RevolverMag.com has uploaded video footage (see below) of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada metallers 3 INCHES OF BLOOD describing their new album, "Here Waits Thy Doom", released in August. Watch as frontman Cam Pipes and guitarist Shane Clark go track-by-track, explaining the meaning behind each song and how they came into being.
"Here Waits Thy Doom" sold around 2,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 8 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.
3 INCHES OF BLOOD's previous album, "Fire Up The Blades", opened with 5,300 copies to enter The Billboard 200 chart at No. 147.
"Here Waits Thy Doom" was released 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).
Florida-based "shock-rockers" GENITORTURERS, featuring MORBID ANGEL frontman David "Evil D" Vincent on bass, have inked a European deal with France's Season Of Mist. The band's new album, "Blackheart Revolution", will be released in Europe on January 18, 2010. The CD was made available in the U.S. on November 3 via MVD Entertainment.
According to a press release, "Blackheart Revolution" "combines the band's signature genre-bending musical style of aggressive rock, mechanical metal and underground electric pop with all the twists and turns of a sonic roller coaster of seductive mayhem that the band has crafted over their now legendary career. Co-produced by Scott Humphrey (MÖTLEY CRÜE, ROB ZOMBIE, OZZY OSBOURNE), mixed by the masters at Chop Shop, this new release delivers exceptional songwriting and superior sound quality that is sure to deliver the intense aural fix the fans deserve. The GENITORTURERS, a band whose dark, enchanting and aggressive style has entertained the world for over a decade, now presents a new chapter in their ongoing book of provocation."
Commented frontwoman Gen: "Beholden to no one other than ourselves…we went back to our roots, to what inspired us to play music…and based on the eclectic nature of each of our musical tastes these roots ran deep and wide."
GENITORTURERS made their first seven-inch vinyl single, "Cum Junkie", available via select stores on September 30. Each hand-numbered, colored vinyl has over-the-top packaging and insane themed layouts, pressed on "high-grade virgin" vinyl.
The band had the following to say about the release: "For years the music industry has siphoned the blood, sweat and creative juices from artists. We decided that if anyone was going to OWN a piece of us, it would be the fans. In keeping with this mantra, the band is kicking off the first in a series of collectible uniquely 'impregnated vinyl seven-inches."
Commented frontwoman Gen: "We received a ton of great feedback for this song as it was on our recent 'Live! In Sin' DVD and decided this had to be the first seven-inch single, so we came up with a twisted little concept and put together a special photo shoot with our favorite resident photographer, Dan Santoni, especially for this release."
She continued, "The A side of the seven-inch includes the studio album version of 'Cum Junkie' that is set to appear on our upcoming 'Blackheart Revolution' CD, [while] the B side features a totally bangin', brand-spankin'-new 'Let's Go Cum Junkie'Gen-xx style remix by Jackal of JACKAL & HYDE."
DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED's performance at the Pepsi Music Festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina can be viewed live right now using the player below.
DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED is the band led by VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan.
Drummer Geoff Reading recently left DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED and was replaced by Isaac Carpenter (LOUDERMILK, GOSLING, OURS, THE EXIES).
"Sick", the latest full-length album from DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED, landed at position No. 43 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.
"Sick" was released in North America on April 7 via Century Media Records. An e-card for the CD, which was produced by Martin Feveyear (PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, KINGS OF LEON), is available at this location.
In addition to McKagan and Carpenter, LOADED features bassist Jeff Rouse (VENDETTA RED, ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE) and guitarist Mike Squires (ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE).
LOADED released "Live Episode" (1999) and "Dark Days" (2001), before other commitments meant LOADED were put on the back burner to some extent, although they never split up.
Former SENTENCED drummer Vesa Ranta has launched a new project called THE MAN-EATING TREE, also featuring current/former members of POISONBLACK, REFLEXION and EMBRAZE.
The band, which entered the studio this past summer, consists of the following musicians:
Tuomas Tuominen (ex-FALL OF THE LEAFE) - Vocals Janne Markus (POISONBLACK) - Guitar Aaron Rantonen (LASTEN JUNA) - Guitar Mikko Uusimaa (REFLEXION) - Bass Heidi Määttä (ex-EMBRAZE) - Keyboards Vesa Ranta (ex-SENTENCED) - Drums
Century Media has set a November 13 release date for SENTENCED's complete discography in a coffin-styled box set. Entitled "Coffin - The Complete Discography", the set will include 16 CDs (144 audio tracks), 2 DVDs (42 videos) and a book.
Former SENTENCEDguitarist and main songwriter Miika Tenkula was found dead at his home on February 19, 2009. He was 34 years old. According to a statement released by the surviving members of the band, Tenkula "had a genetic heart condition and died from a sudden attack at his home."
SENTENCED's posthumous DVD, "Buried Alive", was certified platinum last year in the band's native Finland. The disc topped the official Finnish chart upon its release in late 2006.
Guitarist Janick Gers of British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN revealed to BBC News that the band has already started writing songs for its 15th studio album. "We're going to Paris for three weeks to work on some new stuff," Gers said at the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards 2009 on November 2 at the Park Lane Hotel in London, England. "The most important thing for a band is to create new music, otherwise you're not valid — you become a parody."
MAIDEN became the first outfit in history to travel round the world in a customized jet during their "Somewhere Back in Time" tour, as detailed in award-winning movie "Flight 666".
