[Classic_Rock_Forever] Kiss, Metallica, Thin Lizzy, Slash, Nikki Sixx, Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini, Dave Grohl, Anthrax, and tons more Classic Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal News

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KISS members Paul Stanley (guitar, vocals) and Tommy Thayer (guitar), along with producer Greg Collins, have released a one-minute video message from Collins' studio, The Nook, where they are putting the finishing touches on the band's new CD, "Monster".

"[KISS is] about two days from [being] finished with this album," says Stanley. "It's almost done and it's awesome. It is by far the best thing we've done in I don't know how long. Have I ever said that before? Yeah. Was I right? Yeah. I'm right this time again. . . Truly, the album kicks major ass and we're very, very proud of it." Thayer adds, "You're gonna as as excited as we are, 'cause we're really excited. And we're not just saying that. This is great stuff. It's amazing."

In a 2011 interview with U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine, Stanley stated about KISS' follow-up to 2009's "Sonic Boom", "'Sonic Boom' was a pivotal album in the sense that we were aware of who we were as a performing band, but we had to re-establish who we are as a recording band. That being done, this is much easier and that much more self-assured."

Added bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons: "This new record feels heavier than 'Sonic Boom'. It feels like [it's] a connection between 'Destroyer' and 'Revenge'.

Regarding some of the tracks that will appear on "Monster", Stanley said, "I'd be surprised if the album didn't start with 'Hell Or Hallelujah'. It's up-tempo, a great riff, definitive KISS. There's a track called 'Born To Be A Sinner', and Tommy [Thayer, guitar] has a song called 'Out Of This World', which is terrific. They're anthemic songs. That's the nature of how we write. There are no ballads."

Added Simmons: "'Are You Ready?' is a new track that I worked out, wrote, and brought everyone into the studio and said: 'Let's bang this out.' Another of the new songs, tentatively titled 'Wall Of Sound', we just came up with on the spot. The guts of that song were written in 40 minutes."

In a 2009 interview with Premier Guitar, Collins stated about the experience of working with KISS on "Sonic Boom", "It was amazing, because I was working with people that I idolized as a kid. Over the years I've learned that the dynamic in every band is different, and sometimes it can be tough, with politics, egos and however many years of baggage. I couldn't believe how incredibly healthy the creative relationship is with KISS. Paul was clearly in charge of the record, but he was open to everyone's ideas. Everything was discussed in an enjoyable, fun way. There was no sense of egos overwhelming the process or anyone being marginalized in any way. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences I ever had working with a band. . . . Paul has said that no other lineup could have made this record and I believe he's right. Everyone in KISS is confident about their role in the band. They're not trying to please anyone but themselves, which is the best way to make music. There was no sense of anxiety, no label, no A&R guy. It was just the band and myself, trying to make the best KISS record we could. It was a completely natural process, and hopefully the results speak for themselves."
METALLICA's four-song EP called "Beyond Magnetic", which was made available digitally last month, will be released as a physical CD on January 31 (one day earlier internationally). The effort consists of the quartet of previously unheard tracks that the band unveiled in concert last month during its 30th-anniversary celebration. All four tunes — "Hate Train", "Just A Bullet Away", "Hell And Back" and "Rebel Of Babylon" — were recorded during the sessions for the band's 2008 "Death Magnetic" album but left off the final track list.

Commented the band: "We're still pumped up after celebrating our 30th-anniversary last month with fan-club members from around the world and by sharing the stage with musicians we have admired all our lives. Part of the fun on those nights included playing unreleased tracks from the 'Death Magnetic' sessions and after giving them to all fan-club members for free, those songs have been available on iTunes and other at digital retailers for several weeks. We've been feeling all the love and positive vibes beyond our wildest expectations on the mp3 side, so we decided to go 'old school' (!!) and also release those four songs on a CD."

The studio versions of all four songs — all rough mixes — were sent to METALLICA fan club members one at a time, after each song was performed live during each of the band's four shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco.

