| September
30th, 2004 |
- NEW ‘DANZIG’ RELEASE “CIRCLE OF SNAKES” HITS
CHARTS FIRST WEEK OUT
HOLLYWOOD (September 8, 2004) – Glenn Danzigs “Circle Of
Snakes” slams the Billboard charts upon its release last week.
SoundScan: 6259
Billboard Top 200 debut: #183
Hard Music Core Chart - #7 Debut
Indie Label Chart - #20 Debut
- BOC DRUMMER CALLS IT QUITS!!!
NYC - 8/25/04 - Blue Oyster Cult drummer Bobby Rondinelli has officially
quit the group in order to pursue his work with hard rock ensemble The
Lizards. Rondinelli, who has also played with the likes of Black Sabbath,
Rainbow and Riot, has toured and recorded with The Lizards for several
years now and is looking forward to exclusively dedicating his drumming
talents to the band. Most recently Mike DiMeo of Riot has taken over
the lead vocal spot for The Lizards. The group is currently preparing
for a major tour with T&A - a new supergroup featuring Pat Travers
and Carmine Appice. Plans to perform in Scandinavia, Russia, Germany
and Denmark in October 2004 are in the works (tour dates to be posted
soon).
For more info:
www.thelizardswebsite.com
www.availableentertainment.com
- MOTORHEAD CANCELS U.S. TOUR DUE TO INJURY SUFFERED BY LEMMY
Motorhead regrets to announce that the U.S. tour scheduled for September/October
2004 is canceled due to a foot injury suffered by vocalist/bassist Lemmy.
Lemmy injured his foot on stage about month ago while touring in Europe.
Lemmy, ignoring the pain and against his European doctor's recommendation,
completed the few remaining shows on the Motorhead summer festival tour.
Since he was not able to rest his foot for a while, Lemmy's injury worsened,
and his U.S. doctor insisted in no uncertain terms that Lemmy stay off
his foot for several weeks in order for it to heal properly.
Motorhead will return for a U.S. tour in March 2005. Lemmy, guitarist
Philip Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee hate to disappoint their fans
but it is necessary for Lemmy's injury to heal so that Motorhead can
rock long into the future.
Motorhead's latest album, 'Inferno,' has earned the groundbreaking band
the best reviews of its career. The Associated Press calls this Metal-Is/Sanctuary
Records release "their best album ever ... a 12-track opus that
packs as much power, punch and attitude as anything that's ever been
committed to tape."
www.imotorhead.com
www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.com
- CELESTIAL ODE's mini cd being sold without permission
A couple of days ago we were notified by a friend that someone is selling
our mini cd WITHOUT our arppoval. This is the 3rd time that something
like this comes to our attention so we 'd like to get a few things straight.
First of all the mini cd IS NOT FOR SALE it is to be distributed freely
without any kind of COST. When we released the cd we decided that ALL
the songs would be offered to anyone who asked WITHOUT any cost. The
1000 original copies of this demo cd were created 3 years ago and are
almost gone now so we 've put the songs in near cd quality on our website
to be downloaded for FREE. If there is someone who wishes to obtain
an original copy he must know that the money he'll give will not go
the band who very worked hard for this cd but to some god damn stupid
motherfucker who wishes to take advantage of CELESTIAL ODE efforts and
your desire. We will not tolerate our work being treated this way and
we WILL take LEGAL ACTION to anyone who tries to take advantage of our
material WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION.
-CELESTIAL ODE
- Guitarist Glen Drover (Eidolon, King Diamond) has joined the fold
of MEGADETH. Metal
Update
- Blakkheim (Katatonia) has decided to put his solo project, DIABOLICAL
MASQUERADEl to rest - Blakkheim along with his longtime musical / technical
collaborator Dan Swanö (Edge Of Sanity, etc.), made 4 albums between
1995-2001 under the Diabolical Masquerade monicker. Metal
Update
- CADAVER has decided to split up after 15 years of underground service
and 4 studio albums. Metal
Update
- Tor Glidje and Ole Halvard Sveen have been drafted as permanent guitarists
in EXTOL - both are considered the masterminds behind the black metal
cult act Lengsel and the rock-band Ganglión. Metal
Update
- Drummer Foued Moukid (Horresco Referens) has been added to the lineup
of THE OLD DEAD TREE. Metal
Update
- Philadelphia's technical metal newcomers SINGLE BULLET THEORY will
be shooting a brand new video for the song "Hollowed Out"
on Sept 11th in Ardmore and Langhorne, PA. The video will be directed
by Jay Bones and is designed to be a performance video. "Hollowed
Out" is taken from of the bands brand new disc "Behind Eyes
of Hatred", recently released by CRASH MUSIC. The record was produced
by James Murphy (of Death, Testament, Obituary, etc. fame) and features
two guest solos by Murphy as well as a guest drum performance by Matt
Thompson (King Diamond) on 6 of the 12 blistering tracks.
In other news, SBT has launched their brand new site at www.singlebullettheory.net.
The site was designed by Brett Worley at merkabadesign.net.
The brand new site features sound clips, news, touring schedules as
well as an online store and a mailing list sign on. Stop by and have
a look.
- UK-Based Rock Newcomers REACTOR Break Into American Marketplace via
AXE Deodorant Commercial
Band Utilizes ‘Cottage Industry’ Tactics to Launch Career
In an age when competition is extraordinarily fierce for young rock
bands to bring attention to themselves and achieve desirable promotion,
bands are more frequently being forced to look ‘outside the box’
for early recognition. The Internet became the initial tool for immediate
promotion, and through various networking schemes, new acts were becoming
involved with video game soundtracks, radio promotions, and relentless
local touring. Television can now be added to the list of promotional
possibilities, as Britain’s REACTOR are quickly making a name
for themselves by supplying the music to a rather memorable television
commercial for the new AXE Deodorant Body Spray (www.theaxeeffect.com)
which airs nationwide on Spike TV. The music is also featured on the
website’s news page.
