DISTURBED frontman David Draiman has told The Edmonton Journal that, twelve years down the line, it really isn't that hard for him to keep the lyrical ideas flowing.
"Trust me, there's lots left to write about," said the vocalist and songwriter for the Chicago-based metal band. "My fiancée just left me a few weeks ago, I've got family problems — there are plenty of issues in my life to draw on for lyrics."
Draiman told Finland's MusiikkiTV in a recent interview that his now-former fiancée, named Jasmine, is half German and half Persian, which had become what he called "a huge source of contention in my family." Draiman comes from an Orthodox Jewish background and has some 200 relatives living in Israel, including his brother and grandmother. Germany's past history with the Jewish people is well documented, while Persia is now what is known as modern Iran, whose president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has pledged to wipe Israel off the map.
Nevertheless, Draiman told The Pulse of Radio this past summer that Jasmine had accompanied him on a trip last spring to Israel with no problems. "At first I thought the whole experience might not have been the best for her, 'cause, you know, it's a little weird there," he said. "She was worried about how she had to dress, she was worried about a whole number of other things. But it was nice after the whole experience for her to ask me, after everything was said and done — not only had she already learned some Hebrew that I've been trying to teach her, but she was asking me, 'Okay, so when are we going back?'"
Draiman discussed the issue when asked whether the lyrics on DISTURBED's next album would be less angry now that he was in a happy relationship. He brought up the family conflict as an example of future lyrical inspiration.
He has said in the past that he is not particularly religious himself, although he strongly supports Israel and Israeli causes.
DISTURBED has selected "The Night" as the next single off its fourth studio album, "Indestructible", which was released this past June. A video for the track will be shot sometime in January.
Austrian heavy 'zine Stormbringer.at conducted an interview with vocalist Brendan Schieppati of Orange County, California's BLEEDING THROUGH prior to the band's November 26, 2008 concert in Vienna, Austria. Watch the 11-minute chat below.
In support of its brand new album "Declaration", Orange County, California's BLEEDING THROUGH will embark an extensive U.S. tour early next year. Joining the band on its first U.S. headlining trek in over three years will be THE ACACIA STRAIN, AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK and IMPENDING DOOM.
This will be the first BLEEDING THROUGH U.S. headlining tour since "The Truth" tour in 2006, which featured support from EVERY TIME I DIE, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME and HASTE THE DAY.
The U.S. leg of the "Declaration" tour will follow BLEEDING THROUGH's Australian tour, which features BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK and IN TRENCHES.
BLEEDING THROUGH recently completed the No Fear Tour with BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE in the U.S. They are in Europe with BULLET and LACUNA COIL through the end of the year and will stop to play their first-ever Russian shows before coming home. They are also headlining select club dates during the BULLET tour in Europe.
"We are very excited about headlining the States next year," commented BLEEDING THROUGH frontman Brandan Schieppati. "We are looking forward to playing a lot of tracks from the new CD and some old favorites as well. This tour is going to spark the return of BLEEDING THROUGH the headliner, not the support band. And we're bringing bands along that we love in order to create the best show we can."
Paul Arnold of reunited Virginia thrash metal legends AT WAR will be interviewed on the "Heavy Metal Mayhem" show on Blogtalkradio.com on Sunday, December 7 at 6:00 p.m. EST.
For more information and to listen to the program live via the Internet, go to this location.
After a succession of triumphant return performances throughout the U.S. and Europe in 2008, AT WAR recently signed with New York's Heavy Artillery Records for the release of "Infidel", their first studio album in 20 years. Tentatively set for a March 2009 release, the CD will feature nine tracks of pure war metal the likes of which can only be delivered by AT WAR.
Paul Arnold had this to say about the band's return and the forthcoming album: "AT WAR is back!!! Harder, heavier, and meaner than ever. 'Infidel' will solidify what people expect from AT WAR...War Metal in its most ballistic form!"
Formed in 1983 by guitarist Shawn Helsel, bassist and vocalist Paul Arnold and drummer Dave Stone, AT WAR went on to solidify itself as one premier metal bands in the American underground. After the reviews and college radio play of their 1985 demo "Eat Lead", AT WAR went on to release two albums — "Ordered to Kill" (1986) and "Retaliatory Strike" (1987) — for New Renaissance Records. A follow-up to "Retaliatory Strike" was recorded in 1994 but ultimately scrapped which prompted AT WAR to go on an indefinite hiatus only to have the beast awaken from its slumber in 2006 to begin working the material that would become "Infidel".