METALLICA previously stated about the four songs that made up "Beyond Magnetic": "During the 'Death Magnetic' album sessions in 2007 and 2008, we originally recorded 14 songs. When it came time to pick the songs for the final album, we decided on 10 songs that you've all come to know over the last three years. Some of you may have heard bits and pieces of those other songs on 'Mission Metallica' (remember 'Mission Metallica'?!) or heard rumors about them during the recording process, and wondered, 'What ever happened to those other four songs???.' We kept them in the vault and decided to pull them just for this special celebration, so here are the four leftover tracks from the 'Death Magnetic' sessions. They are ROUGH mixes, unfinished to their original degree of mixing from March '08. These four songs were released as gift to our closest fans, the members of our fan club, to enjoy. Now they're being made available to you."

"Beyond Magnetic" track listing:

01. Hate Train
02. Just A Bullet Away
03. Hell And Back
04. Rebel Of Babylon

The digital version of "Beyond Magnetic" sold 36,000 copies in its first week of release to debut at position No. 32 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The 30th-anniversary shows featured METALLICA playing songs from deep in their catalog, while welcoming guests like BLACK SABBATH's Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler, Kid Rock, Lou Reed, JUDAS PRIEST's Rob Halford, ALICE IN CHAINS' Jerry Cantrell, former bassist Jason Newsted and many others to the stage.

The final show on December 10 featured a performance by the very earliest lineup of the group.

Drummer Lars Ulrich also hinted that the band will make an announcement in January about a special interactive fan event in June of 2012.

"Death Magnetic" was officially certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 28, 2010 for shipments in the United States in excess of two million copies.
A treasure trove of tapes stashed away by Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott will be released as a boxed set later this year.
Twenty six years after the Dublin rocker's death at the age of 36, more of his lost music will be heard by the public for the first time in June.
Shortly before he passed away in 1986, Mr Lynott gave 150 tapes to a third party for safekeeping. The cache of up to 700 songs has finally been released to record company Universal Music.
"This is an absolutely stunning find," Steve Hammonds, project manager behind the new Thin Lizzy box set, told the Irish Independent.
"In every group there's a member who lovingly collects their recordings and in Thin Lizzy that was Phil Lynott, because Lizzy was his baby and his band."
It will be the second boxed set in recent times to feature archive work by the band, following last year's 'Live At The BBC' release.
But the newly unearthed recordings stretch from Thin Lizzy's years with Decca Records, beginning in 1971, to their 'Renegade' album in 1981.
"There are out-takes, unheard versions of Thin Lizzy hits and, most exciting of all, material which was recorded but never released at the time," said Mr Hammonds.
"Phil Lynott was such a prolific songwriter. He recorded 12 Thin Lizzy albums, two solo albums, along with his Grand Slam post-Lizzy project, and now we find he had even more songs in his drawer."
However, Thin Lizzy members Scott Gorham and Brian Downey will have the "final say" over which songs are released.
"The members of Thin Lizzy are fully involved with this project. We have been sending them tapes of what we've found and respecting their wishes as regards the material being issued and the art work," added Mr Hammonds.
Label bosses have declined to give more details on why the material is only surfacing now, 30 years after Thin Lizzy split.
"Phil Lynott passed the material on to a third party for safekeeping. They held on to it for decades because they were waiting for the right people to come along.
"They really didn't trust anyone enough to release it properly. The catalyst was a boxed set of Thin Lizzy BBC sessions we issued earlier this year, which made them believe we were the right people. No money has changed hands, this person is a Thin Lizzy fan."
Meanwhile, RTE will mark the anniversary of Mr Lynott's death on January 4 with a new documentary 'The Philip Lynott Archive' to be broadcast tonight and which will feature the first screening of a fully restored version of the 1982 'Old Town' video.
And the annual 'Vibe for Philo' gig in Mr Lynott's memory takes place at Dublin's Button Factory on Wednesday.
 
 
Now that the holidays are over, ex-GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash and his backing band are returning to the studio to complete the legendary axeman's second solo album. According to The Pulse Of Radio, Slash told Total Guitar that he's going for a more live feel this time around, explaining, "We're just going for the one take that sounds good, so my solos are more raw, probably sloppier in a way, because they're very spontaneous to the point where it's in the heat of the moment."

He added, "Everything is being played live with the music tracks: the solos, everything. We're trying not to overdub extra bits. So if there's a solo, I'm playing on one side, Myles [Kennedy]'s rhythm track is on the other."

