Guitar legend JEFF BECK - who just picked up three Grammys for best rock and pop instrumentals and best pop collaboration for his Emotion & Commotion album - has released Rock 'n' Roll Party Honoring Les Paul, a CD and DVD of last summer's rockabilly gig at New York's Iridium Jazz Club.
And now comes word that, despite old frictions, Beck has recorded songs that may reunite him with ROD STEWART, who handled vocals in THE JEFF BECK GROUP for its seminal albums Truth (1968) and Beck-Ola (1969).
"I cut some tracks and sent them to Rod, and I'm still waiting for a response," Beck tells USAToday.com. "Some are originals, and we've got great covers, too. It's sort of Chapter 2 of Beck-Ola. So yeah, ball's in your court, matey."
On Wednesday, February 23, DJ JC Green of Metal Messiah Radio's "Heavy Metal Thunder" show conducted an interview with legendary BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne ahead of Ozzy's first show in Puerto Rico since 1984, which will take place on Saturday, February 26 at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
On whether he's happy with how 2010's "Scream" album was received and the status of the songwritng sessions for its follow-up:
Ozzy: "I'm already thinking about the next album.
"When I make an album, I don't just make it one day and release it the next. I work on my own for quite some time.
"['Scream'] did what it was supposed to have done and what it was meant to do. I'm happy with the way it turned out, but I'm already moving on to the next one. I don't know when it's going to be finished, though.
"I wanna get more back down to basics with this next album.
"I haven't got a title. I've written a couple of ideas down. But I can't really give you much more information. It's not gonna take a long time, I don't think. All I can say to you is I've got a few ideas for songs, but I don't wanna say when it's going to be released because I don't know myself.
"'Scream' is 'Scream'. I try and do a different album every time I do an album.
"I don't stick to a formula. I just try and experiment a lot. 'Scream' was more like a an experimental album because I didn't have a band at the time. [Guitarist] Gus [G.] came along and the guys played on the album after I'd done a lot of the work myself and my producer, Kevin Churko, in my studio."
On his new guitarist Gus G. (also of FIREWIND) and the rest of his current band:
Ozzy: "Gus is another great find. I found himself through auditions. The band itself, my band, is one of the best bands I've had for a... I can't remember anybody better. We work as a team. I don't think we've done one bad show on this tour we've been on and we've done nearly a hundred shows.
"It's so much fun to work with people who wanna have fun. Nobody gets drunk, nobody abuses the audience or gets big-headed. It's a good vibe, you know."
On BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler's recent statement that there will not be an original SABBATH reunion:
Ozzy: "I never say never. I haven't hard anything more than we were talking a few weeks ago. Whether it comes up, I don't know. But I'm not gonna say anything about that, really, because I don't wanna put my foot in my mouth."
JC Green's interview with Ozzy Osbourne will air on the following dates:
* Friday, February 25 after 9:00 a.m. EST on Alfa Rock 105.7 FM (web site)
* Friday, February Feb 25 after 6:00 p.m. EST on "Heavy Metal Thunder" (web site)
Ozzy Osbourne's current touring drummer, Tommy Clufetos, told the "Talking Metal" podcast that early work is already underway for a follow-up to "Scream" and that he thinks Ozzy is "going to return to a classic rock band record." Clufetos added, "What he has expressed is that he wants to make it the band playing live in a room so wherever that takes us. Less technology and more amps and drums."
Ozzy recorded much of "Scream" in a studio at his home in Los Angeles with producer Kevin Churko, doing most of the writing and recording on computers. He told The Pulse Of Radio he liked working that way but wanted to do something different next time out. "At the end of the day, the end result was pretty cool, but I don't know whether I want to continue to do it that way," he said. "I like to — like the earlier albums, I'd go rehearse and jam out with the band, get some, like, vibe going, you know. I want to incorporate that and this new technology thing, next album."
Clufetos told "Talking Metal" that Ozzy and the touring band have already begun working on song ideas between shows on Ozzy's latest tour, saying, "We are already coming up with new ideas backstage, in the hotel rooms and at soundcheck and have a bunch of ideas recorded . . . time will tell what happens with them."
Ozzy concluded his recent North American outing on Tuesday (February 22) in Florida, although he is scheduled to continue touring behind "Scream" well into the summer.
There have been no plans announced yet for another Ozzfest this coming summer.
British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN will headline the Greek installment of the Sonisphere festival, set to take place on Friday, June 17 at Terravibe Park, in Athens. Also scheduled to appear are SLIPKNOT, MASTODON, GOJIRA and VIRUS.
America's only hard-rock and heavy-metal award show is back for 2011! The third annual Revolver Golden Gods awards show presented by Epiphone will take place Wednesday, April 20, at Club Nokia in Downtown Los Angeles. The event will be televised on VH1 Classic on May 28. Tickets go on sale today Thursday, February 24, via Ticketmaster.
This year, hosting duties for the Golden Gods will be handled by WWE pro-wrestling legend and FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho. The nominees in eight different categories — plus the recipients of this year's prestigious "Golden God Award" sponsored by Bethesda Softworks upcoming video game "Hunted: The Demon's Forge" and the "Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award" — were revealed today at a press conference held at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. Host Chris Jericho was on hand, along with Alice Cooper, Mick Mars (MÖTLEY CRÜE), Sebastian Bach, Wendy Dio (wife of Ronnie James Dio) and pro skateboarder Mike Vallely to announce the nominees.
Beginning today, fans everywhere can cast their vote to decide who will take home the awards for "Epiphone Best Guitarist," "Drum Workshop Best Drummer," "Best Vocalist," "Affliction Album of the Year," "Samson/Zoom Best Live Band," "Most Metal Athlete," "Best New Band" and "Eagle Rock Comeback of the Year." Voting starts today at RevolverMag.com and ends on April 1. The complete list of nominees in each category is listed below.
The 2011 Revolver Golden Gods awards show will feature one-of-a-kind special performances and collaborations onsite that honor both the past and future of heavy music. The "Golden God Award — which is given to one special honoree a year who embodies the spirit of hard rock and metal— will go to shock-rock godfather Alice Cooper, who is celebrating the reunion of the original ALICE COOPER group and their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. (In past years Revolver has honored metal legends Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST and Dave Mustaine of MEGADETH with the Golden God Award.) This year's recipient of the first-ever "Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award" — renamed in honor of the late, great 2010 Best Vocalist Award winner — is none other than the Sunset Strip's most iconic band, MÖTLEY CRÜE. Presenters and attendees include Rob Zombie, Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez of ALICE IN CHAINS, Vinnie Paul of PANTERA and HELLYEAH, Jamey
Jasta of HATEBREED, former DREAM THEATER and AVENGED SEVENFOLD drummer Mike Portnoy, Robb Flynn of MACHINE HEAD, Taylor Momsen of THE PRETTY RECKLESS, Brendon Small of DETHKLOK, master shredder Yngwie Malmsteen, and action sports stars Mike Vallely, Chris Cole, Jason Ellis, and Carey Hart, as well as members of MEGADETH, ANTHRAX, and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH. Expect more announcements soon.