The Boeing 757 carried musicians, crew, gear and guests with singer Bruce Dickinson, a qualified airline pilot, at the controls.
Speaking in the Iron Maiden Fan Club magazine, IRON MAIDEN manager Rod Smallwood recently said, "It took a long time to set up the last tour because of the plane. It had never been done before and we didn't know what we were letting ourselves in for. The idea came a couple of years before that and we got into it a year ahead of the game.
"I'm starting to get my head round what we're going to do next summer. It hasn't been decided yet but we'll do something, so I've got to speak to promoters and agents.
"Now we know the plane works, by Christmas we'll have the pattern set. We'll probably be going for the plane and getting that held for us.
"But at the moment, the album's the key thing on the agenda. The guys will be getting together shortly and they're probably starting to get their heads round new ideas for songs individually. Some of them may meet up before we formally get together.
"We'll spend a period writing, we'll take Christmas off and then we'll get into recording. We'll finish the album in time for it to be out next year and I'm just getting my head round what we want to do touring-wise.
"We'll be doing some new places on the next tour. I won't tell you where they are - they're not finalized yet, but some work has been done. One place we can't play that we'd like to is Bolivia — the altitude is just too high for the type of physical performance the guys do. It's a shame."
Former GUNS N' ROSES and current ADLER'S APPETITE drummer Steven Adler portrays Stevie in "Dahmer vs. Gacy", an action/comedy about Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy battling it out helmed by and starring Ford Austin. Adler reportedly plays a guy that Jeffrey Dahmer picks up at a bar and then later murders by sticking a drill into his head.
Check out the movie trailer below. (Note: Adler can be seen very briefly around the :41 and 1:03 marks.)
Adler was featured in "Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House", an eight-episode, one hour series that premiered in January 2009 on VH1.
ADLER'S APPETITE's current lineup includes Adler, vocalist Rick Stitch (of the Los Angeles-based group LADYJACK), guitarists Alex Grossi (HOOKERS 'N' BLOW, ex-QUIET RIOT) and Michael Thomas (FASTER PUSSYCAT) along with bassist Chip Z'nuff (ENUFF Z'NUFF).
ADLER'S APPETITE played its first show with Stitch on April 17, 2009 at the The Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, California.
Singer Sheldon Tarsha announced his departure from ADLER'S APPETITE in April, saying it was "time now for me to follow my heart and continue working with my original band."
Jeff Becerra of reactivated California death metal pioneers POSSESSED was interviewed by HellaMETAL Jenn of LateNiteSinners.com when the band performed at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco on November 1, 2009. The chat can now be viewed below.
POSSESSED's current lineup features sole original member Becerra (vocals) backed by musicians from California's SADISTIC INTENT.
In the October 2008 issue of Guitar World magazine, Becerra talked candidly about the 1989 shooting that left him paralyzed from the chest down, his battle with drugs and alcohol, the early days of the Bay Area thrash metal scene and his future as a wheelchair-bound frontman for the death metal legends.
Regarding the robbery that left him paralyzed, Becerra said: "The first bullet went into my chest about six inches above the nipple, went through the lung and stuck on the inside of my spine. I put my hand up as I was going down, and the second bullet clipped the top of my ring finger off. But at least it didn't hit me in the head. So I was on the ground, and the first guy put the gun to my head and pulled the trigger, and the gun jammed — luckily for me, some criminals don't know how to clean their automatic weapons."
On performing at the 2007 Wacken Open Air festival in Germany, Becerra told Guitar World: "The show was amazing, and it was a great way for me to get back into the scene — but I was terrified, just shaking onstage in front of like 60,000 people. It was really emotional for me to be back out there, and I was really hoping that people wouldn't look at the chair and see 'poor Jeff.' I just didn't want to make a fool of myself and of the POSSESSED name — I didn't want to lose the only thing I ever was, you know?"
Guitar World has posted exclusive interview outtakes and photos of Jeff at this location.
SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR guitarist Jim Root recently took Dunlop TV through his entire guitar rig backstage at a SLIPKNOT show. Watch the footage below.
The special-edition CD/DVD reissue of SLIPKNOT's self-titled debut album sold around 4,600 copies in the United States in its first, shortened week of release (the set came out on Wednesday, September 9 whereas new albums usually go on sale on Tuesdays in the U.S.). The album has now shifted more than two million units domestically, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The CD portion of the "Slipknot" reissue features 25 tracks, including the original album as well as rare demos, remixes, rare b-sides and more. A companion documentary, entitled "of the (sic): Your Nightmares, Our Dreams", is packed with behind the scenes footage of SLIPKNOT from 1999. This inside look features both live and backstage footage from around the world. The DVD also features a never-before-seen concert and all the music videos from their debut cycle, as well as other surprises.
In the decade since the release of "Slipknot", the band has amassed accolades that changed the face of metal. SLIPKNOT has gone on to sell over 10 million albums worldwide, win a Grammy, headline Madison Square Garden and Download festival, have numerous #1 and top 5 rock tracks and videos, as well as debut at #1 on The Billboard 200 chart.
Video footage of Chino Moreno from the DEFTONES laying down tracks on the new METHODS OF MAYHEM album at MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer and METHODS OF MAYHEM mastermind Tommy Lee's recording studio called The Atrium in Calabasas, California can be viewed below.
