Every musician knows that late '50s Sunburst Les Paul Standards are hard enough to come by as it is. Obtaining a pristine and exemplary '59 'Burst and modifying it for heightened performance and vastly expanded tonal options? Unheard of… unless, of course, you're JIMMY PAGE . That's exactly what the legendary LED ZEPPELIN guitarist, perhaps the world's most iconic Les Paul player, did with his own '59 Les Paul Standard, and now - thanks to the extreme efforts of Gibson's Custom Shop and the intimate cooperation of Jimmy Page himself - the artist's hallowed "Number Two" Les Paul is available to mere mortals, in the form of the Custom Shop Jimmy Page "Number Two" Les Paul. Produced in strictly limited numbers, with two levels of aging, this guitar captures the look, feel, sound, and versatility of one of the greatest artist-owned Les Pauls of all time, and it is likely to disappear from authorized Gibson dealers in record time.
The 1959 Les Paul that has come to be known as "Number Two" was purchased by Page in 1973 after trying for some time to acquire an exceptional second Les Paul. This was several years after having acquired his other legendary Les Paul - "Number One", a '59 'Burst with shaved-down neck profile and no serial number - from Joe Walsh. "Number Two" was essentailly all original when he aquired it. Jimmy did have some modifications done to the neck shape so that it would more nearly match the feel of his "Number One". The neck is certainly slim but not to such extremes as the now-ultra-slim neck on "Number One". It had a strong, beautiful sunburst finish with a red element that had faded to a dusky amber-brown, along with a clear serial number dating it to 1959. Page played this Les Paul frequently through his days with Led Zeppelin, and in the early '80s decided to make it an even more versatile instrument. Page also added that he wanted
to "explore the full range of what the two humbuckers have to offer". He designed a switching system for coil splitting, series/parallel, and phase-reverse options for both pickups, and employed a skilled electronics technician to devise a working schematic and make his sonic vision a reality. The result comprised a push/pull pot on each of the guitar's four standard controls, plus two push-button switches hidden beneath the pickguard, all mounted on a '59 Les Paul Standard that is otherwise a superb example of the breed, both in tone and playability.
The Custom Shop Jimmy Page "Number Two" Les Paul was recreated with intense, inch-by-inch examination of Page's original guitar, inside and out. The process of getting it right involved the production of a number of hand-built prototypes, each of which was checked and critiqued in detail by Page himself. Approval of the final iteration was only offered after the legendary artist had intricately examined and extensively played this last prototype in his London home - after which it was given the thumbs-up, worthy of being the template for the Custom Shop Jimmy Page "Number Two" Les Paul. Only 325 examples will be produced in total: The first 25 instruments are to be aged by vintage-reproduction master Tom Murphy then inspected, played and hand signed and numbered by Jimmy Page personally. An additional 100 guitars will be given the extensive aging treatment and 200 will be finished to Gibson's VOS specs.
Legendary rockers URIAH HEEP have updated their live itinerary. The band now have the following dates scheduled:
February
5 - Thessaloniki, Greece - Block 33
6 - Athens, Greece - Gargarin 205
11 - Rostov, Russia - Drama Theatre
12 - Krasnodar, Russia - Di Rremiera
13 - Moscow, Russia - Glav Club
15 - Yekateringburg, Russia - Youth Hall
April
15 - Neustadt Aisch, Germany - Stadthalle
16 - Colgogne, Germany - Kantine
17 - Geseke, Germany - Stadtsaal
18 - Rostock, Germany - RockNight Indoor Fest
19 - TBA
20 - Ulm, Germany - Theatro Club
21 - Lustenau, Austria - Reichhofsaal
22 - Worgl, Austria - Komma
23 - Graz, Austria - Seifenfabrik
24 - Bad Aibling, Germany - Hangar
25 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Durlach City Hall
27 - Glashous, Switzerland - Rheinach
28 - Glarus, Switzerland - Schutzenhaus
29 - Siggental, Switzerland - Silex
30 - Amriswil, Switzerland - Pentoramahalle Rocknight
May
1 - Altorf, Switzerland - Transilvania
2 - TBC
May (Masters Of Rock with DEEP PURPLE, WISHBONE ASH)
28 - Johannesburg, South Africa - Cocacoladome
30 - Durban, South Africa - Indoor Arena
June (Masters Of Rock with Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash)
1 - Cape Town, South Africa - Grand Arena
July
9 - Clam, Austria - Clam Rock Festival
10 - Wiesen, Austria - Lovely Days Festival
24 - 25 - London, England - High Voltage Festival
Keep It True Festival organizers have issued the following message:
""So ends a decade now..", with these words a certain Warrel Dane started one of the best power metal records of all time almost unbelievable twenty years ago. Now another decade ends and I think it is time to share some thoughts with you about our Keep It True Festival which was born early in this decade.
When we started it in 2003 we had absolutely no expectations on the festival. We just wanted to give some of our favorite bands the chance to play a German show because they had no other chance to get on other festivals during that time. Even back then we were already positively shocked about the resonance of the fans and also happy, because if this first KIT would have been a disaster, there may have been no others following.
In all these years I always tried to fulfill the dreams of the fans and also mine of course and luckily also some of the "impossible" bands mainly worked out very well. On some of these shows I even had tears in my eyes and also when I looked into the happy faces in the crowd.
These are the moments that make this festival worthwhile and forget all the troubles behind it. It also gives me motivation to make it even better next time. This always seems to be impossible, but somehow it always works out.
The absolute highlight was the NWOBHM Anniversary Show this April, which was an unique event and it will stay unique forever. We also plan a special surprise show for KIT 13 in April 2010 and we won't announce what it will be till it happens on stage.
Also this will be an unique show which is only possible at a festival like KIT.
Though there is growing competition in this very special festival genre we still have some aces in our hands that we will play out with the billing for 2011 KIT, which we will announce on KIT 2010. 75% of that billing is already booked.
Looking back on this KIT decade I feel a lot of gratitude to all the faithful KIT Fans that supported the festival since day one and made KIT to the leading event in that genre. Thanks you and Thank you again!!
We hope we can present you old underground heroes and fresh newcomers also for another decade for fair ticket prices. And I want to mention again, that KIT won't change at all. There are always speculations that KIT may grow into a more commercial direction, but this is absolutely not true. We will stay like we are... true supporters of metal underground.
So finally I want to wish all KIT fans a great Christmas and also a Happy New Year. Support underground metal and events and see you all on KIT 13!!!"
According to Estereofonica, GUNS N' ROSES will perform at Parque Simón Bolívar in Bogotá, Colombia at the end of March as part of the band's South American tour. The exact date for the Bogotá concert has not yet been confirmed.
The Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone magazine reported earlier in the week that GUNS N' ROSES will play five shows in Brazil between March 7, 2010 and March 16, 2010.
GUNS N' ROSES has just completed a four-date tour of Asia and is slated to launch a Canadian tour in January.
The band has not booked any U.S. dates yet.
GUNS N' ROSES' last world tour, in 2006 and 2007, took in 60 shows in 26 countries and was the band's first full tour since 1993.
In addition to sole original member Rose, the current lineup of the band includes guitarists DJ Ashba, Ron Thal and Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman and drummer Frank Ferrer.
GUNS N' ROSES' latest album, "Chinese Democracy", was released in November 2008 as a Best Buy exclusive, 17 years after the last all-original GUNS sets, "Use Your Illusion I" and "II". The album was a commercial disappointment, selling less than one million copies in the U.S. (according to Nielsen SoundScan) despite the long wait.
China Times has uploaded a two-minute video report (see below) on GUNS N' ROSES' December 11, 2009 concert in Taipei, Taiwan, marking the band's first performance in support of its 2008 CD, "Chinese Democracy".
VELVET REVOLVER /ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash has issued the following update:
"I'll be staying in town for the holidays, but I'm doing a poker tourney in the Bahamas first week of January, which is a benefit for 'The Foundation for AIDS Research,' or AMFAR. It should be a cool trip and it's for an important cause.
"The mastering session of my solo record is done. We did it at Sterling Sound with George Marino, who is hands down the most genius mastering engineer I've ever worked with. He is the perfect engineer to best bring out the dynamic nuances of the analog recording and I'm ecstatic with the results.
"Although it is not in my nature to brag about how good the performances are or how good the songs are, I will say, between [producer] Eric Valentine and George Marino, it is a fucking great-sounding record.
"We are now in the process of mixing the special bonus tracks which should be done next week. Then we will master those and be done with the whole recording, mixing, mastering process.
"I should be signing a U.S. distribution deal in the coming days, I will announce who with as soon as I do. We're still looking at an April release so far.
"I'll be at the NAMM show next year announcing the new 'Slash model' Marshall, as well as a new signature Les Paul and a signature set of Seymour Duncan pickups, all of which will be available early in the new year. I played the new 'Slash model' prototype with the new Seymour Duncan pickups at the KLOS Christmas Show at the Nokia recently and they sound fantastic. The performance was a little loose, but the guitar sounded great."
Slash will release his debut solo album, "Slash", in the spring in Europe via Roadrunner Records.
"Slash" will see Roadrunner Records enter into a unique and innovative association with a U.K. media partner — the special-interest media group Future. In a brand new concept in record distribution, the standard album release will be preceded by a "Fan Pack," in which the Roadrunner Records album will be bundled together with a highly collectable, 132-page special issue of Future Publishing's Classic Rock magazine dedicated to Slash's career. This will be the first format of the album available anywhere in the world.
The partnership is a first for music and media industries, marking the first-time a major new album has been released this way. The partnership ensures that Slash's new album is available through over 4,000 U.K. retailers that stock Classic Rock — sidestepping the issue of dwindling high street music outlets and top 20 only stocking in supermarkets. Classic Rock is one of the U.K.'s biggest rock music magazines and this year recorded its eighth consecutive circulation increase, the only paid-for music magazine to grow.
The Slash "Fan Pack" featuring his debut solo album from Roadrunner Records, along with a 132-page "Classic Rock Presents: Slash" special will have a cover price of £14.99.
n the Autumn of 1984, I moved from the familiar comfort of the Seattle punk scene to Los Angeles. Many assume that leaving the oft-stormy weather of the northwest for the more tranquil and sunny Southern California would be a no-brainer. A guy like myself could throw caution to the wind and basically go anywhere I wanted, well, anywhere that my beat-up car could get to, and anywhere that had a music scene that had more infastructure and less heroin than Seattle did then.
Let me first explain that I did not leave Seattle because there was a lack of talent or originality. Seattle in the early '80s probably had the most diverse and supportive scene in America. If the place where your band rehearsed at got shut-down or was otherwise made unavailable, it was never a problem to find some other band to help out. At a gig, if any piece of some band's equipment broke down, replacement gear was as close as the next band's gear on the bill.
No, I left Seattle because as a result of the early-'80s economic recession in the area, clubs and youth halls were shutting down. The streets of Seattle were dire and empty. My bandmates, roommates and girlfriends all started on the smack. and I lost a new guitar amp that I had worked hard for. I was working, paying rent, doing weekend tours, and coming back to theft from friends at home. So I left the city I love for a city I knew no one in or nothing about.
My first couple weeks in L.A. were a sort of recon mission. My next-oldest brother Matt lived in Northridge, and he got me a job my first day in town as a cook at a Black Angus. For anyone who knows, Northridge is actually quite far from Hollywood, especially in a piece of shit Ford Maverick with no brakes and a leaky oil pan. I would go down to Hollywood to go to a club and often just drive into the hills afterward and sleep in my car, because I was afraid of breaking down on the freeway in the middle of the night. On top of this, I was not yet 21, and therefore had to come up with crafty ways to get into clubs to see a gig.
