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25 ôåâ 2014
ROB ZOMBIE: Cover Artwork Of New Concert DVD Unveiled
 Rob Zombie will release a new concert DVD, apparently titled "The Zombie Mad Mad Horror Picture Show", in May. The cover artwork for the set can be seen below. The disc will feature footage filmed during stops on last year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Mayhem Festival tour in Houston on August 3, 2013 and Dallas on August 4. Zombie has never released a concert DVD before and told an Albany radio station that he always thought of doing one as a "huge nuisance," adding, "After the show is done, I don't care. I don't want to relive it… I never wanna hear about it again, I never wanna see it again. Like, I never watch anything — a TV show I've been on; I don't care. Once it's done, it's done. But I figured at least once we should film it."
Zombie did roll cameras during his 2008 "Educated Horses" tour, but had very different plans for that still-unseen footage. "I didn't want to really just make a live DVD 'cause I thought, like, who cares," he told The Pulse Of Radio. What I really did was I made, like, a tour documentary, where like it starts with the first rehearsal through building the stage through, you know, traveling and flying and playing every show and after show and this and that. And, you know, it's so many hundreds of hours of footage."
Zombie's fifth solo album, "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor", came out last April and entered the Billboard album chart at No. 7 with first-week sales of 34,000 copies.
Zombie will kick off a 12-date run of shows on April 26 in Fort Myers, Florida at the Fort Rock festival, mixing other major rock festival stops with headlining shows before wrapping it up on May 10 in Camden, New Jersey.  | 0 |  |
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25 ôåâ 2014
SLAYER Eyewear Finally Released
 SLAYER and Arnette have collaborated on a capsule collection featuring matte black and blood red artwork on Arnette's flagship Witch Doctor sunglasses, Series 3MX and Skylight snow goggles. Head to your local retailer or go to Zappos.com to grab your pair. They're only available in limited quantities and once they're gone, they're gone!
The Witch Doctor is a part of the A.C.E.S. collection of frames that feature interchangeable arms that can be used with other A.C.E.S. models. Available in two color options, grey lenses with a matte black frame and black arms, or red mirror lenses with a matte black frame and red arms, both featuring official SLAYER artwork. The arms of each colorway are interchangeable with each other and other A.C.E.S. sunglasses. The Skylight is Arnette's full-featured snow goggle with No-BS (No-Blind Spot) technology. The matte black frame comes in two options — one with both dark grey and inferno chrome lenses, or just a dark grey lens alone. The Series 3MX is the dirt deflecting model of choice for motocross and FMX riders such as Robbie Maddison. The Arnette Uncommon Projects Capsule Collection with SLAYER will be released in limited amounts globally this month.
Established in 1992 in the humble surroundings of a one-car garage in Orange County, California, Arnette shades and goggles are found on today’s most influential action sports athletes and lifestyle personalities. Each product is meticulously designed with the highest-quality materials, providing lightweight wearability for unmatched comfort, fit and style.
For more information, go to this location.
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25 ôåâ 2014
ANTI-MORTEM: '100% Pure American Rage' Video Released
 The video for "100% Pure American Rage", the lead-off single from the upcoming debut album, "New Southern", by Oklahoma natives and saviors of southern-infused hard rock ANTI-MORTEM, can be seen below. The clip was shot, produced, and directed by Clark Deal of Chaotic Productions. "It's brutal but accessible," ANTI-MORTEM guitarist Zain Smith states about the track. "It's very political. The solos are tasty. It's new-day metal, but it has a LED ZEPPELIN-esque guitar tone and solo. There's nothing that sounds like this song out there." The "100% Pure American Rage" single is currently available for purchase on iTunes. "New Southern" will be released in physical and digital formats on April 28 (U.K.), April 15 (rest of Europe) and April 29 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by Bob Marlette (BLACK STONE CHERRY, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, SHINEDOWN, ROB ZOMBIE).
"New Southern" track listing:
01. Words Of Wisdom02. New Southern03. 100% Pure American Rage04. Hate Automatic05. Black Heartbeat06. I Get Along With The Devil07. Path To Pain08. Wake Up09. Ride Of Your Life10. Stagnant Water11. Truckstop Special12. Jonesboro13. A Little Too Lose (bonus track; MR. BIG cover)
Fans will have the opportunity to witness ANTI-MORTEM's feral testicular fortitude when they tour the U.S. supporting TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION for 16 shows starting on March 28 in Atlanta, Georgia and wrapping up in Des Moines, Iowa on April 15. "Hard rock is stagnating," assesses ANTI-MORTEM frontman Larado Romo. "We want people to think, 'Rock has balls again.' When you see us live, you will be crushed."
Formed in 2008 and fronted by vocalist Larado Romo, ANTI-MORTEM's lineup includes older brother-guitarist Nevada Romo, guitarist Zain Smith, bassist Corey Henderson and drummer Levi Dickerson. With over 300 shows to their name, these Chickasha, Oklahoma natives (aged between 18 and 22) spent their formative nights and weekends woodshedding their sound on the concert stage they built themselves in the Smith family barn (originally intended to store an old car collection).
While Zain's parents were away working on the weekends, ANTI-MORTEM would turn their barn rehearsal space into a makeshift venue and hone their chops by inviting friends and family in Chickasha over for an afternoon of gravel-throated vocals, crunch-laden riffs, thick grooves, and some good ol'-fashioned Southern hospitality.
ANTI-MORTEM is:
Larado Romo - Lead Vocals
Nevada Romo - Guitar
Zain Smith - Guitar
Corey Henderson - Bass
Levi Dickerson - Drums | 0 | |
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25 ôåâ 2014
MOTÖRHEAD Joined By SAXON's BIFF BYFORD For Cover Of RAINBOW Classic 'Starstruck' (Audio)
 MOTÖRHEAD wasisjoined by Biff Byford from SAXON on "Starstruck", a cover of the classic RAINBOW song which is featured on the Ronnie James Dio tribute album "This Is Your Life". You can now stream the track below.
An exclusive VIP listening party for "This Is Your Life" and awards gala will be held on March 17 at the Avalon in Hollywood, California. There will be a very limited amount of Dio fan tickets for $25 each, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund. You will get to hear the entire album two weeks before you can buy it and there will be very special live performances by HALESTORM, Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Oni Logan (LUNCH MOB, DIO DISIPLES), Jimmy Bain (DIO, LAST IN LINE, RAINBOW), Rowan Robertson (DIO), Brian Tichy (OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE) and many other special surprise guests all performing their renditions of Ronnie's songs. There will also be awards presented during the evening, including an award to "The Metal God" Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST. Tickets will go on sale very soon and at $25, they will sell out fast.
Ronnie James Dio is one of the most beloved figures in rock history. His gifts, both as a singer and songwriter, are instantly recognizable, whether he was with RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, or leading DIO. Sadly, Dio lost his battle with stomach cancer in 2010 but his towering voice and legacy live on.
To celebrate one of rock's most powerful voices, an all-star group of his friends and fans recorded 13 of their favorite tracks for a tribute album, 100% of proceeds from which will go to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund. Produced by his longtime manager and wife Wendy Dio, the album includes contributions by such metal heavyweights as METALLICA, MOTÖRHEAD, SCORPIONS, ANTHRAX, and Rob Halford, as well as appearances by many of the musicians who performed with Dio over the years.
"This Is Your Life" will be available from Rhino on April 1. A digital version will also be available.
Although the songs featured on the album touch on the different eras of Dio's career, several spotlight his time with RAINBOW, including METALLICA's epic, nine-minute "Ronnie Rising Medley", which combines the RAINBOW songs "A Light In The Black", "Tarot Woman", "Stargazer" and "Kill The King". SCORPIONS add a scorching take on "Temple Of The King" while MOTÖRHEAD is joined by Biff Byford from SAXON on "Starstruck". Rob Halford teams with frequent Dio collaborators Vinny Appice, Doug Aldrich, Jeff Pilson, and Scott Warren for "Man On The Silver Mountain". The final lineup of Dio's solo band — Simon Wright, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo and Scott Warren — are joined by Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) for "Catch The Rainbow", a track from RAINBOW's 1975 debut.
