Old News / Tours December 2005


Old News / Tours - Old News / Tours - More December 2005 News
December 29th, 2005	DAWN OF DEFIANCE, soloist thrash - death metal project from Uruguay (South America) hast just released their debut album bearing the name of "The Obscure Awakening". The album includes 7 songs of pure thrash / death metal. Rythm, violence, melody, technique and devastating strength is all you may find in this almost 45' release. Tracklist: (social slavery, summoning death, the eyes of a killer, love denied, the ungod command, haunted dreams, payback time). e-mail: defiance@internet.com.uy - web: http://www.dawnofdefiance.com SYSTEM OF A DOWN MAKES CHART HISTORY AS NEW ALBUM, HYPNOTIZE, DEBUTS ON BILLBOARD TOP 200 AT #1 Hypnotize Builds On Chart-Topping Success Of Mezmerize As System Of A Down Becomes First Band Ever To Score Two #1 New Studio Album Debuts In A Single Calendar Year (dateline - Los Angeles - November 30, 2005; source: Columbia Records) The new System Of A Down studio album, Hypnotize, has just debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 best-selling albums chart, giving the groundbreaking Los Angeles-based rock band its second #1 debut in a mere six months. As Hypnotize glides into the top slot of the Top 200, System Of A Down--Serj Tankian (vocals), Daron Malakian (guitar, vocals), Shavo Odadjian (bass) and John Dolmayan (drums)--has become the first band in the history of the chart to score two #1 debuts with new studio albums in a single calendar year. With true first week's sales of 320,185, Hypnotize, the eagerly-awaited finale to System Of A Down's epic two-part Mezmerize/Hypnotize double album set, is mirroring the success of part one, Mezmerize, which debuted at #1 the week of May 17, 2005. (Six months after its release, Mezmerize remains firmly planted in the Top 200.) Hypnotize, the fifth studio album from System Of A Down, is the group's third to debut at #1. Toxicity, the watershed release that brought the band its first major success, debuted at #1 the week ending September 9, 2001 with first week's sales of 222,037. The album has gone on to sell more than 6 million copies worldwide. Global sales for System Of A Down albums and singles now total more than 16 million records. www.systemofadown.com We Reach: The Music of the Melvins Now out from Fractured Transmitter Records, We Reach: The Music of the Melvins. With this release, for the first time ever the leaders in underground music pay tribute to one of the most influential bands ever, the Melvins. This tribute features some of the leaders of the underground music scene today. Formed in Aberdeen, Washington in the early 1980s, the Melvins were one of the first bands to blend hardcore punk with the slow grind of Black Sabbath. Rounding out the release is artwork by Cleveland, Ohio-based and renowned music industry artist Derek Hess, and liner notes by Greg Werckman, co-owner of Ipecac Recordings (the Melvins current label). Check it out at www.fracturedtransmitter.com. Track Listing: Mare - Nightgoat The Dillinger Escape Plan - Honey Bucket Mastodon - The Bit Strapping Young Lad - Zodiac Pig Destroyer - Claude High on Fire/Keelhaul - Oven Meatjack - Shevil Strapadon Factory - Joan of Arc Isis/Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Boris Absentee - Revolve Eyehategod - Easy As It Was Dog fashion Disco - Anaconda Disengage - Raise a Paw Blessing The Hogs - Hogleg CKY/Gnarkill - Laughing With Lucifer at Satan's Sideshow Maritime Murder - Copache Made Out of Babies - Bar X and The Rocking M Pincer 2 - Echohead/Don't Piece Me ADDITIONAL EMPEROR DATES CONFIRMED Philadelphia: Due to overwhelming sales on previously announced Emperor shows in New York City and Los Angeles, Candlelight Records today confirms additional shows in each city to meet fan demand. Momentum for ticket sales in the first hours on sale in New York had fans buying tickets at a rate of 1 every six minutes. BB Kings talent buyer Toffer Christensen says, "we knew going in that the date would be a big event for metal fans, but the initial demand far exceeded our estimate. The fans are clamoring to see their Emperor. These shows could easily be sold out in the next month." Ticket sales in Los Angeles rivalled New York City where fans lined up for Key Club's box office opening. First day sales registered over 200 tickets for the 800 capacity venue eight months prior to the show. “We are very excited to do these shows in the US," says vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn. "We have had a strong following there for a long time. Remembering our previous US tour, I am confident that these exclusive shows too will be a memorable experience for both ourselves and fans.” Forming in 1991, Emperor recordings have sold hundreds of thousands worldwide. Their impact on black/extreme metal ranks them as one of the genre's most influential. Respected by musician, fan and critic alike, Emperor recorded their final album, Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise, in 2001 shortly thereafter announcing they were disbanding (with Samoth and Trym continuing on in new band Zyklon; Ihsahn contributing to his ongoing band project Peccatum and currently working on his first solo record). Kerrang's Dom Lawson called Prometheus, "a staggering masterwork; a fitting testament to the musical genius." In late 2004, Candlelight reissued each of Emperor's four genre-defining albums - Wrath of the Tyrants, In the Nightside Eclipse, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk and IX Equilibrium. Each album reworked with additional bonus footage and material unavailable previously on both European and US-licensed versions. All records available in stores nationwide. The complete list of confirmed shows are noted below. Thursday, July 13 - BB Kings Blues Club, New York NY (NEW) Friday, July 14 - BB Kings Blues Club, New York NY Sunday, July 16 - Key Club, Los Angeles CA Monday, July 17 - House of Blues, Los Angeles CA (NEW) Tickets will go on sale for the additional dates Friday, December 2 at 12pm EST for New York City and 12pm PST for Los Angeles. Visit www.ticketmaster.com for purchase. In further news, Candlelight recording artists Daylight Dies will open the New York City shows while Metal Blade recording artists Goatwhore will open the Los Angeles shows. DAYLIGHT DIES RELEASE DATE CONFIRMED Philadelphia: Candlelight Records today confirms March 7 as the US release date for Dismantling Devotion from Daylight Dies. It is the second full-length album from the band, currently headquartered in North Carolina, and officially ends a four-year recording gap. The near hour-long Dismantling Devotion is a giant step forward for the already popular quintet. With album recording split between Volume 11 Studios and Techtronic Laboratories (North Carolina), mixing by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (Sweden) and mastering by Thomas Eberger at The Cutting Room (Sweden), the album is already receiving rave reviews from early listenings. Katatonia guitarist Anders Nystrom says, "I really hope others will be able to share the experience that fills you up for the loss for words when listening to this album. If Dismantling Devotion would have been released in 2005, it would have been my choice for the album of the year." Formed in 1996, Terrorizer Magazine called Daylight Dies' 2003 debut "memorable and engaging." Outburn Magazine proclaimed, "pristine doom metal." And Digital Metal added, "a combination of dark melody and deathly aggression." With Dismantling Devotion, the band look to further their already growing profile. Drummer Jesse Haff recently noted "it is certainly the most mature material we've written to date. For us it is a strong progression that really shows off our emotionally dark and desperate music; a diverse mix of melancholic, melodic and exceedingly heavy songs." Daylight Dies toured with Lacuna Coil (US) and Katatonia (Europe) in 2003 and are already in the planning stages to hit the road in support of Dismantling Devotion. Guitarist Barre Gambling says, "I look forward to hitting the road again and playing our new songs for people, especially after a long hibernation." Confirmed track listing for Dismantling Devotion is: A Life Less Lived, Dead Air, A Dream Resigned, All We Had, Solitary Refinement, Strive to See, Lies that Bind, Dismantling Devotion. The album features compositions from photographer Jeff Brubaker. For more information on Daylight Dies please visit the band's official site located at www.daylightdies.com. BLOODY SIGN will enter DISSONANT STUDIO in the end of January to record their 2nd album as yet untitled. BLOODY SIGN are also working on a European tour with ESTUARY for the spring of 2006. Anyone interested in booking this tour package please contact Ilmar at: uibokalevi@hotmail.com THORNFIRE’s "Exacerbated Gnostic Manifestation" CD release date has been pushed back to a early 2006 release. This CD is totally killer and well worth the wait. DAWN OF AZAZEL is the band that everyone has been talking about. They have been the subject of controversy and received considerable publicity this week, after a sensationalist tabloid newspaper, the Sunday Star Times, printed a slanderous and poorly researched expose on front man Rigel Walshe's occupation as a Police Officer and the bands lyrical content. The story sparked an outcry and the band featured as the main story the following day on New Zealand's biggest 6 o'clock news show, 3 news, sparking over 43, 000 hits on their website in 24 hours. The band has been the source of massive and heated debate on virtually every newspaper, radio and talkback show for several days straight, inspiring comments and debate from police ministers, Christian Fundamentalist groups, the personal backing of New Zealand's Governments Minister for the Arts Judith Tizard, as well as creating massive headlines overseas in the metal media and even featuring on CNN. All this came in the middle of the bands New Zealand release tour for their second album, Sedition. Bassist/Vocalist Rigel Walshe offered the following comments in relation to these events. "We would collectively like to thank all the fans and bands that have come out to support us, and to all the news media that have helped promote the band and the tour during this period to make the tour such a success. Our next step will be releasing the album in Australia and the rest of the world in January/February next year. We are also excited to announce we will be touring Australia and New Zealand in March with Disgorge and are currently are considering 2 us tour offers that will see us touring with some of the top bands in the death metal genre around April or may next year. In response to recent events in the media we wish to