Back then, we people from Seattle just plain looked different. I remember when bands like Black Flag and the Dead Kennedys would come through Seattle, they would always comment of the different look of the crowd. Now that I was in L.A., I decided to use this 'different' look to convince people checking IDs at club doors that I was not from the United States, and thus spoke no English.
When asked for an ID, I would produce my sunglasses and a puzzled look. They must have thought I was Swedish or something but, no shit, it worked more often than not. To further explain how 'different' we Seattleites looked, upon first meeting Slash in response to a Musicians Wanted ad, his girlfriend Yvonne assumed I was gay and asked me about it after a couple of tugs off of a bottle of vodka. I almost pissed myself with laughter, and it took me a few days to actually convince her that I was a fan of the ladies..but that is another story.
I had gone to California to play shows and be a roadie prior to my move to LA. I was by no means a neophyte, nor was I in the least bit naive. But when I did try to identify some of the things in the LA club-scene that I left in Seattle--like camaraderie or at least helpfulness from others--I was pretty much rebuffed in a wholesale manner. No, Los Angeles was a cutthroat operation, and I would soon learn to play by those rules, although I would try to convince myself that I was still 'me'. The band I was soon to help form was comprised of fairly likeminded young men.
I must say, when Soundgarden first came to play in LA when I could see them (1989 I think), I was jealous yet proud. Jealous that Seattle had turned into a place a band could be FROM again, and it had turned that way without me there. I was proud of just how great Soundgarden was, and that all of my bragging about how cool Seattle was and how much raw talent was there finally had a face. As Mother Love Bone, Alice In Chains, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam all began putting out major-label releases, the rest of the world found out about the little secret I left behind.
MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee has commented on GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna's recent revelation that this past summer's Crüe Fest 2 turned out to be "the most dramatic tour" GODSMACK has ever been on, with the kind of "rock-star garbage" on the part of the tour's headliners that Erna and his bandmates had "never seen [before] in [their] career."
Erna told the Artisan News Service that taking part in this year's Crüe Fest 2 was a good move for his band and their fans, and at the same time was the worst tour they've ever done.
Erna and the rest of GODSMACK joined with headliners MÖTLEY CRÜE plus support acts THEORY OF A DEADMAN, DROWNING POOL and CHARM CITY DEVILS for this year's travelling rock festival, which kicked off on July 19 in Camden, New Jersey.
"I don't know too much about that," Lee told the Artisan News Service. "Sully and I are good friends. I think he just had some issues with the way he was treated by somebody else in the organization. But I'm gonna stay right out of that. [chuckles]"
When asked what is was like for GODSMACK off stage on the Crüe Fest 2 tour, Erna told the Artisan News Service, "I will tell you, it's been the most dramatic tour we've ever been on. I mean, talk about just craziness, man. Sometimes egos run high, man, and there's definitely been some rock-star garbage on this tour that just have never seen in our career. Every band — from BLACK SABBATH to AEROSMITH, RUSH, METALLICA... you name it... They've always... I don't think there was ever a threat, you know what I mean?! Like who's gonna dwarf METALLICA anyways? But there's always just been this mutual kind of like, 'We wanna put on a great show, so bring your bells and whistles, bring your show, so between you guys and us, we can make these people get a bang for their buck.' And that's really what entertainment has always been about. And so, I've never been in a position before where we felt we had to really protect this thing; it's kind of like a dog with a
bone — you put us up against a wall and we're gonna come out swinging."
When asked whether MÖTLEY CRÜE might have been acting out of ego competition between Crüe Fest 2 bands or living up to previous travelling tours like Ozzfest, Erna replied, "I don't know who needs to live up to whose reputations and I don't know why some people consider music as a competition, but I will tell you that I have never been in a situation where I felt like I was out for blood, and honestly, this was the first time that I felt like, 'You know what?! If there's gonna be some people that are gonna treat other people a certain way, then I'm gonna go out there every night and fucking crush you on stage — make sure that we make you look old and fat, and go home with a nice big fat paycheck. You can sit in your world and I'll sit in mine, and [I'll] see you at the top again, I guess, somewhere...' I don't know. All I care about, really, is playing music and enjoying myself on the road. I'm not here to compete. Everybody has their fans,
everybody has their own music, and it's supposed to be more like a brotherhood, but... I don't know. It's been a good time for us out here, but in other situations, there's definitely been some uncomfortable moments."
TWISTED SISTER has been confirmed for next year's Bang Your Head!!! festival, set to take place July 16-17, 2010 in Balingen, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
ANVIL
BULLET
DORO
ENFORCER
JAG PANZER
KROKUS
JON OLIVA'S PAIN
LOUDNESS
QUEENSRŸCHE
RATT
SABATON
TWISTED SISTER
More acts will be announced soon.
For more information, visit www.bang-your-head.de.
According to Ticketmaster.com, W.A.S.P. has scheduled the following U.S. dates in February/March:
Feb. 26 - The Canyon - Agoura Hills, CA
Feb. 27 - Galaxy Theatre - Santa Ana, CA
Mar. 06 - Harpo's - Detroit, MI
Mar. 12 - Jaxx - Springfield, VA
More shows are expected to be announced soon.
Fan-filmed video footage of W.A.S.P. December 13, 2009 concert in Bilbao, Spain can be viewed below.
A Spanish-language report and several other fan-filmed video clips can be found at BilbaoIsRock.com.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. Mephisto Waltz (intro)
02. On Your Knees / The Real Me (THE WHO cover)
03. L.O.V.E. Machine
04. Crazy
05. Babylon's Burning
06. Wild Child
07. Arena Of Pleasure
08. Hellion / I Don't Need No Doctor / Scream Until You Like It (HUMBLE PIE cover)
09. Chainsaw Charlie (Murders in the New Morgue)
10. The Idol
11. Take Me Up
12. I Wanna Be Somebody
Encore :
13. Heaven's Hung in Black
14. Blind In Texas
W.A.S.P.'s new album, "Babylon", entered the U.K. "Rock Albums " chart at position No. 15. The CD was released in Europe on October 12 through Global Music (via Demolition Records) and was issued in the U.S. on November 17.
Mark Morton of Examiner.com recently conducted an interview with vocalist Chuck Billy of San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Examiner.com: I know in interviews you did over the summer, you mentioned that you were planning to enter the studio in October for five months to work on and complete the new album. Does this tour with MEGADETH and SLAYER put a speed-bump into those plans, or do you see it as a good thing?
Chuck: Well, it's a good thing, for sure. But when we said we were going to take five months off, that tour wasn't even announced yet anyway. And of course, when you get offered a tour like that (which doesn't come around very often), we had to accept it, because we couldn't pass it up. But we're still working on the album, too. On one of the buses, we're setting up a recording studio. So, the whole time we're on the road, we'll be writing and getting ideas down on tape. Since we're the opener, we're going to have a lot of time on our hands, so we might as well write a record out there!
Examiner.com: Do you have any reservations about opening for your peers, as that is what they essentially are?
Chuck: No, not at all. You don't get to tour with some of your favorite bands very often, so when you get that opportunity, you definitely have to seize it and take advantage to the fullest. What better platform is there for a metal band than to play with two of the biggest metal bands around? And I think, for that time of year, there's really not a lot going on, so it is perfect timing to do it. It's not competing with the summer tours, and it really stands on its own, you know?
Examiner.com: Are you going to stick with a basic presentation set list, or are you planning to shake things up. In the past, TESTAMENT has been known for throwing a couple curve balls into the set along the tour trail.
Chuck: Oh, we'll be prepared. We're planning to have 20 songs ready to go, so at any time we can swap out a song here and there along the tour. Like, if we're going to play two shows very close to each other that will have identical fans, we'll switch two or three songs to keep it interesting.
Examiner.com: Metal, more than any genre, is known for its diehard fanbases and consisting of bands that can endure anything and ultimately thrive. I think this tour is a grand testimony to that sentiment. What are your feelings on the cyclical nature of the scene?
Chuck: Metal fans are definitely the most loyal people. They live through their hearts; they speak their minds, and they really back up their favorite bands. And I think they can really see through bands. Over time, there were bands that would try to do the pop thing, and fans get really pissed off at that, because they want you to stay true to what they love. For us, we've pretty much stuck straight with what we've done since the beginning. And our fans always tell us that they're really happy that we've stuck to our guns and stuck to our style of music. We've been around so long, we could very easily try to make a buck and do what is popular, but I know the fans would shoot it down, no matter how good it would be. The fans wouldn't like it, because we'd be straying away from who we are.
Examiner.com: And you were one of the very few old school thrash metal bands to successfully incorporate the "death growl" into your music. Do you think that aspect contributed to the band's survival?
Chuck: I don't know. That's something we've had since the first album, but I only ever did it live; we had never done it on a record. It was originally a way to express that live feeling. And over time, I started incorporating it into the vocals. At the same time, there were a lot of death metal bands out there beginning to make names for themselves, and the email response I got to the performances was pretty good. Some of our longtime fans hated it and couldn't stand it, but some of our younger, newer fans said things like, "I'm glad to you put that in there. Could you do more of it? We love it!" And since you can't please one group, you have to try to please them both, and that's when I decided that I would do both — sing and growl, and try to make them work together. And it's actually worked well for me.
Examiner.com: Why do you think that the thrash sound has become so beloved among metal fans, young and old?
Chuck: It's the honesty of the music. It's a young style of music, and you're always going to have a teenager who is rebellious, looking for something that is a little different and not on everyday radio that everyone at school is listening to. I know, when I was growing up and at school, I was into things that people didn't even know about. It felt good playing a record and going, "What, you've never heard of THE PLASMATICS or THE MENTORS?" It felt really cool to know about bands that nobody else knew. And I think that is what keeps it cool in the younger people's eyes.
U.D.O., the German band fronted by former ACCEPT singer Udo Dirkschneider, has postponed the first four shows (January 6 - January 9, including three dates in the U.K. and one in Belgium) of its 2010 European tour. The new dates will probably be rescheduled for May 2010.
U.D.O.'s new album, "Dominator", entered the official chart in Germany at position No. 27. This marks the highest German chart entry in U.D.O.'s history. A limited-edition single, "Infected", preceded the full-length CD on June 26. The single was released as a limited edition of 2,222 pieces worldwide and included the title track, two non-album cuts, a remix and a live song. On the same day U.D.O. played at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Balingen, Germany as a co-headliner.
U.D.O.'s previous studio album, "Mastercutor", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 39.
HIM frontman Ville Valo tells Billboard.com that the band will start touring in mid-February, with showcase dates in Europe and followed by a run on the Soundwave tour in Australia with JANE'S ADDICTION and FAITH NO MORE . The Finnish hard rockers will then tour the U.K. and hit North America for a lengthy tour starting in mid-March. HIM also plans to play the European festival circuit this summer.
Regarding HIM's forthcoming seventh studio album, "Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice", Valo says, "This is the first album I wrote fully sober, and I wanted to put all the energy I used to put into hanging out in pubs into working on the music. So it was pretty insane, working 18-hour days for the past year, year and a half. We really went for all those details and didn't leave any stone unturned. Hopefully it shows."
"Screamworks: Love In Theory And Practice" will be released by Sire Records on February 9, 2010. Recorded at The Lair in Los Angeles, the CD was produced by Matt Squire (TAKING BACK SUNDAY , THE USED, SAOSIN) and mixed by Neal Avron (LINKIN PARK, WEEZER, FALL OUT BOY).
