Wednesday, March 17, 2010

[HeavyMetalHeaven] Jimi Hendrix, Ozzy Osbourne, Motorhead, Guns N Roses, Michael Monroe, Megadeth and tons more hard rock and heavy metal news

"Valleys of Neptune", the long-awaited album of previously unavailable Jimi Hendrix studio recordings, has debuted on The Billboard 200 best-selling albums chart at #4, while four additional Hendrix catalog titles — "Are You Experienced" (#44), "Electric Ladyland" (#60), "First Rays of the New Rising Sun" (#63), and "Axis: Bold As Love" (#67) — have returned to The Billboard 200 four decades after their original release dates, a testimony to the enduring vitality and importance of the trailblazing artist-guitarist-performer.

A newly curated album of 12 fully realized studio cuts, more than a hour's worth of previously unheard Jimi Hendrix music, "Valleys of Neptune", the centerpiece of the historic 2010 Jimi Hendrix Catalog Project, rocketed to #1 on Amazon in anticipation of its release. Approximately 20% of first week's sales have been in the digital realm.

"The consumer response to 'Valleys of Neptune' and the Jimi Hendrix catalog has been phenomenal," said Adam Block, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Legacy Recordings. "It reminds us that his spirit still speaks to so many and inspires and motivates fans of all ages."

"It's really gratifying to know that my brother's music is still playing as vital a role in the culture today as it did when he recorded these tracks," said Janie Hendrix, CEO of Experience Hendrix LLC. "The acceptance of 'Valleys of Neptune' and the classic catalog albums underscores the fact that his innovation and creative force are truly transcendent."

Legacy Recordings have issued deluxe CD+DVD editions of the three studio albums released during Hendrix's lifetime — "Are You Experienced", "Axis: Bold As Love", "Electric Ladyland" — as well as "First Rays of the New Rising Sun", an acclaimed posthumous album reconstruction drawn from recordings Hendrix worked on from 1968-1970. Each of these essential titles in the Jimi Hendrix catalog available now on Legacy includes a bonus DVD featuring a newly created "making of the album" documentary directed by the Grammy-award-winning Bob Smeaton, featuring interviews with EXPERIENCE members Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, original producer Chas Chandler and engineer Eddie Kramer.

Experience Hendrix LLC and Legacy Recordings are celebrating the release of "Valleys of Neptune" and the launch of the 2010 Jimi Hendrix catalog campaign with an array of online activity. The official Jimi Hendrix web site, JimiHendrix.com has been redesigned for the catalog relaunch and will contain exclusive content with new features being added throughout the year.

Debuting today on JimiHendrix.com is the Jimi Hendrix Messenger, JimiMessaging.com, an interactive messaging tool that enables new and experienced fans to send messages to friends and family from their front row seats at Jimi's historic 1970 performance from the Isle of Wight Festival.

Acclaimed British film director Julien Temple ("The Filth & the Fury", "Absolute Beginners", "Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten") lensed a visionary music clip for "Bleeding Heart", Jimi's cover of an Elmore James blues, placing Jimi on stage in a surrealistic Glastonbury Faire of the mind. "I saw Jimi's first showcase gig in London and I never thought I would work with him," said Julien Temple. "Making this video felt like completing a circle." The Julien Temple-directed "Bleeding Heart" and the music video for "Valleys of Neptune"'s title track may be seen on the dedicated Jimi Hendrix VEVO channel on YouTube.

Centered around tracks recorded during a pivotal and turbulent four-month period in 1969, "Valleys of Neptune" unveils the original JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE's final studio recordings, as the group lays down the foundation for its follow-up to "Electric Ladyland", alongside the guitar superhero's first sessions with bassist Billy Cox, an old army buddy he'd recruited into his new ensemble.


OZZY OSBOURNE , AMON AMARTH and FINNTROLL are among the confirmed artists for this year's edition of the Ruisrock festival, set to take place July 9-11, 2010 at Russalo in Turku, Finland.

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

AMON AMARTH
AMORPHISARCH ENEMY
BARONESS
BELLE & SEBASTIAN
BILLY TALENT
CANNED HEAT
DISCO ENSEMBLE
DON HUONOT
FINNTROLL
FLOGGING MOLLY
FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE
IRINA
ISMO ALANKO & TEHO-OSASTO
KOTITEOLLISUUS
LAURI TÄHKÄ & ELONKERJUU
MICHAEL MONROE
MOKOMA
NOFX
OZZY OSBOURNE
PMMP
POPEDA
PORCUPINE TREE
PRINCE OF ASSYRIA
RISE AGAINST
SAMULI PUTRO
SCANDINAVIAN MUSIC GROUP
SONATA ARCTICA
STAM1NA
TAROT
THE ARK
THE BASEBALLS
THE SONICS
THE SOUNDS
THE SPECIALS
VESA-MATTI LOIRI
VIIKATE

For more information, go to this location.

According to Classic Rock magazine, MOTÖRHEAD will finish off the year with a massive U.K. tour to celebrate the band's 35th anniversary.

The dates are as follows:

Nov. 08 - Aberdeen, UK - Music Hall
Nov. 09 - Glasgow, UK - O2 Academy
Nov. 10 - Newcastle, UK - City Hall
Nov. 12 - Blackburn, UK - St. George's Hall
Nov. 13 - Llandudno, UK - Arena
Nov. 15 - Derby, UK - Assembly Rooms
Nov. 16 - Manchester, UK - Apollo
Nov. 18 - Leicester, UK - De Montfort Hall
Nov. 19 - Bristol, UK - Colston Hall
Nov. 21 - Southampton, UK - Guildhall
Nov. 22 - Cambridge, UK - Corn Exchange
Nov. 24 - Wolverhampton, UK - Civic
Nov. 25 - Leeds, UK - O2 Academy
Nov. 27 - London, UK - Brixton O2 Academy
Nov. 28 - Brighton, UK - Centre

Tickets go on sale on Friday, March 19 at 9 a.m. They're £26 everywhere, except in London where they are £32.50.

MOTÖRHEAD will hit the studio this spring"to record its next album. The forthcoming CD will be the follow-up to "Motörizer", which sold a little more than 6,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 82 on The Billboard 200 chart. The album was recorded in part (drums only) at FOO FIGHTERS frontman/ex-NIRVANA drummer Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Northridge, California with producer Cameron Webb, who also worked on "Kiss of Death" and 2004's "Inferno".

On November 2, U.K.-based publisher John Blake Publishing Co. released the authorized book "Motörhead: In The Studio" by biographer Jake Brown, featuring exclusive interviews with MOTÖRHEAD mainman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister.

"Motörhead: In The Studio" is described in a press release as "the first comprehensive study of the in-studio making of MOTÖRHEAD's legendary catalog — including such classics as 'Overkill', 'Bomber', 'Ace of Spades', 'Orgasmatron', 'March or Die' and 'Motörizer', among others — told via first-hand interviews with engineers and legendary producers as Tony Platt, Trevor Hallesy, Will Reid, Thom Panunzio, John Burns, Howard Benson, Ryan Dorn, Mark Dearnley, Chuck Reed, Peter Solley, Arabella Rodriguez, Cameron Webb, and former drummer Pete Gill." The book's cover was conceived by Kilmister and features the band's classic warpig logo sporting sunglasses and headphones.

"Lemmy", the long-awaited documentary examining the life and career of MOTÖRHEAD front man and rock icon Lemmy Kilmister, made its debut during the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival this past Monday, March 15 at the historic Paramount Theatre in Austin.

