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28 ñåí 2010
MUSHROOMHEAD: Entire New Album Available For Streaming
 "Beautiful Stories For Ugly Children", the new album from the Cleveland, Ohio art-metal collective MUSHROOMHEAD, is available for streaming in its entirety on AOL Music. The CD is scheduled for release on September 28 via Megaforce Records.
In other news, MUSHROOMHEAD will host tonight's (Mo
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28 ñåí 2010
FORBIDDEN: New Song Available For Streaming
 "Forsaken At The Gates" a brand new song from reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrashers FORBIDDEN, is available for streaming at the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the group's new album, "Omega Wave", which will be released in Europe on October 22 and in North America on October 26 via Nuclear Blast Records. It was recorded at Sonic Room/Audio Voyage Studios in Livermore, California, produced by FORBIDDEN guitarist/songwriter Craig Locicero with Tim Narducci, and mixed by Sean Beavan (SLAYER, MARILYN MANSON, NINE INCH NAILS).
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28 ñåí 2010
THE CROWN’s Marko Tervonen Comments On New Album Release
 Sweden’s death metal maniacs THE CROWN's new album, Doomsday King, is now available all across Europe (it will be released on October 12th in North America). T
Marko Tervonen (rhythm guitar) is more than happy about this return: “Hell yes!!! Today is the release date of our comeback album Doomsday King. Should I say some grand words to get you all fired up? Well, I guess you all know by now that we have always kept the "hype" on the "we'll let the new music do the talking" level. Once again we feel comfortable in that mindset. This album will reveal where our hearts are in 2010, and that is to deliver the best possible death metal that is within us. Death metal is strong in us 2010! That's for sure!!!! I hope you'll find the time to give Doomsday King a couple of spins. Trust me, it's addictive!“
Since the Deathfeast Ultimate in Oberhausen, scheduled for October 2nd, was cancelled, The Crown have changed plans and set up a special record release show in Essen, Germany at the Turock.
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28 ñåí 2010
RUSH: Performance Footage Of \'YYZ\' From \'2112 & Moving Pictures\' DVD/Blu-Ray Available
 It's been a banner year for the award-winning "Classic Albums" series. The most recent editions explore ground-breaking releases by TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS and BLACK SABBATH. The latest edition tackles not one, but TWO epic albums from progressive rock powerhouse RUSH. "Rush: 2112 & Moving Pictures Classic Albums" will be simultaneously released on DVD and Blu-ray via Eagle Rock Entertainment's Eagle Vision subsidiary on September 28. [MSRP $14.98 for DVD, $19.98 for Blu-ray]
Continuing the tradition of this celebrated series, "2112 & Moving Pictures Classic Albums" carries us through the creation of these musical masterpieces via brand new interviews, demonstrations, archive videos, and use of the original multi-track tapes. The titan trio of bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer Neil Peart, joined by original producer Terry Brown, weigh in on the mammoth melodies, resounding riffs, and dynamic drum fills behind these immense aural soundscapes. Many others contribute to the commentary, such as FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins and acclaimed Rolling Stone journalist David Fricke. 112 minutes in total, this DVD digs even deeper with 50 minutes of bonus material not included in the recent VH1 Classic broadcast.
In the clip below, Lee, Lifeson and Peart hammer away at their very own prog-rock instrumental classic "YYZ". The song was originally included on 1981's "Moving Pictures" album and was nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Rock Instrumental" category in 1982. The performance is included on "2112 & Moving Pictures Classic Albums".
These legendary albums mark pivotal points in RUSH's career. "2112", released in 1976, broke the band into major music chart domination, going #1 in their native Canada and in the Top 75 in the USA, where it was certified triple platinum. "Moving Pictures" added fuel to their rising stardom, opening them up to a mass audience with heavy-hitting hits like "Tom Sawyer". Going #1 and quadruple platinum in Canada, as well as hitting #3 in the USA and the U.K., this 1981 release remains their biggest selling album to date. RUSH is currently performing this album in its entirely on its "Time Machine" tour. "Rush: 2112 & Moving Pictures Classic Albums" is a perfect encapsulation of what made these albums successful, and why they are revered to this day.
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28 ñåí 2010
HEXFIRE Finish Recordings For New Album
 Polish metallers HEXFIRE have announced that they have finished recording all the tracks for their forthcoming album and the recording session is finally over.
Says the band: "It was really a great experience for us. There was a lot of work but everything was very exciting. We recorded our songs in the studio with a legendary Polish engineer Janusz "Yanek" Bryt who is known for his long-term cooperation with great metal bands like DESTRUCTION, VADER and BEHEMOTH. That's so cool. Stay tuned for further information!"