"Since I don't drive," Valo tells Billboard.com, "I was walking to the studio or walking to the house where the rest of the guys were staying, walking five miles everyday, enjoying the sun. Normally I don't do that. I even got a bit of a tan, and people were surprised. But I was in good shape, getting rid of all the excess flab of doing nothing back home."
As first reported by BLABBERMOUTH.NET back on June 1, 2009, New Orleans sludge metallers CROWBAR have now officially parted ways with guitarist Steve Gibb and have replaced him with Matthew Brunson, bassist of KINGDOM OF SORROW (the band featuring CROWBAR guitarist/vocalist Kirk Windstein). Guitarist/vocalist Kirk Windstein states, "We, of course, all remain very good friends with [former CROWBAR guitarist] Steve Gibb, but his personal training business and gym are doing great, I'm happy to report, but that, and his family at home, simply do not give him the time to play with CROWBAR any longer. We love him dearly and thank him for his dedication while he was jamming with CROWBAR."
CROWBAR's November 20, 2009 concert at the City Club in Houma, Louisiana will be recorded for an upcoming live album. The CD is expected to be released next year via DOWN/ex-PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo's record label Housecore Records.
CROWBAR's forthcoming box set, which will also be released via Housecore, will include the full self-titled demo from the pre-CROWBAR band THE SLUGS that was recorded in April 1990. Songs include "Subversion", "A Breed Apart", "My Agony", "No Quarter" (LED ZEPPELIN cover), "My 4 Walls" and the unreleased track "Brain Freeze".
The lineup on the demo was as follows:
Kirk Windstein: Vocals, Guitars
Jimmy Bower: Drums
Kevin Noonan: Guitars
Todd Strange: Bass
CROWBAR will re-release the majority of its back catalog through Housecore Records. Also planned is a CD of new material.
Metal Mind Productions re-released three CROWBAR albums — "Crowbar" (1993), "Time Heals Nothing" (1995) and "Live+1" EP (1995) — in Europe in April 2008. Each limited-edition digipack title (limited to 2,000 copies) was made available on golden disc, digitally remastered using 24-bit technology. The "Time Heals Nothing" album also contains six bonus tracks — four audio and two video.
Video footage of CROWBAR's November 18, 2009 performance at The Hangar in New Orleans, Louisiana can be viewed below. The band was added to the Decimation Of The Nation 2 tour stop in New Orleans as the last-minute replacement for BORN OF OSIRIS, whose van apparently broke down. Also appearing on the bill were HATEBREED, CANNIBAL CORPSE, UNEARTH and HATE ETERNAL.
CROWBAR will take part in this year's Stillborn Fest. The five Northeast shows, which kick off on December 26 in Philadelphia, will also include HATEBREED, THE ACACIA STRAIN, THE CASUALTIES and THY WILL BE DONE.
NILE and NARGAROTH are among the confirmed bands for Chas Metal Attack IV festival, set to take place March 7, 2010 at Circo Volador in Mexico City, Mexico.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
NILE
NARGAROTH
IMPALED
HORNA
FROM FORGOTTEN BEINGS
WRECKER
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/chasproductions.
Vocalist Fernando Ribeiro of Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL has issued the following update:
"We have finished greatly in Skopje, Macedonia in front of hundreds of fans in na indoor festival and have close the year of 2009 era vulgaris, in what it comes to MOONSPELL live shows. It was a great run, initiated in the States with the Blackest of the Black tour, and in Europe with both CRADLE OF FILTH runs, and crowned by the passionate Latin American crowds in the other side of the world.
Our next show is a hometown gig in Lisbon (Fil Expo) on the 23rd of January, with the greatest video and stage production ever and we will work hard on this one, especially to reintroduce some other songs in our setlist, songs that both us and the fans have been missing; rumours of 'Magdalene', 'Soulsick', 'In And Above Man'. Let's see what the tides brings. It's a 3000 capacity and half of the tickets are gone so far, and that adds to our enthusiasm.
"Even though some festivals have been confirmed for next year and some one-offs might show up, 2010 will be slower in live terms for us but for the best of reasons. We will start writing a new opus. Ricardo [Amorim, guitar] (especially) have been very productive for the past six months and my iPod is full of his rough diamonds that me and Pedro [Paixão; keyboards/guitar] and Waldemar [Sorychta, producer] will polish in the pre-production for the new record. The name is chosen, the concept as well, and not to spoil the surprise, in a time of no surprises, I will not reveal it. Ah! Well, it will be more tongue in cheek, more erotic, when erotic meets religious, and once again I will be dealing lyrically with when one transforms in the other so it will be at least fun to have the cross and the red lips together. Musically, it has got everything that MOONSPELL needs: great songs, melodic, dark and powerful. We will be also working here and there on our
acoustic show for Portugal. Let's see how this one cooks up.
"AMALIA HOJE [an album featuring a number of Portuguese artists paying tribute to Amália Rodrigues, who was the unchallenged queen of fado — the Portuguese equivalent of flamenco or blues]: We are still playing a few shows together as the public demand is high after the 70,000 unit sales in Portugal. France, Brasil, Spain, China will follow (I write from our first-ever show outside Portugal — Vigo, Galicia). It has been a great trip that will slowly fade away, with the conscience of a remarkable group, project and the just tribute to such a figure as the great Amália Rodrigues.
"ORFEU REBELDE is a new project I made together with Pedro (Paixão, MOONSPELL) and Rui Sidónio (BIZARRA LOCOMOTIVA) that combines spoken word, keyboard atmospheres, and industrial metal/dark rock passages, all sung in Portuguese. The lyrics are taken from a great Portuguese book of poems, 'Orfeu Rebelde' (Rebel Orpheus), written by one of the greatest Portuguese authors ever, Miguel Torga. The poems verse a reinvidication of humanity, of darkness, of obscure independence through the voice and the anguish of Orpheu who rebels against his faith and rescues his muse.
"This project was a invitation of one of the most reputed radio music journalists in Portugal (Henrique Amaro of Antena 3, national radio) and included on a series of other records released by Optimus, a phone company in Portugal [with] a good attitude towards alternative music. The EP is available [for] free download at this location and a physical limited digipack edition will be available exclusively from the band (info to be provided) or at the FNAC shops in Portugal or at www.fnac.pt. The edition is via Compact Records in Portugal and the name of the EP is 'Cada Som Como Um Grito', which translates as 'Every Sound Like A Scream'.
" I was comissioned to write a short sci-fi book by Gailivro (Leya), one of the biggest publishers group in Portugal and I am working on it right now. It is written in Portuguese and it will be available in Portugal and Brazil only. It is called 'A Irmã de Caim' (Sister of Cain) and it is a book about vampires, not to join the twilight trend but in order to play mischeviously with it. It is a song about a little forum girl that takes her passion for Stephanie Meyer and her pitiful creatures a litlle bit too far. Despite being just available in Portugal, I am happy to announce that I started working on my poetry books translation and that all of you will be reading it."
FRANKENSHRED, the Phoenix, Arizona-based metal/shred band, has just released its debut album, "Cauldron of Evil", via Italy's Metal on Metal Records. According to a press release, the CD contains "16 tracks of blazing old-school style metal incorporating elements of thrash, speed and hard rock with plenty of guitar shredding! This [album] also features the great drumming skills of Greg Hall [SACRED REICH] who throws down on all 16 tracks."
The "Cauldron of Evil" cover was created by renowned artist Jowita Kaminska who also worked on EXODUS's 2004 release "Tempo of the Damned".
Originally formed in late 1996, FRANKENSHRED started out as an instrumental project.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/frankenshred.
Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM have been confirmed for next year's installment of the Summer Breeze festival, set to take place August 19-21, 2010 in Dinkelsbühl, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
1349
AHAB
ANATHEMA
ASPHYX
BARREN EARTH
BEHEMOTH
CALLISTO
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CHILDREN OF BODOM
CUMULO NIMBUS
DARK FUNERAL
DARK TRANQUILLITY
DESPISED ICON
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
DYING FETUS
EISBRECHER
EISREGEN
ENSIFERUM
FIDDLER'S GREEN
FREI.WILD
FEUERSCHWANZ
GORGOROTH
GWAR
HAIL OF BULLETS
HYPOCRISY
ILL NINO
INSOMNIUM
KORPIKLAANI
KYLESA
LEAVES' EYES
LETZTE INSTANZ
LONG DISTANCE CALLING
MAROON
MONO INC.
MY DYING BRIDE
NECROPHAGIST
OBITUARY
ORIGIN
ORPHANED LAND
PANTHEON I
POISONBLACK
REBELLION
SEPULTURA
SOLSTAFIR
SUBWAY TO SALLY
SWALLOW THE SUN
THE CROWN
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
TRACEDAWN
WAR FROM A HARLOTS MOUTH
WE BUTTER THE BREAD WITH BUTTER
For more information, go to this location.
TIAMAT, EVILE, NIGHTMARE, TYR, DIE KASSIERER, ORPHANED LAND, KATAKLYSM and ATROCITY have been confirmed for next year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 5-7, 2010 in Wacken, Germany.
According to the festival organizers, TIAMAT will mark its 20th anniversary by playing "an exclusive 'Wildhoney' show at Wacken Open Air 2010! 15 years after the release of 'Wildhoney' and their 'Wildhoney' headliner show at Wacken, this is gonna be the first and last time that front man Johan Edlund and his guys are going to perform the whole record on one single show! The crowd can expect an amazingly spherical light show as much as the original versions of classics like 'Pocket Size Sun' and 'Gaia'."
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
1349
ALICE COOPER
ARCH ENEMY
AMORPHIS
ATROCITY
CALIBAN
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CORVUS CORAX
CRUCIFIED BARBARA
DESPISED ICON
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
DIE KASSIERER
EDGUY
EQUILIBRIUM
ENDSTILLE
EVILE
GHOST BRIGADE
GRAVE DIGGER
IMMORTAL
IRON MAIDEN
KAMPFAR
KATAKLYSM
LAKE OF TEARS
MÖTLEY CRÜE
NIGHTMARE
ORDEN OGAN
ORPHANED LAND
PRIMAL FEAR
SLAYER
STRATOVARIUS
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
TIAMAT
TYR
U.D.O.
W.A.S.P.
Japanese neo-classical/power metal band AREA51 has tapped Jens Bogren (OPETH, SYMPHONY X, PARADISE LOST, SAINT DEAMON) to produce its third album.
Commented guitarist Yoichiro Ishino: "I am completely in love with the albums [Jens] worked on, and the sound he creates. He's definitely one of the best mixing engineers in the world, so it's such a privilege to be able to work with him."
He added, "All the new songs are powerful, and full of variety. Jens' magic will definitly make the kick-ass sound we're all waiting for! It'll be worth the wait for sure."
The CD is tentatively due in March 2010.
AREA51 has released two albums, including its most recent effort, "Daemonicus", which featured a guest appearance by Rob Rock (IMPELLITTERI) on a grand 16-and-a-half-minute masterpiece.
For more information, visit www.area51-web.com.
DELAIN — the Dutch gothic rock/metal project founded by ex-WITHIN TEMPTATION keyboardist Martijn Westerholt (brother of WITHIN TEMPTATION's Robert Westerholt) — will embark on a tour of the U.K. in April. The band's schedule is shaping up as follows:
March 21 - UK - London - Garage
March 22 - UK - Nottingham - Rock City
March 23 - UK - Glasgow - Cathouse
March 24 - UK - Dudley - JB's
March 25 - UK - Leeds - Rio's
March 27 - BEL - Vosselaar - Biebob
DELAIN's second album, "April Rain", will be released in the U.K. on January 25, 2010 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was released in North America on June 30 via Sensory Records (with U.S. distribution through Ryko and Canadian distribution through Sonic Unyon). The North American version of the album features a bonus track — "Come Closer" — which was previously only available on the limited-edition digipack version of the LP.
