Veteran San Francisco Bay Area metallers SKINLAB have posted a brand new track, "Amphetamine Gods", on their MySpace page. The song comes off the band's forthcoming album, "The Scars Between Us", which is tentatively due before the end of the year via Stand And Deliver Records. The group says, "[The track] is still in the rough-mix stages, but fuckin' good enough to let hit the streets to let everyone know that SKINLAB is back and more brutal than ever!"
SKINLAB will perform at the July 10 stop of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre in Sacramento, California. SKINLAB will be the second band of the day on the Jägermeister Mobile Stage. The group says, "We go on at 2:45 p.m., and don't miss us. After our set, we will be giving out FREE sampler CDs, FREE 11 X 17 posters, signing autographs at the Jäger booth, and we will have a NEW t-shirt design for sale! The sampler CD includes two songs from our new album and two songs from our labelmates FLATLINE."
Capital Chaos has uploaded video footage (see below) of SKINLAB performing on April 17, 2009 at The Kennel Club in Sacramento, California. Also on the bill were STEPCHILD, DROP SEVEN and MUCUS MEMBRANE. The show was a benefit concert for DEFTONES bassist Chi Cheng.
SKINLAB released a live album, "SkinnedAlive!", in April 2008 via BCD Music Group. The CD was recorded on June 3, 2007 at The Metro in Oakland, California.
SKINLAB's last studio album, "ReVolting Room", came out in 2002. A double-disc set, entitled "Nerve Damage", featuring alternate versions of studio tracks, several live tracks recorded on the band's "ReVolting Room" tour, plus two new songs, came out in 2004.
The cover artwork for "Here Waits Thy Doom", the new album from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada's 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, can be viewed below. Due on September 8 via Century Media Records (August 31 in Europe). The CD was recorded at Seattle's London Bridge Studios with renowned producer Jack Endino (HIGH ON FIRE).
"Here Waits Thy Doom" track listing:
01. Battles and Brotherhood 02. Rock In Hell 03. Silent Killer 04. Fierce Defender 05. Preachers Daughter 06. Call of the Hammer 07. Snake Fighter 08. At the Foot of the Great Glacier 09. All of them Witches 10. 12:34 11. Execution Tank
Covers (to be released as b-sides and/or bonus tracks):
12. Not Fragile (BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE) 13. Cities on Flame (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT) 14. Daytona (ZEKE)
Commented vocalist Cam Pipes: "We decided to cover 'Not Fragile' by BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE because they're a Canadian band and we wanted to represent our Canadian musical roots. BTO had many hits, but we wanted to do a deeper cut from their catalog plus 'Not Fragile' has a heavy driving riff at the core of the song which we felt translated well with our style.
"BLUE ÖYSTER CULT's 'Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll' is a song that our guitarist Justin had played the main riff to at soundcheck for a few years now and I guess it just got stuck in our heads, so we decided to learn it and record it. We've also been friends with ZEKE for many years and 'Daytona' has always been a favorite ZEKE song of ours. It's another one we've loosely jammed out in the rehearsal space and soundchecks before. It's a rare, slow ZEKE song, which is good because we'd probably butcher one of their fast songs."
Added guitarist Shane Clark: "Our new album is finished and we've named it 'Here Waits Thy Doom'. Much like our last record it is a step beyond the album that precedes it. We've again taken what we do a step further and not made 'Fire up the Blades Part 2', we've stuck to our formula — no formula. We are true metal fans and we've made an unapologetic metal record. I think this our most focused record to date, from writing all the way to mixing there was no unnecessary drama or too many cooks in the kitchen. This is 3 INCHES OF BLOOD at its most punishing, epic and mighty."
Regarding 3 INCHES OF BLOOD's new deal with Century Media, Pipes recently said, "Ever since our departure from our previous label [Roadrunner], Century Media has been in the forefront trying to get us to sign with them. No other label showed as much enthusiasm and belief in our band as they did. Right from the start we all got a great feeling from the whole Century Media team. We feel comfortable with the vision they have for us and are confident they have the necessary tools and motivation to help us in the ways our previous label didn't. We can't wait to unleash this new material upon the masses."
Shred master Michael Angelo Batio (NITRO), guitar virtuoso Vinnie Moore (UFO), drumming legend Carmine Appice (SLAMM, VANILLA FUDGE, ROD STEWART, OZZY OSBOURNE, TED NUGENT) and Dean Guitars/Ddrum owner Elliot Rubinson, along with members of EDEN'S CURSE, POWER QUEST, QUIREBOYS, INTENSE and VOODOO SIX, will take part in the "Dean Owners Of America" 2009 party, set to take place August 8 at The Albany Theatre in London, England. Proceeds from the night's raffle will go to the ChildLine charity, which has been responsible for uncovering a great many cases of child abuse both recent and in years gone by.
Italian progressive rock/metal band KINGCROW has set "Phlegethon" as the title of its fifth album, tentatively due in the fall.
Commented guitarist Diego Cafolla: "I feel the whole album sounds darker than [2006's] 'Timetropia'. We experienced a lot of new solutions and sounds that we have never used before and a strong progressive attitude as well.
"The new songs collection is quite complex. Two are about nine minutes [in] length, one very experimental and the other one instrumental (some of you have already listened to it during the previous 'Timetropia' tour dates); some are softer and more atmospheric; others definitely heavier, probably our heaviest songs of all time.
"Talking about production, this time we adopted a different way to handle it. We worked at every song from beginning to end before proceeding to the next one. The aim was to feel each song, keeping the right mood all the way through.
