| March 29th, 2006 |
- TICKETS GO ON SALE THIS WEEK FOR
8TH ANNUAL NEW ENGLAND METAL AND HARDCORE FESTIVAL
WORCESTER, Mass. – Tickets will go on sale Friday, February 24
for the 8th annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, which is
set to take place at the Palladium in Worcester, Mass., on Friday, April
28, Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30. This year the event is
presented by ESP Guitars and Krank Amps.
Proclaimed in past years as one of the best American festivals focusing
on heavy music, the three-day show will host numerous metal, hardcore,
and metalcore bands along with a jam-packed vendor area where fans can
purchase hard-to-find CDs, t-shirts, and other music merchandise. ESP
Guitars will be giving away guitars and Krank Amps will be giving away
amps and even a half stack. These two great companies will also be bringing
you up close and personal with some of the bands they endorse - so as
we get closer to fest we will have schedule of artist signings and other
surprises.
"If you decide to go to only one fest this year, this should be
it,” says Revolver Magazine and MetalJudgment.com calls it “...hands
down, the best metal fest in the world.”
The show will once again take place on two stages at The Palladium.
Bands that have already been confirmed for the festival are: Lacuna
Coil, Gamma Ray, DragonForce (first time EVER in America!), Arch Enemy,
Chimaira, The Black Dahlia Murder, Bullet For My Valentine, Exodus,
Cryptopsy, 100 Demons, A Perfect Murder, Alarum, Arsis, Bloodline Calligraphy,
Bronx Casket Company, Byzantine, Caliban, Cattle Decapitation, Colin
Of Arabia, Damnation AD, Dead To Fall, Death Threat, Demiricous, Dying
Eyes Bleed, Ed Gein, Embrace The End, Folly, Full Blown Chaos, Goat
Horn, God Forbid, Hate Eternal, Horse The Band, Hypersolid, If Hope
Dies, Immolation, Inked In Blood, Into Eternity, Ion Dissonance, Ligeia,
Losa, Mercury Switch, Necrophagist, Neuraxis, Nodes Of Ranvier, On Broken
Wings, Protest The Hero, Ramallah, Righteous Jams, Ringworm, Sanctity,
Scars Of Tomorrow, Second Story Window, Shoot To Kill, Since The Flood,
Skinless, Still Remains, Suffocation, Sworn Enemy, The Acacia Strain,
The Absence, The Classic Struggle, The Miles Between, Torn Assunder,
Trouble, Twelve Tribes, Who Killed The Promo Queen, Wolf, xDEATHSTARx,
and xLOOKINGFORWARDx. More bands will be announced in the coming weeks.
Talent is subject to change.
“We’ve been extremely happy with how this festival has grown
over the years,” said MassConcerts Booking Agent and festival
co-founder Scott Lee, “and this year the lineup is one of the
most varied yet - a great mixture of different styles of bands.”
The 8th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival is brought to
you by ESP Guitars and Krank Amps, teaming up to present the festival
this year; Prosthetic Records, which is sponsoring the 2nd Stage upstairs,
Revolver Magazine, the exclusive magazine partner and creator of the
official event program, Facedown Records which is sponsoring the street
marketing efforts, FUSE TV, Mazur PR and The Syndicate. Vendors this
year include Century Media, Trustkill, Eulogy/Hand of Hope, Metal Blade,
Red Rocket Records, and many others.
Friday tickets are $35.00; Saturday and Sunday individual day tickets
are $40.00. Three-day passes are $109.50. Tickets will be available
at all Strawberries Record Stores, online at tickets.com,
or by calling tickets.com at (800) 477-6849.
The Palladium is located at 261 Main Street in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Visit the festival website at metalandhardcorefestival.com
or myspace.com/metalandhardcorefestival.
- LIQUOR AND POKER HOOKS UP WITH AN ‘AMERICAN’ BEAUTY
Sophomore full-length from Bay Area rockers American Heartbreak due
April 18
LOS ANGELES – For nearly a decade, American Heartbreak have been
one of rock’s underground heroes, but with the April 18 release
of their eponymous second full-length, they’ll aim to leave the
underground behind and follow in the footsteps of their arena rock idols.
Three songs from the new album have been posted online at both the band’s
website (www.americanheartbreak.com)
and MySpace page (www.myspace.com/americanheartbreak).
The San Francisco-based quintet – co-founded by Billy Rowe, onetime
guitarist for Jetboy (a band All Music Guide calls “one of the
best-kept secrets of ‘80s glam metal”) – blend a punk-influenced
pop-metal aesthetic with the melodic allure and accessible hooks of
classic pop radio. The group’s new album – co-produced by
Rick Parker (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Space Twins [Weezer guitarist
Brian Bell’s side project]) – proves that if the New Wave
of Classic Rock is in session, American Heartbreak is at the front of
the class.
Along with vocalist Lance Boone and former Exodus bassist Michael Butler
(currently the host of the highly successful “Rock and Roll Geek
Show” weekly Podcast), Rowe first introduced American Heartbreak
to rock fans via the 1997 EP What You Deserve, initially released on
Perris Records. After several tribute album contributions and lineup
changes, their first full-length, Postcards From Hell, surfaced three
years later on hometown indie Coldfront Records. The album recalled
the unpretentious fun of supercharged Sunset Strip rock while reinterpreting
the buzz-saw melodies of arena rock legends such as Kiss and Cheap Trick
for a post-alternative rock age.
Following a 2001 split-CD with The Libertines, the group added rhythm
guitarist Casey Crenshaw prior to a European tour, during which they
recorded a live set that became the foundation of their next release.
2003’s You Will Not Be Getting Paid (Perris Records) featured
five live songs, five acoustic tracks (including Starz and Cheap Trick
covers) and six remixed songs from the What You Deserve EP.
After the European releases of You Will Not Be Getting Paid and Postcards
From Hell on People Like You Records in 2004, the group returned to
the continent for another tour in early 2005. Back on the home front,
they toured the West Coast with Backyard Babies, The Chelsea Smiles
and Crash Kelly that summer. (The group has also toured and/or gigged
with The New York Dolls, The Donnas, Queens of the Stone Age, Buckcherry,
Warrant, Cinderella, The Scorpions, Dio, Sebastian Bach, L.A. Guns,
Starz and Tsar, among others.)
By year’s end, the band completed its second full-length with
co-producer Parker. The result: 13 tracks of timeless rock n’
roll. It proves that while trend-seekers may be fawning over the latest
batch of rock “saviors” as if the genre was invented only
yesterday, American Heartbreak is the real deal – a band impervious
to fads and driven purely by the desire to play loud, catchy rock.
American Heartbreak will play a series of Western U.S. shows before
and after the album’s release, with additional touring to come.
March 22 Las Vegas, NV – Beauty Bar (w/The Hellacopters and Nebula)
March 30 San Francisco, CA – Annie's Social Club (w/The Kimberly
Trip)
April 1 Sacramento, CA – Fox & Goose (w/The Kimberly Trip)
April 7 Long Beach, CA – Alex's Bar (w/ The Generators)
April 8 Pomona, CA – The Tiki Room (w/ The Generators)
April 28 San Francisco, CA – The Pound (w/ Jetboy)
April 29 Los Angeles, CA – The Whisky (w/ Jetboy)
- RHINO BUCKET release date
The first new Rhino Bucket CD in 13 years, "And Then It Got Ugly",
will be released on April 18th via Acetate Records. Pre-orders will
be taken starting March 1st at www.acetate.com.
- The Polish Black Metal group INFERNUM returns and presents their
long-awaited 2nd full-length "The Curse" album featuring a
new line-up is out in 17th March! After its releasing, INFERNUM will
start to work on a new album, no official release date or further details
regards to new songs on this statement yet. Evil prevails!
http://www.myspace.com/infernumband
- SVARTSYN will rehearsal for the first time in 4 years. Ornias and
Draugen have fixed plans to compose new songs and record a new album
this year, a release date is due to the end of 2006 or so. Further details
about this dark art will be posted on Sound Riot site as soon as when
the band has finished recordings.
http://www.myspace.com/svartsynband
- EXCALION will enter at Watercastle studios in May 2006 to record
the follow up to "Primal Exhale" album. The new songs are
very more mature both musically and lyrically. The whole band has improved
a lot, but the vocals of Jarmo Paakkonen got a notable evolution. The
actual music is more melodic, hard and fully rich in the songwriting
and playing, it isn't only Prog or Power Metal in all. We could say
the band found their "own sound" now. T-shirt available, contact
the band to further details!
http://www.excalion.com
- Actually CHAIN COLLECTOR are looking for gigs or tours together with
other bands in Europe, if you have a band or if you are a concert organizer,
get in touch with them. Watch for an interesting interview with them
on the upcoming issue of the famous Canadian magazine BW&BK!!!
http://www.chaincollector.com
- Finally, the BURIALMOUND's 2nd album is out now and it brings their
debut album "Black Death" as bonus tracks. Death/Black Metal
from Finland in the vein of Incantation, Morbid Angel, and Vital Remains.
http://www.myspace.com/BURIALMOUND
http://www.soundriotrecords.com/artists/burialmound.html
- TRISTWOOD is newest good choice of Sound Riot! The release date for
the debut album of this Austrian Extreme Metal combo is scheduled to
April 21 of 2006.The new face of brutality, Apocalyptic Metal, a soundtrack
for the end of the world!!
www.tristwood.com
http://www.soundriotrecords.com/artists/tristwood.html
- TUSKA OPEN AIR METAL FESTIVAL 2006 HAS CONFIRMED FIRST ARTISTS
-New dates for Tuska-Festival; 30.6.-2.7.2006
-Venom headlining Saturday July 1st
-Top Finnish metal on the roster
The ninth annual Tuska Open Air Metal Festival in Kaisaniemi, Helsinki,
Finland will now take place two weeks earlier than before, during the
weekend of 30.6-2.7.2006. First artists for the 2006 festival have been
confirmed. The line up features once again something classic and something
fresh, both from Finland and abroad.
