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21 апр 2009
UNANIMATED: Entire New Album Available For Streaming
 "In The Light Of Darkness (The Covenant Of Death)", the new album from UNANIMATED — the reunited Swedish melodic death metal band featuring former members of ENTOMBED and DISMEMBER — is available for streaming in its entirety on the group's MySpace page. Released this month via Regain Records, the CD was mixed by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studios (WATAIN, FUNERAL MIST). The album layout was handled by Erik Danielsson (WATAIN).
UNANIMATED's first two albums — 1993's "In the Forest of the Dreaming Dead" (Pavement Records) and 1995's "Ancient God of Evil" (No Fashion Records) — were remastered and re-released in June 2008 with bonus tracks.
UNANIMATED was founded in 1989 in Stockholm and disbanded in 1996. Largely inspired by DISMEMBER, the group created two melodic death metal albums — the aforementioned "In the Forest of the Dreaming Dead" and "Ancient God of Evil". The band also contributed to the 1996 SLAYER tribute "Slaytanic Slaughter II" with its cover of "Dead Skin Mask". In 2007, the group reformed.
UNANIMATED current lineup:
Micke Jansson (CELESTIAL PAIN) - Vocals
Johan "UFO" Bolin - Guitar
Richard Cabeza (DISMEMBER, DAMNATION, MURDER SQUAD, BORN OF FIRE, GENERAL SURGERY, DARK FUNERAL, CARBONIZED) - Bass
Peter Stjärnvind (MERCILESS, REGURGITATE, DAMNATION, ENTOMBED, FACE DOWN, BORN OF FIRE, MURDER SQUAD, KRUX, NIFELHEIM) - Drums
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21 апр 2009
AD INFERNA: Three Album Cuts Posted Online
 French metal/gothic band AD INFERNA, which features SETH mainman/vocalist Arkames, has posted unmastered versions of three songs — "Fade to Grey" (VISAGE cover), "Metamorphose" and "You As My Own Drug" — on the group's MySpace page. All three cuts are taken from AD INFERNA's forthcoming album, "Trance N Dance", which was recorded and mixed by Xort (ANOREXIA NERVOSA) at the Drudenhaus Studio.
AD INFERNA's debut album, "L'Empire des Sens", was released in 2002 via Silverdust Records.
AD INFERNA is:
V.Orias.A – Guitar, Bass
As-Mody – Keyboards, Bass
N.Aboriim - Drums
Arkames - Vocals | 0 | |
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21 апр 2009
EPICA: New Album Title Revealed?
 Dutch symphonic metallers EPICA have reportedly revealed in a recent intervew that their next studio album will be called "Design Your Universe". The band entered Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany on March 2 with producer Sascha Paeth to begin recording the follow-up to 2007's "The Divine Conspiracy", tentatively due in September/October via Nuclear Blast Records.
Vocalist Simone Simons previously stated about EPICA's new material, "It is so exciting! I love the new songs and can't wait to play them live."
EPICA will release a double live CD, titled "The Classical Conspiracy", on May 8 through Nuclear Blast Records. The album was recorded in Miskolc, Hungary, on June 14 2008 during the Miskolc International Opera Festival. The band performed a 45-minute set of metal adaptations of classical songs and movie soundtracks, accompanied by the orchestra and choir as well as symphonic versions of its own songs (including a few orchestral songs from singles and "The Score", which had never been played live before).
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21 апр 2009
New GOTTHARD Song To Be Featured In MAX SCHMELING Movie
 Swiss hard rock veterans GOTTHARD will contribute a brand new song to the soundtrack of the upcoming film about the spectacular life of German boxing legend Max Schmeling. The movie will be directed by Uwe Boll ("Postal", "Swords Of The King") and will be in theaters in April 2010.
German boxing star Henry Maske will portray Schmeling in the film.
"A movie like this needs a strong rock song," Uwe Boll explains. "The music by GOTTHARD perfectly fits. When I first heard their songs, I was immediately convinced."
A music video for the song featured on the soundtrack will be filmed in the same style as the movie. It will be shot in 35mm, which is normally reserved for feature films.
The song and video, in which you will see the first scenes from the movie, will be introduced with the release of the new album in September, as well as on the band's co-headlining tour with EUROPE.
GOTTHARD will release its as-yet-untitled new album on September 4 via Nuclear Blast Records. A digital single will precede the full-length CD on August 14.
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20 апр 2009
ENTWINE\'s Tour Bus Burns To The Ground
 According to the Finnish broadcasting company YLE, Finnish gothic metal band ENTWINE's tour bus was burnt to the ground (see photo here) in Ähtäri Saturday morning (April 18). The driver sleeping in the top bunk of the bus barely managed to escape from the burning vehicle.
In addition to the bus, all of the group's instruments were destroyed.
The fire caused the band estimately 50,000 euros worth of damage.
The officials say the fire started from a gas heater.
ENTWINE had performed in Ähtäri last night (Friday, April 17) and the musicians were sleeping at the local accommodation facility.
Commented vocalist Mika Tauriainen: "I woke up in the morning as the driver rushed into the room telling the bus was on fire and we needed to go and carry out the equipment. I thought that only the curtains would be on fire. I opened the inn door and the bus was in full blaze. I realized I couldn't do a thing. There we waited for the fire department and watched the bus burn.
"All the equipment burned down with the bus. We found a couple of drum sticks in one piece. But money doesn't matter. What is important is that the bus driver was saved.
