when it come out. The Pulse Of Radio asked Ulrich for more info and he said that film production is new territory for the group which they're taking very slowly. "It's been an idea that's been kind of circling in everybody's heads for about the last two years," he said. "Getting your own 3D movie off the ground is easier said than done . . We just want to make sure that we don't throw ourselves out into something that gets so completely overwhelming that the whole thing just blows up in our face."
Entertainment industry web site Deadline first broke the news in October that METALLICA was looking to self-finance its own 3D feature film, and had Huggins to develop the project for them.
Ulrich did hint to Rolling Stone a few months back what the film might be like, saying, "Imagine if you took [LED ZEPPELIN's concert film] 'The Song Remains The Same', which is 75 percent concert, 25 percent other stuff, and flipped it around. And all the non-concert footage, instead of being about the band members, is a story that unfolds, set against the backdrop of the concert."
Former QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate taped a guest appearance on VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show" earlier in the month for an episode which will premiere this Saturday, August 25. A two-minute preview clip can be seen below.
Asked about the cirumstances that led to the split with his QUEENSRŸCHE bandmates after nearly 30 years of working together, Tate said, "Well, really, it's kind of difficult to explain, 'cause I'm not in their heads. I can only speculate, really. It came out of the blue for me. We've never had any kind of creative differences, or any kind of a situation where we are at odds with each other. It just happened . . . It was really out of the blue. And I tell you, it's something that I haven't quite come to terms with yet; I'm kind of emotional about it still. We're talking about 30 years of being brothers, people living together, all our decisions were [made] together, our children grew up together, we had camping trips and Fourth Of July [celebrations] together. And for it to all just implode so quickly and all of a sudden out of the blue, it's shocking. These [are] people that I loved, I took care of, I nurtured all our relationships, worked at a very intimate level creatively with these people, [so] the betrayal is immense."
Regarding the claims made by his former bandmates accusing him of assaulting, and spitting on, drummer Scott Rockenfield and guitarist Michael Wilton prior to, and during, QUEENSRŸCHE April 14, 2012, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Geoff didn't deny the allegations, telling "That Metal Show" co-host Eddie Trunk, "Oh, I did it. I don't make any bones about it."
In a sample quote previously posted on the "That Metal Show" Facebook page, Geoff stated about the QUEENSRŸCHE musicians, "I'd like to sit in a room with those gentlemen and have them tell me face to face what the situation is. Explain their actions. I'd like to know and actually understand their point of view. I'd like to see them talk to me face to face rather than through the Internet. Communication is a big part of any relationship, right? If nobody's talking, then nothing's getting settled. My door's open!"
Trunk said after the show taping, "We asked Geoff every tough question and he dodged nothing. He was honest in his assesment of what went down from his perspective [between him and his former bandmates]."
Tate revealed last week that he will support ALICE COOPER on a Canadian tour in November, and will embark on a QUEENSRŸCHE "anniversary tour" in 2013 backed by an "all-star lineup" of musicians.
Tate's personal web site, GeoffTate.com, was recently upgraded with a new banner that reads "Geoff Tate: The Voice Of QUEENSRŸCHE." He is also billed on the web site for booking agency Monterey International as "QUEENSRŸCHE Starring Geoff Tate: The Original Voice." The band's lineup isn't listed.
Guitarist Michael Wilton, drummer Scott Rockenfield, bassist Eddie Jackson and Parker Lundgren (guitar) announced on June 20 that they were parting ways with Geoff Tate and recruiting La Torre of CRIMSON GLORY as his replacement.
Wilton, Jackson and Rockenfield defeated Tate's motion for a preliminary injunction on July 13 that would have kept them from touring and operating under the band name,
Tate and his wife, Susan, QUEENSRŸCHE's former manager, filed a lawsuit against Geoff's ex-bandmates on June 22 in King County Superior Court over whether he should be awarded the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being dismissed from the group in June. Their complaint states Rockenfield, Wilton and Jackson wrongfully fired the singer and are tarnishing the group's brand by attempting to move forward without him.
If the case goes to trial, the date is set for November 18, 2013.
Asked about the cirumstances that led to the split with his QUEENSRŸCHE bandmates after nearly 30 years of working together, Tate said, "Well, really, it's kind of difficult to explain, 'cause I'm not in their heads. I can only speculate, really. It came out of the blue for me. We've never had any kind of creative differences, or any kind of a situation where we are at odds with each other. It just happened . . . It was really out of the blue. And I tell you, it's something that I haven't quite come to terms with yet; I'm kind of emotional about it still. We're talking about 30 years of being brothers, people living together, all our decisions were [made] together, our children grew up together, we had camping trips and Fourth Of July [celebrations] together. And for it to all just implode so quickly and all of a sudden out of the blue, it's shocking. These [are] people that I loved, I took care of, I nurtured all our relationships, worked at a very intimate level creatively with these people, [so] the betrayal is immense."
Regarding the claims made by his former bandmates accusing him of assaulting, and spitting on, drummer Scott Rockenfield and guitarist Michael Wilton prior to, and during, QUEENSRŸCHE April 14, 2012, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Geoff didn't deny the allegations, telling "That Metal Show" co-host Eddie Trunk, "Oh, I did it. I don't make any bones about it."
In a sample quote previously posted on the "That Metal Show" Facebook page, Geoff stated about the QUEENSRŸCHE musicians, "I'd like to sit in a room with those gentlemen and have them tell me face to face what the situation is. Explain their actions. I'd like to know and actually understand their point of view. I'd like to see them talk to me face to face rather than through the Internet. Communication is a big part of any relationship, right? If nobody's talking, then nothing's getting settled. My door's open!"
Trunk said after the show taping, "We asked Geoff every tough question and he dodged nothing. He was honest in his assesment of what went down from his perspective [between him and his former bandmates]."
Tate revealed last week that he will support ALICE COOPER on a Canadian tour in November, and will embark on a QUEENSRŸCHE "anniversary tour" in 2013 backed by an "all-star lineup" of musicians.
Tate's personal web site, GeoffTate.com, was recently upgraded with a new banner that reads "Geoff Tate: The Voice Of QUEENSRŸCHE." He is also billed on the web site for booking agency Monterey International as "QUEENSRŸCHE Starring Geoff Tate: The Original Voice." The band's lineup isn't listed.
Guitarist Michael Wilton, drummer Scott Rockenfield, bassist Eddie Jackson and Parker Lundgren (guitar) announced on June 20 that they were parting ways with Geoff Tate and recruiting La Torre of CRIMSON GLORY as his replacement.
Wilton, Jackson and Rockenfield defeated Tate's motion for a preliminary injunction on July 13 that would have kept them from touring and operating under the band name,
Tate and his wife, Susan, QUEENSRŸCHE's former manager, filed a lawsuit against Geoff's ex-bandmates on June 22 in King County Superior Court over whether he should be awarded the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being dismissed from the group in June. Their complaint states Rockenfield, Wilton and Jackson wrongfully fired the singer and are tarnishing the group's brand by attempting to move forward without him.
If the case goes to trial, the date is set for November 18, 2013.
Finnish love metallers HIM will release a greatest-hits album, "XX - Two Decades Of Love Metal", on October 29 via Sony Music in Finland. The set will include the band's new cover version of the song "Strange World", originally recorded in the 1990s by Kevin Grivois (a.k.a. Ké).
The "Strange World" video and digital single is tentatively due on September 21.
H.I.M. is scheduled to enter the studio in early September with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (APOCALYPTICA, AMORPHIS, MOONSPELL) to begin recording its ninth full-length album, "Tears On Tape", for an early 2013 release. The CD will be mixed by Tim Palmer, who has previously worked with PEARL JAM, U2 and ROBERT PLANT, among many others.
H.I.M. will end this year by bringing back the Helldone Festival at club Tavastia in Helsinki, where they will perform for four nights in a row.
"XX - Two Decades Of Love Metal" track listing:
01. Strange World (KÉ cover)
02. Join Me In Death
03. Heartkiller
04. Rip Out The Wings Of A Butterfly
05. The Kiss Of Dawn (radio edit)
06. The Funeral Of Hearts (radio edit)
07. Right Here In My Arms (radio edit)
08. Pretending
09. Buried Alive By Love (radio edit)
10. Gone With The Sin
11. Your Sweet Six Six Six
12. The Sacrament (radio edit)
13. Wicked Game (CHRIS ISAAK cover)
14. Killing Loneliness
15. Bleed Well (radio edit)
16. In Joy And Sorrow (radio edit)
17. Poison Girl
18. Scared To Death
19. When Love And Death Embrace (radio edit)
20. Heartache Every Moment
The "XX - Two Decades Of Love Metal" cover artwork can be seen below.
In March of last year, HIM parted ways with Sire/Warner Music following a six-year partnership that produced three albums. HIM frontman Ville Valo told Kerrang! magazine in February, "The thing with Warner is really a kind of a familiar story. When we signed with [the label], there were lots of people there who really loved the band, loved what we were doing; people who worked hard for us and who really had our best interests at heart. And now, of course, all of those people have left the company. So instead we had a bunch of people that we didn't know, who didn't know us, and who we felt didn't really understand what we are about and how to best represent us. All of a sudden, it felt like we didn't have a home anymore. It was time for us to move on."
HIM's discography on Sire includes the 2005 album "Dark Light", which was certified gold in the U.S. for sales in excess of 500,000 copies. Follow-up releases "Venus Doom" (2007) and "Screamworks: Love In Theory And Practice" charted both in the U.S. and Europe.
"Screamworks: Love In Theory And Practice" sold 26,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 25 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The "Strange World" video and digital single is tentatively due on September 21.
H.I.M. is scheduled to enter the studio in early September with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (APOCALYPTICA, AMORPHIS, MOONSPELL) to begin recording its ninth full-length album, "Tears On Tape", for an early 2013 release. The CD will be mixed by Tim Palmer, who has previously worked with PEARL JAM, U2 and ROBERT PLANT, among many others.
H.I.M. will end this year by bringing back the Helldone Festival at club Tavastia in Helsinki, where they will perform for four nights in a row.
