Julia Neuman of Metal Assault conducted an interview with SOULFLY guitarist Marc Rizzo on March 20, 2010 at Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metal Assault: [SOULFLY's new album] "Omen" is scheduled for release on May 25. What really stands out about this album for you?
Marc: It's right to the point. There's a real hardcore, punk vibe to the record. Short tunes. This record is kind of different for us and I think the fans are going to like it a lot.
Metal Assault: When you were writing the album, did you have it in mind that you wanted short songs, or was that more of an unplanned thing? Did you go into it with specific musical goals in mind?
Marc: I think Max's [Cavalera, SOULFLY guitarist/vocalist] goal was to put out a record that seemed a little more to the point, a real thrash metal or hardcore vibe. I know he definitely wanted to go in that direction when we started making the record, so I guess in the end it turned out to be like that.
Metal Assault: You released a few solo albums yourself in which you incorporated a lot of different styles of music other than metal. Do you prefer the songwriting dynamic that you get with a group or do you prefer writing on your own, where maybe you're not quite as limited musically?
Marc: I like both. I like working with the guys in SOULFLY and collaborating but then I also like doing my own thing. I do like being able to do whatever I want to and really indulging in guitar music. It's nice to be able to do just the guitar thing, because that's what my solo stuff is, just instrumental guitar music. So I like being able to just go off into that world too.
Metal Assault: Which album are you most proud of to date and why?
Marc: The CAVALERA CONSPIRACY record is really special to me because I was such a big fan of Max and Igor [Cavalera, former SEPULTURA and current CAVALERA CONSPIRACY drummer] when they were in SEPULTURA. For them to ask me to be a part of that record was really exciting. I think we put out a great record that will stand the test of time.
Metal Assault: How has Max Cavalera influenced you musically?
Marc: He's been one of my biggest influences. You know, growing up I was the biggest SEPULTURA fan and SOULFLY fan. I was always into their music and wanted to go in that direction with music. And then to be able to join a band with them was really crazy. Even now with the band together, he's a huge influence on me.
Norwegian extreme metal veterans KEEP OF KALESSIN will release their new album, "Reptilian", in North America on June 8 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD will be made available in Europe (except Germany, Austria and Switzerland) on May 10 through Indie Recordings.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Dragon Iconography 02. The Awakening 03. Judgement 04. The Dragontower 05. Leaving The Mortal Flesh 06. Dark As Moonless Night 07. The Divine Land 08. Reptilian Majesty
Regarding the album artwork, which can be viewed below, KEEP OF KALESSIN's Obsidian C. stated, "The music on 'Reptilian' is more in your face and direct than before so we chose this cover and the title to emphasise that directness as well as focusing even more on the fantasy elemement in the band. This beast of an album is staring at you and it's going straight for your throat!"
The band will play a few select shows in Norway in support of the release.
Confirmed dates so far:
May 15 - Rockefeller, Oslo (headlining show) May 21 - Torget, Trondheim, Trondheim Rock Festival
KEEP OF KALESSIN took third place in the grand final of the national Eurovision Song Contest called "Melodi Grand Prix" which was held on February 6 at the Spektrum in Oslo. The band performed a song called "The Dragontower", which was originally written for the group's next album but had to be shortened from 5:20 minutes to 3:00 minutes for the performance. The full, unedited track will, of course, appear on the upcoming KEEP OF KALESSIN CD.
Video footage of KEEP OF KALESSIN's performance in the quarterfinals of the competition can be viewed below.
KEEP OF KALESSIN's last CD, "Kolossus", was released in June 2008. The album was made available via Indie Recordings and was licensed to Nuclear Blast for the following territories: Germany, Austria, Switzerland and rest of the world outside Europe (except Australia and Russia).
Elliot Levin of the New York Hard Rock Examiner conducted an interview with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson before the band's March 18, 2010 performance in Scranton, Pennsylvania. You can now watch the chat below.
A review of the concert can be found at this location.
When asked about the possibility of a reformation of MEGADETH's "Rust In Peace" lineup at some point in the future, Ellefson recently told Ultimate-Guitar.com, "There [aren't any plans for that], at least not right now. As a lot of fans probably know, Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH mainman] worked with Nick Menza [drums] on the reformation of that lineup in 2004 and it just didn't work. For whatever reason, Nick wasn't in the head space to come back and do it, and it just didn't work. I don't know if that opportunity will ever come around again. Musically, it may at some point. Marty [Friedman, guitar] left the group back in 2000 because he wanted to pursue other kinds of music, and I think he's happy doing what he's doing right now. My attitude is that, if anywhere on our travels around the world, if any former member wanted to come up and jam and play a song, especially in the spirit of what Dave and I have been able to accomplish with mending fences, I think that would be a fantastic thing. It would be really cool to see former members, even if they just came up and played one song just for old time's sake for the fans, and just began to make sure all fences are mended between members. I just think that that would be a fantastic thing, but that's just what I think. That would have to more importantly, I think, happen naturally because everybody wanted to do it, rather than forcing any type of a reunion."
MEGADETH recently commenced filming a video for the song "The Right To Go Insane" in South El Monte, California. The track comes off MEGADETH's latest album, "Endgame", which was recorded at Vic's Garage, the band's brand new, self-built studio in San Marcos, California. The CD was helmed by Mustaine and British producer Andy Sneap (EXODUS, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD).