"All our background music was on the hard drive that burned. So the Leppävirta gig will be an undressed version. At least we were able to arrange loan equipment. I hope that people will understand the situation."
"Strife", the latest video from ENTWINE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's sixth album, "Painstained", which was released in Finland on January 28. The CD was recorded with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, APOCALYPTICA, SENTENCED).
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20 апр 2009
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20 апр 2009
SLIPKNOT: \'Sulfur\' Video Available
 SLIPKNOT's video for the song "Sulfur" can be viewed here. (Note: Video stream may not be available to some non-U.S. residents.) The clip was shot on March 9 in the Los Angeles area and was directed by band percussionist Shawn Crahan (a.k.a. Clown) and P.R. Brown (MÖTLEY CRÜE, MARILYN MANSON, CHIMAIRA, AVENGED SEVENFOLD), who helmed the last two SLIPKNOT clips, "Psychosocial" and "Dead Memories". The video depicts the nine members rocking out in groups of three and submerged in water one at a time. The video concept was modeled after a video installation by Bill Viola called "Ascension" that's currently on display at the Des Moines Arts Center.
Crahan told HeadbangersBlog.com about the clip, "This is the third video I've done with Paul Brown and with each video we learn more about each other and the art of SLIPKNOT, and we build on that knowledge with each new project. It's great to jump around and try new people, but sometimes it's better to stay with a winning team.
"When I write a treatment, I always think, 'What has SLIPKNOT not done? What can we embark upon that will be fun and knowledge-enhancing instead of the same old song and dance?' Our business can be routine, so I need the band to be able to do something brand new so we can look back at it later and say, 'God, this was different and fun and really artistic.'"
The "Sulfur" video will debut on this weekend's edition of MTV2's "Headbangers Ball".
According to an April 7 posting on Shawn "Clown" Crahan's Twitter account, he is currently editing a new DVD for the band's forthcoming ten-year package. "Wait until you see this stuff!" he says.
SLIPKNOT recently wrapped another hugely successful headline tour across the U.S. and continues to rack up accolades for its fourth album, "All Hope is Gone".
SLIPKNOT was awarded with an EMMA Award for "Best International Act." The EMMAs are the Finnish equivalent of the Grammys.
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20 апр 2009
THE AGONIST: \'…And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep\' Video Released
 "…And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep", the new video from the Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based female-fronted metal band THE AGONIST, can be viewed here. The clip was directed by David Brodsky (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, EARTH CRISIS) who worked with the group on the video for "Business Suits & Combat Boots".
Commented vocalist Alissa White-Gluz: "It was very difficult to decide on a single for the new album, 'Lullabies for the Dormant Mind', because every song is so different and we love them all! So, we decided that we would make two music videos. One is currently under production and the other is ready to be viewed. This 'mini-video' is for the song '...And Their Eulogies Sang Me to Sleep', and is, again, directed by the great David Brodsky. We wanted to capture the claustrophobia of a coffin and the chaos of death in the video. Enjoy!"
THE AGONIST is currently on the road alongside Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED, with plans to continue touring with THREAT SIGNAL, ATHEIST and THE FACELESS at various points during the summer.
"Lullabies For A Dormant Mind", the sophomore album from THE AGONIST, sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD debuted at No. 105 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.
The a cappella version of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" is only one example of the band’s musical abilities as it impressively exhibits Alissa White-Gluz's mind-blowingly wide range of vocal skills and professionalism as a singer. Produced by Christian Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY, MYTHOSIS), "Lullabies for the Dormant Mind" exposes new facets of the band and touches upon classical, jazz, opera, grindcore, thrash and black metal influences in a complete metal opus. Featuring guest violins by Avi Ludmer (MAHOGANY RUSH), orchestrations by classical pianists Melina Soochan and Jonathan Lefrancois-Leduc (BLACKGUARD) along with many other Montreal-based contributors, this album is refreshing to hear upon every listen. Following a dark, twisted yet beautiful, surrealist visual concept from Natalie Shau once again, THE AGONIST have created an uncomfortable yet addictive setting for their metal, like being awoken from a bad dream, or falling asleep to escape a nightmarish reality.
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20 апр 2009
MARDUK To Enter Studio In May
 Swedish black metallers MARDUK will enter Endarker Studios in Norrköping, Sweden in May to begin recording their eleventh album, due in September via Regain Records. The CD's release will be followed by a world tour, dubbed "Funeral Nation 2009/2010", which will kick off in Europe.
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20 апр 2009
BEHEMOTH: New Album Title Announced
 Polish extreme metalers BEHEMOTH have set "Evangelion" as the title of their ninth full-length studio album, due out this summer via Metal Blade (USA) and Nuclear Blast (Europe).
Commented frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski: "I've had this title in my head for almost a year now and it grew on me. It sounds nothing but powerful and epic which perfectly mirrors the essence of the new album. 'Evangelion' comes from a Greek word [meaning] 'spreading the word of God' or 'spreading the good news'… Oh, well, you already know that we love to play with the meanings and symbolism. We're here to show you our interpretation of what 'Evangelion' really is."
Nergal previously stated about the new material, "I must confess that I'm way more excited about this record than I was for [2007's] 'The Apostasy'. It's probably the whole label situation that we had to deal back then, Inferno's injury that caused crazy deadlines that completely drained the energy out of my system… I even started treating that album as unwanted child. Weird, because from time perspective, it's a great one. This time though everything was planned much in advanced. I found time to live my life, get some energy back, get inspired and so on… When we met in October it was obvious that all of us were really hungry for making new music. It's definitely 100% BEHEMOTH. I would risk saying that we do have our own style but it's still improving, evolving in different directions every time we approach new project. Most of the songs are the really fast, technical and intense, at the same time there's a lot of diversity. There's even a very slow, massive song that's probably the most epic tracks in BEHEMOTH's history. Everything sounds more serious and…dangerous (I love that word, ha ha). There's probably more sinister vibe in our music this time too."
