More performers and other details will be announced at a Jan. 13 press conference in Beijing. The concert's official web site lists nearly five dozen target artists to be invited, including Prince, Green Day, Beyonce, Coldplay, Black Eyed Peas, Kenny Chesney, Mariah Carey, Justin Timberlake and many others.
The concert, which marks the 30th anniversary of the cultural exchange agreement between the United States and China, is billed in a statement as "a 'peace is green' awareness campaign designed to not only promote peace with each other but to promote peace with our planet." It's the brainchild of television and music producer Rick Garson, whose Las Vegas-based ZZYX Entertainment company is producing the show. Garson's co-producers include Live 8 and Live Earth principal Greg Sills and artists manager Trudy Green (Michael and Janet Jackson, Mick Jagger, Aerosmith). Other organizations involved in the concert include the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Joint US-China Collaboration on Clean Energy, the United Nations' Pathways of Peace and the Captain Planet Foundation."
Garson is establishing the A Show Of Peace Foundation, whose board of directors will include environmental and peace-building experts. The foundation will distribute funds raised from the concert and other activities to organizations and initiatives. In a statement Garson said that "the passion and attitude of the Chinese people and the potential of this country made me realize that this was the right place to stage an event, as we watch the transformation of Red China to 'Green' China right before our eyes."
The concert's web site, showofpeace.com, will carry regular updates about the event.
According to NME.com, Ozzy Osbourne has set "Soul Sucka" as the title of his next album, which is slated to come out in June. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Let It Die", "Diggin' Me Down" and the title track.
The album, produced by Osbourne and Kevin Churko, will be the first to feature new guitarist Gus G. (FIREWIND).
Ozzy Osbourne's latest CD, "Black Rain", was certified gold on December 14, 2007 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for shipments in excess of 500,000 copies in the United States.
"Black Rain" was reissued on November 20, 2007 as a "Special Limited-Edition Tour Package" featuring a bonus CD of live tracks and B-sides. The bonus CD includes the following cuts:
01. I Don't Wanna Stop (live)
02. Not Going Away (live)
03. Here For You (live)
04. Nightmare
05. Can't Save You
06. Love To Hate
"Black Rain" debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart, with first-week sales of 152,000 copies.
According to Sally Scott from Tonight.co.za, UK hard rock legends DEEP PURPLE are headlining South Africa's Master Of Rock tour which will feature three dates with openers URIAH HEEP and WISHBONE ASH.
The itinerary is as follows:
May
28 - Johannesburg, South Africa - Coca-Cola Dome
30 - Durban, South Africa - ICC Arena
June
1 - Cape Town, South Africa - Grand Arena at GrandWest Casino
Tickets are on sale from Computicket: 083 915 8000 or online here.
AC/DC have just announced a Sofia, Bulgaria date at Vassil Levsky Stadium on May 14th. The band's Black Ice World Tour is coming back to Europe in May - check the band's updated itinerary below.
May
14 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Vassil Levsky Stadium
16 - Bucharest, Romania - Piata Constitutiei
19 - Udine, Italy - Stadio Friuli
22 - Wels, Austria - Air Field
25 - Hannover, Germany - Messe
June
13 - Stuttgart, Germany - Cannstatter Wasen
15 - Nice, France - Parc des Sports Charles Ehrmann
18 - Paris, France - Stade De France
20 - Dresden, Germany - Ostrahege
22 - Berlin, Germany - Olympic Stadium
Swiss hard rock veterans KROKUS have set "Hoodoo" as the title of their new album, due on February 26, 2010 via the band's new deal with the Swiss branch of Sony Music. According to the group's official newsletter, Swiss newspaper Blick asked producer and founding KROKUS member Chris Von Rohr the question that was on most people's minds: why did the fans had to wait so long for this new release? "We have only been back together for about two years with the original lineup and a killer song — much less an entire album — cannot be written, recorded and produced overnight," he replied. "The material needs to evolve, mature like a fine wine and one needs to be critical with oneself, set the standards high and allow only the best material to make it on the album. No fillers — no compromises."
When it's all said and done, KROKUS' new album will sound like a mixture of yesterday and tomorrow. Chris added, "It was my responsibility as producer to bring out of each musician their individual strength and to continue, sound-wise, where we left off with 'Metal-Rendez-Vous' and 'Headhunter'. Back to the roots — but with today's power, unstoppable like a steamroller!"
Guitarist Fernando Von Arb: "It's gonna be an avalanche like, uncompromising, straight-forward rock. Fasten your seatbelts, enjoy the ride and rock on!
Vocalist Marc Storace: "Definitely a one-of-a-kind original KROKUS album that will please fans."
