Rock legends KISS are set to bring their new "Sonic Boom Over Europe: From the Beginning To the Boom" tour to Europe in summer 2010.
With multiple dates across Europe, the "Sonic Boom Over Europe: From The Beginning To The Boom" is set to be THE rock event of 2010, building on the incredible success of the 2009 "Sonic Boom" album.
"Sonic Boom Over Europe: From The Beginning To The Boom" will see dates in Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Demark, Holland, France, Spain, Belgium and, not only will the tour feature KISS's first U.K. arena shows in 11 years, but it will see the band breaking new ground completely with their first-ever shows in Slovakia.
Acclaim for KISS on their current spectacular "KISS Alive 35" North American tour has been universal. Metal Hammer hailed the "Return Of The Kings!" Mojo declared: "A KISS show is as thrilling and bombastic now as it was in 1975."
Whilst utilizing elements of "KISS Alive 35", "Sonic Boom Over Europe: From The Beginning To The Boom" will be a fresh, new show tailored to the band's European fans and showcasing the brand new "Sonic Boom" album.
Widely acclaimed as another KISS classic, "Sonic Boom" rocked planet Earth when it debuted worldwide and burned up the charts — the album is also the highest-charting album of KISS' career in the USA.
Paul Stanley says, "The 'KISS Alive 35 Tour' was just the start. 'Sonic Boom Over Europe' leaves that show in the dust. New stage, new setlist, new outfits, new album! We're covering the whole musical history of the band on a stage that takes KISS one giant step further in our eight inch heels. We're stoked. You wanted the best? You GOT the best!"
Gene Simmons says, "Now. More than ever. KISS is a four wheel drive monster truck. Our mission? To rock planet Earth. To spread the gospel of 'Sonic Boom'."
On November 25, 2009, KISS will perform to a global audience when their show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles is streamed live on Facebook. This one-off event will be unique chance for European fans to see the "KISS Alive 35" show before it changes for the European run — the perfect warm-up to the must-see tour of 2010.
"Sonic Boom Over Europe: From The Beginning To The Boom" tour dates are as follows:
May 07 - Dublin Ireland O2 Arena May 09 - Glasgow UK SE+CC May 10 - Manchester UK Manchester Arena May 11 - Birmingham UK LG Arena May 13 - London UK Wembley Arena May 16 - Zurich Switzerland Hallenstadion May 17 - Geneva Switzerland Geneva Arena May 18 - Milan Italy Mediolanum Forum May 20 - Vienna Austria Stadhalle May 21 - Ostrava Czech Republic Cez Arena May 23 - Prague Czech Republic O2 Arena May 26 - Berlin Germany O2 World May 27 - Leipzig Germany Leipzig Arena May 29 - Bratislava Slovakia Bratislava Stadium May 31 - Hamburg Germany Colorline Arena Jun. 01 - Oberhausen Germany Koenig Pilsner Arena Jun. 08 - Trondheim Norway Lerkandal Open Site Jun. 10 - Tampere Finland Sauna Rock Jun. 12 - Stockholm Sweden Stockholm Stadium Jun. 13 - Malmo Sweden Malmo Stadium Jun. 14 - Oslo Norway Valhall Jun. 16 - Aalborg Denmark Gigantium Jun. 18 - Arnhem Holland Gelredome Jun. 20 - Clisson France Hellfest Jun. 22 - Madrid Spain Palacio de los Deportes Jun. 25 - Vitoria Spain Azkena Rock Festival Jun. 27 - Dessel Belgium Graspop Metal Meeting
Vocalist Neil Fallon of Maryland rockers CLUTCH was interviewed on Friday's (November 20) edition of "The Alex Jones Show". The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below. (Note: The Fallon interview begins around the nine-minute mark.)
"Strange Cousins From the West", the ninth studio album from CLUTCH, sold 13,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The band's previous studio CD, "From Beale Street To Oblivion", opened with around 15,000 units back in April 2007 to land at No. 52.
CLUTCH's 2005 effort, "Robot Hive / Exodus", entered the chart at No. 93 after premiering with 13,000 copies.
"Strange Cousins From the West" was made available both digitally and through retail on July 14. Produced by CLUTCH and J. Robbins at Magpie Cage Studios in Baltimore, the effort is the first CLUTCH studio LP to be released on the band's own Weathermaker Music, through RED Distribution.
"Strange Cousins From the West" includes the POPPO'S BLUES BAND cover song "Algo Ha Cambiado", which Neil Fallon sings in Spanish. Poppo was a legendary Argentinian hard rock singer/guitarist throughout the '70s and '80s.
The title "Strange Cousins From the West" was taken from a line in the song "Minotaur".
Although CLUTCH has toured the world extensively over the past two years and released multiple CLUTCH-related projects, "Strange Cousins..." is the band's first original studio work since 2007's "From Beale Street to Oblivion" which featured the hit "Electric Worry".
Gigz Giger of Rock Circus TV has uploaded quality video footage (see below) of CLUTCH's September 9, 2009 concert at Mr. Smalls Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Neil Fallon interviewed on "The Alex Jones Show": (Note: The Fallon interview begins around the nine-minute mark.)
Berlin, Germany's PitCam Production conducted an interview with the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based Christian metalcore quintet AUGUST BURNS RED when the band played the Columbia Halle in Berlin on November 13, 2009. Watch the chat below.
"Constellations", the third full-length album from AUGUST BURNS RED, debuted at an impressive No. 24 on The Billboard 200. Released on July 14, the LP also landed at No. 8 on Current Rock Albums, No. 2 on Top Hard Music Albums (less than 300 units behind NICKLEBACK!) and No. 2 on the Christian Market chart.
