Video footage of HOUSE OF LORDS' November 21, 2009 performance at Pacific Rock in Paris, France can be viewed below (courtesy of "MetalDenCR").
HOUSE OF LORDS's new album, "Cartesian Dreams", was released on September 18 in Europe and October 13 in the USA via Frontiers Records.
Following the 2008 release of "Come to My Kingdom", a record hailed by critics and fans as one of the highlights of the season, HOUSE OF LORDS carved another masterpiece that sets in stone the legacy of one of the most productive and impressive bands of the scene.
"This new CD was truly a labor of love," said singer James Christian. "I was so fortunate to be able to work once again with my writing partner and friend Mark Baker. The last time Mark and I worked together was to write and record 'Demons Down'. We have a great chemistry when it comes to writing songs. Jimi Bell once again gave us smoking tracks and Tommy Denander also put his contribution on a few great tracks."
The songs written for the new CD offer many different flavors. "The band, as usual, always strives to stay true to its sound but this time around we expanded our horizons a bit without compromising the trademark sound that so many people expect from us," said James. "We don't want to keep making the same record over and over, so this time around you will hear a few things you did not hear on the previous CDs."
"Cartesian Dreams" is a natural progression for a band that has such a long history and is just what you would expect and even more: superb hooks, majestic atmospheres that bring back the memories of the debut album, monumental guitar riffs and a production to die for. "The one common thread with the band is that we are always on the same page in terms of what want our records to sound like," explains James.
"Cartesian Dreams" track listing:
01. Cartesian Dreams 02. Born To Be Your Baby 03. Desert Rain 04. Sweet September 05. Bangin' 06. A Simple Plan 07. Never Never Look Back 08. The Bigger They Come 09. Repo Man 10. Saved By Rock 11. Joanna 12. The Train (bonus track)
David Ellefson (MEGADETH, F5, HAIL!) and J.C.B. of the Cleveland metal band DEMONS WITHIN were interviewed on this past Saturday's (November 28) edition of the "Maximum Threshold" show. The program is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
"Maximum Threshold" is an Internet radio show dedicated to presenting up-and-coming hard rock bands and successful bands as well as interviews, news and music reviews.
Professionally filmed video footage of the all-star band HAIL! — comprised of Ellefson, guitarist Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA), Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ICED EARTH) and recently added sticksman Paul Bostaph (TESTAMENT, SLAYER, EXODUS) — performing the SEPULTURA classic "Territory" on November 20, 2009 at Hektic Hall in Beirut, Lebanon can be viewed below. The clip, which was mixed and edited by Roy Naufal, is said to be a sample of the "Hail! In Beirut" DVD that is currently being produced.
Although HAIL! claims to have been "the first metal band" to ever have played live in Lebanon, several other acts — including APOCALYPTICA, LAKE OF TEARS and THEATRE OF TRAGEDY — have previously performed in the country.
Commented Ellefson: "Our friend, drummer and new HAIL! guest Paul Bostaph did a fantastic job playing with us. He is a true stalwart of the Bay Area thrash legacy and has earned his stripes as a metal god, playing with FORBIDDEN, EXODUS, SLAYER and now TESTAMENT. The fans of Lebanon loved him. A way laid-back guy, he kills it onstage with an amazing presence and performance. Plus he learned about 20 songs for the set and heeded my advice to be on his toes for whatever random song(s) Andreas might throw at us during the show."
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. Ace Of Spades (MOTÖRHEAD) 02. Territory (SEPULTURA) 03. Symphony Of Destruction (MEGADETH) 04. Grinder (JUDAS PRIEST) 05. Stand Up And Shout (DIO) 06. Walk (PANTERA) 07. Neon Knights (BLACK SABBATH) 08. Wrathchild (IRON MAIDEN) 09. Run To The Hills (IRON MAIDEN) 10. The Green Manalishi (JUDAS PRIEST) 11. Symptom Of The Universe (BLACK SABBATH) 12. South Of Heaven (SLAYER) 13. Peace Sells (MEGADETH) 14. Paranoid (BLACK SABBATH)
Gonzo Sandoval (ARMORED SAINT) and Stevie Rachelle (TUFF, Metal Sludge) were interviewed on the latest edition of Metal Rules! Radio. You can now listen to the program using the audio player below.
Metal Rules! Radio (formerly Metal Rules! Magazine) is a weekly metal show with new shows every Sunday. It focuses on interviews, reviews and a healthy dash of humor. All episodes are available for free on iTunes as well.
ARMORED SAINT has set "La Raza" as the title of the band's new album, due in March 2010 on Metal Blade Records. Bassist Joey Vera, who produced the CD, stated about the LP, "The result is just amazing, and I may be hasty when I say that this may be our best record ever. But all dopes in bands say that right? Well, this time I think it's true and although my reasons may be purely personal, I still deem it truth. The songs are great and it sounds great."
"La Raza" will feature the following songs, among others:
* Black Feet * Chilled * Loose Cannon * Blues * La Raza * Head On * Get Off The Fence * Left Hook From Right Field
"La Raza"was recorded at Tranzformer Studios, which is owned by Dave Jerdan (ALICE IN CHAINS, JANE'S ADDICTION), who produced ARMORED SAINT's 1991 classic "Symbol of Salvation" and Carlstrom, who engineered the same album.
To get a taste of what the new ARMORED SAINT album will sound like, check out a demo version of "Loose Cannon" (performed with a drum program) in the YouTube clip below (also available for download as a ZIP file at this location).
