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7 àïð 2011


OPETH Parts Ways With KeyboardistKeyboardist Per Wiberg has been relieved of his duties as a member of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH as part of a mutual decision with the band. Keyboard duties on upcoming tours will be handled by a musician who is already rehearsing with the band. Said musician’s identity will be released at a later date.
OPETH vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt released the following statement on the matter: "Well, it's been somewhat of a revolving door of members during the last couple of years, and now Per is no longer a member. [Martin] Mendez [bass], Axe [Martin Axenrot, drums] and Fredrik [Åkesson, guitar] and I came to the decision that we should find a replacement for Per right after the recordings of the new album, and this came as no surprise to Per. He had, in turn, been thinking about leaving, so you could say it was a mutual decision. There's no bad blood, just a relationship that came to an end, and that's that. We wish Per the best, and he did a splendid job recording keyboards for the last record, which stands as his final recording with OPETH." 35
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7 àïð 2011


THE HAUNTED: \'Unseen\' First-Week Sales Revealed"Unseen", the seventh studio album from Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED, sold around 1,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 33 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
THE HAUNTED's previous album, "Versus", opened with 1,600 units back in October 2008, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
"Unseen" has registered the following first-week chart positions:
Sweden: #5
Finland: #26
The Swedish chart position marks the highest chart entry ever in THE HAUNTED's home territory.
"Celestial Completion", the fourth album from Atlanta, Georgia-based metallers BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE, sold around 2,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position 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.
"Blunt Force Trauma", the sophomore album from CAVALERA CONSPIRACY — the project featuring former SEPULTURA members Max (guitar, vocals) and Igor Cavalera (drums) — sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's debut CD, "Inflikted", opened with 9,000 units to enter the chart at No. 72.
"Blunt Force Trauma" was once again tracked with ex-MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader, who co-produced the LP with Max. Logan also mixed the follow-up to the band's debut album, "Inflikted", which has sold less than 50,000 copies in the United States since its March 2008 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The brothers Cavalera co-founded SEPULTURA, the Brazilian metal band that redefined and established the genre outside of the U.S. and Europe. After Max exited the band, there was a rift between himself and his brother, one that was eventually repaired through the redemptive power of music. Some time had passed and Max and Igor were unable to resist the musical pull in their magnetic fields and their musical collaboration was renewed. The duo are back for round two with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.
"Surtur Rising", the eighth studio album from Swedish melodic death metal tyrants AMON AMARTH, sold around 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 34 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Twilight of the Thunder God", opened with more than 11,000 copies back in 2008 to land at No. 48.
Named in tribute to Surtur, leader of the fire giants of Muspelheim ("flame land") and the oldest being in the nine worlds of Norse mythology, "Surtur Rising", which came out in North America on March 29 via Metal Blade Records, features 10 tracks of sword-wielding, fist-pumping, hyper climactic battle anthems. The album was once again recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren and features strikingly brutal cover art by Tom Thiel.
WHITESNAKE's new album, "Forevermore", sold around 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 49 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The effort, which came out in North America on March 29 via Frontiers Records, was made available in four different configurations.
"Forevermore" is available as:
* a single CD
* a CD+DVD combo: the DVD features the "Love Will Set You Free" video, the making of "Love Will Set You Free" video, as well as a behind-the-scenes documentary on the recording of "Forevermore"; the CD includes three bonus tracks: "Love Will Set You Free" (alternate mix), "My Evil Ways" (alternate mix with drum solo) and "Forevermore" (acoustic version)
* a double-LP vinyl edition
* a special edition box set which includes the CD, DVD, LPs, as well as a cover litho, a poster and a logo sticker.
"Forevermore" finds founder/singer/songwriter David Coverdale and company returning to their no-holds-barred, bluesiest, sexiest rock n' roll roots. The CD was recorded, produced and mixed by Los Bros B
"The Unforgiving", the fifth studio album from Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION, sold around 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 50 on The Billboard 200 chart.
"Omnivium", the new album from the progressive death metal act OBSCURA, sold around 2,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 11 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.
OBSCURA's previous album, "Cosmogenesis", opened with 900 units to debut at No. 71 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart. 8
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7 àïð 2011