A review of the film can be found at Inside Pulse Movies.

An exclusive screening of "Lemmy" will also be held at 9:15 p.m. on Friday, March 19 at the 1,200-seat Paramount Theatre as part of the SXSW Music Festival.

Following the screening, Kilmister himself will participate in very special question-and-answer sessions with "Lemmy" directors/producers Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski.

Olliver and Orshoski spent three years following Kilmister around the globe — from his Hollywood home to the hockey arenas of Russia.

"Lemmy" features appearances by such high-profile Kilmister friends/peers as METALLICA, Dave Grohl, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Billy Bob Thornton and pro wrestler Triple H.

Seats for both the March 19 screening are first-come-first-served, but SXSW Film Festival badge holders get priority seating, followed by SXSW Film Festival passholders. Individual tickets will be sold at the Paramount Theater 15 minutes prior to the screening until capacity is reached.

For more information on film festival badges, visit www.sxsw.com.

Fans without festival badges or passes are encouraged to get to the theater early to avoid being shut out.

The SXSW Film Festival runs March 12-20. The music festival runs March 16-20.

The Paramount Theatre is located at 713 Congress Avenue in Austin. Box office information: (512) 472-5470.

Hailed as a godfather of heavy metal, 64-year-old Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister has established himself as the living embodiment of rock and roll over the past four decades. After stints with popular Mersey beat band THE ROCKIN' VICKERS and influential psychedelic rockers HAWKWIND, and even a brief time spent as a member of Jimi Hendrix's road crew, Lemmy formed MOTÖRHEAD in 1975.

Going on to record such influential metal classics as "Overkill", "Ace of Spades" and "Bomber", the Grammy Award-winning MOTÖRHEAD and Kilmister's fusion of punk and metal registered a major influence on such bands as METALLICA , GUNS N' ROSES and NIRVANA.

Says FOO FIGHTERS leader and ex-NIRVANA drummer Dave Grohl , "If anyone deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it's Lemmy. Give me a fuckin' break!"

2010 marks the 35th anniversary of the birth of MOTÖRHEAD, which features Kilmister, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee.

LasVegasWeekly.com recently conducted an interview with former HANOI ROCKS frontman Michael Monroe. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On his stage costumes:

Monroe: "With HANOI ROCKS I was doing the more glittery kind of thing, but for now I've kind of toned down. It's more simple. I think of what's more easy to move in; I try not to wear stuff that gets in the way too much. I got to be able to do the splits without splitting the pants!"

On splitting his pants on stage from the splits:

Monroe: "That happened once with HANOI ROCKS at The Marquee in London in the '80s. I remember I had these silver-colored pants and they were PVC or vinyl — almost the same color as graphic tape. I was graphic-taping them and the more I taped them the more they split. It became part of the show, me taping my crotch on stage. At first I was distressed, but then I thought, 'Well, that's something different for this show.' I went to the roadies and said, 'Help! Get me some graphic tape now!' I would have been screwed without graphic tape."

On the big-name collaborations:

Monroe: "Slash is one of my favorite guitar players. He's a great guitar player, and he plays the right kind of guitar. He was a great pleasure to work with. The GUNS 'N ROSES sessions were great fun. With Axl [Rose] we had some magical moments, doing that cover of the DEAD BOYS song 'Ain't It Fun', and Little Steven. I think the best songs I've written for my solo stuff have been with [him], like 'Dead, Jail or Rock 'n' Roll' [featuring Axl Rose]. He's a true rocker."

On glam rock and hair metal:

Monroe: "Somebody said I'm the guy who brought the punk into glam. To me, a lot of the hair-metal bands that came after [HANOI ROCKS]. People say [we] inspired a lot of that stuff, but I think we were more into the music. To us, the music and the songs and the attitude were more important than the big hair and the posing. ... A lot of the bands in L.A. and the hair-metal scene seemed to play their hair dryers better than they played their instruments. So I didn't really feel like I was any big part of that."

On the crazy days of HANOI ROCKS:

Monroe: "There was one incident in Israel where we almost got arrested. [Instead] we got deported because the guys threw a table out the window, and it landed on a taxicab and almost killed the driver. It could have hit [him], but luckily it didn't. The hotel manager came into the room — he opened the door with his own key — and there was broken glass all over the floor. He stepped on the glass and was jumping on one foot, [and] Nasty [the guitarist] hit the hotel manager over the head with his crutch. ... He had broken his leg in London falling down stairs at some club. There was a steep staircase at the club and they decided to see what happens when you jump headfirst with your hands behind your back — that's the kind of madness..."

On bringing rock 'n' roll to Finland:

Monroe: "In Finland back [in the HANOI ROCKS days], even if you had long hair they would kill you. Us wearing makeup and jewelry, the way we looked, it was like, 'Forget it.' When we started there were some fights with audiences, like groups of rednecks coming after us. They demolished a bus once with crowbars and baseball bats. There were like 10 guys and I woke up — I was taking a nap in the back of the bus — with the window just falling on top of me. ... We got out of there just in the nick of time. ... I think HANOI had a lot to do with the attitude changing. In the later years we became the biggest band in Finland, and that forced the people to be more open-minded about looks and stuff. We opened a lot of doors even for bands that are coming out of there now."

Michael Lello of Weekender recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Weekender: "Rust In Peace" is considered to be a historic metal album. What's your opinion of it?

Mustaine: (Laughs) I like it. It's peculiar when people say that, because it's not one of our more challenging albums. It also reminds me of a very dark period in my life and my career. David Ellefson and I were living together, and we didn't really have a band at the time. We were putting all of the pieces together, and we were living with strangers. Every chance we would get, we would shack up some place and find some unsuspecting victim to take us an emotional hostage. So the record has a lot of different feelings for me.

Being on stage and playing it is fun for me, because a lot of the fans are mesmerized watching it happen. I think a lot of people don't think that this record could be played live, and, I mean, for Pete's sake, I wrote the damn record, so why couldn't I play it?

Weekender: How have Chris [Broderick, guitar] and Shawn [Drover, drums] taken to this material?

Mustaine: Well, Shawn was pretty much dyed-in-the-wool, so he knows the stuff pretty well, and Chris is an incredible student of the guitar and that's what he lives for, so he was able to learn all of the notation of the music. So then it was just a matter of moving pieces around, phrasing-wise, and just getting some of the hand shapes and the nuances of my right-hand picking patterns, my left-hand fretting technique and stuff just to make this record sound right, because some guy could play the same exact thing that I'm playing, (but) it won't sound the same. That's fairly obvious, but I'm talking about they could play it almost exactly like I play it and still not sound the same because of little teeny tricks that I have. When I show that to Chris and say, "Does that make sense," (he says), "Yeah, totally, man," and it's much better now. Whenever we clamp down on a part and we get into that pocket, everybody knows. This record has a very cold, jazzy
kind of swing to it.

Weekender: Are there plans to bring any "Big Four" (METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX) shows to the U.S.?

Mustaine: No. That's up to people that organize this. But I think that's going to require a lot of stuff to take place with some other people. If it happens, and it's good for us, like the thing happened with the Big Four overseas so far, great. Ya know, we're on a really good run right now, and inasmuch as the Big Four thing is super-successful, if it's successful it'll be great for all of us. The same can be said right now for the "Rust In Peace" tour — it's successful, and it's great for us. I take the same kind of commitment to this performance as I would to the performances this summer.

