Legendary guitarist Slash's (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER) will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Monday, April 12 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with Slash by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625).
"By The Sword", the first single from Slash's first true solo album, simply entitled "Slash", will be released as a digital single on March 28. Check out the single artwork below. 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.
In the U.K., "Slash" will see Roadrunner Records enter into a unique and innovative association with a U.K. media partner — the special-interest media group, Future. In a brand new concept in record distribution the standard album release will be preceded by a "fan pack," in which the Roadrunner Records album will be bundled together with a highly-collectable special issue of Future Publishing's Classic Rock magazine dedicated to Slash's career. The Slash "Fan Pack" featuring his debut solo album from Roadrunner Records, along with a 132-page "Classic Rock Presents: Slash" special, will have a cover price of £14.99 and will be available on magazine newsstands nationwide, in over 3,000 non-conventional music retail outlets such as WHSmith, all supermarket chains and many independent high street newsagents.
The Classic Rock Slashpack will also be the only album version to include two extra bonus tracks: "Baby Can't Drive" (featuring Alice Cooper and Nicole Scherzinger) and a cover of the classic GUNS N' ROSES track "Paradise City" (featuring Fergie and CYPRESS HILL).
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)
John Simpson of Australia's South-East Advertiser reports: A Morningside quadriplegic blinded in a freak accident at an AC/DC concert says he intends to sue the event's organizers.
Terry Watson, 32, was watching the sold-out show on February 27 from a special raised podium for wheelchairs when a mate accidentally hit the control stick on his motorized chair, sending him hurtling off the platform and on to the floor of the arena one meter below.
At the moment of impact, the end of a metal prod strapped to Watson's hand speared into his right eye, penetrating his brain.
Quality video footage of reunited Arizona thrashers SACRED REICH performing a cover version of the BLACK SABBATH classic "War Pigs" on March 6, 2010 at Circo Volador in Mexico City, Mexico can be viewed below (courtesy of Search & Destroy).
The remastered edition of SACRED REICH's classic 1992 album "Independent" will be released as a digipack and jewelbox on March 15, 2010 via Displeased Records. The first 2,500 copies will contain a free SACRED REICH patch.
Bonus tracks:
* "A Question" (from "A Question" EP) * "Let's Have A War" (FEAR cover from "A Question" EP) * "Who's To Blame" (from "A Question" EP) * "The Big Picture" (MDC cover from "Open Book" EP) * "Crawling" [radio edit] (from "Crawling" EP)
Displeased Records' reissue of SACRED REICH's classic album "The American Way" came out in February 2009. With upgraded layout, to-the-point remastering plus unreleased pre-production demo bonus tracks and a video clip, this new and improved CD reissue is an essential addition to every thrash metal collection!
"The American Way" was made available in a limited digipak version and standard jewel case version. The first 2,500 copies came with a free logo patch.
ANVIL's acclaimed documentary, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil", was honored in the "Best Documentary" category at this year's Independent Spirit Awards, which was held this past Friday night (March 5) at LA Live's panoramic event deck in downtown Los Angeles. ANVIL also performed twice during the ceremony, which aired live and uncut on IFC (Independent Film Channel). The film's director, Sacha Gervasi, said during his acceptance speech, "When I was 15 years old, this band took me out on the road and they showed me a lot of things, some of which I can't discuss on live television."
There's a direct connection between the Spirits and the movie: Rebecca Yeldham, the director of the Los Angeles Film Festival (which, like the Spirits, is under the auspices of Film Independent), produced the picture.
Video footage of ANVIL, along with Gervasi and Yeldham, answering questions in the press room at this year's Independent Spirit Awards can be viewed below. Also available is a short interview journalist Thomas Attila Lewis conducted with ANVIL on the red carpet of the event.
"Anvil! The Story of Anvil" is the directorial debut of screenwriter Sacha Gervasi ("The Terminal") and was produced by Rebecca Yeldham ("The Kite Runner" and "The Motorcycle Diaries"). The film follows guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner and their band, ANVIL, which released one of the heaviest albums in metal history, 1982's "Metal on Metal". The album influenced an entire musical generation of rock bands, including METALLICA, SLAYER, and ANTHRAX, who all went on to sell millions of records. ANVIL, on the other hand, took a different path — straight to obscurity. The film is both entertaining and touching as it follows their last-ditch quest for the fame and fortune that has been so elusive to them. "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" is a timeless tale of survival and the unadulterated passion it takes to follow your dream, year after year.
Praised as "the best documentary I've seen in years," by documentarian Michael Moore, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" contains appearances by an array of heavy metal icons, including METALLICA's Lars Ulrich, former member of GUNS N' ROSES, Slash, ANTHRAX's Scott Ian, and SLAYER's Tom Araya, among others.
VENOM fan site Site Of The Hydra has published photographs that were taken during the pioneering British black metal band's very first concert in 1980. These pictures have never been seen before, and are probably the rarest VENOM photos thus far. Check them out at this location.
VENOM recently completed a tour of Mexico and South America — the band's first with the group's latest addition, drummer Danny "Danté" Needham (TONY MARTIN).
Regarding when fans can expect to hear a new studio LP from the band, VENOM bassist/vocalist Conrad "Cronos" Lant recently told The Quietus, "The new album should be out by the summer of [2010], mate. The new tracks are tremendous. Basically, if you think of the way [former VENOM drummer] Antton [Antony Lant, who is also Cronos' brother] was playing, especially on the last album 'Hell', he is a nu-metal drummer and comes from that kind of background. He's hung 'round VENOM most of his life and it was just good to introduce him to the whole VENOM concept of playing like the way [original VENOM drummer] Abaddon used to play. Basically Abaddon came from a rock background and then basically developed a black metal, speed metal, thrash metal style. The nu-metal drumming is very different and it was a steep learning curve for him. At the end of the day he's got his own style and he wants to be known for what he's done and not be in my shadow, which is totally understandable. Some of the guys we had coming to the rehearsals were not ex-CRADLE OF FILTH but they were still, 'I've been in this band, I've been in that band,' but they were all far too young, you know. We were looking for someone in their thirties upwards who understood rock music."
