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27 июн 2009
AC/DC Makes FORBES Magazine\'s \'Top-Earning Musicians\' List
 Anglo-Australian hard rockers AC/DC made Forbes magazine's list of Top-Earning Musicians list of the year, with MADONNA, CELINE DION and BEYONCÉ taking the top three spots.
Says Forbes: "The Aussie rock band fronted by aging schoolboy Angus Young tied for No. 5 on this year's list of top earners thanks to their seemingly relentless popularity. Their fall 2008 effort, 'Black Ice', was the band's first album in eight years. Sales of 'Ice' combined with international catalog sales made AC/DC the No. 1 catalog artist of 2008. As well, their domestic tour grossed $38 million in 2008."
Forbes Top Earning Musicians list:
01. MADONNA $110 million
02. CELINE DION $100 million
03. BEYONCE KNOWLES $87 million
04. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN $70 million
05. KENNY CHESNEY $65 million
06. (tie) COLDPLAY $60 million
06. (tie) RASCAL FLATTS $60 million
06. (tie) AC/DC $60 million
09. THE EAGLES $55 million
10. TOBY KEITH $52 million
11. BON JOVI $50 million
12. DAVE MATTHEWS BAND $45 million
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27 июн 2009
CHTHONIC: New Song Available For Streaming
 A new CHTHONIC track entitled "Rise of the Shadows" is available for streaming at the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the group's new album, "Mirror of Retribution", which will be released in the U.S. on September 1 via Spinefarm Records.
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27 июн 2009
MEGADETH Performs New Song \'Headcrusher\' For First Time; Video Available
 Fan-filmed video footage of MEGADETH performing a brand new track entitled "Headcrusher" last night (Wednesday, June 24) at the General Motors Place (commonly known as GM Place) in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada can be viewed below (courtesy of "groo74").
MEGADETH and SLAYER kicked off the "Canadian Carnage" tour in Vancouver by playing in front of about 6,000 people at the 12,285-capacity venue (17,000 for basketball/hockey events), with MACHINE HEAD and SUICIDE SILENCE opening the show.
MEGADETH's setlist was as follows:
01. Sleepwalker
02. Wake Up Dead
03. Hangar 18
04. Skin O' My Teeth
05. Rattlehead
06. Kick The Chair
07. In My Darkest Hour
08. She-Wolf
09. Headcrusher
10. Symphony Of Destruction
11. Peace Sells
12. Holy Wars...The Punishment Due
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26 июн 2009
VAN HALEN, QUEEN, POISON, VELVET REVOLVER Members Comment On MICHAEL JACKSON\'s Passing
Members of VAN HALEN, QUEEN, POISON, SHINEDOWN and VELVET REVOLVER have issued statements regarding the passing of pop music legend Michael Jackson, who died earlier today (Thursday, June 25) at age 50.
CNN.com reports that Michael collapsed at his residence in the Holmby Hills section of Los Angeles, California, about noon Pacific time, suffering cardiac arrest, according to brother Randy Jackson. He died at UCLA Medical Center.
Lt. Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said an autopsy would probably be done on the singer Friday, with results expected that afternoon.
VAN HALEN guitarist Eddie Van Halen: "I am really shocked; as I'm sure the world is, to hear the news. I had the pleasure of working with Michael on 'Beat It' back in '83 — one of my fondest memories in my career. Michael will be missed and may he rest in peace."
QUEEN guitarist Brian May: "Hard to know what to say — what to feel. I find myself wondering what might have happened on his tour... The number of dates in the U.K. that he had committed to was insane. I did have a feeling it was impossible, but I was so shocked to hear that he went so suddenly. Very sad. Of course, I still think of him as a boy — he used to come and see us (QUEEN) play when we were on tour in the States, and he and Freddie [Mercury] became close friends, close enough to record a couple of tracks together at Michael's house. Tracks which have never seen the light of day. Michael was the boy star of the JACKSON FIVE, and always the most screamed at. I remember in their show, they tried very hard to make all the brothers equal in the presentation, but it was abundantly obvious that all most of the girl fans really wanted to see was little Michael. It was Michael who heard our track 'Another One Bites the Dust' when he came to see us on 'The Game' tour ... and told us we were mad if we didn't release it as a single." [Read more of May's thoughts at BrianMay.com]
POISON drummer Rikki Rockett: "Michael Jackson — huge loss!!! The words genius and musical are used in the same sentence too often. Not in the case of Michael Jackson. His musical expression will never be topped and his inspiration will live forever. R.I.P."
SHINEDOWN guitarist Zach Myers: "Sitting in a dressing room in Calgary, Canada I am more saddened than I can remember in maybe the last five years. Call the guy whatever you want... judge his actions, judge his judgments, and judge the man any way in any language you want. But Michael Jackson was the best. There was no one better. There never will be anyone better. People don’t try anymore. You can take any pretty loser who can't sing who has a good smile and sells records and make him a star. Just look at ANYONE on the charts today. Today we lost a part of music history, a legend, and the greatest pop music artist there ever will be. The things Michael created on 'Thriller', 'Off The Wall' and 'Bad' will never be matched. By anyone ever. Michael Jackson was the best. People believed in Michael Jackson who didn't believe in Jesus. And that, my friends, is a legend. God bless Michael Jackson's music, his soul, and his legend. That can never be replaced. Rest in peace, sir. God bless your soul."
VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash (Slash played guitar on two Michael Jackson singles, "Black or White" and "Give In to Me"): "Really sad news about Michael. He was a talent from on high."
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26 июн 2009
OVER THE RAINBOW Returning To Russia In September
 OVER THE RAINBOW will return to Russia and post-Soviet territories in September/October for another headlining tour. Confirmed dates are as follows (venue details to be announced):
Sep. 15 - Krasnodar
Sep. 17 - Rostov-on-Don
Sep. 19 - Tumen
Sep. 21 - Perm
Sep. 23 - Samara
Sep. 27 - Omsk
Sep. 29 - Irkutsk
Oct. 01 - Krasnoyarsk
Oct. 03 - Novosibirsk,
Oct. 05 - Moscow
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26 июн 2009
EX DEO Announces Touring Bassist
 EX DEO — the band led by KATAKLYSM frontman Maurizio Iacono — has enlisted bassist Dano Apekian from Montreal, Quebec's melodic death metal outfit ASHES OF EDEN.
Commented Maurizio: "We knew that Francois Mongrain (MARTYR) couldn't make it on some tours with EX DEO even before we asked him to perform on [EX DEO's debut] album ['Romulus']... We needed a person that could be there when called upon for touring. Dano has good stage experience and will serve Rome's conquest proudly!"
"Romulus" was released in Europe on June 19 and will be made available in North America on June 30 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded with producer (and KATAKLYSM guitarist) Jean-Francois Dagenais (MISERY INDEX, DESPISED ICON, MALEVOLENT CREATION).
Added Maurizio: "I would also like to also dismiss any claim that EX DEO is part of any Christian based band or beliefs. These are false allegations of people who have obviously not educated themselves with history. Rome was part of Polytheism beliefs; in other words, it was pagan, the belief in multiple gods, not Christianity until Emperor Constantine declared the Christian religion legal in Rome. That was the biggest mistake they ever made; it was the start of the fall of Rome and its ideals of free thinking, and for those who dismiss these things as something of the 'past,' well let me tell you that you live in the results of those past events and your way of thinking is based on it, and all the freedoms you take for granted. HAIL ROME!"
Nergal (BEHEMOTH), Karl Sanders (NILE) and Obsidian C (KEEP OF KALESSIN) will make special guest appearances on "Romulus". Nergal will appear in the song "Storm The Gates Of Alesia", singing a very famous Caesar quote; Sanders laid down a ripping solo in the song "The Final War (The Battle Of Actium)" which deals with Antony and Cleopatra's defiance of Octivian in Egypt, and Obsidian C lends a majestic and melodic solo to the track "Cruor Nostri Abbas".
"Romulus" track listing:
01. Romulus
02. Storm the Gates of Alesia
03. Cry Havoc
04. In Her Dark Embrace
05. Invictus
06. The Final War (Battle of Actium)
07. Legio XIII
08. Blood, Courage and The God's That Walk The Earth
09. Cruor Nostri Abbas
10. Surrender The Sun
11. The Pantheon (Jupiter's Reign)
EX DEO will make its live debut this September/October on the special edition of Europe's biggest pagan/folk metal tour, Paganfest. Co-headlining throughout will be Finland's KORPIKLAANI and Germany's DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER. Additional support will come from Sweden's UNLEASHED, United Kingdom's ALESTORM and New Jersey's thrashing pirates SWASHBUCKLE. Special appearances will be made by Finland's MOONSORROW and Norway's EINHERJER on select dates. | 0 | |
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25 июн 2009
Handwritten Lyrics By Late AC/DC Frontman Sell For $35,000
 A pair of handwritten lyric notebooks (see photo here) by late AC/DC frontman Bon Scott, dating from the late 1970s, was among an array of 300 musical items that went under the hammer at a Christie's pop memorabilia auction on June 22 in New York.
A description of the item reads as follows: "A pair of notebooks containing handwritten lyrics by AC/DC lead singer and lyricist Bon Scott, composed by Scott during his time with the band from 1974 through his death in 1980. The notebooks contain 25 handwritten song lyrics, comprising songs found on the band's first three albums, including 'High Voltage', 'T.N.T.' and 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap'. Written in various colored marker, it also includes a drawing of a woman and humorous notes, including on the inside cover of one of the notebooks."
Lyrics include:
Notebook 1:
* She's Got Balls
* Soul Stripper
* Little Lover
* Love Song
* Stick Around
* Soul Stripper
* You Ain't Got A Hold On Me
* High Voltage Rock 'N' Roll!
* Live Wire!
* Long Way To The Top
* I'm A Rocker
* Rock 'N' Roll Singer
* T.N.T.
Notebook 2:
* She's Got The Jack! (Recorded Version)
* She's Got The Jack! (Stage Version)
* Millionaire
* Problem Child
* Dirty Deeds
* Gaol Break
* Squeeler
* Big Balls
* RIP
* Ride On
* There's Gonna Be Some Rockin'
According to Reuters, Kurt Cobain's Sears bass guitar sold for $43,750, while a classic black leather motorcycle jacket signed by members of NIRVANA and SOUNDGARDEN fetched $12,500, more than half again its high pre-sale estimate.
Scott's handwritten lyric notebooks went for $35,000.
In total, the auction brought in more than $650,000, including the auction house's commission.