"Evangelion" will be mixed by Colin Richardson, who has previously worked with MACHINE HEAD, SLIPKNOT, NAPALM DEATH and CARCASS, among many others.
BEHEMOTH has been confirmed for the second annual Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, set to take place this summer. The band will perform on the Hot Topic stage alongside CANNIBAL CORPSE, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, JOB FOR A COWBOY and WHITECHAPEL on over 25 dates.
"Ezkaton", the latest EP from BEHEMOTH, sold around 1,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD debuted at No. 26 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.
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20 апр 2009
AMORPHIS: 'Skyforger' Trailer Available
 A video trailer for AMORPHIS' new album, "Skyforger", which is scheduled for release on May 29 via Nuclear Blast Records (May 27 in Finland), can be viewed here. The follow-up to the "Eclipse" and "Silent Waters" LPs, both of which were certified gold in the band's native Finland, was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Sampo
02. Silver Bride
03. From The Heaven Of My Heart
04. Sky Is Mine
05. Majestic Beast
06. My Sun
07. Highest Star
08. Skyforger
09. Course Of Fate
10. From Earth I Rose
11. Godlike Machine (bonus track; digipack only)
Check out the cover artwork here.
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20 апр 2009
EPICA: \'The Classical Conspiracy\' Audio Samples Available
 Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers EPICA will release a double live CD, titled "The Classical Conspiracy", on May 8 through Nuclear Blast Records. The album was recorded in Miskolc, Hungary, on June 14 2008 during the Miskolc International Opera Festival. The band performed a 45-minute set of metal adaptations of classical songs and movie soundtracks, accompanied by the orchestra and choir as well as symphonic versions of its own songs (including a few orchestral songs from singles and "The Score", which had never been played live before).
"The Classical Conspiracy" track listing:
CD 1 - Classical Set:
01. Palladium
02. Dies Irae
03. Ombra Mai Fu
04. Adagio
05. Spiderman Medley
06. Presto
07. Montagues & Capulets
08. The Imperial March
09. Stabat Mater Dolorosa
10. Unholy Trinity
11. In The Hall Of The Mountain King
12. Pirates Of The Caribbean
13. Indigo
14. The Last Crusade
15. Sensorium
16. Quietus
17. Chasing The Dragon
18. Feint
CD 2 - Epica Set:
01. Never Enough
02. Beyond Belief
03. Cry For The Moon
04. Safeguard To Paradise
05. Blank Infinity
06. Living A Lie
07. The Phantom Agony
08. Sancta Terra
09. Illusive Consensus
10. Consign To Oblivion
Two medleys containing songs from the upcoming album are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
Check out the cover artwork here.
EPICA entered Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany on Monday, March 2 with producer Sascha Paeth to begin recording the follow-up to 2007's "The Divine Conspiracy", tentatively due before the end of the year via Nuclear Blast Records.
Vocalist Simone Simons previously stated about EPICA's new material, "It is so exciting! I love the new songs and can't wait to play them live."
"The Divine Conspiracy" was EPICA's first full-length concept album. According to the band, "This concept deals with the theory that, as a test, God created all kinds of different religions and released those upon humanity to see if they would be able to find the true nature of them, realizing that in all religions it is actually the same. But there's more to it; it also concludes the 'Embrace That Smothers' concept that could already be found on [2003's] 'The Phantom Agony'."
Nuclear Blast Records released a limited deluxe CD edition in Europe of "The Divine Conspiracy", featuring the bonus tracks "Higher High" and "Replica" (FEAR FACTORY cover), video clips and a "making-of" enhanced section.
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20 апр 2009
OBITUARY: New Album Details Revealed
 Florida-based death metallers OBITUARY have set "Darkest Day" as the title of their new album, due on June 30 via Candlelight Records. Vocalist John Tardy previousy said about the CD, "It came out really sick and I cannot wait for you guys to hear it... it is heavy!!"
Check out the album artwork here. The band once again worked with artist Andreas Marschall, who created the art for "The End Complete", "Frozen in Time", and the group's last record, "Xecutioner's Return".
"Darkest Day" track listing:
01. List of Dead
02. Blood to Give
03. Lost
04. Outside My Head
05. Payback
06. Your Darkest Day
07. This Life
08. See Me Now
09. Fields of Pain
10. Violent Dreams
11. Truth Be Told
12. Forces Realign
13. Left to Die
Guitarist Ralph Santolla previously said about the new material, "The new stuff is HEAVY, some of my favorite OBI riffs yet. Trevor's [Peres] guitar sounds huge and menacing. If you like OBITUARY, you're gonna love this record."
OBITUARY will release a new concert DVD, tentatively titled "Live Xecution In Bad Berka 2008", in June via Regain Records. The footage for the disc was filmed at last year's Party.San Open Air festival, which was held August 7-9, 2008 in Bad Berka, Germany.
Commented bassist Frank Watkins: "We did over 30 festivals last summer and the Party.San festival was the very last and best one for OBITUARY... Fortunately, the show was filmed."