Weekender: I see you're only playing one song from "Endgame" on this tour.

Mustaine: Just one. We don't have a lot of time to play. We've been contracted for 75 minutes, which is not very long, and we actually play over that contracted period because it feels like it's cheating the fans. But that's just the way of the world right now, ya know? They'll book the band for 75 minutes, and if we play 75 minutes, then they'll get what they want and we get what we're paid for. But who gets cheated? Well, I do, because I don't get to play as much as I want, and the fans do, because they don't get to hear as much as they want. That's kind of one of the ugly sides of this business that people don't see. We've got to make the decision ourselves. Do we compromise and give more than what we're contracted for? And the answer to that is always a pretty resounding "yes."

Weekender: How did Dave Ellefson go from suing you for $18.5 million to you inviting him back into MEGADETH?

Mustaine: Well, I can't speak for him, but all I can say is that the opportunity presented itself, and I prayed about it, and I asked him if he wanted to come play, and he said "Yeah," and we worked it out.

Obviously, there were some things we had to work out because we had a very close relationship. When you're really close to somebody and then the relationship takes a pause or even stops, there's usually some hurt feelings, and we had to clear some of that stuff up. Now it's just a matter of just catching up for all the good times we had.

Every time we were looking to conquer the music industry and get on top, every time we got there something happened. It was just crazy. But right now everything is firing on all cylinders, and it looks like this is going to be our year.

One of the last major dividing lines between "old school" and modern touring is the use of digital audio. Insistence on an analog desk is a mark of commitment, denoted by a forbidding "no digital desk" notation on the band's rider. Defined by a devotion to audio purity, the sound engineers for many of these bands rely on Midas mixing consoles.

"Nothing but a Midas will do," declares Doug Short, FOH (front-of-house) engineer for MEGADETH. "I've tried just about every digital console on the market, and they just don't measure up sonically." So why, then, did Short opt for a Midas PRO6 digital desk for the first leg of the band's promotional tour for the new "Endgame" album?

"I had done some training on Midas digital up in Minnesota over a year ago. But when MEGADETH started up, my bid list required a Midas XL4 at front of house," relates Short. "The plan was to carry control gear from Thunder Audio — consoles and processing. Basically, Paul Owen, Thunder Audio principal, saw my bid list, called me and said tempted me to give the PRO6 a shot. I figured a five-week promotional tour was the perfect opportunity. As Paul says, 'Hey, instead of taking out 1,168 pounds of XL4, why not give the Pro6 a shot?' I mean, it is a Midas, right?"

The final step was to complete Doug Short's basic training on the new desk. "Erik Rogers from Thunder was the guy who made it happen," he notes. "With no production rehearsal and a new desk, I was out of my comfort zone. Erik literally drove out in his own car, set up the desk for me and stayed with me for the first three gigs. Thunder Audio definitely went above and beyond the call of duty to make this happen. I can't say enough good things about those guys."

Short found his baptism by fire to be fairly painless. "With Erik there to show me the ropes, I was up and running in no time," he says. "By the third gig, I was really comfortable. There was none of that 'alien planet' vibe you get on some digital desks. In fact, it's really just like mixing on a (Midas) Heritage. That's exactly how it feels as a layout. But even more important, it sounds like a Midas!"

MEGADETH uses 38 inputs, 18 of which are drums. Short utilizes all ten of the console's VCA splits, divided as follows: Shawn Drover's drums are split into kick drums, snare, and toms. Guitarists Dave Mustaine and Chris Broderick each get one VCA, as does David Ellefson's bass. Two more VCA groups are dedicated to lead and backing vocals, and the final two handle effects returns and playback. Two POP Groups are also in use, one for Drover's cymbals and the other for house playback. "MEGADETH is very straightforward, so in terms of setup, it's not much of a challenge for the desk. Which was perfect for me to get comfortable with it," says Short. "Using all ten VCAs and two POP Groups, everything I needed was at my fingertips."

Coming from the analog world of outboard effects, Short was understandably concerned about relying on the Midas internal effects engine. "I must admit, I did take a couple external rack effects, but that was because I didn't have the prep time I would normally prefer. But no boutique stuff, no plug-ins," he admits. "And I used everything on board for mic preamps, compressors, reverb and gates. That's the heart of the system and it sounds fantastic."

For the same reason, the tour utilized a traditional copper snake connecting the stage to the control surface. "I just didn't know enough about Cat5 yet," short explains, "so it's nice that you have the option to use copper with the PRO6. Since I was also acting as system tech, I wanted all the patching to be familiar to me."

Asked how the band reacted to having a digital console at FOH, Short replied, "before the first show, Dave Mustaine came out, saw the console and said, 'It sure looks pretty. Hope it sounds good, too.' So he was aware. And every night, I would give him a live two-track mix of the show that we listen to for reference, and he never said a thing. With Dave, that's practically an endorsement."

Another big change for Short was having two large TFT screens in front of him. He keeps things as straightforward as possible, routing the input he's working on to the left-hand side and always keeping the house EQ on the right. "In the heat of battle, you've got to pull something from that FOH, and so it's nice to have that always accessible," he explains.

In terms of ergonomics, Short is totally sold on the PRO6. "The first thing I noticed is that the smaller footprint means everything is always in reach. As it turns out, I really like that. I also like the TFT screens. They're super responsive, and easy to read in any lighting conditions. By the third gig, I was totally comfortable with the screens, the trackball controller and everything."

With a long history of producing great sound for artists like PRINCE, VAN HALEN, CYNDI LAUPER and JOE COCKER, Doug Short knows what he wants. He admits now that his reaction to the Midas PRO6 caught him by surprise. "I can see now why Midas waited to go digital until they got it right," he says. "By about the third gig, the PRO6 just blew me away. It's so easy to mix on, and the sound is pure Midas. I guess that says it all."

MEGADETH was forced to leave the stage three songs into its headlining set last night (Tuesday, March 16) at Rams Head Live in Baltimore, Maryland after the venue P.A. (the "Public Address" system that amplifies sound so more people can hear it) allegedly "took a shit" and prevented the band from continuing its performance.

What follows below is a BLABBERMOUTH.NET transcript of the TheLiveLine "audioblog" MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine left late last night decribing the circumstances that led the band to cut its set short.

"I'm calling right now from Baltimore. It's approximately 10 minutes to midnight, and unfortunately, our show turned into an absolute disaster tonight," Mustaine can be heard saying.

"We had problems with the P.A. from the beginning of the night.

"I went out on stage and I had said that the P.A. was a bit inferior to what we were used to using [see video below — Ed.], and after the P.A. completely took a shit, we went into the dressing room, waited another half hour to 45 minutes, used the house P.A. and went back out and started playing again. And some delirious asshole decided that it was a good idea to throw their beverage over the [mixing] console, thus ending the concert.

"So, to the good people of Baltimore, I'm sorry for us having to end your night early tonight, but I can tell you honestly right now that we will be back. It's not like we have better things to do tonight than perform for you. We love you, and we're very sorry about this situation. And hopefully next time we'll be able to play in like a gas station with a couple of generators and a P.A. that'll work. ['Cause] that piece of shit we played in tonight didnt."

MEGADETH will play a free show tonight (Wednesday, March 17) at the Rams Head Live in Baltimore, Maryland as a makeup gig for all the folks who had tickets to last night's ill-fated concert.