When asked how the new songs compare to those off "Hell", Cronos said, "I would say more like those off 'Metal Black'. More like our earlier stuff. 'Hell' was getting a bit too much like session tracks. Too . . . polished. And polish isn't a good word for VENOM songs. VENOM songs need to be off the cuff, loose, a little bit thrash. Once you start polishing songs up a bit much you end up going in the wrong direction. There's a spontaneity about VENOM songs that I've always loved. When we're coming up with new VENOM songs there's one thing that I always try and keep in mind: 'Is that kid in his bedroom on his knees playing air guitar and going 'Yeah! Get in!'' You know? I'm not interested in Joe Satriani sitting there and discussing whether it's technically correct or not! That's the last thing on my mind."
Back On Black, which specializes in vinyl editions of classic metal albums and is dedicated to providing top-quality releases for record collectors and metal fans worldwide, re-released the first three classic albums from VENOM — 1981's "Welcome To Hell", 1982's "Black Metal" and 1984's "At War With Satan" — in January. All three LPs were remastered and were repackaged on 180-gram deluxe gatefold colored vinyl.
Fan-filmed video footage of VENOM's December 12, 2009 concert at São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo, Brazil can be viewed below (courtesy of "AlFranquim").
W.A.S.P. mainman Blackie Lawless was interviewed on this past Monday's (March 8) edition of "Eddie Trunk Live" on Sirius (channel 19) / XM Radio (channel 53). The chat can now be streamed in five parts below.
In a recent interview with Greg Olma of 69 Faces Of Rock, Lawless was asked how he knows when a song is done. "Oh, it talks to you," he replied. "When you're writing, one of the things you learn after you've been doing it for a while is once it starts to take shape, get out of the way of it. You see, it will start talking back to you after a while.
"All songwriters who have been doing this for a while will tell you this; that they [the songs] will talk back to you and the trick is to get yourself out of the way. Stop blocking it. Let it say what it wants to say and let it take you in the direction that it wants to go. Now, when it's done, and here is the torturous part that all creative people will tell you, it's then once you believe it's done, of then at looking at what are the alternative possibilities. That can be a torturous process because it's a lot of work for maybe a miniscule change.
"One of the things I learned from [Muhammad] Ali is the difference between good and great is the attention to detail. A lot of that, that last 10% as far as man hours goes, ends up being a lot more than the other 90% that got it going in the first place. So you have to go back, even when you think it's done, and say, 'Are there anymore possibilities of where we could go here or go there?' I think that at the end of the day, when you look at it and whether it's done or not, you ask yourself, 'Does this thing move me?' You can always tinker with something to death and it's not necessarily going to make it better. Sometimes it can make it worse."
When asked if there any plans on filming W.A.S.P.'s current tour for a possible CD or DVD release, Lawless said, "I don't know. We just finished three months in Europe and we did a lot of stuff over there. Some of it is actually really, really impressive-looking.
"This show that we're doing now has a movie screen behind us. We're running a lot of the old promo videos from the past and when you see 'Wild Child' or something like that, you see the old video behind us and it's in sync. You see me singing in the video from 20 years ago but you also see it in 3-D as I'm standing there singing in real time. It's got kind of a neat effect. When you see the presentation, it's pretty impressive and there is some really good stuff that we have, but I just don't know.
"The world has changed as far as the way bands approach making studio records and live records. I think live records are something you are going to see less and less of because labels aren't really interested in doing that anymore. Historically, a live record would have represented ½ of what a new studio release would have done. It's not just what bands want to do. You have a whole retail world that you have to take into consideration. Is Best Buy going to want to take that thing? There are all kinds of considerations that the people never think about. They think the artists make the sole decision and it's not always like that."
Quality footage of ALICE IN CHAINS' March 8, 2010 performance at Terminal 5 in New York City can be viewed below.
Just a few months after topping Billboard's Rock Songs chart with lead single "Check My Brain", ALICE IN CHAINS is maintaining chart domination with "Your Decision", their second consecutive No. 1 single from new album "Black Gives Way To Blue". "Your Decision" is also the 12th top ten mainstream rock hit of ALICE IN CHAINS' illustrious career. The track's debauchery-filled video, inspired in part by the film "Eyes Wide Shut", is currently the Most Played Video on MTV2.
The band recently launched an online comic book promotion allowing fans to add their chapters to the controversial storyline depicted in the "Your Decision" video. The "Your Decision" comic picks up where the video leaves off, with fans determining how the story ends. A page featuring a master storyboard with the comic's opening chapter was laid out at AliceInChains.com/YourDecision.
On March 10, ALICE IN CHAINS will launch a weekly video tour diary via MySpace. This video blog will capture backstage and on-the-road moments from the concluding dates of current North American tour. New footage will be launched each Wednesday for three weeks, so keep checking the band's MySpace page.
ALICE IN CHAINS has extended its current North American tour into mid-May, with a new leg of dates beginning on April 15 in Portland, Maine and ending on May 23 in Camden, New Jersey. More shows are likely to be announced to fill in the early part of May. The band is touring behind its 2009 comeback effort, "Black Gives Way To Blue", and singer/guitarist William DuVall told The Pulse of Radio that he likes what he's seeing in the audiences. "There's a lot of young people showing up, so that this thing has become a generational band now," he said. "So you've got people, 15, 16, 17 years old, that are coming of their own volition. I mean, they're not being brought there by their parents or anything. They're coming on their own. They're bringing their friends. So that's one thing that's a real sign that perhaps you're onto something."
"Black Gives Way To Blue" is the band's first new studio set in 14 years and features DuVall's recording debut with the group. He began singing with them live in 2006. Original frontman Layne Staley died in April 2002.
Inside Heavy recently conducted an interview with keyboardist Kasper Mårtenson of BARREN EARTH, the new Helsinki, Finland-based project featuring members of KREATOR, MOONSORROW, SWALLOW THE SUN and MANNHAI. You can now listen to the chat below.
BARREN EARTH's full-length debut, "Curse Of The Red River", will be released via Peaceville Records on the following dates:
March 29: Europe April 6: USA
The cover artwork was created by Travis Smith (OPETH, KATATONIA, BLOODBATH).
