O2 Backstage Chat conducted an interview with Jerry Only of the MISFITS ahead of the band's February 1 concert at London, England's O2 Islington Academy. You can now watch the chat below.
MISFITS' new album, "The Devil's Rain", sold 6,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 70 on The Billboard 200 chart.
In 1977, at the dawn of the punk movement the MISFITS set out to make an impression, and created a legacy that has truly withstood the test of time. Immortalizing black and white B horror films in their music, the MISFITS developed a ghoulish and totally unique persona of their own that s consistently evolved over the years, while remaining true to its roots. The band s iconic "Fiend Skull" logo has become a staple in pop culture and an instantly recognizable symbol worldwide. Bands across the spectrum of rock have covered their material, including METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE and countless others.
Boasting a massive catalog of music old and new, a new lineup (consistently helmed by founding member Jerry Only), and an influence felt around the world, the MISFITS return with their long-awaited, first full-length release of all-new, original material in nearly a decade!
Rooted in the horror and sci-fi themes their audience craves, "The Devil's Rain" showcases 16 fiendish, soon-to-be MISFITS classics including "Twilight Of The Dead", "Dark Shadows", "Curse of the Mummy's Hand" and the title track itself. Produced by Ed Stasium (whose credits include the RAMONES' "Road To Ruin" and "Too Tough to Die", as well as the MISFITS 1999 release "Famous Monsters"), the album showcases a jaw-dropping, two-panel front/back cover painting featuring the rebirth of the band's iconic Fiend mascot in an epic setting rendered by Arthur Suydam (known for his immensely popular work on the Marvel Zombies series, among others). The packaging, designed to emulate a CD sized gatefold LP, also features some incredible new MISFITS portraits shot by the legendary Mick Rock. Rock's imagery (which includes David Bowie, Iggy Pop, QUEEN, Debbie Harry, and the RAMONES, to name a few), has become part of the very fabric of rock and roll. Having also served as an on-set photographer for cult-movie classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", Rock lends a perfectly suited eye to view the band s surrealistic and highly theatrical persona.
"The Devil's Rain" is not just a continuation of a historic legacy, it's a total reboot ushering in a new era of terror. In a sense, it's the debut album from the legendary MISFITS of this decade.
"I'll Bite Your Face Off", the new video from legendary rocker Alice Cooper can be seen at this location. The song comes off Alice's new album, "Welcome 2 My Nightmare", which sold 18,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 22 on The Billboard 200 chart. Cooper's previous CD, 2008's "Along Came A Spider", opened with just under 10,000 copies to debut at No. 53.
Recorded with longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, who produced the original multi-platinum "Welcome To My Nightmare" album in 1975, "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" picks up right where they left off, with Alice trapped in his own warped mind.
That original album is an all-time rock classic that spawned a worldwide theatrical tour and pioneering U.S. TV special and cemented Alice Cooper as a visionary trailblazer whose influence persists today in rock, metal, pop, punk, theater, television, film and much more.
More than 35 years later, Alice and Ezrin have resurrected the horror and humor for a new generation.
"This is Alice's nightmare 35 years later," explains Alice, "Bob and I created this character and we know how to write for him. I play the part but we're not writing for me, we're writing for Alice. We kept the first 'Nightmare' album very personal to us, on this one we found more humor and we were more open. This was our world and we want to present it to the fans. The original album was my first solo album after all those huge hit records with the original band and now that nightmare is exposed, this one can be a little bit more open. The music crosses all sorts of boundaries; we went where the lyrics took us."
There is an array of collaborators on the new album, including original Alice Cooper members Denis Dunaway, Michael Bruce and Neal Smith reunited on three tracks; global pop superstar Ke$ha, who affectionately calls Alice "dad"; and legendary Alice and Lou Reed guitarist Steve Hunter, who is part of Alice's current touring band and featured prominently on the first "Nightmare" album.
Musically, the album ranges far and wide, from trashing disco to garage punk, pop balladry to a rocking number very much in the spirit of THE ROLLING STONES. And then there's the ballad "Something To Remember Me By", described by Alice as "the prettiest song we have ever released."
Glimpses of themes from the original album are intertwined throughout, each track representing a different aspect of Alice's nightmare.