As previously reported, former Behemoth / Vader bassist, Marcin “Novy” Nowak recorded a blistering bass track for the forthcoming new album. Other session and guest musicians on the new Hexfire album are Jonno Lodge (BIOMECHANICAL, ex- PAUL DI'ANNO), Alex Holzwarth (RHAPSODY OF FIRE, AVANTASIA), Diego ‘Grom’ Meraviglia (ex-ANCIENT, DOOMSWORD), Kasper Gram (MANTICORA), Martin Arendal (Manticora, WUTHERING HEIGHTS), Kristian Larsen (Manticora) and Kel’Thuz (SPIRITUAL DEMISE, KELTHUZZAR, SORCERER). | 0 | |
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28 ñåí 2010
Iran\'s EXPLODE Releases Debut
 EXPLODE, a progressive metal band from Iran has signed a deal with Zirzamin, an Iranian/American record label located outside of Iran, who has released their first full length album, Labyrinth Of Solitude.
The band's musical style "is influenced by bands from 80s thrash metal music ala MEGADETH and METALLICA and more modern prog metal like DREAM THEATER and OPETH."
Labyrinth of Solitude tracklisting:
'The Frozen Tree' (12:00)
'Inner Cell' (12:20)
'Fallen Angel' (08:13)
'Eternal Dream' (09:02)
'The Last Thoughts Of A Disturbed Mind' (03:16) | 0 | |
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28 ñåí 2010
SLEEPY HOLLOW Reunite
 After an absence of more than twenty years, the US traditional heavy metal band SLEEPY HOLLOW has reunited with its original line-up; Bob Mitchell (vocals), Steve Stegg (guitars), Steve Brink (bass guitars) and Tommy Wassman (drums). | 0 | |
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28 ñåí 2010
FORNICATION Reunite; Two New Demo Tracks Available
 French cult black metal band FORNICATION has announced the reunion of its original line-up for a show. The date of the gig has not been announced yet.
Formed in 2000, Fornication released a string of demos and finally put out their debut album Sectanik Neocide on Battleskrz in 2002. After parting way with members of the band, the singer Sabbat carried on with new musicians but changed the style from black punk to technical black death metal.
Now the original members are back for neckbreaking black n' roll madness and have uploaded two unreleased tracks below on YouTube. | 0 | |
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28 ñåí 2010
THE ORB And DAVID GILMOUR To Release Metallic Spheres In October
 Columbia Records will release Metallic Spheres by THE ORB featuring PINK FLOYD's David Gilmour on Tuesday, October 12th.
The Orb, the visionary UK ‘ambient/house’ collective, came to collaborate with David Gilmour after working together on a version of GRAHAM NASH’s Chicago for a charity project. Youth (aka Martin Glover), a frequent Orb accomplice, was invited to create a remix, and he and Alex Paterson, as The Orb, were so energized by the task that they continued working until it was an album-length entity. Having asked Gilmour to bring his guitars to Youth’s studio in South London to prolong and enrich their new creation, the trio worked up a sonic mixture in a range of styles. Thus, the Metallic Spheres project was born.
Metallic Spheres is designed to be heard in two parts - ‘Metallic Side’ (24’48”), and ‘Spheres Side’ (25’09”). Each track, or side, consists of five movements. The album uniquely utilizes David Gilmour’s discernable electric guitar and lap steel guitar, Alex Paterson’s sound manipulation, keyboards and turntables, and Youth’s bass guitar and keyboards.
Longtime Orb collaborator Simon Ghahary has created artwork, continuing and expanding on The Orb’s spatial art style.
The Orb’s Alex Paterson says: "It's a collision that's been waiting to happen with Pink Floyd / David Gilmour and The Orb orbiting many of the same planets"
The Orb, built around mainstay Alex Paterson, formed in London in 1989 during the birth of the rave movement. Initially founded on a mutual love of Brian Eno and German electronics, The Orb at present operates with a flexible line-up of collaborators that includes producer / multi-instrumentalist Youth, well-known for his work with Paul McCartney as The Fireman, as well as his production (Crowded House, Dido) and remixes (U2, Marilyn Manson).
David Gilmour's most recent solo album On An Island charted at No. 1 in the UK & Europe and No. 2 in Canada.
