According to a posting (since removed) on the web site of Belgian classic rock radio station RTBF, LED ZEPPELIN's reunion for the Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert at London's O2 Arena in December 2007 will finally be released on DVD and CD in November. Citing sources at Warner Music, the site reported that the set will consist of a double DVD accompanied by two CDs.
An estimated nine million people applied for the 18,000 tickets to the O2 Arena show, which featured Jason Bonham taking his late father's place behind the drum kit.
In its review of the concert, NME.com wrote that LED ZEPPELIN singer Robert Plant spoke little during the show, but when he did, it was mostly to pay tribute to Ertegun, who he said after first encore "Whole Lotta Love", "ran the best label in the world" in Atlantic Records.
Speaking to the Los Angeles radio station KLOS in December 2010, Jason stated about the prospect of the concert being released on DVD, "Nothing is official, as yet. I only know that because Robert had said that he'd watched it. I really do hope that it eventually will see the light of day. It's just nice to know that Robert had seen it, so I knew something, but it was nice that he rang up and said, 'Wow, it sounded great.' Fingers crossed, everybody… fingers crossed."
In an interview with U.K.'s Telegraph.co.uk, Plant was asked about ZEPPELIN's 2007 reunion concert. "I really had a wonderful time," said Plant. "It was the best LED ZEPPELIN gig since 1975."
When asked if he would do it again, Plant replied, "I don't think so. You've got to have a lot in common with the people you're working with at this time in your life. Everything has to move on and forward, in all relationships.
"I know that bands that haven't put out a record for 10 years are playing to 20,000 people a night. But that's not the achievement. The achievement is to knock yourself out. It's a very selfish thing. The tail must never wag the dog."
A few months back, radio personality and "That Metal Show" co-host Eddie Trunk tweeted, "Heard from a very reliable source backstage at AEROSMITH show that there will be some sort of LED ZEPPELIN activity around Christmas."
According to Huliq.com, AEROSMITH's Joe Perry will appear on the September 19 episode of Discovery channel's "Sons Of Guns" program. The guitarist drops a restoration-and-repair project on the team — an antique black-powder Lyle cannon — and there is also a test shoot for Perry and his cannon: sinking a pirate ship after shooting an array of weaponry, from machine guns to Revolutionary War black powder rifles.
A trailer for the episode can be seen below.
The season premiere of "Sons Of Guns" will air on the Discovery channel on Wednesday, September 12 at 9 p.m. E/P.
"Sons Of Guns" is a reality television series that centers on Red Jacket Firearms LLC, a Louisiana-based business that manufactures and sells custom weapons. Will Hayden is the founder and owner of the shop, while his daughter and partner Stephanie manages the office.
For more information, visit Discovery.com.
http://www.blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/perryguns2.jpg
In a brand new interview with SeymourDuncan.com, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine was asked how he feels the music industry has changed with the wide adaption of the Internet. "I'm a purist and I don't want to seem like I don't care about young people and creativity and doing cool things," he replied.
He continued, "I gotta tell you, there are certain things that the digital world has made so that very inferior players can get away with sounding like they are good. The problem with that is not that the record doesn't sound good and is enjoyable, it's when you go to watch them live. They sound really fabulous on record because they are using Pro Tools, this whole digital world that cradles them, and the listener is thinking, 'Wow, these guys are really wonderful.'
"The economy right now makes it hard to make ends meet and you go spend $40 or $50 for a ticket — if you're taking a date then a hundred — and parking, gas, food, beverages, programs if they have them and any kind of merch or t-shirts. You're looking at maybe $100 to $200, maybe even $300 if you're taking somebody.
"We are fortunate because we can back it up live and we have super-loyal fans.
"We have been blessed with being able to write catchy songs and be able to innovate a guitar style — that helps a little bit too.
"We have always tried to keep the price down with the tickets. It's the same approach with our merch, tickets, guitars any products that I stand behind we try and take that into consideration.
"I may have had a great life and I may have been overpaid and underworked, but I am not punishing the fans and being a really hard-ass about stuff. So I try and pass that gratitude onto them by not gouging them with prices.
"The good thing that I like about the Internet is it makes it real easy to deliver your product to your fans at an affordable price. There is piracy and people who steal. They don't realize it is intellectual material and it is the same thing as food. Giving something to get, that's the deal — if you get something and the person doesn't get anything in return, that is either a gift or you are stealing it. Myself, I think the dude who created Napster probably ruined hundreds of thousands of people's lives because of that peer-to-peer file transferring, but if he hadn't done it, there are plenty of smart people out there who would have. It's human nature."
Mark Holmes of Metal Discovery conducted an interview with guitarist Alex Skolnick of San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT at this year's edition of the Bloodstock Open Air festival, which was held August 9-12 at Catton Park, Derbyshire in the United Kingdom. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metal Discovery: So "Dark Roots Of Earth" has just been released and the general consensus in the media seems to be that it's a mix of the old with the new. Was that a conscious decision during the songwriting process to blend the older TESTAMENT sound with a more modern dynamic?
Alex: Not at all; I think you can never plan too much. You just have to let it happen and, ultimately, we have to be happy with the result. And, hopefully, if we're happy with it, then others will be as well.
Metal Discovery: It's made number twelve in the Billboard Top 200, I heard, in the States a couple of days ago…
Alex: That's pretty exciting.
Metal Discovery: Yeah, and it's sold almost double what "The Formation Of Damnation" did in its opening week. Does that surprise you seeing as record sales are supposed to be declining?
Alex: Yeah, but I figured it's a statement. I think our fans are rallying and making a statement. It's really good because we're a band that's had a lot of different chapters because we didn't have this vision where… we didn't know all the right moves to make. Some other bands are really good at strategizing; we've never been one of those bands.
Metal Discovery: So it's even cooler that you've sold that many just by carrying on doing what you're doing.
Alex: Yeah, and sure, mistakes have been made, but we've reached the point now where we're really doing it for the music and for the fans. There just seems to be a feeling among a lot of the fans that what we're doing is worthwhile and, in some ways, it's even better than before. I think so. Personally, well, I was away from the band for about half the time, but what was I doing? I was becoming the best musician I could be and getting all this experience doing other styles of music at all levels from jazz clubs to arenas. Then, when I came back to the band, I really had a lot to offer so I'm proud that… I never want to be one of those people where… "Oh, I wish I'd seen him early; I wish I'd seen him back in the day." No, actually, it's much better now! I play better; the equipment is better; the sound is better. And the rest of the band sound better too.
Metal Discovery: Yeah, that's cool. You had Andy Sneap producing the new album whereas he only mixed and mastered the last two so why did you get Andy as full-on producer this time? Did you want the Andy Sneap kind of sound?
Alex: We talked to a couple of different guys, including Andy. Andy was the first but we wanted to see what everybody else had to offer. He just seemed really on board with what we were going for. We thought we'd give it a try and it just flowed. And for mixing, we had a couple of other people try mixing songs just to hear some alternate mixes, but Andy's just sounded the best.
