DEEP PURPLE has announced its first tour in North America in four years. The pioneering rock band — featuring classic members Ian Gillan (lead vocals), Roger Glover (bass) and Ian Paice (drums, percussion — will perform for the first time in the U.S. and Canada with a symphony orchestra in each city (except San Francisco). Launching June 3 and wrapping June 25, the tour is called "Deep Purple: The Songs That Built Rock", with stops in New York (two nights at the Beacon Theatre), Los Angeles (Greek Theater) and Montreal (Bell Centre).
Fans can expect to hear the band's trail-blazing iconic hits — including "Smoke On The Water", "Highway Star", "Hush" and "Space Truckin'" — plus other favorites achieve a new dimension of sound with the added heft of a symphony orchestra. In other parts of the world, DEEP PURPLE has achieved acclaim for its live epic presentation of symphonic rock.
As they eye a new studio album for release in 2012, DEEP PURPLE continues to tour around the world. The band, rounded out by Steve Morse (guitar) and Don Airey (keyboards), recently launched (March 18-27) their eighth visit to Russia, a country where the group made early inroads as a touring act and where they've played at the personal request of the country's president Dmitry Medvedev. They performed in three cities — Ekaterinburg, St. Petersburg and Moscow — before moving on to Kiev (Ukraine) and Minsk (Belarus). The band also has nine more shows on tap — Heraklion, Greece (May 6), Limassol, Cyprus (May 8), Ceasarea, Israel (May 14, 15), Istanbul, Turkey (May 18), Athens, Greece (May 20), Patras, Greece (May 21), Thessaloniki, Greece (May 23) and Ioannina, Greece (May 25) — before heading to North America.
Throughout its career, DEEP PURPLE has sold over 100 million albums worldwide and has incorporated classical music, blues-rock, pop and progressive rock.
Although the band's devoted fans treasure the group's live album "Concerto for Group and Orchestra", the upcoming tour of North America will not draw from this work.
"Deep Purple: The Songs That Built Rock" tour dates:
Jun. 03 - Orillia, ON - Casino Rama
Jun. 04 - Quebec City, QC - Agora
Jun. 06 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
Jun. 07 - Boston, MA - Wang Center
Jun. 08 - Hartford, CT - Mortensen Hall at the Bushnell
Jun. 10 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
Jun. 11 - Atlantic City, NJ - Tropicana
Jun. 12 - Bethel Woods, NY - Bethel Performing Arts Center
Jun. 14 - New York, NY - Beacon Theater
Jun. 15 - New York, NY - Beacon Theater
Jun. 17 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theater
Jun. 18 - Highland Park, IL - Ravinia
Jun. 19 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum
Jun. 24 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theater
Jun. 25 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre **
** Indicates a non-orchestra date.
When asked during a February 22, 2011 press conference in Mexico City if there are any plans for DEEP PURPLE to record a new studio album soon, the band's vocalist, Ian Gillan, replied, "I guess it's about time, isn't it?! So we're gonna get together and have a writing session quite soon. And if we get excited, then we'll probably have another [album finished and ready for release] shortly after that. We'll see how it goes. But there's no plans. But I think we're getting poked by various connections who would like to see another DEEP PURPLE record. So I think it's about time."
DEEP PURPLE released a live album last year called "Space Truckin' Round the World Live 68-76". The two-disc set features rare live recordings from various concerts all over the world, including gigs in Tokyo, Paris and San Diego. The compilation, which features multiple band lineups, also features a detailed history of the group, individual concert details and photos. It was released as part of the 10th anniversary of Purple Records — the label that handles the band's music.
DEEP PURPLE's 18th studio album, "Rapture of the Deep", was released in November 2005. It is the fourth studio CD from DEEP PURPLE since guitarist Steve Morse joined the band in 1994. It was also the second album to feature veteran keyboardist Don Airey.
"Rapture of the Deep" was produced by Mike Bradford, who also worked on the band's previous release, 2003's "Bananas"
The fans demanded it… WHITESNAKE's "Live At Donington 1990" DVD/live double CD set will now be available on June 3 in Europe and June 7 in North America via Frontiers Records. Since the inception of Whitesnake.com more than ten years ago, this DVD has been the most requested product from fans of the 'SNAKE.
On August 18, 1990, WHITESNAKE headlined the legendary Monsters Of Rock at Castle Donington festival (now known as Download). WHITESNAKE's performance at the festival was one of the most memorable events on the "Liquor & Poker World Tour" that saw the band play sold-out shows to over one million people. This incredible, never-before-seen, visual footage captures one of the most musically intense WHITESNAKE lineups performing in front of more than 70,000 fans. Mixed in glorious 5.1 and living, breathing stereo, it's the next best thing to actually being there! WHITESNAKE 1990 featured guitar greats Steve Vai and Adrian Vandenberg, bassist Rudy Sarzo, drummer Tommy Aldridge and, of course, incomparable frontman David Coverdale.
The "Live At Donington" 1990 DVD also includes a substantial gallery of never before seen stills of the band on the "Liquor & Poker World Tour 1990", plus an intimate behind-the-scenes documentary of the making-of the "Slip Of The Tongue" album.
The "Live At Donington 1990" will be available in 2CD set, DVD coverpack, combo 2CD + DVD in digipak and digital edition.
In other news, WHITESNAKE's brand new album, "Forevermore", is out this week on Frontiers Records and is available in multiple configurations. The album is already receiving rave reviews from the press with The Aquarian dubbing it, "excellent…their bluesiest and grittiest release since their 1984 masterpiece 'Slide It In'…", while Hard Rock Hideout declares, "Make no mistake, 'Forevermore', is an early front runner for record of the year." "Forevermore" finds founder/singer/songwriter David Coverdale and company returning to their no-holds-barred, bluesiest, sexiest rock' n' roll roots.
WHITESNAKE is David Coverdale (vocals), Doug Aldrich (guitars), Reb Beach (guitars), Michael Devin (bass) and Brian Tichy (drums).
