Metal News for January 10, 2008
Last updated on October 7, 2025 at 6:57 AM ET
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Hot Topics
- Enthroned To Release New Album In December
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- Kreator To Release New Album In January
- Marduk To Play Mystic Festival 2026
- Spite Premiere New Single & Music Video
- Carcosa (AngelMaker) Premiere New Single & Video
- Stellar Circuits Premiere New Single & Music Video
- Tailgunner Signs With Napalm Records
48 news articles posted on this day.
Headline News
Metalunderground.com's Best of 2007 Awards
Looking back, 2007 was an interesting year in metal. The year started off great for tours - here in the US and seemingly everywhere from the news we reported all year - and continued to offer strong showings throughout the entire year. However, we lost quite a number of brothers in metal in 2007. Despite that fact and the fact that there were few truly big releases in 2007, it still seemed to be a good year for metal as a whole - a year in which the underground got to shine through just a little more than usual.
That said, let's reflect on some of the things that made 2007 such a good year for heavy metal by announcing the Metalunderground.com staff picks from 2006. As in previous years, I've polled the entire staff here at Metalunderground.com about their favorite albums and performances of last year.
Here are the Metalunderground.com staff picks for the following categories: Best Metal Album of 2007, Best Metal DVD of 2007, Best Metal Newcomer of 2007, Best Live Act of 2007, and Most Anticipated Release for 2008. More...
The Human Abstract Recording New Album
The Human Abstract entered the studio this week to begin recording their upcoming Hopeless Records sophomore release. The band is working at the Red Bull Studios in Santa Monica, CA with producer Toby Wright (Metallica, Slayer).
Unholy Booking Tour Dates
Unholy is booking a series of shows on their way out to California in April. If you'd like to book the group, send an email to chris.blackirisbooking@gmail.com. The routing is as follows:
4/3 Cleveland, OH
4/4 Cincinatti OH
4/5 Nashville TN
4/6 Joplin MO
4/7 Oklohoma City OK
4/8 Dallas TX
4/9 El Paso TX
4/10 Phoenix AZ
New York's 315 In Ruins Fest Details Announced
315 In Ruins Fest will take place on April 19th and 20th at Klub Polski in Syracuse, NY. Doors open at noon and admission is $20 at the door ($15 in advance). Here's the line-up:
April 19th:
Jena Berlin
Ruined In A Day
Spark Is A Diamond
Urgency
Rust Belt Sermon
Forever Falls Through
The Score
Kalibas
Strength For A Reason
The Killing
Dead Radical
Dead Walk The Earth
Bloodbath and Beyond
7:57
Kill The Messenger
Death List Five
Liars and Thieves
April 20th:
For The Love Of...
Trash Talk
The Carrier
Reign Supreme
The Bonus Army
Heavy Hearted
Borrowed Time
Masta Mook
Sinpusher
Heatseeker
Transit
Japanese Kombat Car!
My Beloved Friend
Life Of Crime
Cicada
Honor Bright
The Last Battle
Earth Crisis Announce More Tour Dates
Reunited hardcore legends EARTH CRISIS have scheduled a number of U.S. shows in February/March alongside TERROR, SWORN ENEMY, SHAI HULUD, DOWN TO NOTHING and RECON. So far the following dates have been announced:
Feb. 29 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
Mar. 01 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre
Mar. 02 - Pittsburgh, PA - The School
Mar. 03 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
Mar. 04 - Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium
Mar. 05 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Underground
Mar. 06 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theater
Mar. 07 - Logan, UT - Club NVO
Mar. 08 - Boise, ID - The Boise
Mar. 09 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
Mar. 10 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
Mar. 11 - Sacramento, CA - The Boardwalk
Mar. 12 - Hollywood, CA - The Knitting Factory
Mar. 13 - Long Beach, CA - The Vault
Mar. 15 - El Paso, TX - Chic's
Mar. 16 - San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit
Mar. 17 - New Orleans, LA - The High Ground
Mar. 18 - Orlando, FL - Backbooth
Mar. 19 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
Mar. 20 - Richmond, VA - Alley Katz
Mar. 22 - Cleveland, OH - Peabodys
Mar. 23 - Albany, NY - Northern Lights
Svartahrid Complete New Album Recordings
Norwegian black metallers SVARTAHRID are currently working on the follow-up to the well-received "Sadness and Wrath" CD. All instruments for the "Malicious Pride" album have been recorded at the Akkerhaugen studio and the band is due to begin mixing the effort during the coming days. The mastering will take place at the end of January at Strype Audio studios. "So far we are very satisfied with all developments and we are really looking forward to the release of our fourth album," drummer Forn comments.
