Das audiovisuelle Konzerterlebnis der GROSSE FREIHEIT TOUR 2010 auf Doppel-DVD und Doppel-CD!

Ein Andenken für die Konzertschar der GROSSE FREIHEIT TOURNEE 2010 und ein Trost für all die (zwangsläufig) Zuhause gebliebenen Fans. Am 11. Juni veröffentlicht Der Graf GROSSE FREIHEIT LIVE, eine geballte Ladung vom unverwechselbaren UNHEILIG Live-Erlebnis, auf zwei DVDs.

Am 1.April spielten UNHEILIG im Münchener Zenith. Die denkmalgeschützte ehemalige Fertigungshalle der Bayerischen Geschützwerke hat ein Fassungsvermögen von 5500 Besuchern, drohte aber an diesem Abend vor Energie zu platzen. Regisseur Martin Müller hat das bewegte Spektakel unter Einsatz aller Kräfte u.a. mit Kamera-Kränen in adäquaten Bildern eingefangen.

Doch damit nicht genug, denn genug ist UNHEILIG zu wenig. Also hat der Graf zu seinem Konzert im Kölner Palladium am 17.April ein weiteres Kamerateam eingeladen. Auch hier ging es im Meer von zigtausend Fans ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste mit voller Kraft voraus, diesmal unter der Leitung von Markus Gerwinat. Zusammen zeichnen die Aufnahmen beider Konzerte das vollständige Bild eines perfekten Auftritts - UNHEILIG auf dem Zenith ihrer GROSSE FREIHEIT-Tour.

DVD1 - Live aus Köln – Titel: Grosse Freiheit Live – Das Konzert:

01. Das Meer (Live)
02. Seenot (Live)
03. Schenk mir ein Wunder (Live)
04. Unter deiner Flagge (Live)
05. Feuerengel (Live)
06. Abwärts (Live)
07. Halt mich (Live)
08. An deiner Seite (Live)
09. Freiheit (Live)
10. Astronaut (Live)
11. Grosse Freiheit (Live)
12. Kleine Puppe (Live)
13. Unter Feuer (Live)
14. Maschine (Live)
15. Für immer (Live)
16. Lampenfieber (Live)
17. Geboren um zu leben (Live)
18. Ich gehöre mir (Live)
19. Mein Stern (Live)

DVD2 - Live aus München – Titel: Grosse Freiheit Live – Die musikalische Reise:

01. Das Meer (Live)
02. Seenot (Live)
03. Schenk mir ein Wunder (Live)
04. Unter deiner Flagge (Live)
05. Feuerengel (Live)
06. Abwärts (Live)
07. Halt mich (Live)
08. An deiner Seite (Live)
09. Freiheit (Live)
10. Astronaut (Live)
11. Grosse Freiheit (Live)
12. Kleine Puppe (Live)
13. Unter Feuer (Live)
14. Maschine (Live)
15. Für immer (Live)
16. Lampenfieber (Live)
17.Geboren um zu leben (Live)
18. Ich gehöre mir (Live)
19. Mein Stern (Live)

Bildformat: 16:9
Format: PAL
Regionencode: 0
Ton: Stereo 2.0 und Surround 5. 1
DVD -9
Deutsch

Artisan News Service caught up with METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett at Jeff Beck's recent tribute concert to Les Paul at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York.

When asked for his thoughts on the upcoming "Big Four" dates featuring METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX, Hammett said, "Well, it's gonna be a lot of fun. It's gonna be like class reunion for all us heavy metal guys. So we're all looking forward to it — looking forward to hanging out and talking and reliving old memories and battles and all that good stuff. It'll be pretty exciting, though."

Regarding when fans can expect to hear a new album from METALLICA, Hammett said, "We don't have any immediate plans. We are more concentrating on just finishing this tour. We'll finish it in November with a bunch of shows down in Australia and then we're gonna take a short break."

