Grammy Award winners YES, one of the most influential and groundbreaking progressive rock and roll bands, has announced the signing of a new worldwide recording deal with the Italian record label Frontiers Records. Songs such as "Roundabout", "I've Seen All Good People", "Owner Of A Lonely Heart", and countless others, have served to place the group upon the pantheon of rock and roll history. But history is still, yet to be written, because Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White, along with Oliver Wakeman (Rick Wakeman's son) and new lead singer Benoit David, will enter the studio to record the groups first new CD in a decade. It is anticipated for release before summer 2011.
Frontiers Records President, Serafino Perugino said: "I am truly honored and excited to have these rock and roll pioneers on the label. YES have written some fabulous pages in the history of this music and I look forward to keep on writing new exciting chapters with them!"
"Having the two new guys in the line-up has inspired the impetus behind the need for YES to return to the studio," explains Chris Squire, while Steve Howe adds "The new lineup has shown that we can operate well as a touring band, so now to expand that to recording would broaden our repertoire and the inclusion of Oliver and Benoit on new recordings will show a new leaf in YES music's continuing development."
One of the most popular concert attractions of all-time YES's remarkable career has served to redefine the boundaries of rock. Proving to be a dominant force for more than four decades, YES has sold over 33 million albums worldwide. Their symphonic use of sound and innovative musical style has made each of the group's players a virtuoso in his own right.
British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN have posted a new graphic on their official web site (see below) of the band's mascot, Eddie, holding the Earth in his right hand with the main focus being the region between Asia and Australia, fueling speculation that the band will officially confirm previously rumored tour dates in Indonesia and surrounding countries.
The Jakarta Post reported earlier this month that IRON MAIDEN will perform in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Bali in February. "They [IRON MAIDEN] have confirmed it," stated Tommy Pratama, a promoter from Original Production, according to TempoInteraktif.com.
The Jakarta show will likely take place on either February 17 or February 18, with the Bali concert to follow two days later.
The official announcement will be made on Tuesday, November 2 at 6 p.m. GMT.
IRON MAIDEN is scheduled to headline the 2011 edition of Australia's Soundwave festival, set to take place in late February/early March.
Rod Smallwood, IRON MAIDEN's longtime manager, told The New York Times that more than 800,000 copies of the band's latest album, "The Final Frontier", had been shipped to retailers around the world by the end of August, with the group having sold about 85 million records in its 30-year career.
"A lot of bands could learn a lot from MAIDEN," Smallwood said. "MAIDEN is essentially about the relationship with the fans, and nothing comes between that. They don't want to be rock stars. They just enjoy playing for the fans."
According to David Kassler, chief operating officer of EMI for Europe, digital tracking services showed only small levels of illegal downloading of "The Final Frontier", which is attributable in part to the fact that IRON MAIDEN's songs do not fit the mold of a radio single — three of them, on the newest release, are more than nine minutes long.
"You'd expect some people to be pirating, but they don't," Kassler told The New York Times. "They want the physical album. They love the artwork, the lyrics. It's something they want to show their friends and family."
Legendary guitarist Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES) was the featured guest on last night's (Friday, October 29) edition of Eddie Trunk's "Friday Night Rocks" radio show on New York's Q104.3 FM. A couple of excerpts from the interview follow below (transcribed and edited for clarity by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):
On AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler signing on as a judge on "American Idol"
Slash: "It's really sort of disappointing to me that he's gone and done that, for whatever reason — a lot of it having to do with [that fact that] I just know the guy and the other guys in the band are bummed out and they've had a really rocky road for awhile. And then just because 'American Idol' is what it is, so it's hard for me to put the thing together."
On Duff McKagan joining GUNS N' ROSES on stage on October 21 at London, England's O2 arena:
Slash: "It was cool. I got an e-mail from Duff going, 'I'm checked into a hotel and Axl [Rose, GUNS N' ROSES singer] is in the room next to me.' And that's how it all started. And he just sort of kept me posted through the day and at one point he said he was going down to the venue with Axl. And I was, like, 'Wow!' 'Cause a lot of years have gone by. And so then the next one was that he was gonna be going on stage or something. And so he went and they did, like, I think it was five or six songs. So it was cool. And then the next day he told me it was great, everything was very cool, they went out and had dinner, and so they had that sort of, whatever, rekindling kind of thing. All things considered, the only thing I said about it was that... 'cause I know that they still ended up going on an hour late. And I was, like, 'Oooh.' That's the only part that would have left a bad taste in my mouth, supporting that."
On why he (Slash) seems to be the only member of the classic GUNS N' ROSES lineup that Axl is not "cool" with:
Slash: "I think there's some deep-seeded stuff there. And it really can only come down to what was going on at the time when I finally said, 'I've gotta go.' And I think there was a certain sense of abandonment there. So it probably stems from that. And then even though I try to keep a politically correct tongue in this situation, I have at times really spoken my mind about the situation, especially when VELVET REVOLVER's first record came out, I was inundated with all this press and that was all that they wanted to ask about, and my first gut reaction was venting. So there was a lot of negativity that was sort of expressed then and has since been perpetuated by the media on a regular basis. So there's a certain kind of tension that just hangs in there."
On whether he would ever consider taking part in a reunion of the classic GUNS N' ROSES lineup:
Slash: "It's been a long time. So, all things considered, if he [Axl] really decided he wanted to do it and the other guys all wanted to do it... I mean, I know everybody's around, but there has been no conversation, like, 'Let's get the band back together.' If everybody wanted to do it and it was very clear amongst us, which means we would have to clean up some personal stuff, which we haven't even begun that. So then the biggest and most important part of it was... 'cause it seems like it would be a lot of fun to do, just go back out there, and it seems like a relatively simple idea and there's a ton of fans out there that would love to see it. It'd be cool. But we'd have to do things way differently than we did in '91, '92, '93 and whatever... And I don't think that's changeable. That whole production would have to tighten up and be like a real working band, and I don't think that's salvageable."
A special episode of MTV2's "Headbangers Ball" featuring the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX — will air Monday night (November 1) at 3:00 a.m. (technically the morning of Tuesday, November 2). The episode will feature interviews with the bands, video clips from the "Big Four" and classic video clips.
Universal Music will release "The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria" DVD and Blu-ray containing footage of the June 22, 2010 Sonisphere cinecast from the Sofia, Bulgaria leg of the touring rock festival featuring the "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX. The DVD hits the streets on October 29 in Northern Europe, November 1 in most of the rest of the world, November 2 in North America and the full shows from all four bands will be included in the two-disc set along with behind-the-scenes and interview footage.
