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28 янв 2009
CHILDREN OF BODOM\'s ALEXI LAIHO Gets Four New Signature Models From ESP GUITARS
 CHILDREN OF BODOM's Alexi Laiho, ranked one of the world's best guitarists, has four new Signature Series models introduced at NAMM 2009 from ESP and LTD. The ESP Alexi-Blacky, ESP Alexi-Scythe, LTD Alexi-600-Blacky, and LTD Alexi-600-Scythe will be available from ESP's network of dealers and international distributors.
The ESP Alexi-Blacky and ESP Alexi-Scythe both feature a neck-thru-body design at 25.5" scale, with a light alder body and maple neck with a 24-fret ebony fingerboard. High-end hardware on the models includes Gotoh tuners, an original Floyd Rose bridge, and a single EMG HZ F-H2 pickup. An MM-04 on-off boost switch is also built into the guitar. The Blacky model incorporates a metallic black satin finish with a gloss black stripe and black pearl sawtooth fret marker inlays, while the Scythe model is a white finish with a black pinstripe, and scythe-shaped inlays.
The new LTD versions of the Alexi Laiho Signature Series models offer very similar specifications, only substituting Grover tuners and a 1000 Series Floyd Rose tremolo.
"We've been very fortunate to have a relationship with a guitarist of Alexi's caliber for the last six years," says Allen Steelgrave, ESP's director of marketing and artist relations. "As is the case with all ESP and LTD signature series models, the new guitars are based on the artist's exact specifications, and we've worked closely with Alexi to create these updated versions of his main guitar."
Laiho has worked with ESP on all of his signature model guitars since 2003.
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28 янв 2009
METALLICA: \'Guitar Hero: METALLICA\': Complete Track Listing Revealed
 METALLICA has revealed the complete track listing for the upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica game, which is due out in North America on March 29. It is as follows:
METALLICA tracks:
* All Nightmare Long
* Battery
* Creeping Death
* Disposable Heroes
* Dyers Eve
* Enter Sandman
* Fade To Black
* Fight Fire With Fire
* For Whom The Bell Tolls
* Frantic
* Fuel
* Hit The Lights
* King Nothing
* Master of Puppets
* Mercyful Fate (Medley)
* No Leaf Clover
* Nothing Else Matters
* One
* Orion
* Sad But True
* Seek And Destroy
* The Memory Remains
* The Shortest Straw
* The Thing That Should Not Be
* The Unforgiven
* Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
* Wherever I May Roam
* Whiplash
If you downloaded the "Death Magnetic" album for Xbox and PS3, those ten songs will play in their entirety in the full game mode. PS2 and Wii versions (coming in the spring, most likely in early May) will include "Broken Beat & Scarred", "Cyanide" and "My Apocalypse" since they are not compatible with the "Death Magnetic" downloadable content.
Other artists:
* ALICE IN CHAINS - No Excuses
* BOB SEGER - Turn The Page
* CORROSION OF CONFORMITY - Albatross
* DIAMOND HEAD - Am I Evil?
* FOO FIGHTERS - Stacked Actors
* JUDAS PRIEST - Hell Bent For Leather
* KYUSS - Demon Cleaner
* LYNYRD SKYNYRD - Tuesdays Gone
* MACHINE HEAD - Beautiful Mourning
* MASTODON - Blood And Thunder
* MERCYFUL FATE - Evil
* MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP - Armed and Ready
* MOTÖRHEAD - Ace of Spades
* QUEEN - Stone Cold Crazy
* SAMHAIN - Mother of Mercy
* SLAYER - War Ensemble
* SOCIAL DISTORTION - Mommy's Little Monster
* SUICIDAL TENDENCIES - War Inside My Head
* SYSTEM OF A DOWN - Toxicity
* THE SWORD - Black River
* THIN LIZZY - The Boys Are Back in Town
RollingStone.com got a sneak preview of Guitar Hero: Metallica, which is only the second in the popular gaming franchise to be based around a specific artist. According to RollingStone.com's report, the game's storyline was conceived by frontman James Hetfield and lets players begin as METALLICA's opening act, eventually getting to play as the members of METALLICA themselves if they can make it that far.
The menu art is done by longtime METALLICA artist Pushead, while the venues and stage sets are taken from all eras of the band's quarter-century career. The virtual band members each do signature moves, from drummer Lars Ulrich popping up from behind his kit to bassist Robert Trujillo's trademark crabwalk across the stage. The members all start out looking like they do today, but can also revert back to younger versions of themselves. Previous bassists Jason Newsted and the late Cliff Burton do not appear in the game.
Trujillo told The Pulse of Radio why he thinks the Guitar Hero franchise is great for music. "I'm not a gamer, but I actually think it's a great thing in the sense that it's helping to educate our youth and older people about rock 'n' roll and heavy metal in particular, you know, bands like IRON MAIDEN and BLACK SABBATH, and I think that's important," he said.
The band had to go through an extensive motion-capture process in order to make them come to life in the game, and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett told The Pulse of Radio the final result was a little unsettling. "Once they've actually made a virtual you and you start seeing that virtual you playing METALLICA songs, it's a trip, man," he said. "It's like watching a hologram of yourself or, you know, a cartoon of yourself or whatever. It's strange because it's weird and different but oddly familiar at the same time."