SHINING: New Song Available For StreamingFollowing on from the recent news that Swedish extreme metallers SHINING had parted company with Indie Recordings and signed with Spinefarm Records, the band has debuted a track from the forthcoming album, "VII / Född Förlorare", which in English means "Born Loser". The track "Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel" can be heard usingthe SoundCloud player below.
All the music and lyrics for "VII / Född Förlorare", which is due for release on May 25, were written by SHINING's founder and frontman Niklas Kvarforth, and the album was recorded over what the band describes as "three long years" inside the Slaughterhouse studios in Sweden, with Rickard Bengtsson once again producing.
Kvarforth himself defines the finished result as "THE" SHINING album. "It is", he commented, "the natural successor to our fifth album 'V/Halmstad', rather than to our last release, 'VI/Klagopsalmer', which I have always thought of as more of an experiment both in terms of writing and performance."
"VII / Född Förlorare" includes an array of guest appearances, and here follows a track-by-track description of the album.
* "Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel" (Despair, My Heritage) marks the start of what promises to be the darkest album in SHINING's career to date — and for a band that epitomises the exploration of darkness, the significance of that statement is self-evident. A video of the track is currently being made.
* "Tiden Läker Inga Sår" (Time Heals Nothing). As well as being tortured behind the microphone throughout most of the song, WATAIN's Erik Danielsson makes an appearance on vocals on a track whose atmosphere is evocative of LED ZEPPELIN.
* "Människa O'Avskyvärda Människa" (Man Despicable Man) could perhaps be the most groovy, yet most sinister and dark song from SHINING. Chris Amott of ARCH ENEMY contributes a magnificent solo on the track.
* "Tillsammans Är Vi Allt" (Together We Are All) sheds an entirely new light on the band with its melancholic structure and the use of a grand piano as the lead instrument. The refrain is sung by Nordman, one of Sweden's biggest pop stars.
* "I Nattens Timma" (In The Night Hour). As can be expected with a SHINING album, there is always one track that differs from the rest, and this is the one, with only piano, mellotron and a guest vocal appearance by Peter Bjärgö of ARCANA.
* "FFF" A track exploring family relationships, this is one of the most personal songs that Kvarforth has ever written. 7
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6 àïð 2011


PAUL RODGERS Reveals That THE DOORS Wanted Him To Replace JIM MORRISONAccording to The Pulse Of Radio, Paul Rodgers revealed that following the death of Jim Morrison in 1971, THE DOORS were seriously considering asking him to replace the "Lizard King" as their new frontman. Rodgers explained that it's only recently come to his attention that he was shortlisted to become THE DOORS' second lead singer before Ray Manzarek decided to take over vocal duties himself. Rodgers told Uncut magazine, "I discovered quite recently that I was lined up to join THE DOORS, which blew my mind. Robby Krieger told me that THE DOORS were all fans of FREE and after Jim Morrison's death; they came to England looking for me. (The) thing is, at that time, I had buried myself in the country, working on things, and they couldn't get a hold of me."
He went on to explain: "My jaw actually dropped like in a cartoon when Robby told me this. Would I have joined them? I dunno. It's hard to say, looking back. But I think not. I tend to form bands, that's what I do. Although it's always flattering to be asked!"
Rodgers told The Pulse Of Radio that throughout his career, his primary musical inspiration has always been linked to the blues: "You used to look around and think, 'God, is there no other way?' — y'know? And then I heard these blues guys singing about jumping on the first train smoking, and heading out of town, you know, and my friends can have my room. And I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if you could just do that?' And that drew me to playing and singing blues. And it's actually what I did, and I'm still doing." 11
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6 àïð 2011


YES - More New Album Details RevealedAs reported earlier this week, quintessential prog-rockers YES have announced that they have reunited with legendary producer Trevor Horn for their highly anticipated new album, Fly From Here. The album marks the band's first studio album in ten years.
Frontiers Records now reports:
Horn and Yes bassist Chris Squire re-discovered the track 'Fly From Here', which has never been recorded as a studio track.
“Chris and I were talking one evening about a song ‘Fly From Here’ that we never recorded,” explains Trevor Horn. “I said I was prepared to spend two weeks with Yes recording that song. When I arrived in America to record it, I was taken prisoner by the band and only allowed my freedom again in return for producing the whole album. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse!!!”
Fly From Here encompasses Yes’ signature brand of mysticism and grand-scale compositions. Maintaining a complex, symphonic sound that features the beautiful harmonies and strong heavy riffs they are known for.
“The new album represents the best of Yes from the 70s and the 80s with a current twist,” states Squire.
Yes are the pioneers for the use of synthesizers and sound effects in modern music, which produced such timeless, symphonic-rock masterworks as 'Roundabout', 'Close To the Edge', and 'Awaken'. Yes continued to push the cutting edge of art-rock music to their limits, selling over 30 million albums, reaching platinum status multiple times worldwide.
Yes’ powerful mainstream progressive compositions have influenced a generation of musicians with a hugely successful and indelible catalogue of music with hit albums such as Drama, Fragile, Close To The Edge and 90125. Classics such as 'Roundabout,' a seminal hit which consistently appears on “the best songs of all-time” lists, and the group’s #1 hit 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart', which Horn is responsible for. Taken from the Yes album 90125, this single would form part of a unique double, which would see Yes and Horn top both the UK and US charts simultaneously.
Fly From HEre will be released on Frontiers Records in July 2011. More details about the album, its packaging and Yes’ live plans for the rest of the year will become available shortly. 7
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6 àïð 2011