METHODS OF MAYHEM's "Public Mayhem" album collaboration project was launched on October 5. Lee and METHODS producer Scott Humphrey posted isolated instrument tracks, or stems, from the upcoming album on the web site ThePublicRecord.com. Anyone with a great musical idea is invited to play a part in helping to achieve true "Public Mayhem", i.e. collaborate on the album. A wide range of formats are available to work with, including RiffWorks, WAV, Logic, GarageBand, Pro Tools and the Four Track 3.0 iPhone application. Participants will also have a chance to perform with METHODS OF MAYHEM at their record-release show.
"Public Mayhem" is set for release in early 2010.
A charitable donation will be made on behalf of all participants to the MusiCares Foundation. Established by The Recording Academy in 1989, MusiCares provides emergency health and human services and addiction recovery resources to music people in need. Whether artists or other industry professionals, MusiCares is there with a safety net of support for those who have given the gift of music to our lives.
Video and sound updates are being posted at ThePublicRecord.com featuring submission highlights and weekly giveaways for the best audio and video entries.
METHODS OF MAYHEM earlier in the year inked a worldwide deal with Loud & Proud Records, a Roadrunner Records imprint focusing on established artists.
Lee formed METHODS OF MAYHEM in 1999 after he left MÖTLEY CRÜE. The all-star project collaboration with rapper TiLo featured input from LIMP BIZKIT's Fred Durst, THE CRYSTAL METHOD, Kid Rock, Snoop Dogg, and Mix Master Mike. After signing to MCA, METHODS OF MAYHEM issued its self-titled debut LP in late 1999.
Finnish gothic metallers TO/DIE/FORhave uploaded a demo version of a new song, "Angelica", to their MySpace page. The track is one of four cuts —alongside "Unknown III", "My Hysteria" and "Sad" (working title) — which will be used to procure new management and a record deal. Vocalist Jape Perätalo previously stated that "most of the guitars [on the new album] will be played by Krisse. He is not a band member. He is doing this as a session musician and he is Tonmi's [Lillman; TO/DIE/FOR drummer] friend from Helsinki." He added, "We still do not know who will be TO/DIE/FOR guitarist in future, but now we have 'one' who could be."
TO/DIE/FOR will play in Lebanon on November 13 at Forum De Beyrouth. Perätalo states, "We still do not have a new guitarist, so we are using session guitarists [for] this show. There is one guy you already might know, and he is...dadadaaaa... Mika 'Alli' Ahtiainen. Another guitarist will be Toni Toikkanen from Helsinki. We are very thankful for their help with this show!"
TO/DIE/FOR's lineup for the Lebanon concert will be as follows:
Jape Perätalo - Vocals Tonmi Lillman - Drums Josey Strandman - Bass Toni Toikkanen - Guitar Mika Ahtiainen - Guitar
TO/DIE/FOR's fifth album, "Wounds Wide Open", was released in Finland in October 2006. The follow-up to 2005's "IV" was recorded by Samu Oittinen at Fantom Studios and by Jari-Jukka Nippala at Sonic Image, and was mixed at Sweden's Abyss Studios by Peter Tägtgren (DIMMU BORGIR, CELTIC FROST).
SAXON's Biff Byford, CANCER BATS' Liam Cormier and RISE TO REMAIN's Austin Dickinson were guests on last night's (Friday, November 16) edition of IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson's weekly BBC 6 Music radio program, dubbed "The Bruce Dickinson Friday Rock Show". According to posting on the program's web site, the trio "enthused over the music that's inspired them over the years."
You can now listen to the show for the next seven days at BBC.co.uk.
Christian hard rockers STRYPER have cancelled two more shows — November 6 at San Antonio, Texas' Scout Bar and November 7 at Odessa, Texas' Dos Amigos — on their current tour due to singer/rhythm guitarist Michael Sweet's lingering bout with the flu.
Refunds may be made at the point of purchase. Fan meet-and-greet purchases will be automatically refunded.
Earlier this week, the band announced Sweet's illness and postponed Wednesday's show in Dallas and Thursday's concert in Houston. Those two shows have been rescheduled for December 22 and December 21, respectively. They will feature a special Christmas segment that will include the performance of "Winter Wonderland" and their classic holiday tune "Reason for the Season", which the band says it has never performed live.
Sweet said in a statement: "I've come down with a horrible case of the flu and now it seems to be spreading throughout the bus.
"I see reports all over the nation where bad cases of the flu are hitting America and had hoped we could make it through this entire tour without it affecting us, but unfortunately it has. It's really bad and I wish our friends and fans all the best with their health during this season. I have seen a doctor and am on medication and anticipate a speedy recovery."
Ulterium Records (through an arrangement with the Italian label Frontiers Records) will release a limited 12" picture-disc edition of the latest STRYPER album, "Murder By Pride", in Europe on December 4. The LP will be strictly limited to 500 copies, and will come with a full color poster inlay.
"Murder By Pride" sold 5,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 73 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released in Europe on August 28 via Frontiers Records. It was made available in the U.S. on July 21 through Big 3 Records.
STRYPER kicked off its 25th-anniversary tour on September 11 at the House Of Blues in Boston, Massachusetts. Quality video footage of the performance can be viewed at this location. One of the clips is available below.
SOULFLY was scheduled to enter a studio in Los Angeles, California on Friday (November 6) to begin recording its new album for an early 2010 release. The group's bassist, Bobby Burns, writes on SOULFLY's official forum, "We've been playing together better than ever in recent times and we're all really excited to get to work on the new shit!"
