On October 5, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall, the Carnegie Hall Notables program — a membership and ticket program for music enthusiasts in their 20s and 30s — presents Redemption Song, an evening of conversation and song exploring the relationship between artistry, dependency, recovery, and longevity. This event features a one-night-only conversation between influential entertainers in music discussing struggles with drugs or alcohol. The evening will benefit music education in the New York metropolitan area by supporting the many music education programs made possible by Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute.
Musician, actor, and activist against substance abuse Henry Rollins will host an open discussion interspersed with readings and performance, inviting the audience to listen to musicians as they reflect upon their personal journeys and the impact that obstacles have had on their music. Blues, folk, jazz musician, and singer-songwriter, Rickie Lee Jones will perform selections from her acclaimed body of work, musician and drummer Steven Adler (GUNS N' ROSES, ADLER'S APPETITE) will read from his book "My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N' Roses", and musician Darryl "DMC" McDaniels (RUN-DMC) will also give a reading from his book "King of Rock: Respect, Responsibility, and My Life with Run-DMC".
Immediately following the discussion and performance, attendees are invited to attend an exclusive afterparty sponsored by FUZE Beverage at Providence, formerly a world-famous recording studio where THE ROLLING STONES, THE RAMONES, and JIMI HENDRIX created iconic records. Steven Adler will sign copies of "My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N' Roses" at the afterparty where guests will receive a complimentary copy.
Redemption Song and all annual Notables season-launch events are generously underwritten by Pia and Jimmy Zankel, who also serves as the co-chair of the Notables program.
The October 5 panel discussion and afterparty are free for Carnegie Hall Notables members at the Supporter level and higher. Admission is $40 for Notables members at the Prelude level and $60 for the general public.
For more information, please call 212-903-9734 or visit carnegiehall.org/redemptionsong.
Swedish black metallers WATAIN will take part in an exclusive signing session in Västerås, Sweden on Friday, September 3 at the Skivbörsen record store, located on Stora Gatan 36. The session will kick off at 6:00 p.m. and last for an hour. Later that night the band will perform live at the sold-out Sigurdsgatan 25 venue in Västerås.
WATAIN, who unleashed their "Lawless Darkness" full-length earlier this summer, will shower their blasphemy upon North American soil later this fall. The unholy trek will commence on November 6 at Mr. Smalls in Pittsburgh and bludgeon its way through over two dozen cities before coming to close on December 4 at the Opera House in Toronto. Support will come from GOATWHORE and BLACK ANVIL.
"Reaping Death", the new CD single from WATAIN, which was exclusively distributed in Sweden via Sweden Rock Magazine, was certified gold in the band's home country on April 21 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 10,000 copies. (Note: Each copy of the magazine sold in Sweden counted towards the certification.)
"Reaping Death" comes off WATAIN's fourth album, "Lawless Darkness", which entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 26 and dropped to No. 37 the following week.
"Lawless Darkness" sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 42 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.
"Lawless Darkness" was released in Europe on June 7 in a limited three-panel digipack edition with die-cut and a cover of DEATH SS' "Chains of Death" as a bonus track.
WATAIN will embark on a European headlining tour in the fall. Support on the trek will come from DESTROYER 666.
Acclaimed metal drummers Dave Lombardo, Paul Bostaph and Jon Dette — each one of whom has sat behind the kit for SLAYER at one point or another during the band's nearly-30-year-long career — posed for a joint photo this past Monday (August 30) in Long Beach, California. Check it out below.
SLAYER drummers (left to right in photo below):
* Jon Dette (1996-1997) * Dave Lombardo (1981-1986, 1987-1992, 2001-present) * Paul Bostaph (1992-1996, 1997-2001)
For the first time in its near-30-year history, SLAYER, the single most distinctive and radical thrash metal band ever, will see its ten American Recordings albums released as a limited-edition, high-end box set — "The Vinyl Conflict" (American Recordings/Sony Legacy). Ten albums on 11 discs, "The Vinyl Conflict" will feature the band's entire Def/American Recordings catalogue:
* Reign in Blood (1986) * South of Heaven (1988) * Seasons In The Abyss (1990) * Live Decade of Aggression (1991) * Divine Intervention (1994) * Undisputed Attitude (1998) * God Hates Us All (2001) * Christ Illusion (2006) * World Painted Blood (2009)
"The Vinyl Conflict" will be released on October 12, 2010.
"Most longtime SLAYER fans may not have these records at this point," said American Recordings' Dino Paredes, "or their copies are completely beat-up, so to have the complete catalogue in this first-class presentation is terrific. For the newer fans, this is their opportunity to really get into this band the way that they could have if they were born 20 years earlier."
American/Sony Legacy invested a great amount of care into making "The Vinyl Conflict", treating the albums the way they would treat a great jazz, classical, Bob Dylan or Miles Davis record, something that isn't normally done for metal records. All ten albums have been re-mastered from the original analog flat master tapes and were pressed on the highest quality, 180-gram audiophile vinyl at RTI, the most respected pressing plant in the U.S. and among the best in the world. Lacquers were cut and re-cut several times to ensure the highest sound quality. The individual vinyl discs will come in a standard, clear inner sleeve to preserve the vinyl, are then housed in high-quality litho-wrapped jackets, and then boxed in a hardcover slipcase. Additionally, reproductions of the original LP inner sleeve artwork were converted to 12X12 inserts.
"The vinyl box is a real treat for fans, especially with today's renewed and increased interest in vinyl," added Sony Legacy's Adam Farber. "It's been years and years since the SLAYER vinyl has been in print — only the two most recent albums are currently available on vinyl, the rest have been out of print for years and very hard to find. These albums sound spectacular — they sound like you've never heard them before."
"Everything about 'The Vinyl Conflict' — the look of it, the feel of it — it's very strong, very powerful, very SLAYER," added Paredes, "from the music to the dripping, bloody pentagram on the front of the box. It's perfect."
SLAYER is currently co-headlining the first leg of the "American Carnage" tour with MEGADETH that kicked off August 11 and goes through September 4. In addition, the band's three classic in-concert DVDs — "Live Intrusion", "War At The Warfield", and "Still Reigning" were released August 17, separately and as a limited-edition, 3-pak box set.
Voyageur Press has set an October 15 release date for "AC/DC High-Voltage Rock 'N' Roll - The Ultimate Illustrated History", which follows the band from its roots in Sydney, Australia, to its most recent releases and sold-out world tours. No stone is left unturned, from the band's formation and early gigs on the club circuit Down Under, to the 1980 death of singer Bon Scott and ultimately astounding worldwide success. Jam-packed with more than 400 illustrations — from handbills, posters, backstage passes, and vinyl from around the globe, as well as rare candid and performance photography — this massive contribution to the AC/DC library gives fans a all-access visual tour through almost four decades of unadulterated rock mastery. Additionally, sidebars and essays from top rock scribes examine all studio releases, document the band's numerous personnel changes, and delve into the guitar gear of the Young brothers, while musicians past and present comment and reflect on the band's lasting influence.
Complete with a specially commisioned band history and discography, an afterword from DEF LEPPARD's Joe Elliott, and a complete index, this book brings fans as close to the band as possible without a ticket.
Formed in 1973 by the brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, AC/DC has gone on to become one of the most popular and bestselling bands in history, thanks to live-wire stage shows and a sonic attack that has attracted fans from all rock camps.
AC/DC is often credited as pioneers of heavy metal, a tag that Angus and Malcolm Young both eschew, insisting they're simply a rock 'n' roll band. However the band is classified, their starring role in the history of rock is undeniable. Now, there is a book that dares to tackle that legacy.
Contributors:
* Phil Sutcliffe * Joe Bonomo * Danie Bukszpan * Jen Jewel Brown * Anthony Bozza * Garth Cartwright * Ian Christe * David Dunlap * Andrew Earles * Dave Hunter * James McNair * Martin Popoff * Sylvie Simmons * Bill Voccia
About the author: London-based freelance journalist Phil Sutcliffe has been writing about rock since 1974 and has interviewed greats like Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, PINK FLOYD, Kate Bush, RADIOHEAD, NIRVANA, Nick Cave, and QUEEN. His work has appeared in myriad publications, including Mojo, Q, the Los Angeles Times, Blender, Sounds, and more. Phil's back catalog is mostly available on the world's best archive of music writing: Rocksbackpages.com.