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20 апр 2009
IRON MAIDEN: \'Flight 666\' To Be Released On Blu-Ray, DVD
 "Iron Maiden: Flight 666", the feature-length documentary film which follows the IRON MAIDEN bandmembers on the first leg of their "Somewhere Back In Time World Tour" in February and March of 2008, will be released on extended Blu-ray and DVD formats, alongside a double-CD soundtrack album and limited edition double-vinyl picture disc. It will be available Monday, May 25 on EMI Records in Europe, and Tuesday, June 9 on EMI Records Canada and UMe in the USA.
For "Iron Maiden: Flight 666", IRON MAIDEN was accompanied everywhere by award-winning documentary makers Banger Productions from Toronto in Canada, who have received international critical acclaim for their previous movies "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" and recently "Global Metal". Producer/presenter Sam Dunn and his team bring an intimate, behind-the-scenes view of this remarkable journey, with a close look at the logistics involved and following Team Maiden in the cockpit, on the plane and on and offstage, getting to the heart of this global adventure of a band that has very rarely even let cameras backstage before.
Shot in high definition and with superb 5.1 surround sound, mixed by the band's producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, "Flight 666" brings to the screen all the drama, excitement and hysteria that followed the band around the world every time Ed Force One (the band's plane) touched down in a new country. The film documents the intensity of the punishing show schedules, the struggle with the time zones, the pressures of ensuring that every performance matched the energy of the many thousands of ecstatic and expectant fans from many cultural backgrounds, unusual angles from the spectacular shows... and, of course, the fun had on the way!
A special international "Iron Maiden Day" is being planned for April 21 with simultaneous showings of "Iron Maiden: Flight 666" in selected digital cinemas around the world.
As a very special bonus for the fans, MAIDEN has included a second disc of the entire set from the 2008 segment of this tour with the DVD (and as a long-play Blu-ray). Sixteen songs from sixteen different cities in eleven countries around the world, for the first time ever encompassing such varied places and cultures in one concert. (See full track listing below). In addition to a standard double DVD, EMI will release a special souvenir limited-edition deluxe DVD with 30-page booklet. The soundtrack audio version of the live show will be available on two CDs, as a limited-edition vinyl set with two picture discs, and a digital download especially for those fans who do not have DVD access or just want to enjoy the show as a great live album. All are lavishly packaged as an ultimate memento of a tour to remember!
To recognize the global phenomenon of MAIDEN, the Blu-ray/DVD are also subtitled in Hindi, Japanese, Dutch, German, Spanish, Brazilian, French, Italian, Portuguese and Swedish.
Comments band manager Rod Smallwood; "It's been a mammoth undertaking. From the first twinkle in Bruce's eye it's taken about three years to put band, crew and equipment in a giant flying 'splitter bus', to go through all the long and tiresome prep and safety regulations and planning, to the actual filming and of the tour itself, through to post production and right up to putting together all these items in the very best quality possible for our fans."
"It's great that with Maiden Day on Tuesday April 21, we can give our fans the opportunity of seeing this digitally on big screen in Hi Def with the full-on 5.1 sound experience with other fans around them. It was also very rewarding that it has won the prestigious SXSW Film Festival Award for Best Music Documentary.
"The 'Somewhere Back in Time Tour' reached almost 2 million fans in 39 countries and, if there is one thing l know from managing MAIDEN all these years, it's that our fans are not happy to wait too long, so we are delighted that EMI (Ume USA) are rush-releasing the DVD. This closes the chapter on an absolutely brilliant experience delving into the past for the band, myself and my team, the crew and hopefully all of you fans out there. After the summer and some deserved time off, we will concentrate on the 'new,' with the band starting to put together material for a brand new studio album due sometime later in 2010. And, of course, after that we will look forward to seeing all our fans again!!"
The film "Flight 666" is being released in the following manner:
* Long-play Blu-ray with "Flight 666: The Film" and "Flight 666: The Concert" (215 minutes)
* Double DVD
- Disc One: "Flight 666: The Film" (112 minutes)
- Disc Two: "Flight 666: The Concert" (104 minutes)
* Plus limited-edition deluxe double DVD of the above with special packaging and 30-page booklet
* "Flight 666: The Original Soundtrack" album - Double CD*
* "Flight 666: The Original Soundtrack" album - Limited Edition Double Vinyl Picture Disc
Full track listing for the bonus concert footage on DVD and Blu-ray, plus the double Live Soundtrack CD
CD 1:
01. Aces High
Bandra Kurla Complex/Mumbai, India
February 1, 2008
02. 2 Minutes To Midnight
Rod Laver Arena/Melbourne, Australia
February 7, 2008
03. Revelations
Acer Arena/Sydney, Australia
February 9, 2008
04. The Trooper
Makuhari Messe/Tokyo, Japan
February 16, 2008
05. Wasted Years
Arena Monterrey/Monterrey, Mexico
February 22, 2008
06. The Number Of The Beast
The Forum/Los Angeles, USA
February 19, 2008
07. Can I Play With Madness
Foro Sol/Mexico City, Mexico
February 24, 2008
08. Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
Izod Center/New Jersey, USA
March 14, 2008
CD 2:
01. Powerslave
Saprissa Stadium/San Jose, Costa Rica
February 26, 2008
02. Heaven Can Wait
Palmeiras Stadium/Sao Paulo, Brazil
March 2, 2008
03. Run To The Hills
Simon Bolivar Park/Bogota, Colombia
February 28, 2008
04. Fear Of The Dark
Ferrocarril Oeste Stadium/Buenos Aires, Argentina
March 7, 2008
05. Iron Maiden
Pista Atletica/Santiago, Chile
March 9, 2008
06. Moonchild
Coliseo de Puerto Rico/San Juan, Puerto Rico
March 12, 2008
07. The Clairvoyant
Pedreira Paulo Leminski/Curitiba, Brazil
March 4, 2008
08. Hallowed Be Thy Name
Air Canada Centre/Toronto, Canada
March 16, 2008
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20 апр 2009
NILE To Enter Studio In June
 Chad Bowar of About.com recently conducted an interview with Karl Sanders of the South Carolina-based technical death metal band NILE. An excerpt from the chat follows below.