MEGADETH has joined forces with TESTAMENT and EXODUS for a month-long jaunt that finds these thrash titans crisscrossing the nation on the "Rust in Peace" twentieth anniversary tour. These are incredibly special shows that will delight MEGADETH fans, as the band is playing its landmark, genre-defining album, 1990's "Rust in Peace", in its entirety, in addition to other MEGADETH setlist favorites.
Swedish female-fronted heavy rock band SISTER SIN entered the studio in February to begin recording its sophomore album, "True Sound Of The Underground", for a late 2010 release. The CD is being produced by Henrik Edenhed (DEAD BY APRIL, ROBYN, LAMBRETTA, TEDDYBEARS, CHRISTIAN WALTZ, THE SOUNDS) in Stockholm at Studio 301 and Cosmos Studios.
Check out footage from the studio below.
SISTER SIN in April 2009 made a new song, "Beat 'Em Down", available for free download via MySpace page. The track was recorded as a tribute to the late great Gothenburg boxing champ Ingemar "Ingo" Johansson, who passed away in January 2009.
"Switchblade Serenades" debuted at No. 107 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.
"Switchblade Serenades" was produced by Tobias Lindell at Bohus Sound Studios in Sweden.
German gothic rockers LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE have parted ways with bassist Peter Kafka. According to the band, "Peter is too busy with his side projects to focus completely on LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE, so we decided to part ways." The group adds, "For the next shows to come the band will work with a session bassist and then see what the future brings."
In other news, LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE has revealed the track listing and artwork (by Niklas Sundin of DARK TRANQUILLITY) for its new album, "The Grandios Nowhere", due in Europe on April 30 via Napalm Records. The five-piece once again worked with producer John Fryer (HIM, NINE INCH NAILS), who previously handled the production on the band's last two albums.
"The Grandios Nowhere" track listing
01. Be Mine In Tears 02. The Letter 03. Lips 04. I Don't Care 05. Her Occasion Of Sin 06. A Plea 07. Not for Love 08. The Fear Of Being Alone 09. My Little Fear 10. Side 11. Dead Heart Serenade 12. No Matter Where You Shoot Me
Holland's FaceCulture recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Joel O'Keeffe of the Australian hard rock band AIRBOURNE. Watch the chat in five parts below.
AIRBOURNE's sophomore album, "No Guts. No Glory.", is scheduled for release in the U.S. on April 20 via Roadrunner Records. The CD came out in Europe on March 8 and in Canada on March 9.
AIRBOURNE traveled to the Windy City to record "No Guts. No Glory." with producer Johnny K, live and straight to analog tape. Like debut album "Runnin' Wild", "No Guts. No Glory." continues that good time vibe, but ultimately, according to drummer Ryan O'Keeffe, the record is about "standing up and going for it, and being a man. There's a tougher element to the album, so to speak." Instead of sleeping every night in a comfortable hotel room bed on the label's dime, the band actually slept in the studio, taking inspiration from Bruce Springsteen and his E STREET BAND, who were known to live in the studio until an album was completed.
AIRBOURNE will be spreading its rock 'n' roll seeds all across the U.S. this spring when it embarks on a full U.S. tour supporting BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE.
German death metallers GRIND INC. have set "Lynch And Dissect" as the title of their fourth album, due on May 21 via Bastardized Recordings. The CD was recorded at Catacomb Productions in Germany by Thomas Granzow and GRIND INC. and was mixed and mastered by Jörg Uken at Soundlodge studios. The cover artwork was once again handled by Björn Goosses of Killustrations. Björn also makes a guest appearance on the new album on the track "Forced To Consume".
"Lynch And Dissect" track listing:
01. Stillborn Paradise 02. Lynch And Dissect 03. Beyond Recognition 04. Damned To Vengeance 05. Praise The Light 06. Unasked Heirs 07. Decimate 08. Forced To Consume 09. The Debate From Within
The song "Praise The Light" is available for streaming on the GRIND INC.MySpace page.
GRIND INC. last year parted ways with Thomas Strater (one of GRIND INC.'s two vocalists) due to "musical differences and circumstances of life."
The band is not seeking a replacement singer and will continue as a four-piece.
GRIND INC.'s third album, "Sudden State of Hate", was released in 2008 via Twilight Vertrieb. The follow-up to 2006's "Inhale the Violence" was recorded at Ezy Soundz Studio in Krefeld with producer Carsten "Cazy" Schmidt and features artwork by Björn Goosses of Killustrations.com.
GRIND INC. started out in 2001 as a side project of HATE FACTOR and NIGHT IN GALES members. The point was "to make the most brutal music possible without neglecting groove and having shitloads of fun," according to the band's official bio.
The group's debut album, "Executed", was released in May 2005.
Rock drummers Vinny Appice (BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, DIO) and Barry Kerch (SHINEDOWN) will be interviewed by Hawaii veteran rock jock Dave Lawrence on Monday, March 22 at 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST) on Shovio.com.
Shovio.com is the first company to deliver live, interactive Internet video broadcasts to desktops, laptops and mobile phones. Launched in November 2009 and based in midtown Manhattan, Shovio.com is free, and anyone can log in anytime to join the hosts' discussions in real time, by using their own web camera or microphone, and streaming messaging.
