CANDLEMASS, HAMMERFALL and HARDCORE SUPERSTAR are among the five final nominees that are competing for the "Best Hard Rock" honor at the Swedish Grammis awards, which will be held January 15, 2010 at Münchenbryggeriet in Stockholm. The bands are all nominated for their most recent releases, all of which came out during 2009.
"Best Hard Rock" nominees:
* CANDLEMASS - Death Magic Doom * HAMMERFALL - No Sacrifice, No Victory * HARDCORE SUPERSTAR - Beg For It * MUSTASCH - Mustasch * RAISED FIST - Veil Of Ignorance
"Best Rock" nominees:
* EUROPE - Last Look At Eden * [INGENTING] - Tomhet, Idel Tomhet * BOB HUND - Folkmusik För Folk Som Inte Kan Bete Sig Som Folk * KENT - Röd * MANDO DIAO - Give Me Fire!
Last year's Grammis award in the "Best Hard Rock" category was won by in flames for the band's "A Sense Of Purpose" CD. The band also performed the song "Alias" during the ceremony, which was broadcast live on Swedish national channel TV4.
IN FLAMES was presented with the award by Joey Tempest, singer for the reactivated Swedish hard rock band EUROPE.
For more information (in Swedish), visit www.grammis.se.
Guitarist Robb Weir of NWOBHM legends TYGERS OF PAN TANG has issued the following update:
"2010 is going to be a big year for us as its our 30th year anniversary since the release of 'Wildcat' and we want to make this a year to remember. We will try and make every show special for you the fans and for us the band.
"Live performances are a huge part of our 'Tyger World,' and in 2010 watch out for new songs and some old songs we've not played for many years.
"If you have any special requests, mail us and we will do our best to include them wherever we can. We will also try and get to places we have either never played or not played for a very long time.
"Recording-wise, the EP of my favourite 'Wildcat' tracks will be released in February/March and a brand new album later on in the year. I am busy laying down some riffs for consideration and I have that same feeling and enthusiasm to music I had back in 1979."
TYGERS' most recent album, "Animal Instinct", was released last year.
According to a press release, "Animal Instinct", sees the band "go back to their early roots, playing hard-edged rock in the manner of 'Wildcat' and 'Spellbound'."
TYGERS OF PAN TANG's current lineup is:
Robb Weir - Guitar Dean Robertson - Guitar Jacopo Meille - Vocals Brian West - Bass Craig Ellis - Drums
Video footage of TYGERS OF PAN TANG performing the song "Hellbound" at the Heavy Metal Maniacs festival in Hoorn, Netherlands at the end of October can be viewed below (clip shot by Erwin Suetens).
A book of GUNS N' ROSES "Chinese Democracy" guitar transcriptions will finally see the light of day on December 22 through Hal Leonard Corporation.
A description of this book reads as follows: "Our matching folio to Axl Rose's 17-year project features note-for-note guitar transcriptions of tracks including 'Better', 'Catcher In The Rye', 'I.R.S.', 'Madagascar', 'Street Of Dreams' and more."
Featured tracks:
* Better * Catcher In The Rye * Chinese Democracy * If The World * I.R.S. * Madagascar * Prostitute * Riad N' The Bedouins * Scraped * Shackler's Revenge * Sorry * Street Of Dreams * There Was A Time * This I Love
"Chinese Democracy", the sixth and most recent album from GUNS N' ROSES, was released in its entirety to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content on April 14.
The tracks are available for purchase as an album or individual tracks for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system. The tracks are available for purchase as individual tracks only for Wii.
Aside from Billboard and Spinner interviews and answering a number of fan questions at a GUNS N' ROSES message board, singer Axl Rose has done no promotion of any kind for "Chinese Democracy".
"Chinese Democracy" was officially certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 3, 2009 for shipments in the United States in excess of one million copies.
Steve Vai, Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN) and members of CYPRESS HILL joined CAMP FREDDY on stage this past Friday night (December 11) at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California to perform the GUNS N' ROSES classic "Paradise City". Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be viewed below.
CAMP FREDDY is the Los Angeles-based "jam" group featuring Dave Navarro (JANE'S ADDICTION, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), Billy Morrison (ex-THE CULT bassist, current CIRCUS DIABLO vocalist), Matt Sorum (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES), Donovan Leitch (son of legendary folk singer Donovan), and Chris Chaney (JANE'S ADDICTION, ALANIS MORRISETTE).
Presented by Monster Energy Drink and Onitsuka Tiger, the second annual Christmas CAMP FREDDY residency is called "Decades" and featured a '70s set on Friday, December 4 and an '80s set on Friday, December 11. A '90s set will follow on Friday, December 18.
CAMP FREDDY last year parted ways with Los Angeles' acclaimed Indie 103.1 radio station, which has aired the band's weekly show every Saturday for nearly five years.