Gameplay is available on vocals, guitar, bass, and drums, with an added skill level for double-bass drumming. There is not, however, an option for two players to play lead and rhythm guitar at the same time, like Hetfield and Hammett do in real life.
The game also comes with bonus features such as live videos, footage of the band being filmed for the game, and archival material from the group's history.
According to Billboard Boxscore, which provides updated concert ticket sales information, neither of METALLICA's two Los Angeles shows in December was a sell-out despite the fact that the band is in the middle of its first American arena tour in four years.
The ticket sales information, according to Billboard Boxscore:
Artist/Event: METALLICA, THE SWORD, MACHINE HEAD
Date: Dec. 17-18, 2008
Venue: The Forum
City/State: Inglewood, California
Gross sales: $2,234,771
Ticket Prices: $82.50, $62.50
Attendance: 34,427
Capacity: 35,067
Number Of Shows: 2
Number Of Sell-Out Shows: 0
Promoter: Live Nation
METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich recently told RollingStone.com that the band's massive world tour behind "Death Magnetic" could very well last beyond this year. "We're booked up through August of [2009], and right now we're sort of laying out fall of '09 and the spring of '10," he said. "We're waiting for a few other countries to be actually formalized as nations so we can be the first band in. We're also waiting for the polar caps to stabilize so we can go play there. There's talk about some other planets too."
Regarding the band's first American arena tour in four years, Lars said, "It's great to be back indoors. We're right in the thick of it in the middle of the arena. It completely exposes every nuance and that adds a real tone of vitality and excitement."
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28 янв 2009
GORY BLISTER: New Album Artwork, Release Date Revealed
 Long-running Italian technical death metallers GORY BLISTER will release their new album, "Graveyard of Angels", on April 6 via Mascot Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Skymorphosis" contains nine tracks that "reach a very technical death metal made with old-school anger," according to the band.
The "Graveyard of Angels" artwork can be seen here.
"Skymorphosis" came out in January 2006 via Holland's Mascot Records.
GORY BLISTER's video for the track "Asteroid" (taken from "Skymorphosis") can be viewed here. | 0 | |
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28 янв 2009
CALLISTO: new track and info about new album
 A brand new track "Drying Mouths (in a Gasping Land)", taken from the new album of Finnish band CALLISTO, entitled "Providence", is now streaming at the Myspace page.
"Providence" is produced, engineered and mixed by Jonas Olsson and mastered by Svante Forsbäck. The artwork is contributed by Martin Kvamme of Unit Delta Plus.
The tracklist of "Providence" ( cover) is as follows:
1. In Session
2. Rule the Blood
3. Covenant Colours
4. Eastern Era
5. New Canaan
6. Stasis
7. Where the Spirits Tread
8. Dead Weight
9. Drying Mouths (in a Gasping Land)
10. Providence
In addition, there will be a gatefold 12" double vinyl released by Svart Records. The release date for both cd and vinyl in Finland is the 18th of February.
The international release dates for the album are as follows:
Sweden 18.2.
Germany 27.3.
Holland 27.3.
Belgium 27.3.
Luxemburg 27.3.
Canada 27.3.
USA tba
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28 янв 2009
NORTHERN KINGS: Japanese Version Of \'Rethroned\' To Include Bonus Track
 "Rethroned", the second album from NORTHERN KINGS — the Finnish band consisting of four well-known metal musicians (Jarkko Ahola [TERÄSBETONI], Marco Hietala [TAROT, NIGHTWISH], Tony Kakko [SONATA ARCTICA], Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto [CHARON]) — will be released in Japan on February 25 via Warner Music Japan. The Japanese version of the CD will include a bonus track — a cover of MICHAEL JACKSON's "They Don't Care About Us".
In other news, NORTHERN KINGS will play at the Finnish Eurovision Song Contest finals in Tampere on January 31. The show will be broadcast live on Finnisn channel YLE TV2. (Note: NORTHERN KINGS is not taking part in the actual competion and is merely performing on the program.)
"Kiss From A Rose", the new video from NORTHERN KINGS, can be viewed below. The song comes off "Rethroned", which came out in Finland on November 19, 2008 via Warner Music Finland. Like its predecessor, the new CD contains metal arrangements of pop and rock classics, including "Wanted Dead Or Alive" from BON JOVI, "Kiss From A Rose" from SEAL, "A View To A Kill" from DURAN DURAN and "Nothing Compares 2 U" from SINEAD O'CONNOR.
The track listing for the effort is as follows:
01. Training Montage (Vince DiCola; "Rocky IV" soundtrack) (instrumental) / Wanted Dead Or Alive (BON JOVI) (performed by Marco Hietala)
02. Kiss From A Rose (SEAL)
03. A View To A Kill (DURAN DURAN)
04. Nothing Compares 2 U (SINEAD O'CONNOR) (performed by Tony Kakko)
05. My Way (FRANK SINATRA) (performed by J. Ahola)
06. Strangelove (DEPECHE MODE)
07. Take On Me (A-HA)
08. I Should Be So Lucky (KYLIE MINOGUE) (performed by J.-P. Leppäluoto)
09. Killer (ADAMSKI feat. SEAL)
10. Roisin Dubh (Black Rose): A Rock Legend (THIN LIZZY) (performed by Marco Hietala and J.Ahola)
NORTHERN KINGS' debut album, "Reborn", was certified gold in Finland for sales in excess of 15,000 copies.