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28 ñåí 2010
ANIMALS AS LEADERS - Pro-Shot Live Clips Available
 Metal Injection has posted two multi-cam live clips of progressive instrumental outfit ANIMALS AS LEADERS, shot at the New York City stop of the Summer Slaughter tour. The clips, for the tracks 'Tempting Time' and 'Wave Of Babies', are available below.
Additionally, the band gave a few minutes of their time for an exclusive interview discussing the reaction from music geeks, the type of music the band members listen to and more. Watch that here.
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28 ñåí 2010
FORBIDDEN DREAM Announce Release Of Second Album; Tracks Streaming Online
 Canadian melodic rockers FORBIDDEN DREAM announce the release of their second album, Less Is More.
Less Is More continues the trend of melodic/progressive rock that FD created on their first album but with a more modern and crisp sound. The formidable new record contains great energetic rock anthems, proggy twists and turns, soulful ballads and undeniable hooks that will leave you satisfied.
Tracks from the new album are now streaming at the band's MySpace page.
Less Is More tracklisting:
'Alive'
'Hey Lord'
'If Only You Knew'
'Camp For The Weak'
'Around and Within'
'Give'
'Words'
'Harmonics'
'Leave It All To Me' | 0 | |
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27 ñåí 2010
GOD DETHRONED: \'Under The Sign Of The Iron Cross\' Track Listing, Artwork Unveiled
 Dutch death metallers GOD DETHRONED recently finished recording their ninth album, "Under The Sign Of The Iron Cross", at the Soundlodge Studios in Leer, Germany.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. The Declaration of War
02. Storm of Steel
03. Fire Storm
04. The Killing is Faceless
05. Under the Sign of the Iron Cross
06. Chaos Reigns at Dawn
07. Through Byzantine Hemispheres
08. The Red Baron
09. On Fields of Death & Desolation
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27 ñåí 2010
THE ABSENCE: \'Enemy Unbound\' Video Released
 "Enemy Unbound", the new video from Tampa, Florida melodic thrashers THE ABSENCE, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Luke Leonard and Pia Hogue of Fetus Productions.
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27 ñåí 2010
OBSCURITY - New Album Details, Teaser Available
 The German black/death/Viking metal band OBSCURITY has just set the release date for their upcoming album Tenkterra at November 12th. The band will release their new album through SMP/Trollzorn Records.
Tenkterra was recorded by Tim Schuldt at 4CN-Studio in Wuppertal (Germany). The mixing and mastering took place in Dead Rat Studio (Aarhus, Denmark) by Jacob Bredahl (ex-HATESPHERE). And all artwork is delivered by Jan Yrlund from Darkgrove Designs (also TÝR, KORPIKLAANI, STRATOVARIUS, SVARYSOT, IMPERIA, SIRENIA, FAANEFJELL). The production was in the hands of Obscurity and Bony (JAPANISCHE KAMPFHÖRSPIELE).
With Tenkterra, Obscurity have created a concept album about the epic Celtic/Germanic history. The concept is based on the region’s self-conception and historically substantiated events in the Bergisches Land. Tenkterra seizes on Celtic and Germanic roots putting them into the context of these events. The concept deals with the time between about 200 B.C. and 800 A.D., thereby spanning a time period of 1000 years. With regards to content the concept comprises the region’s Celtic roots, the Germanic expansion, the battle against the superior Roman Empire and the split-up of the late Germanic peoples by Christianization culminating in the epic war between Franks and Saxons.
The album title is characteristic of the concept and the region. Tenkterra is a composition made up of the words Tenkterer (Engl. tencteri; a Germanic tribe) and Terra (Lat. earth/land) meaning “land of the Tenkterer”. It synonymously stands for the Bergisches Land (region in Germany) and its self-conception which was most strongly shaped by the Tencteri.
Tenkterra tracklisting :
'Keltilwald'
'Tenkterer'
'Keldagau'
'Blut für Blut'
'Raubzug der Sugambrer'
'V Legion'
'Germanicus' Rache'
'Brukterer'
'Grenzland'
'Bergischer Hammer' | 0 | |
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27 ñåí 2010
SICKENING HORROR Parts Ways With Drummer, Announces Replacement
 Greek extreme metallers SICKENING HORROR have issued the following update:
"Once more there's a change in the drum department in the SICKENING HORROR camp.
"We decided to part ways with Alex Zachos for musical reasons but this time we got the best possible replacement.
"Sometimes the answer is right in front of you, you just have to open your eyes and see!
"Our new drummer is Vasilis Antipatis! Not only Vasilis is George's [guitar, vocals] brother, but himself with George and Ilias [Daras, bass] back in 1999 consisted a band called SERIAL KILLER which was the early form of SICKENING HORROR!