The band's current lineup is the same as the one on 2000's "Revelation" and 1992's "Symbol of Salvation" LPs:
John Bush (vocals) Jeff Duncan (guitar) Phil Sandoval (guitar) Joey Vera (bass) Gonzo Sandoval (drums)
Gonzo Sandoval and Stevie Rachelle interviewed on Metal Rules! Radio (click on player below to launch audio):
Demo version of new ARMORED SAINT song "Loose Cannon":
MEGADETH's official web site has been updated with the following message:
"Enter this year's MEGADETH Christmas card contest and win big! Send us your designs and you could win first prize of a phone call from Dave Mustaine on Christmas morning, two meet-and-greet passes to meet MEGADETH on tour, and MEGADETH's 'Endgame' CD hand-signed by Dave, Chris [Broderick], James [Lomenzo] and Shawn [Drover]! Prizes will also be awarded for 2nd to 10th places! Winners will be picked by Dave Mustaine. Contest closes on Sunday, December 6th.
**First prize: A phone call from Dave Mustaine to you on Christmas Day, two meet-and-greet passes to meet MEGADETH on tour, and MEGADETH's 'Endgame' CD hand signed by Dave, Chris, James and Shawn.
**Second prize: Two meet-and-greet passes to meet MEGADETH on tour, and MEGADETH's 'Endgame' CD hand signed by Dave, Chris, James and Shawn.
**Third prize: Set of three MEGADETH guitar picks, and MEGADETH's 'Endgame' CD hand signed by Dave, Chris, James and Shawn.
**Fourth to Tenth place winners: MEGADETH's 'Endgame' CD hand-signed by Dave, Chris, James and Shawn.
"Your card design should be approx 8" X 5" (20cm X 12cm), portrait or landscape, and be in any medium you choose; hand-drawn, Photoshop, etc. You must have a copy saved or scanned at 300DPI resolution to send in if you are chosen the winner. Send all cards in at a smaller, low-res versions when entering. You may enter as many times as you like.
"If you need high-res MEGADETH logo, art, or band pics to work with, you can download at www.megadeth.com/downloads.php.
"All MEGADETH fans are welcome to submit entries.
"Contest is open now and closes midnight Pacific Time, Sunday December 6th.
"E-mail your entries with 'Christmas Card Contest' in the subject line to webmaster@megadeth.com."
Guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH has issued the following update:
"Just got back from the little trek-trippie-trip to Japan and Australia. Had a WONDERFUL time! Japan was awesome!
"We only played two shows, Tokyo and Osaka and both were real nice. We were so jetlagged it was insane; I can't remember ever being that tired.
"Burrn! magazine wanted to have a brief photo session with us right before we stepped onstage in Tokyo. I saw one of those photos and they were quite possibly the worst we've ever looked. Ever! Five faces that just looked like, 'Fuck off, lemme sleep you fucking BITCH!' Insanely funny. To the point where our soundman wanted it signed. I think he's gonna frame it and put it up on his toilet wall. I was also given a prize presented to me by Burrn! magazine as the readers had voted me as the 'Best songwriter of 2008'. Normally I don't care for these type of things, but I couldn't help being happy about that. I actually give a fuck when people like my songs, yes I do.
"Again...a massive 'LOVE YA!' from me to you!
"Japan is such a wonderful, 'strange' place to be.
"I defied my jetlag immediately after landing and went straight out record-shopping with my buddy Koji from Roadrunner Japan. Recofan and Disc Union in Shibuya. Spent...not too much, actually. Turns out the dude who works at Recofan was a fan of the band. So he gave me some records for free even. Got the first, super-rare QUIET RIOT LP (with Randy Rhoads) that was only released in Japan from him.
"Thanks, dude!
"Japanese food is my favourite now, I think.
"We went out with the Roadrunner office as well as the promoters, Creative Man, for some nice Japanese cousine and some sake...of course. Lovely! Hope to go back soon! I've become a tuna sashimi junkie!
"Is it unethical to eat ALL tuna or is the purple fen one that's 'out of bounds?' I wanna be good to my planet....! Yet it tastes so fucking good!!!
"Australia is my favourite country in the world next to Sweden. I could live there!
"We only had three shows this time around, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. All of which went great, especially Sydney was magical! We tried the famous 'seabug' in Brisbane. Tasted a bit like alligator. I'd say. Was amazing!
"After the Sydney show, we were rushed out to go back to the hotel and disappointed a number of fans who wanted pics and autographs. Always feel like shit when that happens. Some of the fans were showing us their 'thumbs down' which hurt, but fuck, I hope we can make it up to you guys next time. There was simply too many people there to take care of everyone and we had other obligations too. Yet I understand you're disappointed....what can I say...sorry?
"I can only be amazed when I think about OPETH and Oz. It's been a love story since the very first time we went there. We've never had to 'work' the country. We've been loved since day one there, and the feeling is mutual, I hope you know!?
"We'll never stop come back and blast your faces off with our metal MIGHT! Haha!
"A little MANOWAR hairball there....
"In Melbourne, Roadrunner had arranged for me to go record shopping and be interviewed doing it....on their expense! They GAVE me money to BUY records for my OWN collection! It happened before once actually and I can't complain. Went to Rare Records in St. Gilda and shopped for around 250 Oz dollars. Found some gems and I'm actually listening to the stuff right now as I'm typing away here....
"I'm in and out of panic attacks here. I think it's because the tour is almost over. We only have two more shows in Greece (Athens and Thessaloniki) and that's it for this year! It's scary, to be honest!
"We're off 'till late March when we'll start a string of shows celebrating 20 years. Will give you the dates on those [as soon as possible], but they will be fucking limited and fucking special, so don't fucking slack when we release them tix. Six shows across the world and that will be IT!"