"Reborn" was released on October 31, 2007 via Warner Music Finland. The CD contains metal arrangements of '80s hits, including "We Don't Need Another Hero", CUTTING CREW's "I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight", PHIL COLLINS' "In The Air Tonight", DIRE STRAITS' "Brothers In Arms", PETER GABRIEL's "Sledgehammer" and DAVID BOWIE's "Ashes To Ashes".
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28 янв 2009
MEMORY GARDEN: Full-Length Debut To Be Reissued With Bonus Tracks
 MEMORY GARDEN — the Sweden-based band featuring former ABSKTRAKT ALGEBRA guitarist Simon Johansson — has issued the following update:
"We are very happy to announce that our first full-length album, 'Tides' [originall released in 1996 through Heathendoom Music], will finally be available again. We have received tons of e-mails, letters and questions about why this album isn't released again and until now we have never had any good answer to that question. But now we have... On February 2, Vic Records will release a reissue of this since-long-sold-out masterpiece. The album will contain the entire 'Tides' album, remastered by Mike Wead [KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, FIREGOD, ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA, CANDLEMASS], three cool bonus tracks, liner notes from the band telling some anecdotes from the recording and brand new artwork by Peter Sallai, everything inspired by the old artwork… just a little facelift for the re-issue. We do hope you all will love this one…. It's time for some real doom again, folks!!!"
MEMORY GARDEN last year parted ways with guitarist Anders Looström and replaced him with Ante Mäkelä (EVIL CONSPIRACY). | 0 | |
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28 янв 2009
MASTODON: \'Crack The Skye\' Artwork Unveiled
 The cover artwork for "Crack The Skye", the new album from Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON, can be viewed below.
A teaser clip of the new MASTODON track "Oblivion" is available for streaming on the band's official web site. The song will appear on "Crack The Skye", which is tentatively due late March.
"Crack the Skye" was recorded at Southern Tracks Studios in Atlanta and was produced and mixed by Brendan O'Brien, who has previously worked with VELVET REVOLVER, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, PEARL JAM, AC/DC and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, among others.
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28 янв 2009
SOILWORK: '20 More Miles' Video Posted Online
 "20 More Miles", the new video from Swedish metallers SOILWORK, can be viewed here. The clip was shot during the band's European tour, including at the Electric Weekend festival in Madrid, where SOILWORK performed with METALLICA. It contains footage provided by the band as well as material that was filmed by Olle Carlsson.
SOILWORK's North American tour with DARKANE, WARBRINGER and SWALLOW THE SUN will kick off on January 30 in Rochester, New York. (Note: DAYLIGHT DIES will appear on the first 10 shows instead of WARBRINGER.)
Listenable Records has announced plans to re-release the classic first albums from SOILWORK. "Steelbath Suicide" (1998) and "The Chainheart Machine" (1999) will be reissued in deluxe super jewelcases with revamped artwork and contain various bonus tracks. Out of print for a while, these re-releases are a "must-have for any SOILWORK fan who missed the originals while the various bonus materials make it worth for die-hard fans to get these gems again," the label says in a press release.
SOILWORK was rejoined by guitarist Peter Wichers last year.
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28 янв 2009
DESPISED ICON: \'Montreal Assault Live\' DVD Delayed
 "Montreal Assault Live", the new DVD from Montreal extreme metallers DESPISED ICON, has been postponed "due to manufacturing delays." Originally scheduled for release on January 27, the disc features a "stellar" multi-camera shoot from the band's sold-out hometown show, alongside a new hour-long documentary and all of the band's promotional video clips.
A live version of the track "The Sun Will Never Charm Us" taken from the forthcoming DVD is available for vieweing below.
Commented vocalist Alex Erian: "The live mix sounds so massive. It was done by none other than our former guitarist Yannick St-Amand. You can even listen to it in 5.1 Surround. Our buddy Felix also created some of his sickest artwork yet. The shooting and editing of the show went awesome. David Brodsky (IN THIS MOMENT, UNEARTH) and his team captured tons of adrenaline-packed moments. The DVD also includes a new hour-long documentary by Reconstructed Media that retraces the band's career, showing never-before-seen footage of us living on the road, hanging out, partying, recording, playing shows back in the day and more." | 0 | |
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27 янв 2009
THE AGONIST: Two New Tracks Posted Online
 Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based female-fronted band THE AGONIST has posted two tracks from its forthcoming second album, "Lullabies For A Dormant Mind", on the group's MySpace page. Check out "The Tempest" and "Martyr Art" at this location.
Due in Europe on February 23 and in North America on March 10 through Century Media Records, the CD will feature the following track listing:
01. The Tempest (The Siren's Song; The Banshee's Cry)
02. ...And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep
03. Thank You, Pain
04. Birds Elope With The Sun
05. Waiting Out The Winter
06. Martyr Art
07. Globus Hystericus
08. Swan Lake, Op. 20 – Scene, Act 2, #10 – Tchaikovsky (A Cappella)
09. The Sentient
10. When The Bough Breaks
11. Chlorpromazine
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. | 0 | |
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27 янв 2009
WOLF: \'Voodoo\' Video Available
 "Voodoo", the new video from Swedish heavy metallers WOLF, can be viewed below. The clip was shot in Umeå, Sweden with director Owe Lingwall of Village Road Film, who previously worked with WOLF on the video for the track "I Will Kill Again".