"Vasilis has already performed with us at Mountains of Death Festival past August and it worked out great! So, at the moment we are working on the new songs of the upcoming third album on a totally different level and getting ready for some shows!"
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27 ñåí 2010
GWAR: \'Bloody Pit Of Horror\' Artwork Revealed
 GWAR's new album, "Gwar's Bloody Pit Of Horror", will be released on November 9 via Metal Blade Records. The CD artwork can be viewed below.
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27 ñåí 2010
THE OCEAN: \'Anthropocentric\' Artwork Unveiled
 THE OCEAN has completed work on its new album, "Anthropocentric", at Studio Mecanique in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the same facility where the band's previous effort, "Heliocentric", was recorded and mixed. The new CD was mastered on August 25 by Svante Forsbäck in Helsinki.
Musically, "Anthropocentric" feels somehow heavier than "Heliocentric". "The sound is more dense and maybe a tad more raw, which suits the songs perfectly", comments guitar player Jonathan Nido. The album covers a similar sonic and dynamic range as "Heliocentric", also including a number of calm, acoustic moments — but these are for the most part orchestrated with guitars, and not so much with piano and string section. The focus is on the heavy songs. "The album is a pretty big production, and still has a very earthy, organic feel to it", says Staps. "We have spent a great deal of time on the basic sound this time around, drums, bass, guitars and vocals… and at this stage I am pretty confident that this will pay off in the end!"
As far as the concepts behind "Anthropocentric" are concerned, the focus is on man and his place in the universe: at the center, as many fundamental Christians still claim today, or more likely a dust particle in its periphery? All lyrics are circling around this question. "'Anthropocentric' will continue the critique of Christianity, inspired by the questions that Dostoyevsky asked and some of the answers that Friedrich Nietzsche and Richard Dawkins gave," says Staps.
At the base of the album are three songs with the titles "The Grand Inquisitor I, II and III". These songs have been inspired by the chapter of the same title in Fjodor Dostoyevsky's novel "The Brothers Karamasov": a conversation between the brothers Ivan, an atheist, and Alyoscha, a monk. Ivan tells Alyoscha the story of a Second Coming of Christ in 16th century Sevilla. According to this parable, Jesus is arrested by the Catholic inquisition. The grand inquisitor who interrogates Jesus casts a new light on the legend of the temptation of Christ: he reproaches Jesus with having betrayed humanity and having deprived man of salvation by giving him freedom. The conversation between Ivan and Alyoscha mirrors, to some degree, the conversation between the grand inquisitor and Christ and raises more questions than it answers. "This long dialogue, which for the most part is rather a monologue of Ivan, is so complex and recondite that one could easily find inspiration for 10 concept albums about Christianity in it," explains Staps.
Only six guest musicians appear on the album, all classical musicians, most of whom can be heard on the CD's final cut. "Anthropocentric" is an effort by THE OCEAN's consolidated nucleus. "It is the first album where all members have actively partaken in the songwriting," says Staps.
"Anthropocentric" track listing:
01. Anthropocentric
02. The Grand Inquisitor I: Karamazov Baseness
03. She Was The Universe
04. For He That Wavereth…
05. The Grand Inquisitor II: Roots & Locusts
06. The Grand Inquisitor III: A Tiny Grain of Faith
07. Sewers Of The Soul
08. Wille Zum Untergang
09. Heaven TV
10. The Almightiness Contradiction
11. The Grand Inquisitor IV: Exclusion From Redemption | 0 | |
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27 ñåí 2010
STATUS QUO To Release New Version Of ‘In The Army Now’
 UK rockers STATUS QUO will release a brand new version of their classic hit ‘In The Army Now’ on September 27th, through Universal / UMTV.
The original track is approaching its 25th anniversary. All profits from this updated and lyrically-reworked version will be donated equally to the British Forces Foundation and Help For Heroes charities. The former boosts the morale of servicemen and women on the frontline and in operational theatres all over the world, primarily through high quality entertainment, and the latter provides direct, practical support for injured service personnel.
Status Quo frontman Francis Rossi comments: "It seemed like the right time to do this. This release is intended to show our support for the Allied Forces around the world, but in particular, of course, the British Armed Forces. We want people to celebrate what they do, say thank you and also support these vital charities."
Recorded just weeks ago at the Vestry Hall of the London College of Music, the track was, once again, produced by Pip Williams. This 2010 recording also features male and female backing singers from the Corps of Army Music. This release comes ahead of the brand new Status Quo studio album slated for release in summer 2011.