Von Rohr summed it all up: "To keep the end result top quality, it was OK that during the process of writing songs and recording them occasionally tempers flared within the band. We are no lame pussycat rockers; instead we stay true to ourselves. All the blood, sweat and painstaking effort during this two-year journey was worthwhile!"
KROKUS performed live on August 1, 2009 as part of the Swiss Independence Day celebration, which was broadcast live on Swiss TV from the "Tell Open-Air Stage" in Interlaken. Entitled "Tell And Other Heroes", the program was televised all over Switzerland with simulcast translations in French and Italian.
The group earlier in the year recorded the official song of the Ice Hockey World Championship, which was held between April 24 and May 10, 2009 in Zurich and Bern, Switzerland. Chris Von Rohr and lead guitarist Fernando Von Arb wrote the track, entitled "Live For The Action", and performed it live — along with the rest of the band — in Bern at the opening game of the Ice Hockey World Championship between Switzerland and France. The event was held in a packed stadium and broadcasted via TV to 800 million viewers in over 100 countries.
Partnered with Ariola and Arista, KROKUS became an international success and ran up the charts with their hit albums "Metal Rendez-Vous" (1980), "Hardware" (1981), "One Vice At A Time" (1982), "Headhunter" (1983), "The Blitz" (1984) and "Change Of Address" (1986).
The classic KROKUS lineup reunited for an appearance on November 18, 2007 on a TV show honoring the greatest Swiss songs of all time. The "Die grössten Schweizer Hits" program featured KROKUS performing a medley of the tracks "Tokyo Nights", "Bedside Radio" and "Heatstrokes".
California thrash metal veterans SLAYER 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.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
1349
ARCH ENEMY
CALIBAN
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CORVUS CORAX
DESPISED ICON
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
EDGUY
ENDSTILLE
GHOST BRIGADE
GRAVE DIGGER
IMMORTAL
IRON MAIDEN
MÖTLEY CRÜE
ORDEN OGAN
PRIMAL FEAR
SLAYER
STRATOVARIUS
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
U.D.O.
W.A.S.P.
Progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER will embark on a tour of South America in March. Confirmed dates are as follows:
March 11 - Santiago, Chile - Movistar Arena
March 13 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Luna Park
March 16 - Porto Alegre, Brazil - Pepsi On Stage
March 18 - Curitiba, Brazil - Master Hall
March 19 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Credicard Hall
March 20 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Citibank Hall
March 22 - Lima, Peru - Jockey Club
March 24 - Caracas, Venezuela - Poliedro
DREAM THEATER's new documentary road video for their new single "Wither" from their tenth studio release, "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" (Roadrunner) can be viewed below.
"Of the 10 videos we've done through the years, I felt we have never been truly captured 'in our element...which of course is on tour, playing to our fans, with our lighting and video show. So I thought it was time to do a video that showed us in our 'real world' (unlike the 'fake worlds' that are usually created when shooting a promo video)," said DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy.
Directed by Ramon Boutviseth, who did the same honors for the first clip for the album's first single "A Rite Of Passage", the "Wither" video was shot on location in the U.K. (London, Manchester), France (Paris, Lille) and Rotterdam (the Netherlands) as part of DREAM THEATER's September/October 2009 headlining "Progressive Nation" tour reaching 15 countries.
2009 continues to be a watermark year for DREAM THEATER — James LaBrie (vocals), John Myung (bass), John Petrucci (guitar, vocals), Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion, vocals) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards , Continuum) — as a recording act and touring powerhouse. They achieved a #1 debut on the Billboard European chart and 12 Top Ten album chart debuts around the world including the U.S. with "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", a highlight of their 25-year career. They were also honored with the "Spirit Of Prog" achievement award at the 2009 Classic Rock Awards in London (November 2).
German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR 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.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
1349
ARCH ENEMY
CALIBAN
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CORVUS CORAX
DESPISED ICON
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
EDGUY
ENDSTILLE
GHOST BRIGADE
GRAVE DIGGER
IMMORTAL
IRON MAIDEN
MÖTLEY CRÜE
ORDEN OGAN
PRIMAL FEAR
STRATOVARIUS
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
U.D.O.
W.A.S.P.
It's been a very successful year for 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, who released a new album, Here Waits Thy Doom, and relentlessly toured throughout North America.
In 2010, the band continues their touring onslaught aiming their sights on all of Europe as part of the Bonecrusher Fest tour in January with THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and NECROPHOBIC.
Head over now to myspace.com/3iob to view their complete touring itinerary or visit this location to buy tickets.
Justin Hagberg (guitars) checks in with the following report: "Hails! - I hope you're all doing awesome! We just got home from a CRUSHING tour with our bros SAVIOURS and HOLY GRAIL! What a fucking awesome time that was! Many thanks to those bands, and to everyone who came out to the shows and partied with all of us. There was no shortage of good times on that tour.