Commented the band: "Both the song and the video has that dark imagery that WOLF fans know and love. Having these brilliant voodoo kids in the video along with the spiders and other creatures of the night, we think we really hit the spot with this one. Working with Owe Lingwall again was also a delight. We really love how it turned out and we can't wait to bring this song to our live set."
"Voodoo" comes off WOLF's new album, "Ravenous", which will be released via Century Media Records on the following dates:
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Italy: Friday, February 20
Spain, Portugal: Tuesday, February 24
Sweden, Finland, Hungary: Wednesday, February 25
Rest Of Europe: Monday, February 23
USA: Tuesday, March 24
The CD features a guest guitar solo by Hank Shermann (FORCE OF EVIL, MERCYFUL FATE) and guest vocals by Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ROYAL HUNT).
For the fierce and bloody artwork, the band once again decided to work with its longtime cover artist Thomas Holm (MERCYFUL FATE).
"He has the ability to 'paint our music' and that's something we're not gonna pass up on," WOLF explained.
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27 янв 2009
NEW YORK DOLLS Putting Finishing Touches On New Album Recordings
 NEW YORK DOLLS are reportedly putting the finishing touches on the recordings for their new album with legendary producer Todd Rundgren and are scheduled to begin mixing next week. The CD, which is being tracked at Rundgren's studio on the island of Kauai, marks the first time the two have collaborated in 36 years since Rundgren originally produced the NEW YORK DOLLS' eponymous debut album, "New York Dolls". Rundgren was reunited with DOLLS founding members David Johansen (vocals) and Sylvain Sylvain (guitar, vocals).
"We're really excited to be working with Todd again," David Johansen previously said. "We're hoping to recapture the same magic on the forthcoming album."
The album, which is yet untitled, will be released on the Atco label through Warner Brothers. The Atco label has been specially re-launched. The NEW YORK DOLLS are one of the first signings to the label. The DOLLS will follow the release of the new album with a world tour later in the year. | 0 | |
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27 янв 2009
MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP: New EMI Reissues Detailed
 EMI has just issued the first batch of a total of six releases covering Michael Schenker's Chrysalis catalog 1980-1984.
After leaving UFO in 1978, legendary guitarist Michael Schenker returned briefly for a second stint in the SCORPIONS before deciding to form his own group — settling on a name that left no confusion about the creative force within the group! To date the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP has released 12 studio albums, amassing two UK Top-10s, and 6 Top-40s in the process.
The first three of those albums — "Michael Schenker Group", "MSG" and "One Night At Budokan" — have now been digitally remastered. They come crammed with previously unreleased bonus material and feature extensive liner notes written by Dave Ling.
Bonus tracks:
"Michael Schenker Group":
01. Just A Lover (1979 Demo)*
02. Looking Out From Nowhere (1979 Demo)*
03. Get Up And Get Down (1979 Demo)*
04. After Midnight (1979 Demo)*
05. Breakout (1979 Demo)*
06. Cry For The Nations (Radio Edit)
07. Armed And Ready (Live B-Side)
08. Into The Arena (Live B-Side)
* previously unreleased
"MSG":
All bonus tracks previously unreleased; recorded live at the Manchester Apollo on September 30, 1980:
01. Never Trust A Stranger (Rough Monitor Mix)
02. Natural Thing
03. Feels Like A Good Thing
04. Looking Out From Nowhere
05. Shoot Shoot
06. Doctor Doctor
07. Lights Out
"One Night At Budokan" (recorded live on August 12, 1981):
01. Tales Of Mystery
02. Cozy Powell Drum Solo
MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP's latest album, "In The Midst Of Beauty", was released on May 13, 2008 via Inakustic GMBH. The CD features returning MSG singer Gary Barden, drummer Simon Philips (THE WHO, TOTO), bassist Neil Murray (BLACK SABBATH, WHITESNAKE) and keyboardist Don Airey (DEEP PURPLE, OZZY OSBOURNE).
Schenker and Gary Barden have completed work on an acoustic album which is expected in the spring.
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27 янв 2009
AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED Completes Work On \'Agorapocalypse\'
 Springfield, Massachusetts grindcore act AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED has completed work on its fourth full-length album, "Agorapocalypse", for an April 14 North American release (April 20 internationally) via Relapse Records. The CD was recorded by the band's own Scott Hull at his Visceral Sound studios and contains 13 tracks, including "Moral Distortion", "Question Of Integrity", "Trauma Queen", "Agorapocalypse Now" and "Flamingo Snuff". The artwork was created by AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED visualist Florian Bertmer.
"Agorapocalypse" marks the full-length recording debut of new vocalist Kat (SALOME), who joined the band in 2007.
An exclusive comic-strip rendering of AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED during the recording process for the new album is featured in the latest issue of Decibel magazine (March 2009, on newsstands now).
A series of AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED split releases will be made available in 2009, including those with DESPISE YOU, ANS, AGENTS OF SATAN, THRONES, and more.