METALLICA was joined onstage during the show by members of MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX for a performance of the DIAMOND HEAD song "Am I Evil?"
METALLICA frontman James Hetfield, MEGADETH singer/guitarist Dave Mustaine and ANTHRAX vocalist Joey Belladonna took turns singing the song, which has been a part of METALLICA's live set for decades. The event marked the first time that Dave Mustaine had performed onstage with METALLICA since April 9, 1983. An original member of the band, he was fired just weeks before METALLICA recorded its debut album, "Kill 'Em All".
Mustaine, who was replaced by Kirk Hammett, went on to form MEGADETH and achieve worldwide success on his own.
He still harbored a grudge against METALLICA, however, with some of his feelings coming out in an intense scene with drummer Lars Ulrich in the 2005 documentary "Some Kind Of Monster".
According to Billboard.com, the Sonisphere cinecast from Sofia was beamed via satellite in HD to cinemas and was seen by more than 100,000 fans. It was distributed globally into hundreds of cinemas by New York-based BY Experience.
In the U.K. it was screened in 79 cinemas. "At the Odeon in Leicester Square in London there was a mosh pit, and at the end of the show they had a stage invasion, which is just phenomenal to even think about," promoter Stuart Galbraith told Billboard.com.
Jeffrey Easton of Metal Exiles recently conducted an interview with vocalist Mark Tornillo of reformed heavy metal legends ACCEPT. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metal Exiles: You made a comment about not wanting to fill Udo's [Dirkschneider, former ACCEPT singer] shoes and after listening to the record, I believe that you have kicked his out of the limelight. Did people actually think you should sound like Udo?
Mark: I have been compared to him, obviously, before this and some other singers as well, but I try to do my own thing. At this point, obviously, I am going to try to make [the classic ACCEPT tracks] sound as much as the originals as possible because the fans deserve that, but when it comes time for the new songs, I have to be my own guy.
Metal Exiles: One of the big surprises, I guess, for ACCEPT is how quick the music industry snapped to attention when you guys announced that you were going to do a new record. Were you surprised at how quickly the industry thought the band was still viable?
Mark: It just blew us all away; we did not expect it to happen like this. We are all very grateful and it is turning out to be a hell of a ride.
Metal Exiles: Are you surprised that you have moved so many units of the new record considering the downturn in record sales?
Mark: By all means we are. The record industry is very different than when we were all making records in the '80s and it is hard to say what good sales are and any sales are good at this point. It surprised us that it debuted at #12 on [the] Billboard [chart] in Europe; nobody was ready for that.
Metal Exile: I know the guys in ACCEPT are great songwriters. So what did you bring when you came on board?
Mark: When I first came in, I had no idea how we would work, but it turned out to be a total collaboration among Wolf [Hoffmann, guitar], Peter [Baltes, bass] and I. Peter only lives about 40 minutes [away from me] so we got together and wrote a lot and Wolf came up from Nashville quite a bit as well. I wrote about 90% of the lyrics as well as using some of their ideas. I had a lot more input than I thought I would have, let's put it that way. I did not know how it was going to play out, but they are a great bunch of guys to work with.
Metal Exiles: You have been in metal for years now so how do you keep your vocals in the shape they are in?
Mark: I have no idea. I take a whole new approach to it now than I did back in the day. Your throat is a muscle and just like any other muscle you have to know how to work it. I have had some training from a vocal coach and I exercise it as well. When TT QUICK started back in the day, we were a cover band and we do three long sets a night so I was used to it but I am older now so I have to approach it differently.
Metal Exiles: I know that European fans are stalwart about their metal so how were you received when you guys did your first tour?
Mark: The first show was in New York and I knew what to expect. Three days later, we ended up in Lithuania then to St. Petersburg and to Moscow down to Scandinavia into Germany and I had no idea what I was getting into. I did not know if I had to go out there with a shield or what. All of the people online were saying, "There is no fucking way they can do this" until they saw us and then it was a whole different ballgame. An audience has never disrespected me, they have embraced me from the beginning, even in Europe. They are just happy to see the band, they do not give a shit who is in it.
Metal Exiles: Well, I remember "Eat The Heat" [with David Reece on vocals] not getting a good reception.
Mark: Well, that was a different time and they tried to take it in a different direction then. The music scene was changing and their direction just did not work for them as well as they wanted it to. We are not trying to move anywhere now, we are just trying to be what ACCEPT was in the early '80s, just a fucking metal band.
Metal Exiles: Are we going to see more ACCEPT records in the future or is this a one-off?
Mark: We have every intention of making more records as we have signed a long-term deal with Nuclear Blast. The way things are looking now, we are taking some time off and in the first week of January we are heading back to Europe to start our world tour and hopefully by the end of 2011 we will be back in the studio to start our next record.
Finally, technology has caught up with MANOWAR's custom-built touring and recording equipment. The band decided that its fans deserved to hear the songs from its debut album, 1982's "Battle Hymns", with the massive sound and production that has become the group's signature over recent years and records.
Due for release at the end of November 2010, "Battle Hymns" will soon be available with the unbridled power of today's technology: "Battle Hymns 2011".
With the decision to reinterpret the music came the need to revisit the famed narration of the legendary Orson Welles. There was only one obvious choice and that was Sir Christopher Lee. Recorded at the famed Abbey Road Studios in London, his own inspired interpretation of the late, great Orson Welles on "Dark Avenger" will be another jewel in the crown of the Kings Of Metal.
MANOWAR bassist and producer Joey DeMaio stated: "My personal admiration for Sir Christopher began many years ago while watching his films. It increased when I was honored to produce him as a singer and as a narrator and we became friends instantly. Immediately after hearing the sheer power and range of his voice I thought I should write a narration; I never imagined we would ever re-record 'Battle Hymns' — but here we are and it is massive."
"Battle Hymns 2011" will feature two never-before-released live versions of "Death Tone" and "Fast Taker" recorded during the band's very first concerts in 1982. These are the rarest bonus materials ever released to date in MANOWAR's career.
"Our fans can be sure that we have squeezed every drop of power into 'Battle Hymns 2011' that today's technology allows," said vocalist Eric Adams.