About.com: When and how did you first become interested in Middle Eastern culture, mythology and music?
Sanders: Years ago, my friend and bandmate Pete Hammoura. His family is Lebanese, so I got a healthy dose of exposure to Middle Eastern culture. Of course I was also a fan of world history, particularly the Ancient Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians. I am not at all surprised that I ended up in a band like NILE.
About.com: What's the timetable for the next NILE record?
Sanders: Pre-production is April and May, then we start recording in June at Erik Rutan's [HATE ETERNAL, MORBID ANGEL] studio in Tampa. Hopefully we will finish mixing sometime in July at Rax Trax in Chicago.
About.com: Are you far enough along to be able to divulge an album title or the direction of the record?
Sanders: Gunter Ford [NILE's manager] would have my ass if I were to give away the title this soon. As far as the musical direction, we have upped the bar on the guitar playing this time around, and are very conscious about incorporating plenty of new and interesting extraneous instrumentation.
The last two NILE records were more straightforward death metal than, say, "In Their Darkened Shrines", but that's really just where we were as a band at the time. At that time I was also perhaps a bit fed up with some of the online nay-sayers who were accusing us of "gimmickry" and saying stuff like we weren't capable of making metal without some sort of other "trickery" elements. What B.S., I know.
Every member of NILE right now can certainly play the Jesus (and Devil) out of their respective instruments. We are pretty damn confident about our technical skill level and our fever for pure metal mayhem. But that negative stuff sits in the back of your brain, entrenching itself in the most unforgiving way. I guess on some level I just wanted to lay down the hammer the old–fashioned way for awhile, at least until I stopped hearing any last remaining "NILE is nothing without its Egypt theme" internet foolishness.
About.com: Living in Greenville, South Carolina you're pretty removed from the metal scene. Do you see this as a positive or negative?
Sanders: It's got its ups and downs. On the one hand, there are few distractions here, and one can really buckle down and get some work done. But the flip-side is there aren't that many metal shows in Greenville. So to go see a real metal show — my personal brand of fun — I have to drive a couple hours to either Atlanta or Charlotte. I guess there's always a trade-off in life.
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19 апр 2009
Bassist JARI KAINULAINEN Reunites With Former STRATOVARIUS Bandmates For \'Return To Dreamspace\' -
 Finnish bassist Jari Kainulainen (who is currently a member of Sweden's EVERGREY) will join Timo Tolkki (REVOLUTION RENAISANCE, STRATOVARIUS) and fellow ex-STRATOVARIUS members Tuomo Lassila (drums) and Anti Ikonen (keyboards) to record a new album, titled "Return to Dreamspace", for a fall 2009 release. This means that the project's lineup is exactly the same as the one that recorded STRATOVARIUS' "Dreamspace" LP that was released in 1994.
Regarding the musical direction of the CD, Tolkki previously said, "It has been 15 years from [STRATOVARIUS' 'Dreamspace'] album, so it will be interesting, for sure... It's not a 'remake,' but a brand new album. A closure for [what] I consider to be the end of STRATOVARIUS. It completes the cycle and returns to the beginning."
Tolkki drew up and signed an official waiver on May 20, 2008 giving up all rights to the STRATOVARIUS name. The remaining STRATOVARIUS members — Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Jens Johansson (keyboards) and Lauri Porra (bass) — have since announced plans to carry on with new guitarist Matias Kupiainen.
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19 апр 2009
DAVID COVERDALE On JOE LYNN TURNER: \'Next He\'ll Be Accusing Me Of Wearing A Wig On Stage\'
 David Coverdale has released a new statement exclusively to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding Joe Lynn Turner's (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) allegations that the WHITESNAKE frontman lip-synchs to pre-recorded tapes of vocals in concert.
Coverdale said, "I am shocked, very disappointed and surprised by Mr. Turner's misleading and completely untrue observations he felt it necessary to discuss in a recent interview. Whatever his motives, they are disturbing, to say the least.
"I do not 'mime' in concert. I never have and I never will.
"I am David Coverdale. My career spans almost 40 successful years and I have worked with some of the finest musicians in contemporary music and in all that time I have never 'pretended' to sing to tapes when I am performing in front of a paying crowd.
"I have no idea how anyone who has seen me working live in concert, or is remotely connected to the music business, can even suggest such an odious thing.
"I have seen the purported video of me supposedly 'miming' [see footage below], and all I can say is he and anyone else who believes this nonsense should look more closely.
"It is obvious that I am holding the microphone out to the crowd and inviting the audience to participate, as I do during every show, and have done since the beginning of WHITESNAKE while my background singers keep the songs vocal momentum.
"It is hugely important to me that the audience feel completely part of the WHITESNAKE show and participate with me from the beginning to the end.
"They are called the 'Whitesnake Choir' for that reason.