Shovio.com daily professional broadcasters include former "Imus in the Morning" sidekick Karith Foster, sports talk icon Sid Rosenberg, conservative talker Jeff Katz, rock radio host Dave Lawrence, comedian/radio host Goumba Johnny, radio host Leslie Gold "The Radiochick," former FBI agent and bestselling author Joaquin "Jack" Garcia (a.k.a. Jack Falcone), and urban radio/video hosts Star and Buc Wild, among others.
Since 1910 musicians have associated visual arts with their sonic output in the form of the almighty album cover. And since 1987, Roadrunner Records has been a source of some visually stunning and visually disturbing images in the wide world of album art, nevertheless honoring the tradition. Whether using an image to set the tone for what's to follow on your speakers, or as a means of branding in forever associating a picture with a title, there is no question as to the power of the album cover — which is why the label took a look at every album released on Roadrunner Records U.S. to find the greatest covers in its celebrated history.
Voted on by the Roadrunner worldwide staff, showcasing the iconic vs. the blasphemous, the painted vs. the photographed, as well as the found art vs. the commissioned art, we give you the "Ten Greatest Album Covers in Roadrunner History" — one at a time.
Feast your eyes on #5 below, and check back at RoadrunnerRecords.com every day as the label counts down to number one.
#10: KING DIAMOND - "Abigail" #9: MACHINE HEAD - "The Blackening" #8: TYPE O NEGATIVE - "Slow, Deep And Hard" #7: SEPULTURA - "Chaos A.D." #6: KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - "The End Of Heartache"
#5: NAILBOMB - "Point Blank"
The sonic love child of FUDGE TUNNEL's Alex Newport and SEPULTURA's Max Cavalera, this 1994 one-off album from their NAILBOMB union showcased dense, industrialized heaviness, seething with all-out punk aggression.
In 13 tracks the revered duo — crediting SEPULTURA alumns Andreas Kisser and Igor Cavalera, as well as FEAR FACTORY's Dino Cazares and WICKED DEATH's Ritchie Bujnowski as players on the final product — managed to make an angry masterpiece that meets in the middle of what both SEPULTURA and FUDGE TUNNEL were doing at the time. But as for the visual representation of "Point Blank", the war-time photo of a Viet Cong woman with a gun to her head proves just as striking as the devastatingly heavy music within its sleeve.
Roadrunner Records Senior VP of A&R Monte Conner on NAILBOMB's "Point Blank":
Iann Robinson of Crave Online recently conducted an interview with ARMORED SAINT/ANTHRAX singer John Bush. An excerpt from the chat follows below.
Crave Online: It's been awhile since the last ARMORED SAINT album. What's been going on in that time?
John Bush: We seem to want to put records out once every decade. Obviously I was in another band (ANTHRAX) for 2000 and so that was my more prominent job. The other thing was that for a few years after I did leave ANTHRAX I kind of didn't want to play music for a while. I thought it would be a good time for me to focus on other things like a new career, I became a father, helped my wife out with her business, it was all good actually. I got to take a break from being the guy in a band, which was something I hadn't done for three years but for more like twenty-two years. There was nothing wrong and it wasn't any animosity towards music it was more like I'm just taking a break from this.
Crave Online: So why now for a new ARMORED SAINT album?
John Bush: When Joey (Vera, bass) proposed writing some new songs I said, "For what?" because I was really a little cautious as to what our objective was for this. It was really as simple as Joey saying, "You're my friend and let's just write some songs." Maybe deep down he had some ulterior motive but I think it was more just him wanting to work on some new stuff. At that point I figured, "Yeah, okay, let's work on some new songs."
Crave Online: When you have ten years between records, is there ever any fear about how people will respond to the music in a new musical climate?
John Bush: You have to remember this is a band that started in 1983, then disbanded in 1991 or 92, then resumed for one album in 2000 and now here we are in 2010 so I'm under no illusion that we have some legitimate strong fan base. I mean, I'm not undermining people who like or continue to like ARMORED SAINT and I'm very grateful, but none of that really matters. Obviously, we've had a relationship with Metal Blade and Brian (Slagel) since back in 1982. We're lucky that Brian's attitude is, "Hey, I'll still put out your records, you're my friends and I like your band" and that we have that outlet. So when it came to the new material we never lost the perspective, Joey and I, that we were doing this for any other reason than just to write music. I have no other pre-conceived notion or ambition with this at all. Record sales? I don't know, honestly. I hate to say this but it really doesn't matter.
Crave Online: There's been a lot in the early press for the album about how approached the recording process a little differently. The quote being you've "taken the computers out of the process." Talk about that.
John Bush: When we came to actually putting the songs down officially, we went into an analog situation and we used an analog board. We just thought it would be warmer and better for what we were doing. We're not opposed to computers, they're just part of how people make music these days. It was important for us that we didn't get into a situation where I sang one chorus one time and then just laid it in 30 times or we played a riff and literally just recycled the riff. That's just counter to what this band was founded on. That's not to say we didn't lay some stuff in and use that technology we just didn't want to rest on it.
Crave Online: When you guys got into the studio, was it business as usual or was their weirdness in being together again after so long?