Unlike his 2010 solo debut, which featured a number of guest vocalists and session players, Slash is recording this album with his touring band, which includes singer/guitarist Myles Kennedy of ALTER BRIDGE.

Slash told The Pulse Of Radio that he's never felt more comfortable or relaxed in a band situation before now. "I definitely have found a certain freedom to be able to feel comfortable expressing myself with the guys that I'm working with, and just being able to focus on what it is that I like to focus on, and not having a lot of outside distraction and internal distraction and confusion," he said. "So yeah, this has been the most fun that I've had since the earliest GUNS days."

Early song titles for Slash's sophomore effort include "Bad Rain", "Halo", "Standing In The Sun" and "Far And Away". The record is expected to arrive in April.

Meanwhile, Slash and the rest of VELVET REVOLVER will stage a brief reunion with former singer Scott Weiland for a one-off performance on Thursday, January 12 at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California. The event is a tribute concert for late composer John O'Brien, who died last August at the age of 45.

Slash and the other members of GUNS N' ROSES are also confirmed to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on April 14 in Cleveland, Ohio.
 
Legendary MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist and "Sixx Sense" radio host Nikki Sixx will take part in another backBEAT session on January 10 at 10:30 a.m. PST.

Different from the traditional live performance, backBEAT sessions add another layer of communication between fans and artists. Developed by likeZEBRA, the premier site for fans and artists to connect, backBEAT allows fans to purchase virtual tickets to exclusive live sessions that are never recorded and never replayed.

Nikki Sixx will be answering questions and sharing insight on his business life, artistic life, his life as a family man and how he combines the three.

backBEAT is a new type of live event. Whether it is a music lesson, a backstage Q&A, an unplugged acoustic set, or an up-close engagement with the rock icon Nikki Sixx, backBEAT is the ultimate music experience. Each backBEAT session distributes a limited number of tickets to the one-time event, allowing fans to connect live with their favorite artists like never before.

"backBEAT is like having an all-access backstage pass," says Jon Taggart, co-founder of likeZEBRA. "Different from a concert, backBEAT is more personal, allowing the fans to communicate with the artist live during the session."

In addition to providing die-hard fans with a new way to experience their favorite artists live, backBEAT can also act as a valuable tool for aspiring musicians by giving them additional means of targeting their fan base. Created with both fans and artists in mind, backBEAT aims to help music lovers share in a one-time experience that otherwise would not be possible.

"Nikki Sixx has such an influential career and continues to be an icon in music culture today," says Taggart. "His success with MÖTLEY CRÜE, the expansion of his brand and his ability to connect with fans of any age make this backBEAT event relevant to all audiences."

While anyone can listen to "Sixx Sense" on the radio or watch archived footage of MÖTLEY CRÜE and SIXX: A.M., only backBEAT virtual ticket-holders will get the exclusive live experience with the rock legend come January 10.
 
RATT vocalist Stephen Pearcy and lead guitarist Warren DeMartini recently recorded a song for a project headed up by former NIRVANA drummer and current FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl. Pearcy states, "We'll let [Dave] tell you about when he's ready, kidz. Not for a RATT record."

Pearcy's new solo album, "Sucker Punch", is due later this year. The singer previously stated about the CD, "It's going to be a brutally honest record and I think my fans want that from me at this point."

RATT's latest album, "Infestation", has sold under 50,000 copies in the United States since its April 2010 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
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Having made one of 2011's most impressive rock'n'roll comebacks that included the September 13 release of the band's long-awaited new album, "Worship Music", that landed on boatloads of "Best Of 2011" lists, metal masters ANTHRAX will keep the pedal to the metal in 2012. The band launches the New Year with the delivery to radio of a second single from "Worship Music", "I'm Alive", and plans to tour extensively beginning January 22 with round two of a U.S. co-headline tour with fellow thrash titans TESTAMENT.

"Worship Music" sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous studio CD, 2003's "We've Come For You All", opened with just under 10,000 units to debut at No. 122. The CD cover artwork was handled by renowned comic book artist Alex Ross, who has worked with Marvel Comics and DC Comics and is known for his "Marvels", "Kingdom Come", and "Astro City" illustrations. Ross also did the original artwork for ANTHRAX's "We've Come For You All" and "Music Of Mass Destruction" albums.