"Live At Donington 1990" DVD track listing:
01. Slip Of The Tongue
02. Slide It In
03. Judgement Day
04. Slow An Easy
05. Kitten's Got Claws
06. Adagio For Strato
07. Flying Dutchman Boogie
08. Is This Love
09. Cheap An' Nasty
10. Crying In The Rain (featuring Tommy Aldridge drum solo)
11. Fool For Your Loving
12. For The Love Of God
13. The Audience Is Listening
14. Here I Go Again
15. Bad Boys
16. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
17. Still Of The Night
18. Bonus content: The Making of Slip of the Tongue; Slide Show
"Live At Donington 1990" CD 1 track listing:
01. Slip Of The Tongue
02. Slide It In
03. Judgement Day
04. Slow An Easy
05. Kitten's Got Claws
06. Adagio For Strato
07. Flying Dutchman Boogie
08. Is This Love
09. Cheap An' Nasty
10. Crying In The Rain (featuring Tommy Aldridge drum solo)
"Live At Donington 1990" CD 2 track listing:
01. Fool For Your Loving
02. For The Love Of God
03. The Audience Is Listening
04. Here I Go Again
05. Bad Boys
06. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
07. Still Of The Night
According to ACDCfans.net, AC/DC's founding bassist Mark Evans and ex-AC/DC drummer Simon Wright will team up for a Bon Scott tribute show to be announced for Fremantle, Western Australia and Queensland's Cold Coast. They will perform with the band RAISE THE FLAG.
Evans — who spent time in the Australian band HEAVEN in the mid-'80s — played on AC/DC's "High Voltage", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", "TNT", and "Let There Be Rock" albums, which have sold a combined 11 million copies in the U.S.
Wright joined AC/DC in the '80s and played on the "Fly On The Wall" (1985), "Who Made Who" (1986) and "Blow Up Your Video" (1988) LPs.
Scott was just 33 when he was found dead in February 1980 from acute alcohol poisoning after a night out in London.
British heavy metal vocalist Blaze Bayley (IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE) has released the following statement:
"Dear fans, due to financial and medical reasons, I've been forced to part ways with the [BLAZE BAYLEY] band. I will give a full statement in the next few days about my future plans.
"I hope that all my fans will keep on supporting me in my further projects.
"The English dates will be postponed to December but the festivals in Germany, Sweden, Lithuania and the show in Istanbul will definitely proceed!"
Fan-filmed video footage of Blaze Bayley's September 26, 2010 concert at Snooty Fox in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England can be viewed below.
Blaze's latest album, "Promise and Terror", was released on February 1, 2010.
The singer's double live album and live DVD, "The Night That Will Not Die" — recorded on December 13, 2008 at Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland — were released on Blaze Bayley Recordings; the concert was filmed by director Kris McManus and all audio mixed and mastered by producer Jase Edwards.
Gerry Gittelson of Metal Sludge conducted an interview with ADLER'S APPETITE drummer Steven Adler (also ex-GUNS N' ROSES) and guitarist Michael Thomas about the recent departure of the band's lead singer, Rick Stitch. A couple of excerpts follow.
On singer Rick Stitch's departure:
Adler: "I think he went about it the wrong way, 'cause I didn't even find out that he quit the band from him, I found out from someone else."
Thomas: "It was very strange; it was out of the blue. All of a sudden we got a text message saying 'Check your e-mail.' And there was a short little paragraph saying that, 'As of today, I'll no longer be carrying on with the band, I wanna concentrate on my other band, my original band, full time.' So he decided that was where his priority was at, that he was going to work on his original music and continue on with that."
Adler: "Right now we're still going on with our tours. Our tour starts May 5. We have other singers that we've been talking to — even before he decided to quit, we were talking to other singers. And we wanna get more of a solid guitar player, 'cause the one that we hired for the European tour wasn't as solid as we thought."
On a potential new lead singer for ADLER'S APPETITE:
Thomas: "As soon as it went on the Internet that Rick was leaving the band, there was a flood of e-mails and responses [that] came in; it was overwhelming. And now we're weeding through all these people, and what we really wanna do is give a chance to somebody who is a star to walk in the door and sing some of the most legendary rock and roll songs of all time. It's an incredible opportunity. So, for us, we take it very seriously, because we also have to live with this person and create and write with this person, 'cause, as you know, we've released new songs recently — 'Alive', 'Stardog' and 'Fading' — which are actually on iTunes. So they're gonna be singing not only the GUNS stuff, but original material and putting their stamp on this new stuff that we've been writing since we got home from the European tour last month. So there's so much going on; it's a crazy circus. We're just really excited about the opportunity of working with some new cats
that can really come to the table and bring it."
On whether they are concerned at all about being able to find worthy replacements and carry on with the band:
Thomas: "Anybody that knows the history of this band knows that we've had lineup changes, and it's all been healthy steps forward. This is just one more step in the process."
Adler: "I agree. It's just one more step forward. And it's a shame that the singer we were working with decided not to work with us. Because we're going into the studio in the next three weeks, which he's gonna miss out on. And what he did to me personally I didn't appreciate. We were planning on him being in the band — that's why we did the recordings with him. So, basically, he wasted a lot of our time and a lot of our money. In fact, if he was gonna do it that way, we would have thrown him out a long time ago, we would have never used him."
Thomas: "But we respect the fact that if he wants to work on his original stuff, that's cool..."
Adler: "You respect the fact. I don't respect the fact. I think he's an asshole for doing it to me, or doing it to us. But God bless him all the same. . . I haven't talked to him yet. That's the kind of person I'm dealing with. I found out that he was quitting the band because somebody told me he saw it on his Facebook. I had no idea. So you can take any story you want out of that, 'cause that's how it happened."
Thomas: "And it's disappointing in the fact that we have this two-month summer tour coming up and so much great stuff on the table. And we just had this incredible meeting with [producer] Jay Baumgardner, who has done PAPA ROACH and a number of great bands, over at NRG [studios] last week. It's a really good situation for the next guy coming in, so that's why we're being very serious about the candidates we're looking at and kind of going over all the details."
Adler: "The next person that we work with is gonna be... obviously, he's gonna be a better singer, and a better all-around person that what we were dealing with."
Stitch announced over the weekend that he was leaving ADLER'S APPETITE in order to concentrate on his Los Angeles-based original project LADYJACK.
Stitch's LADYJACK bandmate Robo (guitar), who was filling in for ADLER'S APPETITE guitarist Alex Grossi on the latter group's most recent European tour, will not be continuing with Adler's outfit.
Grossi recently left ADLER'S APPETITE in order to focus on his work with the resurrected QUIET RIOT.
ADLER'S APPETITE is scheduled to kick off a new U.S. tour on May 5 in Redondo Beach, California.
ADLER'S APPETITE in December released two new singles — "Stardog" and "Fading" — via iTunes and other online music stores.
ADLER'S APPETITE entered the studio in November to begin recording its new album with CINDERELLA drummer Fred Coury producing.
A radio edit of the last ADLER'S APPETITE single, "Alive", was released on July 29, 2010 in conjunction with Adler's tell-all autobiography, "My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N' Roses".
