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31 окт 2010


EKTOMORF To Release \'Redemption\' In December Hungarian extreme metallers EKTOMORF will release their new album, "Redemption", on December 17 via AFM Records. The CD was recorded at Antfarm studios in Århus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen, who has previously worked with DARK TRANQUILLITY, THE HAUNTED and HEAVEN SHALL BURN, among others.
EKTOMORF will play a very special acoustic show in front of an invited audience of members of the press on November 18 in Berlin, Germany. In addition, the band will premiere two new video clips taken from the upcoming CD, which will also be presented in full at this exclusive event.
On June 25, EKTOMORF released a special "festival edition" of the band's last album, "What Doesn't Kill Me...", via AFM Records. in addition to the 13 songs on the regular LP, the festival edition includes the three-track CD single "The Gipsy Way" and a poster, all packed in a nice hard cover box. "The Gipsy Way" single is also available as a separate product.
The original version of "What Doesn't Kill Me…" was released in March 2009 via AFM Records. The CD was also recorded at Antfarm with Madsen. 3
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31 окт 2010


Swedish-Hungarian Band HARD Releases First Single From Forthcoming Album"Várj úgy", the new video from the Swedish-Hungarian hard rock act HARD, can be viewed below. The clip was shot in Budapest on a boat on the Danube. The song is a very special occasion indeed, as Swedish singer Björn Lodin, as a gesture to his Hungarian bandmates and their Hungarian fans, took on the unlikely challenge of recording the track singing in Hungarian for the first time.
"Várj úgy" is a collaboration with award-winning top Hungarian lyricist Attila Horváth and also has a "Hunglish" version released, interpolating parts of an English-language version which will be featured on the forthcoming album due early 2011.
HARD was formed in 2004 by some of the finest musicians of the Hungarian hard rock scene. After two critically acclaimed and award-nominated albums in Hungary, the band decided to take it a step forward and hit international music territories with English lyrics. After several lineup changes, their first international offering, "Traveler", was released worldwide in March 2008. The band has appeared in the biggest international hard rock and heavy metal magazines, such us Metal Hammer, Burrn!!, Fireworks, Hardline, Powerplay, etc. In August 2009, the band announced that it was joining forces with acclaimed Swedish vocalist/guitarist/producer Björn Lodin (BALTIMOORE). The long-awaited first album with this new lineup, entitled "Time Is Waiting For No One", was released on BLP Music/Escape Music in Europe and on BLP Music/Nightmare Records in North America. 1
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31 окт 2010


POISONBLACK Completes Work On New Five-Song DemoPOISONBLACK — the Finnish band featuring former SENTENCED frontman Ville Laihiala — has finished recording a five-song pre-production demo for the group's upcoming album. Ville said, "I am happy about the way they are starting to build up."
POISONBLACK will enter Antfarm Studio in Århus, Denmark in January 2011 with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY, GOREFEST) to begin recording its new album, tentatively titled "Lead & Roll Vol. 5". A late spring/early summer release is expected.
Madsen previously mixed POISONBLACK's 2006 effort "Lust-Stained Despair".
As previously reported, guitarist Antti Leiviskä (MARY, BRYSSEL KAUPALLINEN, SICKNOTE) will fill in for POISONBLACK's Janne Markus at all upcoming shows.
"Of Rust And Bones", the fourth album from POISONBLACK, entered the official chart in the group's home country at position No. 6. The follow-up to 2008's "A Dead Heavy Day" was recorded with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, who has previously worked with such acts as HIM, SENTENCED, AMORPHIS and ENSIFERUM. The cover and booklet artwork was created by Teemu Hostikka. 2
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30 окт 2010