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25 июн 2009
SHINING Signs With INDIE RECORDINGS
 Swedish black metallers SHINING have inked a deal with Norway's Indie Recordings for the release of two full-length albums and the first-ever DVD from the band.
Commented SHINING frontman and creator Niklas Kvarforth: "SHINING has reached a stage now where we have a considerable following that is growing rapidly all the time, and I believe we have reached a new maturity with our music, expanding beyond what people expect from us, and we expect to go even further. It was, therefore, time to notch things up in respect of labels. We liked what Indie have been doing for their other bands, and we felt that SHINING would be comfortable in a relationship with them."
SHINING — along with several other bands — recently pulled out of the Unholy Fest in the Czech Republic because the festival organizers allegedly failed to fulfil their contractual obligations to the artists. SHINING's next festival appearance is scheduled for the Party.San Open Air festival on August 7.
"VI / Klagopsalmer", the sixth studio album from SHINING, was released on June 15 via Osmose Productions. It was made available on CD, gatefold double LP, limited colored LP and picture disc LP. The effort was recorded at The Slaughterhouse studios with producer Rickard Bengtsson. | 0 | |
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25 июн 2009
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25 июн 2009
LOUDNESS: \'Hit The Rails\' Video Available
 "Hit The Rails", the new video from veteran Japanese metallers LOUDNESS, can be viewed here. The song comes off the band's
latest album, "The Everlasting", which came out on May 27 via Tokuma Japan Communications.
The track listing for the CD (along with three samples) is as follows:
01. Hit The Rails ( audio)
02. Flame Of Rock ( audio)
03. I Wonder
04. The Everlasting ( audio)
05. Life Goes On
06. Let It Rock
07. Crystal Moon
08. Change
09. Rock Into The Night
10. I'm In Pain
11. Thunder Burn
12. Desperate Religion
Check out the cover artwork here.
LOUDNESS's recent tour of Japan focused exclusively on songs from the band's first four albums — "The Birthday Eve" (1981), "Devil Soldier" (1982), "Law Of Devil's Land" (1983) and "Disillusion" (1984).
LOUDNESS drummer Munetaka Higuchi passed away on November 30, 2008 following a seven-month battle with liver cancer. He was 49 years old. Higuchi was also the drummer of the rock band LAZY, going by the nickname of Davy. The group disbanded in 1981 and Higuchi co-founded LOUDNESS the same year. LAZY reunited in 1998. Higuchi was also active as a producer, handling artists such as Mari Hamada.
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25 июн 2009
SUFFOCATION: Entire New Album Available Fo Streaming
 New York-based extreme metal legends SUFFOCATION have made their new album, "Blood Oath", available for streaming in its entirety at teh band's MySpace page. The follow-up to 2006's self-titled record was recorded with Joe Cincotta (who worked on the band's last two releases) and was mixed by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH). The cover artwork (see below) was once again brought to life by Jon Zig (DEEDS OF FLESH, DISGORGE, GORGASM).
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25 июн 2009
MARDUK: New Album Title Revealed
 Swedish black metallers MARDUK have set "Wormwood" as the title of their eleventh album, tentatively due before the end of the year via Regain Records. The CD is being recorded at Endarker Studios in Norrköping, Sweden with engineer/producer Magnus Devo Andersson. The album's release will be followed by a world tour, dubbed "Funeral Nation 2009/2010", which will kick off in Europe.
MARDUK's latest CD, "Rom 5:12", was released in North America in May 2007 via Regain/Koch.
MARDUK was formed by guitarist Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson with the goal of becoming the "most blasphemous band in the world." The group's musical style started out as straight-forward, death metal-influenced black metal, but as the years went by progressed into a fast and intense form of black metal.
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25 июн 2009
MALFEITOR: New Song Available For Streaming
 MALFEITOR, the Italian black metal band featuring bassist/vocalist M. Fabban (ABORYM), will release its second full-length album, "Incubus", on August 31 via Poland's Agonia Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Unio Mystica Maxima" was recorded in part at Le Serpent Rouge Studio in Rome and contains "nine disturbing hymns of unspeakable darkness and qliphotic introspection through the Left Hand Path, and a sonic post-V.I.T.R.I.O.L. sigil filled with deadly antisaturnian chtonian vibrations," according to a press release. The effort will also be made available as a digipack and gatefold LP.
"Incubus" ( cover) track listing:
01. Down with Me
02. Into the Qliphot of Golachab
03. Mysterious,Mystical, Majestic
04. Promethean Fire
05. Typhonian Gods
06. Dark Saturnian Chaos
07. The Other Half
08. Void of Voids
09. Incubus
10. Antisaturno (Thùnapsù)
The song "Incubus" is now available for streaming at this location.
MALFEITOR recently announced that drummer Atum is no longer a member of the band. The new drummer's identity will be revealed during the coming weeks.
The band is currently rehearsing for "Incubus" promotional gigs that are being scheduled for September 2009.
MALFEITOR's lineup :
M. Fabban - Vocals
Munholy - Guitars
Hell-IO-Kabbalus - Guitars
"Unio Mystica Maxima" was released in September 2007 on CD and vinyl LP via Scarlet Records. | 0 | |
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25 июн 2009
EVANESCENCE Singer: \'Look Out For New Music Next Year\'
 EVANESCENCE frontwoman Amy Lee has released a statement in response to media reports surrounding the announcement that the band's former guitarist/songwriter Ben Moody has launched a new project called THE FALLEN. Lee says, "There's some pretty weird stuff flying around right now and I'd like to clear up some confusion in the press.