Saturday July 1st will be headlined by a true cult classic; Venom. This
venomenal British group are true pioneers of black metal; they released
their debut album a quarter of a century ago, in 1981. This appearance
in Kaisaniemi from the originators of their genre is a rare treat for
Finnish black metal fans.
Other confirmed international artists at this point are Celtic Frost,
who in Venom’s vein are adding fuel to the fire that was set deep
in the 80’s. Also, Opeth from neighbouring Sweden, who are currently
living their heyday and up and coming French metallers Gojira have been
added to the bill.
The current state of Finnish metal in Tuska is represented on all depths
as Diablo, Sonata Arctica, Mokoma, Amorphis, Tarot, Stam1na, Wintersun,
Swallow The Sun, Norther, April, Impaled Nazarene and Timo Rautiainen
take turns in providing the soundtrack for the weekend.
The current roster includes exactly half of the artists appearing at
Tuska 2006. A total of 32 bands on three stages will perform at Kaisaniemi,
Helsinki over the course of three days. In addition to this, a couple
of dozen bands will be appearing at the infamous evening clubs.
Current Tuska 2006 –roster reads as follows:
Venom (UK)
Celtic Frost (CH)
Opeth (SWE)
Diablo
Sonata Arctica
Mokoma
Amorphis
Tarot
Stam1na
Wintersun
Gojira (FRA)
Swallow the Sun
Norther
April
Impaled Nazarene
Timo Rautiainen
Tickets for Tuska 2006 will go on sale on April 3rd through www.tiketti.fi
and www.lippupalvelu.fi. Tuska-Festival 2006 is an all ages event. Ticket
prices are revealed on a later date. Capacity of Tuska 2006 is 11 000
customers per day.
Additional info:
www.tuska-festival.fi
- VADER are set to return to the US as headliner of the upcoming Metal
Crusaders Tour. The dates will be in support of the recently released
The Art of War mcd, in stores now.
Blabbermouth says...
"The Art of War is another impressive outing from these Polish
veterans, and it only cements their status as living legends of the
scene, on what has to be a record-breaking winning streak, and as vital
as they've ever been."
Chronicles of Chaos says...
"Convincing aggression and enough speed to knock the earth off
its axis; if 2006 can play host to a full-length of similar quality,
then Vader's climb back on to the top of the mountain seems entirely
certain."
Gauntlet says...
"Put simply, this album is a watershed release that ensures this
group’s forthcoming full-length effort will be met with a serious
degree of anticipation."
Live4metal says...
"I know it’s just an ep, but for me this is one of the best
releases of the year. Essential!"
confirmed dates are as follows.
May 28 - Boston, MA @ The Middle East
May 29 - New York City,NY @ The Knitting Factory
May 30 - Springfield,VA @ Jaxx
May 31 - Vernon, NY @ Nothing Fancy Cafe
Jun 01 - Cleveland, OH @ The Agora Ballroom
Jun 02 - Detroit,MI @ TNT
Jun 03 - Chicago,IL @ Logan Square Auditorium
Jun 04 - St-Paul,MN @ Station 4
Jun 05 - Madison, WS @ Big E's Beach club
Jun 06 - Cincinatti,OH @ Bogarts
Jun 07 - Fayetteville,NC @ Jesters Pub
Jun 09 - Spartenburg,SC @ Ground Zero
Jun 10 - St-Petersburg,FL @ State Theater
Jun 11 - Ft- Lauderdale,FL @ Culture Room
Jun 12 - Tallahassee,FL @ Beta Bar
Jun 14 - Houston, TX @ The Ballroom/Wharehouse live
Jun 15 - Corpus Christi,TX @ The Ballroom
Jun 16 - San Antonio,TX @ The White Rabbit
Jun 17 - Arlington, TX @ The Phoenix Music Complex
Jun 18 - Fayetteville,AR @ The Dart Room
Jun 19 - Oklahoma City, Ok @ The Conservatory**
Jun 20 - Denver, CO @ Lliff Park Saloon
Jun 22 - Tempe,AZ @ Clubhouse
Jun 23 - Corona,CA @ Showcase Theater
Jun 24 - W. Hollywood,CA @ Knitting Factory
Jun 25 - San Francisco,CA @ The Pound
Jun 26 - Boise,ID @ Imparts
Jun 27 - Spokane,WA @ Fat Tuesdays Concert Hall
Jun 28 - Portland, OR @ Rock'n' Roll Pizza
Jun 29 - Seattle,WA @ Studio Seven
visit us at www.candlelightrecordsusa.com
visit Vader at www.vader.pl
- JOE SATRIANI SET TO RELEASE 12TH SOLO ALBUM WHILE CELEBRATING 20 YEAR
CAREER
SUPER COLOSSAL SET TO HIT STORES - MARCH 14, 2006
FULL U.S. TOUR TO FOLLOW
(Los Angeles, CA) - JOE SATRIANI is set to release his 12th solo album,
Super Colossal, on March 14, 2006 through Epic Records. With thirteen
new songs, SATRIANI completes his transformation from stunning instrumentalist
to fully-realized artist. Since the late 80's, the guitar virtuoso has
been winning over fans and musicians alike with his groundbreaking style
and legendary sounds.
Co-Produced by SATRIANI and Mike Fraser (AC/DC), Super Colossal features
SATRIANI performing on all of the guitar and bass parts. Live drums
were cut on four tracks by session giant Simon Phillips, the rest were
played by Satriani's longtime collaborator Jeff Campitelli. The 13 diverse
tracks on the album range from the title track's thundering, foot-stomp
beat and intricately textured lead line, to the spiritual intensity
of "A Love Eternal" and the raucous, party-down exhilaration
of "Crowd Chant."
On the day of the album's release, SATRIANI will begin a west coast
trek, making special in-store appearances. Soon after, he will launch
a full U.S. tour beginning on April 1st in Denver.
Quite comfortable on the road, SATRIANI set out on his most ambitious
worldwide tour yet in April 2004. Hitting 25 countries, playing 105
shows to over 500,000 people and logging in over 150,000 miles, SATRIANI
wrapped up this worldwide trek in May 2005 by playing to over 20,000
people at three sold-out shows in India.
This year marks SATRIANI's 20-year anniversary as a solo artist, his
first album, Not Of This Earth, was released in 1986. Over the course
of his illustrious career, Satriani has achieved huge success, selling
more than 10 million albums & DVDs worldwide with 12 solo albums
(2 platinum, 4 gold) and 3 platinum DVD's, as well as garnering 13 Grammy
nominations.
See attached itinerary for tour date information, more dates to be announced
shortly.