According to Guardian.co.uk, LED ZEPPELIN bassist John Paul Jones will perform with experimental rockers SONIC YOUTH in a work composed by mixed-media sound composer Takehisa Kosugi for New York's Merce Cunningham Dance Company. The event will honor the 90th birthday of choreographer Merce Cunningham, "whose radical approaches to space, time, and technology continue to redefine the way we experience dance," the press release boasts. A long-running collaborator of John Cage's, Cunningham was also the composer's life partner until his death in 1992.
Merce Cunningham At 90 takes place April 16-19 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Tickets start at $25.
Inquirer.net multimedia reporter Alex Villafania has shot and uploaded video footage (see below) of SEPULTURA's November 29, 2008 headlining concert at the Red Horse Muziklaban Festival in Manila, Philippines. The 15,000-capacity event was a local band competion, and since this was event's 10th anniversary, the promoters decided to make it special and invite a great international metal band as a headliner. According to the promoters, they chose SEPULTURA over a lot of other groups after conducting a lot of research to see which band would be most suitable for the event.
SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser stated about the show: "It was awesome! We played in Manila at a festival organized by a beer company, Red Rock beer, very good and very strong beer. The festival was well organized, good sound and lights. Many local bands were part of the show during the day and more than 15,000 people showed up. Thanks to all involved on this, all the Philipino fans!!! Salama!"
Check out photos of the Manila concert at Kisser's Flickr page.
Two new SEPULTURA songs — "The Treatment" and "We've Lost You" — are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
The group's new album, "A-Lex" (which stands for "no law" or "without law"), will be released via SPV Records on the following dates:
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Brazil: January 23 UK, Scandinavia, rest of Europe: January 26 USA, Canada: January 27
"A-Lex" will be available in three versions: in a deluxe digipak with an embossed cover, in a regular jewel case and on a vinyl gatefold LP. The material was produced by SEPULTURA and Stanley Soares at the Trama Studios in Sao Paulo and mastered by George Marino at New York's Sterling Sound studios. "A-Lex" is the first SEPULTURA album to feature new drummer Jean Dolabella, who joined the fold during the "Dante XXI" tour. "We've known Jean for more than three years, he's from [SEPULTURA's original] hometown of Belo Horizonte and joined us when Roy Mayorga left to team up with STONE SOUR," Kisser said. "He's ten years younger than the other band members and has brought a new approach into the band. Jean has an amazing amount of energy and motivation. We're very happy to have him with us, and we're proud of the positive impact he's had on the material on 'A-Lex'."
Finnish metallers BURNING POINT have finalized the details of their fourth album, "Empyre", for a February 2009 release via Metal Heaven. A total of 17 songs were recorded for the effort — 11 brand new originals, new versions of "Black Star" and "Lake of Fire" from the band's debut, "Salvation by Fire", and four cover songs featuring "great guests".
The "Empyre" artwork was handled by Felipe Machado Franco who has previously worked with such artists as ICED EARTH, AXEL RUDI PELL and BLAZE BAYLEY.
"Empyre" tracklist:
01. Intro / "The Godfather" Theme 02. Empyre 03. Manic Merry-Go-Round 04. Face The Truth 05. Fool's Parade 06. Was It Me 07. Walls Of Stone 08. Sacrifice 09. Cruel World 10. Blinded By The Darkness 11. Only The Wrong Will Survive
The first pressing of the album will be a limited edition with bonus tracks.
Bonus tracks:
* 12. I'll Be Yours (KIRKA cover)
Guests:
Taage (KILPI, ex-ALTARIA) on vocals Riku Kukkonen (ex-KIRKA) on lead guitar
* 13. Nuclear Skies (THE RODS cover)
Guest: David "Rock" Feinstein (THE RODS, FEINSTEIN) on lead guitar
* 14. Let Go (Q5 cover)
Guests:
Jonathan K (Q5, NIGHTSHADE) on vocals Gabriele Palermo (TRAGEDIAN) on lead guitar
* 15. Gods Of Iron (RUNNING WILD cover)
Guest:
Majk Moti (ex-RUNNING WILD) on lead guitars
BURNING POINT has announced the addition of keyboard wizard Pasi Hiltula (ex-KALMAH, ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW) who also played keyboards on the "Salvation by Fire" and "Feeding the Flames" albums.