thank our supporters, and state we spit upon those who are afraid to stand proud as individuals, who cannot perceive beyond face value reach their own conclusions, and are blindly lead by the half-baked opinions of the loudest voice as lambs to the slaughter. May you never stifle the voices of those who dare to stand proud and venture from the comfort of their armchairs and computer screens, defy convention, provoke debate and thought and grasp life by its horns to make their message heard" Dawn of Azazel’s "Sedition" will be out early 2006 Abysmal Dawn Finish Recording Abysmal Dawn, an extreme metal band from Los Angeles featuring former Rise and Inhuman Visions members, has just put the finishing touches on their debut release entitled "From Ashes." The group is currently looking for a record company to release the album. The following update was recently given on their site: "Our gig with Exodus at the Galaxy went great! Thanks to all the crazy fans in the pit area who were fucking things up and even the ones banging their heads towards the back. You made it a killer experience as always! Also, a very special thanks is in order for Jacob from Gatekeeper and Elizabeth Schall for all their extra help at this show. Things wouldn't have run as smoothly as they did without you. We have just finished recording and mixing our debut release entitled "From Ashes." The album was engineered, mixed and mastered by John Haddad (Eyes of Fire, Phobia, Intronaut) at Shiva Industries in Santa Ana, CA. We have to say it came out heavy as hell and we're positive it will rip your face right fucking off! If you don't believe us check out four new songs from the album, as well as the cover art, at the following location www.myspace.com/abysmaldawn. Here's the final track listing: 1. Impending Doom (Instrumental) 2. In the Hands of Death 3. Blacken the Sky 4. Servants to Their Knees 5. Wicked Impulse 6. Solitude's Demise 7. State of Mind 8. Salting the Earth 9. Crown Desire Layout is currently being worked on by Anthony Clarkson (Kataklysm, Exodus) and should be completed shortly. We are currently searching for a label to license the record to. All interested parties please contact the band directly at abysmaldawn@gmail.com A short interview and some live footage from the "Open Grave Music Festival" at the Whisky has been posted at www.gomusicnetwork.com Not the best quality and heavily edited, none the less maybe some of you will find it interesting. Check it out! Tickets for our Suffocation/ Decrepit Birth show on 2/19 at the Key Club can now be purchased from the band using Paypal. See all you grind hungry bastards there!" Charles www.abysmaldawn.com EDGUY "rocket ride" tracklist and cover German melodic metallers EDGUY have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Rocket Ride", due on January 20, 2006. "Rocket Ride" track listing: 01. Sacrifice (8:01) 02. Rocket Ride (4:47) 03. Wasted Time (5:48) 04. Matrix (4:09) 05. Return To The Tribe (6:06) 06. The Asylum (7:38) 07. Save Me (3:47) 08. Catch Of The Century (4:03) 09. Out Of Vogue (4:36) 10. Superheroes (3:19) 11. Trinidad (3:28) 12. Fucking With Fire (4:22) EDGUY will support DRAGONFORCE on six U.K. dates while the rest of the European tour EDGUY will headline, with DRAGONFORCE as support. In addition, EDGUY have confirmed SAVAGE CIRCUS (the new band featuring former BLIND GUARDIAN drummer Thomen Stauch and PERSUADER members Jens Karlsson and Emil Norberg) as the support act for their previously announced three Japanese dates in March. DIMMU BORGIR "Stormblåst" hits the charts Classic Black Metal re-evilized: The signifance of DIMMU BORGIR's "Stormblåst" shows through the fact that the rerecorded version kicked a lot of pop releases out of the way and hit the charts: #18 Netherlands (Indiecharts), #24 Norway, #45 UK (Indiecharts) and #87 Germany. CLAWFINGER add dates to euro tour Sweden's crossover legends CLAWFINGER have added three more dates to their touring schedule for January/February 2006. CLAWFINGER live presented by Metal Hammer, Metal Heart, InYourFace.de 11.01. D Hamburg - Logo 12.01. D Cologne - Prime Club 13.01. CH Fribourg - Frisson 14.01. CH Zurich - X-Tra 16.01. A Vienna - Planet Music 17.01. A Graz - Orpheum 18.01. HR Zagreb - Tvornica 19.01. H Budapest - Petofi Csarnok 20.01. CZ Prague - Abaton 21.01. PL Warsaw - Stodola 19.02. D München - New Backstage NEW 20.02. D Saarbrücken - Garage NEW 02.03. D Berlin - SO36 NEW ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET audio sampled of new song posted ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET, the new Swedish band featuring former THE CROWN vocalist Johan Lindstrand, have uploaded an audio sample from their debut album, "21st Century Killing Machine", at their official web site. Check out the song "Devil on the Red Carpet" at this location. "21st Century Killing Machine" was recorded at Bohus studio and is due in Europe on January 6, 2006. The album's projected track listing is as follows: 01. Killing Machine 02. Public Enemy No. 1 03. No Apparent Motive 04. Devil on the Red Carpet 05. Behind the Church 06. Hell Is for Heroes 07. The Sweetness of Black 08. When Hatred Comes to Life 09. Bulldozer Frenzy 10. Branded by Iron 11. So Grim So True So Real 12. Mary's Raising the Dead ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET will be supporting CHILDREN OF BODOM on a European tour beginning in late December. Also appearing on the bill will be Hungarian hardcore/thrash metallers EKTOMORF. ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET had previously recorded a promotional CD, entitled "When Hatred Comes To Life", at Deadline studios with engineer Valle Adzic. It is available through the NUCLEAR BLAST mailorder. CHAIN COLLECTOR "The Masquerade" CD Sound Riot Records Running time: 55 minutes Music style: Modern Melodic Death Metal Release date: December 09, 2005 TRACKING-LIST: 01 - Hierarchy of Murder (Code of Silence) 02 - Harvester 03 - Neverwhere 04 - And Then There Was None 05 - Crucifixion 06 - Project Savior 07 - Tapping The Vein 08 - Fallen Angel 09 - Wicked Mask 10 - Winter Princess SOUND-CLIPS: http://www.soundriotrecords.com/downloads.html OVERVIEW: Chain Collector is a band with an own identifiable sound and style. A clean production highlights the band`s super-heavy delivery, you get 10 killer tunes, all brimming with the dark, crushing, Metallic energy and high-powered riffage that is the bands` stock-in-trade. SELLING-POINTS: • An all-star band featuring members of Green Carnation, Trail of Tears, Carpathian Forest, Dismal Euphony and In the Woods. • Recorded at DUB Studios (same studio used by Green Carnation and Trail of Tears) • Mastered at The Cutting Room Studios in Sweden (used by In Flames and Rammstein) • Cover artwork by Graal (Behemoth, Vader, Rotting Christ). • Licensed to Massacre Records for the Europe, Canada, South America and Australia. Website: www.soundriotrecords.com Band website: www.chaincollector.com Fresh from the Crucial Blast camp; SOIHADTOSHOOTHIM is currently putting together a quick tour in January through the Midwest, South, and East Coast US. Their CB debut Alpha Males And Popular Girls is currently floating around and freaking out as many as it is blowing away, and they're headed back out to go apeshit to the unsuspecting public, possibly in a town near you. A note from the band: "If you could help out with the "TBA dates please email Dave at booking@feedbackagency.com. . We'll play your basement..." 1/04 Buffalo, NY @ Broadway Joes 1/05 Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Roboto Project 1/06 Ypsilanti, MI @ Elbow Room 1/07 Detroit, MI @ Small's 1/08 Indianapolis, IN @ Melody Inn 1/09 Johnson City, TN @ The Hideaway 1/10 Lexington / Louisville, KY @ TBA 1/11 Nashville, TN @ The Muse 1/12 Dallas, TX @ Double-Wide 1/13 Austin, TX @ Room 710 1/14 Fort Smith, AR @ House Show 1/15 Birmingham, AL @ TBA 1/16 Atlanta, GA @ Lennys 1/17 Chapel Hill, NC @ Reservoir 1/18 Washington DC @ DC9 1/19 Baltimore MD @ Talking Head 1/20 New York NY @ Sin-e "...bands like So I Had to Shoot Him should be commended for not sticking to conventionality (especially in this day and age, when so much music is by the numbers), as evidenced by such selections as 'People Hugging and Football,' 'Another Roman E' Clef by Hart Bochner,' and the amusingly titled 'King Diamond in the Rough.'" - All Music Guide "Musically, the band skews toward grinding noise, somewhere around a less restrained Dillinger Escape Plan or Daughters, but vocalist Libby’s approach brings an element not so different from what Mike Patton did for Faith No More." - The Aquarian Weekly "Lethal stuff without a trace of Gothic melodrama, which is a refreshing step in the development of female fronted metal." - Outside Left "Whatever it is, those who are hep to the spastic and constantly evolving sounds of bands like Jumbo's Killcrane, The Mass, Painkiller, and Melt-Banana, but still like a bit o' the sugar-sweet pop goodness mixed in with their bitter metal poison, should look into this and definitely see the band live." - The One True Dead Angel On their debut full length Alpha Males & Popular Girls, SOIHADTOSHOOTHIM complete their metamorphosis from purveyors of mid-90's art-damaged powerviolence to modern blastpop visionaries. Sugarcoated and venomous, these ten songs marry monstrous metallic riffing and surreal, swirling pop seizures to cyclones of gasoline-soaked noise skronk and arena-sized rock blowouts that are fronted with utter sass and ferocity, courtesy of frontwoman Libby Schaub. Alpha Males is a boldly imaginative debut, chock full of infectious hooks and crazed heaviness that references BLONDIE and indie pop, blasting powerviolence and NAPALM DEATH, pulverizing tech-metalcore, neon-hued dance punk, gleaming melodic bliss, and mutant stadium-rock anthems all in the same breath. Astounding. MP3 of John Cleese and the Fountain of Youth: http://crucialblast.net/mp3/soihad_cleese.mp3 http://www.soihadtoshoothim.com/ HUBI MEISEL Newsflash After a production time of more than 2 years, Hubi Meisel has now finished his new concept album "KAILASH", which will be released through Lion Music on February 27, 2006. This time the concept story is all about the Himalayas, Tibet & the secrets of ancient Buddhist/Hindu culture and mythology. Like already on his previous concept disc "EmOcean", Hubi Meisel closely cooperated with French keyboardist/composer Vivien Lalu again. The new line-up features top-class musicians from five different countries: Hubi J. Meisel - vocals Vivien Lalu (Lalu) - keys Marcel Coenen (Sun Caged) - guitars Jorge Salán (Mago de Oz) - guitars Daniel Flores (Mind's Eye) - drums Johan Niemann (Therion) - bass Watch out for further news & updates on www.HubiMeisel.com !

