Evil G. of BareBonesMusic.com recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Morgan Lander of the Canadian all-girl metal band KITTIE. Morgan talks about the chemistry within the band and how that affected the creation of the group's latest album, "In The Black". The frontwoman also discusses KITTIE's back-to-back music video shoots and the reason behind the "too-hot-for-TV" version of "Sorrow I Know", the upcoming third music video, and how Morgan and her drumming sister, Mercedes, grew up in the public eye since the late '90s. Watch the chat below.
KITTIE will support INSANE CLOWN POSSE on a U.S. tour in May/June. Also scheduled to appear on the bill are COOLIO, NECRO and KOTTONMOUTH KINGS.
Commented KITTIE guitarist/vocalist Morgan Lander: "We are very excited to finally have our first support slot in over 10 years be with one of the biggest cult bands of all time."
"We can't wait to play to an entirely different audience, spray some bitches with Faygo and have a hell of a lot of fun this summer!"
KITTIE stated in a February 25 tweet about the upcoming trek, "Finally a band with enough balls to take us on tour!"
In a recent interview with RockMusicStar.com, Morgan Lander stated about KITTIE's touring plans, "We have some stuff that's coming down the pipe right now. But nothing is 100% confirmed, so I really can't give you any guarantee. But expect to see us out on a touring, festival kind of tour in July and August. And there’s some other things as well, that hopefully will be happening in September. But with this industry, you don't really know if it's actually going to happen or not, until you are standing on the stage. It's crazy."
Due to legal reasons, Slash's collaboration with BLACK EYED PEAS singer Fergie (a.k.a. Stacy Ann Ferguson) on a new recording of the GUNS N' ROSES classic "Paradise City" (hear audio below), also featuring CYPRESS HILL, has had to be withdrawn from the limited-edition deluxe version of Slash's upcoming self-titled solo debut. Fans should note that a brand new track, "Back From Cali" (featuring Myles Kennedy) has now been added and that the exclusive "Baby Can't Drive" (featuring Alice Cooper and Nicole Scherzinger) still remains.
Slash took to Twitter last fall to defend Fergie's vocal performance "Paradise City". A copy of the recording surfaced online last year while Slash was contemplating whether to include it on his new solo album. The former GUNS guitarist tweeted, "Until now, not too many people have heard Fergie sing rock & roll but she sings it better (than) most dudes I know. She's a screamer at heart."
Slash recently released the first single from his upcoming solo album, a song called "By The Sword" featuring vocals from WOLFMOTHER's Andrew Stockdale. However, the initial choice for first single was "Crucify The Dead", with Ozzy Osbourne singing. Slash explained why the switch was made. "The problem with this record is, because I do have all guest singers, you run the risk of, you know, getting singles rights and interfering with the release of other people's records," he said. "So that's really what the issue was, is making sure that whatever single I was using wasn't sort of stepping on the toes of that artist's own record. And Ozzy's got a new record coming out."
Slash's album, his first official solo outing, is due out April 6.
The guitarist uses a different guest vocalist on each track, including Fergie, M. Shadows, Kid Rock, Chris Cornell, Dave Grohl, Lemmy Kilmister, Myles Kennedy, Iggy Pop and others.
Slash has also tapped Kennedy, lead vocalist in ALTER BRIDGE, as the singer for his upcoming solo tour, which will take place this spring. Slash's touring band will also appear at Ohio's Rock On The Range festival in May.
Slash has said in recent interviews that VELVET REVOLVER will regroup after he has toured his solo record to continue looking for a new singer.
San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans DEATH ANGEL recently entered Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER) to begin recording their new album for a tentative September release via Nuclear Blast Records.
The second in a series of video updates from the studio can be viewed below.
DEATH ANGEL vocalist Mark Osegueda recently stated about the band's decision to work with Suecof, "The new material is the most aggressive and technical music we have written in years. So we needed a producer that was capable of unleashing the tones that match and complement the overall vibe of the songs. With Jason's experience in producing some of the most brutal contemporary metal artists and albums of today, I know we made the right choice! I think the collaboration between the two of us will prove to be venomous and infectious!"
DEATH ANGEL debuted two brand new songs — "River" and "Into The Arms Of Righteous Anger" — during its appearance at last year's Speedfest, which was held November 28, 2009 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The concert marked the group's first appearance with bassist Damien Sisson (SCARECROW, POTENTIAL THREAT) following the departure of Sammy Diosdado (THE SICK, ALL TIME HIGHS).
DEATH ANGEL's longtime drummer and original member Andrew Galeon left the band in April 2009 and has since been replaced by Will Carroll, formerly of SCARECROW, OLD GRANDAD and VICIOUS RUMORS.
DEATH ANGEL will team up with Godfathers of Swedish modern metal SOILWORK , Quebec's tech-death masters AUGURY, Roadrunner Records recording artists MUTINY WITHIN, and pirate-themed thrashers SWASHBUCKLE for a North American tour in July/August.
Rock Radio conducted an interview with Swedish masters of melancholy KATATONIA at the Hammerfest II festival, which was held March 11-13, 2010 at Pontins, Prestatyn Sands, North Wales, United Kingdom. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.
KATATONIA released a new EP, "The Longest Year", on March 15 via Peaceville Records.
In addition to the album cut "The Longest Year", the EP features the previously unreleased song "Sold Heart", "Day And Then The Shade" (remix), and an alternative version of "Idle Blood". The enhanced EP also features the videos for both "The Longest Year" and "Day And Then The Shade", directed by Lasse Hoile (PORCUPINE TREE, OPETH).
"The Longest Year" track listing:
01. The Longest Year 02. Sold Heart 03. Day & Then The Shade (Frank Default remix) 04. Idle Blood (Linje 14) 05. The Longest Year (video) 06. Day And Then The Shade (video)
Fredrik "North" Norrman (guitar) and Mattias "Kryptan" Norrman (bass) left KATATONIA in December and were temporarily replaced by Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson (BLOODBATHNiklas 'Nille' Sandin, respectively.
KATATONIA's eighth studio album, "Night Is The New Day", sold more than 2,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
"The Longest Year", the new video from KATATONIA, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Charlie Granberg, who has previously worked with BLOODBATH and MY DYING BRIDE, among others.
KATATONIA interviewed by Rock Radio (click on player below to launch audio):
Groovey of the Colorado Music Buzz & Entertainment conducted an interview with guitarist Joel Stroetzel of Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE when the band played in Denver on March 13, 2010. Watch the chat below.
Ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Jesse Leach rejoined his former bandmates last night (Thursday, March 18) at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza to perform five songs with the group during its regular set — "My Last Serenade", "Numbered Days", "Self Revolution", "Vide Infra" and "Temple From The Within". For the encore, Jesse returned with yet another surprise — the original KILLSWITCH ENGAGE lineup, featuring Adam Dutkiewicz on drums, Joel Stroetzel on guitar, Mike D'Antonio on bass and Leach on vocals! The encore included the songs "Prelude", "Life To Lifeless" and "Fixation On The Darkness".
Last month, it was announced that KILLSWITCH ENGAGE vocalist Howard Jones had to unexpectedly leave the band's current headlining tour, leading to a flurry of rumors and questions about the status of the tour and the band. The band issued a statement addressing the matter, saying, "It became overwhelmingly obvious to all of us around Howard that he is in no condition to be on tour right now and that he needed to get off the road and get himself better. It's a personal matter and while we understand everyone's curiosity and concern for Howard and the band, we appreciate everyone respecting Howard's privacy at this time."
Longtime friend Phil Labonte of ALL THAT REMAINS was able to fill in and help out the band for a few shows and he is now filling in for the remainder of the tour, which runs through March 21.
David Konow of GuitarWorld.com recently conducted an in-depth interview with former SUICIDAL TENDENCIES guitarist Rocky George. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
GuitarWorld.com: Why do you feel SUICIDAL was willing to do things differently when a lot of bands weren't?
Rocky George: I think it had a lot to do with the mindset of everybody. Maybe where we come from, too, and not conforming. I remember we were really proud of looking at old pictures. There weren't too many pictures where we looked at and went, "Oh my God, I can't believe what I'm wearing." That goes for the music too. We were just naturally doing what we wanted to do, what we felt like doing. I can't see how you can be ashamed of something when you're doing what you want to do.
GuitarWorld.com: The first SUICIDAL album is considered an important album in the metal/punk crossover. Did you feel it was a natural evolution that those genres would come together?
Rocky George: I never really thought about it back then. I don't really remember a drastic overnight change. I think it was gradual enough, because even in the early days we had a mixed crowd. In the mosh pit there were people with long hair, some mohawks, some skinheads and people with bandanas. I guess in some aspects it was good, because it seemed like the audience was getting bigger. There was a point, I think after we did that tour in '91 with QUEENSRŸCHE, when it started boosting a little more with the metal people.
GuitarWorld.com: The song "Institutionalized" was popular on underground radio, and the video got a lot of play on cable. Did you ever think that song would be a hit?
Rocky George: No [laughs]. Like I was saying about back then in '84, there were a lot of different kinds of people at the shows, especially in different cities. There would be a completely different type of crowd in every city and it had a lot to do with the video being played in clubs. In '84, '85, maybe a little in '86, a lot of videos they were playing on MTV were being played in dance clubs and bars and a lot of people were turned on to the band from seeing the video there. A lot of the videos we did were requested a lot, but MTV had a problem playing us. Someone there didn't like the name of the band so we were pushed to only a certain time of the day. We didn't break into the prime-time afternoon rotation. But I don't think we expected to be embraced by MTV that much at the time. Later on in the '90's we asked, "What do we have to do?" I forgot what video it was, but there was one we tried to obey their rules.
GuitarWorld.com: By the early '90's SUICIDAL played a big show at Irvine Meadows that went fine, then you were playing L.A. regularly after that.
Rocky George: It got to the point where we were selling a good number of records and making good crowds in some of these others cities. We were playing San Francisco a lot and promoters saw, "Okay, we can make some money." I guess it was a matter of finding the right venue for people to realize it wasn't going to be a problem.
GuitarWorld.com: So how did it feel to play L.A. after all that time?
Rocky George: It was nice. It was good.
GuitarWorld.com: Was this the tour you did with PANTERA opening?
Rocky George: We played the Bren Center with them in Irvine in 1990. That was the third show of the tour but that was PANTERA's first show with us. Actually, I didn't even see them. It took me until Denver to see them and when I did I was an instant fan. I thought they were really amazing and I knew they were gonna start taking off because they were really good. They had a lot of energy. They had integrity, they enjoyed what they were doing and they meant what they were doing. Dimebag was an awesome guy. We got along real well. We had a lot of similarities.
GuitarWorld.com: Watching Dime then, did you feel he would go on to be a guitar hero?
Rocky George: I thought he was already there. He was completely refined. It was just a matter of people seeing him. It's funny because I didn't know that by the time we were playing with them that Dave Mustaine asked him to join MEGADETH. He would not have worked good with Dave. Their personalities just wouldn't mesh. But the fact that Dave saw that in him too, I figured more people would know. I think he made a good decision not taking that. He said he was bribed with shoes [laughs]. And free guitars.
Rock Radio conducted an interview with Santa Barbara, California metallers DEVILDRIVER at the Hammerfest II festival, which was held March 11-13, 2010 at Pontins, Prestatyn Sands, North Wales, United Kingdom. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.
In a recent interview with Metal As Fuck, DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara stated about the group's plans for its next studio album, "Record five with this band, and I've said it before, even with record five, six, seven, eight and nine, will continue to get better. Not a lot of bands can say that and not a lot of bands have done that. Most bands, by the time they've done that amount of records, they're either over it or they're not giving you the anticipation of the record release that they should. But we want to keep DEVILDRIVER fans on their feet. So every two years we're going to release a record and just continue to tour like we do, and we're booked until May 2012. Then we're going to take about six months off. That'll be the most time I've had off in about fourteen years."
"Another Night In London", the new video from DEVILDRIVER, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Daniel Burke and contains performance footage that was shot in October 2009 in London, England during DEVILDRIVER's last European headlining tour.
DEVILDRIVER interviewed by Rock Radio (click on player below to launch audio):
HELLYEAH — the new band featuring members of MUDVAYNE, PANTERA and NOTHINGFACE — will team up with SEETHER, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, DROWNING POOL and LACUNA COIL for the following dates:
May 11 - Madison, WI – Alliant Energy Center May 18 - La Crosse, WI – La Crosse Center Arena May 19 - Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center May 22 - Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom (HELLYEAH and SEETHER only)
HELLYEAH guitarist Tom Maxwell was interviewed by Metal Sanaz at this year's NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, which was held January 14-17, 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. The chat, which originally aired as part of Dean Guitars' "Live from NAMM" webcast, can be viewed below.
HELLYEAH has set June 1 as the release date for its yet-to-be-titled second album. Drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott told Revolver TV that the record is "a little more Southern, a little more rock and roll" than the band's self-titled 2007 debut, adding that "it's got some very, very metal moments on it, too. It's just a wide variety of all the different kind of influences that all of us grew up on, and I'm really proud of it."