DELAIN recently parted ways with guitarist Ronald Landa due to musical differences. He has since been replaced by Ewout Pieters.
DELAIN bassist Rob van der Loo sat out the band's European tour with SONATA ARCTICA due to other personal commitments. He was temporarily replaced by Roel Vink. Rob still played the tour's Dutch dates.
"April Rain" benefits from the return of NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala who sings male vocals on two tracks, as well as world-renowned cellist Maria Ahn.
Southern Wisconsin quintet LUNA MORTIS has been dropped by Century Media Records, the label that released the band's debut album, "The Absence". The CD, which came out in in February 2009, was tracked at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (ALL THAT REMAINS, TRIVIUM).
Comments frontwoman Mary Zimmer: "Does this mean LUNA MORTIS will not be releasing another album? No. It just means that soon, we will be label-less and have a few decisions to make about what our next move will be and what we'd like to do in regard to the future of the band."
LUNA MORTIS will be the direct support for PRIMAL FEAR on a North American tour in May-June 2010. Zimmer states, "It's going to be a great tour, covering more of the U.S. this time, including Texas and some southern areas we have never played before. We look forward to going out on the road with PRIMAL FEAR, who are an excellent band and terrific musicians."
LUNA MORTIS's "Forever More" video can be viewed below. The clip was directed by David Brodsky, who has previously worked with ALL THAT REMAINS, BLEEDING THROUGH, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and KITTIE, among many others.
New York hardcore legends SICK OF IT ALL have been confirmed for next year's edition of the With Full Force festival, set to take place July 2-4, 2010 at Flugplatz Roitzschjora in Löbnitz, Germany (near Leipzig).
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AS I LAY DYING
BLEEDING THROUGH
BORN FROM PAIN
BROILERS
CALIBAN
CANNIBAL CORPSE
DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR
EARTH CRISIS
EKTOMORF
ELSTERGLANZ
EVERGREEN TERRACE
GWAR
HEAVEN SHALL BURN
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
LETZTE INSTANZ
NOFX
SICK OF IT ALL
TEXAS IN JULY
THE BONES
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
THE EXPLOITED
TOXPACK
UNLEASHED
WALLS OF JERICHO
For the first time, organizers are announcing bands on the official With Full Force advent calendar; each day in December a new band is being confirmed for the festival.
For more information, visit www.withfullforce.de.
Adelaide, Australia-based grindcore band CORRUPTERS has added a second guitarist, Dave from LAPDANCER. Dave played with CORRUPTERS at recent gigs at the Squatter's Arms and Worldsend, as well as a live-to-air show on 3D Radio.
CORRUPTERS is currently looking for a label to release its first album, which was recorded in Adelaide in April 2009 and mixed and mastered by Mick Kenney (ANAAL NATHRAKH, MISTRESS, THE DELIVERANCE) in July. Four tracks from the CD — "Deadshit", "Dissolve", "Rotten to the Core" and a cover of the BRUTAL TRUTH classic "The Birth of Ignorance" — are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
CORRUPTERS was formed in June 2008 when vocalist Kerry Skilton and bassist Adam Ward of LOS DIABLOS teamed up with guitarist Ryan Cheesman of GUANTANAMO BAY CITY ROLLERS and drummer Chris "The Mill" Canini of LAPDANCER to play straight-up hardcore punk grind.
CATAMENIA, SUIDAKRA and CTULU have been confirmed for next year's Ragnarök Festival, set to take place April 30 - May 1, 2010 at Ostbayernhalle in Rieden/Kreuth, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AGATHODAIMON
AKREA
ARKONA
CATAMENIA
CTULU
EQUILIBRIUM
GRAILKNIGHTS
HAGGARD
HEATHEN FORAY
HELFAHRT
HELLSAW
HELRUNAR
HOLLENTHON
IMPERIUM DEKADENZ
KROMLEK
MIDNATTSOL
OBSCURITY
RIGER
SÓLSTAFIR
SUIDAKRA
THE VISION BLEAK
VARG
For more information, visit www.ragnaroek-festival.com.
NECROPHAGIST, KYPCK and KYLESA have been confirmed for the 15-year-anniversary edition of the Brutal Assault festival, set to take place August 12-14, 2010 in Josefov, Czech Republic.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CHILDREN OF BODOM
CONVERGE
DEMONIC RESURRECTION
DESPISED ICON
DEVIN TOWNSEND
DEVOURMENT
DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA
DYING FETUS
GRAVEWORM
HYPNOS
IHSAHN
ILL NINO
KYLESA
KYPCK
MNEMIC
MY DYING BRIDE
NECROPHAGIST
ORIGIN
ROTTEN SOUND
SIGH
SYBREED
More acts will be announced soon.
Israeli "dark death metal" act ETERNAL GRAY has released the following statement:
"ETERNAL GRAY is proud to be the first band in the world to offer their fans this new and innovative way to enjoy their music. This groundbreaking achievement will undoubtedly influence countless other bands and revolutionize the entire music industry with its highly original method of music distribution.
"As CD media becomes obsolete, consumers are turning to converting or ripping music files into their players and computers. ETERNAL GRAY saw this as an opportunity to utilize their knowledge of cutting-edge technology and created this viable alternative to CDs, possibly altering the music landscape forever.
"ETERNAL GRAY is releasing its [second full-length album, 'Your Gods, My Enemies'], on a multimedia USB flash drive.
"The hardware itself was designed and manufactured in the shape of the band's logo and is operated through the computer's USB hub. Just plug it in.
"The flash drive is operated by a stylish website-like interface (like in a DVD), that is operated locally without the need to connect to the Internet. All of the flash-drive rich content is displayed and operated by astonishing graphics and sounds. In addition, the band has stated that every one of its flash-drive owners will receive occasional updates and extras.
"By finding the hidden password, the user will get access to never released pictures, videos, music and general content which the band will share exclusively with the people who have purchased the flash drive.
"All of this is operated by simply downloading a special folder that the band created on its website and placing it in one of the flash drive's folders. From then on, the content will be presented through the local website, just as if they were there before. It's that easy!
"It should be noted that the only other musicians to even attempt something similar — a flash drive etc. — were the bands PORTISHEAD and THE BEATLES. The biggest difference between those attempts and ours is in the content itself and in the way it's being presented to you.
"ETERNAL GRAY is offering its fans extremely rich content in a stylish logo-designed flash drive, operated by a website-like menu with astonishing effects and graphic design. All this was made to create a complementary visual experience to the music."
Commented the band: "We are very proud to stand here today after so many months of making it happen, because such opportunity to be creative just as your dreams tell you is not given often.
"We have designed and created something we believe is completing the experience of the music itself and also gives a proper solution to our fans in our ever-developing world.
"Humanity has a lot to offer yet many issues to develop and progress. We believe in creativity and always say, 'If it works, it can always work better.'
"We truly hope you will enjoy this product and support us on our way to be more creative and dare, just as much as we dream of doing every single day."
Content:
* Nine full new songs (WAV. files, just like on a CD)
* MP3 files of all the songs ready to be transferred to any other media (music players, CD burner and so on)
* Pictures, videos and other visuals, all presented in a beautiful gallery
* Info, contact and links to the band and the people who helped make this project possible
* A personal note from the band regarding this release
* Can as well be used as a regular flash drive (2 GB)
Audio samples of four songs from "Your Gods, My Enemies" can be found at this location.
ETERNAL GRAY's debut album, "Kindless", came out in 2002 via Listenable Records.
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JUDAS PRIEST's August 17, 2009 performance at the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida was filmed for a DVD that will be included in a forthcoming expanded 30th-anniversary edition of their 1980 classic, "British Steel".
As they have done at all of their U.S. summer dates this year, PRIEST performed the "British Steel" album in its entirety at the Seminole Hard Rock Arena.
JUDAS PRIEST kicked off its "British Steel" 30th-anniversary tour on June 29 at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana. Singer Rob Halford told Noisecreep, "It's like suddenly, thirty years have come upon us and we're about to celebrate. The album's technical anniversary is April of next year, but want to start the party early."
Halford added, "In today's economy, all artists have to think of something to do differently. We decided that this would be a great opportunity to do something that PRIEST has never done before, which is to play an album in its entirety. The band and the name 'JUDAS PRIEST' have both been around since 1969, so it is our fortieth anniversary, too. We seem to be in a constant celebration mode!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9C_LEtA4ig&feature=player_embedded
Rob Halford is ready for the holidays. The Judas Priest frontman just dropped what might be the most "metal" Christmas album ever— Winter Songs. It's a collection of raw and ripping rock n' roll that sizzles with the Christmas spirit. So how is Mr. Halford preparing for Santa to slide down the chimney? By talking to us about his favorite horror movies, of course! We asked Rob what his favorite horror flicks were, and he was a stoked to answer.
Read on for a look at the list.
"That's a good question! I don't think I've ever been asked this question before. They're really obvious aren't they," smiled the heavy metal god, and then he shared a bevy of classics with us.
1. The Shining
I liked the psychological aspect of this film—the way Jack went from being a very lucid, normal person to becoming an axe murderer. What makes people do that type of thing? I think that was the compelling part of The Shining from a human perspective, in terms of psychology. Then again, of course, it was the phenomenal photography, the sets and the location that draw me back. Stanley Kubrick only made a handful of movies, but they were all phenomenal. If he would've put Jack in a different venue, the film would've been totally different. To put him in that huge isolated place was perfect. Those scenes where he's sitting at the typewriter in that big huge dining room are magical. I think it's the uniqueness of The Shining that makes it the most attractive because there will never ever be another movie like The Shining.
2. The Exorcist
Both this and The Shining confront different things. The Exorcist dealt with Satan directly, and The Shining just dealt with mental horror because there wasn't any kind of Satanic things going on in The Shining. It was just about a guy losing his mind and evil taking over.
3. Nosferatu
There's a film that Willem Dafoe was in about the making of Nosferatu, and the back story was that this guy could've really been a vampire! He was into cannibalism or something. It's urban myth! As I understood it, for the original Nosferatu, they actually found a really creepy-looking guy and put makeup on him. He did look particularly grotesque. The image stays with you forever. That's the thing about great horror movies; you'll remember a particular scene or visual. It just sticks with you, and that's what makes them legends.
4. Carnival of Souls
5. White Zombie
6. The Terror
7. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
8. The Amazing Mr. X
9. Phantom from 10,000 Leagues
10. The Brain that Wouldn't Die
I got this box set years ago called Horror Classics. It contains 50 all-time classic horror movies from different eras. I've got a cabinet literally full with thousands of DVDs. Some of these go way, way back. They're important though. Like a lot of things in the creative sense, very early primitive ideas and attempts tend to connect to the great things out there. The box set has Carnival of Souls, White Zombie, The Terror with Boris Karloff, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Amazing Mr. X, Phantom from 10,000 Leagues and The Brain that Wouldn't Die. I love the B-stuff! I've watched all of these.
11. The Giant Helomonster
I think the Japanese came up with this monster film technique first. They actually took a real reptile and they built all of these little miniature trees and mountains around it so it looked like it was this giant creature stomping through a jungle. It wasn't though! They shot the actors in a way that the monsters were ginormous [Laughs].
According to the Herald Sun, ROSE TATTOO guitarist Mick Cocks lost his battle with liver cancer earlier today (Tuesday, December 22). He had been battling the disease since April this year.
Some of Australia's best-loved rockers — including ROSE TATTOO, JIMMY BARNES, YOU AM I, IAN MOSS and THE SCREAMING JETS — joined forces in July to put on a benefit gig for Cocks.