"Boundless", the new video from INSIDIOUS DISEASE (formerly INSIDIOUS) — the international metal project featuring members of DIMMU BORGIR, NAPALM DEATH, OLD MAN'S CHILD and MORGOTH — can be viewed below. The track comes off the band's debut album, "Shadowcast", which was released on July 12 in Europe and July 27 in the U.S. via Century Media Records.
Commented vocalist Marc Grewe: "This video features the guy from our 'Shadowcast' album cover. His name is Roar Hoch-Nielsen. The story behind it is obvious. Roar has the role of a loving father and husband with this kind of funny hobby. He likes to read riffle magazines and after the family went to bed he is starting his obscure work. My part in the video is being the 'electric eye' filming his work.
"We think that something like this happens; we had a case in Austria where this guy tortured his own daughter for over 25 years. He made everyone believe that he was a loving and caring father, but that clearly wasn't the case. Something like this could happen right now. Maybe it's your neighbor who seems to be the nicest person around, but behind closed doors the dark abyss of abnormality is the total reality.
"The plan for INSIDIOUS DISEASE is to hopefully go out on tour at the beginning of next year and of course it would be great to do some famous festivals.
"Hope that we will catch up with some of you sick motherfuckers soon. Until then enjoy our homage to Hitchcock and 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' done in our own morbid style!”
The "Shadowcast" bloodsoaked cover artwork was created by Kjell Ivar Lund and is being censored by the inclusion of a nice CD slipcase to avoid any trouble with the shops. Apart from an equally gory booklet, the limited-edition first-pressing CD includes two bonus tracks ("Insomaniac" plus a blistering cover of DEATH's classic "Leprosy").
Regarding the "Shadowcast" lyrical concept, guitarist Silenoz (also of DIMMU BORGIR) said, "The basic idea behind 'Shadowcast', lyrically, is an attempt to describe the 'misfits' in this world, the misunderstood, mentally defect and depraved individuals that walk among us — rapists, serial killers, pedophiles, necrophiles, drug addicts etc. It could be your neighbor, you just never know. Or, it could be YOU!
"Denial and self-denial are taboos that seldom are touched upon unless it's behind closed doors at the shrink's office. Even so, no matter how disturbing the subject might be, we hardly get to the bottom of it. Each text tries to approach the many outcast stereotypes we face in today's modern society, and how most of them once caught get neglected and pushed away instead of being offered proper assistance, support and help through various institutions according to their 'needs.'
"Let's face it, we humans equal shit.
"In some countries where death penalty apply the convicts also have to wait years before being executed, that is inhumane as things need to be dealt with as soon as possible. We humans are better at pushing things away and destroy than facing a problem and try to rehabilitate.
"Most people reading the lyrics and seeing the booklet photos will perhaps immediately assume that it's all about glorifying violence and hatred. But if you read between the lines, it's actually kinda the 'opposite,' portraying this very issue.
"So, the album title 'Shadowcast' has somewhat of a double meaning; all these 'actors and actresses' star in the 'shadowcast.' They are the true stars of the underground, our very own dark backyard. The backyard we humans hate dealing with because it means interacting with other people and as they mingle among us daily they continue to 'cast their shadows' at us."
INSIDIOUS DISEASE faced serious problems during the manufacturing process as pressing plants refused to produce the original design of the booklet due to its violent content as well as print the equally controversial lyrics.
Added Silenoz: "It's quite fascinating that in the year of 2010 album artwork can be so scary that manufacturing plants don't even dare to print it. I always thought reality still was more frightening compared to art in that sense, but I guess I was wrong! Controversy is still to be reckoned with in the world of metal and if we're being censored for being realistic and touch upon human flaws through our lyrics and art — then so be it!"
"Shadowcast" was recorded at a studio in Norway with producer Terje Andersen (a.k.a. Cyrus) of SUSPERIA and was mixed by Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR). NECROPHAGIA frontman Frank "Killjoy" Pucci co-wrote and contributed guest vocals to a cut called "Rituals Of Bloodshed".
INSIDIOUS DISEASE made its official live debut at last year's Wacken Open Air festival which was held July 30 - August 1, 2009 in Wacken, Germany.
INSIDIOUS DISEASE is:
Marc "Groo" Grewe (ex-MORGOTH) - Vocals Sven Atle Kopperud (a.k.a. Silenoz) (DIMMU BORGIR) - Guitar Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH) - Bass Tony Laureano (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, NILE, ANGELCORPSE) - Drums Jon Øyvind Andersen (a.k.a. Jardar) (OLD MAN'S CHILD) – Guitar
Guitarist Thomas Youngblood of American/Norwegian melodic metallers KAMELOT was recently interviewed by the band's official web site, Kamelot.com. A couple of excerpts from the question-and-answer session follow below.
Q: It has been a long period to see KAMELOT setting a new standard in the metal scene. Which factors do you think have been importants to make this possible?
Youngblood: Originality is foremost. Also trying to develop new ideas and sounds within the structure of the band. We work very hard on this, trying to avoid repeating something we have done in the past as well as making something that will stand the test of time. The same goes into the artwork and touring. Our live show now is very dynamic and we like to take the fans to another place at the concerts. We include the fans as much as possible into the show and when we are all clicking its very special. Also having a new guy like Sean [Tibbetts, bass] has fueled all of us even more on stage, he is bringing a fresh and hungry attitude to the band and it shows in all the gigs. He is a beast on stage and we have a battle every night to kick each other's ass live. [Laughs]
Q: We know you have a special dedication to your fans. How important is for you their passion to KAMELOT? How you managed this? Most of the bands are wanted to make money and they doesn’t listen to their fans…
Youngblood: Money is the last thing we are thinking about with the fans. For me it's 100 percent dedication to the art and performance of the songs. The songs, the songs. Our fans are foremost in the mind with all the preparations for touring and planning things like meet-and-greets etc. I meet so many fans on tour, they inspire me more than anything else to do my best on stage and make them proud to wear a KAMELOT t-shirt. It's like a massive family that is around the globe.
Q: The new album will be released in a few days. Sincerelly, what do you think your fans are gonna find on this record?
Youngblood: The fans will find a record with heart and soul and a dedication to the art of making music that is not disposable. A commitment from all of us to do our best until the final stop button is push and the final deadline has been reached. The melodies we all expect with new and fresh riffs and a clean and fast production.
Q: We have listened to some sample songs and it's a new step in your musical career but the "KAMELOT feeling" is impregnated on each song.
Youngblood: That will never leave, the KAMELOT feel will always be in our songs. But we will always push ourselves to make something new and challenge the senses with unique ideas. This album is, in my opinion, the most versatile in our history.
Q: You hired the artist Seth Siro Anton to create the new album artwork. As far as we know, there’s also another artist involved. How was the artwork process and the elaboration of the new ideas?
Youngblood: Seth did an amazing job on the cover and many on the interior booklet images. I found him searching for new artists and we all thought he had a very unique and artistic visionary approach. Natalie Shau also made some amazing pieces of art for the various editions of the new album. One of them is my absolute favorites and is the main image in the digipak limited.
Q: I see a lot bands touring through the years with the same stage stuffs like backdrops and images. With each new tour you work very hard with the stage production to offer new elements to your audience. What do you think about it? How's the elaboration process of a new stage?
Youngblood: Yes, we approach every new tour with design elements in mind. When we can do pyro, we do, also with new aesthetics for the imagery and fantasy of another place. One of the things I also credit [IRON] MAIDEN for is having a killer stage show and also imagery. We recently got Oliver [Palotai] a custom-made keyboard, for example, and just a simple thing like this opens up the door for ideas and creative ways to play. One thing you can be sure of, too, is that we are not a band that stands around in one place on stage.