From the opener, "I Am Made Of You", through the already established live favorite and first single "I'll Bite Your Face Off", to the surprising duet with Ke$ha, "What Baby Wants", this album is a reminder that albums just aren't made this way anymore.
And musicians do not play together like Dennis Dunaway, Michael Bruce and Neal Smith anymore.
"I wanted a '70s feel for 'When Hell Comes Home'," says Alice, "and I didn't even have to ask for it, it's just how they play and they did it live in the studio. When they got done playing the basic track, Bob and I just looked at each other, that sound is built into their DNA. We didn't need to go and fix anything. The way they finished was a little bit ragged and that's the way we used to finish songs, that's what I like about it."
Co-writers on various songs include the aforementioned Bob Ezrin, Ke$ha, Neal, Dennis, Michael, plus BUCKCHERRY's Keith Nelson, Desmond Child (who famously co-wrote and produced "Poison" with Alice), longtime collaborator Dick Wagner, current touring band member Chuck Garric and film composer Jeremy Rubolino.
"That's my rebellion," says Alice of the more surprising guests, "I like people that don't belong and yet what they're doing works perfectly. I don't care where it comes from, as long as it's right. If you tell me something doesn't work, I'll work my head of until it does then shove it down your throat.
"I think a lot of my audience is going to go 'KE$HA!?', but she probably wrote the most disgusting lyrics in the song — we had to rein her in. I like people to know that just because artists are put in a pigeon hole, that doesn't mean that's what they are. Give people a little room."
ADRENALINE MOB — the band featuring drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD), SYMPHONY X frontman Russell Allen and guitar virtuoso Mike Orlando (SONIC STOMP) — has announced the addition of DISTURBED bassist John Moyer to the group's ranks.
Moyer will make his live debut with ADRENALINE MOB on March 12 at Hiro Ballroom in New York City.
Said Moyer in a statement: "Mike Portnoy called me about auditioning for his new band ADRENALINE MOB. He had heard through the grapevine that I was looking to stay busy while DISTURBED is on hiatus. After jamming with Russ, Mike Orlando, and Portnoy, the chemistry as musicians was undeniable. I am super stoked about joining 'The Family' and I can't wait to hit the road with these guys and see what kind of musical mayhem we can create!"
ADRENALINE MOB's debut album, "Omertá", will be released in Europe on March 19 in Europe via Century Media Records. The CD will be made available in the U.S> on March 13 through the newly formed Elm City Music in conjunction with EMI Label Services.
The 11-song effort — which was produced by ADRENALINE MOB and mixed by Jay Ruston, who has previously worked on ANTHRAX's "Worship Music" and STEEL PANTHER's "Balls Out" — includes a blistering reinterpretation of DURAN DURAN's classic "Come Undone" featuring guest vocals by Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM.
"Omertá" track listing:
01. Undaunted 02. Psychosane 03. Indifferent 04. All On The Line 05. Hit The Wall 06. Feelin' Me 07. Come Undone (feat. Lzzy Hale) 08. Believe Me 09. Down To The Floor 10. Angel Sky 11. Freight Train
Audio samples of the songs "Indifferent" and "All On The Line" can be found on the ADRENALINE MOBFacebook page.
The "Undaunted" video can be seen below.
ADRENALINE MOB will perform at several European festivals this summer, including Graspop Metal Meeting (June 22-24 in Dessel, Belgium) and Gods Of Metal (June 21-24 in Milan, Italy).
ADRENALINE MOB's first-ever headline tour made stops in various markets, including Chicago, Denver and San Francisco. ADRENALINE MOB also opened for GODSMACK on select dates of the Massachusetts act's headlining tour.
ADRENALINE MOB formed in early 2011 when Orlando approached Allen with some material the guitarist had written. Allen and Orlando refined those ideas, at which time Allen reached out to longtime friend Portnoy to see if he had any interest in playing with them. Portnoy jumped on board and soon thereafter DiLeo and Ward were recruited to join the family. From the very first note, the chemistry was apparent and the beast that is known as ADRENALINE MOB was born.
Guitarist Rich Ward (STUCK MOJO, FOZZY) and bassist Paul DiLeo (FOZZY) announced their departures from ADRENALINE MOB last month due to scheduling conflicts with their other projects.