American power metal band IN VIRTUE will release its long-awaited debut CD, "Delusions of Grandeur", on December 11. The CD includes seven original tracks, with female vocals courtesy of Corinne Reif and death vocals by the band's lead guitarist and composer, Trey Xavier. According to the group, "Delusions of Grandeur" "combines our many influences set to lush arrangements to craft a unique and recognizable sound."
A CD-release party/show will be held on December 11 at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, California.
IN VIRTUE formed in 2004 at Sonoma State University when four friends with a love for fast and heavy music recruited a lady to sing lead. Soon the IN VIRTUE sound was born, a blend of finely composed melodic power metal and death metal.
IN VIRTUE endeavors to blend catchy melody and anthemic choruses with aggressive energy and brutal symmetry to create balanced musical fusion.
Elliot Levin of the NY Hard Rock Examiner conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Robb Flynn of San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD prior to the band's November 12, 2009 concert at the Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale, New York. Watch the chat below. A review of the concert can be found at this location.
MACHINE HEAD is closing out 2009 with the rest of its U.S. support dates with MEGADETH, leading into a string of western U.S. support shows with METALLICA, culminating in a hometown concert featuring both of the Bay Area metal titans on December 12 in San Jose, California.
MACHINE HEAD's upcoming "The Black Procession" European tour with HATEBREED, BLEEDING THROUGH and ALL SHALL PERISH will cap off what has been an incredible three-year journey for MACHINE HEAD in support of the band's highly acclaimed, Grammy-nominated album "The Blackening".
MACHINE HEAD recently recorded a version of PANTERA's "Fucking Hostile" for the forthcoming "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN) tribute album which will be released on the cover of the 200th issue of U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine. The CD and the magazine, which will coincide with the five-year anniversary of Dimebag's passing, will be made available on December 16.
The "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott tribute album is expected to include the following artists/cuts, among others:
* FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH - "A New Level" * UNEARTH - "Sandblasted Skin" * BIOHAZARD - "Mouth For War" * MACHINE HEAD - "Fucking Hostile" * CHIMAIRA - "Slaughtered" * EVILE - "Cemetery Gates" * ZAKK WYLDE - "Suicide Note Pt. 1" * THROWDOWN - [to be announced] * THIS IS HELL - [to be announced] * KIUAS - [to be announced]
Other artists that are rumored to have contributed songs to the CD include MALEFICE and SYLOSIS.
Austrian melodic death metallers DEVANIC are once again searching for a new lead guitarist. The band states, "After some months of working together with Erik [Bay, who joined the group in January 2009], the band decided that it doesn't make sense to go any further. So, if you are a lead guitarist and willing to compose and work on new material, don't hesitate to get in contact!"
DEVANIC was formed in May 2004 by the group's now-former guitarist Nikolaus Vuckovic and vocalist Andreas Danzer "with the goal to play ambitious, catchy, multifarious and blasting melodic death metal. Nikolaus was looking for some people to realize his compositions, especially for someone to do the vocals. With Andreas, the right frontman was found. The songwriting, the lyrics and vocal arrangements of those two guys seem to be the perfect combination."
DEVANIC's debut album, "Mask Industries", was released in April 2006.
Guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier of French progressive metallers GOJIRA has recorded a guest appearance on the forthcoming fourth album from Swiss noise-mongers KRUGER, entitled "For Death, Glory And The End Of The World". According to KRUGER, Duplantier laid down "a few main vocal parts" in the song "Muscle".
"For Death, Glory And The End Of The World" is scheduled for release in February 2010 via Listenable Records. The CD was recorded at Déclanché studio in Yverdon, Switzerland and will be mixed at Godcity studios in Salem, Massachusetts by Kurt Ballou (DISFEAR, COLISEUM, GENGHIS TRON) between November 28 and December 4.
The "For Death, Glory And The End Of The World" artwork can be seen below. The band states, "Connoisseurs and art students will unmask the shameful theft of Jérôme Bosch' 'Jardin des délices', which fits the heaviness epic character of this new piece pretty well."
KRUGER's third album "Redemption through Looseness" was mixed at Godcity by Kurt Ballou and was mastered by Alan Douches (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, NILE, MASTODON). It was released in 2007 in Europe and North America via Listenable Records.
KYPCK ("Kursk" in the western alphabet) — the Russian-singing Finnish doom metal band featuring former SENTENCED guitarist Sami Lopakka (a.k.a. S.S. Lopakka) — has entered the studio to begin recording its second album. More details will be revealed soon.
KYPCK's "Stalingrad" video can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's debut album, "Cherno", which was completed during 2007 and was originally released through the Finnish label UHO Production in March 2008. Despite the album's crushing, doomy nature and Russian lyrics, it went straight to No. 11 on the Finnish chart.
KYPCK's lineup includes Lopakka, vocalist E. Seppänen, bassist J. T. Ylä-Rautio and renowned producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, APOCALYPTICA, SENTENCED, etc.), who plays drums in the band under the name K. H. M. Hiilesmaa. It was only logical for Hiilesmaa to take charge of KYPCK's heavy and (in its original sense) grinding production.
E. Seppänen lived in Russia for 2.5 years, studied in St. Petersburg and worked at the embassy in Moscow. He got his degree from Oxford, and teaches Russian part-time in Tampere, Finland. Hence, he is more than capable of singing in Russian.
"Obfuscation", the new video from the Raleigh, North Carolina-based progressive metalcore quintet BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's new album, "The Great Misdirect", which sold 13,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 36 on The Billboard 200 chart.