Video footage of ADLER'S APPETITE's February 25, 2011 concert at The Diamond in Sutton, United Kingdom can be viewed below.
Stitch made his live debut with ADLER'S APPETITE on April 17, 2009 at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, California.
LADYJACK released a digital EP in 2010. The band's full-length debut will follow in April.
Steven recently joined the cast of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew" for another season.
Adler appeared on season two of "Rehab" and the first season of the spin-off show "Sober House" back in late 2008 and early 2009. Adler then went on to stints in real rehab centers after being ordered to by a judge as part of a DUI bust.
According to a "trusted source" cited by the VAN HALEN fan site Van Halen News Desk, the recording process for the group's new album is "going great and the band is starting to mix the new tracks." The site adds that the LP will likely drop this fall, which is when VAN HALEN is also expected to hit the road in support of the effort.
Former VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony told ABC News Radio that he's "looking forward" to hearing the band's new album, which will feature original singer David Lee Roth behind the mic for the first time in 27 years. Anthony said, "I'm looking forward to seeing what they'll do," adding that he has "no hard feelings" about being replaced by Eddie Van Halen's son, Wolfgang, in 2005.
Anthony said he has not spoken to anyone in VAN HALEN since the end of the band's 2004 tour, which featured a reunion with singer Sammy Hagar after an eight-year split.
Eddie Van Halen did not initially want Anthony playing on that trek either, but relented when Hagar insisted on it. The bass player was forced to take a pay cut and give up his rights to any future use of the VAN HALEN name. Anthony said, "The tour did not end as harmoniously as we would have liked it to."
VAN HALEN staged a successful reunion tour with Roth in 2007 and 2008, with rumors of a new album persisting since then. The group began recording in January with producer John Shanks.
VAN HALEN's last full album, "Van Halen III", came out in 1998 and featured the only appearance of EXTREME singer Gary Cherone as lead vocalist.
According to Eddie Trunk — co-host of the VH1 Classic television program "That Metal Show" who has a long-running radio show, "Friday Night Rocks", on New York's Q104.3 FM — Mike Mangini, the 47-year-old session artist who has played for ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE and STEVE VAI, is strongly rumored to have joined DREAM THEATER as the replacement for the recently departed Mike Portnoy.
Mangini is notorious for his technical prowess and holds three out of four World's Fastest Drummer titles. These include the Fastest Matched grip at 1,247 strokes in 60 seconds; Fastest Hands, which he earned by executing 1,203 single-stroke notes in 60 seconds without drumsticks mallets etc.; Fastest Traditional Grip which he earned by executing 1,126 strokes in 60 seconds; and Fastest Single Stroke Foot record, playing 13,222 hits in 15 minutes and 5,222 hits in five minutes.
Mangini has written two books about his drumming techniques. These books, titled "Rhythm Knowledge", are a practice method for deconstructing and simplifying complex polyrhythms and time signatures.
Mangini joined ANNIHILATOR in 1991 and appeared on the band's "Set The World On Fire" album. He toured with the group in support of the CD until 1994 at which point he was asked to play with the Massachusetts band EXTREME, replacing that group's original drummer Paul Geary.
After EXTREME dissolved in 1996, Mike was informed through drummer Jonathan Mover that guitarist Steve Vai was auditioning drummers for his live band. Mike successfully auditioned for Steve Vai's band and relocated to Los Angeles.
From late 1996 to early 2000, Mangini was the highly regarded drummer of Vai's live ensemble, which also included bassist Philip Bynoe, guitar wizard Mike Keneally and (in 2000) guitarist Dave Weiner. Mike also recorded several drum tracks for Steve's "Fire Garden" and "Ultrazone" albums.
In 2005, Mike accepted a full-time teaching position at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and today he is a prominent faculty member in the school's percussion department.
Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 20 years ago, abruptly quit the band last summer while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD.
He played on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's latest album, "Nightmare", following the death of that band's drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, and toured with them in late 2010 .
Peter Hodgson of I Heart Guitar blog recently conducted an interview with Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SEPULTURA). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
I Heart Guitar: Last time we spoke you said you'd actually recorded [the new CAVALERA CONSPIRACY album "Blunt Force Trauma"] last year, before the latest SOULFLY CD was released. Is the album exactly as it was when you finished it or did you take the opportunity to go in and tweak it?
Max: No, we didn't change much. It took a little while for the artwork to get done. I was doing the artwork with Igor [Cavalera, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY drummer and Max's brother]. We wanted it to look punkish, like European '80s punk — like GBH and DISCHARGE — so we needed to find a special way to do this artwork. But we figured it out and it turned out really cool. We really love the way it got done. We also worked on a special edition. It comes with a DVD that was filmed live in France. It's got a lot of great songs. It's a full CAVALERA concert. It's a really cool show and it's really cool for the fans. They get something extra, the full DVD along with the album, some more artwork, some more photos from the studio. But as far as the sound, the album is exactly the way it was finished. I didn't touch anything. I love the way it turned out. I love the work that Logan [Mader, producer] did. It's heavy, it's crisp, it's big-sounding, it's aggressive,
it's brutal. It's more brutal than [2008's] "Inflikted", and I wanted to get that result. Right now I'm just very excited to have people hear the record.
I Heart Guitar: When you were writing it, were you like, "That's a CONSPIRACY song, that's a SOULFLY song…?"
Max: When I write, I write all together. I just write riffs all the time, not really thinking which one it's going to go into. It's later on when I listen to the songs that I make that decision, whether it goes for SOULFLY or if it goes for CAVALERA. But when I'm writing I just write them all together. When I get in writing mode, it's like a factory. Riffs come out one after the other and I don't even stop to think about where it's going to go. I just put it on a CD and put it aside then listen later. It's working so far. It's a good technique that's been working for me for a couple of years. Since SEPULTURA days we did things like that. I started writing like that on "Arise". That's when I started getting my drum machine and my guitar and starting to write albums full of songs by myself. I really love doing it. It's a therapeutic kind of thing. I lose myself with a guitar and a drum machine. They feel like a real song because of a drum machine. They
have beginnings, middles, choruses, vocal parts. Some of them are really quite finished songs when you listen to the demos. I have some demos of "Refuse/Resist" that are like that… "Arise", "Dead Embryonic Cells"… songs I wrote at home first then took to the studio to show the guys. It's a technique that's worked for me for years, and if it's working it doesn't need to be changed.
I Heart Guitar: I hear you're working on something with Greg Puciato from THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, who was on the last [SOULFLY] album?