John Bush: We didn't record this record the way we have in the past with all of us in a room together. Joey was really creative in writing the songs so he played bass, rhythms and programmed the drums and I sang on it. So when we got into the studio, we used that as a template. We never got all of us together slugging it out; we just didn't do it that way. By the same token everybody was able to get into the studio and add their own unique sound to the record. Gonzo came in for drums and Jeff (Duncan) played about fifty percent of the rhythms. It was a little different than what we used to do but we definitely wanted everyone's input and personality.
Danish folk metal band SVARTSOT has been confirmed for this year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 5-7, 2010 in Wacken, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
1349 ALICE COOPER ARCH ENEMY AMORPHIS ASTRAL DOORS ATROCITY BROILERS CALIBAN CANDLEMASS CANNIBAL CORPSE CORVUS CORAX CRUCIFIED BARBARA DEAD MEANS NOTHING DEBAUCHERY DEGRADEAD DELAIN DESPISED ICON DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER DIE KASSIERER EDGUY EQUILIBRIUM END OF GREEN ENDSTILLE ETERNAL LEGACY EVILE FEAR FACTORY FIDDLER'S GREEN GHOST BRIGADE GOJIRA GRAVE DIGGER HACKNEYED HANGGAI HELLS BELLES HOLY GRAIL IHSAHN ILL NINO IMMORTAL IMPERIUM DEKADENZ IRON MAIDEN JOB FOR A COWBOY KAMPFAR KATAKLYSM KILLING MACHINE LAKE OF TEARS LETZTE INSTANZ LIZZY BORDEN MAD MAX MAMBO KURT MAROON METSATÖLL MÖTLEY CRÜE NIGHTMARE ORDEN OGAN ORPHANED LAND OVERKILL PRIMAL FEAR RAVEN ROTTING CHRIST SCHELMISH SECRETS OF THE MOON SKANNERS SLAYER SMOKE BLOW SÓLSTAFIR STRATOVARIUS SUICIDAL ANGELS SVARTSOT TARJA THE DEVIL'S BLOOD THE NEW BLACK THE OTHER TIAMAT TYR U.D.O. UNLEASHED VARG VOIVOD W.A.S.P.
Seattle radio station 99.9 KISW is currently streaming the brand new STONE TEMPLE PILOTS single, "Between The Lines". Check it out using the audio player below (**Note**: Audio player works with Internet Explorer and Safari.). The song comes off the band's first new album in nine years, due on May 25 via Atlantic Records.
The self-titled effort features the following track listing:
01. Between The Lines 02. Take A Load Off 03. Huckleberry Crumble 04. Hickory Dichotomy 05. Dare If You Dare 06. Cinnamon 07. Hazy Daze 08. Bagman 09. Peacoat 10. Fast As I Can 11. First Kiss On Mars 12. Maver
According to The Pulse of Radio, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS unveiled the new CD at a private listening party on February 23 in New York City. The entire band was in attendance at the event, with The Pulse of Radio's reporter on the scene saying that singer Scott Weiland "looked the best he's looked in a long time." All 12 tracks from the album were aired, with The Pulse of Radio reporter calling the record "a natural, melodic progression for STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, with BEATLES-esque harmonies, a lot of in-your-face, hard-rocking tracks, plenty of guitar solos and some astounding singing from Weiland."
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS reunited in 2008 after a six-year layoff. The band's last album, "Shangri-La-Dee-Da", came out in 2001.
The PILOTS will also tour throughout the spring and summer, with Weiland hinting in a recent interview that the band might mount its own festival.
The disc will be issued through Atlantic Records, although Weiland told The Pulse of Radio at the time of the band's 2008 reunion tour that he was interested in exploring other options outside the traditional music industry. "When we first talked about putting STP back together, it was do this tour and then see about doing a creative deal with another company, like an all-in deal," he said. "And, you know, if you look at even like RADIOHEAD and a handful of other bands, they make more money doing things in an unconventional fashion as opposed to doing it, you know, with the major labels."
Bassist Robert DeLeo said about the new disc, "Fans are going get a great STP record . . . a really cohesive record with songs that are going to be lasting."
According to KissFAQ.com, KISS vocalist/guitarist Paul Stanley made an appearance on Saturday, March 20 at the Wentworth Gallery - Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to promote his art. The event included a special dinner for art patrons featuring a rare acoustic performance by Stanley and KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer. The pair reportedly performed the following set:
01. Hard Luck Woman 02. Beth 03. C'mon And Love Me 04. Shandi 05. Say Yeah 06. Shout It Out Loud 07. Comin' Home (partial) 08. Lick It Up 09. Rock and Roll All Night 10. Rock Bottom
Check out photos of the performance at KissFAQ.com.
ATLmetal.com has posted video footage of PRONG performing the song "Beg To Differ" on March 9 at the Loft in Atlanta, Georgia. Watch the clip below.
In an October 2009 interview with Target Audience, PRONG mainman Tommy Victor stated about the songwriting process for the band's next album, "The earlier batch was not like 'Power of the Damager' material. Just to be more general, it was more of a reach towards the 'Rude Awakening' or KILLING JOKE-type material. Then I came up with a couple of, like, you know, brutal thrash ideas and then some other ideas for, uh, total riff rock — like not like modern. I think they sort of go back into the 'Cleansing' era where it was based on GODFLESH or something and then I'll have too see…I've started attacking the riffs again and seem to be in that vein of BLACK SABBATH-oriented or more than we've done. I think it's gonna be cool eventually. It's just like getting the right ideas finding out where we're out going and like throwin' 'em all together and taking a look at it."