ANTHRAX and ADRENALINE MOB honor Dio's memorable stint with BLACK SABBATH with their takes on "Neon Knights" and "The Mob Rules", respectively, as does a group, led by Oni Logan on vocals along with Jimmy Bain, Rowan Robertson, and Brian Tichy, which performs "I" from "Dehumanizer".
"This Is Your Life" also includes songs from Dio's back-to-back platinum albums "Holy Diver" (1983) and "The Last In Line" (1984), with DORO's take on "Egypt (The Chains Are On)", HALESTORM tackling "Straight Through The Heart", Corey Taylor (STONE SOUR, SLIPKNOT) covering the classic "Rainbow In The Dark" and TENACIOUS D (Jack Black and Kyle Gass) putting their signature spin on "The Last In Line". KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's cover of "Holy Diver", a hit in its own right when released in 2006, is also included here.
Fittingly, Ronnie James Dio provides the finale (and the album's title) with his moving performance of "This Is Your Life". Originally released on "Angry Machines" (1996), the song's lyrics explore mortality and are backed by a stark and beautiful arrangement that features Dio accompanied only by his longtime keyboardist Scott Warren on piano. The song serves as a poignant reminder that we will never hear a voice like Dio's again.
"I'm letting them pick what songs they wanna do in the way they wanna do it," Wendy told Artisan News in 2011.
"We reached out to Wendy Dio about wanting to be a part of the Dio tribute that's getting put together," METALLICA singer James Hetfield told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine. "We're very honored to be a part of that, and to be a part of a celebration of Ronnie's life and his great contribution, man."
In an interview with Guitar International, former ANTHRAX guitarist Rob Caggiano stated that the band's cover version of "Neon Knights" "came out pretty smoking."
The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, co-founded by Wendy Dio, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable fund dedicated to supporting cancer-prevention research, raising awareness and educating the public about the vital importance of early detection and prevention when dealing with this deadly disease.
"This Is Your Life" track listing:
01. "Neon Knights" - ANTHRAX * 02. "The Last In Line" - TENACIOUS D * 03. "The Mob Rules" - ADRENALINE MOB 04. "Rainbow In The Dark" - Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga, Satchel, Christian Martucci, Jason Christopher * 05. "Straight Through The Heart" - HALESTORM * 06. "Starstruck" - MOTÖRHEAD with Biff Byford * 07. "Temple Of The King" - SCORPIONS * 08. "Egypt (The Chains Are On)" - DORO 09. "Holy Diver" - KILLSWITCH ENGAGE 10. "Catch The Rainbow" - Glenn Hughes, Simon Wright, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo, Scott Warren * 11. "I" - Oni Logan, Jimmy Bain, Rowan Robertson, Brian Tichy * 12. "Man On The Silver Mountain" - Rob Halford, Vinny Appice, Doug Aldrich, Jeff Pilson, Scott Warren * 13. "Ronnie Rising Medley" (featuring "A Light In The Black", "Tarot Woman", "Stargazer", "Kill The King") - METALLICA * 14. "This Is Your Life" - DIO
* Previously unreleased
The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund is a privately funded 501(c)(3) charity organization which has already raised more than $600,000 in its short history. Monies raised to date have been committed to the cancer research work of the T.J. Martell Foundation for Cancer, AIDS and Leukemia Research and the gastric cancer research unit of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where Ronnie was treated for gastric cancer during the last six months of his life.
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25 ôåâ 2014
MÖTLEY CRÜE's TOMMY LEE Gets Engaged To Singer SOFIA TOUFA
 MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee has gotten engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Sofia "Sofi" Toufa, also known by her stage name SOFI (acronym for SomeOtherFemaleInterest), a German singer and dancer now based in Los Angeles, California.
"There comes a time in a mans life when you just know your partner is for LIFE!!" Tommy announced to his 430,000 Twitter followers. "Say hello to my fiancé and soon to be wife @SOFIofficial."
This will be the fourth marriage for the 51-year-old Lee, who was previously married to model Elaine Starchuk and actresses Heather Locklear and Pamela Anderson.
Born in Germany and raised within a Greek family, Toufa, 30, started her musical career at the early age of 13 through her group DANACEE, signed to Def Jam Germany. The band has supported acts such as DESTINY'S CHILD and USHER. Toufa later co-choreographed the video for Avril Lavigne's hit single "Girlfriend" and she was hired to co-choreograph, sing and dance on Lavigne's 2008's "Best Damn World Tour".
In 2009, Toufa toured the world as backup singer for Britney Spears on her "Circus 2009 World Tour".
Toufa has also worked with FALL OUT BOY, Will.I.Am, Butch Walker, THE VON BONDIES and Nelly Furtado.
There comes a time in a mans life when you just know your partner is for LIFE!! Say hello to my fiancé and soon to be wife @SOFIofficial 💍
— Tominos Pizza (@MrTommyLand) February 24, 2014 | 0 | |
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25 ôåâ 2014
REVAMP: Official 'Nothing' Lyric Video Released
 The official lyric video for the song "Nothing" from REVAMP — the Dutch band led by former AFTER FOREVER frontwoman and current NIGHTWISH singer Floor Jansen — can be seen below. The track is taken from REVAMP's second album, "Wild Card", which was released in Europe on August 23, 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at SandLane Studio in Rijen, The Netherlands with Joost van den Broek (ex-AFTER FOREVER) and features guest choir parts by Marcela Bovio (STREAM OF PASSION) and Daniël de Jongh (TEXTURES).
"Wild Card" track listing:
01. The Anatomy Of A Nervous Breakdown: On The Sideline02. The Anatomy Of A Nervous Breakdown: The Limbic System03. Wild Card04. Precibus05. Nothing06. The Anatomy Of A Nervous Breakdown: Neurasthenia07. Distorted Lullabies08. Amendatory09. I Can Become10. Misery's No Crime11. Wolf and Dog12. Sins (bonus track)
The CD features additional guest appearances by Mark Jansen (EPICA), Johan van Stratum (STREAM OF PASSION) and Devin Townsend.
Jansen told About.com Heavy Metal about the songwriting process for "Wild Card": "When AFTER FOREVER stopped, I didn't want to first find a band, then see if I could write with them, figure that whole thing out, then record an album. Instead I worked with people I knew would be good songwriters out of an idea how I thought it would sound like. So I worked with a German guitar player (Waldemar Sorychta) and Joost van den Broek from AFTER FOREVER. We wrote the album and played on it and hired a drummer. That's basically how it was done. Then I formed a band with the current lineup. The ambition was to continue as a band and start writing. The cool thing is that it worked. Mainly the guitarist Jord (Otto), keyboardist Ruben (Wijga) and myself came up with all the ideas. Joost became the supervisor of the whole songwriting process and producer of the album."
REVAMP last year announced the addition of bassist Henk Vonk to the group's ranks. He replaced Jaap Melman, who left REVAMP before the band entered the studio to begin recording its second album. The CD was eventually completed with the help of STREAM OF PASSION bassist Johan van Stratum, who filled in on short notice and "did an amazing job to record and edit the bass parts," according to a press release.
REVAMP's self-titled debut album was released in Europe on May 28, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.