ROSE TATTOO guitarist Pete Wells passed away in March 2006 after a long battle with prostate cancer.
Legendary British/American heavy metal trio RAVEN will release its new album, "Walk Through Fire", in Europe on March 29, 2010 through SPV/Steamhammer. The CD, which came out in Japan in March 209 via King Records, was recorded at the Assembly Line Studios with engineer/mixer Kevin 131 (PROJECT: FAILING FLESH, DECEASED, DYSRYTHMIA, GARDEN OF SHADOWS).
"Walk Through Fire" track listing:
01. Intro
02. Against The Grain
03. Breaking You Down
04. Under Your Radar
05. Walk Through Fire
06. Bulldozer
07. Long Day's Journey
08. Trainwreck
09. Grip
10. Running Around In Circles
11. Hard Road
12. Armageddon
13. Attitude
14. Space Station #5 (MONTROSE cover)
15. The King (live) (bonus track)
MEGADETH drummer Shawn Drover has posted the final of four tour blogs on the Sick Drummer Magazine web site from the band's recently completed "Endgame" U.S. tour.
The fourth post covers week four of the tour with < SUICIDE SILENCE and ARCANIUM and includes details of shows from Davenport, Iowa; Fargo, North Dakota; Billings, Montana; Reno, Nevada; and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Drover recently falsely denied that MEGADETH will join forces with SLAYER and TESTAMENT for a U.S. tour in January/February 2010. Dubbed "American Carnage", the trek will kick off on January 18 in Seattle, Washington for a 26-date jaunt across North America that will include the six Canadian dates postponed earlier this month.
With the "Megadeth Ultimate Fan" package you can enjoy an up-close ticket, a meet-and-greet and photo op with MEGADETH, early access to the venue, pre-show party, exclusive MEGADETH gifts and more!
"Megadeth Ultimate Fan" packages are now available via www.iloveallaccess.com. Tour password is: carnage.
"American Carnage" is the first time that SLAYER and MEGADETH will have toured the U.S. together since 1991's epic "Clash of the Titans" tour. To celebrate that and in recognition of the tough economic times that many of their fans are having, MEGADETH and SLAYER have decided to roll back the price of a chunk of tickets at every U.S. show to the "1991 price" of $10.00. These specially-priced tickets will be limited and when they're gone, they're gone.
In addition, TESTAMENT — who was also on the "Clash of the Titans " bill — will be special guests on the entire tour, marking the first time that all three bands have shared a stage together in more than 18 years, and making this a "must see" metal event.
SLAYER and MEGADETH have already massacred territories together outside of the U.S. — first with four explosive dates in June, 2009 across Western Canada - "Canadian Carnage" — marking the first time the bands had shared a stage anywhere in 18 years; and then six co-headlining "Carnage" dates in Australia followed in October.
Aniruddh "Andrew" Bansal of Full Metal Rock conducted an interview with MEGADETH guitarist Chris Broderick on December 13, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A couple of excerots from the chat follow below.
Full Metal Rock: On this tour you've been touring the smaller markets. How has it been in terms of the crowd response?
Chris: Its been great, you know. One of the places that I psyched is Billings, Montana where it was almost like going somewhere where they don't really get many live concerts, because they were fanatical, almost fanatical to a point about the show and it was awesome. But you get the feeling that they really don't get a lot of acts. There were other places like Florida where a lot of bands don't travel down there because its just not economical to bring your crew, to bring all the rigging and stuff like that to travel that far down there. So it was good to get to those places for people that have supported us for so long.
Full Metal Rock: This tour you've been playing some of the new songs, songs that you recorded yourself for the first time. Has it been easier than previous tours to play your own songs for a change?
Chris: Yes and no. I identify with them may be a little bit more because they are my compositions but at the same time I personally think they are pretty demanding, so its always like going into an Olympic contest and seeing if you can come out with the gold. I'll put it that way.
Full Metal Rock: What is your opinion on the support bands you've been taking out on this tour?
Chris: Honestly I really like ARCANIUM. They're a really cool bunch of people and I like the style of music that they are doing. WARBRINGER is fairly new on here. They definitely carry the thrash torch, so its pretty cool to hear that. Its so resurgent in such a younger band, you know. And of course we had SUICIDE SILENCE on; they are not playing tonight but I had a huge respect for them since they were doing their own kind of thing and definitely turning it up to 11. They are definitely heavy and the drummer was really good. So I have respect for them. Of course, MACHINE HEAD is just awesome. I was sad to see them go. They are a great live band.
Full Metal Rock: I don't think many people out there in the line know that SUICIDE SILENCE are not playing tonight! What happened there?
Chris: I don't really know. I don't know the full story, so I would rather not say because I could say something that is absolutely incorrect.
Full Metal Rock: Dave Mustaine keeps saying in his interviews that you are the best guitarist ever to have played in MEGADETH. What is going through your mind when he says stuff like that?
Chris: Two things, one is that it's so awesome that he would say something like that and the second thing is, "Oh, crap. I have to live up to that." So it's humbling and at the same time I guess it's very encouraging, in a sense. But ultimately it's for you guys, the fans, to decide and hopefully you feel the same!
Californian rockers RATT have selected "Best Of Me" as the first single from their new album, "Infestation", due in March 2010 via Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records. The track is scheduled to go for radio adds on February 22.
The band's first studio CD in 10 years, "Infestation" was produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette, whose credits include PUDDLE OF MUDD, CHEVELLE, SALIVA, LIMP BIZKIT, ALTER BRIDGE and THREE DAYS GRACE, to name a few. The effort — which has been described by Pearcy as a cross between 1984's "Out Of The Cellar" and 1985's "Invasion Of Your Privacy" — marked the first time the group had stepped outside of Los Angeles to track a new CD in 20-plus years.
Over the past two years, RATT has toured the world in support of their releases "Tell The World - The Very Best Of Ratt" and their first-ever DVD, "Videos from the Cellar - The Atlantic Years". During this time, the current lineup of Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini, Bobby Blotzer, Robbie Crane and Carlos Cavazo played shows in Australia, Colombia and Peru for the first time in their careers.
Shock-rocker Marilyn Manson has commented on reports that a settlement was reached in former Manson keyboardist Stephen Bier's (better known by the stage names Pogo and Madonna Wayne Gacy) August 2007 breach-of-contract lawsuit against Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner.
Bier, who was seeking more than $20 million, alleged Manson used money from their former band partnership to buy items ranging from Nazi paraphernalia to a $150,000 engagement ring for ex-wife Dita Von Teese.
In a posting on his official MySpace blog, Manson writes, "I want to make clear that, aside from the wasted legal fees, in no way did I pay off the person that stood behind a keyboard — pretending to play music other artists in this band wrote. And I would not piss on Pogo if he was on fire. Thee end. Or is it? Let's wait until all the really bad things I covered up for him are suddenly uncovered. I got a far more severe type of karma for traitors and people that owe me, legally a lot more than what I wasted tolerating your rape of a band you never deserved to be in."
In a separate posting on the same blog, Manson continued, "I don't want this to be confused as anger. I feel nothing for a person that betrayed me and my band. My band. And I'm sure that if anyone wants to discuss this with him personally, I won't be so rude to NOT give you his or his family's addresses. Since I payed [sic] for both soon to be destroyed buildings. That's at least what I just had a dream of, that I awoke from. So good luck to you, sir. You are gonna need it. Sweet dreams ."
An up-to-date article on Bier's lawsuit against Manson can be found at the Southern California Public Radio web site.
BW&BK recently caught up with OVERKILL frontman Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth to discuss the band's new album, Ironbound, and celebrating 25 years in the trenches. An excerpt is available below:
Overkill's album-to-album success or failure rate ultimately comes down to Ellsworth and bassist DD Verni. Unlike certain better known and better paid veteran songwriting duos who can't agree from one day to the next on whether they still have a band, the pair have maintained a solid working relationship since Day 1 because at the end of the day they've always had same goal in sight.
"First and foremost, just to add to that comparison, we stay away from the collagen treatments (laughs). I really think it's about priority. For us the bottom line is that decades ago we found something that we love, and love the record or hate the record it represents us at that point in time. I think the goal we're always trying to attain is chasing and reliving that original high. That will show itself. When all the stars align and the moon is full and whatever else happens – Peter (Tägtgren) doing the mix, some great tours, the numbers are up – boom! It comes out like a fucking slab of lead. Ironbound is a heavy offering from people who obviously have it in them, who obviously know what they are and obviously love what they do."
"It's an understanding. It's a bassist and a vocalist doing the writing but it comes down to the point on the arrowhead. Both of us realize that good metal songs are guitar and drum driven. These are the things that are paid attention to the most when these songs are going down. Whenever I mix an Overkill song I drop out and keep my mouth shut until the end, and I think that's fair. I'll throw in an opinion here and there because I'll be completely objective when these guys are totally into this to the point that they can't see the light of day, but the reality is it means much less where I am compared to where they are. All I am is the roof on the house, but if the house can't stand who cares about the roof (laughs)."
OVERKILL, ENGEL, CORRODED and ISOBEL & NOVEMBER have been confirmed for next year's Getaway Rock festival, set to take place July 8-10, 2010 in Gävle, Sweden.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
CAVALERA CONSPIRACY
CORRODED
DEATHSTARS
ENGEL
ISOBEL & NOVEMBER
MUSTASCH
OVERKILL
WOLF
More acts will be announced soon.
For more information, visit www.getawayrock.se.
LACUNA COIL, U.D.O., EPICA, MASTERPLAN and SABATON members participated in the second "Christmas Metal Symphony" show, which was held this past Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 013, Tilburg, Holland. As was the case with last year's event, the singers were backed by a six-piece band and a 30-piece classical orchestra as they performed some of the finest heavy metal and hard rock songs of all time. This unique show contained songs from all metal genres — from prog-metal to rock, from death to speed and from industrial to symphonic.
The show included appearances by such renowned hard rock and heavy metal musicians as Charlotte Wessels (DELAIN), Cristina Scabbia (LACUNA COIL), Damian Wilson (THRESHOLD), Joakim Brodén (SABATON), Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN), Mats Levén (ex-THERION), Simone Simons (EPICA) and Udo Dirkschneider (U.D.O., ex-ACCEPT)
The backing band consisted of the following musicians:
Koen Herfst (I CHAOS, ex-EPICA) - Drums
Marcel Coenen (SUN CAGED) - Guitar
Johan Van Stratum (STREAM OF PASSION) - Bass
Frank Schiphorst (CONTROL HUMAN DELETE) - Guitar
Jeffrey Revet (STREAM OF PASSION) - Keyboards
Joost van den Broek (AFTER FOREVER) - Keyboards
The complete setlist was as follows:
01. CiR Anthem - Magnus Opus Rockestra
02. This is Your Life (THRESHOLD) feat. Damian Wilson
03. The Trooper (IRON MAIDEN ) feat. Damian Wilson
04. Into the Black Hole (AYREON) feat. Damian Wilson, Charlotte Wessels
05. Nothing Left (DELAIN) feat. Charlotte Wessels
06. Rising Force (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) feat. Mats Levén
07. Painkiller (JUDAS PRIEST ) feat. Mats Levén
08. Thunderstruck (AC/DC ) feat. Mats Levén
09. Primo Victoria (SABATON) feat. Joakim Brodén
10. Master Of Puppets (METALLICA ) feat. Joakim Brodén
11. Feuer Frei (RAMMSTEIN) feat. Joakim Brodén
12. Fast As A Shark (ACCEPT) feat. Udo Dirkschneider
13. Animal House (U.D.O.) feat. Udo Dirkschneider
14. Ball To TheWall (ACCEPT) feat. Udo Dirkschneider
15. Cry For The Noon (feat. Simone Simons & Mark Jansen) EPICA
16. Crystal Mountain (DEATH) feat. Simone Simons & Mark Jansen
17. Strange Machines (THE GATHERING) feat. Simone Simons
18. War Of The World (JORN) feat. Jorn Lande
19. Stormbringer (DEEP PURPLE) feat. Jorn Lande
20. Rock 'n Roll Children (DIO) feat. Jorn Lande
21. Angel Of Death (SLAYER) feat. Ariën van Weesenbeek
22. Our Thruth (LACUNA COIL) feat. Cristina Scabbia & Mats Levén
23. Nothing Else Matters (METALLICA) feat. Cristina Scabbia
24. Heaven's A Lie (LACUNA COIL) feat. Cristina Scabbia & Simone Simons
Check out photos from Metal-Experience.com.