"XX - Two Decades Of Love Metal" track listing:
01. Strange World (KÉ cover)
02. Join Me In Death
03. Heartkiller
04. Rip Out The Wings Of A Butterfly
05. The Kiss Of Dawn (radio edit)
06. The Funeral Of Hearts (radio edit)
07. Right Here In My Arms (radio edit)
08. Pretending
09. Buried Alive By Love (radio edit)
10. Gone With The Sin
11. Your Sweet Six Six Six
12. The Sacrament (radio edit)
13. Wicked Game (CHRIS ISAAK cover)
14. Killing Loneliness
15. Bleed Well (radio edit)
16. In Joy And Sorrow (radio edit)
17. Poison Girl
18. Scared To Death
19. When Love And Death Embrace (radio edit)
20. Heartache Every Moment
The "XX - Two Decades Of Love Metal" cover artwork can be seen below.
In March of last year, HIM parted ways with Sire/Warner Music following a six-year partnership that produced three albums. HIM frontman Ville Valo told Kerrang! magazine in February, "The thing with Warner is really a kind of a familiar story. When we signed with [the label], there were lots of people there who really loved the band, loved what we were doing; people who worked hard for us and who really had our best interests at heart. And now, of course, all of those people have left the company. So instead we had a bunch of people that we didn't know, who didn't know us, and who we felt didn't really understand what we are about and how to best represent us. All of a sudden, it felt like we didn't have a home anymore. It was time for us to move on."
HIM's discography on Sire includes the 2005 album "Dark Light", which was certified gold in the U.S. for sales in excess of 500,000 copies. Follow-up releases "Venus Doom" (2007) and "Screamworks: Love In Theory And Practice" charted both in the U.S. and Europe.
"Screamworks: Love In Theory And Practice" sold 26,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 25 on The Billboard 200 chart.
http://www.blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/himxxcover.jpg
The masked shredders of GWAR have tapped CANNABIS CORPSE/ANTIETAM 1862 guitarist Brent Purgason (pictured below) to replace their fallen bandmate and friend Cory Smoot, a.k.a. Flattus Maximus, who was found dead as GWAR was about to enter Canada on November 3, 2011. He was 34 years old.
During an appearance on the August 10 edition of the "What The Fontaine?!" show, which airs on the WRIR 97.3 FM radio station in Richmond, Virginia, GWAR frontman Dave Brockie (a.k.a. Oderus Urungus) stated about the group's new axeman, "Everyone knows we lost Cory last year and it's been a rough time, but we have been forging onwards, we've been writing new songs, and we're in the middle of writing a really awesome new album. And part of the whole process was finding a new guitar player and I'm really happy [to say that] Brent Purgason, who plays in ANTIETAM 1862 and CANNABIS CORPSE now plays in this little band called GWAR. He was a really good friend of Cory's and he's just a perfect fit. He actually got the job about a month ago and he's been in the Slave Pit five days a week. We've been working really hard on the new album. . . His [character] name is 'Pustulous Maximus.'"
Brockie went on to detail the backstory for the Pustulous Maximus character's addition to GWAR, explaining, "What happened was when Flattus went back to the stars, all the different members of the Maximus tribe came to earth, because, you see, every member of the Maximus tribe shreds on guitar. So they all laid tracks for the new GWAR album. And what we're doing with that is we're getting a bunch of friends of ours who knew Cory, artists we know, local artists, big-time artists, to all kind of do a 'Scumdog' version of themselves and lay down tracks on the new album. So we have all these guest guitar players, all members of the Maximus clan. But, when they all went back to their home planets, one of them stole Pustulous's spaceship. So Pustulous was trapped on earth and he had no choice but to join GWAR permanently."
He continued, "Now Pustulous is angry. He has really bad acne, and it hurts, and the only way to make it not hurt so bad is to play guitar. But also, he's deaf, and so he yells at everyone all the time, 'cause his acne hurts, but when we talk back to him and try to say, 'Hey, we know some stuff that you can rub on your acne to have it not hurt so bad,' he can't hear us, so he thinks everyone is ignoring him, so he gets even more mad."
According to Brockie, Purgason will make his live debut with GWAR on the band's fall tour. "His costume is still getting put together, and we wanna release the way he looks in a series of Big Foot-like photographs," said the frontman. "Like, 'This shadowy picture of this strange beast was taken on the southside as he attempted to buy crack.' [laughs] Something like that."
He added, "Brent is awesome. GWAR is whole again. We'll always love and miss Cory, but we're a band again."
Tentatively due in early 2013, GWAR's new album will be "really interesting," according to Brockie, because it "tells the story of Oderus's view of the future in which he says the human race falling into a complete apocalypse that they have to somehow save themselves from. And it kind of tells two stories at once: it tells the story of the human race being set against incredible odds and having to overcome these odds; and it tells the story of us, as a band, being faced with a similar situation, losing someone who was an integral part of our band and someone we loved very much and somehow finding the strength to continue on as a band and not fold it."
He adde, "It's heavy stuff. It's taken a while to get together, but we've got 13 songs now, and six are fully arranged with lyrics and everything, so hopefully early next year we'll be dropping that new GWAR album and Flattus will smile."
GWAR's latest album, "Bloody Pit Of Horror", sold around 2,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
The band's previous CD, "Lust In Space", opened with 5,000 units to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart.
During an appearance on the August 10 edition of the "What The Fontaine?!" show, which airs on the WRIR 97.3 FM radio station in Richmond, Virginia, GWAR frontman Dave Brockie (a.k.a. Oderus Urungus) stated about the group's new axeman, "Everyone knows we lost Cory last year and it's been a rough time, but we have been forging onwards, we've been writing new songs, and we're in the middle of writing a really awesome new album. And part of the whole process was finding a new guitar player and I'm really happy [to say that] Brent Purgason, who plays in ANTIETAM 1862 and CANNABIS CORPSE now plays in this little band called GWAR. He was a really good friend of Cory's and he's just a perfect fit. He actually got the job about a month ago and he's been in the Slave Pit five days a week. We've been working really hard on the new album. . . His [character] name is 'Pustulous Maximus.'"
Brockie went on to detail the backstory for the Pustulous Maximus character's addition to GWAR, explaining, "What happened was when Flattus went back to the stars, all the different members of the Maximus tribe came to earth, because, you see, every member of the Maximus tribe shreds on guitar. So they all laid tracks for the new GWAR album. And what we're doing with that is we're getting a bunch of friends of ours who knew Cory, artists we know, local artists, big-time artists, to all kind of do a 'Scumdog' version of themselves and lay down tracks on the new album. So we have all these guest guitar players, all members of the Maximus clan. But, when they all went back to their home planets, one of them stole Pustulous's spaceship. So Pustulous was trapped on earth and he had no choice but to join GWAR permanently."
He continued, "Now Pustulous is angry. He has really bad acne, and it hurts, and the only way to make it not hurt so bad is to play guitar. But also, he's deaf, and so he yells at everyone all the time, 'cause his acne hurts, but when we talk back to him and try to say, 'Hey, we know some stuff that you can rub on your acne to have it not hurt so bad,' he can't hear us, so he thinks everyone is ignoring him, so he gets even more mad."
According to Brockie, Purgason will make his live debut with GWAR on the band's fall tour. "His costume is still getting put together, and we wanna release the way he looks in a series of Big Foot-like photographs," said the frontman. "Like, 'This shadowy picture of this strange beast was taken on the southside as he attempted to buy crack.' [laughs] Something like that."
He added, "Brent is awesome. GWAR is whole again. We'll always love and miss Cory, but we're a band again."
Tentatively due in early 2013, GWAR's new album will be "really interesting," according to Brockie, because it "tells the story of Oderus's view of the future in which he says the human race falling into a complete apocalypse that they have to somehow save themselves from. And it kind of tells two stories at once: it tells the story of the human race being set against incredible odds and having to overcome these odds; and it tells the story of us, as a band, being faced with a similar situation, losing someone who was an integral part of our band and someone we loved very much and somehow finding the strength to continue on as a band and not fold it."
He adde, "It's heavy stuff. It's taken a while to get together, but we've got 13 songs now, and six are fully arranged with lyrics and everything, so hopefully early next year we'll be dropping that new GWAR album and Flattus will smile."
GWAR's latest album, "Bloody Pit Of Horror", sold around 2,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
The band's previous CD, "Lust In Space", opened with 5,000 units to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart.
Pick up the summer issue of U.K.'s Rhythm magazine to read a first-hand account by SLIPKNOT's Joey Jordison on the writing and recording the SLIPKNOT classic "Metabolic". Below are a few choice extracts of what the masked metaller had to say.
"People are like, 'You must have used triggers on that record.' No I didn't. A lot of it had to do with that small room. We were all in there headbanging just like we do live. We record with our masks on. We were dripping with sweat."
"In the bridge part with the really super-fast 32nd-note double bass, when I was recording that I did that part by myself. I didn't want to hear any guitars or nothing, I just wanted to play it alone."
"That's one of my favourite SLIPKNOT songs of all time. It's super heavy, it's very technical, very dark and has a certain hatefulness to it. All the beats are in different time signatures, it is pretty much a black/death metal song but super catchy of course with Corey's [Taylor] vocals. That's one I'm proud of whenever I listen to it."
You can read the full interview in the summer issue of Rhythm, which you can buy online or at the Apple Newsstand.
"People are like, 'You must have used triggers on that record.' No I didn't. A lot of it had to do with that small room. We were all in there headbanging just like we do live. We record with our masks on. We were dripping with sweat."
"In the bridge part with the really super-fast 32nd-note double bass, when I was recording that I did that part by myself. I didn't want to hear any guitars or nothing, I just wanted to play it alone."
"That's one of my favourite SLIPKNOT songs of all time. It's super heavy, it's very technical, very dark and has a certain hatefulness to it. All the beats are in different time signatures, it is pretty much a black/death metal song but super catchy of course with Corey's [Taylor] vocals. That's one I'm proud of whenever I listen to it."
You can read the full interview in the summer issue of Rhythm, which you can buy online or at the Apple Newsstand.