"Worship Music" was produced by ANTHRAX, Rob Caggiano and Jay Ruston and recorded over a four-year period at studios in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Singer Joey Belladonna's return to the band prompted some of the songs originally recorded with previous singer Dan Nelson to be re-crafted with fresh lyrics or tweaked to better suit his overall vibe and energy. Some of the songs were completely replaced with brand-new songs and, of course, all have Belladonna's inimitable vocal stamp on them.
 
Former JOURNEY singer Steve Perry tells Billboard.com that he's planning to get to work in earnest in a studio he's just finishing in his southern California home just north of San Diego, which he says will have a control room and "a tracking room about the size of Motown."

"I'm finishing that room up and I've written a whole bunch of ideas and directions, all over the map, in the last two, three years," says Perry, who was with JOURNEY from 1977 to 1998. "So I plan on getting in the studio at some point and start trying to track these things and see where they go."

When asked if he would consider a one-off reunion with his former JOURNEY bandmates for something like the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Perry said, "I don't know. I'm not a big fan of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. It's just a personal thing, not an ego thing. I think that, honestly, JOURNEY doesn't need to be in the Hall Of Fame. With everything we accomplished... we've had our Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, you know? It's in the hearts of the people out there and their experiences and their memories of what we did together and how we all had the time of our lives with the music that we loved to perform and they loved to hear. I really don't want someone to qualify it any more than that."
 
Louisiana rockers LILLIAN AXE will release their new album, "XI: The Days Before Tomorrow", in North America on February 14 via CME Records. The CD will be made available in Europe on January 27 through Germany's AFM Records.

"XI: The Days Before Tomorrow" was recorded at Sound Landing Studio in Covington, Louisiana, with the band's guitarist/songwriter Steve Blaze acting as producer and Rob Hovey engineering. The mixing duties were handled by Sylvia Massey (TOOL, JOHNNY CASH, DEFTONES, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, PRINCE, BLACK CROWES).

"XI: The Days Before Tomorrow" track listing:

01. Babylon
02. Death Comes Tomorrow
03. Gather Up The Snow
04. The Great Divide
05. Take The Bullet
06. Bow Your Head
07. Caged In
08. Soul Disease
09. Lava On My Tongue
10. My Apologies
11. Angels Among Us (European bonus track)

"This is the best record I have ever written for LILLIAN AXE," says Blaze.

"XI: The Days Before Tomorrow" marks the debut of new lead vocalist Brian Jones of Jackson, Mississippi.

LILLIAN AXE has recorded an impressive amount of songs, earned the loyalty of a devout fan base worldwide and amassed an extensive amount of effusive critical acclaim from their peers. Brian Jones brings an amazing new voice and incredible vocal range to LILLIAN AXE. His vocal style complements Steve Blaze's songwriting and in turn has inspired Steve to write some of his most passionate, deep and soulful new songs to date.

The songs on "XI: The Days Before Tomorrow" reflect Steve Blaze's passionate beliefs in the power of music. Steve's compositions are as emotional as they are infectious. They are in your face songs of truth, war, neglect, Mother Nature, the innocent victim, the state of the world, current issues and spirituality. Personally charged rock 'n' roll is what makes Steve's songwriting so melodic and drenched with deep lyrical insight.

With the creative momentum in the studio, LILLIAN AXE took seven months to write and record the new album. Blaze recounts, "I had so many ideas and we experimented with a lot of sounds, we took our time to make the album we wanted to for ourselves and the fans. We took no shortcuts recording this album."

Although LILLIAN AXE has been through some tough times and taken the long road; they still create new music that is both relevant and exciting and continue to tour while others have forsaken the live performances. LILLIAN AXE respects its past but looks forward to the future by reinventing themselves with the current times. Steve Blaze reflects, "I continue to learn about writing songs, recording, performing and growing as a complete human being. My life experiences are those that make its way into the songs I write for LILLIAN AXE."
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British progressive metallers THRESHOLD have announced the cancelation of all their shows that were planned for April.

THRESHOLD is currently in the studio recording its ninth album, "March Of Progress", but regretfully vocalist Damian Wilson has been taken ill so all of the band's plans are now delayed.