In a recent interview, SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera stated about the songwriting process for the band's next album, "We're thinking about making the songs a little shorter, so if you can imagine maybe a little bit like MINOR THREAT mixed with [SLAYER's] 'Reign In Blood' mixed with SOULFLY, with still some world music, but much smaller, and the songs not so long — shorter. It'll be more aggressive than [last year's] 'Conquer' [album] even, because it'll be shorter — it'll be like when SLAYER did 'Reign In Blood', [that] kind of thing."
In other news, Burns and wife Joy are expecting their first baby, a son named Ryder Lee Burns, on Febuary 4. Bobby says, "I'm so fucking excited / scared / nervous, I can barely stand it! He'll be a little rocker, for sure! He's already been to three PRIMER 55 [Bobby's other band] shows and five SOULFLY shows and he's not even here yet!"
He adds, "Needless to say, I'll be taking the month of Febuary off to be at home with him and my wife.. So I hope I won't be missing any of the SOULFLY tours, but what can ya do?!"
"Conquer" sold around 8,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 66 on The Billboard 200 chart. This number is in line with the opening tally of the CD's predecessor, "Dark Ages", which shifted a little more than 8,000 copies during its first week of release in October 2005 to enter the chart at No. 155.
Maryland rockers CLUTCH will be IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson's guest on Friday, November 27 during Bruce's weekly BBC 6 Music radio program, dubbed "The Bruce Dickinson Friday Rock Show". Listen to the broadcast live via the Internet between 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. (midnight) U.K. time at BBC.co.uk.
"Strange Cousins From the West", the ninth studio album from CLUTCH, sold 13,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The band's previous studio CD, "From Beale Street To Oblivion", opened with around 15,000 units back in April 2007 to land at No. 52.
CLUTCH's 2005 effort, "Robot Hive / Exodus", entered the chart at No. 93 after premiering with 13,000 copies.
"Strange Cousins From the West" was made available both digitally and through retail on July 14. Produced by CLUTCH and J. Robbins at Magpie Cage Studios in Baltimore, the effort is the first CLUTCH studio LP to be released on the band's own Weathermaker Music, through RED Distribution.
"Strange Cousins From the West" includes the POPPO'S BLUES BAND cover song "Algo Ha Cambiado", which Neil Fallon sings in Spanish. Poppo was a legendary Argentinian hard rock singer/guitarist throughout the '70s and '80s.
The title "Strange Cousins From the West" was taken from a line in the song "Minotaur".
Although CLUTCH has toured the world extensively over the past two years and released multiple CLUTCH-related projects, "Strange Cousins..." is the band's first original studio work since 2007's "From Beale Street to Oblivion" which featured the hit "Electric Worry".
Gigz Giger of Rock Circus TV has uploaded quality video footage (see below) of CLUTCH's September 9, 2009 concert at Mr. Smalls Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
"Wreckage Of My Past", the forthcoming film documenting the life of music icon Ozzy Osbourne as he approaches his 60th birthday, is currently in post-production and is expected to be completed within the next few weeks. The documentary is being directed by Mike Piscitelli and is written and produced by Jordan Tappis. It will be the first release from Jacko Productions, a company started by Ozzy's son Jack.
Piscitellihas uploaded a couple of behind-the-scenes photos from the post-production stage. Check them out below.
Newly sober, Ozzy has finally reached a point of clarity as he looks back on a lifetime of unresolved issues, unparalleled success, misdiagnosed diseases, severed ties, and a recurring dependency on drugs and alcohol. Due in theaters early 2010, "Wreckage Of My Past" is a film about reconciling the past and looking toward the future.
Jack Osbourne is executive-producing "Wreckage Of My Past" along with his mother, Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy's longtime manager.
Jack and Sharon are financing the film themselves.
Filming for "Wreckage Of My Past" began in January 2008. The documentary will reportedly include interviews with all the principal members of BLACK SABBATH, the various incarnations of Ozzy's solo band, family and friends. But the trick, Jack said, was getting them to be truthful. "The hard thing is getting people to be honest and not have it be a fluff piece, because that's not what we're trying to do," he told RollingStone.com. "I'm trying to paint a realistic picture of who my father is. I think 'The Osbournes', to a degree, tarnished the public's perception of my dad as a bit of a senile, funny, bumbling guy. Yeah, my dad can be that guy, but it's not him. I think that almost discredited who he is as an artist. My dad's not an idiot — he's nothing short of a genius, in my opinion. He does have huge flaws, and we're trying to really paint an honest picture of that."
According to Variety, Jack Osbourne filmed several of his father's concerts, compiled early archive footage, and was hoping to secure an interview with Ozzy's first wife. He was planning to put the footage together with Piscitelli and Tappis before talking to distributors.
"I want people to see John Osbourne as the guy I grew up with, the tormented, complex musician whose personal demons manifest themselves in so many crazy, unique ways," Osbourne said. "He's agreed to it but is putting up his guard, massively afraid of putting his true self out there on display for people to see."
"A Horse Called Golgotha", the new video from Savannah, Georgia's BARONESS, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed in the band's hometown with director Joshua Green for The Distillery Collective, who previously worked with the band on the "Wanderlust" video.