KCET's Artbound recently spoke to singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, poet and political activist Serj Tankian for its "Where I'm From" series, which aims to delve into the cultural landscape of Southern California through in-depth interviews with musicians, artists, and other culture creators, exploring the role that their environment plays, or played, in their creative development. Through these portraits, Artbound hopes to gain exclusive insights into the interaction between place and imagination. These videos will attempt to answer the questions: Why here? How did California become the creative capital of the world?
A couple of excerpts from the Serj interview follow below.
Artbound: Can you describe your cultural background, your experience moving to Los Angeles and how that has shaped you as a person and an artist?
Serj: My parents and I migrated here in 1975 at the beginning of the Lebanese Civil War. There is a good amount of Armenians in Lebanon who have left and come to the U.S. and other places. There is obviously a big Armenian population here. So I grew up in the Armenian community in Los Angeles, went to an Armenian School until end of high school, and then went to Cal. State Northridge and got a degree from there. I think growing up in the Armenian community and realizing the kind of hypocrisy of the denial of a well known genocide within a well-known democracy kind of made me aware of other things, made me an activist in life. I said to myself, "How many other things are there that are denied for political expediency or economic reasons and hidden from the public because it shoots a certain class of people in this country or elsewhere in the world?" So that kind of opened me up to many causes, be they human rights causes, environmental, animal, labor causes, inequities, injustice. So that's a big thing for me in my life is to find ways to create justice — because I think it brings a new beauty to the world. A new culture.
Artbound: How would you characterize the culture of the Armenian Diaspora here in L.A.? Is there a specific culture that can be defined?
Serj: The Armenian Diaspora in Los Angeles is from different parts of the world. A lot of Armenians have immigrated here from Armenia proper, but there are also Armenians from different parts of the Middle East, from Iran, from Lebanon and Syria, Jordan and Kuwait, and you name it, as well as some Armenians from Europe. There are Armenians in Fresno in Northern California that have been here for a century or more, like William Saroyan, the known writer from that area and that era. And there is a good Armenian community in Watertown, Mass. near Boston as well. Armenians have things that tie them together. One is the injustice that's been done to our people, with 600 years of oppression under the Ottoman Empire, which is now modern day Turkey, the Armenian Genocide which has been committed by the Turks, etc. But, you know, there is the food, there's the music, there's the arts, there's the events, and a way of living, a lifestyle, and a way of doing things.
Artbound: Let's talk about Serj, after SYSTEM OF A DOWN. What has happened to you after that? You have had a really dynamic output of work. How was taking the road solo?
Serj: Musically, it was one of the best things I've done, going solo and doing my own thing. I always say, everyone is first a solo artist then joins a band because if you have nothing to offer a band, you're not going to be in one. Obviously, I'm known for being in SYSTEM OF A DOWN but as a songwriter, I've put out three records, a live CD/DVD.with an orchestra. I've toured with the world with my back-up band as well as with 12 or 13 different orchestras around the world. I've written another three or four records that we are releasing between this year and next year, from rock to jazz to electronic to my first symphony, which is called "Orca". My confidence as a composer has really really increased well and beyond what it was in SYSTEM. In SYSTEM, I was mainly known as a lyricist, a lead singer, which I got a lot of praise, thankful praise for. But I wasn't able to express myself as a composer as much because there were so many songwriters in the band. So I think that has really taken off for me and I'm very happy about that. So now I'm scoring videos, starting to get attached to film project for scoring which I really want to do, probably more than anything in my life at this point in my life. I got a new record coming out and all that. But I'm also enjoying touring with SYSTEM. That's the beautiful thing. We're back in each other's lives after six years of hiatus. We toured three continents last year and we've played tighter, better than ever before and had a blast. So I like having it all. I like doing it all. I like performing with SYSTEM, performing with an orchestra, performing with my band guys, doing a jazz project with Tigran Hamasyan and some of the other friends from the jazz record I'm doing, called "Jazz-Iz-Christ", that's going to definitely piss people off, but that's good. So I feel great, I feel creative.
SYSTEM OF A DOWN drummer John Dolmayan is no longer involved with SCARS ON BROADWAY, the project led by SYSTEM OF A DOWN guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian.
SCARS ON BROADWAY returned to the live stage on May 2, 2010 after a 17-month absence to play a headlining show at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, California. The band debuted a new song, reportedly entitled "Talkin' Shit", and was joined for two tracks — "Cute Machines" and "They Say" — by SYSTEM OF A DOWN bassist Shavo Odadjian on third guitar.
Earlier this year, SCARS ON BROADWAY released a 43-second audio clip of a new song, "Guns Are Loaded", to be included on the band's forthcoming sophomore album.
Speaking to PureGrainAudio.com, Dolmayan said, "I'm no longer involved with SCARS ON BROADWAY, but Daron is, and is in the process of making, recording and releasing an album. So, you will definitely hear some SCARS ON BROADWAY within the next four or five months. . . And it's a good album, by the way."
In October 2008, Malakian announced via SCARS ON BROADWAY's web site that the band's headlining tour — which included an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" — was being canceled, with no plans of rescheduling. Malakian cited his lack of enthusiasm and "his heart not being into touring" as the chief reasons behind the decision to call off the trek. "The music of SCARS will live on, but now is a time when aspects of my life need to be tended to," he said in a statement.
SCARS ON BROADWAY sold just under 24,000 copies of its self-titled debut album in the United States during its first week of release to debut at position No. 17 on The Billboard 200 chart. This number represented roughly 36 percent of the 66,000 opening tally registered by "Elect the Dead", the debut solo effort from SYSTEM OF A DOWN lead singer Serj Tankian, which came out in the fall of 2007 through the Warner Music Group.
A couple of excerpts from the Serj interview follow below.
Artbound: Can you describe your cultural background, your experience moving to Los Angeles and how that has shaped you as a person and an artist?
Serj: My parents and I migrated here in 1975 at the beginning of the Lebanese Civil War. There is a good amount of Armenians in Lebanon who have left and come to the U.S. and other places. There is obviously a big Armenian population here. So I grew up in the Armenian community in Los Angeles, went to an Armenian School until end of high school, and then went to Cal. State Northridge and got a degree from there. I think growing up in the Armenian community and realizing the kind of hypocrisy of the denial of a well known genocide within a well-known democracy kind of made me aware of other things, made me an activist in life. I said to myself, "How many other things are there that are denied for political expediency or economic reasons and hidden from the public because it shoots a certain class of people in this country or elsewhere in the world?" So that kind of opened me up to many causes, be they human rights causes, environmental, animal, labor causes, inequities, injustice. So that's a big thing for me in my life is to find ways to create justice — because I think it brings a new beauty to the world. A new culture.
Artbound: How would you characterize the culture of the Armenian Diaspora here in L.A.? Is there a specific culture that can be defined?
Serj: The Armenian Diaspora in Los Angeles is from different parts of the world. A lot of Armenians have immigrated here from Armenia proper, but there are also Armenians from different parts of the Middle East, from Iran, from Lebanon and Syria, Jordan and Kuwait, and you name it, as well as some Armenians from Europe. There are Armenians in Fresno in Northern California that have been here for a century or more, like William Saroyan, the known writer from that area and that era. And there is a good Armenian community in Watertown, Mass. near Boston as well. Armenians have things that tie them together. One is the injustice that's been done to our people, with 600 years of oppression under the Ottoman Empire, which is now modern day Turkey, the Armenian Genocide which has been committed by the Turks, etc. But, you know, there is the food, there's the music, there's the arts, there's the events, and a way of living, a lifestyle, and a way of doing things.
Artbound: Let's talk about Serj, after SYSTEM OF A DOWN. What has happened to you after that? You have had a really dynamic output of work. How was taking the road solo?
Serj: Musically, it was one of the best things I've done, going solo and doing my own thing. I always say, everyone is first a solo artist then joins a band because if you have nothing to offer a band, you're not going to be in one. Obviously, I'm known for being in SYSTEM OF A DOWN but as a songwriter, I've put out three records, a live CD/DVD.with an orchestra. I've toured with the world with my back-up band as well as with 12 or 13 different orchestras around the world. I've written another three or four records that we are releasing between this year and next year, from rock to jazz to electronic to my first symphony, which is called "Orca". My confidence as a composer has really really increased well and beyond what it was in SYSTEM. In SYSTEM, I was mainly known as a lyricist, a lead singer, which I got a lot of praise, thankful praise for. But I wasn't able to express myself as a composer as much because there were so many songwriters in the band. So I think that has really taken off for me and I'm very happy about that. So now I'm scoring videos, starting to get attached to film project for scoring which I really want to do, probably more than anything in my life at this point in my life. I got a new record coming out and all that. But I'm also enjoying touring with SYSTEM. That's the beautiful thing. We're back in each other's lives after six years of hiatus. We toured three continents last year and we've played tighter, better than ever before and had a blast. So I like having it all. I like doing it all. I like performing with SYSTEM, performing with an orchestra, performing with my band guys, doing a jazz project with Tigran Hamasyan and some of the other friends from the jazz record I'm doing, called "Jazz-Iz-Christ", that's going to definitely piss people off, but that's good. So I feel great, I feel creative.
SYSTEM OF A DOWN drummer John Dolmayan is no longer involved with SCARS ON BROADWAY, the project led by SYSTEM OF A DOWN guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian.
SCARS ON BROADWAY returned to the live stage on May 2, 2010 after a 17-month absence to play a headlining show at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, California. The band debuted a new song, reportedly entitled "Talkin' Shit", and was joined for two tracks — "Cute Machines" and "They Say" — by SYSTEM OF A DOWN bassist Shavo Odadjian on third guitar.
Earlier this year, SCARS ON BROADWAY released a 43-second audio clip of a new song, "Guns Are Loaded", to be included on the band's forthcoming sophomore album.
Speaking to PureGrainAudio.com, Dolmayan said, "I'm no longer involved with SCARS ON BROADWAY, but Daron is, and is in the process of making, recording and releasing an album. So, you will definitely hear some SCARS ON BROADWAY within the next four or five months. . . And it's a good album, by the way."