Penelope Biver of the Illinois Entertainer recently conducted an interview with KISS drummer Eric Singer. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
On KISS:
"Whether it's going to Mount Rushmore or Yellowstone Park or the Statue Of Liberty, I say KISS is one of the Wonders Of The World. Maybe I'm biased because I'm in the band, but I really believe that you gotta see KISS at least once in your life. Even if you don't like KISS or don't know anything about them, I guarantee when you walk away from the show you're going to go, 'That was a lot of fun — I'll never see anything like that again.' I always say, 'It's rock 'n' roll meets the circus coming to town!'"
On how guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley brought up the idea of going back into the studio to record "Sonic Boom":
"I think what happened was he started thinking, 'Hey, this band sounds really good, we get along really good . . .' and when things are good you get inspired to do things. He also saw that the audience was getting younger, and I think things changed. Three years ago, I didn't think we'd do another record. In fact, I didn't think we'd be doing as much touring as we've been doing. But we started working on ideas while we were on tour; sometimes Paul or Gene [Simmons, bass] or Tommy [Thayer, guitar] would work on some riffs and when we got back to L.A. we'd go into the studio and record them.
“We did ['Sonic Boom'] the old-school way, playing together live to analog tape. Obviously we used some digital technology and modern stuff once we recorded basic tracks, because then it's easier to work. But it was done in a more easy, non-pressure, organic kind of way. I'd say it was probably about the easiest record I ever had to make, in the sense of not feeling pressure, like, 'O.K., you gotta do all your drum tracks in two or three days then you're done, later.' We took our time. It was a real pleasure to make. It was well-received, and we've had a blast the last year playing all these shows and we've already been talking about going into the studio and doing another record."
On touring:
"I don't want to say doing 'weekend warrior,' but the way our scheduling is sometimes we don't have to stay out on the road. We've been going out playing the weekend then coming home for a few days so everybody can have a little bit of recharge time, but more importantly everybody can have a chance to be with their families or deal with other things.
"When we go back out Friday, we'll be out on the East Coast and this time we'll be out for about two-and-a-half weeks before we have another couple days off. I guess this is the way country acts do it, I'm told, because, you know, they're very family-oriented. It's like people who go to work Monday through Friday and have the weekend off: We do it the other way around. It's a little crazy getting on a plane after you've played and have to fly across the country in the middle of the night and get home in the wee hours of the morning, but it's kinda nice because then when I wake up and I'm in my own bed and in my house and it isn't too bad."
On the band's audience:
"One thing we've really noticed is the demographic. There are a lot of young teenagers coming to the shows. Sure they've heard about the band either from their parents or from [the video games] 'Rock Band' and 'Guitar Hero', but when asked a lot of them say, 'I found KISS on the Internet!' The advent of YouTube was a novelty at first, but it has turned into a great promotional tool without people having to do anything. People just post clips and [other] people discover you!"
According to Stuff.co.nz, Christchurch, New Zealand-based metal group TAINTED has been selected to support METALLICA when the heavy metal giants headline two Christchurch shows on September 21 and September 22.
Commented TAINTED guitarist Tim Facoory: ''I've only just found out that it's happening for real a few minutes ago. I haven't even told the rest of the band yet. I'm going to sit them down soon and give them the good news.''
He added, "It means so much to us. METALLICA are just gigantic legends and to think that we're going to be on the same stage as them is just unbelievable. All of the band are fans and their music has had a huge influence on us."
Also supporting METALLICA in Christchurch are FEAR FACTORY and THE SWORD.
TAINTED's "Carved and Create" album came out last year.
U.K-based metallers POWER QUEST will enter Foel Studios (PAUL RODGERS, NAPALM DEATH, THE WILDHEARTS) in Wales next week to begin recording their new album, "Blood Alliance", for an early 2011 release via Napalm Records. Ten songs will be laid down for the follow-up to 2008's "Master Of Illusion", including one bonus track, with the band planning to have recording wrapped up during the first week of October. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Rising Anew" and "Time To Burn".
Commented POWER QUEST mainman/keyboardist Steve Williams: "I don't actually ever recall being so excited about an album as I am about 'Blood Alliance'. I just can't wait for everyone to hear it!"
POWER QUEST in May announced the addition of vocalist Chitral "Chity" Somapala and guitarist Gavin Owen (of Welsh metallers TRIAXIS) to the group's ranks. The band stated at the time, "Chity is well known and highly regarded worldwide in the rock and metal scene and has recorded, toured and made guest appearances with the likes of AVALON, FARO, FIREWIND and RED CIRCUIT, as well as fronting his own band CIVILIZATION ONE. His unmistakable style has been compared favorably with Ronnie James Dio, Klaus Meine and Johnny Gioeli."
Commented Williams: "I'm thrilled to have recruited a vocalist and frontman of Chity's calibre. I've known Chity for a couple of years and we have often talked about working together and now we have that opportunity. We have already recorded three new songs with him and they just sound immense."
Regarding POWER QUEST's new guitarist, Williams said, "Gav's audition last weekend was of the highest standard and we were all very impressed by his playing and how he conducted himself throughout the process. There was an instant chemistry there between him and the rest of the guys and particularly with Andy which bodes well for the future."
POWER QUEST recently spent time at Aubitt Studios in Southampton with Rob Aubrey recording pre-production versions of three new songs — "Rising Anew", "Sacrifice" and "Time To Burn" — for the band's upcoming CD.
POWER QUEST in March parted ways with singer Pete Morten and guitarist Ben Randall due to "musical differences."
POWER QUEST's latest album, "Master of Illusion", was released in 2008 via Napalm Records/Avalon Marquee (Japan). Guest musicians on the CD include keyboardist Richard West from the U.K. progressive metal band THRESHOLD, Jorn Viggo Lofstad from the Norwegian power metal act PAGAN'S MIND and FOURWAYKILL singer Chris Neighbour.
POWER QUEST is:
Chity Somapala - Vocals Steve Williams - Keyboards Andy Midgley - Guitars Gavin Owen - Guitars Paul Finnie - Bass Rich Smith - Drums
After a very successful 2010 edition of the festival, the organizers of the German installment of the Metalfest have announced that next year's event will be held May 27-29, 2011 at Dessau/Airport.
The following bands have been confirmed for the festival:
ARCH ENEMY EQUILIBRIUM BELPHEGOR SUICIDAL ANGELS
Early-bird ticket packages are available at the Metalfest Online Shop for only 49.00 euros, which includes ticket, plus an early-bird shirt as well as a patch. Camping and parking is included in the ticket price. This offer is valid until October 31, 2010.
German power metallers RAGE have been confirmed for the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise, which is set to sail from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico on January 24, 2011 and return four days later. A total of 40 acts will appear at the event.
SAXON will play two unique shows. One night they will perform the "Wheels Of Steel" LP in its entirety and on a different night, for the second show, they will play "Strong Arm Of The Law" from start to finish.
70000 Tons Of Metal will sail Monday, January 24, 2011 aboard the Royal Caribbean "Majesty of the Seas" from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico and will not return you to the real world for four days until Friday, January 28, 2011.
Make no mistake, 70000 Tons Of Metal is not your grandma's cruise. It's also not one of the cruises that share the ship with normal cruise guests. This is an all-ship heavy metal cruise! Can you imagine that? A whole luxury cruise ship full of metalheads? And since there is no backstage area you will have the opportunity to mingle side-by-side with the artists in this incredibly fan-friendly scenario that has no comparison. It's like everyone has a backstage pass and you might even need a vacation from this vacation when all is said and done!
Ticket prices start at US$666 plus US$249 taxes and fees per person and include all on-board entertainment, all meals and non-alcoholic and non-carbonated drinks at the on-board restaurants and 24-hour room service!
Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA have been forced to postpone their concert at the Alcatraz in Milan, Italy to Sunday, February 27, 2011 from the previously announced September 30, 2010. According to the band, the reason for the date change is the fact that SONATA ARCTICA guitarist Elias Viljanen broke his right hand "while doing his daily exercise routine." As a result, he will be unable to play guitar for the next five or six weeks.
All tickets for the September 30 show will remain valid for the new date.
Commented SONATA ARCTICA: "It was pretty shocking to hear from Elias about his accident.
"We are really sorry we need to postpone the show to a later date and want to excuse for any inconveniences this might cause to our fans in Italy and to all fans who had made travel plans from around the world. We really hope to see you all again in February at the Alcatraz".