JOE SATRIANI ITINERARY:
DATE CITY VENUE
Sat 4/1 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
Sun 4/2 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater
Mon 4/3 Omaha, NE Orpheum Theatre
Wed 4/5 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
Fri 4/7 Greensburg, PA Palace Theater
Sun 4/9 Detroit, MI State Theater
Mon 4/10 Buffalo, NY Center For The Arts
Wed 4/12 Toronto, ONT Massey Hall
Thurs 4/13 New York, NY Nokia Theater
Fri 4/14 Boston, MA Berklee Performing Center
Sat 4/22 Boca Raton, FL Mizner Amphitheatre
Sat 4/29 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion
*Eric Johnson opens on all dates
**More dates to be announced
- ROB ZOMBIE
EDUCATED HORSES TOUR 2006
3/17/06 Jacksonville, FL Plush
3/18/06 Miami, FL Global Gathering
3/19/06 Orlando, FL House of Blues
3/22/06 Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle
3/24/06 Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
3/25/06 Norfolk, VA Norva Theater
3/26/06 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
3/28/06 New York, NY Nokia Theater
3/30/06 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
4/1/06 Worcester, MA The Palladium
4/3/06 Montreal, QC Metropolis
4/4/06 Toronto, ON Kool Haus
4/6/06 Columbus, OH PromoWest Pavilion
4/7/06 Detroit, MI State Theatre
4/8/06 Chicago, IL Riviera Theater
4/9/06 Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room
4/11/06 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom
4/13/06 Des Moines, IA Val Air Ballroom
4/14/06 Minneapolis, MN Myth
4/15/06 Kansas City, MO Memorial Hall
4/17/06 Denver, CO The Fillmore
4/18/06 Salt Lake City, UT Great Salt Air
4/20/06 San Francisco, CA The Warfield
4/21/06 San Diego, CA Soma
4/22/06 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
4/24/06 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
4/27/06 Mesa, AZ Mesa Amphitheatre
ROB ZOMBIE-EDUCATED HORSES IN STORES MARCH 28
For More Information on Rob Zombie, visit his official website at www.robzombie.com
- JORN LANDE TO REPLACE NEVERMORE AT PROGPOWER USA VII
ATLANTA – Jorn Lande, one of metal’s most renowned and prolific
vocalists, has been tapped to replace Nevermore as the Saturday night
headliner at ProgPower USA VII.
The singer, whose credits include Masterplan and ARK, will close the
show with a unique set covering not only his solo career but songs from
the various bands and projects over the course of his entire career.
“I hated to lose Nevermore, but I am ecstatic over being able
to get one of the best voices in metal today,” said Promoter Glenn
Harveston. “After speaking with Jorn, I am convinced that this
will be a once in a lifetime set that you won’t see anywhere else
in the world.”
Added Lande: “It’s an honor to play ProgPower USA this year.
The festival is well known around the world for keeping progressive
metal and hard rock alive. We will do our best to give you a few surprises
and make it one of the most memorable sets in the history of the festival.”
Evergrey - complete with a choir and string quartet - will headline
the first night of the two-day festival, which will take place on Friday
and Saturday, September 15 and 16 at Earthlink Live in Atlanta.
The rest of the lineup is German power metal band Savage Circus, Dutch
symphonic metal band Epica, Pyramaze, Wastefall, Sweden’s Freak
Kitchen, Finland’s Thunderstone, Italy’s Vision Divine,
and Denmark’s Mercenary.
The festival’s annual pre-party will take place on Thursday, September
14 at The Vinyl Club inside of Earthlink Live and will feature performances
by Theocracy, Circus Maximus, Leatherwolf, and Circle II Circle.
Tickets for ProgPower USA VII will go on sale Saturday, April 1 at 10
a.m. EST via all Ticketmaster outlets. Only 900 tickets will be made
available to the public. Advance Gold Badges, which presently have a
two-year wait list, are sold out. ProgPower USA has sold out more than
four months in advance for the past four years. Last year’s festival
sold out in a record four days.
Tickets are for the pre-party are $20 and go on sale April 8 at 10 a.m.
EST.
There will only be 600 tickets available in advance.
ProgPower USA VII is sponsored by Pacific Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Shure
Microphones, Evans Drumheads, D’Addario Strings, and Planet Wave
Cables. Interested sponsors may contact ProgPower USA via www.progpowerusa.com.
Information is available on the website for parties interested in participating
in the CD Showcase sampler or advertising in the official program.
www.progpowerusa.com
- Seattle power metallers NEVERMORE have issued the following statement
regarding the cancellation of their appearance at the ProgPower USA
VII festival, set to take place September 15-16 at Earthlink Live in
Atlanta, Georgia:
"Unfortunately we have had to cancel our appearance at this years
ProgPower fest in Atlanta due to the DISTURBED [European] tour being
postponed until September and the resulting conflict of dates. This
was our only option as we had committed to the DISTURBED support slot
prior to ProgPower, and we hope everyone understands.... On a better
note, we will be announcing U.S. tour dates soon."
- MORS IN TABULA signed to Sleaszy Rider reords (www.sleaszyrider.com).
Our debut album "Blemish" will be released in April and it
will be distributed worldwide by EMI. Check it out!!!
Mors In Tabula's profile now on Myspace music (www.myspace.com/morsintabula)
- DRAGONIGHT AGENCY, International supporters of ATTACKER, are excited
to announce the BRITISH STEEL FESTIVAL!
5 Legendary New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands!
This great event will take place on Saturday OCTOBER 14, 2006 and will
be held at The Pitz in Milton Keynes, England !
Appearing LIVE on stage will be DEMON, ELIXIR, CLOVEN HOOF, HAMMERHEAD
& OVERDRIVE!
For more information, log on to www.britishsteelfestival.com
- SOMBERLAIN recording first full length
Since January 21st the death metallers of Somberlain are recording their
first full length, still untitled, which will be released between March
and April. Here is the statement of Delano Lima (bass) about the recordings:
"In January 21st finally we started the recordings of our first
album. We recorded the drums in two days and now we are puting the equalizers
and triggers on the drums. I suppose that between the end of March and
April we will finish the recordings. After seeing Bruno (drums) showing
an amazing work I can tell for sure that it will be a killer album,
which will make us very proud, and satisfy the people who support us.
In a few days we will begin to record the guitars and try to update
you about the recordings."
-Somberlain - www.somberlain.com.br
- OMEN joins Mausoleum Metal Masters Tour
We have just confirmed that OMEN will be added to the Mausoleum Metal
Masters Tour for the Europe dates. The lineup will now be: OMEN / PHANTOM-X
/ IMAGIKA / HYADES. For more info go to www.phantom-x.net
or for booking information contact AListMusic@comcast.net
- HEART ATTACK RECORDS TO RELEASE ALBUM BY
LEGENDARY ROCKER DAVE EVANS
ENTITLED “SINNER” TO THE U.S. MARKET
NEW YORK CITY (FEBRUARY 21, 2006) – Heart Attack Records is proud
to announce the release of “Sinner” - the latest album by
legendary rocker DAVE EVANS (founder and original vocalist of megaband
AC/DC) on February 28, 2006.
Australian DAVE EVANS was a member of AC/DC from the band’s inception
in 1973 until 1974. Following his departure from AC/DC, DAVE EVANS formed
the wild hedonistic rock band Rabbit, Melbourne 80’s rock outfit
Dave Evans and Thunder Down Under, and lastly Dave Evans and Hot Cockerel.
DAVE EVANS has also toured as a solo act, and in 2004 released “Sinner”
on Germany’s Cultural Minority record label. “Sinner,”
which has been available in Europe, now makes its way into stores in
the U.S. The album is also available from CD Baby (www.cdbaby.com)
and through DAVE’s website (www.daveevans.au.com).
After successfully touring in Europe and with the fans asking for and
wanting a new DAVE EVANS album, DAVE got together with some of Australia's
finest hard rock musicians to write and record “Sinner.”
Former Rabbit band members and mates Mark Tinson and David Hinds were
quickly recruited as was former Hot Cockerel band member Simon Croft.
Along with Newcastle's finest - Mac on drums and Ngariki on bass (and
guitar on a couple of tracks) - everyone went to work to write and record
this classic hard rock album. As Mark Tinson said "how hard can
it be?". “Sinner” has the power, feel and conviction
that hard rock fans all over the world love.
Theresa Bowen, president of the “Dave Evans International Fan
Club Society” stated, “I am extremely happy that ‘Sinner’
is finally available in the U.S. I have received literally thousands
of enquiries from DAVE’s many U.S. fans asking - no demanding
- that “Sinner” be available here. Now their wishes have
been fulfilled!”
DAVE has joined forces with with Black Zodiac, a heavy metal band based
near Tampa, Fla. (www.blackzodiac.net)
and they will be embarking on a nationwide “The Sins Of The Zodiac
Tour” beginning this Spring.
DAVE EVANS and Black Zodiac are represented by DaSBro Enterprise, a
full-service entertainment agency based in New York City.
DAVE EVANS’ website is located at www.daveevans.au.com.
- MEGADETH AND CAPITOL/EMI TO RELEASE ARSENSAL OF MEGADETH, A TWO-DISC
DVD ANTHOLOGY SPANNING BAND’S CAREER OF METAL MASTERY
New DVD Set Contains Nearly Three Hours of Footage, Including Music
Videos and 32 Previously Unreleased Live Performances, Home Video and
Interviews
In Stores: March 21, 2006
Hollywood, California - February 21, 2006 – Megadeth has teamed
with Capitol Records/EMI Music Catalog Marketing to unleash Arsenal
of Megadeth, a new comprehensive two-disc DVD collection available March
21. A visual career anthology containing 32 previously unreleased clips,
Arsenal of Megadeth chronicles the rise and evolution of the band, providing
fans with a heavy metal armory of music videos, interviews, home video
shot by Megadeth’s own Dave Mustaine and hidden tracks. Clocking
in at almost three hours, Arsenal of Megadeth’s track list was
personally compiled by Mustaine, ensuring the ultimate head-hammering
Megadeth experience.