Abbott said that the band is about three-quarters of the way through recording.
HELLYEAH is recording at Abbott's home in Arlington, Texas, where he has a studio set up. Singer Chad Gray gave The Pulse of Radio a quick description of the house. "Well, he lives up on this ridiculous hill," he said. "The driveway's so steep, like, I mean even when it's raining, it's dangerous. I've talked to people that go there and they're like, you just park down at the bottom and you've got to walk up. And I mean, it's a pretty big house. Big high ceilings, he's probably got 45-foot ceilings, I think, in his living room, which is why we're recording drums there, 'cause it makes for good ambience. It's got a swimming pool shaped like a Crown Royal bottle, kitchen, smoker, grill...that's the tour."
Abbott also said in his video interview that HELLYEAH will head out on a two-year tour beginning with a radio show on April 24 in Tampa, Florida.
In addition to Abbott and Gray, HELLYEAH features Gray's MUDVAYNE bandmate Greg Tribbett on guitar, Tom Maxwell (NOTHINGFACE) on guitar,and Bob "Zilla" Kakaha of DAMAGEPLAN on bass.
The group's self-titled debut has sold more than 350,000 copies since coming out in April 2007.
NCAA March Madness is in full swing and it won't be long before the teams are whittled down for the NCAA Men's Final Four semifinal and national championship games. Gearing up for the excitement, today, AT&T and the NCAA announced iconic rock band STONE TEMPLE PILOTS will usher in the action-packed weekend by headlining the AT&T Block Party. The Block Party is part of The Big Dance Concert Series — a free three-day music and entertainment festival held in downtown Indianapolis' White River State Park, April 2-4.
The STONE TEMPLE PILOTS will kick off the concert series on Friday evening during the AT&T Block Party on opening night of The Big Dance, where music and basketball collide. As one of the first performances by the multi-platinum recording group in nearly ten years, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS will debut songs off its new self-titled "Stone Temple Pilots", which will drop around the globe on May 25.
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS had 15 singles on the Billboard Top Ten and sold more than 35 million albums worldwide.
"We are all so excited about heading into Indianapolis! Glad to see they are hosting the NCAA finals again," said Dean DeLeo, guitarist for STONE TEMPLE PILOTS. "It's a great city they have there, and we dig the Colts, too!"
"AT&T is proud to sponsor STP and bring fans closer to one of the greatest rock acts of our time during The Big Dance," said Jamie Kerr, senior manager, AT&T National Sponsorships. "And, we're also giving fans a sneak preview of the four Naismith Trophy finalists beforehand by inviting them to ask these stellar student-athletes questions via SMS. It's another way we're connecting our customers with what matters most to them."
The Naismith Preview Show allows fans special access through a text message Q&A session with the four finalists eligible for the Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T — one of the most prestigious awards in college basketball. The Naismith Preview Show takes place just before STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' evening performance.
"The Big Dance celebration is a way to thank fans who come out to be part of what's certain to be an exciting weekend during the NCAA Men's Final Four," said Greg Shaheen, NCAA senior vice president for basketball and business strategies. "With plenty of free entertainment and award-winning acts performing against the backdrop of the gorgeous White River State Park in Downtown Indianapolis, visitors and locals alike are guaranteed a good time."
White River State Park, site of The Big Dance, is conveniently located in downtown Indianapolis. The Park is home to numerous tourist attractions, including the NCAA Hall of Champions, a facility that features sports exhibits and displays while explaining the academic and athletic mission of NCAA student-athletes and the mission of the Association. There will also be a variety of new exhibits during the Men's Final Four such as a vintage exhibit highlighting some of the best games throughout the history of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
"Lemmy", the long-awaited documentary examining the life and career of MOTÖRHEAD front man and rock icon Lemmy Kilmister — made its debut during the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival this past Monday, March 15 at the historic Paramount Theatre in Austin.
Following the screening, Kilmister himself participated in a very special question-and-answer session with "Lemmy" directors/producers Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski.
Video footage of the question-and-answer session can be viewed below.
An exclusive screening of "Lemmy" will also be held at 9:15 p.m. on Friday, March 19 at the 1,200-seat Paramount Theatre as part of the SXSW Music Festival.
Olliver and Orshoski spent three years following Kilmister around the globe — from his Hollywood home to the hockey arenas of Russia.
"Lemmy" features appearances by such high-profile Kilmister friends/peers as METALLICA, Dave Grohl, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Billy Bob Thornton and pro wrestler Triple H.
Seats for both the March 19 screening are first-come-first-served, but SXSW Film Festival badge holders get priority seating, followed by SXSW Film Festival passholders. Individual tickets will be sold at the Paramount Theater 15 minutes prior to the screening until capacity is reached.
For more information on film festival badges, visit www.sxsw.com.
Fans without festival badges or passes are encouraged to get to the theater early to avoid being shut out.
The SXSW Film Festival runs March 12-20. The music festival runs March 16-20.
The Paramount Theatre is located at 713 Congress Avenue in Austin. Box office information: (512) 472-5470.
Hailed as a godfather of heavy metal, 64-year-old Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister has established himself as the living embodiment of rock and roll over the past four decades. After stints with popular Mersey beat band THE ROCKIN' VICKERS and influential psychedelic rockers HAWKWIND, and even a brief time spent as a member of Jimi Hendrix's road crew, Lemmy formed MOTÖRHEAD in 1975.
Going on to record such influential metal classics as "Overkill", "Ace of Spades" and "Bomber", the Grammy Award-winning MOTÖRHEAD and Kilmister's fusion of punk and metal registered a major influence on such bands as METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES and NIRVANA.
Says FOO FIGHTERS leader and ex-NIRVANA drummer Dave Grohl, "If anyone deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it's Lemmy. Give me a fuckin' break!"
2010 marks the 35th anniversary of the birth of MOTÖRHEAD, which features Kilmister, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee.
PublicQuestion1.com conducted an interview with SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera on March 11, 2010 in Sayreville, New Jersey.
SOULFLY filmed a video for the song "Rise Of The Fallen" during the band's March 17, 2010 live performance at the Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie, New York. Directing the clip was Dale "Rage" Resteghini, who has helmed over 550 music videos since 2003, including clips for such metal bands as MUDVAYNE, HATEBREED, ANTHRAX, and SHADOWS FALL. Rage has also directed videos for some of the biggest names in the hip hop world, including Lil Wayne, Diddy, Snoop Dog, and Ice Cube.