Max: I really like collaborating with him. He loves NAILBOMB and he's been bugging me about doing something like NAILBOMB ever since I met him, since we did the "Omen" recording of "Rise Of The Fallen". It turned out really cool and I really like that song. Greg's a great singer and he's got a lot of great ideas. So Greg has been calling me from time to time. It will probably be a lot more like a project than CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, which is a real band which goes on tour. It would be just one off, maybe just one album like NAILBOMB was. Something off the wall. We're just getting ideas put together to see what's going to happen with that.
Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach recently entered a Los Angeles studio with his new, young, virtuosic guitarist Nick Sterling, drummer Bobby Jarzombek and producer Bob Marlette (BLACK SABBATH, SHINEDOWN, ATREYU, FILTER) to record Bach's next CD, tentatively due this summer via the Italian label Frontiers Records.
In a Facebook posting dated March 28, Bach writes, "YAY! I am beyond thrilled to parlay the information to you that today I tracked the last two songs for the CD. 13 out of 13 songs now have vocals on them. Not all are finished but a majority of them are! Now it's time for backing vocals and lead guitars and making sure everything is perfect. Wrote the last of the lyrics today, for a brand new song that's heavy as hell and lyrically about a girl. Hey, all the best songs are!"
Bach previously stated about his new solo material, "This CD will follow along the lines of 'Skid Row', 'Slave To The Grind', 'Subhuman Race' and 'Angel Down'. If you like rockin' guitar riffs, high-energy songs and performances, deadly drums of doom, and ear-shattering screams, we got your rock right here!" He also described the songs as "heavy, interesting, classic sounding, modern sounding, completely rock 'n' roll — just how we like it!"
Sebastian in 2009 collaborated with HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta on several tracks for Bach's new solo album, with Nick and Charlie Bellmore of the Connecticut band PHANTOMS assisting during the pre-production process. The singer has also written material with John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON).
Swedish melodic metallers ASTRAL DOORS have issued the following update:
"The work with the upcoming album continues. Even though we're not even
halfway through the process, we can already feel that this release will be
something special. This time around we deal with religion, and all the shit it
has brought to the world, once and for all and the working title of the album
is 'Jerusalem'. Our intention is that the album will be released in October in connection with a European tour. The first DVD from the band is also in the making. Some additional material will be filmed this summer and we're talking about a winter release."
ASTRAL DOORS' "Testament Of Rock - The Best Of Astral Doors" collection was released on November 19, 2010 via Metalville, the band and label pool launched by the Cologne, Germany-based company Flying Dolphin Entertainment Group UG. The compilation contains 14 classics picked by ASTRAL DOORS. The booklet features "a two-page history-lesson about ASTRAL DOORS; a summary of the first decade with ASTRAL DOORS" written by Erik Thompson of Sweden Rock Magazine.
Guitarist Martin Haglund left ASTRAL DOORS in April 2010 in order to focus on his family life. The band has opted to remain a five-piece, with founding member Joachim Nordlund handling all guitars himself.
ASTRAL DOORS released its fifth album, "Requiem Of Time" in Europe on January 29, 2010 and in North America on February 16, 2010 through Metalville.
KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque has contributed a guest guitar solo to a cover version of the METALLICA classic "Seek And Destroy" which will appear on the forthcoming EP from the Norwegian heavy metal band CRITICAL SOLUTION. Entitled "Evidence Of Things Unseen", the CD was recorded at La Rocque's Sonic Train studios in Varberg, Sweden and features the following five songs:
01. Dead Man Walkin'
02. Sad Hill
03. Crime Of Passion
04. Seek And Destroy (METALLICA cover; feat. Andy La Rocque)
05. War Machine
An early April release is expected.
CRITICAL SOLUTION is:
Christer Slettebø - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Egil Mydland - Drums
Tov Glesnes - Rhythm Guitar
Eimund Grøsfjell - Bass
Peaceville Records will celebrate the 25th anniversary of CANDLEMASS' classic debut album, "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus", by re-releasing it on May 14 as a special double-disc CD.
"Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" is a true classic. Heavy metal riffs blended with almost neo-classical touches, plus some theatrical elements bringing to mind bands like MERCYFUL FATE (thought to be another influence). All in all, this is considered one of the definitive doom metal releases.
"Epicus" was recorded at Thunderload Studios in 1986 and was released later that same year. The vocals were handled by Johan Längqvist, before the iconic vocalist Messiah Marcolin became a solid fixture in the band until the early Nineties.
CANDLEMASS instantly became a great inspiration to countless metal bands upon the album's release in 1986; a time when thrash metal, not doom, was fast becoming the dominant style in both Europe and the U.S. Bands such as PARADISE LOST and MY DYING BRIDE to this day rate the album among their favorite albums ever.
This edition of "Epicus" includes a special commentary disc with founding member Leif Edling, recorded early 2011, discussing his memories and inspirations of the writing and recording process whilst the tracks play. The booklet also contains liner notes from the band, including an introduction from Aaron Stainthorpe of MY DYING BRIDE.
CD Disc 1
01. Solitude
02. Demon's Gate
03. Crystal Ball
04. Black Stone Wielder
05. Under The Oak
06. A Sorcerer's Pledge
CD Disc 2:
All above tracks with commentary by Leif Edling
Finnish rock/metal act SUBURBAN TRIBE has announced plans to disband this year. The group, which formed 20 years ago (summer 1991), will hold a celebration party on July 30 at Tavastia in Helsinki as a way to thank its fans and everyone who was part of the band's story. According to SUBURBAN TRIBE, the decision to call it quits involves no drama, only that the bandmembers' "hearts say that this is where the road ends."
SUBURBAN TRIBE bassist Janne Joutsenniemi was previously a member of the legendary Finnish thrash band STONE alongside guitarist Roope Latvala, who is now in CHILDREN OF BODOM.
SUBURBAN TRIBE is:
Ville Tuomi (ex-KYYRIA, UNITED UNDERWORLD) - Vocals
Janne Joutsenniemi (ex-STONE) - Bass
Roope Sirén - Guitar
Euge Valovirta (GODSPLAGUE) - Guitar
Alec Hirst-Gee - Drums
SUBURBAN TRIBE's latest album, "Now And Ever After", entered the Finnish chart at position No. 4. The CD was released on April 21, 2010 via Cobra Records.
Pennsylvania-based band HALESTORM has just released a new EP, "ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP", via all digital retailers. Physical CD versions of the EP are available exclusively at www.halestormrocks.com and at HALESTORM's live shows.
"ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP" sees HALESTORM putting their unique stamp on a diverse collection of classic songs, including tracks by GUNS N' ROSES, THE BEATLES, HEART, TEMPLE OF THE DOG, SKID ROW, and LADY GAGA (see track listing below). The band is celebrating the EP's release by participating in the "Avalanche Tour 2011", joining such hard rock luminaries as STONE SOUR, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, ART OF DYING, and fellow Atlantic recording group SKILLET. The trek kicked off last Thursday, March 24 at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom and is scheduled to traverse the country through early May.
In a recent interview with LoudTrax.com, HALESTORM stated about "ReAniMate", "We decided to do a cover EP because we knew this album cycle was winding down and we wanted to have some music to keep all of our awesome fans entertained while we are working on our new album. The song selection was fun. We put together a HUGE list of songs that we would enjoy covering and started narrowing it down from there. We also had a poll on our web site where fans could choose which song they wanted; that's how the LADY GAGA 'Bad Romance' song got selected."
When asked if there were any songs that some of the bandmembers particularly wanted to cover but did not get the OK from the rest of the group, HALESTORM replied, "Each of us had our favorites that didn't make it. There was some METALLICA and AEROSMITH songs that we might have to do on another cover EP sometime in the future. A sequel maybe. 'ReAniMate Part Deux'."
Acclaimed as one of modern hard rock's most explosive live acts, HALESTORM recently unleashed their first-ever live CD/DVD, "Live In Philly 2010". Recorded and filmed last April 30 at Philadelphia's Theatre of the Living Arts, the double-disc set includes favorites from the band's self-titled debut album, including "It's Not You", "Familiar Taste of Poison" and the rock radio smash "I Get Off".
"Halestorm" made a top 5 debut on SoundScan's "Hard Music" chart upon its 2009 release, simultaneously bursting into the top 40 on the comprehensive The Billboard 200. Produced by Howard Benson (DAUGHTRY, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, FLYLEAF), the album is a volatile collection of infectious hard rock anthems, sexy hooks, and rough and tumble grooves.
Formed by frontwoman Lzzy Hale and her brother, drummer Arejay Hale, when they were just 13 and 10 years old (respectively), HALESTORM has made its bones as a major league hard rock outfit via countless North American gigs alongside such like-minded artists as SHINEDOWN, SEETHER, FLYLEAF, and TRAPT.
"ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP" track listing:
01. Slave To The Grind (SKID ROW)
02. Bad Romance (LADY GAGA)
03. Hunger Strike (TEMPLE OF THE DOG)
04. Out Ta Get Me (GUNS N' ROSES)
05. All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You (HEART)
06. I Want You (She's So Heavy) (THE BEATLES)
New York hardcore-metallists VISION OF DISORDER (a.k.a. V.O.D.) are planning to enter the studio in May to begin recording their first album in a decade. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Hard Times", "Annihilator" and "Be Up On It". "The songs are what you would expect from V.O.D. — very aggressive and melodic," bassist Mike Fleischmann told Greg Prato of UGO in a recent interview. "We really feel that on these new songs we have kind of mixed up all of our past efforts into a blender with a dash of new flavor, and we are excited to see what V.O.D. fans will think of it."
Regarding the songwriting process for the as-yet-untitled album, Fleischmann said, "We started doing some pre-production this past fall and things went well — but we felt we needed more time to fine-tune the songs, so we went back to writing. We were also looking for a producer that we really clicked with."
VISION OF DISORDER's current lineup includes singer Tim Williams, guitarists Matt Baumbach and Mike Kennedy, Fleischmann and drummer Brendon Cohen.
The band's last studio album, "From Bliss to Devastation", came out in 2001 via TVT Records.
VISION OF DISORDER toured with some of metal's biggest names during the late 1990s — including PANTERA, BLACK SABBATH, TYPE O NEGATIVE, ANTHRAX and BAD BRAINS — before calling it quits in 2001, and then reuniting in 2008.
Former members of IN FLAMES, THE HAUNTED and GRAVE joined forces in a brand new Sweden-based metal band called THE RESISTANCE.
The group's lineup is as follows:
* Marco Aro (FACE DOWN, ex-THE HAUNTED) - Vocals
* Jesper Strömblad (ex-IN FLAMES, DIMENSION ZERO) - Guitar
* Glenn Ljungström (ex-IN FLAMES, DIMENSION ZERO) - Guitar
* Alex Losbäck Holstad (ex-DESPITE, DECAMERON, CARDINAL SIN) - Bass
* Chris Barkensjö (CARNAL FORGE, GODSIC, ex-GRAVE) - Drums
More information on THE RESISTANCE will be made available soon.
Strömblad quit IN FLAMES in February 2010 in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction.
DIMENSION ZERO's third album, "He Who Shall Not Bleed", was released in 2008 via Vic Records. The CD contained "11 tracks of aggressive, fast and melodic Gothenburg metal," according to a press release.
FACE DOWN entered the Swedish hard rock album chart at position No. 19 with its last effort, "The Will to Power", which came out in November 2005.
According to Billboard.com, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello will release his third folk-oriented album under the THE NIGHTWATCHMAN name, "World Wide Rebel Songs", late summer via New West Records.
THE NIGHTWATCHMAN is a band name Morello used for two previous solo albums — 2007's "One Man Revolution" and 2008's "The Fabled City".
Morello explained a while back the origin of THE NIGHTWATCHMAN moniker, which started when he first began performing his protest songs in coffeehouses. "I would sign up anonymously, you know," he said. "I didn't want to sign up as Tom Morello and have people, you know, between their mochaccinos clamoring for 'Bulls On Parade'. So I signed up as THE NIGHTWATCHMAN, and it was a moniker that seemed to fit the music that I was writing and playing, and it stuck."
Tom Morello is a founding member and guitarist of the rock bands RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and AUDIOSLAVE. The two bands are responsible for multiple Grammy Awards and a combined 30 million albums sold worldwide. Morello has also received critical acclaim as a solo artist known as THE NIGHTWATCHMAN. Widely celebrated for his unique voice as a master electric guitarist, he is recognized by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the "100 Greatest Guitar Players of All-Time" (#26). He is also one of only two guitarists featured as a playable animated character in the overwhelmingly popular Activision video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
Tom Morello graduated from Harvard University with honors as a political science major and has been a widely recognized political activist throughout his career. With SYSTEM OF A DOWN's Serj Tankian, Morello formed Axis of Justice, an organization whose purpose is to bring together musicians, music fans, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice.