Since its formation seven years ago when they rocked the opening of The Standard Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles at the invitation of Brent Bolthouse, CAMP FREDDY has performed on both coasts of America and on national television shows ("The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", "Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn", "Last Call with Carson Daly").
This Thursday (December 17), Paul Rodgers will celebrate his 60th birthday. Scores of family, friends and musicians sat down with Kyle McCurry at WNGZ radio over the last several weeks to talk about the inspiration and legacy of Rodgers' music. Fans can listen to the entire sessions filled with stories that quite possibly may never have been heard, exclusively online at PaulRodgers.com and BadCompany.com. Dubbed the "Classic Rock Insider", the series features interviews with some of the biggest names in rock, including Mick Fleetwood, Bill Wyman, Alice Cooper, Jason Bonham, James Burton, upcoming U.K. tour mate Joe Perry and many more, interspersed with music spanning Rodgers' career in FREE, BAD COMPANY, THE FIRM, QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS and his Grammy-nominated solo works.
Highlights include:
* Robby Krieger discussing how THE DOORS had Paul Rodgers on a very short list of possible front men to take the spot in the band (after Jim Morrison had left and before THE DOORS called it quits).
* Jason Bonham recalls growing up and playing as a little kid in his dad's living room — with BAD COMPANY's "Rock and Roll Fantasy" as the background soundtrack.
* Mick Fleetwood talking about his longtime admiration for Paul Rodgers, his music and how amazed he is to have very recently connected with Paul.
* Randy Bachman talks about how FREE's "All Right Now" is a staple in his shows to this day.
* Johnny Van Zant talks about the role he played in Paul Rodgers meeting his wife Cynthia.
* Listen in as different artists recount discovering Paul Rodgers for the first time. Joe Elliott of DEF LEPPARD talks about listening to FREE in England while he was growing up, how he learned about them and James Young of STYX talks about being a young Chicagoan finding out about Rodgers and how it affected him.
"Classic Rock Insider" Paul Rodgers 60th birthday celebration features interviews with:
* Joe Elliott (DEF LEPPARD) * Joe Perry (AEROSMITH) * Mick Fleetwood (FLEETWOOD MAC) * Paul Teutle (ORANGE COUNTY CHOPPERS) * Robby Krieger (THE DOORS) * Bill Wyman (formerly of THE ROLLING STONES) * Johnny Van Zant (LYNYRD SKYNYRD) * Randy Bachman (formerly of BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE, GUESS WHO and now of BACHMAN & TURNER) * Jimmy Bowskill * Alice Cooper * Jason Bonham * Bob Heil * Chris Slade (THE FIRM) * Colin Bradley (Paul's childhood friend) * Deborah Bonham * Howard Leese * James Burton (ELVIS) * James Young (STYX) * Lucy Pillar (longtime fan) * Mick Ralphs (BAD COMPANY) * Pat Monohan (TRAIN) * Paul O'Neil (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) * Steve, Paul and Cynthia Rodgers
Rodgers, celebrating over four decades as a writing and recording artist (FREE, BAD COMPANY, THE FIRM, QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS), was recently presented with the "Classic Songwriter" award by Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck at the annual Classic Rock Magazine Roll of Honour 2009. Last year, Rolling Stone named Rodgers one of the "Top 100 Singers of All Time," Classic Rock placed him at #2 on their "50 Greatest Singers in Rock" list and England's Planet Rock radio fan poll placed him at #3 on their "Greatest Voices of Rock" list. His debut solo DVD, "Live in Glasgow", is certified gold and charted at #1 in Canada, #2 in Japan, #3 in the U.S. and #4 in the U.K.
HADES/NON-FICTION guitarist Dan Lorenzo has issued the following update:
"Finally. I'm a male model. It's about time.
"Did I suddenly become good looking? Yes. Kind of.
"Two weeks ago my wife and I were in South Beach. If you've ever been to South Beach, you know it's the land of thin, tan people. Even the house moms show off their gorgeous, tan, velvety legs while they push their kids around in strollers. Nobody ever notices me. OK, once I got approached by a fan on Lincoln Road who actually recognized me from my MySpace page, but no girls were sweating me. Then one night I bought a Red Monkey hat.
"My wife and I went in to a store on Washington Ave. to buy some water. The Latino girls behind the counter seemed to be smiling at me. As we walked out, my wife told me they said, 'muy guapo.' I assumed that was Spanish for, 'What the hell is SHE doing with HIM?' but my wife told me it actually means 'very handsome.' I have to assume it's all because of my Red Monkey hat.
"Visit www.redmonkeyhats.com as soon as possible. Look who is featured this week. Buy some merch. You too will be 'muy guapo.'"