"Please know, as most sensible people do, that I am especially blessed in this band with two very powerful singers in guitarist Reb Beach and keyboardist Timothy Drury, and also two very capable background singers in bassist Uriah Duffy and guitarist Doug Aldrich, and when I am working the crowd, these guys hold the songs for me exceptionally well, as most sensible people can see and hear.
"There are no vocal backing tapes... Everything you see and hear is being performed live by the musicians and vocalists on stage.
"I have no idea why Mr. Turner has launched this foolishness, but I ask that it stop now. It has no merit, serves no purpose and is a total waste of precious time.
"No apology is necessary as I have no desire in any way, shape or form to have any communication with him. He should know better.
"Next he'll be accusing me of wearing a wig on stage."
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19 апр 2009
JOE LYNN TURNER Claims That DAVID COVERDALE Has Used Pre-Recorded Tapes In Concert
 Spain's The Metal Circus recently conducted an interview with legendary vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) about the new SUNSTORM album, "House Of Dreams", his upcoming concerts in Spain with BIG NOIZE, the Russian connection and the fact that Ritchie Blackmore won't ever reform RAINBOW. When asked if he has ever used pre-recorded tapes for backing and/or lead vocals, Joe replied, "To be honest with you, I have one machine that helps sing the backgrounds — it's from DigiTech, and it's a great technology — but it's not samples, it's live; you have to sing into the microphone and then this machine will take your voice, whatever you put into this machine is exactly what you get. So if you sing like shit, it's gonna sound like shit. So there's no wizardry, there's no tapes. Because recently I heard on the Internet that David Coverdale was using all kinds of tapes. Well, I was in Finland [in June 2008] with Graham Bonnet and we were on the same festival [Sauna Open Air; see video below] as WHITESNAKE, and I couldn't believe he was using these tapes — for lead singing! Not just backgrounds, but lead! And I was... My mouth was open. I was like, 'What the fuck, David?! You can't do this. You look so stupid, so foolish.' And everyone is complaining about this. No, I'm singing live. This is what you get; that's it. . . I'm not trying to talk shit... This is true. Everybody sees this. . . I couldn't believe it, because he [David] was always one of my favorite singers. To use tapes for a lead vocal... I can understand backgrounds if the [rest of the bandmembers] don't sing. But for lead?! You've gotta be kidding!"
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18 апр 2009
ABIGOR Mainman Issues Update
 Mainman Peter Kubik of reunited Austrian black metallers ABIGOR has issued the following update:
"Before we unleash the split project with BLACKLODGE, which took larger and more monumental forms than we first conceived (and, how could it be possible NOT to expand and delay something true to its infinitely flowing, fluctuating and interlocking concept of 'Time vs:sv nataS'), the next in a line of forthcoming releases will be an ultimate link between ABIGOR's past, present and future.
"16 years since we first joined forces under the banner of ABIGOR, 10 years since its original release on Napalm Records, two years since Peter Kubik and T.T. [Thomas Tannenberger] reunited and A.R. [Arthur Rosar] and End All Life reinforced this unit to execute the devil's work (as well as to our own self-realization, illumination, plenary indulgence and the lashing of our minds), we bring forth a new version of an album written in 1998 and first recorded in early winter 1999, 'Channelling The Quintessence Of Satan'.
"The original recording was a landmark in ABIGOR's history. On one hand, it represented the perfection of the imperfect method how we prepared, accomplished and engineered our visions in the '90s. On the other hand, it also marked the end of the second ABIGOR trinity, with both Silenius (during the recordings) and T.T. (after the recordings) quit the service. 'Channelling The Quintessence Of Satan' should have been the ultimate peak in the string of our releases in the past century, yet due to reasons inherent in the original version as well as external ones, this album never glared in its full glory.
"This is about to change.
"On the foundation of the original drum and guitar tracks recorded on the first two days of the session at Hörnix studio in '99, seven hymns have been revised, reshaped and reworked. Above all, new arrangements, new edits, new bass, new vocals and a new sound constitute an exception to the ordinary 'remastered re-releases' or common re-recordings of old songs. This is a marriage of ABIGOR's past with our current vision of uncompromising black metal — ten years old Hörnix material interwoven with new recordings made at Hell-lab. In its new form, this album — even more than the '93 demos or the '97 opus 'Apokalypse' — underlines ABIGOR's thrust in a distinct 'style' that manifested in a post-millennial wave of so-called underground black metal.
"Set for a release in June or latest July, it is the first in a new line of upcoming works (the split CD and DLP with BLACKLODGE in late summer, the 7" demo box in fall and the true successor of 'Fractal Possession', a new full-length album in late 2009) to honour the shining spirit who has many names, to feel the aspiration of his omnipresence, to unlock the secret inherent in the reversal creation, to administer a sacrifice to the horns that lurk beyond the stars."
ABIGOR's latest album, "Fractal Possesion", was released in May 2007.
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18 апр 2009
SYRACH: New Album Title, Track Listing Revealed
 Norwegian doom metallers SYRACH have set "A Dark Burial" as the title of their sophomore album, tentatively due this summer. The CD was produced by Bjørnar Nilsen and features artwork (see here) 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" 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 is kicking off a four-date European tour tonight (Thursday, April 16) in Leipzig, Germany.
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.
Check out audio samples on the band's MySpace page.
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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18 апр 2009
BRING ME THE HORIZON: \'Diamonds Aren\'t Forever\' Video Available
 "Diamonds Aren't Forever", the new video from U.K. metalcore act BRING ME THE HORIZON, can be viewed here. (Note: Video stream may not be available to some non-U.S. residents.) The clip captures the manic lifestyle of the band's U.S. touring lifestyle, both on and off stage, with killer live footage of both band and stagediving crowd and backstage partying.