In October 2008, Malakian announced via SCARS ON BROADWAY's web site that the band's headlining tour — which included an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" — was being canceled, with no plans of rescheduling. Malakian cited his lack of enthusiasm and "his heart not being into touring" as the chief reasons behind the decision to call off the trek. "The music of SCARS will live on, but now is a time when aspects of my life need to be tended to," he said in a statement.
SCARS ON BROADWAY sold just under 24,000 copies of its self-titled debut album in the United States during its first week of release to debut at position No. 17 on The Billboard 200 chart. This number represented roughly 36 percent of the 66,000 opening tally registered by "Elect the Dead", the debut solo effort from SYSTEM OF A DOWN lead singer Serj Tankian, which came out in the fall of 2007 through the Warner Music Group.
Los Angeles hard rock act DC4 will take its "American Megarock Show" on the road for a quick run through the American Southwest from August 23 to August 26, with shows in Nevada and Arizona. "We haven't been to Arizona in a while so we are looking forward to killing it out there!" says drummer Shawn Duncan. "We've been getting a lot of offers out of California lately so needless to say we are really looking forward to this little adventure and what can be better than starting out in Las Vegas?!"
DC4/ex-DIO guitarist Rowan Robertson will not be joining DC4 on this run as he has a prior commitment to fulfill with Billy Ray Cyrus. Taking his spot for these dates will be the band's friend and respected session guitarist Omar Gusmao. Robertson says, "I'm going to be doing some shows with Billy Ray Cyrus in 2013 and, as it turns out, he scheduled some warm-up shows for the end of August. This, of course, means, and I hope everyone will understand, that this leaves me unavailable for the shows in Nevada and Arizona. It's a shame as I was looking forward to it but I do have to fulfill my obligation with Billy."
Rowan remains in DC4 and will join the band on future dates.
DC4 is currently writing material for its sophomore Metal Blade effort.
DC4/ex-DIO guitarist Rowan Robertson will not be joining DC4 on this run as he has a prior commitment to fulfill with Billy Ray Cyrus. Taking his spot for these dates will be the band's friend and respected session guitarist Omar Gusmao. Robertson says, "I'm going to be doing some shows with Billy Ray Cyrus in 2013 and, as it turns out, he scheduled some warm-up shows for the end of August. This, of course, means, and I hope everyone will understand, that this leaves me unavailable for the shows in Nevada and Arizona. It's a shame as I was looking forward to it but I do have to fulfill my obligation with Billy."
Rowan remains in DC4 and will join the band on future dates.
DC4 is currently writing material for its sophomore Metal Blade effort.
COAL CHAMBER, the reformed '90s alt-metal band fronted by current DEVILDRIVER singer Dez Fafara, is in talks with the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California to play its first Los Angeles-area show in over 10 years.
COAL CHAMBER played its first reunion dates in late February and early March as part of Australia's Soundwave Festival.
In a 2011 interview with Australia's Loud magazine, Dez stated about how the COAL CHAMBER reunion came about, "In '05, Meegs [Miguel Rascón, guitar] started coming around. He apologized to my wife for the way things went down with COAL CHAMBER, because when COAL CHAMBER split up I had to move my family into a one-bedroom apartment and start all over. So when he apologized to my wife, I thought, 'Well, OK, he's got a big heart inside him. And he's clean off the hard drugs now, let's see if this goes awhile.' So let's fast forward a few years to '09, he and Mikey [Mike Cox, drums] were still clean off hard drugs, Meegs came out and did 'Loco' onstage with DEVILDRIVER. After that he gave me a hug onstage and in my ear he said, 'Let's do this again.'"
Asked how he feels about performing the COAL CHAMBER songs again, Dez said, "[Meegs and Mikey] been clean off hard drugs, they've got their lives together, I've got my life with DEVILDRIVER, we miss playing together onstage. I miss... Those guys have got a serious fucking aura on stage, no doubt about it. I miss that. I miss those songs. I miss everything about it. . . It's ten years later, everybody's fucking one hundred percent focused, and we're coming down for one reason only, and that's to own the day and take everybody to the bank. Period."
Regarding why neither of the two former COAL CHAMBER bassists — Nadja Peulen or Rayna Foss — is involved in the band's reunion, Dez told Full Metal Jackie in a separate interview, "Rayna was not [asked to be a part of it]. Rayna has been out of the band for a very long time. We did speak to Nadja. She has other things going and it wasn't really in the headspace where we were at as a band. We found Chela; she's Canadian and she's a bad-ass player. She's been playing for nearly 12 years. She plays five-string and it's going to be good to have her on bass. She grew up with COAL CHAMBER. She's only 26-27 years old. She knows the songs, and just hearing her on the phone, the excitement [in her voice], that's really what I wanted brought to the table. Where Meegs and Mikey and I am right now, we're really excited so we needed someone that filled that excitement drawer and she did for sure; she's stoked."
COAL CHAMBER played its first reunion dates in late February and early March as part of Australia's Soundwave Festival.
In a 2011 interview with Australia's Loud magazine, Dez stated about how the COAL CHAMBER reunion came about, "In '05, Meegs [Miguel Rascón, guitar] started coming around. He apologized to my wife for the way things went down with COAL CHAMBER, because when COAL CHAMBER split up I had to move my family into a one-bedroom apartment and start all over. So when he apologized to my wife, I thought, 'Well, OK, he's got a big heart inside him. And he's clean off the hard drugs now, let's see if this goes awhile.' So let's fast forward a few years to '09, he and Mikey [Mike Cox, drums] were still clean off hard drugs, Meegs came out and did 'Loco' onstage with DEVILDRIVER. After that he gave me a hug onstage and in my ear he said, 'Let's do this again.'"
Asked how he feels about performing the COAL CHAMBER songs again, Dez said, "[Meegs and Mikey] been clean off hard drugs, they've got their lives together, I've got my life with DEVILDRIVER, we miss playing together onstage. I miss... Those guys have got a serious fucking aura on stage, no doubt about it. I miss that. I miss those songs. I miss everything about it. . . It's ten years later, everybody's fucking one hundred percent focused, and we're coming down for one reason only, and that's to own the day and take everybody to the bank. Period."
Regarding why neither of the two former COAL CHAMBER bassists — Nadja Peulen or Rayna Foss — is involved in the band's reunion, Dez told Full Metal Jackie in a separate interview, "Rayna was not [asked to be a part of it]. Rayna has been out of the band for a very long time. We did speak to Nadja. She has other things going and it wasn't really in the headspace where we were at as a band. We found Chela; she's Canadian and she's a bad-ass player. She's been playing for nearly 12 years. She plays five-string and it's going to be good to have her on bass. She grew up with COAL CHAMBER. She's only 26-27 years old. She knows the songs, and just hearing her on the phone, the excitement [in her voice], that's really what I wanted brought to the table. Where Meegs and Mikey and I am right now, we're really excited so we needed someone that filled that excitement drawer and she did for sure; she's stoked."
Massachusetts metallers ALL THAT REMAINS will release their new album, "A War You Cannot Win", in September via Razor & Tie/Prosthetic. The CD sees the band reunited with longtime producer Adam Dutkiewicz (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, AS I LAY DYING, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE). The record is the culmination of an intense writing period for the group that began shortly after their 18-month tour in support of "For We Are Many".
The "A War You Cannot Win" cover artwork has just been unveiled and can be seen below.
Commented ALL THAT REMAINS singer Phil Labonte: "We really busted our asses and tried to do some new stuff (like we always do) and we're really happy about what came out of it. Some of it is pretty different and is REALLY gonna blow you guys away. Some of it is gonna sound just like what you expect from ALL THAT REMAINS. And I'm sure all of it is gonna make the Internet have a conniption fit!"
Dutkiewicz previously helmed ALL THAT REMAINS' last album, 2010's "For We Are Many", as well as 2004's "This Darkened Heart" and 2006's "The Fall of Ideals".
In a recent interview with the Colorado Springs, Colorado radio station 94.3 KILO, Labonte stated about "A War You Cannot Win", "I don't like to get too involved in tooting my own horn, but I think that we really wrote some killer songs. I mean, there's gonna be people with different opinions that are gonna go ahead and make comments based on their opinions and what they think we should have done, and that's all fine. But if you get past that and just look at the record for what it is and listen to the songs for what they are and judge them on their own merits as opposed to, 'I wanted you to write this record,' or 'I wanted the record to sound like this and it doesn't sound like what I wanted you to write a record to sound like,' if you just look at the songs and the material that's actually there, we really did a good job. There's gonna be critics out there that are gonna be like, 'Well, ALL THAT REMAINS, in my opinion, should have done this.' But the hilarious part is they're not in ALL THAT REMAINS, so no one gives a fuck [what they think]. And that's the thing about people on the Internet and blogs. Like, 'Oh, you should have done this. You should have done that. And blah blah blah.' Guess who's not in the band? You. Shut up, f****t. Seriously. Are you gonna sit there and be like, 'Ah, I think you should have done this. And I think you should have done that.' We don't give a fuck! We did what we wanted to do. So if you don't like it, s**k a d**k. I don't care. If you listen to the songs themselves and really base an opinion on the music that you're listening to without the bias of, 'I think you should have done this,' or 'I think you should have done that,' or 'I wanted your next record to sound like this,' or 'I wanted that,' and just listen to the stuff that we wrote, it's a killer album; it's great. It's a really, really well-put-together record. The songs are really strong, the melodies are all really cool, the hooks are there, there's heavy parts that really kind of pummel you a little bit. It's really there."
"For We Are Many" sold 29,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The band's previous CD, "Overcome", opened with just under 29,000 units in September 2008 to enter The Billboard 200 chart at No. 16.
The "A War You Cannot Win" cover artwork has just been unveiled and can be seen below.
Commented ALL THAT REMAINS singer Phil Labonte: "We really busted our asses and tried to do some new stuff (like we always do) and we're really happy about what came out of it. Some of it is pretty different and is REALLY gonna blow you guys away. Some of it is gonna sound just like what you expect from ALL THAT REMAINS. And I'm sure all of it is gonna make the Internet have a conniption fit!"