"Rise Of The Fallen" will appear on SOULFLY's seventh album, "Omen", which is scheduled for release on May 25 via Roadrunner Records.
"Omen" was recorded at Edge Of The Earth studios in Hollywood, California with co-producer Logan Mader (MACHINE HEAD, DIVINE HERESY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, GOJIRA, DEVILDRIVER) and it features guest appearances by THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN frontman Greg Puciato and PRONG mainman Tommy Victor.
Of the collaborations, guitarist/vocalist Max Cavalera says, "The first one is a song with Tommy Victor from PRONG sharing vocals on a song called 'Lethal Injection'. The other is 'Rise of the Fallen', with shared vocals from Greg Puciato, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN's singer. I also recorded two B-sides with both of my sons playing drums. Igor Cavalera plays on EXCEL's 'Your Life, My Life', and Zyon Cavalera plays on SEPULTURA's 'Refuse/Resist' cover."
"Omen" track listing:
01. Bloodbath & Beyond 02. Rise of the Fallen 03. Counter Sabotage 04. Jeffrey Dahmer 05. Lethal Injection 06. Great Depression 07. Mega-Doom 08. Kingdom 09. Off With Their Heads 10. Vulture Culture 11. Soulfly 7
Bonus / B-side tracks:
* Four Sticks (LED ZEPPELIN cover) * Refuse/Resist (SEPULTURA cover; feat. Max's son Zyon on drums) * Your Life, My Life (EXCEL cover; feat. Max's son Igor on drums)
12 minutes' worth of behind-the-scenes footage from the making of legendary guitarist Slash's (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER) first true solo album, simply entitled "Slash", can be viewed in two parts below. The clips contain footage from the recording sessions for the CD, including appearances by Fergie, Kid Rock, Lemmy Kilmister, Adam Levine of MAROON 5, M. Shadows of AVENGED SEVENFOLD, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, and Andrew Stockdale of WOLFMOTHER.
"By The Sword", the first single from "Slash", will be released as a digital single on March 28. The track was co-written by and features a guest appearance by Andrew Stockdale of the Australian retro-rock combo WOLFMOTHER.
"By The Sword" is now available for streaming at AOL's Spinner. It can also be heard below.
"'By The Sword' is a favorite of mine off the album," Slash tells Spinner. "I really enjoyed meeting and working with Andrew Stockdale. It was a solid collaborative effort and his voice is fantastic."
"Slash" will be released in North America on April 6 via EMI Label Services and in the U.K. on May 10 through Roadrunner Records. The album features an all-star roster of guest musicians, including Ian Astbury, Chris Cornell, Rocco DeLuca, Fergie, Dave Grohl, Myles Kennedy, Kid Rock, Lemmy Kilmister, Adam Levine of MAROON 5, Duff McKagan, M. Shadows of AVENGED SEVENFOLD, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, and Stockdale.
"Slash" was produced by Eric Valentine (QUEENS OF STONE AGE, THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS) and was completed with the rhythm section of bassist Chris Chaney (JANE'S ADDICTION) and drummer Josh Freese (NINE INCH NAILS). Slash handled the majority of arranging and songwriting duties and hand-picked each guest artist. The album's guests worked collaboratively with Slash to round out the song.
The track listing is as follows (guest vocalists in parenthesis):
01. Ghost (Ian Astbury, feat. Izzy Stradlin) (3:34) 02. Crucify The Dead (Ozzy Osbourne) (4:04) 03. Beautiful Dangerous (Fergie) (4:35) 04. Promise (Chris Cornell) (4:41) 05. By The Sword (Andrew Stockdale) (4:50) 06. Gotten (Adam Levine) (5:05) 07. Doctor Alibi (Lemmy) (3:07) 08. Watch This Dave (Dave Grohl, Duff McKagan) (3:46) 09. I Hold On (Kid Rock) (4:10) 10. Nothing To Say (M. Shadows) (5:27) 11. Starlight (Myles Kennedy) (5:35) 12. Saint Is A Sinner Too (Rocco De Luca) (3:28) 13. We're All Gonna Die (Iggy Pop) (4:30)
Australian hard rockers AIRBOURNE were recently interviewed by U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine at the Hard Rock Café in London, England. Watch the chat below.
AIRBOURNE's sophomore album, "No Guts. No Glory.", is scheduled for release in the U.S. on April 20 via Roadrunner Records. The CD came out in Europe on March 8 and in Canada on March 9.
AIRBOURNE traveled to the Windy City to record "No Guts. No Glory." with producer Johnny K, live and straight to analog tape. Like debut album "Runnin' Wild", "No Guts. No Glory." continues that good time vibe, but ultimately, according to drummer Ryan O'Keeffe, the record is about "standing up and going for it, and being a man. There's a tougher element to the album, so to speak." Instead of sleeping every night in a comfortable hotel room bed on the label's dime, the band actually slept in the studio, taking inspiration from Bruce Springsteen and his E STREET BAND, who were known to live in the studio until an album was completed.
AIRBOURNE will be spreading its rock 'n' roll seeds all across the U.S. this spring when it embarks on a full U.S. tour supporting BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE.
Felicity Hall conducted an interview with EDGUY/AVANTASIA frontman Tobias Sammet at the Hammerfest II festival, which was held March 11-13, 2010 at Pontins, Prestatyn Sands, North Wales, United Kingdom. You can now watch the chat below.
You are now able to stream the two new albums from AVANTASIA — "The Wicked Symphony" and "Angel Of Babylon" — at TobiasSammet.com (free sign-up required).
AVANTASIA will celebrate its comeback this spring with a new epic masterpiece, to be released on April 3, 2010 as regular CDs, two separate double picture vinyls, and as a beautiful collector's edition with an AVANTASIA picture book. The deluxe box set will feature two CDs in two digibooks with impressive booklets, codes for online content (like bonus tracks, etc.) and the AVANTASIA book "The Wicked Trilogy", including many never-before-seen photos from the tour and from photo sessions, etc. An exclusive interview, liner notes, and a biography will also be included. All the album versions will be released simultaneously on April 3, so no one will be forced to buy everything piece by piece; instead everyone will be able to choose a version of his/her choice right from the release date.
"The Wicked Symphony" and "Angel Of Babylon" are the continuation of the trilogy that began with the 2008 album "The Scarecrow".
The cover artwork for the two CDs was created by Thomas Ewerhard, who also worked on EDGUY's "Hellfire Club" and AVANTASIA's "The Scarecrow" albums.