Adding to the celebration, the Revolver Golden Gods awards show will include hard-rocking musical performances by the reunited original ALICE COOPER group (in their first L.A. appearance in nearly 40 years), LOADED (featuring Duff McKagan of GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER fame), DEVILDRIVER (who will lead an all-star BLACK FLAG tribute set featuring Jamey Jasta and many others), Danish "Elvis metal" group VOLBEAT, Chris Jericho's band FOZZY and fast-rising metalcore outfit ASKING ALEXANDRIA who will be joined by Sebastian Bach for a rousing rendition of the SKID ROW favorite "Youth Gone Wild". More performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
"If you're a fan of hard rock and heavy metal, there's only one place to be on 4.20 this year — and it ain't your couch, with a bag of Doritos, watching The Lord of the Rings for the 57th time," states Revolver Editor in Chief Brandon Geist. "Everyone who is anyone in heavy music is going to be at the Revolver Golden Gods, and unlike pretty much every other award show, you, the fans, not only get to pick the winners, but you're also invited to the party. So vote for your favorite bands, get your tickets, and I'll see you there!"
2011 Revolver Golden Gods nominees:
Epiphone Best Guitarist(s)
* John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE)
* Dan Donegan (DISTURBED)
* Gus G. (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIREWIND)
* Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance (AVENGED SEVENFOLD)
* Janick Gers, Dave Murray, and Adrian Smith (IRON MAIDEN)
* Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM)
Drum Workshop Best Drummer
* Tommy Clufetos (OZZY OSBOURNE)
* Abe Cunningham (DEFTONES)
* Joey Jordison (ROB ZOMBIE)
* Roy Mayorga (STONE SOUR)
* Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN)
* Mike Portnoy (Ex-DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD)
Best Vocalist
* Glenn Danzig (DANZIG)
* Bruce Dickinson (IRON MAIDEN)
* Chino Moreno (DEFTONES)
* Ozzy Osbourne (OZZY OSBOURNE)
* M. Shadows (AVENGED SEVENFOLD)
* Corey Taylor (STONE SOUR)
Affliction Album of the Year
* AVENGED SEVENFOLD, "Nightmare"
* BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, "Order of the Black"
* DEFTONES, "Diamond Eyes"
* OZZY OSBOURNE, "Scream"
* STONE SOUR, "Audio Secrecy"
* VOLBEAT, "Beyond Hell/Above Heaven"
Samson Zoom Best Live Band
* AVENGED SEVENFOLD
* GWAR
* IRON MAIDEN
* MEGADETH
* RAMMSTEIN
* SEVENDUST
Most Metal Athlete
* Chris Cole (pro skateboarding)
* Dan Hardy (MMA fighting)
* Toni Lydman (NHL)
* The Miz (WWE wrestling)
* Jeremy Shockey (NFL football)
* Mike Vallely (pro skateboarding)
Best New Band
* ASKING ALEXANDRIA
* BLACK VEIL BRIDES
* THE DAMNED THINGS
* THE PRETTY RECKLESS
* TIMES OF GRACE
* WE ARE THE FALLEN
Eagle Rock Comeback of the Year
* ACCEPT
* FAITH NO MORE
* MURDERDOLLS
* A PERFECT CIRCLE
* SOUNDGARDEN
* SYSTEM OF A DOWN
There are only a handful of recording artists who are simply known by their first name.
There's Cher, Madonna and Lemmy.
Lemmy Kilmister doesn't have much else in common with the aforementioned performers. Kilmister, whose given name is Ian, happens to be a headbanging icon, who depending on who you chat with
is the Godfather of punk or metal.
Each camp would love to have Lemmy on their side.
A number of such prominent musicians wax extensively about Kilmister in the brand-new documentary Lemmy.
The documentary features a who's who of rock's hoi polloi, who tip their cap to Kilmister. Such disparate figures as Ozzy Osbourne, Peter Hook of New Order, James Hetfield, Jarvis Cocker, Dave Grohl and Slash each sing the praises of Motörhead's intense vocalist-bassist.
Grohl calls Lemmy "the baddest motherfucker in the world." He goes on to note that "when you see and hear him, there's such a human connection. This is what rock n' roll should be, otherwise you should be playing a video game."
Kilmister, 65, isn't choked up by the myriad of props tossed his way.
"You can't believe all of that," Kilmister tells Atlantic City Weekly while calling from Chicago earlier this week. "If you buy all of that shit, you'll go fucking nuts. I'm not super-human."
Well, according to Maxim magazine, the British icon comes close.
Maxim has Lemmy at number eight on its "Living Sex Legends" list, since the word is that Kilmister has bedded more than 1,200 women.
"I just try to have fun," Kilmister says. "It's about having a good time."
Several years ago, Kilmister was a guest on Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect show. At one point he disappeared from the set.
"Someone on the panel asked me a stupid question," Kilmister says. "Then I remember being bored and going out and smoking a joint."
Kilmister can do what other rockers can't. Obnoxious arbiters of taste Beavis and Butthead are even impressed with Kilmister.
After Lemmy made a cameo appearance in a Ramones video, Butthead, on the MTV show, says, "He's Lemmy. He can walk into any video he wants."
Beavis responds enthusiastically with a "Lemmy rules."
"It's good to be held in that kind of regard, but it's all about the music," Kilmister says. "I'm a musician, not a personality."
For Motörhead, which will perform Friday, March 4, at the House of Blues at Showboat in Atlantic City, two words sum up the sonic experience: loud and fast.
There's never been much subtlety with the act, which formed in 1975 after Kilmister was kicked out of British prog-rockers Hawkwind.
Motörhead combined the muscularity of metal with the speed of punk rock.
"It just felt natural for me to do so," Kilmister says. "It was different from Hawkwind. It was a much better fit and that's the way it's stayed all of these years."
However, it's not as if Motörhead, which also includes guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee, is a British version of America's Ramones. There is some variety in the vulgar display of
power offered by Kilmister and company.
Another Perfect Day, which dropped in 1983, is perhaps the most menacing Motörhead album to date. 1916, which was released in 1993, possesses the band's most witty set of lyrics and then there is 1993's Bastards, which is filled with unrelenting thrash-rock.
"There is a certain style of Motörhead," Kilmister explains. "But there are differences from album to album. Each song stands on its own. But the thing is that we go all out with each song. We give as
much energy as we can."
That's not just in the studio or onstage. The magnetic Kilmister gives maximum effort whether performing or partying. It's not surprising that he's bored during this politically correct era in rock.
"It kills me how bland this period is," Kilmister says bluntly. "You go backstage these days and you see 20 bottles of Perrier and a bag of nuts. What's wrong with this fucking picture? Everything is so healthy today and it's terrible. I don't get it."
Nor does Kilmister, who claims that he has done every drug except heroin and morphine, get today's rock and pop stars.
"What the fuck is it about John Mayer?" Kilmister asks. "Someone should explain him to me. And the same goes for Justin Bieber. They're all such boring people. They're so fucking serious. I'm not interested in people as boring as that. It's a shame these people are popular entertainers."
Don't ask the inveterate rocker to indulge in the virtues of hip-hop.
"Why should I do that when it's not music," Kilmister asks. "There's nothing creative about doing that [rapping] over music someone else created. They go out and take John Bonham's drumming. I don't call that music. You think they [rappers] could come up with sounds of their own, even some basic sounds and they can't do it. Sad."
Kilmister and his maverick band are still making their own sounds. The World Is Yours, their latest disc, which dropped in December 2010, is packed with manic, menacing metal.