Following the 2005 release of Megadeth’s Greatest Hits: Back to
the Start CD and deluxe CD/DVD collections of singles and fan favorites,
Arsenal of Megadeth provides fans with the most in-depth look ever provided
into the band’s storied history. In addition to 20 of the band’s
music videos, Arsenal contains a bevy of career-spanning previously
unreleased material, including behind the scenes audition footage, a
1995 band appearance on MTV’s “Most Wanted,” a clip
of Dave Mustaine’s guest appearance on “The Drew Carey Show,”
and concert footage from 2005’s GIGANTOUR - essential cuts for
every Megafan.
In 2005, Megadeth was the headbanging, headlining act of Dave Mustaine’s
GIGANTOUR, a tour founded on the principles of “fan-friendly”
pricing and accessibility to the music. Mustaine’s vision for
GIGANTOUR was to "put together a festival that consisted of positive
bands that play heavy music in a high energy environment." 2005’s
inaugural GIGANTOUR did just that and was an immense international success.
Arsenal of Megadeth contains previously unreleased concert footage from
the tour, including a live performance of Megadeth’s metal anthem,
“Peace Sells.”
Megadeth was formed in 1983, and in the words of The Decline of Western
Civilization Part II: The Metal Years director Penelope Spheeris, “[have]
always been intelligent and uncompromising; they gave an entire generation
a new perspective on our troubled world.”
Megadeth members Dave Mustaine, Glen Drover (lead and rhythm guitar),
James MacDonough (bass) and Shawn Drover (drums) keep themselves engaged
with their fanbase by regularly posting to the official Megadeth website
(www.megadeth.com).
The site connects fans to the Megadeth eBay auction site and fan forums,
and provides up-to-date official information on all-things-Megadeth.
As Megadeth rips into its 23rd year, check out Arsenal of Megadeth –
an essential weapon for every Rattlehead and metal lover’s own
DVD armory.
|
| March 26th, 2006 |
- MORTIIS BEGINS WORK ON FOLLOW-UP TO ‘THE GRUDGE’
NOTODDEN, Norway – Mortiis has begun writing for a planned 2006
follow-up to “The Grudge.”
Mortiis has been collaborating with well-known producer Rhys Fulber
(Fear Factory, Delerium, Frontline Assembly, Paradise Lost) and is currently
demoing material.
“On the new songs, we are focusing more on what I think got a
bit lost last time, which is songwriting and continuity,” said
Mortiis. “Last time I was trying to make a really angry and abusive
record, and I wanted to do everything at the same time because I wanted
all this noisy stuff to happen. The distorted noise, electronics, and
samples are still there, but these songs are more focused and have a
more coherent interaction between the programmed and the organic. They
are definitely a lot more organic, and I am putting a lot of weight
on guitars this time.”
Some of the working song titles include “The Ugly Truth,”
“Doppelganger,” “Hard to Believe,” “Zeitgeist,”
“Scolding the Burnt,” and “Great Deceiver.”
In other news, guitarist Åge Troite has replaced Åsmund
Sveinunggard for live duties with Mortiis. European and North American
dates are being worked on at this time.
For instant songs and remixes, visit www.mortiis.com/downloads.
www.mortiis.com
- CANNIBAL CORPSE statement about Wacken 2006 cancellation
We regret to announce that we have to cancel our appearance at the Wacken
Open Air in 2006. The cancellation is due to a scheduling conflict with
a large tour in the USA that we will be appearing on. We have now been
told that the USA tour (more details on this tour will be released on
February 15th) will run from July 7th to August 13th, where originally
we had been told that it would likely run from June until July. We would
not have scheduled a Wacken performance if we had been aware of this
conflict.
We were really looking forward to playing Wacken, so we are quite disappointed
that this has to happen, but we did not want to cancel a month long
tour to perform a single concert. We are very sorry to all of our fans
who were planning to see us at Wacken, and also to the festival organizers,
who are in no way responsible for our cancellation. We hope to perform
at Wacken again in the years to come, but unfortunately this year it
is not possible.
http://www.cannibalcorpse.net/
- CATTLE DECAPITATION enters the studio!
We just entered the studio with Billy Anderson (Swans, Mr. Bungle, Sleep)
the past couple days getting drum sounds right and tracking has begun!!!
We’ve been home for almost a year now writing the next record
and we're finally rounding the bend and putting it to tape.
May/June U.S. TOUR DATES, new album title and new rhythm guitarist announced
soon!!!
http://www.cattledecapitation.com
- FRAGMENTS OF UNBECOMING set to release third full length album!
On April, 4th Sterling Black Icon– the third full length release
from Fragments of Unbecoming will hit the streets.
Sterling Black Icon is a masterpiece of Death Metal with loads of eerie
and haunting melodies. Brutal but melodic, technical but catchy, Fragment
of Unbecoming combine all the extremes of Death Metal in a massive album.
No mercy for the weak!
Comments guitarist Sascha Ehrich: “Sterling Black Icon, the 3rd
chapter in the history of Fragments of Unbecoming, takes us miles of
steps closer to the sophistication of the characteristic song writing
we’ve ever been standing for and nevertheless believe in: ‘Swedish
Styled Death Metal’ (… from Tyskland by the way). With a
new 5th face (Sam Anetzberger) on the front, we finally could play with
a more variable double vocal performance that highly enriches every
single song. We are proud announcing that the entire material got catchier
and much more melodic but not less aggressive! One hook line peruses
the next, one twin melody drifts into another - beauties and beasts
never were that close to each other!”
The production of Sterling Black Icon went out great due to the excellent
mix and mastering work of Christoph Brandes at the Iguana Studios (e.g.
Necrophagist, etc.).
Glad to add that the outward appearance was done in cooperation with
Niklas Sundin and Groundfrost.
Track list for Sterling Black Icon:
1. Carmine Preface (Entrance)
2. Sterling Black Icon
3. Weave Their Barren Path
4. Dear Floating Water
5. Breathe In The Black To See
6. Ride For a Fall
7. A Faint Illumination
8. Live For The Moment, Stay ´Til The End
9. Scythe Of Scarecrow
10. Onward To The Finger Of God
11. Stand The Tempest
12. Chambre Noire (Departure)
http://www.fragmentsofunbecoming.com/
- ARCH ENEMY Explain Absence From Ozzfest DVD; Work On Their Own
Although ARCH ENEMY spent last summer performing on the second stage
at Ozzfest, they are not included in the Ozzfest 10th Anniversary DVD,
which chronicles the 2005 tour. Bassist Sharlee D'Angelo explains why.
"There's a simple reason for it. They shot all the live footage
in Jersey and our bus broke down on the way there. We had a gig up in
Vermont the night before. Our tour manager woke me up in the early morning
saying, 'get your shit together because the bus is basically fucked.'
So while they were trying to fix it, we were trying to get a way to
the show. We tried to rent a van or find a flight, but we were still
in Massachusetts somewhere. We talked to The Haunted and Soilwork and
they said, 'use our equipment, whatever you need. Just get yourselves
down here.' But there was no way for us to get there on time. So that's
the reason for that. Of course it's a shame as it would have been nice
to be on there, but there's not much we can do about it."
Despite the fact that no live dates have been announced, Sharlee reveals
that Arch Enemy will be heading back out on the road, "but probably
not until March. Right now we're working on finishing the (currently
untitled) DVD so we can get that out. The main part of that was shot
at The Forum in London at Christmas 2004. That piece has been done for
a long time. It's just the rest of it that we haven't had time to deal
with because after that, we went straight into writing and recording
(Doomsday Machine), then we went straight on tour. So we haven't been
home, but that's what we're doing at the moment."
When asked about a projected release date for the Arch Enemy DVD, Sharlee
replied, "May sometime. It will probably be a double DVD, as it
looks now. It's the London show on one disc and on the other one there
are three or four songs done in Manchester, just a month ago. Then a
few promo videos plus whatever camcorder footage we saw fit to release
to the public eye. There's some interviews in there. There's going to
be a little bit of everything."
Metal Maniacs
- BRAND NEW SIN Begin Writing For New Album
BRAND NEW SIN recently completed a highly successful US tour with Black
Label Society, and their stunning 45-minute set captivated crowds while
solidifying them a rabid new following. The group are now in full songwriting
mode for the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Recipe For Disaster
album. Their video for the single Days Are Numbered, shot by Dale Resteghini
(Shadows Fall, Hatebreed), is currently in rotation on Headbangers Ball
and can also be viewed on AOL Music, Music Choice and Yahoo.