"A Horse Called Golgotha" comes off BARONESS' second full-length album, "Blue Record", which sold around 4,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 117 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at No. 1 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. Released on October 13 via Relapse Records, the follow-up to 2007's critically acclaimed "The Red Album" was recorded in Dallas, Texas with producer/engineer John Congleton (EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, THE POLYPHONIC SPREE, BLACK MOUNTAIN).
BARONESS will embark on a full U.S. tour in support of "Blue Record" starting on November 18 in Washington, D.C. Guests on this month-long tour with include EARTHLESS, TORCHE, PIG DESTROYER, US CHRISTMAS, IRON AGE and more.
BARONESS will make its Australian live debut as part of the massive Soundwave Festival. Other acts taking part in the event include FAITH NO MORE, JANE'S ADDICTION, AFI, MESHUGGAH, PENNYWISE, SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE and ISIS.
Rex Bowman of The Roanoke Times reports: A massive search by 360 volunteers Friday (November 6) apparently turned up no new leads in the disappearance of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, but organizers said they will return to the job today and Sunday.
Volunteers from across Virginia turned out to take part in the search across 2 square miles of Charlottesville.
Working in teams of 10, they formed lines to walk through woods and up and down slopes. They peeped into culverts, peered under parked cars and poked through piles of leaves with sticks. They also looked into the windows of abandoned homes and climbed through the underbrush of some of Charlottesville's woollier neighborhoods.
Each team spent between two and four hours scouring the area assigned to it, and some teams went out more than once. The Texas-based Laura Recovery Center, which organized the three-day search, anticipates as many as 1,000 people could repeat the effort today.
Altitude TV has uploaded video footage (see below) of DEFTONES performing a brand new song, "Rocket Skates", late last month at this year's SmokeOut festival at the San Manuel Amphitheatre and festival grounds in San Bernardino, California.
DEFTONES bassist Chi Cheng is said to be "in semi-conscious state" following a November 2008 car accident in the middle of the recording sessions for the band's long-awaited new album, which had a previous working title of "Eros" (a title which is said to have since been scrapped).
Filling in for Chi during the DEFTONES' recent live shows has been Sergio Vega, who previously played with QUICKSAND.
Regarding the current status of the band's new CD, the DEFTONES stated in a June 2009 online posting that had decided to start anew and begin tracking an entirely new album. "The songs recorded for 'Eros' are very special to us as they are the latest with Chi (and we certainly hope not the last); they have history and significant meaning to us," the band explained. "However, as we neared completion on 'Eros', we realized that this record doesn't best encompass and represent who we are currently as people and as musicians." The band hopes that the songs recorded with Chi will see the light of day eventually, but "we collectively made the decision that we needed to take a new approach, and with Chi's condition heavy on our minds while doing so."
The band added that they returned "to the studio to do what we felt was right artistically. Our inspiration and unity as a band is stronger than it has ever been before and we needed to channel that energy into our music, and deliver to our fans what you rightly deserve: the best DEFTONES record that we can make. The decision to hold off on releasing 'Eros' has no connection with Chi's condition or anything associated. This was, and is, purely a creative decision by the band to write, record, and deliver an amazing product. As a result, we feel like this is the best record we've ever written. And although Chi is not playing bass with us, his presence is dramatically felt in our hearts and on our minds every day when we step into that studio, and you will feel it in the music."
Cheng is 39 years old and is a poet as well as a musician. He released a CD of his poetry called "The Bamboo Parachute" in 2000.
Cheng has been a member of DEFTONES since its formation in 1988. The band released its debut disc, "Adrenaline", in 1995 and scored a platinum record with 2000's "White Pony".
Frontiers Records will release BLACKWOOD CREEK's self-titled debut album on December 4, 2009 in Europe and January 12, 2010 in the USA.
BLACKWOOD CREEK is a Kip Winger side project put together with his brother Nate on drums and childhood friend Peter Fletcher on guitar.
It all actually started in 1969 in Littleton, Colorado when a 7-year-old Kip Winger walked up to Peter Fletcher and said, "Hey, you got big lips, you wanna fight?" Fletcher then stood up and towered over Winger, at which point they started a band instead! They reconvened in the basement of the Wingers house where Kip's older brother Nate was pounding on the drums. BLACKWOOD CREEK was born.
They went on to play every junior high and high school and eventually night clubs in their path, performing songs by their favorite bands like GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, BLACK SABBATH, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, LED ZEPPELIN and their original songs which they were particularly passionate about, to the point of getting fired from jobs for not playing enough popular material.
In 1980 they went their separate ways. Nate and Fletcher went to Los Angeles, Kip went to New York, where he landed a gig with ALICE COOPER and then went on to form WINGER. Nate recorded with many bands in L.A., including RATT, KIX, EUROPE. Fletcher formed the PIGMY LOVE CIRCUS, including drummer Danny Carey from TOOL.
BLACKWOOD CREEK reformed in 2007 to record 11 new songs. It's obvious that the chemistry is still rock solid. These 11 tracks embody 40 years of blood, sweat and tears of three musicians who started out together, went their separate ways and reform on common ground.
"Blackwood Creek" track listing:
01. Out In Outer Space 02. Nothing But The Sun 03. Your Revolution 04. Dead Stung 05. After Your Heart 06. Albatross 07. Jimmy And Georgia 08. Rack Of Greed 09. Love Inspector 10. Joy Ride 11. Wooden Shoe
AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry told the Las Vegas Sun on Friday (November 6) that singer Steven Tyler quit the band following a recent concert in Abu Dhabi.