"We are all very excited, 'cause we do feel our new album both as a milestone and as a springboard for the band. Not only for the exceptional results of our effort but also and especially because of our new special team: our new singer, our new synth and keyboard-player and our new production staff. It is thanks to the great commitment of that extraordinary people that 'Phlegethon' was born."
"Phlegethon" tentative track listing:
01. The Slide 02. Timeshift Box 03. Islands 04. The Great Silence 05. Lullaby For An Innocent 06. Evasion 07. Numb (Incipit, Climax & Coda) 08. Washing Out Memories 09. A New Life 10. Lovocaine 11. Fading Out Pt. III 12. Phlegethon
BLUTVIAL — the band featuring Aort of renowned U.K. avant-garde black metal act CODE as well as DECREPIT SPECTRE and INDESINENCE, and Ewchmylaen, formerly of REIGN OF EREBUS — has posted a new song, "Our Hallowed Bones", on the group's MySpace page. The track is the title cut of BLUTVIAL's debut album, which is scheduled for release on July 20 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was recorded and mixed by the band themselves, with Aort handling guitar, bass and drumming duties, and Ewchmylaen taking care of vocals and guitars. Mastered by Minerva Pappi at Finnvox studios, the album is a brutal, unrelenting display of true black metal.
Comments Aort: "BLUTVIAL is an expression of pure unadulterated bestial black metal, and this album in our minds is eight tracks of sonic barbed wire … a grim and relentless trip to the depths of musical depravity."
"I Speak Of The Devil" track listing:
01. Full Moon Possession 02. Seethe My Darkness 03. Raging Winds 04. 1584 05. Serpent Procreation 06. Dawn Divides the Darkness from the Light 07. Our Hallowed Bones 08. Hiraeth
DEVILDRIVER and U.K.'s Scuzz TV are on the search for the "ultimate DEVILDRIVER fan." This is a nationwide search from corner to corner of the U.K. to seek out the most devoted DEVILDRIVER fan out there. Straight up, Scuzz is looking for the most hardcore of hardcore fans to win our best competition to date. If we think you are worthy, you will receive a ticket for life. This means you can go to any and every DEVILDRIVER concert in the U.K. for the rest of your life! Scuzz will also hook you up with a ton of DEVILDRIVER swag and sort you out with your first "meet-and-greet" with the circle pit titans of metal.
If you're a fan who has a grasp of technology, then get uploading videos of yourself on either Scuzz.com or YouTube telling them/showing them why your worthy, or you can upload images to the gallery, simply write a note and post up in their forums.
This can get as crazy as you want. If you've got a DEVILDRIVER tattoo, Scuzz wants to see it; pictures of you wearing your DEVILDRIVER wear, maybe a picture you with all your DEVILDRIVER posters and albums; post up pictures of drawings you've done, introduce Scuzz to your cat you named Dez; literally anything that proves how much you love this band.
Scuzz will be showing a few pictures and videos on Scuzz TV's "Digital Darkside" program later in the summer. They'll also be awarding prizes each week for their favorites.
METALLICA's July 5, 2009 concert at the Rock Werchter festival in Werchter, Belgium will be available for listening and/or viewing via live radio and webcasts.
As previously reported, METALLICA's July 7, 2009 concert in Nimes, France at Arènes de Nîmes will be professionally filmed for a forthcoming DVD release. The disc will be made available on October 19 through French music stores and online shops only, as well as via the band's official web site, Metallica.com.
WorMee will stream METALLICA's concert in Nimes from July 10 until July 13. You just need to register with the site to watch, and the stream is available to everyone around the world.
METALLICA's three concerts in Mexico City were also filmed for a separate DVD release. The band played Mexico City for the first time in a decade on June 4, June 6 and June 7, with the group keeping the shows on its schedule despite the recent outbreak of swine flu that originated in the area.
METALLICA has issued several DVDs in the past, including "Cliff 'Em All", "Cunning Stunts", "S&M With The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra" and "A Year And A Half".
The band, recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, continues to tour behind "Death Magnetic", which has sold 1.78 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. They'll play Europe throughout the summer before returning to North America in the fall.
METALLICA's video for the song "Broken, Beat And Scarred" can be viewed below. The performance clip was shot by METALLICA's longtime friend and collaborator, famed video director Wayne Isham, on December 13, 2008 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California and December 12, 2008 at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California.
"I Like It", the new video from the Italian rock/metal outfit LACUNA COIL, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Kevin Custer, who has previously worked with KINGDOM OF SORROW, TESTAMENT, DOPE, MADBALL and OVERKILL, among others. The track comes off the band's latest album, "Shallow Life", which has sold 56,000 copies in the United States since its April 21 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD was recorded in September/October at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, California with producer Don Gilmore, who has previously worked with LINKIN PARK, TRAPT, AVRIL LAVIGNE, GOOD CHARLOTTE, THE VERONICAS, PEARL JAM, TRUST COMPANY and DURAN DURAN.
LACUNA COIL will kick off its headlining "American Spellbound Tour" this Saturday, July 4. Support on the trek will come from KILL HANNAH, SEVENTH VOID and DOMMIN. The "American Spellbound Tour" marks LACUNA COIL's first U.S. headlining run in more than two years and the first tour the band has been on since they rocked the main stage of the Music as a Weapon Tour IV this past spring alongside DISTURBED, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and CHIMAIRA.