"Making music is still a good time for us," Kilmister says. "As long we continue to have fun and people come out there's no reason to stop what we're doing."
Motörhead
When: Friday, March 4, doors open 7pm
Where: House of Blues at Showboat, Atlantic City
How Much: Tickets $39.50 and $49.75.
DEF LEPPARD, Great Britain's premiere arena rock band, will make its triumphant return to the U.S. with a summer tour kicking off on June 15 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Joining DEF LEPPARD for this highly anticipated tour are Seattle rock legends HEART. Tickets for the Live Nation-produced tour will go on sale on beginning March 4 at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.
"After having had the last 18 months off, LEPPARD are ready to get back on the road! Add HEART to the bill and it truly makes for a special evening," says DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott.
"Nancy [Wilson, HEART guitarist] and I are really excited to be bringing HEART to the stage this summer with DEF LEPPARD. It's going to be a powerful, monster show. The real thing. The summer of 2011 will be amazing," says HEART singer Ann Wilson.
DEF LEPPARD has partnered with I Love All Access to provide a variety of VIP ticket packages for the show, including premium seats, pre-show parties and more.
DEF LEPPARD's U.S. tour dates with HEART are as follows:
Jun. 15 - West Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheatre
Jun. 17 - Tampa, FL @ 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre
Jun. 22 - Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Jun. 24 - Raleigh, NC @ Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
Jun. 26 - Philadelphia, PA @ Susquehanna Bank Center
Jun. 29 - Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion
Jul. 02 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
Jul. 03 - Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Stadium
Jul. 12 - Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Jul. 13 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
Jul. 15 - Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Jul. 20 - Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion
Jul. 24 - San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
Aug. 10 - St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Aug. 21 - Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Aug. 27 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
Aug. 31 - Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre
Sep. 14 - Portland, OR @ Sleep Country Amphitheater
DEF LEPPARD will release a brand new live album, "Mirrorball", this summer, featuring a mix of live DEF LEPPARD classics, three brand new studio songs and a bonus DVD that contains energetic live performances and intimate backstage footage captured on the road. Also due this summer is LEPPARD's first coffee table book titled "Def Leppard - The Definitive Visual History", with exclusive photos by legendary rock photographer Ross Halfin.
DOWN 'N OUTZ — a project fronted by DEF LEPPARD's Joe Elliott, backed by THE QUIREBOYS and playing rare tracks connected only by MOTT THE HOOPLE — will support Paul Rodgers (BAD COMPANY, FREE, QUEEN) on his U.K. tour in April.
According to Ken Sweeney of the Irish Independent, former THIN LIZZY guitarist, noted session player, and blues rock icon Gary Moore was laid to rest yesterday in a small village graveyard outside Brighton, England.
Moore's family decided to hold his funeral not in Belfast, Ireland, where he was born, but near where he had made his home in the past 15 years and where his children live.
Lily, one of the guitarist's four childen, spoke of her father as "a man with rather colorful shirts, who possessed a childlike quality and was an inspiration to many and the kind of person you could never forget."
THIN LIZZY guitarist Scott Gorham told the Irish Independent that he was unaware the service for Moore was taking place.
"No one kept me informed of any arrangements regarding his funeral," he said.
"I'll drive down to Brighton one day on my own and pay my respects," Gorham added.
GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Rob "Bumblefoot" Thal has shot down as false rumors that his time in the band is coming to an end over his alleged dissatisfaction with his position in the group.
In a recent days, a number of unsubstantiated online reports have surfaced that have alleged Thal is "complaining [that fellow GUNS N' ROSES guitarist] DJ [Ashba is] "getting paid more for each show" than Ron is, and that Thal is unhappy with the fact that certain other members of GUNS N' ROSES "had/have more to say about the direction of the band musically/performance-wise" than he does.
In a statement that was posted on the GUNS N' ROSES fan site Here Today... Gone To Hell!, Thal addressed the online chatter by saying, "Some trolls tried to get attention by starting rumors, as they had seen others get. I called a few out on it personally, smacked 'em down and their panties are still all bunched up over it, so they've been going to different GN'R fan sites, they create an account with an IP scrambler, post these fake stories, and then disappear. They're 1) trying to get me back for bruising their ego, 2) they're trying to mindfuck the *real* GN'R fans and make them lose faith in the band and bandmembers they've gotten to know over the years, 3) they saw someone else get a lot of attention in a similar scenario recently, and want some attention themselves, from fans, and from me. All they want to do is hurt the fans and the band. All the credible GN'R fan sites see it and have been deleting the silly posts by their own choice.
"Don't buy into it. Don't stand for it. And don't believe a WORD of it.
"If the people spreading this would like to come forward and show who they are, I'd be happy to bring them into a courtroom with a libel suit, and if they can prove their statements to be true, I'll cover all costs and whatever else. But that wouldn't happen, because every word of it is made up and that's why they don't stick around and remain in hiding.
"To any news sites that spread the rumors without fact-checking, that'll post anything any sociopath makes up and give it a platform, you need to do better.
"To sum it up, I have a life, you have a life, these particular trolls don't — they're just trying to tear us both down, because they're bitter.
"'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.' (Edmund Burke)
"Don't give these people power, and don't do nothing. Find out who they are, and hold them personally accountable for fucking with you and the band.
"OK, back to making music, loving my band, my family, the fans, and looking forward to seeing you all as soon as possible."
On the heels of the one-year anniversary of "Sixx Sense With Nikki Sixx" and "The Side Show Countdown With Nikki Sixx", Premiere Networks has announced it launched the "Sixx Sense With Nikki Sixx" channel on Sirius XM satellite radio. Airing 24/7 on XM Channel 161, Sixx fans now have more opportunities than ever to tune in to Sixx's nationally syndicated radio programs, which air on more than 70 rock/alternative radio stations across the country, as well as the "Sixx Sense With Nikki Sixx" channel on Clear Channel Radio's digital platform iheartradio, in addition to streaming live on SixxSense.com.
Fans online can't seem to get enough of Sixx as he continues to interact, and sometimes debate, with them on Twitter and Facebook, keeping them up to speed on all things Sixx. Last week, SixxSense.com experienced record page views as SIXX: A.M. (Sixx, DJ Ashba and James Michael) world-premiered the video of the new single "Lies Of The Beautiful People", which became the most-added track this week at both Active and Mainstream Rock and is the debut track on the companion album, of the same name, to Sixx's highly-anticipated new book "This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography And Life Through The Distorted Lens Of Nikki Sixx". "This Is Gonna Hurt" will be released April 12, and the full soundtrack CD will be released May 3.
About "Sixx Sense With Nikki Sixx" and "The Side Show Countdown With Nikki Sixx": Each night on "Sixx Sense", international rock icon, founder/bassist/songwriter of the world-renowned band MÖTLEY CRÜE and chart-topping band SIXX: A.M., New York Times best-selling author, clothing designer, philanthropist and photographer Nikki Sixx discusses music and lifestyle topics as he gives listeners a backstage look at the world and mind of a rock star. Joined by co-host Kerri Kasem, Sixx provides his unique perspective and attitude as the duo welcomes celebrity guests, recording artists and fascinating characters from all walks of life. All this and more are coupled with the radio station's playlist. Nationally syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, "Sixx Sense With Nikki Sixx" broadcasts Monday through Friday from 7 p.m. to midnight local time on Rock/Alternative music stations in the U.S. and Canada. The show is complemented by "The Side Show Countdown With
Nikki Sixx", which is available for air Saturday or Sunday between 6 a.m. and midnight local time. Each weekend, the radio host and tastemaker introduces his personal new music picks, as well as plays an array of what's happening on the rock charts, and shares his own special brand of talk radio with celebrities and other guests.
ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna is currently in the studio recording vocals for the band's long-awaited new album, tentatively due before the end of the year via Nuclear Blast Records. According to the last couple of updates on Joey's Twitter account, three songs have been completed thus far and "it is sounding great. . . Everyone loves it! . . . I am killing it!"
In a recent interview with RockMusicStar.com, Belladonna was asked if working on new ANTHRAX songs was a challenge because of the fact that most of the material was written for previous vocalist, Dan Nelson. "I kind of hate that someone was already singing this stuff and now I have to kind of dance around it and do it all over," he said. "They (ANTHRAX) have in their mind already how they want it to sound, so it's kind of hard to shake it away. They are not going to say to me, 'Go on and do something totally different and we will just dig it.' [Laughs] It's hard, but I'm not worried about it."
Regarding Belladonna's vocal performance on last fall's Jägermeister Music Tour with SLAYER and MEGADETH, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian told the Artisan News Service, "Joey's singing now better on this tour, I would say... He sounds like he did when he joined this band, on the 'Spreading The Disease' record; he sounds like a kid singing. I mean, there's not many dudes that could sing in the register that he's singing. At the age we are — not to give anything away here — but none of us are 21 years old anymore. And he's hitting some notes, man, that I'm, like, 'Holy cow! How does he do this?' It blows me away every night."
ANTHRAX performed a new song, "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't", with Belladonna for the first time during the October 8, 2010 concert at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York as part of the Jägermeister Music Tour with SLAYER and MEGADETH. Watch fan-filmed video footage of the performance below.
ANTHRAX released the "Live At The Sonisphere" 10-inch single — a picture disc featuring the tracks "Medusa" and "Only" from the "The Big Four: Live From Sofia, Bulgaria" DVD and Blu-ray — on November 26, 2010 via Metal Club, a group of record stores throughout the U.S. and Canada that work to connect the vibrant metal community with their local record store.
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY has parted ways with drummer Will Hunt and has replaced him with Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE, SEVENTH VOID).
Kelly will make his live debut with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY tomorrow night (Friday, February 25) at La Cigale in Paris, France.
In an October 2010 interview with Radio Metal, Will Hunt was asked about how he sees his future with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY considering that he is still a member of EVANESCENCE. "I play drums for EVANESCENCE as well as [BLACK LABEL SOCIETY]," he replied. "I also play for Tommy Lee and METHODS OF MAYHEM. I know [former BLACK LABEL SOCIETY drummer] Craig [Nunenmacher], and he's a great guy. He made this decision to move on to try and get a little bit more solid ground financially, which I totally understand. I have a family as well, and that's a concern.
"In the beginning, all I agreed on was that I would do the [latest BLACK LABEL SOCIETY] record, because I thought at this point, I would be busy with EVANESCENCE. But [EVANESCENCE singer] Amy [Lee] decided to really take the time to make the new record as good as possible. So when the option became available for me to tour with BLACK LABEL, I jumped at it.
"I don't knew exactly what will happen with Craig. I know everybody's really happy with the way things are going right now. There are no changes in the immediate future as far as Craig is concerned. It's hard to say what will happen or not, but right now, I'm happy being here, and everybody's happy with me being here. We're having a good time."
When asked about his relationship and musical chemistry with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY mainman Zakk Wylde, Hunt said, "[Zakk is] very easy to work with. As far as the writing process goes, I come from a much different school than him, perhaps more modern. Sometimes I would bring my own beats to the process, just to see what he would think about something more modern and kind of funky. Sometimes he really loved it, and sometimes he just had a clear idea of how he wanted something to go. We really worked together to make it what it was. A really good example of that would be the song 'Parade Of The Dead' or 'Crazy Horse'. Those two songs have a particular, different vibe tempo-wise and rhythmically than in past BLACK LABEL records. It was really cool to bring in those kind of beats and kind of watch light bulbs go off in his head about what things could be.
"Zakk knows EVANESCENCE if kind of a high-paying, high-profile gig for me, and he, of all people, understands those kind of opportunities. After all, he's been Ozzy's side man for many, many years. The money he made while doing this job allowed him to make BLACK LABEL what it is today. I think he's just realistic and understanding. He's a normal guy, just like me and you. He understands that sometimes, you just can't turn down certain opportunities, and he's really cool about that."
The organizers for the 14th annual Keep It True festival — which is set to take place April 29-30, 2011 at Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany — have issued the following update:
"We are very sad to announce the cancellation of AGENT STEEL with [singer] John Cyriis at Keep It True XIV.
"We invested so much time and energy in this project and it is really devastating for us. We knew in advance that it will be a risky and complicated task, but we wanted to do it for all the AGENT STEEL and Keep It True fans.
"I know this is disappointing for many fans, so Juan Garcia and I want to explain what lead to this. After the surprising reunion with original singer John Cyriis, everything went really smooth. They played the Japanese shows and we were really optimistic about everything. The first doubts came up after the singer replacement just for the 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise, but even after that we were really looking forward to it. Then, by the beginning of this week we were facing totally new demands from one part of the band, that we, as a still small and dedicated festival, could not meet and really also do not want to meet. This, plus the troubles within the band itself (see Juan's statement), led to the final cancellation of AGENT STEEL with John Cyriis.
"As you are all dedicated Keep It True fans, you know that we really tried everything to do it, but in the end it was too much for all of us.
"Since Juan, Bernie and the rest of the band worked so hard on it, we decided to still have the band under a new name (MASTERS OF METAL) due to legal reasons, with the amazing singer Rick Mythiasin (STEEL PROPHET).
"Rick was supposed to sing for us already last year on our CRIMSON GLORY tribute show but got sick before the show. I am happy that he finally can enter the Keep It True stage. Please give them all the support they really deserve. They are not only dedicated metalheads but also great friends."
Statement from AGENT STEEL guitarist Juan Garcia: "We'd like to clarify false rumors in the press that state that Rick Mythiasin is the new singer of AGENT STEEL; that is not the case whatsoever; Rick filled in for John Cyriis for the inaugural 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise and did a tremendous job.
"When we reunited with original vocalist John Cyriis for Thrash Domination 2010 in Japan, our intention was that as long as things were moving in a positive working direction that we would forge ahead and perform reunion shows in 2011. As of now, we have reached the inevitable fork in the road; having worked unimaginably hard into making this recent reunion a solid reality, a difficult situation has turned much more complicated which has forced the cancellation of AGENT STEEL at the Keep It True festival in Germany this upcoming April.
"As a symbol of dedication to the fans, the music, and the AGENT STEEL legacy alike, we are excited to announce that the organizer of this festival has invited the band members to still perform, but under a different moniker, and singer Rick Mythiasin has been officially invited as the vocalist to join us onstage, once again, devastate all that witness."