EspyRock recently conducted an interview with bassist Peter Iwers of Swedish metallers IN FLAMES. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
EspyRock: How do you find touring these days? Are you seeing anything different these days when on the road?
Peter: I think the problem is, basically, that since people stopped buying records, bands are now touring more and more so there are more tours going on at the same time now and it is hard for people to decide how they will spend their money. We need to work to live, and it's a shame that we all have to clash but because of how we tour now, you know that it is likely you will see that band back in seven/eight months. I went holiday to the U.S. with my wife a year ago and we went to New York, I was so looking forward to going to Tower Records and HMV, but they weren't around anymore, they had shut them all down. How is that ever going to help people buy CDs and continue to support music legally if they have no stores? I'm a big fan of the physical product and here in the U.K. it is ok, you still have stores like HMV and some independent stores which keep everything going. It is important that we teach the younger generation that the physical product is a great thing to have and that these stores exist. You get a lot more for your money with the artwork, booklets, lyrics and bonus discs. When I grew up, it was LPs that I bought and for me, it was a magical experience to go home and study the cover from front to back, see all of the details as you sang along to the songs. These days people don't do that, and it sucks because it means that in the future, ticket prices for gigs are going to be really high and people will then go to less shows. Bands will be touring even more than what we are now and it will just collapse. We're all just shooting ourselves in the foot because eventually music will stop, there will no money to be made from it therefore there will be no reason for any of us to do it. People can say they do it because they love it, but how can you love and dedicate your time to something that doesn't pay your bills and doesn't allow you to eat. So yeah, that is my extra-long, extended answer to that question you asked. [laughs] Keep buying records or music will die.
EspyRock: How do you take the criticism of people stating you're not the band you once were and you've lost your edge from the older material that you had released?
Peter: It's always going to be the same. People will always find something to criticize you for and while we may lose fans because they don't like where we are now, we've probably gained an equal amount of fans or more just based on the new album alone. Older fans come and go depending on their mood but you shouldn't pay too much attention to it because eventually you will change the way that you write music and that will be very damaging. We've never cared about what people think when it comes to the writing process; we just do it for ourselves and so far so good. Obviously, if someone tells me that my bass playing sucks or the records sucks, then I'm going to ask them why. I'm not going to abuse them or rip them to shreds like people do to bands online, I want constructive criticism that I can take on board and use in the future. If you really think it is that bad, then tell us why, we'll not forget and we'll make sure that we take it on board for the future. Maybe. [laughs] At the end of the day, I need to look at myself in the mirror and be able to say that I did this from the best of my ability.
EspyRock: How has [guitarist] Niclas [Engelin] settled into his new full time role within the band?
Peter: He is amazing. He came in with lots of energy and a really positive attitude which we needed after the divorce with Jesper. The stuff he [former IN FLAMES guitarist Jesper Strömblad] went through was horrifying for all of us and to see one of my closest friends have to deal with the nasty disease of alcoholism, it just beat us all down. So when Niclas came in with such a positive attitude, it really lifted us and it really put us back on track again. He fits like a glove and he is an amazing guitar player, I don't think I've ever met someone who loves to play guitar as much as he does. He is very productive, so he is always trying to kick out new ideas. He was writing with [his other band] ENGEL at the time for their new album, so he was taking all of the energy he had for that and putting it into IN FLAMES, which was great. That energy he has took us to the next level and without him being part of the band, I'm not sure how well we would have come back from the slump we were in.
EspyRock: Was the album written and recorded before he came in and was declared the new full-time guitarist?
Peter: He was there during the thinking period because he has joined a little earlier when Jesper couldn't continue the tours. We asked him if he wanted to join, and he told us that he would have to think about it because it was a big decision to become a full-time musician. While he was thinking about it, we decided that we would go ahead and do the album because we weren't sure how long it would take him.
EspyRock: It was a big change with Jesper leaving but at the same time you chose to leave Nuclear Blast for Century Media. What happened there?
Peter: A lot of things that I can't talk about. At the end of the day, we needed to be somewhere that really worked for us and while Nuclear Blast had been that place for many years, it was time for us to move on to something new. Century Media showed us the best plan and they had the best ideas to get the record out there, plus they seemed motivated. There is no bad blood with Nuclear Blast, we weren't with them for so long for no reason, they did do well for us and we're still friends with the people there, but things that I can't really talk about made it time to move on and work with someone new.