Commented vocalist Cristina Scabbia: "Our first American headlining tour in support of our new album, 'Shallow Life', is gonna start soon, and, of course, the level of excitement in the LACUNA COIL family is really, really high. We can't wait! It's gonna be a party every night, with all our fans, new ones and old-school ones!"
Following the completion of these headlining dates, the band will jet home to Europe to play a few festivals, including the legendary Wacken Open Air (July 30), before returning Stateside to captivate the U.S. yet again beginning on August 7.
Fan-filmed video footage of JUDAS PRIEST's July 2, 2009 performance at the Milwaukee Summerfest can be viewed below.
JUDAS PRIEST kicked off its "British Steel" 30th-anniversary tour Monday night (June 29) at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana.
JUDAS PRIEST has chosen 10 songs not previously released in live album form for "A Touch of Evil: Live", which is due out July 14, in the midst of the band's U.S. summer tour.
"A Touch of Evil" includes live renderings of longtime fan favorites such as "Painkiller", "Dissident Aggressor", "Riding on the Wind", "Between the Hammer & the Anvil" and "Eat Me Alive", as well as "Hellrider" from "Angel of Retribution", the group's 2004 reunion album with frontman Rob Halford, and two tracks — "Death" and "Prophecy" — from last year's rock opera "Nostradamus".
"I love those songs," Halford told Billboard.com. "All of those songs just crush. Because they've never been recorded live in this way, it's just something fresh to put out. And when you listen to it and think this band has been around for three decades, with a combined age of 250-something years...I mean, how cool is that? It's a very fierce record and just captures the band's attitude and feeling in a very strong, determined way."
Recorded by Martin Walker and Brian Thorene during JUDAS PRIEST's mammoth 2005 and 2008 world tours, "A Touch Of Evil: Live" marks the first PRIEST album that producer Tom Allom has worked on since 1988 (co-producing along with the band). It was such Allom-produced albums as the aforementioned "Unleashed In The East", as well as "British Steel" and "Screaming For Vengeance" (among others) that made PRIEST not only one of the premier metal acts, but one of the leading global rock acts.
"A Touch Of Evil: Live" track listing:
01. Judas Rising 02. Hellrider 03. Between The Hammer & The Anvil 04. Riding On The Wind 05. Death 06. Beyond The Realms Of Death 07. Dissident Aggressor 08. A Touch Of Evil 09. Eat Me Alive 10. Prophecy 11. Painkiller
William Croyle of Kentucky Enquirer reports: Critter Smith flew on an airplane for the first time June 27.
"It was awesome taking off and looking out the window at how high we were," he said.
But that was nothing compared to what was waiting for him and his mom, Carol, after they landed in Milwaukee.
They were flown there as guests of KISS, one of the world's most famous rock-n-roll bands, for a concert that night.
Critter got to meet the band — Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer — before the show, take pictures during the show and returned home with a stash of memorabilia almost too big to carry.
"When Tommy was on stage, he came down and gave me his pick," Critter said. "And Eric walked right up to me and gave me his drumsticks. It was pretty sweet."
Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA have issued the following update:
"Unfortunately, the promoter canceled our show in Kosice (Slovakia) on July 2, stating that he was unable to pay us. We were very sorry to hear this as we were looking forward to play for you guys. The fans who bought tickets for this concert should seek immediate refund of your money. There will be no rescheduled date with this promoter as he did not honor his contract. We will be playing in Sala (Slovakia) on July 5 and would love to see you there."
Professionally filmed video footage of SEPULTURA's June 28, 2009 performance at the Devilside Festival at Landschaftspark in Duisburg-Nord, Germany can be viewed below (courtesy of Bunch TV). Also appearing on the bill were SOULFLY, MOTÖRHEAD, MISFITS, SODOM and CRO-MAGS, among others.
SEPULTURA recently completed a massive tour of Brazil with fellow Brazilian metallers ANGRA. The trek, which kicked off on May 5 in Porto Alegre, included the São Paulo stop where the two bands joined forces on stage to play several covers, including a version of LED ZEPPELIN's "Immigrant Song".
"A-Lex" — SEPULTURA's first LP to be recorded without either of the founding Cavalera brothers (Max and Igor; on guitar/vocals and drums, respectively) — is available in three versions: in a deluxe digipak with an embossed cover, in a regular jewel case and on a vinyl gatefold LP.
On "A-Lex", SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser and his three colleagues, Derrick Green (vocals), Paulo Jr. (bass) and new addition Jean Dollabella (drums), have dedicated themselves to Anthony Burgess's book "A Clockwork Orange", creating an awesome thrash metal opus around this timeless and exciting subject.
Guitarist "Metal" Mike Chlasciak (HALFORD, PAINMUSEUM) has entered the studio to begin recording his new solo album, titled "The Metalworker". Nine tracks are being completed for the effort, which is being described by Mike as "a record that I simply needed to make." Songtitles set to appear on "The Metalworker" include "On Leather Wings", "Tonight We Ride" and "Don't Shoot The Crown".
Mike's first studio video diary entry can be viewed below.
Metal Mike's last album under the PAINMUSEUM moniker, "You Have The Right To Remain Violent", was released in 2006 via C.M.M. Entertainment. The follow-up to 2005's "Metal For Life" (C.M.M./ Demolition) was a special-edition enhanced CD release that included bonus material as well as music video, gallery and a special message from Mike.
Mike last year concluded a U.S. trek as a sideman axe-slinger for ex-SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach. Bach played the sheds and arenas last summer with DOKKEN and POISON on the "Live, Raw & Uncut" tour.