Wilson (HEADSPACE, STAR ONE) rejoined THRESHOLD in 2007 following the departure of Andrew "Mac" McDermott, who sadly passed away in August 2011.

"March Of Progress" is being produced at Thin Ice Studios and Eightspace Studio in the U.K. by Karl Groom and Richard West.

Provisional songtitles set to appear on the CD include:

* Ashes
* Return of the Thought Police
* Colophon
* Staring at the Sun
* Liberty Complacency Dependency
* Divinity
* The Hours
* Don't Look Down
* That's Why we Came
* The Rubicon
* Coda

THRESHOLD will perform a handful of pre-release shows in April 2012 to promote the album.

THRESHOLD's last studio CD, "Dead Reckoning", was released in 2007 and featured guest vocals by Dan Swanö (NIGHTINGALE, BLOODBATH). The CD entered the charts at position 64 in Germany, 95 in The Netherlands and 37 in the U.K. (rock chart).

THRESHOLD is:

Damian Wilson - Vocals
Karl Groom - Guitar
Richard West - Keyboards
Johanne James - Drums
Steve Anderson - Bass
Pete Morten – Guitar
 
Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman has "banged out a solo" for the forthcoming solo album from ex-NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis, which is being recorded at Fastback Studios in Seattle, Washington. Friedman states, "[Jeff] is a monster player, and he played some real cool stuff on my 'Future Addict' CD."

Loomis entered the studio on August 23 to begin recording the follow-up to 2008's "Zero Order Phase", which will feature three or four tracks with vocals. Christine Rhoades, who previously collaborated with NEVERMORE on the "Dreaming Neon Black" CD, will sing on selected tracks and Shane Lentz will handle the bass. Aaron Smith (7 HORNS 7 EYES) is producing the effort.

Jeff was the lead guitar player and main songwriter of NEVERMORE, a band that has certainly made its mark on modern music by forging a unique sound that fuses different forms of metal that has given birth to an authentic and very influential style. His solo CD, "Zero Order Phase", took the #4 spot in a April 2009 Guitar World magazine's readers' poll in the "Best Shred Album Of The Year" category — a notable accomplishment when you consider the top three vote-getters, Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen and Joe Satriani. Jeff has become one of his generation's most recognizable guitarists and the source of many of the last decade's best riffs.

Jeff's complex shredding has been a central part of the progressive power guitar scene since 1992 and is responsible for some of the most awe-inspiring riffs modern metal has ever heard. Nearly every aspiring musician who has been listening to metal for the past 10 years or so has undoubtedly had the pleasure of hearing Jeff Loomis' progressive and technically superior playing.

Loomis' first solo album, "Zero Order Phase", was released in September 2008 through Century Media Records.
 
 
Legendary hard rock vocalist Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ULI JON ROTH, ROYAL HUNT) makes a guest appearance on "Time Of The Equinox", the new album from the Lebanese guitarist Amadeus Awad.

Due on January 13, the CD will feature the following track listing:

01. The Origins of Light
02. Gift of Solitude & Joy
03. Paper Dreams Pt. I: Requiem (feat. Mark Boals)
04. Paper Dreams Pt. II: Dies Irae (feat. Mark Boals)
05. Paper Dreams Pt. III: The Tempest (feat. Mark Boals)
06. Time of The Equinox
07. Spiritus Devi
08. Meteors In The Blue (feat. Liz Vandall from SAHARA)
09. Virtual Eclipse
10. Nostalgia (feat. Liz Vandall from SAHARA)
11. Tales of Celtic Sunsets (feat. Timo Somers from DELAIN)
12. Autumn Eyes (feat. Elia Che)
13. L'Univers En Deuil
 
Swedish experimental extreme metallers MESHUGGAH have issued the following update:

"After a long time of deep soul searching and intense wrecking of the psyches, the new album is finally done. Soon you will meet this colossus that will pulverize your being. Welcome to the other side on March 27."

In a 2011 interview with Guitar World magazine, MESHUGGAH guitarist Fredrik Thordendal was asked whether the band has been working on new music. "Yes, we are working on a new album and have been for a long time," Fredrik said. "I'm so excited about this one. We've always tried to change how we write songs to keep it exciting, but on recent albums we've also been moving further away from working together as a band. On this album, though, everyone is working together. Every day that we're in the studio, we'll play whatever song we're working on, record a demo version of it to analyze at home, and then come back the next day, talk about it and try to make it better. I think because of this, it's going to be our best album yet."