The final Keep It True XIV billing is as follows:
* CRIMSON GLORY (first German show with new singer)
* VICIOUS RUMORS (A Tribute to Carl Albert with Geoff Thorpe, Larry Howe, Mark McGee, Tommy Sisco and Kevin Albert - son of Carl)
* MALICE (exclusive German show)
BREAKER
* SATAN (exclusive complete Court In The Act line-up)
* GRIFFIN (exclusive first European Show)
* SACRIFICE (First European Show)
* OSTROGOTH (exclusive German show)
* BROCAS HELM
* DEATH DEALER (exclusive first european Show)
* SLAUTER XSTROYES
* DAMIEN THORNE
* SARACEN (special Heroes, Saints And Fools Show)
* BITCH
* METALUCIFER
* HELLHOUND
* ENFORCER
* VEKTOR
* SIGN OF THE JACKAL
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/keepfinal.jpg
Chicago's NOVEMBERS DOOM has finished recording its eighth full-length album, "Aphotic", for a May 10 release via The End Records. The CD features special guests on several tracks: Anneke Van Giersbergen (AGUA DE ANNIQUE, THE GATHERING) delivers a chilling and haunting vocal on What Could Have Been"; world-renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine (EARTHEN GRAVE) lends her talent on both "What Could Have Been" and "The Dark Host"; finally, the man behind the mixing board, Dan Swanö (NIGHTINGALE, EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH), adds his vocal touch to "Of Age and Origin", also offering rare appearance of his mighty growl!
NOVEMBERS DOOM frontman Paul Kuhr says of the new album, "One goal in NOVEMBERS DOOM is to never repeat ourselves. We aim to constantly challenge our writing abilities to deliver something new each and every time, while maintaining what we feel is our signature sound. We feel we've not only accomplished that with 'Aphotic', but have pushed our creativity into new musical territory. The result is quite possibly the most unique NOVEMBERS DOOM release yet."
According to a press release, "Aphotic" "has its roots in darkness and melancholic madness, reminiscent of the band's early doom roots but bringing something new and modern to the listener."
"Aphotic" track listing:
01. The Dark Host
02. Harvest Scythe
03. Buried
04. What Could Have Been
05. Of Age and Origin - Part 1: A Violent Day
06. Of Age and Origin - Part 2: A Day of Joy
07. Six Sides
08. Shadow Play
Ol Drake, lead guitarist for British thrashers EVILE, is featured as a guest musician on the new album from German thrash legends DESTRUCTION.
Ol Drake previously filled in for DESTRUCTION guitarist Mike Sifringer in 2009 at Portugal's Caos Emergente festival, after Sifringer broke a finger on his left hand. Drake was asked to join the German thrashers in the studio to play some solos and harmonies on the new DESTRUCTION release, titled "Day Of Reckoning".
Commented Ol Drake: "Just got a package through the mail from sir Schmier [DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist], which contained the newest DESTRUCTION album, 'Day of Reckoning'. I had the huge honor of doing a few guest solos and harmonies on the album, as well as on their awesome cover of DIO's 'Stand Up and Shout' (which is one of my favourite DIO tracks!).
"To fly over there, do some recording, backing vocals and hang out with Mike and Schmier again was an experience I'll never forget.
"Being a big DESTRUCTION fan, I can't put into words how unbelievable it is, and was, to be a part of the album. Also, with being a DESTRUCTION fan, I can safely say this is one of the best albums they've done in a long time (no, not because I'm on it... Well, a little haha). Our old bassist, Mike, was a huge DESTRUCTION fan, so I really hope he'd be proud. I remember when I told him I'd be standing in on guitar for DESTRUCTION's Mike at a show in Portugal; he simply called me a 'bastard.' I think he was more excited than I was, haha."
"Day Of Reckoning" was released in Europe on February 18 via Nuclear Blast Records. The first limited edition of the album does not feature the band's logo on the booklet while the vinyl version and second pressing of the CD show a red DESTRUCTION logo on it.
Bassist Skürk has left Swedish metallers STEELWING "due to life priorities that do not include any more extensive touring." The remaining members of the band state, "We support his decision, remain the best of friends and could never thank him enough for his dedicated service to the band."
STEELWING adds, "Thus, we begin the search for a new bassist with whom we can continue the story of STEELWING, starting with our second album and the tours to follow it.
"If you are:
* 18-25 years old
* A skilled bass player with plenty of studio and live experience
* Devoted to the sounds and looks of '80s heavy metal
* Living in the Stockholm/Nyköping area, willing to relocate to it or otherwise capable of rehearsing 1-3 times a week
* Humble, in it for the music and prepared for hard work and life on the road
"...send an audio/video sample of your playing, a photo of your killer looks and a few lines about who you are to: steelwingbass@gmail.com."
STEELWING's "The Illusion" video can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's debut album, "Lord Of The Wasteland", which was released in Europe on April 30, 2010 via Noise Art Records, a division of Rock The Nation. The CD was recorded at Deep Blue Studios with producer Nicko DiMarino. The album artwork was created by Ed Repka.
STEELWING was awarded a record deal as part of a contest launched by the Austrian management and booking company Rock The Nation. This unique competition was presented and promoted by all leading European metal magazines, including the German, Italian, Spanish and Greek editions of Metal Hammer; Terrorizer (U.K.); Metallian (France); Scream (Norway); Rock Tribune (Belgium); Spark (Czech Republic); and the Dutch webzine LordsOfMetal.nl.
Guitarist Robby Rockbag of Swedish metallers STEELWING has released the following statement regarding the passing of former THIN LIZZY guitarist, noted session player, and blues rock icon Gary Moore:
"Gary Moore was undoubtedly the greatest guitar player who ever lived.
"I would like to take a moment and say a few words.
"I was first introduced to Gary Moore's playing when I was about fifteen years old. I had just started playing guitar when I discovered his 'Wild Frontier' album. I was immediately hooked on his style of playing and, without knowing it, I had discovered my most important guitar hero and a source of inspiration for years to come.
"What separated Gary from countless other great guitarists was something which can only be referred to as 'fire.' Often emulated but never truly copied, many have tried and even more have failed to match his ferocity. Of course, Gary was incredibly diverse. He could make his guitar sing, cry and scream, all depending on what the particular song needed.
"Each solo would be a journey. A melodic start (he had a superb sense of melody), followed by a fast passage building up to a beautiful climax.
"Diversity is what truly separates good from great. Incredibly delicate, beautiful melodic playing, coupled with blinding technique is part of what makes Gary Moore not only great but outright legendary.
"He left a massive imprint in rock history and will be missed by millions.
"I can find some relief in the fact that I was lucky enough to see Gary perform some of his most beloved songs last year at Sweden Rock Festival. He played a few new Celtic rock songs which made me incredibly excited about the new rock album we was working on. We can only hope that the album will see the light of day.
"Gary, may you rest in peace. You and Phil [Lynott] must be having one hell of a jam right now..."
Cody Thomas of Revolver magazine recently conducted an interview with drummer Chris Adler of Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD. An excerpt from the chat follows below.
Revolver: When can we expect a new LAMB OF GOD album? Have you started writing yet?
Chris Adler: I know that there's a lot of material that the guitar players have already demoed and put down in our little basement studios. I've heard some of it. It's really cool and very different. It reminds me of when we were [called] BURN THE PRIEST [before changing the name to LAMB OF GOD], a lot of the bands we'd play with had this kind of big sound. It's going to be interesting. But as of right now we still haven't started getting together at all with trying to rip it apart and put it back together the way we do with the band. So it's really hard to tell what's going to come of it. But the plan is to work on it throughout this year and try to have things in a row by the end of the year.