Express & Star recently conducted an interview with original JUDAS PRIEST singer Allan Atkins. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow.
On his 1973 split with JUDAS PRIEST:
"I was the only one in the group married and with a child, but money was a struggle. We had signed a recording contract and were playing with groups such as BLACK SABBATH, STATUS QUO, SUPERTRAMP and THIN LIZZY. We were getting bigger, but so were our overheads and we were not making any money — some of the band members were not eating much as they couldn't afford the food. In 1972 JUDAS PRIEST did 150 gigs around the country, but we didn’t take any money home. Also travelling all over the country meant I hardly got to see my family and any spare time we did have was taken up with doing photos and rehearsing. I was replaced on vocals by Rob Halford, who is now called the Metal God, and I got a job at Sutton Coldfield Cost Office garage."
"At that time JUDAS PRIEST were working really hard, going into Europe and it was fantastic to see that something I had started was doing so well. They had become one of these bands that we had dreamed of being. Then their album 'British Steel' came out and they were on 'Top of the Pops' and before I knew it they were a household name."
On his new band called HOLY RAGE who will be playing at JB's in Dudley on July 25 and at the Robin 2 in Bilston on August 12:
"I had wanted to get away from the name JUDAS PRIEST and the music but somehow I couldn't as the name and its history was always at the back of my mind. To this day I will continue to buy their albums, but as a fan and not for any sort of yearning to remember the past."
JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill has penned the foreword to Al Atkins's autobiography, titled "Dawn of the Metal Gods: My Life in Judas Priest and Heavy Metal". The book, which was was written with Neil Daniels — a freelance rock writer and heavy metal fan who befriended Atkins during the writing of Neil's book "The Story of Judas Priest: Defenders of the Faith" (Omnibus Press) — is available via Iron Pages.
Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY have issued the following update:
"Time to let you in on the plans for our upcoming ninth (or tenth, depending on how you count) full-length album. The as-yet-untitled beast will be recorded in September and October and released in early 2010 through Century Media Records.
"We'll keep the recording setup completely in-house this time. Drums will be tracked in Daniel Antonsson's [bass] studio, while the remaining instruments will be immortalized in Martin Brändström's [electronics] newly renovated Rogue music facilities. The mixing duties will once again be handled by Tue Madsen in his Antfarm studio in Denmark.
"As for the music itself, 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.
"Some tentative song titles are 'I Am The Void', 'Zero Distance', 'The Burden Of Love Alive', 'Archangelsk' and 'Memories In Reverse', though these are subject to change as usual."
Video footage of DARK TRANQUILLITY performing the song "Edenspring" at the Orpheum in Graz, Austria in November 2008 has been posted on the band's official YouTube channel and can be viewed below.
DARK TRANQUILLITY's "Projector", "Haven" and "Damage Done" albums were re-released in a luxurious slipcase packaging with bonus material as well as the rarities compilation "Yesterworlds" on May 25, 2009 in Europe via Century Media Records. All releases are available at a fan-friendly price and also feature extensive liner notes as well as new layouts and designs by guitarist Niklas Sundin. As a very exclusive bonus, the three album reissues also contain one song each from the band's upcoming DVD, "Where Death Is Most Alive", due later this year. In addition, DARK TRANQUILLITY will release a limited-edition album entitled "Yesterworlds", featuring the "Trail Of Life Decayed" demo (1991) and the "A Moonclad Reflection" 7" EP (1992).
TWISTED SISTER has issued the following statement:
"On the evening of July 2nd, we learned the entire inventory of Disc 1 of TWISTED SISTER's 'Stay Hungry' 25th anniversary set has an audio problem. We had originally been told it was limited to a few thousand and had posted a message to our fans immediately as to how to exchange for a replacement CD."
Commented guitarist Jay Jay French: "TWISTED SISTER fans are among the most dedicated fans in the world. Everything we have ever done has been focused on giving to you, our fans, the highest levels of concert experiences and recorded product. We go to great lengths to produce CDs and DVDs with the sole intent of making our fans happy and proud to say that they are part of the TWISTED SISTER family.
"We spent a full year (and 24 previous years) working towards our 'Stay Hungry' reissue. Our goal was to create a truly special event with fan ownership of this package.
"To say that the band is upset and disappointed would be the understatement of the year. Please know that we are working through the weekend with Rhino to address this problem."
For more information on how to receive a replacement disc, visit TwistedSister.com.
TWISTED SISTER's video for the new song, "30", which the band recorded for the 25th-anniversary reissue of the "Stay Hungry" album, can be viewed below.
TWISTED SISTER's 25th anniversary edition of "Stay Hungry" was released on Tuesday, June 30 on Rhino. The package includes:
* "Stay Hungry" remastered * Ten never-before-heard songs originally demoed for "Stay Hungry" * Five early demos of songs from "Stay Hungry" * One brand new song * One rare radio spot using "SMF" as the music bed
"Stay Hungry" bonus tracks:
* "Death From Above" * "Prime Motivator" * "Were Not Gonna Take It" * "Death Run" * "This One's For You" * "SMF" * "We're Coming On" * "Call My Name" * "Burn In Hell" * "Pay The Price" * "What's Love Without You" * "Our Voice Will Be Heard" * "You've Got To Fight" * "The Price" * "Stay Hungry" * "30"
TWISTED SISTER will perform on "Live with Regis and Kelly", a syndicated American television morning talk show hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, on Thursday, July 16.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based metallers CAULDRON will support WOLF on the following U.K. dates:
Oct. 09 - London, UK - The Underworld Oct. 10 - Leeds, UK - Rio's Oct. 11 - Glasgow, UK - Ivory Blacks Oct. 13 - Newcastle, UK - Trillians Oct. 14 - Manchester, UK - Moho Oct. 15 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City Oct. 16 - Dudley, UK - JB's
A five-minute video "introduction" to CAULDRON can be viewed below.