"Curse Of The Red River" track listing:
01. The Curse Of The Red River (7:52) 02. Our Twilight (5:27) 03. Forlorn Waves (4:39) 04. Flicker (6:42) 05. The Leer (4:56) 06. The Ritual Of Dawn (6:34) 07. Ere All Perish (5:54) 08. Cold Earth Chamber (5:34) 09. Deserted Morrows (6:50)
BARREN EARTH' debut four-song EP, "Our Twilight", was released on November 9, 2009 in Europe and November 17, 2009 in North America via Peaceville Records. According to a press release, the EP "opens with the title track, a fine exploration of brooding doom metal and prog sensibilities. Following this is 'Jewel', an exclusive bonus track taken from the album recording session from summer 2009. The second half of the EP comprises of two tracks, the epic 'The Flame of Serenity' and 'Floodred' — recorded in the summer of 2008 and specially remixed for this release by Dan Swanö (KATATONIA, OPETH, NOVEMBRE) at Unisound, who also provides additional keyboard parts on 'The Flame of Serenity'."
Formed in the fall of 2007, BARREN EARTH's music "combines elements of modern and traditional (death) metal with '70s prog rock and folk," according to the group's official bio. "Among the band's influences are artists like PARADISE LOST, OPETH, PINK FLOYD, JETHRO TULL and also some pioneers of Finnish prog. The members' individual backgrounds in many internationally known and acclaimed outfits is a testament to the quality of the band's music. These same backgrounds are obviously also echoed in BARREN EARTH's music."
BARREN EARTH is:
Mikko Kotamäki (SWALLOW THE SUN, EMPYREAN BANE) - Vocals Janne Perttilä (RYTMIHÄIRIÖ, MOONSORROW session) - Guitar Sami Yli-Sirniö (KREATOR, WALTARI) - Guitar Olli-Pekka Laine (MANNHAI, CHAOSBREED, ex-AMORPHIS) - Bass Kasper Mårtenson (VENHO) - Keyboards Marko Tarvonen (MOONSORROW) – Drums
For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.
U.K. female-fronted melodic metal outfit INNER EDEN has posted three new songs — "Whoregasm", "Template of Hate" and "The Haunting" — on the band's MySpace page. These are the first recordings to feature INNER EDEN's current lineup, which consists of Holly Bolus (KELTIC JIHAD) on vocals, Jay "The Machine" Murphy (AXIS OF EVIL) on guitar, Paul "PJ" Williams on guitar, John Rae (WYKKED WYTCH, PAIN CONTROL) on drums, Hans Stiles (DARK HERESY, OBSIDIAN) on bass and newest member, Adrian Carloss (PAIN CONTROL, HOSTILE) on keyboards and backing vocals.
INNER EDEN last release was the "Re:Birth" EP (2009), which was produced and mixed by Dan Sprigg (NAPALM DEATH, CRADLE OF FILTH, BRING ME THE HORIZON) and mastered by Tim Turan (AT THE GATES, EMPEROR, MOTÖRHEAD).
Ohio's WOE OF TYRANTS will release its third album, "Threnody", on April 13 via Metal Blade Records.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Tetelestai 02. Creatures Of The Mire 03. Venom Eye 04. Tempting The Wretch 05. Threnody 06. Bloodsmear 07. The Venus Orbit 08. Lightning Over Atlantis 09. Singing The Surrender 10. Descendit Ad Inferos (The Harrowing Of Hell)
The song "Tempting The Wretch" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
According to a press release from the label, "This time around, the guys have seriously turned up the shred-knob and churned out some of the most exciting songs we've heard swirling around the Metal Blade offices in quite some time. On this record, you'll find equal parts speed, groove and over-the-top guitar soloing. Headbanging will be mandatory."
Commented vocalist Chris Catanzaro: "We have a brand-baby-spankin'-new record that we finished recording at the end of 2009 with Jamie King producing, and to embrace the cliché, 'This is the most epic brutal stuff we've ever done and we're stoked on it!'
"For those of us who do not know what [the] word ['threnody'] means right off hand (I had to look it up as I was reading a passage from Ralph Waldo Emerson long ago), a threnody is a song or hymn inspired by the grief of losing someone you love.
"The album tells a story of a non-specific individual traveling between planets searching for answers, while paralleling Satan's fall from grace to damnation at the same time.
"We all experience a change at some point as we travel through life, albeit not of the same magnitude as Lucifer, that will render us either content, or disgusted. When disgust is the feeling, then we begin to miss our former self as if they were an entirely different person.
"I'd like to be clear that I'm not referring specifically to Christians, or Muslims, or Amish or whatever else the kids are doing these days. 'Threnody', as we are using it, is a story of grief over losing oneself.
"This album will surprise those familiar with our band, and hopefully surpass any preconceived notions of those who are listening to us for the first time.
"If you have expectations for this record to sound like our last two albums, it doesn't. Well, a little like the others, as we still prefer playing leads overdoing breakdowns, and we still wish we were WINTERSUN or DECAPITATED. But, for the most part, this record is new territory for us and we are excited to unleash it."
WOE OF TYRANTS will support OVERKILL on the band's 25th anniversary North American tour, dubbed Killfest 2010, in April/May 2010. The trek will span the length of the U.S., hitting spots in Canada, with one final show at New York City's Nokia Theater. Additional support on the tour will come from VADER, GOD DETHRONED, WARBRINGER and EVILE.
WOE OF TYRANTS' second album, "Kingdom Of Might", was released in January 2009 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was engineered in its entirety by Joey Sturgis of Foundation Studios (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, GWEN STACY, BROTHER VON DOOM).
Austin, Texas' THE SWORD entered the studio in February with producer Matt Bayles (MASTODON, ISIS, MINUS THE BEAR) to begin recording its third album for a late 2010 release via Kemado Records. Frontman J.D. Cronise tells AOL's Noisecreep that the as-yet-untitled record will have a broader hard rock sound but stresses that the band's aim isn't to broaden its appeal outside of the heavy metal market. "If more people listen that's great, but we're not doing it for that reason," he says. "We are just more interested in expanding our sound for ourselves. If we wanted to expand our audience we should just remake the second album over again, rather than challenge people with something new."
Cronise adds, "It's really a concept record. The songs revolve around a concept we came up with or spin off from it. It's not the kind of fantasy concept though, it's more sci-fi."
THE SWORD recently recorded a cover version of THIN LIZZY's "Cold Sweat" for a split seven-inchsingle that will be released through Volcom Entertainment's Vinyl Club. On the flip side will be YEAR LONG DISASTER covering THE SWORD's "Maiden, Mother & Crone" with Rob from KARMA TO BURN on drums.
THE SWORD has also scheduled a one-off show at Stubb's in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, March 16 as the support act for MOTÖRHEAD. Also slated to appear is YEAR LONG DISASTER.