For the first time since 1986, the classic "Resisting Success" lineup of HADES will reunite for two shows in April 2010. The first will be a 10:00 p.m. show on Wednesday, April 21 at Dingbatz in Clifton, New Jersey. Drummer Tom Coombs will perform with HADES for the first time since the CD "Exist To Resist" was released in 1994. Guitarist Scott LePage (who actually played bass on "Saviorself" and "The Downside" in 1998 and 2000, respectively) returns to lead guitar for HADES for the first time since recording "Resisting Success".
Montreal, Quebec, Canada's THE AGONIST has posted a video recap of the band's trip to Venezuela to play a one-off show on September 27, 2009 in Caracas. Watch the four-and-a-half-minute clip below.
THE AGONIST will play two shows in Japan in February:
Feb. 11 - The Live House (Soma) - Osaka, JPN Feb. 12 - Daikanyama Unit - Tokyo, JPN
THE AGONIST's sophomore album, "Lullabies For A Dormant Mind", debuted at No. 105 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.
Produced by Christian Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY, MYTHOSIS), "Lullabies for the Dormant Mind" exposes new facets of the band and touches upon classical, jazz, opera, grindcore, thrash and black metal influences in a complete metal opus. The CD features guest violins by Avi Ludmer (MAHOGANY RUSH), orchestrations by classical pianists Melina Soochan and Jonathan Lefrancois-Leduc (BLACKGUARD) along with many other Montreal-based contributors.
SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya and TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy will be interviewed on this Saturday's (December 19) edition of the "Metalopolis" show, hosted by former WHITE ZOMBIE drummer Ivan de Prume, on Portland, Oregon's Rock 101.1 FM KUFO radio station.
Catch "Metalopolis" on the radio if you're in Portland or you can stream the show online at www.kufo.com every Saturday night from 10:00 p.m. to midnight Pacific Standard Time.
Hard rock band RETURN TO EARTH, which features in its ranks drummer Chris Pennie (COHEED AND CAMBRIA, ex-THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN), guitarist Brett Aveni, and vocalist Ron Scalzo (Q*BALL), has released a second single from its upcoming sophomore release, "Automata", just in time for the holiday season. The single, entitled "Back Of My Hand", is now available on the group's web site, ReturnToEarthMusic.com, as a free download.
The track, previously only sampled in the album teaser (see below), presents a collage of melody, aggression, anticipation, and inspiration, which, under the guidance of talented songwriters, becomes something unique and catchy.
Slovenian new wave thrashers THRAW have released their new EP, "Encephalic Oppressions", as a digital download. You can get the music (.flac files, CD quality), the cover art and the bio at this location.
Formed in 2006 in the town of Kotlje, THRAW has released two demos and the aforementioned EP. They played numerous shows with international artists (like MUNICIPAL WASTE and RATOS DE PORAO) and took part in several festivals, including Metalcamp and Metal Mania. Their best-known recording so far was the title track from the "Injecting Hate" demo, the video for which can be viewed below.
Video footage of GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose signing autographs at an airport during the band's current Asian tour can be viewed below.
Earlier in the week, Rose issued a statement claiming that he he did not authorize the posting of an earlier statement regarding a scuffle between him and a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) last week. Rose was quoted as saying in the new post, "I did not release any statement or authorize either any statement or anyone to release a statement regarding anything at any airport anywhere . . . (In my opinion) this nonsense may be some type of manufactured or publicity stunt."
Rose did not say why the statement regarding the incident was posted in the first place, but hinted at miscommunication with people in his own organization. "We had recently began working with newer individuals in management in relation to our current Asian tour . . . though as it happens we are once again touring Asia without management of any kind," he wrote.
The altercation occurred on December 9 at LAX while Rose was preparing to board a flight to Taiwan for the first GUNS N' ROSES show in three years. TMZ reported that Rose punched an "overzealous paparazzo," with the original statement at the GUNS blog saying that the photographer "became aggressive with the singer and female members of the traveling group."
Rose was not arrested and was allowed to board his flight to Taiwan.
GUNS N' ROSES' last world tour, in 2006 and 2007, took in 60 shows in 26 countries and was the band's first full trek since 1993.
Chicago metal act WRATH has issued the following update:
After 20-plus years of kicking ass on the stage and studio with us, our friend and colleague Mr. Dave Sollman has announced his departure from the band. Dave joined the band shortly before the 'Nothing To Fear' tour in 1988, when he was thrust into the world of WRATH at the tender age of 19! Dave contributed a great deal to the recording of 1990's 'Insane Society', along with countless hours of rehearsing, playing, recording, drinking, and rehearsing some more, and has been the backbone of the band ever since. Although he will not be playing with us anymore, Dave will always be a part of the WRATH family, and he will be missed.
"We have found another kick-ass new drummer in Mr. Patt Maxwell. Patt (formerly of PROXIMITY) has a unique style perfectly suited to help WRATH turn the page onto the next chapter. We jammed with Patt once, and things just fell nicely into place!
"We are grinding out a new WRATH show as we speak, and we promise some nice little surprises!"