Commented MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine: "Last night was a difficult night for me, MEGS, and for our sold-out audience of MEGADETH fans in the great city of Baltimore.

"You see, we were plagued with equipment failures, the ensuing delays getting on-stage (Axl Rose, I am NOT), and the lack of intelligence of the fan who was convinced that throwing his beverage on the console, thus ending our second attempt at taking the stage last night, was an intelligent thing to do.

"In other words, it was the end of the evening for me and for Baltimore.

"Alas, Megaman to the rescue!

"Late last night I was informed of the availability of the venue the following evening, meaning tonight, and I agreed to stay another night here in Baltimore and to try to play this venue one more time.

"If you have a ticket from last night, please check here to see how to proceed tonight.

"Thank you for your understanding, and I want to also thank the building, its staff, the security, the promoter and his staff, and most importantly . . . YOU. I will see you tonight!"

As previously reported, MEGADETH was forced to leave the stage three songs into its headlining set last night (Tuesday, March 16) at Rams Head Live in after the venue P.A. (the "Public Address" system that amplifies sound so more people can hear it) prevented the band from continuing its performance.

What follows below is a BLABBERMOUTH.NET transcript of the TheLiveLine "audioblog" Dave Mustaine left late last night decribing the circumstances that led the band to cut its set short.

"I'm calling right now from Baltimore. It's approximately 10 minutes to midnight, and unfortunately, our show turned into an absolute disaster tonight," Mustaine can be heard saying.

"We had problems with the P.A. from the beginning of the night.

"I went out on stage and I had said that the P.A. was a bit inferior to what we were used to using [see video below — Ed.], and after the P.A. completely took a shit, we went into the dressing room, waited another half hour to 45 minutes, used the house P.A. and went back out and started playing again. And some delirious asshole decided that it was a good idea to throw their beverage over the [mixing] console, thus ending the concert.

"So, to the good people of Baltimore, I'm sorry for us having to end your night early tonight, but I can tell you honestly right now that we will be back. It's not like we have better things to do tonight than perform for you. We love you, and we're very sorry about this situation. And hopefully next time we'll be able to play in like a gas station with a couple of generators and a P.A. that'll work. ['Cause] that piece of shit we played in tonight didnt."

ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino recently conducted an interview with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS guitarist Dean DeLeo. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

ARTISTdirect.com: "Stone Temple Pilots" seamlessly combines your classic raw riffage with the psychedelic experimentation of "Shangri-la Dee Da". Do you feel like this album is the perfect middle ground between those two extremes?

Dean DeLeo: It's hard for me to say, man. I don't put that much thought into it. I simply come into the session with some songs. To me, there wasn't a lot of experimentation. We don't want to get too far outside what people would come to expect from us and, for us, we definitely don't want to keep doing the same thing over and over. It starts with the song for Robert [DeLeo, bass] and I, and Scott [Weiland, vocals] embellishes upon it. When I have to compete with songs written by Robert, I have to be on my game if I'm going to have any songs on the record [Laughs]. It's a pretty healthy relationship in that respect. With that said, we bring out the best in each other. I don't envy Scott, when it comes to making an STP record because that guy gets a lot of material thrown at him very quickly. I'm sure it's pretty overwhelming [Laughs]. The first CD that we sent to Scott had nine songs on it!

ARTISTdirect.com: Once you started writing and recording again, was it just like old times or was it better?

Dean DeLeo: It was a little bit of both. It was better because we had the luxury of working out of Eric Kretz's [drums] gorgeous studio, Bomb Shelter, and we had no producer. Robert and I took on the chore of producing this record. We actually made this record in between going in and out of tour. We didn't have this time constraint, and we didn't have to appease a producer and work under his time constraint. We've had the luxury of working with Brendan O'Brien on all of our records, and he's a busy guy! We'd start a record with him and we would have to finish it by a certain date because he would have another record to do.

ARTISTdirect.com: Do you feel like these songs really got to live and grow?

Dean DeLeo: Definitely! We also had the luxury of working at Eric's gorgeous place, and Scott had the luxury of working at his studio. Robert's been hard at work for the past five years building a gorgeous studio in the basement of his house. We tracked a couple songs there actually. When it came time to really finish the record, we had all three studios going at once. We were doing overdubs, drum stuff and bass lines at Robert's house. I was doing my guitar's at Eric's place, and Scott was finishing vocals at his studio, so we had three studios running simultaneously. It was really wonderful to utilize all that.

ARTISTdirect.com: This album is such a collective vision on all fronts.

Dean DeLeo: I think so. We were on the road right up until Thanksgiving. We'd begun this record quite some time ago, but we'd work on it for a few weeks and then go out on the road for a few weeks. We'd go home and spend some time with the families and then work on the album for a few weeks. That happened over about ten months. When you come off the road, everybody is playing really well, and I think it shows on these performances. Everybody is on his game.

ARTISTdirect.com: Your chemistry with Scott is quite remarkable on this album.

Dean DeLeo: Thank you! As a songwriter, it's been pretty fulfilling. The vocals are the last thing to go down on an album. We work on that arrangement of the song, musically speaking, and Scott will delve into it. He'll say, "Maybe we should double this section or move this?" When he comes back with something, it's very fulfilling as a songwriter.

ARTISTdirect.com: Do you and Robert share a musical mind?

Dean DeLeo: Completely! It's very much like one mind. You know how people can finish each other's sentences? There aren't many guys who can tell a story with bass, and Robert's choice of notes and how he plays and approaches a song — he can tell a story with a bass guitar. It's probably easier to tell a story through a piano or a guitar, but when a cat can tell a story with a bass, that's pretty remarkable.

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach has issued the following update from his current South American tour as the support act for GUNS N' ROSES:

"You just can't make this stuff up.

"All the reports you have heard are true.

"I don't know where to begin this update!

"After what was certainly one of the best gigs of our career, Sao Paulo, things got completely crazy, only this time it was none of our fault!

"I spent the afternoon of the Rio concert [Sunday, March 14] on the beach getting some sun. I noticed some foreboding clouds forming in the sky around this time, but thought nothing of it; we've played in the rain before. Then I had dinner at 5 p.m. and got ready for the show as usual. About 7 p.m. I got a call from our tour manager saying, 'You have a night off tonight.'

"WHAT???

"The tornado that hit Rio de Janeiro completely demolished the stage. On top of that, on the way to Rio from Sao Paulo, our truck carrying all our equipment drove off a cliff and rolled down the hill.

"Thank God I am able to report that the driver is OK. Not so with the stage collapse.... Many local crew guys were hurt but thank God there are no fatalities to report. Which might not have been the case if this tornado hit Rio an hour later; the crowd would have been in the venue at that time.

"As evidenced by the pictures, there most certainly would have been massive carnage had the crowd been in the venue at the time of the stage collapse. I thank God yet again for the timing of this incident... we missed it happening while we were onstage by about only an hour. Obviously, we feel totally rotten for the fans who bought tickets to the show that didn't happen. I have heard we are trying to reschedule the show and I sure do hope this goes down! We are dying to play for you, Rio de Janeiro!

"Which brings us to tonight's show in Porto Alegre.

"When our truck rolled off the cliff, all the drums were smashed. Bobby's [Jarzombek] 'Angel Down' custom bass drum heads do not exist anymore (total bummer). Worse yet, when the truck was at the bottom of the cliff, locals came out and raided the scene, stealing whatever they could.