With sales of 20,401 copies in its first week, "Constellations" more than doubled the first-week numbers of its predecessor, 2007's "Messengers", which debuted in The Billboard 200 at No. 81 and went on to sell well over 80,000 copies. "Constellations" also hit the No. 1 New Music Release spot iTunes the day it was released, and entered the Top 100 at No. 6, nestled between a MICHAEL JACKSON best-of album and the movie soundtrack for a certain wizard named Harry. "We thought we set the bar pretty high for this release, but we never envisioned 'Constellations' coming out of the gates the way it has," said guitarist JB Brubaker. "It's so awesome to have such supportive and enthusiastic listeners!"
German deathcore powerhouse FUCK YOUR SHADOW FROM BEHIND has inked a deal with Bastardized Recordings. The band's debut album, "Freigeist", is scheduled for release on February 26, 2010.
Commented the label in a press release, FUCK YOUR SHADOW FROM BEHIND is "one of Germany's hardest-working and most intense live acts of the last years, with numerous great shows in their history. Their original mix of musical brutality and superb German lyrics already has an immense loyal fanbase and really forced us to sign them and support this excellent young band! So should you..."
FUCK YOUR SHADOW FROM BEHIND was formed in August 2007 by Tobias Jaschinsky, Adrian Schler, Nikita Kamprad, Sven Lutz and Benedikt Willnecker in Würzburg, Germany. After a short time, Fabian Klinker joined the band on drums and the first demo CD was recorded.
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski of LiveDaily recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow of Canadian metal legends ANVIL. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
LiveDaily: Did you think "This is Thirteen" was going to be the breakthrough album?
Lips: Hmm. I always hoped that every album I do would [be]. To me, it's been one long album, really, in a certain sense, because, as soon as you finish one album, you're writing another one. It's one long stream. The job never really ends. You're never really done. So it's not ... to me, it's one long stream. I really don't worry about whether I'm going to be big or small, whether it's going to sell a lot or a little. I don't really bog myself down with those thoughts. It's pretty much a waste of time. You can't predict it. It's impossible to predict, totally. To me, the newest record is by far the best thing we've done in years, but it's the first time we've used a producer in years. That makes a huge difference. It really, really does. Anybody thinking differently, they can go try it and they can go find out on their own. I went on a really long journey and found myself sort of the hard way. You can try all you want to produce yourself. You won't get what you would get if you really had a producer. There's just no way. You can't be yourself and outside yourself at the same time. You can't do it.
LiveDaily: So are you working on new material now?
Lips: Yeah, we have 20 new songs. Oh yeah, like I said, it never stops. As soon as we finished recording, when we came home from England, we began writing again. Most of the reason for that is — particularly at this point — we really figured, or I did, that we're not going to have time. That movie was gonna open up and there's not going to be any time. We're going to be on the road, who knows? That's pretty much been the way it is. I'm really grateful that, before the movie even came out, we'd written most of the new songs. Part of it's very frustrating. I've been waiting around for two years to record what I've already written. It's a bit frustrating on that level, and then it's always hurry up and wait. At the same time, "This is Thirteen" just came out now and already everybody's going, "When's the next one?" Now everybody's saying, "Hurry up." I've been ready for two years. Why are you telling me to hurry now? It's really frustrating, actually.
LiveDaily: Do you have a name for the new album?
Lips: "Juggernaut of Justice".
LiveDaily: If there's one thing that you'd like people to take away from the movie, what would that be?
Lips: That it's never too late and dreams can still come true. I think it is true. The only time it's too late is when you're six feet under the ground. Where there's life, there's hope. That's just the way it is. Anything can change for anybody at any time. And you can die tomorrow. Anything is possible and that's why you have to do whatever you can while you're here.
Metalzone.gr recently conducted an interview with vocalist Tom Keifer of CINDERELLA. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metalzone.gr: Are CINDERELLA coming back?
Tom: We've never really gone away. We've been kind of on a break because I injured my voice a few years back and I've been trying to rehabilitate my vocal chords and train it back to where I can be able to perform a CINDERELLA show again. I though that I was there in the summer of 2008 for the tour for the States here, and we ended up having to cancel that tour because I re-injured my voice. Since then I've been working on trying to get it strong again, which I am glad to say it's very strong now and we're looking to be back out on the road in 2010.
Metalzone.gr: Are you preparing a solo album?
Tom: Yeah. I've been working on my solo record for probably about four years now. I've been working off and on on it in between tours with CINDERELLA and life in general. It's been a work in progress for about four years and I'm at a point where I'm just about finished with it now. I'm pretty happy with it. I've re-cut things, and remixed some songs and reworked things and rearranged things for a while now and I think I finally got it where I want it.
Metalzone.gr: What should we expect of it? How does it sound? How would you describe it?
Tom: It's a lot like CINDERELLA music because, being the main songwriter and the lead singer, and I did a lot of the guitar work for CINDERELLA, so that style comes through on this record. So it's definitely a hard rock record but it has dynamics to it, too, the way CINDERELLA records do, and there's a lot of very hard-driven songs in it but there are also ballads and some acoustic music on it too. It has the peaks and valleys and it takes you on a ride throughout the record so…
The entire interview is available in text and audio format at Metalzone.gr. The audio version of the chat can also be streamed using the player below.
Bob Zerull of Zoiks! Online recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH bassist James Lomenzo. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Zoiks! Online: How did you end up in MEGADETH?