Scottish folk/power metal band ALESTORM has been confirmed for next year's Sweden Rock Festival, set to take place June 9-12, 2010 in Sölvesborg in southern Sweden.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
ALDO NOVA (CAN)
ALESTORM (UK)
ANVIL (CAN)
BACHMAN & TURNER (CAN)
BIGELF (US)
D-A-D (DK)
DANZIG (US)
JORN (N)
MAGNUM (UK)
MOTHER'S FINEST (US)
NAZARETH (UK)
RICK SPRINGFIELD (AUS/US)
RATT (US)
RAVEN (UK/US)
SABATON (S)
SAGA (CAN)
STEEL PANTHER (US)
UNISONIC (D)
W.A.S.P. (US)
WATAIN (S)
Y&T (US)
This year's festival was visited by 35,200 people, but in 2010 the maximum number of visitors will be limited to 33,000.
For more information, visit www.swedenrock.com.
Finland's BATTLELORE have checked in with the following update:
"Hellos!
Some news from Battlelore.
We are currently on a gig break preparing for the new album. The studio is booked for June/July 2010. So new album should be out around October 2010.
On the other news Tomi's (Mykkänen / vocals) other band EVEMASTER have just completed the audio-side of the new upcoming album called III. So the album is recorded, mixed and mastered. Currently Timo (bass player of BLore - death-illustrated.net) is working on the artwork for the album. Yesterday when the blizzard hit southern Finland we went out and took some cool photos for the cover artwork and promotional stuff.
If you want to learn more about Evemaster and keep up with the updates please go here and add us as a friend. You're welcome to join us in Facebook as well."
For more information on Evemaster go to this location. Check out Battlelore here.
Sweden's CRUCIFIED BARBARA has been confirmed for next year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 5-7, 2010 in Wacken, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
1349
ALICE COOPER
AMORPHIS
ARCH ENEMY
CALIBAN
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CORVUS CORAX
CRUCIFIED BARBARA
DESPISED ICON
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
EDGUY
ENDSTILLE
GHOST BRIGADE
GRAVE DIGGER
IMMORTAL
IRON MAIDEN
KAMPFAR
LAKE OF TEARS
MÖTLEY CRÜE
ORDEN OGAN
PRIMAL FEAR
SLAYER
STRATOVARIUS
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
U.D.O.
W.A.S.P.
Doug Elfman of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil is currently in Las Vegas at friend Danny "Count" Koker's Desert Moon Productions recording his new solo album, "Tattoos And Tequila", with bassist Dana Strum and Jeff Blando (both of SLAUGHTER) and drummer Zoltan Chaney. One of the tracks being laid down during the sessions is a cover version of the CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL classic "Who'll Stop The Rain?". An April release is expected.
In a recent interview with The News Tribune, Vince stated about the upcoming CD's title, "It's rock 'n' roll . That's it. It has nothing to do with MÖTLEY CRÜE. Tattoos and tequila is basically my life."
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Neil is also writing a book akin to MÖTLEY's autobiography, "The Dirt", with Esquire writer Mike Sager.
DUCATI ALL-STARS, a group of talented musicians and Ducati enthusiasts, will "hammer out 30 years of rock" at the legendary Roxy Theatre on Sunset Boulevard (9009 West Sunset Blvd.) in West Hollywood, California on Saturday, January 2, 2010. The band, which will be headed up by Billy Morrison of CAMP FREDDY, will also include Steve Jones (SEX PISTOLS) and Steve Stevens (BILLY IDOL) on guitar, Chris Wyse (THE CULT) on bass, Jason Bonham (BONHAM, LED ZEPPELIN) on drums, and Donovan Leitch, Franky Perez (SLASH, SCARS ON BROADWAY) and Mark McGrath (SUGAR RAY) on vocals.
If you want to get the latest information on how you can get VIP tickets to this special event, join Ducati on Facebook. Once you become a fan of Ducati North America, keep your eyes open over the next week for your chance to get the tickets money can't buy.
FEAR FACTORY , HENRY ROLLINS, BRING ME THE HORIZON, PAPA ROACH and PLACEBO have been confirmed for next year's edition of the U.K.'s Sonisphere festival, set to take place Friday, July 30 - Sunday, August 1, 2010 at Knebworth.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
IRON MAIDEN **
RAMMSTEIN
ALICE COOPER
ANTHRAX
BRING ME THE HORIZON
THE CULT
FEAR FACTORY *
HENRY ROLLINS (spoken word)
IGGY & THE STOOGES
MÖTLEY CRÜE **
PAPA ROACH
PLACEBO
SLAYER
All exclusive U.K. festival performances except:
** Only U.K. performance of 2010
* Non-exclusive
For more information, visit www.sonispherefestivals.com.
LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe joined DANZIG on stage on December 19, 2009 at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California to perform the song "Tired of Being Alive". Watch fan-filmed video footage of his appearance below (look for Blythe around the 2:27 mark).
For every Danzig fan who was dying to know the lyrics to all the DANZIG, MISFITS and SAMHAIN songs — tracks that never had their "dark verses" printed — well, wait no more. Glenn Danzig's song lyrics, illustrated by longtime Danzig collaborator and friend Simon Bisley, will finally see the light of day in December. Each song gets its own illustration by Bisley, who has painted many album covers for Danzig, including the latest CD, "The Lost Tracks of Danzig", and ex-MISFITS member Doyle Von Frankenstein's solo project GORGEOUS FRANKENSTEIN (which Glenn produced). The book will be available at indie record stores, as well as select comic shops.
Glenn Danzig is currently in the studio working on the new DANZIG album, tentatively in early 2010. Drummer Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE, SEVENTH VOID) and Tommy Victor (PRONG, MINISTRY) will appear on most of the tracks, according to a posting on DANZIG's official web site.
Although Johnny Kelly has been performing live with DANZIG off and on since 2002, this will mark the first time he has recorded with the band. Tommy Victor, of course, played guitar on 2004's "Circle Of Snakes" album.
The CD will feature a song called "Long Dark Road", which is decribed by Glenn as "very creepy and echo-y. It's like an old kind of '50s-ish kind of song. I've been having in my head probably for about six, seven, eight years. I haven't gotten around to recording it, and I recorded it, so it's pretty cool."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcXJlINUpGk&feature=player_embedded
Aniruddh "Andrew" Bansal of Full Metal Rock conducted an interview with guitarist Phil Demmel of San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD on December 5, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Full Metal Rock: A few months back in Europe, [METALLICA's] James Hetfield joined you guys on stage. Can you tell us how that felt?
Phil: It was one of the highlights of my musical career, having him approach us. He originally came into our dressing room and played it on the drums first and then he was like, "OK, maybe I'll play this one with you live," or something like that. So he came up and did it twice and it was awesome — very amazing and very surreal.
Full Metal Rock: What is the reason for not doing a proper headline tour of the U.S.? Is it just because of your schedule and not being able to fit it in with the support treks?
Phil: We wanted to, but then the megadeth thing came up. How can you deny doing SLAYER and MEGADETH? And then the MEGADETH tour, and then the METALLICA shows came up. We headlined so much in the States. So it was better off doing this. We're doing a proper headlining of Europe, which are more deserving in my eyes.
Full Metal Rock: Your "The Blackening" album was released back in 2007 and you're coming to the end of its touring cycle. So when are you planning to go back in the studio and write some new material?
Phil: We'll write in the spring when we get home from the tour. We'll be home in April, so I would imagine late April we will reconvene in the studio and start writing the follow-up. So I don't know when it will be ready and when we are going to record. We are not setting any time. When it's ready then we'll go in.
Full Metal Rock: You have a heart condition because of which you tend to black out. How much progress have you made with that and recently have you been confident enough that it won't happen on stage?
Phil: I can never be sure that it won't happen because three out of the four times I was pretty surprised that it did. Health-wise, it's been better. It's more a head-space thing than anything else, you know, so it has a lot to do with depression and has a lot to do with stress. Ever since my father died two years ago — tomorrow is the anniversary — it's been tough man. So it's hard to gather all those emotions and keep things in check. So I can't be sure. But I feel better these days for sure.
Full Metal Rock: How were the gigs that you did in places like India, Israel and Dubai last year?
Phil: That whole run was amazing. We'd played Dubai before. So we played there first and that was the last time I've been really sick. That was almost two years ago. I was deathly ill, I had pink eye and my equilibrium was really fucked up. So I couldn't go and see all the cool things that everybody was doing, but the show in Dubai was amazing. Awesome festival, and then from there we went into Israel and crazy kids just aching for metal and it was so good. Then we went to India to play this festival with MEGADETH. We were staying in this plantation like hotel with amazing amenities and it was really cool. Then 40,000 kids show up screaming and having a great time. So really exotic places and each one of them was really cool. In India, we remember walking in on this red carpet and they had this procession of people dancing and drums and everything. When we stopped, they stopped. They were kinda following us and gave us a coconut. It was so cool.
Full Metal Rock: What's been your favorite moment or memory of 2009, now that we're coming to the end of the year?
Phil: So many cool things have happened to this band. There's been so many benchmarks made and achieved, bigger things and bigger venues. It would have to be playing the festival weekend. We headlined Wacken and there were like 85,000 people there. It was one of the best shows in MACHINE HEAD's history, if not the best show, and then hurried off to a private plane that was booked for us to fly to Sonisphere U.K. to play with METALLICA, then to wake up and have this really cool hotel. That whole weekend was the highlight of 2009 for me. Then the Kerrang! Awards on the next night and something like that. It was a really cool weekend.
German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN will close next year's edition of Quebec's Summer Festival (Festival d'été de Québec) in Québec City, Québec, Canada. They will perform at Scène Bell on Sunday, July 18, 2010 at 9:30 p.m.
For more information, go to this location.
"Ich Tu Dir Weh" (English translation: "I'll Hurt You"), the new video from RAMMSTEIN, can be viewed at visit-x/rammstein. The clip was once again directed by Jonas Åkerlund, who has previously worked with METALLICA , SATYRICON, MADONNA and THE PRODIGY, among others.
"Ich Tu Dir Weh" comes off RAMMSTEIN's new album, "Liebe Ist Für All Da", which sold 22,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 13 on The Billboard 200 chart. Previously, the group's best rank came with its 1998 chart debut, "Sehnsucht", which peaked at No. 45 off the strength of its only U.S. radio chart hit, "Du Hast". Although the band just had its highest chart debut, "Reise, Reise" sold over 26,000 copies in the U.S. its opening week of sales.
"Liebe Ist Für Alle Da" arrived in stores on October 20 through a marketing and distribution deal with Vagrant Records and Universal Music Germany. The album was produced by Jacob Hellner and RAMMSTEIN, with recording done at Northern California's Sonoma Mountain Studio.