Slash and his wife Perla Hudson have commented on the incident Thursday night (June 10) when the legendary VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist was tackled by a man who had climbed onstage during Slash's performance in Milan, Italy. The guitarist was not harmed, but had his guitar broken and after a few seconds had to stop his solo in the song "Sweet Child O' Mine" until a new instrument was handed to him.

Slash: "What'd I say? Rowdy crowd for sure. But amazing! The guy who nailed me didn't take me down but he busted my poor [guitar]. Ah well, it was a kick-ass rock show in the first order!"

Perla: "The guy came down from the rafters [and] ran up to Slash and grabbed him during his 'Sweet Child O' Mine' solo. Broke the head on the guitar, junior grabbed the asshole [and] they both fell to the floor. Junior hit his head hard and the Milan security did nothing! Kicked him out but didn't arrest him. I love Italy! But fuck those security [and] promoters for doing nothing! Slash could have seriously and Junior did. It's not right! What [are] they there for? As decoration? No they [are] there to protect the people [and] the artists. It's not right."

Wie die Band um Sänger und Mastermind Adrian Hates verkündet, wird es Ende dieses Jahres ein neues Studioalbum von DIARY OF DREAMS geben. Der Nachfolger des 2009er Longplayers "(if)" wird somit das zehnte Werk in der Bandhistorie sein. Momentan befindet sich die komplette Mannschaft im Studio und arbeitet eifrig an den neuen Songs, damit diese rechtzeitig bis zur nächsten Tournee, die für den November angekündigt ist, fertig werden. Bislang stehen der genaue Veröffentlichungstermin sowie der finale Albumtitel noch aus, dafür sind aber schon die Tourdaten bekannt gegeben worden:

Als Vorgeschmack auf das brandneue Studioalbum "Whiteout", das an diesem Freitag (11.06.2010) erscheint, verschenken ZERAPHINE ihre aktuelle Single. Noch bis zum 18.06.2010 kann man den Track "Out of Sight" auf der offiziellen Bandhomepage in bester 320-KBit/Sekunde-Qualität herunterladen.

"Whiteout" Track List:

01. Erwachen
02. Lieber allein
03. I will be there
04. Out of Sight
05. Tomorrows Morning
06. Louisa
07. Rain falls
08. Waiting for the day to End
09. Du fragst nicht mehr
10. The Stream
11. Remaining Desire
12. Whiteout

AFM Records has issued the following update:

"On June 25th, EKTOMORF will release a special Festival Edition of their latest studio album, What Doesn´t Kill Me... Beside the album, the festival edition includes the brand new 3-track single CD, The Gipsy Way, and an exclusive poster, all packed in a nice hard cover box. The Gipsy Way single will also be available as a separate product from June 25th on."

The bonus CD's tracklist is as follows:

'We Die Young' (ALICE IN CHAINS cover)
'Rusty Cage' (JOHNNY CASH cover)
'Ne Add Fel'

Ektomorf released What Doesn’t Kill Me… on March 20th, 2009 through AFM Records. The album tracklisting is as follows:

'Rat War'
'Nothing Left'
'What Doesn't Kill Me...'
'Revenge To All'
'Love And Live'
'Can See You'
'I Got It All'
'New Life'
'Sick Of It All'
'It's Up To You'
'Envy'
'Scream'
'Breed The Fire'.

The cover artwork for "Polarity", the new album from Santa Cruz, California tech-death masters DECREPIT BIRTH, can be viewed below. The artwork was completed by cult artist Dan Seagrave (MORBID ANGEL, ENTOMBED, SUFFOCATION).

Commented guitarist Matt Sotelo: "Dan's art fits the overall theme of the album perfectly.

"We had approached Dan with some ideas at a show of ours he attended.

"It was really cool to finally meet Dan in person and get the chance to explain to him some of our song themes as well as ideas for the new album cover. We could tell that he was excited to help us on this one!

"The cover depicts images of ancient energies and balance, which is something that is personal for us, and perfectly reflects our abstract lyrical and musical style.

"Dan's art is so unmistakable!"

Seagrave offered an even more in-depth reasoning behind his artistic interpretation: "It is the vision of a transcendental nightmare where the perception of technological power has gone beyond the will of the author.