CAULDRON's full-length debut, "Chained To The Nite", was released on April 6 release in Europe and May 5 in the rest of the world via Earache Records. The CD was produced by Ian Blurton and was mixed by Neil Kernon (DOKKEN, QUEENSRŸCHE, JUDAS PRIEST).
"Chained To The Nite" track listing:
01. Young And Hungry 02. Conjure The Mass 03. Chained Up In Chains 04. The Leaven / Fermenting Enchantress 05. Dreams Die Young 06. Bound To The Stake 07. Witch Trail 08. Midnite Hour 09. Chains Around Heaven
ALICE IN CHAINS has posted a brand new song called "A Looking In View" online at the band's official web site, AliceInChains.com. The track is taken from the group's upcoming album, "Black Gives Way To Blue", which is due out on September 29. ALICE IN CHAINS has also announced its first round of North American tour dates in support of the record, beginning on September 4 in Washington D.C. That run will be preceded by a show with KID ROCK in Detroit on July 18 and an appearance at California's new Epicenter festival on August 22.
"Black Gives Way To Blue" is the first all-new ALICE IN CHAINS album in 14 years and the first to feature singer William DuVall.
Most of the album was recorded at Studio 606, a Northridge, California facility owned by FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl. ALICE drummer Sean Kinney told The Pulse of Radio that working at their friend's place was a pleasure. "Dave's got a, he's done a thing or two in his life, you know, and he's such an inspirational, cool dude too," he said. "He's just not like a rock dork that treats people like shit because he did well. He's really down to earth, great guy, and so it's nice to be around people like that."
About "A Looking In View", ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell said, "The song basically speaks to any number of things that keep you balled up inside. A cell of our own making with an unlocked door that we choose to remain in. Focusing our attention inward instead of reaching out to a much larger world. I think this is common to us all."
Original vocalist Layne Staley died in April 2002.
ALICE IN CHAINS will hit some European festivals in August before starting its North American trek.
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski of LiveDaily recently conducted an interview with SLAYER guitarist Kerry King. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
On this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, an outing that for the second time in two years will team the group with MARILYN MANSON:
"We haven't done North America in about 22 months. We haven't done the States since it was us and Manson the last time. This is the hungriest [audiences] have been for us in some time."
"We'll probably only play one [new] song. Me being a fan and how I would want to see a band play, I would like to see stuff that I know and maybe get a taste of the new record. Being we're only playing an hour, we're scheduled to play one [new] song."
On the songwriting process for SLAYER's new album, "World Painted Blood":
"It was bizarre. We had to not really rush it, but we were in a time window in which we had to get things done. We wrote things a lot quicker than we usually do, and just kind of put them out. I think it gave it more of a retro kind of vibe because it's very similar to how we made stuff up in Tom's [Araya, bassist/vocalist] garage in the '80s. I think that affected how we were writing."
DORO, ULI JON ROTH and BRAINSTORM have been confirmed for the Monterrey Metal Fest IV, set to take place on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 (Mexican Independence Day holiday) at the Santa Lucia Arena in the city of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
The complete festival billing is as follows:
CHILDREN OF BODOM (Finland) (Headliner) DORO (Germany) ULI JON ROTH (Germany) SAMAEL (Switzerland) AMORPHIS (Finland) WHIPLASH (United States) ATHEIST (United States) BRAINSTORM (Germany) STRAVAGANZZA (Spain) MALIGNO (Mexico)
Only 3,000 VIP tickets will be sold for the festival.
Robert Williams of Metal-Rules.com conducted an interview with vocalist/guitarist Michael Olivieri and guitarist Carey Howe of the Southern California metal band LEATHERWOLF prior to the group's June 19 performance at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, California. Watch the chat below.
LEATHERWOLF recently released a new video edit (see below) for the song "Dr. Wicked (Rx O.D.)", off the group's latest studio album, "New World Asylum".
"Dr.Wicked (Rx O.D.)", inspired by the infamous "Dr. Death," Jack Kevorkian, who was released in 2007 after serving eight years in a Michigan prison for second-degree homicide for aiding in the death of a terminally ill patient, deals with the subject of assisted suicide. "It's a controversial subject matter for sure but one that concerns all Americans and everyone else for that matter," states co-producer/drummer Dean Roberts. "How do you balance the right to choose when and how you want to exit this mortal coil, which is very much a personal thing, and at the same time safeguard against abuse where individuals may want to play God with your life?"
LEATHERWOLF has been confirmed for the the third annual Rocklahoma festival, set to take place July 9-12 on the Catch The Fever Festival Grounds in Pryor, Oklahoma. The "triple axe attack" will help kick things off on "Heavy Metal Day," Thursday July 9, alongside ANTHRAX, SAXON, OVERKILL and METAL CHURCH. On August 29, LEATHERWOLF will be sharing a bill at the Key Club in West Hollywood, California with WARRIOR and L.A. rockers DC4, featuring guitarists Jeff Duncan (ARMORED SAINT, ODIN) and Rowan Robertson (ex-DIO, VIOLET'S DEMISE).