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27 янв 2009
CELESTY: \'Vendetta\' Artwork Unveiled
 The cover artwork for "Vendetta", the fourth full-length album from the Finnish power metal band CELESTY, can be viewed below. Due on March 11 via Spinefarm Records, the CD features eleven tracks and over sixty minutes of music. Samu Oittinen began mixing the album in early December, which proved to be a daunting task: At times there are over 300 tracks playing. The epic soundscape is reinforced by an orchestra consisting of musicians from the Tampere City Orchestra, and a professional choir. The orchestration and the choir parts were arranged and produced by the conductor Kalevi Olli, renowned for his work with the Finnish National Opera.
"Vendetta" track listing:
01. Prelude for Vendetta
02. Euphoric Dream
03. Greed & Vanity
04. Like Warriors
05. Autumn Leaves
06. Feared by Dawn
07. Lord (Of This Kingdom)
08. New Sin
09. Dark Emotions
10. Fading Away
11. Legacy of Hate Pt. 3
- Candlelight
- Shadow Land
- Chaos and Destruction (instrumental)
- Feelings
12. Gates of Tomorrow (Japanese bonus track)
The CD features guest appearances by Stephan Lill (VANDEN PLAS) and Elias Viljanen (SONATA ARCTICA). Suvi-Tuuli Dietrich (ESCAPE) has contributed female vocals to the album.
CELESTY's third full-length effort, "Mortal Mind Creation", was released on October 30, 2006 via Dockyard 1.
CELESTY is:
Antti Railio - Vocals
Teemu Koskela - Guitar
Tapani Kangas - Guitar
Ari Katajamäki - Bass
Jere Luokkamäki - Drums
Juha Mäenpää - Keyboards | 0 | |
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27 янв 2009
ENSLAVED Wins Norwegian \'Spellemann\' Award
 For the third time in five years, ENSLAVED was honored in the "Metal" category at the Spellemann awards (the Norwegian equivalent to the Grammy Awards). The largest and oldest Norwegian music awards show was held this past Saturday, January 24 at the Spektrum in Oslo, Norway and was broadcast live on the Norwegian channel TV2.
The nominees in the "Metal" category were as follows:
BENEA REACH - "Alleviat" (Tabu Recordings)
ENSLAVED - "Vertebrae" (Indie Recordings)
KEEP OF KALESSIN - "Kolossus" (Indie Recordings)
Commented ENSLAVED: "We're very honored to get our third Grammy. The party was good, we had a good time. We think the Grammy commitee was very generous giving all the artist two whole pitchers of ice water and selling 0,3 liters of flat beer for 7,5 euros in the bar. Luckily, we robbed a bank on our way there and could afford getting absolutely smashed. We're having a rough Monday here. Thanks!"
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27 янв 2009
SWORN: New Album Track Listing Revealed
 SWORN, the Norwegian black metal project led by Lars Jensen (MYRKGRAV), has finalized the track listing for its second album, "Bastards & Conqueror", due later in the year via Twilight Vertrieb. It is as follows:
01. Beyonder
02. The Bastard, the Conqueror
03. Carnal Monuments
04. Ascendant
05. Damnation Spawned
06. Summoning the Sinister
07. Prophecies from the Land of Lost Voices
08. The Archaic Wraith
09. Descendant
According to the band, "The new material is harder, faster, darker and more grim and with the SWORN touch that perpetuates the atmosphere from [SWORN's 2007 debut] 'The Alleviation'!
"The Alleviation" was released on July 20, 2007 via Twilight Vertrieb. The CD was recorded and mixed at the Conclave Media Studio in the fall of 2006. The vocals were laid down at Koia Studios between September 2006 and April 2007. The album was produced by Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen and SWORN. Mastering duties were handled by Markus Skroch at Sunset Studio.
SWORN is:
Max Wilson - Vocals
Christoffer Kjørsvik - Guitars
Gøran Myster Hope - Guitars
Leif Herland - Bass
Tom Ian Rogne Klungland - Drums
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27 янв 2009
THEOCRACY Announces New Guitarist
 Athens, Georgia-based melodic metal band THEOCRACY has issued the following update:
"THEOCRACY is proud to welcome Val Allen Wood as their new lead guitarist! Val is an amazing talent, and will be taking over the guitar duties along with Jon [Hinds], allowing Matt [Smith] to step fully into the vocalist/frontman role. The band is very excited about this development, and the new lineup will be hitting stages in the U.S. and Europe soon!" | 0 | |
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27 янв 2009
BLACKMORE\'S NIGHT Singer CANDICE NIGHT: New Solo Music Posted Online
 After tying the knot with former DEEP PURPLE/RAINBOW rocker Ritchie Blackmore on October 5, 2008, singer/songwriter Candice Night has launched a new web site that is designed to appeal to a broader market. With her impending solo release just months away, as well as an appearance in the film "Pray for Light" (now in production) Candice hopes the new site will attract a new fan base and enhance her image.
The site, which was designed by OHDWD.com, features sample tracks, including Candice's debut country/pop song, "Gone-Gone-Gone" (not to be confused with the Phil and Don Everly song made popular by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss). Night says, "I am cast to play Emily in the movie 'Pray for Light' that will be using some of the BLACKMORE'S NIGHT music as well as my solo CD music as the main musical theme."