BRING ME THE HORIZON and guitarist Curtis Ward recently made the decision to part ways based on personal differences, but remain firm friends as they have done since the group's inception in Sheffield in 2004.
BRING ME THE HORIZON's label and management wish to emphasize that all live dates, festivals and tours will be played, with a stand-in guitarist — the band's guitar technician, and integral part of the touring party, Dean Rowbotham.
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18 апр 2009
SUFFOCATION: \'Blood Oath\' Artwork, Track Listing Unveiled
 Legendary New York death metallers SUFFOCATION will release their new album, "Blood Oath", in Germany on Friday, July 3 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD is expected to arrive in the U.S. on Tuesday, July 7.
SUFFOCATION entered the studio on January 31 with Joe Cincotta (who worked on the band's last two releases) to begin recording "Blood Oath". The follow-up to 2006's self-titled record was mixed by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH) and cover artwork (see here) was once again brought to life by Jon Zig (DEEDS OF FLESH, DISGORGE, GORGASM).
"Blood Oath" track listing:
01. Blood Oath
02. Dismal Dream
03. Pray For Forgiveness
04. Images Of Purgatory
05. Cataclysmic Purification
06. Mental Hemorrhage
07. Come Hell Or High Priest
08. Undeserving
09. Provoking The Disturbed
10. Marital Decimation
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17 апр 2009
RUNNING WILD\'s Farewell Show At WACKEN OPEN AIR To Be Filmed/Recorded For DVD/CD Release
 German power metallers RUNNING WILD will play their farewell show at this year's Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place July 30 - August 1, 2009 in Wacken, Germany. The band's July 30 "best-of" performance will be filmed and recorded for an upcoming DVD and CD.
Commented RUNNING WILD mainman Rolf "Rock'n'Rolf" Kasparek: "To all true Running Wild fans:
Now after 30 years of RUNNING WILD I feel it's time to lower the flag and to take down the sails to face new challenges.
That's why we want to celebrate the 30 years' history of the band for a last time at this year's Wacken Open Air on the occasion of its 20th anniversary with a two-hour headlining Best-Of show on Thursday, July 30th with a lot of surprises to bring it to a dignified end.
It's also planned to record a Live-DVD and -CD of that show to make it complete.
Now I can look down with calmness on the last 30 years and I feel proud of what I have reached. At the same time, nothing of that would have been possible without your support during the last decades. That's why I wanna say thanks for all the wonderful moments of that career and I wish you all the best for the future!
Yours
Rock'n'Rolf"
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17 апр 2009
MARILYN MANSON: \'The High End Of Low\' Artwork, Track Listing Revealed
 The cover artwork for MARILYN MANSON's forthcoming album, "The High End Of Low", can be viewed here.
The official track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Devour
02. Pretty As A Swastika
03. Leave A Scar
04. Four Rusted Horses
05. Arma-goddamn-motherfuckin-geddon
06. Blank And White
07. Running To The Edge Of The World
08. I Want To Kill You Like They Do In The Movies
09. WOW
10. Wight Spider
11. Unkillable Monster
12. We're From America
13. I Have To Look Up Just To See Hell
14. Into The Fire
15. 15
Marilyn Manson's anticipated reunion with longtime friend and foil Twiggy Ramirez inches closer with the release of "We're From America", the first listen from "The High End Of Low". Available as a digital single, it previews Manson's forthcoming seventh studio album landing May 26.
The album's official first single, "Arma... geddon", arrived at radio April 13.
Produced by Manson, Vrenna and Twiggy, "The High End Of Low" was recorded in Manson's Hollywood Hills studio and also features the track "I Want to Kill You Like They Do In The Movies". Manson says of the new album, "I think my life definitely ended and began. The record sounds very final, but it's almost optimistic — though that feels like a strange word to use. It's a phoenix from the fire and a redemption resurrection."
In a recent interview with U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine, Marilyn Manson stated about "The High End Of Low", "This is not a record that we would leave black and self-titled and mature. This is the experienced record. This album is the 12th-grade guy that has VD and did cocaine in high school, who has been arrested once and the 9th-grade girl wants to fuck him.
"The songs on this record are quite autobiographical, but they're also very much their own stories in the same sense as some of my earlier work on 'Antichrist Superstar'. The songs are in the order in which they were written and sung. It was a story that took place and I didn't really know what it was going to be 'till it happened. I had to find out how it was going to end in order to end the record. This album left many scars, and I think they are good ones."
"I wrote all the lyrics on the wall of my room. It wasn't to be decorative; it was one of those things, like it's the last thing someone sees before they put them somewhere else. I think it looks good. And if anyone wants to come into this room and fornicate with me, I think they are a keeper… and when I say keeper, I mean kidnapping. I am probably going to do most of the press for the record from my house, before I leave or destroy it, because you can see the story and what the record as made from within the house."
"During the whole process I took a lot of photos, so the artwork is a lot of storytelling and the way that the songs have turned out is more from my point of view rather than looking at me. Because I always wanted to take pictures, my house is set up like a movie set. Instead of lamps I have movie lights and smoke machines and things."
"I really look at this record as a film, maybe because I sort of directed it. I stopped trying to conform regular life into the idea that it's regular life. Why isn't it all just a movie? If people are watching, they're watching me being an asshole or being boring or creating something amazing. That's just a part of the movie. It allowed me to be more creative."