Singaporean metallers RUDRA have announced the addition of guitarist Vinod to the group's ranks. RUDRA bassist/vocalist Kathir states, "[Vinod] isn't someone new to RUDRA or the Singaporean metal scene. Vinod has played in many bands before and has been known to us for almost eight years. We are looking forward to writing the new album and touring with him."
Adds Vinod, "It is truly an honour to be chosen and be part of RUDRA, a pioneer metal band. The first extreme metal band I listened to that inspired me and made me believe it is possible for local Singaporeans to start a band and be successful. I've known the members for a while. And now being in the band, I'm excited to work with them. Thus looking forward to contribute my part in the upcoming albums."
A photo of the new RUDRA lineup can be viewed below.
RUDRA recently inked a deal with Vic Records for the European release of the band's fifth full-length album, "Brahmavidya: Transcendental I". Due in Europe on July 6 (April 15 in Asia via Hong Kong's Trinity Records), the CD was produced by Joshua G. Nair and Sean Loo and features fourteen tracks with a total running time of about 70 minutes.
"Brahmavidya: Transcendental I" track listing:
01. Bhagavatpada Namaskara 02. Ravens of Paradise 03. Amrtasyaputra 04. Hymns from the Blazing Chariot 05. Meditations at Dawn 06. Advaitamrta 07. Natural Born Ignorance 08. Immortality Roars 09. Reversing the Currents 10. Venerable Opposites 11. Avidya Nivrtti 12. Not the Seen but the Seer 13. Adiguru Namastubhyam 14. Majestic Ashtavakra
RUDRA recently shot a video for the track "Hymns from the Blazing Chariot". The clip was directed by Jacen Tan and was "filmed over a period of two months, using some cool 'green-screen' effects," according to the band. "The concept is based on the ancient battle of Kurukshetra, focusing on the dialogue between two warriors, Arjuna and Krishna."
RUDRA's forthcoming album is the second instalment of the "Brahmavidya" trilogy.
The German edition of Metal Hammer magazine conducted an interview with vocalist Jamey Jasta of Connecticut hardcore/metal masters HATEBREED at this year's installment of the Graspop Metal Meeting, which was held on June 26-28, 2009 on the festival grounds of the Boeretang in Dessel, Belgium. Watch the chat at this location.
HATEBREED will release its new self-titled studio album in the fall via E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records) in North America and Roadrunner in all other territories. According to a press release, the follow-up to 2006's "Supremacy" is shaping up to be one of HATEBREED's "most ferocious albums ever."
Jasta comments, "I can't wait to work with E1 Music and Roadrunner international on this release. E1 did a great job with our 'Live Dominance' DVD and our recent covers album. We're so pumped to give them both our new studio album!"
Jasta continues, "The record is mean as hell. Fans of American metal and East Coast hardcore will be very pleased and maybe even somewhat surprised."
HATEBREED previously collaborated with E1 on the "Live Dominance" DVD and the recently released covers album, "For The Lions".
The new album is once again being produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris at Planet Z studios in Hadley, Massachusetts and marks the return of original guitar player Wayne Lozinak (who recently replaced Sean Martin) alongside core members Chris Beattie (bass), Matt Byrne (drums), Frank "3 Gun" Novinec (guitar) and Jasta.
The band is currently taking a breather from the recording studio by touring Europe and South America, making a series of high-profile festival appearances and playing a number of headline shows before returning to the U.S. for the "Decimination Of The Nation" tour which begins in late July and runs through September.
Jasta recently told Noisecreep that HATEBREED's new CD is "definitely hard as hell and there isn't a lot of sludgy doomy stuff from my KINGDOM OF SORROW experience," referring to his side project with CROWBAR's Kirk Windstein. "A couple things may be vocally similar, but it's the upbeat, aggressive approach that we always take. Everyone stepped up their game with the covers record and that challenged us to match the intensity and speed, and to do solos. This will be our first record with guitar solos. We're not known for that. Wayne [Lozniak] is a shredder and that will surprise some people but it's not overdone."
The covers album by HATEBREED, entitled "For The Lions", sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 58 on The Billboard 200 chart.
HATEBREED's last collection of new material, "Supremacy", opened with around 27,000 copies back in September 2006 to land at No. 31. This number was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "Rise Of Brutality", which shifted more than 32,000 copies back in November 2003 to debut at No. 30.
An e-card for "For The Lions" can be accessed at this location.
HATEBREED performance (at Nummirock on June 19, 2009):
Video footage of NIGHTWISH performing at this year's installment of the Graspop Metal Meeting — which was held on June 26-28, 2009 on the festival grounds of the Boeretang in Dessel, Belgium — can be viewed below.
NIGHTWISH's video for "The Islander" was honored with a "Best Music Video" award at the Muuvi awards ceremony, which was held on April 17, 2009 in Helsinki.
"The Islander" clip was shot and directed by Tuomas "Stobe" Harju at the end of 2007 in Rovaniemi, Finland near the Arctic Circle.
Muuvi awards are handed out annually to the best Finnish music videos.
"Made In Hong Kong (And In Various Other Places)", the new CD/DVD from NIGHTWISH, entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 15. It also opened at No. 2 in Finland and dropped down to No. 5 in its second week of release.