"As our fans already know, Ben Moody left EVANESCENCE in 2003. EVANESCENCE came out with a follow-up to 'Fallen' in 2006. It was called 'The Open Door' and it debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts and reached platinum status in just over a month. 'The Open Door' has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.
"We're currently working on new material that I'm extremely excited about. I believe that to make great music you have to give yourself the freedom to evolve. I don't see the point in making the same record twice, so I always want to challenge myself to make something better, stronger, and more interesting than before. That takes time, but it's worth the wait for me. Hopefully, it will be for the fans too.
"Look out for new music next year..."
In addition to Moody, THE FALLEN features fellow ex-EVANESCENCE bandmates John LeCompt (guitar) and Rocky Gray (drums) alongside "American Idol" runner-up Carly Smithson and bassist Marty O'Brien, whose recording and touring credits include DISTURBED, KELLY CLARKSON, STATIC-X, METHODS OF MAYHEM and TOMMY LEE.
Moody left EVANESCENCE shortly after "Fallen", citing creative differences with Amy Lee. LeCompt and Gray followed in 2007.
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25 июн 2009
SEVEN KINGDOMS: New Album Track Listing Revealed
 Orlando, Florida-based power metal band SEVEN KINGDOMS will enter Tampa's Morrisound Studios in late July to record its sophomore album. The CD will mark the recording debut of new singer Sabrina Valentine and will include guest appearances by Wade Black (CRIMSON GLORY, LEATHERWOLF) and Glen Alvelais (FORBIDDEN, TESTAMENT).
The projected track listing for the album is as follows:
01. Intro
02. Somewhere Far Away
03. The Ones Who Breath The Flame
04. Open The Gates
05. Vengeance by the Sons of a King
06. A Murder Never Dead
07. Wolf in Sheeps Clothes
08. Eyes to the North
09. Into the Darkness
10. Thunder of the Hammer
11. Seven Kingdoms (feat. Wade Black, Glen Alvelais)
Commented guitarist Camden Cruz: "We have been hard at work for the last year writing, playing, and saving money for this album. Recording a major label-quality record completely self-funded is definitely a huge accomplishment for any band. We have had numerous four-to-five-hour 'marathon practices' just to get tight for the studio. I'm sure all of you will be thoroughly impressed with the writing and quality of the new CD. There are also TONS of things going on other than the record. We have a short three-or-four-date run-up to Georgia in September where we play with THEOCRACY, thanks to Pathfinder Promotions. They will be taking care of all of our out-of-state booking from here on out. We are also in the works of getting a huge power metal festival down here in Florida called the Florida Power Fest on November 14. I have several bands booked already for it. I can't announce the headliners just yet, but let's just say they are very well known and the show is just going to blow up!" | 0 | |
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25 июн 2009
TENET: \'Sovereign\' Artwork Unveiled; First Track Posted Online
 TENET, originally the brainchild of guitarist Jed Simon (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, ZIMMER'S HOLE), has throughout the years evolved into a monstrous extreme metal force featuring such illustrious musicians as Steve "Zetro" Souza (EXODUS) on vocals, Glen Alvelais (FORBIDDEN, TESTAMENT) on lead guitar, Byron Stroud (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, FEAR FACTORY) on bass and Gene Hoglan (DEATH, DARK ANGEL, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) on drums.
TENET's debut album, "Sovereign" ( cover), will be released via Century Media Records on July 20 in Europe and August 11 in North America. The CD's opening track, "Being And Nothingness", has just been made available on the band's MySpace page.
Commented Simon: "After years of work, setbacks, more work, more setbacks...I am so happy that this 'storm in my mind' has finally come to fruition. Yes, I borrowed the 'storm in my mind' quote. From who? You figure it out...
"So, TENET has now become a band. It is no longer 'I.' It has evolved, grown up, become more than I ever thought it would be. Without the help of Zetro, Gene, Glen and Byron, this very well could still be residing in the furthest corner of my brain...
"This album is very personal for me and the anger that has driven it is unlike anything I've ever felt. This album is the shedding of a skin that I had been carrying around far too long.
"TENET has been an obsession for a long time now, and to hear it in its finished state gives me that straight-up fucking headbanging pleasure I miss so much. It's pure. It's visceral. It's intense. It's keyboard free. TENET is metal...no frills, no gimmicks, no whining. Just a bunch of wily veterans showing you how it is supposed to be done!
"This first offering from the album is entitled 'Being And Nothingness'... a righteous fuckin' headbanger of a tune. Put your thrash hat on and enjoy!”
Mixed by Vincent Wojno (MACHINE HEAD, KREATOR, TROUBLE) and mastered by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, OPETH, ARCH ENEMY), "Sovereign" comes with classy artwork (see below) courtesy of Travis Smith (OPETH, DEATH, NEVERMORE) and "will not only leave any lover of traditional thrash metal impressed but will also make an impact on fans of modern metal sounds without pseudo-trendy ambitions," according to a press release. "If you like your METAL heavy and with a good dose of the 'old school,' then you have found your home on 'Sovereign'!" | 0 | |
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24 июн 2009
SHADOWS FALL: New Album Title Revealed
 Massachusetts metallers SHADOWS FALL have set "Retribution" as the title of their new album, tentatively due on September 15 via via the band's newly created record label in conjunction with Warner Music Group's ILG and Ferret Music.