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25 ôåâ 2014
SOUNDGARDEN's 'Superunknown' To Be Reissued With Bonus Material
 This year, reunited grunge legends SOUNDGARDEN celebrate the 20th anniversary of this groundbreaking album "Superunknown" with a special reissue in two deluxe versions outlined below and available on June 3 via A&M Records/UMe. The Deluxe Edition is a 2-CD package featuring the remastered album along with disc two consisting of demos, rehearsals, B-sides and more. The Super Deluxe Edition is a 5-CD package featuring the remastered album, additional demos, rehearsals and B-sides and the fifth disc is the album mixed in Blu-ray Audio 5.1 Surround Sound. The Super Deluxe Edition is incredibly packaged in a hardbound book with a lenticular cover, liner notes by David Fricke and newly reimagined album artwork designed by Josh Graham. It also features never-before-seen band photography by Kevin Westerberg. A 2-LP gatefold of the original 16 vinyl tracks remastered on 200-gram vinyl in a gatefold jacket will also be made available. In addition, the "Superunknown" singles and associated b-sides with newly interpreted artwork sleeves by Josh Graham will be reissued on Record Store Day, April 19, as a set of five limited-edition 10-inch vinyl records.
"Superunknown - Deluxe Edition" 2CD track listing:
CD One - Remastered Album
01. Let Me Drown02. My Wave03. Fell on Black Days04. Mailman05. Superunknown06. Head Down07. Black Hole Sun08. Spoonman09. Limo Wreck10. The Day I Tried to Live11. Kickstand12. Fresh Tendrils13. 4th of July14. Half15. Like Suicide16. She Likes Surprises
CD Two - Demos, Rehearsals, B-Sides & More
01. Let Me Drown (Demo)^02. Black Hole Sun (Demo)^03. Half (Demo)^04. Head Down (Rehearsal)^05. Limo Wreck (Rehearsal)^06. The Day I Tried to Live (Rehearsal)^07. Like Suicide (Acoustic)08. Black Days III*09. Birth Ritual (Original Demo Version)10. Exit Stonehenge11. Kyle Petty, Son of Richard12. Jerry Garcia’s Finger13. Spoonman (Alternate Steve Fisk Remix)^14. The Day I Tried To Live (Scott Litt Mix)^15. 4th of July (Instrumental)^16. Superunknown (Instrumental)^
"Superunknown - Super Deluxe" track listing:
CD One - Remastered Album
01. Let Me Drown02. My Wave03. Fell on Black Days04. Mailman05. Superunknown06. Head Down07. Black Hole Sun08. Spoonman09. Limo Wreck10. The Day I Tried to Live11. Kickstand12. Fresh Tendrils13. 4th of July14. Half15. Like Suicide16. She Likes Surprises
CD Two - B-Sides & More
01. The Day I Tried To Live (Alternate Mix)^02. Spoonman (Alternate Steve Fisk Remix)^03. Beyond The Wheel (Live)04. Fell On Black Days (Live)05. Birth Ritual (Original Demo Version)06. Jesus Christ Pose (Live)07. Like Suicide (Acoustic Version)08. Kickstand (Live)09. My Wave (Live)10. Spoonman (Steve Fisk Remix)11. Exit Stonehenge12. Kyle Petty, Son of Richard13. Black Days III*14. Ghostmotorfinger**15. Jerry Garcia’s Finger16. Fell On Black Days (Video Version)
CD Three - The Demos (unreleased)
01. Let Me Drown (Demo)02. Fell On Black Days (Demo)03. Superunknown (Demo)04. Black Hole Sun (Demo)05. Spoonman (Demo)06. Fresh Tendrils (Demo)07. 4th of July (Demo)08. Half (Demo)09. Like Suicide (Demo)
CD Four - The Rehearsals (unreleased)
01. Black Hole Sun (Rehearsal)02. Bing Bing Goes To Church (Rehearsal)03. Half (Rehearsal)04. Head Down (Rehearsal)05. Kyle Petty, Son Of Richard (Rehearsal)06. Let Me Drown (Rehearsal)07. Limo Wreck (Rehearsal)08. My Wave (Rehearsal)09. Fresh Tendrils (Rehearsal)10. Like Suicide (Rehearsal)11. Ruff Riff-Raff (Rehearsal)12. Exit Stonehenge (Rehearsal)13. Spoonman (Rehearsal)14. The Date I Tried To Leave (Rehearsal)15. The Day I Tried To Live (Rehearsal)
Disc Five - Blu-Ray Audio 5.1 MIX
01. Let Me Drown (5.1 Mix)02. My Wave (5.1 Mix)03. Fell On Black Days (5.1 Mix)04. Mailman (5.1 Mix)05. Superunknown (5.1 Mix)06. Head Down (5.1 Mix)07. Black Hole Sun (5.1 Mix)08. Spoonman (5.1 Mix)09. Limo Wreck (5.1 Mix)10. The Day I Tried To Live (5.1 Mix)11. Kickstand (5.1 Mix)12. Fresh Tendrils (5.1 Mix)13. 4th Of July (5.1 Mix)14. Half (5.1 Mix)15. Like Suicide (5.1 Mix)16. She Likes Surprises (Int’l Vers & Us 12″) (5.1 Mix)
"Superunknown: The Singles" - Five 10-Inch Vinyl Set
1. SpoonmanFresh TendrilsCold BitchExit Stonehenge
2. The Day I Tried To LiveLike Suicide (Acoustic Version)Kickstand (Live)Limo Wreck
3. Black Hole SunJesus Christ Pose (Live)Beyond The Wheel (Live)Fell On Black Days (Live)
4. My WaveSpoonman (Steve Fisk Remix)Birth Ritual (Original Demo Version)My Wave (Live)
5. Fell On Black DaysKyle Petty, Son of RichardGhostmotorfinger **Fell On Black Days (Video Version)Girl U WantBlack Days III*
* Originally titled "Fell On Black Days (Demo – Early Version)"** Originally titled "Motorcycle Loop (Short Version)"^ Previously Unreleased
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24 ôåâ 2014
GAMMA RAY
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24 ôåâ 2014
AD-HOC
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24 ôåâ 2014
INSOMNIUM To Release 'Shadows Of The Dying Sun' In April
 Finnish melodic death metallers INSOMNIUM will release their sixth studio album, "Shadows Of The Dying Sun", on April 28 in Europe and on April 29 in North America via Century Media Records. All the drums were recorded at studio SF Sound with Kimmo Perkkiö while the rest of the instruments were laid down at studio Korkeakoski with Teemu Aalto. André Alvinzi of Fascination Street Studios took care of the mix, with Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers overseeing the mastering. The artwork was once again created by Wille Naukkarinen.
"Shadows Of The Dying Sun" track listing:
01. The Primeval Dark 02. While We Sleep 03. Revelation 04. Black Heart Rebellion 05. Lose To Night 06. Collapsing Words 07. The River08. Ephemeral (album version) 09. The Promethean Song 10. Shadows Of The Dying Sun
A teaser for "Shadows Of The Dying Sun" is available below.
INSOMNIUM recently released the first song, "Ephemeral", off its forthcoming album. The first track to feature new guitarist Markus Vanhala (also in OMNIUM GATHERUM), who replaced Ville Vänni in 2011, "Ephemeral" was made available digitally in Europe on September 23, 2013 and was accompanied by three bonus tracks — acoustic songs that can be heard in the background of the INSOMNIUM documentary.
INSOMNIUM's last album, "One For Sorrow", was released in October 2011 in North America via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded in Gothenburg, Sweden with sound engineer Daniel Antonsson (also bassist in DARK TRANQUILLITY and guitarist in DIMENSION ZERO) and at Fantom studios in Tempere, Finland, where the album was also mixed by Samu Oittisen.
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24 ôåâ 2014
ENTHRONED
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24 ôåâ 2014
ASIA: 'Valkyrie' Video Released
 "Valkyrie", the new video from the legendary British band ASIA, can be seen below.
According to USA Today, ASIA bassist John Wetton drew his inspiration for the song from the Norse deities who accompany the souls of heroic warriors to Valhalla.
"I've got a bit of a fetish about the sacred feminine," Wetton said. "A lot of my songs are about deities, and not necessarily male ones. In the whole myth of valkyrie, she is more powerful than many of the male gods."
