Gelap Pekat

Singer: DIMMU BORGIR Will 'Never' Consist Of More Than Three Members Again

2010-10-23T10:59:00.001-07:00

CrankItUp.se conducted an interview with vocalist Shagrath (real name: Stian Tomt Thoresen) of Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR when the band played at Trädgår'n in Gothenburg, Sweden on October 17, 2010. You can now watch the chat below.

When asked about the DIMMU BORGIR's split with Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (real name: Tommie Helgesson; THERION, DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME) a short time after Snowy appeared in the band's video for the song "Gateways", Shagrath said, "We have never really made any official statement regarding Snowy Shaw. I guess there's a been a lot of rumors about this and that and he did some interviews himself, whatever, but we have never announced that we have a new member in DIMMU BORGIR. DIMMU BORGIR is three people — it's Shagrath, Silenoz and Galder. For this new record, we have used in total over 101 musicians to be a part of the record, and he was paid to be a part of the record and play on it. There was never any consideration of becoming a permanent member in DIMMU BORGIR, and that's the end of the story."

Regarding whether DIMMU BORGIR will ever again consist of more than three people in the future, Shagrath replied, "Never. More people, more bullshit — and that's how simple it is. We had so many lineup changes throughout the years. We've been around now for almost 18 years, so it's... People come and leave... People with strong opinions, it's very hard to get a band going with a lot of people in the band like that, and for us it just works so much better to just be a three-piece. And the remaining members of the band are the ones who have created most of the music anyway, so we feel much more comfortable continuing as a three-piece, and then we use different people for different purposes — either be a part of the record or be a part of the live thing. It just works much better for us that way."

DIMMU BORGIR's current touring lineup reportedly includes Geir Bratland (APOPTYGMA BERZERK, THE KOVENANT) on keyboards and Terje Andersen (a.k.a. Cyrus; SUSPERIA) on bass, although this has not yet been officially confirmed by the band.

"Abrahadabra", the ninth album from DIMMU BORGIR, sold 9,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "In Sorte Diaboli", opened with 14,000 units back in May 2007 to debut at No. 43. This was more than double the 6,400 first-week tally achieved by its predecessor, "Death Cult Armageddon", which came out in September 2003 and landed at position No. 169 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The word "abrahadabra" (which roughly translates into "I will create as I speak") first publicly appeared in Chapter III of "Liber AL vel Legis" (commonly referred to as "The Book of the Law") written by Aleister Crowley in Cairo, Egypt in 1904.

The first show of DIMMU BORGIR's European tour as the support act for KORN took place on September 19 at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam, Holland.

"Abrahadabra" was released in Germany on September 24, in the rest of Europe on September 27, and it was made available in North America on October 12 via Nuclear Blast Records.

KEITH MORRIS Throbblehead Figure Announced

2010-10-23T10:58:00.001-07:00

Keith Morris, legendary frontman of BLACK FLAG, THE CIRCLE JERKS and now OFF!, has been throbble-ized! This figure capturing Keith in full-on live mode is limited to 1000 numbered units, stands at seven inches tall, and is made of super-strong polyresin.

While the figure is labeled a Throbblehead, it's actually Keith's arm that does all the movement, aggressively pointing towards his mind.

Displayed in a window box, Keith is accurately sculpted right down to the dreads, Vans, and "fuck you" stare.

Check out the commercial featuring Keith's voicemail below.

Since the beginning of 2010, Keith has been performing and touring with OFF!, which he founded with Dimitri Coats from BURNING BRIDES, Steven Shane McDonald from REDD KROSS, and Mario Rubalcaba from EARTHLESS, ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT and HOT SNAKES. Their debut EP is set for release on November 23 and the band will perform at CMJ this weekend and at Fun Fun Fun Fest next month.

All throbblehead figures are distributed by MVD Entertainment Group — a company specializing in music-related distribution since 1986 — and DKE Toys — a wholesale distributor of urban / vinyl / designer art / objects / toys / figurines.

Keith Morris is the eighth punk personality to be polyresinated by Aggronautix. In May of 2009, the company launched with a highly popular G.G. Allin "1991" figure, which was limited to 2000 numbered units.

All Aggronautix figures are now available for purchase on www.aggronautix.comor www.seeofsound.com and will also be available at many independent retailers, comic shops and tattoo parlors.

MEGADETH Bassist: KERRY KING 'Nailed It Last Night In Front Of A Packed House Of Thrashers'

2010-10-23T10:56:00.001-07:00

MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson has issued the following update:

"We just finished the last show of the Jägermeister Music Tour in Los Angeles last night [Thursday, October 21].

"Man, what a great tour we had with you all. The shows were pumped, the meet-and-greets energetic and the camaraderie between SLAYER, ANTHRAX and MEGADETH has never been better. Proof of that was Kerry King [SLAYER] joining us on stage last night for 'Rattlehead' on our encore. [See video below.]

"Some may not know that Kerry was the first guitar player to ever play live with us on our maiden voyage shows in San Francisco back in early 1984. True to form, Kerry proved his god-like metal status and nailed it last night in front of a packed house of thrashers at the Gibson Amphitheater! It was powerful for us all to be 'thrashing 'till MEGADETH' again on an early classic song after all these years.

"We're chillin' the next couple weeks till our show at the AZ State Fair November 6, and then heading 'Down Under' in December for our final shows of 2010.

"Be ready for 'The Big Four' box set coming out November 2. I can't wait to sit back and watch the festivities that happened that day from the comforts of my own couch. And, its just in time for Christmas...a perfect stocking stuffer for the metal community this holiday season."

HELLOWEEN: Entire New Album Available For Streaming

2010-10-23T10:55:00.001-07:00

"7 Sinners", the 13th studio album from German power metallers HELLOWEEN, is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page. The CD will be released in North America on November 9 via The End Records.

If there is a golden thread throughout the more than 25 years of HELLOWEEN's history, 13 studio albums, countless headliner tours around the globe and more than 5 million records sold, then it is their special kind of attitude: don't take yourself too seriously and simply live statements like "just have fun with the shit you're doing." Maybe it is exactly this easiness that allows HELLOWEEN to be one of the most constant bands of the genre while simultaneously being the one band who dares to experiment more than their musical peers.

While some copycats would rather stick with the same old patterns, Andi Deris, Michael Weikath, Sascha Gerstner, Markus Großkopf and Dani Löble aren't afraid of taking risks — and are rightfully rewarded with success.

"7 Sinners" is definitively one of the fastest and hardest albums in the HELLOWEEN's history and it bursts with vitality. That might partly be due to the versatility of the various songwriters within the band, who over time have become so homogenous, that the 13 songs formed a unity on their own in the studio , but it may also be due to the fact that the album was recorded completely without a click track, which, considering the extreme speed of the songs is an impressive feat. Especially drummer Löble, who proves that his technique is at a world-class-level. Following his excellent inner clock, bass and drums drive tracks like "Are You Metal?", "Long Live The King" and "Who Is Mr. Madman?" to dizzying tempos. "7 Sinners", with its typically strong melodies and the tangible joy of playing, is a true metal album whose range reaches astonishing dimensions.

It has become a cliche for metal band's to tout their newest opus as their "fastest" or "heaviest" album ever made, but in HELLOWEEN's case, "7 Sinners" is truly a return to form and is indeed their fastest and heaviest release in years. HELLOWEEN bass player Markus Grosskopf stated about the band's new material: "For all those out there who found our special best-of [CD] 'Unarmed' to be too smooth and calm, I have great news: The new album will hit you right in the face! It's gonna be very heavy and contain all [the classic] HELLOWEEN trademarks! Some songs are very powerful and hymnic, others contain the fastest bass-drum patterns our drummer Dani ever played, and this means a lot!"

"7 Sinners" track listing:

01. Where The Sinners Go
02. Are You Metal?
03. Who is Mr. Madman?
04. Raise The Noise
05. World Of Fantasy
06. Long Live The King
07. The Smile Of The Sun
08. You Stupid Mankind
09. If A Mountain Could Talk
10. The Sage, The Fool, The Sinner
11. My Sacrifice
12. Not Yet Today
13. Far In The Future

The "Are You Metal?" video can be viewed below. The clip was filmed on September 30 in Beelitz, Germany.

ALICE COOPER's 'Keepin' Halloween Alive!' Single: Footage Of Manufacturing Process

2010-10-23T10:54:00.001-07:00

A seven-inch single of Alice Cooper's song "Keepin' Halloween Alive!" has been released on special glow-in-the-dark vinyl in a limited edition of 2,300 copies. Of those 2,300, only 1,450 are available for sale, in the U.S. ONLY! The remaining copies will be used for promotional materials and pre-orders in the U.K and the U.S. to promote the release of Alice's new DVD, "Theatre Of Death".

The limited-edition vinyl is available direct from AliceCooper.com for U.S. fans. The item can only be shipped to the U.S. No international orders will be accepted from AliceCooper.com.

Side A: "Keepin' Halloween Alive"
Side C: "I Love The Dead" (Live) (from "Theatre Of Death" DVD/CD)

A short video clip featuring footage of the manufacturing process for the "Keepin' Halloween Alive!" glow-in-the-dark vinyl single can be viewed below.

Alice delivers the song with the garage-punk snarl he is best known for, ensuring that it will soon be a Halloween classic.

"At home my family all gathers around an old spooky tree decorated with skulls and bones in the living room, and we exchange gifts," says Cooper. "It's our holiday. We even all have matching black-and-orange Halloween sweaters! I wanted a theme song for people like me, and for us Halloween never ends. In the chorus I say, 'I'm keepin' Halloween alive, baby, 3–6–5'... and I mean it!"

"Keepin' Halloween Alive" was co-written and co-produced by Cooper with Piggy D. (a member of ROB ZOMBIE's band), who played rhythm guitar/backup vocals. Dave Pino (POWERMAN 5000) is featured on lead guitar, and David Spreng (BOB DYLAN, THE BRAVERY) on drums.

Of the recording, Cooper says, "We played it live as a band to capture the vibe. It was the easiest work I think any of us have ever done, not to mention a blast!"

SODOM: 'In War And Pieces' Digipack Version Detailed

2010-10-23T10:53:00.001-07:00

The first photo of the digipack version of "In War And Pieces", the new album from German thrash metal veterans SODOM, can be seen below. It features the following:

* CD 1: the studio album
* CD 2: bonus live CD (Wacken 2007)
* 16-page booklet

"In War And Pieces" will be released in North America on January 11, 2011 and in Europe on November 22, 2010 via SPV/Steamhammer.

"In War And Pieces" track listing:

01. In War And Pieces
02. Hellfire
03. Through Toxic Veins
04. Nothing Counts More Than Blood
05. Storm Raging Up
06. Feigned Death Throes
07. Soul Contraband
08. God Bless You
09. The Art Of Killing Poetry
10. Knarrenheinz
11. Styptic Parasite

The "In War And Pieces" track is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

For bassist/vocalist Thomas "Angelripper" Such, his thrash metal band SODOM is a perfect vehicle to bluntly take a stand. Like few other musicians on this scene, he personifies — along with down-to-earthiness and honesty — a healthily critical position on political authorities and decision-makers from finance and industry. On their latest album, "In War And Pieces", SODOM focuses on the worst excesses of power: arrogance, greed, spotlight-seeking, fanaticism, corruption, cowardice and oppression. Tom strates, "I've always written about what's going on in the world, about the injustice and mistakes that happen everywhere. I know that you can't change anything politically that way, but I would like to at least comment on the situation and generate an awareness of this deplorable state of affairs. Being a singer in a metal band allows me to voice my anger to a large audience."

This uncompromising attitude marks the eleven songs on sodom's latest album which could hardly sound more dynamic and violent. "In War And Pieces" owes its bloodcurdling energy largely to producer Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., ENEMY OF THE SUN), whose great skill and commitment were instrumental in creating the album's — as Tom calls it — "phat, brutal and open" sound. With Sorychta's support, Angelripper (vocals, bass), Bernemann (guitar) and Bobby Schottkowski (drums) succeeded in adding new impulses to their music without watering down the band's long tradition. "Waldemar is a great musician himself and has done some brilliant work, especially on the guitar sound," Tom explains. "He knows how to get the absolute maximum out of a speaker."

As brutal as the production is the diverse songwriting on "In War And Pieces", a kind of tour de force through the whole history of thrash metal, featuring harsh arrangements, melodic solos and raging vocal attacks. "I feel that we sound more contemporary and structured than we did on our recent releases," Tom analyzes. "At the same time, there are also references to recordings such as 'Persecution Mania' and 'Agent Orange'. After VENOM, SODOM were the world's first angry band, and nothing has changed that." Tom lists as examples the impressive title track, as well as "The Art Of Killing Poetry" with its ultra-deep guitar atmospheres and the German-language song, 'Knarrenheinz', which holds up the tradition of classics such as 'Bombenhagel' and "Ausgebombt". "Knarrenheinz is the mascot on the album cover, that's why I felt he deserved his own lyrics," Tom grins. Talking of album covers: the artwork was designed by Eliran Kantor, who enjoys an excellent reputation on the scene thanks to his work for renowned acts such as TESTAMENT, GWAR and MEKONG DELTA.

PITCHBLACK: 'The Devilty' Audio Samples Available

2010-10-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

Danish modern "melodeath thrashers" PITCHBLACK have posted 30-second audio samples (see YouTube clip below) of all the songs that will appear on their second album, "The Devilty", tentatively due in early 2011 via an as-yet-undetermined record label. The CD was recorded at guitarist Thomas "Pede" Pedersen's Earplug Studio in Copenhagen and was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, SICK OF IT ALL, MNEMIC, HEAVEN SHALL BURN).

Commented the band: "In the video you can also read, what the songs are about in the comments which appears as well as you can check out the bloody photo artwork, which has been made by professional crime photographer Johnny Frederiksen who spent 17 years on the Danish most controversial tabloid Ekstra Bladet."

"The Devilty" track listing:

01. Replacing God
02. Defriended
03. You're Fucking Below Me
04. Don't Make Me Mad
05. The Siren Song
06. I Return
07. One Day We'll Break Them
08. Bandido
09. Revenge (…Injustice For All)
10. Slow The Hate

PITCHBLACK's debut album, "Designed to Dislike", was released in Denmark on August 13, 2007 via Target Distribution. The CD was produced by Steen Mogensen (CORNERSTONE, ex-ROYAL HUNT).

Formed in late 2002, PITCHBLACK released two demo tapes prior to recording its debut album: 2003's "No Sympathy Left" and 2004's "PitchBlack Promo 2004".

For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.

PHILIP ANSELMO To Guest On FULL METAL JACKIE's Radio Show

2010-10-21T09:29:00.001-07:00

DOWN/ex-PANTERA frontman Philip Anselmo will guest on this weekend's (October 22-24) edition of Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show.

To see a full list of stations carrying the program and when it airs, go to FullMetalJackieRadio.com.

Full Metal Jackie began her radio career as a DJ at WSOU Pirate Radio, Seton Hall University's legendary metal station. Instantly addicted to the excitement of life behind the mic, she graduated Pirate Radio (and Seton Hall), to become an on-air personality at WHTG (Neptune, NJ), and later at WDHA (Dover, NJ).

Not content to limit her exposure to New Jersey, Jackie set her sights on bigger markets (and warmer climates!), making her way west to California's gold coast. Establishing herself in Los Angeles, she learned the business side of radio and promotions while working for one of the music industry's largest management companies. After a short stint as on-air host at San Diego's 94.9 KBZT, Jackie landed the opportunity she had been working toward since her early WSOU days: host and producer of her own (and L.A.'s only) commercial heavy metal radio show, "Chaos", on Indie 103.1. Working alongside other Indie 103.1 hosts such as Steve Jones (of the SEX PISTOLS), Henry Rollins and Dave Navarro, Jackie quickly brought "Chaos" to the station's forefront.

Today, Full Metal Jackie's show continues to air on Indie 103.1 every Sunday night from 8 to 10 p.m., and can be heard online at www.indie1031.com, as well as in syndicated markets around the country through Envision Radio.

AS I LAY DYING To Perform On FUEL TV's 'The Daily Habit'

2010-10-21T09:28:00.002-07:00

San Diego, California metallers AS I LAY DYING will perform the songs "Anodyne Sea" and "Vacancy" on today's (Wednesday, October 20) edition of Fuel TV's "The Daily Habit" at 9:30 p.m ET/PT. The cast of "Jackass 3-D" will also appear on the episode.

"The Daily Habit" encompasses the world of the action sports enthusiast, mixing the best in pop culture with today's top action sports personalities, cutting-edge music, product reviews, and comedy.

For more information, visit www.fuel.tv.

AS I LAY DYING will release a super deluxe fan box set version of its latest album, "The Powerless Rise", in November.

The limited edition super deluxe fan box includes the following:

* "The Powerless Rise" CD and 12" vinyl picture disc
* "The Powerless Rise" DVD documentary with in-studio footage and interviews + extras
* Guitar, bass and drum tabs featuring Jordan Mancino, Nick Hipa, Phil Sgrosso and Josh Gilbert / song stems for "Upside Down Kingdom" / expanded recording outtakes
* Hardcover book with lyrics, photos, and editorial from the band
* 12" x 12" lithograph
* Three guitar picks
* Mini drumstick keychain
* AS I LAY DYING patch
* AS I LAY DYING window cling
* Metal AS I LAY DYING logo pin

The box set is exclusively available in Europe via EMP.

"The Powerless Rise" sold 38,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous CD, "An Ocean Between Us", opened with 39,500 units back in August 2007 to land at No. 8.

"The Powerless Rise" was released on May 11 via Metal Blade Records.

AS I LAY DYING will team up with HEAVEN SHALL BURN and SUICIDE SILENCE for a European tour in November.

SLAYER Guitarist Interviewed On AUX's 'Hard' (Video)

2010-10-21T09:28:00.001-07:00

SLAYER guitarist Kerry King was interviewed for an episode of "Hard" on the AUX music channel out of Canada when the band played in Toronto, Ontario at the end of July. The segment can now be viewed below.

For the first time in its near-30-year history, SLAYER, the single most distinctive and radical thrash metal band ever, has seen its ten American Recordings albums released as a limited-edition, high-end box set — "The Vinyl Conflict" (American Recordings/Sony Legacy). Ten albums on 11 discs, "The Vinyl Conflict" features the band's entire Def/American Recordings catalogue:

* Reign in Blood (1986)
* South of Heaven (1988)
* Seasons In The Abyss (1990)
* Live Decade of Aggression (1991)
* Divine Intervention (1994)
* Undisputed Attitude (1998)
* God Hates Us All (2001)
* Christ Illusion (2006)
* World Painted Blood (2009)

On August 17, SLAYER's DVDs — 2003's "War at the Warfield" and 2004's "Still Reigning" — were reissued, and, for the first time ever, 1995's "Live Intrusion", having been digitally remastered, is also available on DVD. All three are sold separately at retail and online ($13.98 each), and the limited-edition "Slayer Live DVD 3-Pak" ($29.98), is available exclusively on SLAYER's web site, www.slayer.net.

DEEP PURPLE: EPK For 35th-Anniversary Reissue Of 'Come Taste The Band' Available

2010-10-21T09:27:00.001-07:00

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for the upcoming 30th-anniversary reissue of DEEP PURPLE's "Come Taste The Band" album can be viewed below.

The "Come Taste The Band" 35th-anniversary reissue is due out on October 25 in the U.K. and November 2 in North America via EMI. It includes a remastered version of the album, plus the single edit of "You Keep On Moving" on disc one. Disc two features a remixed version of the LP by Kevin Shirley (LED ZEPPELIN, IRON MAIDEN, JOURNEY, HIM), with input from Glenn Hughes, plus two previously unreleased instrumental tracks from the sessions.

"Come Taste The Band" was recorded between August 3 and September 1, 1975 at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany, and released in October 1975. The album was co-produced and engineered by the band and longtime associate Martin Birch (IRON MAIDEN, BLACK SABBATH). It is the only DEEP PURPLE studio record featuring Tommy Bolin, who replaced Ritchie Blackmore on lead guitar. When Blackmore left the band, many observers and critics assumed that DEEP PURPLE would not continue. It was David Coverdale who asked Jon Lord to keep the band together, and Tommy Bolin was asked to take the guitar slot. The band was rounded off by bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, keyboardist Jon Lord and drummer Ian Paice.

"Come Taste The Band" 35th-anniversary reissue track listing:

CD1

01. Comin' Home
02. Lady Luck
03. Gettin Tighter
04. Dealer
05. I Need Love
06. You Keep on Moving
07. Love Child
08. This Time Around
09. Owed to G
10. Drifter
11. You Keep On Moving (single edit)

CD2

01. Comin Home
02. Lady Luck
03. Gettin Tighter
04. Dealer
05. I Need Love
06. You Keep on Moving
07. Love Child
08. This Time Around
09. Owed To G
10. Drifter
11. Always The Same in LA
12. Bolin/Paice Jam

Check out audio samples at Amazon.co.uk.

MADBALL In Montreal: Interview, Performance Footage Available

2010-10-21T09:25:00.001-07:00

HardTimes.ca recently conducted an interview with bassist Hoya Roc of New York hardcore legends MADBALL when the band played at Le Studio in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on September 25. Watch the chat below. Also available is performance footage from the Montreal concert.

"Empire", the new album from MADBALL, sold around 1,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 15 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Empire" was released on October 12 via Good Fight Music. The CD was recorded at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer Erik Rutan, who has previously worked with MISERY INDEX, CANNIBAL CORPSE and GOATWHORE, among many others.

Since forming in 1988, MADBALL has been responsible for some of the most important releases in the hardcore genre, from the seminal "Ball of Destruction" EP (1989) to the landmark albums "Set It Off" (1994), "Demonstrating My Style" (1996), "Look My Way" (1998), "Hold it Down" (2000), "Legacy" (2005), and their latest release, "Infiltrate the System" (2007).