WRATH was founded in 1982 by bassist Gary Modica and guitarist Mike Nyrkkanen. Guitarist Scott Nyquist joined in 1984, vocalist Gary Golwitzer and drummer Rick Rios then rounded out the band that would catch the metal world's attention with their six-song demo, "Children of the Wicked".
WRATH signed their first worldwide record deal with King Klassic Records in Waukegan Illinois. "Fit of Anger", the band's first full-length album, was released in 1986. Drummer Rick Rios parted ways with the band in 1987, and drummer Mike Fron (AMULANCE) was brought in as WRATH wrote and recorded their second album, this time for Enigma Records' new Medusa label. Rock guitarist (and legend) Ronnie Montrose was brought in to produce, and "Nothing To Fear" was born. 1989 brought more change as drummer Mike Fron was replaced by skinsman Dave Sollman, followed soon by yet another change, original vocalist Gary Golwitzer was replaced by commanding vocalist Kurt Grayson. Later in 1989, the band wrote and recorded their third album, "Insane Society". Produced by Medusa honcho Ron Goudie, this album marked a return to the classic metal stylings of the band's earlier sound; loud, pounding, heavy as hell metal. In 1991, longtime guitarist Scott Nyquist parted ways with the band, and was replaced for a short time by Chris Nelken (TYRANT'S REIGN), followed by a successful stretch with guitarist/metal producer Chris Djuricic (Studio One). In 1998, the original "Insane Society" lineup reformed for a string of select shows, and due to overwhelming response, the same lineup gathered again in 2002, and in 2004.
Lamont and Sully of the "Lamont And Tonelli Show", which airs on the Bay Area rock station 107.7 The Bone, conducted an interview with METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich before the band's December 12, 2009 concert in San Jose, California. Watch the chat below.
In the "bonus content" section of the new French concert DVD from METALLICA, "Francais Pour Une Nuit" (or French For One Night), the members of the band are asked to each comment on a question that has perplexed METALLICA fans since last year: does the coffin on the cover of the band's latest album, "Death Magnetic", resemble the female sex organ?
Clips from the DVD in which Lars Ulrich, frontman James Hetfield and Trujillo each give their own thoughts on the matter have been posted online.
"Death Magnetic" arrived in September 2008 and has sold nearly two million copies since its release.
METALLICA has used controversial cover art before, most notably a photo that mixed semen and blood on the cover of the band's 1996 album "Load".
METALLICA played a short round of West Coast tour dates last week before taking a holiday break. The group heads overseas in early 2010.
Former HANOI ROCKS frontman Michael Monroe has posted the following message on his official MySpace blog:
"I had quite a nice time last weekend.
"Alice Cooper was visiting Finland, so, of course, I wanted to see him. He certainly is one of my all-time heroes plus a hell of a nice guy.
"I went to the show in Espoo, just outside Helsinki, on Friday (he also played in Oulu, further up north, on Saturday).
"Alice's show is always fantastic; he never lets you down. The new/current show has a lot of cool stuff happening all the time. This time he was guillotined already during the fourth song. He was hung from the gallows, impaled etc., but he just wouldn't die! What really made my night was me being invited up on stage to sing 'School's Out' with him at the end of the set [see fan-filmed video footage below].
"Sharing the stage with Alice Cooper is truly a great honor and feels totally magical!
"I had a super-cool time and everybody seemed to really dig it. I must say that the audience was very good, too. There were people of all ages and especially a lot of young kids, which is really cool.
"A nice surprise was that my old friend Sebastian Bach (ex-SKID ROW lead singer) was the opening act for Alice. I haven't met him for years so it was really nice to see him. Sebastian was also playing his own show in my hometown Turku on Saturday at the Caribia Hall, so I went there as well.
"During the encore I ended up on stage to sing HANOI's 'Taxi Driver' with him and his band. After that, I also joined him about half way through 'Youth Gone Wild' to sing the choruses.
"The crowd in Turku was exceptionally great and we had a blast with Sebastian! We used to hang out countless times in New York when I lived there and always had a lot of fun. So we sat up in his room 'til about 4 a.m. reminiscing and talking about the old days and the new...
"As far as my new solo band is concerned, I'm keeping up the good work with the guys and it's only getting better!"
"Buried Alive", the new DVD from HANOI ROCKS, entered the "Music DVD" chart in the band's home country at position No. 1. The disc was filmed at the band's final show on April 12, 2009 at Tavastia in Helsinki, Finland. Monroe previously stated about the effort, "It's sounding pretty good. Surely it's got some rough spots, but what the hell, it's live — no overdubs! Considering that it was the eighth show in six days, my voice was holding up quite well..."
HANOI ROCKS' last album, "Street Poetry", was released in September 2007 in Finland by WolfGang Records and in Europe by U.K.-based Demolition Records.