"In the slumbering cohesive minds of the human race, and the absence of communicative truth between people, their social masks become their Sarcophagi. A telepathic cult is formed that fells the earth, reducing it to an atomic level. Its information trapped in mirrored shards. Through this energy, distant echos of images are glimpsed, particles reform, and a new chronozone period is born, set adrift at a dawnless epoch."

"Polarity" will be released on July 27 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Drums for "Polarity" were tracked at Sharkbite Studios (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS) in Oakland with producer Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, SUFFOCATION, IMMOLATION) while the rest of the recordings were overseen by guitarist Matt Sotelo before the entire effort was mixed by Ohren at Castle Ultimate Studios.

"Polarity" track listing:

01. (A Departure of the Sun) Ignite the Tesla Coil
02. Metatron
03. Resonance
04. Polarity
05. Solar Impulse
06. Mirroring Dimensions
07. A Brief Odyssey in Time
08. The Quickening of Time
09. Sea of Memories
10. Symbiosis
11. Darkness Embrace

Mail-order-edition bonus track:

12. See Through Dreams (DEATH cover)

RONNY MUNROE (ex-METAL CHURCH, ex-BRUTAL GODZ) has issued the following update:

"I'd like to share some news that has been in the making for a while now... and that I can finally speak about publicly!!

PRESTO BALLET, the project led by (former) Metal Church guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, has debuted it's new lineup, which includes Kurdt of course, keyboardist Kerry Shacklett, drummer Bill Raymond, bassist Bobby Ferkovich and... yours truly! That's right metal heads, I will be joining Presto Ballet and I'm looking forward to our first show, opening for DREAM THEATER on June 21st at Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon.

We have been working on Presto Ballet's third album and are hoping it will be released later this summer, or early fall. I'm excited about this new opportunity and although metal has always run in my veins, I like to challenge myself with new creative opportunities.

I hope you'll support me in this new venture and for those of you in the Portland area, please come out, check out the show and say "hi". Rest assured, there will be more exciting news to share with all of you in the upcoming weeks!!"

According to RollingStone.com, METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett plans to work on a book during the band's downtime time called "Too Much Horror Business" (after a MISFITS song), a collection of his favorite non-musical obsessions. "Horror movie posters, toys, artwork, comic books, the whole thing," he says. "It's something I've been into ever since I can remember. I remember finding my first monster magazine in San Francisco when I was six years old."

Since then, Hammett's become a world-famous collector, sometimes auctioning off prize possessions like the only known lobby card for Lon Chaney's 1927 "London After Midnight" as well as an ultra-rare Spanish-language lobby card for the 1931 "Dracula" and a Swedish poster for the 1933 "King Kong".

"My favorite horror movie is probably either 'The Mummy' or 'Bride of Frankenstein'," he tells RollingStone.com. "I'm an old-school guy, you know, a big Boris Karloff fan. If you want to bring it up to present times, I really love 'The Evil Dead' and 'Re-Animator'. I'm still waiting to see 'The Human Centipede'! I can't wait! The funny thing is, [my wife and I] live in Hawaii now, and we see centipedes all the time."

According to The Pulse of Radio, TOOL frontman Maynard James Keenan told RollingStone.com on Thursday (June 10) that the band is "quietly working" on a new album that will be released "when it's ready." Asked if the group might possibly test out some new songs on the road this summer, Keenan said, "If it comes together, yeah, you'll hear some new stuff. If it's not ready, you won't." The band's summer trek kicks off on June 19 in New Orleans.

Keenan hinted that the tour might include some new visuals, although he also joked, "Maybe I'll just come out in my birthday suit. A 46-year-old naked dude running around onstage. Let's see how that goes over."

The singer, who's been working with side band PUSCIFER and tending to his vineyards for the last couple of years, also said that a fourth album from his other act, A PERFECT CIRCLE, is in the early stages, explaining, "We've got some riffs and some music. It's just basically playing it over and over again while driving and waiting for things to fall into place."