Jason Woodbury of the Phoenix New Times' "Up On The Sun" blog recently conducted an interview with WARRANT/ex-LYNCH MOB singer Robert Mason. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Up On The Sun: Have you guys [WARRANT] been working on new material at all or have you been focusing mostly on going out and playing the hits?
Mason: Funny you should ask. There's a record that's just done now, [there's] a brand new WARRANT record [called "Rockaholic"] due out in May. We really took our time, and, through a couple years of doing "fly" dates, we kinda said, well, the band works, we're all doing it for the right reasons, we're all really happy on stage. It's great playing this legacy of music, and the fans love it, so why not [write some new songs] — but we were careful about it. We didn't just throw a record together. We test-marketed a couple of these songs live last summer, just springing them on the audiences. "Hey this is something you've never heard before," and by the end of the song, everyone is singing along, or buying into it. So we figured we should put the record out.
Up On The Sun: Did you feel a lot of pressure with the new material? To live up to the hit songs the band had scored?
Mason: We're just musicians. I'm just a songwriter/singer in a rock band. I was writing songs for this record, and personally, did I feel like they had to fit into an old-school WARRANT mode? To a degree, but I don't really think you write songs like that. The fact that we are all from the same headspace, it kind of worked out that way. Some of these songs sound like a bit of a departure, but there are tracks on this new CD that we played live in the rehearsal room, and they came together through pre-production and shit, for the year prior or so to this record, and they sound like WARRANT songs to us. It's just me singing. My voice is a little different than the original singer, but it's just a thing were you go on, and you write songs. I turned over things I had written, and say, do your thing, play it the WARRANT way, and they could do nothing else, and I would ask nothing else. So, is that the long way of answering yes? (laughs) I didn't feel
pressure, or intimidation, but there was a certain responsibility.
Up On The Sun: What are some of the new things you mention? The departures? What is unique to this Warrant record?
Mason: Well, technology has taken a leap. We're still plugging old-school guitars into old-school amps, but I think it's more about the attitude that everyone grows up a little bit. The old-school WARRANT attitude is about everyone living out on the street on the Sunset Strip, and that sort of behavior isn't what you are like when you're 40. So like I said, everyone grows up, but the spirit is still there, you get together and play those old songs, and it still feels like that. So we brought some elements from the old songs to the new record, that are just, it's a good time. WARRANT, for me, is always about a little male bravado, a little rock star ego. Though, I'm hardly a rock star. I'm a guy who plays in a band. Tell you what: Keith Richards is a rock star. David Bowie is a rock star. I'm a not a rock star. That's a ridiculous word to me, a ridiculous two words. There are rock stars. Am I one of them? Nah. On stage I give my all, and you leave some
sweat and a little blood on stage, you never know. You do the best you can, and we are five guys who want to do this and are so thankful to do this for a living. And people appreciate it. And that fans, just give the energy back. You're trying to push all over your energy on to them, and they give it all back.
Up On The Sun: About those audiences, did "Cherry Pie" being included on Guitar Hero bring in a younger element?
Mason: Absolutely. That's one of those technological advances I was talking about. When "Cherry Pie" came out, you know what video games were like in the early '90s. Thanks to Guitar Hero and Rock Band and games like that, we have a new legion of fans, not only do we have older fans bringing their kids and nieces and nephews to the shows, but the demographic is so wide now, because you've got kids rediscovering those songs through video games. [There's] teens, just showing up on their own, cause they want to hear "Uncle Tom's Cabin". That's one of those 'puts a big ass smile on your face' moments. People that lived through it the first time, people who are completely nostalgic and have all these memories, and then you've got these young people, that are coming out for a lot of the same reasons, living through it the first time. I talk to kids at meet-and-greets, and they are like, I play your songs, and I'm like, "Oh, you're in a band?" and they are
like, "No, on Guitar Hero or Rock Band," and I give them a hard time. I say, "That's not playing the songs. Pick up a guitar."
Australian extreme music collective THE AMENTA has announced a new addition to the group's ranks for the upcoming tour in support of the enormous multimedia release, "V01D". Tim Aldridge will be joining the band on the trek as a second guitarist. Devout metalheads will remember Tim as the driving force behind one of Australia's greatest death metal acts, ABREMALIN, as well as for his recent work with industrial heavyweights THE BERZERKER.
Commented THE AMENTA in a statement: "THE AMENTA is very excited to have Tim on board. He is a great player, a dominant live force and a good friend.
"This will be the first time THE AMENTA have played with a second guitarist since 2007 so long-term fans can look forward to a return to the wall of sound chaos of earlier shows."
"V01D" features 16 tracks (a new song, electronic experiments, re-recordings, remixes and a cover of the ARMOURED ANGEL classic "Enigmatize") as well as five professionally filmed and recorded videos.
"V01D" track listing:
Audio
01. Empty
02. V01d (exclusive new song)
03. Erebus (re-recorded)
04. Ache
05. Junky (re-recorded)
06. Spine (re-recorded)
07. Null
08. Vermin (re-recorded)
09. Nihil (re-recorded)
10. Nil
11. Enigmatize (originally performed by ARMOURED ANGEL)
12. None
13. Junky (remix)
14. Nihil (remix)
15. Vermin (remix)
16. Erebus (remix)
Video
The Amenta Live In Sydney - Multi-Camera, Pro-Audio Video:
01. Junky
02. Vermin
03. Mictlan
04. Erebus
05. Vermin (film clip, never before released)
"V01D" is available free of charge via TheAmenta.com exclusively.
Bassist Jonathan Miller of Santa Barbara, California metallers DEVILDRIVER has released the following statement:
"I just wanted to thank all of the DEVILDRIVER fans around the world for their die-hard love and support for the past nine years.
"Yesterday, I decided to leave DEVILDRIVER. It was the most difficult decision of my life but it is something that I needed to do for myself.
"I had the best times of my life hanging out with all of you guys, but it is time for me to move on.
"Much love to everyone."
In December 2010, Miller announced that "the drugs and alcohol" "finally caught up" with him after spending the bulk of the last decade on the road with DEVILDRIVER. He added that "the damage [was] catching up with [him] mentally and physically" and that he was going to enter "an intense rehabilitation program" in January "in order for [him] to reclaim [his] health and the person who [he] once was." He also stressed that he needed "to make a change so that [he could] save [his] own life and keep the friends that [he] still [had] left."
Filling in for Miller on the road with DEVILDRIVER for the past few months has been the band's tour manager, Bubble (a.k.a. Aaron Patrick), who has previously played with BURY YOUR DEAD.