Making waves in a similar method to Andrew WK’s origins (who was
launched via Expedia.com and Kit Kat commercials) is all part of REACTOR’s
plan for growth. The band was entered into a painstaking process of
elimination that began with nearly 1,000 artists which was whittled
down over the course of 8 weeks. REACTOR was eventually chosen for their
originality and dramatic flair to be the ‘spokes-band’ for
Axe’s debut multi-million dollar worldwide advertising campaign.
Multi-instrumentalist & vocalist David O’Brien addresses the
excitement, “The commercial is a great opportunity for us, as
it exposes millions of people to our music each day, and we’re
really looking to take advantage of this! It’s an interesting
time, as record companies are finding it more difficult to sell records,
and we concluded from this that you have to come up with new tactics
to survive in this new culture. We’re creating a number of ‘guerrilla
tactics’ to promote ourselves, and we are utilizing our efforts
to drive as many people to our website, as that is our hub of commerce.”
The song, “Feeling The Love” is also the first single from
the band’s forthcoming debut effort, expected to be released in
Spring 2005. The quartet recorded the bulk of the album on a studio
barge on River Thames, owned by a friend of the band’s who is
currently directing a new movie, entitled The Pirates, starring Beth
Winslet (Kate Winslet’s younger sibling). This is also near the
barge studio Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour owns. There was a slight
embarrassment at one point when the band had to borrow money from the
producer to fill up the electricity meter, so they could keep recording!
All drum tracks were recorded at The Chapel Studio in Lincolnshire,
the studio of choice to fellow UK rockers The Darkness. REACTOR also
utilized the production guidance of Kit Woolven (known for his work
with Thin Lizzy, Cradle of Filth, and the aforementioned Gilmour), though
the band is also becoming recognized for the modern ‘cottage industry’
they’ve created. O’Brien explains, “We have to do
a lot of stuff ourselves. We’re all studio musicians as regular
work, so materials are readily available. We also learned to and built
our own website. The only major tour we have completed to date was with
REEF [fellow countrymen, who incidentally broke out through an ad for
the Sony Minidisc player], as we’ve been concentrating our efforts
and resources to record the album and work out a distribution deal.”
A diverse effort, as evidenced by the soundclips currently available
at www.reactorsite.com, REACTOR is more than a band with a catchy single.
The quartet is a unification of diversity, with each member a multi-instrumentalist
influenced by musical styles that span the globe. It’s a rich,
emotional and rocking album; very full of flavor, yet balanced with
a accent on ‘fun’. O’Brien continues, “It’s
quite useful for everyone to be so versatile, as we can each have a
go with every instrument and come up with new ideas. I sing, play keyboards,
Indian flute and various flutes & whistles. I also do a lot of throat
singing, derived from India & Mongolia. Additionally, I do a lot
of music work on MAC & PC computers, writing computer programs designed
to write music on their own. I build all kinds of odd machines that
make music and make electronic music sound less electronic & more
organic - humanized.”
REACTOR’s musicianship and unyielding work ethic has already seized
the attention of Fay Woolven at In Phase Management, renowned for her
work with the sonic hell raisers Cradle Of Filth, who quickly took the
band under her wing. “Reactor are extremely talented songwriters
and musicians. They have all studied music at college and are passionate
about it,” she attests, “There is too much ‘manufactured’
music out there, especially in the UK, and it feels good to give real
musicians a chance to break through.”
O’Brien comments on the seemingly unconventional pairing with,
“Being known for working with Cradle of Filth was not a deterrent
for us; we were actually pleased, as we know she will not be easily
shocked.”
With a strong marketing campaign currently underway, label support is
sure to commence very soon.
AXE television commercial can be viewed here: www.haveyougotthetouch.com
REACTOR videos and soundclips are available here: www.reactorsite.com
- AGNOSTIC FRONT joins the Nuclear Blast family!
Spread the news! NY Hardcore legends Agnostic Front have signed a recording
deal with Nuclear Blast worldwide! The official release date for the
very anticipated Another Voice is set for November 22nd in Europe and
January 5th for the United States! With Matt Henderson (Madball/AF)
on guitars! and Production by Zeuss and Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed), AF
is offering their meanest, nastiest and sheerly brutal NYHC Anthems!
The enhanced CD will including a ripping band performance and a guest
appearance by Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed) captured by acclaimed director
Dale "Rage" Resteghini (Fear Factory, Hatebreed, God Forbid,
Shadows Fall, Candiria...) Other special guest vocal appearances on
"Another Voice" will include Scott Vogel (Terror) and Karl
Buechner (Earth Crisis)" ... Spread the news!!!!!!!!! Metal
Maniacs
- Nuclear Blast and MANOWAR go separate ways - On 1st of September,
both Nuclear Blast and Manowar decided to end the successful cooperation.
Both parties couldn't agree on the conditions of a new cooperation.
We wish Manowar furthermore a successful future and thank them for a
great time!
Legal NB downloads!
Now that iTunes USA does offer a lot of NB highlights since a while
and many metal fans there used this service frequently, we'll soon publish
all NB releases in Europe, too.
Nuclear Blast will start on September 13th to distribute the whole audio
catalogue via Warner Music in Germany (AOL, Musicload, Media Markt,
CTS etc.) and Europe-wide via iTunes. With the start of the Nuclear
Blast download repertoire, there'll also be an exclusive download sampler
available, which features several rare tracks of the Nuclear Blast top
acts!