Lomenzo: I was in a lot of other bands prior to this so I'd been around the block a few times. A friend of mine over at ESP guitar company (told me that), Dave (Mustaine) was looking for another bass player at the time, he (Dave) said, "Hey, if you know anybody..." Without hesitation, my friend said, "Yeah, I know the perfect guy for you and he's not doing anything right now." So I called up Dave and he listened to a bunch of my music. I got together with the guys and played some of the songs with them. And Dave said, "OK, man you think you can be ready to do a gig in four weeks and go to Dubai?" And I said yes. (Laughs) I was kind of shocked at how complicated the music was.
Zoiks! Online: Did you know Dave before hand?
Lomenzo: You know what?! I'd never met Dave. Back in the day when MEGADETH was coming up I was in a band called WHITE LION, so we were real busy selling records and doing all kinds of stuff. So I was well aware of the band and I loved them but it was mostly on a hit basis, what I heard on the radio. My familiarity was based on the fact that it was mostly the band's hit songs, you know the things that I'd see on MTV, stuff that I was aware of on the radio. And then stuff that I'd hear at the rock club that I used to go to in Brooklyn, a lot of the songs I actually knew better just by hanging out at that club and hearing them come through the PA.
Zoiks! Online: It seems like three of the big four original thrash metal bands are at their best right now. SLAYER's new album ("World Painted Blood") is getting rave reviews, obviously "Endgame" is amazing and last year METALLICA had theirs ("Death Magnetic"). Do you think it's a coincidence or were you trying to one up each other?
Lomenzo: I think it's a natural progression. I think what happens is that bands mature, you blow off a lot of the teenage anxiety and testosterone that we carry so it's a little easier to craft what we do. All these bands have their own vocabulary, if you know what I mean. They already have a sound that they know they already do, so they can refer to that as another part of the language of the band. I think that makes it easier, it really does. Some bands on the other hand, find themselves getting a little lost with all of that, because they're always trying to do something new. There are ways to incorporate that sort of vibe but remain true to the band's essence. I think that's what a lot of these bands do, because heavy metal is such a delineated style; such a fascist style, if you will.
Zoiks! Online: You've played with some of the most talented people, not to mention some of the biggest personalities in the rock world. What is it like playing with some of those icons like Slash, Zakk Wylde or Dave Mustaine?
Lomenzo: You know what? The thing is that with me it's been through happenstance. Fortunately, back in the '80s I made it really big with WHITE LION. So I know what it's like to get that feeling to play big stages. We used to play with a lot of iconic musicians and hang with them. When it started kind of stretching out after that, playing with people like Dave and Slash, these great guitar players, Zakk, you know, it's a second thought to me because I see them as musicians first. You know I kind of lose myself in that. A lot of people on the outside are like, "That's Dave Mustaine!!! That's Slash!!!" I'm aware of everybody's history. I take them as musicians, which I think is the only way to really handle it.
Zoiks! Online: Do you still keep in touch with some of your old bandmates?
Lomenzo: From time to time. I'll run into Slash every now and again when we're in town. He's always more than affable; he's one of those guys. Zakk I lost touch with for awhile, I know he's doing a little better now, I'm glad to hear about that (referring to Zakk's blood clot condition that caused him to have to drop off of the "Pedal to the Medal Tour" with MUDVAYNE). David Lee Roth said hey just the other day on the phone. I talked to Mike Tramp (WHITE LION) not too long ago. So it's kind of fun. It's starting to get kind of like that old stately gentlemen's club. We'll meet in some corner of the world (doing an impression of two rock stars catching up). "You all right?" "Yeah, I'm all right. You all right?" "Yeah, still rocking, you still rocking?" "All right, man, we'll check in later."
Toronto Star recently conducted an interview with FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE singer/guitarist Josh Homme about THEM CROOKED VULTURES, their collaboration with LED ZEPPELIN bass player John Paul Jones.
On the opportunity to play alongside a member of LED ZEPPELIN:
Grohl: "Who's going to let that go to waste? None of us needs to be in this band, but none of us would want to be anywhere else, you know? No, that's not true. I need to be in this band because the feeling I get playing with the VULTURES, I don't get anywhere else.
"I'm a drummer, goddammit. I want a band to play the drums in. But I'm not just gonna go eke out with some band that doesn't matter, I wanna do something that's gonna make people's heads spin. And that's why I'm in a band with Josh and John."
On the project's secretive beginnings:
"If we couldn't make something that we would like together, why would that be? So there was an instantaneous pressure that really drove us down into the underground. Our management didn't know, nobody knew. It would almost be damning if the three of us couldn't make something that you would enjoy. 'Oh, that's right: you guys suck.'"
On THEM CROOKED VULTURES' self-titled debut:
Grohl: "I just wanted to try to get seven songs every two weeks, but it quickly went from being a haphazard, Desert Session, fly-by-night recording to trying to make an important album. And I think we knew within the first month or two that we were making something that had a lot more weight or depth to it than some side project."
Homme: "It felt like we could really smash you in the head with 'lovely.' That first jam was a baton pass between each person. The two guys would look at one guy and kinda say: 'Okay, go ahead and take the lead.' Everyone was sort of egolessly interested in what the other person had to play. And in that environment, you can actually do anything because there wasn't a musicianship or a language barrier.
"With this one, there was an extra hope that maybe isn't always there — that people understand it. I hope they listen with fresh ears and try to catch the excitement that we have, y'know?"
German hard rock veterans SCORPIONS have set "Sting In The Tail" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in early 2010. The CD is being recorded at a studio in Hannover, Germany with Swedish producers Mikael "Nord" Andersson and Martin Hansen (the team behind THE RASMUS' "Dead Letters" CD).
"We are working on 12 songs at the moment," guitarist Mathias Jabs recently told Scorps News. "Great stuff. Definitely 'Scorpionized' in sound and attitude. More towards the early Eighties."