Metal Discovery: Because "Formation" was billed in the press as a "comeback" record and it was so successful as well, did that add any pressure in getting it right with this one or was the pressure off because you'd already proved yourselves with a "comeback" album?
Alex: I think we proved that we're able to do a good album. Also, we had a lot of live experience. We had much more live experience behind us immediately before this album than the previous one. And I think when people say it's a mix of the old and the new, we came up with a lot of this stuff while touring and shortly after coming off of the tour so this feeling of performing the old stuff was there and, no doubt, that affected the music. But, I think, that is the difference from the last album — there was just a lot more touring. When we did the last album we were mostly doing a show here and there; a week here, a weekend there. Then we started doing more of longer tours. This one we're coming off of was a long tour with ANTHRAX; we've had this tour with SLAYER and MEGADETH at the end of 2010. All of that, I guess, I think, has to affect the album.
GREAT WHITE — Mark Kendall (lead guitar), Scott Snyder (bass), Audie Desbrow (drums), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards) and Terry Ilous (lead vocals) — will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Wednesday, September 12 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with GREAT WHITE by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). The show will be streamed on the "Rockline" web site for two weeks beginning the afternoon after the live broadcast.
For more information, visit RocklineRadio.com.
GREAT WHITE's latest album, "Elation", sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. Issued on May 22 via Frontiers Records, the 12-song CD marks GREAT WHITE's first effort with Ilous following the band's split with founding singer Jack Russell.
GREAT WHITE filmed the "(I've Got) Something For You" video on April 27, in Tujunga, California. Photos from the video shoot can be found at this location.
This version of GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE, which features Russell alongside Robby Lochner (FIGHT) on guitar, Matthew Johnson (DOCTOR M, JACK RUSSELL) on guitar, Dario Seixas (FIREHOUSE, STEPHEN PEARCY) on bass and Derrick Pontier (GREAT WHITE, SAMANTHA 7) on drums.
Russell filed a lawsuit against his estranged bandmates in March claiming that they fired him and stole the group's name while he was recovering from surgery to repair a perforated bowel. Named in the complaint were Kendall, Desbrow, Lardie and talent agency Bigg Time Entertainment. Kendall, Desbrow and Lardie responded with a 30-page counterclaim, filed on April 24 in a federal court in Los Angeles, accusing their former frontman of, among other things, "miss[ing] 80 performances in 18 months" before leaving the band; "irreparably damag[ing]" their "market reputation" by putting on performances that "are not up to the standard of GREAT WHITE; and misleading the public by stating that the musicians in Jack's new band "were once full members of GREAT WHITE." They also accuse Russell's new bandmates of "profit[ing] from their wrongful affiliation with the GREAT WHITE brand."
SEVENDUST has entered Architekt Music studios in Butler, New Jersey with engineer Mike Ferretti to begin recording its ninth album for an early 2013 release.
A one-minute clip from the first day of the recording sessions can be seen below.
SEVENDUST's latest CD, "Cold Day Memory", sold around 27,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The band's previous effort, "Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow", opened with 25,000 units back in April 2008 to land at position No. 19.
"Cold Day Memory" was released on April 20, 2010 on the band's own 7Bros. Records, through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group. The CD — produced by Grammy Award winner Johnny K (DISTURBED, STAIND, 3 DOORS DOWN, PLAIN WHITE T'S) — was the group's first new album with its original lineup back together with Lowery's return after his departure in 2003.
CALL ME NO ONE — the new project featuring Lowery and SEVENDUST drummer Morgan Rose — released its debut album, "Last Parade", on June 5. The CD's first single, "Biggest Fan", was made available to purchase on iTunes on April 24.
SEVENDUST guitarist John Connolly and bassist Vince Hornsby also recently launched a new project, joining forces with CREED/ALTER BRIDGE drummer Scott Phillips in a new outfit called PROJECTED.
PROJECTED has already completed recording its debut disc, "Human", to be released September 18 on Connolly's own Yaya Papu LLC label.
The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum and Case Western Reserve University have announced the initial lineup of artists that will honor Chuck Berry at the 17th annual American Music Masters tribute concert on Saturday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. at PlayhouseSquare's State Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio. Chuck Berry will appear to accept the American Music Masters honor and is scheduled to perform.
Tribute concert performers scheduled to appear include Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees Ernie Isley and Darryl McDaniels, Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD), Joe Bonamassa (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION), David Johansen (NEW YORK DOLLS), Rosie Flores, John Fullbright, JD McPherson, Bucky Pizzarelli, Chuck Prophet, Duke Robillard, Earl Slick and M. Ward. Additional guests will be announced soon.
Tickets to the October 27 tribute concert range from $30 to $80. Tickets go on sale to Rock Hall members on Monday, September 17 at 10 a.m. via online sale only at www.playhousesquare.org. Tickets to the public go on sale Wednesday, September 19 at 11 a.m. Public tickets are available at www.playhousesquare.org, by calling (216) 241-6000 and at the PlayhouseSquare ticket office. A limited number of Friends of American Music Masters VIP packages are available beginning at $250 by contacting the Rock Hall's development office at (216) 515-1201 or development@rockhall.org.
Italian "cinematic" metallers LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY have announced the special guests of the European leg of their "Ascending To Infinity Cinematic World Tour 2012": FREEDOM CALL and ORDEN OGAN from Germany and VEXILLUM from Italy.
"We worked with the tour agency Rock The Nation to offer to the people a great package with four amazing bands. Now here it is," says LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY singer Alessandro Conti. "On top, RHAPSODY are ready to offer a unique show of around two hours based on new songs, old songs from the first albums rarely or never played until now, a few exclusive surprises from the solo albums of Luca Turilli, video projection and much more. Looking forward to meeting each one of you in November and December all around Europe. See you soon!"
For a list of currently confirmed tour dates, see the poster below.
After a summer devoted to work, work and more work, LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY guitarist/mainman Luca Turilli and singer Alessandro Conti recently came back from the Backyard Studios in Kempten, Germany where they recorded a new session of epic choirs exclusively for the upcoming trek.
Explained Luca: "As in our shows we will also play some of the very old RHAPSODY songs, rarely or never played until now, we decided to re-record the choirs for those same songs in order to present them on stage with the best sound quality possible. Moreover, we decided to add a great choral impact to some songs that originally were not featuring a choir."
Added Alessandro: "A couple of days ago, we met in Germany some of the singers who already performed on the new album 'Ascending To Infinity', and, thanks to their unique vocal power, we gave new energy and new life to those glorious and legendary tracks that made the history of RHAPSODY!"
The singers who took part in the new choral recordings are Conti, photographer Johnny Eisprung; Matthias Stockinger, singer and actor from the musical "Evita"; and the AOR legend Dan Lucas, who sold 1.4 million copies with the single "Heart Of America".