The "Valkyrie" video was shot primarily in Los Angeles and London, with Wetton shooting his portion on a beach near Topanga, California. The song is taken from ASIA's new album, "Gravitas", that explores different musical landscapes while embracing the band's familiar musical past. Produced and written by band members John Wetton and Geoff Downes, "Gravitas" is deeply introspective within a clearly accessible sound. The album also introduces the world to ASIA's new guitarist, Sam Coulson, who came at the recommendation of MR. BIG's Paul Gilbert.
Scheduled for release on Frontiers Records on March 21 (Europe); and March 25 (North America), the album will be available in two configurations: a standard CD and a Deluxe Edition, that will include two bonus tracks and a DVD containing the "Valkyrie" music video, a promotional film, and footage of classic live ASIA tracks such as "Heat Of The Moment", recorded with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra in Bulgaria.
From the title track, "Gravitas", which chronicles a man's struggle in the battlefield of life, to the powerfully compelling tale of unrequited love, "The Closer I Get To You", the album is a tour de force for the band whose music has become a staple to rock fans.
"Pure, unadulterated and stereotypical ASIA, with raw energy, enthusiasm and free from impurities," says John Wetton. "It conveys the spectrum of emotion and color from real-life agonies to ecstatic fantasy of escapism. Great songs, fabulous performance. 'Gravitas' is ASIA by ASIA. At last."
"With the addition of Sam, it allowed us to take the band in a slightly different, and perhaps tougher, direction," says Carl Palmer. "As a band, we have been able to grow, while at the same time, remain true to the classic ASIA sound that our fans know and love."
ASIA's debut album exploded onto the music scene in April 1982, and was the best-selling album in the world of that year. Featuring Geoff Downes on keyboards; Steve Howe on guitar; Carl Palmer on drums; and John Wetton on lead vocals and bass; ASIA was the logical successor to their collective bands of the '70s — YES, ELP, KING CRIMSON, UK and THE BUGGLES. The original ASIA reformed in 2006 for the first time in 23 years.
"It always was a great live band, but this time the dragon has awakened with fresh energy, direction and purpose," says Wetton.
"As with any new ASIA album, putting it all together presents something of a challenge," says Geoff Downes. "Everyone involved rose way above and beyond this challenge. There is a renewed energy when we step on stage now; we can feel it and I know the fans can feel it."
For ASIA's long-devoted fans, the band's return to the concert stage cannot come soon enough. As Palmer says: "Performing on stage is where this band truly comes into its element. Seeing the fans reacting to our music is what makes it all worthwhile. It is the fuel that drives this train we call ASIA."
"Gravitas" track listing: 01. Valkyrie02. Gravitas03. The Closer I Get To You04. Nyctophobia05. Russian Dolls06. Heaven Help Me Now07. I Would Die For You08. Joe Di Maggio's Glove09. Till We Meet Again10. The Closer I Get To You (acoustic)*11. Joe Di Maggio's Glove (acoustic)*
DVD (*):
* "Valkyrie" (videoclip)* EPK* "Heat Of The Moment" (Live in Plovdiv with Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra)* [to be announced] (live in Plovdiv with Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra)* [to be announced] (live in Plovdiv with Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra)
* Available only on the Deluxe Edition
ASIA is:
John Wetton - Lead Vocals, BassCarl Palmer - DrumsGeoff Downes - KeyboardsSam Coulson - Guitar
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24 ôåâ 2014
SCORPIONS To Perform At Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix
 German hard rock legends SCORPIONS will perform at the 2014 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on April. 5. The concert is one of several events which will highlight the spectacular off-track celebrations that will mark Bahrain International Circuit's (BIC) 10th anniversary.
"It is an absolute delight to have rock legends like the SCORPIONS coming to Bahrain and be a part of our 10th anniversary Grand Prix celebrations," BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa said. "We are truly privileged to have them performing live at BIC on such a momentous occasion, and are confident that both sporting and music fans alike will be treated to yet another unforgettable entertainment spectacle during the race weekend."
Released in North America on January 21, 2014 via Sony International, material for SCORPIONS' "MTV Unplugged" is taken from the band's first-ever "MTV Unplugged" show and features new acoustic versions of best-loved classic hits, as well as five brand new songs. "MTV Unplugged" is available in two formats — a standard CD and a deluxe version featuring CD + DVD. "MTV Unplugged" was released in 50 countries, a testament to the German band's iconic status worldwide. Recorded and filmed just a few months ago on September 11 and September 12 of last year, "MTV Unplugged" was culled from two dynamic acoustic sets at the Lycabettus Theatre in Athens, Greece. The spectacular open-air theatre, situated 300 meters above the city, was an impressive backdrop for the first-ever open-air show in the history of "MTV Unplugged" (the theatre also shares a birth year with the SCORPIONS themselves, having been built in 1965, the same year the SCORPIONS formed).
SCORPIONS is Klaus Meine (vocals/guitar), Rudolf Schenker (guitars/vocals), Matthias Jabs (guitars), Pawel Maciwoda (bass) and James Kottak (drums); additional musical support on "MTV Unplugged" includes contributions from Swedish musicians and producers Mikael Nord Andersson (guitars, mandolin, lap steel, vocals) and Martin Hansen (guitars, harmonica, vocals). The duo is also responsible for the arrangements on "MTV Unplugged".
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24 ôåâ 2014
Former AMBERIAN DAWN Singer's DARK SARAH: 'Behind The Black Veil' Album Artwork Unveiled
 The cover artwork for "Behind The Black Veil", the forthcoming debut album from DARK SARAH, the new project led by former AMBERIAN DAWN singer Heidi Parviainen, can be found below.
In an interview with Bloodart, Parviainen stated about DARK SARAH: "I had been planning my own project for years but never had really the time for it next to AMBERIAN DAWN. And in fall 2011, I started an active phase to make my project happen. After quitting AMBERIAN DAWN, I could concentrate on it only. At this point of my career, I felt I had to make one of my dreams come true in the form of DARK SARAH. But who knows what the future will bring?"
Regarding where the idea for the name of her new project came from, Heidi told SonicCathedral.com: "The name Dark Sarah came along with the first lyrics I wrote for DARK SARAH.
"The story is about a woman who has gone through some rough times, and was actually left at the altar by her husband. She almost breaks down but something wakes up inside of her and she changes to another person, her meaner half, Dark Sarah.
"I was so in the story of Dark Sarah that it became my project name and it could also be my alter ego too. [laughs] I also liked the fact that the name Dark Sarah sounds like a super villain or a cartoon figure (like Cat Woman, Jekyll & Hyde etc.), and they all have their metamorphosis too.
"But there is also a deeper meaning behind the name Sarah which is a really old name and means 'a princess,' and Dark Sarah is a 'dark princess.' The eye of Horus symbol in the logo and her eye (when she transforms into hear meaner self) means protection, she protects her good self by becoming bad."
DARK SARAH's "Memories Fall" video can be seen below. The track features a guest appearance by former XANDRIA frontwoman Manuela Kraller.
Parviainen left AMBERIAN DAWN in November 2012. Her final appearance with the band was at the Metal Female Voices Fest at the end of October 2012 in Belgium. She has since been replaced by Päivi "Capri" Virkkunen.
Parviainen sang on AMBERIAN DAWN's first four albums — "Circus Black" (2012), "End Of Eden" (2010), "The Clouds Of Northland Thunder" (2009) and "River Of Tuoni" (2008).
"Memories Fall" video:
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24 ôåâ 2014
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH: Video Recap Of Brisbane Concert
 Las Vegas metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH have uploaded behind-the-scenes and performance footage from the opening show of this year's Soundwave festival on Saturday, February 22 in Brisbane, Australia. Check out the three-minute clip below.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH recently selected its surprising cover of the classic folk song "The House Of The Rising Sun" as the next single from the band's recently released album, "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2". The disc came out on November 19, 2013 and is the second half of a two-record set, with "Volume 1" coming out in July 2013.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH filmed a "gasoline and rocket-fuel-soaked video" for "The House Of The Rising Sun" in the desert.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, the original author of "The House Of The Rising Sun" is unknown and the song's roots may date back to the 16th century.