"Battle Hymns 2011" track listing:
01. Death Tone
02. Metal Daze
03. Fast Taker
04. Shell Shock
05. Manowar
06. Dark Avenger
07. William's Tale
08. Battle Hymn
Bonus Tracks:
09. Death Tone (live)
10. Fast Taker (live)
In a recent video message, DeMaio explained the band's decision to re-record "Battle Hymns":
"We've had a couple of people ask why re-record a record like 'Battle Hymns' when it's perfect... I didn't say it's perfect, but other people said it's perfect, and we thank you for that. We're not trying to make it better, because it is what it is, but there's a lot of technology now that we didn't have when we made the record and we're gonna take advantage of it to make it as loud as we possibly can. So it won't be better; it'll just be different. And the songs themselves deserve to be recorded again because they're great songs and the fans have actually requested a lot of this to happen. And also, Donnie Hamzik, our original drummer, is back in the band, and he wanted to have another go at it. We're all together and we're gonna have a fucking great time."
Video footage of DeMaio talking about the decision to re-record "Battle Hymns" and laying down bass tracks in the studio can be viewed below.
MANOWAR's new album, "Hammer Of The Gods", which is the first installment of "The Asgard Saga", the band's unique multimedia fantasy adventure with best-selling author Wolfgang Hohlbein, is due next year.
MANOWAR's latest DVD in the "Hell On Earth" series was released on November 27, 2009. "Hell On Earth V" covers MANOWAR's recent world tours, including Germany, Norway, Spain, Finland, Russia, Romania, Turkey, USA and Canada. It features live performances of old and new classics such as "Gloves Of Metal", "The Crown And The Ring", "Hand Of Doom", "Hymn Of The Immortal Warrior", "Father", "God Or Man" and many others.
Canadian metal innovators VOIVOD have been confirmed for Maryland Deathfest IX, set to take place May 26-29, 2011 at Sonar in Baltimore.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
ACID WITCH (USA)
AURA NOIR (Norway)
AVULSED (Spain)
BAD ACID TRIP (USA)
BLOOD FREAK (USA)
CIANIDE (USA)
CITIZENS ARREST (USA)
CORONER (Switzerland)
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY (USA)
CREATIVE WASTE (Saudi Arabia)
CRETIN (USA)
CRIPPLE BASTARDS (Italy)
DEAD CONGREGATION (Greece)
DEATH BREATH (Sweden)
DEFEATED SANITY (Germany)
DEVOURMENT (USA)
DOOM (UK)
DROPDEAD (USA)
EXHORDER (USA)
EXHUMED (USA)
FLESH PARADE (USA)
FUNEBRARUM (USA)
GOATSNAKE (USA)
GRAVEHILL (USA)
HAIL OF BULLETS (Netherlands)
HATRED SURGE (USA)
HOODED MENACE (Finland)
IMPALED NAZARENE (Finland)
INNUMERABLE FORMS (USA)
INQUISITION (USA)
THE KILL (Australia)
KYLESA (USA)
LAST DAYS OF HUMANITY (Netherlands)
LOCK UP (UK)
MACHETAZO (Spain)
MALIGNANT TUMOUR (Czech Republic)
MAMMOTH GRINDER (USA)
MARDUK (Sweden)
MASAKARI (USA)
MIASMAL (Sweden)
NAILS (USA)
NEUROSIS (USA)
NIGHTBRINGER (USA)
NOCTURNAL (Germany)
NOISEAR (USA)
NOKTURNEL (USA)
NUCLEAR ASSAULT (USA)
OAK (USA)
ORANGE GOBLIN (UK)
SHITSTORM (USA)
PULLING TEETH (USA)
REGURGITATE (Sweden)
REPUGNANT (Sweden)
VISCERAL DISGORGE (USA)
VOIVOD (Canada)
WORMED (Spain)
The concept of Maryland Deathfest is simple: to bring to the United States the best and most extreme bands the underground has to offer. Never conforming to trends, or being limited by genre restrictions, Maryland Deathfest is a showcase of what extreme music, both new and old, is capable of. With an emphasis on diversity, the festival brings together the very best death metal, grindcore, black metal, thrash, experimental and hardcore bands from all around the world. With bands from all over the U.S. and Canada, and exclusive fly ins and rare appearances from some of the most in demand bands from Europe, Australia, and Japan, the diversity of the lineup is only surpassed by the diversity of Maryland Deathfest's rabid fan base, who annually travel from all over the world for a weekend of fun and music.
Since Maryland Deathfest's inception in 2003, festival organizers Ryan and Evan have continued to strive to bring together some of the most legendary bands in the scene and some of the most talked about up-and-coming bands in the underground for an unparalleled experience. Combining the DIY attitude of two young metal fans who are actually part of the scene instead of trying to exploit it, with a refreshing professional touch, Maryland Deathfest is year after year given high marks for being one of the best-run and most organized festivals around.
For more information, visit www.marylanddeathfest.com.
Former JUDAS PRIEST and current HOLY RAGE frontman Al Atkins will be interviewed on November 8 by Banger Films for the forthcoming TV series "Metal Evolution: The Series". The series will air in the spring of 2011 in the U.S. on VH1 Classic and other networks in the world thereafter.
"Metal Evolution" is a new 16-part series on the history of heavy metal directed and produced by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, the filmmakers behind the award-winning documentaries "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey", "Global Metal" and "Iron Maiden: Flight 666". The series features the much-debated metal history "family tree" originally shown in "Headbanger's Journey". From shock rock to thrash, from black metal to grunge, this 24-sub-genre genealogical chart — the first of its kind — reveals the vast complex progeny of heavy metal, and serves as the narrative backbone of the series. Using the chart as his road map, our host, metalhead-turned-anthropologist Sam Dunn, will criss-cross the globe, to the northern tip of Norway, the jungles of Brazil, the grim beauty of Birmingham and the pock-marked streets of Detroit, visiting the bars, back alleys, and ballrooms, and even the basement shrines of superfans, to get to the very essence of metal.
Dunn recently told Spinner that "Metal Evolution" will focus on "how heavy metal and hard rock music has changed over the years." He added, "We are going to be talking to THE WHO, DEEP PURPLE and other British bands, too, because it did really come out of the U.K."
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Former DIO guitarist Tracy "G" Grijalva will take part in a performance and clinic on November 21 at D.O.B. Sound Recording A& Rehearsals in Santa Fe Springs, California. The show is scheduled for 2 p.m. Admission is free. He will also perform on December 11 at T. Phillip's Alehouse And Grill in La Verne, California.
Flyers for both events can be viewed below.
Tracy left DIO in 1999 after he claimed he was "asked to play in a dual-guitar situation" in Ronnie's band. According to a posting on Tracy's web site, DIO was "looking for more of a Ritchie Blackmore style . . . and wanted [Tracy] to step back and just play rhythm guitar. That's when [Tracy] knew it was time to leave, freeing him to more diligently pursue his home studio projects."