TOOL's last album was 2006's "10,000 Days", while A PERFECT CIRCLE issued "Emotive" in 2004.

According to BBC News, LED ZEPPELIN guitarist Jimmy Page has been inducted into the Mojo Hall Of Fame at the magazine's award ceremony.

Page revealed he was working on new material with a number of different projects. He has been taken on by Robbie Williams' management company IE.

"I'm just looking forward to making some music and surprising people with it," he said.

"It won't be just teaming up with lots of people who are [big] names. I've got an idea of something which I've had for a long time and now's the time to do it."

But he declined to give further details about his collaborators or his new direction.

Phil Alexander, MOJO's Editor-In-Chief, stated "Jimmy Page is the musician by whom all other musicians are measured. Every guitar player wants to sound like him, every producer wants to capture the sounds he captured. He is a genuine music legend, and a recent BBC poll, which placed Led Zeppelin above even The Beatles, only underlines it. And, tantalisingly, the prospect of a new Jimmy Page project suggests that the man still has something up his sleeve. I can't wait to hear what it is."

Hamburg, Germany-based "modern metallers" THE RETALIATION PROCESS have issued the following update:

"Brothers and sisters, right now we're getting our recording stuff together and installed. It feels right to start producing a few brand new songs, starting this weekend with guitars! We are very excited as we do the biggest part of the production by ourselves this time; only the drums will be recorded at Eikey Studios again, the studio where we produced 'Downfall'.

"We have no overall plan of how we want to release the at least four new songs. Maybe on a mini-CD, maybe for free, maybe on a second album, we'll let it all flow for now and that's a good feeling! So, DIY is the new way and it surely will take some time 'till it's 100% done, but the hand cam will be on our side this time, so stay tuned to be a part of the whole progress."

THE RETALIATION PROCESS's latest album, "Downfall", came out in early 2010 via Silverwolf Productions. The CD was produced by Eike Freese (CALLEJON's "Zombiactionhauptquartier", DARK AGE's "Minus Exitus") and featured artwork by Azraeldesign.

THE RETALIATION PROCESS is:

Jury Kowalczyk: Lead Guitar
Sascha Maskow: Lead Guitar
Andre Kummer: Drums
Michael Konecny: Bass
Christoph Madarasz: Lead Vocals

Anglo-Chilean thrash masters CRIMINAL have issued the following update from vocalist/guitarist Anton Reisenegger:

"Hey everybody,

First of all, let me thank everyone involved in making our latest UK run and shows in the Basque Country such a great experience. Venue owners, promoters, support bands and obviously you, the fans! A special shout goes to Jay (aka Griz aka Billy Gibbons aka Rick Rubin aka Rasputin aka "The Beard") for being such a great guy and helping us out selling merch and just all around lending a helping hand. We will post photos and videos of the tour soon.

I know many of you were a bit confused by (lead guitarist) Rod (Contreras)'s absence during these dates, so I thought I better let you know what's going on. Rod has decided to return to Chile for now as he needed to take care of some personal and business issues. We hope it will only be a temporary thing and he'll come back soon, but right now the future is quite unclear.

In the meantime, we have enlisted Olmo from the Basque band GAMORA to fill in for Rod. Olmo is a great guy and an excellent guitarist, and he's already done a great job on the past few shows as all those in attendance can confirm. He is totally aware of the situation and has expressed his total support and his desire to help us out as long as his serives are needed. Hats off to him!

We'll keep you posted on any developments, but rest assured, we shall carry on! A South American tour is in its planning stages for late 2010 and we've already begun writing material for a new album."

"From Dead To Worse", a brand new track from Swedish metallers WITCHERY, is available for streaming at the band's MySpace page. The song features a guest solo by Andy La Rocque of KING DIAMOND fame.

Commented WITCHERY guitarist Jensen: "Andy was an old friend of the band since he recorded the 'Witchburner' EP (back in 1999).

"I think all musicians would at some point like to play with other musicians that they respect. Like with jazz, the constellations of musicians are always changing, but with metal it's a lot more rigid. Having people do guest solos is the closest way of collaborating in metal."