The video was recorded at the Kiwi Barracks of the 4-Rifles regiment and on location at the National Tank Museum and is crammed with hilarious footage of the band being put through their paces on the drill square, getting behind the wheel of some seriously heavy military hardware, and much more. The video is an unalloyed triumph and a testament to the work of the British Army. The band were so enamoured by the Sergeant Major who took charge of them that they asked him to deliver the classic "Stand Up And Fight!" line on the single.
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27 ñåí 2010
SEVENTH VOID Signs With NAPALM RECORDS
 SEVENTH VOID — the new band featuring TYPE O NEGATIVE guitarist Kenny Hickey and drummer Johnny Kelly — has inked a deal with Napalm Records. The group's debut album, "Heaven Is Gone", will be made available in Europe at the end of November.
Commented Johnny Kelly: "It's been a long time coming! I'm thrilled that we are finally getting 'Heaven Is Gone' released everywhere! I'm looking forward to working with Napalm on this as well as the next SEVENTH VOID release in 2011! I'm even more stoked about the band finally doing a European tour! I'm really looking forward to the upcoming run with MONSTER MAGNET. It's gonna be a blast!"
"Heaven Is Gone" was released in the United States on April 21, 2009 via Vinnie Paul's (PANTERA, HELLYEAH) Big Vin Records. The CD sold around 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. It debuted at No. 21 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"We sent [Vinnie] one song," Hickey told DallasObserver.com, "and he really liked it. So we never really took it anywhere else. We wanted someone who believed in it. And Vinnie does."
"From the moment I first heard them, I full-on loved it," Vinnie said. "It's a new band, but when other people hear it, they'll know too. It's just an old-school sound with a new attitude. Something different than all the LINKIN PARKs and HOLLYWOOD UNDEADs out there right now."
Rounded out by bassist Hank Hell (INHUMAN) and guitarist Matt Brown (ex-SUPERMASSIV), SEVENTH VOID continues TYPE O's tradition of slow, heavy riffs and existential lyrics, but with a slightly sludgier, "stonier" flavor.
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27 ñåí 2010
ESSENCE: Another New Song Available For Streaming
 "Shades Of Black", another new song from up-and-coming Aalborg, Denmark-based thrashers ESSENCE, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the band's upcoming debut album, "Lost in Violence", which is tentatively due before the end of the year via an as-yet-undetermined record label. The CD was recorded at Medley Studios (ARTILLERY, PRINCE, RADIOHEAD, MARY J. BLIGE, KELLY CLARKSON, THE CARDIGANS) in Copenhagen and was produced and mixed by Soren Andersen (Glenn Hughes, Dave Mustaine, Mike Tramp). The mastering duties were handled by Nikolaj Vinten at Vinten Mastering (COLDPLAY, D-A-D, DIZZY MIZZ LIZZY). The cover artwork was created by Justin Osbourn from Slash Design (ABORTED, SUICIDE SILENCE, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, MAROON, SKELETONWITCH) and can be viewed below.
"Lost in Violence" track listing:
01. Allegiance
02. Unlimited Chaos
03. Pestilence
04. Blood Culture
05. Night's Destruction
06. Oblivion
07. Shades of Black
08. Trace of Terror
09. Lost in Violence
10. Aggressive Attack | 0 | |
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27 ñåí 2010
NON OPUS DEI: \'Eternal Circle\' Out Now
 Polish black metallers NON OPUS DEI have just released their sixth album, "Eternal Circle", via Witching Hour Productions. The "30-minute extreme black metal punch in the face" features nine songs "filled with anger, passion and electrifying atmosphere," according to a press release.
The recording sessions for "Eternal Circle" started at Bat Studio in Olsztyn where drums were laid down under the supervision of Szymon Czech (NYIA, THIRD DEGREE), who produced the whole album. Later the band moved to his private studio to record the guitar tracks. The recordings were completed at Studio X before the band returned to Szymon's studio for the mixing and mastering.
"Eternal Circle" was made available as a special digipack edition with a 40-page hand-sewn booklet containing visual aspects of the album. One of the graphic elements of the booklet is absinthe wormwood — due to its magical attributes. "Eternal Circle" was also released as a 12-inch transparent vinyl with special insert, limited to 500 units. The artwork and design was handled by Bartek Rogalewicz.