Well, now we're back in Vancouver, detoxing, taking a bit of time off before our next run: the Bonecrusher Fest tour in January. I am so fucking stoked to be touring again with The Black Dahlia Murder and Necrophobic.
Thanks to all the Goatriders, the bands we toured with and all our comrades! 2009 was a great year for all of us in 3IOB. We're really proud of Here Waits Thy Doom and had many killer times in the studio and on the road. Most of all, we're really honored to have all you fucking maniacs at our shows partying and getting fucking crazy with all of us. If it wasn't for you guys, we wouldn't be where we are. Thanks so much and see you all in 2010."
Oakland, California sludge metal trio HIGH ON FIRE has completed work on it's fifth studio album and follow-up to 2007's Death is This Communion.
Titled Snakes For The Divine, the record will drop on February 23rd, 2010 via E1 Music.
Recorded at The Pass Studios in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman, Snakes For The Divine is High On Fire's magnum opus, capturing every nuance of the legendary band's ongoing musical progression and evolution into one of heavy music's all time greats.
Sharper, faster and darker than anything the group has ever recorded, Snakes For The Divine is an unrelenting tour de force, showcasing cult guitar hero Matt Pike's utterly unique and inventive musicianship and the band's epic, thundering sound.
Premium production by Fidelman – the man who produced SLAYER's World Painted Blood and is mixing the upcoming METALLICA live album – boosts High On Fire's strength and power while blackened lyrical tales of ancient wars, frozen planets and doomed societies emerge from Pike's bellowing barks and throaty war cries.
From the moment the leviathan-like title track explodes to kick off the album, it is immediately evident that High On Fire is determined to push modern heavy metal into new and uncharted realms.
The tracklisting for Snakes For The Divine:
'Snakes For The Divine'
'Frost Hammer'
'Bastard Samurai'
'Ghost Neck'
'Fire, Flood & Plague'
'How Dark We Pray'
'Holy Flames Of The Fire Spitter'
'Mystery Of Helm'
Snakes For The Divine's album artwork will be brought to life by longtime High On Fire cover artist Arik Moonhawk Roper.
Further updates to follow.
Hey Mega fans,
Won't spend much time on this.
However, one of my guitar students brought in a recent issue of Guitar World magazine containing some simply insane dialog from the man, the myth, the legend (in his own mind), Mustaine.
Over the years, this tragic cat has made a hobby of dissing, exaggerating and just plain lying on some level about nearly every talented musician that has passed through his dysfunctional little ensemble. Literally, spitting in the face of the very folks that covered for his drugged out, sloppy-ass wanking and helped make him successful.
Until now, I chose to keep my mouth shut, even for the VH1 Behind the Music episode. And boy, could I have eaten up some serious air time with the truth about what REALLY went on "behind the music" in Megadeth. But it's been well over twenty years and the guy just can't seem to stop himself.
Here he goes again, bragging in the pages of Guitar World about how he allegedly sings the solo melodies to all his lead guitarists!! Seriously, folks? This guy should take his comedy act on the road, if you'll pardon the pun.
Considering how totally wacked out on smack and whatever else he was on at any given time, it's no wonder the old brain cells have trouble getting all the facts straight. Since I was actually sober and present in the studio at the time, allow me to assist the deluded DETH master...
I can't speak for the others but as exceptional as all the Megadeth lead guys have been, I don't believe his preposterous yarn for a second. Regarding the SFSGSW era sessions: Mustaine was nowhere in the building during any of my rhythm or lead tracking sessions. And since I came into the process at the last minute, there were also NO band rehearsals whatsoever. So when exactly, did he sing me those solos? Perhaps, he was all coked up one night, snuck in my bedroom and sang sweet nothings in my ears as I slept?
Fact is, from what I heard of his unedited SFSGSW lead tracks, the guy can barely play his own lead lines, let alone sing some of the stunning lines that Chris, Marty or Glen played.
DEAR DAVE,
LET'S BE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD: YOU WERE NOT IN THE STUDIO WITH ME DURING ANY OF MY TRACKING... NOT ONE SONG - NOT ONE SECOND. YOU KNOW IT AND I KNOW IT. YOU NEED TO STOP BLATANTLY LYING TO YOUR FANS AND IN THE MEDIA.
PERHAPS, NEXT TIME YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR WITH THE OLE' "Hello me, meet the REAL me" CRAP - YOU'LL PAUSE TO CONSIDER WHY YOU FEEL THE NEED TO CONTINUALLY PERPETUATE RIDICULOUS BULLSHIT AND BELITTLE OTHERS IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR SELF SEEM MORE SIGNIFICANT OR TALENTED?
YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A "GENIUS" YET AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, YOU'RE STILL NOT SMART ENOUGH TO COMPREHEND THAT WHEN YOU DIMINISH OTHERS, YOU DIMISH YOURSELF MOST OF ALL - EVEN AS YOU CLEARLY TELEGRAPH YOUR RAGING INSECURITY FOR ANYONE, WITH AN OUNCE OF INSIGHT, TO SEE.
YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO GO BACK AND RE-READ THE LYRICS YOU WROTE IN "LIAR" THEN, CONSIDER THE GIANT GLASS HOUSE YOU'VE BUILT FOR YOURSELF AND PUT YOUR SILLY LITTLE STONES DOWN, ONCE AND FOR ALL. AT THE VERY LEAST FOR ALL THE PLAYERS THAT HELPED CREATE ALL THE SUCCESS YOU NOW SO ARROGANTLY AND SELFISHLY ENJOY.
OH, AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT: YOU MAY WANT TO STOP TELLING THE WORLD THAT YOU INVENTED THE "SPIDER CHORD!" CLASSICAL GUITARISTS COMMONLY USE THAT APPROACH AND IT IS CONSIDERED PART OF OUR STANDARD CLASSICAL GUITAR TECHNIQUE, YOU FOOL.
SINCERELY,
JEFF YOUNG
Peter Wichers, the guitarist for the Swedish metal band SOILWORK who currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee and works as a producer and songwriter, has posted the following message on his MySpace blog:
"Here we are in the end of 2009 and it really makes me think we did this last year go.
"I have had a great fall, and I really enjoyed working on the upcoming NEVERMORE record ['The Obsidian Conspiracy'].
"Working alongside Jeff Loomis [NEVERMORE guitarist] was an amazing experience and I can truly say that he most likely is one (if not) the best metal guitar players in the business.
"The songs on the new NEVERMORE record should have something for every NEVERMORE fan. It has some of the most extreme stuff they have ever done, and also some of the most beautiful atmospheric stuff they have ever done.
"I am very honored to have worked with these guys and there is no doubt in my mind that this record will not be another milestone.
"I also did get the chance to work along side some great people from Barrie, Ontario [Canada]. The band's name is REMAIN and they have some pretty kick-ass stuff, and as I say it, beer-drinking friendly tunes.
"We spent about five weeks in the Carolinas too, where we tracked majority of the record.
"I have since the completion of their record, started writing new stuff for SOILWORK's next upcoming record. The material is shaping up quite well, and I am very happy with the direction that we have chosen to take on this record.
"The material is a lot more technical than before, but still with the catchy elements of our previous works.
"I will be handling the production part of the record, again outside of Lake Norman in the Carolinas. And we start recording drums in Asheville, NC at a studio called Echo Mountain.
"I will work alongside with Jens Bogren for the drums, and then I will fly to Sweden to participate with the mix in Örebro, again with Jens Bogren.
"Next year will be a busy year, and I am already taking on more productions between SOILWORK's schedule, so that will be fun."
Nightmare Records has announced the signing of the Tunisian progressive metal band MYRATH to a worldwide deal (except Europe, where the band is signed to XIII Bis Records). The group's third album, "Desert Call ", will be released in January.
The Nightmare Records version of the CD will include one exclusive bonus track — "Hard Times".
"Desert Call" track listing:
01. Forever And A Day
02. Tempests Of Sorrows
03. Desert Call
04. Madness
05. Silent Cries
06. Memories
07. Ironic Destiny
08. No Turning Back
09. Empty World
10. Shockwave
11. Hard Times (exclusive bonus track)
MYRATH is:
Zaher Zorgati - Vocals
Malek Ben Arbia - Guitars
Elyes Bouchoucha - Keyboards
Anis Jouini - Bass
Saif Ouhibi - Drums
MYRATH (English meaning: "Legacy") is a metal band from Tunisia, a small county well known for its resort areas on the Mediterranean coast but certainly not for its metal bands.
It all started In March 24, 2006 when the band opened for ROBERT PLANT and ADAGIO in Carthage Amphitheater (Tunisia) in front of nearly 7,000 rock/metal fans. ADAGIO keyboard player Kevin Codfert, who watched MYRATH's performance and later listened to MYRATH's first self-produced album, "Double Face" (released in March 2005 in Tunisia only) saw great potential in the band as well as promising composing skills.
MYRATH's debut album, "Hope", was recorded in December 2006 at a low-cost studio in Tunis-Tunisia, with the valuable assistance and guidence of Kevin Codfert (ADAGIO) as engineer and producer. This CD was a turning point in MYRATH's career as the band ended up signing a deal with the French label Brennus Music, which released "Hope" worldwide in September 2007.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/myrathband.