German death metal and hardcore fusionists HEAVEN SHALL BURN have been confirmed for next year's edition of the With Full Force festival, set to take place July 2-4, 2010 at Flugplatz Roitzschjora in Löbnitz, Germany (near Leipzig).
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AS I LAY DYING BORN FROM PAIN DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR EKTOMORF ELSTERGLANZ EVERGREEN TERRACE HEAVEN SHALL BURN KILLSWITCH ENGAGE LETZTE INSTANZ NOFX TEXAS IN JULY THE BONES THE DEVIL'S BLOOD THE EXPLOITED TOXPACK UNLEASHED WALLS OF JERICHO
For the first time, organizers are announcing bands on the official With Full Force advent calendar; each day in December a new band is being confirmed for the festival.
LEAVES' EYES and TRACEDAWN have been confirmed for next year's installment of the Summer Breeze festival, set to take place August 19-21, 2010 in Dinkelsbühl, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AHAB ANATHEMA ASPHYX BARREN EARTH BEHEMOTH CALLISTO CUMULO NIMBUS DARK FUNERAL DARK TRANQUILLITY DESPISED ICON DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER DYING FETUS EISBRECHER EISREGEN FIDDLER'S GREEN FREI.WILD FEUERSCHWANZ HAIL OF BULLETS HYPOCRISY ILL NINO INSOMNIUM KORPIKLAANI KYLESA LEAVES' EYES LETZTE INSTANZ LONG DISTANCE CALLING MAROON MONO INC. MY DYING BRIDE NECROPHAGIST OBITUARY ORIGIN ORPHANED LAND POISONBLACK SEPULTURA SOLSTAFIR SUBWAY TO SALLY THE CROWN THE DEVIL'S BLOOD TRACEDAWN WE BUTTER THE BREAD WITH BUTTER
Australian thrash metallers ILL VISION have posted a new song, "Two Faced", on their MySpace page. The cut is part of a new three-track demo of material that will be included on the band's forthcoming third album. The demo was recorded with Aidan Barton, who has previously worked with I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN, THE BERZERKER and PATHOGEN.
Founded in 2004 by Joe Pelliciari and sister Pia Pelliciari, ILL VISION had one goal in mind: to create such a force in heavy music that the world cannot forget it. Influenced by bands such as PANTERA, LAMB OF GOD and SLAYER, ILL VISION "took that brutality and turned it into its own monster," according to the band's official bio.
ILL VISION's current lineup is rounded out by drummer Paul Wachla and second guitarist Michael Buzzo.
Swedish black metal band EYECULT, whcih features members of the dark metal act ANACHRONAEON, released its seven-song debut album, "Morituri Te Salutamus", on December 2 via the German label Ewiges Eis Records. According to a press release, the band's sound can be described as "fast black metal with death metal influences in the vein of '90s DARK FUNERAL / NAGLFAR / ANAAL NATHRAKH with a blend of EMPEROR but without keyboards. The lyrics go from misanthropy to the seven deadly sins."
HardTimes.ca conducted an interview with New Jersey's thrashing pirates SWASHBUCKLE when the band performed at Medley in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on December 3, 2009 with ENSIFERUM, EX DEO and BLACKGUARD. Watch the chat below.
"Back To The Noose", the new album from SWASHBUCKLE, was released on July 24 via Nuclear Blast Records.
SWASHBUCKLE took part in this year's Paganfest Europe tour alongside KORPIKLAANI, UNLEASHED, ALESTORM, DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER and EX DEO.
SWASHBUCKLE was one of three winners of last year's Nuclear Blast MySpace Bands Contest.
DIAMOND HEAD guitarist Brian Tatler's autobiography, "Am I Evil?", is now available in an exclusive first edition print run of 500 copies for the band's fans worldwide through www.diamond-head.net. At just £16.95, it is a collector's item and a great Christmas present. It is not available anywhere else. It contains many unseen photos and has forewords by both Lars Ulrich (METALLICA) and Dave Mustaine (MEGADETH, ex-METALLICA).
"I wanted to get it all down before I forget it," Tatler tells Stourbridge News. "It was difficult to revisit a lot of the bad memories, digging back through those was painful.
He adds, "Most books are about big bands but this could be an education to younger bands, a taste of reality about what it is like to be a musician making a living and not the luxury lifestyle."
Forever tipped as the next big thing, DIAMOND HEAD have opened for IRON MAIDEN, AC/DC and METALLICA, and toured with BLACK SABBATH, MEGADETH and THIN LIZZY. Yet they were beset by management difficulties, poor decisions, bad deals, nightmare producers, band splits, ego problems… And when they finally signed to a major label, it was the wrong one. But amongst all that, their legacy is enormous and their music timeless, with their classic signature tune "Am I Evil?" appearing on METALLICA's 2009 "Guitar Hero" game.