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26 янв 2009
GORGOROTH Members Inspire Belgian Artist
 Belgian artist Peter Lathouwers recently completed a painting (see below) featuring bassist King ov Hell (real name: Tom Cato Visnes) and vocalist Gaahl (real name: Kristian Espedal) of the Norwegian black metal band GORGOROTH.
Commented Lathouwers: "When certain musicians come together, magic happens. They seem to have a way of making parts of their personalities coincide with each other. It's as if they speak a different language which outsiders can't understand. Not even other musicians. There has to be a personal link between them and not only on a musical level.
"When these kinds of artists part ways, their band or project will not sound the same anymore. I think of Blackie Lawless and Chris Holmes [of W.A.S.P.] for instance, Simon and Garfunkel, CARCASS without Ken Owen. Anyway, my point is: in order for it to have that extra uniqueness, the personalities inside the project or band need to have a certain type of extraordinary indefinable link between them.
"The painter, or 'watcher,' so to speak, is to me, an extension of that musical art. If the music of certain individuals provides that extraordinary indefinable spark in the mind of the painter, then the extent of the musicians will be translated onto the canvas. The painter is a third party in the process of creating art in its totality: music, words and painting. Not a band member, but a distant watcher, contemplator and visionary.”
Why the Gaahl/King painting?
"I was drawn to GORGOROTH quite early in their career. I think 'Pentagram' was the first album I bought. The sound of GORGOROTH has always been very unique in its genre, past and present.
"Of course, GORGOROTH was, and is, one of the most evil-looking and sounding bands from this day and before, so it was natural for me to get a bit deeper into them. I've read the magazines, saw the videos, heard all of the bullshit and commotion going on lately and something all of a sudden struck me.
"With the up rise of the Internet and youtube, GORGOROTH didn't seem so distant and unreachable anymore. One could look beyond the painted faces now. And what I saw amazed me. Here you have one of the most notorious members of lack metal in Norway who, without the paint, has a look in his eyes of innocence and when he talks he speaks the language of the wiseman, a side of him which I believe very little people actually see.
"Many of us look, but only a few really see. That's the painter's job.
"I see many characters hiding in that one face being Gaahl. The same goes for King. On stage, he is pure hell on earth: evil, grim-looking, threatening and violent. But when you look closer, without the corpse paint, you see something totally different; an artist, a rock 'n' roll kid having fun by just playing rock 'n' roll and a true musical genius. And that is what I think attracts me the most in them. Their music, which goes without saying, but also the fact that their personalities just happen to compliment each other in order to make the magic of GORGOROTH happen.
"Gaahl simply is not Gaahl without the paint, but to me that is the beauty of it all.
"When painting the Gaahl/King canvas, I felt so close to them both it was as if they could come in at anytime, have a coffee and we'd sit down and talk as if we were friends for over twenty years while in reality we have barely spoken. It's a strange but welcome feeling. I guess their music just provided me that indefinable spark."
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26 янв 2009
Ex-THE GATHERING Singer To Release 'Pure Air' Next Week; Track Listing Revealed
 Former THE GATHERING singer Anneke van Giersbergen and her new band AGUA DE ANNIQUE will release a new album, "Pure Air", on January 30. As well as acoustic versions of songs from her solo debut, "Air", Anneke's upcoming CD will contain some great collaborations. Besides Sharon den Adel, Niels Geusebroek and Marike Jager, Anneke will be joined by Danny Cavanagh (ANATHEMA), John Wetton (KING CRIMSON, ASIA) and Arjen Lucassen (AYREON).
Anneke states: "['Pure Air' is] an acoustic album with all nice and mellow songs and duets. I am so proud of all the different vocalists and instrumentalists who have worked with me on this album!
"Over the last years, I have done many guest appearances for a wide range of artists. This time I wanted to be the one to invite an outstanding lineup of musicians to contribute to my album."
"Pure Air" track listing:
01. The Blower's Daughter (feat. Danny Cavanagh from ANATHEMA)
02. Beautiful One (feat. Niels Geusebroek from SILKSTONE)
03. Wild Flowers
04. Day after Yesterday (feat. Marike Jager)
05. Come Wander With Me (feat. Kyteman)
06. Valley of the Queens (feat. Arjen Lucassen from AYREON)
07. To Catch a Thief (feat. John Wetton from KING CRIMSON and ASIA)
08. Ironic
09. What's the Reason? (feat. Niels Geusebroek)
10. Yalin
11. Somewhere (feat. Sharon den Adel from WITHIN TEMPTATION)
12. Witnesses
13. The Power of Love
At the moment, Anneke is preparing two different live sets: a semi-acoustic evening (in celebration of the release of "Pure Air") and a rock show for our upcoming dates in Greece and Latin America. She says, "We can't wait. Both events promise to be awesome in their own way!"
Anneke van Giersbergen and her new band AGUA DE ANNIQUE will stage two unique shows in February — at the Melkweg in Amsterdam, Holland (Feb. 12) and at the Oosterpoort in Groningen (Feb. 13). At these intimate performances, Anneke will shed some light on her compositions through personal stories. Anneke will also be joined on stage by Sharon den Adel (WITHIN TEMPTATION), Niels Geusebroek (SILKSTONE) and singer-songwriter Marike Jager.