"The Great Misdirect" was released on October 27 via Victory Records.
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME vocalist Tommy Rogers recently told Noisecreep about the group's Jamie King-produced follow-up to 2007's "Colors", "It's definitely a step forward for us, I think. I don't know ... when we write records, we never want to repeat ourselves, and we definitely have done that. So, I was worried when we started writing this record that we were just going to end up with something that sounds like 'Colors', and that's definitely not the case."
According to Rogers, "The Great Misdirect" is "more dynamic than we've ever been." The band, he said, tried "different things" on this record, resulting in a rather equal mix of "mellow stuff and more intense stuff. It's definitely BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME," Rogers added. "That's the coolest thing about our records. No matter what we do, it still sounds like us."
He continued, "It's a little over an hour of material, and it's definitely a lot of music. The thing with us is — yeah, we do have long songs, but we just try to never have a lot of filler. Some bands will have long songs, but half of the song will be a lot of filler. On 'Swim to the Moon' [the last track on the disc, which clocks in at over 18 minutes], there's no downtime. We try to pack everything with music, because we like to give people their money's worth."
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME will kick off a North American headlining tour on January 8, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. Support on the trek will come from CYNIC, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT and SCALE THE SUMMIT.
Guitarist Todd Youth (MURPHY'S LAW, D-GENERATION, DANZIG) has launched two new bands, THE ROYAL HIGHNESS and CAPRICORN.
Commented Youth: "THE ROYAL HIGHNESS is my new band. All the members have worked together before. Skye (lead vocals, ex-BULLETS AND OCTANE) had been in THE CHELSEA SMILES and sang on the last SON OF SAM record that I did. Karl Rosqvist has played drums on almost everything I've done the past few years (SON OF SAM, THE CHELSEA SMILES, CAPRICORN, DANZIG touring drummer in 2006), Johnny Martin (bass) was also in the SMILES,and I know RJ Ronquillo (guitar) from doing session work; he's an amazing musician and has played with Stevie Wonder, Santana and Ricky Martin, to name a few, but he's a Detroit rock and roller at heart! He also did the last SMILES tour of the U.K."
He added, "We wanted to have a fresh start without all the baggage that came with THE CHELSEA SMILES (bad record deals, bad management, etc.), so we wrote all new material and I couldn't be happier."
THE ROYAL HIGHNESS is currently in the studio recording its debut album with producer Howard Willing (SMASHING PUMKINS, OK GO, CHEAP TRICK). The band will also make its live debut on December 4 at the Viper Room in West Hollywood, California as the support act for FIREBALL MINISTRY.
THE ROYAL HIGHNESS has one track up on its MySpace page, and the first 500 people who e-mail the band at theroyalhighnessband@gmail.com will receive a free MP3 of the song "Two Steps Back".
CAPRICORN is a project that Youth and MONSTER MAGNET guitarist Phil Caivano have been working on for a while and which was originally set to feature ex-MOTÖRHEAD drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor and former NASHVILLE PUSSY bassist Corey Parks.
"I've been trying to get CAPRICORN off the ground ever since I filled in on guitar for MOTÖRHEAD on the 'Hammered' tour," said Youth. "We finally made it into the studio last month and recorded a few songs."
CAPRICORN, whose music is described by Youth as "killer dirty, speed-freak rock 'n' roll," will release a seven-inch single on the Swedish label Deleted Art.
"After a couple of false starts, we decided to record it as a trio with Phil and myself doing all the guitars and bass, along with my right-hand man Karl Rosqvist on drums," said Youth.
You can hear two songs from CAPRICORN on the band's MySpace page.
Los Angeles-based progressive metal band REDEMPTION has scheduled the following dates:
Feb. 04 - Whisky A Go Go - West Hollywood, CA Feb. 05 - U.B's - Mesa, AZ
Commented REDEMPTION guitarist/songwriter Nicolas van Dyk: "These will in all likelihood be the only headlining shows we play in the States in 2010, so they will feature our longest set times of any domestic performance next year.
"We are extremely excited to get out and play for you all, and to showcase some of our new CD, 'Snowfall On Judgment Day'."
Tickets are now on sale through EnterTheVault.com and all other ticketing outlets.
REDEMPTION will join PRIMAL FEAR for a few shows on the German power metal band's May - June 2010 U.S. tour which will be announced shortly.
In November 2008, Nicolas van Dyk was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, which he describes as "a particularly bad form of blood cancer which is generally considered incurable and which has a five-year survival rate of 34%."
Nicolas' lengthy online post regarding his condition and prognosis can be found at this location.
REDEMPTION — which also features in its ranks vocal legend Ray Alder of FATES WARNING — released its fourth CD, "Snowfall on Judgment Day", on October 6 through Inside Out Music. The album was mixed and mastered by Tommy Newton, who produced the group's last two CDs, at Area 51 Studios in Celle, Germany. The artwork was once again created by Travis Smith.
A video teaser for the album can be viewed below.
Commented the band: "Musically, we have continued to grow and expand on the basic REDEMPTION formula. We have continued to push the envelope of heaviness combined with strong melody and emotional urgency in the music and I think the collection of songs is very strong, with some very in-your-face tunes that are among the heaviest in prog metal to some quieter, more elaborate moments, with technical thrown in where it belongs."
REDEMPTION is:
Ray Alder - Vocals Nick van Dyk - Guitar, Keyboards Bernie Versailles - Guitar Sean Andrews - Bass Chris Quirarte - Drums Greg Hosharian - Keyboards
REDEMPTION released a concert DVD, "Frozen in the Moment: Live in Atlanta", in late February/early March. The disc contains a five-camera, high-definition shoot of the band's ProgPower USA VIII festival appearance in Atlanta, Georgia in October 2007. In addition, there is a 12-minute video and photo tour diary set to the band's previously unreleased instrumental from the DREAM THEATER songwriting contest that REDEMPTION wrote back in 2003.