"Eternal Circle" track listing:
01. Woda Dla Umarlych
02. The Prisioner Of The Worlds
03. Demon Nietzschego
04. Dark Nebula
05. Przystrojona Sloncem
06. Death Hussar Legions
07. Point Zero
08. Galaxy In Her
09. Until The Wheel Stops
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27 ñåí 2010
NIGHTWISH: A Day On The Kart Track
 Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH recently spent a day on the kart track with Heikki Johannes Kovalainen (see video below), a Finnish Formula One racing driver who spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons with Britain-based team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, and who drives for the new Lotus Racing team for the 2010 campaign.
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27 ñåí 2010
OPETH Frontman Discusses \'In Live Concert At The Royal Albert Hall\' DVD
 RoadrunnerRecords.com recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH about the band's "In Live Concert at the Royal Albert Hall" DVD. An excerpt from the chat follows below.
Q: Tell us how you came to this idea to celebrate your 20-year career…
Mikael: Well, it doesn't feel like we've been around for 20 years, really, but 20 years is a long time, especially when you see it on paper; it makes us feel old! But we have been around for 20 years and we wanted to celebrate it somehow, because we never really celebrated anything in those 20 years — we never had a release party, we never had anything. We talked about doing a show or something, and we'd been looking at playing the Royal Albert Hall at some point in our career, and for me it was just something we'd talked about, not something that would become a reality at all. But we did it, and that was the first show we booked, then all of a sudden this party of ours became a big thing. We didn't want to go into the Royal Albert Hall without having played a few shows before, so we booked a few shows around the world at similar venues — well, we tried to get similar venues but it's almost impossible because [the Royal Albert Hall] is so beautiful. We played at the Cirkus in Stockholm, that was the first show, and then at an old movie theatre (called Lichtburg) in Essen, Germany, then we did the Albert Hall show. We did New York, Los Angeles, and we played at the Bataclan Club in Paris, which is a very nice place. Basically, we wanted to be prepared for the Royal Albert Hall because we knew we were going to film it and record it, so we wanted it to sound good. But that was it, we set up six shows around the world to celebrate 20 years, simple as that.
Q: What was your reasoning for including "Blackwater Park" in its entirety in the set?
Mikael: The reason is it's a popular record. We'd been a band for 10 years when we did "Blackwater Park" but we'd never really had anything going for us, to be honest, until we did that album. The simple reason is that this is the tenth anniversary of our most popular record, many of the songs on that album are well-known OPETH songs, like "The Drapery Falls", "Bleak", "Harvest" and the song "Blackwater Park", so it felt obvious. We were talking about doing an album "[front] to back," and it's quite fashionable for bands to do that — we'd done it before as well — so when we talked about it, we didn't even discuss [which album we'd play]. We just said, "We need to rehearse all those 'Blackwater Park' songs then!" It just felt obvious.
Q: How did you choose the other songs in your set — what has become the second disc of the set?
Mikael: I guess it was difficult, but we weren't on tour for "Watershed" anymore, so we didn't have to plug that album any more than the others, it was just celebrating our career as a band. Our songs are quite long so we couldn't really choose more than one song from each record for the second set. "Forest of October", which is the first song we played, fragments of that song were the first things I ever wrote for OPETH. It's a fun song to play, it's a but naïve, because it's so old now, but I love that song. It's really raw and it really goes back to the very beginning of the band. The second song was "Advent", the opening track from the "Morning Rise" record, and one of the more well-known songs from that album. I think it's still a good song and I think we made it sound as it did back in the day. That's basically how we chose the songs — songs that we like to play and to some extent songs that we thought people would want to hear, but you obviously have to leave a lot of material out with a thing like this, it can never be complete. We did think about playing "Black Rose Immortal", but there's parts in there that I don't really like, I can't really relate to it anymore. People want to hear that song because it's the longest song we ever recorded, but it's not the best song ever, it's just the longest, so we went with other stuff. I think "The Moor" from "Still Life" is a song people love to hear, it's very difficult to play, and we haven't played it all that much. I think we made it sound really good.
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27 ñåí 2010
SLIPKNOT\'s JIM ROOT: \'I\'m Trying To Live A Little Bit More In The Here And Now\'
 SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR guitarist Jim Root was asked by the Artisan News Service (see video below) if the recent death of SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray has changed his mindset as to what his priority is between SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR. "No, not really," he replied. "It's tough to say. Everything is so recent."
He continued, "Are we talking about doing another album with SLIPKNOT? No. Are we gonna do one? Possibly. I mean, right now SLIPKNOT doesn't have a bass player, so how can we think about doing another record with no bass player? Maybe our bass player is already somebody that's in the band, I don't know. Could Mick [Thomson, guitar] or me or anybody cover that duty if we were to write? Sure. On the other side of that coin, we haven't had the luxury to do two albums in a row with STONE SOUR.