THE SWORD's last album, "Gods of the Earth", was released on April 1, 2008 via Kemado Records.
"Rocket Skates", the new video from Sacramento's DEFTONES, is available for viewing below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Diamond Eyes", which is scheduled for release on May 18 via Reprise.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Diamond Eyes 02. Royal 03. CMND/CTRL 04. You've Seen the Butcher 05. Beauty School 06. Prince 07. Rocket Skates 08. Sextape 09. Risk 10. 976-EVIL 11. This Place Is Death
"Rocket Skates" will be available for purchase on April 17 as an exclusive, limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single pressing with a picture sleeve that supports national "Record Store Day."
In a recent interview with SPIN.com, DEFTONES frontman Chino Moreno stated about the forthcoming CD, "The dynamics DEFTONES are known for — aggressive overtones and lush openness. They're on opposite sides of the spectrum, but we meld them together without sounding contrived. There are a few heavy songs, too, like our first couple records, and there are also experimental tunes — but there's not a minute on this record that feels like it doesn't need to be there. Each sound complements the other. I'll straight-up say it: it's definitely one of our best albums."
Regarding he lyrical direction of the new album, Moreno said, "Well, I've been wanting to record a fantasy album like 'White Pony', where the lyrics are less, 'This is my life and this is what we're going through.' It helps take us away from reality. I don't like listening to people's problems — I like music. Music has been smothered with that complaining since the early-'90s. It gets old. Instead of going to the opposite side of the spectrum and listening to BLACK EYED PEAS, which is just straight silly, I choose to listen to more instrumental music. I do very little singing about myself on this record. I love songs where I can totally take myself out of being human. I can sing about really odd things, and they don't necessarily have to pertain to me at all. It paints a picture. Those are the kind of lyrics I grew up with — like THE CURE. Really visual images and no storytelling."
"Diamond Eyes" is DEFTONES' first album first since bassist Chi Cheng's life-altering car accident, which has left him in a comatose state.
During a recent interview with AOL's Noisecreep, Moreno explained that, after Chi's accident, the band nearly called it quits, but later, decided to work on an entirely new batch of songs with their friend Sergio Vega filling in on bass. They hired producer Nick Raskulinecz to work with them, and in just two months, they'd recorded an entirely new album. "I honestly think it's one of the best, if not the best records we've ever done," Moreno said. "My favorite record is 'Around the Fur'. It was written and recorded in four months, which was the fastest, easiest and funnest record we've ever made. This record totally has that feel to it."
Joe Matera of Ultimate-Guitar.com recently conducted an interview with guitarist Bill Kelliher of Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: Is there a lot of pressure on the band with album number five to out do its predecessor both commercially and creatively?
Kelliher: For me, I think it is all over if you don't top your last record. To have a healthy band and be a healthy artist, as you really need to keep out doing yourself on every record otherwise. You don't want to plateau, so you have to keep interesting ideas coming. And so far we've done that. It seems that with every record we've done, even as far back as "Remission" [2002], when that record came out people were saying, "How are they going to top that?" Looking back now that record was good, but that was when MASTODON was just a baby and growing. We're only ten years old now so I think the sky's the limit with ideas. I think we still have a lot of good ideas in us and a lot of fire under our asses. We have a lot good things going for us so we definitely want to keep the band alive and keep charging forward. I mean, I'm almost 40 years old so I don't feel like starting all over again with a new band and starting from scratch. You know, it's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: The group recently has just scored the music for a new upcoming movie called "Jonah Hex". How did that go?
Kelliher: It was great. After touring and touring, we had September of 2009 off, where I had all my wisdom teeth pulled out, which itself took a week and then we went straight to Los Angeles and spent a week there coming up with ideas. We watched the film in segments and wrote stuff there and ad-libbed some stuff. But we gave them more than enough material to use. So after we worked in the studio doing that, we then came home, Troy [Sanders] got married and other things had to be taken care of, and then went back on tour. When we are back home again in March, we may be a couple more small snippets for us to fill in and that's about it. It'll be done.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: The music industry is a tough business. What are some of the most important lessons you've learned since having gone pro on an international scale?
Kelliher: It is good to always be friends with your front-of-house guy. Don't ever piss him off! Or your monitor guy, too. Don't throw stuff at your monitor guy as he can push the stop button real quick and you can feedback in your in-ear pretty quick, if you know what I mean. Generally, be nice to everyone on your way up because on your way down they're going to be there and will remember what you dick you were.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: MASTODON has toured the world over and done countless tours with many other bands, many of whom are your heroes. Who are the heroes that you still would like to meet?
Kelliher: There are so many still I haven't met yet, I'd like to really meet Jimmy Page some day. But I've met some many of my idols so far, like Dave Grohl who is such a great guy and we've actually jammed together a little bit. Also, King Buzzo [Buzz Osborne] from the MELVINS is another of my heroes and I loved jamming with him. it would be great to write some music with him some day.
Powerhouse American vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) has scheduled the following European solo tour dates:
Owens last summer wrapped up a short European tour as the support act for HEAVEN & HELL.
Tim's backing band for the trek consisted of the following musicians:
Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORHCESTRA) - Guitar John Comprix (BEYOND FEAR, RINGWORM) - Guitar David Ellefson (MEGADETH, F5) - Bass Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO) - Drums
"Play My Game", the first solo album from Owens, landed at position No. 66 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.
"Play My Game" was released via SPV/Steamhammer. The offering consists of around a dozen brand-new tracks that Owens composed himself or together with renowned friends, such as Bob Kulick, Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA), Mike Callahan (ex-EARSHOT) and John Comprix (BEYOND FEAR, RINGWORM).
Professionally filmed video footage of Tim "Ripper" Owens performing the BEYOND FEAR track "Scream Machine" on June 13, 2009 at last year's Download festival at Donington Park, United Kingdom can be viewed below.
Legendary rock trio RUSH is among the 2010 inductees into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame/Le Panthéon Des Auteurs Et Compositeurs Canadiens (CSHF/PACC).
The 2010 inductees will be honored at the CSHF's sixth annual gala, presented by BMO Nesbitt Burns, on Sunday, March 28 at the George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts.
The full lineup of performers for the sixth annual gala has now been announced and includes include Canadian hardcore rockers ALEXISONFIRE performing "Tom Sawyer"; PRIMUS frontman Les Claypool playing a version of "The Spirit Of Radio"; and Canadian folk singer/songwriter JACOB MOON doing his rendition of "Subdivisions".