Video footage of SATAN'S HOST's October 31, 2009 performance at the Iliff Park Saloon in Denver, Colorado can be viewed below.
SATAN'S HOST's new album, "Power ~ Purity ~ Perfection: 999", was released in October via Moribund Records. The CD was recorded at Flatline Audio with producer Dave Otero and features the group's latest additions, D. Monic (ex-AND HELL FOLLOWS) on bass and Evil Little Hobbit (a.k.a. Anthony Lopez, ex-TORRID FLESH) on drums.
According to the band, "The metal on this new project is very diverse. From different modes, to different keys. There are eight full-length songs, from five minutes to eight-and-a-half minutes [in length], as [well] two acoustical interludes which separate the whole, three-part concept" of the CD. "There is a wide array of dark melodies, which fill the demonic soul with a serenade unto the dark lord. Very empowering rhythms, filled with groove and speed, which encapsulates the purist Satanic metal essence in the scene today, as with generations to be."
SATAN'S HOST's current lineup:
Patrick Evil - Guitar Eli Elixir L.C.F. - Vocals D. Monic - Bass Evil Little Hobbit - Drums
Louisiana-based progressive metal quartet TETRAFUSION has unveiled the artwork and track listing for its sophomore effort, entitled "Altered State".
Due in early 2010, the follow-up to TETRAFUSION's self-financed, full-length debut, "Absolute Zero", will be the band's first CD to feature vocals (handled by keyboardist Gary Tubbs).
"Altered State" track listing:
01. Collage of the Present 02. Monologue 03. Last Chance 04. The Deserter 05. Altered State 06. Shadows 07. Tears of the Past
Toshiba has teamed up with GQ magazine to auction off notebooks designed by four famous men. The "artists" include AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, actor and writer Rainn Wilson, and actor and producer Omar Epps, with each designing the exterior and interior look of four different Toshiba Satellite notebooks.
Joe Perry chose a classic black and white image for the exterior of the 18.4-inch Qosmio X505. Ward's design includes a rendition of him as a football player on the outside lid of the 18.4-inch Satellite P505 multimedia notebook. Rain Wilson chose illustrator Mike Mitchell to design the look of the 14-inch Toshiba Satellite M505, while Omar Epps shows off Brooklyn Bridge on the 16-inch A505 to pay homage to his hometown.
The auction started on November 27.
Proceeds from the sale of the limited-edition notebooks will go to each designer's chosen charity, including the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation, MONA Foundation, Project AWARE and the Mount Calvary AME Church.
Drummer Vinny Appice (HEAVEN & HELL, DIO, BLACK SABBATH) will undergo surgery on his right shoulder on Monday, November 30 for an injury sustained during the last HEAVEN & HELL tour.
Commented Vinny: "You can't face the audience and hit drums directly behind you night after night at an extreme volume [referring to his monstrous drum kit that surrounded him with drums — Ed.]"
The surgeon expects Vinny to be back behind the kit in about five months.
HEAVEN & HELL singer Ronnie James Dio was just diagnosed with the early stages of stomach cancer while the band's guitarist, Tony Iommi, recently underwent stem-cell treatment on an injured hand.
HEAVEN & HELL's debut album, "The Devil You Know", entered The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 8 with first-week sales of 30,000 units.
The band's June 16, 2009 concert at Museumsmeile in Bonn, Germany was professionally filmed by WDR's (German public TV) series "Rockpalast" and was premiered on July 13. Watch the "Follow The Tears" performance below.
HEAVEN & HELL was forced to cancel its June 21, 2009 appearance at the Metalway Festival in Zaragoza, Spain due to back pain suffered by Iommi.
OV HELL, the new black metal project featuring DIMMU BORGIR vocalist Shagrath and ex-GORGOROTH bassist King, has completed work on its debut album, "The Underworld Regime", for a February 2010 release via Indie Recordings. The CD was recorded at Earshot Studio and features Shagrath on vocals, King on bass, Frost (SATYRICON) on drums, Ice Dale (ENSLAVED) on guitar and Teloch (NIDINGR, GOD SEED) on guitar. The album was produced by Herbrand Larsen and mastered at the Livingroom studios by Espen Berg and Shagrath in November 2009. King composed all of the music for "The Underworld Regime", while Shagrath wrote all lyrics, with contributions from Silenoz and Sarah Owens.
"The Underworld Regime" track listing:
01. Devil's Harlot 02. Post Modern Sadist 03. Invoker 04. Perpetual Night 05. Ghosting 06. Acts of Sin 07. Krigsatte Faner 08. Hill Norge
Commented Shagrath: "The majestic OV HELL has become a band that reflects our roots — raw, ugly, arrogantly blasphemous — with uncompromising truth from two influential Norwegian musicians needing to express our primitive side, straight out OV HELL."
Added King: "It's been a little hell to actually see this music form into a band, but when I'm now listening to the final result, it has been worth the hard work we have put into this album!"
Two rough-mix sample tracks from "The Underworld Regime" can be heard on the band's MySpace page.
In a recent interview with MetalNews.pl, King stated about OV HELL's debut album, "It is always hard to describe your own music and it usually ends up like meaningless self-promotion of your own album. It will, however, contain music most people would define as black metal. I'm not claiming we have reinvented the wheel, but I don't think have heard any band to date we could be seen as copycats of. I have not heard all the bands in the world and can, of course, be mistaken.