SONATA ARCTICA's February 27, 2011 concert in Milan will be filmed for the band's second live DVD, to be released in late 2011. The group states, "[SONATA ARCTICA] will perform a pretty unique show of at least 120 minutes. Next to songs of their latest albums, 'The Days Of Grays' and 'Unia', they also will perform some of the older songs from previous albums plus some very rare songs they didn't play live during the last years. For sure this will be an unforgettable event and a journey from the beginning of their career as one of the most popular Finnish metal bands until now — you definitely shouldn't miss it.
"The DVD will be released through Nuclear Blast Records and Marquee Inc. in Japan and will, next to the show in Milan, contain another show, recorded 2009 during the SONATA ARCTICA Open Air Festival in their hometown Kemi, Finland. And of course there will be massive bonus material such as the 'making-of,' interviews, and plenty of video footage the band recorded the last few years during their career on tour."
"The Days Of Grays", the latest album from SONATA ARCTICA, sold around 2,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 19 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 Days Of Grays" was released on September 22, 2009 in North America through Nuclear Blast Records.
"Asylum", the new album from Chicago heavy rockers DISTURBED, is likely to sell between 145,000 and 160,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at the top of next week's The Billboard 200 chart, according to industry web site Hits Daily Double. The estimate was based on one-day sales reports compiled after the record arrived in stores on August 31.
The band's previous three albums — 2008's platinum "Indestructible" (first-week sales: 253,000), 2005's double-platinum "Ten Thousand Fists" (first-week sales: 238,000) and 2002's platinum "Believe" (first-week sales: 284,000) — also debuted at No. 1.
DISTURBED's best-selling release to date is its 2000 debut, "The Sickness", which has shifted more than four million copies in the U.S. alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The "Asylum" limited-edition CD/DVD came with the full album, including two bonus tracks (live recordings of "Down With The Sickness" and "Stricken"), expanded artwork, a DVD with the "Decade Of Disturbed" documentary plus nine "Disturbed Dissected" exclusive instrument video instuctionals, and an exclusive double-sided poster with guitar tabs. It is available only through Disturbed1.com.
The iTunes LP version of "Asylum" also included a download featuring the "Decade of Disturbed" documentary, two bonus tracks (live recordings of "Down With The Sickness" and "Stricken"), an additional exclusive bonus track ("Leave It Alone"), and two "Disturbed Dissected" exclusive instrument video instructionals.
DISTURBED's "Asylum" video can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Roboshobo (a.k.a. Robert Schober), who has previously worked with METALLICA, MASTODON and DEFTONES, among others. Roboshobo also helmed the video for "Another Way To Die", the first single from "Asylum".
A 75-plus-minute film, "Decade of Disturbed" was directed by Rafa Alcantara of Twentyfourcore Productions and it candidly captures the band's ten-year history, with extensive behind-the-scenes and never-before-seen footage. "It basically tells the story of the band, from its inception to present day," says DISTURBED frontman David Draiman.
"The band has had its share of ups and downs along the way and I think we tried to be as open and honest about all of it as we could. It's very insightful and we hope it's something the fans will appreciate."
"Asylum" track listing:
01. Remnants 02. Asylum 03. The Infection 04. Warrior 05. Another Way To Die 06. Never Again 07. The Animal 08. Crucified 09. Serpentine 10. My Child 11. Sacrifice 12. Innocence 13. Ishfwilf (I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For)
PAPA ROACH's new album, "Time For Annihilation... On The Road And On The Record", is likely to sell between 15,000 and 18,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to industry web site Hits Daily Double. The estimate was based on one-day sales reports compiled after the record arrived in stores on August 31.
The band's previous CD, 2009's "Metamorphosis", opened with 44,000 units to debut at position No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart.
PAPA ROACH's 2006 album, "The Paramour Sessions", premiered with nearly 37,000 copies — a drop from the 52,000 first-week performance of 2004's "Getting Away With Murder" — to land at No. 16.
"Time For Annihilation... On The Road And On The Record" features a mix of live tracks and new studio cuts. PAPA ROACH frontman Jacoby Shaddix told The Pulse of Radio why the band decided to issue a live album now. "Everybody keeps going, 'Man, you guys, you know, you guys kill it live, you guys are a great live band,' and we were like, 'You know what, it's time for us to do a live record,'" he said. "And so we wrapped up 2009, we were doing dates with SHINEDOWN, and we started recording shows towards the end of that. We got nine live songs, and then we have five studio songs, and so it's kind of like the best of both worlds."
Shaddix explained why the band split the album between live and studio material, saying, "We've always wanted to capture the energy of our live shows but didn't want to do the same old thing that most bands do, so we decided to put five brand new studio tracks on the record along with some of our favorites from the road and we are really proud of the final result."
Regarding the fresh studio material on the set, Shaddix told Billboard.com, "With the new songs, we wanted to go with a little bit more of a modern sound. On the last couple records we really discovered the rock 'n' roll band within PAPA ROACH, and this time around we started fucking around with sequencing and loops and beats and stuff like that. I think it's just a breath of fresh air for us."
"Time For Annihilation" is PAPA ROACH's first release on Eleven Seven Music, after parting ways with Interscope/Geffen Records earlier this year. Shaddix said about the move, "We wanted to work with a team who's focused on rock music rather than pop and urban. Moving to a successful indie like Eleven Seven Music gives us that without sacrificing the manpower of a major."
"Time For Annihilation" track listing:
01. Burn 02. One Track Mind 03. Kick In The Teeth 04. No Matter What 05. The Enemy 06. Getting Away With Murder (live) 07. ...To Be Loved (live) 08. Lifeline (live) 09. Scars (live) 10. Hollywood Whore (live) 11. Time Is Running Out (live) 12. Forever (live) 13. Between Angels And Insects (live) 14. Last Resort (live)
New York's legendary and recently resurrected SWANS have been confirmed as the headliners of next year's edition of the Roadburn Festival, set to take place April 14-16 at the 013 venue and Midi Theatre in Tilburg, Holland. There will also be an additional afterburner event on Sunday, April 17, 2011.
Featuring original members Michael Gira and Norman Westberg, alongside Christoph Hahn (mid-period SWANS, ANGELS OF LIGHT), Phil Puleo (final SWANS tour, ANGELS OF LIGHT), Chris Pravdica (FLUX INFORMATION SCIENCES, SERVICES, GUNGA DIN) and Thor Harris (ANGELS OF LIGHT, SHEARWATER), SWANS will headline Roadburn on Saturday, 16 April 2011.
Emerging from the New York underground in the early '80s, SWANS made its mark with a series of highly influential dark, abrasive, brutal and growling noise albums that served as an outlet for its unsettling ruminations on alienation, depression and the depravity of man.
After 15 years of touring and constant productivity, SWANS disbanded in 1997. The band's recent revival finds Gira seamlessly shifting from ANGELS OF LIGHT mode to the more heavier and noisier origins of SWANS, as showcased on the band's forthcoming album, "My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky", which basically starts where "Soundtracks For The Blind"/"Swans Are Dead" left off.
According to Stereogum.com: "The purists may want to crucify me, but SWANS' first studio album since 'Soundtracks' is also one of SWANS' best, most relentlessly dark and beautiful albums to date. Gira remains angry/venomous, but he's introduced a kind of time-won wisdom (and guest spot via his three-year-old daughter) you wouldn't find in the nihilistic '80s."
Commented the Roadburn festival organizers: "Roadburn Festival regards SWANS as the single biggest influence on the burgeoning doom/sludge/drone scene aside from the obvious likes of BLACK SABBATH. SWANS' canon of work can be heard and felt throughout the entire festival and in most of the bands invited to perform. It is a massive understatement to say that we are looking forward to the formidable and brutal sonic waves and the extreme volume levels that SWANS will bring to the festival. We are still pinching ourselves that the fever dream of this highly anticipated resurrection has become a reality."