December 26th, 2005	From Joey Daub's (BELIEVER drummer) website: Finally, Kurt and I got together recently and finished up our first new Believer tune! And there are two other tunes in process. We are both enjoying writing and we like the direction the material is going. Due to all that is going on with our schedules, it is difficult to get together a lot. However, we will continue to put time aside for this project. One last thing, if anyone has or knows anyone who has any bootlegged Believer concerts or footage of the band please get in touch with me. We are trying to gather this for a possible DVD. PINK FLOYD RELEASE PULSE, THE DVD OF THEIR LAST CONCERT ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2006 On Tuesday, January 17, 2006, Pink Floyd will release their much anticipated DVD, PULSE, on Columbia Records. This landmark release, captures the last Pink Floyd Division Bell tour in 1994, and was filmed at London’s Earls Court during their record breaking 14 night residency. The two disc release contains the full concert performance with rare backstage footage and previously unseen extras. There are many elements that make this Pulse release a must-have, but top of the list is that here, for the first time ever, is a live filmed performance of Pink Floyd’s towering, seminal album, The Dark Side of the Moon. The album in its glorious entirety is performed by David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Rick Wright during the second half of the concert and appears on disc 2. “Shine on You Crazy Diamond,” “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2),” “High Hopes and Learning to Fly,” are some of the classic tracks on disc 1 with never before seen rarities such as Bootlegging the Bootleggers and behind the scenes footage showing a snapshot of life on the road with one of the world’s biggest rock bands. The stunning Pulse DVD graphics are designed by long time Pink Floyd collaborator, Storm Thorgersen who has made the DVD look as good as it sounds. It is mixed in mind expanding 5.1 surround sound and digitally remastered by James Guthrie. The DVD includes some of The Dark Side of the Moon original screen films used in the 1970’s concerts which were never filmed, as well others remade for the 1994 tour. The Pulse DVD vividly captures the essence of Pink Floyd, both as a live band and as a visual tour de force, qualities that were both well to the fore at their show-stopping appearance at this year’s Live 8. EMPEROR US SHOWS ANNOUNCED Philadelphia: Candlelight Records today confirms two American shows for legendary black metal band, Emperor. The announcement follows recent confirmations of European shows that the band will perform in 2006. Emperor, featuring vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn, guitarist Samoth, and drummer Trym, disbanded prior to release of their 2001 album Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise. The record, an essential release for Candlelight's first year of US operations, remains one of the label's top selling US releases. In late 2004, Candlelight reissued each of Emperor's four genre-defining albums - Wrath of the Tyrants, In the Nightside Eclipse, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk and IX Equilibrium. Each album reworked with additional bonus footage and material unavailable previously on both European and US-licensed versions. "Wrath of the Tyrants," being part one, "includes very rare, exclusive footage of pre-Nightside rehearsals plus live outtakes from our first tour (in support of Cradle of Filth, 1993)," says guitarist Samoth. "In the Nightside Eclipse," part two, "includes edited material from a live show in Oslo for the song "Towards the Pantheon," as well as various other clips from live recordings in 1997." Forming in 1991, Emperor recordings have sold hundreds of thousands worldwide. Their impact on black/extreme metal ranks them as one of the genre's most influential. Respected by musician, fan and critic alike, Emperor recorded their final album, Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise, in 2001, shortly thereafter announcing they were disbanding (with Samoth and Trym continuing on in new band Zyklon; Ihsahn contributing to his ongoing band project Peccatum). Kerrang's Dom Lawson called Prometheus, "a staggering masterwork; a fitting testament to the musical genius." Confirmed shows are noted below. Information regarding ticket on sale dates will follow. Friday, July 14 - BB Kings Blues Club, New York NY Sunday, July 16 - Key Club, Los Angeles CA TICKETS ON SALE FOR NEW YORK EMPEROR SHOW Philadelphia: Tickets will go on sale at 5pm EST today, November 22 for Emperor's recently announced New York City show at BB Kings Blues Club located at 237 West 42nd Street. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com or call BB Kings at 212-997-4144. TICKETS ON SALE FOR LOS ANGELES EMPEROR SHOW Philadelphia: Tickets will go on sale at 10am EST today, November 23 for Emperor's recently announced Los Angeles show at Key Club located at 9029 W. Sunset Blvd. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com or call Key Club's box office (open 12pm to 11pm PST daily) at 310-274-5800. Tickets for Emperor's New York City show went on sale 5pm EST yesterday. Ticketmaster and BB Kings box office confirm already 200 sales in the first hours. The event is expected to sell out long before its July date. DEVILYN (death metal, Poland) http://devilyn.metalkings.com SUPREME LORD (old shool death metal, Poland) http://www.supremelord.com The tour will be in March/April 2006 and we want to know if you will be interested with this billing... We will have all the backline with us and we give you posters and promo stuffs... Contact me to have more infos: info@conquerec.com www.conquerec.com Flo Mounier's Extreme Metal Drumming 101 DVD is now available! Flo Mounier's Extreme Metal Drumming 101 DVD is now available! You can find all the details and order it through his web site at http://www.flomounier.com The DVD will be available at the following stores in Montreal = Steve's Music (51 St-Antoine W.), Drum Bazar (8780 St-Laurent), Profusion (1843 Ontario East) and Italmelodie (274 Jean-Talon East), also from Galy Records mail order. Flo Mounier & Cryptopsy http://www.galyrecords.com Flo Mounier’s Extreme Drumming 101 2 DVD Set Now Available Flo Mounier is known around the world for his incomparable way of playing extreme metal music. His drumming combines great chops with blistering speed and technical brutality. Drummer of the Canadian band CRYPTOPSY, Flo’s style is an example to follow for the new generation of drummers who wish to find out more on what the discipline of extreme drumming is all about. On disc 1, Flo discusses the basic elements fundamental in playing extreme metal as well as showing exercises, routines and tips facilitating speed, endurance and control. On disc 2, we see Flo in action performing some over the top solos and extreme songs. As Flo’s playing has inspired many different types of drummers, so will the contents of the 2 DVD set EXTREME METAL DRUMMING 101. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS DVD-Video (Disc 1&2) NTSC / Zone: 0 (All Regions) / Stereo Language: English Total Running Time: Approx. 200 minutes DVD-Rom (Disc 1) PC + Mac Compatible DVD Contents - DISC 1: INSTRUCTIONAL Introduction Hand & floor techniques Warm up routine - Upper and lower body warm up for practices and shows - Warm up for the feet with no practice equipment Stretching & workout tips Speed, endurance & control building exercises Grind Library -grind beats - blast beats - gravity blast Drum set-up & drum head tension Playing sound Gear Influences & great drummers Song Rehearsal (multi-angle) - Phobophile - Cold Hate, Warm Blood - Upper and lower body alternate video channels to learn the songs Photo section DVD-Rom Content - Drum notations for Phobophile, Cold Hate, Warm Blood and We Bleed - Extras DISC 2: PERFORMANCES Drum Solo (16:46) - Demons Stole My Soul - Rock ‘n Roll in Contemporary Art Exhibit, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art Toronto, ON. Canada 06/16/2005 Watch an excerpt from this video Drum Solo (5:53) -Cohoes, NY. USA 04/12/2005 Drum Solo (4:35) -Trois-Rivieres Metalfest IV. Trois-Rivieres, QC. Canada 11/06/2004 - Multi-angle Montreal Drum Fest 2003 (23:03) -Instrumental medley of early Once Was Not compositions with fellow Cryptopsy members, followed by a drum solo - Phobophile (instrumental) and a duet with drummer Ange Curcio. Live footage (27:34) - Six songs filmed from behind the drums during the Canada 2004 and USA 2005 Tours -Phobophile (4:40) Rouyn-Noranda, QC. Canada 10/23/2004 -Cold Hate, Warm Blood (4:01) Santa Ana, CA. USA 03/11/2005 -We Bleed (6:16) Rouyn-Noranda, QC. Canada 10/23/2004 -Slit Your Guts (4:06) Cohoes, NY. USA 4/12/2005 -Dead and Dripping (4:12) Winnipeg, MB. Canada 9/26/2004 -Benedictine Convulsions (4:19) Prince George, BCX. Canada 09/20/2004 Sound Check and Drum Solo (4:17) - Sound check for the pre-production of Once Was Not at Wild Studios, St-Zenon, QC, Canada. Summer 2004 Odds & Ends of Once Was Not (3:44) - Drums and percussion recording for the album Once Was Not at Studio Vortex, St. Constant, QC, Canada. Summer 2005 Adrenaline TV show documentary (6:00) Radio-Canada’s Adrenaline TV show documentary (in French with English subtitles). Summer 2004 Adrenaline Extra Footage (8:01) - Extra footage of the documentary’s recording process. Summer 2004 Extreme Metal Drumming 101 was directed and produced by Flo Mounier and Francois Quevillon.. The content of this DVD was inspired by comments and suggestion from the many emails he received from the public. Flo Mounier thanks everyone for your feedback and support. Flo Mounier Biography: Born in France in 1974, Flo Mounier moved to Chicago 7 years later, where at the age of 13 the ground work was laid and his drumming career started with drum teacher Tony Castelli. A year later, and now in Montreal, he continued to gather ammunition and to develop his skills. His hard work paid off as he soon became one of the most recognized drummers within the metal scene. Drummer for the band Cryptopsy, he has toured Canada, Europe, Japan and the United States as a headlining act over the last 6 years, and combined record sales have reached over 250,000 copies to date. Wherever Flo has played, his reputation remains the same; he combines great chops with blistering speed and technical brutality. Add this to an open mind approach that embraces different musical genres, and Flo has developed an even greater ability to enhance the creative edge within his unique phrasing. Having studied with the likes of Magella Cormier and now part-time teacher Bruno Roy, his exploration of the Latin/Jazz approach has added an originality to his style which sets him apart from the rest. Flo's speed and precision apply to his live performances as well, and his playing continues to get even faster and tighter. His delivery and execution of complex fills at abnormal speeds will leave no one feeling indifferent. His drum kit is one of the most impressive kits in the world, with a custom rack created by Redge (Rene) Adolph. Flo's style is the example to follow for the new generation of drummers who wish to find out more on what the discipline of extreme drumming is all about. Flo’s Extreme Metal Drumming 101 2 DVD Set is a well documented experience in extreme metal drumming that covers such topics as warm ups, basics of speed drumming, endurance exercises, techniques, creative rhythms, and much more including different drum solos and play along segments for some of Cryptopsy’s most popular songs and bonus material. Flo is endorsed by Pearl Drums, Sabian, Remo & Vic Firth Flo's Drum Kit: Pearl Masterworks Series 2 - 18 x 16 bass drums (black mist with gold hardware) 8 x 8 tom 10 x 8" tom 12 x 9" tom 13 x 9" floor tom 16 x 14" floor tom 13 x 5" sensitone main snare 12 x 5" sensitone spare snare Sabian Cymbals 17" Evolution crash 13" AA hi hats 8" AA splash 