Guitarist Jan Bechtum has left the reunited '80s Dutch metal band PICTURE. He says in a statement, "It's been a great two years since the reunion, but due to musical differences, the ways of PICTURE and myself have separated.
"I'm very proud of everything we achieved during these last two years, with highlights like Sweden Rock and Headbangers Open Air in 2008 and Dutch festivals and the German Keep It True festival in 2009, as well as writing and releasing the new studio album, 'Old Dogs , New Tricks'.
"I hope that everyone will respect my decision and I wish the remaining members of PICTURE all the best for the future.
"As for my future, this surely won't be the last you'll hear of me. I want to broaden my musical horizons and I'm already forming a new band and I'm working on plans and ideas to start a very special project.
"I want to thank all the people in the music business who gave PICTURE and myself the opportunity again to perform on European stages and I especially want to thank all the fans worldwide for their massive support since the Eighties until this day.
"I'm sure we'll meet each other soon somewhere on stage."
The remaining members of PICTURE have released the following statement regarding Bechtum's departure from the group:
"With our deepest respect we say goodbye to Jan. He has contributed so much to this band and that will always stay part of PICTURE. We wish him good luck and all the best for the future !
"For sure, PICTURE will continue and we are happy that we can announce the new PICTURE guitar player : Peter Bourbon [VENGEANCE]! He is, of course, no stranger in the metal scene and we're very happy to have him on board and have some fun together!"
PICTURE's latest album, "Old Dogs, New Tricks", was released on October 1, 2009 — exactly 30 years after the band's debut record first saw the light of day.
PICTURE was the first "real" Dutch heavy metal band. Formed in 1979, they were especially popular in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for their live performances. They still supposedly have a huge fan base in South America, Mexico and Japan.
PICTURE supported AC/DC, TED NUGENT and SAXON in the Netherlands. With SAXON, they did a full European tour in 1981. Later on they toured with ROSE TATTOO in Germany and headlined tours in Italy and Israel.
After reuniting a few years back, a limited-edition live CD was recorded and from December 2008 until January 2009 the band retreated in the StarSound Studios in Utrecht, Holland to record "Old Dogs New Tricks".
According to a press release, the album "contains a wide variety of hard rock and old school metal songs, completed with a breath taking ballad. [It] was [helmed] by Nico Verrips, who already produced and wrote numerous hits into the charts and who kept the Eighties feeling, but gave the record a contemporary modern sound.
"'Old Dogs, New Tricks' is a typical PICTURE album with a variety of heavy and dynamic songs. The powerful and raw voice of Pete Lovell shows to its full advantage with this kind of heavy music. Add the brilliantly composed songs anno 2009 to this and you will agree that this is PICTURE in their historically best lineup ever."
"Old Dogs, New Tricks" track listing:
01. Old Dogs, New Tricks
02. Blood Out Of A Stone
03. High On Fire
04. Live By The Sword
05. Now It's Too Late
06. Just Incredible
07. Who Can You Trust
08. Opposites Attract
09. Choosing Your Sign
10. A Better Soul
11. Celtic Cross
12. Never In A Million Years
For more information, visit www.picture-eternaldark.com.
Norwegian avant-garde metallers VULTURE INDUSTRIES have entered the studio to begin recording the follow-up to their 2007 debut full-length album, "The Dystopia Journals". The new CD is expected to contain seven tracks, and come in at somewhere between 40 and 45 minutes in length. As is usual with VULTURE INDUSTRIES, they will be using the Conclave and Earshot Studios, which is owned by the band's frontman Bjornar E. Nilsen, who, aside from his vocal duties with VULTURE INDUSTRIES and BLACK HOLE GENERATOR, is also a producer.
Commenting on the new album, Nilsen said, "It feels great to be working with the new material and the vibe in the studio has been really good so far. The songs are quite long this time, with the shortest one clocking in at five minutes. We're really excited about the new material and feel that we have stumbled on a sound that is distinctly our own."
VULTURE INDUSTRIES is based in Bergen and is part of the prolific local music scene. The band's line up is a veritable "who's who" of black and extreme metal musicians. Aside from Nilsen himself on vocals, synths and programming, bandmembers include guitarists Øyvind Madsen (SULPHUR, ex-ENSLAVED, session guitar for DEATHCON) and Eivind Huse (SULPHUR, ex-SYRACH), Kyrre Teigen on bass and Tor Helge Gjengedal (MALICE IN WONDERLAND, ex-SULPHUR, ex-TAAKE) on drums. Assisting with the production are Herbrand Larsen (ENSLAVED) and Arve Isdal (ENSLAVED, AUDREY HORNE).
So far, most of the drum tracks for the new album, which is scheduled for release on Dark Essence Records in April in Norway and May in Europe, have been recorded, and regular updates and photos from the studio sessions will be posted on the band's MySpace page.