Released on March 13 via Nuclear Blast Records, "Made In Hong Kong (And In Various Other Places)" contains a DVD documentary (with a running time of approximately 45 minutes) of NIGHTWISH's world tour in support of the band's latest album, "Dark Passion Play", as well as a CD featuring live recordings from the trek. The documentary footage was reportedly directed by Ville Lipiäinen.
Vocalist Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven and drummer Kjetil-Vidar "Frost" Haraldstad of the Norwegian black metal band SATYRICON have expressed their disgust over the reports that the "Lords Of Chaos" book is being turned into a movie.
Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlind's book claims to depict "true events" and revolves around the black metal sub-culture that spawned a wave of murders and church arsons across Norway in the early 1990s.
Jackson Rathbone, the teen heartthrob from "Twilight", has reportedly agreed to play Varg Vikernes (a.k.a. Count Grishnackh) — the former BURZUM mastermind who served a lengthy Norwegian prison term for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous) and setting fire to three churches — in the "Lords Of Chaos" movie.
Making his English-language debut with "Lords Of Chaos" will be hot Japanese director Sion Sono.
Stuart Pollok of Los Angeles-based Saltire Entertainment, Ko Mori of Eleven Arts and Oh Jungwan of Korea's Bom Productions are producing the film, which starts shooting in Norway in mid-September.
Speaking to Pål Nordseth of Norway's Dagbladet.no, Satyr said, "Now that the focus on black metal finally has shifted towards the actual music, this gossip journalism in the shape of a book is made into a movie. Since 'Lords of Chaos' is an incredibly bad book, I can only assume the movie will be bad as well."
He continued, "It is sad that such an inaccurate story, written by someone who doesn't understand black metal, has become a book of reference. And it is sad that someone is willing to go that far to exploit the history of black metal."
Frost added: "This is a parasitic phenomenon."
Both musicians stressed that they do not want to give any extra publicity to the movie. They also flat-out declined to comment on Varg Vikernes' recent release from prison.
Three years ago, plans had been underway to make the "Lords Of Chaos" book into a film. However, the producers lacked funding at the time.
Now, however, with funding underway, producer Pollok was in Cannes in May to promote the project.
Regarding hsi decision to make the film, Pollok told Dagbladet.no, "It is a fascinating topic, a great visual world to depict, and a fun portrayal of Norway. Black metal is possibly the largest cultural export of Norway in the past twenty years."
In his manuscript to Norway's Hans Fjellestad, Pollok revealed that the film will be based on actual events.
It will be a story of youth and youthful energy, said Pollok, but he emphasised that the film will fall under the teen film category, and that it will be a psychological horror film.
The events that came to pass are interesting and fascinating, said Pollok.
Pollok confirmed to Dagbladet.no that he will also be casting Norwegian actors.
Svein Andresen of Film Camp, which is responsible for the Norwegian recording locations and production, stated, "What happened has been widely known to the public for a long time, and is now known worldwide. This was a gang that declared war on society. Actually, it is not surprising that Norwegian filmmakers have picked up on this piece of history."
In a 2004 statement posted on the Burzum.org web site, Vikernes slammed the "Lord Of Chaos" book as "a pool of mud," insisting that "the vast majority of all the statements made in this book are either misinterpretations; taken out of context; misunderstandings; malicious lies made by enemies; a result of ignorance; extreme exaggerations; and/or third-hand information at best. This includes the statements attributed to me!" He went on to say, "This book serves only one single purpose and that is to create a myth around my name and to mystify me. If that was their objective they have indeed succeeded with their work. Well, the book seems to have served one other purpose too. The authors have managed to fill the heads of a generation of metal fans with lies. What could have been a righteous revolt has been made into some pathetic, embarrassing, brain-dead, impotent and traditional poser-culture best exemplified by bands like DIMMU BORGIR — and indeed VENOM!"
A trailer for the upcoming movie "Bones", which will feature an appearance by guitarist Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE), can be viewed below. (Note: Contrary to previous reports, Wylde will *NOT* appear in the "Bones" drama television that airs on the Fox network.)
Written and directed by Frank Pestarino, "Bones" stars James "Jimmy" Bennett, the American child actor who is perhaps best known for his roles in the films "Star Trek", "Daddy Day Care", "Hostage", "Firewall", "Poseidon" and "Evan Almighty". Zakk plays the role of Jed in the movie, which is described as a "heartbreaking coming-of-age story of four teens growing up in 1989 blue-collar New York, and the bond that would tie them together for life." A 2010 release is expected.
"Grand Tidal Rave", the full-length debut from REV 16:8, the Swedish metal band formerly known as BLOODSHED, has had its release date pushed back to July 10 from the previously announced June 28 (via Temple Of Darkness Records). Check out audio samples on the group's MySpace page.
REV 16:8 recently parted ways with vocalist Themgoroth (ex-DARK FUNERAL, INFERNAL) "due to personal reasons." Handling the vocals on the CD and for the band going forward is guitarist Talon.
Regarding its reasons for changing the band's name, REV 16:8 previously stated, "The change is a natural step and is based on several reasons. The return of the original guitarist 'Nefastus' gave the band the edge it had lost. With new strength and new killer material, it's obvious that there's noone out there that could ever do his job better. Since the arrival of 'Pata,' the drumming has given the creative process the freedom it needs, without boundaries. It has and is continuously contributing to raising the music to a new level. The musical skills and the songwriting of guitarist 'Talon' challenges the mainstream and will always push the envelope in the band's material evolvement. The visual artist and lyrical mastermind 'Ill' with his basslines makes the band grow several steps further. To sum it up, the current lineup of musicians is the best this band has ever seen.