Interview:

Performance:

FIREWIND/OZZY OSBOURNE Guitarist Interviewed On U.K.'s ROCK RADIO (Audio)

2010-10-21T09:23:00.002-07:00

Tom Russell of U.K.'s Rock Radio recently conducted an interview with OZZY OSBOURNE/FIREWIND guitarist Gus G. You can now listen to the chat below. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

A new FIREWIND track, "The Ark Of Lies", is available for free download after you tweet or Facebook about the song. Go here for more details.
The European limited-edition mediabook CD version of FIREWIND's new album, "Days Of Defiance", doesn't only come with special packaging, alternate cover artwork and expanded booklet features, it also contains three special bonus tracks, a Gus G. / ESP guitar pick as well as a quality FIREWIND sticker.

Here is the complete track listing of this special version:

01. The Ark Of Lies
02. World On Fire
03. Chariot
04. Embrace The Sun
05. The Departure
06. Heading For The Dawn
07. Broken
08. Cold As Ice
09. Kill In The Name Of Love
10. SKG
11. Losing Faith
12. The Yearning
13. When All Is Said And Done
14. Wild Rose *
15. Ride To The Rainbow's End *
16. Breaking The Law (JUDAS PRIEST cover) *

* Bonus tracks

Head over to www.cmdistro.com in order to check out exclusive FIREWIND bundles, including the new album's limited edition and a T-shirt at a very special price.

FIREWIND's version of "Breaking The Law" originally appeared on volume 1 of the "Metal Forge" series by U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine, which saw nine bands covering the nine tracks on PRIEST's "British Steel" album to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

"Days Of Defiance" is scheduled for release in North America on October 26 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records. The CD's striking cover artwork was designed by the band's longtime partner in all design matters, Gustavo Sazes, and can be viewed below.

"Days Of Defiance" is described in a press release as "a truly ambitious and dynamic opus featuring some of the most brilliant guitar playing the genre has seen in many years."

The "World On Fire" single was made available for purchase on digital platforms starting on August 17. The video for the track was once again directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among many others. Ullaeus oversaw all of FIREWIND's visuals on the band's last two albums.

FIREWIND's 2010 lineup (from left to right in photo below):

Michael Ehre - Drums
Petros Christo - Bass
Apollo Papathanasio - Vocals
Gus G. - Guitar
Bob Katsionis - Keyboards

Interview:

DEEP PURPLE's 'Deepest Purple': EPK For Anniversary Reissue Available

2010-10-21T09:23:00.001-07:00

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for the upcoming reissue of DEEP PURPLE's "Deepest Purple" compilation can be viewed below.

The "Deepest Purple" reissue is due out on October 25 in the U.K. and November 2 in North America via EMI. The new version of the album will include a bonus DVD featuring a range of video clips presented by former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord.

CD features:

01. Black Night (Single Version) (2002 Digital Remaster)
02. Speed King (Edit) (2010 Digital Remaster)
03. Fireball (1996 Digital Remaster)
04. Hush (1998 Digital Remaster)
05. Strange Kind Of Woman (2002 Digital Remaster)
06. Child In Time (1995 Digital Remaster)
07. When A Blind Man Cries (1997 Remix)
08. Woman From Tokyo (2000 Digital Remaster)
09. Highway Star (1997 Digital Remaster)
10. Space Truckin' (1997 Digital Remaster)
11. Burn (2004 Digital Remaster)
12. Stormbringer (2009 Digital Remaster)
13. Soldier Of Fortune (2009 Digital Remaster)
14. Demon's Eye (1996 Digital Remaster)
15. You Keep On Moving (Single Edit) (2002 Digital Remaster)
16. Smoke On The Water (1997 Digital Remaster)

DVD features:

* Jon Lord discusses "Hush"
* Hush (Playboy After Dark, 1968)
* Jon Lord discusses arriving in the U.S. for the first time
* Jon Lord discusses miming for German TV
* Speed King (Vicky Leandros show, German TV, 1970)
* Jon Lord discusses the writing of "Child In Time"
* Child In Time (new clip)
* Jon Lord discusses the power of "Child In Time"
* Jon Lord discusses the recording of "Black Night"
* Black Night (classic 1970 video clip)
* Jon Lord discusses "Fireball"
* Fireball (German TV performance on Disco ZDF, 1971)
* Jon Lord discusses the "Fireball" album
* Jon Lord discusses the writing of "Strange Kind Of Woman"
* Strange Kind Of Woman (Top Of The Pops, BBC, 1971)
* Jon Lord discusses "Demon's Eye"
* Demon's Eye (Music Today, RBB Berlin)
* Jon Lord discusses "Highway Star"
* Highway Star (Beat Club, German TV, 1971)
* Jon Lord discusses "Never Before"
* Never Before (classic 1970s video clip)
* Jon Lord discusses "Smoke On The Water" and the story behind it
* Smoke On The Water (Hofstra University, 1973)
* Jon Lord discusses the choice of singles
* Jon Lord discusses "Woman From Tokyo"
* Woman From Tokyo (new clip)
* Made in Japan / Space Truckin' (new clip from "Made In Japan" footage)
* Jon Lord discusses "Burn"
* Burn (London 1974)
* Jon Lord discusses "You Keep On Moving"
* You Keep On Moving
* Jon Lord discusses "Stormbringer"
* Stormbringer (new clip)
* You Keep On Movin' (new clip)

ALL THAT REMAINS Guitarist Interviewed By METAL ASSAULT (Audio)

2010-10-21T09:21:00.000-07:00

On October 16, Aniruddh "Andrew" Bansal of Metal Assault conducted an interview with guitarist Mike Martin of Massachusetts metallers ALL THAT REMAINS at the House Of Blues in Hollywood, California. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

"For We Are Many", the new album from ALL THAT REMAINS, sold 29,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Overcome", opened with just under 29,000 units in September 2008 to enter the chart at No. 16.

"For We Are Many" was released through a joint venture between Prosthetic Records and Razor & Tie.

"We're thrilled with ALL THAT REMAINS' debut sales and chart positions for this fantastic new album," said Jeremy Kramer, VP of Marketing at Razor & Tie. "In a market where sales are trending downward, ALL THAT REMAINS' first-week numbers and overall sales have increased with every release, which is a testament to this phenomenal band as well as the team supporting them.

"There's no shortcut to success in artist development — this band has worked tirelessly over the years, creating a real and passionate fan base that continues to grow with every album."

Prosthetic Records co-owner and co-founder E.J. Johantgen added, "ALL THAT REMAINS' success can be summarized simply — steady wins the race."

"For We Are Many", hit the same day the band headed out on a month-long U.S. headlining tour with support from ASKING ALEXANDRIA, UNEARTH, BORN OF OSIRIS and AND SHE WHISPERED. Decibel magazine called the album, "Proof that neck-snapping tempos, thoughtful soloing and a catchy chorus or three can co-exist," while Outburn magazine remarked, "If there was ever any question as to whether ALL THAT REMAINS deserved to be considered among the melodic metalcore elite, 'For We Are Many' will dispel any lingering doubts once and for all."

"For We Are Many" was recorded this spring at Zing Studios in Massachusetts and produced by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, who also helmed ALL THAT REMAINS' "This Darkened Heart" and "The Fall of Ideals". In warming up for their headlining tour, ALL THAT REMAINS is on the road with AS I LAY DYING and UNEARTH for a run of dates concluding October 12. After their headlining U.S. tour, the band will head to Europe for dates in November and December.

"Hold On", the new video from ALL THAT REMAINS, can be viewed below. The clip, helmed by Ramon Boutviseth (TRIVIUM, DREAM THEATER, INCUBUS), features a narrative involving a variety of characters dealing with internal struggles and their inability to change their fate as their world crumbles down around them, both figuratively and literally. The force behind the destruction is the manifestation of their dark emotions, which ALL THAT REMAINS embodies as they unleash an epic performance in a post-apocalyptic urban wasteland.

Interview:

SLAYER, MACHINE HEAD, DIO, SHINEDOWN Members To Perform At 'Dimebash 2010'

2010-10-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

How do you continue to celebrate the life of one of heavy metal’s true legends? You call on those who had the most admiration and respect to gather in one place and do what they do best to pay homage — which includes fellow musicians and fans alike. On October 29 at the Key Club in West Hollywood, California, fans and an all-star lineup will do just that and no doubt pulverize the heavens with a night of ungodly metallic thunder at this year's Dimebash 2010, in honor of "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN). "The thing I remember the most about Darrell was the way he loved to jump up on stage with anyone at the drop of a hat,", states Rita Haney, longtime girlfriend of Dime and the person who knew him best. "When this tragedy originally happened, I saw the music community unite like I've never seen before. To have the name 'Dimebag,' still to this day, bring together musicians and fans to pay homage in such a respectful way to such an amazing person and cause is very overwhelming! In Dime's vision... it's always been about a damn good time!" At the same time, proceeds will benefit in the name of another metal legend that left us too early, the Ronnie James Dio Stand up and Shout Cancer Fund.

The all-star lineup to share the stage will include hard rock and heavy metal titans: Dave Grohl of FOO FIGHTERS; Simon Wright from DIO; Brent Smith, Zach Myers and Eric Bass of SHINEDOWN; Kerry King and Dave Lombardo of SLAYER; Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel of MACHINE HEAD; Chuck Billy from TESTAMENT; Chris Howorth and Maria Brink of IN THIS MOMENT; and many more, including some surprises that will surely nail your jaw to the floor. This incredible event is being hosted by radio/television personality Jose Mangin, a veteran of several Dimebag events. In addition, attendees will be able to land some limited-edition merchandise, nab raffle tickets for chances to win some cool collectables and purchase Monster Energy cocktail drink specials, all of which partial proceeds go to benefit the cause. And if the all-star jam with legends and legends in the making isn't enough, special guest opener includes hard rock juggernauts REV THEORY. The metal brotherhood and community comes together once again to not only help themselves heal, but to also help the world around them. Good guys sometimes do wear black!

Tickets are $15.00 and are available at this location.

DIMMU BORGIR Teams Up With METAL HAMMER For Sound-Enabled 'Demon Box'

2010-10-21T09:17:00.001-07:00

Metal Hammer, the U.K.'s best-selling heavy metal magazine, has teamed up with black metal's most revered band, DIMMU BORGIR, for a very special collectors’ issue, complete with sound.

Known as the "demon box," the November issue continues Future PLC's run of innovative, attention-grabbing "event issues" for Metal Hammer — which have included a blood-soaked cover to celebrate the 20th anniversary of SLAYER's influential "Reign in Blood" album and the world's only magazine cover struck from metal plate for the return of METALLICA with their "Death Magnetic" album, and a high-definition 3D cover to herald the release of Brit-award winners IRON MAIDEN's "The Final Frontier" album.

Thanks to unrivalled access, Metal Hammer spent exclusive time with Norway's biggest metal export and reveals DIMMU BORGIR's insane new look and their latest opus — "Abrahadabra" — a heavy metal masterpiece recorded with a complete symphony. Emerging from a musical genre most associated with church burnings, the award-winning, Billboard-charting metallers have grown to world-beating status and are now ready to go for the big time.

The issue includes an official DIMMU BORGIR beanie hat and pin page. When it''s opened, the packaging plays a special message from their enigmatic frontman and founder Shagrath — recorded exclusively for Metal Hammer.

Elsewhere inside the December issue, the team catches up with fast-rising Australian brutalists PARKWAY DRIVE, heads to Brighton for a dose of homegrown brutality with LOWER THAN ATLANTIS and TRC, and celebrates the 20th anniversary of PANTERA's "Cowboys From Hell".

Alexander Milas, editor of Metal Hammer, said: "DIMMU BORGIR are an enigma — one of those bands who've risen from an underground scene in Norway to become a household name for metalheads. Their latest album is as breathtaking as it is ambitious, so what better way to toast their return than with something fittingly demonic?"

The November issue of Metal Hammer, complete with official DIMMU BORGIR merchandise and sound chip, is on sale now, with a cover price of £4.99.

ABORTED Vocalist Issues New Album Update

2010-10-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

Vocalist Sven De Caluwé of death metal psychopaths ABORTED has issued the following update:

"Besides ABORTED I have been busy with the release of the SYSTEM DIVIDE record, and further working on Avernus studios (graphic design studio) and Skarewear (serial killer/horror clothing line). Ken [Sorceron; guitar] has been busy with ABIGAIL WILLIAMS who also just released a new album and are touring at the moment. Dirk [Verbeuren; drums] has been busy touring with SOILWORK and Jb [Van De Wal; bass] just recorded the new WHORECORE album, etc.

"As you see, we have all been busy on different levels. This, however, does NOT mean we are not working on ABORTED stuff. Have no fear, fellow misanthropes, we are hard at work on writing the next album.

"There won't be much shows until we actually have the record out, but when it hits, expect it to hit hard!!! So far about eight songs are written. The aim is to have about 11 ready for the record and two bonus tracks because, well, 2011 is going to be a special year for ABORTED. More about that later! We have the whole concept written out and there won't be any spoilers yet but I think there will be quite some surprises for everyone, in a good, horrific ABORTED way, of corpse! The material itself is definitely good ole ABORTED. As we said with 'Coronary Reconstruction', we are getting that old-school brutal vibe back mixing it up with some newer stuff. All I can say is this is definitely some [of], if not the most punishing material the band has ever written, we are going to bpms that we never went to before, some of the riffing is pretty damn technical. Imagine a bastard child of 'Engineering The Dead', 'Goremageddon' and 'Archaic' on steroids. That, and of course, some new elements as we don't really like to write the same record twice. All this to say that we are busting our nads to get you guys the best album we can possibly get done. Expect it to be out September 2011. More details and all that yazz to be revealed soon.

"We are very excited. I hope you guys are, too!!"

ABORTED's recent "Machines Of Grind/Terrorizer Tourture" European tour with ROTTEN SOUND was the first trek featuring the band's new lineup, which released a new EP entitled "Coronary Reconstruction". The EP got released on a limited-edition digipack sold through the band and Indiemerch containing four new tracks and a cover of ENTOMBED's "Left Hand Path".

The artwork for "Coronary Reconstruction" was created by Justin Osbourn from Slasher design and comprises the most gruesome and disgusting art the band ever had.

MARDUK To Tour Asia In December

2010-10-21T09:14:00.000-07:00

Swedish black metallers MARDUK will embark on the "Asian Black Death Redemption Tour 2010" in December. Confirmed dates are as follows:

Dec. 04 - Beijing, China - Mao Livehouse
Dec. 06 - Bangkok, Thailand - Rock Pub
Dec. 07 - Singapore, Singapore - Substation Theatre
Dec. 10 - Surabaya, Indonesia - Graha Pemuda
Dec. 11 - Semarang, Indonesia - Gor Tri Lomba Juang
Dec. 12 - Jakarta, Indonesia - Bulungan Outdoor

The vinyl edition of "Wormwood", the latest album from MARDUK, was released this past spring. The effort is available as a regular black vinyl with a gatefold sleeve (700 copies), picture disc (333 copies) and also as a gatefold deluxe edition with a 32-page booklet with lyrics on red vinyl (500 copies). Also newly released are the remastered versions on vinyl of MARDUK's "Germania", "Nightwing" and "Panzer Division Marduk" (available on regular vinyl and picture disc).

"Wormwood", the eleventh album from MARDUK, sold around 650 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 99 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Wormwood" was released in the U.S. on October 13, 2009 via Regain Records (September 24 in Europe). The CD was recorded at Endarker Studios in Norrköping, Sweden with engineer/producer Magnus Devo Andersson.

ANGELS OF BABYLON Is The Answer To Your Heavy Metal Supergroup Prayers

2010-07-18T10:31:00.000-07:00

ANGELS OF BABYLON is the answer to your heavy metal supergroup prayers. This new amalgamation of epic sound features former MANOWAR drummer Rhino, Arizona-based power metal vocalist David Fefolt, guitarist Ethan Brosh and MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson. Their debut album, "Kingdom of Evil", was released in Europe by Metal Heaven Records in January of 2010, and in Japan with Hydrant Music in May of 2010.

ANGELS OF BABYLON recently signed with Burnhill Union Records, who will be releasing the record to the United States on July 27. "Kingdom of Evil" is now remastered, and features three previously unreleased tracks.

With this intense line-up of heavy metal greats and sharp musicians, ANGELS OF BABYLON is sure to see success in this evolving industry and genre. Forging ahead with the sounds of classic metal, while bringing fusion of new technique and prowess, the band is a new force to be reckoned with. With the launch of "Kingdom of Evil" worldwide, Earth will soon know the excellence that is ANGELS OF BABYLON.

"At a point in metal history when the best music moving forward is really drawing from our pasts, ANGELS OF BABYLON has become a unique and eclectic composition of music and styles, encompassing many from across the entire genre," states bassist David Ellefson. "Power, melody, and hooks stand the test of time regardless of what category the ‘experts' put it in."

ANGELS OF BABYLON drummer and Nashville, Tennessee native Rhino began compiling tracks featured on "Kingdom of Evil" many years ago, but was patiently waiting for the optimum lineup to record and release an album. Rhino is well known for his amazing work with MANOWAR.

In 1991, Rhino appeared on "The Triumph of Steel"; one of MANOWAR's best-selling album to date. Rhino continued on with MANOWAR, touring Europe multiple times and cruising through Japan between 1992-1995. Rhino left MANOWAR in 1995 to pursue personal interest. In the coming years, Rhino was soon introduced to Fefolt, Ellefson and Brosh, and they provided the key to his inspiration to forge ahead and complete the album.

Fefolt feels this album will surprise a lot of people due to its classic metal sound, but with an accent of majestic arrangements throughout. Fefolt was a member of the epic metal band VALHALLA and their debut album is still considered one of the staples of metal vinyl collectors worldwide.

Ellefson is well known for his time with thrash icons MEGADETH. From1983 to 2002, Ellefson held his place as the co-founder and original bassist in the band. In February of 2010, Ellefson rejoined the ranks of MEGADETH, just in time for the much anticipated "Rust In Peace" 20th anniversary tour of North America, aside fellow thrash legends TESTAMENT and EXODUS.

Brosh graduated from Berklee in 2004 with honors and a major in songwriting before returning to the school in 2008 to teach. Brosh is currently an instructor in the guitar sessions program. His debut instrumental album, "Out of Oblivion", was released on March 24, 2009 by Magna Carta Records, and features impressive guest appearances and production credits.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/officialangelsofbabylon.

IRON MAIDEN: First 'The Final Frontier' Track-By-Track Review Available

2010-07-18T10:30:00.002-07:00

The first track-by-track review of "The Final Frontier", the new album from British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN, has been posted on the Radio Metal web site.

IRON MAIDEN's 15th studio LP, "The Final Frontier", will be released in North America on August 17 (one day earlier internationally) via Universal Music Enterprises (UMe).

The band reunited with long-time MAIDEN producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley in early 2010 at Compass Point Studios, Nassau to record the album and then moved to The Cave Studios in Malibu, California to finish the recording and do the mixing. Compass Point Studio is very familiar to the band, it was where they recorded the "Piece Of Mind" (1983), "Powerslave" (1984) and "Somewhere In Time" (1986) albums.

"The Final Frontier" features artwork illustrated by Melvyn Grant.

The track listing for the CD is as follows (total running time 76:35):

01. Satellite 15....The Final Frontier (Smith/Harris) (8:40)
02. El Dorado (Smith/Harris/Dickinson) (6:49)
03. Mother Of Mercy (Smith/Harris) (5:20)
04. Coming Home (Smith/Harris/Dickinson) (5:52)
05. The Alchemist (Gers/Harris/Dickinson) (4:29)
06. Isle Of Avalon (Smith/Harris) (9:06)
07. Starblind (Smith/Harris/Dickinson) (7:48)
08. The Talisman (Gers/Harris) (9:03)
09. The Man Who Would Be King (Murray/Harris) (8:28)
10. When The Wild Wind Blows (Harris) (10:59)

IRON MAIDEN guitarist Dave Murray recently told Billboard.com about "The Final Frontier", "We breezed through the album, really. We actually finished it in six weeks. We were getting down a track a day — all playing together as a band, Bruce (Dickinson) singing, all in the same room, so there's a very live-in-the-studio feel to it. Once we finished a track we'd jump straight into doing some extra guitar bits. It was very quick for us."

Murray said the 10-track set mixes "straight-ahead, uptempo rock songs with good grooves with some other tracks that are kind of longer and more complex." The album closer, "When the Wild Wind Blows", is an 11-minute track that's one of the longest songs IRON MAIDEN has ever recorded. "The rhythm's a little bit different from what we've done before, and there's lots of melodies," Murray said. "It's a big song. We learned it in sections just because it was such a complex arrangement, but it sounds quite natural (on the record)."

CANNIBAL CORPSE, DESPISED ICON, MISERY INDEX Confirmed For TROIS-RIVIÈRES METALFEST X

2010-07-18T10:30:00.001-07:00

CANNIBAL CORPSE, DESPISED ICON and MISERY INDEX are among the confirmed bands for the Trois-Rivières Metalfest X festival, set to take place October 15-16 in Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

Friday, October 15:

DESPISED ICON
MONONC' SERGE & ANONYMUS
MISERY INDEX
BLIND WITNESS
DIVINITY
STRIGAMPIRE
UNFALLEN

Saturday, October 16:

CANNIBAL CORPSE
MARTYR
NEURAXIS
BLACKGUARD
REVOCATION
HORFIXION
SUPERIOR ENLIGHTENMENT

For more information, go to this location.

Ex-WHITESNAKE Bassist URIAH DUFFY: 'DAVID COVERDALE And I Have A Great Relationship'

2010-07-18T10:29:00.001-07:00

Bassist Uriah Duffy has released the following statement regarding his departure from the legendary rock band WHITESNAKE:

"My time with WHITESNAKE was awesome. David [Coverdale; WHITESNAKE frontman] and I have a great relationship; there are no hard feelings. It was simply time for us to go our separate ways."