"Steven quit as far as I can tell," Perry said. "I don't know any more than you do about it. I got off the plane two nights ago. I saw online that Steven said that he was going to leave the band. I don't know for how long, indefinitely or whatever. Other than that, I don't know."
Part of the problem, Perry said, is that Tyler doesn't return his phone calls.
"He's notorious for that," Perry said. "That's one thing I've learned to live with. I try to overlook it. I like to pick my battles. Frankly, the last few months I've been wanting not to rock the boat. I don't want him canceling any more gigs. We really wanted to do these last four. We just kind of didn't want to call him out or anything and get him anymore pissed off, for whatever reason. So we just let things lie. So we did the gigs and, like I said, I got off the plane and saw this online. That's how I know about it."
Perry said he arrived home in Boston on Wednesday and read on the Internet that Tyler planned to leave the band.
"He has had no contact with me or the other band members," Perry said.
He says he hopes to keep AEROSMITH together, with or without Tyler, but he was so stunned by recent developments he doesn't know what's going to happen.
"Right now I'm adjusting to how we're going to go on," Perry said. "AEROSMITH is such a powerful band, I mean it's like a steam locomotive. You just can't disregard 40 years of four guys who play together as well as they do. We're just trying to — at least I am — trying to figure out what direction the band should take.
"As far as replacing Steve, it's not just about that, it's also four guys that play extremely well together, and I'm not going to see that go to waste. I really don't know what path it's going to take at this point, but we'll probably find somebody else that will sing in those spots where we need a singer and then we'll be able to move the Aerosmith up a notch, move the vibe up a notch."
LEAVES' EYES, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, POWERWOLF and HEIDEVOLK have been confirmed for the Metalfest Open Air festival, set to take place May 13-15, 2010 in Dessau, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
ALESTORM BOLT THROWER DECAPITATED ENFORCER EPICA HEIDEVOLK LEAVES' EYES LEGION OF THE DAMNED MILKING THE GOATMACHINE MYSTIC PROPHECY NEVERMORE POWERWOLF
Cult classic debut from SACRED OATH repackaged in twentieth anniversary edition for store shelves November 10.
WorldSound label group has repackaged the cult classic debut album from Connecticut heavy metallers SACRED OATH, "A Crystal Vision", in a twentieth-anniversary edition (compact disc) for release on November 10, 2009.
Originally released by Mercenary Records in 1988, "A Crystal Vision" has come to be regarded as one of the seminal metal albums that spawned the power metal movement of the '90s, despite the band breaking up shortly after its release.
The reissue faithfully preserves the contents, song order, and front cover design of the original Mercenary release but features the front cover artwork as it was always meant to be seen — in full color. The original pressing of the vinyl LP had the artwork in brown sepia tone, much to the band's dismay. "I cannot tell you how pleased I am that this album is still being celebrated twenty years later, and that the cover art will finally be seen as it was intended back then," says Rob Thorne, the band's lead singer and founding member. "This is certainly the best edition of 'A Crystal Vision' ever." The package also contains an eight-page booklet with song lyrics, art, and unseen archival photos of SACRED OATH from 1988.
This reissue is part of WorldSound's exclusive license to press and distribute the entire SACRED OATH catalog, including the acclaimed live album "Till Death Do Us Part", "Darkness Visible" and, of course, the self-titled "Sacred Oath" which was released on August 25. Distribution is through E1 Entertainment in the U.S.
Italian news blog Musica Metal recently conducted an interview with Pete Trewavas, bassist for the progressive rock supergroup TRANSATLANTIC (which also features Mike Portnoy of DREAM THEATER, Roine Stolt of THE FLOWER KINGS and Neal Morse [ex-SPOCK'S BEARD]). The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
TRANSATLANTIC released its long-awaited third album in October. "The Whirlwind" is described in a press release as "a 77-minute piece of music that is sure to satisfy the band's legions of fans that have patiently waited almost the entire decade for the reunion of these four musicians."
"The Whirlwind" is available in two formats: A regular-edition single CD of the entire 77-minute epic as well as a two-CD special edition containing a bonus disc with eight newly recorded studio tracks (four new TRANSATLANTIC compositions and four cover songs)
The track listing for the special edition is as follows:
Disc One:
The Whirlwind
Disc Two:
01. Spinning 02. Lenny Johnson 03. For Such A Time 04. Lending A Hand 05. The Return Of The Giant Hogweed (GENESIS) 06. A Salty Dog (PROCOL HARUM) 07. I Need You (AMERICA / THE BEATLES) 08. Soul Sacrifice (SANTANA)
Metalzone.gr conducted an interview with Santeri Kallio of Finnish metallers AMORPHIS on November 1, 2009 when the band played Athens, Greece. Santeri talks about how it feels being in a band that's been around for almost 20 years, gives advice to new groups coming into the metal scene and also offers as a sneak preview of AMORPHIS' forthcoming DVD which will be out released in 2010. Watch the chat below.
"Skyforger", the new album from AMORPHIS, sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 33 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.
"Skyforger" entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 1. Released on May 29 via Nuclear Blast Records (May 27 in Finland), the follow-up to the "Eclipse" and "Silent Waters" LPs, both of which were certified gold in the band's native Finland, was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki.