Asif Salam of SoundShock.com conducted an interview with Cristiano Trionfera (guitar, vocals), Paolo Rossi (bass, clean vocals), Francesco Ferrini (piano) of Italian brutal/symphonic horde FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE on January 12 at the Underworld in London, England. You can now watch the chat below.
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE's second full-length album, "Agony", was released last August via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD's intricate cover design was handled by Marco Hasmann, who previously worked with the band on the "Mafia" and "Oracles" releases.
"Agony" track listing:
01. Temptation 02. The Hypocrisy 03. The Imposition 04. The Deceit 05. The Violation 06. The Egoism 07. The Betrayal 08. The Forsaking 09. The Oppression 10. Agony 11. Heartwork (CARCASS cover; iTunes exclusive bonus track)
Commented the group: "The album cover is about the eternal struggle of mankind; we're condemned to live facing our evil side, which dwells in every one of us. We are like tied to the ground, forced in chains that can't be broken, so the man in the cover is representing all humanity and its eternal agony, knowing that it's almost impossible to liberate ourselves from the obscurity of our nature. Unless we decide to admit to ourselves who we are and face our doom, that would be the only way to free our kind and rise to an higher conscience, someday."
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE is:
Tommaso Riccardi - Lead Vocals, Guitars Paolo Rossi - Vocals, Bass Cristiano Trionfera - Vocals, Guitars Francesco Paoli - Drums, Guitars and Vocals Francesco Ferrini - Piano, Orchestra
SiriusXM Radio announced today that Ozzy's Boneyard, the new classic hard rock and metal music channel, will launch with a full slate of content featuring Ozzy Osbourne, his family members, bandmates and other musicians on Wednesday, February 8 at 6:00 p.m. ET.
Hard rock and heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne will, for the first time, discuss the recent news of BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi's lymphoma diagnosis during a one-on-one conversation with SiriusXM host Jose Mangin on Wednesday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m. ET on Ozzy's Boneyard, channel 38.
Ozzy's Boneyard will also present Ozzy himself counting down his personal top 10 rock guitarists of all time.
The channel will also include the regular specials "The Diary Of A Madman", Ozzy's thoughts on everything from music to life itself, and "God Bless The Prince Of Darkness", the special featuring musicians, Osbourne family members and other notables talking about their appreciation of Ozzy. Listeners will also hear guest DJ specials, concerts and classic hard rock and metal music from artists like BLACK SABBATH, METALLICA, AC/DC, JIMI HENDRIX, PANTERA and VAN HALEN.
"After everything I've been through in my career I never imagined I'd end up with my own radio channel on SiriusXM. This is fucking amazing! Does this mean I can play whatever I want?" said Ozzy Osbourne.
"No one represents the evolution of hard rock and heavy metal more than Ozzy Osbourne," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. "We know Ozzy's Boneyard will be alive and kicking."
Ozzy's Boneyard joins SiriusXM's roster of channels created in partnership with legendary musicians, including Bruce Springsteen's E Street Radio, Pearl Jam Radio, Eminem's Shade 45, Willie Nelson's Willie's Roadhouse, B.B. King's Bluesville, Elvis Radio, Jimmy Buffett's Radio Margaritaville and Siriusly Sinatra.
Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE have announced that they have filled the singer vacancy in the band and they have done so with a familiar face: original vocalist Jesse Leach.
Leach sang on the band's first self-titled album, which came out in 2000, and on their landmark 2002 Roadrunner debut "Alive Or Just Breathing". Leach left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Howard Jones, but his work on "Alive Or Just Breathing" has always been revered by diehard, longtime KILLSWITCH ENGAGE fans. Things have come full circle a decade later, and Leach and the band couldn't be more pleased about this reunion.
The band revealed that Leach auditioned for the job he once held and pretty much blew everyone away and then some. The band stated, "After much deliberation and careful consideration, we are pleased to announce that Jesse Leach has rejoined KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. Our job was to find the best person to fill Howard's shoes: a decision based on talent and not familiarity."