Video footage of SHADOWS FALL performing a brand new song entitled "A Public Execution" — which is set to appear on "Retribution" — on June 20, 2009 at a private party in Southwick, Massachusetts can be viewed here.
SHADOWS FALL vocalist Brian Fair recently spoke to Noisecreep about the band's decision to form their own label.
"We had an amazing run with Century Media that opened up many doors and taught us even more," he said. "This led to our decision to sign with a major label like Atlantic Records to see what that world was all about. We realized quickly that the entire music industry was in a state of flux and panic as sales figures and profits were dropping by huge percentages each year. It was time to change up the business model in a way that would help break the cycle of large unrecouped budgets and put the power and profits back in the hands of the band."
Fair continued, "In a traditional record deal, the band is fronted large amounts of money by the label and they control the spending for promotion and video that then must be paid back through album sales, leaving the band as the last ones to get paid as the money trickles in. In our current deal, we have the power of a major label distributor combined with the everyday input of an independent label that understands our music and scene."
Fair told Revolver magazine that the band's new songs are similar to those on 2007's "Threads of Life", though darker and almost ballad-free. "There's more like two half-ballads," he said. "There are some acoustic moments and some melodies that let the songs breathe, but there's old-school thrash as well. We've written a lot of fast stuff which is definitely going to be fun to play live."
"Threads of Life" was made available through Atlantic in the U.S. and Roadrunner Records in Europe. | 0 | |
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24 июн 2009
VOIVOD: Entire New Album Available For Streaming
 "Infini", the new album from Canadian metal innovators VOIVOD, is available for streaming in its entirety at VoivodInfini.info.
VOIVOD's final album featuring the group's late guitarist, Denis "Piggy" D'Amour, "Infini" was released in the U.S. today (Tuesday, June 23) via Relapse Records. The CD, which was issued in Europe via Nuclear Blast, contains the last thirteen songs written by Piggy and again features bassist Jason "Jasonic" Newsted (ex-METALLICA). Jason played bass on all the songs and mixed the album, which was released as a deluxe, digipack CD and was also issued on vinyl as a double LP.
"Infini" was built from the final songs created by the band with D'Amour. All his original demo guitar tracks appear as they were recorded — with no re-amping and no overdubs; just Piggy as he played the tracks he envisioned in his small bachelor apartment, the amp in the bathroom, capturing his performance with the laptop given to him by Jason.
"Infini" track listing:
01. God Phones
02. From The Cave
03. Earthache
04. Global Warning
05. A Room With A V.U.
06. Destroy After Reading
07. Treasure Chase
08. Krap Radio
09. In Orbit
10. Deathproof
11. Pyramidome
12. Morpheus
13. Volcano
Total running time: 57:57
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24 июн 2009
GOD SEED At France\'s HELLFEST
 GOD SEED, the new Norwegian band featuring former GORGOROTH members King (bass; real name: Tom Cato Visnes) and Gaahl (vocals; real name: Kristian Espedal), performed at this year's Hellfest on June 19, 2009 in Clisson, France.
Watch fan-filmed video footage of the band's appearance here and here.
GOD SEED's lineup for the performance consisted of the following musicians:
Gaahl Vocals
King - Bass
Teloch - Guitar
Ice Dale - Guitar
Dani "Garghuf" Robnik - Drums
Gaahl and King recently lost a court battle against guitarist Infernus (real name: Roger Tiegs) over the rights to the GORGOROTH band name.
Speaking to U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine, King stated about the outcome of the legal dispute, "It was a sort of relief. The verdict is not cast in stone, there are aspects towards that decision that are still unclear but we just came to the conclusion that this will drag on forever in court rooms. It will take years to solve this matter if we choose to fight it, so we just decided to let that part of our history die. We don't have time to wait two more years to release albums and continue making music. It's not important that name and that struggle for us. In my mind we would probably still win but on the other hand I don't have two more years of my career waiting on the GORGOROTH name to use that. The new album is already made, I'm not waiting two more years to release that."
Asked how he feels now that his band has announced its new name, King said, "It's actually strange because there's lots of excitement, of course, around it. Because we are starting a new era and changing the name, there's a big symbolic value in doing that — but at the same time it's strange because we've worked under the GORGOROTH banner for so many years. Since dramatically nothing is changing on our part, it's the same thing, me and Gaahl making music and working, so the same things are happening behind the scenes. It's just that we are not using the GORGOROTH name anymore. We will, of course, do some different things in the future; this gives us a lot of new opportunities."
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24 июн 2009
GUILT MACHINE: Europe Release Dates, Album Details Revealed
 AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen's new project, GUILT MACHINE, will release its debut album, titled "On This Perfect Day", via Mascot Records on the following dates:
Germany, Austria, Switzerland: August 28
Rest of Europe: August 31 August
A U.S. release date has not yet been announced.
The artwork was created by Christophe Dessaigne, a talented new artist whom Arjen discovered (quite by chance) while browsing Flickr. Coincidentally, it turned out that Chris is an AYREON fan, and was thrilled beyond belief when Arjen asked him to do the artwork! The GUILT MACHINE logo and packaging layout were created by Thomas Ewerhard.