Dutkiewicz previously helmed ALL THAT REMAINS' last album, 2010's "For We Are Many", as well as 2004's "This Darkened Heart" and 2006's "The Fall of Ideals".
In a recent interview with the Colorado Springs, Colorado radio station 94.3 KILO, Labonte stated about "A War You Cannot Win", "I don't like to get too involved in tooting my own horn, but I think that we really wrote some killer songs. I mean, there's gonna be people with different opinions that are gonna go ahead and make comments based on their opinions and what they think we should have done, and that's all fine. But if you get past that and just look at the record for what it is and listen to the songs for what they are and judge them on their own merits as opposed to, 'I wanted you to write this record,' or 'I wanted the record to sound like this and it doesn't sound like what I wanted you to write a record to sound like,' if you just look at the songs and the material that's actually there, we really did a good job. There's gonna be critics out there that are gonna be like, 'Well, ALL THAT REMAINS, in my opinion, should have done this.' But the hilarious part is they're not in ALL THAT REMAINS, so no one gives a fuck [what they think]. And that's the thing about people on the Internet and blogs. Like, 'Oh, you should have done this. You should have done that. And blah blah blah.' Guess who's not in the band? You. Shut up, f****t. Seriously. Are you gonna sit there and be like, 'Ah, I think you should have done this. And I think you should have done that.' We don't give a fuck! We did what we wanted to do. So if you don't like it, s**k a d**k. I don't care. If you listen to the songs themselves and really base an opinion on the music that you're listening to without the bias of, 'I think you should have done this,' or 'I think you should have done that,' or 'I wanted your next record to sound like this,' or 'I wanted that,' and just listen to the stuff that we wrote, it's a killer album; it's great. It's a really, really well-put-together record. The songs are really strong, the melodies are all really cool, the hooks are there, there's heavy parts that really kind of pummel you a little bit. It's really there."
"For We Are Many" sold 29,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The band's previous CD, "Overcome", opened with just under 29,000 units in September 2008 to enter The Billboard 200 chart at No. 16.
http://www.blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/atrwaryoucannot.jpg
Vocalist Phil Labonte of Massachusetts metallers ALL THAT REMAINS has clarified his recent harsh remarks about RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Tom Morello over Morello's commentary on Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who was tapped last week to run for vice president on the Republican ticket alongside presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
In a New York Times profile, Ryan — who is known for his far-right positions on both economics and social issues — claimed that he enjoyed the music of Morello's ultra-leftist rap-rock band.
In reponse, Morello penned an op-ed piece for Rolling Stone on Ryan in which he said that Ryan's "love of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE is amusing, because he is the embodiment of the machine that our music has been raging against for two decades. Charles Manson loved THE BEATLES but didn't understand them. Governor Chris Christie loves Bruce Springsteen but doesn't understand him. And Paul Ryan is clueless about his favorite band, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE," Morello said.
A few days later, Labonte took to his Twitter account and offered his two cents on Morello's op-ed piece, writing, "Tom Morello is a communist and a fool. He's also had the wool pulled over his eyes by the system." The singer added, "I'm not saying he's dumb. I'm saying he's a fool for the statist perspective that our government is good when a Democrat is in office."
Earlier today (Thursday, August 23), Labonte released the following statement clarifying his remarks and offering his views on the upcoming presidential election:
"OK, so here we go. I'm taking the time to write this to clarify my 140-character comment on Tom Morello's piece in Rolling Stone. I've caught a lot of heat over my remarks about it. Mostly from the metal blogs or individuals pointing out that he went to Harvard and I didn't, so he must be right and I must be an idiot.
"Well, I would submit to the left (the most vocal, angry and vitriolic about my comment) that GWB and Bill O'Reilly both went to Harvard. Does that make them infallible and brilliant? Yeah, I didn't think so.
"Let me start by stating I do not support Romney/Ryan in the upcoming election. I am not a Republican. I do not support statism. I know it's hard for the far left and the far right to understand, but it's true. I am called a 'liberal' by the far right for my opinion on drug policy, gay marriage, immigration, etc. I am called a 'right-wing nut' by the far left for my opinion on gun rights and fiscal policy. That myopic and lazy view of 'right' and 'left' is what I am staunchly against. On to the point.
"I've never met Tom Morello, so my comments were in no way meant to be a personal attack on his character. Though I do believe his political opinions are incoherent and foolish, I also believe he has good intentions.
"I said he's a communist because I believe I have heard him call himself a communist. I have seen him wear a hat that said 'COMMIE' on it in photos. If I am incorrect and my recollections are inaccurate and he is simply a socialist, then I would offer my apology. Regardless, that remark wasn't intended to be an insult as so many people have portrayed it. It was a comment on what I believe his political ideology is, and again, if I am incorrect, I am sorry. But I don't retract the core of my statement.
"I'm gonna quote Tom's piece. 'I wonder what Ryan's favorite RAGE song is... is it the one where we call on the people to seize the means of production?' That one sentence speaks volumes about his perspective. He is advocating theft and the initiation of violence against a minority by the majority. That is immoral.
"Now I understand he is focusing his rage on 'The 1%' and because of the minority in question, it's socially acceptable to demonize them and call for theft and violence against them. But that doesn't change the fact that he is calling for violence against, and seizure of the property of, a minority.
"In the piece he calls for 'a more humane and just planet.' Is aggression and theft justice? Unequivocally no. It is my perspective as a libertarian, the best way to limit the power and influence of 'The 1%' is to limit the power of government to influence society via legislation. If you have no favors to sell, you will have no one trying to buy favors.
"One may not share my libertarian views, but nonetheless, it is hard to reconcile advocating violence as somehow morally correct.
"He talks about covering 'Fuck The Police' and wonders if that is one of Ryan's favorites. Yet he would need a powerful government who would use the police to force people into submission to further his agenda. His perspective and agendas could not be achieved any other way. This makes no sense.
"He condemns U.S. imperialism, and I agree on this point, but then later in the piece he whimsically hopes that Paul Ryan is a mole who would 'Throw U.S. military support behind the Zapatistas." Is that NOT a contradiction? He would condemn U.S. intervention in one area of the world, but support it in another? Never mind the fact that constitutionally, not even the president, let alone the vice president, has the authority to do this. Again this makes no sense.
"In closing, if Tom's perspective was not simply looking to use the force of government to further his own political predilections, I would retract my statement and offer a full apology. But I don't believe any of the things he is advocating could be achieved without the force of government.
"Government is violence. Using violence to coerce is immoral. Tom's perspective therefore is advocating violence and aggression, disguised as peace and unity. This is immoral and I'm not sorry for pointing that out."
In a New York Times profile, Ryan — who is known for his far-right positions on both economics and social issues — claimed that he enjoyed the music of Morello's ultra-leftist rap-rock band.
In reponse, Morello penned an op-ed piece for Rolling Stone on Ryan in which he said that Ryan's "love of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE is amusing, because he is the embodiment of the machine that our music has been raging against for two decades. Charles Manson loved THE BEATLES but didn't understand them. Governor Chris Christie loves Bruce Springsteen but doesn't understand him. And Paul Ryan is clueless about his favorite band, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE," Morello said.
A few days later, Labonte took to his Twitter account and offered his two cents on Morello's op-ed piece, writing, "Tom Morello is a communist and a fool. He's also had the wool pulled over his eyes by the system." The singer added, "I'm not saying he's dumb. I'm saying he's a fool for the statist perspective that our government is good when a Democrat is in office."
Earlier today (Thursday, August 23), Labonte released the following statement clarifying his remarks and offering his views on the upcoming presidential election:
"OK, so here we go. I'm taking the time to write this to clarify my 140-character comment on Tom Morello's piece in Rolling Stone. I've caught a lot of heat over my remarks about it. Mostly from the metal blogs or individuals pointing out that he went to Harvard and I didn't, so he must be right and I must be an idiot.
"Well, I would submit to the left (the most vocal, angry and vitriolic about my comment) that GWB and Bill O'Reilly both went to Harvard. Does that make them infallible and brilliant? Yeah, I didn't think so.
"Let me start by stating I do not support Romney/Ryan in the upcoming election. I am not a Republican. I do not support statism. I know it's hard for the far left and the far right to understand, but it's true. I am called a 'liberal' by the far right for my opinion on drug policy, gay marriage, immigration, etc. I am called a 'right-wing nut' by the far left for my opinion on gun rights and fiscal policy. That myopic and lazy view of 'right' and 'left' is what I am staunchly against. On to the point.
"I've never met Tom Morello, so my comments were in no way meant to be a personal attack on his character. Though I do believe his political opinions are incoherent and foolish, I also believe he has good intentions.
"I said he's a communist because I believe I have heard him call himself a communist. I have seen him wear a hat that said 'COMMIE' on it in photos. If I am incorrect and my recollections are inaccurate and he is simply a socialist, then I would offer my apology. Regardless, that remark wasn't intended to be an insult as so many people have portrayed it. It was a comment on what I believe his political ideology is, and again, if I am incorrect, I am sorry. But I don't retract the core of my statement.
"I'm gonna quote Tom's piece. 'I wonder what Ryan's favorite RAGE song is... is it the one where we call on the people to seize the means of production?' That one sentence speaks volumes about his perspective. He is advocating theft and the initiation of violence against a minority by the majority. That is immoral.
"Now I understand he is focusing his rage on 'The 1%' and because of the minority in question, it's socially acceptable to demonize them and call for theft and violence against them. But that doesn't change the fact that he is calling for violence against, and seizure of the property of, a minority.
"In the piece he calls for 'a more humane and just planet.' Is aggression and theft justice? Unequivocally no. It is my perspective as a libertarian, the best way to limit the power and influence of 'The 1%' is to limit the power of government to influence society via legislation. If you have no favors to sell, you will have no one trying to buy favors.
"One may not share my libertarian views, but nonetheless, it is hard to reconcile advocating violence as somehow morally correct.
"He talks about covering 'Fuck The Police' and wonders if that is one of Ryan's favorites. Yet he would need a powerful government who would use the police to force people into submission to further his agenda. His perspective and agendas could not be achieved any other way. This makes no sense.