CHIMAIRA Keyboardist/Programmer QuitsKeyboardist/programmer Chris Spicuzza has left Cleveland, Ohio metallers CHIMAIRA. "The choice was extremely tough and stewed around in my mind for quite awhile," he told ThePRP.com. "Many things led to this decision. The situation in CHIMAIRA had ultimately become a negative environment that I had to get out of. Secondly, the music industry is completely fucked and honestly, I became concerned for my future. The amount of work and stress I took on got the best of me. I guess if you're not happy or having fun, what's the point?:
He added, "As far as the new CHIMAIRA album, I have not contributed to it. There is no doubt in my mind that CHIMAIRA's sound will not suffer minus my presence. The demos I heard showed great potential and I’m sure the album will melt faces. I'm proud to say I was on five CHIMAIRA albums and wish those guys the best."
CHIMAIRA has tapped Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL, MURDERDOLLS, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD) to mix the band's new album, due in August in North America, South America and Japan via eOne Music. The CD was recorded with producer Ben Schigel, who has previously worked with DROWNING POOL and WALLS OF JERICHO, among others. 8
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6 àïð 2011


WHITESNAKE\'s \'Live At Donington 1990\' To Receive Japanese Release In May; Formats RevealedAccording to CDJapan.co.jp, WHITESNAKE's "Live At Donington 1990" DVD/live double CD will be released in Japan via Columbia Music Entertainment on May 20 in the following formats:
* DVD+2CD / Limited Edition
* Regular-Edition DVD
* Cardboard Sleeve / Limited Edition
* Regular-Edition CD
WHITESNAKE's "Live At Donington 1990" DVD/live double CD set will be available on June 3 in Europe and June 7 in North America via Frontiers Records. Since the inception of Whitesnake.com more than ten years ago, this DVD has been the most requested product from fans of the 'SNAKE.
On August 18, 1990, WHITESNAKE headlined the legendary Monsters Of Rock at Castle Donington festival (now known as Download). WHITESNAKE's performance at the festival was one of the most memorable events on the "Liquor & Poker World Tour" that saw the band play sold-out shows to over one million people. This incredible, never-before-seen, visual footage captures one of the most musically intense WHITESNAKE lineups performing in front of more than 70,000 fans. Mixed in glorious 5.1 and living, breathing stereo, it's the next best thing to actually being there! WHITESNAKE 1990 featured guitar greats Steve Vai and Adrian Vandenberg, bassist Rudy Sarzo, drummer Tommy Aldridge and, of course, incomparable frontman David Coverdale.
The "Live At Donington" 1990 DVD also includes a substantial gallery of never before seen stills of the band on the "Liquor & Poker World Tour 1990", plus an intimate behind-the-scenes documentary of the making-of the "Slip Of The Tongue" album.
The "Live At Donington 1990" will be available in 2CD set, DVD coverpack, combo 2CD + DVD in digipak and digital edition.
In other news, WHITESNAKE's brand new album, "Forevermore", is out this week on Frontiers Records and is available in multiple configurations. The album is already receiving rave reviews from the press with The Aquarian dubbing it, "excellent…their bluesiest and grittiest release since their 1984 masterpiece 'Slide It In'…", while Hard Rock Hideout declares, "Make no mistake, 'Forevermore', is an early front runner for record of the year." "Forevermore" finds founder/singer/songwriter David Coverdale and company returning to their no-holds-barred, bluesiest, sexiest rock' n' roll roots.
WHITESNAKE is David Coverdale (vocals), Doug Aldrich (guitars), Reb Beach (guitars), Michael Devin (bass) and Brian Tichy (drums).
"Live At Donington 1990" DVD track listing:
01. Slip Of The Tongue
02. Slide It In
03. Judgement Day
04. Slow An Easy
05. Kitten's Got Claws
06. Adagio For Strato
07. Flying Dutchman Boogie
08. Is This Love
09. Cheap An' Nasty
10. Crying In The Rain (featuring Tommy Aldridge drum solo)
11. Fool For Your Loving
12. For The Love Of God
13. The Audience Is Listening
14. Here I Go Again
15. Bad Boys
16. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
17. Still Of The Night
18. Bonus content: The Making of Slip of the Tongue; Slide Show
"Live At Donington 1990" CD 1 track listing:
01. Slip Of The Tongue
02. Slide It In
03. Judgement Day
04. Slow An Easy
05. Kitten's Got Claws
06. Adagio For Strato
07. Flying Dutchman Boogie
08. Is This Love
09. Cheap An' Nasty
10. Crying In The Rain (featuring Tommy Aldridge drum solo)
"Live At Donington 1990" CD 2 track listing:
01. Fool For Your Loving
02. For The Love Of God
03. The Audience Is Listening
04. Here I Go Again
05. Bad Boys
06. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
07. Still Of The Night 4
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6 àïð 2011