"Malicious Pride" is scheduled for a March 2008 release via Soulseller Records.
Stick To Your Guns Sign To Century Media Records
Century Media Records have announced the signing of STICK TO YOUR GUNS to its worldwide roster. The Southern-California based quintet have just completed work on their new full-length offering, Comes From The Heart, with acclaimed producer Zeuss (Hatebreed, Shadows Fall), which is currently set for a spring 2008 release. You can find more information online here.
Extrema Announce Italian Dates
Legendary Italian metal band EXTREMA has scheduled the following dates:
Jan. 10 - IT - Salerno, Iroko Club - Info
Jan. 11 - IT - Roma, Classico - Info
Jan. 12 - IT - Scordia (Ct), Krossower - Info
Jan. 13 - IT - Rende (Cs), B-Side - Info
Jan. 26 - IT - Cagliari, Extra
Feb. 22 - IT - Verona, Lucille
Feb. 29 - IT - Ferrara, Renfe
Mar. 01 - IT - Conegliano (Tv), Zion Rock Club
Mar. 02 - IT - Milano, Italian Gods Of Metal @ Alcatraz
EXTREMA had its entire back catalog — the legendary debut "Tension at the Seams" (1992), "The Positive Pressure" (1995), "Better Mad than Dead" (2001) and "Set the World on Fire" (2005) — reissued in November via Scarlet Records. Each CD includes "plenty of bonus material," according to a press release.
Grind Minded Part Ways With Bassist
GRIND MINDED, the Netherlands-based old-school death/grind band, has parted ways with bass player Jasper Bolderdijk due to "musical differences." The group is currently seeking a replacement. Interested bass players can contact the band at grindminded@gmail.com.
GRIND MINDED's latest CD, "Domestic Violence", was released in December via Open Grave Records. The follow-up to 2004's "9mm Facial" was recorded between August 20 and August 29 at Soundlodge Studio (GOD DETHRONED, DEW-SCENTED, OBSCENITY) in Germany, and was produced by Jörg Uken and GRIND MINDED.
3 Inches Of Blood Has A New Drummer
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based metallers 3 INCHES OF BLOOD have reportedly recruited drummer Ash Pearson (SOUND OF THE SWARM, JUST CAUSE) for their current tour with THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, HATE ETERNAL and DECREPIT BIRTH. Pearson joins the group as the replacement for Alexei Rodriguez, who was unceremoniously dismissed from the band after he landed in a physical confrontation with SAXON drummer Nigel Glockler at the Hard Rock Hell festival in England this past November.
3 INCHES OF BLOOD has been added to Metal Hammer's Defenders Of The Faith tour. Running from April 23 to April 26, the tour also features OPETH, ARCH ENEMY and DEVILDRIVER.
The dates are as follows:
April 23 - Birmingham, UK @ Academy
April 24 - Glasgow, UK @ Barrowlands,
April 25 - Manchester, UK @ Academy,
April 26 - London, UK @ Academy
To buy tickets, click here.
Epica Singer Infected With MRSA
Singer Simone Simons of the Dutch symphonic metallers EPICA has issued the following update:
"Since a couple of months I have been struggling with infections and had surgery many times. The doctors didn't know what was wrong with me. After a lot of tests at the hospital they found out that I am infected with MRSA, also known as the hospital bacteria. The treatment of this bacteria comes with a strict hygienic schedule which I have to work through every day. Because of this I will not be able to go on long trips, let alone living in a tour bus. Therefore we are forced to cancel most of our shows in February. The shows on the 22nd and 23rd in Lille and Vosselaar we will still do since they are independent shows and very close by. We cannot plan too far ahead since I first have to get rid of the infection and that will take some time. How long it will take we cannot tell at the moment.
"We are very sorry that we cannot do these shows. We were all looking forward to this tour and to meet you guys. What I have to focus on now is getting well, so that
we will be on the road again as soon as possible. Please check out our site every once in a while for more information on this matter."
According to WebMD, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), like all staph bacteria, can be spread from one person to another through casual contact or through contaminated objects. It is commonly spread from the hands of someone who has MRSA. This could be anyone in a health care setting or in the community. MRSA is usually not spread through the air like the common cold or flu virus, unless a person has MRSA pneumonia and is coughing.