Revolver: So it should be released early next year?
Chris Adler: If not before. Certainly, I think we want to have the year at home, record the album at home, and be active again in 2012. And we would need certainly a new album to start up again, so that is the plan. The goal after these three years was to really get some time to ourselves and with our families. So everyone is very happy about doing another one, and we're excited about doing it. But I think right now we're enjoying the time at home.
Sam K of An Assortment Of Reviews recently conducted an interview with Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, STEVE VAI, LAMB OF GOD, DARKEST HOUR, GWAR). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
An Assortment Of Reviews: Right now, you're nearing the end of your four-album DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT. Am I right in thinking that you've just finished recording "Deconstruction" ["Deconstruction" is set to be album number three in the project, but the last to be recorded.]?
Devin: Yeah, the final uploads are happening right now. I'm just getting all my extra beeps and boops in and sending it off to the mixing engineer, then I head to Sweden on Monday. The engineer is sending me mixes and it sounds good but I'm like, "Dude, you gotta just crank up all the chaos!" and he says, "But it's just gonna get messy…" That's how I roll, brother!
An Assortment Of Reviews: So is "chaos" the ethos of the album?
Devin: Organized chaos. There's chaos or just things exploding with no relevance to anything else but then there's the type of chaos where's there's eighteen odd melodies happening at the same time and I like that. Well, in its place. I have to admit, I listen to "Deconstruction" from beginning to end and dude, I'm white knuckle by the end of it — it's fucking intense. However, when it's over, I don't want to listen to it again. [laughs] It's so much work just to wrap your head around all these elements. That's why "Ghost" exists in my mind, because as soon as "Deconstruction"'s over I'm like, "Ahhh, that's better!" People a few years younger than me will probably be fine to listen to "Deconstruction" on repeat, but for me… dude, I'm heading towards 40 and I've only got a certain amount of energy for that "type" of sound. But I guess what I was trying to do with that four record thing is say, "Well, look, I only have a certain amount of energy —
but I do have that energy." So the reason I'm releasing "Deconstruction" and "Ghost" at the same time is because one doesn't exist without the other — there's no preference. On some level, "Deconstruction" is an absolute mind-fuck because it's such intense music and there's so many guests and orchestras and choirs and it sounds really good and it's emotionally really overwhelming and all that shit. In its place, that's great and I think for that that compartment, "Deconstruction" is ideal. But that's only an element of it and I wanted to take that element to the extreme, I wanted it to be "right." But at the same time, that exists for only a part of my day. The reason I'm releasing these two together is to be able to make the statement "that unto itself is incomplete."
An Assortment Of Reviews: There are few rumors floating about regarding special guests on the album, can you tell us a bit about that?
Devin: There's a ton of guests on it. The parts aren't huge, a chorus here, a verse there. I definitely don't want to make that a selling point out of respect of the guys who have done it. A lot of the people who have been kind enough to participate have done so because we've been friends for a long time and I think it'll be really gauche for me to slap it on the cover, y'know? "Mid-range-selling artist includes tons of better-selling artists on his disc. Please buy!" More so than a business move… it's taken me so long to get back in to heavy music because I really thought on some level I had a self-destructive tendency within my artistic mind that would always lead me to make poor decisions thematically when it came to writing heavy music because writing heavy music inspires certain emotions. In the past, that's led me to writing records like "Alien"… I'm very proud of that record, but it's very hard for me to wrap my head around because there's
just so much paranoia in the lyrics… there's so much fear. It was a cool effect, but shit, dude. Having to go out and play that stuff every night sucked, to be honest. So now, I really have to say if you're going to do heavy music, make sure you got a clear head so you can back what you're saying. If you have to tour for several years on this record, then it means when you're out there, every word you say can be explained. Not "Oh, well, I was stoned," or "It just came out of me." Honestly, I realized — having a kid, life in general as you get older — you're fucking accountable for everything, y'know? And so to not clarify that shit in the past or to not be completely in control of your artistic visions at this stage in the game makes your life difficult. So with guests coming on here, I basically wanted to say — look, I want to make this statement again, after years of being afraid of it and I'm going to cannonball. I'm not going to dip my big
toe in to it and say that I did it, I'm going to do it. So let's get everybody who's cool that we know to back it, and then let's put an orchestra on it and let's put a choir on it and let's make the point by the end of "Deconstruction" completely clear. When it's out, people will know who's on it and I've mentioned it here and there on forums but, out of respect for the people who are involved with it, I really don't want to make it "Buy Devin's new record because, even though we know you don't like Devin, you like this guy!" [laughter]
An Assortment Of Reviews: On a different note and going back a bit, you recorded a few things with Jason Newsted of METALLICA. As of yet, the TREE OF THE SUN recordings have yet to see the light of day. Any chance of that ever happening?
Devin: Haha, God I don't even remember that recording. I remember a riff from the first song but… this is my problem with quote unquote supergroups, not that that was one, but in general. It's like… to make a good record, I don't care who you are, it takes a long time and a lot of passion and a lot of attention to detail, right? I get offered a lot of times — dude, in the last week I got two or three supergroup offers — and I'm like, "Okay, so what do we do?" "We'll get together for a week and we'll write a record and we'll record it…" and I'm like, "Dude. The record is going to suck, man." I don't care who you are, the reason these bands are successful is because the record they made that people liked was slaved over for a long time. Whether or not the records came out really quick, there's an element of inspiration or attention to detail that makes it. The audience isn't stupid, you put on one a bad supergroup record and they'll be like,
"Yeah, they slapped this together because they wanted to make a bunch of money based off the fact its Joe Bozo and Joe Knob-Gobbler in the same band together." I honestly think that every time I get offered one of these gigs, I put so much time and energy in to making my music rock, to blow that away by making an average record with some dudes doesn't make sense. And the TREE OF THE SUN thing, it was cool but it was never records. It was demos, people getting together and jamming. But there was so much attention paid to it because it was Jason, Scott [Reeder of KYUSS], Dale [Crover of the MELVINS] and me. People had this sense that it was going to be a combination of all the best parts of all those bands in one place. Haha, it isn't. It's a bunch of people who don't know each other getting in a room and trying to make it work and that's what it sounds like a lot of the time.
California hard rockers WARRANT have finished recording their seventh studio album with producer Keith Olsen (OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE, SCORPIONS) and are currently mixing the effort for a tentative early May release via Frontiers Records. According to a February 23 Twitter message from the band, three songs out of a total of 14 have been mixed so far and the material is "sounding killer."
In a recent online posting, WARRANT guitarist Joey Allen stated about the group's new CD, "The band did a stellar job — great songs, great playing, and an all-around great vibe. This is the best WARRANT record and recording experience I have had. . . Everyone is firing on all cylinders... Wait until you hear [new WARRANT singer Robert] Mason tear it up... KILLER."
When asked if WARRANT's new material — which will appear on the group's forthcoming studio album — will have that same Sunset Strip influence as the band's earlier stuff, singer Robert Mason told the Green Bay Press-Gazette, "The new material doesn't sound exactly like the old stuff did, because we're all a little older and wiser — and maybe a little more sober, I don't know, slightly more sober — but it's still the same spirit. You can take the kid out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the kid, ya know?"