"All of Johnny Chromatic's guitars are missing right now. The airlines lost Johnny's luggage as well on the way to Rio.

"Johnny is right now on tour in South America with literally no instruments and no clothes. All he has right now is the shirt and shorts he is wearing. Lucky for him, it's warm down here!

"We all feel like total shit for Johnny.

"GUNS N' ROSES have been kind enough to offer us use of any equipment we need for the rest of the tour. Which means we can play the gigs!

"As I write this at 6 p.m. local time, we have no idea what time we're going on tonight. GN'R's backline is still not on the stage due to the 19-hour drive from Rio to Porto Alegre. We are shooting for a 9 p.m. set time but it could be later. It has taken us all everything we got to pull off tonight's show... the show must go on!

"See you in a couple of hours, Porto Alegre!

Jägermeister, the brand known for decades of involvement with rock and metal bands, continues to own the concert circuit with the 2010 spring Jägermeister Music Tour featuring Grammy Award-winning American rock band KORN. The tour, which is Jägermeister's 16th Music Tour, kicks off May 2 in South Carolina and plays over 25 shows across the nation in celebration of the upcoming release of KORN's ninth studio album, "Korn III: Remember Who You Are".

Emerging with a sound unlike any other in 1994, KORN has become one of the most important bands in rock n' roll history. Not including KORN's soon-to-debut album, the L.A.-based band has released eight full-length studio albums and 11 releases overall, with eight of those selling platinum or platinum plus. KORN has sold over 30 million albums worldwide, has played countless sold-out shows and has received six Grammy nominations; two of which they have won for "Freak on a Leash" and "Here to Stay". Their ninth offering, "Korn III: Remember Who You Are", embraces the savage, raw energy that KORN's diehard fans have come to expect over the years while unleashing an uneasiness reminiscent of the band's most unbridled material. This makes sense, since the record was produced by Ross Robinson, who helmed KORN's first two groundbreaking albums.

"Back in the day Jägermeister was one of the first brands to back KORN. Those early tours were some of the best times of our lives. Now we are looking to bring that vibe back in a big way," says KORN frontman Jonathan Davis.

KORN will rock the 2010 spring Jägermeister Music Tour through mid-June with help from supporting acts 2CENTS, and a local Jägermeister-sponsored band. In addition, top stand-up comedian Big Jay Oakerson, known for his laid back, likeable, yet biting style, will emcee the tour.

Since the summer of 2005, 2CENTS has traced nearly every major highway in North America introducing their high energy live act and passion filled intense music to crowd after crowd. The band recently unveiled their sophomore album, "Dress to Kill", featuring the hit "Get What".

"KORN is not only a Grammy-winning band, but one that had been vocal about their love for Jägermeister since the '90s," said Bill Henderson, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advertising for the Sidney Frank Importing Company. "We are excited to partner with them as well as 2CENTS, and Big Jay Oakerson to create what will undoubtedly be Jägermeister's biggest Music Tour to date."

This tour is something very different for KORN, since they will be playing ballrooms and clubs in some of the most intimate settings in a very long time. This tour acts as a great way to recapture the old-school KORN style reminiscent in their first two albums and the upcoming "Korn III". Jonathan Davis explains, "We wanted to play new songs for the diehard fans in a setting that fits the music, so we told the promoters to take out the seats!"

The 16th annual Jägermeister Music Tour will feature Jägermeister custom tour prizes from Schecter Guitars and Peavey Electronics. In addition, Jägermeister will be hosting nightly text-to-win giveaways including tap machines, tee shirts, hats and other branded POS. Giveaways are subject to state and local laws and participants must be of legal drinking age or older.

Register to win VIP tickets and backstage access at www.jagermeistermusictour.com.

GODSMACK , PAPA ROACH and DROWNING POOL are among the confirmed bands for the Rockfest 2010, set to take place Saturday, May 15 at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

Main Stage:

01:30 - HALESTORM
02:40 - REV THEORY
03:50 - DROWNING POOL
05:00 - PAPA ROACH
06:30 - SEETHER
08:00 - THREE DAYS GRACE
09:30 - GODSMACK

Second Stage:

12:00 - TADDY PORTER
01:00 - SHAMAN'S HARVEST
02:10 - ADELITAS WAY
03:20 - BURN HALO
04:30 - THE VEER UNION
06:00 - JANUS
07:30 - AIRBOURNE
09:00 - FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH

VOODOO SIX, the British hard rock band formed by ex-DIRTY DEEDS bassist Tony Newton, will support UFO on the following dates.

April 22 - Workington, UK - Carnegie Theatre
April 23 - Middlesbrough, UK - Town Hall
April 24 - Edinburgh, UK - Hmv Picture House
April 25 - Inverness, UK - Ironworks
April 28 - Leamington Spa, UK - The Assembly
April 29 - Cardiff, UK - Millennium Music Hall

Commented VOODOO SIX: "We are massive fans of UFO so this will be a tour to remember. We can't wait to see our amazing fans in the front row, as usual."

VOODOO SIX recently released a brand new digital-only EP, entitled "A Little Something For You", via the group's official web site.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Something For You
02. Where You Want Me
03. Take The Blame
04. Live Again
05. Log Way From Home

VOODOO SIX's March 2 concert at London's Borderline marked the live debut for the band's new frontman Luke Purdie.

VOODOO SIX's as-yet-untitled new album was mixed by Mike Fraser, who has previously worked with AC/DC , AEROSMITH, GUNS N' ROSES and METALLICA, among others.

KINGDOM OF SORROW, the metal project created by Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) and Kirk Windstein (DOWN, CROWBAR), has completed work on its second album for a tentative June release via Relapse Records. The CD was mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris at Planet Z Recordings in Hadley, Massachusetts.

Commented Jasta: "I'm really excited about the KINGDOM OF SORROW album because I feel like I really went all out this time. I love the first album but I brought way better riffs to the table this time and really brought a different vocal style on a lot of tracks. I think this new album is much more memorable and that the songs are really catchy but still heavy and raw.

"CROWBAR has some European touring to do but we may squeeze some KINGDOM OF SORROW shows in when I am not touring with HATEBREED this year."

KINGDOM OF SORROW released its self-titled debut in early 2008. The band embarked on a 70-city tour in support of the CD and took part in the Ozzfest and Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival tours.