"On This Perfect Day" will be released in three different editions:
* Limited-edition 32-page digibook (CD + DVD)
* Special-edition digipack 24-page booklet (CD + DVD)
* Regular-edition jewel case, 24-page booklet (CD only)
Limited-edition digibook track listing:
CD (all editions):
01. Twisted Coil (11:43)
02. Leland Street (8:03)
03. Green and Cream (10:32)
04. Season of Denial (10:22)
05. Over (6:11)
06. Perfection? (10:46)
DVD (limited and special editions only):
Audio bonus tracks:
01. The Stranger Song (L. Cohen) - vocals Jasper (4:53)
02. Michelangelo (J. Campbell) - vocals Arjen (3:23)
03. Fan Messages (8:14)
04. Perfection? - guide vocals Arjen (9:37)
05. Twisted Coil - radio edit (4:17)
06. Pull me out of the Dark - radio edit (Green and Cream) (3:36)
07. Over - radio edit (3:56)
Video:
01. Trailer "On this Perfect Day" (4:33)
02. Making of the Trailer (3:44)
03. Interview with GUILT MACHINE (40:03)
GUILT MACHINE is:
Arjen Lucassen: Instruments, Backing Vocals
Jasper Steverlinck (ARID): Vocals
Chris Maitland (ex-PORCUPINE TREE): Drums
Lori Linstruth (ex-STREAM OF PASSION): Lead Guitar
As AYREON fans have come to expect from Arjen, the music of GUILT MACHINE ranges from dark and heavy to atmospheric and melancholic. But GUILT MACHINE introduces some new twists as well, particularly when it comes to the vocals. Rather than putting together an ensemble cast of vocalists from the prog, rock and metal scene, Arjen has enlisted the talents of a single alternative rock vocalist, Jasper Steverlinck.
How did Arjen get an alternative rock vocalist to switch genres and sing on a prog rock project? "In the beginning, it was hard to convince Jasper to sing on this album, because he comes from a completely different musical background," Arjen said. "He didn't even know what prog was, but we've made a believer out of him! What I admire about Jasper's voice, besides its beautiful clear timbre, is the emotion and credibility he puts into his performance and his enormous range. Because this project features just one singer I needed someone versatile enough to portray all of the different moods, and Jasper didn't disappoint. And he's a really nice and dedicated guy as well!"
For GUILT MACHINE, Arjen also chose to record with a different drummer, Chris Maitland (ex-PORCUPINE TREE). "Chris was the ideal choice this time, having both the power for the heavy sections and the subtle touch needed in the more atmospheric parts," Arjen said.
Rather than the explicit storyline you would expect in an AYREON release, the songs of GUILT MACHINE revolve around a central theme. Instead of looking outward into a world of fantasy or science fiction, the songs look inward, exploring the destructive psychology of guilt, regret and the darkest form of secret — the secrets we hide from ourselves.
"At first I asked my partner and personal manager Lori to quickly write scratch lyrics for one of the songs so I could record some guide vocals," Arjen said. "I was so impressed by what she produced that I asked her to write the lyrics for all the songs. I was unable myself to create the type of darkly enigmatic, open-ended lyrics I wanted for these songs, my specialty being sci-fi lyrics about sinister aliens. She definitely gave the songs an extra dimension with her lyrics, exorcising the demons we both had faced in the past few years. It's also no secret that I've always been a big fan of her melodic guitar style, so she also plays all the guitar solos on this album."
Despite these differences, GUILT MACHINE still has much in common with AYREON. The songs are mainly long, "epic" tracks that feature dynamic contrasts between softer, dreamy sections and powerful, heavy passages. There are intricate harmonies, complex rhythms, soaring melodies, and an eclectic selection of instruments — all what you'd expect from an AYREON release.
"In my view this is my best side project so far," Arjen said. "It comes completely from the heart, for it was written and recorded during a new inspiring phase in my life after my heavy depression. This being an entirely new project there were no expectations whatsoever, which enabled me to just let my inspiration guide me without any (outside) pressure." | 0 | |
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24 июн 2009
DESTRUCTION: \'The Curse Of The Antichrist\' Track Listing Revealed
 "The Curse Of The Antichrist - Live In Agony", the new double live album from German thrash metal veterans DESTRUCTION, will be released on July 31 via AFM Records. Check out the cover artwork here.
The limited digipack edition of the album will feature the following track listing:
01. The Butcher Strikes Back
02. Curse The Gods
03. Mad Butcher
04. The Alliance Of Hellhoundz
05. D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.
06. Eternal Ban
07. Urge The Greed Of Gain
08. Thrash Till Death
09. Metal Discharge
10. The Damned
11. Cracked Brain
12. Soulcollector
13. Death Trap
14. Unconscious Ruins
15. Life Without Sense
16. The 7 Deadly Sins
17. The Antichrist
18. Thrash Till Death
19. Reject Emotions (three drumkits Wacken Inferno version)
20. Total Desaster
21. Bestial Invasion
DESTRUCTION recently completed the "D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. - 25 Years Of Total Destruction" North American trek with KRISIUN and MANTIC RITUAL.
"D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.", the new album from DESTRUCTION, last year entered the Media Control chart in the band's home country at position No. 65. The CD was released on August 22, 2008 via AFM Records and features guest appearances by Gary Holt (EXODUS), Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR) and Vinnie Moore (UFO).