Although SCORPIONS' new CD is tentatively due in Europe in March, a U.S. release date has yet to be pinned down. "Azoff Management [which represents SCORPIONS] is currently working on the [record] deal," Jabs said. "Simultaneous release is up to the record companies."
He added, "The weak dollar has been a reason to delay the U.S. release in order to avoid bad imports in the 'rest' of the world, for all non-American bands in recent years."
SCORPIONS recently extended their record deal with Ariola, which is part of the international media conglomerate Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
2009 was the year of the SCORPIONS: they received the German lifetime achievement ECHO, collected many other awards, and undertook a grand tour through Russia, the U.S. and Europe. However, it is 2010 that will set a milestone for the career of the most successful international rock band from Germany. The SCORPIONS will be touring the world for the next two years and performing in the largest venues and stadiums that cross their path. The mammoth tour will be launched for the first time in many years in Germany. "It was important for us to give our fans a chance to celebrate a never-to-forget party with us," said band founder/guitarist Rudolf Schenker. Vocalist Klaus Meine added, "2010 is going to be a very special year for the SCORPIONS, so it is an especially good feeling to be able to start this tour at home."
To top it all off, the SCORPIONS are planning on releasing a sensational statement this January at a press conference.
The performances in Germany will be followed by concerts in the U.S., South America, Asia, Russia and various countries in Europe.
Guitarist Matthias Jabs remarked about the tour, "We are very excited to be touring the globe for the next two years. The SCORPIONS want to rock the world once again!"
SCORPIONS' brand new DVD, "Amazonia - Live In The Jungle" — a live recording of the SCORPIONS concerts in Manaus and Recife, Brazil — is in stores now.
The band's last CD, "Humanity - Hour 1", was produced by James Michael and co-produced by songwriter/producer Desmond Child, who has worked with such high-profile pop/rock artists as AEROSMITH, BON JOVI, ALICE COOPER, KISS, RICKY MARTIN, CHER, MICHAEL BOLTON and BONNIE TYLER.
Schenker released his official German-language autobiography, "Rock Your Life", in Germany on October 14. An English-language version is also planned. More details will be revealed soon.
SCORPIONS took part in a special concert, dubbed "A Night To Remember", on October 2 at the Grugahalle in Essen, Germany, with special guests, former members/guitarists Uli Jon Roth and Michael Schenker.
Reunited California metallers DÉTENTE — featuring original members Dennis Butler (drums), Caleb Quinn (guitar) and Steve Hochheiser (bass) — have parted ways with vocalist Ann Boleyn (HELLION) and have replaced her with Tiina Teal(pictured below).
Having originally started out behind the kit as a drummer, Tiina has been singing and screaming for the last 10 years. With influences ranging from Jarboe to Nina Simone as well as STRAPPING YOUNG LAD's Devin Townsend, she has collaborated with various musicians and bands in Los Angeles and was named "Best Anti-War Band" with her metal group BURN THE EMPIRE.
Commented DÉTENTE: "We have already put down four of the nine new tracks with [Tiina] and can tell you that both old and new supporters of the band will be blown away by her and the new tracks.
"[The new DÉTENTE] 'Decline' is coming along very well, taking longer than expected but it will be worth it; we should have an official street date announcement mid-December."
"Decline" is being recorded with engineer Bill Metoyer, who has previously worked with SLAYER, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, D.R.I. and SACRED REICH, among others.
The cover artwork for "Decline" can be viewed below. The cover was painted by Michael Leone, with additional graphic work performed by Christopher Leone.
Hochheiser previously stated about DÉTENTE's new material, "For those of you wondering what [the new songs] might sound like... well. it sounds like DÉTENTE. I did write 'Holy War', 'It's Your Fate', and 'Catalepsy' alone, as well as sharing 'Widow's Walk' and 'Losers' credits; and, of course, the vicious drumming of Dennis gave the punk edge to our music. The new material is probably closer to the demo days in approach, though; Dennis and I tend to lean in the hardcore direction, so we will keep it raw."
DÉTENTE's classic album "Recognize No Authority" was reissued in July 2007 via MVD Audio.
"Recognize No Authority" was a critically acclaimed recording that maintains a cult following to this day. It was also the launching ground for nu-metal metal producer Ross Robinson (KORN, SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY, SOULFLY) who plays guitar on the album. The CD also marked the first full-length release by FEAR OF GOD's Dawn Crosby, who sadly passed away on December 15, 1996.
MANOWAR director Neil Johnson — who is responsible for overseeing all of the band's DVDs and music videos — has posted a preview of the packaging of MANOWAR's long-awaited new DVD in the "Hell On Earth" series. Check it out below.
Due on November 27, "Hell On Earth V" will cover MANOWAR's recent world tours including Germany, Norway, Spain, Finland, Russia, Romania, Turkey, USA and Canada. It will feature live performances of old and new classics such as "Gloves Of Metal", "The Crown And The Ring", "Hand Of Doom", "Hymn Of The Immortal Warrior", "Father", "God Or Man" and many others.
Johnson comments: "Picking up where the Earthshaker left off.... 'Hell On Earth V' covers the amazing 'Demons Dragons & Warriors Tour' complete with onstage Vikings and all the craziness that happens behind the scenes of a MANOWAR show.
"I have done my best to show new and classic songs never captured on camera before, including the much-requested 'Mountains' and songs from the new EP, 'Thunder In The Sky'. It will be a step above 'Hell On Earth IV' in quality and spectacle."
"Father", the first song released from MANOWAR's new EP, "Hammer Of The Gods", was recorded in 16 languages and was included as a bonus CD with the band's new EP, "Thunder In The Sky".