The oldest known existing recording is by Appalachian artists Clarence "Tom" Ashley and Gwen Foster, who recorded it for Vocalion Records in 1934.
The most successful commercial version was recorded by the English rock group THE ANIMALS in 1964, which was a No. 1 hit in the U.K., the U.S., Sweden, Finland and Canada.
The members of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH discussed in a recently released video clip how they changed up the classic song to give it a hard-rock vibe, most notably, by switching the song's time signature from 6/8 to 4/4.
"We had the idea to do this for a while," explained guitarist Zoltan Bathory. "The interesting thing about this song is that [it's] actually in a time signature of 6/8 which is a waltz… and rock music and waltz doesn't necessarily mix right."
He continued: "So basically the challenge was: 'How do we make this song work? How do we take away that goofy vibe and how do we make it into a rock structure?'"
"The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2" sold 77,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The first half of "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell" debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart, selling 113,000 copies in its first week of release. | 0 | |
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24 ôåâ 2014
WINTER OF SIN
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24 ôåâ 2014
RAUHNACHT
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24 ôåâ 2014
RATED X Joined By Guitarist KARL COCHRAN
 Guitarist Karl Cochran (JOE LYNN TURNER, NUCLEAR ASSAULT) has joined RATED X (formerly LEGACY X), the new band featuring legendary vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), drummer Carmine Appice (VANILLA FUDGE, CACTUS, MOTHER'S ARMY) and bassist Tony Franklin (THE FIRM, BLUE MURDER). Karl has already finished cutting two tracks for RATED X's debut album — due in May via Frontiers Records — and is flying to Los Angeles this week to shoot two videos to accompany the release.
Cochran joins RATED X as the replacement for Jeff Watson (NIGHT RANGER, MOTHER'S ARMY) who himself became involved with the group following the departure of Bruce Kulick (KISS, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD). Kulick was unable to commit to the new project due to his heavy touring schedule with GRAND FUNK RAILROAD.
Joe Lynn Turner, Carmine Appice and Jeff Watson previously played together in MOTHER'S ARMY, the 1990s hard rock "supergroup" which released three albums before splitting up in 1998.
MOTHER'S ARMY's full-length CDs — "Mother's Army" (1993), "Planet Earth" (1997) and "Fire On The Moon" (1998) — were re-released as a special 3CD digipak set, "The Complete Discography", in May 2011. | 0 | |
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24 ôåâ 2014
TRIPTYKON: 2014 Band Photo Released
 A new promotional photo of TRIPTYKON — the occult/avant-garde metal project formed by former HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST singer, guitarist, and main songwriter Tom Gabriel Fischer (a.k.a. Tom Gabriel Warrior) — can be seen below. The picture was taken by Christian Martin Weiss and Sylwia Makris on February 2 in Munich, Germany.
TRIPTYKON will release its second album, "Melana Chasmata", on April 15 (one day earlier internationally). The CD will be made available through a collaboration between the group's own label, Prowling Death Records Ltd., and renowned metal giant Century Media Records. This is the same label partnership already responsible for CELTIC FROST's final album, "Monotheist" (2006), HELLHAMMER's "Demon Entrails" demo compendium (2008), and TRIPTYKON's debut album, "Eparistera Daimones", and "Shatter" EP (2010).
Like its predecessor "Eparistera Daimones", the album was produced by TRIPTYKON's singer/guitarist Tom Gabriel Warrior and guitarist V. Santura and recorded and mixed at V. Santura's own Woodshed Studio in southern Germany as well as at TRIPTYKON's rehearsal facilities in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2013 and 2014. Those who have already heard "Melana Chasmata" have described it as "atmospheric, dark, diabolical, and dramatic", "diverse, epic, and doomy, but on an entirely different level", "a fierce boulder of abhorrence", or "very heavy and yet very aesthetic at the same time".
"Melana Chasmata" will feature the following nine songs, at a playing time of around 67 minutes:
01. Tree Of Suffocating Souls02. Boleskine House03. Altar Of Deceit04. Breathing05. Aurorae06. Demon Pact07. In The Sleep Of Death08. Black Snow09. Waiting
Further new TRIPTYKON music has been recorded, to be released as an EP or mini album later in 2014 or early in 2015.
Among other formats, the album will be released as a 32-page mediabook (with lyrics and liner notes to every song, and with a special fold out poster), as a gatefold vinyl double album (with posters and large-format booklet), and for digital download. Additionally, Century Media is scheduled to issue a special box set, limited to 2000 copies. The box set will include the album, a TRIPTYKON silver pendant, a poster, postcards, a TRIPTYKON tote bag, and a cap.
To commemorate the unveiling of "Melana Chasmata", Century Media will release a collector's gatefold seven-inch vinyl single, featuring the songs "Breathing" and "Boleskine House". The single will be available on March 17 , and be limited to a pressing 1000 (of which 200 will be in red vinyl). "Breathing" and "Boleskine House" will also be available as a digital single (including the option for a digital booklet), and they will be streamed on YouTube and SoundCloud.
"Melana Chasmata" will be further distinguished by featuring, for the second time for TRIPTYKON, the extraordinary art of legendary Swiss surrealist HR Giger. Following "Eparistera Daimones", the group began to make arrangements for an entirely different cover for the second album. Completely unexpectedly, HR Giger approached Tom Gabriel Warrior in October of 2011 to express his appreciation of how TRIPTYKON had used his art on the first album and to propose a continuation of the artistic collaboration. This development thus marks the first time any musical artist has worked with HR Giger on three albums (CELTIC FROST's "To Mega Therion", and TRIPTYKON's "Eparistera Daimones" and "Melana Chasmata"), and it commemorates a collaboration that has now lasted for 30 years.
"Melana Chasmata" features Giger's dramatically mysterious "Mordor VII" (work no. 283, 100 x 70 cm, acrylic on wood, 1975) as a front cover and Giger's "Landschaft XVI" ["Landscape XVI"] (work no. 209, 100 x 70 cm, acrylic on paper on wood, 1972) as gatefold art.
After a lengthy hiatus, TRIPTYKON will return to the stage this year to promote "Melana Chasmata". Among the concerts so far scheduled are appearances at the celebrated Roadburn festival, at Rock Hard festival, and, pending the issuance of the proper visas by U.S. authorities, TRIPTYKON's return to the United States for an exclusive appearance at Maryland Deathfest.
TRIPTYKON consists of V. Santura (guitar, vocals), Norman Lonhard (drums, percussion), Vanja Slajh (bass, vocals), and Tom Gabriel Warrior (voice, guitars).
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24 ôåâ 2014
STANLEY And SIMMONS: No Version Of KISS Will Perform At ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME
 Less than two days after former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley revealed that the original lineup of the band will not reunite to perform at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in April, KISS leaders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have announced that no version of the group will play at the event.
Stanley and Simmons' official statement on the matter reads as follows:
"To all our fans in regards to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame:
"Out of respect, Ace and Peter's [Criss', drums] recent statements demand a quick response to you, our fans.
"Our intention was to celebrate the entire history of KISS and give credit to all members, including present longtime present members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, and additionally Bruce Kulick and Eric Carr, all who have made this band what it is, regardless of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's point of view.
"Although KISS has moved forward far longer without them, Ace and Peter are at the very foundation of what we have built and this would all be impossible had they not been a part of it in the beginning.
"It is over 13 years since the original lineup has played together in makeup and we believe the memory of those times would not be enhanced. Contrary to claims made through the media, we have never refused to play with Ace and Peter.