BURNING POINT lineup:
Pete Ahonen – vocals, guitars Pekka Kolivuori - guitars Jukka Jokikokko - bass Pasi Hiltula - keyboards Jussi Ontero - drums
Members of the veteran German hard rock band SCORPIONS have been confirmed for a special concert on December 13 at the ISS Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany celebrating Doro Pesch's 25-year career as the reigning queen of German heavy metal. According to a posting on Doro's MySpace page, "More guests being confirmed daily as well-wishers and rockers will come together to celebrate Doro's BIG DAY. The latest BIG addition are also from the Queen's Homeland of Germany and will guest on two songs!!! Any guesses??? The evening will 'Rock You Like A Hurricane'!!!"
Lauren Pyrah of the UK's The Northern Echo reports: A rock legend was in the North-East yesterday to say farewell to one of the most talented drummers of his generation.
More than 150 mourners, including LED ZEPPELIN's Jimmy Page, braved the arctic conditions to pay their respects to drummer Michael Lee, who played with bands including the revived THIN LIZZY, AEROSMITH and GUNS N' ROSES.
Darlington-born Lee, 39, who was born Michael Gary Pearson, played with Page when he reunited with LED ZEPPELIN's front man Robert Plant.
The funeral was held at Darlington Crematorium.
Lee, who was epileptic, was found dead at his flat on Tuesday last week. A postmortem examination revealed he died of a seizure.
Reactivated Swedish thrash metallers SARCASTIC will return to the live stage on December 20 when they support SABATON as part of the Rockstad festival in Uddevalla, Sweden! This will be SARCASTIC's first performance since 2004 and its first concert with returning guitarist Erik "Beast" Halvorsen (ex-SWORDMASTER, DEATHSTARS) in 11 years!
Rockstad festival billing:
SABATON SARCASTIC BOMBSHELL VORNTH BREAKDOWN HELLENIUM VANISHING SYSTEM HELLREIGN
* Jörgen Nilsson - vocals * Mäbe Johansson (ex-session guitar for DISSECTION, OPHTALAMIA, co-songwriter for "Cyanide" by DEATHSTARS) - guitar * Erik "Beast" Halvorsen (ex-SWORDMASTER, DEATHSTARS) - guitar * Patrik "PK" Nilsson (HATHOR) - bass * Kalle Karlsson (GRIEF OF EMERALD, MASTEMA, THE PROTECTORS) - drums
Hailing from Strömstad, Sweden, SARCASTIC was formed in 1992 with the intention of playing thrash metal influenced by bands such as METALLICA, SLAYER, KREATOR, SADUS, TESTAMENT, EXODUS and CORONER etc. The band recorded some demos and was featured on several compilation CDs before being laid to rest in 1997.
After 13 years and four albums, and as controversial as ever, vocalist Hoest of the Norwegian black metal band TAAKE recently spoke to Terrorizer's Jonathan Horsley to FINALLY explain his reasons behind "that" stunt.
"Well, some people are very comfortable in the limelight, and a lot of attention no matter what it is," he said. "Gaahl (GORGOROTH) is a personal friend of mine and he really enjoys the attention. Okay, that's good for him, but I'm not that kind of guy. I don't want to be out there in the open. If people discover us somehow then fine. I only want to release albums and that's it. I don't want to make headlines."
Hoest provoked probably THE most negative of headlines on March 20, 2007 when he appeared at a concert in Germany with a swastika daubed on his chest (see photo below). Promoters could not book the band in Germany. Pressure from KREATOR, and others, got TAAKE removed from the Karmøyggedon Festival. Inflaming the situation with a swiftly released statement that informed the "untermensch"[$italics] club owner that he should "go suck a Muslim". This doesn't sound like a man who wants to remain anonymous.
"Well, the hate-mail has stopped coming in," he said. "Don't get me wrong, we are definitely NOT Nazis. We only used that symbol as another symbol for evil. The usual symbols, the pentagram and inverted cross, don't invoke reactions anymore. And anyway, it was taking the piss also. My first statement wasn't well thought over. I didn't really express what I meant, so obviously I provoked a bit more than I meant. I wrote two more statements. Nobody bothered to read them so they stuck with the first one and insist that we are a Nazi band."
Only after a chat with former Terrorizer scribe Gunnar Sauermann did Hoest fully appreciate that in some quarters of the nihilistic black metal dimension, the defeated politics of national socialism still echo about in the most hollow-skulled black metallers. And whatever the damage done to TAAKE's reputation, and however conditional Hoest's contrition is, the band was back in Germany in September, playing in front of 1,000 people.
A full interview with Hoest is in issue #178 of Terrorizer, out now.