ENGEL — the Gothenburg, Sweden-based quintet featuring guitarists Marcus Sunesson (ex-THE CROWN) and Niclas Engelin (PASSENGER, ex-GARDENIAN, IN FLAMES), vocalist Mangan Klavborn and drummer Jimmy Olausson (ex-MARIONETTE) — has inked a deal with Season Of Mist. The band's long-awaited second album, "Threnody", will be released in Europe on November 8. The CD was issued in Japan on April 20 via Avex.
Commented ENGEL: "We're extremely proud to say that we've inked a deal with the one and only Season of Mist! It feels really great to be a part of this company and we look forward to our continued success with them on board.
"With an established roster of some amazing artists already on their books and Season of Mist backing us up, we aim for world domination, starting NOW!"
"Threnody" track listing:
01. Threnody 02. Sense The Fire 03. Until Eternity Ends 04. To The End 05. Down 06. Heartsick 07. Feed The Weak 08. For Those Who Will Resist 09. EverySin - Leaves A Mark 10. Roll The Dice 11. Elbow And Knives 12. Perfect Isis 13. Fearless (bonus track for Japan)
ENGEL recorded "Threnody" at PUK studio in Gjerlev, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, HIMSA, SICK OF IT ALL).
The band recently filmed a video for another track off "Threnody" with director PA Nilsson. "We decided to try something a little different from the usual approach and what I can say is that making this video was so much fun and exhausting as well," stated bassist Steve Drennan.
The band was previously signed to SPV Records which issued ENGEL's debut album, "Absolute Design", in 2007.
ENGEL recently parted ways with drummer Daniel "Mojjo" Moilanen and replaced him with Olausson.
Regarding the change in the band's lineup, ENGEL said in a statement, "It is always difficult for any band when someone leaves, and, of course, it is always difficult to find an ideal replacement but in this instance we are extremely honored to have found Jimmy not just for his ability as an outstanding drummer but with an outstanding personality to match. His contribution to ENGEL already has been immense and refreshing as he brings something new and exciting behind the kit which was exactly what we have been looking for!
"Change will always be part of any bands growth and development but as always we are looking to the future and the continued success of ENGEL and with Jimmy Olausson we are more than confident that he is perfect in this role. It is already a pleasure to have him in our ranks!"
Video footage of ENGEL performing the song "Sense The Fire" on June 17, 2009 at Harry B. James in Stockholm can be viewed below. The audio track in the clip is the studio recording of the song, which was first made available on a compilation album from Sweden's Bandit Rock 106.3 radio station.
"She's Not A Drug", the new video from Georgia-based rockers JACKYL, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's new album, "When Moonshine and Dynamite Collide", which sold 3,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 192 on The Billboard 200 chart.
To celebrate the release of the new CD, Jesse James Dupree, guitarist Jeff Worley, bassist Roman Glick and drummer Chris Worley embarked on a promotional tour, partnering up with radio stations in cities across the South and Midwest. The band targeted some of its favorite strip clubs in which to throw a series of CD-release parties that doubled as on-location video shoots for "She's Not A Drug".
"When Moonshine and Dynamite Collide" was released on May 4 via Mighty Loud.
JACKYL has earned two Guinness Book of World Records citations and the designation "The Hardest Working Band in Rock 'N' Roll" for performing 100 shows in 50 days as well as 21 shows in 24 hours. Staying true to its working-band roots, JACKYL is a staple on the summer festival circuit and maintains its commitment to every show being the sonic equivalent to a man being shot out of a cannon.
JACKYL was featured on the hit TruTV show "Full Throttle Saloon", which was created and executive produced by Jesse James Dupree.
A new EPK (Electronic Press Kit) from Californian rockers WARRANT can be viewed below.
WARRANT announced in September 2008 that it was splitting with Jani Lane six months after the band first reunited with the troubled vocalist. He has since been replaced by Robert Mason (LYNCH MOB, CRY OF LOVE, BIG COCK).
WARRANT is currently in the studio writing and recording a new album for an early 2011 release.
In a March 2010 online post, WARRANT drummer Steven Sweet stated about the group's new material, "We're not trying to reinvent the wheel. Our hopes are that we will satisfy the cravings of every rock fan that has ever heard a WARRANT album and wished they were longer.
"Consider the new WARRANT sound as merely an extension of what we've done to date with a little more seasoning behind it.
"Stylistically, the new tracks are perhaps a bit more diverse than on previous releases. Of course there's the killer ballad or two, the up-tempo, slam-it-out-until-you-pass-out rockers, and some stuff that harkens back to our '70s roots. You'll know it when you hear it and it will definitely satisfy!
"With Pat Regan [KISS, MR. BIG, DEEP PURPLE] skillfully helming the board, as he did on 'Born Again', the sound is pure WARRANT and then some — thanks to the boy with the golden pipes, Robert Mason."
On July 19, Lane pled no contest to DUI stemming from his most recent arrest back in May — and has been ordered to serve 120 days in jail. In addition, Lane will lose his license for three years and will have to complete a 30-month alcohol-education program.
Lane originally left WARRANT in 2002 to pursue a solo career. He released a solo album, "Back Down to One", in 2003, but shortly after was admitted to a rehab center for alcohol and drug-related exhaustion. He also appeared on VH1's reality series "Celebrity Fit Club".
Jen Guyre of Roadrunner Records recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine about Dave's newly published autobiography, "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir". A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Q: With so much sordid history and life experiences, how did you manage to narrow down what you covered for your autobiography?
Mustaine: Well, the legal process kind of vetted the book out. Going through some of the stories and knowing that a lot of the people I told the story about would be in jail, probably next to me, we left some of the stories out. Like, if you have drugs in your pocket and you drive, you're a felon. If you have somebody underage and you cross the state line, you're a kidnapper. All kinds of crazy stuff happened over the course of our career. As much as people think that I'm the bad guy, I was like the big brother that would say, "What are you thinking?" all the time. When we were in England and we had to cancel the Monsters of Rock festival because of [MEGADETH bassist] David Ellefson — everybody knew I had a drug problem, but they didn't know he had one, so it was really surprising to them. I think it kind of left room for some more storytelling, and I think the success of this, being a best seller now, there's more to the story. This is like up until now, and in fact it's not even until now it's until a year ago, and so much great stuff has happened in the last year that it's mind-boggling. Getting back together with the "Big Four" and all that stuff, having my old bass player come back, it's been really, really great.
Q: Tell me a little bit more about what went on behind the scenes to make this book happen. You mentioned the legal process, so did you have to get approval from those involved, or is it just your perspective?
Mustaine: No, we included a lot of people. Part of the reason I think this book reads the way it does is that I wanted it to be honest. A lot of people don't like me because I'm honest about what happens. If I don't like something I'll say so. I'd rather have someone tell me they don't like me than lie to my face. That's just how I am, and I've always been like that. I remember when I first went over to England and I basically shot from the hip how I am, they freaked out. They had never heard anybody talk like that before. It's like, no come on this is how I am, I share what I feel. If I see somebody, for example that guy Riki Rachtman from MTV's "Headbangers Ball", I didn't even really know that guy, but the fan's liked watching me pick on him. He liked it when I picked on him. And I was like, "Why?" you know? Its' just one of those weird things. Some people love the attention and in a weird way that thing had it's own kind of dynamic. Now that's not in there, because it wasn't really that important.
Q: But you have been crucified for being vocal about your thoughts and feelings in the past, so have you experienced any blowback from what you've written?
Mustaine: No. I don't have a lot of stuff that intimidates me in this world because I've died once, I've been through all kinds of stuff with lineup changes, changing management and labels, ups and downs with marriage, with my kids, all that kind of stuff, and I've been really open about it so that the public's aware of it and there's nothing really in the book I think that's going to get me into any trouble. There's one or two people in there I would have liked to have barbequed because of the way I feel about them, and it would have been real easy to have told a couple stories that would have destroyed them because of what kind of people they really are and the way that they've got the public fooled, but I'm not a caped crusader going around telling people who the phonies are in the music industry. Water has a way of finding its own level, and these guys will be exposed. The bummer was the legal process because we spent hundreds of thousands of dollars going over this book — over and over and over — with all the legal stuff that was involved in it. It's crazy when you think about making a book; you're not going to make a mountain of money off of it, you think you're doing it as a labor of love and then you watch all of your proceeds go away because of the litigiousness of our country. It's a bummer. Even the U.K. book is more vetted because of the legal process. I guess in England if you have a book and you put it out, there are attorney's that survive just on book releases. They go through the books and they look for somebody saying something about somebody and they contact them and say, "Let's sue." So that kind of sucked the fun out of the process of the book being released in the U.K., but like I said I'm pretty straight about stuff like that. If I did something that was wrong I copped to it, and if somebody else did something, I pretty much left it alone because I'm not going to save my skin at someone else's expense. That's not very cool.