"The album will contain a mixture of our different musical preferences and the personalities involved, which hopefully will lead to something original and new. I have to say, though, that I am more occupied of developing myself spiritually and musically than strive to be viewed as original by fans."
"The will to relive 1994 in black metal these days should be against all that black metal is all about. Presenting others' art and ideas almost 15 years later, mostly based on nostalgic reflections, show that you don't have the capacity to adapt to your own chaos and so on develop to a strong individual unique being. Recycling your own ideas will show that you are not capable of change and in other words should be viewed as dead.
"A person who is not able to change opinions, learn from his mistakes and have the ability to grow and change should not shout for people's attention but be quiet.
"I am grateful that I have had musicians with me on this record that do NOT possess these qualities."
The newly revamped lineup of the NWOBHM band TOKYO BLADE, featuring Andy Boulton (guitar) alongside John Wiggins (guitar) and bassist Andy Wrighton (bass), has announced the addition of singer Chris Gillen to the group's ranks. The band's new drummer will be announced shortly.
TOKYO BLADE released the "Live In Germany" CD and DVD on October 27 through Razar Ice Records. The effort was recorded in November 2008 at the Keep It True festival in Würzburg, Germany during the band's "Die By The Sword" tour.
"Live In Germany" was mixed and mastered by Sid Garcia at Sight 16 Studios in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The DVD contains bonus material, including tour rehearsal, candid footage with the band and additional live songs from throughout the 2008 tour.
A promotional clip for "The Ultimate War", the forthcoming DVD from Israel's "Mesopotamian black metal" band ARALLU, can be viewed below.
ARALLU's fourth album, "Desert Battles - Descending to the Sands", was released in March via Raven Music. The CD was mastered at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in California and contains 11 tracks, including a live video for the song "Battleground" taken from the group's forthcoming DVD. The art was created by Nir Gutraiman and Yosi Darmon.
The group's third CD, "The Demon from the Ancient World", was released in 2005 via the Czech label Epidemie Records.
Some of the dates on OBITUARY's South American tour are being rescheduled for January or February 2010 because of work visa issues.
OBITUARY will perform the following shows in Brazil (with BELPHEGOR) next week as scheduled:
Dec. 02 - Porto Alegre/RS - Brazil - Bar Opinião Dec. 04 - São Paulo/SP, Brazil - Hangar 110 Dec. 05 - Belo Horizonte/MG, Brazil - Bar Brasil Dec. 06 - Brasilia/DF, Brazil
The tickets that fans have purchased for the other South American dates are 100% valid for the rescheduled shows in 2010.
According to the band, "Neither OBITUARY [no]or the promoters from Ecuador, Venezuela and Perú, are responsible for this inconvenience."
"Live Xecution - Party.San 2008", the new concert DVD from OBITUARY, will receive a U.S. release in January 2010 via Regain. The footage for the disc was filmed at last year's Party.San Open Air festival, which was held August 7-9, 2008 in Bad Berka, Germany.
Night Of The Vinyl Dead Records recently released a limited-edition vinyl version of OBITUARY's "Left To Die" EP. Only 500 hand-numbered copies were made available on hand-splattered bloody vinyl, including an insert.
"Left to Die" contains four songs: two new originals ("Forces Realign" and "Left To Die"), a 2008 studio recording of "Slowly We Rot", and a cover of "Dethroned Emperor" by CELTIC FROST.
"Darkest Day", the new album from OBITUARY, landed at position No. 32 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
Greece's E-Rock.gr recently conducted an interview with vocalist Mikael Stanne of Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY. The interview is now available for streaming in two parts below.
DARK TRANQUILLITY has set "We Are The Void" as the title of its ninth album, due in Europe on March 1, 2010 via Century Media Records. The drums for the CD were recorded at bassist Daniel Antonsson's studio, while the remaining instruments were tracked at Martin Brändström's (electronics) newly renovated Rogue music facility. The mixing duties are once again being handled by Tue Madsen (HALFORD, BEHEMOTH, KATAKLYSM, THE HAUNTED) at his Antfarm studio in Århus, Denmark. Working songtitles set to appear on the CD include "I Am The Void", "Zero Distance", "The Burden Of Love Alive", "Archangelsk" and "Memories In Reverse".
Regarding the musical direction of the band's new material, DARK TRANQUILLITY previously said, "It's a bit too early to delve into details, but the material feels diverse and fresh and covers all the facets of the DARK TRANQUILLITY sound. Those who are familiar with our songwriting process know that we always keep re-arranging and experimenting with the material until the recording starts, and while we currently have the basic foundations for around 10 songs, many things are still open. The final result is likely to surprise ourselves as well as you people."
DARK TRANQUILLITY,'s new DVD, "Where Death Is Most Alive", entered the Music DVD chart in the band's home country at position No. 1.
The "Where Death Is Most Alive" CD/DVD was released on October 26 in Europe (November 17 in the U.S.) via Century Media Records. The footage was filmed on October 31, 2008 in Milan, Italy — a concert which makes up the DVD's main feature. Disc 1 contains 20 tracks recorded at the Milan show while disc 2 offers the "Out Of Nothing"DARK TRANQUILLITY documentary, another 21 rare live videos and all of the band's previously released promotional clips.
"Where Death Is Most Alive" was released as limited kingsize mediabook 2DVD/2CD, 2DVD, 2CD and digital download. The audio formats consist of the main show's material, mixed by Tue Madsen.