In August 2011, RHAPSODY OF FIRE guitarist Luca Turilli and keyboardist Alex Staropoli announced their decision to go their separate ways.
Due to legal reasons, Staropoli is continuing under the RHAPSODY OF FIRE name. Turilli, on the other hand, is making his efforts available under the RHAPSODY moniker (RHAPSODY OF FIRE's original name), in which he is joined by guitarist Dominique Leurquin, bassist Patrice Guers, singer Alessandro Conti (TRICK OR TREAT) and drummer Alex Landenburg (AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR, MEKONG DELTA, STRATOVARIUS).
LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY's new album, "Ascending To Infinity", entered the German Media Control chart at the position No. 32.
Jonathan Newsome of Rock. Nothing But… recently conducted an interview with former NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Rock. Nothing But…: Back in April, you released your new solo album. "Plains Of Oblivion" is the title, and it's an amazing record. How has your fanbase embraced it so far?
Loomis: It's been really good. Really good. I didn't know what to expect after my whole departure from NEVERMORE. I wasn't sure how the fans would respond to me being a solo artist, and focusing on instrumentals/vocal music. But the response has been very, very good. Almost overwhelming. People really show their support for the kind of music that I'm doing. It's definitely kind of gathered a whole new generation of kids. I'm a little bit older, of course; I'm 40. I grew up in the '80s and '90s with that music and stuff like that, but being able to reach out to a whole younger generation of kids, guitarists, and musicians is something that is really cool to me. So, we're kind of doing that, but really we are just showing the kind of music that we love to play. Aggressive guitar playing is what the kids are really into nowadays. I think the guitar solos, and all of that stuff, is kind of coming back. It's becoming popular again, so I'm really into that.
Rock. Nothing But…: What can the fans expect from the [tour] setlist?
Loomis: I'm actually just focusing on the first two instrumental records that I've put out. A lot of good things came from NEVEMORE, and I wouldn't be here playing music today if wasn't for NEVERMORE. But I think every book has its ending, and when one chapter closes, another one opens up. So it's kind of an end of an era for me, regarding NEVERMORE. I'm starting off fresh doing my own thing now, so really I'm just playing the music that I'm writing for my project. Kind of putting NEVERMORE aside. 18 years in a band is a long time my friend. [laughs] It had to have its ending. I kind of just wanted to start a new musical direction with my life. I'm not saying that NEVERMORE will never get back together or do some sort of reunion, or a festival kind of thing in the near future, but at this given moment in time, it's just kind of set aside. We'll see what happens in the future.
Rock. Nothing But…: Sounds good to me. I enjoy the solo stuff, I was just curious. A lot of people, I won't say that they ride on their past success, but a lot of people do that. I was just curious, to be honest.
Loomis: Yeah, yeah. No worries. I think a lot of people have questions about stuff like that. Especially the fans that have been with us for a long time now. I really think that it's awesome that people still show interest in the band, because it was a very, very good band. I'm very proud of the work that I did in that band. So, yeah, I definitely don't take that for granted at all. Just happy to be here and still being around to play music. That's what I enjoy doing. I love to play music, and perform in front of people. So, I'm really happy to be here, and doing that.
Los Angeles theatrical rockers BLACK VEIL BRIDES have completed recording their new album for a January 2013 release. The band was assisted by GOLDFINGER's John "Feldy" Feldmann during the tracking sessions for the new CD.
Commented BLACK VEIL BRIDES frontman Andy Biersack: "[There is] still some stuff to finish up, but I'm so happy, excited and proud of this album!" He added, "Thank you, [Feldy] for helping us to create something we are all so proud of! This entire record is a dream come true!!"
Biersack told NME earlier this summer that the follow-up to "Set The World On Fire" was going to be "more of a punk rock record than anything we've done before. It's SOCIAL DISTORTION meets METALLICA." Biersack also confirmed that the album has a title, but declined to reveal it, explaining, "Of course we've got a title. I don't do anything unless I think about it six months in advance. We've got a title, we've got a story. It's a bit of concept record, there's a very serious story behind it. It's full of surprises."
BLACK VEIL BRIDES' new song, "Unbroken", appeared on the soundtrack to this year's movie, "Marvel's The Avengers". "Unbroken" is included on "Avengers Assemble", a 14-track compilation of music from and inspired by the film. "Avengers Assemble" was released on May 1.
BLACK VEIL BRIDES' latest EP, "Rebels", was released last December, exclusively through iTunes.
According to DesMoinesRegister.com, a Des Moines physician has been charged with eight counts of involuntary manslaughter for allegedly prescribing large amounts of narcotic painkillers to patients who later died of overdoses, including SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray (pictured below).
Daniel Baldi, who helped run an Iowa Health System pain clinic, is accused of unintentionally causing the death of Paul Gray by writing "high-dose prescription narcotics to a known drug addict" starting on December 27, 2005, according to charging documents released at the doctor's court hearing today.
The doctor's lawyer, Guy Cook, told DesMoinesRegister.com his client plans to vigorously fight the charges.
"It is unprecedented to turn unfortunate deaths or medical results into a crime against a doctor," the lawyer said. "Unexpected deaths can occur in severe, chronic pain patients, unrelated to medical treatment. This is especially true with patients who are drug addicts or drug abusers."
Gray passed away more than two years ago from an accidental overdose of drugs, leaving behind his wife Brenna and daughter October.
Brenna Gray revealed in a 2011 interview with Revolver that her husband had agreed to get help for his drug problem just one day before he died on May 24, 2010. Brenna, who said she had dealt with Paul's drug issues several times over the years, explained, "I realized what was going on when I found things at home — then he passed away that Sunday. So I really had no time to make a move. On the Saturday I said, 'Hey, we need to do something. We need to fix this.' He agreed. He was getting ready to go out on tour with (side project) HAIL! and he said, 'I'll go get help after this tour.' But I said, 'You're not going.' I called his manager and told him to cancel. But I think it was a little too late."
Paul was found dead in a hotel room in a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa, where he and SLIPKNOT were based. He was 38 years old.
Brenna said she didn't know what led her husband to drugs, but thinks it had something to do with his childhood. She revealed that his father, who committed suicide, was also a drug addict, adding, "I never pushed him to talk about it because it was such a burden to him.."
The young widow also said she was shocked by some of the public reaction to Paul's death, saying, "If he could have controlled (his addiction), he would have. He wanted to be done with it. But it's a life-long disease — even if he stayed clean for the rest of his life he'd still have had the disease."
SLIPKNOT co-founder/conceptualist/percussionist Shawn M. Crahan (a.k.a. Clown) told The Pulse Of Radio he tuned out the negative comments people made after his bandmate's death. "I had to finally release myself of any of it, you know. I had to void myself of what people were saying," he said. "I mean, anything that was said negative doesn't even register, because anybody that wants to spend any time on the negative, you know, they're just going to have to deal with it with their own life, when their own father or mother or aunt or brother or sister dies. You're going to have to deal with the negative because it just comes along with death."