STONE SOUR's third album, "Audio Secrecy", is now available for streaming in its entirety at NME.com. It can also be heard using the Soundcloud player below.
* Standard edition * Limited-edition two-LP version which comes with the double LP in gatefold packaging and a special signed album cover lithograph that you can't get anywhere else. Hidden throughout 30 copies of the limited edition of "Audio Secrecy" are golden tickets that will give access to a special meet-and-greet with STONE SOUR.
"Audio Secrecy" track listing:
01. Audio Secrecy 02. Mission Statement 03. Digital (Did You Tell) 04. Say You'll Haunt Me 05. Dying 06. Let's Be Honest 07. Unfinished 08. Hesitate 09. Nylon 6/6 10. Miracles 11. Pieces 12. The Bitter End 13. Imperfect 14. Threadbare
Limited-edition bonus tracks:
* Hate Not Gone * Anna * Home Again
* Special edition of "Audio Secrecy" which includes the above-mentioned three bonus tracks and a DVD featuring a 45-minute in-studio documentary about the making of "Audio Secrecy" and video of three songs from STONE SOUR's performance at the U.K.'s Download festival in June 2010.
"Audio Secrecy" is scheduled for release on September 7 via Roadrunner Records.
STONE SOUR (singer Corey Taylor, guitarists James Root and Josh Rand, bassist Shawn Economaki and drummer Roy Mayorga) and producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, ALICE IN CHAINS, DEFTONES) recorded the follow-up to 2006's "Come What(ever) May" at Blackbird Studios in Nashville during the destructive storms and devastating floods that hit the historic heart of Music City.
"Come What(ever) May" debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard album chart and included the hits "Through Glass", "Sillyworld" and "Made Of Scars".
The quintet is previewing select songs from the album during this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival. The 36-date tour launched August 17 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is visiting arenas and amphitheatres across North America before wrapping October 4 in Madison, Wisconsin.
"Say You'll Haunt Me", the new video from STONE SOUR, can be viewed below. The clip was helmed by director Paul R. Brown, who has previously worked with SLIPKNOT, MÖTLEY CRÜE, KORN, GODSMACK and AVENGED SEVENFOLD, among others.
American rock band ALTER BRIDGE has inked a deal with Roadrunner Records for all territories except North America. The group's third album, "AB III", will be released on October 8. The CD was produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who has previously worked with CHEVELLE and RATT.
Commented songwriter/guitarist Mark Tremonti, "There is a real sense of excitement in the ALTER BRIDGE camp to be able to partner-up with Roadrunner. With their proven track record worldwide and the hard work we have put in touring internationally, it seems like the perfect combination." Wally van Middendorp, Roadrunner's Senior VP International, added, "I am extremely pleased that we have added ALTER BRIDGE to our international artist roster and I am confident the band will reach the next level with their upcoming record."
"AB III" track listing:
01. Slip To The Void 02. Isolation 03. Ghost Of Days Gone By 04. All Hope Is Gone 05. Still Remains 06. Make It Right 07. Wonderful Life 08. I Know It Hurts 09. Show Me A Sign 10. Fallout 11. Breathe Again 12. Coeur D'Alene 13. Life Must Go On 14. Words Darker Than Their Wings
Lead singer Myles Kennedy told The Pulse of Radio that the follow-up to 2007's "Blackbird" will be a "darker" effort. "There is certainly a common thread throughout the, almost the entire record," he said. "It's lyrically a pretty dark album, probably the darkest record I've been a part of. Just a lot of questions personally that I had over the last few years, just things I was struggling with, and it was a very cathartic record for me, just to kind of get that all out. I mean, that's generally the way I personally like to write lyrics, for things that are honest and from the heart."
Kennedy also spoke to The Pulse of Radio about how he and and his bandmates approached the new album from a songwriting perspective. "There's a certain spontaneity to this record basically because of the fact that we arranged it in a much shorter period of time and the way we tend to write, it's very part-oriented," he said. "Mark and I will basically stockpile musical ideas and melodic ideas. And then it's kind of like putting a puzzle together. So we get together with Brian [Marshall, bass] and Scott [Philips, drums/keyboards] and we get everything to gel together in the context of the arrangement. There is certainly a common thread throughout the, almost the entire record," he said. "It's lyrically a pretty dark album, probably the darkest record I've been a part of. Just a lot of questions personally that I had over the last few years, just things I was struggling with, and it was a very cathartic record for me, just to kind of get that all out. I mean, that's generally the way I personally like to write lyrics, for things that are honest and from the heart."
ALTER BRIDGE plans to hit the road in October after the album is out, starting with a European tour.
A spring 2011 supporting slot with GODSMACK is planned for next March.
Kennedy is currently touring with Slash as his live lead vocalist, after singing two numbers on the guitarist's debut solo album.
The instrumental members of ALTER BRIDGE are touring this summer in their other band, CREED.
Sydney, Australia-based metallers KUNVUK have finished mixing and mastering their debut album, "Immute:Jackals", for a late September release via the band's own label, The Light of Damnation Records. The CD was recorded, engineered, mixed and produced by the band's lead guitarist/vocalist David Hart and mastered by Rick O'Neil (FAITH NO MORE, GRINSPOON, BOB DYLAN) at Turtlerock Mastering.
Recorded at the band's own Shadow Mekanik Studios, "Immute:Jackals" will be released as a two-disc digipack edition. The first disc will contain 12 new compositions rallying from the brink of insanity to the pinnacle of clarity. Coupled with this will be a second disc which will contain the reconstructed, re-recorded, remixed and remastered version of the band's demo EP, "The Gone Mekanik Anticipation Demonstration".
Painstakingly recorded over a two year period and representing the culmination of years of no sleep and damaged nerves, "Immute:Jackals" has been completely independently funded and produced.
Restricted Release has set an October 26 the North American release date for "Heavy Metal Thunder", a special reissue package from England's VIKING SKULL. Remastered and featuring all-new artwork, "Heavy Metal Thunder" combines the band's popular debut album, "Born In Hell", and the "Chapter One" EP, both previously unavailable through proper American and Canadian retail outlets. The album also includes five bonus songs and will precede a new, still-untitled EP planned for release in early 2011.
VIKING SKULL, featuring vocalist/guitarist Roddy Stone, guitarists Dom Wallace and Frank Regan, bassist Kevin Waldie, with sole-American drummer Jess Margera (CKY, THE COMPANY BAND), found initial American interest when the song "Skull Heaven" appeared on volume one of Bam Margera's "Viva La Bands" compilation series in 2005. A second song, "Blackened Sunrise", would follow on volume two in 2007. Early fans would have to wait until the winter of 2008, however, to witness their first SKULL show; the band finally landing on U.S. shores to share the stage on a short east coast tour with CLUTCH.
Stone recalls, "Our tour with CLUTCH was the first time for us playing the States. It quickly became quite clear to us that America loves big riffs through big amps and that's what we're about. No fancy haircuts, eyeliner, or spooky clothes, just balls-out, meat-and-potatoes heavy rock. That tour was one of the best we've done in terms of crowd reaction, and on top of that we got to see CLUTCH every night."
"Heavy Metal Thunder" comes nearly two years to the day after the release of "Doom, Gloom, Heartache & Whiskey" (Powerage); an album that was embraced by international media on its release in 2008.
"We tend to think, if it ain't broke don't try and fix it," notes Stone about the band's straight-forward heavy metal anthems. "We like to think back to the day when men were men, and amps where amps. The time when having a good riff/song was important and had nothing to do with posing, we're a proper band with proper tunes."