Brian Tatler founded DIAMOND HEAD in 1976. In "Am I Evil?", he reveals frankly what it's like to be chasing the dream of wanting to be a rock 'n' roll star, what it's like when you attain it, and how it feels to see it unravel before your eyes — a story all too familiar to musicians of all genres.
"Am I Evil?" co-author John Tucker was hooked by DIAMOND HEAD's first single, "Shoot Out The Lights", in 1980. He is also the co-author of Biff Byford's autobiography "Never Surrender (Or Nearly Good Looking)" and the author of "Suzie Smiled… The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal".
Knoxville, Tennessee death metallers WHITECHAPEL will enter Audiohammer studios in Sanford, Florida on December 27 with acclaimed producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER) to begin recording their third album for a late spring/early summer release via Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2008's "This Is Exile" will feature artwork by Dusty Peterson, who has previously worked with SIX FEET UNDER and BLOODBATH.
Commented guitarist and founding member Alex Wade: "We're really excited to announce that we will be hitting the studio in January with a producer who needs no introduction, Jason Suecof. Suecof has produced some of the most brutal metal albums to date and we are excited for him to get his hands on our new material to make it the heaviest music we've created thus far. Also, Dusty Peterson has been signed on to handle the artwork duties. His dark, yet meticulously detailed style of hand-drawn artwork is sure to bring out a truly vivid and brutal masterpiece.
"We really wanted our artwork for the record to speak as loudly for us as the music we are creating, thus Dusty was picked for his unbelievably realistic and detailed hand-drawn style.
"In this day and age where downloading a CD is as easy as typing the CD's name into a search bar, we wanted to make the artwork something creative and special for the fans who actually purchase the CD. Almost like owning a piece of art.
"As for the title and track listing, you'll just have to wait for that as the CD comes closer to completion."
"This Is Exile", was released in July 2008 through Metal Blade Records. The CD was tracked by Jonny Fay (ex-guitarist of THE RED CHORD) of Backyard Studios in New Hampshire and was mixed by Zeuss, who has produced ION DISSONANCE, EMMURE, BLOOD HAS BEEN SHED, SHADOWS FALL and HATEBREED, among others. The cover artwork was handled by Colin Marks, who has previously worked with ABORTED, THE END, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and THE RED DEATH. "He [did] a phenomenal job and we are extremely pleased with the outcome of his work," the band previously stated. "He has done a wonderful job of portraying the concept of the record through his artwork."
WHITECHAPEL's debut album, "The Somatic Defilement", was released in 2007 via Candlelight Records.
WHITECHAPEL is:
Phil Bozeman - Vocals Ben Savage - Guitar/Leads Alex Wade - Guitar Zach Householder - Guitar Gabe Crisp - Bass Kevin Lane - Drums
Matt Longo of the "Mind Over Metal" show (web site), which airs on the 90.1 WRUV FM radio station in Burlington, Vermont, recently conducted an interview with Scott Kelly of NEUROSIS and SHRINEBUILDER. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
Video footage of SHRINEBUILDER — the project that features in its ranks Kelly, Scott "Wino" Weinrich (ST. VITUS, THE HIDDEN HAND), Al Cisneros (OM, SLEEP), and Dale Crover (MELVINS) — performing a couple of songs (including a cover of JOY DIVISION's "24 Hours") on November 11, 2009 at the Viper Room in West Hollywood, California can be viewed below.
A review of SHRINEBUILDER's November 13, 2009 concert at Sonar in Baltimore, Maryland is available at Rock N Roll Experience.
SHRINEBUILDER's self-titled debut album was released in October via Neurot Recordings. According to a press release, the CD is "a powerful culmination of its members' distinct styles that coalesce into an entity of its own. Comprised of five epic passages showcasing this group's grandiose merging of soulful doom dirges, spiritual mantras, monstrous buildups and chest-collapsing grooves, the debut is truly a must-hear album of 2009."
"Shrinebuilder" track listing:
01. Solar Benediction 02. Pyramid Of The Moon 03. Blind For All To See 04. The Architect 05. Science Of Anger
The record's stunning cover art from Josh Graham (A STORM OF LIGHT, NEUROSIS' visual media artist) can be viewed below.
Scott Kelly interviewed on "Mind Over Metal" (click on player below to launch audio):
Jacksonville, Florida-based rock band COLD has announced a co-headlining run with fellow Florida rockers NONPOINT. The trek will begin on February 16, 2010 at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, North Carolina and will also feature the support act DAY OF FIRE, whose single "Lately" is at #40 on the Active Rock chart and rising.
COLD released its self-titled debut album in the summer of 1998. After steadily building a solid touring base, the band returned in 2000 with its sophomore effort, "13 Ways to Bleed on Stage", which peaked at #1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart and brought the band its first appearance within the Top 100 on The Billboard 200 chart. In 2003, COLD scored its biggest hit to date with "Stupid Girl" (co-written by WEEZER's Rivers Cuomo) off "Year of the Spider". The smash single went to #4 at Mainstream Rock and #6 at Modern Rock. "Year of the Spider" went all the way to #3 on The Billboard 200 chart, followed by "A Different Kind of Pain" in 2005, which went to #26 on the same chart.