"We have spent 40 years dedicated to building KISS without quitting or wavering as the band has moved forward with huge tours and platinum albums through different important lineups for forty years, to this day.
"KISS has always been a band unlike any other. That is why we started KISS. That is why we continue KISS. Being unlike other bands also means making choices and decisions unlike other bands.
"This is understandably an emotional situation where there is no way to please everyone.
"To bring this to a quick end, we have decided not to play in any lineup and we will focus our attention on celebrating our induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
"We are excited and are looking forward to seeing you all on the KISS 40th-anniversary worldwide tour."
Frehley left KISS after the band's 2002 "Farewell" dates, saying afterwards that he took the word "farewell" seriously.
Criss claimed that his contract with KISS wasn't renewed in March 2004.
Both charges have been disputed by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.
In a 2012 interview with Revolver magazine, Stanley and Gene Simmons were asked if they are bothered when people complain about Frehley and Criss not being in the KISS anymore. "Almost nobody does," Simmons replied.
"When you have 3-year-old and 5-year-old fans showing up to our concerts — or even 30-year-old fans — they don't know about Ace and Peter. I mean, next year is going to be our 40th year. We've been touring longer than most of the people who come see us live have been alive.
"Who's Ace and Peter?
"By the way, bless 'em both — what I just said doesn't mean that Ace and Peter weren't every bit as important as Paul and myself in the beginning of the band, but not everybody has the same DNA. Some people shouldn't be in a marathon race. They're just not designed for it. Some people are good for short runs."
"Eric's been in and out of the band for 20-some-odd years. And Tommy, too," added Stanley.
"The only people who would complain, I think, are people who don't really follow the band at this point.
"The myth that sometimes surrounds the original lineup is purely myth. Some of it was of our own doing. The whole projecting the idea that it was four guys giving equally. Quite honestly, it was kind of our take on THE BEATLES: four guys that spend all their time together and run down the street jumping up in the air. But it's not a reality. And maybe part of the problem was that some of the guys in the band really bought into believing it.
"The band always had two people who were leading it and the idea that anybody is entitled to having songs on an album is crazy."
On the topic of why they think they felt like they had to project those myths in the early days, Stanley said, "Well, l think there was a certain amount of truth to it. Just in the sense of you have a band and there's a certain camaraderie, but there's also a sensitivity factor to people feeling minimized or left out. So to avoid that, we sometimes gave people more than their due.
"In those days, Gene and I shared our songwriting l with those guys because we didn't ever want it to be an issue that anybody was making more money than the other and therefore wanting songs on the album. Well. it obviously didn't work. [laughs] The only thing l did was give money away. [laughs] But all that being said, I've said it before. I'll say it again — we couldn't be here today without what Ace and Peter did in the beginning, and we couldn't be here today if they were still in the band."
The 29th annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 10 at Barclays Center.
The television broadcast will premiere on HBO on May 31.
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24 ôåâ 2014
JON LORD: 'All Those Years Ago' Photobook Details Revealed
 Jon Lord, the celebrated keyboard player of rock bands DEEP PURPLE and WHITESNAKE and a celebrated composer, is the focus of a new photographic biography that will commemorate his life and successful career. The limited-edition book, released for pre-sale today, is published by Rufus Stone who specialize in creating photographic books of major musical artists.
The exclusive book has been produced in conjunction with Jon Lord's family and will be personally signed by friend and fellow keyboard player Rick Wakeman. Featuring unpublished professional images, personal family photographs and contributions from Jon's family and colleagues, the book is highly anticipated by lifelong fans. The book will be accompanied by unreleased music by the late musician and a never-before seen live DVD of Jon performing his famous Concerto.
One of the unreleased tracks, named "All Those Years Ago", has inspired the title of the Jon Lord project and is included in the package as a 10-inch vinyl single.
A special video preview of the book and a taster of the track "All Those Years Ago" is available below.
The photographic book is due to be released in April, to coincide with a special memorial concert being held at the Royal Albert Hall in celebration of Lord's life and musical accomplishments. However, serious fans of Jon Lord can pre-order the limited-edition book as the pre-sale has just recently been launched by Rufus Stone.
Mark Smith of Rufus Stone says: "This photographic book is the ultimate piece of memorabilia for devoted Jon Lord fans.
"The celebration of his life and work contains rare material from his early days before he was a professional, then continuing through his time with DEEP PURPLE, PAL, WHITESNAKE and beyond.
"Signed by Rick Wakeman, 'All Those Years Ago' will be a treasured possession for anyone interested in Jon Lord and his musical talent.
"We had the honor of working with Jon himself back in 2012 before his death, when Rufus Stone were working on the DEEP PURPLE 'California Jam' title.
"We are thrilled to have this opportunity to celebrate Jon's life, and to be working closely with his family and colleagues once again."
As one of the most respected and revered names in both the rock and classical musical fields, Jon Lord made an impact on people worldwide. A night in his memory, "Celebrating Jon Lord" will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on April 4. The major concert will give fans the opportunity to relive Lord's extensive musical career, and will feature special guests, including Paul Weller, Rick Wakeman, Alfie Boe and DEEP PURPLE.
Rufus Stone's photographic biography will be released simultaneously with the memorial celebration concert and will delight fans with its spectrum of unreleased material.
Tarquin Gotch, Jon Lord's manager, said: "'All Those Years Ago' is a work of love, and will act as a true collectible for fans of Jon Lord and DEEP PURPLE."
To find out more about Rufus Stone or "All Those Years Ago", visit www.rufuspublications.com. | 0 | |
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24 ôåâ 2014
SUICIDE SILENCE's New Album Will Contain Some Of MITCH LUCKER's Final Lyrics
 Heavy music presenter Christina Rowatt of Soundwave TV conducted an interview with California deathcore masters SUICIDE SILENCE earlier today (Saturday, February 22) at the Brisbane stop of this year's Soundwave festival in Australia. You can now watch the chat below.
SUICIDE SILENCE recently entered the studio to begin recording its new album with producer Steve Evetts (SEPULTURA, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, WARBRINGER). The group's first CD with new vocalist Hernan "Eddie" Hermida (ex-ALL SHALL PERISH) will be released next summer via Nuclear Blast Entertainment, a division of Nuclear Blast Records formed by Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger and former Roadrunner A&R chief Monte Conner.
SUICIDE SILENCE singer Mitch Lucker died November 1, 2012 after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle crash in Huntington Beach on Halloween night.
According to Hermida, SUICIDE SILENCE's next CD will include a song containing some of Lucker's final lyrics. He said: "We have a song on there. Mitch left behind some lyrics, and we actually incorporated it into a song. It's about him being bigger than life, you know what I mean?! It's about finding that true resilience within yourself to keep going, which really means the world to us, 'cause, obviously, that's what we're doing. It came out very beautiful."
"We never talked about continuing and we never talked about quitting, so it was like an unspoken thing, 'cause with some people, a tragic happening, the last thing you want to do is talk about it," SUICIDE SILENCE guitarist Chris Garza told Music Feeds.
Ultimately, Garza explained, carrying on as SUICIDE SILENCE felt like the right thing to do. "I think keeping the SUICIDE SILENCE brand going and the name going keeps Mitch alive and I think it would be completely disrespectful to Mitch and everything that he worked for if we stopped going or changed the name," he added.
"This record will be the grittiest, most meaningful piece of work we've ever stood behind,” commented guitarist Mark Heylmun. "We cannot wait for everyone to hear it.
"Steve Evetts is someone we've worked closely with for a long while, not only on 'The Black Crown', but also on some instrumental demos just prior to the tragedy last fall. Here we are a year later prepping to record the nastiest, heaviest, most disgusting work we've ever done. Expect the unexpected."
Regarding the direction of the new material, Heylmun told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine: "Eddie is quite a versatile vocalist and he's willing to experiment, so we're definitely exploring the horizons, but don't expect anything less than pure brutality throughout."
Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD), Robb Flynn (MACHINE HEAD) and Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SEPULTURA) were among the "surprise" guests who performed with with the surviving members of SUICIDE SILENCE at a special show on December 21, 2012 at the Fox theater in Pomona, California as a tribute Mitch Lucker. All proceeds from the event went towards the education of Mitch's six-year-old daughter, Kenadee Lucker.
The Pomona concert was professionally filmed for a DVD, "Suicide Silence - Ending Is The Beginning: The Mitch Lucker Memorial Show", that was released on February 18 in North America and will be made available March 17 in Europe as a CD/DVD digipack and CD/Blu-ray combo pack.
SUICIDE SILENCE 2014 is:
Hernan "Eddie" Hermida - VocalsChris Garza - GuitarMark Heylmun - GuitarAlex Lopez - DrumsDan Kenny - Bass
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24 ôåâ 2014
MALEFICE Announces New Drummer, Begins Work On New EP
 U.K. metallers MALEFICE will release a new EP in May. The currently untitled record will feature four new tracks as well as a remix of the blistering single "V".
The MALEFICE members are producing the new EP themselves, with plans to have it mixed and mastered by Justin Hill.
Following a relentless touring schedule supporting 2012's critically acclaimed "Five" album, the band took a short hiatus. However, their insatiable drive to create seriously heavy music quickly returned, putting them back on the writing wagon once again.
Comments MALEFICE vocalist Dale Butler: "After taking some time out from the band to do our own things and focus on our own lives, we came back together not feeling as we had given all we have to give to MALEFICE.
"We spent a long booze-fuelled evening talking about what we want to do and what came out of that discussion is that we want to write music we like, we don't want to write music to fit in or to sound like whatever is 'cool' this year.
"We are going to back to what makes us MALEFICE and were gonna write some fucking heavy music to headbang to. And that's that."
MALEFICE has also announced the addition of drummer James Pearly Cook to the group's ranks. James, who has previously played with ANTERIOR and BORN OF RUIN, is playing an active role in making the new MALEFICE EP and is very excited to hit the road later in 2014.
In other news, MALEFICE is offering budding producers a chance to appear on the band's new EP. The group has made the stems for the track "V" available to download and they invite you to enter a competition to get your remix of the track on the new record. There are no guidelines, no genre or style limitations; the aim is to reinterpret the song in the most exciting and unique way possible.
Check out the video to the original track "V" below.
Download the stems at this location.
All remixes are to be uploaded to SoundCloud and added to the MALEFICE "V" remix group and posted on social media tagging the band.
The band's favorite remixes will then be posted on the MALEFICE Facebook page, tagging the producer, to get feedback from fans and to help them to chose the winner. | 0 | |
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24 ôåâ 2014
SATURNIAN MIST Signs To CANDLELIGHT RECORDS
 Tampere, Finland-based black/death metallers SATURNIAN MIST have inked a deal with Candlelight Records. The band's second album, "Chaos Magick", will be released later in the year.
Conor Droney, Candlelight Records A&R, commented: "SATURNIAN MIST first came to my attention through the fantastic 'Repellings' EP in 2009. These guys play raw black metal with hints of thrash and will have you hooked with their face-pounding riffs, threatening chord progressions and screamingly evil music. An another excellent addition to the Candlelight roster!" Listen to a demo version of a new SATURNIAN MIST track, "The Heart Of Shiva", in the YouTube clip below.
Founded in 2006, SATURNIAN MIST was established with the cabalistic idea of esoteric cults when adjusted into musical and artistic approaches, as based upon the ideas of fra. Zetekh which was to combine the occult together with musical expression. The influence of the occult and mysticism has explicitly defined the band's working ever since and has strengthened during the years into a fierce musical artillery that is imbued with varying influences from different areas of heavy metal.
A self-titled demo was released in February 2008 via French cult label Drakkar Productions which was known for introducing bands like MÜTIILATION, WATAIN and DEATHSPELL OMEGA to the world. From the demo, the sound of SATURNIAN MIST evolved from a traditional Finnish black metal sound more toward harsh and straightforward black metal, of which full the embodiment was the "Repellings" EP.
Live shows started officially in 2009 with great success at the infamous Sathanas In Gloriam festival in Rotterdam, Netherlands and Black Sunrise festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. SATURNIAN MIST became quickly known for its energetic and powerful appearances that combined primordial rage together with devotional, even religious-like, ecstasy. During this time, the band was still searching for an established lineup and the lineup changes in the first years of SATURNIAN MIST were common, but when fra. Ptahaz joined the collective in 2009 he became quickly an invariable part of SATURNIAN MIST and has remained so to this day.
A debut album titled "Gnostikoi Ha-Shaitan" was released in December 2011 via Finnish underground label Ahdistuksen Aihio Productions. It caused a notable amount of controversy with a rather eccentric combination of black and death metal that broke some conventional standards of black metal with influences coming from the areas of traditional heavy metal including guitar solos, composition style, and the distinctive vocal delivery of fra. Zetekh, all tied up with theological, philosophical and psychological interpretations of the occult and the archetype of the Devil.
The lineup that forged the debut broke up in 2012 due to various reasons. Once again with altering lineups, SATURNIAN MIST promoted the debut album while sharing the stage with bands like NECROS CHRISTOS, ANTAEUS, MGLA, ARCHGOAT and BLACK CRUCIFIXION. The band's unstable season remained to the changing of the years 2012-2013 which was when fra. Ptahaz changed his instrument into a guitar and fratres Vile (drums), Macabrum (bass) and Psychonaught (percussions) joined the band making SATURNIAN MIST a six-piece group. By this time a second full-length album was almost fully composed and matured more than enough to be worked into its final form waiting to be captured into a record. | 0 | |
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24 ôåâ 2014
IMMOLATION, INTRONAUT Members To Guest On KARYN CRISIS' Solo Album
 Former CRISIS frontwoman Karyn Crisis has launched a Kickstarter campaign to support the recording of her solo album project, "Gospel Of The Witches". Joining forces with her in studio are Davide Tiso, who's responsible for all compositions, guitars ad and bass; Ross Dolan of IMMOLATION on backing vocals; and Danny Walker of INTRONAUT on drums. Recording, mixing and mastering is booked with Jamie King (BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME) for early June at The Basement Recording in in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Karyn Crisis and Davide Tiso have filmed a short movie that explains the recording project and gives two pre-production song clips to express the atmosphere for the coming album. It can be seen, along with more information, at this location.
Karyn decided to work directly with her fans to get the album recorded and into their hands because, as she says to her fans in her promo film, "It took the record industry 10 years to decide what it thought about CRISIS and Karyn Crisis, but you, you knew in a heartbeat." So the campaign focuses on the decades-long bond Karyn has with fans of her music and art, and carefully chosen musicians to bring her musical vision into sonic reality.
Often mistaken for a duet of a man and a woman, and described as both "angelic and demonic", Karyn challenged the idea of what a female voice could sound like. She was the first female singer in heavy music to boast a voice strong enough to compete in the male-dominated music scene, and the only woman fronting a heavy band touring the U.S. Her unique style was that of a primal scream: borne of a need to express her rage, despair, and inner fire.
Combined with her powerfully physical, dynamic, stage performances, she also challenged the male-dominated metal and hardcore scenes to "think again" about the gender stereotypes of women being the "weaker" sex. And in the early '90s, before Internet and "Headbangers Ball" supported underground metal, bands had to prove themselves and pay their dues show by show, the grassroots way: winning people over in sweaty, often violent, clubs and mosh pits. No managers to book you into huge clubs with security fences; in those days, you had to hold your own and even break a nose or two.
Karyn's primary focus with music is the journey within: facing demons, releasing light, and overcoming the fleshy prison of the earthly body. The live stage has been home for Karyn, where her performances earned her the nickname "Exorsister" as well as a reputation for being emotionally raw, supernaturally powerful, interactive, and intensely physical.