METALLICA: \'Enter Night - The Biography\' Book Due Next MonthRenowned British rock journalist Mick Wall will release a new book, "Metallica: Enter Night - The Biography", in hardcover via Orion in the U.K. on November 11.
The book's official description: "Alongside contemporaries SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX, METALLICA came to prominence in the Eighties as one of the 'Big Four' of thrash metal. METALLICA were to thrash, though, what the SEX PISTOLS were to punk. Nearly thirty years on, their tale is one of alcohol, rule breaking and tragically early death. But allied to that are colossal sales figures for their records — they are the fifth-highest selling recording artists of all time — and members with backgrounds that touch on jazz and classical music. METALLICA, in fact, have garnered more critical acclaim than any heavy rock band since LED ZEPPELIN. Fresh from the critical and commercial success of 'When Giants Walked The Earth: A Biography Of Led Zeppelin', Mick Wall takes a similar informed look at the band, a group he has known on and off since their formation in 1981."
As previously reported, Chronicle Books has just released "The Ultimate Metallica" book of photographs by legendary rock photographer Ross Halfin.
Halfin has documented METALLICA for nearly 25 years, from their beginnings as a scrappy, furious garage band to their current status as the heaviest and most popular metal band in the world. Featuring a foreword by METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich and an afterword by guitarist Kirk Hammett, "The Ultimate Metallica" collects the best of Halfin's amazing images, taken over the years with access granted exclusively to him as the band's main lensman. His candid photographs — taken on stage, backstage, on and off tour — are supplemented by text from many people close to the band, including managers and music writers, plus some colorful personal observations from Halfin himself.
Ulrich says of Halfin's work, "He just gets right the fuck in there. . . . Every drop of sweat, every molecule of saliva, every out-of-place nose hair, it all gets captured cuz he's just fucking there."
Ross Halfin has toured with and photographed many bands, including IRON MAIDEN, DEF LEPPARD, KISS, THE CLASH, SEX PISTOLS, and THE WHO. He lives in Surrey, England. 51
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30 окт 2010


Former MEGADETH Guitarist CHRIS POLAND Guests On GASHEAD SingleGuitarist Chris Poland (MEGADETH, OHM:, DAMN THE MACHINE) makes a guest appearance on "Skeletal", the new digital single from Colorado metallers GASHEAD. The track, which was produced by "underground guitar legend" Dave Beegle, is available in two versions at GasheadMusic.com. You can also stream the track using the ReverbNation TuneWidget below.
In 2003, things for GASHEAD started off with an all instrumental one-off CD by guitarist Mike Lopez, called "LandSpeedRecord". By the time 2005's "Knuckles Avec Sombreos" was released, critics found a lot to love; a talented group with energy, humor, taste, and a creatively accessible direction. In three years, Lopez, second guitarist Derek Maness, and drummer Nate Scofield had two luminous CDs and a run of head-turning live shows.
Still, GASHEAD always wondered what it might be like to have a vocalist in the band and to write purposeful metal that was uniquely informed by its slightly progressive, instrumental heritage. Then in 2007, armed with new singer Josh Purdy and their first full-time bass player in Justin Vaughan, the band cut "The Isolationist", followed by the "Seething Apparatus" EP in 2009. These two releases definitely cemented their ultimately destined path.
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29 окт 2010


MACBETH: In Pre-Production ModeItalian gothic metallers MACBETH have spent the last few months writing and rehearsing material for their as-yet-untitled fifth album, tentatively due in early 2011.
Commented the band: "We've been hard at work writing material for the next album since last winter, but unfortunately we have been forced to take a break during this spring and summer as Max [guitar] needed to recover from a serious shoulder injury exacerbated by playing guitar. Luckily Max's shoulder is fully healed and he's working on new stuff right now.
"Currently in pre-production phase, the band is working on vocal lines and lyrics for almost 10 brand new songs. All we can say is that we feel it's some of the best stuff we have ever written."
In other news, MACBETH's female vocalist Morena and drummer Fabrizio got married on September 4 after being together almost ten years.
MACBETH's latest album, "Superangelic Hate Bringers", came out on November 16, 2007 via Dragonheart Records. The CD was recorded in two different studios, including a private studio in Reykjavik, Iceland and New Sin studios in Italy, where the band also mixed and mastered the album. 3
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29 окт 2010


DETRIMENTUM Completes Recording New AlbumU.K. extreme metallers DETRIMENTUM have finished recording their new album, tentatively titled "Inhumanity", with producer Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR, LENG TCH'E). The CD contains eight tracks of "dark, dramatic and intense death metal with sinister black metal elements, sweeping melodic passages and crushing doom," according to a press release. "The band's trademark sound has been further enhanced by a more direct and aggressive vocal approach, as well as Russ' jaw-dropping production."
A rough-mix version of the track "The Journeyman's Lament" is available for streaming using the ReverbNation TuneWidget below.
DETRIMENTUM's current recording lineup consists of:
Paul Wilkinson - Guitar/Vocals
Jon Butlin - Guitar/Bass
Steve Powell (ANAAL NATHRAKH) - Drums
Commented Butlin: "This has been a momentous occasion for DETRIMENTUM and a sign of things to come.
"We've really enjoyed working with Russ and he has helped us hone our music and our abilities. We look forward to working with him again in our future recordings."
DETRIMENTUM will return to the studio in early February to complete the "Inhumanity" mixing/mastering, and in the meantime, continues searching for label support.
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29 окт 2010