California metallers LIZZY BORDEN have been confirmed for this 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
ARCH ENEMY
AMORPHIS
ASTRAL DOORS
ATROCITY
BROILERS
CALIBAN
CANDLEMASS
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CORVUS CORAX
CRUCIFIED BARBARA
DEAD MEANS NOTHING
DEBAUCHERY
DEGRADEAD
DELAIN
DESPISED ICON
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
DIE KASSIERER
EDGUY
EQUILIBRIUM
END OF GREEN
ENDSTILLE
ETERNAL LEGACY
EVILE
FEAR FACTORY
FIDDLER'S GREEN
GHOST BRIGADE
GOJIRA
GRAVE DIGGER
HACKNEYED
HANGGAI
HELLS BELLES
HOLY GRAIL
IHSAHN
ILL NINO
IMMORTAL
IMPERIUM DEKADENZ
IRON MAIDEN
JOB FOR A COWBOY
KAMPFAR
KATAKLYSM
KILLING MACHINE
LAKE OF TEARS
LETZTE INSTANZ
LIZZY BORDEN
MAROON
METSATÖLL
MÖTLEY CRÜE
NIGHTMARE
ORDEN OGAN
ORPHANED LAND
OVERKILL
PRIMAL FEAR
RAVEN
SCHELMISH
SECRETS OF THE MOON
SKANNERS
SLAYER
SMOKE BLOW
SÓLSTAFIR
STRATOVARIUS
SUICIDAL ANGELS
TARJA
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
THE NEW BLACK
THE OTHER
TIAMAT
TYR
U.D.O.
UNLEASHED
VARG
VOIVOD
W.A.S.P.
BAL-SAGOTH and AHAB 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:

AHAB
ARSIS
AURA NOIR
BAL-SAGOTH
BLEED FROM WITHIN
CANDLEMASS
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CATAMENIA
CONVERGE
DEMONIC RESURRECTION
DESPISED ICON
DEVIN TOWNSEND
DEVOURMENT
DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA
DYING FETUS
ENSIFERUM
FEAR FACTORY
GOJIRA
GORGOROTH
GRAVEWORM
GOJIRA
GWAR
HYPNOS
HYPOCRISY
CHILDREN OF BODOM
IHSAHN
ILL NIÑO
KYLESA
KYPCK
LOCK UP
MACABRE
MNEMIC
MOONSORROW
MONSTROSITY
MY DYING BRIDE
NAPALM DEATH
NECROPHAGIST
ORIGIN
RAGNAROK
ROTTEN SOUND
SARKE
SEPULTURA
SIGH
SYBREED
TANKARD
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
TRAIL OF TEARS

More acts will be announced soon.

MUNICIPAL WASTE, IHSAHN, ARMED FOR APOCALYPSE, TURMION KÄTILÖT and SURVIVORS ZERO have been confirmed for the thirteenth annual Tuska festival, set to take place July 2-4, 2010 in Helsinki, Finland.

Devin Townsend will perform his "Ziltoid The Omniscient" concept album in its entirety on Friday, July 2 as a special one-off world-exclusive show.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

Friday, July 2:

DEVIN TOWNSEND
SATYRICON
TAROT
TESTAMENT
IHSAHN
PAIN
INSOMNIUM
BARREN EARTH
OBITUARY
SWALLOW THE SUN
RYTMIHÄIRIÖ
THE ARSON PROJECT

Saturday, July 3:

MASTODON
KAMELOT
DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT
HYPOCRISY
MUNICIPAL WASTE
OVERKILL
SURVIVORS ZERO
HOLY GRAIL
SOTAJUMALA
BLOODBATH
ARMED FOR APOCALYPSE
FM2000
TORTURE KILLER

Sunday, July 4:

MEGADETH
CANNIBAL CORPSE
NILE
TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED
TURMION KÄTILÖT
[AMATORY]
WARMEN
FINNTROLL

Advance tickets:

One-day ticket: Friday / Saturday 54 euros, Sunday 50 euros
Three-day ticket: 98 euros

Tickets at the gates (if not sold out):

One-day ticket: 60 euros
Three-day ticket: 115 euros.

For more information, visit www.tuska-festival.fi.

Canadian thrash metal veterans ANNIHILATOR will release 13th,self-titled album in Europe on May 17 via Earache Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. The Trend
02. Coward
03. Ambush
04. Betrayed
05. 25 Seconds
06. Nowhere To Go
07. The Other Side
08. Death In Your Eyes
09. Payback
10. Romeo Delight

Total running time: 48:50

Check out the cover artwork below.

Since releasing its classic "Alice In Hell" debut in 1989, ANNIHILATOR has consistently played heads-down, no-frills metal, led by guitar virtuoso Jeff Waters.

ANNIHILATOR was honored in the "Favorite Metal Artist/Group" category at the 2009 Indie Awards (Independent Music Awards ), which was held on March 14, 2009 at the Royal York Hotel (Canadian Room) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Also nominated in the "Metal" category were BISON B.C., CRYPTOPSY, CURSED and FUCK THE FACTS.

The Indies celebrate the best in independent music. Nominees are selected by committees of industry professionals from all areas of the music scene and winners are decided by a combination of public and industry voting.

For more information on the 2009 Indie Awards, go to this location.

ANNIHILATOR released its latest album, "Metal", in North America in January 2008 via SPV. The CD's ten new tracks were recorded by Jeff Waters (guitar, bass and lead vocals on one song), drum legend Mike Mangini and Dave Padden (longtime vocalist and touring guitarist/vocalist). The album features sensational performances by some of metal's finest players and ANNIHILATOR's good friends, like Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM), Danko Jones, Michael Amott and Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY), Corey Beaulieu (TRIVIUM), William Adler (LAMB OF GOD), Jeff Loomis, Jesper Strömblad (IN FLAMES), Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Anders Björler (THE HAUNTED), Jacob Lynam (LYNAM) and more.

SMASHING PUMPKINS, DREAM THEATER and SLASH are among the confirmed artists for Japan's annual Summer Sonic festival, which has the unusual distinction of occurring in two places at once — outside of Tokyo and in the city of Osaka. Since the festival lasts between two and three days, bands will often play both locations. This year's festival will occur on the weekend of August 7-8 and will feature performances by the following acts:

JAY-Z
THE SMASHING PUMPKINS
THE OFFSPRING
PIXIES
DREAM THEATER
NICKELBACK
A-HA
SUM41
ORBITAL
JONSI
DEADMAU5
SLASH
PENDULUM
ORIANTHI
30H!3
30 SECONDS TO MARS
ALL TIME LOW
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB
COHEED AND CAMBRIA
EVERLAST
FANFARLO
GIRLS
HUDSON MOHAWKE
THE MACCABEES
MY PASSION
PASSION PIT
SURFER BLOOD
SURKIN
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB
UFFIE
YES GIANTESS

For more information, visit www.summersonic.com.

PARADISE LOST's previously announced Australian tour with SIRENIA has been cancelled "due to promotional problems," according to a statement released by PARADISE LOST. The band adds, "We are all very upset and were looking forward to the shows."
Affected dates:

April 24 - Hi Fi - Brisbane, Australia
April 26 - Metro Theatre - Sydney, Australia
April 27 - Billboard - Melbourne, Australia

PARADISE LOST was forced to postone six shows on its fall 2009 European tour due to a serious illness within guitarist Greg Mackintosh's family. Milly Evans, PARADISE LOST's long-standing guitar technician and keyboardist from TERRORVISION, filled in for Greg for the other dates.

The limited formats of PARADISE LOST's new album, "Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us", include two orchestral versions of the album tracks "Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us" and "Last Regret", which were recorded by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra in July 2008.

The limited-edition deluxe two-CD includes special packaging (DVD-sized Mediabook with O-Card in a special leather look) and a bonus track, "Cardinal Zero", on Disc 1 plus a separate bonus CD featuring the "Lost In Prague" tracks. All vinyl lovers will be delighted to hear that the album is available as a limited-edition gatefold LP, including the bonus track "Cardinal Zero", the orchestra mixes on a separate bonus 7" EP, the entire album on CD (in a blank sleeve), and an exclusive poster.

The follow-up to 2007's "In Requiem", "Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us" was recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with producer Jens Bogren.

The album's artwork, which is based upon a "Danse Macabre" woodcut by Hans Holbein the Younger (first published in 1538), was created by Stefan Wibbeke at Medialogistics (LACUNA COIL, POISONBLACK).