The band further said, "Truth be told, Jesse blew us away in auditions. The room seemed charged with electricity. He commanded both new and old material, and proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he wanted to do this. The choice became very clear and apparent."
The band also is psyched to share the news with fans, saying, "This change is very exciting. We know you're going to love it. This is truly a new era in KILLSWITCH ENGAGE history and it is ready to shred your face off. So, please help us in welcoming Jesse back into the KILLSWITCH ENGAGE family; he is a rare and great talent, a fact that older KILLSWITCH ENGAGE fans have known for years. Here is to a killer new record and a bright future. The five of us cannot wait to write this record and play shows together and bring that feeling to our fans. It's been far too long."
The "new" guy himself also commented on his return to the band after a decade-long absence, saying, "It is a great honor to rejoin my brothers after all of these years. After some discussion and much reflection, it was obvious to me this was the path I was meant to take. We got together and jammed on the 'Howard-era songs,' as well as some 'Alive Or Just Breathing'-era songs and we all felt the synergy."
He continued, "I look forward to writing the new record, since the demos sound absolutely amazing, as well as breathing new life and getting comfortable with the soulful songs Howard has written. It is a new chapter of my life filled with new and exciting challenges. I will give all that I can to honor the position I have been given and take nothing for granted. I will sing every note with all of my soul. I am very blessed and very thankful to be back in the KILLSWITCH ENGAGE family! All things happen in their due time and now is the time for this reunion and new direction."
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE is hard at work on material for the follow-up to 2009's second self-titled album.
The band will perform at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival on April 22.
Leach last performed with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE in March 2010 in New York City, Clifford Park, New York and Wallingford, Connecticut (see video below).
TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider recently spoke to Artisan News about his upcoming appearance on NBC's "The Celebrity Apprentice", which is scheduled to premiere February 12 at 9 p.m. Snider is a contestant on the show, alongside Clay Aiken, Adam Carolla, Lou Ferrigno, Arsenio Hall, Penn Jillette, George Takei and Paul Teutul, Sr. Check out the clip below.
When asked what was different about "The Celebrity Apprentice" compared to his appearances on other reality shows in the past, Snider told RollingStone.com, "It's different than any other one. It's really all about the win. There is no social element to it. I mean, you're certainly with people and you have camaraderie and relationships going on, but it's purely fueled by the work and it's all about taking you out of your comfort zone. Some of the reality shows I've done have been about filming you in your comfort zone — this is about keeping you away."
Regarding whether the show changed his perception of Donald Trump as a person, Snider said, "Totally. This may be an image killer for him, but every person in the cast will you that he is gracious, welcoming, considerate and self-deprecating. He jokes about his hair and his assets when the camera is off. He has his persona, but it definitely changed my opinion of him. . . I don't agree with him on [stuff like 'the Obama birth certificate is fake.'] I said I have a different opinion of him, but I don't agree with his politics. . . . In his own way, he is the P.T. Barnum of his day. It is no coincidence that he is talking about possibly running for President at the time that we're announcing the launch of 'The Celebrity Apprentice'. It's not a coincidence. Saying sensational things like 'President Obama sucks,' knowing at the same time that he wants people to lock up their TiVos."
During a brand new interview with Canada's Exclaim.ca, vocalist Randy Blythe of Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD was asked about the persistent comparisons between his band and metal heavyweights PANTERA.
"Phil [Anselmo] is a great vocalist and PANTERA were a great band, but they're PANTERA and we're us," Blythe replied. "Phil wasn't a huge influence on me; when I started singing I was listening to a bunch of really, really brutal death metal and really crazy grindcore, that's what got me into metal and then I had to go back and find PANTERA and a couple of the bigger bands. I was more into the underground shit first.
"The thing is, Phil is not the only dude in the world who has ever screamed and so what?"
He continued, "It's interesting to me. I think we get a lot of PANTERA comparisons for a lot of different reasons; because we're from the South, because we both have some groove and a lot of Southern rock influences that come through. PANTERA were certainly an influence on us as a band, particularly on the guitar players, but some things just sort of happen naturally, it's just the way it is. I always thought we sound more like a SLAYER rip-off than a PANTERA rip-off."