The 2010 Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame inductees include 11 influential songwriters, 16 timeless songs and two Legacy Award recipients. It was also announced today that the CSHF/PACC and the Toronto Centre for the Arts have established a strategic partnership that will help expand the CSHF/PACC's mandate by presenting regular and diverse music programming, ongoing educational initiatives and will create a permanent "bricks-and-mortar" home for the Hall of Fame located at the TCA.
Tickets for the March 28 CSHF gala, starting at $110.00, are now on sale and are available through Ticketmaster at 416-870-8000 or online at Ticketmaster.ca.
Hardline Media has announced the Paul Di'Anno "30th Anniversary Of Iron Maiden" tour. This is a very special tour, marking the 30th anniversary of the debut self-titled IRON MAIDEN album. For the first and only time in history, you will hear every song from the "Iron Maiden" LP played live, along with multiple tracks from "Killers", IRON MAIDEN's legendary second album. Some of the songs from the first LP have not been played live for nearly 30 years, so this is a very special occasion for Australian fans, as this occasion looks set to only happen in Oz.
Tickets look set to sell fast so get in quick, and there will be special V.I.P. packages available for the diehard fans. These packages will get you entry to the show, a merchandise bag, tour poster and a meet-and-greet with the Beast himself, Paul Di'Anno. Contact Hardline Media at hardlinem@yahoo.com for more information on these packages.
The dates are as follows:
Jun. 17 - Bar On The Hill - Newcastle, Australia Jun. 18 - Waves - Wollongong, Australia Jun. 19 - Gaelic Theatre - Sydney, Australia Jun. 20 - ANU - Canberra, Australia Jun. 24 - The Espy Gershwin Room - Melbourne, Australia Jun. 25 - Republic Bar - Hobart, Australia Jun. 26 - Fowlers Live - Adelaide, Australia Jun. 27 - Amplifier - Perth, Australia Jun. 29 - Rosies - Brisbane, Australia Jul. 01 - Al's Bar - Christchurch, New Zealand Jul. 02 - Bodega's - Wellington, New Zealand Jul. 03 - Transmission Room - Auckland, New Zealand
Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen is currently collaborating with James "Jim" Dooley and Slamm Andrews at Remote Control Productions in Santa Monica, California on "getting the orchestra arrangements ready" for her new solo album, "What Lies Beneath". She writes on her blog, "We are starting to discuss the mixing process with Slamm. He is going to be the one to mix all the orchestral tracks [while] other mixing engineers will mix the rock/heavy tracks."
She adds, "I have realized during this last month that some of the songs that I thought were not the strongest ones during the writing process turned out to be really good songs now when everything has been recorded. I will definitely have some trouble in choosing the ones that are going to end in the actual album. I guess it's a nice problem, though."
Turunen previously stated about "What Lies Beneath", "The process for my second album started back in June 2008. Among the first songs that my friends and I composed at that time, a character called Naiad was born. The fantasy story of Naiad gave me the idea for the album title and for the whole album concept: 'What Lies Beneath'.
"It has been wonderful to be able to brainstorm again and decide the direction the album is going to take. I hope that you will be surprised again by my work; because that's the way I like it."
Turunen will perform a special "Classic and Divine" opera rock show with a symphonic orchestra and choir on June 12, 2010 at the Miskolc International Opera Festival at at the Miskolc Ice Hall in Miskolc, Hungary. Tarja's two-hour set will include a selection of the best-loved songs from her "My Winter Storm" solo album, classical gems, unpredictable rock covers, tracks from her career with NIGHTWISH, and songs from her upcoming album, "What Lies Beneath". She will be accompanied by her own band, a symphonic orchestra and a choir.
Turunen recently recorded three songs for a Finnish Christmas album, produced by Olli Ahvenlahti. According to Turunen, this was "a charity project for missionary workers in Finland."
Tarja's last album, "My Winter Storm", was re-released in January 2009. This double CD "extended special edition" was packed with 32 tracks, including the CD "My Winter Storm" with the addition of the song "The Seer" in its original version. The bonus disc presented several new tracks, remixes and live recordings. Among them, the new song "Enough" and "The Seer", this time featuring a duet with German rock star Doro Pesch.
Mark Gillispie of The Plain Dealer reports that a Cleveland City Council committee on Tuesday (March 9) approved $1.2 million in loan guarantees for three planned feature-length films produced by Nehst Studios, a New York-based production company that has established an office in Cleveland.
On of the three films is "Strangeland: Disciple", the much-anticipated follow-up to "Strangeland" (1998), which TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider wrote and starred in as antagonist Captain Howdy.
The movie will be shot in Cleveland and its suburbs, said Nehst chairman Larry Meistrich. Production will begin once all the details have been finalized, he said.
Greater Cleveland is ideal for moviemaking because of its lower cost of living and its ability to stand in for a number of disparate locations, Meistrich said.
"Within 40 miles of midtown Cleveland, you can find suburbs, ghettos, farmland, sports stadiums and a waterfront," Meistrich said. "That doesn't exist in a lot of places."
In a February 2009 interview with FlickDirect, Snider stated about "Strangeland: Disciple", "'Hostel' and 'Saw' are children of 'Strangeland'. Before that, there was no torture genre; everyone was still beating the dead horse being chased and dying of 'Halloween'. The idea of being torn into had not been developed yet.
"I did a Fangoria radio show, dedicated to the world of horror; and the makers of 'Hostel' and 'Saw' would talk about how they loved 'Strangeland'. With 'Strangeland: Disciple', I'm going to take my crown back. That calls for a really intense effort on the part of the script.
"It is the graphic nature of 'Strangeland: Disciple'. It will be NC-17. We can allow ourselves to focus more on things happening to the subjects. We don't have to cut away so rapidly — so rabidly. 'R' leaves a lot to the imagination. I tend to leave a lot less to the imagination."
Regarding his decision to shoot for an NC-17 rating NC-17 from the MPAA's ratings board for "Strangeland: Disciple", Snider said, "I wanted to make the first one NC-17, but the company making the picture said, 'No, you can't. You won't get any screens. When did you last see an NC-17 movie at the multiplex?'
"There is a conservative undercurrent in this country that won't allow [this type of movie] to be seen. Their view is that the rating is to protect the public, not educate them.