Delaware thrash/speed metal band SOLITUDE will perform a special reunion show onApril 17, 2010 at JB McGuinnes (519 E. Basin Rd.) in New Castle, Delaware. Also scheduled to appear are FAITH OR FEAR and THUNDERBREW.

SOLITUDE was formed in 1983. Despite releasing three critically acclaimed demos true "breakout success" always seemed to slip through their fingers. While influenced by METALLICA and TESTAMENT, they were also equally drawn to works by RUSH, MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA and even ERIC JOHNSON.

In 1987, they released their first demo, "Focus Of Terror", which received an enthusiastic response from the scene thus resulting in the track "The End" appearing on "Thrash Attack III". "Sickness", released a year later, found the band quickly gaining ground with great reviews in fanzines worldwide most notably, Kerrang! As if all the positive press and opening for bands such as DEATH, DARK ANGEL and SACRED REICH, wasn't enough to warrant the scene's attention "Typhoid Mary" was then chosen to appear on Metal Blade Records' prestigious "Metal Massacre" series.

"Fall Of Creation" brought greater exposure in publications like Metal Maniacs, Thrash 'Em All and Metal Forces and they signed with Red Light Records in 1993 and recorded "From Within" in 1994 with engineer Drew Mazurek (NOTHINGFACE, HIM, LINKIN PARK, GWAR, HELLYEAH). Sadly enough, right before the album's release the label went belly up and it never saw the light of day in the U.S. After a crushing blow like that and 10 years as a band SOLITUDE decided to quietly bow out of the metal world.

Released last October, "Poisoned Population: The Complete Collection" (1987-1994) is a two-disc remastered collection of all 26 tracks. It features all-new artwork, extensive liner notes, full lyrics, enhanced live concert videos and much more.

The track listing is as follows:

Disc 1:

01. Twisted
02. No Future
03. Tipping The Balance
04. Alter The Red
05. Mind Pollution
06. From Within
07. The Afterlife
08. A Loss Of Blood
09. The Empty
10. Poisoned Population
11. In This Life
12. Side Winder

Disc 2:

01. Shroud Of Silence
02. Fall Of Creation
03. Degenerate
04. Alter The Red
05. Instrumental
06. The After Life
07. Side Winder
08. Typhoid Mary
09. Bats In The Belfry
10. The Elegy
11. The End
12. You Die
13. Dead Or Alive
14. Buried Alive

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/solitude302.

Norwegian metallers TRISTANIA have scheduled the following European tour dates:

Oct. 08 - Underworld - London, UK
Oct. 09 - Metropool - Hengel, Netherlands
Oct. 10 - Melkweg - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Oct. 11 - Glazart - Paris, France
Oct. 12 - Die Röhre - Stuttgart, Germany
Oct. 13 - Batschkapp - Frankfurt, Germany
Oct. 14 - Markthalle - Hamburg, Germany
Oct. 15 - Alte Spinnerei - Glauchau, Germany
Oct. 16 - Loch Ness - Krakow, Poland
Oct. 17 - Randal - Bratislava, Slovakia
Oct. 19 - Exit Chmelnice - Prague, Czech Republic
Oct. 20 - K 17 - Berlin, Germany
Oct. 21 - Backstage - Munich, Germany
Oct. 22 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland
Oct. 23 - Metal Female Voices Fest - Wieze, Belgium

TRISTANIA recently entered the studio to begin recording its new album for a late 2010 release. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Vulture", "Patriot Games", "Year of the Rat", "The Emerald Piper" and "Sirens".

TRISTANIA last year announced the addition of guitarist Gyri Losnegård to the group's ranks.

The band played a couple of shows last summer with guest vocalist Kjetil Nordhus (ex-GREEN CARNATION, TRAIL OF TEARS) filling in for Østen Bergøy, including last year's Wacken Open Air festival, which was held July 30 - August 1, 2009 in Wacken, Germany

TRISTANIA in 2007 announced the addition of Italian singer Mariangela "Mary" Demurtas to the group's ranks.

The band's last album, "Illumination", was released in January 2007 via SPV. The CD was recorded at Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany with producer Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT, GRIP INC.).

Swedish alternative rockers APRIL DIVINE will release a new single, "Redemption", on March 22 via Supernova Records.

Commented bassist Peter Uvén: "This is a hint of things to to come. This is what our massive new album is gonna be all about, bon appetite!"

APRIL DIVINE's sophomore full-length CD will be released in May. The effort was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia with American producer Rick Beato (BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, DARK NEW DAY, SHINEDOWN, SEVENDUST, VINCE NEIL, SUBMERSED) and in Gothenburg, Sweden with award-winning producer Tobias Lindell (MUSTASCH, HEED, EUROPE).


APRIL DIVINE's critically acclaimed debut album, "Chapter One", came out in 2007.

For more information, visit www.aprildivine.com.

German goth metallers XANDRIA have been forced to cancel their previously announced tour of Mexico "due to circumstances beyond [their] control." According to the group, "The Mexican promoter that booked these concerts has not fullfilled any contractual obligations, therefore making it impossible to make the trip. All tickets can be refunded where you bought them."

XANDRIA last month parted ways with its singer of one year, Kerstin Bischof. The group stated at the time, "Due to occupational and private reasons, [Kerstin] wants to concentrate on her non-musical career in the future and cannot support XANDRIA the way it would be necessary. We wish her all the best for the future!

"So here and now we are searching for a new singer again, details for applications follow in a few days on our official homepage.

"We know that you are waiting for a new album, and we are very sorry for keeping you waiting even longer for the new songs , with which we actually wanted to enter the recording studio now.

"The good news is that we will play the coming concerts nevertheless, 'cause our old singer, Lisa Middelhauve, has agreed to step in for them. But she will not enter the band again, so this will be an unexpected last opportunity for many fans to experience her on stage with XANDRIA once more!"

Bischof joined XANDRIA in February 2009 as the replacement for Middelhauve, who left the band in May 2008 for "personal reasons." She stated at the time, "My exit has nothing to do with dispute or controversy within the band. It was just time to split. I hope we still will be friends in future like we are right now."

XANDRIA's "Now & Forever - The Best Of" collection was released in June 2008. The CD contains 20 tracks, including a few rarities like the ballad "Lullaby" from the "India" era and the songs "One Word" and "Drown In Me" (previously unavailable on a XANDRIA album). "Now & Forever - The Best Of Xandria" was also released as a double digipack containing a DVD of the complete XANDRIA show from 2007's Summer Breeze festival, all of the band's promotional video clips and a brand new interview.

XANDRIA's fourth album, "Salomé - The Seventh Veil", was released on May 25, 2007.

Austrian symphonic metallers VISIONS OF ATLANTIS will enter Dreamscape Studios in Munich, Germany in late May to begin recording their fourth album for a fall 2010 release. The band states, "The producers [at Dreamscape] exactly know how to bring out the best of our work and we enjoy working together with such nice guys."

Working songtitles set to appear on the new CD include:

* Aeon
* Memento
* Reflections
* Gravitate Towards Fatality
* New Dawn
* Beyond Horizon - The Poem Pt. II

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS' new album will mark the recording debut of the band's new singer , Maxi Nil, who joined the group last summer.

For more information on Maxi Nil, visit her MySpace page.

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS in 2007 parted ways with the group's Minnesota-based vocalist, Melissa Ferlaak, and her now-husband, guitarist Wolfgang "Wops" Koch, due to "musical differences." Koch has since been replaced by the returning guitarist Werner Fiedler, who was responsible for much of the songwriting on the group's first two records.