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German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR have scheduled the following South American tour dates:
Feb. 22 - Lima, Peru - C.C. Scencia
Feb. 24 - La Paz, Bolivia - Teatro Modesta Sanginés
Feb. 25 - Buenos Aires, Agentina - El Teatro Flores
Feb. 26 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Hard Rock Cafe
Feb. 27 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Carioca Club
Guitarist Henny Wolter left PRIMAL FEAR in August because — in his words — "it just didn't feel like a band anymore." Henny, who is also no longer a member of SINNER (led by PRIMAL FEAR bassist Mat Sinner), is focusing on his new band NITROGODS, also featuring ex-PRIMAL FEAR drummer Klaus Sperling and vocalist Oimel Larcher. The group's self-titled debut album is expected in early 2011.
PRIMAL FEAR recently released a new live DVD, "16.6 - All Over The World" (recorded in various locations between September and November 2009), and a live CD, aptly titled "Live In The USA". Frontiers Records issued the two products separately and as a limited-edition combo on June 22 in the USA. The DVD is filled with an abundance of extra materials, such as an entire bootleg section with funny moments on the road, bootleg footage from various festival appearances and other concerts, all of PRIMAL FEAR's most recent promotional videos, plus the making-of footage for "16.6" and a brand new interview section about the past, present and future of PRIMAL FEAR.
Glenn Danzig, the man at the forefront of the hardcore/dark metal movement for nearly three decades, will host MTV2's "Headbangers Ball" on Monday, November 1. The episode, which airs at 3 a.m. ET/PT (technically Tuesday morning), will feature the following videos:
* SUPERJOINT RITUAL - "Dress Like A Target"
* DANZIG - "Crawl Across Your Killing Floor"
* BEHEMOTH - "Slaves Shall Serve"
* LACUNA COIL - "Spellbound"
* METALLICA - "Sad But True The Big 4: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria"
* PRONG - "Power Of The Damager"
* DANZIG - "On A Wicked Night"
* DIMMU BORGIR - "The Sacrilegious Scorn"
On November 9, DANZIG will release a limited-edition 12-inch vinyl version of the band's latest album, "Deth Red Sabaoth", with a color lyric sleeve. It will be limited to 2,000 copies on black vinyl and 1,000 copies on red vinyl. Iit is available for pre-order at The Omega Order.
The first new DANZIG studio album in six years, "Deth Red Sabaoth", sold 11,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 35 on The Billboard 200 chart.
DANZIG's last album, "Circle of Snakes", opened with 6,400 units back in September 2004 to enter the chart at No. 183. That number was in line with the 6,900 first-week tally registered by 2002's "Danzig 7:77 I Luciferi", which debuted at No. 159.
"Deth Red Sabaoth" was released on June 22 via Evilive/The End Records. Produced by Glenn, the CD was recorded in Los Angeles over the course of 2009.
Joining vocalist Glenn Danzig in the studio for the recording of "Deth Red Sabaoth" were guitarist Tommy Victor (PRONG, MINISTRY), a Danzig cohort on and off since 1996, and drummer Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE, SEVENTH VOID). While Kelly has toured with Glenn intermittently since 2002, this is the first time he has recorded with the band. Glenn handled the bass chores for most the album, and played drums on "Black Candy".
DANZIG — Danzig, guitarist Tommy Victor, drummer Johnny Kelly and bassist Steve Zing (also an original member of SAMHAIN with Glenn) — is headlining the 2010 edition of the "Blackest Of The Black" tour in October.
According to Pitchfork, reunited grunge legends SOUNDGARDEN will release a seven-inch single on November 26 (Black Friday) featuring the previously unreleased instrumental song "The Telephantasm" and a live version of "Gun". "The Telephantasm" was the iTunes-exclusive bonus track on SOUNDGARDEN's first collection of music since 1996, "Telephantasm", which came out on September 28 in the U.S. and September 27 internationally.
The SOUNDGARDEN single will be sold only at the approximately 700 independent record stores that support the annual Record Store Day, held each year in April.
A career-spanning retrospective, "Telephantasm" included the never-before-heard unreleased track "Black Rain", taken from the "Badmotorfinger" recording sessions.
On September 28, A&M/UMe released three expanded versions of "Telephantasm" which included a double-disc with 12 additional tracks, five of which are previously unreleased, and SOUNDGARDEN's first-ever DVD, featuring 20 videos, 13 of which have never been released, a deluxe three-LP vinyl edition and an individually numbered super deluxe collector's edition. These three expanded versions are available at all music retail outlets and on the band's web site.
A new photo of former NIRVANA bandmates Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, along with producer Butch Vig, can be found below. The trio is collaborating on the next album from Grohl's post-NIRVANA band FOO FIGHTERS, due out in 2011. Grohl broke the news to the BBC in England, saying only that Novoselic will make a guest appearance on bass. The album is being produced by Vig, who produced NIRVANA's landmark 1991 album, "Nevermind", which also marked Grohl's recording debut with the iconic alternative trio.
According to The Pulse of Radio, Grohl and Novoselic have not recorded together since NIRVANA cut its final song back in 1993, "You Know You're Right". Grohl recalled the sessions for that track. "We had some time off before a tour, and Kurt wanted to go in and demo some stuff, so I said, 'Hey, why don't we do it at this studio down the street from my house,'" he said. "And we went down there, and we had three days booked. Kurt came in the last day and we were like, 'Okay, what do you wanna do?' And Kurt said, 'Well, why don't we do that song we've been doing at soundcheck?' And so we rehearsed it, I think, once, and then recorded it. Kurt did three or four vocal takes, and that was it."
Grohl also said that the new FOO FIGHTERS record, their seventh studio effort, is the band's heaviest yet, adding, "Each song is full on, the whole record is full on. In the 14 songs, there's not one acoustic guitar, there's not even one in the house."
The band is recording the album in Grohl's garage, with Grohl calling it "totally old school" and adding, "This whole project has been really cool. I haven't made a record with Butch for 20 years."
The recording process is also being filmed for a movie that will surface next year in conjunction with the album release.
The new FOO FIGHTERS set will follow up 2007's "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace", which won a Grammy for album of the year. The band went on hiatus after touring behind the disc, as Grohl worked with THEM CROOKED VULTURES.
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Elliot Levin of the NY Hard Rock Music Examiner recently conducted an interview with MONSTER MAGNET mainman Dave Wyndorf. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Examiner: So the new record just came out yesterday. How does it feel to have a new album out?