To see Anneke van Giersbergen sharing the stage with Sharon den Adel is a rare occasion. Last year, Anneke appeared as a special guest on WITHIN TEMPTATION's live DVD. Now Sharon and Anneke will join forces on stage again to perform that same song, "Somewhere". This song, in a new acoustic version, will also appear on Anneke's forthcoming album.
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26 янв 2009
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS: New Singer Announcement Coming Next Week
 Keyboardist Martin Harb of Austrian symphonic metallers VISIONS OF ATLANTIS has issued the following update:
"Within the next week we will present you the name and the face of our new female voice and bandmember! At the moment she's at the shooting for her first VISIONS OF ATLANTIS promotional pictures, which will be released on the homepage including her name and further information within the next week.
"From now on, we won't keep you updated not only by words but also we're planning to do a video blog from time to time where the guys and girl from VISIONS OF ATLANTIS can tell you the most important news about the recording process and all other VISIONS OF ATLANTIS-related stuff (and maybe also not just VISIONS OF ATLANTIS-related stuff) so that all of you can get the news right from us, from face to face. We're also planning a few other things for the homepage but more on that later, at first we'll gonne have some very important updates within next week! So be sure to check out the homepage or our MySpace site more often the next days!"
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS in 2007 parted ways with the group's Minnesota-based vocalist, Melissa Ferlaak, and her now-husband, guitarist Wolfgang "Wops" Koch, due to "musical differences." As a result, the band's previously announced participation in the KAMELOT European tour was cancelled. Koch has since been replaced by the returning guitarist Werner Fiedler, who was responsible for much of the songwriting on the group's first two records.
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS's latest album, "Trinity", was released in May 2007 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Dreamscape Studios and was mastered at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland. The CD's cover artwork was created by Anthony Clarkson, who has previously worked with BLIND GUARDIAN, HYPOCRISY and EXODUS, among others.
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26 янв 2009
RISING PAIN: New Album To Feature Guest Appearance By NIGHTRAGE Frontman
 Phoenix, Arizona-based brutal metallers RISING PAIN have completed work on their third CD, "The Essence of Decay", at Arcane Digital Recording in Chandler, Arizona with producer Ryan Butler (NORTH SIDE KINGS, STRUCTURE OF LIES, UNRUH, MERCITRON, LANDMINE MARATHON). The CD, which features nine songs, includes a guest appearance by Antony Hämäläinen (NIGHTRAGE) on the tracks "Feel Less Alive" and "Am I Awake". The artwork, which was created by bassist Daniel Racines, can be viewed here. The band says, "The album came out awesome! It's the best work we've done to date!"
"The Essence of Decay" track listing
01. Eyes Sewn Shut
02. Remnants
03. In The Face Of Death
04. The End Of Our Dying Days
05. Feel Less Alive
06. Am I Awake
07. Damage is Done
08. A Matter of Time (instrumental)
09. The Essence of Decay
RISING PAIN previously released the "Salvation for None" EP in 2003 and the "Existence is Futile" LP on Open Grave Records in 2007.
RISING PAIN's "The Essence of Decay" video can be viewed here.
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26 янв 2009
DEEP PURPLE: \'Live 1974 (TV Recordings)\' DVD Due Next Month
 IMV Blueline has set a February 10, 2009 release date for the DEEP PURPLE "Live 1974 (TV Recordings)" DVD. According to the sales sheet, the 55-minute disc features footage of "DEEP PURPLE performing for the TV cameras in 1974 in Germany, originally broadcast in Argentina. They perform their biggest songs raw and rocking. A unique feature of the material is the time and space allocated to Ritchie Blackmore to stretch out and demonstrate the amazing virtuoso technique. Great versions of 'Smoke on the Water', 'Burn', 'Space Truckin'' and more."
Track listing:
* Burn
* Might Just Take Your Life
* Mistreated
* Smoke On The Water
* You Fool No One
* The Mule
* Space Truckin'
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26 янв 2009
FRETERNIA Is Back
 Swedish melodic metallers FRETERNIA have issued the following update:
"Guess some of you are wondering what happened with the band after [2002's] 'A Nightmare Story', and the answer is that we lost all motivation. We were supposed to record our third album in December 2003 but we decided not to do that and take a 'short' break... Six years later, we got the feeling that we still have a couple of songs left to write. Right now we are in the middle of the songwriting process and plan to build a studio for the recording of a new promo."
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26 янв 2009
THUNDRA Signs With EINHEIT PRODUCTIONS
 Norwegian metallers THUNDRA, who feature in their ranks former members of EINHERJER and ENSLAVED, have inked a deal with Germany's Einheit Productions. The band will enter the studio in early February to begin recording its third album for a summer release.
In other news, Thor Erik Helgesen (guitar, vocals) hes left THUNDRA to focus on other projects.
THUNDRA's sophomore album, "Worshipped by Chaos", was issued in February 2006 via Greece's Black Lotus Records. The CD was recorded and mixed at Black Dimension Studio with Stein Sund.