Destined to be a collector's item, the tour edition of the EP was made available at all the festivals MANOWAR headlined on the "Death to Infidels Tour!". In addition, the EP is available for sale online in high-quality, DMR-free, MP3 format only at The Kingdom Of Steel online store. The downloadable version of the EP contains the exact same content as the version on sale during the tour.
MANOWAR's new album, "Hammer Of The Gods", which is the first installment of "The Asgard Saga", the band's unique multimedia fantasy adventure with best-selling author Wolfgang Hohlbein, is tentatively in early 2010.
Finnish "love" metallers HIM will release their new album, "Screamworks: Love In Theory And Practice", in the U.S. on February 9, 2010. The CD was recorded at a Los Angeles studio with producer Matt Squire (TAKING BACK SUNDAY, THE USED, PANIC AT THE DISCO, BOYS LIKE GIRLS, THRICE).
"Screamworks: Love In Theory And Practice" track listing:
01. In Venere Veritas 02. Scared To Death 03. Heartkiller 04. Dying Song 05. Disarm Me (With Your Loneliness) 06. Love, The Hardest Way 07. Katherine Wheel 08. In The Arms Of Rain 09. Ode To Solitude 10. Shatter Me With Hope 11. Acoustic Funeral (For Love In Limbo) 12. Like St. Valentine 13. The Foreboding Sense Of Impending Happiness
The images you see before you are the new album cover and HIM frontman Ville Valo wearing the new album cover t-shirt.
Valo recently told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine about the forthcoming CD, "Lyrically, it's the most sexual [album], the most horny one, we've ever made. The horny and the horned. Like the IMPALED NAZARENE song. It's got that and a sense of immediacy: 'I want it now, now, now.' It's not about being poetic or forlorn about something that is about to happen, it's actually about something that is happening at this very moment in time."
He added, "I like the immediacy of it. There's a lot of information put in short songs and they don't let go. That was the whole vibe for me. You should have seen me working the vocals out in the middle of the night, amongst my taxidermy owls in the tower screaming my guts out, unable to stop until 9:00 a.m. and then sleeping on a couch for two hours before starting again. So the whole process of the album is very close to that mental boner that just didn't go away."
U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine has posted a track-by-track review of "Screamworks: Love In Theory And Practice". Read it at this location.
HIM's last studio album, "Venus Doom", sold 38,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. Its predecessor, "Dark Light", has shifted more than 500,000 units in the U.S. to date.
HIM's CD/DVD set, "Digital Versatile Doom: Live at the Orpheum Theatre", was released in April 2008. The live portion of the DVD was recorded/filmed at the band's November 14-15, 2007 concerts at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. "Digital Versatile Doom" also features a second disc, with the full live performance from The Orpheum Theater and a 16-page booklet of original art and images.
ThisIsNottingham.co.uk recently conducted an interview with ALICE IN CHAINS singer William DuVall. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
On being chosen to sing for ALICE IN CHAINS:
"It's a great honor and it's a great responsibility. But at the same time, it's a band, and in that respect I'm going to give my all no matter what I'm doing or what band I'm in.
"This is obviously a really great thing but it's more about moving ahead than looking back. This is not about nostalgia; it's about building a new template for how to be ALICE IN CHAINS. It's a completely different band now to what it was."
On the differences between old and new:
"There's a lot of elements that make it different and despite what people say, I don't think I sound like Layne Staley. I don't think I could sound like Layne Staley if I tried. I'm not trying to imitate anybody to begin with, I'm just trying to go out there and do these songs my way. If there's a resemblance to what happened before that's purely because that's the song people have known for years."
"I'm not going to take all of these extreme liberties with the melody and get all 'American Idol' on it. I'm going to do it the way it should be done and I'm going to sing it from my own experience.
"It's going to be coming from my own place of truth. If that resonates with the listener then maybe that's what makes them think, 'He sounds like Layne!' It's because they're getting the same feeling of truth that they got when he sang it. In reality I don't sound any more like Layne than I look like Layne."
"It's respect for Layne too. He was great because, in part, he was such an individual, and I'm an individual. I loved what he did so much that I'm going to put my own spin on it. That's the only respectful thing to do, for myself, for the fans, for Layne and for this band."
On ALICE IN CHAINS' new album, "Black Gives Way To Blue":
"The album is out because we thought it was worth putting out. We dig it. This was about proving something to ourselves first, and I think a by-product of that is that perhaps we might provide an example for possibilities for other people within their own lives.
"We all experience tragedy at some point and what do you do? Do you lay down and die or do you get up and go with your head up and find a new way to be bad ass?"
"Our story has a dimension to it that makes it quite different from any other. The list of bands that have had to bounce back and triumph over the adversity of losing a singer is pretty short."
On ALICE IN CHAINS' future:
"We're on a mission. We're proving something to ourselves and we're proving something to a lot of people."
Reformed old-school death/doom metallers DIVINE EVE will play thier first live shows in over 14 years as part of the European tour in January 2010 with INCANTATION and HATE.
Commented the band: "We are very eager to perform in many places we have long held friends, comrades, fans, fellow bands, and old tape-traders! Unfortunately, Matt Killen is unable to participate on this tour so Kyle Severn (INCANTATION) has volunteered his skills in Matt's place behind the drum kit. Handling bass guitar duties will be Scott Cooksey, a longtime comrade and quite suitable live member to complete DIVINE EVE for this tour."
DIVINE EVE 2010 touring lineup:
Xan Hammack - Lead Guitar/Vocals Michael Sleavin - Guitar/Vocals Scott Cooksey - Bass Kyle Severn - Drums
DIVINE EVE will release a split seven-inch single with VEX through Horror Pain Gore Death Productions in January 2010.