http://www.nuclearblast.de/
Metal
Maniacs
- MORTICIAN / AKERCOCKE / VEHEMENCE TOUR DATES
OCTOBER
1 - HOUSTON TX - FAT CATS (w/ DEMONSEED)
4216 Washington Ave. Houston, Texas 77007
www.clubfatcat.com
6 - LOS ANGELES, CA - THE KEY CLUB (w/ IMPALED)
9039 Sunset Blvd.W Hollywood, CA 90069
www.keyclub.com
7 - CORONA, CA - THE SHOWCASE THEATER (w/ IMPALED)
683 South Main St Corona, CA 92882
www.showcasetheatre.com
9 - SAN FRANCISCO,CA - THE POUND SF (w/ IMPALED)
100 CARGO WAY (PIER 96) SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124
www.poundsf.com
11 - PORTLAND,OR - CONAN'S
3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Portland OR 97214
www.conans-pub.com
12 - SEATTLE,WA - CATWALK
172 South Washington St. Seattle Washington 98134
www.catwalkclub.net
17 - ST. PAUL MN. - STATION 4 (w/ THE CHASM, ANAL BLAST, TERATISM)
(Formerly The Lab)
201 E 4th Street St. Paul, MN 55101
www.station-4.com
18 - CHICAGO,IL - JOE'S (w/ THE CHASM, MANTICORE)
940 W. Weed St. Chicago IL
www.joesbar.com
19 - CINCINNATI,OH - SUDSY MALONE'S (w/ MANTICORE, ESTUARY)
2626 Vine Street Cincinati, OH 45219
www.sudsys.com
24 - PHILADELPHIA, PA - THE KHYBER (w/ POLTERCHRIST)
56 South 2nd Street Philadelphia PA 19106
www.thekhyber.com
AKERCOCKE / VEHEMENCE
27 - TORONTO CANADA - CLUB ROCKIT
120 Church Street Toronto, Ontario CAN
www.clubrockit.com
Metal
Maniacs
- ZAO & MISERY SIGNALS W/ DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN (9/30-11/4)
Ferret Record label-mates, ZAO & Misery Signals have been invited
on Dillinger Escape Plan's sure to sell out fall tour. The coveted slot
is the latest in a spout of good news for both groups who have new albums
out. Influential metal-core outfit, ZAO have just released their seventh
and most fully-realized LP, The Funeral Of God. The cinematic concept
album continues to climb the CMJ chart and had the biggest first week
of any album over the band's decade-long career. Rapturous reviews and
extended features in Alternative Press, Kerrang and Revolver have revealed
critical recognition as well. A drawn-from-''Donnie Darko,'' blindfolds
and blood video (''The Rising End'') should fan the flames even further
when it premieres on TV's this September.
Misery Signals are living high, straight off their sweltering debut
album Of Malice & The Magnum Heart but after years of hard work
and due paying. The group's album produced by prog-metal warlord Devin
Townsend is dense with complex hardcore, syrupy biker metal riffage
and bestial but sincere vocals. Touring non-stop with artists such as
Bury Your Dead, Six Feet Under and Premonitions of War have established
the group in hardcore and metal circles. Revolver, Metal Maniacs and
Terrorizer have all profiled the group as a player in the all star team
of heavy music. Misery Signals was formed from the ashes of 7 Angels
7 Plagues who were building a big name for themselves when they stopped
and Compromise, a Canadian straight edge group that disbanded when a
drunk driver hit their tour van, killing both guitarists. The scarring
event is the lyrical demon expunged throughout the group's debut by
frontman Jesse Zaraska.
Pittsburgh PA's ZAO have created an army of imitators with each album
and just as quickly dispensed them by changing their sound. Throughout
the group's career, they have become known for morphing their sound
and line-up, which has created pockets of fanatics who argue over the
significance over one album or another. The new album is the first where
the entire group has written together. The theme of self-imposed demise
of the supreme being and it's effect on earth, the afterlife and the
universe came to imposing vocalist, Dan Weyandt in a dream. Also on
board for the tour is Every Time I Die who are also part of the Ferret
roster.
All dates w/ Dillinger Escape Plan, Every Time I Die & Misery Signals
9/29 South Amboy, NJ - Krome
9/30 New Haven, CT - Toadâ's Place
10/3 Worcester, MA - Palladium
10/4 Detroit, MI - St. Andrew's
10/5 Chicago, IL - Metro
10/6 Indianapolis, IN - Emerson Theater
10/7 Sauget, IL - Pop's
10/9 Kalamazoo, MI - Club Soda
10/10 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
10/12 Omaha, NE - Sokol Underground
10/13 Denver, CO - Ogden Theater
10/15 Seattle, WA - Showbox
10/17 Portland, OR - Meow Meow
10/18 San Francisco, CA - Slim's
10/19 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey
10/20 Tucson, AZ - The Rock
10/22 Dallas, TX - Trees
10/23 Austin, TX - Emo's
10/24 Houston, TX - Meridian
10/25 Little Rock, AR - Vino's
10/26 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
10/28 Lake Buena Vista, FL - House Of Blues
10/29 Charlotte, NC - Tremont Music Hall
10/30 Cincinnatti, OH - Bogart's
10/31 Pittsburgh, PA - The World
11/1 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
11/3 Washington DC - Black Cat
11/4 New York, NY - B.B. King's
Metal
Maniacs
- AMMIT main man CCY finished writing and rehearsing new material,
and recently recruited other musicians to shortly record the new full
length for FBP, tentatively called ‘Hammer of darkness’.
- BARBATOS will perform its first-ever live gig in Japan, on September
25th in Nagoya.
- EQUIMANTHORN sorcerer Ekimmu Abstractum just released a collection
of solo works as YAMATU. In related news, www.equimanthorn.com
is up and running.
- INCRIMINATED will enter the studio next week to record new material,
to appear on the limited split 7” with Polish maniacs THRONEUM
early next year.
- INFINITED HATE has very recently found a drummer for live performances
and the recording of the second full length, ‘Heaven termination’.
- INTERNAL SUFFERING successfully finished the Brutal Domination US
tour, with acts like INCINERATE, EMETH and STABWOUND.
- MANEGARM will enter Studio Underground on October 4th to record their
new full length ‘Vredens tid (the age of war).
- MORBOSIDAD recently recorded and sent in their track for the NECROVORE
tribute LP.
- IMPERIA's debut album 'The Ancient Dance Of Qetesh' will be released
on the 1st of October in the BeNeLux. The rest of the world will follow
shortly after…
|
| September
23rd, 2004 |
- Kevin Zugschwert Releases Over The Limit
Aurora, CO, August 05, 2004
Kevin Zugschwert releases his full-length debut record entitled "Over
The Limit".