Dave: It feels good, man. What's in it for me is getting into the next one. It's like, "Okay, that one's done, let's get into the next one." It's done, there's nothing else I can do. For some reason, it happens almost every time I make a record. [It] didn't happen last time, but that was a messed up situation, but... I'm starting to think of Studio 13. Basically a place to go within the MONSTER MAGNET website that's gonna sell seven-inch, 10-inch vinyl all the way into download territory. A place where I can do music that may not wind up on a MONSTER MAGNET album but I can get it out, where people will want to buy it. It's also a place where I can do stuff off the cuff, take some chances production-wise, without spending a lot of money and screwing the pooch. It'll be a place where friends of mine can do the same thing.
Examiner: So the new album is called "Mastermind", it's been streaming on AOL for the last week or two, I've been listening to it... How would you compare it against your previous work, stylistically?
Dave: Stylistically, it's not that much different from the rest of the stuff. I mean, there's a certain amount of stuff that I like that I think MONSTER MAGNET represents, and it's all there. Maybe a little bit more on the heavy side. Production-wise, I think it's a lot different, better sounding, and I think lyrically and just the vibe of it is more intense than the last couple of ones have been, and that's what I was looking for. I was looking for something as intense as a live situation would be, 'cause this record was really written to be played live. And I wanted to amp it up, do a better job of the stuff I loved to do.
Examiner: So there's the term stoner metal, and after KYUSS, I think MONSTER MAGNET is second in line when it comes to owning that title. What do you think of that term, and how it's applied to your band and other bands?
Dave: That was something, I think the British press invented that label somewhere in the '90s. Stoner rock, and then it turned into stoner metal. I think it originally had to do with bands that were influenced by '70s guitar rock, ala BLACK SABBATH and heavy stuff, slow riffs, and chugging metal. Rock as opposed to metal. But for me, it was just something they would apply to it. I think I got this whole thing rolling by mistake, because I put on the first single, before the whole stoner rock thing happened, I put on the single "drug rock..." It's in the verse, "Come on, kids, drug rock!" And so they got a hold of that and next thing you know they're calling it stoner rock, and now stoner metal.
Examiner: So when it comes to music, New Jersey's best known for BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and BON JOVI. Where does MONSTER MAGNET fit in there?
Dave: Not at all. Nothing against Jersey, but on the surface there's not really a lot of tolerance for things... it was difficult. We're in the shadow of New York City. To be successful here was always weird. Lots of bands, lots of cover bands. The SPRINGSTEEN and BON JOVI thing was always present, and they didn't seem to take a liking to anything that's outside that, so it was tough. I mean they like metal down here, but we weren't metal enough. We're just odd. I never expected to make it in Jersey, ever. But Jersey's a couple of different places. For one, it's a bedroom community for New York City, a lot of really hard-working and talented people in these giant houses. And then it's filled with a bunch of mooks, the worst people I've ever met in my life, just horrible (indecipherable scream), just godawful. And then there's the bunch of people who have been here for years, just quiet, middle class people who kind of chill out. I mean, we're talking
about a very dense state with a lot of people in it. Obviously North Jersey is different from down here, and then there's the 'burbs, a little north of what's popular with the Jersey people on that TV show ["Jersey Shore"].
Swedish melodic metal masters LION'S SHARE will perform two or three songs with legendary drummer Vinny Appice (HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, DIO), during his Scandinavian Drum Day appearance on October 30 in Stockholm, Sweden.
LION'S SHARE was the main band that performed during the Ronnie James Dio tribute concert that took place on the Sweden Rock Cruise on October 7, with guest appearances by current and former members of such bands as IN FLAMES, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, KING DIAMOND, STRATOVARIUS, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and AMON AMARTH.
LION'S SHARE's critically acclaimed "Dark Hours" album was released in March 2009 via Blistering Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Emotional Coma" was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren (OPETH, SYMPHONY X, PARADISE LOST, AMON AMARTH) and features a guest appearance by SYMPHONY X guitarist Mike Romeo (solo on "Behind The Curtain").
OVERKILL and ATLANTEAN KODEX have been confirmed for next year's installment of the Rock Hard festival, set to take place June 10-12, 2011 at the Amphitheater in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
AGENT STEEL
ANACRUSIS
ATLANTEAN KODEX
ENFORCER
ENSLAVED
IN SOLITUDE
OVERKILL
TRIPTYKON
For more information, visit www.rockhardfestival.de.
According to Classic Rock magazine, reunited U.K. rockers WOLFSBANE — featuring former IRON MAIDEN frontman Blaze Bayley — are currently working on both an EP and an album. The former, featuring re-recordings of classic songs, is due out in March, with the latter following next September.
The band — which features Bayley, guitarist Jase Edwards, bassist Jeff Hateley and drummer Steve Danger — will support THE WILDHEARTS frontman Ginger at Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall on December 22. They then headline The Borderline in London on April 9. Tickets cost £12.50 and are available now from the venue, HMV and also online.
Commenting on the reunion, Blaze said, "Although we have done other things over the years, we always had WOLFSBANE in our hearts and following our tour with THE QUIREBOYS last year, we had so much fun and have had so much interest that we decided to get back in the studio. We are going to make our first headline show a huge destruction party in London. The support really has been overwhelming! The world clearly needs saving and we're gonna start there."
Formed in 1984 in Tamworth, England, WOLFSBANE signed to Def American Records, and Rick Rubin produced the band's first album, "Live Fast, Die Fast", released in 1989. WOLFSBANE's second release, an EP titled "All Hell's Breaking Loose Down", followed in 1990. The band's second studio album, "Down Fall the Good Guys", was released in 1991, giving WOLFSBANE its only U.K. chart entry, with the single "Ezy" landing at No. 68.
After Def American dropped WOLFSBANE, the band released a live album, "Massive Noise Injection", through the Bronze label in 1993. The group's third studio album, the self-titled "Wolfsbane", followed in 1994.
On September 9, 2007, WOLFSBANE reformed for a one-off short set at the Rock of Ages festival in Tamworth. This was followed by their first U.K. tour in 13 years, with the band playing five dates as support for the THE WILDHEARTS in December 2007. Their next tour came in December 2009 supporting THE QUIREBOYS on the aforementioned "A Little Bit of What You Fancy 20th Anniversary Tour".
Each year hundreds of Rotary International-sponsored students from all over the globe attend a special day at the United Nations for sharing worldwide community service and humanitarian projects with one another. Ronny Munroe, former METAL CHURCH lead vocalist and "Metal Performer of the Year" in 2009 as honored by the Mortal Fest Metal Awards committee in Mexico, and solo artist with his 2009 release "The Fire Within", has written both a special tribute song to honor the Interact and Rotaract students who have "made a difference" in their communities throughout the seven continents. The song entitled, "Together We Can" (make a difference), will be accompanied by a moving speech written to show that the rock world is dedicated to the youth who do really make a difference, and this time the UN will be "rocked" by Ronny in a way never heard in those hallowed walls. Students will hear his speech, his song, and be able to take home a souvenier of a melody
that will surely haunt them for a long time to come, as the chords and vocals rip to the inner soul of all that is "service above self" minded, the Rotary theme motto.