COLD is:
Scooter Ward (Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar) Zach Gilbert (Guitar) Jeremy Marshall (Bass, Vocals) Sam McCandless (Drums)
COLD's fifth album, "Epic" is scheduled for an early 2010 release via SonicStar Records.
Two songs from the forthcoming effort — "My Religion" and "Welcome 2 My World" — are available for streaming below.
"My Religion" audio stream:
"Welcome 2 My World" audio stream:
Also formed in 1998, the hard rock quartet from Ft. Lauderdale, NONPOINT burst on the scene with its major label debut, "Statement", on MCA Records. Since then, they have sold nearly 700,000 albums and played over 1,000 shows.
Known for its dynamic performances, NONPOINT has shared the stage with acts such as MUDVAYNE, SEVENDUST, DISTURBED, HELLYEAH, DROWNING POOL and PAPA ROACH, as well as touring with Ozzfest. In continuation of a successful more than 10-year career, NONPOINT is back with a new guitarist, management and record label. The band recently departed Belle City Sound in Racine, Wisconsin where they finished recording their full-length album with YEP! Productions' Chad Gray and Greg Tribbett (also members of MUDVAYNE and HELLYEAH). The album is slated for a spring 2010 release.
COLD, NONPOINT and DAY OF FIRE tour dates:
Feb. 16 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre Feb. 18 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom Feb. 19 - Allentown, PA - Crocodile Rock Feb. 20 - Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club Feb. 21 - Pittsburgh, PA - Altar Bar Feb. 23 - Syracuse, NY - Wescott Theatre Feb. 25 - Louisville, KY - Headliners Feb. 26 - Flint, MI - Machine Shop Feb. 27 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Orbit Room Mar. 02 - Dayton, OH - McGuffy’s House of Rock Mar. 05 - Maplewood, MN - The Rock Mar. 06 - Libertyville, IL - Austin’s Fuel Room Mar. 07 - Appleton, WI - Revolution Mar. 12 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theatre Mar. 13 - Fitchburg, MA - The Expo Center
Braunschweig, Germany-based metal/hardcore act FOREVER IT SHALL BE will release its sophomore album, "Sonic Death Squad", in early 2010 via Maintain Records. The 12-song CD was recorded at Rape of Harmonies studio (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, MAROON) in Triptis, Germany and will feature cover artwork (see below) by Justin Osbourne of Slasher Design.
The "Sonic Death Squad" title track is now available for streaming on the FOREVER IT SHALL BEMySpace page.
FOREVER IT SHALL BE's debut album, "Reluming the Embers", was released in June 2007 via Maintain Records. The CD was produced by Ralf Mueller and Alexander Dietz (HEAVEN SHALL BURN) at Rape of Harmonies and features a guest appearance by John Gahlert (FALL OF SERENITY).
Melodic black metallers REQUIEM AETERNAM — originally from Uruguay but most recently based in Tampa Bay, Florida — recently completed work on their third album, "Destiny-Man". Around February/March 2010, the band will announce the official release date for the effort and the label that will be responsible for issuing the CD.
"Destiny-Man" was mastered in March 2009 at Morrisound Recording in Tampa. The album is set to feature "ten tracks — 50 minutes of anguish," according to the band.
The ten tracks on "Destiny-Man" are inspired — not based — on ten classical composers, including Takemitsu, Beethoven, Mozart, Piazzolla, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin, Chopin, Paganini and Villa-Lobos.
Commented guitarist/vocalist Jose Romero Sum: "This [is] our most ambitious work to date. I have written more music for this recording than for both former albums put together. This is] our uppermost attempt to consolidate a new style within metal music: philosophical metal."
"Destiny-Man" track listing:
01. Exordium 02. Destiny-Man 03. Requiem Aeternam 04. Freewill 05. Existence 06. Vying 07. Purposiveness 08. Ser (sung in Spanish) 09. Perseverance 10. Epitaph
REQUIEM AETERNAM's last album, "Philosopher", was released in North America in December 2004 via ICorp. "Philosopher" was recorded at Big Blue Meenie studios and features a guest appearance by drummer Alex Hernández (IMMOLATION).
Guitar legend Jimmy Page will join Shaun Keaveny to tell the inside story of LED ZEPPELIN's BBC sessions on BBC 6 Music on Friday, December 25. Part one will air between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. (U.K. time), part two will air from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (U.K. time)
You can listen to the program live via the Internet at this location.
Recalling the sessions, Page, 65, told BBC 6 Music, "It just gave us an opportunity to come in and do what we had on our albums. A number like 'Dazed and Confused' was never gonna get played on any other programs. It gave an opportunity for anyone who hadn't heard us to hear how we were moving the songs and making them take on a life of their own."