In a 2010 interview, former PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo was asked if he had any feelings about some of the modern metal bands such as MASTODON, LAMB OF GOD and AVENGED SEVENFOLD. "I've got respect for MASTODON; I think they play very well for what they do," he replied. "I think the drummer is very, very entertaining to watch; he's a fuckin' excellent drummer. Super-cool guys to hang out with; a lot of fun. I think that music is a wide open world. Of course I know what you're fishin' for. I think PANTERA left a big imprint on them. It's flattering and sometimes if I walk into a room and I hear somethin' playing real, real low that sounds real fuckin' familiar, nine times out of ten it's one of them bands you're mentioning. But that's fine. The biggest argument could be this and I get this: PANTERA doesn't exist anymore. The records exist but we're not creating music anymore so there's a void there. And I guess these bands are filling a void. So you've got to take that into account as well."
When asked if he thought that any of these contemporary bands will have the impact and staying power that PANTERA had, Anselmo said, "PANTERA revolutionized the sound and the approach to heavy metal. It's been regurgitated. Once you up the production on a product and not just the playing but the actual production, then it's going to up the ante. Period. Bands are going to want that sound and Dimebag had a monster fuckin' guitar sound; it was all a matter of getting it on tape right. He always had that great sound."
"The Great Fire", the new album from Orange County, California's BLEEDING THROUGH, sold around 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 193 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The band's previous, self-titled CD opened with around 3,700 copies to land at No. 143.
BLEEDING THROUGH's 2008 effort, "Declaration", registered a first-week tally of 6,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 101.
"The Great Fire" track listing:
01. March 02. Faith In Fire 03. Goodbye To Death 04. Final Hours 05. Starving Vultures 06. Everything You Love Is Gone 07. Walking Dead 08. Devil And Self Doubt 09. Step Back In Line 10. Trail Of Seclusion 11. Deaf Ears 12. One By One 13. Entrenched 14. Back To Life
In a recent interview with AOL's Noisecreep, BLEEDING THROUGH vocalist Brandan Schieppati stated about the current state of the underground music industry, "When BLEEDING THROUGH first starting doing this, you would hear people gloat about stuff like selling 400,000 albums, or selling out huge venues, but it's so different now. Now you'll hear bands say, 'We made it! We sold $700 in merch tonight!' It's a joke.
"I think people are too busy celebrating the short term, rather than the long term — and that's [disconcerting]. I've never wanted to be in a band that had a few fantastic years and then went away. We've definitely had years that were better than others. It's never been the kind of thing where we would break up as soon as we stopped drawing 1000 people at our shows. We've always done this to please ourselves, and not as some delusion of grandeur."
He added, "I hear about bands dropping out of high school because someone told them they had to do that so they can tour full time and become rich. It's scary. This stuff — hardcore, metal, punk — it has a short shelf life. So you're going to throw your education away so someone else can make money off of you? It's just wrong.
"No one is buying records anymore. So these newer bands need to know that there won't be another METALLICA. Those level bands are just not going to pop up anymore. You have to play this kind of music because you love it. Playing hardcore and metal is not a career move."
Vocalist/guitarist Alexi Laiho of Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM was interviewed on this past weekend's (February 3-5) edition of Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.
To see a full list of stations carrying the program and when it airs, go to FullMetalJackieRadio.com.
Interview (audio):
A few excerpts from the question-and-answer session follow.
Full Metal Jackie: The 15th-anniversary tour is now underway. When you look back on your entire career for an anniversary tour, what stands out most that you never realized before?
Alexi: Well, there's a lot of things that happened, a lot of things that I never really stopped to think about during these last 15 years. Obviously, the first time we got the record contract, that was kind of like the biggest deal in my life, and certain little things like the first time we went to Japan and the first headlining tour in the U.S. and a bunch of little things that might not sound like a big deal. I could go on and on.
Full Metal Jackie: Do you feel like it sort of happened quickly in terms of your level of success here and notoriety and showing up on Guitar World magazine and things like that?
Alexi: Yeah, absolutely. Like I said, I really haven't had that much time to stop and think about everything that's happened but sometimes you're like, "Wait a minute, did I just do that? Was I just on the cover of Guitar World with Zakk Wylde and Steve Vai? Really, me?" I mean, that's pretty awesome right?