For more information contact Rotary International district youth advisor, at keanroger@verizon.net.
"The Interact and Rotoract kids, as well as Rotary in general, are doing a great job of making the world a better place to be, and I am extremely honored and excited to be a part of it!" stated Ronny.
Swedish metallers IN FLAMES will are "almost finished" with the pre-production on their next album are preparing to start the actual recordings for the CD at their own IF studios in Gothenburg, Sweden. According to the band, "The plan is to spend the remaining part of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 creating and recording the follow-up to 'A Sense Of Purpose'."
Guitarist Jesper Strömblad quit IN FLAMES in February in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction.
The band spent the last few months touring the world with Strömblad's temporary replacement, Niclas Engelin from the Swedish band ENGEL.
Engelin had helped IN FLAMES on a couple of occasions in the past and is no stranger to the band's songs or the touring life.
IN FLAMES's latest album, "A Sense of Purpose" (2008), shifted 20,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release. This was slightly less than the opening tally of "Come Clarity" (Ferret), which sold just under 24,000 copies in February 2006 to debut at position No. 58.
SODOM and MILKING THE GOATMACHINE have ben confirmed for the German edition of the Metalfest festival, set to take place May 27-29, 2011 at Dessau/Airport.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
ARCH ENEMY
ARKONA
BELPHEGOR
CRADLE OF FILTH
DESTRUCTION
EISREGEN
EQUILIBRIUM
EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS
KALMAH
MILKING THE GOATMACHINE
SABATON
SODOM
SUICIDAL ANGELS
THAUROROD
WATAIN
Early-bird ticket packages are available at the Metalfest Online Shop for only 49.00 euros, which includes ticket, plus an early-bird shirt as well as a patch. Camping and parking is included in the ticket price. This offer is valid until October 31, 2010.
Swedish heavy metallers ENFORCER have finished filming a new music video for the song "Midnight Vice" in Stockholm, Sweden. The clip was shot with famed director Patric Ullaeus (DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE) and sees the bandmembers doing what they do best — rocking out in a typical Swedish bar and around the city of Stockholm.
"Midnight Vice" comes off ENFORCER's new album, "Diamonds", which came out this past spring.
Commented ENFORCER drummer Jonas Wikstrand: "We finally finished the shooting of the video, after planning this for months. All of us had pain in our necks after one day of shooting from giving everything during our performances in the studio. I have a really good feeling about the video and I think it's gonna be killer.
"Working with Patric, who's made tons of videos during the last decades with huge success, has been a great experience. He's very professional and talented and I believe he's gonna make us look good. I hope the video's gonna be out soon so YOU can see it! Now, I'm looking forward to coming to see you on our upcoming tour with AIRBOURNE! Stay tuned for more!"
ENFORCER will kick off its European tour with Australian hard rockers AIRBOURNE on November 6.
Having released its debut album, "Into the Night", in November 2008, ENFORCER kicked open the floodgates for the return of traditional heavy metal, paving the way for many other young bands to follow. With critical acclaim pouring in from fans and the international music press, ENFORCER wasted no time taking their show to the road for their first European and American tours as well as a litany of appearances at many of Europe's most highly regarded festivals.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/enforcerswe.
Some of Spain's top heavy metal musicians will come together to pay tribute to late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott at the Dimefest IV festival on December 4, 2010 at the Heineken Club in Madrid, Spain.
The following bands are scheduled to perform at the event:
HAMLET
KOMA
ANGELUS APATRIDA
SKUNK DF
SU TA GAR
THE EYES
VITA IMANA
GAUNTLET
INFERNOISE
VORTICE
UNSOULED
JORGE SALÁN
INNTRANCE
EXQUISITE PUS
HELLS FIRE
YO KILL
DISTANCE
ATSPHEAR
VERTEBRAL
WILHEAD
MODELO PICKMAN
JAVIER PERERA
Dutch doomsters AKELEI will release their full-length debut, "De Zwaarte Van Het Doorstane", at this year's Dutch Doom Days festival, which is being held November 6-7 at Baroeg in Rotterdam, Holland.
"De Zwaarte Van Het Doorstane" contains five songs with a running time of 54 minutes.
The track listing is as follows:
01. Verlangen
02. Meer Dan Je Ziet
03. De Zwaarte
04. Een Droom In 6/8
05. Duett
AKELEI is:
Misha Nuis - Vocals, Guitar
Ward Maaswinkel - Drums, Vocals
Pascal Vervest - Guitar
Merlijn Seegers - Guitar
Josha Nuis - Bass
For more information, visit Akelei.org.
Reactivated German thrashers ASSASSIN will release their new album, "Breaking The Silence", in February 2011 via SPV/Steamhammer Records. The CD was recorded with veteran metal producer Harris Johns, who has previously worked with VOIVOD, KREATOR and SODOM, among many others.
In other news, ASSASSIN's spring 2010 concerts in Japan were professionally filmed for a future DVD release.
As previously reported, SPV/Steamhammer will also reissue ASSASSIN's classic LPs, 1987's "The Upcoming Terror" and 1988's "Interstellar Experience".
ASSASSIN reunited in 2002 and performed at the 2003 edition of the Wacken Open Air festival.
The band's third album, "The Club", was self-produced and self-released in 2005.
German thrash metallers NECRONOMICON have released a special-edition vinyl of the band's first album on High Roller Records. The self-titled LP was first made available on CD in 1986, and the vinyl release includes not only the original eight tracks, but also NECRONOMICON's 1985 "Blind Destruction" demo and two additional tracks that have appeared on different compilations. The double LP comes in a heavy gatefold cover, embossed with the band logo, and with a cardboard lyric insert. It is limited to 666 copies, with the first 100 copies on gold vinyl and including a free woven patch, while the next 200 are on a silver/black "blend" vinyl, and the remaining 366 copies on black vinyl.
The complete track listing is as follows:
Side 1:
01. Dark Land
02. Possessed By Evil
03. Bloody Revenge
04. Insanity
Side 2:
05. Blind Destruction
06. Hades Invasion
07. Magic Forest
08. Iron Charm
Side 3:
09. Intro / Iron Charm
10. Possessed By Evil
11. Insanity
12. Blind Destruction
Side 4:
13. Bloody Revenge
14. Possessed By Evil
15. Blind Destruct
Formed in Southern Germany in 1983 by frontman Freddy and then-members Axel and Lala, NECRONOMICON is one of Germany's longest running thrash metal bands. The group is currently in the studio working on its seventh album, which will be a double CD and will include both live tracks and acoustic songs.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/possessedbythrash.