NORTHERN LIGHT ORCHESTRA highlights majestic, orchestrated rock music featuring soaring vocals, incredible guitar solos worthy of true "guitar hero" status, and pounding rhythms sure to impress and invigorate the baby boomer generation that grew up on what is today classic rock! Combined with the talents of executive producer and longtime record mogul Russ Regan, (responsible for over 800 million record sales with such artists as NEIL DIAMOND, ELTON JOHN, and BARRY WHITE as well as soundtracks such as "Flashdance" and "Jesus Christ Superstar"), NLO is slated to become a seasonal live performance and recording entity that provides the very best in entertainment!
The brainchild of re-mix keyboardist/writer Brian Stewart (BACKSTREET BOYS, ROBERT PLANT, HALL & OATES, POE) and produced by industry veteran Ken Mary (HOUSE OF LORDS, TRIK TURNER, ALICE COOPER, BEACH BOYS), NLO is designed to create a total musical experience combining the powerful drama of Webber and Rice's "Jesus Christ Superstar" with the emotionally moving musical styles of ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA, YES, and KANSAS. Vocalists and musicians appearing on NLO have been responsible for the sale of over 200 million albums worldwide and include members and former members of household names such as the BEACH BOYS, SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE, ALICE COOPER, SURVIVOR, STEELY DAN, FIREHOUSE, MEGADETH, SISTER SLEDGE, QUIET RIOT, VANILLA FUDGE, WINGER, BOB CARLISLE, GUNS N' ROSES, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, KISS, HOUSE OF LORDS, and WHITESNAKE, just to name a few. Live performances will highlight a spectacular light and video presentation, theatrical movements, as well as incredible musicianship all assembled to tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ over two thousand years ago.
The new nine-track release of NORTHERN LIGHT ORCHESTRA, "The Spirit of Christmas", provides merely a hint of what is to come, with nine additional tracks already in production for next year!
NORTHERN LIGHT ORCHESTRA musicians:
Vocals:
Phil Bardowell (BEACH BOYS, MAGDALEN) Bob Carlisle ("Butterfly Kisses") Eddie James (gospel singer) Jon Gibson (JON GIBSON) Robin McAuley (SURVIVOR) Debbie Sledge (SISTER SLEDGE) Rose Stone (SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE)
Guitars:
Doug Aldrich (WHITESNAKE) Kendall Bechtel (FIFTH ANGEL) Lanny Cordola (HOUSE OF LORDS) Jason Hook (ALICE COOPER, MANDY MOORE) Bruce Kulick (KISS, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD) Bill Leverty (FIREHOUSE) George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCHMOB) Elliot Randell (STEELY DAN)
Bass:
David Ellefson (MEGADETH, F5) Chuck Wright (QUIET RIOT, VANILLA FUDGE)
Drums:
Ken Mary (ALICE COOPER, HOUSE OF LORDS)
Strings:
Kip Winger (WINGER, ALICE COOPER)
Keys:
Dizzy Reed (GUNS N' ROSES) Brian Stewart (BACKSTREET BOYS, POE)
For more information, song samples and a list of who's who, go to this location.
Former MUSHROOMHEAD frontman Jason Popson (a.k.a. J Mann), who has spent the past couple of years singing for PITCH BLACK FORECAST and running Fractured Transmitter Records, recently reconvened MUSHROOMHEAD metal side-project (216), and the vibes were so good, he may be part of the next MUSHROOMHEAD album.
Popson told D.X. Ferris of the Cleveland Scene he isn't gunning for his old job. He won't promise he'll be involved with the band beyond an occasional guest appearance at a Cleveland show. But it feels good to be back at the MUSHROOMHEAD compound and on the tour bus.
Blistering Records has announced the worldwide signing of the Swedish melodic hard rock band COVERED CALL. The group's North American debut, "Money Never Sleeps", is scheduled for release on January 27, 2009 (end of March in Europe)
COVERED CALL — which features established members of the Swedish music scene, including founding member/drummer Ronny Svanströmer and Thomas Vikström (ex-CANDLEMASS, THERION) — recorded and mixed "Money Never Sleeps" at Studio Fredman by Fredrik Nordström (IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL, DIMMU BORGIR) and Henrik Udd.
"Money Never Sleeps" track listing:
01. All Because of Me 02. Til' The End 03. Shine 04. Never Again 05. Anything You Want 06. I Wanna Be Free 07. Nothing At All 08. Money Never Sleeps 09. What About Us 10. Let's Make it Real
COVERED CALL lineup:
Ronny Svanströmer - Drums Thomas Vikström - Lead Vocals Joel Carlsson - Guitar, Vocals Thomas Thulin - Bass Morgan Rosenquist - Guitar
Video footage of a group of Free Presbyterians protesting at GORGOROTH's November 23, 2008 concert at Limelight in Belfast, Northern Ireland can be viewed below (clip shot by GORGOROTH guitarist Teloch).