PRISTINA, the band featuring former members of 100 DEMONS, A THOUSAND FALLING SKIES and INVOCATION OF NEHEK, will release its long-delayed new album, "The Drought (Ov Salt and Sorrow)", in February 2010 via Bombfarm Records. The CD was recorded by singer Brendan K. Duff and Steve Austin (TODAY IS THE DAY), who also mixed and engineered the effort. Guest musicians on "The Drought" include Austin, Rennie Resmini (STARKWEATHER) and Scott Angelicos (BLOODLET).
"The Drought (Ov Salt and Sorrow)" track listing:
01. The Drought (Ov Salt and Sorrow) 02. Moonshiner 03. Temple of the Morning Star (TODAY IS THE DAY cover) 04. Salt Water Cthulhu 05. Because I Can Kill You
The album will also be made available on limited-edition vinyl.
In other news, PRISTINA is halfway finished with the songwriting process for another full-length, tentatively due in 2010. The as-yet-untitled CD will most likely be produced by Jimmy Bower of EYEHATEGOD/DOWN fame.
PRISTINA recently welcomed a new second guitar player — J.P. Fernandes from singer Brendan's former band A THOUSAND FALLING SKIES.
Former ELEGY/VENGEANCE singer Ian Parry has set "Species" as the title of the fifth and final part of the CONSORTIUM PROJECT concept story. Joining Ian in the studio will be KAMELOT drummer Casey Grillo, DAWN OF DESTINY bass player Jens Faber and INFINITY OVERTURE guitarist Niels Vejlyt, who has already laid down some ripping guitar tracks on a number of CONSORTIUM V songs during Ian's recent visit to Copenhagen in October.
Newcomers to CONSORTIUM PROJECT are two female vocalists — Bulgarian rock singer Anna Lozanova and gothic metal vocalist Lene Petersen (INFINITY OVERTURE).
Ian hopes to have the CONSORTIUM V "Species" album finished by the middle of next year, with a release — which will include his Consortium Quadrilogy — around September 2010.
Commented Ian: "It is a challenge this time around to write and produce the best and heaviest of all five CONSORTIUM albums. I really want to emphasis the fact that in my conceptual story women save the world. This is why I want more involvement from the great female vocalists on CONSORTIUM V 'Species'.
"It's great to have Casey Grillo back on drums doing an incredible job like he did on CONSORTIUM III and my solo CD, 'Visions', and this time I have a fantastic young kick-ass bass player Jens Faber completing the rhythm section. So with rip-roaring solos from Danish guitarist Niels Vejlyt, it's going to be a killer album with a mix of everything that is cool in rock and metal."
CONSORTIUM PROJECT's video for the song "Enigma" can be viewed below. The track comes off the group's last album, entitled "Children of Tomorrow", which was issued in North America in July 2007 on ProgRock Records. The label also released Parry's last solo album, "Visions", which came out in Europe in 2006.
Unlike Parry's previous CONSORTIUM PROJECT releases, "Children of Tomorrow" was said to be "a more diverse rock metal production with progressive elements reminiscent of his earlier productions." Parry spent more than a year on this epic production, writing, recording and mixing with former ELEGY bandmate/keyboard player Joshua Dutrieux. The songs were written as a collaboration between Parry, Dutrieux and the latest addition to the CONSORTIUM family, ex-WITHIN TEMPTATION drummer Ivar de Graaf.
NIGHTWISH frontwoman Anette Olzon joined the Finnish rock band THE RASMUS this week on the Finnish TV show "Ne Salmiset" to perform THE RASMUS' new single, "October & April". The performance was broadcast earlier today (Saturday, November 28) on Finland's MTV3 and can be viewed below (a separate interview with Olzon and THE RASMUS singer Lauri Ylönen is also included).
Olzon previously teamed up with THE RASMUS on stage on November 20 at The Dome 52 in Graz, Austria to perform "October & April". That performance was broadcast on Germany's RTL 2 station on November 27 and can also be seen below.
In a September 2008 interview with Italy's Musica Metal, Ylönen stated that the idea for the song came to him nine years ago when Tarja Turunen was still the lead singer of NIGHTWISH, but he only got around to recording the track during the sessions for last year's "Black Roses" CD. "I actually asked Tarja, but she said no!" Lauri revealed. "Then I called Anette, and she was like, 'Yeah, I would love to sing a song with you, I'm a big RASMUS fan, actually two years ago before I joined NIGHTWISH, I was singing THE RASMUS songs in karaoke bars!' so we went with her."
"October & April" was not included on "Black Roses" because the CD was a concept effort and the song didn't fit in with the overall idea for the album. Instead, the track will make its debut on THE RASMUS' "Best of 2001-2009", a compilation of all the hit songs from their four latest albums, including the million-selling "In The Shadows", most of the singles and a few rarities.
Released on November 25, "Best of 2001-2009" features the following track listing:
01. In The Shadows 02. No Fear 03. Guilty (U.S. mix) 04. October & April (featuring Anette Olzon) 05. First Day Of My Life 06. Livin' In A World Without You 07. F-F-F-Falling 08. Chill 09. Immortal 10. Justify 11. Shot 12. Funeral Song 13. Ghost of Love 14. Open My Eyes (acoustic version) 15. In My Life 16. Ten Black Roses 17. Sail Away
Commented Lauri: "We felt it was time to sum up these past ten years. Eero said, let's call the album, 'This is how I spent my twenties.' No matter how stupid it sounded, that is pretty much the truth. We went on this crazy rollercoaster ride; it has been an amazing time. We have travelled to more than 60 countries, from India to Siberia, met thousands of fans all over the world and enthusiastic people working with our records. And when I look back on these last four records, I feel very proud of them. We decided to include most of the singles to the album with a couple of our favorite album tracks, and the new song 'October & April'."