Regarding the approach to the new music, MESHUGGAH drummer Tomas Haake told Decibel magazine in a 2010 interview, "Maybe not try to be as anal about every single little hit [that] has to be super-tight but be more focused on the vibe of a track and let some of those tiny errors slip through. I think that kinda breeds a bit of life into a song."

Released in March 2008, MESHUGGAH 's last album, "obZen", debuted at No. 59 on The Billboard 200 chart and at No. 14 on the iTunes Top Rock Albums chart.

MESHUGGAH's first DVD, "Alive" sold around 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 8 on the Top Music Videos chart.
 
Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE have released the following statement:

"To our family, friends and fans: We have decided to continue on without Howard Jones as the singer of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. We love Howard and are thankful for the nine years that we've had him in the band. Out of respect for everyone involved, we will not be discussing the specific reasons behind this decision. Howard is a part of our family and always will be, and we wish him well. He has left big shoes to fill, so we certainly have our work cut out for us to find the next singer of KILLSWITCH, something we plan on making priority #1 going forward. Most importantly, thanks to all of you for all the support throughout the years and for sticking by us for all this time. We really do appreciate it and we very much look forward to having a new record for all of you in the not too distant future that we can all be proud of."

Jones sat out KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's North American headlining tour in early 2010, leading to a flurry of rumors and questions about the status of the band. The group subsequently issued a statement addressing the matter, saying, "It became overwhelmingly obvious to all of us around Howard that he is in no condition to be on tour right now and that he needed to get off the road and get himself better. It's a personal matter and while we understand everyone's curiosity and concern for Howard and the band, we appreciate everyone respecting Howard's privacy at this time." Longtime friend, Phil Labonte of ALL THAT REMAINS, was able to fill in and help out the band for the remainder of the tour.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE is continuing to write and demo material for the follow-up to their 2009 self-titled album. Bassist Mike D'Antonio wrote in a November 2011 online posting, "As of now we have eight demos finished for the new record. Everything is coming together nicely at the moment… My demos are pretty fast. Blast beats, anyone?"

The latest, self-titled album from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE sold 58,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 7 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on June 30, 2009 via Roadrunner Records. It was produced by Brendan O'Brien (AC/DC, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE) and co-produced by Adam Dutkiewicz.

Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz and KILLSWITCH guitarist Joel Stroeltzel spent the last few months touring with TIMES OF GRACE, Adam's collaborative project with former KILLSWITCH ENGAGE vocalist Jesse Leach. That band's debut album, "Hymn Of A Broken Man", came out in January 2011 via Roadrunner Records.

Dutkiewicz last year revealed that he may also be involved in another group, which he described in an interview as "a death metal side project with the drummer from THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and the singer from CANNIBAL CORPSE."

D'Antonio has been busy with his DEATH RAY VISION, his new project with SHADOWS FALL frontman Brian Fair and former OVERCAST/SEEMLESS guitarist Pete Cortese.
 
ALL THAT REMAINS frontman Phil Labonte has shot down rumors that he will join KILLSWITCH ENGAGE as the replacement for that band's newly departed vocalist Howard Jones.

Labonte filled in for Jones during KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's early 2010 North American headlining tour after Howard was deemed "unfit" to be on the road.

Following today's announcement that KILLSWITCH ENGAGE had "decided to continue on without Howard Jones" as the band's lead singer, Labonte posted the following short message on his official Facebook page: "No, I'm not gonna be singing for [KILLSWITCH ENGAGE]."

In a March 2010 interview with Metal Assault, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Joel Stroetzel stated about his band's decision to hire Labonte for the aforementioned tour, "Initially, we just had Phil come out with the thought that we had three shows we had to get through, then we'd postpone the tour and come back and do it with Howard in a few months. But it went so well with Phil the first few shows that everybody was so stoked. We have a lot of the same fans, I think, so a lot of people were psyched to see him. If it was Joe Schmoe, it wouldn't work, but since it's Phil, it works. And like I said, the shows were so much fun and Phil was willing to do the whole tour."