On the eve of EPICA's recent live appearances in Greece, Elena Mihailidou and Vasilis Mazaris of Metalzone.gr conducted an interview with Simone Simons. Simone talks about the experience of playing live for the first time ever in Thessaloniki and being part of the first-ever March Metal Day. She also discusses her recent health problems, the band's new album and the group's upcoming touring actvities. She says her favorite EPICA album is the latest one and she describes the difficulties of releasing a DVD after leaving Transmission Records and signing a deal with Nuclear Blast. Simone also talks about how bonded she feels with her band and how she wouldn't leave EPICA in order to join another group, even if it were NIGHTWISH, as the rumor suggested when Tarja Turunen was fired from the band. She also talks about her idols and how she is still evolving as a singer, and she feels female vocals in the metal scene aren't just a passing trend.
Exciter Complete New Album
Canadian thrash metal pioneers EXCITER have issued the following update:
"[The new EXCITER album] 'Thrash Speed Burn' is completed! The final mixes were put together last week, the interviews have been edited, and the artwork is in the final stages. Everything is on its way to Massacre and the CD should be out in late February. It's been a long road, but it has been worth it, and the final product RIPS!!!"
Check out the "Thrash Speed Burn" cover artwork at this location.
Due on February 22, "Thrash Speed Burn" will mark EXCITER's recorded debut with new singer Kenny "MetalMouth" Winter, who joined the band in October 2006. The track listing for the effort is as follows:
01. Thrash Speed Burn
02. Demon's Gate
03. Evil Omen
04. Hangman
05. In Mortal Fear
06. Crucifixion
07. Betrayal
08. The Punisher
09. Massacre Mountain
10. Rot The Devil King
EXCITER earlier in the year posted a live clip of their new song "In Mortal Fear", recorded during the group's 2005 appearance at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Balingen, Germany.
EXCITER's last CD is "New Testament - Coven of Re-Recorded Classics", a collection of reworked early songs which was released in June 2004 through Osmose Productions.
EXCITER's current lineup is:
John Ricci (Guitar)
Rik Charron (Drums)
Clammy (Bass)
Kenny Winter (Vocals)
Slipknot And Disturbed Set For Summer Tour
As previously reported, Billboard.com has now confirmed that SLIPKNOT and DISTURBED will hit the road this summer on the first-ever Rockstar Mayhem tour. The outing, sponsored by Rockstar Energy drink, will run in July and August, with additional artists and dates to be announced.
Rockstar Mayhem is being assembled by Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman and John Reese, Lyman's partner on the Taste of Chaos tour.
SLIPKNOT will be out in support of its new Roadunner album, expected in August. DISTURBED's new album, "Indestructible", is due in May.
SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan recently told Revolver magazine that the masked nine-piece from Iowa is coming from a "different place" as it prepares to record its fourth major label album. When asked what has changed since 2004's "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)", Crahan replied, "I can't stress enough that we're going into this from a different place. When we did (2001 album) 'Iowa', we hated each other. We hated the world; the world hated us. The next record ('Vol. 3') was like rehabilitation. We had all this healing that needed to happen. Now, everything feels good because we feel good."
SLIPKNOT went on hiatus at the end of 2005, when it finished touring in support of "Vol. 3". Since then the band members have worked on various other projects, including a second album from singer Corey Taylor and guitarist Jim Root's STONE SOUR.
Crahan said, "These breaks that we take, they get our appetites going. They let our brains slow down and then speed up again. We gotta decompress for a little bit just to feel human if we're going to be forced to be here in this reality."
The full interview with Crahan is in the February issue of Revolver, on sale now.
SLIPKNOT is scheduled to enter the studio in February with producer Dave Fortman, who's previously worked with MUDVAYNE and EVANESCENCE. There's no word yet on a release date or title.
Exodus Guitarist Speaks On Influences
Metal-Hammer.de has issued an interview with EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt.
The following is an excerpt from the interview:
Q: What made you listen to heavy metal in the first place?
A: "That's a good question! For me, it all strated with hard rock, but the harder it was, the better. From there it just developed into a love for it, JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, and the whole NWOBHM thing just dragged me in
for life."
Q: Who personifies metal the most for you - and why?
A: ROB HALFORD. That dude has always been all about metal and nothing else for so long. He still waves the flag proudly for all of us."
Q: What's the best metal album ever, in your opinion?
A: "RAINBOW - Rising. You need not own another album."
Q: Which is the most important metal band of all time, for you?
A: "For me, there are so many, but VENOM and ANGELWITCH had such a huge influence on me. It was like hearing metal for the first time when I heard those two bands.”