An instrumental rock album, featuring melodic and technical guitar stunts
with a powerful rhythm section. Plus, additional textures of piano and
synthesizers with acoustic guitar. Walking a line between the soaring
leads of Joe Satriani and the skull crushing riffs of Testament, Kevin
Zugschwert gives instrumental rock a different and unique perspective.
Recorded in Colorado and mastered earlier this year.
Kevin Zugschwert is a marvelous, metal guitar virtuoso with a keen ear
for song structure, melody and atmospherics. Not to mention the almighty
riff itself. This is high quality instrumental rock with a powerful
rhythm section; keen to back up the gorgeous lead and palpable riffs
with a tight backdrop. The fast paced, catchy as hell opener; "Into
The Night" features a marvelous intro/chorus melody that drives
the song“s appealingly haunting aggression - contrasting well
with the atmospherics of the far darker; "Love Hate".
"Fire Dance" is a very progressive song with strong drumming
and teasing guitar licks whereas the piano led; "Pearl In The Sky"
offers a sanctity with it“s "calm in the eye of the storm"
intermission slot and demeanor. There are plenty of 80's metal influences
- Some accessible, some less so. "Chasing A Dream" is one
of the more accessible, with powerful lead guitar that harkens back
to the 80“s block busting movie "Top Gun".
With songs like the haunting, almost Latin flavoured; "Black Rose"
in attendance; Kevin Zugschwert has produced an instrumental record
that could even convert those amongst us completely loathed to sit and
try and enjoy 10 tracks of instrumental fannying about. However Zugschwert
has struck a balance between catchy structures, power house riffs and
an entertainment factor that defies the need for vocals and lyrics.
If you are a fan of the timeless alternative metal/rock sound - checking
out this record is a must; you will be utterly gob smacked at just how
engaging and on occasion relaxing this talent filled album can make
you - with such a mix of beauty; "Sandras Song" and aggression;
"Fire Dance" there really is a song for every occasion.
Standout Tracks: "Into The Night“, "Fire Dance",
"Pearl In the Sky" & "Black Rose".
www.kevinzugschwert.com
- TONY IOMMI AND GLENN HUGHES RELEASING 'THE 1996 DEP SESSIONS'
ON SANCTUARY RECORDS ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2004
FIRST AUTHORIZED RELEASE OF THIS MUSIC FROM THE LEGENDARY BLACK SABBATH
AND DEEP PURPLE VETERANS
When monumental musical talents collide, the result is magic. Tony Iommi
and Glenn Hughes offer proof in the form of the album 'The 1996 DEP
Sessions' set for release by Sanctuary Records on September 28, 2004.
The album is being released under the banner Iommi With Glenn Hughes.
'The 1996 DEP Sessions' features eight electrifying songs recorded by
these two legends. Iommi is the lead guitarist in Black Sabbath, the
groundbreaking originators of pure heavy metal; he has led every lineup
of the band. Iommi is one of the most influential and widely recognized
guitarists in the history of rock music. Hughes was a member of Trapeze
before achieving worldwide superstardom as the co-lead vocalist and
bass guitarist in Deep Purple in the mid-1970s. He has enjoyed a prolific
and diverse solo career.
The two friends had worked together a decade before on 1986's 'Seventh
Star' album, which the record company at the time credited to Black
Sabbath Featuring Tony Iommi for marketing purposes. The underrated
'Seventh Star' certainly had its highlights, but it featured a then-contemporary
1980s sound. 'The 1996 DEP Sessions' has a much grittier, forceful,
timeless sound.
The eight tracks on 'The 1996 DEP Sessions' are: "Gone," "From
Another World," "Don't You Tell Me," "Don't Drag
The River," "Fine," "Time Is The Healer," "I'm
Not The Same Man" and "It Falls Through Me."
The story of how this project came together began when Iommi was working
on a solo album and he asked Hughes to collaborate with him as a singer
and songwriter. They worked on demos and recording for most of them
commenced at DEP Studios in Birmingham, England. DEP is a renowned facility
owned by the British reggae band UB40. Among those joining in were joined
by keyboardists Don Airey (a respected veteran who has played with Rainbow
and Ozzy Osbourne and is currently a member of Deep Purple) and Geoff
Nicholls (who played on many Black Sabbath albums in the 1980s as well
as 'Seventh Star').
No mixing was done at the time and Iommi and Hughes pursued other projects.
They still kept in touch personally and occasionally brought up the
subject of finishing and releasing those songs recorded in 1996. Unfortunately,
a poor-quality bootleg CD made from an incomplete cassette surfaced.
Earlier this year, Iommi reviewed the tapes at his home studio with
the idea of completing them and releasing the songs so that fans could
enjoy this music in finished form. New drum tracks were recorded by
Jimmy Copley, who played on Iommi's acclaimed, all-star-laden 2000 solo
album 'Iommi.' Original engineer Mike Exeter and Iommi mixed the 1996
tracks and stripped them down to the basics to help add to the clean,
raw feel.
These songs have percolated and ripened over eight years. Now collected
as 'The 1996 DEP Sessions,' they are taking their rightful place among
the finest, most exciting work Iommi and Hughes have ever done.
www.iommi.com
www.glennhughes.com
- KICK AXE RETURNS WITH NEW STUDIO ALBUM 'KICK AXE IV' ON
SONG HAUS MUSIC ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004
'KICK AXE IV' IS THE FIRST ALBUM FROM
THE CANADIAN HARD ROCKERS SINCE 1986
Kick Axe, one of the best and most successful heavy rock bands to burst
out of Canada in the 1980s, returns with 'Kick Axe IV,' its first album
of new material in 18 years. 'Kick Axe IV' will be released on September
7, 2004, by Song Haus Music.
The band includes vocalist Gary Langen, guitarist Larry Gillstrom, guitarist
Raymond Harvey, bassist Victor Langen and drummer Brian Gillstrom. All
of the members contribute vocal harmonies.
The 14 songs on 'Kick Axe IV' are: "Right Now," "Rockin
Daze," "Consolation," "Turn To Stone," "Do
You Know," "Who Knows Ya," "Woe," "Time,"
"Slip Inside My Dream," "Who Says," "Rock N
Roll Dog," "Black Heart," "City Lights" and
"The Only Ones Here."