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24 июн 2009
TWISTED SISTER: Entire 25th Anniversary Edition Of \'Stay Hungry\' Available For Streaming
 TWISTED SISTER's 25th anniversary edition of "Stay Hungry", which is due out June 30 on Rhino, is available for streaming in its entirety at VH1.com.
The package includes:
* "Stay Hungry" remastered
* Ten never-before-heard songs originally demoed for "Stay Hungry"
* Five early demos of songs from "Stay Hungry"
* One brand new song
* One rare radio spot using "SMF" as the music bed
"Stay Hungry" bonus tracks:
* "Death From Above"
* "Prime Motivator"
* "Were Not Gonna Take It"
* "Death Run"
* "This One's For You"
* "SMF"
* "We're Coming On"
* "Call My Name"
* "Burn In Hell"
* "Pay The Price"
* "What's Love Without You"
* "Our Voice Will Be Heard"
* "You've Got To Fight"
* "The Price"
* "Stay Hungry"
* "30"
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24 июн 2009
IN THIS MOMENT: \'Call Me\' Video Released
 IN THIS MOMENT's video for the band's cover of the BLONDIE classic "Call Me" can be viewed here.
As members of Southern California's IN THIS MOMENT prepare themselves to spend their entire summer as part of this year's Warped Tour lineup, the group returns with a new offering, "The Dream (Ultra-Violet Edition)", which features their version of "Call Me".
Due on June 30, "The Dream (Ultra-Violet Edition)" includes a bonus disc which features "Dying Star" and "Sailing Away", which are two unreleased studio tracks from "The Dream" recording session. It is rounded out by the "Forever" radio edit and "Call Me" instrumental version, alongside a slew of bonus video material.
IN THIS MOMENT kicked off 2009 with a bang embarking on a massive North American trek alongside MUDVAYNE and NONPOINT. The MUDVAYNE run came on the heels of the band's most successful year yet which saw singer Maria Brink landing major cover features in Inked, Revolver and Metal Edge as "The Dream" debuted at No. 70 on The Billboard 200 chart, marking the group's first Billboard entry.
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24 июн 2009
DARZAMAT Signs With MASSACRE RECORDS
 Polish "dark metal" band DARZAMAT has inked a worldwide deal with Germany's Massacre Records. The group's fifth album, "Solfernus' Path", is scheduled for release on August 28 (in Japan, the LP will be released by Spiritual Beast).
Commented vocalist Flauros: "We are more then happy to announce that we have signed a new record deal at Massacre Records. We hope that thanks to the experience of the Massacre Records crew our music will have a chance to reach more people now. We are really looking forward to working with them and promoting the 'Solphernus' Path'". We are also extremely happy to enter the Asian market through Spiritual Beast."
DARZAMAT has tapped Jonas Kljellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY guitarist) of Black Lounge Studios in Avesta, Sweden to mix "Solfernus' Path".
"Solfernus' Path" was recorded in Poland under the supervision of Jaroslaw Toifl, with whom the band had previously worked on 2005's "Transkarpatia" (Metal Mind Productions in Europe, MVD in the USA). There are two great guests on the album: KING DIAMOND's Andy La Rocque (guitar solo in "King of the Burning Anthems") and STONE SOUR's Roy Mayorga (opening intro). The artwork for the new CD was created by MentalPorn.com Agency, which has previously worked with such bands as DEATHSTARS and BEHEMOTH. The album will be mixed by Jonas Kljellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY guitarist) of Black Lounge Studios in Avesta, Sweden.
"Solfernus' Path" track listing:
01. False Sleepwalker
02. Vote for Heresy
I: Devium
03. Pain Collector
04. Final Conjuration
II: Fumus
05. Gloria Inferni
III: Venenum
06. Solfernus Path
07. Lunar Silhouette
08. King of the Burning Anthems
IV: Spectaculum
09. Chimera
10. Mesmeric Seance
Flauros previously stated about the upcoming CD: "For the first time in our band's history, we've decided to create a concept album. It is a certain sort of novelty for us, yet we've had such an idea in our minds for a long time now. The coherent story, which is to be told by both the lyrics and the music, is a hell of a greater challenge than composing ten pieces in the similar stylistics. As the action proceeds, the music must 'react' accordingly and suitably. It is as if a screenplay, which is to attract the viewer in an interesting way."
He continued, "The story contained on the record takes place in a mysthical set, indeed, which is created by the mansion of countess Josephine von Kuchmeister, the inspiration for which was the Villa Caro in Gliwice and the palace in Plawniowice. The action of 'Solfernus' Path' takes place at the beginning of XXth century. The main character is a medicine student who undergoes a spiritual transformation. He goes beyond the carnal world and he notices the 'other side.' Everything is dressed in fairy-like climate, full of the occult 'keys.' Nothing is obvious, nothing here is predictable.
"The title Solfernus is of course not the main character of the story, but it's eminence grise. The character of Solfernus derives from the play 'Dalliance with Devil' written by the Czech dramatist Jan Drda. It is only a tiny inspiration, an impuls where one should not seek any similarities. Drda's play is grotesque and humorous, while our story is of a completely different character, much closer to Stefan Grabinski's horror short stories than to the ones of the Czech playwright."