Former BURZUM leader Varg Vikernes' website has commented on the upcoming movie Lords Of Chaos, based on Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlind's book of the same name, which depicts the early Norwegian black metal scene, with a focus on the string of church burnings and murders that occurred in the country around 1993.
"The first question that came into my mind when I heard about the plans for a Lords of Chaos movie was 'why'? Why on earth would anyone want to make a film based on that worthless book? How is it even possible when the book is made up of nothing but a number of inaccurate interviews, supplemented by unfounded claims and meaningless and utterly ignorant theories by the writers? When I saw that I was a character in the movie I was even more puzzled, and my next question was naturally; "can they even do that?" They never asked for my permission to use my name or my story.
Now, they are apparently basing the story of this movie not on my story, but on the Lords of Chaos story. Unfortunately the Lords of Chaos story is not only nonsense; incoherent and utterly contradictive, but it is also very lacking in information regarding the lives and traits of the individuals to be included as characters in the movie. One could easily think that this would make it impossible for anybody to make a movie based on this book, but of course if you simply fill in the holes yourself...
As I write this I am smiling, because this is funny. In a bizarre and weird kind of way it really is. They base it on a fictional story that is based on real events and poorly written by two ignorant amateurs, then write a script without ever talking to anyone who might know something about the story the two ignorant amateurs base their story on, and then have a few more Hollywood individuals re-write the script a few times, to make it fit into the Hollywood-mold, of course. What are we left with? Well; another Hollywood movie "based on real events", of course. (You don't actually think the other Hollywood movies "based on real events" are any better, do you!?)"
Resurrected late '80s/early '90s death metal outfit PESTILENCE has been confirmed for next year's edition of the Neurotic Deathfest, set to take place April 30 - May 1, 2010 at 013 in Tilburg, Holland.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
ABORTED
ABYSMAL TORMENT
ANNOTATIONS OF AN AUTOPSY
ANTIGAMA
AS YOU DROWN
BEHEADED
BENEATH THE MASSACRE
BENIGHTED
BOLT THROWER
BURNING SKIES
CARCASS
CEREBRAL BORE
DAWN OF AZAZEL
DEFEATED SANITY
DEW-SCENTED
DR DOOM
DYING FETUS
ENEMY REIGN
GOROD
HOUR OF PENANCE
HUMAN MINCER
IMMOLATION
INSIDIOUS DECREPANCY
INSISION
KICKBACK
LOCK UP
NAPALM DEATH
NOX
ORIGIN
PESTILENCE
PUTRID PILE
REVOCATION
RISE AND FALL
ROTTEN SOUND
ROTTING CHRIST
SEPTYCAL GORGE
SIX FEET UNDER
THE END OF ALL REASON
THE RED CHORD
THOSE WHO LIE BENEATH
VIRAL LOAD
There is one more act left to announce, which will be done as soon as possible.
For more information, visit www.neuroticdeathfest.com.
Abbath, Horgh, Apollyon, and Demonaz of the Norwegian black metal band IMMORTAL have issued the following statement:
"North American hordes, we are coming your way! After the fantastic experiences we had in New York and Los Angeles in 2007, we are returning next year, and this time we will make sure we visit our Canadian hordes on the East coast as well! We will see you during Easter 2010, which will be a dark and cold one!"
Confirmed tour dates for "Blashyrkh in North America 2010" are as follows:
Mar. 27 - Toronto, ON – Canada @ Opera House
Mar. 28 - Montreal, QC - Canada @ Metropolis
Mar. 30 - Brooklyn, NY @ Masonic Temple
Apr. 02 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Avalon
VIP meet-and-greet tickets are available for purchase:
They will be limited at each show and will include a laminate pass, early entrance to the venue, a limited print poster, and a signing session with the members of IMMORTAL following their performance. The VIP tickets for the Brooklyn, New York show will include an additional meet-and-greet with the band after their sound check.
"All Shall Fall", the new album from IMMORTAL, sold around 3,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 162 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at No. 7 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"All Shall Fall" entered the German chart at position No. 33 and Finnish chart at No. 20. In the band's home country, the CD landed at No. 23 in its opening week and moved up to No. 21 the following week.
"All Shall Fall" was released in North America on October 6 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD, which was issued in Europe on September 25, was recorded at Grieghallen and Abyss studios in Norway and Sweden, respectively.
DYING FETUS will headline the third installment of the "Thrash And Burn Tour" in Europe in early April. Joining DYING FETUS for this month-long trek will be ORIGIN, BENEATH THE MASSACRE, REVOCATION and MAN MUST DIE.