"The name 'BLOODSHED' has been and is being used by several groups. Continuing the use of the old name wouldn't give the band any justice. It would merely reflect an affiliation to the general mediocracy. REV 16:8 stands above the masses, it's something unique that isn't to be associated with the rest of the sheep. The new moniker marks the beginning of a new era in the band's history, and we gaze upon the future with great expectation."
Jakob Herrmann of MMonline conducted an interview with drummer Mike Portnoy of progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER at this year's Sweden Rock festival, which was held June 3-6, 2009 in Sölvesborg. Watch the chat at this location.
According to Billboard.biz, DREAM THEATER's "Black Clouds and Silver Linings" has topped the pan-European album chart. The set jumps 14-1 in Finland and debuts at No. 3 in Germany and Holland, No. 4 in Hungary, No. 5 in Italy, No. 9 in France and No. 23 in the United Kingdom, the band's best ranking there to date.
DREAM THEATER is on a steady upward curve on the composite European chart, having opened at No. 7 with its first Roadrunner album, "Systematic Chaos", in 2007 and No. 16 with "Octavarium", on Atlantic in 2005.
"Black Clouds & Silver Linings" sold 40,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
DREAM THEATER's last CD, "Systematic Chaos", opened with 36,000 units in 2007 to enter The Billboard 200 chart at No. 19. 2005's "Octavarium" premiered with 27,000 copies to debut at No. 36.
SUBSIGNAL, the new German band featuring former SIEGES EVEN members Arno Menses (vocals) and Markus Steffen (guitar), has finished recording its debut album, entitled "Beautiful & Monstrous", for a late September release via GoldenCore Records/ZYX Music. The CD was helmed by co-producer Kristian Kohlmannslehner, who worked on SIEGES EVEN's 2007 release, "Paramount". The special edition of the album, which will have an approximate running time of 60 minutes, will come with a stylish digipack cover and one bonus track. The LP will also be released as a normal jewelcase version with rounded corners, and it will be made available on double vinyl.
"Beautiful & Monstrous" track listing:
01. Where Angels Fear To Tread 02. Paradigm 03. The Sea 04. The Trick Is To Keep Breathing 05. Walking With Ghosts 06. I Go With The Wind 07. To Hope The Road Is Long 08. Beautiful & Monstrous 09. The Last Light Of Summer 10. Rain Is The Most Beautiful Color (bonus track on special edition)
SUBSIGNAL, the new German band featuring former SIEGES EVEN members Arno Menses (vocals) and Markus Steffen (guitar), is currently recording its debut album, entitled "Beautiful & Monstrous", for a late September release via GoldenCore Records/ZYX Music. The CD is being helmed by co-producer Kristian Kohlmannslehner, who worked on SIEGES EVEN's 2007 release, "Paramount". The first edition of the album, which will have an approximate running time of 60 minutes, will come with a stylish digipack cover and one bonus track.
Commented Arno: "Drums sound amazing, booming and yet crystal clear... Markus' guitars, as always tear-jerkingly beautiful... yet monstrous! David's keyboards, just super. My backing vocals... well... crap, but who cares haha... Markus will finish up his work this week, then Ralf will unleash his thunder… The week after that I will start my lead vocals."
SUBSIGNAL describes its music as "progressive, melancholic, cutting edge, emotional, blended with a good portion of melodic heaviness."
The band will perform at the Night of the Prog festival on July 11 in Loreley, Germany. A full tour is planned for autumn/winter 2009/10.
SUBSIGNAL is:
Markus Steffen (guitar) Arno Menses (vocals) Ralf Schwager (bass) David Bertok (keyboards) Roel van Helden (drums)
"Ebenbild", the new video from German folk metallers SALTATIO MORTIS, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Wer Wind Sät", which is scheduled for release on August 28 via Napalm Records.
A press release states: "Not unlike the medieval players' previous album 'Aus der Asche' [2007], which managed to reach the upper echelons of the German charts, SALTATIO MORTIS' latest effort promises to storm the charts just the same. 'Wer Wind Sät' goes beyond the band's signature enthusiasm, catchy melodies, and passionate lyrics. It combines the best of contemporary and medieval elements to deliver premium medieval rock. By skillfully merging modern rock sounds with genuine traditional instruments, such as the bagpipe or hurdy-gurdy, SALTATIO MORTIS develop an exquisite dance connection that is crowned by the vocals of the charismatic frontman Alea. As a special highlight, legendary metal queen Doro joins Alea on 'Salome', lending a mysterious and exotic touch to this track. Further songs like 'Ebenbild', 'Kaltes Herz', or 'Manus Manum Lavat' also work well to create an upbeat and celebratory atmosphere, whether within the confines of your home or at one of the myriad SALTATIO MORTIS concerts to come. This is how to rock the ages-the Middle Ages, that is!"
"Wer Wind Sät" track listing:
01. Ebenbild 02. Salome 03. La Jument De Michao 04. Letzte Worte 05. Kaltes Herz 06. Rastlos 07. Miststück 08. Tief In Mir 09. Aus Träumen gebaut 10. Manus Manum Lavat 11. Vergessene Götter 12. Wir Säen Den Wind 13. Freiheit (bonus track) 14. In Unseren Worten (bonus track)
Bonus DVD (limited edition):
* Live at M'era Luna 2008 * Videoclip "Ebenbild" * Making of "Ebenbild" * Making of "Wer Wind Sät" Album
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