Read the full article at this location.
Cradle Of Filth Frontman To Be On Big Brother Show
The Gauntlet reports:
"If you’ve been watching TV lately, you’ll know that reality TV show Big Brother has returned… with a twist. Big Brother Hijack sees celebrities taking on the Big Brother role and orchestrating the day-to-day fate of the housemates. The housemates themselves are also different - aged between 18 to 21, each one is specially talented within a specific field, be it academic, artistic or physical.
CRADLE OF FILTH’s controversial frontman Dani Filth will be discussing the very first eviction of the new series, live tomorrow night (Friday, January 11th) on the sister show Big Brother's Big Mouth.
The show is presented by actors Mathew Horne and James Corden of 'Gavin and Stacey' fame and recorded live at the famous Elstree Studios.
You can also visit the Big Brother site at: http://www.channel4.com/bigbrother ."
Sodom Update Tour Schedule
German thrashers SODOM have updated their live itinerary to include the following scheduled dates:
March
8 - Athens, Greece - March Metal Days
May
3 - Hauzenberg, Niederbayern, Germany at Walpurgis Metal Days
30 - Zagreb, Croatia at Zagreb Metal Fest
June
21 - Clisson, France at Hellfest
July
3 - Belgrade, Serbia at Castle Fest
19 - Osterode, Germany at Rock Harz
August
29 - Losheim, Germany at Rock Area Festival
Children Of Bodom Release New Album Tracklisting
CHILDREN OF BODOM have revealed the tracklisting for their upcoming new album, Blooddrunk, which is as follows: 'Hellhounds On My Trail', 'Blooddrunk', 'LoBodomy', 'One Day You Will Cry', 'Smile Pretty For The Devil', 'Tie My Rope', 'Done With Everything, Die For Nothing', 'Banned From Heaven', 'Roadkill Morning'.
Blooddrunk was recorded and produced by Mikko Karmila, in Petrax and Finnvox Studios, Finland, during October, November and December 2007, except vocals recorded by Peter Tägtren and keyboards recorded by Janne Wirman in Petrax Studios, Finland, during October, November and December 2007.
Mixed at Finnvox by Mikko Karmila in November 2007, mastered at Finnvox by Mika Jussila in December 2007.
Spinefarm Records will issue Blooddrunk in Finland on April 9th. There will also be a single, for the title track 'Blooddrunk', released on February 27th.
Stay tuned for the worldwide Blooddrunk album release dates.
Destruction Change Booking Agencies
German thrashers DESTRUCTION have issued the following update:
"Destruction will instantaneously work with Twisted Talent Concerts (www.twisted-talent.com) as their partner in charge of their world wide booking. For all further enquiries/requests please contact jöerg@twisted-talent.com. Of course all already booked shows for 2008 will go ahead.
At the same time the band wants to thank Jörg Düsedau of Dragon Concerts for all the years of great business co-operation.
After the release of the new album in august, Destruction will celebrate their 25th anniversary with a historical world wide headline tour, starting in autumn this year."
As previously reported, HEADHUNTER, the side project of Destruction madman Schmier, drum animal Jörg Michael (STRATOVARIUS) and guitarist Schmuddel (ex-TALON) are currently mixing their comback album, Parasite Of Society with Achim Köhler in Stuttgart, Germany. "This pure metal masterpiece" will be released in April via AFM Records/Candlelight USA/King Records Japan.
Here are the official websites: www.myspace.com/officialheadhunter, www.official-headhunter.com.
Headhunter are confirmed for this summer's Wacken Open Air Festival, set to take place July 31st - August 2nd, 2008 in Wacken, Germany.
Meshuggah Drummer Explains Tour Cancellation
Drummer Tomas Haake of the Swedish experimental extreme metallers MESHUGGAH recently spoke to Rock Sound magazine about the reasons for the cancellation of the band's planned November 2007 tour with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN.
"We really rushed the 'Nothing' album because we had to leave to go to Ozzfest, and in our eyes the production on that album really suffered," Haake admitted. "This time around, we really did not want anything like that to happen again. If it was three or four years ago, we probably would have done the DILLINGER tour then come back and continued with the album, but this time we felt we needed to remain focused and not disturb the evolution of the album so we could get the best results."
MESHUGGAH's new CD, "obZen", is scheduled for release in North American on March 11, 2008 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2005's "Catch Thirty Three" will contain nine songs and will have a running time of around 55 minutes.