One of the most crushing death/doom metal bands ever to emerge, DIVINE EVE has returned with its first new material since 1994! Musically influenced by BLACK SABBATH, CELTIC FROST, HELLHAMMER, SODOM, VENOM, BATHORY, ENTOMBED's "Left Hand Path" album and CATHEDRAL's "Forest Of Equilibrium" album, DIVINE EVE has been often imitated but never duplicated. Lyrically they draw inspiration from pure visions of ancient Pagan history, novel heretical ideologies and dismal shrouded dreams.
DIVINE EVE's impact can be heard in many current acts today but no one can hold a candle to the originators who are finally resurrected from the grave!
The single is pressed on mixed marble vinyl and packaged in a glue pocket jacket with full-color insert.
You can pre-order your copy for only $6 at this location.
Rock My Monkey recently conducted an interview with guitarist Mark Jansen of Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers EPICA. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
EPICA's latest album, "Design Your Universe", sold 2,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD 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.
"Design Your Universe" was released in Europe on October 16 . The follow-up to 2007's "The Divine Conspiracy" was recorded at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany with producer Sascha Paeth.
EPICA will return to North America for a headlining tour in the beginning of 2010, with THREAT SIGNAL and BLACKGUARD as support. EPICA will offer fans a special VIP ticket which will grant them access to the venue an hour before door times, a pre-show meet-and-greet with EPICA and a event poster customized for the city of the show. Fans are urged to purchase these VIP tickets as only 50 are being allotted for each show.
Quality fan-filmed video footage of EPICA's November 3, 2009 performance in Toulouse, France can be viewed below (courtesy of "MetalDenCR").
Chester Bennington isn't shy about exposing the cruelty of the fur industry — or his body. The LINKIN PARK and DEAD BY SUNRISE frontman has teamed up with peta2 for a brand-new "Ink, Not Mink" ad campaign in which he shows off his tattooed physique above the tagline "Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin, and Let Animals Keep Theirs."
Bennington — whose debut album with DEAD BY SUNRISE, "Out of Ashes", launched this fall — also sat down for an exclusive interview with peta2, the world's largest youth animal rights organization, in which he discussed the fur industry. "What's really important … for people to understand is the cruelty behind the fur industry," he said. "Electrocuting animals, skinning them while they're alive—these are … acts of inhumanity." Bennington continued, "Because it's out of sight, it's usually out of mind for most people, and we need to show our respect … for all creatures of this world."
A "big believer" in animal rights, Bennington is also concerned about dog and cat overpopulation. He encourages potential dog and cat guardians to adopt from an animal shelter instead of buying from a breeder or pet store, and he says that "making sure that you get your pets spayed and neutered is extremely important." His wife, who worked in an animal shelter, saw the tragedy of animal overpopulation firsthand. Large numbers of animals — about 4 million dogs and cats — are euthanized every year because there aren't enough suitable homes for all of them.
Bennington, a co-owner of Club Tattoo (a chain of tattoo shops that opened its newest location in Las Vegas earlier this year), joins a growing list of celebrities — including COBRA STARSHIP's Gabe Saporta, "Twilight" star Christian Serratos, and GYM CLASS HEROES' Travis McCoy — who have starred in peta2's anti-fur campaigns.
Vinnie Paul Abbott (HELLYEAH, PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN), Dizzy Reed (GUNS N' ROSES) and guest host Brandi M ("Rock of Love", "Charm School") will join Las Vegas, Nevada's SIN CITY SINNERS — which consists of Brent Muscat (formerly of FASTER PUSSYCAT), Todd Kerns (AGE OF ELECTRIC), Mike Eliis, and Rob Cournoyer (RAGING SLAB) — for their New Year's Eve (December 31) show at the Green Valley Ranch in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tickets can be purchased in person at Station Casinos' Reward Centers, by phone at (702) 547-5300 and online at this location.
SIN CITY SINNERS will release a CD of original songs, titled "Exile on Fremont St.", on December 11.
SIN CITY SINNERS is best known for having a special celebrity guest jam with the band each week.
The group has been taking Las Vegas by storm in 2009. They were voted "Best Local Band," second only to THE KILLERS in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's "Best Of Vegas" readers' poll.
Swedish "art rockers" CULT OF LUNA have scheduled the following dates:
Feb. 25 - Close-Up Båten - Stockholm, Sweden Feb. 26 - Tavastia - Helsinki, Finland Feb. 27 - Lutakko - Jyväskylä, Finland
Commented the band: "[This] will be, if not the only, a very rare occasion to see CULT OF LUNA live in 2010."
CULT OF LUNA recently announced plans to release a book. According to the group, it will be "a short story covering the life and times of Mr. Holger Nilsson, the full story behind the 'Eternal Kingdom' [CULT OF LUNA's latest album] theme. The book will be bilingual, written in Swedish and translated into English. The hardback book includes an audiobook. The narrated versions of this short story is accompanied by newly written CULT OF LUNA pieces and soundscapes."
The hardback book/audiobook called "Eviga Riket" will be released in early 2010 by C.O.L Press.
"Eternal Kingdom" is based on an actual journal found in an old mental home. The CD takes listeners on a weird and wonderful journey through the mind of a former patient as he tells the tale of how his wife came to be murdered, and of the mythical creatures he claims to have encountered during the time of the harrowing event.
CULT OF LUNA's DVD, "Fire Was Born", was released on April 27 via Earache Records). Along with an epic live show recorded on July 1, 2008 at Scala in London, England, the disc — which was mixed, edited and designed by the band — features footage of mainman Johannes Persson and Anders Teglund (keyboards) answering questions from fans all around the world and the videos for "The Watchtower", "Leave Me Here" and "Back To Chapel Town".