Full Metal Jackie: Were you giddy that day when that photo shoot happened? I kind of remembered seeing behind-the-scenes photos, I can't even imagine as a fan of those guys what it must have been like for you.
Alexi: Well, I was trying not to, I think I did a pretty good job, too. [Laughs] The thing is that those two dudes are definitely like my ultimate guitar heroes and the guys that I grew up listening to when I was a kid and I still do. Both of them were really cool and we just hung out it was really comfortable to hang out with them.
Full Metal Jackie: Does being made more aware of your entire history, being this is a 15th-anniversary tour, does it make you rethink the direction of what the band does next?
Alexi: Usually I really try not to think about stuff like that. I like to keep it spontaneous and before I start writing music, I don't really sit down and think about what we should sound like. I just grab the guitar and see what happens. That's always been the method that's worked for me anyway.
Full Metal Jackie: Tell me about something you did recently, you were part of a Finnish cooking show?
Alexi: [Laughs] Yeah, that's very true, I know it sounds pretty messed up, but it was a lot of fun. Basically the whole concept of the show is that this guy who is a famous chef in Finland he visits Finns who live outside of Finland somewhat famous or known people. He came out to L.A. to see me and he taught me how to cook and we hung out and we had cocktails and stuff like that. I don't know how to cook, I can make us some sandwiches, but that's it. [Laughs] He taught me some stuff so it was definitely a lot of fun. Full Metal Jackie: Will we in the states get a chance to see that at some point or is this Finnish only?
Alexi: It's only in Finland.
Full Metal Jackie: You guys have always been known to do some crazy cover tunes, which crack me up. Every time I do a metal cover special, I play the Britney Spears cover, because I can't get enough of it, it's so good. Tell me what a bunch of Finnish guys like about a 1985 electro-pop song by Eddie Murphy, no less to want to cover "Party All the Time".
Alexi: That was another moment of not knowing what to do, after you cover Britney and what-not, there's no way you can top that, but I think we actually kind of did. Somebody came up with the idea of covering that Eddie Murphy song because, for some reason, during that recording session, that song was always around and we would drink and hang out and that was on the party CD or mix CD and someone came up with the beautiful idea of covering that song and we were like, "What, dude? What the hell, we'll see if we can pull it off." I think it turned out pretty good, I mean, as long as you have a sense of humor; otherwise you're just going to hate it.
Full Metal Jackie: What is going on in terms of plans for the next BODOM album? Is there some kind of a timeline or are you guys working or writing anything so far?
Alexi: Right now we're in between tours, but we're going to keep going until next fall, so we're going to do this U.S. tour and then we got a bunch of European festivals throughout the summer, and as far as I know, I think we're going to start writing new stuff sometime this autumn. I already have written something, but basically, I really don't write while I'm touring, it's just kind of the wrong kind of environment for me writing. When you're surrounded by psycho drunks just screaming 24/7 [laughs].
Full Metal Jackie: Are you talking about us or your bandmates?
Alexi: [Laughs] Of course not you, just the bandmates. [Laughs]
Danish modern metallers MNEMIC have entered Antfarm studios in Aabyhøj, Denmark with longtime producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, HIMSA, SICK OF IT ALL) to begin recording their new album for a June release via Nuclear Blast Records.
The first in a series of webisodes featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the recording sessions can be seen below.
MNEMIC recently parted ways with drummer Brian "Brylle" Rasmussen and guitarist Rune Stigart and replaced them with Brian Larsen and Victor-Ray Salomonsen, respectively.
MNEMIC 2012 is:
Guillaume Bideau - Vocals Mircea Gabriel Eftemie - Guitar Victor-Ray Salomonsen - Guitar Simone Bertozzi - Bass Brian Larsen - Drums
Commented Mircea Gabriel Eftemie: "We've been together for a long time, and I am sad to see the guys not being there anymore, as we once used to. We were not able to work as a unit anymore, due to many reasons, being personal and even logistical. That is why we have chosen to part ways. It has not been easy at all, since lots of turns have taken place in our personal lives and, unfortunately, this has been the only solution. It's been a spirit-crusher for me, not being able to create music, being creative and share the passion we once used to have. The band needs to tour a lot more, go to places we haven't been, play for audiences that crave the music we make — and this is exactly what we intend to do with a new lineup. Apparently there is still a demand for our machine, and we are grateful for that. Therefore we are now reloading it by making a new album to be released in 2012, followed by an intensive touring schedule."