He added, "It's all about songs. I mean, PRONG is a songwriting band, ya know? That's why it takes so long, because we just don't go in and have this formula of patterns and, ya know, or just record some really heavy stuff and scream all over it; I have to figure out a lyrical concept and a lyrical line and the lyrics. And I gotta do all that and then, of course, solos and there's a lot on me on the whole thing, unfortunately."
PRONG is continuing to tour in support of "Power Of The Damn Mixxxer", the remix counterpart to the band's 2007 album "Power of The Damager".
Matt Cruz of the Arkansas radio station 100.3 The Edge (web site) conducted an interview with Jacksonville, Florida hard rockers COLD on March 17, 2010 before the band's show at Juanita's in Little Rock. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
Video footage of COLD performing an acoustic version of the new song "Welcome To My World" at the 100.3 The Edge studios on March 17, 2010 can be viewed at this location.
COLD is putting finishing touches on its fifth album, "Epic" for a July release via SonicStar Records. Two of the new songs — "My Religion" and "Welcome To My World" — have already made their way online.
COLD released its self-titled debut album in the summer of 1998. After steadily building a solid touring base, the band returned in 2000 with its sophomore effort, "13 Ways to Bleed on Stage", which peaked at #1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart and brought the band its first appearance within the Top 100 on The Billboard 200 chart. In 2003, COLD scored its biggest hit to date with "Stupid Girl" (co-written by WEEZER's Rivers Cuomo) off "Year of the Spider". The smash single went to #4 at Mainstream Rock and #6 at Modern Rock. "Year of the Spider" went all the way to #3 on The Billboard 200 chart, followed by "A Different Kind of Pain" in 2005, which went to #26 on the same chart.
COLD is:
Scooter Ward (Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar) Zach Gilbert (Guitar) Jeremy Marshall (Bass, Vocals) Sam McCandless (Drums)
Quality fan-filmed video footage of SUFFOCATION's March 12, 2010 concert in Utrecht, Holland can be viewed below (courtesy of "letthedeathmetalflow").
Relapse Records released SUFFOCATION's only official live record, "The Close Of A Chapter: Live In Quebec City", on October 27, 2009 in North America and November 2, 2009 internationally. Recorded in 2005 during the band's "Souls To Deny" world tour, the CD contains the band's complete, unedited performance.
SUFFOCATION's latest album, "Blood Oath" (Nuclear Blast), sold around 3,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 135 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 2 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 follow-up to 2006's self-titled record, "Blood Oath" was recorded with Joe Cincotta (who worked on the band's last two releases) and was mixed by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH). The cover artwork was once again brought to life by Jon Zig (DEEDS OF FLESH, DISGORGE, GORGASM).
Ulterium Records has announced the signing of the Greek melodic power metal band INNERWISH. The group's new album, "No Turning Back", will be released on May 28. The CD was mixed by Fredrik Nordström (IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL, DIMMU BORGIR) at Studio Fredman in Västra Frölunda, Sweden, and was mastered by Mika Jussila (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, STRATOVARIUS) at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland.
"No Turning Back" track listing:
01. The Signs Of Our Lives 02. Chosen One 03. Burning Desires 04. No Turning Back 05. Sirens 06. Save Us 07. Last Breath 08. Lawmaker 09. Welcome To My World 10. Kingdom Of Our Prime 11. Full Of Lust 12. Live For My Own
The track "The Signs Of Our Lives" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
INNERWISH is confirmed to perform at this year's edition of the Brainstorm Festival in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. A tour of Greece is planned for early June.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada's STRIKER will release its debut album, "Eyes In The Night", via Iron Kodex Records at this year's Keep It True XIII festival, set to take place April 23-24, 2010 at Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany. The band will then hit the road on both sides of the Atlantic, playing shows in countries such as Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Spain and Canada.
"Eyes In The Night" track listing:
01. Full Speed Or No Speed 02. Eyes In The Night 03. We Don't Play By The Rules 04. Never Ending Nights 05. The White Knight 06. Voice Of Rock 07. Ice Cold 08. Terrorizer 09. Believe In Me 10. Hang On (To Your Life)
STRIKER's "Road Warrior" EP was released in 2009 through Iron Kodex Records.
STRIKER is:
Dan Cleary - Lead Vocals Chris Segger - Lead Guitar Ian Sandercock - Lead Guitar Dave Arnold - Lead Bass Magnus Burdeniuk - Lead Drums
German singer Tommy Heart (ULI JON ROTH, FAIR WARNING, SOUL DOCTOR) has signed on to contribute vocals to the "Lyraka" project.
"Lyraka" is a heavy metal opera project that encompasses a set of highlights CDs, as well as a 3-D animated movie. Graham Bonnet (RAINBOW, MSG, ALCATRAZZ) has completed four songs for the project, contributing the voices of the musical narrator and palace guard.
Andy DiGelsomina, the composer and lead guitarist of the project, commented: "The acquisition of Tommy Heart has been a major coup for the 'Lyraka' saga. Tommy adds a completely unique voice to go with the character written for him."
The first volume of the CD set, "Lyraka Volume 1", is set for release in February 2011.