Regarding whether there was any trepidation on his part about taking over for the band's original lead singer Jani Lane in 2008, Mason said, "It's always a risk, I guess, but no, it was a clear-cut decision. They called me and said, 'Look, you're our guy. Do you want in?' For me, I wasn't scared, nervous, any of those things. I wanted to make sure we do it right. We knew each other (since 1991), so it was a pretty easy transition. I just want to make fans happy. Fans deserve to see guys up there having a good time and being entertaining … and doing the songs they want to come and see like they remember."
Californian rockers WARRANT have set "Rockaholic" as the tentative title of their new album, due in May via Frontiers Records. The CD was produced by Keith Olsen, who has previously worked with OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE and SCORPIONS, among others.
Commented bassist Jerry Dixon, "The last few years has been like holding in a big 'secret' from the world and now we get to share it.
"I really think we captured a perfect mix of the past and present on this record. Each song has its own vibe that's going to take people on a kick-ass WARRANT roller coaster ride.
"To help achieve an old-school sound mixed with the flair of today, we called on the legendary Keith Olsen to do the production.
"There's enough '80s influence on songs like 'Tears In The City' and 'Sex Ain't Love' to keep the die-hard WARRANT fans rocking while introducing them to new material."
In a recent online posting, WARRANT guitarist Joey Allen stated about the group's new CD, "The band did a stellar job — great songs, great playing, and an all-around great vibe. This is the best WARRANT record and recording experience I have had. . . Everyone is firing on all cylinders... Wait until you hear [new WARRANT singer Robert] Mason tear it up... KILLER."
When asked if WARRANT's new material — which will appear on the group's forthcoming studio album — will have that same Sunset Strip influence as the band's earlier stuff, singer Robert Mason told the Green Bay Press-Gazette, "The new material doesn't sound exactly like the old stuff did, because we're all a little older and wiser — and maybe a little more sober, I don't know, slightly more sober — but it's still the same spirit. You can take the kid out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the kid, ya know?"
Regarding whether there was any trepidation on his part about taking over for the band's original lead singer Jani Lane in 2008, Mason said, "It's always a risk, I guess, but no, it was a clear-cut decision. They called me and said, 'Look, you're our guy. Do you want in?' For me, I wasn't scared, nervous, any of those things. I wanted to make sure we do it right. We knew each other (since 1991), so it was a pretty easy transition. I just want to make fans happy. Fans deserve to see guys up there having a good time and being entertaining … and doing the songs they want to come and see like they remember."
According to a posting on the Everything Jani Lane page, former WARRANT singer Jani Lane has canceled all of his previously announced solo tour dates. The message continues, "I do not wish to elaborate, but I do ask for your prayers and thoughts to be with Jani and his family at this time."
Affected shows:
Feb. 26 - Biloxi, MS - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Mar. 25 - Jim Thorpe, PA - Penn's Peak
Mar. 26 - Battle Creek, MI - Planet Live Music Factory
Jun. 10 - Lake Odessa, MI - Bike N Roll Festival
Jun. 12 - DeMotte, IN - Jimmy's House of Rock
Jun. 17 - Madison, WI - Bike N Roll Festival
Jun. 18 - Fremont, WI - Liquid Assets
Aug. 13 - Dubuque, IA -Diamond Joe Casino (Jani Lane + GREAT WHITE, hosted by Bobbie Brown)
Lane was scheduled to be joined on all dates by returning keyboardist Shawn Zavodney, guitarist Patrick Kennison and former WARRANT guitarist Billy Morris.
According to a posting on Everything Jani Lane, Jani "has been feverishly writing since 2008 to bring you a more modern sound! Think THE BEATLES mixed with HOOBASTANK and FOO FIGHTERS!!! He is working very hard to evolve with the music industry as well as keeping his long time fans impressed and turned on by his new creations."
WARRANT announced in September 2008 that it was splitting with Jani Lane six months after the band first reunited with the troubled vocalist. He has since been replaced by Robert Mason (LYNCH MOB, CRY OF LOVE, BIG COCK).
On July 19, 2010, Lane pled no contest to DUI stemming from his most recent arrest back in May 2010 — and was ordered to serve 120 days in jail. In addition, Lane lost his license for three years and had to complete a 30-month alcohol-education program.
Lane originally left WARRANT in 2002 to pursue a solo career. He released a solo album, "Back Down to One", in 2003, but shortly after was admitted to a rehab center for alcohol and drug-related exhaustion. He also appeared on VH1's reality series "Celebrity Fit Club".
"Revolution Day", a previously unreleased collection of recordings from late '80s/early '90s Memphis, Tennessee-based rockers TORA TORA, has been made available via FnA Records.
According to a press release, "Revolution Day" features material that TORA TORA was working on for the follow-up to "Wild America" when the bandmembers found themselves in the midst of a new genre called "grunge." Fans of the classic hard rock sound were disappointed as they saw their favorite acts dropped from their labels.
What was a successful artist like TORA TORA to do?
Inferior copies of the "Revolution Day" recordings have been floating around the Internet for years, much to the dismay of the band. Guitarist Keith Douglas comments: "The files found and shared on the Net are a poor copy from cassette to CD that are actually too fast. This release will be the closest thing ever to the original recording."
TORA TORA vocalist Anthony Corder had the following to say about the "Revolution Day" recording sessions: "The 'Revolution Day' project was an interesting time for TORA TORA. It was the '93-'94 era, we were overlapping the last embers of our 'Wild America' dates, rehearsing ideas for the new project, growing from our touring experiences, and experimenting with recording techniques. We relocated our rehearsal space to a warehouse over by the Memphis airport, and tried to stay focused on pre-production. We were pulling together ideas from handheld cassette recorders, scribbled napkins and 8-track recordings we made on the bus or hotel rooms. I think we were more comfortable with our creative spirits, more confident in our ideas and our approach to songwriting. All of us contributed on the former projects, but everyone was struggling for the third project to keep the TORA identity, and go somewhere new at the same time. We definitely had moments of anxiety
and frustration but it was all well worth it once we locked down the tunes. We were joined by The Memphis Horns as well as Susan Marshall and Stacy Plunk, adding back-up vocals on two tracks.
"The 'Revolution' sessions were some of our most memorable escapades, and had us back at home in Ardent, hanging with Molly's LaCasita crew, and me personally closing down most Midtown establishments."
So what can the fans expect on "Revolution Day"? Well, those fans of TORA TORA who fell in love with the bluesy feel of "Walkin' Shoes" and "Phantom Rider" can expect more of the same (just with an updated feel) on tracks like "Mississippi Voodoo Child", "Candle And The Stone", "Shelter From The Rain", "Me And You", and "Rescue Me". There are also your hard rockers on this album like "Living A World Away", "Out Of The Storm" and "Little Texas".
FnA Records, LLC was formed in 2009 to bring rockers and metalheads some of the best unreleased and hard-to-find music from the '80s and early '90s.
For more information, visit www.fnarecords.net.
Danish folk metal band SVARTSOT has issued the following update:
"After spending the past year or so on writing new tracks, we will be heading back into the studio from the second week of March to record our third album. The recording will once again take place at Lasse Lammert's LSD Tonstudio in Lübeck, Germany, and will include around 10 tracks of the strongest material we've written so far. The theme of the album is based on the plague epidemic that swept through Europe during the middle of the 14th century, and that would later become known as the Black Death. We feel that this lyrical concept aptly fits the way the music has turned out for this album — so more medieval flavours and intricacies can be expected this time round. A July release for the album is expected, and we will post updates over the next few weeks as work on the album progresses. So stay tuned for more news."