Joe Altier (vocals) checks in with the following report: :I want to
thank everyone for 2005. We got to tour with Motorhead, COC, LOA, BLS,
and make good friends with all the guys in Mercy Clinic, Bloodsimple,
Scum Of The Earth, Society 1, Dog Faced Gods.
I want to thank my band mates, crew and our families for once again
being there for me (us) thru everything, all the extended sin family
for housing us, getting us drunk, and plain just making us feel at home
wherever we go. We will continue to make music, so hopefully you will
keep coming out to see us."The main focus right now is writing
the follow up to Recipe For Disaster. We will hopefully be recording
this spring and the boys and me are hard at work once again 5 nights
a week hammering out some new tunes. We will spend the next two months
writing and demoing new material. We are very excited! I promise to
keep everyone updated on the progress and news about this in the coming
weeks. And as the hometown show goers know this record is being fueled
by Tequila so you better watch out."
Click below to check out the new Days Are Numbered video.
mms://mp3.centurymedia.com/brandnewsin_daysarenumbered.wmv
Metal Maniacs
- HEATHEN STATEMENT REGARDING SOM SIGNING
Veteran San Francisco Bay Area thrashers HEATHEN have issued a statement
refuting a recent press release from the the French record company Season
of Mist indicating that they have signed the band to a label deal. In
a posting on their official web site, HEATHEN write, "OK, so it
looks like the cat got out of the bag. Some of you have seen the posts
regarding HEATHEN signing with Season of Mist. This message is to inform
everyone that HEATHEN has not signed anything yet. We have had several
offers and we now have a verbal agreement after negotiating a price.
The band still needs to get together look over the contract and sign
it....when that happens we will make the big announcement."
HEATHEN were one of the most unique bands to rise from the Bay Area
thrash explosion of the '80s/'90s, having released a groundbreaking
debut album, Breaking the Silence, in 1987 went on to sell close to
100,000 copies worldwide.
HEATHEN's current lineup includes vocalist David White, guitarists Terry
Lauderdale (also of VAN HALEN cover band HOT FOR TEACHER) and Lee Altus
(EXODUS, DIE KRUPPS), bassist Jon Torres (ANGEL WITCH, ULYSSES SIREN)
and drummer Darren Minter.
HEATHEN released their latest CD, Recovered, independently in the spring
of 2004. The effort featured covers of songs from QUEEN, THIN LIZZY,
TYGERS OF PAN TANG and SWEET SAVAGE, as well as an original track, "In
Memory of&" (written and dedicated to former band member Randy
Laird and singer David White's brother Jeffrey).
[Source: Blabbermouth.net]
Metal Maniacs
- VENOM TO RELEASE 7"
VENOM's record label Sanctuary are planning to release a 7" single
from the group's new album, Metal Black. The full-length CD is set for
a March 27 release, although the single should hit the shops prior to
the album. An exact release date ahs not yet been confirmed.
Metal Black was mixed at the Townhouse Studios in London and contains
14 new songs, including Antechrist, the demo for which can be heard
at this location.
Metal Black track listing:
Antechrist
Burn In Hell
House of Pain
Death & Dying
Rege Satanas
Darkest Realm
A Good Day to Die
Assassin
Lucifer Rising
Blessed Dead
Hours of Darkness
Sleep When I'm Dead
Maleficarvm
Metal Black
According to an official press release, Metal Black "sees original
founder band member Cronos creating a new masterpiece of metal together
with [drummer] Antton and [guitarist] Mykvs. With 14 brand new roaring
and vital tracks, VENOM are again taking the goat by the horns and reinventing
their own original style . . . Metal Black [is] an album that harkens
back to the writing style of the '80s VENOM with a powerful production
to incinerate any sound system, truly demonic in every sense and with
the delivery of a charging beast."
Commented Mykvs: "The album has a very raw feel. The intensity
of the songs is awesome. We recorded the album as a live band, three
demons bleeding for the heaviest metal we could create, and our new
album will show that VENOM keeps getting stronger and heavier. Lay down
your souls, muthafuckers, we have returned."
Upcoming VENOM shows:
Mar. 23 Glasgow, UK Garage
Mar. 25 London, UK Mean Fiddler
Mar. 26 Manchester, UK Academy 2
Jun. 8-10 Solvesborg, SWE Sweden Rock Festival
VENOM are planning additional European dates and are also looking at
hitting America by early summer.
[Source: Blabbermouth.net]
Metal Maniacs
- CRASH MUSIC SIGNS LIVERPOOL'S TWIN METHOD
Crash Music, Inc. announces that they have signed UK progressive
metal act Twin Method to a four-album deal.
There's no denying the fact that Twin Method is a band that will leave
a lasting impression, both musically and visually. Based out of Liverpool,
England, the band recently finished recording at Audio Lab Studio in
Los Angeles with producer/engineer Logan Mader (Machine Head)
for their soon to be released Crash Music debut album The Volume of
Self.
The album, featuring such mesmerizing tracks as The Abrasive, Flawless
and Fake, takes a lyrical stance or better said a lyrical attack
on people. According to lyricist/vocalist Jason, "I generally
write about people who do things without thinking and cause problems
for others Basically, people who are idiots!"
Twin Method's debut album The Volume of Self is to be released May 30,
2006, and followed by a US tour. With a unique sound and look and
a high-energy live show that is visually over the top, expect nothing
but greatness to come form these Liverpool lads.
www.crashmusicinc.com
Metal Maniacs
- Original HIRAX Drummer Rejoins Band
Original HIRAX drummer, John Tabares has rejoined the band alongside
Lance Harrison on lead guitars.
The band is in preproduction ... writing songs... for the UPCOMING NEW
EP Assassins of War. NEW INFO and TOUR DATES coming soon 2006!
to view the new HIRAX album cover and more information click on link:
www.HIRAX.org
Metal Maniacs
- SHADOWS FALL Announce New Album Details
This spring, metal titans SHADOWS FALL return with their much-anticipated
next album, Fallout From The War. The brand new release's sessions were
again fully produced and mixed by long-time friend, Zeuss (Hatebreed,
God Forbid), at Planet Z Studios in the band's home state of Massachusetts.
Each of the album's 11 tracks is a must-have for the band's dedicated
following.
Fall Out From The War follows the group's most acclaimed disc to date,
The War Within, which originally debut at #20 on the Billboard Top 200
chart, has gone on to sell over 250,000 units in the US alone, and features
the Active Rock hit and Grammy-nominated track, What Drives The Weak.
Offical tracklisting and additional album details to be announced soon.
www.shadowfallrocks.com
Metal Maniacs
- THE GATHERING to release Home
Dutch rock act THE GATHERING will release their upcoming album Home
on April 18th 2006 via THE END RECORDS in North America.
Ever since their inception 15 years ago Dutch rock act The Gathering
have continued to evolve, never settling on one set style and rarely
ever duplicating themselves. They have embraced change along the way
and used it as a tool to feed their ongoing creative process.
Like their previous groundbreaking releases - their classic Mandylion
(1995), the electronic dabblings of How to Measure a Planet? (1998)
or the trip-hop/atmospheric warmth of Souvenirs (2003) - their latest
album Home finds the band heading back to a bit more of rock vibe, yet
still maintaining the delicate nuances and passages that fans worldwide
have grown to love.
But the momentum here is not entirely based on emotional highs, as the
band still manages to capture the dark spirit that most human beings
have had to deal with from time to time. Variation has always been the
key, case in point the diverse offering of such numbers as In Between,
Shortest Day, A Noise Severe and the powerfully moving title track.
With Home once again fans old and new will find comfort in the diverse
and emotional warmth of their music. Welcome home, The Gathering.
The Gathering - Home
TE065 | April 18th (USA/Canada)
Tracklisting:
1. Shortest Day
2. In Between
3. Alone
4. Waking Hour
5. Fatigue
6. A Noise Severe
7. Forgotten
8. Solace
9. Your Troubles Are Over
10. Box
11. The Quiet One
12. Home
13. Forgotten Reprise
More info here:
www.gathering.nl
Metal Maniacs
- TIM OWENS Says Guitarist JON SCHAFFER Is Hard At Work On New ICED
EARTH CD
Former JUDAS PRIEST and current ICED EARTH/BEYOND FEAR frontman Tim
"Ripper" Owens has issued the following update on ICED EARTH's
current status:
"Jon [Schaffer, ICED EARTH guitarist/mainman] and I spent New Year's
Eve together along with our families, and we spent this past weekend
together going over a few things! Jon is working on the new ICED EARTH
CD and after my promo trip [for the debut album from BEYOND FEAR] in
March, I will join him again for a week or so to work on some more material
with him. Then I will come home to get ready for the ANTHRAX tour in
April."