"Heavy Metal Thunder" track listing:
01. Beers, Drugs And Bitches 02. Wizard's Sleeve 03. Frostbite 04. Rape Pillage And Burn 05. Crazy Trucker 06. Skull Heaven 07. Born In Hell 08. Crank The Volume 09. Red Hot Woman 10. Seedealer 11. Heavy Metal Thunder 12. Saddle Up 13. Double Or Quits (demo version) 14. Rock And Roll Suicide 15. Conquer The World 16. Baby Let Me Know 17. Skulls & Whiskey 18. Dirty Dirty Hole 19. Inject My Woman (With Love) 20. You Can't Kill Rock & Roll
"Mind Decay", a brand new song from Slovenian thrashers NEGLIGENCE, can be streamed at this location. The track comes off the band's sophomore album, "Coordinates Of Confusion", which will be released in Europe on October 11 (three days earlier in Germany) via Metal Blade Records. The CD was mixed by NEGLIGENCE drummer Ruzz at the band's own Negligence studio and was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (CONVERGE, HATEBREED, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) in New Windsor, New York.
Comments NEGLIGENCE: "We really feel that what we've done on this record is a big step forward for us.
"We took a different approach in writing the songs, since we wrote them altogether. This resulted in a more mature and heavier album opposed to our first album, 'Options Of A Trapped Mind'. That being said, we've still remained loyal to our own sound, our own thing so we're really just can't wait for our fans to get hold of the new album and hear for themselves."
"Coordinates Of Confusion" track listing
01. Mind Decay 02. Screaming Fear 03. Addicted To Aggression 04. Disharmony 05. The Way To… 06. Insane Asylum 07. The Q Box 08. Sickened 09. Shark Attack 10. Coordinates Of Confusion
NEGLIGENCE was formed in 2000 by Dyz and Jey, two excellent Slovenian guitarists who shared the same passion for music and decided to start working together. They soon found a proper and stable lineup and played lots of shows in their homeland, including a gig at the infamous Metalcamp festival. Between 2003 and 2005 they also released three unnamed demos.
2005 marked a turning point in the history of NEGLIGENCE when they parted ways with their old singer and presented the 15-year old Alex as their new frontman. The band in 2007 independently released its debut album, "Options Of A Trapped Mind". Following the release, the group went on to promote the CD supporting some of the biggest acts in metal, such as EXODUS, FORBIDDEN, HEATHEN, SADUS and DEATH ANGEL, among others.
At the end of 2009, longtime member Dyz parted ways with the band but was still part of the pre-production for the second album NEGLIGENCE recorded. The folks at Metal Blade were all excited about what they heard and signed NEGLIGENCE right away.
Italian horror-inspired extreme metal act STIGMA will shoot a video for the song "The Undertaker" with director Salvatore Perrone (A DAY TO REMEMBER, EVERGREEN TERRACE, SUICIDE SILENCE) to coincide with the release of a special edition digital-only EP this winter. The track comes off the band's sophomore album, "Concerto for the Undead", which was released on April 30 in Europe and May 4 in North America via Pivotal Rockordings.
The follow-up to 2008's "When Midnight Strikes!", "Concerto for the Undead" features lyrics centered on the cult-classic comic book series Tales From the Crypt and includes an additional guest vocal appearance by Jamie Hope (ex-THE RED SHORE).
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Chop His Head Off! 02. Prove You Are a Man! 03. …And They Died Happily Ever After! 04. A Monstrous Feeling 05. The Undertaker 06. What About a Terror Ride 07. 3000 Years and Still Keeping it Real 08. A Grave Situation 09. Beat Me Maestro, Eight to the Dead! 10. Doctor Skeleton
"Concerto for the Undead" was produced at Fear Studio by BRING ME THE HORIZON guitarist Jona Weinhofen and was mixed and mastered by Scott Atkins (BEHEMOTH, CRADLE OF FILTH, SYLOSIS). The artwork for the album features stunning comic illustrations of the band's now patent horror-themed lyrics and was created by Andrea Berton of Corefolio Design (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WINDS OF PLAGUE).
STIGMA recently wrapped up a successful European tour supporting TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED.
Vocalist Maria Brink of Southern California's IN THIS MOMENT revealed in a Facebook posting that she was involved in a motor vehicle accident yesterday (Tuesday, August 31) that left her with injuries that required a trip to the hospital.
"I had a pretty intense day," she wrote on Tuesday. "I was in a car crash. We got hit by a dude going 55 [miles per hour] and we were stopped at light." She added, "I am home from hospital now and fine, though. I have whiplash and a sprained wrist. I am smiling and laughing at a funny movie and on pain meds. I am grateful. It could have been so much worse!"
In a new Facebook posting from today, she wrote, "I feel bright and great today. I don't even need pain meds, so no more worries about me at all."
IN THIS MOMENT's new album, "A Star-Crossed Wasteland", sold 10,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 40 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The band's sophomore CD, "The Dream", opened with more than 8,000 copies back in October 2008 to land at No. 70.
"A Star-Crossed Wasteland" was released on July 13 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at The Wolves Den studio in Las Vegas, Nevada with producer Kevin Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH).
Original GUNS N' ROSES and current ADLER'S APPETITE drummer Steven Adler was a guest on this past Monday's (August 30) edition of "Good Day L.A.", a television talk show which airs on KTTV (Fox 11), the Fox Broadcasting Company-owned and operated station in Los Angeles, California. Watch his appearance on the program below.
At the end of the interview, Adler can be seen speaking to the camera directly and saying, "I need to apologize to [Adler's replacement in GUNS N' ROSES] Matt Sorum. I'm sorry about what I said in those interviews. The words just came out wrong. I think you're amazing and I love you, man. Sorry about that."
Adler slammed Sorum in a recent interview with Ultimate-Guitar.com. Adler was kicked out of the band in 1990 due to his drug use, and when asked how he felt when he heard that Sorum would play on the band's 1991 "Use Your Illusion" records, Adler said, "His were just half-assed, crappy versions. Nothing personal against the guy, but he's like a goddamn drum machine. He's got no heart; he's got no soul; he's got no feel. And as life and the years have shown obviously I'm not the easiest drummer to replace."
Adler added that he thinks the "Use Your Illusion" albums would have been bigger than the band's 1987 debut, "Appetite For Destruction", if he had been on them.
As for the chances of the original GUNS reuniting, Adler said, "I would love that more than anything, but it's an Axl [Rose] thing; it's up to him if he wants to do it. Put it this way, it's the stupidest thing in the world for us not to do it."
Sorum told The Pulse of Radio a while back that if the original band reunites, they should perform with both him and Adler. "If it's me on drums or Steven or whatever, if it happened, it'd be great, you know," he said. "I would actually say to them, 'Hey, bring both of us back,' you know. Let me play the other stuff. We'll have two drum kits. I don't care. If 'Appetite' ['For Destruction', the band's debut] sounds better with Steven playing it, have both guys up there. They can afford it."
Adler has battled drugs for years and was a cast member of "Celebrity Rehab", although he relapsed briefly after appearing on the program.
Adler is on the road with his band ADLER'S APPETITE and also recently played on ex-GUNS guitarist Slash's self-titled solo album. He has just published his autobiography, "My Appetite For Destruction: Sex & Drugs & Guns N' Roses".
Slash, Sorum and bassist Duff McKagan are also all in VELVET REVOLVER.
Axl Rose has been fronting a completely different GUNS lineup for several years now, with that band performing in Dublin, Ireland earlier tonight.
Audio samples of all tracks that are set to appear on "Babez For Breakfast", the upcoming fifth studio album from Finnish heavy metal monsters LORDI, can be streamed at Amazon.de.
"Babez For Breakfast" will be released on September 14 in the U.S., September 15 in Europe and on October 27 in Japan. The CD was recorded in early 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee with highly regarded producer Michael Wagener, who has produced albums for artists as varied as OZZY OSBOURNE, ALICE COOPER and JANET JACKSON and mixed METALLICA's classic "Master of Puppets".