SVARTSOT last year parted ways with rhythm guitarist Cliff Nemanim.
The band's sophomore album, "Mulmets Viser", was released in March 2010 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at LSD Studio in Lübeck, Germany with producer Lasse Lammert (ALESTORM, INCUBATOR, HALCYON WAY, LUCY'S DOLL).
SVARTSOT made a name for itself in the underground scene with its unique brand of Nordic folk metal that combines black metal influences and lyrics inspired by Scandinavian folklore and mythology.
California extreme metallers DEEDS OF FLESH will enter the studio in May/June to begin recording their ninth album, "Portal to Canaan", for a late 2011 release via Unique Leader Records. According to a press release, fans should expect "amazing artwork and numerous conceptual pieces" by Raymond Swanland.
DEEDS OF FLESH's last CD, "Of What's to Come", came out in November 2008 via Unique Leader. The label previously described the follow-up to 2005's "Crown Of Souls" as "nothing short of a masterpiece, combining the usual DEEDS OF FLESH sound with many added new elements, twisted and memorable guitar riffs and lead work, blistering drums, powerful vocals and mind-blowing bass lines."
"Macabre Eternal", the first first full-length album from the legendary San Francisco Bay Area gore grind act AUTOPSY since 1995's "Shitfun", will be released in Europe in early June on Peaceville Records. A U.S. release will follow several weeks later.
"Macabre Eternal" was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California and includes AUTOPSY's first 10-plus minute song "Sadistic Gratification". "It's 11 minutes and 33 seconds of pure fucking sickness," guitarist Eric Cutler told Invisible Oranges.
"Our fans can expect no less than our best, the best we have to offer," Cutler added. "If you like AUTOPSY, you will think this is the best."
"Macabre Eternal" track listing, according to Invisible Oranges:
01. Hand Of Darkness
02. Dirty Gore Whore
03. Always About To Die
04. Macabre Eternal
05. Deliver Me From Sanity
06. Seeds Of The Doomed
07. Bridge Of Bones
08. Born Undead
09. Sewn Into One
10. Bludgeoned and Brained
11. Sadistic Gratification
12. Spill My Blood
AUTOPSY drummer/vocalist Chris Reifert previously said about "Macabre Eternal": "We've brewed up the sickest and heaviest material that our rotten souls could possibly spew forth, and we are confident that it's our best stuff yet. The EP was a taste of what's to come, but now it's time for the full assault from beyond the grave."
He continued, "The album will contain no repeated EP tracks, no re-recorded old songs, no triggered trickery, and nothing less than the pure death metal brutality that AUTOPSY has always delivered."
AUTOPSY had previously decided to make an official comeback after working together on two songs for the special 20th-anniversary edition of debut album, "Severed Survival", in late 2008; the band having originally split before the release of its fourth album, "Shitfun", in 1995. A five-song EP, "The Tomb Within", came out last September and saw the original trio of Chris Reifert, Danny Coralles and Eric Cutler joined on bass by Joe Trevisano (ex-ABSCESS).
"I usually cringe when I hear 'reunion' or 'reformed' or whatever," Reifert told Decibel. "It usually means people are out of ideas. We really have no interest in reliving the past. That's what was cool about the songs just coming to us instead of our trying to force it. We can't tour, and if we could, we still wouldn't want to. But as long as we enjoy recording, we're going to stay at it. It's not a one-off or a two-off or whatever. Right now, there's a lot of energy in the band, and it's not going away anytime soon. We have a few things to take care of, for sure."
According to Creative Loafing, Atlanta, Georgia "psych metal" band ZOROASTER will head out on the road at the end of the month without bass player and founding member Brent Anderson.
"We've had a lot of personal stuff going on and the future of Brent and ZOROASTER is up to him," drummer Dan Scanlan told Creative Loafing. "We felt that he needed to take some time to get his personal affairs in order."
In the meantime Scanlan and guitarist Will Fiore have recruited WHORES drummer Travis Owen to play bass for the upcoming tour dates.
"There's no animosity between us," Scanlan added. "It's a positive thing for everyone involved and it's not interrupting the flow of the band."
Regarding his bandmates' decision to go on tour without him, Anderson told Creative Loafing, "They stuck me on the sidelines for a minute. It was not my choice. They want me to get my shit together, but I don't think it will be the same band without me."
He continued, "I don't hold anything against them. I still love Will and Dan, but it kinda hurts to see them go on tour without me. I think we can work it out, but I don't know how I feel about their decision. The wound is still too fresh to tell."
ZOROASTER's "Odyssey" video can be viewed below. The clip was helmed by director Chad Rullman for Supercollider Films. The Atlanta-based Rullman is known previously for directing MASTODON's career-launching videos "March of the Fire Ants" and "Iron Tusk" as well as his work for such artists as NEUROSIS, NILE and SOILENT GREEN.
"Odyssey" comes off ZOROASTER's sophomore album, "Matador", which was released last July via E1 Music. Produced and engineered by Sanford Parker at Glow in the Dark Studios and The Living Room Recording in Atlanta, and mastered by Collin Jordan at The Boiler Room in Chicago, Illinois, the CD is "a magnetic tour-de-force, blending vivid rhythms and radiance with the band's classic use of dynamics and power," according to a press release. "Creative, distinct, graceful and strong, 'Matador' features the traits of a benchmark release. From the cosmic march of album opener 'D.N.R.' through to the leviathan-like closing title track, it is immediately evident that ZOROASTER has joined friends — and fellow Atlanta natives — MASTODON and new label mates HIGH ON FIRE as a unit determined to push modern heavy music into new and uncharted realms."
Brazilian death metalers KRISIUN will enter Stage One Studios in Bühne, Germany in May to begin recording their eighth full-length album for a fall release via Century Media Records. The CD will once again be produced by Andy Classen, who previously worked with the band on the "Conquerors Of Armageddon" (1999), "AssasiNation" (2005) and "Southern Storm" (2008) releases.
Shortly after the completing the new album recordings, KRISIUN will kick off a European tour on May 7 at Metalfest in Austria. During the summer months, the band will play a number of open-air festivals and club gigs all over Europe.
KRISIUN's "Sentenced Morning" video can be viewed below. The clip was filmed and edited by Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez (MORBID ANGEL, TERRORIZER, UNHOLY GHOST, live sound for NILE) during the band's last European tour.
KRISIUN's previously unreleased bonus track from the "Southern Storm" album, "Infested Waters" , is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
In a 2009 interview with Washington Post's Express Night Out, KRISIUN's Alex Camargo stated about KRISIUN being a family project, "With bands, I know how hard it is to keep the lineup, keep the ideas flowing together. But whenever we have problems, we clear it out right away. We're not turning our backs to each other and walking away. We have issues like any other band, but we solve the problems right away. The music is our passion,and we pretty much have the same ideas and tastes. . . "Sometimes you just get tired of seeing those guys, but it's no big deal. The touring thing, you have to be ready. You have to understand people's qualities and faults, and we 're all a bunch of human beings, so it's about understanding each other. Sometimes we get on each other's nerves, but we go for it no matter what."
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