"Everything happens for a reason. Maybe this is our chance to go and do another record [with STONE SOUR] and give SLIPKNOT a little more time to think about the future and what we wanna do. Anything could happen."
Regarding how Gray's passing has affected the way he lives his life, Root said, "I'm trying to live a little bit more in the here and now rather than six months to a year ahead of myself, which is what I've been doing for the past ten years. I'm always living at least a year ahead of where I'm really at, and that can really lead you to some negative thoughts and some bad vibes. I'm just kind of more, like, I'm gonna take every day as it comes and that's gonna be good enough for me."
Gray's body was found on May 24 in a hotel room in a Des Moines, Iowa suburb. A coroner ruled that the 38-year-old musician died of an accidental overdose of morphine.
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27 ñåí 2010
SODOM: New Album Artwork Unveiled
 Veteran German thrashers SODOM have completed work on their new album, "In War And Pieces", for a November 23, 2010 release (one day earlier internationally) via SPV/Steamhammer. The CD was produced by Waldemar Sorychta, who has previously worked with TIAMAT, MOONSPELL, LACUNA COIL and SENTENCED, among many others. The cover artwork (see below) was created by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with TESTAMENT, SIGH, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others.
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27 ñåí 2010
SORROWS PATH: \'Empty Eyes And Blackened Hearts\' Video Released
 "Empty Eyes And Blackened Hearts", the new Achilles Villiotis-directed video from Greek doom metallers SORROWS PATH, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's debut album, "The Rough Path Of Nihilism", which is scheduled for release on October 29 via Rock It Up Records. The CD was recorded at Fragile Studios in Athens with producer Vangelis Yalamas. The artwork and photography for the album were handled by Seth Siro Anton.
SORROWS PATH is:
Stavros Giannakos: Bass
Angelos Ioannidis: Vocals
Fotis Mountouris: Drums
Kostas Salomidis: Guitar
Giannis Tziligkakis: Guitar | 0 | |
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27 ñåí 2010
DRAGSTRIP: Debut Album Out Now
 DRAGSTRIP, the Los Angeles-based hard rock band featuring former TANK drummer Gary "Bulldog" Taylor, has released its debut album, "A Heartbeat Away From Disaster", via Riff City Records.
DRAGSTRIP is fronted by U.K. vocalist and showman Kevan Overend, who is described in a press release as "a true rock and roll star (remember those?) in the vein of Freddie Mercury and Marc Bolan." Rounding out the band's current lineup are guitarist/vocalist Tommy Norton (formerly of SPACE AGE PLAYBOYS) and bassist Brian Dobbs.
DRAGSTRIP's influences come from "the great heritage of '70s British hard rock . . . when rock stars had no apologies and were not politically correct. Bands such as THIN LIZZY, UFO, AC/DC and, of course, LED ZEPPELIN."
"A Heartbeat Away From Disaster" track listing:
01. Thanks For The Memories
02. Saturday Night (See My Baby Jive)
03. (You're My) Main Man
04. Chase
05. Ain't Nobody
06. The Game
07. Last Goodbye
08. She's Alright
09. My Little Love
10. Sophia's Song
11. What I Need | 0 | |
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27 ñåí 2010
MISERY SIGNALS Guitarist Quits
 Guitarist Stuart Ross has reportedly left MISERY SIGNALS in order to focus on his gig as the frontman of the pop-punk band LIVING WITH LIONS from Victoria, British Columbia. A replacement axeman has not yet been announced.
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27 ñåí 2010
RONNIE JAMES DIO Statue To Be Erected In Kavarna
 Legendary heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio will have a monument dedicated to him in the Bulgarian Black-sea coastal town of Kavarna. The statue will be placed in the city's central park, as part of the soon-to-be built "Walk of Rock," a project approved by the City Council four years ago.
According to Radio Bulgaria, the decision to erect the monument was taken by the municipal administration, with the most active proponents being Kavarna Mayor Tzonko Tzonev as well as leading journalists, musicians and singers.
A replica of the monument was displayed during the three-day Kavarna Rock Fest in July and a plaster model of the statue has since been created, marking the final stage of the preparation for its construction.
The actual statue will be 1.5 meters in height (approximately four feet and eleven inches) and will be combined with large stones taken from the sea.