The Rev David McIlveen reportedly led outraged churchgoers to the club.
Speaking to the News Letter in September 2008, McIlveen said about the Norwegian black metal band's appearance in Belfast, "This reprehensible group's influence on the young may push them to evil acts and lead to the fragmentation of family life.
"Organizers need to rethink their decision to give them concert time in Belfast as the majority of people in Northern Ireland will be highly offended by their apparent anti-God message.
"Anything that is detrimental to the Christian belief must be challenged and I will be doing that."
But Limelight publicist Ian Wilson countered: "We book bands with absolutely no concern about their religious or political viewpoints. It's just music."
According to GORGOROTH's lead singer Gaahl, the goal of black metal is to turn its practitioners into "the true Satan."
In an interview with The Observer in 2005, he said: "Black metal was never meant to reach an audience. It was purely for our own satisfaction. Something entirely self-centered.
"The shared goal was to become the true Satan; the elite human, basically. The elite are above rules."
Gaahl stoked controversy in a Canadian documentary called "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey", in which he spoke out in support of a spate of arson attacks on churches linked to the Norwegian metal scene.
He said: "Church burnings and all these things are, of course, things that I support 100 percent and it should have been done much more and will be done much more in the future.
"We have to remove every trace from what Christianity and the Semitic roots have to offer this world. Satanism is freedom for the individual to grow and to become Superman. Every man who is born to be king becomes king. Every man who is born to be a slave doesn't know Satan."
Original KISS guitarist's official web site, AceFrehley.com, will launch on December 15, 2008 at noon EST. You can currently visit the site — which will contain music, videos and news, as well as art and graphics from Ace himself — to sign up for a mailing list which will give you access to "exclusive information from Ace Frehley."
In an early 2008 interview with Billboard, Frehley stated about his forthcoming solo album, "Basically, I'm trying to get back into the mindset I was in when I did my first solo record [1978's 'Ace Frehley']. That record seemed to have all the elements everybody liked — a real cool instrumental, a hit single, some real heavy rockers, a nice variety of different genres of music."
Among his favorite new tracks are "A Little Below the Angels", hard-rocking "Pain in the Neck" and an instrumental called "Fractured Quantum", which is a follow-up to his previous instrumentals "Fractured Mirror" and "Fractured Too". Another favorite is "groove song" titled "Genghis Khan", which he likens in tone to LED ZEPPELIN's "Kashmir".
Frehley told MyrtleBeachOnline.com that he's shooting for 12 tracks on his next album, his first in 18 years. Studio work has spanned several months, and some of the songs go back 12 years.
Frehley recently spent time on the road fronting a band that featured second guitarist Derek Hawkins, drummer Scot Coogan (ex-BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION) and bassist Anthony Esposito (ex-LYNCH MOB).
Fan-filmed video footage of Ace Frehley performing in Mt. Clemens, Michigan on March 9, 2008 can be viewed below (courtesy of "74BlackDiamond74").
METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich has told RollingStone.com that the band's massive world tour behind "Death Magnetic" is could very well last beyond next year. "We're booked up through August of next year, 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."
Ulrich recently hinted to RollingStone.com that the band's next album could well come out through the Internet. Ulrich explained, "We're free of our record contract. We have that element of complete freedom with the next record, so we can do whatever we want." Ulrich added that the band "could do an Internet thing" or issue a new disc independently. Ulrich's words are ironic since METALLICA famously sued the original Napster several years ago for making the band's music available online without its permission.
As for when we are likely to see a follow-up to this year's "Death Magnetic", which came five years after 2003's "St. Anger", Ulrich told The Pulse of Radio he doesn't see the band picking up the pace. "I wouldn't hold my breath," he said. "I mean, I'd love to put records out more often, but I mean, it doesn't get any easier as you get older, and I don't want to miss my kids growing up. In 10 years from now when my kids are in college, maybe we'll spit a record out a year. But right now, I don't know what's gonna give in between touring and having some chill time with the family and how long it takes to, you know, make these records."
METALLICA will wrap up the current leg of its North American tour on December 20 in Oakland.