18" Evolution crash 2 - 10" max stax 2 - 12" AA mini china 10" HH splash 18" Ozone crash 14" AA sizzle hi hats 14" HH crash 21" raw bell dry ride 18" B8 pro china 12" AA fusion mini hi hats 10" AA splash 14" mini china 12" mini china custom Mike Portnoy Pearl Hardware 4 eliminator pedals 2 snare stands 1 throne + stand 1 hihat adapter clamp 1 eliminator hihat pedal/stand 1 eliminator remote hihat 1 clave block and stand 20 pc 50 clamps icon drum rack (Redge custom rack) 6 tom arms 12 boom cymbal stands 1 mini hihat boom stand holder 1 remote hihat boom stand holder Remo Heads All toms - Emperors coated top/ambassadors clear bottom Main snare drum - Emperor coated top/ambassador clear bottom Second snare drum - Ambassador coated top/ambassador clear bottom Bass drums - Power stroke clear beater side/ambassador black front Electronics Roland SPD 20 2 D-DRUM triggers for bass drums cables and wires AKG Microphones 8 C 418 for snare and toms 3 C 1000S for hi-hats and overhead 2 D 112 for bass drums 1 C 420 headset microphone Vic Firth Signature Sticks (F1) UNFINISHED THOUGHT - Exits [EP] Released Tuesday, November 29th! Track Listing: 1. Illuminata 2. The Eternal Shade Theory Part I 3. Good Evening [Splender cover] 4. I'm Not In Love [10cc cover] 5. Come Undone [Duran Duran cover] 6. Head Over Heels [Tears For Fears cover] The album will be available exclusively as a digital download via the official UT website beginning at 12:01AM [EST] Nov 29th. The cost will be $5.00 and you will be able to choose from several different media formats to download. These format options will include high quality MP3s [192kbps] as well as full CD quality WAV files that you may burn to CD if you wish. When you buy the album, the audio files will be delivered to you immediately and you will then be directed to a link to view and/or download the album artwork and lyrics. :: Special Bonus! When you purchase the Exits [EP] album download, you will also receive the much anticipated Illuminata video! The video will be available in high quality QuickTime and Windows Media formats. If you'd rather, each song will be individually downloadable for .89 cents each. Streaming previews of all tracks will also be available beginning Nov 29th! For more information on the Exits [EP] follow this link: http://www.unfinishedthought.com INTO ETERNITY Return Home After 2005’s Fifth North American Tour Canada’s INTO ETERNITY, who have “added a new dimension to the metal genre,” (BW&BK), have wrapped up a solid year of touring North America. Covering metals musical spectrum, the band have had the honor of sharing the stage with several of the genre’s top heavyweight bands. Talking about the band’s year, mainman Tim Roth said, “Our touring cycle for Buried In Oblivion has finally come to a close. We’ve had a great year and would like to thank all the fans, our label, our agent, and all the promoters for the best year of our metal career. It has been a band goal to finally tour the U.S.A. properly, this year we have had the chance to make that happen not just once, but five times. Thank you to all the amazing bands that we toured with Kataklysm, Graveworm, Mystic Circle, Amorphis, Beyond The Embrace, Single Bullet Theory, Naglfar, Hate Eternal, Krisiun, Incantation, Hammerfall, Edguy, Stratovarius, Nevermore, and Opeth. “INTO ETERNITY, now home in Canada, will go into winter hibernation. The plan is to write and record our fourth album, and then tour again in spring 2006. Our lineup has solidified after 140 shows together, so we’re in full gear for the new album. With the new members the sound will be a bit different, but we will always remain INTO ETERNITY. I know we can count on all of our amazing fans to support us. Keep it metal!” Revolver Magazine, which features INTO ETERNITY in this month’s issue, called “Buried in Oblivion a defiantly original work filled with stunning musical virtuosity and truly original ideas.” Receiving resounding international praise for the album, INTO ETERNITY has tirelessly introduced it to audiences through relentless touring since its release. Watch for the band’s follow up album in 2006. For additional information please contact me directly. www.centurymedia.com www.intoeternity.net SHADOWS FALL DVD: The Art of Touring Courtesy of our Metallic Friends at Century Media, our Christmas stockings will be full this year!! Nothing quite like waking up and ripping open a brand new copy of the new Shadows Fall DVD - The Art of Touring: Drunk & Shty in Every City! I have a feeling that this will be on a lot of Christmas Wish Lists this year >:) Shadows Fall DVD: The Art of Touring: Drunk & Shty in Every City Up the Irons & Defend the Faith or is it Defend the Irons and Up the Faith? Either way, Keep it Metal!!! -Greg KULT OV AZAZEL news Once again the legions have been summoned and Kult ov Azazel has been called forth to participate in the return of the Sacrifice of the Nazarene Child Festival in 2006. This news should also squash the rumors that have been floating around that the band had dissolved. In fact new material is in the works for the fourth album and in the next few weeks the split CD with Vrolok, "Feast of Sacrilegious Impurity", will be released through Arctic Music. We have also been informed that after the many delays the "Oculus Infernum" LP has been sent to press and we are waiting for a release date from the label. Check the website for updates including interviews with Mega Sin Magazine, Litany Zine, Hell Eternal Zine, Gothic Beauty Zine, Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles Magazine & Antichrist Zine plus reviews of "The World, The Flesh & The Devil" from Ancient Ceremonies Magazine, Antichrist Zine, Canadian Assault Zine, Deadtide.com, Kerrang! Magazine, Kultura Industrialna, La Torre Zine & Voices from the Darkside Zine. www.kultovazazel.com WITHERING "Gospel of madness" CD available at b.t.o.d. mailorder (atmospheric death metal from finland) "Gospel of madness" (CD) 1. Northern Breeze 2. Quarrelsome 3. On Death's Colour 4. Two Suns 5. Reborn 6. Mausoleum 7. Penance 8. The Feeble Morning 9. Anguish of Frustration 10.Justification For Unavoidable 11. Not Yet The Last 12. Eye of The Tiger (Bonus Track) The album was recorded in Tico Tico Studio by Ahti kortelainen in November - December 2003 and it was mastered in Finnvox studio in January 2004. Album is produced by Warhorse Records and published by Firebox Records. AVAILABLE FOR EURO 10,00 /US $ 12,00 INCLUDING POSTAGE WORLDWIDE. AVAILABLE ALSO FOR TRADE WITH OTHER LABELS. B.T.O.D. - CP 4565 - 116149 GENOVA 39 (ITALY) info@btod.com www.btod.com WARGORE "Decadence of benevolence" CD available at b.t.o.d. mailorder (brutal death metal from italy) "decadence of benevolence" (CD) NonStop Hyperblasting Brutality... "decadence of benevolence" recorded 21-22-23-24 july 2003 by Domenico Del Ciello at HEARTBEAT STUDIOS (ex-NOBRAIN). Mixed by Domenico del Ciello and WARGORE. track list: 1.the art of dismemberment 2.brutally mutilated 3.the odour of death 4.decadence of benevolence 5.sadistick mind 6.terrormass 7.coccode grinder (bonus grind-offence to the world) AVAILABLE FOR EURO 10,00 / US $ 12,00 INCLUDING POSTAGE WORLDWIDE. AVAILABLE ALSO FOR TRADE WITH LABELS. B.T.O.D. - CP 4565 - 16149 GENOVA 39 (ITALY) info@btod.com www.btod.com ABYSMAL GRIEF NEW 7"ep "CREATURES FROM THE GRAVE" (split with band TONY TEARS) Composed in 2003, this release contains one new track of this doom band from Italy, one of best doom bands around!!! AVAILABLE FOR EURO 7,00 POSTAGE INCLUDED (PRIORITAIRE AIRMAIL) ALSO SOME COPIES AVAILABLE FOR TRADE B.T.O.D. - cp 4565 - 16149 genova 39 (italy) info@btod.com www.btod.com SERPENT RISE re-release Anastenárides -Considered the oldest active brazilian doom metal band, SERPENT RISE, is re-releasing on CD the legendary demo-tape Anastenárides, released originally in 1994. This release will come with the tracks of the demo Travellin' Free... (1995) as bonus. This is a release which will bring good memories to all the old doom worshippers and will show to the new generation of fans what is having the soul commited with doom metal! Pre-orders can be made through the e-mail serpentrise@serpentrise.com (special prices for distros) Tracklist: 01 - Mistress of my Paradise 02 - Gardens of Illusion 03 - Misericordium 04 - Betrayer God Bonus Tracks: 05 - Mistres of my Paradise (Funeral Version) 06 - Travellin' Free... in the Cosmic Sea -This release is being made through a partnership between Satanael Records and Wolfshade Productions For more informations about Serpent Rise, visit the websites www.serpentrise.com and www.myspace.com/serpentrise MAYHEM Frontman To Perform With SALEM In Israel Strings Attached will be realized live on stage with the ICSQ, the critically acclaimed string quartet featured on the album. Attila, Mayhems legendary frontman will join us for a mini Mayhem set. The show will take place on December 27th at the Theater club in Jaffa. More info: www.salemband.com The new ARAFEL CD under Twilight-vertrieb! SPG-releases and Twilight-Vertrieb(German label/distro company) had signed a contract about the exclusive distribution of the new Arafel album on the territory of Germany ,Austria,Switzerland ,Japan ,countries of BeNeLux & Scandinavia. The official release date of the album in this countries is 16/12/05 Twilight-Vertrieb is one of the biggest distribution company in Germany, specially in the extreme music underground. They are distributing on the territory of Germany more than 50 labels (some labels under Twilight-Vertrieb:Avantgarde records, Adipocere, World chaos production, Black lotus, Woodcut records and many more). Twilight-Vertrieb released their own label bands a label such as Master, Belphegor, Endstille, Hidden in the fog, Necrodaemon, Aeba Also a song of ARAFELs new album will be included to "METALMESSAGE Vol. III", compilation of known german webzine METALMESSAGE. http://www.metalmessage.de/sampler-page.htm Khaoz Star Records is proud to announce their second signing. The Italian band SERAPHEL which plays melancholic, gloomy and raw black metal. Their debut CD "Rememberance" will be released in early 2006. For more info about Seraphel check out their website at www.seraphel.com www.khaozstarrecords.se Guitarist PAUL NELSON joins Fender guitars The Fender guitar company will be featuring Paul Nelson (Johnny Winter, Liege Lord, Solo) in their upcoming issue of Frontline Magazine distributed worldwide 2006. visit: www.fender.com and www.paulnelsonguitar.com for more. BLACKMASS - Release of GLORIA DIABOLI -After the release of the single Episcolum Servo Servorum Satanii, in 2004, BLACKMASS, is now releasing their first full length, titled Gloria Diaboli, through the label Blasphemy Productions (www.blasphemyproductions.com). The tracklist is: 01 - Gloria Diaboli 02 - I Call Upon Thee 03 - Mysticus Diabolus Oraculum 04 - Necrologies 05 - Eternal War 06 - Alae Nocturnae 07 - Daemonarchetypes 08 - Infernal Horned God 09 - Xes Lehahiah Plegas Blackmass now have a line-up estabilished as a power trio, formed by: Lord Aeshma (guitars), Magus Dux Adramelech (bass/vocals), and Verberibus Necare (drums). Soon a new website will be launched and a tour is being booked for 2006, to promote the full length. News will be published soon - www.blackmass.com.br The official tour dates...Overkill headlining, Prong supporting: OVERKILL & PRONG February 2006 + 2-16 Planet Rock Jacksonville, NC + 2-17 Jesters Pub Fayetteville, NC + 2-18 Jaxx Springfield, VA + 2-19 Recher Theater Tomson MD + 2-20 BB Kings New York City, NY + 2-21 Rex Theater Pittsburgh, PA + 2-22 Newport Music Hall Columbus, OH + 2-23 Peabody's Cleveland, OH + 2-24 Harpos Detroit, MI + 2-25 Planet Rock Battle Creek, MI + 2-26 House of Blues Chicago, IL + 2-27 The Rock Maplewood, MN + 2-28 Bogarts Cincinnati, OH March 2006 + 3-1 Music City Music Hall Johnson City, NY + 3-2 Webster Theater Hartford, CT + 3-3 Penny Arcade Rochester, NY + 3-4 Starland Ballroom Sayerville, NJ The new RHINO BUCKET CD, "And Then It Got Ugly" will be released in