"I know, from experience, that kids are buying tickets to 'Snow White' or whatever and sneaking in to see R-rated films. So we toned down 'Strangeland'. With 'Strangeland: Disciple', we are doing the reverse of what is going on today — which is to release the R-rated movie in the theaters and then do the unrated director's cut on DVD.
"When 'The Exorcist' came out, it only showed in New York and L.A. The word spread about this insane movie. The first cut was a lot more intense, with more subliminal cuts and things like the spider-walk that got taken out of the release version. People were passing out in the theater.
"We're going to do the initial screenings with NC-17, and then a wider release at 'R.' People will be going, 'You have to see the original.'
"I'm not making an intense picture for the purpose of making an intense picture. It's reality-based. The first one was also; when I wrote it, Internet crime didn't exist. In the last movie, Captain Howdy appears to burn to death — he is on fire. When you see how he survives, people will go, 'Oh crap, I get that!' It is reality-based."
A teaser for "The Tides", the new video from Washington D.C. metallers DARKEST HOUR, can be viewed below. The clip was helmed by the band's "close buddy" Joseph Pattisall and will make its online debut soon.
DARKEST HOUR is currently writing material for the follow-up to last year's "The Eternal Return" album. The band's next CD will be issued through an as-yet-undetermined new label following the group's split with Victory REcords, which released DARKEST HOUR's latest effort.
DARKEST HOUR will hit the road with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, IWRESTLEDABEARONCE and ANIMALS AS LEADERS starting on March 11 in New York. The month-long trek will make a stop in Austin, Texas at the SXSW (South By Southwest) music festival, where the DARKEST HOUR guys will perform at the Full Metal Texas event on March 18 alongside IRON AGE, BORN OF OSIRIS, UPON A BURNING BODY, YOUR DEMISE and many others. DARKEST HOUR will also play a headlining show with PERIPHERY on April 14 in Mesa, Arizona. After a couple days off, DARKEST HOUR will travel to Ohio on April 18 to play at a house party for the grand prize winner of last year's "Eternal Giveaway" contest.
"The Eternal Return" was produced by Brian McTernan (SENSES FAIL, THRICE, FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES) at his Baltimore, Maryland studio, Salad Days.
Drummer Marc Reign has left German thrashers DESTRUCTION due to "personal and musical differences" caused by "tour stress," according to a statement released by the band. The group adds, "Marc will concentrate on his rock project VOLCANO and wants to keep himself open for other musical styles. He wants to thank all the DESTRUCTION maniacs worldwide and the band for all the great fun and support over all those years!"
All previously announced shows will go ahead with a replacement drummer.
DESTRUCTION is currently writing new material that will "go more back to the roots," according to bassist/vocalist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer.
"A Savage Symphony - The History Of Annihilation", the new DVD from DESTRUCTION, will be released in North America on April 13. The disc was produced by Berlin, Germany's Roax Films and will include footage of the group 25th-anniversary concert at the 2007 edition of the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany (featuring many special guests, including former bandmembers), a band documentary and tons of bonus live material.
"A Savage Symphony - The History Of Annihilation" DVD track listing:
Live At Wacken Open Air - 2007:
01. Intro 02. The Butcher Strikes Back 03. Curse The Gods 04. Nailed To The Cross 04. Mad Butcher 06. Alliance Of Hellhoundz 07. Soul Collector 08. Deathtrap / Unconscious Ruins / Life Without Sense 09. The Antichrist 10. Reject Emotions 11. Thrash Till Death 12. Total Desaster 13. Eternal Ban 14. Bestial Invasion
Chapter II:
* The History Of Annihilation
Bonus Stuff:
* Video Clips * Nailed To The Road * Fans Till Death
"A Savage Symphony - The History Of Annihilation" Bonus CD
01. The Butcher Strikes Back 02. Curse The Gods 03. Nailed To The Cross 04. Mad Butcher 05. The Alliance Of Hellhoundz 06. D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. 07. Urge The Greed Of Gain 08. Metal Discharge 09. The Damned 10. Cracked Brain 11. Soul Collector 12. The 7 Deadly Sins 13. Antichrist 14. Reject Emotions 15. Thrash Till Death (3 Drumkits Wacken Inferno) 16. Total Desaster 17. Bestial Invasion
"The Curse Of The Antichrist - Live In Agony", the most recent double live album from DESTRUCTION, was released in North America on October 13, 2009 and in Europe on September 25, 2009 via AFM Records.
World-renowned music video director Dale "Rage" Resteghini has announced his new collaboration with Axl Rose and GUNS N' ROSES. Rage has been hired by Axl to document and shoot stills for the band's current South American tour.
Because of his unique eye, Rage has been asked throughout the years to shoot for metal and rock magazines and bands. However, due to his extremely busy schedule, he's not had the time to focus on anything other than videos. Still photography is a long-awaited career swing for Rage as he is better known for his music video and feature film directing, but with a resume as impressive as Rage's, it is sure to be a success.
According to a press release from Adrenaline PR (Rage's publicists), Axl wants to make some videos later in the year in support of GUNS N' ROSES' latest album, "Chinese Democracy", on the same grand scope and style of classics such as "November Rain".
Commented Rage: "Axl Rose is the quintessential rock-star frontman and is all things you'd expect and some you would not expect. He is very humorous and very, very passionate about his fans and ensuring that the legacy of GN'R as being one of most incredible and best-selling rock bands in the history of music remains intact."
Resteghini was born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised by blue-collar parents to whom Rage attributes his workaholic attitude. Rage is a man of many skills, as he is a sought-after director, runs his own management company called Raging Nation Management with his wife and partner, Kim, and helms his own production company. Rage also a record label imprint called Raging Nation Records, which is also run with his wife.
Since 2003 Rage has directed over 550 music videos, including clips for such metal bands as MUDVAYNE, HATEBREED, ANTHRAX, and SHADOWS FALL. Rage has also helmed videos for some of the biggest names in the hip hop world, including Lil Wayne, Diddy, Snoop Dog, and Ice Cube.