With regards to Internet rumors regarding his departure from his pre-JUDAS
PRIEST band WINTERS BANE, Owens said, "Let me tell you something,
I left WINTERS BANE because we were going nowhere and there was some
real attitudes in the band. NOT because of money. We didn't make any
money and probably sold 500 to 1,000 copies of the CD, which was and
the bass player and drummer went with me. I'm happy for Lou [St. Paul,
WINTERS BANE guitarist] and maybe someday we'll re-do 'Heart of a Killer'
with Jim Morris at the controls, But for now, that's how it is."
On the subject of why WINTERS BANE is rarely mentioned in his magazine
interviews, Tim said, "I have talked about WINTERS in interviews,
most recently with the Scene mag in Cleveland. I told them that Lou
helped with the first logo of BEYOND FEAR, which was real cool, But
they didn't put it in their articles. Sorry, but I can't do anything
about it! I've always gave WINTERS BANE its props and loved [it] at
the time. But it was 15 years ago, and really magazines don't seem to
care! I guess I'm also making the old BRAINICIDE fans mad because I
don't talk about Dan Johnson and Steve Trent!
"Good luck to Lou and WINTERS BANE. I hope they go out there and
get a record deal and are real successful. Lou deserves it. He is a
great guitar player."
As previously reported, BEYOND FEAR have been confirmed as the opening
act for ANTHRAX on their upcoming European headlining tour. A short
audio sample of the track "Scream Machine", taken from BEYOND
FEAR's upcoming self-titled debut album, has been posted online at www.timripperowens.com
(audio comes on once the page loads).
BEYOND FEAR features in its ranks Owens alongside guitarist John Comprix
(SPAWN, 13 FACES), Dennis Hayes (ex-WINTERS BANE, SEVEN WITCHES) on
bass, Dwane Bihary (MISSING SKIN) on rhythm guitar, and drummer Eric
Elkins (CRYPTKICKER, ALL YOU FEAR).
"Beyond Fear" is scheduled for release on May 9 (one day earlier
internationally) via SPV Records. The CD was recorded at the legendary
Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida, under the direction of producer
Jim Morris. The album consists of fourteen haunting metal numbers, which,
according to Owens, "show unmistakably where my musical roots lie:
in the classic heavy metal of the Eighties. However, I've transported
that traditional metal style into the present, lending it its own touch."
- CALIBAN ANNOUNCE DATES FOR FULL US TOUR IN 2006!
Lifeforce Records America / Abacus recording Artist CALIBAN are touring
the US in May in support of their new release "The
Undying Darkness." Caliban will be heading out with the likes
of Sworn Enemy, Ion Dissonance and Embrace The End.
You can also find Caliban's reissue of Shadow Hearts in stores now on
Lifeforce Records America!
CALIBAN US-TOUR w/ SWORN ENEMY, ION DISSONANCE, EMBRACE THE END:
04/28/06 US - Long Island, NY @ Club Ritual
04/29/06 US - Worcester, MA @ Palladium, New England Metal Fest
04/30/06 US - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar, Maryland Metal Fest
05/01/06 US - Virginia Beach, VA @ Peppermint Beach Club
05/02/06 US - Raleigh, NC @ The Brewery
05/03/06 US - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
05/04/06 US - Orlando, FL @ Island Oasis
05/05/06 US - West Palm Beach, FL @ Ray's Downtown Blues
05/06/06 US - Tampa, FL @ tba
05/07/06 US - Tallahassee, FL @ The Beta Bar
05/08/06 US - Baton Rouge, LA @ The Darkroom
05/09/06 US - Houston, TX @ Java Jazz
05/10/06 US - San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
05/12/06 US - Phoenix, AZ @ tba
05/13/06 US - San Bernardino, CA @ NOS Event Centre, California Metal
fest
05/14/06 US - San Francisco, CA @ The Pound
05/15/06 US - Sacramento, CA @ The Boardwalk
05/16/06 US - Boise, ID @ The Venue
05/17/06 US - Ogden, UT @ Club Boom
05/18/06 US - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
05/19/06 US - Omaha, NE @ tba
05/20/06 US - Freeport, IL @ Freeport Convention Centre
05/21/06 US - Chicago, IL @ tba
05/22/06 US - Detroit, MI @ tba
05/23/06 US - Cleveland, OH @ Screwy Louie's
05/24/06 US - New York, NY @ B.B. King's
05/25/06 US - Philadelphia, PA @ tba
05/26/06 US - Danbury, CT @ Empress Ballroom
- ORDO TYRANNIS - Available Now
Our latest release, the debut album from Ordo Tyrannis entitled Vasa
Iniquitatis is available now! The band consists of Saint ov Gravediggers
(Vocals, Lyrics, Incantations) and Akhtya Nachttoter (Instruments, Mutations)
of Black Funeral, Valefor and Psychonaut 75 notoriety. This is cold
and sinister industrial-tinged black metal that quite honestly defies
categorization. Ordo Tyrannis have surely conjured up something unique.
Customers and distributors in Europe interested in this release please
contact Masterpiece Distribution, our official European Distributor.
Ordo Tyrannis: www.ordotyrannis.com
- VOIVOD first glimpse at new album
This past weekend, BW&BK scribe Chris Bruni had the exclusive opportunity
to preview the new, as-yet-untitled VOIVOD album, and here were some
of his observations upon first listen...
Going into this album with the deck stacked against them, VOIVOD seemed
to be pushed against a wall, face-to-face with the many impending obstacles
laid down before them. But after hearing a full-on pre-mix version of
the entire, as-yet-untitled album (at time of this review), it becomes
so clear that one of VOIVOD's greatest strengths is excelling when the
odds are candidly against them, defying them with integrity, class,
and courage.
To hear the new Voivod album, and to hear how such an album was put
together, it seems like a miracle that it even manifested. But of course
VOIVOD rose up to the challenge and triumphed.
Nevertheless, the first impression after the final moments of the closing
track, 'The Getaway', were heard, it was easy to come to the conclusion
that this will undoubtedly be one of the most important metal albums
of 2006.
The overall vibe and aura of the new VOIVOD is simply overwhelming,
and to hear the late Piggy's ethereal and unearthly guitar vibes was
a chilling experience indeed (especially in the environment in which
the new album was presented to yours truly, in the company of drummer
Michel "Away" Langevin and singer Denis "Snake"
Belanger at Multisons Studios).
Overall, the album is heavy. Damn heavy with a dark undercurrent running
its course throughout the massive and unforgiving wall-of-sound. Almost
like a more aggressive Dimension Hatröss, while still maintaining
that experimental edge with the cool luminous dark-rock-groove of Angel
Rat and The Outer Limits, all while continuing in the character of their
self-titled comeback album from 2003 and taking said character that
much further...
Just a simple first impression of course (although my hair stands on
end just thinking about it), but according to Away, at the time of this
session, there is still a bit more work to be done, like bringing up
the guitars a bit more in the mix (which by the way do not sound like
clean home-recorded "demos" whatsoever, Piggy's guitar manifestations
upholding the true unique power they have always been known for doing)
and adding some acoustic interludes, segments in which Piggy recorded
at his girlfriend's place on a "primitive" digital four-track,
these specific segments being some of the very final moments Piggy would
commit to tape before his death.
Comprised of ten tracks that will grace the new opus, here is a quick
track-by-track description of what we can expect:
'Dognation' - The opening track pretty much sets the stage in traditional
VOIVOD-ian fashion with its massive hypnotic tones searing forth through
a powerful groove, Jason Newsted's powerful bass tone, elegantly crafted
pounding drums, and Snake's traditional distinct savvy metallic vocals,
all coming at you in full-force. And this is only the beginning...
'X-Tremetal' - I kinda like to call this one the "driving song",
with its upbeat and catchy tone pretty much being the dominating force
with powerful guitar breakdowns which have that trademark Piggy surgical
resonance. It appears almost as if Snake is singing about driving a
cool car, and driving it fast, with his "Let's roll..." line
bringing an infectious tone to it all.
'Polaroids' - The rock vibe continues to follow-through, but this time,
subtly juxtaposed with more of Piggy's dissonant riff structures, which
almost sound strangulating in nature, but then let up for the flow,
while ominously returning for the kill.
'After All' - Piggy's guitar histrionics continue to morph, grind, and
twist, once again creating good dialogue with Jason Newsted's bass pulsations
on those monstrous breakdowns (that make metalcore breakdowns look like
something The Backstreet Boys would write) and groove parts. Snake's
vocals continue to infectuate as the song's climax has the singer vocally
swaying, "Been there, done that..."
'No Angel' - Definitely one of the standout tracks on the album. Beginning
with a very dark and spacey segment with Piggy's layered guitar ambience,
said weird guitar ambience remains a dominating factor in this song.
The groove laid down on this song is incredibly powerful, as Piggy's
dark buzzsaw guitar solo makes its appearance in its machine-like coldness.
Incredible!
'Mr. Clean' - If there were to be a first-single from the album, 'Mr.