Commented DYING FETUS' Sean Beasley: "We are very excited to be a part of Thrash And Burn this year and can't wait to witness the carnage every night of this tour."
"Thrash And Burn Tour" dates:
Apr. 09 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Substage
Apr. 10 - Essen, Germany - Turock
Apr. 11 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
Apr. 13 - Copenhagen, Denmark - The Rock
Apr. 14 - Berlin, Germany - S036
Apr. 15 - Nitra, Slovakia - Nova Pekaren
Apr. 16 - Leipzig, Germany - Theaterfabrik
Apr. 17 - Wurzburg, Germany - Posthalle
Apr. 18 - Vienna, Austria - Arena
Apr. 19 - Munich, Germany - Feierwerk
Apr. 20 - Graz, Austria - Seifenfabrik
Apr. 21 - Bologna, Italy - Estragon
Apr. 22 - Milan, Italy - Tunnel
Apr. 23 - Erstfeld, Switzerland - Transilvania Live
Apr. 24 - Savigny, France - Le Temple Emprunte
Apr. 25 - Rennes, France - Ubu
Apr. 26 - Gent, Belgium - Minus One
Apr. 27 - London, UK - Underworld
Apr. 28 - Newport, UK - TJ's
Apr. 29 - Manchester, UK - Club Academy
Apr. 30 - Birmingham, UK - 02 Academy
May 01 - Tilburg, Netherlands - Neurotic Deathfest
May 02 - Barroselas, Portugal - SWR Metalfest
DYING FETUS recently completed work on the second video from its latest album, "Descend Into Depravity", for the track "Your Treachery Will Die With You". The clip was lensed in New York with director Kevin Custer (HATEBREED, TESTAMENT, SOULJA BOY, KINGDOM OF SORROW) and will make its online debut soon. DYING FETUS previously worked with Custer on the first video from "Descend Into Depravity", for the song "Shepherd's Commandment".
DYING FETUS recently took part in a North American co-headlining tour with THE FACELESS. Dubbed "The Planetary Depravity Tour", the trek also included BENEATH THE MASSACRE, VITAL REMAINS, ANNOTATIONS OF AN AUTOPSY and more on select dates.
DYING FETUS' new album, "Descend Into Depravity", sold around 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 166 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 4 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
Released on September 15 via Relapse Records, the follow-up to 2007's "War Of Attrition" was recorded at Wright Way Studios in the group's hometown with producer Steve Wright.
Brendan Crabb (a.k.a. Spiritech) of PyroMusic.net recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Adam "Nergal" Darski of Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
PyroMusic.net: Do you think that a lot of the commercial momentum that the band has built up really began with doing the Ozzfest tour in 2007?
Nergal: I think our momentum really started with the "Demigod" record, actually. There was definitely hype around "Demigod" and we really used that time well. We worked harder than any band that I know of. We did 300 shows just with "Demigod" — everywhere, all over the world. We did like five tours in the U.S., which was extremely exhausting but it paid off so well. "Demigod" has sold more than 40,000 (copies) so far (in the U.S.), which is amazing. It was a huge success, so fuck yeah, it was awesome and that's when it started. With "The Apostasy", we just increased everything — we had a tunnel vision and we just pushed more and with "Evangelion" it seems like all the hard work that we've done throughout the years, especially the "Demigod" and "Apostasy" cycles is just amazing. It's killer and it's paying off and we're pushing even more. So I would say it was a combination of factors, so to say (laughs).
PyroMusic.net: You mentioned the new album — to me, it seems like BEHEMOTH album titles are carefully thought out and aren't just chosen haphazardly. Why did you decide to go with "Evangelion" for the new record?
Nergal: "Evangelion" is a word that comes from the Greek and it stands for "good message," according to the Bible. It's basically about spreading the word of God. We have our own way of looking at these things and we actually... I'm not trying to tell you that we feel like apostles, you know (laughs), that we've got our denomination across the world and trying to convert people from Christianity to whatever else, other systems. That's not the point. The point is that we are here to spread the word about the divine potential of every human being and that's how we see that. It's a very rebellious, very provocative, very epic in sound and title and that's how I see it. It's awesome — it fits the whole concept so well, it fits the music, it fits everything. I just love it, I thought it was perfect.
PyroMusic.net: The vocals on the new album also feature some of your most aggressive performances yet. What really motivated you on this record?