Duffy spent five years with WHITESNAKE during which time he recorded an award-winning studio album, "Good To Be Bad", and played on the live release "Live In The Shadow Of The Blues". He also performed over 200 live shows on three world tours, including headlining appearances at major music festivals, among them the 2009 edition of the Download festival in the U.K. (to an audience of 80,000).

A member of WHITESNAKE since 2005, Duffy continued to work on outside projects. Officially parting ways with the band allows Dufy to give focus to a range of projects, including new acts THE MEMORIALS (with Thomas Pridgen of THE MARS VOLTA), BLACKGATES (also featuring former ANTHRAX vocalist Dan Nelson, drummer Paul Bostaph [TESTAMENT, ex-EXODUS, SLAYER, FORBIDDEN] and guitarist Jeremy Epp [THE VENTING MACHINE]), ongoing work with renowned rapper Lyrics Born, The Jazz Ma a, and his upcoming solo album for his own project, THE URIAH DUFFY BAND.

At this time WHITESNAKE is still exploring its options for the position of the band's new bassist.

WHITESNAKE is currently in the studio writing and recording the follow-up to 2008's "Good To Be Bad" for a spring 2011 release via Frontiers Records.

QUEENSRŸCHE Drummer, Bassist Answer Fan-Submitted Questions

2010-07-18T08:57:00.002-07:00

QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield and bassist Eddie Jackson were recently asked by the band's fan-club members about any embarrassing moments they might have experienced on stage. Their responses can be found in the YouTube clip below.

QUEENSRŸCHE has scheduled the following Queensrÿche Cabaret dates:

Jul. 22 - Anaheim, California - The Grove
Jul. 23 - Los Angeles, California - Club Nokia
Jul. 24 - Las Vegas, Nevada - Crown Theater
Jul. 25 - San Francisco, California - Regency Ballroom
Aug. 05 - New Orleans, Louisiana - House Of Blues
Aug. 06 - Houston, Texas - House Of Blues
Aug. 07 - San Antonio, Texas - Backstage Live
Aug. 08 - Dallas, Texas - House Of Blues
Aug. 18 - Asbury Park, NJ - Paramount Theatre
Aug. 19 - Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
Aug. 20 - New York, NY - Nokia Theatre
Aug. 21 - Verona, NY - Turning Stone Casino
Aug. 22 - Clifton Park, NY - Northern Lights
Oct. 28 - Kansas City, Missouri - Voodoo Lounge @ Harrah's
Oct. 29 - Chicago, Illinois - House of Blues
Oct. 30 - Mount Pleasant, Michigan - Soaring Eagle Casino

The Queensrÿche Cabaret — heralded as "the first adults-only rock show" (21 and over) — was previously described by the group as "Teatro ZinZanni meets Cirque du Soleil, with the band performing their hits and never-heard-before selections accompanied by go-go dancers, burlesque dancers, drag queens, a juggler, ballet dancer, trapeze artist, a contortionist and others. Definitely a fun-filled evening like no other full of freaks and shrieks!"

QUEENSRŸCHE's twelfth studio LP, the epic concept album "American Soldier", was made available from Atco/Rhino in March 2009 for a suggested list price of $18.98 (CD) and $9.99 (digital). The ambitious album encompasses a dozen songs inspired by numerous interviews with veterans conducted by Geoff Tate, the group's singer and chief songwriter, who was intent on telling their story using their words. After speaking with soldiers who served in various conflicts — from World War II to Iraq — Tate turned their firsthand experiences from the frontlines into an unflinching musical examination of the life of a solider and the consequences of war.

THE ETERNAL: 'Under A New Sun' Artwork Unveiled

2010-07-18T08:57:00.001-07:00

The cover artwork for "Under A New Sun", the forthcoming fourth full-length album from Melbourne, Australia's dark rockers THE ETERNAL, can be found below. The band states, "The cover and several images in the booklet are based on photography by fantastic Romanian photographer Felicia Simion. Her photography really touched us and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do."

"Under A New Sun" was recorded at 301 Studios in Byron Bay with acclaimed producer and multi-platinum recording artist Jeff Martin (THE ARMADA, THE TEA PARTY). Songtitles set to appear on the follow-up to 2008's "Kartika" include "The Sleeper", "Control", "Under A New Sun", "A Thousand Shades of You", "Collapse" and "Cast In Stone".

"Under A New Sun" was co-engineered by Paul Pilsneniks who has worked with such artists as THE LIVING END, THE MARS VOLTA, SILVERCHAIR, GRINSPOON and ALANIS MORISSETTE. THE ETERNAL has also enlisted acclaimed Finnish keyboard player Maria Ilmoniemi (TARJA, HUSKY RESCUE) to contribute.

Video footage of THE ETERNAL singer/guitarist Mark Kelson performing an acoustic version of the new song "The Sleeper" off "Under A New Sun" with Jeff Martin (who produced the album and contributed vocals to this track on the CD version) and Jeff's bass player Jay Cortez on May 14, 2010 at The Corner Hotel in Melbourne, Australia can be viewed below.

THE ETERNAL has scheduled its first hometown show in a year at Ruby's Lounge in Belgrave on Friday, July 23 with local rockers TREAD. THE ETERNAL states, "We will be playing loads of new material from 'Under A New Sun' so come and check it out."

THE ETERNAL recently made a new DVD, "Kartika World Tour 2009", available exclusively via the band's web site. The disc contains the "Kartika World Tour" and "The Making Of Kartika" documentaries as well at two promotional videos and plenty of photos.

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED: New York City Performance Footage Available

2010-07-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

Fan-filmed video footage of CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED — the new project led by acclaimed metal drummer Richard Christy (ICED EARTH, DEATH, LEASH LAW, CONTROL DENIED, BURNING INSIDE) — performing on July 8, 2010 at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City can be viewed below (courtesy of "Pantera42057" and "hornsuprocks").

Fans finally got a chance to watch Christy and vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ICED EARTH) perform the songs from CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED's debut album. They toured from Chicago through Canada and up to Worcester, Massachusetts for a massive show with DREAM THEATER. The trek also featured comedian Don Jamieson from VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show".

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED's touring lineup made its live debut on July 1 in Chicago, Illinois. Stepping in for concerts were Cleveland guitarists John Comprix and Matt Sorg. Comprix is Owens' bandmate in several projects, and Sorg plays with Comprix in RINGWORM.

The self-titled debut album from CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED sold around 2,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 6 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED's album contains nine tracks, a bonus DVD ("The Making of Charred Walls of the Damned"), and comes in a digipack.

The recording sessions for the CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED CD took place at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof, who has previously worked with TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, BURY YOUR DEAD, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, DAATH, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER and GOD FORBID, among others.

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED's recording lineup:

* Richard Christy - Drums
* Jason Suecof - Guitar, Producer
* Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ICED EARTH) - Vocals
* Steve DiGiorgio (SADUS, TESTAMENT) - Bass

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/charredwallsofthedamned.

ZYKLON: 'The Storm Manifesto' Career-Spanning Box Set Due This Week

2010-07-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

On July 19, Candlelight Records will release a box set from the now-defunct Norwegian extreme metal act ZYKLON, entitled "The Storm Manifesto", featuring all three of the group's full-length albums plus bonus material.

Founded in 1998, it was evident from the start that ZYKLON was to be more than just a "side project" for the then-EMPEROR guitarist and drummer. Teaming with Destructhor (also of MYRKSKOG), the trio's rehearsals ignited a spark that would put them on the fast track. Enter England's Candlelight Records. Already home to EMPEROR, Candlelight was the best and obvious first choice for the band and its recording future.

"The Storm Manifesto" track listing:

Disc 1 - "World ov Worms":

01. Hammer Revelation
02. Deduced To Overkill
03. Chaos Deathcult
04. Storm Detonation
05. Zycloned
06. Terrordome
07. Worm World
08. Transcendental War - The Battle Between Gods
09. Dominate (bonus)
10. Worm World (video)
11. Transcendal War - Battle Between Gods (video)

Disc 2 - "Aeon":

01. Psyklon Aeon
02. Core Solution
03. Two Thousand Years
04. No Names Above The Names
05. The Prophetic Method
06. Specimen Eruption
07. Electric Current
08. An Eclectic Manner
09. Pull the Plug (bonus)
10. Core Solution (video)
11. Psyklon Aeon (video)

Disc 3 - "Disintegrate":

01. In Hindsight
02. Disintegrate
03. Ways of the World
04. Subversive Faith
05. A Cold Grave
06. Vile Ritual
07. Underdog
08. Wrenched
09. Vulture
10. Skinned and Endangered
11. Wrenched (video)
12. Underdog (video)

Check out an e-card for "The Storm Manifesto" at this location.

ZYKLON played its final show in Tokyo, Japan on September 28, 2007.

All members of ZYKLON are still active on various fronts. Guitarist Samoth is in the studio working on the debut album for his new project, THE WRETCHED END. Fellow axeman Destructhor is still touring with MORBID ANGEL, and is still planning to complete a new MYRKSKOG album with bassist/vocalist Secthdamon. Drummer Trym is mainly working in his tattoo shop, but is scheduled to appear in a new music project soon.

ZYKLON's third album, "Disintegrate", was released in 2006 via Candlelight Records. The CD was recorded at Akkerhaugen Lydstudio in Norway and was mixed at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden.

ZYKLON's DVD, titled "Storm Detonation Live", came out in March 2006 via Candlelight. Recorded at Germany's 2004 Party.San Open Air festival, the DVD contained the band's live show plus exclusive on-the-road/backstage footage, an exclusive look into reheasals for "Disintegrate" and both the "Psyklon Aeon" and "Core Solution" videos.

Reunited BANGALORE CHOIR To Release 'Cadence' In September; Audio Samples Available

2010-07-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

"Cadence", the new studio album from the reunited melodic hard rock band BANGALORE CHOIR, will be released on September 24 via Metal Heaven Records.

It has been 18 years since BANGALORE CHOIR's only release, "On Target", on Giant Records in 1992, which came out on the same day as NIRVANA's "Nevermind". Shortly after, BANGALORE CHOIR disbanded after being released from the label.

After several years under the radar on a ranch in Montana, lead vocalist David Reece (ex-ACCEPT, DAREFORCE) was contacted by Escape Records in 2007 to see what the chances would be for him to go to Sweden to sing on Swedish band GYPSY ROSE's next release. Soon after that David found himself in the studio for the next year recording and writing for the new GYPSY ROSE CD, "Another World", which was released in June 2008.

While touring and doing the Sweden Rock Festival in June 2007 and opening for AEROSMITH in Europe, Reece regained his passion for music, deciding he wanted to put BANGALORE CHOIR back together. Reece reached out to guitarist Curt Mitchell and bassist Danny Greenberg and asked them if they would like to make a new record. Both of them eagerly accepted the challenge. Joining them on the new album are Hans in't Zandt on drums and guitarist Andy Susemihl of U.D.O. fame, who contributed to the songwriting process and did a masterful job on the CD's production.

Commented Reece: "We knew if we were to make a new record that in order for it to be viable we had to keep some of the old formula that worked so well in the past which we have done!

"The new record by BANGALORE CHOIR is called 'Cadence' — continuing with blistering guitars pounding rhythms and big, hooky choruses."

"Cadent" (new song) audio sample:

"Big Deep" (new song) audio sample:

"Living Your Dreams" (new song) audio sample:

BANGALORE CHOIR will go on tour in Europe in early October, playing such shows as the H.E.A.T. Festival as well as the Firefest in England. They also plan to tour the Asian market and are in the process of scheduling U.S. dates.

Ex-TNT Singer Discusses TONY HARNELL & THE MERCURY TRAIN Project

2010-07-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

On July 14, Aniruddh "Andrew" Bansal of Metal Assault conducted an interview with vocalist Tony Harnell (TNT, WESTWORLD, STARBREAKER) about his latest project, TONY HARNELL & THE MERCURY TRAIN. You can now listen to the chat in two parts below.

"Northern Lights", the debut video from TONY HARNELL & THE MERCURY TRAIN, can be viewed below. The track comes off the group's debut album, "Round Trip", which was released in Europe on July 2 and will be made available in the USA on July 27 via Frontiers Records.

"Round Trip" is a very special record: a stripped down, reinvented retrospective of Tony Harnell's past classics originally recorded with his previous bands TNT, WESTWORLD and STARBREAKER, with one brand new song, "Anywhere But Here", recorded exclusively for this release.

The idea of re-recording some repertoire classics came about after Tony performed some low-key shows in New York in late 2008, with some talented and accomplished musicians that were not part of the metal/hard rock scene. The desire was to breathe new life into the songs with new arrangements, key changes and added parts; it's like listening to songs you know in a whole new way. Frontiers Records president Serafino Perugino liked the concept, and in Harnell's own words, "The idea was originally based on it being the usual cliché 'acoustic' album. Well, for us hard rockers that usually means simply playing the songs pretty much as they were but with acoustic guitars. That's not exactly what I had in mind. If I was going to do this, I was going to have some fun. I wanted to strip things down and see what would happen when musicians outside the hard rock community played my songs. That intrigued me. So I gave all the guys the original album versions and then pretty much gave them carte blanche to reinterpret the songs. That meant key changes ('cause you can't sing like a banshee when you strip things down, sounds silly), chord changes and even arrangement changes if the mood hit. I also wanted a semi-live vibe. What we ended up with is an album that honors the original songs with a little added spice, color, and above all… fun."

At the end of 2008 Tony and the other musicians entered the studio for a marathon two-day recording session that was supposed to lead into a whirlwind mixing session and an immediate release. But immediately after the session Tony hit some rather intense personal bumps in the road and production stopped. Months later the album was quickly completed.

"Recording this album was an extremely cathartic experience, allowing me to gently close the door to the past with love and gratitude and regain the pride I rightly deserve to have for these songs and for the years of my life I gave to the various periods when they were written," states Tony. "This is in no way meant to erase, dismiss or compete with the incredible original recordings of these songs. This is just a little fun reinvention, a way to leave the past behind on my own terms. These are your songs as much as they are mine, some of you, like me, have all kinds of memories attached to them. My lyrics were, are and always will be filled with my experiences, struggles, hopes and dreams and my observations of the world around me. Hopefully you'll listen to these songs in a new way and hear them with new ears. I know I have."

"Round Trip" track listing:

01. Somebody Told You
02. Intuition
03. Month Of Sundays
04. Lonely Nights
05. Shame
06. Northern Lights
07. Down To The River To Pray
08. Satellite
09. 10K Lovers
10. Uninvited
11. Ready To Fly
12. When I'm Away *
13. Song For Dianne
14. Anywhere But Here

* Bonus track

"Intuition" audio sample:

"Shame" audio sample:

"Northern Lights" audio sample:

"Uninvited" audio sample:

THE MERCURY TRAIN is:

Jason Hagen - Acoustic guitar and ukulele
Chris Foley - Electric guitar
Brandon Wilde - Bass and vocals
Brad Gunyon - Drums and percussion
Amy Harnell - Vocals and descant recorder

Special guest: Sandi Saraya on "Shame"

Interview Part 1:

Interview Part 2:

IMPALED NAZARENE Parts Ways With Guitarist, Announces New Album Title

2010-07-18T08:52:00.000-07:00

Finnish extreme metallers IMPALED NAZARENE have issued the following update:

"First things first: After 18 years, [Jarno] Anttila (guitar) has stepped aside from IMPALED NAZARENE.

"There is no drama or bullshit involved. Jarno is simply too busy with his work and family.

"Cheers and beers to Jarno for sticking with us that long!!!!

"Jarno's departure does not affect our plans. We will continue as a four-piece.

"As we previously reported, we will enter Hellhole studio [in Helsinki] this month with our very own soundman Tero Kostermaa to record our 11th full-length album.

"Writing has has been going very well. We have 12 finished songs so far.

"We will record also a song made by Jarno for us as it is a kick-ass tune and he gave us permission to use it.

"'Road To The Octagon' is the album title. We can reveal some songs titles:

* Under Attack
* Tentacles Of The Octagon
* Silent, Violent Type
* Execute Tapeworm Extermination
* Gag Reflex
* Tremble, Man Of God

"'Road To The Octagon' will be released by Osmose Productions in the beginning of November 2010. Album shall be mastered by Mika Jussila and artwork is handled by Darkgrove Design. We can also confirm that we have been booked to play Maryland Deathfest 28th of May 2011. This will be exclusive show for USA in 2011!"

Video footage of IMPALED NAZARENE performing the song "Ghettoblaster" on April 10, 2010 at the "Black Curse Over Hellsinki II" festival at Gloria in Helsinki, Finland can be viewed below (courtesy of Filmokratik).

IMPALED NAZARENE's 20th anniversary show at Henry's Pub club in Kuopio, Finland on November 20, 2010 will be filmed for a forthcoming concert DVD.

Commented the band: "We chose Kuopio and Henry's Pub simply because Kuopio has the best audience in Finland and Henry's Pub is the best club in Finland. Yes, it is small, but perfect for live DVD recording."

IMPALED NAZARENE's latest album, "Manifest", was released in October 2007. The CD was recorded and mixed at Sonic Pump studio by Tapio Pennanen, and was mastered at Finnvox studio by Mika Jussila. The cover artwork and layout was handlded by Ritual.

Original JUDAS PRIEST Singer AL ATKINS Interviewed On 'Good Time Metal Oldies'

2010-07-18T08:51:00.002-07:00

On March 13, 2010, Jason Saulnier of the "Good Time Metal Oldies" radio show conducted an interview with original JUDAS PRIEST and current HOLY RAGE vocalist Al Atkins. You can now listen to the chat in two parts below.

"Good Time Metal Oldies" airs Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. EST on CIFA 104.1 FM in Nova Scotia and Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. EST on Pure Rock Radio.

Interview Part 1:

Interview Part 2:

HOLY RAGE recently announced the addition of guitarist Vince O'Regan (ex-BOB CATLEY, EDEN) and bassist/vocalist Steve Mercy (ex-ABIGAIL'S MERCY) to the group's ranks.

HOLY RAGE's current lineup:

* Al Atkins (vocals)
* Chris Johnson (guitar)
* Mick Hales (drums)
* Vince O'Regan (ex-BOB CATLEY, EDEN) (guitar)
* Steve Mercy (ex-ABIGAIL'S MERCY) (bass, vocals)

Atkins is the co-writer of several PRIEST songs which are included on the band's first two albums "Rocka Rolla" and "Sad Wings of Destiny", both of which eventually went gold. Atkins co-penned the heavy metal classic "Victim of Changes", which was a combination of Rob Halford's song "Red Light Lady" and Atkins' own "Whiskey Woman". He also co-wrote "Winter", "Never Satisfied", "Dreamer Deceiver" and "Caviar and Meths".

In 1989 Atkins released his debut solo album, "Judgement Day", to great acclaim. But it was "Heavy Thoughts" and "Victim of Changes" (the latter being his collaborative album with ex-JUDAS PRIEST drummer Dave Holland) that brought him strong sales and critical acclaim around the world. Recently Atkins formed HOLY RAGE and has shared the bill with ex-RAINBOW/MSG singer Graham Bonnet in California.

JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill penned the foreword to Al Atkins's autobiography, titled "Dawn of the Metal Gods: My Life in Judas Priest and Heavy Metal". The book, which was written with Neil Daniels — a freelance rock writer and heavy metal fan who befriended Atkins during the writing of Neil's book "The Story of Judas Priest: Defenders of the Faith" (Omnibus Press) — was released last spring via Iron Pages.

DAGOR DAGORATH: 'The Maze Of Madness' Video Released

2010-07-18T08:51:00.001-07:00

"The Maze Of Madness", the official live video from Israeli symphonic black/death metallers DAGOR DAGORATH, can be viewed below. The clip was shot at the Tel Aviv release party for the band's debut album, "Yetzer Ha'Ra", with director/editor Carmi Productions.

"Yetzer Ha'Ra" was released in January via the German label Twilight Vertrieb.

The CD came out in Russia on August 28, 2009 through More Hate Productions.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/dagordagorath.

OZZY OSBOURNE: More Behind-The-Scenes Footage From 'Let Me Hear You Scream' Shoot

2010-07-18T08:50:00.001-07:00

AOL's Noisecreep has posted exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage from the video shoot for OZZY OSBOURNE's new single, "Let Me Hear You Scream". Renowned Swedish director Jonas Åkerlund — who has previously worked with METALLICA, SATYRICON, RAMMSTEIN, MADONNA and THE PRODIGY, among others — speaks about working with the Prince of Darkness and being inspired by his creativity. He also discusses how the performance footage — which is key to the video — was filmed with minimal lighting against a green screen, and that all the CGI work was down in post-production.

OZZY OSBOURNE's new album, "Scream", sold 81,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 4 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Osbourne's last album, "Black Rain", opened with 152,000 units back in May 2007 to enter the chart at No. 3. That number was in line with the 153,000 first-week tally registered by 2001's "Down to Earth", which debuted at No. 4.

BARONESS Talks Gear With PREMIER GUITAR

2010-07-18T08:49:00.002-07:00

Premier Guitar's Jordan Wagner is conducted an interview with guitarists Peter Adams and John Baizley of Savannah, Georgia's BARONESS on May 18, 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin. In the seven-minute segment which can be viewed below, Adams and Baizley walk Premier Guitar through their rigs, which include custom shop First Act guitars, Gibson Les Pauls, BadCat amplifiers, Emperor and Green guitar cabinets, and effects from companies like Electro-Harmonix, MXR, Boss, Dunlop, Ernie Ball, etc.

BARONESS' second full-length album, "Blue Record", sold around 4,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 117 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at No. 1 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. Released on October 13, 2009 via Relapse Records, the follow-up to 2007's critically acclaimed "The Red Album" was recorded in Dallas, Texas with producer/engineer John Congleton (EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, THE POLYPHONIC SPREE, BLACK MOUNTAIN).