Sweden's LAKE OF TEARS has been confirmed for next year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 5-7, 2010 in Wacken, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
1349
ALICE COOPER
AMORPHIS
ARCH ENEMY
CALIBAN
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CORVUS CORAX
DESPISED ICON
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
EDGUY
ENDSTILLE
GHOST BRIGADE
GRAVE DIGGER
IMMORTAL
IRON MAIDEN
KAMPFAR
LAKE OF TEARS
MÖTLEY CRÜE
ORDEN OGAN
PRIMAL FEAR
SLAYER
STRATOVARIUS
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
U.D.O.
W.A.S.P.
German folk metal veterans SUIDAKRA have issued the following year-end update:
"First of all, thanks to all SuidAkrA fans for showing up at our UK gigs with SAXON and ANVIL! We hope to come back soon with a better slot and a longer setlist. In the meantime, the ReUnation - A Tribute To RUNNING WILD sampler was released. Check out our contribution of 'Marooned' here.
An eventful year is drawing to an end. With Crógacht we have released one of the best received albums of our career so far, we played a four week US tour, shows in China, Wacken Open Air and quite a few more great concerts. Unfortunately our European tour had to be called off due to illness - but you can't win them all!
In 2010 we'll step down a bit from playing live and concentrate on writing a new album for a 2011 release. Enjoy the holiday season and have a happy new year!
See you there!"
Suidakra recently announced tour dates for Spain and Portugal, due to take place in February 2010. Their schedule is as follows:
February
3 - Santiago de Compostela, Spain - TNT Bar
4 - Santander, Spain - Heaven DC Club
5 - Vigo, Spain - venue tbc
6 - Vila Real, Portugal - Underfest Winter Edition
7 - Lisbon, Portugal - Side B
H.E.A.T., THE DEVIL'S BLOOD and ABRAMIS BRAMA have been confirmed for the Sweden Rock Cruise, departing from Stockholm on April 8, 2010 and returning the next day.
Scheduled performers so far:
DEATH ANGEL (US)
H.E.A.T. (S)
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD (NL)
ABRAMIS BRAMA (S)
Two more acts will be announced soon.
With hard rock DJs, tax free shops, bars, restaurants, a gaming room, swimming pool and saunas, the 12-deck, 200 meter long M/S Silja Galaxy is pure heaven for everyone into hard music and partying. And as usual, there is no backstage area so you have the possibility to talk to your favorite bands over a beer or two.
Progressive Norwegian rock/metal band ULVER has scheduled the following dates:
Feb. 01 - Parkteatret - Oslo, NOR
Feb. 03 - Brew House - Gothenburg, SWE
Feb. 04 - Kulturbolaget - Malmö, SWE
Feb. 05 - Pumpehuset - Copenhagen, DEN
Feb. 06 - Voxhall - Århus, DEN
Feb. 08 - Volksbühne - Berlin, GER
Feb. 10 - Scala - London, UK
Feb. 11 - La Cigale - Paris, FRA
Feb. 12 - 013 - Tilburg, NETH
Feb. 15 - Théâtre de l'Alhambra - Geneva, SWI
Feb. 16 - Ebullition - Bulle, SWI
Feb. 18 - Teatro Espace - Torino, ITA
Feb. 19 - Teatro Rasi - Ravenna, ITA
Feb. 20 - A38 - Budapest, HUN
Feb. 21 - Palac Akropolis - Prague, CZR
Feb. 22 - Studio - Krakow, POL
Feb. 23 - Arena - Vienna, AUT
Feb. 26 - Nosturi - Helsinki, FIN
Feb. 27 - Nosturi - Helsinki, FIN
ULVER has posted its cover version of the ELECTRIC PRUNES classic "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night" on the group's MySpace page. The track, which features the band's latest addition, Daniel O'Sullivan, on guitar, also includes contributions from Lars Pedersen (WHEN) on drums and Mats Engen (EUROBOYS) on bass. The recording was mixed by Antti Uusimaki and will appear on ULVER's forthcoming collection of covers, "Psyche", which will include the band's interpretations of of "hippie songs from the Sixties — bands like THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS, BYRDS, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE — and stranger Aquarian folks."
ULVER's cover version of "Another Brick In The Wall (Part 1)" (hear audio below) was included on a PINK FLOYD tribute album called "The Wall Re-Built" released by the U.K. magazine Mojo to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the album.
ULVER performed for the first time in 15 years on May 30, 2009 at the Norwegian Festival of Literature at Maihaugsalen in Lillehammer, Norway.
ULVER had, since its first album, been exclusively a studio band. This being their first live performance in 15 years, the concert at Lillehammer was a historic event.
Once among the pioneers of Norwegian black metal, now living legends of dark experimental music, ULVER is one of Norway's most acclaimed international artists. While remaining something of a secret treasure back home, a long series of strong releases, most recently the album "Shadows of the Sun" (2007), has earned them a unique status worldwide.
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, INFECTIOUS GROOVES and SUPERSUCKERS have been confirmed for next year's edition of the Paaspop festival, set to take place April 3-4, 2010 in Schijndel, The Netherlands.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
ACDA EN DE MUNNIK
ARCH ENEMY
BONAPARTE
DAVE CLARKE
DI-RECT
ENTOMBED
EROL ALKAN
INFECTIOUS GROOVES
JOOST VAN BELLEN
JOSH WINK
KARMA TO BURN
LA CARAVANE PASSE
MAD MANOUSH
MOKE
OTTO ORGEL
PETER PAN SPEEDROCK
RASTI ROSTELLIT
RIO
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
SUPERSUCKERS
THE ACCELERATORS
THE REVEREND HORTON HEAT
THE VOICE OF ELVIS
WAYLON
WAYNE & THE .357 STRING BAN
For more information, visit www.paaspop.nl.
According to Undercover, Melbourne trio CALLING ALL CARS has been added to the Australian leg of the AC/DC "Black Ice" tour.
CALLING ALL CARS will open all AC/DC shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth ahead of WOLFMOTHER.
CALLING ALL CARS recently put the finishing touches on its debut album, "Hold, Hold, Fire!", with producer Tom Larkin (SHIHAD, YOUNG & RESTLESS, THE GETAWAY PLAN) at The Studios In The City in Melbourne for a February 2010 release.
CALLING ALL CARS is:
Haydn Ing: Vocals, Guitar
James Ing: Drums, Backing Vocals
Adam Montgomery: Bass, Backing Vocals
Los Angeles hardcore/metal band TERROR is currently writing material for its fifth album, "Keepers Of The Faith", tentatively due next year.
The past twelve months saw TERROR tour relentlessly across the world a number of times over in support of its highly acclaimed latest CD, "The Damned, The Shamed".
The band will kick off the New Year with a massive North American run, dubbed "The Mosh Lives II Tour", with EMMURE, AFTER THE BURIAL, MISS MAY I and THICK AS BLOOD.
Commented frontman Scott Vogel: "It's crazy to think that at this point TERROR has been around for about eight years. I guess after this year we have been around the world four times, recently adding Hawaii and Southeast Asia to the places we've played.
"The Atticus tour and the 10 For $10 tour were really wonderful, letting us clearly know that the U.S. is still solidly behind us.
"We are finishing up the year writing for our new LP, 'Keepers Of The Faith'. I guess we kind of are a real band at this point as we prepare for our fifth album.
"EMMURE is taking us out again in January and then off to Europe with MADBALL, DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR and CRUEL HAND."
TERROR's third full-length album, "The Damned, The Shamed", was released in June 2008 via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with HATEBREED and SHADOWS FALL, among many others.
TRIPTYKON, the group formed by former HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST singer , guitarist, and main songwriter Tom Gabriel Warrior, has announced that the group's own label, Prowling Death Records Ltd., has entered into a licensing agreement with renowned metal giant Century Media Records.
Under the agreement, Century Media Records will release TRIPTYKON's massive debut album, "Eparistera Daimones", in Europe and North America on March 22, 2010.
"Eparistera Daimones" was produced by Tom Gabriel Warrior and TRIPTYKON guitarist V. Santura and recorded in V. Santura's own Woodshed Studio in southern Germany, in the course of the second half of 2009. Like CELTIC FROST's highly praised "Monotheist" album, "Eparistera Daimones" was mastered by Walter Schmid at Oakland Recording in Winterthur, Switzerland. "Eparistera Daimones" is said to be heavier than "Monotheist", dark, daring, and very diverse.
Commented Tom Gabriel Warrior: "I am very pleased about continuing my long-standing and very constructive affiliation with Century Media Records. After the demise of CELTIC FROST, I was looking for continuity in every other aspect of my life, and the cooperation between Prowling Death Records Ltd. and Century Media Records has in the past already provided an outstanding platform for releases by HELLHAMMER (the 'Demon Entrails' demo reissue album, 2008) and CELTIC FROST ('Monotheist', 2006)."
"Eparistera Daimones" will feature the following nine songs , at a playing time of around 70 minutes:
01. Goetia
02. Abyss Within My Soul
03. In Shrouds Decayed
04. Shrine
05. A Thousand Lies
06. Descendant
07. Myopic Empire
08. My Pain
09. The Prolonging
CANNIBAL CORPSE has been confirmed for next year's edition of the With Full Force festival, set to take place July 2-4, 2010 at Flugplatz Roitzschjora in Löbnitz, Germany (near Leipzig).
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AS I LAY DYING
BLEEDING THROUGH
BORN FROM PAIN
CALIBAN
CANNIBAL CORPSE
DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR
EARTH CRISIS
EKTOMORF
ELSTERGLANZ
EVERGREEN TERRACE
GWAR
HEAVEN SHALL BURN
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
LETZTE INSTANZ
NOFX
TEXAS IN JULY
THE BONES
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
THE EXPLOITED
TOXPACK
UNLEASHED
WALLS OF JERICHO
For the first time, organizers are announcing bands on the official With Full Force advent calendar; each day in December a new band is being confirmed for the festival.
For more information, visit www.withfullforce.de.
MARDUK, BELPHEGOR and RAGNAROK have been confirmed for next year's installment of the Inferno festival, set to take place March 31 - April 3, 2010 in Oslo, Norway.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
BELPHEGOR
BENEDICTION
EXUMER
FINNTROLL
JARBOE
MARDUK
MAYHEM
NACHTMYSTIUM
RAGNAROK
TAAKE
THE KOVENANT
More bands will be announced soon.
Few Norwegian music festivals can equal the international status that the Inferno festival now holds. The festival, voted as one of the 10 best in the world by the readers of Terrorizer magazine, continues to grow and is considered the Norwegian metal community's most important gathering.
For four days during Easter, people fly in from England, Sweden, Germany, Italy, the USA and even India to experience extreme metal in Norway's capital.
The festival was started in 2001 by BORKNAGAR guitarist Jens Ryland who wanted the Norwegian metal community to come together for a celebration of extreme music.
Norwegian black metallers GORGOROTH have been confirmed for next year's installment of the Summer Breeze festival, set to take place August 19-21, 2010 in Dinkelsbühl, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
1349
AHAB
ANATHEMA
ASPHYX
BARREN EARTH
BEHEMOTH
CALLISTO
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CUMULO NIMBUS
DARK FUNERAL
DARK TRANQUILLITY
DESPISED ICON
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
DYING FETUS
EISBRECHER
EISREGEN
ENSIFERUM
FIDDLER'S GREEN
FREI.WILD
FEUERSCHWANZ
GORGOROTH
HAIL OF BULLETS
HYPOCRISY
ILL NINO
INSOMNIUM
KORPIKLAANI
KYLESA
LEAVES' EYES
LETZTE INSTANZ
LONG DISTANCE CALLING
MAROON
MONO INC.