Clean' would probably be it. An infectious and an unforgivingly catchy
vibe pretty much dominates this song, giving this track such an amicable
character that you cannot help but simply smile in joy.
'Red My Mind' - Begins with a consistent build-up crescendo tone that
lasts until the 2:20 mark and then breaks into that unforgiving wall-of-sound
effect until it breaks back into those traditional, and dominating,
dissonant grooves.
'Silly Clones' - Beginning with a pulsating bass, this is one of the
shortest songs on the album with its wickedly playful tones being juxtaposed
with heaving riff strums that almost have this call-and-response effect
with each other. On top of that, prose-wise, Snake once again proves
that he is one of the most unique poets in metal.
'Odds And Frauds' - The permeating recurring line that Snake huffs out,
"The politicians always want more", is a characteristic of
such a track that heavily builds up on guitar resonance with darker
guitar ambience that permeates over the mid-paced groove until the climax
builds itself up amongst a unsettling noise breakdown.
'The Getaway' - The album ends on a solid rocking note, but the one
thing that stood out on this track is this dark guitar undercurrent
that subtly sneaks in within the background of the sound-picture, distinguishing
itself in ist chameleon-like manner, almost gazing amongst the dominating
pummeling rock.As the song climaxes, its pace slows down, and then abruptly
stops.
- IN FLAMES "Come Clarity" rules the charts
We´re proud to announce the charts entries for IN FLAMES –
COME CLARITY
Sweden 1
Finnland 1
Germany 6
Austria 16
Japan 17
Norway 27
CH 30
Denmark 52
Canada 27
USA 58
United K. 67
Spain 88
NL 109
Others:
Sweden Rock charts 1
UK Rock Charts 2
UK Indie charts 7
Australia JB-HIFI 20
NL Indiecharts 27
Thank you very much … For this great work!
To be continued…
- COMMUNIC studio report online
COMMUNIC are currently in the studio working on the new album “Waves
Of Visual Decay”. They have a studio diary running at this location.
The first three entries can be found below.
Friday 03rd February 2006 - Day 1:
"And the ball is rolling again. Seems like a brief moment since
last time we were at Hansen Studio, but here we are again. Arrived today,
5.00 in the morning, and just a few hours of sleep before slavery time.
Drum kit was set up and tuned ready for sound check. We used the day
tuning the drums, and setting the sound. We wanted to record drums in
the evening, after Jacob went home, but after some technical problems
that engineering rookies like us couldn't handle we ended the day hoping
for a better start tomorrow." O.S.
Saturday 04th February 2006 - Day 2:
"The sound in the drum kit is really awesome, so this is for sure
going to be some killer stuff. This day turns out to be a good day,
and three of the songs were recorded. And it seems like this album will
be just as heavy as we expected. The songs are in true Communic style,
long as always, with a bit of progressive inputs, mixed with some good
thrash, and there you go.. the Communic way." T.A.
Sunday 05th February 2006 - Day 3:
"Oh shit, it's already 9 in the morning and Jacob is ready for
more drums. After a quick shower and breakfast, it was time to take
a couple of more songs.A fast sound check was taken, and a few hours
later 3 other song were caught on disk. It seems like for once that
we are ahead of schedule. Stay tuned for more shit..." T.A.
"While Tor and Jacob is recording drums I'm using the days arranging
the final vocal parts and some guitar stuff on my laptop. There are
still a few parts that I need to figure out. I also have one piece of
lyrics to finish up. I have the basic ideas, but need some more 'flesh'
on it. Other than that, the TV isnn't working and it's quite cold here
in freaking Denmark. Good thing is that we left the snow back home with
Erik. He will arrive later in the process to do his deeds." O.S.
- DEICIDE Confirm Headlining This year's Arizona Metal Devastation Fest
Florida Death Metal Heroes Deicide have now been confirmed to Headline
this year's Arizona Metal Devastation Fest. The band has confirmed that
they will be headlining this year's festival that takes place on April
Seventh and Eighth at Bulldogs located in Glendale, Arizona. Deicide
is currently scheduled to headline on Saturday April Eighth.
The Festival billing is still in the works and not yet finalized but
is shaping up to be a promising one. Already confirmed in addition to
Deicide are: Waco Jesus, Meatshits, Engorged, Splatterhouse, Fecal Corpse,
Bung, Golers, Burn Victim, He Who Binds Himself, Job For a Cowboy, Black
Hell, Shattered, XXX Maniak, Gorgasm, Vital Remains, Nausea, ETTS, Inducing
Terror, Saphead, Crematorium, Mercitron, and Sanity in Death. That's
a whole lot of Death Metal for two days!
Tickets will be limited to 400 for the event and are available in advance
by contacting the metal devastation record store at: 602-265-6206. Tickets
will be $25 per day or $40 for a 2-day pass. The Southwest better be
prepared for the personal hell that Deicide will bring to the stage
that evening. The band is said to be storming through a set of classics
and new tracks from their upcoming album "The Stench of Redemption"
set for a release early this summer. Blasphemers be prepared, the mighty
Benton is on his way.
For more information please see the festival's official website at:
http://www.azmdfest.com
- EPHEL DUATH announce Italian dates in April
EPHEL DUATH have announced more shows on their "PAIN NECESSARY
TO KNOW" Tour.
They will play the following dates in their homeland:
EPHEL DUATH _ NECESSARY ITALIAN TOUR 2006
13.04.2006 IT CAGLIARI Transilvania Live
14.04.2006 IT MILANO Transilvania Live
15.04.2006 IT BASSANO DEL GRAPPA Transilvania Live
21.04.2006 IT VICENZA Sixty Road
22.04.2006 IT NAPOLI Jail
23.04.2006 IT ROMA Sinister Noise
- FINALLY: MINISTRY IN WACKEN
The US-Cult-Band in Wacken for the first time!
The waiting has an end...
The only Heavy Metal Festival in Germany which Ministry will play with
their bombastic LiveShow is the W:O:A!
More and more brilliant bands are listed at the W:O:A 2006 billing list.
Bands like CELTIC FROST, CHILDREN OF BODOM and EMPEROR will rock the
stages!
- BLACK MESSIAH will enter the studio these days to record the successor
to "Oath of a Warrior", entitled "Of Myths & Legends".
It will seamlessly follow the predecessor but according to the band
the new album will be more aggressive yet more melodic. Release is scheduled
for summer 2006. BLACK MESSIAH is confirmed to appear on these festivals
in 2006: RAGNARÖK, ULTIMA RATIO, DONG OPEN AIR & NOCTURNAL
EMPIRE FESTIVAL. More shows and a tour are under discussion.
- OBITUARY AND SADUS ANNOUNCED AS HEADLINERS FOR
NORTHWEST DEATHFEST 2006
SEATTLE - Obituary and Sadus will headline the 3rd Annual Northwest
Deathfest, which will be held on May 28 at The Fenix Underground in
Seattle. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 17.
Deeds Of Flesh and Severed Savior will headline the second stage. More
bands from the Pacific Northwest will be announced as they are confirmed.
Obituary recently returned from a month-long European tour in support
of their latest album "Frozen In Time." Their Northwest Deathfest
appearance is one of only two US shows that the band currently has scheduled.
Bay area thrashers Sadus will return for their second appearance at
the festival. The band will release their new album, "Out For Blood,"
on February 27 through Holland's Mascot Records. This will be Sadus'
first studio recording since 1997.
Howitzer Productions began in 2002 and has promoted over 100 shows,
as well as five festivals in the Washington area.
Sponsors for the festival include Pit Magazine, who will be on hand
with magazines and merchandise. Unique Leader Records will sponsor the
second stage.
The door prizes this year include an X - Box 360 with games, autographed
guitars, donated by Emerald City Guitars, and a DVD player with metal
DVDs. There will also be free giveaways all day long. Vendors will be
on hand selling collectible and current metal merchandise. The first
50 people through the door will receive an autographed poster and the
first 500 people through the door will receive a free CD, which includes
one track each from all of the bands appearing.
The Fenix Underground is located at 109 S. Washington St. in Seattle,
Wash. (206-405-4313). This is an all ages event, 21 and over with ID
for access to the bar. Doors open at 10 a.m. and the show will begin
at 11 a.m. Ticket prices are $25.00 in advance and $30.00 day of show,
and are available through Northwestdeathfest.com, the Fenix Underground
box office, Silver Platters, and Ticketmaster.
www.northwestdeathfest.com
- JOEY VERA Update
Okay, all right, Yup. A new update.
So it seems, there are some tidbits to share. From my head to yours,
and just in time for Valentines Day. How Disgusting.