AC/DC Among The World's Top-Earning Musicians

2010-07-18T08:49:00.001-07:00

According to Forbes, Australian hard rock legends AC/DC made an estimated $114 million between June 2009 and June 2010, landing at position No. 2 on the magazine's list of Top-Earning Musicians of 2010.

Says the magazine: "This Australian heavy metal group has been shaking audiences all night long since 1973 and shows few signs of stopping. Second only to U2 in band tour earnings, AC/DC grossed a staggering $226 million on a worldwide tour that included 99 dates and brought in more than $2 million a night."

Forbes magazine's list of Top-Earning Musicians of 2010:

01. U2 ($130 million)
02. AC/DC ($114 million)
03. BEYONCE ($87 million)
04. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ($70 million)
05. BRITNEY SPEARS ($64 million)
06. JAY-Z ($63 million)
07. LADY GAGA ($62 million)
08. MADONNA ($58 million)
09. KENNY CHESNEY ($50 million)
10. BLACK EYED PEAS, TOBY KEITH and COLDPLAY (tied at $48 million)

NEGATIVE Interviewed On Finland's 'Summeri'

2010-07-18T08:48:00.001-07:00

Finnish rock band NEGATIVE was interviewed on the teen TV show "Summeri" (which airs on the YLE TV2 channel) in June, a couple of days after the release of the group's fifth album, "Neon". Watch the chat below. (Note: The interview was conducted in Finnish, but the clip includes English subtitles.)

"Neon" was released on June 2. The CD was recorded at the Broken Wave studios in Los Angeles with Warren Riker as the engineer/assistant producer and Jimmy Westerlund as the producer.

According to a press release, "Neon" is "a milestone in NEGATIVE's career. A lot has been invested in the production — the material has been polished to perfection before entering the studios under the supervision of Jeff Blue. Singer Jonne Aaron's vocal scale stretches wider than ever and the band's playing comes together brilliantly on this album. Aaron has composed an album filled to the brim with emotional stadium rock."

"Neon" was the first NEGATIVE album to be released in Europe and Asia simultaneously via Warner Music and JVC Music, respectively. The CD's first single, "End Of The Line", was distributed to radio stations March 1.
Jonne Aaron described "Neon" as "melody rich and comprehensive string of pearls with a twist."

"Neon" track listing:

01. No One Can Save Me Tonight
02. End Of The Line
03. Love That I Lost
04. Blood On Blood
05. Believe
06. Celestial Summer
07. Jealous Sky
08. Days I'm Living For
09. Since You've Been Gone
10. Kiss Of Hope
11. Fucking Worthless
12. Neon Rain

"End Of The Line", the new video from NEGATIVE, can be viewed below.

Interview:

"End Of The Line" video:

COREY TAYLOR On Las Vegas' KOMP 92.3: Acoustic-Performance, Interview Footage Available

2010-07-18T08:46:00.000-07:00

SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor took part in an interview and acoustic solo performance yesterday (Friday, July 16) at the studios of the Las Vegas rock station KOMP 92.3. Watch video footage of his appearance below.

The Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas unveiled a special new Corey Taylor case on July 15. The case features masks and uniforms that Corey has worn on stage with SLIPKNOT as well as some of his plaques, photographs and some other special memorabilia.

To celebrate this special honor, Corey performed two solo shows at the Hard Rock. The first was Poolside on July 16 with his JUNK BEER KIDNAP BAND. The second was a solo acoustic show at Wasted Space in the Hard Rock.

Taylor told Billboard.com that it's "too soon" to talk about SLIPKNOT's future following the May 2010 death of bassist Paul Gray at the age of 38. SLIPKNOT has been on a break since late last year and the band members did not give any hint of their future plans at a brief press conference they did the week of Gray's death. Taylor himself is taking part in promotional efforts for "Audio Secrecy", the third album from his other band STONE SOUR, which is due out September 7. Other than his "too soon" comment, he declined to speak about Gray.

TARJA TURUNEN: Performance Footage Of Two New Songs Available

2010-07-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

Fan-filmed video footage of former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen performing two new songs, "Falling Awake" and "We Are", for the first time on June 25, 2010 at this year's Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium can be viewed below.

In other news, Tarja was interviewed by Czech Republic's CT1 on July 13, 2010 prior to her appearance two days later at the at the Masters Of Rock festival in Vizovice, Czech Republic. Watch the chat in two parts below.

Turunen will release the "Falling Awake" single in the U.K. on July 19 exclusively as a 10-inch vinyl via Spinefarm Records. This highly collectible format will be limited to 1,000 copies, all of them pressed onto "marbled" vinyl and numbered by hand, and will be available exclusively from online retailer What Records.

"Falling Awake" is the first track to be released from the forthcoming Tarja outing, "What Lies Beneath" — her second full album to be made available under the Tarja banner and the follow-up to 2007's "My Winter Storm". This version of the track differs from the one that will appear on "What Lies Beneath" in that if features a special guest appearance from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Jason Hook. Mixing was handled, as with much of the new album, by renowned U.K. producer Colin Richardson, whose track record includes work with such artists as SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE.

The B-side of the "Falling Awake" 10-inch single is "The Good Die Young" — a specially mixed version of the song from the new SCORPIONS album, "Sting In The Tail", with Tarja's vocals now more prominent overall.

"What Lies Beneath" is scheduled for release on September 3 via Spinefarm Records, preceded by follow-up single/video, "Until My Last Breath", on August 16.

With production handled by Tarja herself and selected tracks mixed by U.K. producer Colin Richardson, the follow-up to 2007's "My Winter Storm" "looks set to take Tarja's unique musical mix of drama 'n' decibels to a whole new level of success," according to a press release.

"We worked on 33 songs this time around from which I decided to record 17," Tarja explained. "It has been great to have the freedom to produce my own record for the first time; these sessions have been such a gift, a real learning process and a true joy. In many ways, it feels like the first time…"

ALL THAT REMAINS singer Phil Labonte has contributed guest vocals to "What Lies Beneath". Labonte appears in the track "Dark Star", which Turunen described as a "duet." Tarja stated, "I haven't been really working with such impressive vocals before. With [Phil's vocal contributions], the song reached another dimension."

"Falling Awake" performance from Graspop Metal Meeting:

"We Are" performance from Graspop Metal Meeting:

Interview Part 1:

Interview Part 2:

'Thrash And Burn' Tour Dates Announced

2010-05-28T21:18:00.001-07:00

ASKING ALEXANDRIA and BORN OF OSIRIS will co-headline this year's edition of the Thrash And Burn tour, with support from KITTIE, STICK TO YOUR GUNS, IMPENDING DOOM, THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD (first half), EVERGREEN TERRACE (second half), GREELEY ESTATES, PERIPHERY, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE and CHELSEA GRIN. The trek will run from July 16 to August 15.

The dates are as follows:

Jul. 16 - Louisville, KY @ Headliners
Jul. 17 - Nashville, TN @ Rockettown
Jul. 18 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
Jul. 19 - Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theatre
Jul. 21 - Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
Jul. 22 - Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
Jul. 23 - Las Vegas, NV @ Rock The Block
Jul. 24 - San Diego, CA @ Soma
Jul. 25 - Pomona, CA @ The Glasshouse
Jul. 26 - Fresno, CA @ The Crest Theatre
Jul. 27 - Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
Jul. 28 - Phoenix, AZ @ Nile Theatre
Jul. 30 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theatre
Jul. 31 - Lubbock, TX @ Lonestar Event Center
Aug. 01 - San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
Aug. 02 - Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
Aug. 03 - Houston, TX @ House of Blues
Aug. 05 - Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre
Aug. 06 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
Aug. 07 - Richmond, VA @ Hat Factory
Aug. 08 - Long Island, NY @ Crazy Donkey
Aug. 09 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony
Aug. 10 - Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
Aug. 11 - Buffalo, NY @ Xtreme Wheels
Aug. 12 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Ches Arena
Aug. 13 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
Aug. 14 - Detroit, MI @ Harpos
Aug. 15 - Chicago, IL @ Metro

Lineup:

ASKING ALEXANDRIA
BORN OF OSIRIS
KITTIE
STICK TO YOUR GUNS
IMPENDING DOOM
THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD (first half)
EVERGREEN TERRACE (second half)
GREELEY ESTATES
PERIPHERY
MOTIONLESS IN WHITE
CHELSEA GRIN

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/thrashandburntour.

Former DROWN Frontman Launches LORDS OF RUIN

2010-05-28T21:14:00.001-07:00

Orange County, California, the breeding ground for such monumental acts as THE OFFSPRING, NO DOUBT, KORN, LIT, SOCIAL DISTORTION and AVENGED SEVENFOLD, has given birth to its newest spawn: LORDS OF RUIN. The band evolved from Southern California's SIX, who in 2008 released the critically acclaimed album "Between The Warning and the War", which featured guest appearances by Mike Clark from SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and bassist Tony Campos from STATIC-X.

LORDS OF RUIN is the brainchild of former DROWN vocalist Lauren Boquette, guitarist Alfunction and guitarist/bassist Corey Bush. Professional slammer Craig Waters, formerly of THE BELLRAYS, holds down the drum department.

"We were just bored with everything else around us," commented Boquette. "You can only live around trends, plastic people and sheep for so long before something snaps. It was time to destroy what had become the musical norm around here."

"We've lived on the road touring with different bands for years, we know what the real underground looks like," added Alfunction. "But it's time to turn that upside down and take over arenas."

LORDS OF RUIN will make its live debut on June 11 at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, California when the group joins up with the Jägermeister Music Tour featuring KORN.

"We're stoked to be able to launch the band this way, and we're beyond thankful to our people at Jägermeister for hooking this up," says Bush."We have total respect for KORN and how they've stay down with their fans. We hope to build our band in a similar way. We're here to destroy!"

LORDS OF RUIN is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on its self-titled debut album.

For more information, visit www.lordsofruin.com.

MEKONG DELTA: Eight-Minute 'Wanderer' Preview Clip Available

2010-05-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

An eight-minute preview clip for "Wanderer On The Edge Of Time", the new album from the legendary German progressive thrash outfit MEKONG DELTA, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. Due on June 10 via AAARRG Records, the CD features the following track listing:

01. Intro - Concert Guitar
02. Ouverture
03. "A Certain Fool" ( Le Fou ) / Movement 1
04. Interlude 1 - Group
05. "The 5th Element" (Le Bateleur) / Movement 2
06. Interlude 2 - Group
07. "The Apocalypt - World In Shards" ( La Maison Dieu ) / Movement 3
08. Interlude 3 - Concert Guitar
09. "King With Broken Crown" (Le Diable) / Movement 4
10. Intermezzo (Instrumental) / Movement 5
11. Interlude 4 - Group
12. "Affection" (L' Amoureux) / Movement 6
13. Interlude 5 - Group
14. "Mistaken Truth" (Le Hérétique) / Movement 7
15. Finale

The artwork was created by Eliran Kantor and can be viewed below.

According to a posting on the band's web site, "It has become clear that the story that began with one song ('Shades Of Doom'), followed by half an album (Rondo for Rockgroup 'Dances Of Death') is continued as a full album on 'Wanderer On The Edge Of Time'. More progressive than MEKONG DELTA has ever done, this album will definitely beat 'Dance Of Death' as MEKONG's finest."

MEKONG DELTA in 2008 announced the addition of vocalist Martin LeMar (TOMORROW'S EVE) and drummer Alex Landenburg (AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR) to the group's ranks.

"Lurking Fear", the latest album from MEKONG DELTA, was released in North America on April 22, 2008 via Locomotive Records. It was the first all-new studio album from the band since 1997.

"Lurking Fear" was made available in Europe in August 2007 as a standard jewelcase as well as a double vinyl album. The limited-edition digipack included a bonus DVD containing the band's December 21, 1991 concert in Frankfurt, Germany.

MEKONG DELTA's lineup on "Lurking Fear" included mainman/bassist Ralf Hubert alongside drummer Uli Kusch (ex-MASTERPLAN, HELLOWEEN), singer Leo Szpigiel (ANGEL DUST, CROWS, SCANNER, DUKE) and guitarist Peter Sjöberg (also known as Peter Lake from THEORY IN PRACTICE).

MEKONG DELTA's current lineup:

Ralf Hubert - Bass
Alex Landenburg - Drums
Benedikt Zimniak - Guitar
Erik Adam H. - Guitar
Martin LeMar - Vocals

SCORPIONS To Perform At Indonesia's Borobudur Temple

2010-05-24T17:24:00.000-07:00

The Jakarta Globe reports that German hard rockers SCORPIONS will play a concert under the shadows of the stunning ninth-century Borobudur Temple as part of their "Get Your Sting and Blackout" farewell world tour tour.

Agus Canny, marketing director of PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko, which manages the temple site, said the concert will be held in June of next year.

"This concert will mark the end of the 45-year musical journey of the SCORPIONS. Their management agency has met us and expects the concert to be held in mid-June of 2011," he told The Jakarta Globe on Monday.

Two SCORPIONS representatives from Indonesia and two more from Germany visited Borobudur Temple last week to map out the concert details.

Read more from The Jakarta Globe.

Producer COLIN RICHARDSON Is 'In Total Shock' Over SLIPKNOT Bassist's Death

2010-05-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

Acclaimed British producer Colin Richardson (SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, NAPALM DEATH) and his representatives at Real Productions have issued the following statement regarding the passing of SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray:

"From Colin Richardson and all at Real, we send our deepest, most heart-broken condolences to Paul Gray's family, SLIPKNOT and their entire team. We, as so many, are in total shock over this terrible tragedy. Our love and respect for SLIPKNOT and their team goes back many years now and Colin has always been completely honoured to work with such brilliant artists. He is a true fan to the core and sends his love and condolences to everyone in SLIPKNOT and their camp. We all do, just as so many around the world will be doing the same over this tragic loss."

Richardson mixed SLIPKNOT's "All Hope Is Gone" and "9.0: Live" albums as well as the "Voliminal: Inside The Nine" and "Disasterpieces" DVDs.

CRIMSON GLORY: DIO 'Was Easily One Of The Most Influential Artists In Modern Music'

2010-05-24T17:22:00.003-07:00

Florida-based melodic metal veterans CRIMSON GLORY have released the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"Ronnie was a wellspring of immeasurable talent and a shining example of the persistence, hard work, dedication, passion and creativity that it takes to become a true legend in the music world. There has not been a kinder, classier, more well-spoken individual in the realm of hard rock and heavy metal, and it is fair to say that the only thing bigger than the man's voice was his heart.

"Ronnie James Dio was easily one of the most influential artists in modern music; that influence can be heard and felt in countless bands that have emerged over the last forty years, including us!

"With the recent passing of our own singer, Midnight, we deeply empathize with the shock and profound sadness that those close to Ronnie are experiencing right now. It is our hope that Ronnie's friends, band mates and family, especially his wife, Wendy, will find comfort and solace in each other's shared love, respect and fond memories of their time spent with him, as well as the knowledge that Ronnie is incredibly loved by scores of fans of all ages, all over the world."

CRIMSON GLORY: DIO 'Was Easily One Of The Most Influential Artists In Modern Music'

2010-05-24T17:22:00.002-07:00

METHODS OF MAYHEM's New Album Pushed Back To September

2010-05-24T17:22:00.001-07:00

Tommy Lee has rocked every continent multiple times, sold millions of records with MÖTLEY CRÜE and on his own, done everything a musician dreams of doing, except he's never made a record with the entire world. The new METHODS OF MAYHEM album, now entitled "A Public Disservice Announcement", is set for release on September 21 and features Tommy Lee collaborating with the world. Lee commented, "When I founded METHODS in 1999, the whole purpose of the band was to be all over the place. In keeping with that, this METHODS isn't anything like the last one. There's no hip hop and there's no roster of guest stars. This time, it's me, my band, and the world."

Tommy Lee and his team, including producer Scott Humphrey, singer-guitarist J3 and others, wrote and recorded the songs for the new album, then made the core components of each available for download on www.thepublicrecord.com to anyone who wished to add their playing or otherwise re-interpret the music however they saw fit. Lee listened to every single submission that was uploaded, chose the best, and integrated the actual audio tracks into the album's final cuts. Every single musician whose part was used is credited and thanked on the album.

The song files were made available on The Public Record web site on October 5, 2009. By the end of the submission period in February, 2010, the page was viewed over 1 million times and over 10,000 submissions were uploaded. What came back once the public got its hands on the raw ingredients was truly all over the map — just as Tommy Lee had hoped. The diverse submissions included techno tracks sent in from Japan, hand drum rhythms from India and searing guitar solos from as close to home as San Diego.

METHODS OF MAYHEM self-titled debut was released in 1999 and was certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of 500,000 copies in the United States alone. The album featured Snoop Dogg, Kid Rock and Fred Durst, among others. METHODS OF MAYHEM's set was a featured highlight of 2000's Ozzfest.

"A Public Disservice Announcement" track listing:

01. Drunk Uncle Pete
02. Time Bomb
03. Louder
04. Fight Song
05. Blame
06. Two Ways
07. Talk Me Off The Ledge
08. Only One
09. All I Wanna Do
10. Back To Before
11. Party Instructions

SEPULTURA Comments On Passing Of SLIPKNOT Bassist

2010-05-24T17:20:00.000-07:00

Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA have released the following statement regarding the passing of SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray:

"RIP Paul Gray, we're shocked and very sad, this is another tragic loss for our metal community."

Urbandale police said a man was found dead in a hotel room in Urbandale on Monday morning.

Police said there was no evidence of foul play observed, but a complete investigation will be completed by Urbandale police detectives.

In April 2010 it was announced that Gray had joined HAIL!, the supergroup featuring mainstays Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA), Tim "Ripper" Owens (BEYOND FEAR, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH), David Ellefson (MEGADETH). He was supposed to replace the group's original member, David Ellefson, who was unable to take part in HAIL!'s upcoming touring activities due to his renewed collaboration with MEGADETH.

SLIPKNOT Bassist Found Dead

2010-05-24T17:19:00.001-07:00

According to the Des Moines Register, Urbandale, Iowa police are investigating the death of SLIPKNOT's bass guitarist at a local hotel.

Paul Dedrick Gray, 38, of Johnston was found dead at approximately 10:50 a.m. today by an employee at TownePlace Suites (pictured below), 8800 Northpark Drive, police said.

There was no evidence of foul play, police said.

According to KCCI.com, the Polk County Medical Examiner's Office is assisting in the death investigation and will perform an autopsy on Tuesday. Toxicology testing will be completed to determine if there were any contributing factors in the death of Gray, police said.

Witnesses reported that items from the hotel room were carried out of the hotel around 2 p.m.

Gray was born in Los Angeles, California, and later moved to Des Moines.

Wikipedia shows that Gray has been married for two years to GodsGirls' Brenna Paul and has a tattoo of her name on his knuckles.

In a December 2009 posting on his MySpace page, Gray revealed that his wife was pregnant with the couple's first child. "I am the happiest man on the face of the earth — literally!" he wrote. He added, "This has been the best Christmas I have ever had!"

In April 2010 it was announced that Paul Gray had joined HAIL!, the supergroup featuring mainstays Tim "Ripper" Owens (BEYOND FEAR, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH), David Ellefson (MEGADETH) and Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA). He was supposed to replace the group's original member, David Ellefson, who was unable to take part in HAIL!'s upcoming touring activities due to his renewed collaboration with MEGADETH. At the time, Paul Gray stated about his involvement with HAIL!: "This is going to be amazing! After I heard the news about David reuniting with MEGADETH I touched base with Andreas and everything fell into place pretty immediately. I was excited about what they were doing and their whole attitude is just cool, old school camaraderie and fun and I wanted to share that with them. Fortunately, I had this window of time available as SLIPKNOT are on break so the timing worked perfectly. These guys have been through it all and they represent true metal brotherhood. I like that and I'm glad to now be a part of it. I can't wait, I wish we'd leave tomorrow. These shows are going to kick ass!"

Back in 2003, authorities agreed to drop drug possession charges against Paul Gray in exchange for Gray's acknowledgement that he was on drugs when he was involved in a minor traffic accident (Story#1, Story#2) in the summer of 2003 in Des Moines.

Des Moines police arrested Gray on June 1, 2003 after his car collided with a car at Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and Carpenter Avenue.

A police report at the time said Gray "had impaired balance, slurred and dull speech, and extremely sleepy and dull behavior."

In the November 2008 issue of Revolver magazine, Gray spoke openly about his struggle with drug addiction and how it affected SLIPKNOT during the songwriting and recording process for both 2001's "Iowa" and 2004's "Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses".

"I was pissed at Corey [Taylor, SLIPKNOT vocalist] and Jim [Root, SLIPKNOT guitarist] for doing [their side project] STONE SOUR," he said. "I thought, 'Fuck, we should be working on SLIPKNOT.' But we really needed that time apart. During the downtime I played with UNIDA and jammed with friends, but mostly I did a lot of drinking and some drugs — some heavy, heavy drugs… lots of heroin. I was shooting speedballs every day. And then pills. I was on everything, man. In the beginning I kind of had my shit under control, but after a while, no. I became an addict."

He added, "I wrote a bunch of stuff [for 'Vol. 3'] — like I do every record — but I would spend half the time in the bathroom [shooting up]. I'd be trying to play, and I'd fall out of my chair a couple times and fall asleep in the middle of tracking a song. There was a lot of depression going on. I wasn't mad at anybody, but everyone else was and I felt, 'Oh, fuck, my family is falling apart.' This has been the best thing that ever happened to me. And once you get to a certain point with drugs it's fuckin' so hard going through withdrawal. It's not that you don't want to quit. You just can't. Halfway through the record, the band had an intervention on me and I ended up going to rehab."