"We always felt like the band had unfinished business. Every couple
of years we would talk about getting back together, and now we are finally
able to do that," says Larry Gillstrom. "It took us two years
to put 'Kick Axe IV' together. There were a lot of songs to choose from."
The band was originally formed in Regina, Saskatchewan, in 1976 by Larry
Gillstrom and brothers Victor Langen and Gary Langen. Ray Harvey soon
came on board and by early 1978 the band relocated to Vancouver, British
Columbia.
"The move to Vancouver really changed our outlook and we were able
to build up a great local following," Larry Gillstrom says.
Gary Langen left the band before the end of 1979. In 1980, Larry Gillstrom's
brother Brian Gillstrom joined on drums and Charles McNary climbed aboard
as lead vocalist. Kick Axe was still not entirely happy with its lineup,
and national advertisements resulted in Milwaukee native George Criston
earning the lead vocalist slot, and he relocated to Vancouver in 1982.
Kick Axe signed with Pasha Records and recorded its 1984 debut 'Vices'
with producer Spencer Proffer. "Heavy Metal Shuffle" was a
modest hit from the album, which very nearly went gold after a well-received
tour opening for Judas Priest. The follow-up album, 'Welcome To The
Club,' was issued in 1985. The band also recorded two songs for the
'Transformers: The Movie' soundtrack but record company brass were afraid
the band's name was not suitable for the young audience, so they were
credited as Spectre General. 'Rock The World' was released in 1986 but
severe business-related problems going back to 'Welcome To The Club'
caused Kick Axe to fade away by 1988. But the band never formally broke
up.
The members all stayed in touch and many remained involved in various
aspects of the music business.
"Several of us still played in groups just for fun, or wrote songs
for other bands. I got into developing software and video games and
have been fortunate enough to be successful at it. My brother Brian
started a limousine company that's now the biggest one in Vancouver,"
Larry Gillstrom says. "After leaving the band initially, Gary played
with bands in clubs. Raymond had left the band before 'Rock The World'
and he joined the Vancouver band Rock & Hyde, which was Bob Rock's
old band. Bob went on to produce albums for Motley Crue and Metallica."
Awareness of Kick Axe never waned: the first two albums were reissued
on CD to brisk sales and positive reviews; copies of 'Rock The World'
have sold on eBay for $150 (U.S. dollars); and several fan-created web
sites have been started, including one in the Czech Republic (www.kickaxe.wz.cz).
'Kick Axe IV' is a deeply satisfying album for Kick Axe because they
were able to translate their accumulated wisdom into richly rewarding
songs.
Upon the reformation of Kick Axe two years ago, Gary Langen came on
board. Criston was not able to participate due to his behind-the-scenes
commitments with the likes of Sarah McLachlan, Dido and Avril Lavigne.
With the exception of Gary Langen, the lineup on 'Kick Axe IV' is the
same as 'Vices' and 'Welcome To The Club.'
Kick Axe plans to hit the road again for an extensive tour. The band
has already performed one highly successful, eagerly awaited reunion
show. It took place in August 2004 in Regina, Saskatchewan, their hometown,
which also happened to be the last city they performed in during their
original run.
Longtime allies within the media and radio have encouraged Kick Axe's
return. The band plans to stick around.
"There is no foreseeable end at the moment. Tasting it again is
very enticing," Larry Gillstrom says. "We went into this without
preconceived notions of how the music would sound. 'Kick Axe IV' is
very emotional and from the heart. We all got what we wanted out of
the album."
For all the latest Kick Axe information, including tour date announcements,
visit www.kickaxe.net.
- “BLACKEST OF THE BLACK” TOUR 2004
STARTS OCTOBER 27TH IN LAS VEGAS, NV
HOLLYWOOD (September 3, 2004) – Dates are currently being confirmed
for this years "Blackest Of The Black" 2004 Tour. The first
show is October 27th in Las Vegas at The Joint in the Hard Rock Café
Hotel. The tour then travels to Hollywood, CA for the Greek Theatre
show on October 28th. More tour dates will be revealed next week.
As this may be the last show for Glenn Danzig to tour as DANZIG, he
explains about the show and line-up with former MISFITS band-mate DOYLE.
“To do this right, I invited DOYLE to join DANZIG on Stage at
"Blackest Of The Black" for a Special Guest set. This is the
first time we will be performing on stage together in 20 years. It's
the closest thing to a MISFITS Reunion anyone is ever going to see!”
DANZIG’s new album “Circle Of Snakes” was released
August 24th, 2004. This year’s "Blackest Of The Black"
looks to be an Epic and Darkly monumental event.
BLACKEST OF THE BLACK 2004
DANZIG
w/Special Guest DOYLE(x-MISFITS)
MAYHEM
DEVIL DRIVER
DEATH ANGEL (Reunion)
EYES OF FIRE
- Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford stood in for Ozzy Osbourne at the
Camden, NJ Ozzfest stop when the BLACK SABBATH singer was forced to
sit out due to bronchitis. Metal
Update
- For the release of "Graveyard Classics 2" SIX FEET UNDER
will record AC/DC's infamous 20 times platinum release "Back In
Black" in its entirety. Metal
Update
- Drummer Dirge Rep (Orcustus, Enslaved, Gehenna) and guitarist Teloch
(Orcustus, Nidingr) will be session members for GORGOROTH's upcoming
European and Mexican tours. Metal
Update
- BOLT THROWER vocalist Dave Ingram has left the band due to "health
and personal problems" - recording of the next album will now be
delayed until a replacement is found. Metal
Update
- Bassist Johan Bergebäck has replaced Rickard Cabeza in DISMEMBER.