Belgium-based metallers THURISAZ have completed work on their third album, "The Cimmerian Years", for a tentative early 2011 via an as-yet-undetermined record label. The CD was recorded and mixed at CCR Studio in Zulte, Belgium with producer Kris Belean. The band states about the new material, "It's once again a mixture of all kinds of metal elements (and beyond), relished with lots of melody and melancholy."
A video teaser for the album can be viewed below.
"The Cimmerian Years" features guest appearances by Paul Kuhr (NOVEMBERS DOOM), Thomas A. G. Jensen (SATURNUS) and Els Blieck (INIS CATHAIGH).
THURISAZ last year parted ways with bassist Lars Vereecke and replaced him with Hannes Leroy.
The band had its 2004 debut album, "Scent of a Dream", reissued in April 2008 through Shiver Records. The LP was remastered and contains an acoustic live version of "Years of Silence" as the bonus track.
THURISAZ' second full-length album, "Circadian Rhythm", was released in 2007 via Shiver.
German goth metallers XANDRIA will perform the first concert with their soon-to-be-announced new female singer at the "Classic Meets Pop" event on January 7, 2011 at the Seidensticker Halle in Bielefeld, Germany. The band states, "As the main act of the show, XANDRIA will play one of their songs with the Bielefeld Philharmonic Orchestra (XANDRIA will represent the metal genre there!)."
XANDRIA performed several concerts this past spring with the band's former frontwoman, Lisa Middelhauve, filling in.
XANDRIA in February parted ways with its singer of one year, Kerstin Bischof. The group stated at the time, "Due to occupational and private reasons, [Kerstin] wants to concentrate on her non-musical career in the future and cannot support XANDRIA the way it would be necessary."
Bischof joined XANDRIA in February 2009 as the replacement for Middelhauve, who left the band in May 2008 for "personal reasons." Lisa stated at the time, "My exit has nothing to do with dispute or controversy within the band. It was just time to split."
XANDRIA's "Now & Forever - The Best Of" collection was released in June 2008. The CD contains 20 tracks, including a few rarities like the ballad "Lullaby" from the "India" era and the songs "One Word" and "Drown In Me" (previously unavailable on a XANDRIA album). "Now & Forever - The Best Of Xandria" was also released as a double digipack containing a DVD of the complete XANDRIA show from 2007's Summer Breeze festival, all of the band's promotional video clips and a brand new interview.
XANDRIA's fourth album, "Salomé - The Seventh Veil", was released on May 25, 2007.
POISONBLACK — the Finnish band featuring former SENTENCED frontman Ville Laihiala — has finished recording a five-song pre-production demo for the group's upcoming album. Ville said, "I am happy about the way they are starting to build up."
POISONBLACK will enter Antfarm Studio in Århus, Denmark in January 2011 with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY, GOREFEST) to begin recording its new album, tentatively titled "Lead & Roll Vol. 5". A late spring/early summer release is expected.
Madsen previously mixed POISONBLACK's 2006 effort "Lust-Stained Despair".
As previously reported, guitarist Antti Leiviskä (MARY, BRYSSEL KAUPALLINEN, SICKNOTE) will fill in for POISONBLACK's Janne Markus at all upcoming shows.
"Of Rust And Bones", the fourth album from POISONBLACK, entered the official chart in the group's home country at position No. 6. The follow-up to 2008's "A Dead Heavy Day" was recorded with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, who has previously worked with such acts as HIM, SENTENCED, AMORPHIS and ENSIFERUM. The cover and booklet artwork was created by Teemu Hostikka.
"A Dead Heavy Day" also entered the Finnish chart at position No. 6.
Norwegian metallers COMMUNIC are putting the finishing touches on the material for the follow-up to 2008's "Payment Of Existence". The band is planning to start the recording process in early 2011 for a tentative June 2011 release via Nuclear Blast Records.
Comments frontman Oddleif Stensland: "I am really excited about this new material that we have put together for this new album. There is still some work left, but we are getting closer. I think the heaviness of these songs will surprise many of you, and the overall feeling of it, is way darker this time. The songs are shorter, more in your face and may seem straightforward at first, but there are many twists and turns that will just creep under your skin. This album is DEEP!
"I know that many of you have been waiting for this album for a long time already, but everything has its time, and the time is now. Never before have I left so much of 'myself' in our songs — never before has the price been so high — this album will be really special."
"Payment of Existence", the latest album from COMMUNIC, entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 94. It was released on May 30, 2008 via Nuclear Blast Records.
"Várj úgy", the new video from the Swedish-Hungarian hard rock act HARD, can be viewed below. The clip was shot in Budapest on a boat on the Danube. The song is a very special occasion indeed, as Swedish singer Björn Lodin, as a gesture to his Hungarian bandmates and their Hungarian fans, took on the unlikely challenge of recording the track singing in Hungarian for the first time.
"Várj úgy" is a collaboration with award-winning top Hungarian lyricist Attila Horváth and also has a "Hunglish" version released, interpolating parts of an English-language version which will be featured on the forthcoming album due early 2011.
HARD was formed in 2004 by some of the finest musicians of the Hungarian hard rock scene. After two critically acclaimed and award-nominated albums in Hungary, the band decided to take it a step forward and hit international music territories with English lyrics. After several lineup changes, their first international offering, "Traveler", was released worldwide in March 2008. The band has appeared in the biggest international hard rock and heavy metal magazines, such us Metal Hammer, Burrn!!, Fireworks, Hardline, Powerplay, etc. In August 2009, the band announced that it was joining forces with acclaimed Swedish vocalist/guitarist/producer Björn Lodin (BALTIMOORE). The long-awaited first album with this new lineup, entitled "Time Is Waiting For No One", was released on BLP Music/Escape Music in Europe and on BLP Music/Nightmare Records in North America.
HARD is:
Zsolt Csillik (guitar)
Björn Lodin (vocals, guitar)
Zsolt Borbély (drums)
Gabor Mirkovics (bass)
Zsolt Vámos (guitar)
Greek modern metallers INSIDEAD have inked a deal with Massacre Records. The band's debut album, "Chaos Elecdead", will be released at the end of February 2011. The CD was produced by Roberto Dimitri Liapakis at Prophecy and Music Factory studios in Germany, and was mixed and mastered by Liapakis and Christian Schmid (MYSTIC PROPHECY, SUICIDAL ANGELS, SACRED STEEL). The cover artwork was created by Meran Karanitant (SIX FEET UNDER, HATEBREED, DIMMU BORGIR).