He continued, "Going through rehab in L.A. kept me good for a little while, but then we got back out on the road and I just knew too many people and I started using a lot again on and off. I had some near-death experiences — nothing I'm gonna go into any detail about — but I definitely pushed it to the very end and I'm still here. I have friends, though, who pushed it just the same way, and they are dead. Finally, I got left in rehab at the end of the arena tour with SHADOWS FALL and LAMB OF GOD and I missed the last six shows. Then, afterwards… Well, idle hands do the devil's work. I met my wife and she stayed with me and helped me, but then I'd full on run with it. Finally she said, 'I can't sit around and watch you kill yourself.' I was living in L.A. at the time, which wasn't helping because it was so easy [to get drugs]. So, I moved back to Iowa with her and went to my doctor and got straightened out. And it's been a good couple years now that I've been clean."

Photo below courtesy of KCCI.com

SLIPKNOT Bassist Found Dead

2010-05-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

Photo below courtesy of KCCI.com

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED

2010-05-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED — the new project led by acclaimed metal drummer Richard Christy (ICED EARTH, DEATH, LEASH LAW, CONTROL DENIED, BURNING INSIDE) — is hitting the road. Fans will finally have the chance to watch Christy and vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ICED EARTH) perform the songs from CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED's debut album this July. They'll be touring from Chicago through Canada and up to Worcester, Massachusetts for a massive show with DREAM THEATER. The trek will also feature comedian Don Jamieson from VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show".

A limited number of VIP tickets will be available. The VIP ticket includes a meet-and-greet with CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED, a limited-edition poster to be signed by the band, a limited-edition exclusive t-shirt, and you will also be allowed to bring any other personal items to have the guys from the band sign.

For more information, visit RichardChristy.com.

Commented Christy: "I am soooooooooooooo pumped to get out on the road and blast some heavy metal with CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED this summer! Tim Ripper Owens and I are beyond excited about this tour! The response to our debut album has been so amazing and I think people are going to be blown away when they hear these songs live! I'm sweating my buns off in the rehearsal room every day getting tighter and tighter on our songs so that we will be absolutely blistering when we get out on the road in July!

"Steve DiGiorgio [bass] and Jason Suecof [guitar] have prior commitments and won't be able to join us on this tour but we have the incredible musicians John Comprix (BEYOND FEAR, RINGWORM) on guitar, Dennis Hayes (BEYOND FEAR, ex-ICED EARTH) on bass, and Matt Sorg (RINGWORM) on guitar joining CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED for this tour! We'll be playing our debut album in full and we'll have plenty more surprises as well!

"Joining us as host of the tour and also doing stand-up at each show will be the hilarious comedian and carrier of the heavy metal torch, Don Jamieson from VH1's 'That Metal Show'! I've known Don for many years and I'm so psyched to have him as part of this tour!

"Coming soon we'll have more big announcements about the tour, including opening bands in each market and other cool surprises! So get ready to raise your fists and bang your heads with CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED this summer!"

Added Owens: "Man, I really look forward to this short run of shows, just going out with some friends and playing in front of some of the best fans around. And watching Don every night just tops it off!!!"

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED tour dates:

July 01 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
July 02 - Detroit, MI - Harpo's
July 03 - Montreal, QC - Les Foufounes Electrique
July 04 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
July 06 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's Down Under
July 07 - Pittsburgh, PA - Diesel
July 08 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theater
July 09 - West Chester, PA - The Note
July 10 - Worcester, MA - Palladium (w/ DREAM THEATER)

The self-titled debut album from CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED sold around 2,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 6 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED's album contains nine tracks, a bonus DVD ("The Making of Charred Walls of the Damned"), and comes in a digipack.

The recording sessions for the CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED CD took place at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof, who has previously worked with TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, BURY YOUR DEAD, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, DAATH, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER and GOD FORBID, among others.

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED's recording lineup:

* Richard Christy - Drums
* Jason Suecof - Guitar, Producer
* Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ICED EARTH) - Vocals
* Steve DiGiorgio (SADUS, TESTAMENT) - Bass

"Charred Walls Of The Damned" track listing:

01. Ghost Town
02. From The Abyss
03. Creating Our Machine
04. Blood on Wood
05. In a World So Cruel
06. Manifestations
07. Voices Within the Walls
08. The Darkest Eyes
09. Fear in the Sky
+ Bonus DVD - "The Making of Charred Walls of the Damned"

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED's "Ghost Town" video can be viewed below.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/charredwallsofthedamned.

FORBIDDEN Confirmed For 70000 TONS OF METAL Cruise

2010-05-10T21:42:00.001-07:00

Reactivated San Francisco Bay Area metallers FORBIDDEN have been confirmed for the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise, which is set to sail from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico on January 24, 2011 and return four days later. A total of 40 acts will appear at the event.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

AMON AMARTH
DEATH ANGEL
EPICA
FINNTROLL
FORBIDDEN
MOONSPELL
OBITUARY
RAVEN
SAXON
SODOM
SONATA ARCTICA
STRATOVARIUS
SWASHBUCKLE
TESTAMENT
TROUBLE
ULI JON ROTH
WITCHBURNER

SAXON will play two unique shows. One night they will perform the "Wheels Of Steel" LP in its entirety and on a different night, for the second show, they will play "Strong Arm Of The Law" from start to finish.

70000 Tons Of Metal will sail Monday, January 24, 2011 aboard the Royal Caribbean "Majesty of the Seas" from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico and will not return you to the real world for four days until Friday, January 28, 2011.

Make no mistake, 70000 Tons Of Metal is not your grandma's cruise. It's also not one of the cruises that share the ship with normal cruise guests. This is an all-ship heavy metal cruise! Can you imagine that? A whole luxury cruise ship full of metalheads? And since there is no backstage area you will have the opportunity to mingle side-by-side with the artists in this incredibly fan-friendly scenario that has no comparison. It's like everyone has a backstage pass and you might even need a vacation from this vacation when all is said and done!

Ticket prices start at US$666 plus US$249 taxes and fees per person and include all on-board entertainment, all meals and non-alcoholic and non-carbonated drinks at the on-board restaurants and 24-hour room service!

For more information, go to www.70000tons.com.

GLENN DANZIG To Appear At Toronto's RUE MORGUE FESTIVAL OF FEAR

2010-05-10T21:41:00.001-07:00

Glenn Danzig will make an appearance at the Rue Morgue Festival Of Fear, set to take place August 27-29, 2010 in the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The Rue Morgue Festival Of Fear is Canada's largest horror expo, attracting an average of 40,000-plus fans to the heart of downtown Toronto over three days in August. This powerhouse event is an extravaganza of celebrity guests, autograph signings, parties, question-and-answer sessions, seminars and workshops, and a colossal selection of movies and movie memorabilia, including books, comic books, toys, video games, trading cards, posters, anime, manga, and tons more.

With over eight million records sold, Glenn Danzig forms one third of the dark triumvirate of horror rock and roll alongside Alice Cooper and BLACK SABBATH. As the formative member of the MISFITS, Danzig brought his fascination with film and comic book horror to modern punk rock; with the heavy metal-oriented SAMHAIN, Danzig further developed his dark obsessions pushed to extremes. Following the demise of SAMHAIN, Danzig formed his own eponymous band with ex-SAMHAIN guitarist John Christ, Eerie Von on bass, and hardcore drummer Chuck Biscuits.

Danzig's talent also includes musical compositions for such projects as Rob Zombie's "Halloween", "Buffy The Vampire Slayer", "The X-Files", and has had his seminal hit "Mother" appear in the popular video game Guitar Hero 2. Also, Danzig owns and operates his adult-horror-oriented comic book company Verotik.

This year, Danzig is poised to unleash his first full-length record in six years, titled "Deth Red Sabaoth", and the much-anticipated lyric book "Hidden Lyrics Of The Left Hand" illustrated by renowned artist Simon Bisley (Judge Dred, Lobo).

Former MANOWAR Drummer Discusses ANGELS OF BABYLON In New Audio Interview

2010-05-10T21:40:00.002-07:00

Vicky Bradley (a.k.a. Vix the Angel Of Metal) recently conducted an interview with former MANOWAR and current HOLYHELL/ANGELS OF BABYLON drummer Kenny Earl Edwards (a.k.a. Rhino). The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.

ANGELS OF BABYLON, the new band featuring Rhino, Arizona based power-metal vocalist David Fefolt, guitarist Ethan Brosh and MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson, recently inked a deal with Metal Heaven Records for the European release of the group's debut album, "Kingdom of Evil". Issued on January 29, the CD contains 10 new original songs, including cuts like "Conspiracy Theory", "Second Coming" and "Apocalypse 2012".

"I started compiling these songs many years ago but was patiently waiting for the optimum lineup to record and release an album like this," said Rhino. "I was introduced to Fefolt, Ellefson and Brosh a couple years back, and they provided the inspiration to forge ahead and complete the album. I think we have something really special for our fans with this new record."

The band formed in 2008 when Rhino and Fefolt began writing songs for a new album. They met Ellefson in a recording studio in Phoenix, Arizona. After hearing their material, Ellefson was impressed enough to join forces and create a new vision of heavy metal. Berklee-schooled guitar virtuoso Ethan Brosh had just finished completing a solo album when he was asked to become the final piece of the roc and roll monolith. They recorded 10 stellar tracks over the next year and a half of blistering, melodic heavy metal. The emphasis was put on huge melodies but with a heavy touch. Hammering guitars, pounding drums, driving bass, and soaring vocals are all the hallmark of ANGELS OF BABYLON.

"I think this album will surprise a lot of people due to its classic metal sound but with such majestic arrangements throughout," said Fefolt. "The melodic power on this album is definitely a force to be reckoned with!"

The music runs the gamut between progressive new metal to the roots of classic, old-school heavy metal, with every member of the band at the top of his musical genre.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/officialangelsofbabylon.

FIREBIRD: New Song Available For Streaming

2010-05-10T21:40:00.001-07:00

"For Crying Out Loud", a brand new song from FIREBIRD — the British power trio led by CARCASS/ex-NAPALM DEATH guitarist Bill Steer — is available for streaming using the audio player below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Double Diamond", which will be released in July via Trooper Entertainment. The CD features ten songs recorded at Graveland studios in 's-Graveland, Holland during January. According to the band, "this recording heralds a new chapter for the band, seeing [guitarist/vocalist Bill] Steer and [drummer Ludwig] Witt draw inspiration from some of their earliest metal favourites such as BUDGIE, FIST and TANK."

"Double Diamond" track listing:

01. Soul Saviour
02. Ruined
03. Bright Lights
04. For Crying Out Loud
05. Farewell
06. A Wing & A Prayer
07. Pound Of Flesh
08. Arabesque
09. Lose Your Delusions
10. Pantomime

Deals for Europe and the USA have yet to be confirmed. The band welcome any interested parties.

FIREBIRD last fall parted ways with bassist Smok Smoczkiewicz "due to personal reasons." Following his departure, Australia's Tom Sutton was drafted in to play bass with the group for a landmark appearance at Loud Park festival in Tokyo. A week later FIREBIRD performed on the main stage at Damnation Festival in Leeds, this time with Terry Waker handling bass duties. The year was rounded off with a Swedish tour, featuring initially Tom Sutton on bass and then Greyum May, formerly of THE BLACK HAND.

FIREBIRD's fifth album, "Grand Union", was released in the U.S. on June 23, 2009 via Rise Above Records' new North American distribution deal with Metal Blade. The CD, which came out in Europe on April 20, 2009, was recorded and mixed over a two-week period in May 2008 at Berno studios in Malmö, Sweden where FIREBIRD's second album, 2001's "Deluxe", was conceived.

For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.

ACE FREHLEY, SLASH, MATT SORUM, LEMMY Perform At MusiCares MAP Fund Benefit Concert

2010-05-10T21:39:00.000-07:00

Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES), Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD), Matt Sorum (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES), and Ace Frehley (ex-KISS) are among the musicians who performed at the sixth annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert on Friday, May 7 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California.

Fan-filmed video footage from the event can be viewed below. Photos are available at this location.

The sixth annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert celebrated Women In Recovery and saluted former first lady Betty Ford and the Betty Ford Center. The evening paid tribute to Mrs. Ford, a woman who inspired so many through her courage and strength by publicly revealing her personal struggles with addiction, and her incredible work in establishing the Betty Ford Center. Susan Ford Bales accepted the MusiCares MAP Fund award on behalf of her mother. All proceeds benefit the MusiCares MAP Fund, which provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources.

Over the past four years, the MusiCares MAP Fund has provided more than $3.1 million for addiction recovery treatment and sober living care for close to 1,000 clients. In addition, the MusiCares MAP Fund offers free aftercare group weekly meetings across the country.

The evening's focus on women in recovery was prompted in part by recent data — from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Transportation respectively — that indicates that only 8 percent of women who have a problem with addiction seek help, and the number of women abusing alcohol, as indicated by related traffic arrests, has risen 28 percent over the past decade. Women facing addiction often encounter challenges that may be barriers to treatment: a woman may want to avoid the stigma associated with drug addiction and rehab and try to "treat herself" without help, or she may fear losing her children, losing her job, going to jail or other repercussions. In addition, women may need assistance with childcare or medical attention if they are pregnant that many drug rehabilitation centers may not offer. As a result, MusiCares is focusing attention on the issue through this event and other activities, including panel discussions.

"When we looked at the troubling statistics about women and addiction and found that women, in general, are less likely to get the treatment they need, we recognized that our annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit would be an ideal opportunity to draw attention to this important issue," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and MusiCares. "Not only [did] this evening help generate critical resources for members of the music community who are struggling with addiction, but by honoring Betty Ford and her enduring commitment to recovery, we hope to shed light on the obstacles to treatment that women continue to encounter and the vital paths to recovery."

"In accepting this award you honor not only me, but all women and families who have taken a step toward recovery," said Mrs. Ford. "I am proud of the women who have struggled with the disease of addiction, and have the courage and determination to help not only themselves but their families." Her daughter and Betty Ford Center Chair, Susan Ford Bales, notes, "I know my mother is honored and even humbled by this award. I hope that it serves as motivation and a beacon of hope for other women and families to follow her example."

"Shock Me" featuring Ace Frehley, Slash, Chad Smith, Allison Robertson and Corey Parks:

"Whole Lotta Love" featuring Beth Hart on vocals, Slash on guitar, and Matt Sorum on drums:

"Sister Heroin" featuring Beth Hart and Slash:

STOS Bassist Dies On Stage

2010-05-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

Bassist Janusz Soloma of Polish metallers STOS died on stage while performing with the band on May 8, 2010 in Myslowice, Poland after suffering a heart attack. He was 48 years old.

Janusz joined the reactivated STOS in 2000 and was part of all of the band's live shows and recorded output since then.

Commented Bart Gabriel of Hard Rocker Management (STOS' manager between 2000 and 2004 who currently represents CRYSTAL VIPER): "Sometimes words can't express the real feelings, and we still can't believe in what happened...

"We are sharing the sadness and tears with the friends and family of Janusz, and, of course, with his band mates from STOS... This is simply unreal...".

Formed in the early '80s, STOS was often called the "Polish WARLOCK" because of the presence of a female vocalist in the group's lineup. They shared the stage with such acts as RUNNING WILD, HELLOWEEN and OVERKILL and the band's debut album (after a live split LP with OPEN FIRE, entitled "Metalmania '87") sold more than 30,000 copies in Poland alone.

STOS guitarist Jan Kardas died in December 2006 after being diagnosed with cancer earlier that year.

DEATH: Never-Before-Seen Performance Video From 'Symbolic' Lineup Posted Online

2010-05-10T20:56:00.001-07:00

Former DEATH/MONSTROSITY bassist Kelly Conlon has announced the launch of his new web site, Kelly Conlon's Riff-Xchange, at www.kellyconlon.net.

Commented Kelly: "This site is for anyone to join and everyone can participate. This Riff Xchange is for musicians to collaborate with each other, whether to gain knowledge or gain new contacts — everyone can learn. This community is for all genres of music where you can learn other styles you may not be familiar with. Learn new techniques on your instrument(s), post videos and ideas. Join up and start sharing your experiences. Everyone is welcome."

In addition to collaborating with musicians — including Kelly — you will also be able to keep up with his past and present projects, highlights from various bands he's been a part of, videos, tour news and memorable moments, and studio work. Kelly will also be independently posting videos of his bass stylings on the site.

To celebrate the launch of his new web site, Kelly has released a never-before-seen video from the original "Symbolic" lineup of DEATH — Chuck Schuldiner, Bobby Koelble, Gene Hoglan and Kelly Conlon — performing the song "Crystal Mountain" at the first show before heading to Europe for the "Full of Hate Festivals" in 1995. The clip can now be viewed on Kelly Conlon's Riff Xchange and YouTube. It is also available for viewing below.

DARK TRANQUILLITY Vocalist, Bassist Talk About New Album, Touring

2010-05-10T20:55:00.002-07:00

Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY will make their much-anticipated return to North America on May 11 as they kick off a massive headlining tour with support from THREAT SIGNAL and MUTINY WITHIN. This promises to be the longest, career-spanning DARK TRANQUILLITY setlist yet, so diehard fans will not want to miss out.

An in-depth, introspective chat with DARK TRANQUILLITY vocalist Mikael Stanne can be viewed below. He describes the meaning behind the band's critically acclaimed new album, "We Are The Void"; the difficulties of getting into songwriting mode; the meaning behind some of his favorite tracks off the new disc; winning over new fans; and his touring essentials. The band's latest addition, bassist Daniel Antonsson, also speaks candidly about how he joined the group and what he likes most about being on tour.

Stanne previously stated about the upcoming trek, "We've been rehearsing like crazy to put together a set that will blow you away. It's been hard but we feel we have a good collection of songs that represents every aspect of the band and will please fans of both new and old material. Also, the mad genius Niklas (Sundin, guitar) [was] hard at work creating amazing artwork and animation that will look incredible and add a new dimension to the show.

"This is, without a doubt, the biggest production we've done in the States.

"We Are The Void", the ninth album from DARK TRANQUILLITY, sold around 2,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 15 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"We Are The Void" was released in North America on March 9 via Century Media Records. The LP was made available in Europe as a CD, digital download and strictly limited-edition die-cut digipak featuring two bonus songs ("Stars Of Nothingness" and "To Where Fires Cannot Feed") and a bonus DVD.

DEATH Reissues, Final CONTROL DENIED Recording To See Light Of Day Via RELAPSE

2010-05-10T20:55:00.001-07:00

Relapse Records has announced a partnership with Perseverance Holdings Ltd. and the Schuldiner family to reissue the legendary catalog of heavy metal luminary Chuck Schuldiner and his bands DEATH, CONTROL DENIED and MANTAS.

Chuck Schuldiner's DEATH, one of the most important and influential metal bands of all-time, will see the first official digital releases of its legendary albums "Scream Bloody Gore", "Leprosy", "Spiritual Healing", "Human", "Individual Thought Patterns" and "The Sound Of Perseverance" tomorrow, May 11 at this location. These digital releases will come two days before Chuck Schuldiner would have celebrated his 43rd birthday.

Chuck Schuldiner passed away on December 13, 2001 at age 34 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.

Relapse will also reissue an expanded version of the classic debut album, "The Fragile Art Of Existence", from Schuldiner's progressive heavy metal band CONTROL DENIED in late 2010 as well as the first-ever collection by his pre-DEATH project MANTAS. The expanded version of "The Fragile Art Of Existence" will include bonus tracks, extra band photography, expanded art and packaging and more. Details on both releases are forthcoming.

Long-range plans include the completion and official release of the final CONTROL DENIED album "When Man and Machine Collide". Recorded over 10 years ago at Morrisound Studios with producer Jim Morris, "When Man and Machine Collide" was tracked by Schuldiner but left incomplete upon Chuck's passing. A range of officially licensed DEATH, CONTROL DENIED, and MANTAS merchandise has also been issued here. Many classic album art designs will follow in the coming months, making some highly sought-after designs available officially for the first time in years.

Stay tuned to EmptyWords.org, the official DEATH / CONTROL DENIED / Chuck Schuldiner web site, and Relapse.com for more information.

Guitar World has released its second TAB book, featuring the music of DEATH.

"Death: The Deluxe Guitar and Bass Tablature Collection" is the first song transcription book based on the DEATH catalog. Created with the endorsement of Chuck Schuldiner's family, it features full transcriptions — including guitar, bass and lyrics — of eight classic DEATH songs, such as "Pull the Plug", "Zombie Ritual", "Flesh and the Power It Holds" and many others! Plus, "Death: The Deluxe Guitar and Bass Tablature Collection" includes a life- and career-spanning biography on Chuck Schuldiner, death metal's pioneer and spiritual guide.

Transcriptions include:

* Pull the Plug", as heard on "Leprosy"
* The Philosopher", as heard on "Individual Thought Patterns"
* Crystal Mountain", as heard on "Symbolic"
* Flesh and the Power It Holds", as heard on "The Sound of Perseverance"
* Scavenger of Human Sorrow", as heard on "The Sound of Perseverance"
* Zombie Ritual", as heard on "Scream Bloody Gore"
* Spiritual Healing", as heard on "Spiritual Healing"
* Together as One", as heard on "Human"

For more information, go to this location.

ISTAPP: New Song Available For Streaming

2010-05-10T20:54:00.001-07:00

"Vinterriket", a brand new song from Swedish extreme metallers ISTAPP, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Comments ISTAPP: "'Vinterriket' is a track that will permanently freeze the eardrums of the ones who worships the sun."

Hailing from Blekinge, Sweden, one of the traditional provinces of Sweden situated in the south of the country bordering Smaland, Scania and the Baltic Sea, are the three warlords that form ISTAPP; Mordechai von Renvaktar, C. Ashuck von Renvaktar and Fjalar. Setting out on a campaign to destroy the sun and all of its followers, ISTAPP is currently preparing to unleash the band's Metal Blade Records debut, "Blekinge", on June 8 in the U.S. and Canada.