"'15' is track 15 on the album. It's the most important song I think that's been written by MARILYN MANSON as an entity. It's the most unusual song I have ever heard. I thought that the album was done, as there is a glorious epic track [before that] that I think will make Twiggy forever recognized as a guitar hero. That felt like the end of the record, but what was happening in my life had not resolved itself. So on January 5, one five, I sang '15' and the lyrics will tell the story of that day…"
Manson's new lineup, including Ramirez (for the first time in close to a decade), plus keyboardist Chris Vrenna, and drummer Ginger Fish, will close the main stage at the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, this July through August. Manson will also kick off his world tour with a headline festival run this June in Europe.
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17 апр 2009
VADER: New Album Track Listing Revealed
 Polish death metallers VADER have set the tentative track listing for their new album, "Necropolis", tentatively due in late August via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD is being recorded at Hertz studios in Bialystok, Poland with the Wieslawski Bros.. Tue Madsen, who previously worked with such bands as MOONSPELL, CATARACT, HEAVEN SHALL BURN and many more, will mix the CD at his Antfarm Studios in Denmark.
Commented guitarist/vocalist Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek: "The next step in creating of new album is behind us... 'Necropolis' has its shape now. Today we finish recordings of main guitars and after a week break we coming back to the studio to make all leads, bass and vocal parts."
"Necropolis" track listing:
01. Devilized
02. Rise Of The Undead ( demo stream)
03. Never Say My Name
04. Dark Heart
05. Blast
06. Impure ( demo stream)
07. We Are Horde
08. Anger
09. When The Sun Drowns In Dark
10. The Sigil
11. Dei Nostri
12. Summoning The Futura
The band also recorded two cover songs during the sessions.
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17 апр 2009
AMBERIAN DAWN: Audio Samples Of Entire New Album Available
 Audio samples of all the tracks that are set to appear on "The Clouds of Northland Thunder", the second album from Finnish female-fronted symphonic metallers AMBERIAN DAWN, are available for streaming here.
"The Clouds of Northland Thunder" is scheduled for release in Japan on May 13 and in the U.K. on April 22. The rest of Europe will receive the CD sometime in June.
The track listing for the album is as follows:
01. He Sleeps in a Grove (3:20)
02. Incubus (5:03)
03. Kokko - Eagle of Fire (3.17)
04. Willow of Tears (4:10)
05. Shallow Waters (3:38)
06. Lost Soul (3:43)
07. Sons of Seven Stars (3.43)
08. Saga (4:06)
09. Snowmaiden (3:45)
10. Lionheart (3:43)
11. Morning Star (4:36)
12. Birth of the Harp (4:06)
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17 апр 2009
IMMORTAL Begins Recording New Album
 Norwegian black metallers IMMORTAL have commenced recording their new album. According to the band's management, "They will be working in both Grieghallen [Norway] and Abyss [Sweden] studios this time."
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17 апр 2009
TRANSATLANTIC Reunites For New Studio Album
 TRANSATLANTIC, the progressive rock "supergroup" comprised of Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER), Pete Trewavas (MARILLION), Roine Stolt (THE FLOWER KINGS) and Neal Morse (ex-SPOCK'S BEARD), has reunited after a seven-year hiatus to record a brand new studio album.
The band began work on the CD in early April in Nashville and is expected to have it released by year's end.
TRANSATLANTIC previously released two studio albums to tremendous critical and fan acclaim: 2000's "SMPTe" and 2001's "Bridge Across Forever". The band toured on the heels of each release with an American tour in 2000 and a European tour in 2001 and released subsequent live DVDs/CDs from both tours before going their separate ways for an indefinite hiatus which lasted almost the entire decade.
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17 апр 2009
AC/DC Tribute Album Coming In The Fall
 Versailles Records has announced plans to release "Rock & Roll Train: A Millennium Tribute to AC/DC" in the fall. The record will feature contributions from current/former members of the ALICE COOPER band, GUNS N' ROSES, DANGEROUS TOYS, LILLIAN AXE, CIRCLE JERKS, FUEL, STEELHEART, HEART, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, WARRANT, L.A. GUNS, WHITE LION, MC5, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, MOUNTAIN and others to be announced shortly. The package will also include a bonus CD sampler featuring millennium rock/metal bands influenced by AC/DC performing an original song.
Bands who are interested in appearing in this bonus CD should e-mail acdctribute09@yahoo.com with a MySpace or related web link.
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17 апр 2009
ORANSSI PAZUZU: Entire New Album Available For Streaming
 Finnish psychedelic/experimental black metallers ORANSSI PAZUZU will release their debut album, "Muukalainen puhuu", on April 22 via Violent Journey Records. The CD includes "eight pieces of dark and atmospheric black metal that trips through space and genre borders," according to a press release. "ORANSSI PAZUZU's music has a taste of Norwegian black metal and Finnish kraut-psychedelia. The sound is highly visual and atmospheric, embracing the dark corners of space and mind."
"Muukalainen puhuu" track listing:
01. Korppi
02. Danjon nolla
03. Kangastus 1968
04. Suuri pää taivaasta
05. Myöhempien aikojen pyhien teatterin rukoilijasirkka
06. Dub kuolleen porton muistolle
07. Muukalainen puhuu
08. Kerettiläinen vuohi
The entire CD is now available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
ORANSSI PAZUZU has existed since 2007 and it features five members:
Jun-His: Vocals, Guitar
Korjak: Drums
Moit: Guitar
EvilL: Keyboards, Percussion
Ontto: Bass | 0 | |
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Unanimated