First off, in mid January I was called to play some bass parts (from
my buddy Jim Matheos of Fates Warning) for the follow up OSI record
tentatively titled "Free". For those of you who don't know
who OSI is, shame on you. OSI is the project band from Jim Matheos (Guitar,
Fates Warning), Kevin Moore (Keys, ex-Dream Theater) and Mike Portnoy
(Drums, Dream Theater). This is their second record for Inside Out records
and it is tentatively set for a late March release. Having been a big
fan of their debut, I was honored by the call. Look out for this new
record for sure.
On my solo record front, I'm still in the final obsessing stages. For
those of you who know what it's like to record your own stuff... Well
let's just say it's like stripping yourself naked, holding raw tenderloin's
in each hand in front of two very hungry Lions and trying to get used
to the temperature of the night air. But I'll survive because I'm in
my home studio, not the Coliseum in ancient Rome. Seriously, I still
hope to have this out of my little tuft of hair by summer.
On the Armored Saint front: We have been offered a few shows in Europe
this summer so we've turned a few shows into a very short 1 week mini
tour. This all started with an offer to play at this years Bang Your
Head Festival in Germany, which will be our second appearance there.
We are also on this year's legendary Graspop festival in Belgium and
having played in the UK (London) only once in our career, we decided
to book our first ever string of UK dates. The tour dates are as follows:
6/23 Arnhem, NL - Willemeen
6/24 Balingen, Ger - Bang Your Head Fest
6/25 Dessel, Belg - Graspop Fest
6/27 Manchester, UK - Academy 3
6/28 Sheffield, UK - Corporation
6/29 London, UK - Underworld
As of now, this is the only plan Saint has for the year but if anything
else comes up, you'll be sure to hear of it.
This is it for now and you can bet there'll be more soon!!!!
Take Care,
Joey Vera
www.joeyvera.com
- VOIVOD drummer Michel ‘Away’ Langevin and singer Denis
‘Snake’ Belanger’ are working on their forthcoming
studio album with producer Glen Robinson (Voivod’s ‘Nothingface,’
Tea Party, GWAR) at Piccolo Studios in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
The drummer recently started a blog about the studio work that will
include studio updates, tidbits and photos. Away will update the blog
on a frequent basis.
The direct link can be found here.
This is the first album in the band’s 20 year career that will
not feature founding guitarist Denis ‘Piggy’ D'Amour working
alongside his bandmembers in the studio. D’Amour died Aug. 26th,
2005 in a Montreal hospital from complications of advanced colon cancer.
In order to record the album Away – along with singer Denis ‘Snake’
Belanger and bassist Jason ‘Jasonic’ Newsted - are utilizing
all of the guitar parts that ‘Piggy’ had recorded for the
record on his laptop with ProTools before his death.
VOIVOD’s much-anticipated, still untitled album should surface
sometime later this year on The End Records in North America.
- AGALLOCH have entered the studio to begin pre-production work for
their 3rd full-length album entitled “Ashes Against The Grain”.
The recording process will begin Dec 10th and the band hopes to have
the album finished by March. As usual the band will be working with
Ronn Chick, who has engineered and produced both of their previous albums.
Commenting on the new material, guitarist/vocalist John Haughm: “It
is huge, bleak, and more rock-based than previous albums. I am confident
this will be our darkest and most sonically intense record yet.”
- STRAPPING YOUNG LAD Guitarist Checks In With Songwriting Update
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD guitarist Jed Simon has issued the following update
on the songwriting process for the group's follow-up to last year's
"Alien":
"[The songwriting is] going great, got too many song ideas, haha!
About 6 are complete, and the rest are very close...
"Most of you probably know that Dev [SYL guitarist/vocalist Devin
Townsend] and his merry men [THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND] are going on tour
for a couple weeks with some very fine Swedish friends of ours, OPETH.
So, during that time, the rest of us are going to be perfecting our
song parts, 'tweaking' the little stuff, and writing a few more...this
is when the barn doors get blown off! Dev has also got a couple ideas
he's going to work on while he's out on tour, so when he gets back,
we'll show him ours and vice-versa, and then we'll have WAY too many
songs!!! Which is a good thing, because if it turns out that one song
isn't 'feeling' right in the studio, there are more to choose from...or
we can 'chop and blend' a part in or out, if a song just needs 'a little
something.'
"The sun is out in Vancouver...finally...it's been like 2 months
of solid rain... depressing as hell, man. I'll take the snow and deepfreeze
at home in Philly over that... even though it's been really mild there...no
deep freeze yet... Crazy weather, man, makes me wonder, ya know?"
- KITTIE EMBARKS ON FIRST TOUR IN OVER A YEAR THIS SPRING
LONDON, Ontario – America will get its first taste of female metal
band Kittie’s new lineup as the band hits the road this spring
in support of its latest material, which was released in the form of
a downloadable EP entitled “Never Again” on February 7 through
Rock Ridge Music.
“After a year hiatus we are more than ready to begin this tour
in April and show the world what we have been up to and prove we are
stronger and more focused than ever,” said vocalist/guitarist
Morgan Lander. “This tour will rock!”
The Never Again Tour will give audiences their first glimpse at the
band with new bassist Trish Doan and guitarist Tara Macleod joining
Kittie mainstays Morgan Lander (guitar/vocals) and Mercedes Lander (drums).
“Never Again” features Kittie’s most mature work to
date, with the band throwing out all preconceived notions and writing
from the heart.
“Never Again” will be available everywhere digital tracks
are sold. iTunes will offer an exclusive 4-track version of the EP which
includes bonus track “Everything That Could Have Been.”
Kittie has sold more than a million records since the release of its
debut, “Spit,” 2000, which was followed by 2001’s
“Oracle” and 2004’s “Until the End,” with
several EPs in between.
Between wrapping up a tour in late 2004 and beginning work on new songs,
the Lander sisters kept busy by finally bringing their dream of creating
a clothing company into fruition. Poisoned Black (www.poisonedblack.com)
was launched in September 2005.
Direct support on the Never Again Tour will be provided by a variety
of bands playing in different regions. Some of the bands slated to play
are Seemless, Five Bolt Main, Twelve Tribes, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The
Agony Scene, Bloodlined Calligraphy, Byzantine, Dead To Fall, Donnybrook,
Calico System, Burning Armada, Job for a Cowboy, Naos Project, Jacknife,
and On Broken Wings.
“With great bands and our most talented line-up to date, the Never
Again tour will be amazing,” said Lander.
Dates are as follow:
03/31/06 Fri. Marks Showplace, Bedford, NH
04/01/06 Sat. Saratoga Winners, Latham, NY
04/02/06 Sun. “Rockfest”@ Hippodrome, Springfield, MA
04/05/06 Wed. Rex Theatre, Pittsburg, PA
04/06/06 Thu. The Temple Club, Lansing, MI
04/07/06 Fri. The Machine Shop, Flint, MI
04/08/06 Sat. The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids, MI
04/09/06 Sun. Big E’s, Edgerton, WI
04/11/06 Tue. The Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO
04/12/06 Wed. Club Boom Va, Ogden, UT
04/13/06 Thu. Big Easy Concert House, Boise, ID
04/14/06 Fri. Studio Seven, Seattle, WA
04/15/06 Sat. Rock and Roll Pizza, Portland, OR
04/17/06 Mon. The Boardwalk, Sacramento, CA
04/18/06 Tue. The Whisky, W. Hollywood, CA
04/19/06 Wed. The Dome, Bakersfield, CA
04/20/06 Thu. Galaxy Theatre, Santa Ana, CA
04/21/06 Fri. Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ
04/22/06 Sat. Sunshine Theatre, Albuquerque, NM
04/23/06 Sun. The Zone, El Paso, TX
04/25/06 Tue. The Ballroom, Corpus Christi, TX
04/27/06 Thu. Meridian, Houston, TX
04/28/06 Fri. The White Rabbit, San Antonio, TX
04/29/06 Sat. Fat Daddys, Lewisville, TX
04/30/06 Sun. The Hive, Tulsa, OK
05/02/06 Tue. House of Blues, Lake Buena Vista, FL
05/04/06 Thu. State Theatre, St. Petersburg, FL
05/05/06 Fri. The Masquerade, Atlanta, GA
05/06/06 Sat. Jester’s Pub, Fayetteville, NC
05/07/06 Sun. KC’s, Fredericksburg, VA
05/10/06 Wed. Club Pure, Yonkers, NY
05/11/06 Thu. Recher Theatre, Towson, MD
05/12/06 Fri. Crocodile Rock, Allentown, PA
05/13/06 Sat. Webster Theatre, Hartford, CT
www.kittierocks.com
- Swedish progressive goth/death metallers THE PROVENANCE have inked
a deal with Peaceville Records. The group are currently working on the
follow-up to their third full-length effort, "How Would You Like
To Be Spat At" (2005, Scarlet Records), tentatively due later in
the year. A video for the "How Would You Like To Be Spat At"
album track "Catching Scarlet in the Sun" is still available
for viewing at the band's official web site, TheProvenance.com.
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