THUNDRA is:
Steven Grindhaug - Growl/Clean Vocals
Rune Fredriksen - Guitar/solos
Stein Sund (ex-EINHERJER) - Bass
Harald Magne Revheim (ex-ENSLAVED) - Drums
Nils Harald Johansen - Synth | 0 | |
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26 янв 2009
EYES OF NOCTUM: Two Songs From Forthcoming Debut Posted Online
 EYES OF NOCTUM, the California-based black metal band fronted by Weston "Arcane" Coppola Cage (son of actor Nicolas Cage), has posted two songs from its upcoming debut album, "Awakening", tentatively due in April through Morbid Rose Records. One of them is a full version of the track "Renaissance Prosperity" (a clip of which has been online for some time now), and the other is a cut entitled "Annihilate".
EYES OF NOCTUM recorded "Awakening" at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with acclaimed producer Fredrik Nordström (DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL). Norwegian drummer Hellhammer (MAYHEM, DIMMU BORGIR) and Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME) have recorded guest appearances on the CD.
This is Entertainment reporter Amber Bollard conducted an interview EYES OF NOCTUM at the launch of Fulcage clothing line's fall/winter 2008 collection on October 23, 2008 in West Hollywood, California. Watch the footage below.
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26 янв 2009
HATESPHERE: New Album Title, Track Listing Revealed
 Danish thrashers HATESPHERE have set "To The Nines" as the title of their new album. The CD was recorded over a nine-day period Antfarm Studio in Aarhus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY, GOREFEST).
"To The Nines" will be released via Napalm Records on the following dates:
March 25 - Finland, Spain
March 27 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, France, Italy, Sweden
March 30 - Rest of Europe
April 7 - USA, Canada
The track listing for the album is as follows:
01. To The Nines
02. Backstabber
03. Cloaked In Shit
04. Clarity
05. Even If It Kills Me
06. Commencing A Campaign
07. The Writing's On The Wall
08. In The Trenches
09. Aurora
10. Oceans Of Blood
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26 янв 2009
STATIC-X: \'Cult Of Static\' Artwork Revealed
 The cover artwork for "Cult of Static", the new album from the Los Angeles-based metal quartet STATIC-X, can be viewed below.
"Cult of Static" is scheduled for release on March 17 via Reprise Records. The CD's first single, "Stingwray", hits airwaves February 14. The track was inspired by Wayne Static's wife, former adult film star Tera Wray, and the Corvette Stingray she drives. The song's powerful beats and heavy guitar riffs make this song a commanding force on the record. Elsehwere on the album, the cybernetic stomp of "Hypure" and "You Am I" bludgeon, bruise and break with precise grooves, while the staccato riffs on "Terminal" crush through an unmistakable guitar tone. Guitarist Koichi Fukuda blazes through incendiary solos, while Tony Campos bolts down demonic bass lines and Nick Oshiro pounds out deadly rhythms. Frontman Wayne Static riffs pure violence and screams out his soul.
"Over the years my voice has been destroyed from excessive touring... and I love it," exclaims Static. "The vocals on the new record are raw and brutal."
A song you may already be familiar with is "Lunatic" as it was included on the "Punisher: War Zone" movie soundtrack. Although "Lunatic" is relentless and raw, brandishing a ripping groove and an impenetrable barrier of guitars, the album cut was re-recorded to feature a solo by legendary MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine.
"I've been a huge MEGADETH fan for years," explains Static. "We've toured with them twice. Mustaine and I really hit it off on the road. His lead style is one of the most distinctive styles out there. There's something amazing about it. When you hear him solo, you know it's him."
"Cult of Static" track listing:
01. Lunatic (feat. Dave Mustaine)
02. Z28
03. Terminal
04. Hypure
05. Tera-Fied
06. Stingwray
07. You Am I
08. Isolaytore
09. Nocturnally
10. Skinned
11. Grind 2 Halt
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26 янв 2009
DOMAIN: New Album Track Listing, Artwork Unveiled
 German metallers DOMAIN will release their ninth album, a concept effort entitled "The Chronicles of Love, Hate and Sorrow", on March 13. The CD artwork was created by famous Brazilian metal artist Gustavo Sazes, who "bridged between the traditional DOMAIN artwork concept and the requirements of the album story," according to a press release.
Completed at Meadow Studios in Darmstadt, Germany with producer and guitarist Axel Ritt at the helm, "The Chronicles of Love, Hate and Sorrow" is a metal opera based on the novel "Die Leiden des jungen Werther" by the famous German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Released for the first time in 1774, the story "Die Leiden des jungen Werther" became a key work in German literature regarding the "Storm And Stress" period and describes an impossible love against all moral concepts, which provokes extreme emotional reactions up to the point of a spate of suicides among young readers of the novel.
To best capture on tape the five-octave range of DOMAIN vocalist Nicolaj Ruhnow, the band recently added some special outdoor recordings for the very first time in DOMAIN history.
"The Chronicles of Love, Hate and Sorrow" contains 10 tracks, with a bonus track to be included with the limited-edition version of the album.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Picture The Beauty
02. Sweeping Scars
03. Angel Above
04. Circle Of Give And Take
05. He Is Back
06. Inner Rage
07. Digging Their Graves
08. Haunting Sorrows
09. The Last Dance
10. 12 O'Clock
Bonus track:
11. Two Brothers & The Sinners Chess | 0 | |
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Children of Bodom