EDGUY's new DVD and separate 2-CD package, "Fucking With F*** - Live", came out in May 2009 via Nuclear Blast. The footage for the DVD was shot on November 3, 2006 at the Credicard Hall in São Paulo, Brazil and "presents a mind-blowing performance of Tobias Sammet [vocals] and his team," according to a press release. "More than 100 minutes including all hymns, as well as lots of bonus material featuring all video clips, road movies and interviews. Besides the DVD, there will be also a double live CD, separate, as well as part of a noble package along with the DVD."
"Tinnitus Sanctus", the latest album from EDGUY, debuted at No. 88 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.
Rock Radio conducted an interview with British extreme metal veterans AKERCOCKE at the Hammerfest II festival, which was held March 11-13, 2010 at Pontins, Prestatyn Sands, North Wales, United Kingdom. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.
Guitarist Matt Wilcock recently left AKERCOCKE. He said in a statement, "After five years with AKERCOCKE and a lot of good times, it's now time for me to move on. Musically, I'm differing a bit with the natural path that AKERCOCKE's taking, so it's best for me to part ways now. There's no shit between anyone, and I'm thoroughly looking forward to going out with a bang (or blast) on these last four shows [in early March as the support act for DARK FUNERAL]. Full respect to the guys, especially Jason [Mendonça] and Dave [Gray, drums]. I'll be continuing to work with Dave on THE ANTICHRIST IMPERIUM which will be up and running very soon. Also much respect to everyone I've met on the road and at shows etc."
Wilcock and Gray 's new project called THE ANTICHRIST IMPERIUM will have a MySpace page up in the coming month or two, along with audio samples. A summer release for the group's debut album is expected.
THE ANTICHRIST IMPERIUM is a three-piece outfit featuring Nikki from TED MAUL on vocals and bass, Matt on guitar and vocals and David on drums.
AKERCOCKE 's debut DVD, "A Decade of Devil Worship", is scheduled for release later this year.
AKERCOCKE's music video for the song "Axiom" was directed by Erica Herbert of HSI London (NIRVANA, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE). Her surrealist vision is the perfect compliment to AKERCOCKE's brutally beautiful sound. Deemed "a unique and beautiful visual outing" by Jason Mendonça, "Axiom" leaves the realm of mere music video and enters the realm of pure art.
"Axiom" comes off AKERCOCKE's latest release, "Antichrist" (2007), which is said to be "yet another step forward in AKERCOCKE's ever-evolving journey into darkness."
AKERCOCKE interviewed by Rock Radio (click on player below to launch audio):
Classic Rock Revisited editor Jeb Wright recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson for the "Decades Of Distortion" show on the Arkansas City, Kansas radio station KACY 102.5 FM. The chat is now available for streaming in two parts below.
When asked about the possibility of a reformation of MEGADETH's "Rust In Peace" lineup at some point in the future, Ellefson recently told Ultimate-Guitar.com, "There [aren't any plans for that], at least not right now. As a lot of fans probably know, Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH mainman] worked with Nick Menza on the reformation of that lineup in 2004 and it just didn't work. For whatever reason, Nick wasn't in the head space to come back and do it, and it just didn't work. I don't know if that opportunity will ever come around again. Musically, it may at some point. Marty left the group back in 2000 because he wanted to pursue other kinds of music, and I think he's happy doing what he's doing right now. My attitude is that, if anywhere on our travels around the world, if any former member wanted to come up and jam and play a song, especially in the spirit of what Dave and I have been able to accomplish with mending fences, I think that would be a fantastic thing. It would be really cool to see former members, even if they just came up and played one song just for old time's sake for the fans, and just began to make sure all fences are mended between members. I just think that that would be a fantastic thing, but that's just what I think. That would have to more importantly, I think, happen naturally because everybody wanted to do it, rather than forcing any type of a reunion."
MEGADETH recently commenced filming a video for the song "The Right To Go Insane" in South El Monte, California. The track comes off MEGADETH's latest album, "Endgame", which was recorded at Vic's Garage, the band's brand new, self-built studio in San Marcos, California. The CD was helmed by Mustaine and British producer Andy Sneap (EXODUS, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD).
MEGADETH has joined forces with TESTAMENT and EXODUS for a month-long jaunt that finds these thrash titans crisscrossing the nation on the "Rust in Peace" twentieth anniversary tour. These are incredibly special shows that will delight MEGADETH fans, as the band is playing its landmark, genre-defining album, 1990's "Rust in Peace", in its entirety, in addition to other MEGADETH setlist favorites.
David Ellefson interviewed by Jeb Wright (click on player below to launch audio):
Former MURDERDOLLS singer Wednesday 13 is putting the finishing touches on a new vinyl-only release entitled "From Here To The Hearse". This very limited (1,000 copies in the U.S.) gatefold, colored LP will showcase songs from the various stages of the singer's career and should be available in late May. It will contain songs from WEDNESDAY 13, BOURBON CROW and GUNFIRE 76 — as well as one previously unreleased track.
The "From Here To The Hearse" layout was once again handled by Marlene Elizabeth, who has done most of Wednesday 13's previous artwork, while the photos come from James Williams.
James was discovered via RazorStrike.com, a fan-run web site that allows fans to connect to musicians through various ways — interviews, show reviews or photo passes. RazorStrike.com helps give professional fans a foot in the door to reach their creative goals. Wednesday 13 saw James' photos on the site and believed they would be perfect for the release and is pleased to help James get his name out there.
"From Here To The Hearse" track listing:
Side 1:
01. Gimmie Gimmie Bloodshed (WEDNESDAY 13) 02. From Here To The Hearse (WEDNESDAY 13) 03. B-Movie Babylon (WEDNESDAY 13) 04. I Love To Say Fuck (2007) (WEDNESDAY 13) 05. Suck My Dixie (BOURBON CROW)
Side 2:
01. Long Way To The Bottom (BOURBON CROW) 02. 197666 (WEDNESDAY 13 - live) 03. Los Angel-Less (GUNFIRE 76) 04. One More Reason (GUNFIRE 76) 05. It's A Wonderful Lie (previously unreleased)
Wednesday 13 is currently planning limited vinyl releases for all of his self-released product.
Wednesday 13's "F**k It, We'll Do It Live" DVD/CD was recorded on July 18, 2008 at the Crocodile Rock in Allentown, Pennsylvania and was released in October 2008. It was the first official live recording from the artist.
The March 24 "Atticus Metal Tour 2" concert at The Rave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin featuring Massachusetts metallers UNEARTH will be streamed live via TheRaveLive.com beginning at 7:15 p.m. EST. Also scheduled to appear are STICK TO YOUR GUNS, VEIL OF MAYA, THE GHOST INSIDE and CARNIFEX.