Paul and Brenna's daughter, October, was born three months after her father's death. Brenna said, "She went through a phase where she looked just like him . . . She has his smile: she has these huge dimples and when she smiles, that's Paul right there."
SLIPKNOT co-founder/conceptualist/percussionist Shawn M. Crahan (a.k.a. Clown; pictured below) spoke to DesMoinesRegister.com about the involuntary manslaughter charges brought against a Des Moines, Iowa, doctor today (Wednesday, September 5) in connection with the death of the band's bassist, Paul Gray. Physician Daniel Baldi is accused of prescribing large amounts of narcotic painkillers to patients who later died of overdoses, including Gray.
Asked about the charges against Baldi, Crahan said, "None of it is going to bring back our brother Paul."
He added, "This epidemic of this sort of activity is becoming more and more … evident. It truly is becoming a problem amongst people. And it trickles all the way down to the youth. And awareness needs to be brought about."
Crahan made it clear that he was referring to "not only substance abuse but the ability to acquire substances, to get chemicals and the efficiency of it."
"Hopefully justice will be served," he said.
According to charging documents released at the doctor's court hearing today, Baldi is believed to have unintentionally caused the death of Paul Gray by writing "high-dose prescription narcotics to a known drug addict" starting on December 27, 2005.
Paul was found dead in a hotel room in May 2010 in a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa, leaving behind his wife Brenna and daughter October. He was 38 years old.
SLIPKNOT has released a statement about the involuntary manslaughter charges brought against a Des Moines, Iowa, doctor yesterday (Wednesday, September 5) in connection with the death of the band's bassist, Paul Gray (pictured below). Physician Daniel Baldi is accused of prescribing large amounts of narcotic painkillers to patients who later died of overdoses, including Gray.
SLIPKNOT's statement in its entirety:
"As the loss of our brother Paul Gray is still very fresh for us in the SLIPKNOT family, this new development has us all in a state of anger and sadness. The fact that this person took advantage of our brother's illness while he was in a position to help others has outraged everyone in our family. We can only hope that justice will be served so this can NEVER happen to anyone else ever again! Our thoughts go out to the families of the other victims. We plan to cooperate as much as we possibly can to ensure this tragedy is never repeated, and to make sure this man pays for what he has done."
According to charging documents released at the doctor's court hearing yesterday, Baldi is believed to have unintentionally caused the death of Paul Gray by writing "high-dose prescription narcotics to a known drug addict" starting on December 27, 2005.
The doctor's lawyer, Guy Cook, told DesMoinesRegister.com his client plans to vigorously fight the charges.
"It is unprecedented to turn unfortunate deaths or medical results into a crime against a doctor," the lawyer said. "Unexpected deaths can occur in severe, chronic pain patients, unrelated to medical treatment. This is especially true with patients who are drug addicts or drug abusers."
Gray passed away more than two years ago from an accidental overdose of drugs, leaving behind his wife Brenna and daughter October.
Brenna Gray revealed in a 2011 interview with Revolver that her husband had agreed to get help for his drug problem just one day before he died on May 24, 2010. Brenna, who said she had dealt with Paul's drug issues several times over the years, explained, "I realized what was going on when I found things at home — then he passed away that Sunday. So I really had no time to make a move. On the Saturday I said, 'Hey, we need to do something. We need to fix this.' He agreed. He was getting ready to go out on tour with (side project) HAIL! and he said, 'I'll go get help after this tour.' But I said, 'You're not going.' I called his manager and told him to cancel. But I think it was a little too late."
Paul was found dead in a hotel room in a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa, where he and SLIPKNOT were based. He was 38 years old.
Brenna said she didn't know what led her husband to drugs, but thinks it had something to do with his childhood. She revealed that his father, who committed suicide, was also a drug addict, adding, "I never pushed him to talk about it because it was such a burden to him.."
The young widow also said she was shocked by some of the public reaction to Paul's death, saying, "If he could have controlled (his addiction), he would have. He wanted to be done with it. But it's a life-long disease — even if he stayed clean for the rest of his life he'd still have had the disease."
Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Josh Rand (STONE SOUR), Alex Webster (CANNIBAL CORPSE), Vinnie Paul Abott (HELLYEAH, PANTERA) and Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY) are among the musicians who will attend this year's installment of the Metal Hammer Award Show, set to take place September 14 at Kesselhaus in Berlin, Germany. Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY) will host the event, which will feature performances by SABATON, ELUVEITIE and CALLEJON.
Commented Abbott: "Metal Hammer Germany, I am excited to announce that had I will be attending this year's award ceremony! It will be a honor and a great time drinkin' and hangin' with all the Metal Hammer metalheads and bands. I hope you guys have a chance to check out the new HELLYEAH album, 'Band Of Brothers', as we are planning a tour over there early next year and plan on playin lotsa new stuff for you. See ya soon! Big love vp! Hell Yeah!"
Progressive rock/metal band CYNIC is working on material for a new full-length album for a tentative early 2013 release.
Commented the group: "There's so much music flowing we'd rather follow each inspiration to its conclusion rather than artificially stop once we have a CD's worth of songs and record; like writing from the inside out. Though the songs are taking shape, we're still exploring this new space, letting the music decide and guide us. We are at its mercy."
In a February 2012 interview with Ireland's Molten magazine, CYNIC guitarist/vocalist Paul Masvidal stated about the musical direction of the band's new material, "It's almost like, I don't know how to explain it, but if I had to put it in a box it's more sci-fi, futuristic and alien but at the same time very song-driven. It's kind of like, to me, coming into CYNIC's body more. It feels very modern and at the same time it just feels really cool. I'm big in the space. It's definitely new. It's not like anything we've done before. It's a new color, a new space. I think people will really take note of even the guitar stuff. I'm really shifting gears, I'm trying things in a different way and the way stuff is played. It's a new space for CYNIC, for sure. It definitely sounds like us, except completely new."
CYNIC's latest EP, "Carbon-Based Anatomy", was released in November via Season Of Mist. The CD artwork was designed by the great Robert Venosa, the artist behind the covers of CYNIC's previous releases "Focus", "Traced in Air" and "Re-Traced".
All bass parts on "Carbon-Based Anatomy" were recorded by one-time CYNIC bassist Sean Malone.
CYNIC was joined by Brandon Giffin on bass and Max Phelps on guitar and vocals during the group's recent North American and European tours in support of "Carbon-Based Anatomy".
EASY ACTION, the Swedish cult band that launched the careers of Zinny Zan (SHOTGUN MESSIAH) and Kee Marcello (EUROPE), will release the cult film "Blood Tracks" on DVD for the first time on September 12. Shot back in 1983 by director Mats-Helge Olsson ("Ninja Mission") the horror classic heavily features the band EASY ACTION facing their brutal destiny on the blood-stained mountain hills of Sweden. They manage to play a song or two as well. However, it is the special features on the DVD that is the real treat for fans of EASY ACTION and '80s glam rock!