Long-running California grindcore act PHOBIA has issued the following update:
"We will be releasing a documentary of a compiled footage from a couple tours and some blast from the past, interviews, shows, party time, bad times and not-feeling-so-good times! We are working with some close friends and hopefully will be released summer time!!! Any name suggestions let us know, it's for the fans!
"PHOBIA will also be releasing a early years discography CD compiled of older material from splits, to 7"s and more! A lot of the material has never even been released on CD so this will be the first time!!! Power It Up from Germany will be releasing this awesome release!
"We will be entering the studio for an upcoming EP that will crush in the world of grindcore (we hope) we will be recording about 15 minutes maybe a bit more. We are really excited about the new material; lots of d-beat and blast for you grind and punk freaks!"
Guitarist/vocalist Luc Lemay of the reactivated Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada-based technical death metal band GORGUTS has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
"It's been almost a year since I wrote the last update for the upcoming GORGUTS record.
"First, I want to thank everyone that took the time to write us after I posted the rehearsal video with John [Longstreth, drums; DIM MAK, ORIGIN, THE RED CHORD, SKINLESS, POSSESSION, ANGELCORPSE] and I… I can't thank you enough for all the support and enthusiasm towards the band.
"Since then we've been very busy and productive working on the new record!! We got two-thirds of the music written and recorded into two pre-productions.
"I couldn't be happier with the result of this collaboration along with three of the most talented musicians in the metal scene. John, Colin [Marston, bass; DYSRHYTHMIA, BEHOLD... THE ARCTOPUS, BYLA, KRALLICE, INDRICOTHERE] and Kevin [Hufnagel, guitar; DYSRHYTHMIA, WHILE HEAVEN WEPT, BYLA, EUCLID STREET, THE FIFTH SEASON, GREY DIVISION BLUE] have been fantastic and amazingly creative with their instruments for the new compositions.
"Don't expect this record to sound like a previous GORGUTS album.
"We've also been very busy getting ready with the setlist for the upcoming show for Maryland Deathfest. It's so cool re-visit the first four album material and we'll be performing live, for the first time, some of the songs for our upcoming album!!!!
"So, here's a preview of the atmosphere you can expect on the album which we'll be recording later this year!
"Thanks again to all our fans!!
"See you on stage!!"
A "demo montage" of some of the new GORGUTS material is available for streaming using the audio player below.
GORGUTS' current lineup is as follows:
* Luc Lemay (NEGATIVA) - Vocals, Guitar * Kevin Hufnagel (DYSRHYTHMIA, WHILE HEAVEN WEPT, BYLA, EUCLID STREET, THE FIFTH SEASON, GREY DIVISION BLUE) - Guitar * Colin Marston (DYSRHYTHMIA, BEHOLD... THE ARCTOPUS, BYLA, KRALLICE, INDRICOTHERE) - Bass * John Longstreth (DIM MAK, ORIGIN, THE RED CHORD, SKINLESS, POSSESSION, ANGELCORPSE) - Drums
Back in November 2006, Metal Mind Productions reissued the classic GORGUTS albums "Considered Dead" and "Erosion of Sanity". Both CDs came in new digipack editions on golden discs, digitally remastered using 24-bit technology, and were limited to a hand-numbered 2,000 copies. Each title included two demo tracks as a bonus.
GORGUTS' last studio album, "From Wisdom to Hate", was released in 2001.
Luc Lemay and John Longstreth rehearsal - January 2009:
Texas doom metal veterans SOLITUDE AETURNUS will headline the Hammer Of Doom 4 festival, set to take place October 23, 2010 at Posthalle in Würzburg, Germany. Also scheduled to appear are reunited Swedish epic doom metallers SORCERER and GRIFTEGARD.
SKYCLAD, the seminal British band which is often referred to as "the originator of folk metal," has been confirmed for this year's Sweden Rock Festival festival, set to take place June 9-12, 2010 in Sölvesborg in southern Sweden.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AEROSMITH (US) ALDO NOVA (CAN) ALESTORM (UK) ANVIL (CAN) BACHMAN & TURNER (CAN) BEHEMOTH (PL) BIGELF (US) BILLY IDOL (UK) BLACKBERRY SMOKE (US) CINDERELLA (US) D-A-D (DK) DAMN DELICIOUS (S) DANZIG (US) DEATH ANGEL (US) DREAM EVIL (S) DUNDERTÅGET F.K.Ü. (S) FATES WARNING (US) GARY MOORE (UK) GRAVE DIGGER (D) GUNS N' ROSES (US) JORN (N) MAGNUM (UK) MASTODON (US) MICHAEL MONROE (FIN) MOTHER'S FINEST (US) NAZARETH (UK) OPETH (S) PENDRAGON (UK) POINT BLANK (US) RATT (US) RAVEN (UK/US) RICK SPRINGFIELD (AUS/US) SABATON (S) SAGA (CAN) SATOR (S) SKYCLAD (UK) SLAYER (US) STEEL PANTHER (US) STEELWING (S) STONE SOUR (US) STRATOVARIUS (FIN) SUICIDAL TENDENCIES (US) THE ITCH (S) THE QUIREBOYS (UK) U.D.O. (D) UNISONIC (D) W.A.S.P. (US) WATAIN (S) WINGER (US) Y&T (US)
Last year's festival was attended by 35,200 people, but in 2010 the maximum number of visitors will be limited to 33,000.