To access the free live concert stream:
1) Click on this link 2) Click on the "Free Signup" button at the upper right of the page 3) Choose the "Fan" option and fill out the information 4) Sign in on March 24 and click the "Live Webcast" tab and you're all set! 5) Mac users may need to download the Windows Media plugin Flip4Mac to watch
"Crow Killer", the latest video from UNEARTH, can be viewed below (courtesy of Bloody-Disgusting.com). This is a new version of the live video UNEARTH shot back in 2009 as a part of their bonus DVD that was released with the special edition of the band's latest album, "The March", on November 10, 2009.
Since 1910 musicians have associated visual arts with their sonic output in the form of the almighty album cover. And since 1987, Roadrunner Records has been a source of some visually stunning and visually disturbing images in the wide world of album art, nevertheless honoring the tradition. Whether using an image to set the tone for what's to follow on your speakers, or as a means of branding in forever associating a picture with a title, there is no question as to the power of the album cover — which is why the label took a look at every album released on Roadrunner Records U.S. to find the greatest covers in its celebrated history.
Voted on by the Roadrunner worldwide staff, showcasing the iconic vs. the blasphemous, the painted vs. the photographed, as well as the found art vs. the commissioned art, we give you the "Ten Greatest Album Covers in Roadrunner History" — one at a time.
Feast your eyes on #7 below, and check back at RoadrunnerRecords.com every day as the label counts down to number one.
#10: KING DIAMOND - "Abigail" #9: MACHINE HEAD - "The Blackening" #8: TYPE O NEGATIVE - Slow, Deep And Hard
#7: SEPULTURA - Chaos A.D.
This 1993 release from Brazilian metallers SEPULTURA sonically sees the band transcend from their thrashing death metal aesthetic into a more eclectic output, showcasing groove-oriented paces, incorporating moody riffs, industrial soundscapes and even introducing hardcore punk elements throughout the record. With protest songs like "Refuse/ Resist" and the Jello Biafra-penned "Biotech is Godzilla" spouting conspiracy theories, the politically-charged lyrics aided in "Chaos A.D." becoming a breakthrough album for the band worldwide.
And as for the visual representation? SEPULTURA founder and former frontman Max Cavalera describes its conception: "'Chaos A.D.' was commissioned through Michael Whelan [whom] we already used on two albums before — 'Beneath the Remains' and 'Arise' — but 'Beneath the Remains' and 'Arise' were already existing paintings, and 'Chaos A.D.' was a brand new painting that was commissioned by us to Michael Whelan to create based on the name of the album. We gave it to him, and he came up with the body bag with the money upside down and all the electronic stuff going through the body bag and I think it was really cool."
Continues Cavalera, "There's a lot of detail in Michael Whelan's artwork. There's a lot of little things for people to look at — on the machinery you can see little hands and people's faces and stuff like that.
"I was really proud because I really like Michael Whelan, I think he's one of the best artists. And I'm really proud that I got to work with him on 'Chaos' and gave him ideas. He delivered, you know, he did a great album cover that a lot of people love."
In the YouTube clip below, Senior VP of A&R Monte Conner offers his point of view.
Norwegian black metallers MAYHEM have announced the following European tour dates with support from Slovenia's NOCTIFERIA:
May 23 - Music Pub - Cluj Napoca, Romania May 24 - Szene - Vienna, Austria May 25 - Exit - Prague, Czech Republic May 26 - Progresja - Warsaw, Poland May 27 - Loch Ness - Krakow, Poland May 28 - Coloseum - Kosice, Slovakia May 30 - Hristo Botev - Sophia, Bulgaria (w/ VENOM) May 31 - SKC - Beograd, Serbia Jun. 01 - Pieffe Factory - Lucinico, Italy (Slovenian border) Jun. 03 - [to be announced] - Rome, Italy
MAYHEM's previously announced "Deconsecration Part II" North American tour with TOMBS, LUDICRA and KRALLICE, which was scheduled to kick off on April 7 in Washington D.C., was cancelled.
MAYHEM last year announced the addition of French guitarist Silmaeth (ex-VORKREIST) to the group's touring lineup.
MAYHEM's current live formation is as follows:
Attila Csihar: Vocals Necrobutcher (a.k.a. Jørn Stubberud): Bass Hellhammer (a.k.a. Jan Axel Blomberg): Drums Morfeus (a.k.a. Krister Dreyer): Guitar Silmaeth: Guitar
Swedish heavy metallers DREAM EVIL will be the main support on HAMMERFALL's U.K. tour this May.
Confirmed dates are as follows:
May 01 - Manchester, UK - Academy May 02 - Glasgow, UK - Cathouse May 03 - Sheffield, UK - Corporation May 04 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms May 05 - Wolverhampton, UK - Wulfrun Hall May 06 - London, UK - Electric Ballroom
"In The Night", the new album from DREAM EVIL, entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 53. The CD sold around 500 copies in the United States in its first week of release. It landed at position No. 83 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.
The "In The Night" artwork was created by Gustavo Sazes (ARCH ENEMY, FIREWIND, KRISIUN) and can be viewed below. The LP is also available as a classy limited edition mediabook CD with alternate artwork (pictured below), expanded booklet and including the special audio bonus tracks "Good Nightmare" and "The Return" as well as an exclusive patch.
A trailer for the album can be viewed below.
"In The Night" was once again produced at Sweden's Studio Fredman (DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL), which is owned by DREAM EVIL axeman Fredrik Nordström.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Immortal 02. In The Night 03. Bang Your Head 04. See The Light 05. Electric 06. Frostbite 07. On The Wind 08. The Ballad 09. In The Fires Of The Sun 10. Mean Machine 11. Kill, Burn, Be Evil 12. The Unchosen One
DREAM EVIL is currently taking part in a European mini-tour with STRATOVARIUS.
DREAM EVIL is:
Nick Night - Lead Vocals Dannee Demon - Guitar Pat Power - Drums Ritchie Rainbow - Guitar Pete Pain - Bass
Another new UNLEASHED track, "This Time We Fight", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the Swedish death metal veterans' tenth full-length album, "As Yggdrasil Trembles", which is due on March 19 in Europe and April 6 in the U.S. via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at guitarist Fredrik Folkare's Chrome studio, and is "the logical continuation from 'Midvinterblot' [2006] and 'Hammer Battalion' [2008]," according to the group. "Lyrically, you will recognize what has become the UNLEASHED trademark since more than 20 years, the combination of the past, present and future of viking struggle and way of life. A few of the songs also mark the beginning of a story never before told."