When asked if KILLSWITCH ENGAGE had a chance to rehearse extensively with Labonte before he came aboard as Jones' temporary replacement, Joel said, "No, he was thrown, thrown to the wolves. We called him, I think, at three in the morning and we were like, 'Hey, can you fly to Florida in about five hours?' He was like, 'Yeah, I'll be there!' So we did like a quick soundcheck with him, went through the songs that he wasn't familiar with, and we played that night. That was pretty much it. So, yeah, obviously after a couple of shows he started to get more comfortable."
 
Massachusetts-based hardcore/metal band CONVERGE has set "All We Love We Leave Behind" as the title of its new album, tentatively due late spring/early summer via Epitaph.

CONVERGE's latest CD, "Axe To Fall", sold 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 163 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort was released on October 20, 2009 through Epitaph Records.

Produced by guitarist Kurt Ballou at his Godcity studios in Salem, Massachusetts, "Axe To Fall" featured guest appearances from Steve Brodsky (CAVE IN), Adam McGrath (CAVE IN), J.R. Connors (CAVE IN, DOOMRIDERS), Uffe Cederlund (DISFEAR, ex-ENTOMBED), John Pettibone (THE VOWS, HIMSA), Steve Von Till (NEUROSIS) and Mookie Singerman (GENGHIS TRON).
HOTEL DIABLO, the new band featuring vocalist Rick Stitch (LADYJACK, ex-ADLER'S APPETITE), guitarist Alex Grossi (QUIET RIOT), bassist Mike Duda and drummer Mike Dupke (both of W.A.S.P.), will make an in-store appearance that will include an acoustic performance at Naked Dave's Music in Tempe, Arizona on Saturday, January 14 at 6:00 p.m.

Naked Dave's Music
2155 E. University Dr.
Tempe, AZ 85281
Tel. #: 480-820-0882

NITROGODS, the German rock and roll band featuring guitarist Henny Wolter (THUNDERHEAD, PRIMAL FEAR, SINNER), drummer Klaus Sperling (FREEDOM CALL, PRIMAL FEAR) and bassist/vocalist Claus "Oimel" Larcher, will release its self-titled debut album via Steamhammer/SPV on the following dates:

Germany: February 24
Rest Of Europe: February 27
USA, Canada: Early March

"Nitrogods" features guest appearances by NAZARETH singer Dan McCafferty and ex-MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke in the songs "Whiskey Wonderland" and "Wasted In Berlin".

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Black Car Driving Man
02. Demolition Inc.
03. At Least I'm Drunk
04. Gasoline
05. Whiskey Wonderland (feat. Dan McCafferty)
06. Licence To Play Loud
07. Lipsynch Stars
08. The Devil Dealt The Deck
09. Rifle Down
10. Riptide
11. Wasted In Berlin (feat. Fast Eddie Clarke)
12. Zombietrain



No more endless studio fakes, sound samples, artificial drum overdubs and computer-controlled corrections of suboptimal lead vocals. The time has come to return to the true values of rock music, namely honesty, solid craftsmanship and real lifeblood. To cut a long story short: the time has come for NITROGODS! The motto of this spectacular new rock trio: three men, three corners, and down-to-earth no-bullshit rock'n'roll!

The band may still be unfamiliar to the public at large, but the three members are renowned musicians with illustrious histories to look back on. Guitarist Henny Wolter founded THUNDERHEAD in 1988, played with PRIMAL FEAR and SINNER for number of years and was part of the Rock Meets Classic touring band. Drummer Klaus Sperling (FREEDOM CALL) was also with PRIMAL FEAR for a long time. And at the epicenter of the NITROGODS soundquake is a heavyweight who is impressive in every respect: Claus "Oimel" Larcher, a bear of a musician whose bass performance stands for sheer power and whose voice unmistakably reflects countless liters of beer and whiskey.

"I wanted to return to playing the music that I love," says Henny Wolter, "and that only works if you play it with your best friends."

Fast Eddie Clarke comments on his collaboration with the NITROGODS: "I first met Claus from the NITROGODS in 2005 when I did a benefit gig for the victims of the tsunami in Indonesia. So I was happy to say yes when asked to do a solo on their new album on the track 'Wasted In Berlin'. I have to say the tracks they sent me sounded great. The band has great spirit and they all play extremely well together. So if you like fast and furious rock, you should give this a listen. I can assure you you will not be dissapointed..."