"Blekinge" comes from the adjective bleke that corresponds to the nautical term for "dead calm," but ISTAPP's forthcoming album is anything but.

"We are confident that the piece of deadly art about to strike down on you all will be the first really true metal album ever to be released to this world," comments the band.

Cover art, which can be viewed below, was handled by none other than C. Ashuck von Renvaktar.

"Out of his memories Lord Ashuck himself created a picture of 'Blekinge' and its oak, fore-saying the inevitable path this world must wander. It will certainly hurt the eyes of many a sun-worshiper who dare to look upon it," the band states.
"Blekinge" track listing:

01. Vinterriket
02. Köldens Union
03. 1160 (Miovik)
04. I Väntan På Den Absoluta Nollpunkten
05. Evig Köld Koncentrerad
06. Snö
07. Fjällhöga Nord
08. Bortgång Af Alvrödul, Ljusets Förfall
09. - *
10. Blekinge

* Track 9 has a - listed for the song title as the band used a symbol to name this track

ISTAPP is:

Mordechai von Renvaktar - Vocals
C. Ashuck von Renvaktar - Bass
Fjalar - Drums, Guitar

FORBIDDEN: New Album Update

2010-05-10T20:53:00.001-07:00

Reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrashers FORBIDDEN are continuing work on their new album, "Omega Wave", at Sonic Room/Audio Voyage Studios in Livermore, California. The CD artwork has been commissioned from Kent Mathieu (FORBIDDEN, EXODUS, AUTOPSY, EXHORDER). The album is being produced by FORBIDDEN guitarist / songwriter Craig Locicero and Tim Narducci. All tracks will be mixed by Sean Beavan (SLAYER, MARILYN MANSON, NINE INCH NAILS).

FORBIDDEN guitarist Steve Smyth has offered the following commentary on some of the songs that will appear on the upcoming CD:

"Swine": "'Swine' is a little different from the rest of the tracks to me, a little more on the 'doomy' side of things, but it has more than a few surprises in there. I'm not going to give away too much here… you'll have to wait for it!

"'Swine' has some cool odd-time stuff at the intro, FORBIDDEN style, and well-arranged by Craig [Locicero] and Mark [Hernandez]!

"I sort of created the intro riff for this song by accident. Craig and I were jamming on some of the other songs one day, and I just happened to be noodling on something, not really thinking about anything, and he looked at me, and said, 'What's that?! Play that again!' I played it again, and we turned this from something completely unconscious on my part into the intro of the song pretty quickly! Mark and Craig brought some odd-time and arrangement ideas into it from there, and the rest of the song came right into it. Awesome! I'm a huge fan of things happening like that. The riff I'm talking about has the influence of Randy Rhoads and SABBATH in it, no doubt from my years of playing a lot of that stuff in my OZZY/SAB tribute 'Sweet Leaf'. A very dark, eerie-sounding (I hope!) arpeggiated pattern that has a moving bass line underneath it as well.

"Behind The Mask": "This one starts off heavy and moody, and does not let up for a long time! Very heavy pounding metal with a lot of peaks and valleys, as well as a killer chorus that Craig came up with for this one, which absolutely is heavy as hell, and jumps around the beat; a little tricky, but grooves like a mofo!

"Again, I don't want to give away the farm on this one, but there's some really cool stuff I came up with in the bridge that I hope you'll all dig on; lots of melody in this section, and not the type of instrument or style I think was ever heard on a FORBIDDEN record, but rest assured, I kept it heavy!"

Songtitles on the new FORBIDDEN album are as follows:

* Alpha Century
* Forsaken At The Gates
* Swine
* Immortal Wounds
* Hopenosis
* Adapt Or Die
* Inhuman Race
* Behind The Mask
* Dragging My Casket
* Overthrow
* Omega Wave

Former ANTHRAX Guitarist DAN SPITZ: 'I Will Not Stop Playing And Touring Ever Again'

2010-05-10T20:52:00.002-07:00

Former ANTHRAX guitarist Dan Spitz was released from the hospital last week after he received treatment for complications from his 2009 heart attack.

Spitz is currently hard at work on the debut album from his DEUXMONKEY project, which also features ACCEPT bassist Peter Baltes, vocalist Wade Black (CRIMSON GLORY, SEVEN WITCHES, LEATHERWOLF) and drummer Patrick Johansson (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, W.A.S.P. ).

Commented Spitz: "We certainly have a legendary CD here in our hands.

"The song topics are just mind-blowing!

"The music is by far the best I've ever written. The guitar tone is awesome and the lead guitar tone is just sick.

"More than 12 songs [have been] completed [thus far] by Wade, and some other oddities I've penned as well. [There are] lots of brutal riffs, and, of course, my lead guitar work is light years above anything of the past.

"I've been hard at work getting to a new level of expertise in my playing these past few years since the ANTHRAX reunion ended. I'm actually working on classical guitar a lot these days as well for something special in the future. Of course, my southern rock- and blues-based memorable lead guitar stories will play a large role in DEUXMONKEY.

"There's a bit of everything for everyone to enjoy here for sure.

"DEUXMONKEY certainly has its own identity. The hardest thing for me was to achieve this goal.

"Wade has been a trooper! He has come through the recording process with flying colors. He's been known to completely finish two songs in a day, including learning from scratch lots of material. Un-freakin'-believable!!! His opera voice training certainly has paid off in this case. I've never witnessed anything like it. So very talented.

"I'll be tying up some loose ends with Peter Baltes and off to the mega-producer's SSL for the mixing, who I will be announcing shortly as well.

"We are in the best of hands for mixing anywhere on planet earth.

"Again, thank you all for wonderful emails and concerns regarding my health.

"Tentative summer tour already planned leading into global touring.

"We'll let the music do the talking.

"Just know I'm glad to have a guitar in my hands each day and my passion for my instrument and this band is really deep.

"I will not stop playing and touring ever again."

DEUXMONKEY is:

* Dan Spitz (ANTHRAX) - Guitar
* Peter Baltes (ACCEPT) - Bass
* Patrick Johansson (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, W.A.S.P.) - Drums
* Wade Black (CRIMSON GLORY, SEVEN WITCHES, LEATHERWOLF) - Vocals

For more information, visit the DEUXMONKEY MySpace page.

Spitz underwent open-heart surgery on June 5, 2009 after it was discovered that the main artery to his heart was almost "completely closed."

Spitz took part in the reunion of ANTHRAX's classic lineup in 2005 and 2006 but left the band after ANTHRAX's most recent split with singer Joey Belladonna.

In a January 2007 interview with Eddie Trunk of the "Friday Night Rocks" radio show on New York's Q104.3 FM, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian stated about Spitz, "Whether people are aware or not, Danny's, like, a big deal in the really, really fancy, expensive watch world — like crazy, super-high-end watches — and he's got his own line of watches coming out. It's weird, because before the reunion I would read this stuff online, and I would just kind of be like, 'What the hell…?' But then like after hanging out with the guy for 20 months and you actually talk to him and see the watches and what-not, I was like, 'Holy crap!' It's a pretty big deal."

ACCEPT: 'Teutonic Terror' Video Released

2010-05-10T20:52:00.001-07:00

"Teutonic Terror", the new video from reformed heavy metal legends ACCEPT, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed in March by director/producer/editor Dave Blass. Executive Producer is Doug Jeffery (BRITNEY SPEARS, MILEY CYRUS, RIHANNA) for Grid 41.

When asked how he came to be involved in making ACCEPT's "most metal video," longtime ACCEPT fan Blass states, "I first met [guitarist] Wolf [Hoffman] and [bassist] Peter [Baltes] back in '89 when they were touring with W.A.S.P. on the 'Eat the Heat' tour. I was a DJ in Boston doing the Sunday night metal show.

"I reconnected with Wolf later when we used a song from his classical album for a reality series I produced. After that, we talked on-and-off over the years. He reminded me that I had called him to do some photography on 'The Biggest Loser' when we needed some cool stylized photos of the contestants. The producers opted out of paying for a cool photographer and I ended up doing it myself.

"We touched base when the [band] reunion happened and talked about a video, and when it got closer, we all just decided to make it happen.

"Grid 41 is the video production company owned by Doug Jeffery who I brought in to do the project.

"I have worked with Doug for years and told him I needed a favor and that this would be a great project for his company as they are branching into music videos. They did the design work on the MILEY CYRUS 'Party In The USA' and RIHANNA 'Umbrella' videos, to name a few.

"Too pretty for my taste... I needed more tanks and fire!

"Working with the band was great. Peter was impressed when I pulled my 1985 ACCEPT shirt out of my bag at the shoot.

"I couldn't tell who was more excited, the band or the crew. Even those that weren't familiar with their music got caught up in the mosh. I mean, Wolf Hoffmann and his Flying V standing on a GIANT TANK surrounded by smoke and flames doing his guitar solo… how can you not love that?!

"Having spent many a night in high school waiting 'till midnight to catch 'Headbangers Ball' and wishing they would play 'Balls to the Wall', it was a very cool to be a part of the ACCEPT legacy.

"I think the best quote about the video comes from my production assistant, Reed Blake, who was awestruck after the first take with the huge flames, the crane, the smoke the drums, and the tanks. He said to me, 'I have never seen anything this METAL.'"

"Teutonic Terror" comes off the band's new studio album, "Blood Of The Nations", which is scheduled for release in North America on September 14 via Nuclear Blast Records. The band's 15th LP was recorded at Backstage Studio in Derbyshire, England with acclaimed British producer and SABBAT guitarist Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE). The CD — which will mark the recording debut of the band's latest addition, vocalist Mark Tornillo (ex-TT QUICK) — will contain around 14 tracks, including "The Abyss", "Shades Of Death", "Blood Of Nations" and "Pandemic".

ACCEPT 2010 is:

Wolf Hoffmann: Guitar
Peter Baltes: Bass
Herman Frank: Guitar
Mark Tornillo: Vocals
Stefan Schwarzmann: Drums

The new ACCEPT lineup made its live debut this past Saturday night (May 8) at the 750-capacity Gramercy Theatre in New York City.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Metal Heart
02. Midnight Mover
03. Living For Tonight
04. Restless And Wild
05. Son Of A Bitch
06. Losers And Winners
07. London Leatherboys
08. The Abyss (new song)
09. Run If You Can
10. Teutonic Terror (new song)
11. Breaker
12. Bulletproof
13. Neon Nights
14. Bass / Drum / Guitar Jam
15. Flash Rocking Man
16. Up To The Limit
17. Demon's Night
18. Turn Me On
19. Starlight
20. Burning

Encore 1:

21. Princess Of The Dawn
22. I'm A Rebel

Encore 2:

23. Fast As A Shark
24. Balls To The Wall

"Teutonic Terror" video:

Behind the scenes of "Teutonic Terror":

WE ARE THE FALLEN: Performance Footage Of MADONNA Cover From NYC Available

2010-05-10T20:51:00.000-07:00

Video footage of WE ARE THE FALLEN, the group formed by EVANESCENCE co-founder Ben Moody (guitar) and other former members — John LeCompt (guitar) and Rocky Gray (drums) — along with "American Idol" powerhouse vocalist Carly Smithson and bassist Marty O'Brien (DISTURBED, KELLY CLARKSON, STATIC-X, METHODS OF MAYHEM,TOMMY LEE), performing a cover version of MADONNA's "Like A Prayer" on May 8, 2010 at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza in New York City can be viewed below.

WE ARE THE FALLEN recorded a studio version "Like A Prayer" during the sessions for the band's debut album, "Tear The World Down", but opted to leave it off the record. According to Moody, the group is saving it for "something special."

"Tear The World Down" will be released on May 11 via Universal Republic Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Bury Me Alive
02. Burn
03. Paradigm
04. Don't Leave Me Behind
05. Sleep Well, My Angel
06. Through Hell
07. I Will Stay
08. Without You
09. St. John
10. I Am Only One
11. Tear The World Down

30-second audio samples of all the tracks that appear on the album can be streamed on Amazon.com.

The group's first single, "Bury Me Alive", was made available exclusively via the digital domain in early February. A second track, "Without You", is currently being streamed on the band's official web site.

WE ARE THE FALLEN made its live debut on March 23 at Kings College in London, England. A 28-city U.S. tour as the support act for HIM launched on March 26 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and wrapped last night (May 9) at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza.

ZONARIA: More Footage From The Road Posted Online

2010-05-10T20:50:00.000-07:00

More behind-the-scenes footage from ZONARIA's recently completed European tour with DARK FUNERAL can be viewed below.

ZONARIA has entered the Abyss studio in Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, SONIC SYNDICATE, HYPOCRISY, CENTINEX, CARNAL FORGE) to begin recording its new album for a fall/winter release.

ZONARIA vocalist/guitarist Simon Berglund previously stated about the upcoming CD: "I'm stoked about going into the studio with Jonas. He did an amazing job on [ZONARIA's 2007 release] 'Infamy And The Breed' and has done some more incredible work with other bands. And not to mention recording in studio Abyss for the first time. Many of our all-time favorites have recorded in that studio and something magic always happens with the albums recorded there."

ZONARIA's second full-length album, "The Cancer Empire", was released in the U.S. in January 2009 via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman and was mastered by Peter In De Betou at Tailor Maid.

Formed in 2002 by guitarist, main songwriter, and vocalist Simon Berglund along with axeman Emil Nyström (both were only 15 years old at that time), ZONARIA outgrew its local underground status with the debut album "Infamy And The Breed" (Pivotal Recordings, 2007) and gained Europe-wide attention through tours with IMPALED NAZARENE, MARDUK, PAIN and VADER. With influences ranging from HYPOCRISY to DIMMU BORGIR to ARCH ENEMY, ZONARIA's misanthropic mix of brutal riffs, melodic harmonies, maniacal drumming, and ominous synth lines was well received within the metal community and the band succeeded in shaping its own, unique sound.

FIREBIRD: New Song Available For Streaming

2010-05-10T20:48:00.000-07:00

AS I LAY DYING: Entire New Album Available For Streaming

2010-05-07T22:48:00.000-07:00

"The Powerless Rise", the new album from San Diego, California metallers AS I LAY DYING, is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page. From today at 12:00 p.m. PST through Monday, May 10 at 6:00 p.m. PST, the entire 11-song disc — including the furious new single "Parallels" — will be unlocked and streaming live. The group will be featured act on the MySpace front page and music pages through May 11.

"The Powerless Rise" track listing:

01. Beyond Our Suffering
02. Anodyne Sea
03. Without Conclusion
04. Parallels
05. The Plague
06. Anger and Apathy
07. Condemned
08. Upside Down Kingdom
09. Vacancy
10. The Only Constant Is Change
11. The Blinding Of False Light

While AS I LAY DYING crosses the U.S. on their headlining tour with DEMON HUNTER, BLESSTHEFALL and WAR OF AGES, the group has announced a day-of-release in-store at Rolling Stones Music (7300 W. Irving Pk. Rd.) in Norridge, Illinois. The in-store signing will begin at 3:30 p.m. sharp and continue until before the band's headlining show later that night at the House of Blues (329 N Dearborn St.) in Chicago.

In tech news, AS I LAY DYING's blistering first single, "Beyond Our Suffering", is now available for fans to play and download for FREE on Tap Tap Revenge 3 via the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Tap Tap Revenge is a popular music game in the tradition of Guitar Hero or Dance Dance Revolution that puts rhythmic skills to the test in all-new ways. Tap through the beats or shake left and right as the arrows fall. Download exclusive tracks or take on your friends head-to-head in Tap Tap Revenge's unique two-player mode.

After AS I LAY DYING wraps its current headlining U.S tour with DEMON HUNTER, BLESSTHEFALL and WAR OF AGES, the group will head overseas for shows in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, France, Holland, Russia, Italy, Belgium, Sweden and the U.K. On July 12, AS I LAY DYING will launch the "Cool Tour" with UNDEROATH, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, BLESSTHEFALL, THE ACACIA STRAIN, ARCHITECTS, CANCER BATS, and WAR OF AGES. The nationwide trek will launch July 12 in Orlando and wrap in San Francisco on August 1.

AS I LAY DYING's critically and commercially acclaimed release "An Ocean Between Us" landed the No. 8 position on the Billboard Top 200 chart its first week out, making it the highest rock debut on the chart that week. The band's first-ever DVD, "This is Who We Are", entered the Billboard Top Music Videos chart at the No. 2 position in the U.S. and the No. 3 position in Canada. The DVD is also certified platinum in the United States and Canada by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In addition, 2008 saw AS I LAY DYING earn a Grammy nomination for "Best Metal Performance" for the single "Nothing Left".

MANOWAR: Behind-The-Scenes Footage From Brazilian Tour Posted Online

2010-05-07T22:47:00.001-07:00

MANOWAR director Neil Johnson — who is responsible for overseeing all of the band's DVDs and music videos — has posted video footage from the Brazilian leg of the group's current South American tour. Watch the clips below.

MANOWAR's new album, "Hammer Of The Gods", which is the first installment of "The Asgard Saga", the band's unique multimedia fantasy adventure with best-selling author Wolfgang Hohlbein, is due later in the year.

MANOWAR's latest DVD in the "Hell On Earth" series was released on November 27, 2009. "Hell On Earth V" covers MANOWAR's recent world tours, including Germany, Norway, Spain, Finland, Russia, Romania, Turkey, USA and Canada. It features live performances of old and new classics such as "Gloves Of Metal", "The Crown And The Ring", "Hand Of Doom", "Hymn Of The Immortal Warrior", "Father", "God Or Man" and many others.

DREAM EVIL Drummer Interviewed In Nottingham; Video Available

2010-05-07T22:46:00.001-07:00

Barry Anderson of Metal Storm conducted an interview with drummer Patrik "Pat Power" Jerksten of Swedish melodic metallers DREAM EVIL after the band's May 4, 2010 performance in Nottingham, England with HAMMERFALL. You can now watch the chat below.

DREAM EVIL recently shot two videos for songs off the band's latest album, "In The Night", with acclaimed director Patric Ullaeus of the Revolver Film Company AB (IN FLAMES, DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL). Ullaeus has worked with the band for all visual matters ever since their majestic clip for "The Book Of Heavy Metal" and also helmed DREAM EVIL's "Gold Medal In Metal" DVD in 2008.

"In The Night", the new album from DREAM EVIL, entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 53. The CD sold around 500 copies in the United States in its first week of release. It landed at position No. 83 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

The "In The Night" artwork was created by Gustavo Sazes (ARCH ENEMY, FIREWIND, KRISIUN) and can be viewed below. The LP is also available as a classy limited edition mediabook CD with alternate artwork, expanded booklet and including the special audio bonus tracks "Good Nightmare" and "The Return" as well as an exclusive patch.

"In The Night" was once again produced at Sweden's Studio Fredman (DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL), which is owned by DREAM EVIL axeman Fredrik Nordström.

DREAM EVIL is:

Nick Night - Lead Vocals
Dannee Demon - Guitar
Pat Power - Drums
Ritchie Rainbow - Guitar
Pete Pain - Bass

AVENGED SEVENFOLD To Release 'Nightmare' Single This Month

2010-05-07T22:45:00.000-07:00

AVENGED SEVENFOLD's brand new single, "Nightmare", will be released digitally on May 18. The single artwork can be viewed below. The song comes off AVENGED SEVENFOLD's fifth studio album, which is due out July 27.

Guitarist Zacky Vengeance wrote at the band's official Twitter page, "There are no words that will ever describe the feeling of listening to this album while driving home alone at 4 a.m."

DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy recently issued a statement about being tapped to work with AVENGED SEVENFOLD on the band's new album. Portnoy filled in for James "The Rev" Sullivan, who died in late December. Portnoy said, "Even under normal circumstances, I would've been happy to help the guys out in any way I could as I think AVENGED SEVENFOLD are a great band...but under these incredibly sad and tragic circumstances, I must say I am truly honored to have been asked to play with them and I didn't even have to think twice about saying 'yes.'"

Portnoy added, "These guys are a true family and it is an incredibly emotional experience to be here with them for the first time without their lost brother. But they have welcomed me into the family with open arms and there's a real excitement to make the record they had set out to make."

Portnoy also said, "I am treating my participation on this album with the utmost respect for Jimmy's memory and am remaining as true as possible to the drum parts that he wrote for the songs and the record he wanted to make."

AVENGED SEVENFOLD announced Portnoy's participation in their fifth album on February 17, calling him Sullivan's "all-time favorite drummer. "

Portnoy has confirmed that he will sit behind the kid for AVENGED SEVENFOLD on all the band's tour dates through the end of 2010. He said in a statement, "After having had such an amazing experience recording my drum tracks for the new AVENGED SEVENFOLD album, we all knew it would be awesome if I'd be able to do some touring with the band after its release."

Portnoy added, "Although I wish I could stay on board with AVENGED SEVENFOLD in a more permanent capacity . . . I will need to resume work with DREAM THEATER to start a new album at some point in 2011. However, I will be able to join my brothers in AVENGED SEVENFOLD for at least the duration of their touring throughout 2010, and hopefully this will give them the time to continue to heal and get comfortable back on the road."

Sullivan was found dead at his Huntington Beach, California home on December 28, 2009. The cause of death has not yet been announced.

Exclusive: DANZIG To Embark On Nine-City U.S. Tour In June

2010-05-07T22:43:00.000-07:00

BLABBERMOUTH.NET can exclusively reveal that DANZIG will embark on a special nine-city tour to usher in the release of "Deth Red Sabaoth", the band's first new studio album in six years.