For more information on LED ZEPPELIN's BBC sessions, read this new Times Online article.
Vocalist Chuck Billy of San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT was interviewed earlier today (Wednesday, December 16) on "The Barry Kirkey Radio Show". The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
In a recent interview with Metal Sucks, TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson stated about the band's upcoming "American Carnage" tour with SLAYER and MEGADETH, "We feel blessed; we don't take it for granted. We thought we'd be working on a new record, which we are. But it's good 'cause we've got some great ideas on the new record. There's a lot of good music coming out to listen to and get influenced by. We know what we want to do anyway.
"MEGADETH and SLAYER both have new records out; I haven't heard the new SLAYER yet except for one song I heard in Turkey from some interviewer guy's iPod. I thought it was amazing. I felt really proud for them. The last record was cool, but this one made me say, 'Yeah. I like this. I want to listen to this one. [laughs] Not that I didn't want to listen to the other one, but with some records you just know, 'This one is gonna work for me.' The new MEGADETH is like that, too. I really like the new one. It's killer, riffy, and matching their first record with better production.
"This is old-school music but fucking totally up to par. I don't know any newer bands that kick ass that could put together a package as vital as this. [You don't think], 'Oh okay. They have their greatest hits and their old shit is cool.' No, every band on this bill — from us to MEGADETH to SLAYER — not only is our old shit classic and not only did we all shape and form the blueprints to thrash metal in some way or form — MEGADETH and SLAYER being more at the forefront than us, though we definitely have our chops — it's like … right on the head. Boom."
Chuck Billy interviewed on "The Barry Kirkey Radio Show" (click on player below to launch audio):
THEM CROOKED VULTURES's December 8, 2009 concert at the Palladium in Cologne, Germany was professionally filmed by WDR's (German public TV) series "Rockpalast" and was premiered on December 15.
The entire 97-minute concert can be viewed at this location. A couple of the clips are available below.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. [Introduction] 02. No One Loves Me and Neither Do I 03. Dead End Friends 04. Scumbag Blues 05. Elephants 06. Highway 1 07. New Fang 08. Gunman 09. Bandoliers 10. Mind Eraser, No Chaser 11. Caligulove 12. Interlude With Ludes 13. Spinning In Daffodils 14. Reptiles 15. Warsaw Or The First Breath You Take After You Give Up 16. [Interview]
THEM CROOKED VULTURES consists of Dave Grohl (FOO FIGHTERS, NIRVANA, THEM CROOKED VULTURES) on drums, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE singer/guitarist Josh Homme and LED ZEPPELIN bass player John Paul Jones.
The band's self-titled debut album sold 70,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart.
"Them Crooked Vultures" was released on November 17 via DGC/Interscope Records.
THEM CROOKED VULTURES recently shot a video for the song "New Fang" with director Paul Minor (MUSE, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, SCARS ON BROADWAY).
Grohl told the Toronto Star about THEM CROOKED VULTURES, "Who's going to let that go to waste? None of us needs to be in this band, but none of us would want to be anywhere else, you know? No, that's not true. I need to be in this band because the feeling I get playing with the VULTURES, I don't get anywhere else."
Grohl indicated that he wanted to get back to playing drums after more than 13 years fronting FOO FIGHTERS. He explained, "I'm a drummer . . . I want a band to play the drums in. But I'm not just gonna go eke out with some band that doesn't matter, I wanna do something that's gonna make people's heads spin. And that's why I'm in a band with Josh and John."
Regarding the band's self-titled debut, Grohl said, "I think we knew within the first month or two that we were making something that had a lot more weight or depth to it than some side project."
London-based anguish rock outfit END OF LEVEL BOSS has uploaded behind-the-scenes video footage from the band's spring 2009 European tour with STINKING LIZAVETA. Watch the seven-minute clip below.
END OF LEVEL BOSS earlier in the year parted ways with bassist Elena Jane and replaced her with ex-GONGA/AKERCOCKE member Peter Theobalds.
END OF LEVEL BOSS released its second album, "Inside the Difference Engine", in the U.S. in September 2007 through Southern Records. The CD, which was issued in Europe in May 2007 via Exile on Mainstream Records, was recorded in the analog domains of Earth Terminal studios, Hampshire.
Italian noise-makers INFECTION CODE are currently mixing their fourth album, "Fine", with Eraldo Bernocchi for an early 2010 release. According to the band, the early rough mixes "are very shocking... Amazing and furious sound!!! We are excited to listen the complete work."
"Fine" will be mastered by Michael Fossenkemper at Turtleone Studios.
INFECTION CODE's third album, "Intimacy", was released in 2007. The CD was recorded at Nadir Studios by Tommy Talamanca, and was mixed by Billy Anderson at Lowered One Studios in San Francisco.
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