Rage's ability to do what he does stems from his youthful competitive nature and where he grew up. He does this with a chip on his shoulder with always something to prove. He says, "I was not supposed to be here. I should have been dead at least 10 different times in my life. I was arrested and in trouble a lot as a kid and not just the 'regular' little stuff and spent some real time locked up. For me to be here at this point in my life at the level of success I work in and being married to an amazing wife as well as being blessed to live where we live is an absolute dream. I did not go film school, I fight the politics of the business every day as well as break a lot of the rules and I do things my way, which is always coming from a place of wanting to do the very best job for my clients and it's that approach that has brought me all of my success and now I'm able to tour the world with a legendary band like GN'R. It's incredible and unbelievable at once."
A three-and-a-half-minute trailer for "Metafiction", the sophomore album from the Polish progressive rock/metal band VOTUM, can be viewed below. Due on March 22 via Mystic Production, the follow-up to "Time Must Have A Stop" (ProgRock) is once again a concept effort, consisting of seven dark/atmospheric/progressive compositions. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered between July and October 2009 at Izabelin Studio in Warsaw, where most chart-topping artists of the Polish music industry recorded their albums. The cover artwork was designed by the Mindfield group.
Commented the band: "This album is filled with charming melodies and real emotions. We also did our best not to hide away more aggressive approach known from 'Time Must Have A Stop'. We tried to create music that infiltrates mind, and gives you shivers down the spine — music that is both dark and uneasy, cold and enchanting.
"We hope that fans of atmospheric music with rock/metal inclinations will find on 'Metafiction' what they like most."
"Metafiction" track listing:
01. Falling Dream 02. Glassy Essence 03. Home 04. Faces 05. Stranger Than Fiction 06. Indifferent 07. December 20th
Two songs from "Metafiction" are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
Belgium-based metallers THURISAZ entered CCR Studio in Zulte, Belgium on February 12 with producer Kris Belean to begin recording their third album for a late 2010 release.
Video footage from the studio can be viewed below.
A pre-production/demo version of a new song, "Precious Scars", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
THURISAZ parted ways with bassist Lars Vereecke last year and replaced him with Hannes Leroy.
The band had its 2004 debut album, "Scent of a Dream", reissued in April 2008 through Shiver Records. The LP was remastered and contains an acoustic live version of "Years of Silence" as the bonus track.
THURISAZ' second full-length album, "Circadian Rhythm", was released in 2007 via Shiver.
Brazilian metallers ANGRA entered Norcal Studios in São Paulo, Brazil on February 17 to begin recording their seventh studio album, to be released in the second half of 2010. For the first time since its inception, the band is self-producing the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2006's "Aurora Consurgens", which will be a conceptual effort and will include 10 songs.
Commented singer Edu Falaschi: "Be prepared to hear one of the best albums in the history of ANGRA! It's secure! It will be a real masterpiece and [it will be followed by] the best tour of ANGRA! Power and quality, everything with the same magic like in the best moments of the band's history!"
More video footage from the pre-production sessions for ANGRA's new album can be viewed below.
ANGRA's current lineup includes drummer Ricardo Confessori (SHAMAN), who returned to ANGRA following the departure of Aquiles Priester (HANGAR).
The band took part in a massive Brazilian tour with SEPULTURA in May 2009.
ANGRA 2010 is:
Eduardo Falaschi - Vocals Kiko Loureiro - Guitar Felipe Andreoli - Bass Rafael Bittencourt - Guitar Ricardo Confessori - Drums
Falaschi recently launched his new official international fan club. The fan club offers its members a lot of exclusive material, including news, tabs, lyrics, wallpapers, screensavers, pictures etc. The service is available in English and French.
HardcoreSounds.Net conducted an interview with POISONBLACK/ex-SENTENCED frontman Ville Laihiala at this year's Helsinki Metal Meeting, which was held last month in Helsinki. The chat can now be viewed below.
"Buried Alive", a brand new song from POISONBLACK, is available for streaming on the group's MySpace page. The track comes off POISONBLACK's fourth album, "Of Rust And Bones", which will be released via Century Media Records on the following dates:
* Finland: Wednesday, March 17 * Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy: Friday, March 19 * Spain: Tuesday, March 23 * Sweden, Hungary: Wednesday, March 24 * Rest Of Europe: Monday, March 22
The follow-up to 2008's "A Dead Heavy Day" was recorded with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, who has previously worked with such acts as HIM, SENTENCED, AMORPHIS and ENSIFERUM.
Commented the band: "The main goal was, while recording, to have nothing more or less than two guitars, drums, bass and keyboards with vocals on top. Basically, record how we sound as a band. A lot of music was recorded 'live,' with everyone playing the song instead of Tarmo playing drums with only one guitar and a click track. A couple of songs were played totally naked.
"It's amazing how you really get into your instrument and the song when you don't have any clothes on... Hiili also played a big part in getting us in the right mood for each song.
"Lyrically the album is dealing with the uncontrollable craving for alcohol and boredom, frustration, hate, love and the fact that eventually everything will go down the drain."
The cover and booklet artwork was created by Teemu Hostikka and can be viewed below.
"Of Rust And Bones" track listing:
01. My Sun Shines Black 02. Leech 03. My World 04. Buried Alive 05. Invisible 06. Casket Case 07. Down The Drain 08. Alone 09. The Last Song 10. Half Past Dead (bonus track)
The limited-edition CD digipak featuring the bonus track "Half Past Dead" will be released in Finland and Germany only.
POISONBLACK will hit the road in beginning of April. The band will tour Finland and play some shows in Europe this coming spring and summer.
"A Dead Heavy Day" entered the Finnish chart at position No. 6.
Drummer Will Hunt of EVANESCENCE and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY recently stopped by the Affliction headquarters to pick up his custom-wrapped drums from ddrum.
Video footage of Will breaking in the drums, plus a short interview and clips from the photo shoot of Will in his new Affliction threads can be viewed below.
Hunt recently joined BLACK LABEL SOCIETY as the replacement for the band's longtime drummer, Craig Nunenmacher.
In a recent interview with Classic Rock magazine, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY mainman Zakk Wylde stated about Nunenmacher's departure and Hunt's addition, "Craig left on good terms. He wants to try some other music ideas, but I've told him that he's welcome back any time. That's the thing with this band. People come in, drink as much as they can, throw up, make some cash and then move on — but everyone's told they can return when they want.
"I know a load of drummers, but it was Jerry Cantrell [ALICE IN CHAINS] who recommended Will. The plan is for him to do the album and then tour with us. He's already said that he has commitments coming up with EVANESCENCE — but I've told him that's no problem, as long as he finds us someone else!"