The dates are as follows:

June 15 - Norva, Norfolk, VA
June 16 - The Fillmore, Charlotte, NC
June 18 - Nokia Theatre, New York, NY
June 19 - Trocadero Theatre, Philadelphia, PA
June 21 - House of Blues, Boston, MA
June 24 - Knitting Factory, Boise, ID
June 25 - Knitting Factory, Reno, NV
June 26 - Nokia, Los Angeles, CA
June 27 - Regency Ballroom, San Francisco, CA

A pre-sale for all nine dates will begin tomorrow (Saturday, May 8) at 10:00 a.m. (in all time zones). All fans have to do is log on to Ticketmaster.com and type in "Danzig." Everything they'll need to know to purchase tickets will be there on the site.

"Deth Red Sabaoth", produced by Glenn and recorded in Los Angeles over the course of 2009, will be released on June 22 via Evilive/The End Records.

The 11-track collection, penned by Danzig, is laced with Glenn's lycanthropic growls and blues-infected wailing. Tracks including "Black Candy", "The Revengeful" and "On A Wicked Night" emit a spectral glow to rival the highest points in Danzig's colossal discography. Part I of the exquisite two-part "Pyre of Souls" opens with acoustic guitar, haunting piano, Glenn's plainsong vocal, and an almost dirge-like feel; Part II explodes with electric guitars and a driving, mesmerizing cadence.

"I think that fans will really dig this new album," said Glenn. "I've been told several times that the album has a cool vitality to it, that it sounds energized, and I got that feeling when I was recording it. I wanted to have an organic sound, bigger and thicker, so I went out and bought some 1970's Kustom tuck 'n roll bass amps to play some of the guitar parts through. You'll hear real reverb, real tremolo on this album, which sounds completely different than the stuff that's done with computer chips."

Joining Glenn in the studio for the recording of "Deth Red Sabaoth" were guitarist Tommy Victor (PRONG, MINISTRY), a Danzig cohort on and off since 1996, and drummer Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE, SEVENTH VOID). While Kelly has toured with Glenn intermittently since 2002, this is the first time he has recorded with the band. Glenn handled the bass chores for most the album, and played drums on "Black Candy".

As with all of Danzig's releases, the CD cover artwork for "Deth Red Sabaoth" (see below) is provocative and ominous. The cover is an original piece created specifically for the CD by the award-winning artist Joe Chiodo, whose work has graced not only Danzig's Verotik publishing line, but also the covers of numerous graphic novels and comic books, including X-Men Unlimited. "Deth Red Sabaoth" isn't the first time one of Chiodo's paintings has been part of a Danzig package — one of his erotic "good girl" pinups was part of 2007's "The Lost Tracks of Danzig".

DANZIG — Glenn, guitarist Tommy Victor, drummer Johnny Kelly and bassist Steve Zing (also an original member of SAMHAIN with Glenn) — plans to tour extensively to support "Deth Red Sabaoth".

More dates will be announced soon.

EPICA To Tour North America With SCAR SYMMETRY, MUTINY WITHIN, BLACKGUARD

2010-05-07T22:41:00.002-07:00

With the overwhelming success of their last trek through North America earlier this year, Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers EPICA will return to the U.S. and Canada for 24 headlining shows with Nuclear Blast labelmates SCAR SYMMETRY, as well as MUTINY WITHIN and BLACKGUARD. The tour is set to launch on November 16 in West Springfield, Virginia and wrap up in Raleigh, North Carolina on December 18. This will be EPICA's second North American trek in support of the band's latest album, "Design Your Universe", which came out last October. The CD landed at position No. 12 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Confirmed tour dates are:

Nov. 16 - Jaxx - W. Springfield, VA
Nov. 17 - The Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 19 - The Gramercy Theatre - New York, NY
Nov. 20 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
Nov. 21 - Club Soda - Montreal, QC - CANADA
Nov. 23 - Music Hall - London, ON - CANADA
Nov. 24 - Peabody's - Cleveland, OH
Nov. 26 - Blondie's - Detroit, MI
Nov. 27 - Headliner's Music Hall - Louisville, KY
Nov. 28 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
Nov. 30 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
Dec. 02 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA
Dec. 03 - Rickshaw Theatre - Vancouver, BC - CANADA
Dec. 04 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
Dec. 05 - DNA Lounge - San Francisco, CA
Dec. 07 - The Key Club - Hollywood, CA
Dec. 08 - Ramona Mainstage - Ramona, CA
Dec. 09 - Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ
Dec. 11 - Trees - Dallas, TX
Dec. 12 - Emo's - Austin, TX
Dec. 14 - The Club at Firestone - Orlando, FL
Dec. 15 - Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Dec. 17 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
Dec. 18 - Volume 11 - Raleigh, NC

Exclusive pre-sale tickets for the tour are on sale now at EnterTheVault.com through June 3. Tickets go on sale through all normal ticketing outlets on June 4.

As previously reported, EPICA's April 10 concert at Via Funchal in Sao Paulo, Brazil was filmed for a forthcoming DVD.

The band's South American tour kicked off on April 7 in Porto Alegre, Brazil and took EPICA to Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay.

Goetia Metal has uploaded video footage (see below) of EPICA's March 27, 2010 concert in Madrid, Spain. Also available is a full concert review with exclusive pictures.

On March 9, EPICA singer Simone Simons was in Hilversum, The Netherlands filming a video for the song "This Is The Time", which was written for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

EPICA celebrated the five-year anniversary of its sophomore album, "Consign To Oblivion", by performing the CD in its entirety on March 21 at Effenaar in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Keyboardist Coen Janssen was forced to sit out EPICA's recent North American headlining tour because of "personal reasons." He was replaced by Simone's boyfriend Oliver Palotai (KAMELOT, SONS OF SEASONS, DORO).

EPICA To Tour North America With SCAR SYMMETRY, MUTINY WITHIN, BLACKGUARD

2010-05-07T22:41:00.001-07:00

DEVIN TOWNSEND Says His Friendship With JASON NEWSTED 'Ended Strangely'

2010-05-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

Argentina's Jedbangers magazine recently conducted an interview with Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, STEVE VAI, LAMB OF GOD, DARKEST HOUR, GWAR). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Jedbangers: [Your] song "Resolve!" is too similar to the "Vanilla Radio" song by THE WILDHEARTS. Why did you decide to do that? I mean, I know it's not like you tried to rip them off and get away with it.

Devin: Yes I agree, I was in THE WILDHEARTS for a while, and I LOVE that song ("Vanilla Radio") so when I was jamming one day, "Resolve" just seemed to happen, and it seemed like a great addition to the record, a great homage to THE WILDHEARTS, and I'm a huge fan of [THE WILDHEARTS frontman] Ginger. In the credits for "Addicted", I made it very clear that "Resolve" was a direct influence from THE WILDHEARTS, so I tried to not "get away with it" more than include it because I thought it was a cool statement.

Jedbangers: Are we going to ever see what TREE OF THE SUN (Devin's project with former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted, Scott Reeder and Dale Crover) sounds like? What memories do you have of working with Jason and Scott?

Devin: I'm sure someone somewhere will find a copy of that...I really liked those two guys; Scott was really cool from what I remember. The relationship with Jason was nice but ended strangely. I had never done acid before, and we did it at his house and I tripped pretty hard and started acting pretty strange with him...I think he's a pretty "straightforward" guy, and I think I freaked him out pretty hard. It was really fucking weird... For several years he was in my life, and then overnight, I never heard from him again. I hope he's well.

ICON To Open For QUEENSRŸCHE In Phoenix

2010-05-07T20:44:00.001-07:00

Reunited Phoenix, Arizona-based rockers ICON will play their first show since their 2009 Rocklahoma performance opening for QUEENSRŸCHE's Cabaret on May 20 at the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix. This will be ICON's first Arizona performance with new vocalist Tarsha, formerly of ADLER'S APPETITE and its first at the historic landmark built in 1929.

VIP tickets include a meet-and-greet with both bands. Please arrive early, before 6 p.m. $87 and reserved seating $47.

Tickets can be purchased at www.btwconcerts.com or charge by phone at 602-262-7272.

In 2008, ICON, in conjunction with Epicenter Multimedia, released "1984: Live Bootleg" for the first time on DVD. This enhanced multimedia disc features interviews with Dan Wexler and John Aquilino and contains live footage of one of the last concerts with the complete original ICON lineup of Stephen Clifford, Dan Wexler, John Aquilino, Tracy Wallach and Pat Dixon. The band performs in front of a sold-out crowd in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1984. This is the only known footage of an entire concert by the original band.

Video footage of ICON performing at last year's Rocklahoma festival in July 2009 in Pryor, Oklahoma can be viewed below.

IMMORTAL, SEVERE TORTURE, MAEL MORDHA Confirmed For Holland's EINDHOVEN METAL MEETING

2010-05-07T20:43:00.003-07:00

IMMORTAL, SEVERE TORTURE, MAEL MORDHA and VICTIMIZER have been confirmed for the Eindhoven Metal Meeting, set to take place December 17-18, 2010 at the Effenaar in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Due to the success of the previous installment of the festival (which was sold out a couple of weeks before the event), this year's Eindhoven Metal Meeting will be a two-day event.

IMMORTAL's performance will be part of a few selected exclusive shows this year, and the concert at the Eindhoven Metal Meeting will be the bands only appearance in Holland this year.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):

IMMORTAL
MAEL MORDHA
MAYHEM
PESTILENCE
REPUGNANT
SEVERE TORTURE
TRIDENT
VICTIMIZER

More bands will be announced soon.

Pre-sales for the Eindhoven Metal Meeting started Saturday, May 1. There will be a so-called combi ticket for the whole event plus separate Friday and Saturday tickets. A strictly limited number of 200 early-bird two-day tickets will be available for the price of 55 euros plus an administration fee. These give you access to both festival days, including the afterparty.

For more information, visit www.eindhovenmetalmeeting.com.

RAVEN Announces More European Tour Dates

2010-05-07T20:43:00.001-07:00

Veteran British/American heavy metal trio RAVEN has scheduled the following European tour dates:

May 22 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Rock Hard Festival
Jun. 12 - Sölvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival
Jun. 19 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
Jun. 25 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting
Jul. 31 - Brande bei Elmshorn, Germany - Headbangers Open Air
Aug. 01 - Kerkraade, Netherlands - The Rock Temple
Aug. 04 - Den Haag, Netherlands - Het Paard
Aug. 06 - Wacken, Germany - Wacken Open Air
Aug. 07 - Deinze, Belgium - Alcatraz Metal Festival

RAVEN vocalist/bassist John Gallagher was interviewed on this past Monday's (May 3) edition of "Eddie Trunk Live" on Sirius (channel 19) / XM Radio (channel 53). You can now listen to the chat in seven parts below.

RAVEN will play a very limited number of North American dates in September/October in support of the band's new album, "Walk Through Fire".

Tickets are on sale at EnterTheVault.com and all normal ticketing systems.

"Walk Through Fire" was released in the U.S. on March 30 (one day earlier in Europe through SPV/Steamhammer) via Metal Blade Records. The CD, which came out in Japan in March 2009 via King Records, was recorded at the Assembly Line Studios with engineer/mixer Kevin 131 (PROJECT: FAILING FLESH, DECEASED, DYSRYTHMIA, GARDEN OF SHADOWS).

RAVEN's first album since 2000's "One for All" contains 14 new songs and two live bonus tracks.

In an April 2009 interview with Powerline A.D., John Gallagher stated about "Walk Through Fire", "We took a lot longer to get this one done... and usually after you record an album, you mix it quick and its done. We had the chance to sit with it and tweak it, if needed. I don't think we have ever had that luxury before, so it's got the good songs that were worked on over years in some cases — but recorded in a burst of lunacy — and then listened to and polished to a fierce shine. This album just rocks from start to finish and sounds and feels fresh — it's the real deal. It's varied but it's all 100% RAVEN!"

Regarding the band's decision to cover MONTROSE's "Space Station #5" for the new CD, John said, "We used to do it back in the clubs in the northeast of England. It seems we always come up with a fun cover and this one was cool to do. The middle part is nuts with the crime jazz/surf guitar and fretless bass, but overall it's pretty brutal."

Following a forced layoff through half of the last decade due to Mark Gallagher's long recuperation from a serious accident where Mark's legs were crushed after a wall collapsed on the musician, the band has fought back with a number of European festival appearances, a U.K. tour in 2008 and a triumphant jaunt to Japan in 2009.

RAVEN is:

John Gallagher - Vocals, Bass
Mark Gallagher - Guitar
Joe Hasselvander - Drums

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

Part 6:

Part 7:

EVERGREY: Time For Some Changes

2010-05-07T20:42:00.001-07:00

Vocalist/guitarist Tom S. Englund of Swedish metallers EVERGREY has issued the following statement:

"As promised here is the first part of news regarding EVERGREY as a band.

"At first it might seem devastating and frightening as it did to us when making this decision. People change, evolve and grow, sometimes in different ways and in different directions. This happens to everyone and it has certainly happened to EVERGREY as a band throughout the years.

"Me and Rikard [Zander, keyboards] have together with Henrik [Danhage, guitar] and Jonas [Ekdahl, drums] made the mutual decision that it was best for us all that they leave EVERGREY. They wanted to and we wanted them to.

"The last tours, recordings and just hanging with each other has not been as fun and giving as earlier AND before it would go too far, resulting in a collision in between friends, which could ruin everything we have built up during the years, we decided to call it quits.

"It's sometimes both smart and foreseeing to end situations before they get out of hand and create something that is totally unnecessary and irreparable. To be in a band must be experienced as fun, giving and fulfilling. There is SO much time during a life as a touring musician that is boring that if you don't even enjoy yourself while playing then it's better to do something else.

"Henrik and Jonas also got DEATHDESTRUCTION that ALSO has evolved and became more and more serious during the years and now they even recorded a debut album and naturally it felt fresh and reviving for them to enter something new and unexplored as opposed to EVERGREY where they more or less experienced the same things over and over.

"It is VERY important for us to tell you that we are still great friends and most likely always will be since we have shared 10 years of our lives and dedicated it to the progress and evolvement of EVERGREY. The friendship is what we value the most and nothing could be more important than that, at least for the four of us. So please take some time to digest and understand. That is what we have done and I am glad to say that all of us are happier than in a long time. This is something I think you can feel when watching the video version of the statement.

"BUT that is not the end of it. Jari [Kainulainen, bass] ALSO decided to leave the band, and the reason was that he would rather play with a band called KILLING MACHINE as they could offer him a salary we couldn't and that was the sole reason of his decision. We were REALLY sad to see Jari leave as he is a tremendous bass player and person.

"I know what you all are thinking… ENOUGH WITH depressing news.

"So to something brighter: With all these new situations we were facing, me and Rikard had to sit down to think. First thought was of course, 'Fuck this… let's get a day job,' but after a couple of weeks of contemplating and silence we realized something: Should we quit what we are doing, something that we still love as much as ten years ago, if not more, because of someone else disappearing? I mean, it's not like it's the first time it happens and it never made Evergrey stagnate or lose its edge, quite the contrary. So should we continue to make the music that we and YOU enjoy deeply?

"As you understand, we have chosen to continue.

"We have a full album written and half-way recorded. Last recording/mixing day will be June 30th. And a release BEFORE or at the latest on the 14th of October is set. We will soon (as we use to) start feeding you snippets.

"We ALSO have a European tour coming up — starting NEXT SUNDAY in Hamburg. And to be able to do that tour we must have new members, and we do! So please be open-minded and welcome:

* Marcus Jidell (ex-ROYAL HUNT) on guitars
* Johan Niemann (ex-THERION, MIND'S EYE) on bass
* Hannes Van Dahl on drums

"So be sure to bring your CDs of the above mentioned bands to the shows to have them signed.

"These are the guys we have been working hard with to rehearse the old songs and writing the new ones. And today was our last rehearsal for the tour and I must say it sounds great in a way I didn't expect after such a short time. There is not a chance in HELL you will be disappointed in the performance of these guys.

"So that's why we do this tour… to bring and present the new guys to you and also at the same time get the chance to play the cities we didn't do on the November tour of course.

"As with ANY change, when you give it time you realize that it's turned out for the better. So far in this EVER-LASTING changing of members in EVERGREY, it's always turned out great and brought fresh blood and motivation into the band, and the level of wanting to prove ourselves as a band is higher than EVER before.

"We do have some other great news that surely will bring this band to another level but as of yet we are restricted to speak about it.

"So don't give up on us, you never have, and we love you for it!"

ALICE COOPER, ROB ZOMBIE Talks To 100.5 KTED About 'The Gruesome Twosome Tour'

2010-05-07T20:41:00.000-07:00

Rood Dogg of Casper, Wyoming's 100.5 KTED radio station conducted separate interviews with Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie on Wednesday, May 5. Both chats are now available for streaming at this location.

Video footage and photos from the opening show of the "The Gruesome Twosome Tour" featuring Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie on April 26 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada's MTS Centre can be viewed in the YouTube clips below.

Rob Zombie previously stated about the trek, "The dream or nightmare comes true! Me and The Coop have been talking about touring together for about 15 years and finally the moment is here. This will be without a doubt a rock 'n' roll spooktacular for all the cool ghouls."

Alice Cooper added, "I'm looking forward to these concerts with Rob. It's sort of like Dracula vs. Frankenstein, we're like this generation’s classic monsters. When we're not onstage frightening audiences, we'll be backstage trying to scare each other."

TRENT REZNOR Says NINE INCH NAILS Is 'Not Dead'

2010-05-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

According to The Pulse of Radio, Trent Reznor says that NINE INCH NAILS is "not dead" even though he is focusing for the moment on HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS, the new act he has assembled with his wife, singer Mariqueen Maandig, and frequent collaborator Atticus Ross. Reznor answered selected fan questions at the HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS page on Facebook, saying about NINE INCH NAILS, "I am about to work on some material that I believe will be quite different than previous NIN very soon."

He added that HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS "frees me from some of the constraints I've begun to feel (primarily emotionally) in NIN," revealing that the band's upcoming six-song EP will come out in both digital and physical form this summer.

The first song released by the band, "A Drowning", is only available digitally.

A full-length ANGELS album will come out early next year, with some possible touring to support it.

Reznor retired NINE INCH NAILS as a live act last fall, although he said at the time he still intended to make music under that name.

SONIC SYNDICATE: New Single Available For Streaming

2010-05-07T20:39:00.000-07:00

An edited version of "Revolution, Baby", the new single from Swedish/British modern metallers SONIC SYNDICATE, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off SONIC SYNDICATE's new album, "We Rule The Night", which will be released in Europe on August 27 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Bohus Sound studios in Kungälv, Sweden and was mixed at Paramount Studios in North Hollywood, California by producer Toby Wright, who has previously worked with KORN, SLAYER, MÖTLEY CRÜE, KISS, FEAR FACTORY, IN FLAMES, STONE SOUR and OZZY OSBOURNE, among others.

Commented the band: "'We Rule the Night' is a result of everything that SONIC SYNDICATE has been and has become.

"When [British singer] Nathan [James Biggs; formerly of THE HOLLOW EARTH THEORY] joined the band in 2009, a fire ignited and everything just felt truly natural for the first time in many ways.

"We're having more fun than ever, the music started flowing like water, and 'We Rule the Night' is the most exciting album we've recorded to date!"

"We Rule The Night" track listing:

01. Beauty And The Freak
02. Revolution, Baby
03. Turn It Up
04. My Own Life
05. Burn This City
06. Black And Blue
07. Miles Apart
08. Plans Are For People
09. Leave Me Alone
10. Break Of Day
11. We Rule The Night

In addition to the album's standard version, "We Rule The Night" will be made available in a limited-edition digipack featuring two bonus songs and a DVD.

The cover artwork for "We Rule The Night" was created by Gustavo Sazes (ARCH ENEMY, SONIC SYNDICATE, GOD FORBID) of Abstrata Art and can be viewed below.

Commented the band: "We asked Gustavo to create a bright cover that was also very dark to fit with the title of out new album.

"After countless hours of frustration and adjustments, an e-mail arrive[d] with what has now become the brightest yet darkest cover we could possibly hope for."

The entire "Revolution, Baby" song can be purchased via iTunes as part of the "album countdown" at this location.

The album version of the song "Burn This City" from "We Rule The Night" is available for free download at this location (e-mail sign-up required).

SONIC SYNDICATE's "Burn This City" video was shot with director Patric Ullaeus (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL) of Revolver Film Company.

The original version of "Burn This City", which marked the recording debut of the band's latest addition, British singer Nathan James Biggs (formerly of THE HOLLOW EARTH THEORY), was one of two tracks that were laid down at Abyss studios in Pärlby, outside Ludvika, Sweden. Both cuts appeared on a new EP, "The Rebellion Pack", which was released on November 9, 2009 as part of an all-in-one-package with the group's latest album, "Love And Other Disasters".

SOULFLY Guitarist To Guest On New Jersey's WSOU

2010-05-07T20:38:00.000-07:00

SOULFLY/CAVALERA CONSPIRACY guitarist Marc Rizzo will be interviewed today (Friday, May 7) at 4:00 p.m. EST on the South Orange, New Jersey radio station 89.5 FM WSOU. Listeners outside the New York City/North Jersey area can hear the program live via the Internet at www.wsou.net.

Rizzo has scheduled the following three East Coast solo dates:

May 07 - Dingbatz - Clifton, NJ
May 08 - Voices Rock Club - Lowell, MA
May 09 - GEMSTONES - Lowell, MA

These will be Rizzo's only area appearances prior to leaving to Europe with SOULFLY for the summer.

Rizzo's new solo album, "Legionaire", was released in February through Phlamencore Records. The CD was written and recorded over a two-year period while Rizzo was on tour with SOULFLY and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY. Rizzo would break and get into the studio to record, then return to the road.

"I'm really excited about this record," stated Rizzo. "I had a lot of time since my last record to really think about this new album. I think traveling all over the world, writing all the new material, really influenced the sound.

"After two U.S. solo tours in 2008, I think I really figured out what songs work well live.

"I'm really excited to play these new songs in front of a live audience. It's very cool to see kids slam-dancing and going off to instrumental music."