Special features:
* "A Hot Summer Night" - The complete TV special with EASY ACTION recorded live in Stockholm in 1983. All the classic songs performed live plus rare shots of the band in private. Restored from the original tapes and NEVER before released.
* "We Go Rocking" - The original video shot 1983 in London. Restored from the original tapes and never before released.
* Brand new interviews with Zinny Zan and Alex Tyrone (a.k.a. Peo Thyrén), made by music journalist Stefan Malmqvist, telling the story about making the film back in 1983. (26 minutes)
* Illustrated discography
* Original trailer
* Gallery
* Easter egg
BONUS CD:
* The first 1000 copies comes with the re-make of "We Go Rocking" that the reunited EASY ACTION recorded in 2008. The song was the official song for the Speedway Grand Prix, and the CD single also features the brand new song "Jack Is Back".
Former METAL CHURCH/LILLIAN AXE singer Ronny Munroe has joined FIREWOLFE.
FIREWOLFE's current lineup is completed by guitarists Paul Kleff and Nick Layton, and drummer Jay Schellen (HURRICANE, ASIA)
Commented Ronny: "I've waited quite a while to share some exciting news with everybody, but the time has come for me to finally spill the beans!
"I have been working closely with Paul and Nick of the band FIREWOLFE for a couple months now... I've taken over lead vocal duties and the song writing process has been going very well!! I have to say, if you like classic metal, you are going to dig this stuff. It's also one of the reasons [my] new [solo] video is taking longer than anticipated."
Singer David Fefolt left FIREWOLFE earlier in the year to pursue a career in the Christian music genre.
FIREWOLFE's debut album was previously described as "a turbine-powered, twin guitar, screaming eargasm" with overtones of DIO, IRON MAIDEN, SCORPIONS, and JUDAS PRIEST.
For more information, visit FIREWOLFE's official web site.
Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their landmark release, 2002's genre-defining "Alive Or Just Breathing", by performing the entire album during their headlining set at the California Metalfest VI, set to take place on Saturday, November 24 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, California.
Ash Avildsen, founder of California Metalfest, had this to say: "'Alive Or Just Breathing' is one of the most important and timeless albums for this era of heavy music. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's special headlining set combined with the rest of the lineup is going to make for an incredible day of metal and memories. Having all these bands in the same place on one day is really exciting both as a fan and as a festival producer."
WWE superstar "Mankind" Mick Foley will host the festival, along with several other stars who will be doing signings and appearances. There will also be many carnival style prize games where fans can win special, limited-edition band merchandise and memorabilia instead of stuffed animals. California Metalfest VI promises to be much more of an experience than just a day filled with great music.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AS I LAY DYING
ASKING ALEXANDRIA
ATTILA
BLACK VEIL BRIDES
BLEEDING THROUGH
BLESSTHEFALL
BORN OF OSIRIS
CHIODOS (W/ Craig Owens)
FOR TODAY
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE
PIERCE THE VEIL
SHADOWS FALL
SLEEPING GIANT
SUICIDE SILENCE
THE ACACIA STRAIN
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN
THE FACELESS
UNEARTH
UPON A BURNING BODY
VEIL OF MAYA
WINDS OF PLAGUE
http://www.blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/killswitchcalifornia.jpg
Swiss folk metallers ELUVEITIE have parted ways with guitarist Simeon Koch after eight years.
Commented the band: "Sime was thinking about this since quite a long time already and finally decided to take this step. He will set about some new goals in his life — both vocational and familial — which will make it impossible for him to play in a touring band.
"Sime was part of ELUVEITIE for right years now, part of our little, crazy family — and we will dearly miss him. But at the same time we're thankful for the awesome time we spent together. We wish him and his family all the best for his personal and vocational future!
"We'd like to make you aware of two special shows: Sime will share the stage with us as special guest on the 20th of September in the Kofmehl (Solothurn, CH) and on the 29th of December in the Eulachhalle (Eluveitie & Friends festival, Winterthur, CH)! Don't miss it!
"At the same time it's about time to introduce you to the man who will follow in Sime's footsteps! His name is Rafael Salzmann [pictured below] and he will play the upcoming tours with us as a live session guitarist.
"Rafael is a gifted musician and very skilled guitar player and he also already has been working together with Anna in the Soundfarm Studios. Now we're looking forward a lot to rock the stages together with him!
"On a related note, Päde [Kistler, flutes] will have to take a short leave for personal reasons as well and will rejoin our tour with SABATON in the beginning of October. In the meantime, there's still seven of us left to kick some ass all over Europe!"
Added Simeon Koch: "A couple of months ago, I informed my bandmates that I'll leave ELUVEITIE in September 2012 for familial reasons. It was a very tough call, it was difficult to make this decision — in a way the band is part of the family too, after all. I will dearly miss ELUVEITIE. But, fortunately, the world (or rather Switzerland) is small: I will still play the upcoming shows in Solothurn's Kofmehl and the Eluveitie & Friends festival with full commitment! I wish the band all the best and accident-free upcoming tours!"
ELUVEITIE and Finnish metallers WINTERSUN will embark on a North American co-headlining tour this winter. The trek will commemorate ELUVEITIE's 10th anniversary as well as serve as WINTERSUN's introduction to North American audiences. Also appearing on the bill will be the German pagan metal band VARG.
ELUVEITIE's latest album, "Helvetios", sold 4,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 143 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 3 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.
"Helvetios" was released in Europe on February 10 via Nuclear Blast RecordsNew Sound Studio in Pfäffikon, a municipality in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland, with producer Tommy Vetterli (a.k.a. Tommy T. Baron; CORONER/ex-KREATOR guitarist). According to the band, Vetterli "record[ed] drums, guitars and vocals and also produc[ed] and mix[ed] the record. Most folk instruments and also vocals [were] recorded by Anna Murphy and Marco Jencarelli at the Soundfarm studios in Lucerne."
Poitiers, France-based progressive metallers KLONE will release their fifth full-length album, "The Dreamer's Hideaway", on October 5 via Klonosphere Records. The CD was recorded at La Fusée Des Resistants studios and was mixed and mastered by Franck Hueso, who has previously worked with such acts as HACRIDE and DEATHSPELL OMEGA.
The band previously stated that "The Dreamer's Hideaway" would be their most accomplished effort to date, "It's more psychedelic, more intense and more progressive than ever, the music instills a strongly mysterious atmosphere," they said.
"The Dreamer's Hideaway" track listing:
01. Rocket Smoke
02. The Dreamer's Hideaway
03. Into The Void
04. Siren's Song
05. Corridors
06. Rising
07. Stratum
08. Walking on Clouds
09. The Worst is Over
10. A Finger Snaps
11. At The End Of The Bridge
The song "Rocket Smoke" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.