Nunenmacher left BLACK LABEL SOCIETY after spending nearly 10 years with the band.
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's as-yet-untitled studio album is due for release this summer via Roadrunner Records in Europe and E1 Music in North America.
DEATHDESTRUCTION — the new Swedish metal "supergroup" featuring members of EVERGREY, HAMMERFALL and DEAD BY APRIL — entered IN FLAMES' IF Studios on February 15 with producer Roberto Laghi (IN FLAMES, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, LOK, SONIC SYNDICATE) to begin recording its debut album.
Video footage from the studio can be viewed in two parts below (courtesy of CrankItUp.se).
DEATHDESTRUCTION is:
Jimmie Strimell (DEAD BY APRIL) - Vocals Henrik Danhage (EVERGREY) - Guitar Fredrik "Loppan" Larsson (HAMMERFALL) - Bass Jonas Ekdahl (EVERGREY) - Drums
Formed in late 2003 by Danhage, Ekdahl and EVERGREY keyboardist Rikard Zander (who was handling the vocals in the band's earliest incarnation), DEATHDESTRUCTION began as an innocent "hobby project" before Henrik and Jonas realized they wanted to pursue the band more seriously. They eventually parted ways with Rikard and enlisted Larsson and Strimmell, both of whom were "very excited to join the band," according to the group's official bio.
Dutch symphonic metal act MAGION has just released its long-awaited debut album, "Close to Eternity". The CD was recorded in 2008 at Excess Studios (AFTER FOREVER, GOREFEST, AYREON, EPICA) in Rotterdam and was mastered by Dan Swanö.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Tabula Rasa (2:38) 02. Thirteen (5:36) 03. Murder of Innocence (5:22) 04. Greed (6:32) 05. Game of Madness (5:11) 06. Lost in Reality (8:48) 07. Forever Mine (7:12) 08. War of Hearts (6:26) 09. New Season (6:20) 10. Almost Immortal (9:53) 11. Song for the Living (4:32)
Formed in 2005 by drummer David de Waal and guitarist Chris Vrij, MAGION is scheduled to open for EPICA on March 19 in The Netherlands. They will also be featured on an upcoming Femme Metal compilation CD, which will include EPICA as well. All profits from sales of the compilation will go to benefit Macmillan Cancer Support & Research in the U.K.
MAGION is:
Vocals: Myrthe van Beest Guitars: Chris Vrij Guitars: Arjen van der Toorn Bass: Menno Bruggeling Synths: Walter Romberg Drums: David de Waal
Jon Wiederhorn of the MTV Music Blog recently conducted an interview with frontman Matt Pike of the Oakland, California-based power trio HIGH ON FIRE. The podcast can now be streamed using the audio player below.
HIGH ON FIRE's new album, "Snakes for the Divine", sold around 8,600 copies in its first week of release in the United States to debut at position No. 63 on The Billboard 200 chart. The follow-up to 2007's "Death is this Communion" was made available in North America on February 23 via E1 Music. The album was recorded at The Pass Studios in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman and is described in a press release as "HIGH ON FIRE's magnum opus, capturing every nuance of the legendary band's ongoing musical progression and evolution into one of heavy music's all-time greats. Sharper, faster and darker than anything the group has ever recorded, 'Snakes for the Divine' is an unrelenting tour de force, showcasing cult guitar hero Matt Pike's utterly unique and inventive musicianship and the band's epic, thundering sound. Premium production by Fidelman — the man who produced SLAYER's 'World Painted Blood' — boosts HIGH ON FIRE's strength and power while blackened lyrical tales of ancient wars, frozen planets and doomed societies emerge from Pike's bellowing barks and throaty war cries. From the moment the leviathan-like title track explodes to kick off the album, it is immediately evident that HIGH ON FIRE is determined to push modern heavy metal into new and uncharted realms."
The "Snakes for the Divine" album artwork was brought to life by longtime HIGH ON FIRE cover artist Arik Moonhawk Roper.
HIGH ON FIRE will headline the Action! Public Relations South by Southwest (SXSW) showcase on Wednesday, March 17 at Mohawk (912 Red River St.) in Austin, Texas. This all-ages event will be open to the public as well as SXSW badge and wristband holders.
In addition to HIGH ON FIRE, the Action! Public Relations SXSW showcase will feature live sets from critically acclaimed bands PRIESTESS (Montréal, Quebec, Canada), BISON B.C. (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), ZOROASTER (Atlanta, GEorgia), THE GATES OF SLUMBER (Indianapolis, Indiana) and NAAM (Brooklyn, New York).
Matt Pike interviewed by the MTV Music Blog (click on player below to launch audio):
"I Have Never Wanted To Be Number One", a brand new track from DANIEL LIONEYE — the Finnish band featuring HIM members Mikko "Linde" Lindström on guitar, bass and vocals and Janne "Burton" Puurtinen on keyboards alongside Black Vomit Bolton (ENOCHIAN CRESCENT) on drums — is available for streaming on the group's MySpace page. The song comes off DANIEL LIONEYE's new album, "Vol. II", which is scheduled for release in North America on April 27 via The End Records.
Commented Linde: ""This is no doubt the most accessible song on the album and believe it or not it was written about five years ago. It was meant to be an acoustic ballad but this album is not about acoustic ballads so we started to fuck around with it. At first I thought that it sticks out a bit too much from the rest of the stuff and wasn't sure if I should include it. It sounded too serious and stiff to me. Then Burton came in with his '80s keys and we added the blast beat part in the end and it changed my mind. Lyrically, I guess it is about moving on. But it kind of raises more questions than gives answers and I like to keep it that way."
Formed in 2001, DANIEL LIONEYE's debut album, "The King Of Rock 'N' Roll", was only released in Finland and Germany and was a tongue-in-cheek. psychedelic stoner rock LP. The group supported the effort by playing a handful of festivals in Finland, which resulted in the CD's title track being used as the theme song for Bam Margera's TV show, "Viva La Bam".
According to a press release, "Vol. II" is heavier than the band's previous CD and is being described as "an extreme rock n' roll album with influences from black metal."
"Vol. II" track listing:
01. Euroshaman 02. Flatlined 03. Saturnalia 04. Neolithic Way 05. I Saw Myself 06. The Mentat 07. I Have Never Wanted To Be Number One 08. Who Turned The Lights Out 09. Kiss Of The Cannibal
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