Sleaze Roxx recently conducted an interview with guitarist Alex Grossi (HOOKERS 'N' BLOW, ex-QUIET RIOT) about his involvement with ADLER'S APPETITE, the band led by former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler. An excerpt from the chat follows below.
Sleaze Roxx: You just landed a gig with Steven Adler in ADLER'S APPETITE. How did that come about?
Grossi: I had played with Steven on the 2004 Bad Boys of Metal tour and also did some one-offs with him later that year. We have been friends since, and I guess when it came time for him to put a line-up together, my name came up, a phone call was made and here we are!
Sleaze Roxx: Who else is in the band these days?
Grossi: The lineup is a really solid-one that I have a great feeling about. I will be sharing guitar duties with longtime ADLER alumni Micheal Thomas (FASTER PUSSYCAT), we have Chip Z'nuff (ENUFF Z'NUFF) on bass, Sheldon Tarsha on lead vocals and, of course, Steven.
Sleaze Roxx: I take it Steven is clean these days, do you worry that he might fall off the wagon when you hit the road?
Grossi: There is always going to be that concern with anyone with a history of addiction, but he has surrounded himself with some really good people this time and has a very positive attitude and is happiest when behind a kit, I think he will be just fine.
German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR entered the studio on November 28 to begin recording their new album, "16.6", due in early 2009 via Frontiers Records. The band is in the process of laying down the following 14 tracks for the new CD (working titles; in no particular order):
01. Six Times Dead (16.6) 02. Smith & Wesson 03. Soar 04. Riding The Eagle 05. Black Rain 06. Lightning 07. Time 08. Night After Night 09. Killbound 10. Don't Fuck With My Life 11. No Smoke Without Fire 12. The Exorcist 13. Torn 14. Scream
Commented PRIMAL FEAR frontman Ralf Scheepers: "It's very unusual for one band member to see and listen how the other band member is delivering the goods on his instrument. When we perform together live, you can also judge what's going on each instrument but not as clear and obvious as in the studio where you can concentrate on each tone or note or beat from your mates. From what I have heard so far, I can really say it's the best performance I have ever heard from Randy [Black] on the drums and also from Henny [Wolter] on the guitar. Of course, some people might think, 'What else should he say, he has to promote the new album and that’s what every musician would say just to keep the ball running.' But these words are my true impression and I really can't wait for Magnus [Karlsson, guitar] and Mat [Sinner, bass] to nail their parts to see the whole building growing and growing."
Check out photos from the studio at this location (free MySpace registration required to view photos).
PRIMAL FEAR earlier in the year parted ways with guitarist Stefan Leibing and replaced him with Magnus Karlsson (ALLEN/LANDE, STARBREAKER).
The band's latest album, "New Religion", last year landed on the Swedish chart at No. 67. It also entered the German chart at No. 60. The CD was released in the U.S. on January 29 via Locomotive/Ryko. Guest musicians on the album include Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY, ex-HELLOWEEN) and Simone Simons (EPICA).
PRIMAL FEAR performing at Germany's Summer Breeze festival (2008):
Brazilian thrashers SEPULTURA have scheduled the following European dates in support of their new album, "A-Lex":
Feb. 06 - BG-Sofia, Bulgaria - Blue Box Feb. 07 - Bucharest, Romania - Polivalent Hall Feb. 09 - Beograd, Serbia - SKC Feb. 10 - Graz, Austria - Orpheum Feb. 11 - Zlin, Czech Republic - Masters Of Rock Cafe Feb. 12 - Katovice, Poland - Mega Club Feb. 13 - Plzen, Czech Republic - KD Serikova Feb. 14 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser Feb. 15 - Munich, Germany - Backstage Feb. 17 - Lubljana, Slovenia - Inbox Feb. 18 - Sarajevo, Bosnia- CDA Feb. 19 - Zagreb, Croatia - Boogaloo Club Feb. 20 - Innsbruck, Austria - Hafen Feb. 21 - Salzburg, Austria - Rockhouse Feb. 22 - Vienna, Austria - Gasometer Feb. 24 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7 Feb. 25 - Essen, Germany - Turock Feb. 26 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Effenaar Feb. 27 - Deventer, Netherlands - Burgerweeshuis Feb. 28 - Leeuwarden, Netherlands – Romain
Two new SEPULTURA songs — "The Treatment" and "We've Lost You" — are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
Brazil's SEPULTURA is a prime example of an intelligent thrash metal act whose powerful compositions continue to tackle exciting and ingenious subjects. 1996 saw the band devote its landmark release "Roots" to the fate of the Xavante Indians on the border of Brazil and Bolivia; in spring 2006 the musicians put to music an opus by the Italian poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri, on their album "Dante XXI". Now this concept has reached a new climax: on their latest release, "A-Lex", guitarist Andreas Kisser and his three colleagues, Derrick Green (vocals), Paulo Jr. (bass) and new addition Jean Dollabella (drums), have dedicated themselves to Anthony Burgess's book "A Clockwork Orange", creating an awesome thrash metal opus around this timeless and exciting subject.