ARMS OF THE SUN — the project featuring Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN) on bass, John Luke Hebert (KING DIAMOND) drums, Lance Harvill on vocals and guitar, and Ben Bunker (GRYN) on guitar — will make its live debut on April 17 at Lakewood Theater (1825 Abrams Parkway) in Dallas, Texas. Also appearing on the bill — dubbed the Basement Reunion II — are the following acts:
* SPIDERS * BRAND NEW MACHINE (Jon Ster of LILLIAN AXE and Brantly Thompson of MURDER ONE) * MESSER (Dereak Messer of JULY ALLEY) * DECLINE * NO RESPECT * HELLGOAT (Alapeno of DISCIPLE and Keith Long of D.T. ROXX and SPIDERS) * DAMAGED FAITH
Tickets are on sale now for only $20.00 in advance at the Lakewood Theater ticket office at 214-821-7469 or at all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets will be $25.00 day of show.
Audio samples from the forthcoming debut album from ARMS OF THE SUN are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
ARMS OF THE SUN recently completed work on thirteen tracks that were produced and mixed by Terry Date (DEFTONES, PANTERA, SOUNDGARDEN). The material is set for release through Extreme Music, which provides class-A production music to all major networks and studios, ad agencies and production companies, including FOX, HBO, NBC, BBC, MTV, SKY, ABC, Discovery, Nickelodeon, Turner Entertainment Networks, Universal, Lions Gate, Miramax, Sony Pictures, Touchstone and Disney, to name a few.
ARMS OF THE SUN recorded the music, written by Lance Harvill, late last year at Willie Nelson's Pedernales Recording Studio in Austin. The project is executive-produced by Sir George Martin (THE BEATLES) and Mark Ross for the Grandmaster Series, which celebrates four of the world's top producers spanning from the '60s through the '90s, including Sir George himself, Terry Date, Jack Douglas (AEROSMITH), and Hugh Padgham (THE POLICE).
Official Metallica.com footage of METALLICA's March 10, 2010 concert at Park Simon Bolivar in Bogota, Colombia — including clips of the pre-show tuning-room jam as well as the actual performance — can be viewed below.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. Creeping Death 02. For Whom The Bell Tolls 03. Ride The Lightning 04. Harvester Of Sorrow 05. Fade To Black 06. That Was Just Your Life 07. The End Of The Line 08. Sad But True 09. Broken, Beat and Scarred 10. Cyanide 11. One 12. Master Of Puppets 13. Blackened 14. Nothing Else Matters 15. Enter Sandman - - - - - - - - 16. Stone Cold Crazy 17. Hit The Lights 18. Seek and Destroy
Violence and chaos broke out around Simon Bolivar Park in Bogota, Colombia as hundreds of fans tried to crash METALLICA's first concert in the South American country in 11 years. According to Colombia Reports, three people were stabbed, a policeman injured, and more than 50 people were arrested, while property was vandalized and destroyed.
A local radio report claimed that there were posts on Facebook before the show urging fans to crash the gig.
Heavy security blanketed the show itself, including 1,500 police officers, four tanks and several police trucks. Estimates of the paid crowd at the show varied between 20,000 and 70,000.
120 people were arrested when rioting broke out outside a METALLICA concert in Santiago, Chile in January. Most of the arrests were made when hundreds of fans who did not have tickets attempted to force their way into the concert.
The Noise Pollution has uploaded video footage of original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley's March 19, 2010 performance at the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. Watch the clips below.
Ace Frehley's latest solo album, "Anomaly", sold around 17,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart.
In addition to the standard CD release, unique "Anomaly" packages were made available at Wal-Mart and Best Buy locations. The Wal-Mart version includes an Ace autographed tattoo while the Best Buy edition is printed on silver stock, like the KISS "Double Platinum" album.
Released on September 15 via Ace's own Bronx Born Records, with Rocket Science providing a full label service platform in the U.S., "Anomaly" was produced and recorded in Westchester County, New York between 2007 and 2009 and was mixed in Los Angeles.
CINDERELLA played the first show in over three years this past Friday night (March 19) at the Grizzly Rose in Denver, Colorado.
The group's setlist was reportedly as follows (not confirmed):
01. Second Wind / Push Push 02. The Last Mile 03. Night Songs 04. Somebody Save Me 05. Heartbreak Station 06. Coming Home 07. Fallin' Apart At The Seams 08. Long Cold Winter 09. Gypsy Road 10. Don't Know You Got (Till It's Gone) 11. Nobody's Fool 12. Shelter Me ---------------- 13. Shake Me
CINDERELLA was scheduled to play another show last night (Saturday, March 20) at The Depot in Salt Lake City, Utah.
In a recent interview with Bring Back Glam!, CINDERELLA frontman Tom Keifer spoke about his voice issues which forced the cancellation of the band's U.S. tour with WARRANT, LYNCH MOB and LYNAM in the summer of 2008.
"The root problem with my voice issues started in 1991 when I was diagnosed with a paresis, [which is] partial paralysis of one side of my voice box," he explained. "You have to train it to learn how to sing again.
"The partial paralysis is a neurological thing and it's caused by viruses, even a common cold virus. The virus gets into the nerve and it can degenerate it. It's rare, but it happens. Once degenerated, you can't — there's no surgery or medicine that fixes it. You have to retrain it and it is very tedious and time-consuming and it's not a lot of fun. In a lot of cases, it is career-ending.