"Babez For Breakfast" track listing:
01. SCG5: It's A Boy! (1:21) 02. Babez For Breakfast (3:29) 03. This Is Heavy Metal (2:59) 04. Rock Police (3:57) 05. Discoevil (3:49) 06. Call Off The Wedding (3:31) 07. I Am Bigger Than You (3:04) 08. ZombieRawkMachine (3:42) 09. Midnite Lover (3:20) 10. Give Your Life For Rock And Roll (3:54) 11. Nonstop Nite (3:56) 12. Amen's Lament To Ra (0:32) 13. Loud And Loaded (3:15) 14. Granny's Gone Crazy (3:55) 15. Devil's Lullaby (3:42)
"Call Off The Wedding" was written with Jeremy Rubolinoga and Bruce Kulick (KISS) over a five-day period that Mr. Lordi spent in Hollywood, California. Guitar riffs were recorded in Los Angeles. Mark Slaughter (SLAUGHTER) is a special guest on "Granny's Gone Crazy".
"This Is Heavy Metal", the new video from LORDI, can be viewed below. A higher-quality version of the clip is available at Metal-Hammer.de.
"This Is Heavy Metal" is available for just .69¢ through all digital providers, including The Omega Order, and features cover art created by LORDI mainman Mr. Lordi.
"I wanted to paint a picture which at the same time crystallizes something of the essence that is of '80s metal and also as pays a visual tribute to many of our own idols of that era," commented Mr. Lordi. "So, to be able to fit them all in, I created a Frankenstein monster made out of bits and pieces of members of TWISTED SISTER, KISS, W.A.S.P. and ALICE COOPER, to name only a few."
He continued, "The song itself is written in the same train of thought and appreciation. I wanted to write a song that is heavy metal according to LORDI. The riff should sound familiar from the first second you hear it and you should be able to sing along the chorus already when it comes out the second time.
"Most of our favorite bands come from the U.S., with only few exceptions.
"Someone once said that LORDI must be the most American band in Finland. I think that is quite correct.
"The whole concept of our band, both musically and visually, is heavily influenced by American pop culture, comics, horror films and music."
LORDI debuted "This Is Heavy Metal" during the band's headlining appearance at this year's Gods of Metal festival, which took place June 25-27 in Torino, Italy.
According to Entertainment.ie, GUNS N' ROSES left the stage for more than 30 minutes during tonight's (Wednesday, September 1) concert at the O2 in Dublin, Ireland after a bottle was thrown up on stage following a warning from singer Axl Rose.
The band's show reportedly started at 10:25 p.m. — well over an hour after the support act, DANKO JONES, had finished playing. Some angry fans booed and threw a few beer/water bottles on stage in protest at the delay.
GUNS N' ROSES kicked off the performance with "Welcome To The Jungle" at which point another bottle was thrown up on stage, causing Rose to declare, "Alright, here's the deal. One more bottle, we go home. It's up to you. We would like to stay. You want us to stay? We wanna stay. We wanna have some fun. If you don't wanna have fun, all you gotta do is let us know and we've got no probllem. We'll go on our way." According to the report, "The gig continued for another three songs and as Rose was introducing the band, another missile was thrown at the band. At this, Rose took the band, bid his goodnight and stormed off the stage at about 10:50 p.m."
The report adds, "Just after 11 p.m., a member of the O2 staff arrived on stage telling the crowd that there were some 'technical difficulties' and they were trying to get GUNS N' ROSES back on stage. A short while after, another staff member arrived on stage to plead with the now-depleting crowd to stop throwing bottles as they were still trying to get Axl Rose to return to the stage. [At] 11:10 p.m., the main lights came on and the majority of the crowd left The O2."
According to Entertainment.ie, GUNS N' ROSES returned to the stage at about 11:25 p.m. and "continued playing a set to a small but pretty irate crowd."
It is not presently clear if refunds will be offered to fans who ended up leaving the venue before the concert resumed.
***UPDATE***: Video footage of Axl Rose warning the Dublin crowd not to throw any more bottles on stage during the "Welcome To The Jungle" performance can be viewed below. The clip continues with a member of the O2 staff telling the crowd that there were some "technical difficulties" before another staff member pleads with the crowd to stop throwing bottles as they were still trying to get Axl Rose to return to the stage.***
As previously reported, Axl Rose issued a statement yesterday (Tuesday, August 31) aimed squarely at the promoters of the U.K.'s Reading and Leeds festivals, which the band headlined on Friday (August 27) and Sunday (August 29) respectively. GUNS N' ROSES came onstage an hour late on Friday and 30 minutes late on Sunday, with both shows cut short due to venue curfews.
Rose wrote at Twitlonger.com, a related Twitter site where one can post messages longer than 140 characters, "We allegedly had a deal in place pre-show with the city at least at Leeds to do a bit longer performance that was either miscommunication, someone wasn't informed, changed their mind, didn't care or was a con.
"Regardless, the nonsense just seems so unnecessary but without real management or industry presence is unfortunately beyond our control."
Rose's statement seems at odds with comments made by festival organizer Melvin Benn before the shows, in which he said that the band's set would be cut short if they showed up late.
The group took the stage more than two hours late when it last played Leeds eight years ago, with Benn saying that any curfew violation this time could threaten the festival's license.
Rose said from the stage Sunday night as the band's set was halted, "We would like to play a few more songs for you tonight but someone is telling us the show's over." He also launched an f-bomb at the festival's promoters before leaving.
Meanwhile, on Friday night, Rose staged a sitdown protest when the band's set was stopped at midnight. The curfew had already been extended half an hour for the group at that point.
Many members of the crowd jeered the band when it arrived onstage 60 minutes late, while a number of audience members also left before the set even started. According to Gigwise.com, the crowd continued to disperse throughout the band's performance.
****Video footage of Axl Rose warning the Dublin crowd not to throw any more bottles on stage during the "Welcome To The Jungle" performance can be viewed below. (Note: The speech in question can be heard around the 1:30 mark.) The clip continues with a member of the O2 staff telling the crowd that there were some "technical difficulties" before another staff member pleads with the crowd to stop throwing bottles as they were still trying to get Axl Rose to return to the stage.
****Another video clip of Axl Rose warning the Dublin crowd not to throw any more bottles on stage during the "Welcome To The Jungle" performance can be viewed below. (Note: The speech in question can be heard around the 3:39 mark.)
Fuse On Demand recently caught up with some of the heavy hitters of the rock and metal community — including Rob Zombie and members of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, GODSMACK, LIMP BIZKIT and PAPA ROACH — and asked them to their share their memories of legendary heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio — best known for his work with BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW and his own band DIO.
A clip from the episode can be viewed below.
Watch the full tribute all September long only on Fuse On Demand.
Dio died of stomach cancer on the morning of May 16, at the age of 67.
He was renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest and most influential vocalists in heavy metal history.
The singer, who was recording and touring with SABBATH offshoot HEAVEN & HELL prior to his illness, was diagnosed with stomach cancer late last year. He underwent chemotherapy and made what is now his final public appearance in April at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles.
HEAVEN & HELL earlier in the year canceled summer tour plans because Dio was not going to be well enough to tour.
The band released a new studio album in 2009, titled "The Devil You Know".
Ronnie James Dio, real name Ronald James Padavona, was born in New Hampshire on July 10, 1942.
He moved to Cortland, New York at a young age, where he began playing with local acts. A street in Cortland, Dio Way, was named after him in 1988.
He released his first single, with a band called RONNIE AND THE REDCAPS, in 1959.
His first heavy rock act, ELF, released three albums and opened for DEEP PURPLE, where Dio's voice caught the ear of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Blackmore recruited Dio for his own band, RAINBOW, after leaving PURPLE in 1975.
Dio recorded three studio albums and one live set with RAINBOW before exiting in 1978, including "Rising" and "Long Live Rock And Roll".
He replaced Ozzy Osbourne in BLACK SABBATH in 1980, recording the "Heaven & Hell" and "Mob Rules" albums, plus "Live Evil", before leaving in 1982. He rejoined the group 10 years later for an album called "Dehumanizer", and again teamed with the group under the HEAVEN & HELL banner in 2006.
He has also recorded 10 studio albums with his own band, DIO, including a classic 1983 debut, "Holy Diver".
Dio was also behind the HEAR N' AID project, a collection of metal artists who recorded the track "Stars" in 1985 to raise funds for African famine relief.
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