Metal
Update
- Bassist Jon Torres (Thunderhead, Laaz Rockit, Angel Witch) has replaced
Mike 'Yaz' Jastremski in HEATHEN. Metal
Update
- ION VEIN original bassist Brian Gordon has returned to the fold. Metal
Update
- MUSHROOMHEAD vocalist Jason Mann has left the group. Metal
Update
- SEVER THE FALLEN has called it quits. Metal
Update
- ROCK HARD & METAL HEART presents:
GRAVE DIGGER - "the last supper tour 2005" first part
special guest : Astral Doors
very special guest : tbc11.02.05 D-Andernach - Juz-Live -Club
12.02.05 D-Langen/b.Frankfurt - Stadthalle
13.02.05 D-Ludwigsburg - Rockfabrik
14.02.05 D-Berlin - C-Club
15.02.05 D-Hamburg - Markthalle
16.02.05 DK-Cobenhagen - The Rock
17.02.05 D-Bochum - Matrix
18.02.05 D-Lichtenfels - Stadthalle
19.02.05 D-Glauchau - Alte Spinnerei
20.02.05 D-München - New Backstage
21.02.05 I-Mailand - Transilvania
22.02.05 CH-Pratteln - Z7
www.grave-digger.de
- SLAYER'S ARAYA TREATED AND RELEASED FOR KIDNEY STONE IN NORTH CAROLINA
Ailment Won't Affect Fall Jagermeister Music Tour
Tom Araya, SLAYER's bassist/vocalist, was treated and released from
a Myrtle Beach, NC hospital on Wednesday after experiencing severe pain
due to a kidney stone. Slayer - who has had to cancel only one show
in the band's twenty-one year career - was unable to play that evening's
Myrtle Beach headlining "Offest" concert, but did play yesterday's
Ozzfest show in Tampa, FL. With the final Ozzfest show on Saturday in
West Palm Beach cancelled due to Hurricane Frances, Araya will be able
to go home early and receive further treatment from his personal physician.
Slayer will headline this fall's Jagermeister Music Tour due to kick
off on October 29 in Springfield, MO. Metal
Maniacs
- STRAPPING YOUNG LAD STUDIO UPDATE
Maniacal Canadian extremists STRAPPING YOUNG LAD have just entered Armoury
Studios in Vancouver to record the follow-up to their critically acclaimed
2002 release, SYL. Devin Townsend (vocals, guitars) checks in with the
following studio update.
"Here's a heads up from the Dev, speaking on behalf of the STRAPPING
camp. We recently put in a long touring year and we all went through
many changes as a result. We took this year for everyone to get their
shit together on a personal and business level and really analyzed what
it was about, what SYL represents that makes it (to us) so powerful.
We toured with Meshuggah last year, and everyone really connected. Gene
Hoglan (Death, Testament) and I saw the musical connection established
by those guys and really wanted to see if we could finally do the same.
It seems the more shit you get over and out into the open in terms of
a band relationship, the more you realize that the only job we have
to do and do well is rock. And not in a 'group hug, lets all hold hands
and pray' kind of way, but more to do with the fact that we spend a
fuck of a lot of time together, not discussing something as trivial
as maybe somebody's stinky feet.
Christian and Raymond (Fear Factory) seemed to mirror this connection
when we met up with them during the writing of their latest album, and
it got Gene and I thinking...'why don't we explore the freaks within'
and try to make something really unique. And thus, after 7 months of
preparation, we have finally started recording what we think of as being
a new chapter in the SYL evolution. I personally was really discouraged
by 'metal' lyrical themes. I relate to anger and anxiety, but I'm not
really free-floating in terms of it anymore. Life gets pretty complicated
with mortgages, relationships, age, death, family, children and money.
These are now the things I find myself and the people in my age group
more focused on now.
For a few years, I've had the idea of the ultimate metal band, and after
SYL (the album) laid the re-establishing framework coupled with the
hectic touring season last year and our kick ass new DVD, we figured
it was time to put it all together. We wanted to really be objective
with our catalog and new material in terms of what was below par, or
'songs to illustrate an effect' when I think of SYL. I now want to think
of us in terms of 'extreme music' as well as extreme metal. We are now
in a position (if we kick ass...and we do) to become something really
fucking neat.
Metal gets a bad rap. The reason a lot of us are involved in it is there
are few ways artistically to convey this amount of tangible EXTREME
emotion than heavy music. Its bluntness in terms of the conveying of
raw emotion is the key I think to its appeal. We want STRAPPING to be
appreciated by jazz dudes, classical dudes or whomever. We're musicians
first who choose to play extreme metal / music because of it's ability
to really make an impact when it needs to. Times are fairly strange.
STRAPPING is a forum for a whole bunch of friends and artists to come
together and FUCK SHIT UP...with the best sounds, production, tunes,
drums, vox, guitars, bass and keys we can possibly do. We don't want
to please anybody, but we want to give people panic attacks and temporary
mania (catharsis!!!).
We entered the Armoury Studios in Vancouver about a week back, and Gene
played the best drums of his career. His drumming on this record is
fully unique, and we have been filming a 'making of' the record for
the digipak release.
Song titles (so far)
Imperial
Skeksis
Shitstorm
Love?
Shine
Possesions
Landscape
Zen
What's new, pusscat? (trust us, it's cool... god help us to never make
a video for it or we'll be fucked for the rest of our career...)
Stay tuned, SYL muthurfuggers."
www.strappingyounglad.com
Metal
Maniacs
- SUPERCHRIST Reunites With Drummer, Signs New Deals
Chicago-based independent heavy metal act SUPERCHRIST officially announced
its reunion with longtime drummer Whorepuncher last week, ending a lengthy
and fruitless audition process. "It's a best-case scenario,"
confirmed bassist/vocalist Chris Black. "[Whorepuncher] has been
pounding the drums harder than ever during his time away from the band.
We'll be able to basically pick up where we left off, but with even
more power and none of that downtime waiting for a new bandmate to catch
up." Whorepuncher left SUPERCHRIST in November of 2003 to concentrate
on CULT OF DAATH's upcoming full-length release via Blood Fire Death
Records. He will now be an active member of both bands.
The announcement comes on the heels of two finalized worldwide CD deals.