KLONE is:
Yann Ligner: Vocals
Guillaume Bernard: Atmospheric Guitars
Aldrick Guadagnino: Guitars
Jean Etienne Maillard: Bass
Florent Marcadet: Drums
Matthieu Metzger: Saxophones, Keyboard, Systol Device
"One Wing", the fifth album from Georgia's THE CHARIOT, sold 4,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 85 on The Billboard 200 chart.
"One Wing", was released in the U.S. on August 28 via eOne Music / Good Fight Music.
In a recent interview, THE CHARIOT singer Josh Scogin was asked what the band's mindset was when going into the studio to record "One Wing". He replied, "Let's get weird."
THE CHARIOT are true artists whose determined passions lead them down winding pathways as they buck trends and avoid formulas. The noisy, rambling, shambling, Southern — fried, punk-infused, heavy metal hardcore band has long rejected the conventions of the genre that surrounds them by refusing to conform to established structures. After all, THE CHARIOT is the band whose debut was recorded live in the studio in one take, whose frenetic and often destructive live shows are the stuff of underground legend and whose evolving lineups have generated a body of work as vibrant in the hearts and minds of those who've witnessed the mayhem live as those who own the discography.
"Outlive You All", the debut album from I AM WAR, the Orange County, California-based act featuring Alex Varkatzas (vocals; ATREYU) and Brandan Schieppati (guitar, vocals; BLEEDING THROUGH), sold 1,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 26 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.
"Outlive You All" was released on August 28 via Razor & Tie. The CD was produced by Mick Kenney (ANAAL NATHRAKH).
I AM WAR was born from a pure place for Varkatzas. While in the midst of a 2011 tour with ATREYU, he sat on the bus contemplating writing music that fully embraced his hardcore roots. Simply put, it had to be brief, blunt, and brutal.
"I wanted to do something pissed-off that had no constraints or expectations," reveals Varkatzas. "I didn't want to sing. I wanted to emote by screaming. That's natural for me. I also knew I had to work with the most aggressive dude I could find. Brandan was the first person who came to mind. We grew up together, and I've seen him play a million times in various bands. I sent him an e-mail and let the idea stew. As soon as I got off tour, we tried everything out, and it worked."
Schieppati concurs, "Everything instantly clicked. I was stoked when Alex got in touch. We wanted to keep it fast with very little 'shredding'. It hearkens back to the good ole days of angry music."
With Schieppati handling guitars, bass, and backing vocals and Varkatzas on the brunt of the screaming, I AM WAR entered an Orange County studio with Mick Kenney behind the board. In between both of their day jobs as personal trainers (both owning their fitness facilities as well), these two men channeled an unbridled energy onto tape. They emerged from the sessions with 15 songs that engage a raw sonic beatdown.
"It was really organic and natural," the guitarist says of the creative process. "We didn't overthink anything, and it was fun. Whatever came out of us went right to tape."
Debuted online, the visceral hardcore anthem "The Poisoning" gave the world its first taste of I AM WAR. Roaring with thrash intensity and incisive gang vocals, it embodies a classic ethos with a modern vitriol.
"I have a soft spot in my heart for that song," smiles the vocalist. "It's the first song Brandan and I wrote together. So many people are insincere and get drawn into drama over and over again. Human beings have an addiction to it, and I began seeing that in a lot of people around me — including myself. That really bummed me out. At the most base level, it's about letting drama into your life, acting as if you don't like it but secretly creating it like an addict. You feed off of it, and it poisons you at the same time."
Then, there's "Bat Out Of Hell" which ups the ante with a vicious stomp. Dropping as a limited-edition vinyl single June 26, it's one minute and sixteen seconds of double-bass violence.
Varkatzas goes on, "Life can be a whirlwind of emotions. It's about letting those rip out of you in a positive way. For me, I'll work out or run. It's different for everyone. That outlet makes you feel like a force to be reckoned with."
Speaking of a force to be reckoned with, "Plug Me In" directly references the feeling the singer experienced seeing his favorite bands back in the day. At the same time, "Uninvite Me To Your Facebook Pity Party" raises a middle finger to whiners online and off-line with acidic screams.
In many ways, the title proves all-encompassing. "It comes from being older now," reveals Schieppati. "For years, critics looked at bands like ATREYU and BLEEDING THROUGH as flash-in-the-pan-type bands that will have a moment and then disappear. However, both of our bands have been around for over a decade and spearheaded a whole genre. We're still here, involved, and making music."
At the end of the day, catharsis is the most important thing for I AM WAR. "Brandan and I aren't doing this to become rich assholes and travel the world," affirms Varkatzas. "We wanted to make an awesome record and release it. There's no pressure to produce a hit or conquer the charts. The only pressure is not to look like complete jackasses. That's liberating. I just hope it's an intense and enjoyable experience for listeners. It's about setting fire to everything and seeing what happens."
"Outlive You All" track listing:
01. Don't Worship Assholes
02. Uninvite Me To Your Facebook Party
03. The Poisoning
04. Plug Me In
05. Bat Out Of Hell
06. Hunting Me
07. Chipped Shoulders And Heart Attacks
08. Don't Know Anything
09. A Nightmare
10. Led By Liars
11. My Love Affair With Disaster
12. Nihilistic Motivation
13. Feel The Same
In a recent interview with the Austin American-Statesman, POISON singer Bret Michaels was asked why Slash wasn't chosen to be the guitarist in POISON when he auditioned for the band prior to forming GUNS N' ROSES in 1985.
"Slash is one of my all-time favorite guitar players and I believe he would have steered our sound a little more in the AEROSMITH direction," Bret said. "He was basically the same guy he is today. What you see is what you get. It never really had a chance to work out or not. The band decided C.C. [DeVille] was the best choice for us."
In a 2010 interview with Classic Rock Revisited, Slash explained how his POISON audition came about, stating, "I was living in L.A. and I had just gotten done working in a band with Axl [Rose], actually, called HOLLYWOOD ROSE. Steven Adler was in that band as well. I just quit. I told Axl I couldn't handle it anymore and I walked. That was right after the first time Axl and I ever worked together. Matt, the original guitar player for POISON, who was actually a pretty cool guy, had gotten his wife pregnant or they were getting married or something like that. He was moving back to Pennsylvania. He goes, 'You should try out for POISON.' I hated POISON but in those days you did whatever you had to do to keep moving. Being very ambitious, as I was, I went and auditioned for POISON. I ended up being one of two guitar players left that they were going to pick from. I remember kicking the shit out of the songs they had. There was no denying that I could play them but there was an issue about makeup and stuff. Bobby Dall [POISON bassist] asked me what kind of shoes I was going to wear. I was like, 'What?' It was kind of obvious that this was going to go nowhere. As I was walking out of the audition, C.C. DeVille was walking in. He had on pancake makeup and a ton of hairspray. I actually remember thinking right then, 'That should be the guy.' The next day I got a call from Bobby and he said, 'You know, you are great and all but I think we are going to pass on you and go with this other guy.' It was C.C. and it really did make all the sense in the world. I was in a couple of bands after that and then we started GUNS N' ROSES."