March, 2006 via Acetate Records. Pre-orders will be 2 weeks before the release. For more info check out the band's site www.rhinobucket.com or www.acetate.com DAYLIGHT DIES RELEASE DATE CONFIRMED Philadelphia: Candlelight Records today confirms March 7 as the US release date for Dismantling Devotion from Daylight Dies. It is the second full-length album from the band, currently headquartered in North Carolina, and officially ends a four-year recording gap. The near hour-long Dismantling Devotion is a giant step forward for the already popular quintet. With album recording split between Volume 11 Studios and Techtronic Laboratories (North Carolina), mixing by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (Sweden) and mastering by Thomas Eberger at The Cutting Room (Sweden), the album is already receiving rave reviews from early listenings. Katatonia guitarist Anders Nystrom says, "I really hope others will be able to share the experience that fills you up for the loss for words when listening to this album. If Dismantling Devotion would have been released in 2005, it would have been my choice for the album of the year." Formed in 1996, Terrorizer Magazine called Daylight Dies' 2003 debut "memorable and engaging." Outburn Magazine proclaimed, "pristine doom metal." And Digital Metal added, "a combination of dark melody and deathly aggression." With Dismantling Devotion, the band look to further their already growing profile. Drummer Jesse Haff recently noted "it is certainly the most mature material we've written to date. For us it is a strong progression that really shows off our emotionally dark and desperate music; a diverse mix of melancholic, melodic and exceedingly heavy songs." Daylight Dies toured with Lacuna Coil (US) and Katatonia (Europe) in 2003 and are already in the planning stages to hit the road in support of Dismantling Devotion. Guitarist Barre Gambling says, "I look forward to hitting the road again and playing our new songs for people, especially after a long hibernation." Confirmed track listing for Dismantling Devotion is: A Life Less Lived, Dead Air, A Dream Resigned, All We Had, Solitary Refinement, Strive to See, Lies that Bind, Dismantling Devotion. The album features compositions from photographer Jeff Brubaker. visit the band's official site located at www.daylightdies.com. STROMMOUSSHELD Part Ways With METAL MIND PRODUCTIONS, Announce New Drummer Polish best dark avantgarde metallers STROMMOUSSHELD have parted ways with Metal Mind Productions. "Metal Mind didn't reach the band's minimal expectations, giving poor distribution, no promotion and totally fucked touring facilities up," the band write in a press release. "Happily the new album won't be released by the label which doesn't deserve for it and simply can't do it. We're now to start searching the new label." In other news, STROMMOUSSHELD have announced the addition of drummer Veris (also in LUMINARIA) to the group's ranks. "We're very proud and excited about this new addition to the band," the group write. STROMMOUSSHELD's next live appearance will take place on December 17 at the Metalfilia Festival in Krakow, Poland. Other bands scheduled to perform at the event include SCEPTIC, THY DISEASE and VIRGIN SNATCH. more at: http://www.strommoussheld.com

December 18th, 2005	LIQUOR AND POKER MUSIC TAPS INTO SCOTT REEDER’S ‘BRILLIANCE’ Solo debut from ex-Kyuss bassist to surface Jan. 24 LOS ANGELES – Some 18 years in the making, TunnelVision Brilliance, the debut solo offering from Scott Reeder, will be released by Liquor and Poker Music on Jan. 24, 2006. An MP3 of “The Day Of Neverending” off of TunnelVision Brilliance is now available at the label’s website, www.LiquorAndPokerMusic.com. As a member of two legendary underground bands, Reeder has made a considerable impact on heavy music. First with The Obsessed – a group Rolling Stone praises for “almost single-handedly inventing” doom metal – and then as bassist for desert rock pioneers Kyuss (whom All Music Guide dubbed a “heavy metal Velvet Underground…the blueprint often copied but never quite replicated by countless underground metal bands”), Reeder helped to lay the groundwork for a revival of organic and heavy yet musical rock championed to this day by both cult and mainstream icons alike. The 13-track TunnelVision Brilliance is a solo album in the truest sense of the word with all songs written and performed entirely by Reeder and Reeder alone. In addition, he produced, engineered and mixed the recording – mostly in his own studio. The album is a much more personal and intimate soundscape than his thunderously heavy past; an inspired (and undeniably psychedelic) trip through the subconscious of one of underground rock’s brightest luminaries. “It’s weird, going at it alone this time without a bunch of other guys to mesh with,” Reeder admits. “Finally, after 25 years of doing the band thing, I’m getting the chance to put out some songs I’ve recorded by myself along the way that never quite fit within the frameworks of my band stuff. Throughout my days in Across The River, The Obsessed, Kyuss and Goatsnake, I’ve been very proud of every recording I’ve contributed to, but I’ve never been anywhere near this excited about releasing anything. For me, this is as pure as it gets – not a single other person was ever in the room when any of this was recorded, no one to argue with (except myself!), not having to fit into any mold or format. For better or worse, no compromise whatsoever.” Since Kyuss disbanded in 1995, Reeder might be best known for his high-profile auditions with Metallica (he appears in the documentary Some Kind Of Monster) and Tool (he’s occasionally joined them onstage to cover a Kyuss tune), but none the less his contributions to the music world have still been notable. He has produced cult favorites both up-and-coming (SUNN 0))), Bluebird) and long established (Orange Goblin, Goatsnake); he has continued to contribute to movie soundtracks (1996’s 2 Days In The Valley, for example); and has kept making and playing music, be it through performing as part of underground icons Unida and Nebula, guesting on the acclaimed 1998 debut by The Earthlings (which also featured Dave Grohl), or gigging with his new band, Butcher. Throughout his sonic journeys, Reeder has kept a musical diary of the other side of his personality. “During many of the recordings over the years, I never had any inkling they’d be released someday, so there’s a candid vibe that weaves throughout TunnelVision Brilliance that comes from having your guard way down,” Reeder explains. “Passing through extreme life experiences, sometimes enhanced by altered states of consciousness, I feel like these pieces strip away the outside world and cut to the naked emotional core of whatever I was going through at the time; hence, that’s a big part of the album’s concept. “Death is a big underlying theme,” he continues, “as is my fascination with the impossible feats the human psyche is capable of when forced into extreme duress – things that push one’s reality into the metaphysical realm. It’s about the thin line between this plane and the next, the blurring between waking life and dreams, the physical and the spiritual, and the glimpses of the other side we might chance to experience during this lifetime. I hope listeners set aside any preconceptions as I did and just enjoy the ride, for this is only the beginning.” www.scottreeder.com Brief GASR News Taken from the Nilaihah Records website: http://www.nilaihah.com GASR is hard at work on developing their second album for Nilaihah, tentatively titled 'REPTILE.' A polemic with teeth, the album steps away from the sunny themes of domestic violence, rape, and murder found on their debut, opting instead for an even darker, uncomfortably intimate record meant as a thoughtful and violent reaction to life in post-9/11 America. 15 demo tracks have been composed, representing a more aggressive yet still melodic and infectious sound for the band, who expect to whittle the tracks down to around 10 solid cuts. More details and previews to come in 2006... -djgyn, forever www.gasr.net The Strapping Young Lad front/madman, DEVIN TOWNSEND, just turned in another brilliant solo album called "Synchestra." Here's an excerpt from Devin's website. "Synchestra was a very enjoyable experience for Devin. He worked on this project stress-free and he did practically everything from song writing to mastering and engineering. There are 13 songs on this record, with five or six "big" songs. Synchestra is a very refreshing change from the rest of the DT catalogue, the style will remind you some previous works like "Terria" or "Ocean Machine". Steve Vai will play a guitar solo on the song "Triumph" and It's an honour for Devin to have Steve involved on a project like Synchestra." Devin's new CD will hit stores on January 31st of 2006. Listen for the single "Vampira" to hit metal radio around the same time. OSI II... That's right the 3 Prog Metal masterminds are doing it again! Jim Matheos (Fates Warning), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) and Kevin Moore (ex-Dream Theater) are currently in the studio working on the second OSI CD. We've heard clips. Expect the unexpected. Oh yes, EVERGREY, on Inside Out, is finishing up their 7th release. The producing and mixing will be handled by the experienced and extremely successful team Sanken Sandquist / Stefan Glauman. Their track record includes artists like Rammstein, Britney Spears, Bon Jovi and Def Leppard. The band's vocalist/guitarist/mastermind/extemely tall guy Tom S. Englund had this to say regarding the new collaboration, "We feel honoured to work with such amazing producers. We are sure that they will succeed in making us sound better than ever before." Evergrey's yet untitled CD features songs like "Monday Morning Apocalypse," "Unspeakable" and "At A Loss For Words." Englund was "at a loss for words" when asked to describe the new album. "We are only two weeks into the recording. Most of the songs don't even have titles yet." Evergrey's new album will hit stores on April 4, 2006. ANGTORIA starts album recording! On saturday, november 19th, ANGTORIA (newly signed to LISTENABLE RECORDS) heads in to the studio to start the recording of their debut album "God Has A Plan For Us All", scheduled to be released in April 2006. The band has chosen the studio and crew at Sidelake Studios in Sundsvall/Sweden to handle the task. The drums on the album will be handled by very talented new and upcoming young drummer Andreas Brobjer. At only 18 years of age he´s already received numerous awards for his achievments and is getting more and more renowned around the world for his skills. -In 2004 he won the "Swedish National Championships In Drumset Soloing", and went back in 2005 to defend his title and won once again! -At only 17 years of age he was asked by acclaimed swedish keyboard wizard Rikard Andersson (Majestic, Time Requiem, Space Odyssey etc) to lay down the drums on the album entitled "The Astral Episode" with his highly technical metal project called Space Odyssey. Andreas is also active in various other bands and projects like for instance prog metal band Platitude. To help out engineering the drums etc, the band has hired Daniel Bergstrand, responsible for the sound on various albums of many bands throughout the years such as for instance In Flames, Soilwork, Meshuggah, Devin Townsend, Strapping Young Lad, Behemoth etc. At the start of the recording there will be a new STUDIO REPORT section added to this site. A studio diary section will be added, dedicated to frequent updates about the progress of the studio recording with images, video clips, interviews and personal "diaries" written by the members. visit www.angtoria.com for official information and updates. TNT WANTS TO TAKE YOU ALL THE WAY TO THE SUN NEW YORK-OSLO – TNT is carrying on its two-decade legacy of classy hard rock with its brand new Mayhem Records release ‘All the Way to the Sun,’ out now. “It’s a really diverse album