La Rocque stated about his contribution to "Witchkrieg": "It's always cool to put down a solo on a good song and something that is good-sounding, I think I was in the right mood at the time also, which made it sounding melodic and crying."

NEVERMORE have issued the following update:

"Our new album The Obsidian Conspiracy releases today (June 8th). We want to sell out every store of our new album The Obsidian Conspiracy, so round up your crew, try to get at least 20 of your friends and go sell out the store (Hot Topic, Best Buy, your local stores, etc.)! We want to see the action, so send us pictures or a video of you and your friends busting out this crazy mission to nevermoreflashmob@live.com! We will pick the best ones and they will win a prize of the ultimate Nevermore prize pack, as well as guest list spots! So help us out and do us proud!"

Vocalist John Tardy of Florida death metallers OBITUARY has issued the following update:

"We made it home safe after a short, but really great run through the U.S. and Canada.

"It all started off with a long-overdue show in Orlando that turned out totally sick! We then worked our way up the coast and eventually to the Maryland Deathfest! This was awesome and one the best shows we ever had in the U.S. We thank them for inviting us there this year. Shows in Toronto, Tulsa and Austin all stand out and we do thank all of you for coming out to all our shows this run!

"A big thanks to our crew guys Rich, Ray and Joe and to Ken Andrews for taking care of the bass guitar for us. You guys are all awesome and thanks again for all your help.

"We now focus on Europe and our first of two runs for the summer festivals.

"We will have Steve DiGiorgio of SADUS on bass with us! How cool is that?!

"We have known Steve for a long time and it is going to be great jamming with him. He will be here next weekend to practice and I will make sure the webcam is back on by then so check it out!"

PRIMAL FEAR and SINNER bassist Mat Sinner has put on a new iron-bound hat as heavy metal helper to his bandmate vocalist Ralf Scheepers, and the big, bald one’s first solo album.

After the current North American tour, sez Mat, “We’ll record the first songs for Ralf’s solo album. He wrote a lot of songs and he just wanted to come out and show a different side and still his metal side. It will be an interesting album with a lot of guests and a lot of nice friends appearing on this album. It will be a good album I think. We’ll actually start to do it… Uli Kusch from GAMMA RAY, MASTERPLAN… or wherever he played, HELLOWEEN (laughs), he will play the drums on this album and it will be a very interesting thing. Also, I will record a new Sinner album in the autumn, and we’ll play some festivals. I have to finish the new MICHAEL KISKE album.”

So to clarify, when is work on Ralf’s album starting?

“We start when we get back from the US. I think we will start in mid-June. I think the drums will be ready when we come back from America and we’ll collect the ideas from our friends and the guests who will appear on the album. I will play bass and produce the whole thing. Ralf will sing. The album will be out in January or February 2011.”

And stylistically? “In part it’s very metal. Very metal. So it will not be Ralf’s ballad album. There were some ballads where Ralf was showing a different kind of music, his talent in music, because he’s playing all the instruments on one song, for example. So you hear him playing guitar, keyboards, so it’s very interesting. But overall I will say it’s a very tough metal album.”

Heavier than Primal Fear?

“Part yes, part no (laughs).”

Netherlands-based death metallers UNLOCKED, featuring members of PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT, VISCERAL BLEEDING, GORGOROTH and ENTHRONED, entered Blackout Sound Studio recently to commence recordings for their debut album.

An update from the band states, "We're very proud to announce a special guest on the debut album. Peter Huss (pictured at left - SHINING, ex-SINERGY) will shred some insane killer solos on the album!"

As previously reported, the band will record 8 songs for the forthcoming debut, to be released via Crossfirecult Records.

Unlocked lineup features:

Dani "Garghuf" Robnik - drums (ex-Gorgoroth, GOD SEED, NEFARIUM)
Phorgath - bass (Enthroned, EMPTINESS)
Sebastiaan - guitar (ABHORRENCE, TOMBE)
Nornagest - vocals (Enthroned)
Benny - guitar (Prostitute Disfigurement, Visceral Bleeding)