Nergal: (Pauses) As usual, I was pissed off. I wasn't really at peace with myself and with the surrounding world. But it's not that I'm like super-frustrated or anything like that; I'm probably like every human being, probably just a little bit more sensitive to certain situations. But we just wanted to deliver great music, the best BEHEMOTH record, the ultimate BEHEMOTH record, the record that's going to be very liberating in its form. We didn't want to compete with anyone or anything — we wanted to release our own, true inner spirit and that's what we did. We didn't look at anything, any opinions — media, fans — we didn't give a fuck about anything, you know? All we gave a fuck (about) was how much pleasure it gives us to perform these new songs in the rehearsal room and that's how we did it. It was awesome. It felt great, it just sounded great and we enjoyed it. We were like, "okay, this is going to a great song," and that's it, man. I don't
remember when it was the last time that we were.... I mean, like "Apostasy" was like over-analyzing, over-thinking, just going towards too many directions, making a record that was very diverse, but was losing the focus, was losing the impact. This new one is very diverse, but it has a super strong impact; that's what differentiates "Evangelion" from "Apostasy". And (with) "Evangelion" there's definitely a parallel with "Demigod", because "Demigod" was a strong impact, but it was definitely a less diverse... there just wasn't as many dimensions on "Demigod" that are on "Evangelion".
Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED have set "As Yggdrasil Trembles" as the title of their 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 ninth full-length album, "Hammer Battalion", was recorded in Sweden and produced by Folkare, "Hammer Battalion" took a battle-hardened axe to the misguided concepts of self-subjugation, transparent corruption and unneeded suffering in the name of religious figureheads and provides a perfect link between the ancient struggles of their Nordic forefathers and the ills of our modern society. The blistering "The Greatest Of All Lies" and "Long Before Winter's Call" took on old religious myths re-cast as pure fact, while "Your Children Will Burn" served as a warning of the consequences of blind faith. "Whatever is done in the name of different religions is often done against Mother Nature," noted vocalist/bassist Johnny Hedlund. "And she has the means of striking back."
UNLEASHED's current lineup:
Johnny Hedlund: Bass, Vocals
Tomas Måsgard: Guitar
Fredrik Folkare: Guitar
Anders Schultz: Drums
Andorran symphonic death metal band PERSEFONE will support Florida death metallers OBITUARY on their upcoming European "The Darkest Day Tour 2010". The dates are as follows:
March 04 - Helling - Utrecht, NETH
March 05 - Watt - Rotterdam, NETH
March 06 - Maximum HXC & Metal Fest - Espace Magnum Colfontaine, BEL
March 07 - O2 Academy - Birmingham, UK
March 08 - O2 Academy - New Castle, UK
March 09 - O2 ABC2 - Glasgow, UK
March 11 - O2 Academy - London, UK
March 12 - O2 Academy - Sheffield, UK
March 13 - Tomahawk Festival - Alfred Fischer Halle - Hamm, GER
March 14 - Trabendo - Paris, FRA
March 16 - Turock - Essen, GER
March 17 - Event Stage - Zizers/Chur, SWI
March 18 - New Age Club - Roncarde (Treviso), ITA
March 19 - Di Cervia Rockplanet Club - Pinarella, ITA
March 20 - Blackout Club - Rome, ITA
PERSEFONE recently inked a deal with Italy's Kolony Records. The group's third album, "Shin-Ken", will be released in early February 2010.
According to a press release, "Shin-Ken" "is based upon ancient Japanese war stories, and it's a tour de force [in] the melodic and symphonic death metal style that defines today's PERSEFONE."
The CD was mixed and mastered in April 2009 at Jailhouse studios in Horsens, Denmark by Tommy Hansen.
"Shin-Ken" track listing:
01. The Ground Book (Intro)
02. Fall To Rise
03. Death Before Dishonour
04. The Water Book
05. The Endless Path
06. The Wind Book
07. Purity
08. Rage Stained Blade
09. The Fire Book
10. Kusanagi
11. Shin-Ken Part I
12. Shin-Ken Part II
13. The Void Book
14. Japanese Poem
PERSEFONE is:
Marc Pia: Vocals
Jordi Mateu: Guitar
Carlos Lozano Quintanilla: Guitar
Miguel Ortiz: Keyboards
Tony Coy: Bass
Marc Marti: Drums
For more information, visit www.persefone.com.
Swedish black metallers WATAIN have been confirmed for next year's Sweden Rock Festival, set to take place June 9-12, 2010 in Sölvesborg in southern Sweden.
WATAIN is one of the most influential and successful black metal bands in the world, and when they make their Sweden Rock Festival debut, it will be a memorable occasion in more ways than one.
As if it wasn't enough that their fourth album has a preliminary release date set for the days just before the festival, making this a golden opportunity to debut some coveted new material, the band has also promised a special tribute to the most revered and important black metal act of all time: BATHORY.
BATHORY founder and only real member Quorthon passed away on June 7, 2004, and to honor the memory of his creations, WATAIN will deliver a set consisting of 45 minutes of their own black metal magic, and 45 minutes of their own choice of BATHORY classics.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
ALDO NOVA (CAN)
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)
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.
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