Rock My Monkey recently conducted an interview with INCITE frontman Richie Cavalera,. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
Richie Cavalera is the stepson of SOULFLY/CAVALERA CONSPIRACY mainman Max Cavalera.
INCITE released its debut album, "The Slaughter", in North America on October 20 and in Europe on November 2 via I Scream Records. The CD was produced by Logan Mader, who has previously worked with GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.
"The Slaughter" track listing:
01. Intro 02. The Slaughter 03. Nothing To Fear 04. Army Of Darkness 05. Time For A Change 06. Divided We Fail 07. Rage 08. Tyranny's End 09. Die With What You've Done 10. Down And Out 11. End Result 12. Awakening
INCITE's current lineup is as follows:
Richie Cavalera - Vocals Zak Sofaly - Drums Kevin "Dis" - Guitar Luis "Marrufo" - Bass
Richie Cavalera makes a guest appearance on CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's debut album, "Inflikted", which was released in March 2008 via Roadrunner Records.
Sarjoo Devani of the Explicitly Intense web site recently conducted an interview with UFO guitarist Vinnie Moore. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
Vinnie Moore released his new solo album, "To The Core", in North America on May 26 via Holland's Mascot Records.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Fly (4:51) 02. Panic Attack (6:19) 03. Off The Hook (5:15) 04. Transcendence (3:53) 05. Soul Caravan (5:55) 06. Jigsaw (3:41) 07. Remorse (7:02) 08. Tailspin (5:33) 09. Over My Head (3:57) 10. Into the Open Highway (6:47) 11. Into the Sunset (5:41)
"To The Core" recording lineup:
Vinnie Moore - Guitar Van Romaine - Drums John "J.D." DeServio - Bass Tim Lehner - Keyboards
Moore spent the last several years on tour with UFO. Once off the road, Moore took his time meticulously laying down the tracks to his newest guitar instrumental masterpiece.
Choosing a very retro-contemporary rock style mixed with many other styles and influences, Moore decided he would make it a good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll instrumental album. It's just Vinnie Moore, his guitar, and his raw guitar talent — all the ingredients that make this album a work of art.
"The only plan I had when making this record was to do some things I have never done before," explains Moore. "I am into many types of music and wanted to make a record where I could just let it all pour out without limitations. I am basically a rock guy but all these other influences that filter into my music. You can hear many styles from an R&B/hip hop vibe to one that is heavy but has an indian vibe with lots of exotic percussion. I even have a couple tunes with techno elements, some funk, some blues and some bepop. Hell, there is even some motorcycles on it and I even played slide guitar on 'Jigsaw', which is fairly new for me. The common thread that ties it all together is probably the fact that it's me playing guitar through it all."
"Genocide", the new video from California deathcore masters SUICIDE SILENCE, can be viewed at BloodyDisgusting.com. The track can be found exclusively on the "Saw VI" soundtrack, which was released on October 20 through Trustkill Records, and its accompanying clip features dynamic live performance footage interwoven with grizzly, striking clips from the hit movie.
SUICIDE SILENCE will embark on a U.S. tour with MEGADETH and MACHINE HEAD starting on November 14 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Additional support will come from ARCANIUM and WARBRINGER on select shows.
Commented vocalist Mitch Lucker: "It is a huge honor to be touring this fall throughout North America with MEGADETH and MACHINE HEAD, who our entire band worship. This is a big opportunity for us to take our crushing live shows to the unsuspecting masses and it's always a great feeling seeing the bewildered looks on people's faces during our sets as they weren't expecting to be bludgeoned to death for 30 minutes. We go out on stage with one sole intention in mind: to blow people's fuckin' heads off. This is going to be one of the biggest parties of the year, so we hope to see you all out there for a crushing night of unrelenting metal the way it was meant to be delivered by some of the all time best."
SUICIDE SILENCE's August 30, 2009 performance at The End Of Days festival at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, California was filmed for a future DVD. This was the band's first hometown show since the release of SUICIDE SILENCE's new album, "No Time To Bleed".
"No Time To Bleed" sold 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 32 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort was made available on June 30 in a number of different versions (for a limited time only). Among these are the standard CD version, an LP version (limited to 2,000 pieces), the exclusive Hot Topic edition featuring the standard album with a bonus "Live in Paris" CD (track listing below), the "Maximum Bloodshed" addition ("Maximum Bloodshed" box set with bonus DVD, bonus studio track "Misleading Milligrams", five collector cards, fold-out poster and mail-in t-shirt offer [limited to 10,000 copies]) and the iTunes version with has the exclusive bonus cover track of the hit ALICE IN CHAINS song "Them Bones".
"No Time To Bleed" was recorded with acclaimed producer Machine (LAMB OF GOD).
Official Metallica.com footage from METALLICA's November 3, 2009 concert at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — including clips of the pre-show tuning-room jam and the actual performance — can be viewed below.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. That Was Just Your Life 02. The End Of The Line 03. Creeping Death 04. Fuel 05. Fade To Black 06. Broken, Beat And Scarred 07. Cyanide 08. Sad But True 09. One 10. All Nightmare Long 11. The Day That Never Comes 12. Master Of Puppets 13. Battery 14. Nothing Else Matters 15. Enter Sandman - - - - - - - - 16. Last Caress 17. Motorbreath 18. Seek and Destroy
According to MetOnTour.com, which is described as "your FREE virtual backstage pass to every METALLICA show," METALLICA will release a new DVD featuring footage from the band's Canadian performances in Quebec City, Quebec (October 31 and November 1) and Ottawa, Ontario (November 3). Drummer Lars Ulrich commented from the stage at the second Quebec City show, "I couldn't think of a better city for METALLICA to film a DVD." The concerts were filmed by the band's longtime friend and collaborator, famed video director Wayne Isham.