"He condemns U.S. imperialism, and I agree on this point, but then later in the piece he whimsically hopes that Paul Ryan is a mole who would 'Throw U.S. military support behind the Zapatistas." Is that NOT a contradiction? He would condemn U.S. intervention in one area of the world, but support it in another? Never mind the fact that constitutionally, not even the president, let alone the vice president, has the authority to do this. Again this makes no sense.
"In closing, if Tom's perspective was not simply looking to use the force of government to further his own political predilections, I would retract my statement and offer a full apology. But I don't believe any of the things he is advocating could be achieved without the force of government.
"Government is violence. Using violence to coerce is immoral. Tom's perspective therefore is advocating violence and aggression, disguised as peace and unity. This is immoral and I'm not sorry for pointing that out."
Having been chosen as one of FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World for four consecutive years, and one of the Hottest Chicks In Metal by the U.S.-based Revolver magazine, Doris Yeh, the bassist of Taiwanese heavy metal band CHTHONIC, now represents almost 100 pages of her unique sexiness with photos shot by master photographer Joshua Lin.
However loud the music may be, sometimes there's too little that can be said through music, when we actually have much to say. Therefore, here is it, a photo album with not many words, but tells many stories aloud.
This is an "accidental" book of images. At first, it was just a regular photo shoot for a fashion magazine. However, as Doris took part in brainstorming for themes, the ideas of struggling, repression, liberation, and freedom came up. As Joshua's team fueled the project, it eventually became a complete and conceptual book of images shot in Green Island. Doris had different outfits to visualize the concepts of control on thoughts, censorship, twisted humanitarianism, strict surveillance and schizoid personality — in addition to her sexiness. Doris returns to her identity as a rock musician at the end to give birth to a new and free soul.
One of the most outstanding rockers, Doris has been on almost all rock magazines as well as fashion magazines, conquering the world with her unique sexiness. Joshua Lin, a renowned Taiwanese photographer who has taken perfect pictures for many celebrities in Taiwan. In 2012, Doris works with Joshua for the first time and traveled all the way to Green Island for an absolutely eye-catching photographic album.
The photo book may surprise you with large close-up raw shots, and images that show the artistic relationship between humans and the space. You may also take it as the "discovery channel," as it would take you to coral reefs, coast, and caves of Green Island, it would also take you to the Human Rights Park where thousands of Taiwanese intellectuals were locked up by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime.
Due on October 3, "Doris: Set Fire To The Island" is the best choice whether you want to keep it for yourself, give it as a gift to your buddies, or share it with your girlfriends.
For those music lovers, CHTHONIC has specially composed a symphony with piano, strings, and wind music, so that you may enjoy it not only with your eyes, but also with your ears.
10 percent of the revenue from sales of the book will be donated to Amnesty International.
Order it in pre-sale for a three-dimensional large print.
However loud the music may be, sometimes there's too little that can be said through music, when we actually have much to say. Therefore, here is it, a photo album with not many words, but tells many stories aloud.
This is an "accidental" book of images. At first, it was just a regular photo shoot for a fashion magazine. However, as Doris took part in brainstorming for themes, the ideas of struggling, repression, liberation, and freedom came up. As Joshua's team fueled the project, it eventually became a complete and conceptual book of images shot in Green Island. Doris had different outfits to visualize the concepts of control on thoughts, censorship, twisted humanitarianism, strict surveillance and schizoid personality — in addition to her sexiness. Doris returns to her identity as a rock musician at the end to give birth to a new and free soul.
One of the most outstanding rockers, Doris has been on almost all rock magazines as well as fashion magazines, conquering the world with her unique sexiness. Joshua Lin, a renowned Taiwanese photographer who has taken perfect pictures for many celebrities in Taiwan. In 2012, Doris works with Joshua for the first time and traveled all the way to Green Island for an absolutely eye-catching photographic album.
The photo book may surprise you with large close-up raw shots, and images that show the artistic relationship between humans and the space. You may also take it as the "discovery channel," as it would take you to coral reefs, coast, and caves of Green Island, it would also take you to the Human Rights Park where thousands of Taiwanese intellectuals were locked up by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime.
Due on October 3, "Doris: Set Fire To The Island" is the best choice whether you want to keep it for yourself, give it as a gift to your buddies, or share it with your girlfriends.
For those music lovers, CHTHONIC has specially composed a symphony with piano, strings, and wind music, so that you may enjoy it not only with your eyes, but also with your ears.
10 percent of the revenue from sales of the book will be donated to Amnesty International.
Order it in pre-sale for a three-dimensional large print.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada rockers SLAVES ON DOPE are putting the finishing touches on a covers EP. The band states, "It will be free, and have some really, really fucking cool songs on it. Look for it in the coming months."
SLAVES ON DOPE's latest album, "Over The Influence", was released on February 28 via THC: Music/Rocket Science Ventures. The CD was produced and mixed by Kevin Jardine, features a guest appearance by Jonathan Cabana, lead singer of Quebec deathcore band BLIND WITNESS, on the track "Dear Enemies".
SLAVES ON DOPE's digital-only EP, "Careless Coma", came out on November 1, 2011. The effort featured three new studio tracks, as well as remixes and a radio edit of the title cut.
SLAVES ON DOPE is:
Kevin Jardine - Guitar
Jason Rockman - Vocals
Peter Tzafaris - Drums
Sebastien Ducap - Bass
SLAVES ON DOPE's "Inches from the Mainline" album was released through Ozzy Osbourne's now-defunct Divine Recordings label. After Divine Recordings lost its distribution deal with EMI's Priority Records, the band was left without a label. After a long search, a deal was struck with Bieler Bros. Records. SLAVES ON DOPE's second major album, "Metafour", was released in 2003.
In March 2004, SLAVES ON DOPE announced it was going on hiatus due to Jason Rockman leaving the band. The group officially reformed in 2009.
For more information, visit www.slavesondope.com.
SLAVES ON DOPE's latest album, "Over The Influence", was released on February 28 via THC: Music/Rocket Science Ventures. The CD was produced and mixed by Kevin Jardine, features a guest appearance by Jonathan Cabana, lead singer of Quebec deathcore band BLIND WITNESS, on the track "Dear Enemies".
SLAVES ON DOPE's digital-only EP, "Careless Coma", came out on November 1, 2011. The effort featured three new studio tracks, as well as remixes and a radio edit of the title cut.
SLAVES ON DOPE is:
Kevin Jardine - Guitar
Jason Rockman - Vocals
Peter Tzafaris - Drums
Sebastien Ducap - Bass
SLAVES ON DOPE's "Inches from the Mainline" album was released through Ozzy Osbourne's now-defunct Divine Recordings label. After Divine Recordings lost its distribution deal with EMI's Priority Records, the band was left without a label. After a long search, a deal was struck with Bieler Bros. Records. SLAVES ON DOPE's second major album, "Metafour", was released in 2003.
In March 2004, SLAVES ON DOPE announced it was going on hiatus due to Jason Rockman leaving the band. The group officially reformed in 2009.
For more information, visit www.slavesondope.com.
"The Moment You Realize You're Going To Fall", the long-awaited sophomore album from BLACK LIGHT BURNS, the avant-garde alter ego of LIMP BIZKIT/ex-MARILYN MANSON guitarist Wes Borland, sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 20 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.
"The Moment You Realize You're Going To Fall" was released on August 14 via Rocket Science Ventures/THC: Music.
"This is a really personal record for me," says Wes. "I spent three years writing it . . . and I am confident it's the best BLACK LIGHT BURNS record yet."
"The Moment You Realize You're Going To Fall" track listing:
01. How To Look Naked
02. We Light Up
03. I Want You To
04. The Girl In Black
05. The Colour Escapes
06. Tiger By The Tail
07. Your Head Will Be Rotting On A Spike
08. Torch From The Sky
09. Because Of You
10. Splayed
11. Scream Hallelujah
12. Bakelite
13. Burn The World
14. Grinning Like A Slit
15. The Moment You Realize You're Going To Fall
"The Moment You Realize You're Going To Fall" was released on August 14 via Rocket Science Ventures/THC: Music.
"This is a really personal record for me," says Wes. "I spent three years writing it . . . and I am confident it's the best BLACK LIGHT BURNS record yet."
"The Moment You Realize You're Going To Fall" track listing:
01. How To Look Naked
02. We Light Up
03. I Want You To
04. The Girl In Black
05. The Colour Escapes
06. Tiger By The Tail
07. Your Head Will Be Rotting On A Spike
08. Torch From The Sky
09. Because Of You
10. Splayed
11. Scream Hallelujah
12. Bakelite
13. Burn The World
14. Grinning Like A Slit
15. The Moment You Realize You're Going To Fall
BLACK LIGHT BURNS released its debut album, "Cruel Melody", in 2007 through I Am: Wolfpack, the record label headed by producer Ross Robinson (KORN, SLIPKNOT, SEPULTURA, SOULFLY, LIMP BIZKIT). The group's original recording lineup featured Danny Lohner (NINE INCH NAILS), Josh Eustis (PUSCIFER) and Josh Freese (WEEZER, A PERFECT CIRCLE, GUNS N' ROSES, DEVO). An LP/DVD of unreleased B-side material, "Cover Your Heart And The Anvil Pants Odyssey", followed in 2008. In 2009, after a yearlong stint playing guitar for MARILYN MANSON, Wes and BLACK LIGHT BURNS hit the road for an extended run with industrial powerhouse COMBICHRIST, and contributed the track "I Want You To" to the "Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans" soundtrack. BLACK LIGHT BURNS took a temporary hiatus while Borland stayed busy with the reformed LIMP BIZKIT, who embarked on an ongoing world tour supporting their recently released LP "Gold Cobra". In 2012, BLACK LIGHT BURNS returned, to the delight of fans, with the track "It Rapes All In Its Path" on the "Underworld: Awakening" soundtrack.
BLACK LIGHT BURNS 2012 touring lineup:
* Wes Borland: Vocals, Guitar
* Nick Annis: Guitar
* Dennis Sanders Jr.: Bass
* Joe Letz (COMBICHRIST): Drums
BLACK LIGHT BURNS 2012 touring lineup:
* Wes Borland: Vocals, Guitar
* Nick Annis: Guitar
* Dennis Sanders Jr.: Bass
* Joe Letz (COMBICHRIST): Drums
"Manala", the eighth studio album from Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI, sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 51 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.