that needs all the songs to feel complete,” said vocalist Tony Harnell. “It has sort of a theme, a story line if you will. Lots of twists and turns and I think it’s a really original album.” In the glut of negativity in today’s music, TNT is standing on its own with a positive message behind “All the Way to the Sun.” “It’s about us changing things and not waiting for government or someone else to make things better,” said Harnell. “People are too resigned to the idea that there is nothing that they can do about the state of things. My feeling is that with all the negativity going on in the world there are enough artists dwelling on that. Some people think it’s naïve or cheesy but I don’t really care, I’m just sick of all these bands being so down about everything. How is that contributing? We already know things suck so let’s do something about it.” Reinforcing that message, TNT chose an unlikely cover song in the form of the timeless classic “What a Wonderful World,” made famous by Louis Armstrong. “I like the lyrics, they could seem a bit ironic if you were a cynic, which of course I’m not, but one could see it that way if they like, so it can serve both the cynic and the utopian,” said Harnell. “I think we made it our own though and I dig it cause it’s a pretty risky track to cover, especially for a band like TNT.” TNT’s eighth studio album - and 12th in all – shows a more mature band spreading its wings and flying outside the box. Originality is the key word and there is plenty of it on this release. With sales of over two million worldwide, TNT is firmly established as one of the best and most respected hard rock bands in the world. “Ronni is a more thoughtful guitarist now and I think my singing gets better with every album, as does our songwriting,” said Harnell. “The thing we are most proud of is the fact that we are better and better with each album in every area. It really hit me when I heard the whole thing mixed that no one sounds like us and I feel really proud of that.” The Norwegian-American band consists of Harnell, guitarist Ronni Le Tekro, and drummer Diesel Dahl. Joining the band is new bassist Victor Borge from the band Autopulver. TNT will begin touring in support of ‘All the Way to the Sun’ with a full tour of Europe and likely the rest of the world. “All the Way to the Sun’ is already sitting in the top 10 on the Norwegian national charts and is expected to stay there for some time. “…classy, sparkling, smart…Tony Harnell is prominent and proud as both a singer and a lyricist, his style and his stacking belying a work ethic that is inspiring…you just have to hear Ronni Le Tekro's solo at the two minute mark of ‘Too Late’ – again, he takes an original concept like shred and sets it on its ear…if you want to hear a bunch of friggin’ pros putting on a songwriting and production clinic, step right up.” - Martin Popoff - Hard Radio/BW/BK “The best TNT album since many years.” - Break Out Germany “The band can convince with a perfect mix of the classic TNT sound and contemporary elements of 2005. Tony Harnell is just brilliant and Ronnie Le Tekro is magic as always...the best album in the ‘new TNT generation!’” - Heavy, Oder Was “…a prime example of how to combine mainstream rock with high class musicianship!" - Metal Hammer Germany www.tnttheband.com Spitfire Records To Release SLAVE TO THE SYSTEM In February 2006 Self-titled Debut Features Members of Brother Cane and Queensrÿche "We wanted to make music without knowing what to expect and with boundaries left open," says drummer Scott Rockenfield of Slave To The System. Rockenfield, along with vocalist/guitarist Damon Johnson, guitarist/vocalist Kelly Gray and bassist Roman Glick, set out to do something they had never done before: they wanted to create music without rules, without corporate influence, and without being part of "the system". "We weren’t thinking about demographics or sales," adds Johnson. "Everybody just wanted to rock out and start something new and unique and the result is a project that we’re very excited about, like kids starting their first band. The spirit of fearlessness is something we wanted to embody in our music." Indeed, Slave To The System is something different. It seems impossible that such a solid album was written and recorded in a mere three weeks. The band members combine their various influences and approaches to create something that will appeal to a broad spectrum of listeners. By pooling their talents, the members of Slave To The System evoke music that is both reminiscent of hard rock veterans like The Who, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Thin Lizzy, as well as a younger breed of music akin to Audioslave and Velvet Revolver. "This band rocks a little harder," says Johnson. "We’ve made 30 or 40 records between the four of us...For once, we didn’t feel the pressure to write on a deadline." The title track is a lyrical mission statement for the band. "You must believe in all you do / That better days are coming soon / So open up your very soul / And lay it out, they will behold / And if you do, you'll never be / A slave to the system." Other powerful songs like “Stigmata”, “Cruz Out Of Control” and “Live This Life” really hammer home the fact that this band is a force to be reckoned with. Not bad for a group of guys just trying to have some fun. The musicianship and vocal delivery of Slave To The System rival any Top 40 radio rock band. “The drums and the riff and the vocal melody can all be the strength of a song,” explains Rockenfield. “We find that strength and bring it to the forefront on each song. When you have talented and experienced musicians working together, I think it can be more difficult to write a good song than to overplay and drown out the strengths. I think we succeeded in avoiding that potential problem and the result is an album full of good, melodic rock songs.” As for production, the band handled the responsibilities themselves. “We all have studio experience, so we can avoid doing things the ‘normal’ way.” A project started for the sake of self-satisfaction, Slave To The System is an incredible testament to the creative power and musical talents of four very impressive musicians. A full track listing for Slave To The System comprises: 1. Stigmata 2. Ruby Wednesday 3. Slave To The System 4. Live This Life 5. Cruz Out Of Control 6. Abyss 7. Disinfected 8. Gone Today 9. Will You Be There 10. Leaves 11. Ragdoll 12. Walk The Line For up to date information on Slave To The System, please visit: www.slavetothesystem.com SEDUCED BY SUICIDE - New song and audition at Gothik Night Seduced by Suicide, gothic rock band formed by Earth (Blood Tears - doom metal) is finishing the records of the MCD Gothic Dream and is now making available for download one of the new songs, "The Death of My Life", with the MCD's artwork and the full booklet on the band's website. Meanwhile, some events are being booked to make the release of this album. A little preview could be saw last friday, November 11st, on "Gothik Night - 4 Years", where one of the new songs were played by the DJs. Some local bands also played there like Desolate Ways, Aire'N Terre, Supermozart and others, besides of Ruins Matador (Slovenia). An English version of the website is also available now, besides of a MySpace page, with songs for download and new promotional pictures. The links are: www.seducedbysuicide.com & www.myspace.com/seducedbysuicide The Century Family Releases Metal For The Masses Volume Four Messengers of doom, the four horsemen cometh! Continuing the highly successful Metal For The Masses series, the Century Family unseals Metal For The Masses Volume Four, once again exclusive to Hot Topic locations nationwide. Utterly devastating in its scope, the 2-disc compilation contains 40 tracks totaling over 2 hours of music (see complete artists list below). The artwork for Volume Four incorporates the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse to stunning effect and also depicts the album art for each featured artist within as well as additional artist and album information. Volume Four comes housed in a deluxe double Digipak and is available now for a low, low price at all Hot Topic locations nationwide. Started in 2003, Metal For The Masses has become The Century Family’s largest-selling compilation series, replacing the budget priced Identity series. The Metal For The Masses series is also one of Hot Topic’s longest-running exclusive compilations. Selling well over 60,000 copies each, Metal For The Masses continues to disseminate the word of metal. For more information, please contact me directly. Disc One Includes Century Media Artists: God Forbid, Manntis, Diecast, Brand New Sin, Agents Of Man, Shadows Fall, Arch Enemy, The Haunted, Behemoth, Old Man’s Child, Naglfar, Strapping Young Lad, Nevermore, Eyes Of Fire, Into Eternity, Cryptopsy, Watch Them Die, Napalm Death, Despised Icon and Immolation. Disc Two Includes: Nuclear Blast Artists: Dimmu Borgir, Soilwork, In Flames, Meshuggah, Bleed The Sky, Darkane, Mnemic, Hypocrisy, Exodus and Cathedral Liquor And Poker Music Artists: Fireball Ministry, Nebula, The Hellacopters, The Illuminati, The Black Halos, Crash Kelly, The Thieves, Scott Reeder, American Heartbreak and Backyard Babies. SunnO)) launch another attack, this time taking on the East Coast, exhuming the tortured sounds the new Black One album. Anderson and O'Malley will this time be joined by sound and visual fogged aggression technicians Randall Dunn and TOS, and special guest vokillist Maelific (Xasthur). Be there to witness O)) at its blackest hour.... 12/16 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church w/ Jack Rose 12/17 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar w/ Nachtmystium, The Hidden Hand 12/18 Brooklyn, NY @ NorthSix w/ Nachtmystium, Growing 12/19 Boston, MA @ The Middle East w/ Nachtmystium 12/20 Wallingford, CT @ American Legion Hall w/ Nachtmystium 12/21 New York, NY @ Knitting Factory w/ Nachtmystium WWW.SOUTHERNLORD.COM \| WWW.IDEOLOGIC.ORG DEICIDE, MAYHEM Featured In 'Death Metal Murders' BBC Documentary - DEICIDE frontman Glen Benton will feature in an hour-long BBC documentary called "Death Metal Murders" (part of the acclaimed "This World" series) which explores link between heavy metal music (specifically death and black metal) and Satanism and murder.The show will air at 9:00 p.m. (GMT) on Thursday, November 24 on BBC2. A program description follows: "Of the young heavy metal fans in this picture, three are now dead; four are on trial charged with murder; one is serving 19 years; two more of their friends are serving long prison sentences. They were called the Beasts of Satan and their story has gripped Italy for more than a year. With unique access to them and their families, as well as graphic police footage, 'This World' asks — how much did their addiction to satanic death metal music influence their descent into torture, sacrifices and murder? The film also travels around the world, from Milan to Oslo to California, investigating the bizarre underground scene that is extreme metal music. We interview the extraordinary musicians — from Glen Benton of DEICIDE (who has an upside down cross branded into his forehead) and Necrobutcher of Norwegian black metal band MAYHEM, to a Capuchin monk who struts the stage of a metal festival in Northern Italy roaring out heavy metal songs, to self-confessed Swedish Satanists DISSECTION. "'Bleeding on your knees/ My satisfaction is what I need/ The urge to take my fist/ And violate every orifice/ You're nothing/ Beaten into submission/ Raping again and again.' These are the lyrics of 'Sex. Murder. Art.' — a 1995 track by American band SLAYER, who have sold millions of albums around the world. They and other death metal bands sing about rape, torture, necrophilia, murder and Satanism. Over the years, this type of music has been blamed for driving teenage boys to murder and suicide. The parents of Elyse Marie Pahler took SLAYER to a California court in a failed attempt to ban the sale of this kind of music to children, after their daughter was murdered by SLAYER fans obsessed with Satanism. "'No-one can contradict me when I say that heavy metal and satanism are closely linked. They go hand in hand, they're inseparable. I say this without the shadow of a doubt," says Michele Tollis, father of Fabio, who was murdered in a Satanic ritual by the Beasts of Satan sect in Italy. Michele has become something of an expert in the genre, having attended more than 80 heavy metal concerts during a six year search for his son which culminated in the discovery of the body last year. Not surprisingly, death metal musicians deny that they have any responsibility for the actions of people who profess to be their fans. "I say don't blame people like me, and [Marilyn] Manson, because we never said, 'Hey, we're going to be role models for all your kids.' That ain't what this is about. It's about entertainment,' says Glen Benton of Florida death metal pioneers DEICIDE — who were the favourite band of the Beasts of Satan. "And indeed there is little evidence to suggest that normal, well-adjusted kids can be driven to murder by music. And yet the concerns persist. According to Don Roberts of Stanford University, it is not the majority of kids we should be worrying about. Its the kids who already have problems with violence or depression who perhaps should be kept away from death metal. 