In a February 2011 interview with Rock Radio's Tom Russell, DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara stated about Miller's health issues, "Jon's getting himself well at this point and we hope to have him join the fold, happy and healthy and back with us."
He continued, "Aaron Patrick has played around fifty to sixty shows with us. He's doing a great job, the fans have really taken to him and understand what's happening with Jon, and that Jon needs to get himself better, and you don't want your friends passing away on the road. So let's get him well, shall we?"
"Beast", the fifth album from DEVILDRIVER, sold a little over 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on February 22 via Roadrunner Records, the CD was recorded at Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas with producer Mark Lewis (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, ALL THAT REMAINS) and was mixed by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY) at his Backstage studio in Derbyshire, England. The band recorded 14 songs during the "Beast" sessions, with 12 tracks making the standard version of the CD and all 14 songs appearing on the special edition.
DEVILS WHOREHOUSE — the "horror-death rock" side-project of MARDUK guitarist Morgan Håkansson — changed its name to DEATH WOLF because "the music and philosophy behind the orchestra has outgrown its name," according to a press release.
DEATH WOLF (symbolizing the strength, dedication and will shown in its creations) recently finished recording its new album for a May 27 release via Regain Records/Blooddawn.
"Death Wolf" track listing:
01. Circle Of Abomination
02. Weaving Death
03. The Other Hell
04. Morning Czar Shineth
05. Ironwood
06. Sword And Flame
07. Wolfs Pallid Sister
08. Ramsvart
09. Unto Dying Eyes
10. Black Mark
11. Coming Forth By Night
12. Dawn Of Flesh
Two songs from the CD — "Circle Of Abomination" and "Morning Czar Shineth" — can be streamed on the band's Facebook page.
DEATH WOLF will make its live debut on June 12 at the Wave Gotik Treffen festival in Leipzig, Germany.
Formed in 2000, DEVILS WHOREHOUSE's sophomore CD, "Blood & Ashes", came out in May 2009.
After a lengthy hiatus, DEVILS WHOREHOUSE, returned in 2008 with the release of an EP titled "Werewolf". The effort was made available in three different formats — CD, 7" and 12" picture disc.
DEATH WOLF is:
Morgan - Bass
Makko - Guitar
Maelstrom - Vocals
Hrafn - Drums
For more information, visit www.deathwolf.net.
Pennsylvania's ARGUS, which features the powerful voice of former PENANCE vocalist Butch Balich, will release its sophomore album, "Boldly Stride The Doomed", on May 3 via the Italian heavy metal label Cruz Del Sur Music.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Abandoning The Gates Of Byzantium
02. A Curse On The World
03. Wolves Of Dusk
04. The Ladder
05. Durendal
06. 42-7-29
07. Boldly Stride The Doomed
08. Fading Silver Light
09. Pieces Of Your Smile
10. The Ruins Of Ouroboros
ARGUS stormed onto the underground metal scene with its twin-guitar-driven, doom-tinged, working-class-metal sound with a self-recorded demo in early 2007 on John Brenner's (REVELATION, AGAINST THE NATURE) DIY label, Bland Hand Records. The band was roundly welcomed by the metal community at home as well as abroad and established its foundation amongst friends/fans within the scene. With this initial momentum, the band created a buzz that was only solidified by their punishing live performances. Their self-titled debut album was released on Shadow Kingdom Records in 2009, receiving praise from media outlets worldwide. The band continued to gain notoriety, attracting like-minded fans world-wide who celebrate the genre and its core values of: hard work, discipline and integrity.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/theargus.
DRIPBACK, the new U.K.-based hardcore/metal band featuring members of LABRAT and TED MAUL, will release its debut EP, "Inhaling The Ashes", on June 6 via Siege Of Amida Records.
Born from a basic desire to have an excuse to hang out more often with close friends, TED MAUL guitarist Luca Gdrax invited ex-bandmate, drummer Hellhog (currently of PURE NEGATIVE), ex-LABRAT bass wizard Adam Da Rat and the toxic duo of RIVER FRESHNEY's Lee4 (guitars) and Wez4 (vocals) to start jamming. After a few months of rehearsals, it soon became apparent that what was being produced deserved more than the confines of a shitty rehearsal space in an industrial estate in West London, and the five set about refining what would become "Inhaling The Ashes".
Recorded in a 48-hour gap in extreme metal wonder-producer Russ Russell's busy schedule before Christmas, the end result is six tracks of some of the freshest-sounding hardcore metal this country has produced in recent years.
"It's so much fun to be thrashing out hardcore metal tunes in the vein of the bands we grew up with," says Luca, who has been gigging in various bands including AS SHE SCREAMS, INCARCERATED and TED MAUL since 1995. "ENTOMBED, BIOHAZARD, CRO-MAGS, just making a stress free environment to get demented and have some fun!"
"It feels GREAT to be playing again!" enthuses Adam Da Rat, who as well as touring the world with LABRAT, also did brief stints standing in for U.K. hardcore heroes STAMPIN' GROUND and NWOAHM champions GOD FORBID, as well as being the original bassplayer in TED MAUL. "It's so refreshing to be making music for music's sake," he continues. "There's no agenda here, no ambition, no 'Let's make this our jobs' type of thinking going on, and I think you can hear that in the tunes. It's just five guys who love heavy music making a racket with no idea where it will go afterwards. Putting it out on a proper label and going on tour with SOILENT GREEN is not something we planned, but it seems everyone that's heard DRIPBACK wants to help us out and get involved. I am very excited about this."
"Inhaling The Ashes" track listing:
01. Hold Your Horses
02. Kick Out Time
03. No God, No Master
04. Dilapidated Soul
05. Distrust
06. Under The Floor
The band has posted two tracks for preview at www.dripback.co.uk.
DRIPBACK will be main support to SOILENT GREEN on a U.K. tour in May.
Swedish occult heavy metallers IN SOLITUDE will release their new album, "The World. The Flesh. The Devil", in Europe on May 23 via Metal Blade Records. The eight-song, 58-minute CD was recorded in Nicke Andersson's (HELLACOPTERS, ENTOMBED, IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC) brand new studio Gutterview Recorders in Stockholm, Sweden with producer Fred Estby (DISMEMBER, DEATH BREATH).
Comments the band: "One and a half year has passed since we started writing the album. It's not much, I guess, but it feels like a lifetime. And we are still quite amazed of how life-threatening and beautiful this piece of work turned out. We don't want anyone to expect anything besides growth — which is essential, musically and lyrically. And it will speak for itself.