"Manala" was released on August 14 via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork was created by Finnish artist Jan Yrlund.
The limited digipack edition of "Manala" comes with a bonus CD containing the entire album with English lyrics.
Limited digipak CD:
01. Kunnia
02. Tuonelan Tuvilla
03. Rauta
04. Ruuminmultaa
05. Petoeläimen Kuola
06. Synkkä
07. Ievan Polkka
08. Husky Sledge
09. Dolorous
10. Uni
11. Metsälle
12. Sumussa Hämärän Aamun
Bonus CD:
01. Honor
02. At The Huts Of The Underworld
03. The Steel
04. Soil Of The Corpse
05. Predator's Saliva
06. Dark Side
07. Ieva's Polka
08. Husky-Sledge
09. Dolorous
10. Dream
11. Off To The Hunt
The "Rauta" (English-language title: "The Steel") Markku Kirves-directed video can be seen below.
KORPIKLAANI vocalist Jonne Järvelä previously stated about the band's new album, "'Manala' is the realm of the dead — the underworld in Finnish mythology. Tuonela, Tuoni, Manala and Mana are used synonymously. This place is best known for its appearance in the Finnish national epic Kalevala, on which many of our new songs are based. In the 16th poem of Kalevala, Väinämöinen, a shamanistic hero travels to Manala to seek for knowledge about the dead. On the journey he meets the ferrywoman (similar to Charon), a girl, Tuonen tytti, or Tuonen piika (Death's maid), who takes him across the river of Tuoni. However, on the isle of Tuoni he is not given the spells he was originally looking for and he barely manages to escape the place. After his return he curses anyone trying to enter the place alive."
"Manala" marks the recording debut of the band's new fiddler, Tuomas Rounakari.
"Manala" was released on August 14 via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork was created by Finnish artist Jan Yrlund.
The limited digipack edition of "Manala" comes with a bonus CD containing the entire album with English lyrics.
Limited digipak CD:
01. Kunnia
02. Tuonelan Tuvilla
03. Rauta
04. Ruuminmultaa
05. Petoeläimen Kuola
06. Synkkä
07. Ievan Polkka
08. Husky Sledge
09. Dolorous
10. Uni
11. Metsälle
12. Sumussa Hämärän Aamun
Bonus CD:
01. Honor
02. At The Huts Of The Underworld
03. The Steel
04. Soil Of The Corpse
05. Predator's Saliva
06. Dark Side
07. Ieva's Polka
08. Husky-Sledge
09. Dolorous
10. Dream
11. Off To The Hunt
The "Rauta" (English-language title: "The Steel") Markku Kirves-directed video can be seen below.
KORPIKLAANI vocalist Jonne Järvelä previously stated about the band's new album, "'Manala' is the realm of the dead — the underworld in Finnish mythology. Tuonela, Tuoni, Manala and Mana are used synonymously. This place is best known for its appearance in the Finnish national epic Kalevala, on which many of our new songs are based. In the 16th poem of Kalevala, Väinämöinen, a shamanistic hero travels to Manala to seek for knowledge about the dead. On the journey he meets the ferrywoman (similar to Charon), a girl, Tuonen tytti, or Tuonen piika (Death's maid), who takes him across the river of Tuoni. However, on the isle of Tuoni he is not given the spells he was originally looking for and he barely manages to escape the place. After his return he curses anyone trying to enter the place alive."
"Manala" marks the recording debut of the band's new fiddler, Tuomas Rounakari.
British black metal pioneers VENOM will make their first Canadian appearance in 27 years as the headliners of the Noctis V metal festival, set to take place over three days (September 27-29) at the University of Calgary's MacEwan Hall Ballroom, the Distillery Nightclub and Vern's Bar in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Support acts will include the post-rock group AGALLOCH (USA, as well as grindcore outfit PIG DESTROYER (USA). Old-school heavy metallers will be satisfied as veteran heavy/power-metal combo MANILLA ROAD (USA) is set to play in its first Canadian appearance, along with Swedish heavy/doom trio GRAND MAGUS. American satanic death metal band NUNSLAUGHTER occult black-metal group BLACK WITCHERY (USA) and German festival favorites EXREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS will also perform, along with popular black/speed-metal band MIDNIGHT (USA) who will be making their third Noctis appearance this year. Additional support acts will include "humor-core" band PSYCHOSTICK (USA) and tech-death act ARCHSPIRE (CAN). Female-fronted doom metallers BLOOD CEREMONY (CAN) and thrashers SPEEDWOLF (USA) will play at the Noctis launch party, along with progressive death metallers THE CONTORTIONIST (USA).
As for accompanying Canadian talent, the bill includes Edmonton-based female fronted heavy metal act THE ORDER OF CHAOS, thrash group EPI-DEMIC, tech-death outfit KATAPLEXIS, and prog metallers PHANTOM LIMB, all from Calgary. Heavy-metal band ANCIIENTS folk-metal act SCYTHIA, and doomsters HOOPSNAKE, all from British Columbia, have recently been added to the bill.
To help Noctis patrons unwind after what is sure to be an epic set by VENOM, the official after party at Vern's Bar will include a metal and punk set by BLOATED PIG and OH SHIT!
For more information, visit www.noctisvalkyries.com.
As for accompanying Canadian talent, the bill includes Edmonton-based female fronted heavy metal act THE ORDER OF CHAOS, thrash group EPI-DEMIC, tech-death outfit KATAPLEXIS, and prog metallers PHANTOM LIMB, all from Calgary. Heavy-metal band ANCIIENTS folk-metal act SCYTHIA, and doomsters HOOPSNAKE, all from British Columbia, have recently been added to the bill.
To help Noctis patrons unwind after what is sure to be an epic set by VENOM, the official after party at Vern's Bar will include a metal and punk set by BLOATED PIG and OH SHIT!
For more information, visit www.noctisvalkyries.com.
http://www.blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/noctisv.jpg
Finnish melancholic dark metal forerunners AMORPHIS will enter the studio in September to record their as-yet-untitled 11th album for a March/April 2013 release via Nuclear Blast Records. Production and mixing duties for the follow-up to 2011's "The Beginning Of Times" will be handled by HYPOCRISY and PAIN mastermind Peter Tägtgren, who has previously worked with such bands as CHILDREN OF BODOM, CELTIC FROST, IMMORTAL and DIMMU BORGIR.
Commented AMORPHIS guitarist and founding member Esa Holopainen: "We had to face the fact that if we want to develop our music and sound, we need a producer who has a vision and whom we can accept as an authority, for I know that we're not the most flexible guys when it comes to letting outsiders into our camp for telling us how to do things.
"We spent one evening at our management office, talking about the right producer and the recording sessions in general. As usual, the best decisions are not far to seek.
"We've been talking to Peter about him producing AMORPHIS for ages — I think the first time we spoke about this was when we met first at the Nuclear Blast festival tour in 1994 and it was in Helsinki around a year ago when we last speculated about the idea.
"We've been following Peter's career — he's developed as a musician and especially as a producer over the years. Plus he's one of the true survivors from the '90s death metal scene who is still around just like us, so we share kind of an 'old-school' mental level."
The recordings for the new AMORPHIS CD will take place at Petrax Studio (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, KORPIKLAANI) in Hollola and 5K Studios in Helsinki.
Added Esa: "We've decided to record in Finland, so that Peter can come here to escape to Petrax in the countryside together with us in order to record all the drums plus some additional lines. Later on, we'll continue in Helsinki at 5K Studios to lay down the rest of the material. The mixing will be done with Peter in the Swedish Abyss Studios."
Regarding the direction of the new AMORPHIS material, Esa said, "Over the last couple of weeks we've had some really intense rehearsing for the forthcoming album. Originally we laid down around 20 new songs as demos, now we are proceeding with 14 tracks.
"I'm really thrilled about the idea to take a major step away from the so-called routines that we've had with our last records.
"While promoting 'The Beginning Of Times', we started to feel that we were giving the same explanations over and over again when people asked about the studio process and how the songs came about. Even though the music was very strong, the making process didn't offer any surprises and appeared to be quite secured. Now the addition of a new dimension to the developing process has inspired us to focus on our material even more. The songs are extremely strong, bombastic and skull-pummelling.
"Though it's too early for a statement like this, I'd already love to say that we've created the best AMORPHIS album ever. We'll do our best!"
"The Beginning Of Times" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 16 — the best chart position ever scored by an AMORPHIS album in that country. The CD also landed at position No. 1 on the Finnish chart.
Released on May 27, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records, "The Beginning Of Times" was described as "the most challenging AMORPHIS album so far in terms of both music and lyrics." Its central character is the iconic hero of Finnish mythology, Väinämöinen, whose tale has been masterfully retold by lyricist Pekka Kainulainen.
"The Beginning Of Times" was produced by the band; vocals were recorded under the guidance of Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT) in his home studio in Kuopio. Like its predecessors, the album was mixed by Mikko Karmila. Its cover artwork shows Travis Smith's magnificent interpretation of the mythological birth of the world from a goldeneye's egg.
Commented AMORPHIS guitarist and founding member Esa Holopainen: "We had to face the fact that if we want to develop our music and sound, we need a producer who has a vision and whom we can accept as an authority, for I know that we're not the most flexible guys when it comes to letting outsiders into our camp for telling us how to do things.
"We spent one evening at our management office, talking about the right producer and the recording sessions in general. As usual, the best decisions are not far to seek.
"We've been talking to Peter about him producing AMORPHIS for ages — I think the first time we spoke about this was when we met first at the Nuclear Blast festival tour in 1994 and it was in Helsinki around a year ago when we last speculated about the idea.
"We've been following Peter's career — he's developed as a musician and especially as a producer over the years. Plus he's one of the true survivors from the '90s death metal scene who is still around just like us, so we share kind of an 'old-school' mental level."
The recordings for the new AMORPHIS CD will take place at Petrax Studio (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, KORPIKLAANI) in Hollola and 5K Studios in Helsinki.