"Ne Salmiset" interview:
"Ne Salmiset" performance:
November 20 performance at The Dome 52 in Graz, Austria:
Riff Magazine has uploaded video footage of THANATOSCHIZO's performance at this year's Ilha do Ermal festival, which was held August 28-30 in Vieira do Minho, Portugal. The nine-minute clip, which can be viewed below, also includes a Portuguese-language interview with the band's guitarist, Guilhermino Martins.
THANATOSCHIZO is currently recording a new, semi-acoustic album for an early 2010 release. The CD is being tracked in two different facilities: Teatro de Vila Real in their hometown, Vila Real; and the group's own Blind & Lost Studios in Santa Marta de Penaguião, Portugal. For the first time, the bandmembers are assuming the production duties themselves and are being assisted by sound engineers Pedro Cabral and Paulo Almeida.
The as-yet-untitled CD will contain reworked songs from all THANATOSCHIZO albums — "Schizo Level", "InsomniousNightLift", "Turbulence" and "Zoom Code" — featuring an even more avant-garde approach with ethnical and progressive distinctive touches, already hinted on the band's "regular" releases.
The CD will be released by Major Label Industries and will contain some collaborations that the band will announce in due course.
THANATOSCHIZO's fourth album, "Zoom Code", was released in March 2008 via My Kingdom Music (Recital Records in Portugal). The CD was produced by Luis Barros (TARANTULA) and was mastered by Tommy Newton (CONCEPTION, HELLOWEEN). It featured guest appearances by Svein Egil Hatlevik (ZWEIZZ, FLEURETY, ex-DØDHEIMSGARD) and Timb Harris of ESTRADASPHERE/SECRET CHIEFS 3.
ATLANTIC TIDE, the new Swedish project featuring guitarist Freddie Eugene (UNLEASHED, TERRA FIRMA, LOUD PIPES, HARMS WAY) alongside ex-TERRA FIRMA bassist Izmo Ledderfejs and former BLACKSHINE axeman Stabel Miserabel, released its first-ever seven-inch single, "Bad Acid Queen", on November 16 through High Roller Records. The single, which includes the title track and a song called "Eyestroids", comes in two different versions — green and black — and features layout by Trident Arts. It is strictly limited to 500 copies.
Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED have entered guitarist Fredrik Folkare's Chrome studio to begin recording their tenth full-length album for an early 2010 release via Nuclear Blast Records. According to the band, the musical direction of the forthcoming CD will be "the logical continuation from 'Midvinterblot' [2006] and 'Hammer Battalion' [2008]. Lyrically, you will recognize what has become the UNLEASHED trademark since more than 20 years, the combination of the past, present and future of viking struggle and way of life. A few of the songs also mark the beginning of a story never before told."
UNLEASHED's ninth full-length album, "Hammer Battalion", was recorded in Sweden and produced by Folkare, "Hammer Battalion" took a battle-hardened axe to the misguided concepts of self-subjugation, transparent corruption and unneeded suffering in the name of religious figureheads and provides a perfect link between the ancient struggles of their Nordic forefathers and the ills of our modern society. The blistering "The Greatest Of All Lies" and "Long Before Winter's Call" took on old religious myths re-cast as pure fact, while "Your Children Will Burn" served as a warning of the consequences of blind faith. "Whatever is done in the name of different religions is often done against Mother Nature," noted vocalist/bassist Johnny Hedlund. "And she has the means of striking back."
UNLEASHED's current lineup:
Johnny Hedlund: Bass, Vocals Tomas Måsgard: Guitar Fredrik Folkare: Guitar Anders Schultz: Drums
Quality fan-filmed video footage of UNLEASHED performing at this year's Neurotic Deathfest, which was held May 29-30 at 013 in Tilburg, Holland, can be viewed below (courtesy of "letthemetalflow").
Polish death metal/hardcore act IN TWILIGHT'S EMBRACE will enter the studio in early December to begin recording its sophomore album for a 2010 release. The drums will be laid down at JET Studio in Northern Poland, the guitar and bass will be tracked in Warsaw with Marcin Czajka at helm, the vocals will be recorded in Poznan with Migdal at his mobile studio and the whole thing will be mixed by Vlad at Aesthetic Studio.
IN TWILIGHT'S EMBRACE is one of Poland's longest-running metal/hardcore bands. Formed in 2002, the group has seen its music evolve from a pure hardcore punk sound to a more metal-influenced direction.
After the release of IN TWILIGHT'S EMBRACE's first CD, "Buried in Between" (2006), and the departure of its original singer, the band faced numerous difficulties finding a replacement vocalist. They eventually recruited Kamil Zielinski and released a three-track promo EP in January 2009.
The EP is available for streaming and downloading in its entirety on the band's MySpace page.
Norway's THE KONSORTIUM will enter SOS studios in Stavanger next week with producers Arne Hovda and Ashley Stubbert to begin recording the band's full-length debut, tentatively due in early 2010 via Agonia Records. The group states, "We'll start with drums and bass, and in January it's time to start working on guitars and vocals."
THE KONSORTIUM recently announced the addition of guitarist Teloch (NIDINGR, UMORAL, NUNFUCKRITUAL, ORCUSTUS, GOD SEED, 1349, GORGOROTH) to the group's ranks.
According to a press release, THE KONSORTIUM performs "black metal with various thrash, avant-garde and non-metal influences creating [its] own atmosphere and identity. THE KONSORTIUM features various members. Some of them better and some of them [not as well] known to the metal (but not only) community."
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