'What the music may well be doing is simply reinforcing beliefs that they might have started with in the first place, and building on them and justifying their world view, legitimizing the way they feel. The lyrics are violent, they lyrics are misogynist, the lyrics are depressed and depressing, the lyrics are satanic, they talk about suicide, they talk about self-mutilisation. The very kinds of things we're worried that these problem kids will get engaged in.' "This appears to be born out by the experience in Norway. In the 1990s, more than 40 churches were burnt down by followers of Norwegian black metal (a fusion of Satanism, Norse Paganism and noise). State Prosecutor Bjorn Soknes interviewed many of the arsonists and found they had a lot in common. 'They were young, 16 to 22, they were lonely people. Many of them told us they were listening over hours to black metal music before they burnt churches.' Yet the hysteria that the church burnings produced — it is still something of a national obsession in Norway — has only served to spread the gospel of black metal around the world. Bands like Britain's CRADLE OF FILTH sell hundreds of thousand of albums. "Necrobutcher is bass player of the most famous black metal band of all — MAYHEM. He acknowledges that the huge controversy surrounding the band has only fuelled the cult of black metal: 'The people we scared are scared and the people who understood the joke are still there, and just smiling about the whole thing. It's not totally a joke, of course. It's something that the government couldn't control, you know? They tried to keep us down, and by doing that, what happened? Cult fucking legends." "So what should you do when your kids come home wearing upside down crosses and pentagrams? The mother of a 13-year-old extreme metal fan in Norway thinks all you can do is engage with them. 'You have to go along with them I think. I think it is very important not to just deny it or say that you're not supposed to do that and this, but to find out what it is, what he is thinking and why is he fascinated. What is it with this music?' "And Mario Maccione, convicted in Italy of murdering his friends in a Satanic ritual? 'You can count on the fingers of one hand the number of people who have done what we have done. Of the millions of people who listen to metal music, no-one, I repeat no-one has ever been involved in anything like this. In fact many more people have done things like this who do not listen to metal at all." BASSIST HAAKON FORWALD OUT OF DISSECTION As a result of bassist Haakon Forwald's family situation back home in Norway and his initiatory work with the Norwegian cell division of the Misanthropic Luciferian Order (MLO) it has been decided that Forwald will step back from the position as Dissection's bass player in order to focus on his esoteric and exoteric work in Norway. Dissection wish Forwald the best of luck on the path to anti-cosmic gnosis and thank him for his time with the band. This will not affect the two upcoming shows in Sweden and Germany booked for December and January where Dissection for the last time ever will perform a set based solely on the old albums! Bass player candidates already exist and are currently being tried out in rehearsals! Dissection North America www.dissection.nu Metal Maniacs DIECAST: Argument Over BRENDAN FRASER's Acting Skills Leads To Drummer's Departure [Source: Blabbermouth.net] Boston-based metallers DIECAST have been forced to drop off the US tour with AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE, INDEX CASE and BLEED THE SKY following the apparent departure of drummer Jason Costa. The band have issued the following statement on the matter: "To our fans and friends: We apologize for dropping off the AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE tour. AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE, INDEX CASE and BLEED THE SKY were the best tourmates that we could have asked for. The tour was going amazingly and our fans came out in force to support us. We even made the best of the only dud of a show in Cleveland by closing the bar. Together with the rest of our tourmates a few old friends and Matt and Kevin from CHIMAIRA, we nearly drank the place dry. The problem came the next day on a day off we had in Nashville.We (Kirk, Jeremy, Paul and Jon) aren't really sure what happened. It all started with an argument about Brendan Fraser's acting skills, (mature, huh?) and ended with a valued member of the DIECAST family (Jason) sneaking off onto a bus in the middle of the night without explanation or warning. Needless to say we are all devastated, saddened and disappointed. We always considered Jason to be one of the nicest guys in the band and obviously an amazing musician, phenomenal drummer and most importantly a friend. We aren't sure why he left, but when we know more we will make everyone privy to the information. The rest of us would like to apologize to our label, our manager, our agents, the rest of the bands on the tour and most importantly our fans." DIECAST's latest album, Tearing Down Your Blue Skies, continues to garner critical acclaim led by the strength of the hit singles Medieval and Rise and Oppose, which remains in heavy rotation on both Metal Asylum and Headbanger's Ball. The disc will officially be reissued early next year with a new track, a cover version of SLAYER's Raining Blood, new artwork and video clips. Metal Maniacs IN FLAMES ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINING TOUR IN FLAMES has announced a North American headlining tour in support of their highly anticipated new album, Come Clarity. A late January, 2006 west coast launch is expected. Support on the IN FLAMES tour will be provided by Trivium, Devildriver and Zao. The extended trek will represent the first IN FLAMES North American dates since their main stage appearances as part of OZZFEST 2005 and will kick off the band's most extensive touring on the continent in their decade plus history. IN FLAMES is currently in the midst of a three week UK tour alongside Motorhead. Come Clarity will be released in North America on February 7th via Ferret Music. The album will see a February 3rd European release date on Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to the band's 2004 album, Soundtrack to Your Escape,Come Clarity features thirteen explosive tracks, including the roll-out single and video, Take this Life. The final track listing for Come Clarity is Take This Life, Leeches, Reflect the Storm, Dead End, Scream, Come Clarity, Vacuum, Pacing Death's Trail, Crawl through Knives, Versus Terminus, Our Infinite Struggle, Vanishing Light and Your Bedtime Story Is Scaring Everyone. www.INFLAMES.com Metal Maniacs THE SWORD SIGN WITH KEMADO RECORDS; PREPARE TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM Punishing Austin, Texas-based quartet THE SWORD have inked a deal with diverse NYC label Kemado Records. The fast-rising band, known for their explosive songs, gripping live performances and unique vision, will release their self-titled debut on February 14th, 2006. THE SWORD (guitarist / singer J.D. Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt, bassist Bryan Richie, and drummer Trivett Wingo), who's thick, molten sound combines metal's beloved past with the forward-thinking enthusiasm of today's heavy music elite, deliver exhilarating songs -- featuring huge riffs and intense drumming -- that are at once melodious, catchy and punishing. The final track listing for THE SWORD is Celestial Crown, Barael's Blade, Freya, Winter's Wolves, The Horned Goddess, Iron Swan, Lament for the Aurochs, March of the Lor and Ebethron. The song Iron Swan has been posted online and can be previewed at this location: www.kemado.com/media/audio/ironswan.mp3 www.kemado.com www.swordofdoom.com Metal Maniacs GREEN CARNATION's The Acoustic Verses out January 24th, 2006 Norway's prog metal masters Green Carnation - who has received critical acclaim worldwide for their back catalog of work, most notably the epic one-track opus Light of Day, Day of Darkness' return to the music scene in 2006 on a much softer note when The Acoustic Verses is released January 24th, 2006 in North America via The End Records. The Acoustic Verses finds the sextet successfully maneuvering through acoustic realms, peppered with passionate guitar riffs and eloquent melodies. It's a distant step from their prog metal/hard rock ways of previous material, but in many ways, it's what you'd expect from a band like Green Carnation. Never one to stand still. So yes Green Carnation have changed things up again, and yes this might send some previous listeners askew, but for the real die-hard fans of the band they'll come to understand that with the amount of work that went into the production, lyrics and music of The Acoustic Verses that the music here is just as potent and expressive as any of the heavier material they have released. GREEN CARNATION - The Acoustic Verses Click Here for MP3 Tracklisting: 1. Sweet leaf 2. The Burden is mine... Alone 3. Maybe? 4. Alone 5. 