Added Esa: "We've decided to record in Finland, so that Peter can come here to escape to Petrax in the countryside together with us in order to record all the drums plus some additional lines. Later on, we'll continue in Helsinki at 5K Studios to lay down the rest of the material. The mixing will be done with Peter in the Swedish Abyss Studios."
Regarding the direction of the new AMORPHIS material, Esa said, "Over the last couple of weeks we've had some really intense rehearsing for the forthcoming album. Originally we laid down around 20 new songs as demos, now we are proceeding with 14 tracks.
"I'm really thrilled about the idea to take a major step away from the so-called routines that we've had with our last records.
"While promoting 'The Beginning Of Times', we started to feel that we were giving the same explanations over and over again when people asked about the studio process and how the songs came about. Even though the music was very strong, the making process didn't offer any surprises and appeared to be quite secured. Now the addition of a new dimension to the developing process has inspired us to focus on our material even more. The songs are extremely strong, bombastic and skull-pummelling.
"Though it's too early for a statement like this, I'd already love to say that we've created the best AMORPHIS album ever. We'll do our best!"
"The Beginning Of Times" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 16 — the best chart position ever scored by an AMORPHIS album in that country. The CD also landed at position No. 1 on the Finnish chart.
Released on May 27, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records, "The Beginning Of Times" was described as "the most challenging AMORPHIS album so far in terms of both music and lyrics." Its central character is the iconic hero of Finnish mythology, Väinämöinen, whose tale has been masterfully retold by lyricist Pekka Kainulainen.
"The Beginning Of Times" was produced by the band; vocals were recorded under the guidance of Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT) in his home studio in Kuopio. Like its predecessors, the album was mixed by Mikko Karmila. Its cover artwork shows Travis Smith's magnificent interpretation of the mythological birth of the world from a goldeneye's egg.
Norwegian death metallers CHTON have announced the addition of vocalist Craig Furunes (DEMONTERA) to the group's their ranks.
After their previous singer, Terje (CHTON vocalist from 2002 to 2011) left the band just after recording CHTON's upcoming sophomore album, "The Devil Builds", the band had a brief period as a four-piece, with bass player Ola handling main vocals. Now CHTON has found a dedicated vocalist in Craig, and Ola is back to handling bass and backing vocals.
Commented Torstein: "Now we have found a vocalist in Craig that has the guts and dedication to front CHTON, giving 666% as he shreds his throat and spits blasphemies from the stage!"
"The Devil Builds" will be released on September 15 via the German label Godeater Records. The vinyl edition is planned for early winter 2013. Digital distribution of the effort will be handled by Morningstar Music to ensure the LP will be available via all major digital stores.
"The Devil Builds" track listing:
01. Faustian Resolve
02. Scavenger Of A Dead World
03. Gods Of The Flesh
04. Rise Black God
05. Death Awaits
06. Contagion (The Disease)
07. Lord And Master
08. Nithon Undertow
09. Ratbag (ABSCESS cover)
10. Babalon And The Beast Conjoined
"The Devil Builds" was recorded and produced at Morningstar Studio with Arnt Obsidian Grønbech (KEEP OF KALESSIN, SATYRICON) at the helm. The album was mixed by Stamos Koliousis (MENCEA) and Vangelis Labrakis at 210 Studio in Berlin, known for earlier work with NATTEFROST, GEHENNA and VREID, among others.
CHTON has previously shared stages with such bands as MORBID ANGEL, BEHEMOTH, MAYHEM, AMON AMARTH and ZYKLON, and plans to embark on a European tour to promote "The Devil Builds".
CHTON's digital split single "Screaming For Death" with CLEAVER is still available for streaming or download from most digital stores like Spotify, iTunes, WiMP, Amazon and many others.
Formed in 1999 in Trondheim, CHTON released its debut album, "Chtonian Lifecode", in 2004 via Retribute Records.
After their previous singer, Terje (CHTON vocalist from 2002 to 2011) left the band just after recording CHTON's upcoming sophomore album, "The Devil Builds", the band had a brief period as a four-piece, with bass player Ola handling main vocals. Now CHTON has found a dedicated vocalist in Craig, and Ola is back to handling bass and backing vocals.
Commented Torstein: "Now we have found a vocalist in Craig that has the guts and dedication to front CHTON, giving 666% as he shreds his throat and spits blasphemies from the stage!"
"The Devil Builds" will be released on September 15 via the German label Godeater Records. The vinyl edition is planned for early winter 2013. Digital distribution of the effort will be handled by Morningstar Music to ensure the LP will be available via all major digital stores.
"The Devil Builds" track listing:
01. Faustian Resolve
02. Scavenger Of A Dead World
03. Gods Of The Flesh
04. Rise Black God
05. Death Awaits
06. Contagion (The Disease)
07. Lord And Master
08. Nithon Undertow
09. Ratbag (ABSCESS cover)
10. Babalon And The Beast Conjoined
"The Devil Builds" was recorded and produced at Morningstar Studio with Arnt Obsidian Grønbech (KEEP OF KALESSIN, SATYRICON) at the helm. The album was mixed by Stamos Koliousis (MENCEA) and Vangelis Labrakis at 210 Studio in Berlin, known for earlier work with NATTEFROST, GEHENNA and VREID, among others.
CHTON has previously shared stages with such bands as MORBID ANGEL, BEHEMOTH, MAYHEM, AMON AMARTH and ZYKLON, and plans to embark on a European tour to promote "The Devil Builds".
CHTON's digital split single "Screaming For Death" with CLEAVER is still available for streaming or download from most digital stores like Spotify, iTunes, WiMP, Amazon and many others.
Formed in 1999 in Trondheim, CHTON released its debut album, "Chtonian Lifecode", in 2004 via Retribute Records.
Metal Blade Records and Scion A/V have teamed up to bring fans a free showcase at the Glasshouse in Pomona, California on September 15 (matinee from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.). This event, which celebrates the label's 30th anniversary, will feature performances from SIX FEET UNDER, CATTLE DECAPITATION, BATTLECROSS, GYPSYHAWK, and PILGRIM. And to make the showcase that much more special, San Diego California's CATTLE DECAPITATION will perform its latest masterpiece, "Monolith Of Inhumanity", in its entirety for the first time ever.
RSVP for this free event here and remember, as always, get there early, as space is limited and entry is not guaranteed.
Saturday, September 15
1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
The Glass House
200 West 2nd Street
Pomona, CA 91766
Scheduled performers:
SIX FEET UNDER
CATTLE DECAPITATION
BATTLECROSS
GYPSYHAWK
PILGRIM
"Monolith Of Inhumanity" sold around 2,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 6 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
Released on May 8, "Monolith Of Inhumanity" was produced by Dave Otero of Denver's Flatline Audio and sees the band exploring innovative new techniques in songwriting without abandoning their signature formula of confrontational audio wreckage and self-loathing lyrical content.
RSVP for this free event here and remember, as always, get there early, as space is limited and entry is not guaranteed.
Saturday, September 15
1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
The Glass House
200 West 2nd Street
Pomona, CA 91766
Scheduled performers:
SIX FEET UNDER
CATTLE DECAPITATION
BATTLECROSS
GYPSYHAWK
PILGRIM
"Monolith Of Inhumanity" sold around 2,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 6 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
Released on May 8, "Monolith Of Inhumanity" was produced by Dave Otero of Denver's Flatline Audio and sees the band exploring innovative new techniques in songwriting without abandoning their signature formula of confrontational audio wreckage and self-loathing lyrical content.
Guitarist/vocalist Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek of Polish extreme metal veterans VADER has issued the following update:
"The summer and festival season is almost over.
"The concert Fist Full Of Metal in Germany crowns the promotion of the album 'Welcome To The Morbid Reich' on the European continent.
"With VADER's last record we're gonna move yet to Australia/New Zealand (at the end of October), China, Taiwan and — again — South America (in November) and finally to USA early spring 2013.
"Before we'll start working on next record (under the title 'Straight To Hell'), we're gonna perform VADER's third album 'Black To The Blind' from 1997 as a whole!!! The tour, named 'Back To The Black', will include — besides mentioned record — many different songs from a variety of albums during a 70-minute-long set. We start in December in Poland and Czech Repuplic.
"At the beginning of 2013, we will tour with same set in Western Europe, Scandinavia and Baltic Lands too. More details soon!"
VADER's latest album, "Welcome To The Morbid Reich", was released in Europe on August 12, 2011 and in North America on September 13, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland and features the cover artwork of Zbigniew Bielak (DESTRÖYER 666, WATAIN). The band laid down a total of 12 songs for the CD, which was mixed and mastered in May 2011.
Due to "family matters," drummer Pawel "Paul" Jaroszewicz left VADER last year and was replaced by the "very talented" 22-year-old English musician James Stewart, who has previously played with DIVINE CHAOS.
"The summer and festival season is almost over.
"The concert Fist Full Of Metal in Germany crowns the promotion of the album 'Welcome To The Morbid Reich' on the European continent.
"With VADER's last record we're gonna move yet to Australia/New Zealand (at the end of October), China, Taiwan and — again — South America (in November) and finally to USA early spring 2013.
"Before we'll start working on next record (under the title 'Straight To Hell'), we're gonna perform VADER's third album 'Black To The Blind' from 1997 as a whole!!! The tour, named 'Back To The Black', will include — besides mentioned record — many different songs from a variety of albums during a 70-minute-long set. We start in December in Poland and Czech Repuplic.
"At the beginning of 2013, we will tour with same set in Western Europe, Scandinavia and Baltic Lands too. More details soon!"
VADER's latest album, "Welcome To The Morbid Reich", was released in Europe on August 12, 2011 and in North America on September 13, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland and features the cover artwork of Zbigniew Bielak (DESTRÖYER 666, WATAIN). The band laid down a total of 12 songs for the CD, which was mixed and mastered in May 2011.
Due to "family matters," drummer Pawel "Paul" Jaroszewicz left VADER last year and was replaced by the "very talented" 22-year-old English musician James Stewart, who has previously played with DIVINE CHAOS.
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