Dan McCafferty on NITROGODS: "I have just had the pleasure to record a song with a new band called NITROGODS. Henny and I met and became good friends on the Rock Meets Classic tour 2010. Having heard other material for the album, I think it will be a fine one. Hope you enjoy my contribution on 'Whiskey Wonderland'. I wish the GODS the best of luck. Welcome to the rock 'n' roll world!"
Corey Taylor recently spoke to Artisan News about the progress of the songwriting sessions for STONE SOUR's follow-up to 2010's "Audio Secrecy", which he says will probably be "the biggest thing we've ever done in our career."

According to Taylor, STONE SOUR will hit the studio in 2012, between SLIPKNOT's run on February's Soundwave Festival in Australia and a summer tour of North America that's slated to kick off in mid-June. The CD will probably be recorded in Iowa with producer David Bottrill, who has previously worked with TOOL, MUSE and Peter Gabriel, among others.

"We're still writing and recording stuff," he said. "Right now alone, we have 13 completed songs, with six more that I can demo, probably two or three that Josh [Rand, guitar] still has that we're tweaking, and then a bunch that Jim's [Root, guitar] gonna bring in. Our ultimate goal is a double concept album, which the only way I can describe it is [PINK FLOYD's] 'The Wall' meets [ALICE IN CHAINS'] 'Dirt' on steroids. And I think it's gonna be fantastic. And if I can pull it off, it's gonna be the biggest thing we've ever done in our career."

Taylor previously said about the storyline for the next STONE SOUR record, "It's basically the story of a man who's trying to figure it out. He can't figure out if he's happier when he's miserable, or if he's miserable about not being happy. It's almost like a mid-life crisis in a way. He's young enough that he knows that there's still a lot of life to live, but he's old enough to realize that he can't be hung up on the romance of teenage depression and youthful aggression."
HOTEL DIABLO will release an EP on January 10 via iTunes and other online stores. The six-song effort, entitled "Psycho, California", will consist of the material the group recently recorded with producer (and former GUNS N' ROSES/ROCKSTAR SUPERNOVA guitarist) Gilby Clarke.

"We are very excited to get this stuff out there," says Grossi. "We have been taking our time in the studio and I think people will be into what we have so far."

Clarke is best known for his tenure as the rhythm guitarist of GUNS N' ROSES. He joined the band in November 1991, replacing Izzy Stradlin, who quit the group in the middle of a 28-month world tour. Gilby has also played with ROCKSTAR SUPERNOVA, HEART, NANCY SINATRA, Kathy Valentine (of THE GO-GO'S) and the reformed MC5 on their 2005 European tour.

HOTEL DIABLO released its first single, "Set It Off", back in July. It can currently be heard exclusively on the band's web site, www.thehoteldiablo.com. It is also available on iTunes and other online music stores.

Upcoming HOTEL DIABLO shows:

Jan. 13 - Count's Vamped - Las Vegas, NV
Jan. 14 - Club Red - Tempe, AZ
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/diabloinstore.jpg
Danish thrash/death metallers MORDAX have inked a deal with the Belgian label Ultimhate Records. The band's debut album, "Violence Fraud Treachery", will be released on CD in Europe (as well as in Israel and Japan) and digitally in the rest of the world on February 24. The CD was recorded at CB Studios and Redhead Recordings in Denmark and mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö (BLOODBATH, OPETH, EDGE OF SANITY) at Unisound in Örebro, Sweden.

Commented MORDAX guitarist Ole Grarup: "We are extremely happy and proud to announce our cooperation with Ultimhate Records. We have chosen to work with Ultimhate Records, because they are able to offer us the dedication and professionalism about metal that we were looking for.

"We're very happy with the final result of 'Violence Fraud Treachery', and working with Dan Swanö turned out to be great.

"Now we're looking forward to the album hitting the streets and the Internet, so we can focus on live shows in Denmark and Europe, and on writing the next album."

MORDAX is currently working on spring dates in Denmark as well as a European tour.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/mordaxmetal.
 
 
 
 

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