9-29-045 (3 parts) - My greater Cause - Homecoming - House of Cards 6. Childs Play part III 7. High Tide Waves As with its namesake blossom's first appearance, peering from beneath the permafrost of Norway's winter, each successive Green Carnation album is a welcome sight in the dreary sameness of today's metal scene. Even though the band's inception dates back to 1990, the band went through a dormant period for a few years before surfacing years later with the critically opus Journey to the End of the Night in 1999. Nobody really knew what was to become of Green Carnation but following the release of their debut it was obvious that the band was on course to impress their audience each time out. With their next outing the six piece format recorded one of the most ambitious (and critically praised) projects of all time, 2001's Light of Day, Day of Darkness (on The End). The hour-long platter is comprised solely of the title track. Recorded on 150 tracks, employing thirty musicians (including a children's choir) and more than 600 distinct samples, most music critics were at a loss to pin down precisely what was resonating from the epic one-track, but there was no denying the brilliance within the sounds, declaring Green Carnation amongst the most innovative acts in metal's history. Surprisingly strong sales (given the unique nature of a one-song album) and coupled with all the great reviews -- twice being selected Album Of The Month, including within the vaunted pages of Metal Hammer (Germany) -- helped garner a 2002 slot on the prestigious Waken Open Air festival. For their performance, the band re-created Light of Day, Day of Darkness in its entirety in front of 8,000 fans. Not bad for their first show outside of their hometown! A few months later the band began work on a follow-up to LoDDoD and signed to French label Season of Mist. During its creation, longstanding bassist Stein Roger Sordal played an integral role, helping flesh out the lush sound. The actual recording took of the album took place from between January and February of 2003. A Blessing In Disguise was released on June 16, 2003, and the Norwegians returned to the top of the global metal charts, was awarded Album Of The Month honors six times and internationally recognized by meta magazine giants Terrorizer, Metal Hammer and Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. That fall the band headlined their first-ever tour throughout Europe and in January of 2004 they film their first DVD in Krakow, Poland, titled Alive and Well&In Krakow. In September that year a new album was recorded in Marseilles, France, with producer Terje Refsnes. The Quiet Offspring was released in February of 2005 through Season of Mist (world) and The End Records (North America). Once again, their recording brought rave reviews from both large magazines and smaller zines around the globe. Although the band decided not to go out on a full-tour for The Quiet Offspring, they did organize and play out at a few important and impressive gigs, as well as made a very successful debut in North America at the Day of The Equinox festival in Toronto, Canada in October. Also in 2005, Green Carnation members Tchort and Kjetil Nordhus formed their own record company, Sublife Productions. They signed Green Carnation and the band recorded their very first acoustic album (available in North America via The End, worldwide via Sublife Productions), yet another musical challenge for the musicians and another album that they hope will impress their fans as the previous work has done. About the all-acoustic album, singer Kjetil Nordhus says, "The Acoustic Verses is in many ways Green Carnation through and through. It's yet another album where you'll find the band exploring new music, but as always with the focus on the quality within the songs and very strong melodies. We are delighted with the outcome and I think we will make old Green Carnation fans happy; we are blessed with an open minded fan-base. I also hope that we can gain some new fans with this album. For Sublife Productions this is a great debut album to work with. It's great to feel the credibility of Green Carnation while working with people far away from Norway and it makes everybody involved very much optimistic for The Acoustic Verses and for the future of the band. www.greencarnation.no Official Sublife Productions: www.sublifeproductions.com Metal Maniacs THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER: DRUM SEARCH 2005 As many of you may already know The Black Dahlia Murder are currently in search of a permanent drummer who can keep up with the bands heavy touring schedule. For all of those interested in trying out it is important to follow the next steps exactly. Make a recording of yourself playing "FLIES" along to a metronome. Please do not send in your personal interpretations, the band simply wants to hear whether or not you can play hit for hit what is heard on the CD. The band is only interested in talking to people who can follow the directions given. Once you've made this recording you can contact The Black Dahlia Murder through their MySpace page or by emailing them at: blackdahliamurder@hotmail.com. www.theblackdahliamurder.com Metal Maniacs GIANT SQUID re-record "stripped down, raw" version of debut for THE END RECORDS GIANT SQUID are scheduled to completely re-record their debut album from 2002, Metridium Field, to reflect the current band member's stylistically different approach to the material. The band enters the studio the day after Thanksgiving for four days straight with veteran heavy music producer Billy Anderson (Neurosis, Melvins, High On Fire, Swans) to knock out a "stripped down, raw, organically heavy" version of their epic first album to be released on The End Records. Official Giant Squid website: www.giantsquidmusic.com Metal Maniacs VILE TO RELEASE NEW RECORD Almost ten years after releasing their first 3-song demo Unearthed onto the American death metal landscape, Vile is poised for relentless attack and will accept nothing but total world domination! Major US tours with bands like Cannibal Corpse, Cephalic Carnage, Deeds of Flesh; and a hugely successful European headlining tour have solidified Vile's base, and proved their worth to thousands of extreme metal fans. Catch Vile live this year and in 2006! Witness the domination for yourself as Vile drop the bomb on another unsuspecting crowd! Vile will release their third full-length album entitled The New Age of Chaos. Written and recorded by founding member and death metal producer Colin Davis, it is Vile's most mature and memorable offering to date. The New Age of Chaos will surely be deemed one of American extreme metal's brightest offerings and solidify Vile's rightful place among the Death Metal Elite. The New Age of Chaos is not just more of the same American style underground metal. It contains a mixture of modern extreme metal influences including prominent black metal style melodies as well as Vile's patented pit invoking grooves! The New Age of Chaos is a finely crafted musical landscape that takes the listener to a place of uncertainty, a place of inhuman conditions and out-and-out war. A war of civilizations. A war of ideas and extreme ideals. A war that could determine the eventual fate of mankind. Based on current events and intertwined with horrific fantasy, Vile entertains the idea of a complete and total world war between the West and the terrorists of fundamentalist Islam. Step into the brutal and horrifying present. Step into the New Age of Chaos! Metal Maniacs CREMATORIUM CONFIRMED FOR LOS ANGELES MURDERFEST Prosthetic Records' CREMATORIUM have been confirmed for The Los Angeles Murderfest Version 2.0, to be held Feb. 18 & 19, 2006 at The Knitting Factory in Los Angeles. The L.A. murdercore kings will be playing alongside local and national acts such as A Dying Memory, Anal Blast, Avoid Serious Injury, BlowYourFuckingBrainsOut, Cerberus, xDEATHSTARx, Disgorge, Dr. Know, Embrace The End, EveryManForHimself, Gatekeeper, Gaza, Horsemen Of The Apocalypse, Immortality, Impaled, Infamy, Insatanity, IveBeenShot, Job For A Cowboy, Kill The Client, Life Or Death, Meat Shits, Nocturnal Altar, Phobia, Sepsism, Severed, Sinful Bliss, Springbreak, Strong Intention, Suicide Silence, The Dolemite Project, The Faceless, To The Pain, Warriors, Where Eagles Dare and With Passion. Other acts will be announced later, and tickets will be available for $30 per day in advance, and $60 in advance for both days, as well as $35 per day at the door and $70 for both days at the door. Tickets will be available in December. Metal Maniacs BRUJERIA ANOUNCE FIRST LIVE PERFORMANCES OF 2006 translated by Pinche Peach BRUJERIA announce the first string of live shows for 2006. El Hongo is now handling guitars, and a new bass player will be stepping in, as well as a new drummer. There will be one additional band which will be named later. Stay tuned putos. Jan 28 & 29 Buenos Aries, Argentina TBA Jan 31 & Feb 1Santiago, Chile TBA Feb 3 Monterey, Mexico TBA Feb 4 Houston, TX The Engine Room Feb 8 Santa Ana, CA The Galaxy Theater w/ Cattle Decapitation Feb 9-Hollywood, CA The Key Club w/ TBA Feb 11 San Francisco, CA The Pound w/ Cattle Decapitation Feb 12 Ventura, CA The Ventura Theater w/ Cattle Decapitation WWW.BRUJERIA.COM Metal Maniacs GOATWHORE confirms end of the year shows before hitting the studio! We know it has been quite some time since updates were made so we wanted to fill everyone in on what's going on with Goatwhore. We have currently relocated to Phoenix, AZ for a temporary time to finish work on our next album to be released through Metal Blade Records in mid-2006. Things are pretty crazy in our hometown of New Orleans, LA still (since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina), so we decided to pack-up and head out west to finish writing on the new material. We are currently staying with some close friends out here in Phoenix and we will have a few shows in the beginning of December to help our current situation out. Please come out and show some support and hope to see you while we are out this way. More information will follow once we have a scheduled studio date, which would be around the end part of this year. http://www.goatwhore.net Metal Maniacs BEYOND THE EMBRACE bid farewell to friend and drummer Kevin Camille! Beyond the Embrace has parted ways with long-time friend and drummer Kevin Camille. We will be auditioning drummers throughout November. If you lived in the New Bedford, MA area and are interested in auditioning please send a recording of you playing to: Beyond the Embrace PO Box 40544 New Bedford, MA 02744 Or e-mail mp3's to mail@beyondtheembrace.com. We are hoping to find a new drummer by the end of the year so that we can resume the song writing process. We are also currently working on some touring plans for Feb 2006. More info on that will be available soon. www.beyondtheembrace.com Metal Maniacs PSYOPUS continue search for drummer! Arpmandude is closing out his last two shows as lead guitarist in Hank III's band Assjack. Psyopus has some dates with original drummer, Greg Herman, lined up for the beginning of December. Psyopus is still taking video submissions for drummers who would like to audition for the band. You can send any video submissions to: Christopher Arp 3251 Dayspring Ridge Walworth, NY 14568 http://www.psyopus.com Metal Maniacs "Magic changes misty-true / Magic is stirring, be aware" Nearly five years after the release of "Her von welken Nächten", DORNENREICH will release their long-announced new album "Hexenwind" on November 18th, 2005. Content-wise, this new work will see a mystical deepening of "Her von welken Nächten" and the track "Reime faucht der Märchensarg." Initially planned as an archaic and raw essay on the nightside of Nature, "Hexenwind" has undergone countless changes in the course of the years. The intensity so characteristic of DORNENREICH has been preserved, but he musical direction has changed a lot. Of course, DORNENREICH remain firmly rooted in their very own world of enchanted and dream-like sounds. Their new approach is a different one, though. While "Her von welken Nächten" was tempestuous, harrowing, and eternally young, "Hexenwind" is mature, wise, and equable. Starting from a base that has consciously been kept simple, the new tracks invite their listeners to join in a melancholic and sometimes even hypnotic journey. Never have DORNENREICH´s music and lyrics corresponded better than on "Hexenwind", resulting in an extremely imaginative treatment of the album's message. The key to this message is fantasy. "To us, 'Hexenwind' is about an archaic and vital condition - a coming to yourself and an opening of yourself", Evíga tells us. As we see it, "Hexenwind" is a metaphor for a special consciousness, for just like the wind - an invisible reality in constant change and only being noticeable by its effects on the environment - human ideas, emotions, dreams, and wishes remain unseen at first, yet they constitute an important pillar of our deeds within which they materialize - and they should be free like the wind... The figure of the witch to us is the personification of fantasy in all its polarities. For as the word "witch" conjures images of evil-minded creatures from fairy-tales and dreams as well as of people in tune with the wisdom of Nature, so our human capacities of fantasy and imagination can be equally devouring and nourishing, destructive and creative. "Hexenwind" has many different messages. In keeping with the album's subjects, we would lik