"The singing voice is such a fine tuned instrument and any subtle change can throw it off."
He added, "A year ago, I met the 'Miracle Man' who is a vocal coach. He really taught me a lot of things about breathing and how to control my air and how to prevent this from happening again. I've been studying this technique — it's what they teach opera singers — classical voice training, which I've never been trained that way before. It doesn't change the tone of your voice, just how you support it. I still sound the way I sound but I'm not hurting my voice, and it's really worked and my voice feels stronger."
Regarding the possibility of a new CINDERELLA studio album at some point in the not-too-distant future, Keifer told AOL's Noisecreep, "We always feel like a band when we get back together and tour so the plan right now is to not put any pressure on ourselves and to just get back out and have some fun, do shows and be a band again and we'll see where it leads. It's definitely a possibility we could make a record at some point, I just don't know when that would be. I would say it's gotta be right place, right time. It's gotta feel right."
German melodic metal band POWERWORLD, the brainchild of former FREEDOM CALL and MOON'DOC bassist Ilker Ersin, has enlisted VICTORY drummer Achim Keller.
POWERWORLD is currently recording its second album, "Tame Your Demons", which will contain twelve songs and will feature a guest appearance on drums by Simon Michael of SUBWAY TO SALLY.
POWERWORLD wants to complete the production of the new CD as soon as possible and perform at various festivals in Europe this summer.
After his departure from FREEDOM CALL in the middle of 2005, Ersin decided to follow a different musical path and started to work on a project that contained more grooves and less power metal influences.
For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.
On March 9, EPICA singer Simone Simons was in Hilversum, The Netherlands filming a video for the song "This Is The Time", which was written for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). A short preview clip can be viewed below.
For more than 45 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The world's leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF's unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.
Video footage of EPICA's Simone Simons and Isaac Delahaye performing an acoustic version of "This Is The Time" during a fan-club meeting on October 9, 2009 at Escape in Veenendaal, The Netherlands can be viewed below.
EPICA will celebrate the five-year anniversary of its sophomore album, "Consign To Oblivion", by performing the CD in its entirety tonight (Sunday, March 21) at Effenaar in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The band states, "This might be your last chance to hear all of the songs of that album played live in one show! It will also be a show with special guests and special effects in the original 'Consign To Oblivion' setting. On top of that there, will be a special offer on 'Consign' merchandise."
Keyboardist Coen Janssen was forced to sit out EPICA's recent North American headlining tour because of "personal reasons." He was replaced by Simone's boyfriend Oliver Palotai (KAMELOT, SONS OF SEASONS, DORO).
EPICA's latest album, "Design Your Universe", landed at position No. 12 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.
Behind the scenes of "This Is The Time" video shoot:
"This Is The Time" performed live on October 9, 2009:
The reunited "Parallels" lineup of FATES WARNING — Ray Alder (vocals), Jim Matheos (guitar), Frank Aresti (guitar), Joe DiBiase (bass), and Mark Zonder (drums) — played its first show last night (Friday, March 19) at the Avalon in Los Angeles, California. The concert marked the first time the band performed its classic 1991 album, "Parallels", in its entirety from beginning to end. It was also the first time the group played the song "The Road Goes On Forever" live.
The setlist was as follows:
01. Leave The Past Behind 02. Life In Still Water 03. Eye To Eye 04. The Eleventh Hour 05. Point Of View 06. We Only Say Goodbye 07. Don't Follow Me 08. The Road Goes On Forever 09. Pale Fire 10. Island In The Stream 11. Face The Fear 12. Monument ------------------------ 13. Through Different Eyes 14. Nothing Left To Say
Fan-filmed video footage of the "Eye To Eye" and "The Eleventh Hour" performances from last night's concert can be viewed below.
Metal Blade Records has just released the special edition of "Parallels". In addition to remastered audio, there is a second audio disc of live and demo material. The package also includes a DVD with nearly three hours of material, including a complete live show from the 1992 "Parallels" tour and a documentary on the making of "Parallels" which includes live, studio, and current day interview footage with all the band members, Terry Brown (producer) and Brian Slagel (CEO of Metal Blade Records).
"Parallels" special edition track listing:
CD 1 - "Parallels"
01. Leave The Past Behind 02. Life In Still Water (feat. James LaBrie) 03. Eye To Eye 04. The Eleventh Hour 05. Point Of View 06. We Only Say Goodbye 07. Don't Follow Me 08. The Road Goes On Forever
CD 2 - "Parallels" Live In Hollywood, California on January 23, 1992
01. Leave The Past Behind (live) 02. Don't Follow Me (live) 03. Eleventh Hour (live) 04. Point Of View (live) 05. Eye To Eye (live) 06. Nothing Left To Say (live) 07. Quietus (live) 08. Through Different Eyes (live) 09. Leave The Past Behind (demo) 10. Eye To Eye (demo) 11. Eleventh Hour (demo) 12. Point Of View (demo) 13. Don't Follow Me (demo)
DVD
* Filmed live in concert in New Haven, Connecticut on February 13, 1992 * Features current interviews with all band members as well as acclaimed producer Terry Brown and Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel * Rare and exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from the 1992 U.S. tour
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