Autopsy Kitchen Records of Schererville, Indiana will issue South of
Hell, third and most recent of SUPERCHRIST's highly-touted self-produced
albums. Guitarist Hank Bitchlover made his enthusiasm clear, boasting
that "South of Hell is SUPERCHRIST at its best. Once the CD is
in stores, people everywhere will notice. The first two albums were
great too." South of Hell was recorded in late 2003 and was only
available previously as a CD-R directly from the band.
The release coincides with an agreement with Boston-area independent
Bestial Onslaught Productions for the release of Heavy Metal Tonight,
a live album recorded with a small but rowdy audience in May. The album
features 13 of the band's biggest hits from their catalog. "The
sound quality is excellent," commented Chris Black, "although
some members of the crowd might be a little too close for comfort. But
those are the people who come to the show, get drunk and buy our albums,
so it really doesn't matter a lick. We actually took the stuff to a
studio with the intention of cleaning certain things up, but the tapes
got destroyed in the process. So what you're hearing is the real thing.
I guess that's what we get for our ulterior motives! Or maybe it's because
we signed the contract on Friday the 13th."
Labelboss Bestial Alex Onslaught added, "To experience SUPERCHRIST,
you must witness them in the live element, and this album gets really
fuckin' close to a real SUPERCHRIST show. You'll practically smell the
sweat, taste the beer, and feel yourself getting pushed against the
barrier when you listen to Heavy Metal Tonight!"
Heavy Metal Tonight and South of Hell will be available early in the
fall from any reputable independent metal retailer and a host of underground
distributors. SUPERCHRIST expects to make select live appearances during
the fall before commencing work on its fourth studio album late in the
year.
Album discography:
Dark & Dirty (2002)
Back & Black (2003)
South of Hell (2004)
Heavy Metal Tonight (2004)
www.SUPERCHRIST.net
Metal
Maniacs
- Florida Death Metal titans, HATE ETERNAL, have entered frontman Erik
Rutan's own Mana Recording Studio to record their third album. Expect
nothing short of utterly phenomenal musicianship in the form of inhuman
speed and unholy heaviness... in other words, the next landmark album
in Death Metal, due for release in February 2005. Metal
Maniacs
- DEICIDE ON TOUR
Sept
16 - Culture Room - Ft Lauderdale, FL
17 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
18 - Jesters Pub - Fayetteville, NC
19 - Thunderdome - Baltimore, MD
20 - BB King Blues Club - New York, NY
21 - The Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA
22 - Webster Theatre - Hartford, CT
23 - Mr Smalls - Pittsburgh, PA
24 - Bogarts - Cincinnati, OH
25 - The Arena - East Dubuque, IL
26 - Ascot Room - Minneapolis, MN
27 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
28 - Ranch Bowl - Omaha, NE
29 - Bluebird Theatre - Denver, CO
Oct
01 - Graceland - Seattle, WA
02 - Roseland Theatre - Portland, OR
03 - The Pound - San Francisco, CA
04 - 4th and B - San Diego, CA
05 - House of Blues - Los Angeles, CA
06 - Galaxy Theatre - Santa Ana, CA
07 - House of Blues - Las Vegas, NV
08 - Sunshine Theatre - Albuquerque, NM
09 - Bricktown Live - Oklahoma City, OK
10 - Sanctuary - San Antonio, TX
11 - El Palacio Ballroom - Corpus Christi, TX
12 - Mary Jane's - Houston, TX
13 - Boomerz Boiler Room - Seminole, FL
Metal
Maniacs
- News from the Subterranean Masquerade camp:
"After nearly two months of intense recordings we finally finished
the tracking and will be starting mixing this weekend with Grammy award
producer Neil Kernon at the RaxTrax studios in Chicago. It is almost
impossible for me to even start explain what is going on in this album
as we blended so many genres and recorded so many instruments, from
Jazz to R&B, extreme metal, folk, progressive rock and super psychedelic
passages we have mange to create the ultimate Schizophrenic piece of
metal art. The album also featuring tons of guest musicians including
large choir, strings, percussions, singers, Horns orchestra and more!
We recorded 9 tracks for this album with overall running time of 70
minutes, we might cut a track from the album to be featured on a limited
edition of future EP, track listing: Suspended Animation Dreams, That
Night, No Place like Home, Kind of a Blur, The Rock N Roll Preacher,
Wolf among Sheep, Six strings to cover fear, Awake & X
More news soon! Best!"
Tomer
Metal
Maniacs
- IMPALED NAZARENE RECORD LIVE ALBUM!
Message from the band:
"Impaled Nazarene will record a live album in Italy between 17-19.9.2004.
We will tape three shows (Milan, Catania, Ascoli). Recoding will be
done by our sound engineer Tapio Pennanen and will be assisted by Erkki
Saviharju.
We are celebrating 15 years as a band next year so it is about fucking
time to do a professional live CD which will also serve as a best-off
for those not so familiar with our material. We are practising total
of 28 to 30 songs for the shows and the setlist will cover our whole
career, including our 7" EPs! The live CD will be mixed at SONIC
PUMP studios by mr. Pennanen. Expect early next year release, it will
be out on OSMOSE PRODUCTIONS." -- Mika Luttinen. Metal
Maniacs
- NAPALM DEATH SET SIGHTS ON U.S. TOUR AND FORTHCOMING RELEASES
Napalm Death will be releasing their Century Media debut, Leaders Not
Followers: Part 2, on October 5th. The follow-up to 1999’s 5-track
Leaders Not Followers EP, Part 2 contains 19 full-bodied tracks, covers
from bands like Anti-Cimex, Discharge, Hellhammer, Kreator and more.
For more information on the album and to preview cover art click here:
www.centurymedia.com/bands/Current/napalmdeath.htm.
Additionally, Napalm Death recently announced dates for their fall US
tour with Cannibal Corpse, Vader, Kataklysm and Goatwhore, for tour
dates visit the Century Media website: http://www.centurymedia.com/.