Wayne Isham, 51, is an American movie director who has directed music videos of many popular artists such as MÖTLEY CRÜE, SIMPLE PLAN, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, PANTERA, 'N SYNC, SHANIA TWAIN, GODSMACK, BRITNEY SPEARS, LEONA LEWIS, PINK FLOYD, SHERYL CROW, JOSS STONE, MADONNA, AVRIL LAVIGNE, DEF LEPPARD and BON JOVI, among others.
Previous METALLICA videos that were directed by Wayne Isham:
* "Enter Sandman" * "Wherever I May Roam" * "Sad But True" * "Fuel" * "No Leaf Clover" * "Nothing Else Matters" (from "S&M") * "I Disappear" * "Frantic" * "Broken, Beat And Scarred"
METALLICA has set November 23 as the release date for "Francais Por Une Nuit", or "French For One Night", the full-length concert DVD that the band filmed in Nimes, France on July 7, 2009. The show took place at a historic Roman amphitheatre called the Arenes de Nimes. In addition to the band's complete 18-song set, the disc also includes interviews with the group and five video clips shot by members of the audience. Although initially announced as a France-only release, fan demand has led to Metallica also making the set available through their web site, Metallica.com, as well as the site of the French branch of the band's record company.
A statement posted on the band's web site said, "ALL aspects of the project are French as the show was filmed, recorded, and edited with French camera and recording crews, the artwork on the package and special box set (more on that in a minute!) were created by a French design team; even the credits are in French."
The DVD will come in three formats: standard DVD or Blu-ray in a digipack including a 16-page booklet, and a deluxe limited edition box set that includes the DVD, a copy of "Death Magnetic" on CD, a T-shirt, laminated pass, and five exclusive photos.
Legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen will release a new album called "High Impact" on December 8 (one day earlier internationally). The set is described as " a mind-boggling, high-paced compilation record with a surprise bonus track that is a unique song choice for the guitar god!"
Rising Force Records has begun releasing rare archival concert footage that many Malmsteen collectors will want to have. The first is Yngwie in Korea, which was madea available on October 13, 2009. This is the raw footage that was shot by the Korean media, and it features no bells and whistles.
Malmsteen in March released an all-instrumental acoustic album, "Angels Of Love", which contains rearrangements of his ballad songs played on acoustic guitar and string and choir arrangements only. It is a masterpiece showing the tender, delicate version of his classic songs as well as a new composition. Yngwie also released two DVDs via Rising Force Records in March — "Live Animal" and "Live In Budokan".
"Perpetual Flame", the latest full-length studio album from Malmsteen, was the first-ever Yngwie effort to be issued via Rising Force Records, It marked the debut of Malmsteen's new singer, ex-JUDAS PRIEST/ICED EARTH frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens.
Veteran Los Angeles metallers ARMORED SAINT entered Tranzformer Studios in Burbank, California on October 12 to begin recording their sixth full-length album. The SAINT is working with Bryan Carlstrom, who is once again handling engineering duties, with the band's very own Joey Vera (bass) in the producer's chair. Joey and Bryan will mix the record, which is scheduled for release in early 2010 via Metal Blade Records.
Video footage of ARMORED SAINT's Gonzo Sandoval laying down tracks for the band's new CD can be viewed below.
The as-yet-untitled album 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
Tranzformer Studios 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.
Commented Vera: "John [Bush, vocals] and I began writing over 14 months ago, and in the beginning we had only a general musical direction in which we were going. Once we decided to keep writing and with more of an intention of turning it into an ARMORED SAINT project, we were faced with a few questions. One was how does this new music we're writing fit into the current musical styles of today? And should we care? We quickly answered the latter. We realized we should do what we always did and that is to write good songs. And for ourselves first.
"We are not unaware of our parameters in which we have created over the past 25 years, but we are also not afraid to take chances and simply do what we do best.
"The idea of trying to continue where we left off over 10 years ago since our last release is not very appealing to me. I have to let go of what I did in 1991 and in 2000. Nothing at all against what we've recorded in the past but my head is in a different place now. Trust me; I still want to kill your senses with music, but just in a different way."
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). "Loose Cannon" gives fans a glimpse into ARMORED SAINT's writing process and is also a nice taste of what's to come on the band's forthcoming full-length studio release.
Fans can keep up with the band in the studio through Twitter at this location.
To celebrate ARMORED SAINT's recent first-ever tour of Australia, Riot! Entertainment, in conjunction with Metal Blade Records, produced an exclusive tour best-of compilation to combat the lack of ARMORED SAINT product on the market. This killer compilation covers the band's entire career and features such classic tracks as "March of the Saint", "Last Train Home", "Symbol of Salvation", "Hanging Judge". etc.
The CD is now available to international buyers by clicking here. For wholesale enquiries, contact John Howarth at john@riotact.com.au.
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)
Demo version of new ARMORED SAINT song "Loose Cannon":
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