"Legionaire" track listing:

01. Release The Kraken
02. ...By Great Odins Beard
03. Bandidas
04. Victim In Shred
05. The Emerald Goblet
06. The Wrath Of Crom
07. Peaks And Vallies
08. Legionnaire
09. Life And Will
10. Fenestrelle Fortress
11. The Metallurgist

Rizzo's previous solo album, "The Ultimate Devotion", was released on July 31, 2007 through Shrapnel Records in the U.S. and Mascot Records throughout Europe.

EXODUS Guitarist To Guest On Tonight's 'Metal Zone'

2010-05-07T20:27:00.000-07:00

Guitarist Gary Holt of veteran thrashers EXODUS will guest on tonight's (Friday, May 7) edition of the "Metal Zone" show with host Nikki Blakk on the San Francisco, California radio station 107.7 The Bone.

"Metal Zone" airs every Friday night from 10:00 p.m.- to 1:00 a.m. PST. It can be streamed live via the Internet at 1077thebone.com.

A brand new EXODUS track entitled "Burn, Hollywood, Burn" will be premiered on this weekend's (May 7-9) edition of Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show.

To see a full list of stations carrying the program and when it airs, go to FullMetalJackieRadio.com.

In other news, EXODUS has announced a third album-release show on Thursday, June 10 in Chico, California.

Commented EXODUS guitarist/songwriter Gary Holt: "With our record-release shows booked for June 11th and 12th, we decided to add a warm-up show on the 10th, and what better place to play than my adopted home town of Chico, California! This will be our first time playing here, and I'm stoked about it! Joining us will be ANVIL CHORUS as well as some of Chico's finest locals, to be announced!"

Confirmed record-release show dates are as follows:

June 10 - Chico, CA @ The Senator Theater
June 11 - Los Angeles, CA @ Key Club
June 12 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim's

EXODUS' new album, "Exhibit B: The Human Condition", is scheduled for release in Europe on May 7 and in North America on May 18 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Nuclear Blast USA's webshop is now taking pre-orders for the exclusive North American mail-order edition of "Exhibit B: The Human Condition". This release features the bonus track "Devil's Teeth" and a slipcase with different artwork.

The pre-order bundles to choose from are:

* Heads t-shirt & CD: $21.00 (link)
* Grenade t-shirt & CD: $21.00 (link)
* Both t-shirts & CD: $33.00 (link)

"Exhibit B: The Human Condition" track listing:

01. The Ballad Of Leonard And Charles
02. Beyond The Pale
03. Hammer And Life
04. Class Dismissed (A Hate Primer)
05. Downfall
06. March Of The Sycophants
07. Nanking
08. Burn, Hollywood, Burn
09. Democide
10. The Sun Is My Destroyer
11. A Perpetual State Of Indifference
12. Good Riddance

EXODUS filmed two videos on April 1 in Los Angeles with director Jon Schnepp ("Metalocalypse", the animated program about DETHKLOK, the world's most popular death metal band, on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim) on the old set of the television sitcom "Night Court".

"Exhibit B: The Human Condition" was recorded this past December in Northern California with producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ARCH ENEMY, KREATOR).

ROTTEN SOUND Interviewed At Holland's NEUROTIC DEATHFEST

2010-05-06T06:52:00.002-07:00

Metalchroniques.fr conducted an interview with Finland's ROTTEN SOUND at this year's Neurotic Deathfest, which was held April 30 – May 1, 2010 at 013 in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Watch the chat below.

"Napalm", the new EP from ROTTEN SOUND, is available for streaming in its entirety at this location. The CD features three brand new ROTTEN SOUND songs and three NAPALM DEATH covers along with a bonus DVD that includes a full live set from the Obscene Extreme festival.

The EP's complete track listing is:

01. Mindkill
02. Dead Remains
03. Brainload
04. The Kill
05. Missing Link
06. Suffer The Children

"Napalm" was released on March 30 in North America and April 5 internationally via Relapse Records.

ROTTEN SOUND recently spent time on the road in Europe with ABORTED as part of the "Machines Of Grind" three-week co-headlining European tour.
ROTTEN SOUND (Keijo Niinimaa – vocals, Mika Aalto – guitars, Sami Latva – drums, Toni Pihlaga - bass) formed in 1993 and has released a series of full-lengths and EPs since its formation. The band's latest album, "Cycles", was issued in January of 2008 and debuted at #12 on the Finnish chart.

THE ANTICHRIST IMPERIUM: Footage From The Studio Posted Online

2010-05-06T06:52:00.001-07:00

Matt Wilcock (guitar; ex-AKERCOCKE, THE BERZERKER), David Gray (drums; AKERCOCKE) and Nick Hassan (vocals, bass; TED MAUL) have joined forces in a brand new project called THE ANTICHRIST IMPERIUM. The trio entered the studio in April to begin recording a three-song demo that will gear people up for the band's imminent arrival.

Video footage from the drum-recording sessions can be viewed below (clip created by Sam Loynes).

Wilcock recently left AKERCOCKE due to musical differences. He said in a statement, "After five years with AKERCOCKE and a lot of good times, it's now time for me to move on. Musically, I'm differing a bit with the natural path that AKERCOCKE's taking, so it's best for me to part ways now."

AEROSMITH To Open This Year's New York State Fair Grandstand Schedule

2010-05-06T06:50:00.002-07:00

According to Syracuse.com, Boston hard rock legends AEROSMITH will open this year's New York State Fair Mohegan Sun Grandstand lineup on August 26.

Tickets, priced at $84, $94 and $104, will go on sale at 10 a.m. on May 29 at the fair box office, Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com and by phone charge at 800-745-3000.

According to The Pulse of Radio, AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry told Reuters that lead singer Steven Tyler is "back and stronger than ever" following a period of several months during which the frontman did a 90-day stint in rehab while his future with the band was in doubt. Despite threats by Perry and the other members of the group last fall to find another vocalist while Tyler pursued an announced solo career, Perry now says that Tyler "didn't really leave the band . . . The press kind of twisted it around to sell papers but you know the bottom line is I just knew things were just going to work themselves out."

Perry added that Tyler "made it very clear" that he had no intention of leaving AEROSMITH while working on a solo project. But that's not how it sounded during the past few months, when Perry actually approached singers like Paul Rodgers, Billy Idol and Chris Cornell about taking over.

The trouble started last August when Tyler fell off a stage and injured himself in South Dakota, forcing the cancellation of a tour and launching rumors that the long-sober vocalist had fallen off the wagon.

A February summit meeting, complete with lawyers, led to a reconciliation between Tyler and the band. South American and European dates have already been announced, along with an already sold-out August 14 gig at Boston's Fenway Park with THE J. GEILS BAND.

Perry did admit, however, that his friendship with Tyler is not what it used to be, saying, "When our kids were younger and . . . growing up together we were a lot closer together. As the kids got older and they started going off their own ways and Steven ended up getting divorced . . . you know, the family get-together, we don't really do that much any more. But it doesn't interfere with the band."

SYMPHORCE Guitarist's Instrumental Solo Album: Artwork Revealed

2010-05-06T06:50:00.001-07:00

Guitarist Cédric "Cede" Dupont (SYMPHORCE, DOWNSPIRIT, ex-FREEDOM CALL) will release an instrumental solo album, "Melodrama", on June 21. The effort will be available as a digipack through Dupont's MySpace page and as a digital download via the usual digital music providers (including iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, LastFM, Napster). Swiss fans will also have the option to purchase the album at www.cede.ch.

"Melodrama" track listing:

01. Melodrama
02. Atmosfear
03. Tandoori Symphony
04. The Magic Dragon
05. Mysterious
06. Southern BBQ Style
07. Rockumental
08. A Bongo and a Tree
09. One Planet is Not Enough
10. The Magic Dragon (cinemix)
11. Tandoori Symphony (cinemix)

Check out the cover artwork below.

The album's music is best described as a musical guitar/soundtrack trip around the world with influences from different world music elements and instruments.

SYMPHORCE, which also features in its ranks guitarist singer Andy B. Franck (BRAINSTORM), recently inked a deal with AFM Records. The band is currently working on a new studio album for a tentative late August release.

SYMPHORCE's last CD, "Become Death", was released in February 2007 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at the House Of Music Studios in Winterbach (near Stuttgart), Germany with producer Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69). Mastering duties were handled by Achim Köhler (BRAINSTORM).

FOZZY Frontman On Illegal Music Downloading: 'Stealing Is Stealing, Man'

2010-05-06T06:47:00.002-07:00

Brendan Crabb (a.k.a. Spiritech) of PyroMusic.net recently conducted an interview with FOZZY vocalist and WWE wrestling superstar Chris Jericho. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

PyroMusic.net: There is a rather wide cross-section of influences on [the new FOZZY] album ["Chasing The Grail"] — everything from MAIDEN and PRIEST to JOURNEY and STYX. Was that the aim, to try and include the wide-ranging tastes that the band members collectively have?

Chris Jericho: There really wasn't any aim, it was just what we were going to do is what we were writing and where we were coming from. I wrote 14 sets of lyrics, gave them to Rich [Ward, guitar] and he just started interpreting those lyrics and writing riffs that he was inspired to write by my words. As a result, it's like, you know, we have obviously the PRIEST and MAIDEN influences and JOURNEY and STYX. There's also METALLICA, PANTERA, THE BEATLES, PINK FLOYD, QUEEN and everything in between. So we definitely take pride in the fact that we do something a little different than most bands out there today. We play very heavy music, but it's very melodic, with a lot of vocal and guitar harmonies, that it kind of has carved out a real niche for ourselves in what we're doing that a lot of people, that a lot of bands aren't playing right now. And I think that's a result of our influences, but you also have to have your own style as well and that's something that really comes through on the last record for sure, more than ever.
PyroMusic.net: Now, you were quite vocal on Twitter recently with regard to fans asking you about illegal downloading and fans saying they had no problem stealing from seemingly greedy label executives. Your response was, "I am the record label exec." (Jericho co-funded the record.) What's your view on where that aspect of the industry is headed?

Chris Jericho: It's unfortunate, but it's just the way that the way it is now and I think there's a real sense of entitlement where people just think, "Man, I'm just going to steal this music because everyone else does and why should I pay money to buy music?" It's sad, because it's making it harder and harder for musicians to earn a living. That's why you just have to really focus on live shows and we've done so many in-store signings for "Chasing The Grail" because people get a chance to say hi and get an autograph. And hey, if that's what it takes to get people to buy the record, then I'm willing to do it because that's the world we live in now. Whether it's ringtones or whether it's people buying merch or whatever, it's like whatever revenue streams bands can do now, they've got to explore it because the old version of selling 500,000 records or a million records, I mean, unless you're at the top of the top it just doesn't work that way anymore. It's sad, because it's going to kill bands from developing, because they just won't be able to afford it. It kind of eats our young with this one, so it's interesting to see how the business is going to recover, because I don't know if it can at this moment.

PyroMusic.net: Did you take it personally when you had fans directly telling you online that they'd stolen your music and they think it's some creepy major label guy who's the one they're stealing from, when it was the band, especially yourself?

Chris Jericho: Yeah, you take it personally, that's because of the record exec, but also because of being a musician in the band. I mean, you don't get into music to make the money, but if there's money to be made, then you want to make it. And I just don't see... Stealing is stealing, man. Whether I grow bananas on a tree then put them for sale and people come and steal my bananas and eat them because they're entitled to have free bananas... it doesn't make any sense. It's the same thing for a musician creating art, you know? If I draw a picture and put it on the wall of the galley and charge you 15 bucks and you just steal it and walk out the door, it's exactly the (same) concept that's going on online. I've never stolen a song in my life. When I was a kid I would record songs off the radio, but if I liked it I would go buy it. I understand that that's just the way it is, but for me personally I'll buy every song that I ever want to listen to because it's only fair. If I want to go buy gas I've gotta pay for it, if I want to go buy music I've gotta pay for it.

PyroMusic.net: What do you think of the long-time comparison between the current illegal downloading and the tape-trading that was so popular in the '80s?

Chris Jericho: There are a lot of similarities, but tape-trading was different because you would record... it was different then because you'd buy an album to get the album cover, to get the lyrics and all that sort of thing. There was a real sense of, it was a collection, you had your collection. I think every IRON MAIDEN album that ever came out I bought it because I wanted to look at the cover and see the stuff that was on there and read the lyrics. You could just record it off your friend, but then you'd be stuck with an empty cassette. I just never liked that; having all these cassettes with like handwritten song names on it and stuff. You know, maybe there was a band that you might not like so (much), you might just listen to the band if you'd recorded it. And I guess maybe if it's a marginal band, stealing it online is maybe acceptable, but I'm talking (about) bands that you love, like METALLICA. I wouldn't dream of stealing a song from METALLICA because they're my favourite band and I wouldn't dream of sneaking into a Tampa Bay Bucks game because they're your favourite team or whatever it is. Now, it's not just bands that you kind of marginally like, it's every band that's out there and that to me is where the real problems are starting to arise.

Read the entire interview from PyroMusic.net.

AXEL RUDI PELL's 'The Crest' Lands On German Chart

2010-05-06T06:47:00.001-07:00

"The Crest", the thirteenth studio offering from German guitarist AXEL RUDI PELL, has entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 22. According to a press release, this is Pell's highest chart entry in Germany since his "Shadow Zone" LP in 2002.

"The Crest" will be released in North America on June 1 via SPV/Steamhammer.

With an impressive 20 releases in 21 years, the AXEL RUDI PELL band counts among the most consistent, lasting and creative acts in the whole of Europe. Very few German guitarists can point to as long and successful a career as the musician from Bochum, whose unmistakable signature marks not only his characteristic guitar style, but also his compositional skills.

"'The Crest' sounds absolutely typical of me and my band," says Axel. "In a way, the new tracks mark a return to our roots. And I'm proud to say that there isn't one double-bass number on 'The Crest'."

The guitarist and songwriter knows that this decision will not be considered archaic, but makes him one of the spearheads of a thoroughly contemporary development: for months, there have been reports from America, the U.K. and Scandinavia that an increasing number of bands are relying on drum arrangements which adapt to the melody of a song.

His 13th studio album impresses with varied compositions at the interface of melodic metal and hard rock. The collaboration between Pell and his American vocalist, Johnny Gioeli, which was established some twelve years ago, has experienced yet another magic moment on "The Crest". The American's raw, charismatic voice is a perfect complement to the deeply melodic numbers by the AXEL RUDI PELL band, who in turn prepare the ground perfectly for their frontman, allowing him to unfold his timbre to perfection. "Naturally, I came up with the main features of the melody and lyrics, but I'd be ill-advised if I didn't listen to Johnny's suggestions," says Pell. "There's real teamwork in our band."

"The Crest" also features an innovation: for the first time, Axel Rudi Pell has taken care of the production himself. Between November 2009 and January 2010, he, bassist Volker Krawczak, keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg and drummer Mike Terrana recorded the nine tracks (plus intro) at the W.A.T. Studios in Bochum. Pell worked on the vocals in great detail with frontman Gioeli via Skype, and Gioeli recorded his parts in the U.S. The album was mixed, as usual, by Charlie Bauerfeind at the Mi Sueno Studios in Tenerife and at the Twilight Hall Studios in Grefrath, Germany, the hallowed halls of their colleagues BLIND GUARDIAN.

In view of the album's compositional density, it wouldn't seem fair to highlight individual tracks. At the same time, it must be mentioned that Axel Rudi Pell has come up with a continuation of his classic "Oceans Of Time" in the eight-minute "Dark Waves Of The Sea" (including unmistakable quotes from the original), and that the album features an impressive instrumental in "Noblesse Oblige (Opus # 5 Adagio Contabile)". And, of course, there's another great Pell ballad on the album, entitled "Glory Night".

"The Crest" track listing:

01. Prelude Of Doom (Intro)
02. Too Late
03. Devil Zone
04. Prisoner Of Love
05. Dreaming Dead
06. Glory Night
07. Dark Waves Of The Sea (Oceans Of Time Pt. II: The Dark Side)
08. Burning Rain
09. Noblesse Oblige (Opus #5 Adagio Contabile)
10. The End Of Our Time

Check out a widget for "The Crest" below.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS: Another New Song Available For Streaming

2010-05-06T06:45:00.002-07:00

A brand new track from from the upcoming self-titled STONE TEMPLE PILOTS album, "Bagman", is being streamed on Amazon.com.

Each week leading up to the CD's release, a new single will be available for your listening pleasure.

A deluxe version of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' new self-titled album with expanded artwork and two bonus tracks will be available on the May 25 street date. Target will be given a CD/DVD version of the set with exclusive interview content, and Walmart will air an exclusive STP performance in stores and on its Soundcheck web site.

The group's self-titled sixth album is its first all-new effort since 2001's "Shangri-La-Dee-Da".

The effort features the following track listing:

01. Between The Lines
02. Take A Load Off
03. Huckleberry Crumble
04. Hickory Dichotomy
05. Dare If You Dare
06. Cinnamon
07. Hazy Daze
08. Bagman
09. Peacoat
10. Fast As I Can
11. First Kiss On Mars
12. Maver

The disc will be issued through Atlantic Records, although Weiland told The Pulse of Radio at the time of the band's 2008 reunion tour that he was interested in exploring other options outside the traditional music industry. "When we first talked about putting STP back together, it was do this tour and then see about doing a creative deal with another company, like an all-in deal," he said. "And, you know, if you look at even like RADIOHEAD and a handful of other bands, they make more money doing things in an unconventional fashion as opposed to doing it, you know, with the major labels."

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS reunited in 2008 after a six-year layoff. The band's last album, "Shangri-La-Dee-Da", came out in 2001.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS will be featured on VH1's "Friday Night Alright" concert series on Friday, May 21 at 11:00 p.m. The performance footage was filmed on March 27, 2010 at Chicago's Riviera Theatre.

"Friday Night Alright" is described as a music fan's passport to first-class rock and pop music concerts in HD from around the world.

"'Friday Night Alright' [is] the premiere destination for concerts on television — a different show featuring an A-list artist every week, driven by the excitement of arm-waving, foot-stomping audiences," said Ben Zurier, Executive Vice President, Program Strategy for VH1. "The series literally covers the globe to present the best artists, and the best-produced concerts."

According to Billboard.com, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS has several TV appearances lined up around its new album's release — including NBC-TV's "Late Show With David Letterman" (May 19) and ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (May 25) — and it's scheduled for Howard Stern's Sirius Satellite Radio show May 18.

Former THE HELLACOPTERS Frontman Returns With New Project

2010-05-06T06:45:00.001-07:00

THE HELLACOPTERS architect and former ENTOMBED drummer Nicke Andersson is back with a new band. IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC "delivers powerpop, with emphasis on power, rock AND roll," according to a press release. The group "could be the missing link between THE BEATLES and ALICE COOPER, or the bridge connecting THE BYRDS with SEX PISTOLS, if you will. No visas required, the gates are wide open. Nicke bids you welcome to his electric empire!"

IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC features Andersson on lead vocals and guitar, with contributions from Tobias Egge, Dolf De Borst, Tomas Eriksson, Anders Lindström, Conny Wall, Dregen, Fage, Neil Leyton, Anders Härnestam and Robert Pehrsson.

Due on May 28 via Psychout/Sound Pollution, IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC's self-titled debut album features the following track listing:

01. A Holiday From My Vacation
02. Lord Knows I Know That It Ain't Right
03. Resign
04. Throwing Stones
05. I'll Let You Down
06. I Got All Day Long
07. Lee Anne
08. Deja Vu
09. Together In The Darkness
10. Alive
11. Diseased Pieces Of My Heart
12. Redemption's Gone

Check out audio samples at www.myspace.com/imperialstateelectric.

METALFORCE Parts Ways With Rhythm Guitarist

2010-05-06T06:44:00.003-07:00

METALFORCE — the German metal band led by former MAJESTY singer vocalist Tarek "MS" Maghary — has issued the following update:

"Due to personal health issues, Josef Echter [rhythm guitar] will not be able to continue to play in METALFORCE. This has been a very hard decision for him but the band supports his decision. We wish him all the best and the fastest possible recovery. We will continue as a quartet from now on."

Josef Echter officially joined METALFORCE in January. He made his live debut with the band on the German/Dutch leg of MANOWAR's "Death To Infidels" European tour.

Ronald Van De Baan of the Dutch e-zine Metalkrant conducted an interview with METALFORCE on January 28, 2010 when the group played 013 in Tilburg, Holland with MANOWAR and HOLYHELL. Watch the chat below.

METALFORCE's self-titled debut album was released last summer via Magic Circle Music, the record label owned by members of MANOWAR. According to the band's official bio, the members of METALFORCE "honor their fans with anthems of power and might. It's the stuff metal legends are made of and METALFORCE is destined to become one and the same. There [are] 11 new songs to motivate 'true metal' fans to raise their flags and pledge their allegiance. . . METALFORCE promises to unite the world of 'true metal' through the power of passion, expressed through their music."

Commented Maghary: "True metal doesn't follow commercial trends, it comes from your heart, it's truthful, it's totally honest, an honesty that is dedicated to your music and your fans."

GEORGE LYNCH: Tempe Meet-And-Greet Announced -

2010-05-06T06:44:00.001-07:00

George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB, SOULS OF WE) will take part in a meet-and-greet at the grand opening of the Naked Dave's Music store in Tempe, Arizona on Friday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m.

Hang out, jam, and enjoy an all-star jam of "Mr Scary" with George, Ken Mary, and members of the HOLLYWOOD SAINTS. There will be photos, autographs, a chance to win LYNCH MOB tickets, and a whole lot more. Mike Gaube of 93.3 KDKB will also be joining the celebrations live.

Naked Dave's Music
2155 E. University Dr. #105
Tempe, AZ 85281

For more information, call 480-820-0882.

In other news, Lynch recently visited the Seymour Duncan custom shop and got to wind some Phat Staple pickups while he was there. Watch video footage of his visit below.