"A lot of people know Stanley Kubrick's film 'A Clockwork Orange', which is a movie classic, but few realize that the last chapter of the book is missing from the film. And that's what in my opinion is extremely important for the message that Anthony Burgess wanted to convey: it's your own free will, your own free choice, in which environment you choose to move," Kisser explains his interpretation of this historic publication. "Following his stay in hospital, Alex, the book's main character, returns to society, meets old friends, finds a wife and starts a family. He makes this choice of his own will, irrespective of what the government had in mind for him."
The recording is divided into four chapters, the first three of which cover the familiar plot from the movie, while chapter four reflects the final part of the story from the book. "Every chapter, from 'Alex I' to 'Alex IV', starts with a brief introduction which allows the listener to follow the story at all times," Kisser explains.
Along with SEPULTURA's familiar raw metal tunes, which are omnipresent on the one-hour recording, they have authentically translated Alex's affinity with Ludwig van Beethoven: supported by classical symphonic musicians from Sao Paulo, the track "Ludwig Van" picks up Beethoven's "9th Symphony" and transposes it into a heavy metal context. This number is a definite must, and it would be impossible to optimise this combination of classical music and savage thrash metal.
The material was produced by SEPULTURA and Stanley Soares at the Trama Studios in Sao Paulo and mastered by George Marino at New York's Sterling Sound studios. "A-Lex" is the first SEPULTURA album to feature new drummer Jean Dolabella, who joined the fold during the "Dante XXI" tour. "We've known Jean for more than three years, he's from [SEPULTURA's original] hometown of Belo Horizonte and joined us when Roy Mayorga left to team up with STONE SOUR," Kisser introduces his new drummer. "He's ten years younger than the other band members and has brought a new approach into the band. Jean has an amazing amount of energy and motivation. We're very happy to have him with us, and we're proud of the positive impact he's had on the material on 'A-Lex'."
"A-Lex" (which stands for "no law" or "without law") will be released via SPV Records on the following dates:
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Brazil: January 23 UK, Scandinavia, rest of Europe: January 26 USA, Canada: January 27
"A-Lex" will be available in three versions: in a deluxe digipak with an embossed cover, in a regular jewel case and on a vinyl gatefold LP.
"A-Lex" track listing:
01. A-Lex I 02. Moloko Mesto 03. Filthy Rot 04. We've Lost You 05. What I do! 06. A-Lex II 07. The Treatment 08. Metamorphosis 09. Sadistic Values 10. Forceful Behavior 11. Conform 12. A-Lex III 13. The Experiment 14. Strike 15. Enough Said 16. Ludwig Van 17. A-Lex IV 18. Paradox
Check out the "A-Lex" cover artwork below.
SEPULTURA was one of the featured musical guests at the ninth annual Latin Grammy Awards 2008 on November 13. They performed a cover of "Girl From Ipanema" and a new song called "We've Lost You" from their upcoming album "A-Lex". Watch the performance below.
Colorado psychedelic death metal act SKELETON OF GOD has released the follow-up to its acclaimed "Urine Garden" EP. The new full-length CD, "Primordial Dominion", is described in a press release as "a 42-plus-minute death/doom/psychedelic song based on a Salvia Divinorum 'trip.'" The band was able to grab its former bassist Joel DiPietro (EXIT-13, HIDDEN) to appear on the recording with original members Jeff Kahn and Erik Stenflo.
According to SKELETON OF GOD's official bio, "Primordial Dominion" "picks up where "Urine Garden" left off, but with a decidedly more atmospheric approach. Once again SKELETON OF GOD has expanded greatly upon standard death metal fare and has invented a thoughtful, soulful, and melodic variety of harsh psychedelia. Both underground followers and new fans alike may find a deep resonance with these unique, compelling sounds once again shaking up the scene, pounding from SKELETON OF GOD's visionary conceptualization of what metal and music can be."
Dallas, Texas-based melodic metallers ASKA have uploaded videos for the tracks "Longships" and "Her Ghost: Remains". Check them out below. Both songs come off the group's fifth CD, "Absolute Power", which was released last year via Vanadium Records.