"As Yggdrasil Trembles" track listing:
01. Courage Today, Victory Tomorrow! 02. So It Begins 03. As Yggdrasil Trembles 04. Wir Kapitulieren Niemals 05. This Time We Fight 06. Master Of The Ancient Art 07. Chief Einherjar 08. Return Fire 09. Far Beyond Hell 10. Dead To Me 11. Yahweh And The Chosen Ones 12. Cannibalistic Epidemic Continues 13. Evil Dead (DEATH cover) (bonus track)
A track-by-track breakdown of "As Yggdrasil Trembles", by UNLEASHED frontman Johnny Hedlund can be found on the web site of the German edition of Metal Hammer magazine.
According to The Pulse of Radio, BOSTON guitarist and co-founder Tom Scholz is suing The Boston Herald and two of the paper's gossip columnists for insinuating he had a hand in the 2007 suicide of singer Brad Delp. Pollstar.com reports that Scholz' lawsuit named the paper and the columnists Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa, who were in charge of the Herald's "Inside Track" column at the time of Delp's death from carbon monoxide asphyxiation. The "Inside Track" ran two columns covering Delp's suicide — one of which was headlined "Pal's Snub Made Delp Do It: Boston Rocker's Ex-wife Speaks."
Sholz' suit states that the defendants "falsely suggested in headlines, content and via innuendo" that Scholz was responsible in some manner for Delp taking his own life in part because Fran Cosmo — a BOSTON bandmember and close friend of Delp's — was dropped from the band's tour. According to speculation, Delp was under pressure to perform with BOSTON as well a BEATLES tribute band featuring Cosmo. The libel case also states that Fee and Raposa were purposely slandering Scholz for their publicist friend who represented the tribute band.
The lawyer representing Scholz is said to have already won a $2 million libel suit against The Boston Herald.
Shortly before Delp's death Tom Scholz heaped praise on Delp's vocal abilities: "He's the best singer I've ever heard — period. I have worked with a ton of 'em — nobody can do the things that he can do. I'm not talking about singing high notes — lots of people can do that. He can do amazing things with his voice, and his grasp of music is just mind-boggling. The things that he can keep upstairs... it's like you're tapping into some kind of computer memory bank or something."
GUNS N' ROSES and METALLICA are the subject of the March 12, 2010 "Ask Billboard" column of the online version of Billboard magazine. A fan wrote in asking who has totaled more record sales — GUNS N' ROSES or METALLICA.
"Utilizing Nielsen SoundScan data, which dates to 1991, GUNS N' ROSES have totaled 24,914,000 albums sold in the U.S." Gary Trust of Billboard.com writes in his response. "1991's 'Use Your Illusion 2' leads with 5,587,000 units, followed closely by 'Use Your Illusion 1', at 5,502,000.
"In that span, METALLICA has sold 52,271,000 albums in the U.S., led by 1991's 'Metallica' with sales to date of 15,525,000.
"According to the Recording Industry of America (RIAA), whose data encompasses the bands' entire careers, METALLICA leads GUNS N' ROSES, 59 to 43.5 million. Among all artists, METALLICA ranks 18th, GUNS N' ROSES 30th."
Rock Radio conducted an interview with Los Angeles metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH at the Hammerfest II festival, which was held March 11-13, 2010 at Pontins, Prestatyn Sands, North Wales, United Kingdom. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH released a new single, "No One Gets Left Behind", in the U.K. on March 8 via Spinefarm Records.
Taken from the band's latest/second album, "War Is The Answer", and with studio track "Undone" included as a bonus, the single isavailable on seven-inch colored vinyl (a limited, hand-numbered pressing) and as a download with a digital booklet.
The artwork for both formats features photos sent to the group by fans currently serving in the U.S. military — specifically from Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 462.
Since the release of the debut FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH album, "The Way Of The Fist", back in 2007, the band has gained increasing support from U.S. troops on active service, as a result of which their "Death Squad" motif now regularly features on combat vehicles and choppers along with the "No One Gets Left Behind" call to arms.
This latest single, the third from "War Is The Answer", coincided with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's headline appearance at Hammerfest. The Prestatyn show will also witnessed the U.K. unveiling of a brand new mic stand designed for FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH frontman Ivan Moody by Alchemy Studios in the U.K.
Produced in solid stainless steel and weighing in at a massive 12-13 stone (!), the mic took over 120 hours to complete, and is a combination of the "classic Alchemy Gothic style" along with themes relating to the band's "War Is The Answer" release.
Jason Decay and Ian Chains of Canadian traditional metallers CAULDRON were recently interviewed on Canada's Hellbound Radio. Watch the chat below.
CAULDRON's "Chained Up In Chains" video can be viewed below. Shot during the "Waste The World" tour, the clip features the band doing what it does best — playing balls-to-the-wall traditional metal and acting like rock stars both on stage and off.
CAULDRON's full-length debut, "Chained To The Nite", was released on April 6, 2009 in Europe and May 5, 2009 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).
Rock My Monkey recently conducted an interview with guitarist Clint Lowery of Atlanta, Georgia's SEVENDUST. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
SEVENDUST — Lajon Witherspoon (vocals), Morgan Rose (drums/vocals), Clint Lowery (guitar/vocals), Vince Hornsby (bass/vocals), John Connolly (guitar/vocals) — will release its eight studio album, "Cold Day Memory", April 20 on the band's own 7Bros. Records, through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group. The CD — produced by Grammy Award winner Johnny K (DISTURBED, STAIND, 3 DOORS DOWN, PLAIN WHITE T'S) — is the group's first new album with its original lineup back together with Lowery's return after his departure in 2003.
The LP's first single, "Unraveling", is already getting a great reaction at rock radio and is currently #20 on the Active Rock chart (it's jumping to #18 next week).
The song is currently available on iTunes and is can be streamed on the band's MySpace page. A video is also in the works.
With back-to-back double-digit add weeks at Active Rock before its actual add date, this is the best-received SEVENDUST track in the last decade.
While SEVENDUST's last few efforts were mainly heavy and rhythmic, the new songs balance brutality with textural passages and infectious counter-melodies. There are even fleet-fingered guitar solos. But whether confronting the listener with double-bass drums and staccato power chords or using melodic arpeggios and soft brush strokes to sweeten the sound of Witherspoon's multi-faceted vocals, SEVENDUST sounds excited, energized and ready to take on the world.