A video clip for the song "Adrift" taken from the "Fire Was Born" DVD can be viewed below.
Danish metal quintet CHAINFIST, which features in its ranks guitarist Michael Kopietz (FROZEN SUN, PANZERCHRIST), has posted three new songs — "Free Me", "Have You Ever" and "Evolution" — on the band's MySpace page. The tracks, which can also be streamed using the widget below, are the group's first recordings to feature new singer Jackie Petersen, who joined CHAINFIST earlier this year.
Commented Michael: "It is awesome to hear the great feedback we are receiving from Jackie's vocals on the songs live and studio.
"We just finished the recordings of 11 songs and we also invited Jakob 'Batten' Hansen from ILLDISPOSED to this record, and, as always, did some serious badass solos!!!
"We hope to find the right label soon and put this baby on the market!"
AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry will be a presenter at the 37th annual American Music Awards. The show will take place tonight (Sunday, November 22) at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre and will air live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET. Word has it Perry will be presenting the fourth award of the night.
The 2009 American Music Awards will honor artists in the categories of pop/rock, country, rap/hip-hop, soul/r&b, alternative, adult contemporary, Latin and contemporary inspirational. For the third year in a row, winners were determined by online voting.
Polish experimental black metallers STROMMOUSSHELD will release their brand-new single on November 29. Entitled "Connective Tissue", it will be available as a free download digital release in a variety of formats, including high-quality MP3 and lossless CD-quality FLAC. Downloads include DIY paper CD sleeves and stickers, press release information and flyers.
"Connective Tissue" track listing:
01. Long Ago Gone 02. Connective Tissue 03. We Are Time (LAIBACH cover) (bonus track)
STROMMOUSSHELD issued its last EP, "Halfdecadance", in 2004 via Metal Mind Productions.
FINNTROLL, ELUVEITIE, DORNENREICH, VARG and ARKONA will team up for next year's Paganfest tour of Europe. Confirmed dates are as follows:
Feb. 19 - CH - Pratteln Z7 Feb. 20 - AT - Linz Posthof Feb. 21 - DE - Berlin Postbahnhof Feb. 23 - DE - Hamburg Markthalle Feb. 25 - DE - Nürnberg Hirsch Feb. 26 - DE - München Backstage Feb. 27 - AT - Wien Gasometer Feb. 28 - SK - Bratislava [to be announced] Mar. 01 - AT - Graz Seifenfabrik Mar. 04 - DE - Frankfurt Batschkapp Mar. 05 - DE - Leipzig Hellraiser Mar. 06 - DE - Stuttgart LKA Longhorn (w/ EQUILIBRIUM, ALESTORM) Mar. 07 - NL - Tilburg 013 (w/ EQUILIBRIUM, ALESTORM) Mar. 09 - FR - Rennes Antipode Mar. 10 - FR - Paris Elysee Montmartre Mar. 11 - FR - Lyon Ninkasi Kao Mar. 12 - DE - Bochum Ruhrcongress (w/ EQUILIBRIUM, ALESTORM) Mar. 13 - NL - Amsterdam Melkweg Mar. 14 - BE - Antwerpen Hof Ter Loo (w/ EQUILIBRIUM, ALESTORM)
"Pentagramnation", the new video from the Los Angeles-based blackened death metal band RISE, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Robyn VonSwank, produced by Nick Plotquin, and co-produced and edited by Jonathan Sims.
"Pentagramnation" is the title track of RISE's fourth studio album, which was released in the U.S. and Canada on October 13, 2009 via Hymnus Records. The CD was produced, mixed and mastered by legendary guitarist-turned-producer James Murphy (DEATH, OBITUARY, DISINCARNATE) and it features guest appearances by Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY), Dave Suzuki (VITAL REMAINS) and James Murphy.
Misantrof, the label that was founded and headed by CARPATHIAN FOREST bass player Daniel Vrangsinn, and which makes all its releases available for free download, has branched out into films by joining forces with Danish horror filmmaker Kim Sønderholm and Cetus Productions. Misantrof will release three of Sønderholm's films over the coming months, starting on November 22, with "The Horror Vault 1", which comprises "nine tales of human cruelty, nine tales of human depravity, nine tales of true horror." The titles of the nine tales are: "When John Met Julia", "Delusion", "Alone", "Mental Distortion", "Dead To The World", "Disconnected", "Echoes", "The Demon", "Retina", and the film is available to download in its entirety at the.horror.vault.misantrof.net.
The cooperation between Misantrof and the filmmaker began when some of Vrangsinn's music was used in "The Horror Vault", and again in Sønderholm's 2009 release "Rovdrift" (English title: "Bleed With Me"), which debuted at the 13th international Weekend of Fear film festival in Germany. A spokesperson for Misantrof commented: "It's not such a big leap for Misantrof to go into making films available. It was always the intention that Misantrof would eventually be a venue for all forms of artistic expression and we are always interested in seeing how far we will be able to take things. This cooperation with Kim and Cetus Productions has given us the opportunity to expand into the area of film, and we are delighted that a filmmaker of his skill and experience chose to work with us."
Below you can see the official trailer for "The Horror Vault" in both adult or PG-rated versions.
Blas Elias (SLAUGHTER) and Michael Angelo Batio (NITRO) were interviewed on the latest edition of Metal Rules! Radio. You can now listen to the program using the audio player below.
Metal Rules! Radio (formerly Metal Rules! Magazine) is a weekly metal show with new shows every Sunday. It focuses on interviews, reviews and a healthy dash of humor. All episodes are available for free on iTunes as well.
THORNBOUND, the Norwegian band featuring former members of SPIRAL ARCHITECT, BORKNAGAR and SATYRICON, has posted a new song, entitled "Hatred", on the group's MySpace page.