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24 ôåâ 2014
SLASH Says 'Sweet Child O' Mine' Is The Most 'Lucrative' Song He Has Ever Written
 U.K.'s Metro recently conducted an interview with legendary guitarist Slash (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metro: What's the most lucrative song you've written?
Slash: It was always about albums rather than singles, but I'd guess "Sweet Child O' Mine", because it's the most covered. There are some really good instrumental versions for the piano or violin, but I've been horrified by some muzak versions. I've been sitting in a doctor's office thinking, "That sounds familiar," and then realizing it's someone's interpretation of what I've written. That can be a creepy feeling.
Metro: What's the worst gig you've done?
Slash: GUNS N' ROSES playing Cowboys Stadium in Dallas in 1989. It was horrific. Everything that could go wrong went wrong and the band didn't have enough experience to handle it properly. It was a huge disaster in front of 65,000 people. We fell apart on stage. It's stuck with me ever since.
Metro: What are people's misconceptions of you?
Slash: That I was limited to the image of me as a crazy loser junkie. People were a little intimidated by that. It was a narrow-minded idea of who I was, but at the same time, I gave that impression during interviews.
Metro: Have you ever had a supernatural experience?
Slash: I'd say I definitely have, but the fact I was high at the time kills the validity of it. There was definitely a handful of ghostly things flying around.
Read the entire interview at Metro.
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24 ôåâ 2014
LORD Parts Way With Drummer, Releases Video For Final Seconds 25th Dungeon Anniversary Details
 Aussie heavy metaller’s LORD have announced that they have mutually parted ways with drummer Damo Costas, released a video for ‘Final Seconds’ and announced plans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Dungeon.
The band commented: “Damo has reached a point where as much as he loved being in the band, losing that job he worked so hard to get will put a lot of what he’s aiming for in the future at risk, and if it comes down to choosing between sleeping in a cheap hotel in Hamburg or making sure you’re doing the right thing by your family… well, it’s a no-brainer. So we’d like to announce that Damo has taken an indefinite break away from Lord. Like all past Lord members, no doubt he’ll end up on a recording somewhere down the track (Mav and TY appeared on Return Of The Tyrant and TY has probably done more work with LT since he left the band, in fact) but for all intents and purposes, Damo is no longer a touring or recording member of Lord.”
Final Seconds is the third video clip to be released from the 2013 album Digital Lies and as commented by LT, is “our best-selling, most well-received album ever – and that includes all of the official Dungeon releases too.”
Commenting on the video itself: “In honour of his (Damo’s) time in the band, we’ve cut together a new clip featuring footage from the road, backstage, recording and behind-the-scenes stuff from the last four years. Some great footage and some great memories.”
2014 marks the 25th anniversary of Dungeon and as Lord is a continuation of what began 25 years ago, there are plans to acknowledge and celebrate the occasion. The band has hinted of a large recording/restoration project that will tie both eras of the band together. To make the project a reality, Lord will be embarking on a run of shows to fund the venture. Dates still to be announced.
“This project will be one of the most expensive things we’ve ever done, however (getting an idea of the scale of it yet?) A lot of our friends and peers have turned to sites like Kickstarter or Indigogo to raise money for their projects, something we’ve considered in the past and we’ll likely take advantage of in the future, but we’ve decided to go old-school and literally sing for our supper by going out and raising money by performing.”
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24 ôåâ 2014
Quebec’s FORTERESSE, CHASSE-GALERIE, MONARQUE, CSEJTHE Team Up For 7” Release
 Canadian black metal stronghold Sepulchral Productions has set March 28th as the international release date for a 7” vinyl release of Légendes - a gatefold double-7" split among FORTERESSE, CHASSE-GALERIE, MONARQUE, and CSEJTHE.
On Légendes, four of the best-known black metal outfits from Québec join forces for a very special release on double-7" format, limited to 500 copies. Each band contributes a brand-new track paying tribute to Québec's legends: ‘Wendigo’ by Forteresse, ‘Le Bois Des Belles’ by Chasse-Galerie, ‘La Griffe Du Diable’ by Monarque, and ‘Murmures Nocturnes’ by Csejthe. Discover these dark myths that are part of Québec's folklore and heritage, played by bands at the top of their art.
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Side A: Forteresse – ‘Wendigo’
Side B: Chasse-Galerie – ‘Le Bois Des Belles’
Side C: Monarque – ‘La Griffe Du Diable’
Side D: Csejthe – ‘Murmures Nocturnes’
Pressing info:
-43 grams vinyl
-Gatefold jacket
-Printed inner sleeve
-Silver Printing
-Légendes A2 Poster coming with all versions
Available in:
- "Die-Hard”: gray vinyl with black splatter and Légendes patch (100 copies)
- Classic Black (400 copies)
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24 ôåâ 2014
AREA51 - New Album To Be Released This Summer
 Yoichiro Ishino, guitarist and mastermind behind Japan's AREA51, has checked in with the following update:
"About our recent situation, Area51 had tough times in last year since our business got into the trouble (it's not inside of the band), but in the final three months we had a great thing carrying over to this year. Yeah, we're releasing a new album this summer with HUGE musicians. We promise not to have a further delay, because... the deal got signed!"
More details will be revealed soon.
Ishino posted a sneak peek of some of the material from the band's forthcoming as-yet-untitled new album in August 2012, which can be heard below.
Ishino: "It's not a track from upcoming NIGHTWISH album :-)" | 0 | |
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24 ôåâ 2014
CHILDREN OF BODOM's JASKA RAATIKAINEN Says He Was Diagnosed With Prolapsed Discs In His Lower Back
 Drummer Jaska Raatikainen of Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM has revealed that he was diagnosed with three prolapsed discs in his lower back during the band's fall 2013 European tour. He writes on his Facebook page: "I was exhausted from all the constant touring that started last summer. It was almost five months in a row and I definitely needed these two months of doing nothing and giving my time to my family and myself. Also, I had very bad back pains during the European tour that I was hospitalized for a day in Spain. They found out that I had three prolapsed discs in my lower back, but somehow I made it through the tour. I am stubborn. So, I really needed all this time to recover totally. My back is OK now, but I need to work on it a lot.
"I am convinced we don't have to cut songs from the set list [on CHILDREN OF BODOM's current North American headlining tour] at all like we did on the Euro tour some nights. Just to let you know, it might happen, and there is a reason for it."
CHILDREN OF BODOM six-week major-market North American headlining tour kicked off on February 14 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada and will hit 32 markets across the U.S. and Canada before wrapping with a two-night stand at New York City's Irving Plaza on March 28 and March 29. The tour features support from folk metal heroes TÝR and represents CHILDREN OF BODOM's first Stateside headlining run since the release of the band's new LP, "Halo Of Blood".
New York fans will have the opportunity to see two unique CHILDREN OF BODOM shows, a different set each night. In addition, 100 two-night packages are available for New York City which include one ticket for each evening, early entry to the venue both nights, an exclusive show poster and access to the VIP Balcony section.
CHILDREN OF BODOM's eighth album, "Halo Of Blood", sold 8,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD was made available on June 11, 2013 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover art was created by Sami Saramäki, who was responsible for the artwork on previous CHILDREN OF BODOM albums "Follow The Reaper", "Are You Dead Yet?" and "Hate Crew Deathroll".
CHILDREN OF BODOM's new album was recorded at Danger Johnny Studios in Helsinki. For the recording of the LP, CHILDREN OF BODOM has teamed up with recording engineer Mikko Karmila, who worked with the band on their fan-favorite albums "Hatebreeder", "Follow The Reaper" and "Hate Crew Deathroll", as well as Swedish producer Peter Tägtgren (MARDUK, AMON AMARTH), who oversaw production of both vocals and keyboards on the record. The album was mixed at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki.
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Rob Zombie