The band are currently in England preparing to record their forthcoming
studio album. Commenting on why the band chose to record in Wales, vocalist
Barney Greenway had this to say: “The studio is called Foel Studios
[http://www.foelstudio.co.uk/]
in the town of Foel, North Wales (Porcupine Tree, Ozric Tentacles),
and is owned by the original bass player in Hawkwind. We decided to
record here because it's pretty isolated out in the countryside, so
there are minimal distractions. We feel that good use of studio time
is pivotal and where as some bands might sit around taking things easy
for periods, we really work intensively. In the studio, it's actually
better to be slightly stressed and on edge for us because it's a good
way to capture that kind of on the edge live vibe, which in turn gives
us the extra thrust. Personally, I’m never happy with a verse
of vocals if I think that I can squeeze a last drop of rawness out of
my voice. Sometimes I probably attack things too much, but intensity
is the key for me. I like to think we've done enough trips to the studio
now to know what we're doing, yet you can never be entirely prepared
for the unexpected where, say, the desk might burst into flames or something.
Russ Russell will be producing, as he's a very trustworthy man at the
knobs for us now as well as being a mate. We're confident he'll do a
great job on the new stuff, which is sounding spectacularly savage -
a good mix of the very best bits from the last two albums.” Metal
Maniacs
- SLAYER'S "STILL REIGNING" DVD NEARS COMPLETION
On-Stage "Bloodbath" Highlights "Raining Blood"
UK/EUROPEAN CO-HEADLINE TOUR WITH SLIPKNOT IMMINENT
SLAYER TO HEADLINE THIS FALL'S U.S. JAGERMEISTER MUSIC TOUR
SLAYER is putting the finishing touches on Still Reigning, the band's
brand new DVD set for release in late October (American Recordings/UME).
The DVD will open with the the band's 1986, 28-minute benchmark album
Reign In Blood performed live in its entirety by Slayer's original line-up
- Tom Araya (vocals, bass), guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman,
and drummer Dave Lombardo, who permanently rejoined the band in 2003.
During the last 45-seconds of the album's final song "Raining Blood,"
blood fell from the "heavens," completely drenching the band,
their instruments, and the stage. Hanneman unintentionally avoided the
bloodbath as he stepped offstage for just a moment to handle a problem
with his guitar, and missed the cue.
Still Reigning will also offer bonus material including live performances
of Slayer classics such as "War Ensemble," "Hallowed
Point," "Necrophobic," "Mandatory Suicide,"
"Spill The Blood," "Hell Awaits," and "South
of Heaven," as well as exclusive interviews and backstage footage.
The DVD, which runs approximately 70-minutes and will retail for $14.98,
was directed by Dean Karr (Iron Maiden, Marilyn Manson) and shot this
past July at the Civic Center in Augusta, ME.
Slayer will follow Ozzfest with a four-week, 21-city tour of the UK
and Europe beginning September 22 in Geneva, Switzerland, co-headlining
with Slipknot. Slayer will then headline this Fall’s Jagermeister
Music Tour kicking off October 29 in Springfield, MO. Killswitch Engage
and Mastodon will anchor the bill. Confirmed dates, cities and venues
will be announced after Labor Day.
Tour dates for the Slayer/Slipknot co-headline tour of the UK and Europe
are as follows:
SEPTEMBER
22 Arena, Geneva, Switzerland
23 Mazda Palace, Milan, Italy
25 Messehalle, Dresden, Germany
26 Arena, Berlin, Germany
27 Zenith, Munich, Germany
29 Boblingen Sporthalle, Stuttgart, Germany
30 Gragahalle, Essen, Germany
OCTOBER
1 Brabanthal, Leuven, Belgium
3 SECC, Glasgow, Scotland
5 NIA, Birmingham, England
6 Evening News Arena, Manchester, England
8 International Arena, Cardiff, England
9-10 Hammersmith Carling, London, England
14 Hovet, Stockholm, Sweden
15 Spektrum, Oslo, Norway
17 Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland
19 Valby/KB Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
21 Ahoy, Rotterdam, Holland
23 Bercy, Paris, France
Metal
Maniacs
- PENTACLE will record their new studio album for IRON PEGASUS. Again
Harrow Productions in Netherlands (famous for their ultraheavy crushing
sound) has been chosen as recording studio. The recordings will take
place in September and October. The band has already shown in the past
that they are one of the last true defenders of the old glorious Death
Metal sound that bands like CELTIC FROST, POSSESSED, MANTAS/DEATH, NECROVORE,
etc. have taught us.
With total extreme riffing and the bands own trademark and interpretation
of dark Death Metal PENTACLE will deliver an album that should be outstanding
in todays scene. Wait and hear but make sure to be ready for the storm!
- DESASTER, this unstoppable German Black Thrash force is working on
new material for upcoming releases.
As far as we heard it (rehearsal) sounds a bit more moody and atmospheric
again compared to the highly aggressive "Divine Blasphemies"
album, but this does not mean that it lacks of power and energy. It
is more like a link between the old and new days, but 110% DESASTER
-styled. As always, bandleader "Infernal" is composing riffs
that will be in his typical style, but of course with progression in
speed and skills.
The band is not in a hurry with recording it and prefers to take their
time and work out the songs very well so that the fans get real value
for money and not just a quick shot. More news next time.
Check out the webpage for news and merchandise: www.total-desaster.de
- The Swiss Legend MESSIAH agreed to release their complete Demos "Powertrash"
(1985) and "The Infernal Thrashing" (1986) on limited Gatefold
LP. Some of the Demosongs were already released on CD, but not the whole
recordings.
Influenced by only the heaviest and most extreme bands like DEATH/ MANTAS
and other infernal forces, MESSIAH were one of the cultest bands to
emerge from the European Underground back then and still today these
demo recordings can easily be labelled as total Thrashing Madness with
extreme Vocals. Die-Hard fans can already put a bottle of champagner
into the fridge to celebrate this fine release and MESSIAHs 20th anniversary.
- An interesting questions has been asked by Imhotep 'Zine to many of
your favorite metal musicians...
"What's your opinion on the rising tide of the Anti-American feeling
around the world and which would be the reason for this?"
Click here to see their responses:
http://www.imhotepzine.com/musicians_anti_american/
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