ASKA will embark on a European tour in April 2009. The trek will include an appearance at Keep It True XII festival, which is scheduled to take place April 24-25, 2009 at the Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany.
ASKA is:
George Call - Voice, Guitars Keith Knight - Bass, Voice Daryl Norton - Guitars Danny White - Drums
German black metallers UNLIGHT will release their new album, "Death Concecrates With Blood", on January 30, 2009 via Massacre Records.
The track listing is as follows:
01. Death Consecrates With Blood 02. Becoming The Ungodly Sin 03. That Old Black Magic Spell 04. The Passing Of The Black Storms 05. Carnal Baptism 06. Dancing Upon The Bones Of A Naïve Perception 07. Bestow The Blessings Of Hell Upon Us 08. Enthrone Night 09. Mendacious Messiah 10. Dead Angel Innocence
Reactivated California death metal pioneers POSSESSED have added shows in San Marcos and Seattle to their itinerary.
The group's schedule is now shaping up as follows:
Apr. 19 - West Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues Jun. 05 - San Marcos, CA @ Jumping Turtle Jun. 06 - Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
The San Marcos and Seattle shows are on sale exclusively through EnterTheVault.com until January 6, at which point they will be made available through normal ticketing systems.
POSSESSED cancelled its appearance at the Way Of Darkness III Festival in early October 2-4 in Bamberg, Germany. According to the group's drummer Emilio Marquez (who also plays in California's SADISTIC INTENT), sole remaining original member Jeff Becerra (vocals), who has been wheelchair bound for more than 18 years — ever since he was shot and paralyzed in a street robbery — was suffering from "a blood infection that started from bed scores. . . Jeff's condition [had] become very serious."
Becerra became ill while touring in Europe in preparation for Norway's Hole In The Sky festival, which took place August 27-30 in Bergen, Norway. A pressure sore became infected on the trek, which was described as "a very ambitious tour" for a healthy person, let alone someone with a number of special needs, but Jeff felt compelled to follow the rigorous schedule. The infection spread to his bones, and soon he was unable to move. The band rushed him to a Helsinki hospital which then had him flown to Paris for medical care, but Parisian doctors did not want to deal with such a sick American and they had him flown to Los Angeles where he spent nearly 20 days in a hospital on a strong course of antibiotics.
In the October 2008 issue of Guitar World magazine, POSSESSED frontman Jeff Becerra talked candidly about the 1989 shooting that left him paralyzed from the chest down, his battle with drugs and alcohol, the early days of the Bay Area thrash metal scene and his future as a wheelchair-bound frontman for the death metal legends.
Regarding the robbery that left him paralyzed, Becerra said: "The first bullet went into my chest about six inches above the nipple, went through the lung and stuck on the inside of my spine. I put my hand up as I was going down, and the second bullet clipped the top of my ring finger off. But at least it didn't hit me in the head. So I was on the ground, and the first guy put the gun to my head and pulled the trigger, and the gun jammed — luckily for me, some criminals don't know how to clean their automatic weapons."
On performing at the 2007 Wacken Open Air festival in Germany, Becerra told Guitar World: "The show was amazing, and it was a great way for me to get back into the scene — but I was terrified, just shaking onstage in front of like 60,000 people. It was really emotional for me to be back out there, and I was really hoping that people wouldn't look at the chair and see 'poor Jeff.' I just didn't want to make a fool of myself and of the POSSESSED name — I didn't want to lose the only thing I ever was, you know?"
Guitar World has posted exclusive interview outtakes and new photos of Jeff at this location.
Fan-filmed video footage of POSSESSED performing the song "Tribulation" live at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City in 2007 can be viewed below (courtesy of AngryPit.com).
SWALLOW THE SUN and VREID have been confirmed for next year's Inferno festival, set to take place April 8-11, 2009 in Oslo, Norway.
The festival billing is now shaping up as follows:
CARPATHIAN FOREST MENCEA KEEP OF KALESSIN UNEARTHLY TRANCE CODE EARTH KAMPFAR PESTILENCE SWALLOW THE SUN VICIOUS ART VREID TROLL
Tickets for next year's Inferno festival are available at Norway's Billettservice. Foreigners can purchase tickets through the event's official web site, www.infernofestival.net.
The full lineup will be announced at the Inferno kick-off party, which will be held at John Dee in Oslo on Saturday, February 7, 2009. DEN SAAKALDTE and MENCEA will both perform at the event.
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