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS's latest album, "Trinity", was released in May 2007 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Dreamscape Studios and was mastered at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland. The CD's cover artwork was created by Anthony Clarkson, who has previously worked with BLIND GUARDIAN, HYPOCRISY and EXODUS, among others.

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS (featuring new singer Maxi Nil) performing at Slovenia's Metalcamp festival on July 3, 2009:

CADAVERIA, the Italian band featuring former OPERA IX vocalist Cadaveria and ex-OPERA IX drummer/NECRODEATH vocalist Marçelo Santos (a.k.a. Flegias), has entered the studio to begin recording its new album.

After performing live in Mexico at the end of June, CADAVERIA spent the second half of 2009 in the rehearsal room to complete the songwriting for its fourth full-length CD . The as-yet-untitled effort will contain eleven tracks and will be released in late 2010.

In January 2009, CADAVERIA announced the addition of Dick Laurent as the group's second guitarist. The new member's influence will be clearly felt in the new compositions which are described by singer Cadaveria as "heavy, obscure and insane."

Check out a report from the studio at this location.

Cadaveria recently made a guest appearance on Italian death metallers MECHANICAL GOD CREATION's new CD, performing backing vocals on the song "I Shall Remain Unforgiven".

Over the course of the last two years, Cadaveria worked concurrently on the project DYNABYTE. The industrial metal act has just finished mastering its new record that will be unleashed in June.

CADAVERIA's video for the song "Anagram" can be viewed below. The track comes off the group's latest album, "In Your Blood", which was released in May 2007 via Season of Mist.

CADAVERIA's sophomore album, "Far Away from Conformity", was released in early 2004. The follow-up to 2002's "The Shadows' Madame" was recorded and mixed at Capitan Woofer Studio in Italy and was mastered at the Mastering Room in Sweden.

Resurrected Morgantown, West Virginia instrumental metal pioneers KARMA TO BURN will release their fourth album, "Appalachian Incantation", on May 11 via Napalm Records. The group's first studio CD in eight years was produced by ex-KYUSS bassist Scott Reeder and contains eight instrumentals chronologically titled from "41" to "48", along with the track "Waiting for the Western World", which features YEAR LONG DISASTER frontman Daniel Davis on vocals. A deluxe edition of the album will include a seven-track bonus CD of rarities and re-recordings.

A cult band with an extensive, highly cherished back catalog, KARMA TO BURN reunited last year after laying dormant for most of the decade and soon embarked upon a reunion tour, including a coveted spot at 2009's Download festival. All this action is captured on the "Live 2009 - Reunion Tour" DVD, which was released domestically on December 15 by Napalm Records, the band's new label home.

Quality video footage (three-camera mix) of KARMA TO BURN's April 18, 2009 concert at the Ravari in Columbus, Ohio can be viewed below (clip shot and uploaded by Digitallive).

KARMA TO BURN split in 2002 after Rich Mullins left to join Texas aggro-rockers SPEEDEALER.

KARMA TO BURN consists of guitarist Will Mecum (TREASURE CAT), bassist Rich "Dickie" Mullins (YEAR LONG DISASTER) and drummer Rob Oswald (NEBULA).

Upcoming KARMA TO BURN shows:

May 14 - Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory
May 15 - Philadelphia, PA
May 16 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
May 17 - Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
May 19 - Pittsburgh, PA @ 31st Pub
May 20 - Charleston, WV
May 21 - Huntington, WV @ V Club
May 22 - Morgantown, WV @ 123 Pleasant St.
May 23 - Columbus, OH
May 25 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
May 26 - Chicago, IL @ Double Door
May 27 - Madison, WI
May 29 - Wichita, KS @ Lizard Lounge
May 30 - Oklahoma City, OK

For more information www.myspace.com/karmatoburn.

Swedish death metallers SOULDRAINER have entered Empire Studio to begin recording their new album for a late 2010 release. According to the band, the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2007's "Reborn" will contain 13 sogns and "will be beautiful, evil, slightly more aggressive and heavier" than its predecessor. The group adds, "Prepare for an epic death/doom album so heavy it will blow your face off."

In May 2008, SOULDRAINER parted ways with Mascot Records, the label which released the group's debut album, "Reborn", in May 2007. That CD was recorded by SOULDRAINER and Marcus Edvardsson at Manic Motion Studio and was mixed and mastered by Marcus Edvardsson. The layout and artwork was handled by Daniel Dlimi.

SOULDRAINER in 2008 uploaded a teaser video (see below) of a demo track entitled "Fed By Fire". According to the band, "Dan Swanö [BLOODBATH, EDGE OF SANITY] — the grand master himself — made this mix and it kicks ass! This song is one of the songs from 'Garage Demo 2008' we recorded live some time ago in the rehearsal space! It's also one of the up-tempo songs we've got!"


EYES OF NOCTUM, the California-based black metal band fronted by Weston "Arcane" Coppola Cage (19-year-old son of actor Nicolas Cage), will release its new album on Tuesday, June 22 through Morbid Rose Records. The group will announce the single release date soon.

EYES OF NOCTUM's debut album, "Inceptum" , was released last year through Morbid Rose. The CD was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with acclaimed producer Fredrik Nordström (DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL). Norwegian drummer Hellhammer (MAYHEM, DIMMU BORGIR) and Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME) both make guest appearances on the CD.

Santa Cruz, California technical death metalers BRAIN DRILL will release their sophomore album, "Quantum Catastrophe", on May 11 via Metal Blade Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Obliteration Untold
02. Beyond Bludgeoned
03. Awaiting Imminent Destruction
04. Nemesis of Neglect
05. Entity of Extinction
06. Mercy to None
07. Monumental Failure
08. Quantum Catastrophe

The track "Beyond Bludgeoned" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. A video for the song was filmed in the middle of nowhere near Birds Landing close to the San Joaquin Delta/Rio Vista, California and was directed by Nikko DeLuna and shot by Justin Potter.

"Quantum Catastrophe" was recorded at Castle Ultimate Studios in Oakland, California with Zack Ohren, who handled engineering mastering and produced the album along with the band. Bassist Ivan Munguia got to show off his guitar skills on the tracks "Mercy to None" and "Awaiting Imminent Destruction", which he wrote and recorded.

Vocalist Steve Rathjen explains the concept behind "Quantum Catastrophe": "Universal decimation (black holes, galactic cosmic radiation), pandemic disease and zombie re-awakenings - mankind is entering an age of mass speculation as foreseen by numerous ancient cultures. Space to all humanity still primarily remains a mystery even in our days of immense technological advancements. We know this void is filled with infinite extremities which could occur at any instant; easily decimating all habitations. We also know our planet has fulfilled these mass extinctions time and again centuries in the past. The question which remains, are we due for another apocalyptic transition?"

Guitarist Dylan Ruskin adds some insight into the musical process: "The album was definitely a huge accomplishment in the chronicling of the drill. The musical dynamics and skill level of everyone in the band have improved much more than the previous album. The songs are more technical and musically diverse but are also well balanced and catchy."

"Quantum Catastrophe" again features cover art by Pär Olofsson. The over the top cover art perfectly complements the nearly unbelievable musicianship present on the record.

BRAIN DRILL is:

Dylan Ruskin - guitar
Steve Rathjen - vocals
Ivan Munguia - bass
Ron Casey - drums

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


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