Commented the band: "Time has come to finally show what we have been up to since we recorded the demo some years ago. The band lineup changed radically after that demo, so we have slowly changed and improved our style of death metal. The new stuff is a lot faster, a lot slower, more technical and just a lot more brutal! The 'new' members have certainly added a refreshing and much needed touch to the songwriting.
"We are currently recording a pre-production for an album and we will upload a couple of songs from this production to show you how we sound these days.
"The first song is called 'Hatred' and is a thrashy death metal monster."
Drummer Brian Tichy (FOREIGNER, BILLY IDOL, OZZY OSBOURNE, VELVET REVOLVER) and bassist Michael "Denim" Devin (KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD) have joined LYNCH MOB as the band's new touring rhythm section.
Commented Tichy: "It will be fun to get loud and powerful with George [Lynch], Oni [Logan] and Denim as I've always been a fan and I'd be a liar if I was to say I didn't attempt to learn all his rhythms and leads on 'Tooth and Nail' [DOKKEN] in high school when I was 16! C'mon, he was tearing it up! I was obsessed with guitar back then, as I am now, and he was one of the cats... Well, he still is as so many people nowadays were influenced by him.
"George is so cool that he came over my house with a little rig and he, myself and Denim had two days of jammin the tunes in my bedroom turned drum room. There was barely any space but we had a great time. Total high school vibe! I should have gotten a picture."
Upcoming LYNCH MOB shows:
Nov. 27 - Hollywood, CA - House Of Blues (w/ DOKKEN) Nov. 28 - San Diego, CA - The 4th and B (w/ DOKKEN) Nov. 29 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues (w/ DOKKEN) Dec. 12 - Las Vegas, NV - Feelgoods Jan. 23 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Manifesto Jan. 24 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Hard Rock Cafe
Audio samples of all 13 songs that appear on LYNCH MOB's comeback album, "Smoke And Mirrors", are available for download at HeavyHarmonies.com (scroll down). The CD was released in Europe on September 18 (October 13 in the U.S.) via Frontiers Records.
LYNCH MOB's recording lineup on "Smoke And Mirrors" included Logan and Lynch alongside bassist Marco Mendoza (WHITESNAKE, THIN LIZZY) and drummer Scot Coogan (BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, ACE FREHLEY).
Former JUGGERNAUT vocalist Harlan Glenn will host "Battle Rats: Iwo Jima", which premieres Sunday, November 22 at 10:00 p.m. and repeats at 1:00 a.m. the following day on the Military Channel. A trailer for the show can be viewed below.
Glenn, an expert on military history, is a published author of several books, including 1998's "For King and Country" and 2009's "782 Gear", and has amassed numerous research, segment producer, and co-directing credits working for the History and Discovery channels. In addition to hosting duties, Glenn wrote, directed and produced "Battle Rats: Iwo Jima".
"Military history has been a lifelong passion of mine. Getting to host my own concept series is my dream job," states Glenn who grew up as an Army brat on different U.S. bases all around the world. "It's been 17 years of paying my dues in the television and film industry and I'm getting an incredible opportunity to take the world by storm! It was a lot of hard work and long hours getting this particular show together and off the ground but I hope military buffs and history enthusiasts get as much of a kick out of watching it as I've had making it. There are plans for further installments if things go accordingly. I already have things mapped out in my head on what to tackle next."
Harlan Glenn left JUGGERNAUT after the release of their 1986 Metal Blade debut album, "Baptism Under Fire", which also featured noted drummer Bobby Jarzombek (HALFORD, RIOT), and went on to front several California-based bands before segueing into acting and eventually behind-the-scenes work.
Japanese metal veterans OUTRAGE will release their new, self-titled album on Japan on November 25. The CD was recorded with producer Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden.
"Outrage" track listing:
01. Rise 02. You Care? I Don't Care 03. Reign 04. Until You Are Dead 05. Fists Full Of Sand 06. Shells Rain Down 07. Landshark 08. Shine On 09. Tor 10. Terrorizer OUTRAGE reunited with estranged vocalist Naoki Hashimoto, who had left the band in 1999, for the 20th anniversary tour in 2007. After completing the successful tour, Hashimoto officially rejoined the band in February 2008.
OUTRAGE released the limited-edition double live CD "Awakening 2008" in Japan in June 2008 through JVC Victor. Recorded during the three-night special show of the same name in Tokyo in March 2008, the first disc features the entire "The Final Day" album (1991) in live form and the entire "Life Until Deaf" album (1995) in live form on the second disc.
Guitarist Paul Allender of British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH has issued the following update:
"I'm about half way through writing the material [for the new CRADLE OF FILTH album] and it's turning out just the way I wanted it. I've mentioned to a few people that it's a lot faster and heavier than [2008's 'Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder']. Well, to be honest, the new material has been taken up quite a few gears."
"Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 37. The CD sold a little over 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 48 on The Billboard 200 chart.
"Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder" was the follow-up to "Thornography", which shifted nearly 13,000 copies in the U.S. the first week out to enter The Billboard chart at No. 66. This was roughly in line with the performance of its predecessor, "Nymphetamine", which premiered with almost 14,000 copies back in October 2004.
"Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder" was conceptual and is based on the well-documented, true-life fall from grace of a shadowy historical figure named Gilles de Rais, a wealthy French nobleman who was one of Joan of Arc's brothers-in-arms. He was best known, however, as a prolific serial killer who mixed prayers with his nightly murders as well as an aspiring alchemist. He was accused of a panoply of crimes, among them heresy, demonology and kidnapping. There's even an extreme fringe sect of historians who question de Rais' true status, with some convinced he was framed.
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