The artists behind the project are sculptors Alexander Petrov and Krasimir Krastev - Lomsky, while the painting is being handled by Ivan Stratiev.
Dio was reportedly one of the very first heavy rock icons to play Kavarna. In fact, he played in Bulgaria no less than five times and took an active part in the campaign for liberating the Bulgarian nurses held in prison in Libya for eight years.
According to Standart News, the mayor of Kavarna, Tzonko Tzonev, has managed to turn his life-long hobby — rock music — into a successful and profitable project and thus pours funds into the treasury of Kavarna Municipality. Thanks to Tzonev's efforts, some of the greatest rock musicians of all times have come and performed in the small coastal town of Kavarna.
Ronnie James Dio was one of rock's most respected and talented frontmen, renowned for his instantly recognizable vocals, lyrics and stagecraft. On May 16, 2010, Ronnie succumbed to stomach cancer at the age of 67 and the world of hard rock lost one of its greatest talents.
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26 ñåí 2010
THE POODLES To Release \'No Quarter\' CD, \'In The Flesh\' DVD
 Frontiers Records has set a November 5 European release date for the "No Quarter" CD and "In The Flesh" DVD from Swedish heard rockers THE POODLES.
Having developed a reputation as first-class entertainers with the release of three acclaimed studio albums and over 350 shows in Europe in the past few years, not counting gold and platinum record awards in their home country, THE POODLES close the first chapter of their musical adventure and set their sails for the next step.
As a tribute to the first years on the road, THE POODLES are offering their fans a live package — including a CD and a DVD — recorded during the "Clash Of The Elements" tour in 2009.
"The high point for us as a band is any time we go on stage," says guitar player Henrik Bergqvist. "This may sound like somewhat of a cliché, but it is no less true. It doesn't matter if we play a crowd of 10,000 people at Graspop or in front of a handful on a rainy November Monday in Copenhagen, those are the moments we relish and live for. We've had so many special moments on stage over the past couple of years that it seems impossible to single even a few of them out. Having said this, some special moments can certainly be seen on the live DVD and heard on the live CD."
"We are very proud of how the live CD and live DVD turned out and we feel that they really shows what the band is like on stage," continues Bergqvist. "Being able to watch a DVD of your favorite band is great and there are a few really nice ones out there, but the connection that takes place between the band and the crowd during live shows cannot be formatted to the screen. You can catch a glimpse of it, but to experience a band live will always be different from listening to or viewing a recording of that band. Have a look and see for yourselves, though!"
Aptly titled "In The Flesh", the DVD is an in-depth look at THE POODLES, featuring interviews with all bandmembers, behind-the stage footage and promotional clips for the "Clash Of The Elements" album. The live CD, plus the previously unreleased song "Lullaby For Jimmy" as a CD exclusive, shows that behind the look and the words there is a solid band playing great music!
Henrik concludes: "The future plans for THE POODLES is closely connected to the band's cooperation with Frontiers Records. The band expects to play for an ever-expanding audience as a result of it and take the mission of heavy metal to virgin lands. We want to see our beloved fans again on the road and make new friends too. The future is bright for us, and that's good because we already wear shades!"
"No Quarter" CD track listing:
01. Too Much Of Everything
02. Caroline
03. Seven Seas
04. Metal Will Stand Tall
05. Like No Tomorrow
06. One Out Of Ten
07. Lullaby For Jimmy
08. Drum Solo
09. Echoes From The Past
10. Thunderball
11. I Rule The Night
12. Night Of Passion
13. Flesh & Blood
14. Line Of Fire
"In The Flesh" DVD table of contents:
* Movie: Introduction
* Stockholm, Party & Fun
* About The Poodles
* Metal Standing Tall
* The Director & Crew
* Being On Top
* Jakob
* Henrik
* Pontus
* Kicken
* The First Five Rows
* Tribute To The Fans
* End Credits
Concert:
* Too Much Of Everything
* Caroline
* Seven Seas
* Metal Will Stand Tall
* Like No Tomorrow
* One Out Of Ten
* Echoes From The Past
* Thunderball
* I Rule The Night
* Night Of Passion
* Flesh & Blood
* Line Of Fire
Extras:
* Like No Tomorrow (Video)
* I Rule The Night (Video)
* In The Flesh (Video)
* Warrior (The Movie Trailer)
* Majestic Film And Metal Warriors
The DVD will be released in NTSC region free format with screen 16:9 and mix in 2.0. There will also be a limited release of a luxury packaging including the "No Quarter" CD and "In The Flesh" DVD as a luxury digipak edition.
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