Jason Price of Icon Vs. Icon recently conducted an interview with BLACK LIGHT BURNS mainman and LIMP BIZKIT guitarist Wes Borland. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Icon Vs. Icon: The latest chapter in your life musically is "The Moment You Realize You're Going To Fall" from BLACK LIGHT BURNS. When you were first starting out to make this record, what were your expectations?
Wes: The last song to make it on to "Cruel Melody", which was the first BLACK LIGHT BURNS record, was the first song on the album, "Mesopotamia". At that point, in my mind, that was the jumping off point of the band steering away from the industrial sound. There were still elements of that goth, industrial era of music but I really liked that sort of surfy, stroked, punk rock, more danceable rock element. I continued to write for this record immediately after "Cruel Melody". When I was writing the first record, I just cut the songs off, even though I was still writing. I just thought, "OK! That's the last one on the record. Everything from here on will be on the next one." As the first record was being mixed, I was still writing constantly and coming up with ideas. I was even to the point where I knew that the first song of … Are you familiar with "Cruel Melody"?
Icon Vs. Icon: Yes, I am.
Wes: The very last song on the record, after it fades out, there is a whispered, barely audible, couple of lines of poetry. Those lines are the beginning of "How To Look Naked". It is the first half of the verse of that song on the end of "Cruel Melody". I knew that was going to happen at the end of that record and I was continuing to write the new record. Everyone that worked on the first record had been involved with NINE INCH NAILS at some point. We received a ton of criticism for sounding too much like NAILS on the first record. That was a definite goal on this one was to steer away from that happening again. I am not really sure how it happened, it just kinda did. It's not the worst thing in the world. So, there was that and I also wanted less of a metal sound. I wanted it to be heavy but not sound metal. Whenever things started to get heavy, I put a lot more emphasis in the bass being distorted, having the guitars be more overdriven or more twangy or bitey — a sort of JESUS LIZARD-y sounding guitar attack. I think that was successful as far as being pulled off in that way and steering away from a muted metal sound. The other thing was to make a dynamic record that sounded less clean and more live. I wanted to keep some of the mistakes in and have everything be a little more crazed-sounding and not as polished. This was because the songs on "Cruel Melody", when we took them into a venue environment and we were actually playing them live, they got wilder and more gritty. I didn't want that change from record to live to happen as drastically as it did on the first record. Right away, I wanted to have things sound unhinged, right off the bat.
Icon Vs. Icon: What is the significance of the title of the record?
Wes: "The Moment You Realize You're Going To Fall" was the title of an instrumental idea, the last song on the record, which was written a few years ago. it kinda became the theme for writing the lyrics for the rest of the record. I had an experience where I was rock climbing, I was free climbing, and I got into a situation out in Joshua Tree national park where they have these huge rock formations. I got stuck on top of this big rock formation. I had gone up a certain way and reached the top but I was exhausted and couldn't get down. My friends that I was with didn't know where I was. The sun started to go down and I could see coyotes running by and I realized I was in this "oh shit" situation. It took me a long time to find a way down. There were all of these moments on the rock where I thought I was literally going to fall off the rock and die or be severely injured. It never actually reached that tipping point of the moment I realized I was about to fall but it was very close many times. That theme of being on the edge and in constant fear, there is a beauty to that, where all of your senses are heightened. I also liked that the title could be taken so many different ways. It could be the moment that you realize you are going to fall in love or the moment you realize you are going to make a terrible decision that is going to affect the rest of your life. If you are a drug addict, it could mean the moment that you are going to give up your sobriety and fall back into drug use and being an addict and there is nothing you can do about it. It could mean if you are going to cheat on somebody or gamble your savings away. There are just so many different ways both positively and negatively that it could be taken that I thought it covered and fed a lot of the themes on the album lyrically.
Icon Vs. Icon: It's been nearly six months since [LIMP BIZKIT] signed with Cash Money Records. How has that situation been treating you?
Wes: It's really cool! It is interesting to be involved with that whole Miami scene — to go down there and check out what they are doing. They are so smart, what they are doing and with the way they do things. There are so many levels of, "Why didn't I think of that?" as far as how they take their lesser known artists and pair them with their more well known artists on a track and, before you know it, everybody is listening to it and they keep building up their roster that way. It is genius but so simple at the same time. It is also cool to be working with hip-hop producers and people who have a different perspective on music than I do. For instance, there is a producer that we have been working with down there named Detail, who is super on fire and is so cool and into all of this different stuff. Working with him is super inspiring in the way he works and just how fast he works. They are crazy! They stay up all night! I love it! It's so weird! [laughs] The whole studio is completely dead during the day and around 10 p.m., all of this activity begins and Lil' Wayne is showing up. We had Flo Rida show up one night. There are so many different heavyweight artists in that world who are just around and hanging out with each other to work on music, so that is really cool. So, we have been working on songs like that but we have also been making band-type songs, heavy songs, in the studio. We kinda have two different directions going on right now and they are starting to blend into each other but I think the beginnings of a record are starting to happen and we are starting to see where it is going.
Icon Vs. Icon: I am paraphrasing from the last time we spoke, but last time out, you said the band created "a LIMP BIZKIT record for LIMP BIZKIT fans." As things start to materialize, do you find you are doing more exploration on this record?
Wes: Ya know, I think so. Fred [Durst] has been really open lately to trying new things. He wants to do something that sounds like us but is different and covers some new territory. So, yeah. I think there will hopefully be some great new ideas on this album. He was talking about how the BLACK LIGHT BURNS album, every track kinda flows into the next one at some point. He really likes that idea and experimenting more with that kinda stuff and more interludes and stuff like that happening.
Icon Vs. Icon: Any time LIMP BIZKIT is in the news or there is a new development, people respond to it, either positively or negatively depending on the venue. What do you think it is about the band that still polarizes the people?
Wes: I don't know. I don't know why some people still hold onto it. I know some people have always hated it and are shocked that it is still around in some ways but we have really amazing fans, who are really dedicated to the band. They understand that even if you can't stand the band, the songs are not terribly written songs. There is something there that keeps it from disappearing into that refrigerator buzz metal of the world, the stuff that all sorta sounds the same and is incestuous. I would much rather be polarizing than boring and have people say, "Oh, that's boring. No thanks." LIMP BIZKIT isn't really easy to ignore and I think that bothers people a lot. The other thing is that we are still excited about doing this. We had a long break from each other and sorta got our shit together as far as realizing what our priorities are and how much we like doing what we do, especially the live shows. Even if you hate the band, if you come to a live show, I talk to people all of the time at festivals who say, "I really didn't like you before but now I have seen you live and I get it!" That is a big part of why we do, what we do.