According to a press release, "Chaos Elecdead" is "a mixture of heavy, thrash, and deathcore elements with a modern touch that does neglect to include that warm and powerful feeling of the favorite music that we grew up with. Powerful yet broken riffs, using past and present inspirations, with melodic out brakes and solo parts that characterize this band as a fresh breath in the metal music scene. INSIDEAD deliver strong compositions, played by their hands beginning to end and aspiring to blow you away."
Commented Liapakis: "INSIDEAD are a breath of fresh air in the metal scene today as they tastefully combine classic heavy metal elements and modern ideas, keeping their playing real by recording all parts themselves note for note and producing the sound of the 21st century with a feeling in the vein of pure heavy metal."
Added bassist Nick M: "After years of hard work, both the timing and the people we worked with were right for us to find a label that can support our work and give us the stepping stone to present our music to a larger audience. We are grateful to our producer, R.D. Liapakis, and Massacre Records, whose faith in us was a reward by itself for the years of hard work and determination. We feel that the hardest part is to keep our consistency from now and prove they were right in believing in us."
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/insidead.
Hungarian extreme metallers EKTOMORF will release their new album, "Redemption", on December 17 via AFM Records. The CD was recorded at Antfarm studios in Århus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen, who has previously worked with DARK TRANQUILLITY, THE HAUNTED and HEAVEN SHALL BURN, among others.
EKTOMORF will play a very special acoustic show in front of an invited audience of members of the press on November 18 in Berlin, Germany. In addition, the band will premiere two new video clips taken from the upcoming CD, which will also be presented in full at this exclusive event.
On June 25, EKTOMORF released a special "festival edition" of the band's last album, "What Doesn't Kill Me...", via AFM Records. in addition to the 13 songs on the regular LP, the festival edition includes the three-track CD single "The Gipsy Way" and a poster, all packed in a nice hard cover box. "The Gipsy Way" single is also available as a separate product.
The original version of "What Doesn't Kill Me…" was released in March 2009 via AFM Records. The CD was also recorded at Antfarm with Madsen.
orwegian black metallers GORGOROTH have entered drummer Tomas Asklund's Monolith Studio to begin recording their as-yet-untitled new full-length album for a late 2011 release via Regain Records. Also being completed during the same sessions is a re-recording of the band's third album, "Under The Sign Of Hell", which is expected to surface early next year.
Check out a studio report from Sheol-Magazine.com.
GORGOROTH will embark on the second leg of its "Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt" European tour in late November. Support on the trek will come from CAVUS from Finland and NOCTEM from Spain.
GORGOROTH's ninth album, "Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt", was released on October 21, 2009 in Europe via Regain Records. The CD, which was made available in the U.S. on November 11, 2009, was recorded at Monolith Studio and featured Infernus on guitar, OBITUARY's Frank Watkins (a.k.a. Bøddel) on bass, Pest on vocals and Asklund on drums.
"Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt" was produced by Infernus and co-produced/engineered by Tomas Asklund. It was mastered at the Cutting Room in Stockholm.
Gore-metal originators EXHUMED are currently at Arcane Digital Recording in Arizona with engineer Ryan Butler (MISERY INDEX) recording the vocal, bass and guitar tracks for their first full-length album since 2003's "Anatomy Is Destiny". EXHUMED drummer Danny Walker previously laid down his drum tracks at Trench Studios with John Haddad (ABYSMAL DAWN, INTRONAUT). Mixing and mastering will be handled by Brian Elliott (GRAVES OF VALOR) at Mana Recording Studios (CANNIBAL CORPSE, GOATWHORE, NILE).
Commented EXHUMED guitarist/vocalist Matt Harvey: "So far we're really psyched on what's been oozing out of the speakers! The guitars are sounding really aggressive right out of the box. I can't wait to get into the vocals and flesh out the songs. We have 18 songs to work through while we're here and then we'll sort through and cherry-pick the heaviest, ugliest tracks for the new record, which is gonna be titled 'All Guts, No Glory'. I think it builds on all the best shit from our first three records and should disgust and revolt any poseurs out there!"
"All Guts, No Glory" is scheduled for a spring 2011 release via Relapse Records.
EXHUMED will make its first North American appearance in support of the new album at next year's Maryland Deathfest.
Austrian blackened death metal outfit BELPHEGOR will release their ninth full-length studio album, "Blood Magick Necromance", on January 14, 2011 in Europe and on February 8, 2011 in the U.S. via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was produced by Peter Tägtgren (IMMORTAL, CELTIC FROST, HYPOCRISY, DIMMU BORGIR) at his Abyss Studios in Pärlby, Sweden and mastered by Jonas Kjellgren.
"Blood Magick Necromance" track listing:
01. In Blood - Devour This Sanctity
02. Rise To Fall And Fall To Rise
03. Blood Magick Necromance
04. Discipline Through Punishment
05. Angeli Mortis De Profundis
06. Impaled Upon The Tongue Of Sathan
07. Possessed Burning Eyes
08. Sado Messiah
BELPHEGORhas tapped two artists from Austria for artwork purposes: Helmut Wolech (a fetish photographer and former mortician) and Joachim Luetke for the magickal graphics and cover artwork.
"This will be the most epic and monumental BELPHEGOR Werk to date," commented frontman Helmuth.
BELPHEGOR bassist Serpenth previously stated about the band's upcoming CD, "[The new material is] BELPHEGOR to the bone — nine monumental, epic arrangements. The sound collages have a haunting, ritualistic atmosphere. Werk IX will be the longest playing BELPHEGOR album yet."
"Walpurgis Rites - Hexenwahn", the eighth full-length studio album from BELPHEGOR, entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 60 and in Germany at No. 99. The follow-up to 2008's "Bondage Goat Zombie" was recorded at Andy Classen's (LEGION OF THE DAMNED, DEW-SCENTED, NEAERA, ASPHYX) Stage One Studios in Kassel, Germany.
Norwegian black metallers IMMORTAL are the first confirmed band for next year's edition of the Getaway Rock festival, set to take place in Gävle, Sweden. More acts will be announced during the coming months.
This year's Getaway Rock festival included appearances by SLASH, MOTÖRHEAD, MEGADETH, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, CANNIBAL CORPSE, DEVILDRIVER, THE HAUNTED, MAYHEM, VADER and more. A total of 60 bands performed on three stages in front of a capacity crowd of 10,600 people.
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