All five band members contributed to the lyrics on "Cold Day Memory", and the songs were works in progress up until the moment they were recorded. In the end, the band crafted songs that encapsulated their experiences with the world and one another. Witherspoon, who recently became a father, penned some lines about commitment and responsibility, while Rose, who was going through a painful divorce, wrote lyrics about heartbreak and disillusionment. The album's first single, "Unraveling", was co-written by Lowery and Dave Bassett (SHINEDOWN, PUDDLE OF MUDD) and is about the collapse of a relationship, while "Confession" indirectly addresses Lowery quitting and returning to the band.
"Since we all write, it's hard to tell exactly what each song is about, but we like to leave it up to the listeners to decide for themselves," Rose says. "It's funny because in the end you almost don't know what you wrote. I remember telling John one time, 'Dude, that was an amazing line you wrote,' and he went, 'What are you talking about? You wrote that.' We wanted to change the template completely from what we did with our last album, 'Hope And Sorrow'. We were going, 'Let's bring back those other elements Clint brought in that made us what we were.' So we sort of made a silent agreement that we were going to let Clint run wild. We said we'll jump in when it's time, but if you've got an idea let's go with it."
There's something almost intangible about a band with strong chemistry. When the guitarists vibe off each other just right, the bassist is lock in step with the drummer, the music almost transcends the musicians. And when the vocalist is feeding off the power of the other players, almost anything is possible. It's something SEVENDUST learned early in its career when guitarist Clint Lowery joined forces with the eclectic Atlanta group.
"I knew once I got him in there that he could definitely change the band fully," says Rose. "His background vocals and his writing style and guitar playing were the final ingredients for us to become the band that we needed to be."
With Lowery as a major contributor, SEVENDUST released four albums that stretched the limits of hard rock and metal, combining elements of thrash, classic metal, southern rock and soul into songs that were both sinfully tuneful and ruthlessly aggressive. Then in 2003, after the release of "Seasons", the guitarist quit to focus on his other band DARK NEW DAY. SEVENDUST continued for three more albums, and enjoyed considerable success, but something was clearly missing. So, when the band reunited with Lowery in early 2008, it was like the missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle was finally reinserted and the picture was again complete.
"This record personally has been one of the most difficult, but most rewarding records I've ever worked on," explains Lowery. "I put a lot of pressure on myself to contribute good material to the guys after being gone for last three records and that helped me focus more than I ever had." Adds Lajon Witherspoon: "I feel this album shows new growth for the band. We're very happy to have Clint back and are looking forward for everyone hearing the magic that's made when we're all together!"
Clint Lowery interviewed by Rock My Monkey (click on player below to launch audio):
The long-awaited new solo album from EUROPE guitarist John Norum, entitled "Play Yard Blues", is scheduled for release on May 27 via Mascot Records. According to a press release, the CD is "full of steaming bluesy hard rock with great guitarwork and vocals."
"Play Yard Blues" track listing:
01. Let it Shine 02. Red Light Green High 03. It's Only Money 04. Got My Eyes on You 05. When Darkness Falls 06. Over and Done 07. Ditch Queen 08. Travel in the Dark 09. Born Again 10. Play Yard Blues
John is on the road extensively with EUROPE but is expected to embark on a solo tour later in the year or early next at the latest.
In other news, Mascot Records has released the compilation "Where Blues Meets Rock", featuring John's new solo track "Let It Shine".
Also on the Norum-related front, Norwegian guitarist Håvard Pedersen's new album (working title "Mobile Dreams") features John Norum (on lead guitar and vocals) on the track "Still In Love With You". The CD will be released by Cinematicworld Records on June 1.
Meanwhile, the second of guitarist Janne Stark's tributes to the Seventies was released on Grooveyard Records in February. The album, simply entitled "Volume Two", features John Norum showing his love for Frank Marino in a guitar-overdriven cover of "Talkin' 'bout A Feeling".
According to Billboard.com, Robbie Krieger of THE DOORS hit the stage with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS last night at Austin Music Hall in Austin, Texas for a spirited rendition of "Roadhouse Blues" and joined the band, and bassist Robert DeLeo's son, in the show-closing bows.
STP performed four songs from its upcoming self-titled album during the concert that kicked off a nine-city tour timed to the launch of the band's first single, "Between the Lines". Besides "Between the Lines", STP also previewed "Hickory Dichotomy", "Bagman" and "Huckleberry Crumble".
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. Vasoline 02. Crackerman 03. Wicked Garden 04. Hollywood Bitch 05. Between the Lines 06. Hickory Dichotomy 07. Big Empty 08. Sour Girl 09. Creep 10. Plush 11. Interstate Love Song 12. Bagman 13. Huckleberry 14. Sex Type Thing 15. Dead and Bloated 16. Roadhouse Blues 17. Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart
Fan-filmed video footage of the "Between the Lines" performance can be viewed below.
On Monday, March 22 at 11:00 a.m. EST, "Between The Lines" will be made available on STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' official Twitter page. The group states, "You've likely already heard the 20-second clip floating around the Internet, but it's nothing compared to the real thing!"
Sumerian thrashing black metal act MELECHESH will enter Babajim Studios in Istanbul, Turkey on April 10 to begin recording its as-yet-untitled fifth album for a summer release via Nuclear Blast Records.
Commented mainman Ashmedi: "We have been looking for a place to record that can offer us an inspiring surrounding. We also decided to stay true to our spirits, to break the mold (again) and also to defy the norm, hence we will record in Istanbul.
"You see, the norm is to record westwards. It is rather customary. [However] we want to head eastwards. So, Istanbul seemed the best place since this is the city where the east and west meet, mesh, clash, blend, collide etc. and has been as such for milleniums.
"The music is definitely MELECHESH and as always, this album has its own characteristic."
MELECHESH is currently in rehearsal mode, with guitarist Moloch scheduled to arrive in Amsterdam next week from Virginia.
Video footage of MELECHESH performing a brand new song on January 23, 2010 at the Baroeg club in Rotterdam, the Netherlands can be viewed below.
MELECHESH in December announced the addition of bassist Rahm to the group's ranks.
Commented Rahm: "I am honored and proud to be the new bass player of the Mesopotamian metal band MELECHESH. The last year I played nine shows [with MELECHESH as a session bassist] and I am ready for what is coming in the future. I think this is a big chance for me to do new things with excellent music and musicians!"
Added MELECHESH mainman Ashmedi: ”After several shows with Rahm, he proved to be a very good musician, and he has shown outstanding energy and positive attitude both on stage and off stage. And believe me, offstage matters a lot when you are travelling and spending a lot of time together on the road. I am very glad he is a part of the MELECHESH order."
MELECHESH's latest album, "Emissaries" — the follow-up to 2003's "Sphynx" — was released January 23, 2007 on Osmose Productions/The End Records.
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