ORIGIN: New Album Title, Release Date, Artwork UnveiledAmerican technical death metal innovators ORIGIN will release their new album, "Entity", on June 7 in North America and June 10 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records.
One of the most intense and technical forces of the contemporary death metal world, ORIGIN has returned to stake its claim as the leader of metal's new wave of extremity with its fifth studio effort. As expected, the death grind trio of Mike Flores (bass, vocals), Paul Ryan (guitar, vocals) and John Longstreth (drums) continues to churn out frantic, hell-paced grids of metal torment, but now further complements the arrangements with a newfound propensity for churning grooves and the hook-laden approach that first reared its ugly, but accessible head on the band's 2007 offering, "Antithesis". The band once again returned to Chapman Recording Studios in Lenexa, Kansas to work with longtime engineer and friend Robert Rebeck.
As stated multiple times in the past, ORIGIN proves once again that they stand head and shoulders above their peers.
Commented drummer John Longstrength: "As you can see, we're getting closer and closer to having a new album available for you.
"This has been a project that has been a long time in the making with all the unexpected twists and turns that come with creating an album and we are almost there.
"So, this is the new album cover! Designed by the band and executed flawlessly by artist extraordinaire, Colin Marks.
"As you can see, this time there's no aliens, no scary faces, no silly comic book imagery, no bullshit. It's back to basics for the people that don't fall for, or appreciate, bullshit trends that currently compromise the validity of this art.
"Let this album cover with its grey, dead, coldness reflect our disdain for the misconception that ORIGIN is represented by a giant, planet eating, scary face that's aimlessly roaming the cosmos like an idiot.
"Like the cover, the music on this album is stone, it's cold, it's serious, it's desolate, it's very angry, it's the band unified and working overtime to create what we feel will be the finest 45 minutes ORIGIN has created yet. This album is its own bitter entity."
Added artist Colin Marks: "It's been a real pleasure collaborating with the ORIGIN guys on the artwork for 'Entity'.
"From the beginning John had a very specific vision of how this record should look and I tried to interpret that as accurately as possible.
"The whole look of the album, the way I see it, is a suffocating vision of absolute solitude and isolation, with huge barren otherworldly landscapes. It's a simple concept, but it works well and hopefully reflects the bleak tones and heaviness of the new songs."
Catch the band, with their new frontman Jason Keyser, on tour with HATE ETERNAL, VITAL REMAINS and ABYSMAL DAWN in North America starting on June 15 at Emo's in Austin, Texas. Look for ORIGIN on the road in Europe, South America, Mexico, Asia, Australia and the rest of the world in 2011 and 2012. 4
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6 àïð 2011