Added vocalist Guillaume Bideau: "Obeast in April and now Brian and Rune are not part of the band anymore. It's a very weird feeling, because a band, as often said, is like another family to you. It will be more than strange not to see their faces anymore on stage, in the rehearsal, in the studio and in all the other places we were used to share together. But we're still friends and that's the most important.
"We cannot look into the past, we have to be moving forward.
"I think this new lineup is the best we could have and Simone, Victor and Brian are great, creative and dedicated musicians. On top of that, they are great guys, so it could not be better.
"Today MNEMIC's face on stage is different — but what are we here for!? To play some fucking metal and kick some asses! And this will not change, I promise."
MNEMIC's fourth studio album, "Sons Of The System", was released in Europe on January 15, 2010 and in North America on January 26, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.
Video footage of NILE drummer George Kollias demonstrating the new Pearl Reference Pure kits can be seen below.
George Kollias is writing and recording a solo album in between drum clinics and touring cycles. Due later this year, the CD, which is primarily set to show off some of George's craziest metal drumming to date, is being completely written and recorded by George, including the guitars, bass, keys, vocals, and percussion, and it will also feature a DVD of the recording process.
Kollias' recent YouTube video shows off the blistering speed of George's hands and feet around the kit, through his quick fills and fast footwork, as well as showing his multi-talented musical ability through his guitar work and other instrumentation.
Commented Kollias: "The drumming will be crazy on this album; I will push it like never before, since the whole idea is to write something based on drums anyways. Although I will pay attention a lot to the music in general, and I arranged to have some of the best guitarists in the world playing some guest solos for the songs, which is great! The mixing will be done in Florida, at Mana Studios, [by] Erik Rutan, one of the best producers today. He worked on the last NILE album, next to Neil Kernon, our main producer. This is just a first demo…. nothing final yet… but the final thing will be crazy and will sound incredible!!"
David "Gus" Griesinger of BackstageAxxess.com conducted an interview with POISON drummer Rikki Rockett at the 2012 NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, a massive music-products convention that took place January 19-22 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. You can now watch the chat below.
It's official, POISON and DEF LEPPARD will be hitting the road together for a joint tour. LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen had first mentioned that the band, and either POISON or frontman Bret Michaels on his own, would be hitting the road together, but Rockett posted that the tour was indeed happening. No dates have been announced. Collen had said that he had hoped that TWISTED SISTER might be added to the bill to round out the tour of bands that have their music featured in the upcoming "Rock Of Ages" movie, but so far no mention of their involvement has been mentioned.
After the departure of Lars Eikin (bass/clean vocals) and Atte Palokangas (drums), Finland's BEFORE THE DAWN experienced a rebirth of sorts. What could formerly be described as dark metal started to flow much more into melodic death metal waters. The result of this development will arise like the famous phoenix from the ashes on April 27: "Rise Of The Phoenix".
Armed with new members Pyry Hanski (bass) and Joonas Kauppinen (drums), BEFORE THE DAWN will surprise you with a totally new, incredibly thrilling listening experience on their seventh studio album. To get a first impression of what's coming up to you, check out the official album teaser below, featuring a preview of two brand new songs: "Throne Of Ice" and "Cross To Bear".
The perfectly fitting phoenix symbolism was chosen prudently as mainman, vocalist and mastermind Tuomas Saukkonen explains. "Massive changes in the line-up during 2011 ended an era of great frustration and brought back 110% dedication and professionalism into the band," he says. "The newfound energy and motivation steered us into a victorious European tour and made it possible to produce the strongest, fastest, heaviest and definitely the most epic BEFORE THE DAWN album so far!"
"Rise Of The Phoenix" track listing:
01. Exordium 02. Pitch-Black Universe 03. Phoenix Rising 04. Cross To Bear 05. Throne Of Ice 06. Perfect Storm 07. Fallen World 08. Eclipse 09. Closure
Bonus tracks:
10. Unbreakable (2012 version) 11. Deliverance 12. Reflection (taken from the very first demo, 1999)
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