MY DYING BRIDE
NECROPHAGIST
OBITUARY
ORIGIN
ORPHANED LAND
POISONBLACK
REBELLION
SEPULTURA
SOLSTAFIR
SUBWAY TO SALLY
SWALLOW THE SUN
THE CROWN
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
TRACEDAWN
WAR FROM A HARLOTS MOUTH
WE BUTTER THE BREAD WITH BUTTER
For more information, go to this location.
Reformed Dutch death metal outfit ASPHYX — Martin van Drunen (vocals), Wannes Gubbels (bass/vocals), Paul Baayens (guitar) and Bob Bagchus (drums) — has been confirmed for next year's edition of the Hammer Of Doom festival, set to take place February 6, 2010 for at Posthalle in Würzburg, Germany. ASPHYX will play a "special doom set" at the event.
The complete festival billing is as follows:
SAINT VITUS
ASPHYX
WHILE HEAVEN WEPT
LORD VICAR
GRIFTEGARD
CENTURIONS GHOST
PROCESSION
ATLANTEAN KODEX
THE WIZAR'D
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/hammerofdoomfestival.
"Death...The Brutal Way", the new video from the reformed Dutch death metal outfit ASPHYX, can be viewed below. The clip was helmed by Oliver Barth of Visions In Fear.
"Death...The Brutal Way" is the title track of ASPHYX's comeback album, which was released in Europe on June 22 via Century Media Records (September 1 in the U.S. via Ibex Moon Records). The CD was recorded at the Sonic Assault studio and engineered by Frank Klein Douwel (who is also the band's live sound engineer). Mixing duties were handled Dan Swanö (NIGHTINGALE, EDGE OF SANITY and BLOODBATH fame) at Unisound in Sweden.
The limited-edition version of "Death...The Brutal Way" contains additional slipcase packaging as well as a bonus DVD featuring the band's entire, unforgettable reunion show from 2007's Party.San festival in Bad Berka, Germany.
MALEVOLENT CREATION and DECEASED are among the confirmed bands for next year's edition of the Central Illinois Metalfest, set to take place July 23-24, 2010 at the Canopy Club in Urbana, Illinois.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
MALEVOLENT CREATION (FL)
DECEASED (VA)
DESPONDENCY (GERMANY)
ROTTENNESS (MEXICO)
INHERIT DISEASE (CA)
LECHEROUS NOCTURNE (SC)
ATROCIOUS ABNORMALITY (NC)
FLESHROT (UNITED KINGDOM)
CARNOPHAGE (TURKEY)
INCINERATE (MN)
AMAGORTIS (SWITZERLAND )
EVIL INCARNATE (IL)
EMBRACE DAMNATION (IL)
INHUMAN DISSILIENCY (PA)
EMBRYONIC DEVOURMENT (CA)
THE HORDE (IL)
COATHANGER ABORTION (TN)
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/centralillinoismetalfest.
Spanish modern death metal-influenced band LAMENTS OF SILENCE has inked a deal with My Kingdom Music. The group's debut album, "Restart Your Mind", is scheduled for release on February 19, 2010.
According to a press release, "LAMENTS OF SILENCE will annnihilate us all with their incredible mixture of avantgardish death metal in the modern FEAR FACTORY , TRIVIUM vein and the crazy melodic touch of the Swedish sound. 'Restart Your Mind' is a mixture of heavy and strong guitar riffs with industrial nuances and incredible vocal melodies with the only aim to form an overwhelming combo expressing a message of anger and obsession unique indeed. An avalanche of sound looking to change your way of understanding the actual metal."
"Restart Your Mind" was mixed at Nott-in-Pill studios (TRIVIUM, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, SOULFLY) in Newport, Wales, United Kingdom and was mastered by Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY) at Black Lounge Studios in Avesta, Sweden.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/lamentsofsilence.
Finnish death/thrash metal band DAUNTLESS has parted ways with vocalist Ari Nieminen. According to the group, "Ari wants to focus his energy and time into his studies and speding time with his family. No drama involved; sorry."
DAUNTLESS adds, "The whole band wants to thank Ari for his invaluable efforts towards the band as a great vocalist and as a good friend."
"Pois Alta!", the new video from DAUNTLESS, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Toni Salminen, who previously helmed the PROFANE OMEN video for the track "Inherit The Void".
"Pois Alta!" comes off DAUNTLESS's second album, "Death Row Poet", which was released earlier this year. The CD was recorded between September and December 2008 at Drop Hammer Studios and various other locations by Santeri Salmi, Matias Helle and DAUNTLESS.
Formed in 1991, DAUNTLESS is a veteran of the Finnish death metal scene. The band is known as raging live act and its debut album, "Execute the Fact" (Firebox Records, 2007) was highly acclaimed by the media and the fans.
For more information, visit www.dauntlessdeath.com.
Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED will headline the metal stage at the Minus 30° indoor festival at Folkets Hus in Luleå, Sweden on Saturday, March 20, 2010.
UNLEASHED has set "As Yggdrasil Trembles" as the title of its tenth full-length album, due in early 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. According to the band, the musical direction of the forthcoming CD, which is being recorded at guitarist Fredrik Folkare's Chrome studio, will be "the logical continuation from 'Midvinterblot' [2006] and 'Hammer Battalion' [2008]. Lyrically, you will recognize what has become the UNLEASHED trademark since more than 20 years, the combination of the past, present and future of viking struggle and way of life. A few of the songs also mark the beginning of a story never before told."
UNLEASHED's current lineup:
Johnny Hedlund: Bass, Vocals
Tomas Måsgard: Guitar
Fredrik Folkare: Guitar
Anders Schultz: Drums
EPISODE 13, one of the longest-running and best-known black metal bands in Turkey, has entered Midasin Kulakligi Studios in Ankara to begin recording its third full-length album, "Death Reclaims The Earth", for an early 2010 release. The follow-up to 2009's "Pitch Black" will be mastered at Sweden's Necromorbus Studio, known for its work with bands like WATAIN, ONDSKAPT, FUNERAL MIST, etc.
"Death Reclaims The Earth" track listing:
01. Ars Moriendi
02. Physical Comatose & Mental Overdose
03. Unmensch
04. Ignorance Is Bliss
05. Ultimate Sterilization
06. Worthless
07. Spread His Word
"Death Reclaims The Earth" sees the return of vocalist Ozan Akyol, who, together with guitarist Murat and drummer Nursuz (ZIFIR), founded EPISODE 13 in 2001 (the band's current lineup includes Sermet Durusan on bass and Serkan Zengin on guitar ). The frontman took a temporary break from the band to complete his studies during the recording of "Pitch Black", but although absent on vocals, his input on the sophomore album was still considerable.
Three tracks from "Death Reclaims The Earth" were debuted at Norway's Inferno Festival earlier this year, and Akyol, a brooding and compelling live performer, whose vocals add a chillingly sinister touch to the new material, had this to say about the forthcoming album: "We really used 'Pitch Black' to move away from the melodic aspects of our debut, 'Tabula Rasa', because you can't express brutality and contempt with pleasant keyboard interludes, and with 'Death Reclaims The Earth' we can finally say that our sound accurately reflects our view of humanity."
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/episode13.
Swedish technical death metallers VISCERAL BLEEDING have parted ways with guitarist Peter Persson and have replaced him with Benny Bats (PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT).
Comments Peter: "I have decided to leave VISCERAL BLEEDING to pursue and focus on other challenges in life.
"There is not really that much to say about it, VISCERAL BLEEDING took up all of our time for a lot years (10 fucking years, to be exact) and we got to do some amazing tours and shows and meet great people all over Europe. But now it's time for me to focus on family and other personal stuff. Absolutely no hard feelings involved in this decision; I just feel I have other priorities in life and don't want to be a burden to the band."
Regarding Peter's replacement, the remaining members of VISCERAL BLEEDING say, "We've known Benny since we did our first tour together as opening acts for DEICIDE back in 2005. Us and all the guys in PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT hit it off right away and we've been close friends ever since. We know that Benny will fit this band perfectly and it's gonna be really exciting to start working on the new stuff together."
VISCERAL BLEEDING is still looking for a new lead guitarist following the departure of Martin "Germ" Bermheden in 2008. The band says, "We've tried out a couple of guys for the spot already, but for various reasons it hasn't worked out. Since Benny lives in Holland, we would really need the other guitarist to live nearby Malmö so we can rehearse on a regular basis."
VISCERAL BLEEDING's third full-length album, "Absorbing the Disarray", was released in 2007 via Neurotic Records.
Belgian black metallers ENTHRONED have completed work on their eighth album, "Pentagrammaton", for an early 2010 release via Regain Records.
Commented the band: "We are very satisfied of how'Pentagrammaton' turned out; the final result of the album is exactly what we wanted to achieve: an album which can be best situated between our last offering 'Tetra Karcist' and ENTHRONED cult album 'Towards The Skullthrone Of Satan', yet adding some new elements as usual.
"The whole concept of 'Pentagrammaton' deals with direct approach: the sound is warmer than 'Tetra Karcist', natural drums, heavy guitars for a lyrical concept based on lived experiences and facts, somehow something very personal, let's say!"
ENTHRONED recently parted ways with Nguaroth (guitar ) and Ahephaim (drums) and replaced them with Neraath and Garghuf (ex-GORGOROTH), respectively.
ENTHRONED's most recent album, "Tetra Karcist", was released in September 2007 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded under the guidance of Harris Johns (SODOM, KREATOR, VOIVOD). Guest musicians on the CD include Ashmedi (MELECHESH), MkM (ANTAEUS), Verderf (ex-VERLOREN, OUROBOUROS), Harris Johns and Dungeon (ICONOCLASM).
Finnish melodic black metallers CATAMENIA have finished recording their new album, "Cavalcade", at Mastervox Studios in Oulu, Finland for a tentative spring release. The mixing and mastering process is scheduled to begin on January 11, 2010.
CATAMENIA's latest CD, "VIII - The Time Unchained", came out in October 2008 via Massacre Records. The cover artwork was created by Anthony Clarkson.
CATAMENIA last year parted ways with singer Olli-Jukka Mustonen. The lead vocals in the band are now being handled by guitarist Ari Nissilä.
Swedish black metallers WATAIN will enter Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, NOMINON, AVERSE SEFIRA, FUNERAL MIST, MORK GRYNING, ADORIOR) in Alvik, Sweden with longtime producer Tore Stjerna on January 3, 2010 to begin recording their new album for a late spril/early summer release.
In a recent interview with Decibel magazine, WATAIN bassist/vocalist Erik Danielsson stated about the band's decision to record at Necromorbus again, "I'd hate to come to a new studio and have to adapt to a new environment and a new producer. Necromorbus feels as much like home as our rehearsal place does. We are free to do what we want there and that is important as we always lock ourselves up in the studio during the recordings. Album recordings are holy to us, and that usually means rather chaotic and eventful days and nights of blood, fire and death."
An interview with WATAIN aired on Swedish national television (SVT) as part of a series of documentaries which aim to investigate horror from a cultural perspective as it discusses the influence, inspirations and importance of horror through out the arts. The Swedish black metal band is featured in episode 7 in the series, titled "Skräckministeriet" ("The Ministry Of Horror")
WATAIN is confirmed for next year's Maryland Deathfest, set to take place May 28-30, 2010 at Sonar in Baltimore.
The band's third full-length album, "Sworn To The Dark", was released in February 2007 via Season of Mist.
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