DREAM THEATER Singer Says Last Week\'s Drummer Auditions \'Were Phenomenal\'On October 26, vocalist James LaBrie of progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER was interviewed by "Démentièllement Vôtre" on Québec City's CKRL 89.1 FM radio station. The interview has now been posted online at this location. It can also be streamed using the audio player below.
When asked about DREAM THEATER's current status following the recent departure of drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy, LaBrie said, "DREAM THEATER, we're communicating a lot to one another — John Petrucci [guitar], myself, Jordan Rudess [keyboards] and John Myung [bass] — we're staying in close contact with one another. Obviously we just did the drummer auditions last week in New York. So right now we're going to take our time and really be sure of the decision that we make, which is one of the most important decisions ever made within the band. So right now it's all about preparing for the future and making sure that the next chapter will be an exciting and really amazing ride. So that's what we're taking care of at this moment in time."
Regarding how the drummer auditions went, LaBrie said, "[The auditions] were phenomenal. I mean, it was something, obviously, unprecedented for this band, and it is for most bands, but it was just a really unique and very surreal experience for us. But I can't really comment on it any further than that other than that we're moving forward and everything is very positive. And that's about it. It's really touchy as to what we can really talk about in that area right now." 19
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29 окт 2010


GOTTHARD To Release \'Heaven - Best Of Ballads Part 2\'Swiss hard rock icons GOTTHARD — whose vocalist, Steve Lee, was killed on October 5 in what has been described as a freak road accident in Nevada — will release a brand new collection, "Heaven - Best Of Ballads Part 2", on November 26 via Nuclear Blast Records.
"Nobody's really in the mood for a driving rock song at the moment," states bass player Marc Lynn. "This ballad compilation might also help our fans to cope with their sadness and grief."
"We lost not only one of the best rock voices of the world, we also lost a really exceptional person, friend, brother and musician," adds drummer Hena Habegger. "Despite his tremendous success, Steve Lee always had his feet on the ground and never lost his sensitivity for the environment."
The compilation will only be issued as a simple but very elegant all-black digibook and will include two previously unreleased acoustic versions of the songs "Have A Little Faith" and "Falling" as well as a brand new track called "What I Am".
"Heaven - Best Of Ballads Part 2" track listing:
01. Heaven
02. What Am I *
03. Where Is Love When It's Gone
04. Need To Believe
05. One Life One Soul
06. The Call
07. Don't Let Me Down
08. Nothing Left At All
09. Unconditional Faith
10. Have A Little Faith **
11. Tears To Cry
12. Everything I Want
13. I've Seen An Angel Cry
14. Tomorrow's Just Begun
15. Falling ***
16. And Then Goodbye
17. Merry Christmas
* previously unreleased
** special piano version / previously unreleased
*** special acoustic version / previously unreleased 9
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29 окт 2010


Legendary Actor CHRISTOPHER LEE To Guest On MANOWAR\'s \'Battle Hymns\' Re-RecordingLegendary actor Christopher Lee, who has appeared in such cinematic milestones as "Lord Of The Rings", "Star Wars", "The Man with the Golden Gun" and "Dracula", will make a guest appearance on the re-recorded version of MANOWAR's classic 1982 debut album, "Battle Hymns", which is scheduled for a 2011 release.
Commented the band: "He has played key parts in some of the biggest, most legendary movie franchises of all times. He has played kings, wizards, evil forces and shining knights. He is worshipped by movie and theatre fans all over the world. He speaks multiple languages fluently and is an accomplished singer of opera and metal as well. He has been knighted by the Queen of England and honored with numerous awards. And now, he is joining forces with The Kings Of Metal to rewrite heavy metal history: The legendary Sir Christopher Lee will be the narrating voice on 'Dark Avenger' on 'Battle Hymns 2011'! 6
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29 окт 2010


RAGE Guitarist To Guest On RALF SCHEEPERS\' Solo AlbumRAGE guitarist Victor Smolski has finished laying down his parts for the forthcoming solo album from PRIMAL FEAR singer Ralf Scheepers. According to a posting on the PRIMAL FEAR web site, Achim Köhler (PRIMAL FEAR, AMON AMARTH, BRAINSTORM) has begun mixing the effort at his Indiscreet Audio Studios in Stuttgart, Germany. Other guests scheduled to appear on the CD include HALFORD guitarist "Metal" Mike Chlasciak (on the songs "Locked In The Dungeon" and "Dynasty"), Swedish guitarist Magnus Karlsson (PRIMAL FEAR, STARBREAKER, LAST TRIBE), powerhouse American vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (HAIL!, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH; dueting with Scheepers in the track "Remission Of Sin"), Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME) on drums, Sander Gommans (AFTER FOREVER, HDK) on guitar and PRIMAL FEAR's Mat Sinner playing bass on the entire LP and producing. 3
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