KATAKLYSM: \'At The Edge Of The World\' Video Released"At The Edge Of The World", the new video from Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based extreme metallers KATAKLYSM, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed on March 20 at the band's hometown show at Club Soda. This concert also marked the end of the group's "Spread the Venom" European/North American tour. The video was helmed by director Tommy Jones (DEATH ANGEL, SOILWORK), who is also working with KATAKLYSM on the band's upcoming documentary DVD, "The Iron Will: 20 Years Determined".
"The Iron Will: 20 Years Determined" will begin with the band's inception in 1991 and tell the lasting story behind of one of the most important extreme musical exports in Canada's short 143-year history. Tommy Jones will catch the band's heartbeat on the road and to put the memories together. The DVD will also include interviews with a wide range of characters, including the band's infamous first frontman Sylvain Houde, who sang on the first three KATAKLYSM albums: "The Mystical Gate Of Reincarnation" (1993), "Sorcery" (1996), and "Temple Of Knowledge" (1999).
A single and a video clip for the title track "The Iron Will" will be recorded this summer.
The massive content of the DVD will include KATAKLYSM's upcoming headlining show at Summer Breeze festival in Germany where the band will perform classics from all of its eleven releases.
KATAKLYSM's latest album, "Heaven's Venom", sold around 2,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 8 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.
KATAKLYSM's previous CD, "Prevail", opened with 2,250 units back in June 2008.
"Heaven's Venom" was produced by Jean-Francois Dagenais and was mixed by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MNEMIC, DARK TRANQUILLITY). 12
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6 àïð 2011


SEPTICFLESH: \'The Great Mass\' Full Cover Artwork Unveiled Greek demons SEPTICFLESH will release their new album, "The Great Mass", on April 18 in Europe (April 19 in North America) via Season Of Mist. The new opus will be made available in the following formats:
* CD + Blu-ray digipak
* Collector's book, including 2 CDs + Blu-ray
* 12" gatefold LP
* CD jewel case
* Digital download
The cover artwork of the album's jewel case edition was designed by Seth Siro Anton himself.
"The Great Mass" track listing:
01. The Vampire From Nazareth
02. A Great Mass Of Death
03. Pyramid God
04. Five-Pointed Star
05. Oceans Of Grey
06. The Undead Keep Dreaming
07. Rising
08. Apocalypse
09. Mad Architect
10. Therianthropy
A teaser clip for "The Great Mass" can be viewed below.
You can now witness the Suicidal God statue in all its gruesome glory, the final part that completes the cover artwork of the CD+DVD digipak, the gatefold LP and the dust jacket of the artbook edition. Check it out below.
Commented Seth: "This is a small fragment of the artwork that will dress the new artistic experiment of SEPTICFLESH, 'The Great Mass'. It is a small part of an occult machine made from marble and flesh, fantasy and reality, order and chaos. A great machine composed from the blasphemous union of strange figures, creations of Man, the creator of the gods and demons. Their grotesque purpose will be revealed soon, when all the cover editions of the new album will be presented and will be combined together… Let the great self-cannibalistic symposium begin."
The main artwork for "The Great Mass" will appear on the limited digipak edition, the gatefold LP and the dust jacket of the collector's book.
A brand new song from SEPTICFLESH's forthcoming album, entitled "The Vampire From Nazareth", can be streamed below. 11
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5 àïð 2011


JOURNEY - neue Single \'City Of Hope\' im Stream!JOURNEY's new single, "City Of Hope", has just been made available digitally at all European online music stores. The song is described as a "classic JOURNEY-style anthem" by MelodicRock.com.
JOURNEY is currently touring Latin America in front of packed audiences. Following shows in Santiago, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Lima and Caracas, JOURNEY will play dates in Guatemala, Panama and Mexico.
JOURNEY's new album, "Eclipse" will be released on Scarecrow Records in Mexico, WET Music in Brazil and D.B.N. in the rest of Latin America.
The first single from "Eclipse" in South America is "Human Feel", also available digitally from April 4. Online stores carrying the new single include iTunes and Telcel in Mexico; Claro, Telefonica and Comcel in Colombia; and Porta in Ecuador.
"Eclipse" will be released in the U.S. and Canada on May 24 exclusively at Walmart and beginning June 3 in Europe on Frontiers Records. The 12 tracks were written over the past 18 months by the core team of guitarist Neal Schon and keyboard player Jonathan Cain, with collaboration from singer Arnel Pineda.
"Eclipse" track listing:
01. City Of Hope
02. Edge Of The Moment
03. Chain Of Love
04. Tantra
05. Anything Is Possible
06. Resonate
07. She's A Mystery
08. Human Feel
09. Ritual
10. To Whom It May Concern
11. Someone
12. Venus
"I'm in love with this record, which I haven't said about one of our albums for a long time," says founding member and lead guitarist, Neal Schon. "It's a rock record and it sounds amazing." Commenting on the upcoming tour, Schon continues, "We've got a lot of hits to play and there's plenty of time to do some new stuff too, so we're gonna mix it up. We haven't toured with FOREIGNER for over 10 years, so we're re 2
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