"I guess we were doing things more 'point blank' when it came to the songs on the last record. It's still the same procedure when we record, of course, but in a larger spectrum, yet with far more focus. And this way we've been able to really make the experience go far deeper, and we've made it larger, to an extent where it really communicates with the emotion and the energies that drives us. The material did communicate on the last record as well — of course it did — but this time it's almost more of a communion rather than a communication. This time around we've had far more knowledge about (and at one with) the emotion and energies that drives us. It's a beautiful thing.
"It is very hard to explain the nature of making a record. But it was a really great experience. It really felt like we were packing our bags and gathering ourselves before leaving this place forever.
"On burning paths into the night we can't wait to share that trip with everyone."
"The World. The Flesh. The Devil" track listing:
01. The World The Flesh The Devil
02. We Were Never Here
03. Serpents Are Rising
04. Poisoned, Blessed And Burned
05. Demons
06. To Her Darkness
07. Dance Of The Adversary
08. On Burning Paths
IN SOLITUDE is:
Niklas Lindström - Guitar
Henrik Palm - Guitar
Gottfrid Åhman - Bass
Uno Bruniusson - Drums
Pelle Åhman – Vocals
Toulouse, France-based post-apocalyptic metal monsters ERYN NON DAE. (formerly END.) will enter Mobo's ConKrete Studio in Bordeaux, France in August to begin recording their sophomore album. The as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2009's "Hydra Lernaia" will be "about metamorphosis," and will feature such songtitles as "Chrysalis", "The Great Downfall", "Black Obsidian Pyre" and "Scarlet Rising".
According to a press release, ERYN NON DAE. gives the metal scene exactly what is needed — something unique, groundbreaking, and a new style of extreme to follow upon. Much like fellow homeland heroes GOJIRA, ERYN NON DAE. pulls off a signature sound that can immediately be picked up by the metal critics. ERYN NON DAE.'s ever-evolving brand of extreme music makes for an open-minded listen from start to finish. Their technicality not only stands out, but also goes towards metal's advantage, expanding the genre. ERYN NON DAE. delivers complex and brutal structures while at the same time adding doses of dark and apocalyptic moods, keeping you addicted. Their creativity, power, and aesthetics without a doubt will stun the metal genre."
ERYN NON DAE. is:
Mathieu B. Nogues: Vocals
Franck Quintin: Guitar/Vocals
Yann Servanin: Guitar
Mickael André: Bass
Julien Rufié: Drums
For more information, visit the band's Facebook page.
Guitarist Daniel Jakobi has left German death metallers LAY DOWN ROTTEN for "personal reasons" and has been replaced by the band's "old buddy" Daniel "Kensington" Seifert.
LAY DOWN ROTTEN released its fifth album, "Gospel Of The Wretched", in May 2009 via Metal Blade Records (May 8 in Germany). The CD was recorded at the Desert Inn studios in Germany and was mixed by Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH) at Unisound studios in Örebro, Sweden.
According to a press release, "'Gospel Of The Wretched' not only features nine songs of supreme death metal but also guest appearances by three of the most legendary death metal singers in history: Martin van Drunen (HAIL OF BULLETS, ASPHYX, PESTILENCE), Marc Grewe (MORGOTH) and Dan Swanö.
Italian death metallers NATRON have issued the following update:
"On the 14th of March NATRON [entered] the Golem Dungeon studio to record a new album. Actually, this won't include brand new material but it is going to be a very interesting release with re-recorded and re-arranged songs of the 1994-97 era and the 'Dead Shall Rise' cover from grindcore legends TERRORIZER. This will be definitely a sort of 'appetizer' before the new NATRON album is released in 2012. The album is named 'Grindermeister' and it will be tentatively released by the Italian label Southern Brigade Records towards the end of spring/beginning of summer 2011! Recording sessions will last till the end of March/beginning of April then the band will be back on the road for a couple of weeks touring the Balkans and Eastern Europe with DISGORGE and SACRAMENTAL BLOOD. Tour kicks off on the 12th of May in Italy and includes Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey. Tour will end in 25th and complete routing will be
announced soon. Before this tour Max Marzocca (drums) will tour Europe with GRIMNESS 69 —Italian deathsters from Venice — from the 22th of April to 7th of May. This trek will be headlined by DISGORGE and INHUME."
NATRON's sixth studio album, "Rot Among Us", was released in 2009 via Slovakia's Metal Age Productions. The CD was recorded between March and April 2008 at the Golem Dungeon Studios in Bari-Capurso with Ottavio Marzo (GOLEM guitarist) as engineer and co-producer and was mixed in August 2008.
NATRON's current lineup:
Nicola Bavaro (CRUENTUS, SCHIZO, GLACIAL FEAR) - Vocals
Domenico Mele - Guitar
Stefano Pomponio - Bass
Max Marzocca - Drums
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/natronband.
Norway's BORKNAGAR has inked a three-album deal with Century Media Records. The band is currently working on material for its new CD, tentatively due in early 2012.
Commented BORKNAGAR mainman Øystein G. Brun: "Well, sometimes life takes slightly unexpected yet great turns!
"Due to internal business affairs, the deal with Indie recordings was mutually terminated by both parties in January 2011. Since then we have been negotiating a possible re-signing with Century Media Records.
"While you are reading this, Jens F. Ryland and I are at the headquarters of Century Media Records in Dortmund to ink a new deal with our old partners in crime.
"It feels very good to be back in the fold of the mighty Century family; there is simply no team, no label alike.
"Thanks to Jens Preuter (head of A&R), we have worked out and landed a deal that we are 110 percent sure will serve the future endeavors of BORKNAGAR in the best possible and most potent way. We share so much history with Century Media Records and we are now preparing to create more musical history for the future to come — together with our friends at the Century family!"
Added Preuter: "We are very proud to welcome back such a great and highly influential band. Whether you want to call it black, progressive, Viking, folk or whatever metal, BORKNAGAR always managed to be just themselves on a unique and high level.
"I already heard some pre-production demos from the upcoming album and I can tell you it will be not just another masterpiece, but probably the best material they've done so far."
If you live near Dortmund, Germany , you can come by the Die Burg bar this Thursday evening, March 29 and party with Øystein G. Brun, Jens F. Ryland and the Century Media crew.
Photo credit: Dario Dumancic
From left to right: Stefan Franke (PR, Century Media Records), Øystein G. Brun (BORKNAGAR), Jens F. Ryland (BORKNAGAR), Jens Prueter (Head Of A&R, Century Media Records)
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