DARZAMAT released its first-ever live DVD, entitled "Live Profanity (Visiting the Graves of Heretics)", in North America in August 2007 via Metal Mind Productions (the DVD was released in Europe a month earleir). The disc was recorded at the 21st edition of the Metalmania Festival, which took place on March 24, 2007 in Katowice, Poland, and contains material comprised mostly of songs from the band's latest album, "Transkarpatia". Also included is the group's surprise performance of the song "Diabelski Dom" by the cult Polish metal band KAT, featuring a guest appearance by KAT leader Roman Kostrzewski. The DVD also includes additional footage from the Winternachtstraum Festival, which took place in February 2007 in Arnsberg, Germany, two unreleased tracks, video clips, and an interview with Flauros and Nera.
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24 июн 2009
ILLDISPOSED: New Album Title, Artwork Revealed
 Danish extreme metallers ILLDISPOSED have set "To Those Who Walk Behind Us" as the title of their new album, due on August 28 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at AB Studio in Aarhus, Denmark and was mixed at Fredman Studio in Sweden with Fredrik Nordström. 11 tracks will appear on the new ILLDISPOSED LP (out of a total of 16 that were completed during the songwriting sessions), which will be available as a jewel case CD, limited digipack with bonus material and strictly limited box set with exclusive t-shirt. The group says, "We guarantee you won't be disappointed!"
The cover artwork for "To Those Who Walk Behind Us", which was created by by René Asmussen (EVERGREY), can be viewed here.
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24 июн 2009
PARADOX: Another New Demo Track Posted Online
 Long-running German metallers PARADOX will release their fifth album, "Riot Squad", on October 26, 2009 via AFM Records. Songtitles set to appear on the the follow-up to last year's "Electrify" include:
* "Suburban Riot Squad"
* "Hollow Peace"
* "Timegrain"
* "Evolution Reset"
* "Riptide"
* "Nothingness"
* "Rise In Rank"
* "Psychofficial"
* "Planet Terror"
* "No Place To Survive"
* "Dream Hero"
A demo version of the track "No Place To Survive" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
"Riot Squad" is being produced by Charly Steinhauer.
PARADOX is:
Charly Steinhauer (vocals, guitar)
Kai Pasemann (guit)
Olly Keller (bass)
Roland Jahoda (drums) | 0 | |
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24 июн 2009
SYRACH: New Song Posted Online
 Norwegian doom metallers SYRACH have posted a new song, "Curse The Souls", on their MySpace page. The track comes off the band's sophomore album, "A Dark Burial", which will be released via Napalm Records on the following dates:
July 22 – Finland, Spain
July 24 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, France, Italy, Sweden
July 27 - Rest of Europe
July 28 - USA, Canada
The CD was produced by Bjørnar Nilsen and features artwork (see below) by Martin Kvamme, who has previously worked with FANTOMAS, Mike Patton, DARKTHRONE and lots of other artists. "We really think [the cover art] fits the music and album title," the band says in a statement.
"A Dark Burial" ( cover) track listing:
01. Curse The Souls
02. The River's Rage
03. A Dark Burial
04. A Mourners Kiss
05. In Darkness I Sigh
06. Ouroboros
SYRACH recently announced the addition of session guitarist Gjeddo (a.k.a. Gjermund; ENCHANTING DARKNESS) to the group's ranks.
Guitarist Reichborn (a.k.a. Noralf Venås) left SYRACH in February "due to lack of motivation."
SYRACH's debut album, "Days of Wrath", was produced by Herbrand Larsen from ENSLAVED and was released on November 2, 2007 in Europe and November 6, 2007 in North America via Napalm Records. The CD cover artwork is the painting "Christs" from MY DYING BRIDE vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe.
SYRACH was formed in 1993 in Kalandseidet, near Bergen, Norway — a region known to have spawned bands like IMMORTAL and BURZUM, to name a few.
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24 июн 2009
BEHEMOTH: New Song Available For Streaming
 A new BEHEMOTH track, "Ov Fire And The Void", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the Polish extreme metallers' ninth full-length studio album, "Evangelion", which is scheduled for release on August 7 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records and August 11 in North America through Metal Blade. The CD was mixed at Miloco Studios in London, England by Colin Richardson, who has previously worked with MACHINE HEAD, SLIPKNOT, NAPALM DEATH and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, among many others.
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23 июн 2009
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23 июн 2009
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE: Entire New Album Available For Streaming
 KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's self-titled fourth album is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page. Due on June 30 via Roadrunner Records, the CD was produced by Brendan O'Brien (AC/DC, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE) and co-produced by guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz.
"This album will be the death of me," vocalist Howard Jones recently told RollingStone.com. "There was nothing comfortable about it for any of us," he said of making the record, most of which took place in Atlanta under the watchful eye of superproducer Brendan O'Brien (BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, AC/DC, PEARL JAM), marking the first time KILLSWITCH guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz has stepped aside for an outside producer.
"We're known for being a pretty positive band — we're almost a self-help band," Jones said. "I feel like Tony Robbins or something. We're known for anthems, but this time I really tried to write from a different place. I've got enough to draw on to write some stuff that can be dark. Maybe there's still a hint of positivity in it, but there are some songs on there that are not positive at all."
Festivals2Go.com conducted an interview with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Joel Stroetzel at this year's Rock am Ring festival, which was held June 5-7 in Nürburgring, Germany. Watch the chat at this location.
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE will team up with IN FLAMES for a co-headlining tour of Canada in Sepember. Support on the trek will come from PROTEST THE HERO and BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME.
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE will spend the summer touring as a main-stage attraction on the second annual Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.
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AC/DC