The Mayans were off by a month: The world will officially end on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at Union Transfer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when Decibel magazine proudly presents its truly apocalyptic 100th Issue Celebration Show, sponsored by its friends at Lace Music and IndieMerchStore.com. Faces will be decimated not only by PIG DESTROYER, REPULSION, MUNICIPAL WASTE, TOMBS and EVOKEN, but a special surprise headliner that the magazine will be announcing in November.
If that's not enough awesomeness for you, all attendees will receive a special ultra-limited PIG DESTROYER flexi with the purchase of a ticket. These will be available for pick-up the day of the show, and will only be available at the venue on the day of the show. After that, they're gone forever.
Drool over designer Bruno Guerreiro's sick show poster below, and come celebrate 100 issues with your favorite bound printed degenerates.
Belgian symphonic black metallers SAILLE have issued the following update:
"Jonathan Vanderwal, former frontman of SAILLE, has rejoined the band, be it as guitarist this time. He replaces Yves Callaert, who left SAILLE recently. Jonathan took care of the guitars on both 'Irreversible Decay' and the soon-to-be-released successor. It was therefore an obvious choice. Be prepared!"
SAILLE's new album is due out in January 2013 via Code666 Records. The CD is being recorded at Shumcot Studios in Aartrijke, Belgium with producer Reinier Schenk (GORATH, FLESHMOULD).
Commented SAILLE keyboard player Dries Gaerdelen: "When creating our new album, I did research on and was inspired by several ancient destruction rituals. The new songs are therefore darker, faster, more aggressive and create a feeling of unease. The lyrics, written by frontman Dennie Grondelaers, explore the history of those death rites. With the drums being recorded a while ago, we've all got a 'recording state of mind' and have a feeling we're creating more than just songs. We're looking forward to unleashing our creations on the audience, both on CD and live!"
The artwork for the new SAILLE CD will be created by Polish digital landscape artist Michal Karcz who also developed the band's previous artwork. Mastering will be done by Tom Kvålsvoll, who has worked with 1349, DIMMU BORGIR and KEEP OF KALESSIN.
SAILLE's debut album, "Irreversible Decay", was released in March 2011 via Code666 Records.
Candlelight Records has set a November 6 North American release date for "Vanitas", the new album from England's ANAAL NATHRAKH. Produced by Mick Kenney (BLEEDING THROUGH, INGESTED), the CD carries the band's signature and regarded union of black metal and grindcore.
ANAAL NATHRAKH's seventh album, "Vanitas" "sounds like someone showing you what the end of the world is like via the medium of a thousand hammers soaked in acid," says vocalist Dave Hunt. Digging into the record particulars, he notes, "It's more articulate and focused than any album before it in way of composition and recording technique. We worked hard and we're convinced it has paid off."
Since its inception in 1999, ANAAL NATHRAKH has gained a reputation for embodying the audio essence of pure evil. Various collaborations with the likes of Sethlans Teitan (WATAIN), Shane Embury and Danny Herrera (NAPALM DEATH), and others, have placed the band high on media as well metal fans "must-seek-out" list. This alongside countless placements in "Best Album Of The Month/Year" awards, ANAAL NATHRAKH's status as one of the leading lights in extreme metal is undeniable.
ANAAL NATHRAKH will tour Canada for the first time just as "Vanitas" is released. Beginning in Montreal on November 7, the tour will end in Sherbrooke on November 18.
"Vanitas" track listing:
01. The Blood-Dimmed Tide
02. Forging Towards The Sunset
03. To Spite The Face
04. Todos Somos Humanos
05. In Coelo Quies, Tout Finis Ici Bas
06. You Can't Save Me, So Stop Fucking Trying
07. Make Glorious The Embrace Of Saturn
08. Feeding The Beast
09. Of Fire, And Fucking Pigs
10. A Metaphor For The Dead
Stockholm, Sweden-based melodic death metallers DEGRADEAD have announced the addition of drummer Amit Mohla (RAID) to the group's ranks.
Commented Mohla: "It's really an honor to share thoughts, rehearsal studio, stage, friendship and the world with a band that I've heard so much about in the Swedish rock scene.
"Being a band member in DEGRADEAD is a big step in my life and, of course, my music career.
"When we played together at the first audition, I felt it clicked right away between us, which turned out to be a beginning of a new chapter in the history of DEGRADEAD.
"To play music that is both heavy, hard and creative was one of the thousand reasons that made me apply for the DEGRADEAD role. Diversity, music without boundaries were others.
"It will be very interesting to hear how the next album will turn out with a new band member, new influences and a new sound. I'm really looking forward to 2013 when the new album will be released and you'll get to know me a bit better!
"Now when the auditions have ended and the band is complete again, hard work is expected from everyone involved in the DEGRADEAD family. The gigs are booked and the set list is written. Now we have to rehearse a lot for the Killfest Tour, Russia tour and the gigs in Sweden. There is so much to do in a short amount of time. This is what I signed up for!"
A four-minute video introduction of Mohla as DEGRADEAD's new drummer can be seen below. Also available is a photo of the band's new lineup.
DEGRADEAD's third album, "A World Destroyer", was released in North America on June 28, 2011 via Metalville Records. The CD was recorded at Peter Tägtgren's (HYPOCRISY, PAIN) Abyss studios in Pärlby, outside Ludvika, Sweden, with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, CENTINEX, WORLD BELOW).
On August 6, 2010, DEGRADEAD played for their first time at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken. Germany. Their full set, as performed on the W.E.T Stage before an enthusiastic audience, along with many extras, is included on the DVD release, "Live At Wacken And Beyond", which was released on February 28 via Metalville Records. The disc also contains "From Tullinge To Hyderabad", a 50-minute documentary following DEGRADEAD from their first years in Tullinge, a small suburb south of Stockholm where the band was formed, to their successful tour of India in February 2011. It includes interviews, live clips and a lot of other "interesting stuff for the fans."
Switzerland's death/grind maniacs MUMAKIL have entered the studio to record their third full-length album for an early 2013 release via Relapse Records. The band's first CD in four years is being produced by the bandmembers themselves at Terrier 5 in Geneva, Switzerland and will feature 24 brand new tracks of brutal grindcore with more of a death metal influence than their previous release, "Behold The Failure". Tentative songtitles set to appear on the effort include "Death From Below", "Hailing Regression", "Designed To Fail" and "More Meat For The Grinder".
Commented the band: "This will be our best album in terms of production, riff quality, variation and songwriting. It is going to be a great mix between everything we love in grindcore and death metal, with subjects like war, anger, pain, personal experiences and deceptions, and an overall theme about mankind's permanent will to destroy itself."
MUMAKIL plans to tour in Europe and Canada following the new album's release. More details will be announced shortly.
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