In a recent interview with Decibel magazine, Haake stated about the new record, "The album is much more dense, while still being very clear and audible as far as drumparts and guitar riffs. Lyrically it's quite different from 'Catch Thirty Three', more diverse. There is, however, somewhat of a 'red line' or concept running through all of them."
"obZen" track listing:
01. Combustion
02. Electric Red
03. Bleed
04. Lethargica
05. ObZen
06. This Spiteful Snake
07. Pineal Gland Optics
08. Pravus
09. Dancers To A Discordant System
MESHUGGAH will support MINISTRY on the North American leg of "C U LaTouR" beginning on March 26 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Also appearing on the bill is HEMLOCK.
Hatebreed Frontman Working On Two Books
HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta has told Rock Sound magazine that he is working on two books for publication later this year.
"The first is a coffee table-type book," Jasta said. "It has all my HATEBREED lyrics in them alongside stories of how and where I wrote them and general tales from the road."
The second is a document of Jamey's three and a half years hosting MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball". "That book is more of a retrospective of all the bands and interviews we conducted, more of a look back," he explained. "I was so glad I got to do that show; somehow, with no TV experience, they picked me for the job over 300 other people who applied for it. Because of that, I met some of my heroes and got the chance to help out so many of my friends with exposure on the show. The book is all about that and the behind-the-scenes nightmare of trying to schedule everything with a full-time touring musician. There were a lot of flights."
Jamey Jasta recently spoke to Revolver magazine about the group's split with Roadrunner Records, the company that released HATEBREED's latest CD, 2006's "Supremacy". "They had a bunch of people on their label, and we felt we didn't get the publicity push that we deserved for our last record," he said. "We realized we need to go to a place where we can be the big fish in the small pond. But ultimately there're no hard feelings; the split was good on both sides."
Asked if HATEBREED is actively looking for a label, Jasta replied, "Well, first we're gonna do a separate deal for our DVD. There's always been so much red tape with DVDs, and we want to make sure we do it right. We're actually recording the majority of the footage over Christmas break during my label's annual Stillborn Fest. I'm hoping for a May or June 2008 DVD release."
According to Jamey, HATEBREED's next studio release will be a "covers" albums, which will include the band's versions of songs from such varied acts as CRO-MAGS, CROWBAR, D.R.I. and METALLICA. More information will be made available soon.
(Thanks: Andy Kelham / Rock Sound)
Max Cavalera Speaks On Cavalera Conspiracy
The following press release has been revealed:
“The CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, is about a sense of being unleashed,” says vocalist/guitarist Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, ex-SEPULTURA). “You bottle a monster for ten years and then let it out. It’s explosive, and we waited a long time for this beast to be set free.”
It’s true. The wait is over. And the time is now. Many said it would never happen, that Max and Iggor Cavalera (new spelling of his first name), the Brazilian brothers and visionaries that formed the groundbreaking metal band Sepultura in 1983 would reunite to make electrifying music together again. Despite having spent 12 years apart, the inescapable fact remains: Max and Iggor share blood and are musical soulmates. Their time away from each other fostered musical growth leading to the newly inspired metallic magic. Hence, the Cavalera Conspiracy was born. While the Cavalera Conspiracy and their Roadrunner Records debut Inflikted may seem like the closest we’ll get to a Sepultura reunion, make no mistake. The Cavalera Conspiracy is its own maniacal, untamable beast with its own set of rules.
Iggor sums up their musical connection, simply stating, “We don’t need to speak. We look at each other and we know. With one look, we know if we’re going in the right direction.” That’s how clearly they understand one another. More...
More North American Gigantour Dates Announced
A string of tentative dates for Gigantour 2008 North America, the festival trek through Canada and the US featuring MEGADETH, IN FLAMES, CHILDREN OF BODOM, JOB FOR A COWBOY and HIGH ON FIRE - have been revealed.
Suggested tour dates currently include:
April
7 - San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
8 - San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
10 - Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre
11 - Phoenix, AZ - Mesa Amphitheatre
12 - Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion
13 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
15 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Theatre
16 - Corpus Christi, TX - Concrete Street Amphitheatre
17 - Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theatre
19 - Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
20 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Gardens
22 - New York City, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
23 - New York City, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
24 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
26 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Pavilion
28 - Quebec City - Pavillon de la Jeunesse
29 - Montréal, QC - Bell Centre
30 - Toronto, ON - Arrow Hall
May
1 - London ON - John Labatt Centre
3 - Detroit, MI - DTE Music Center
4 - Cleveland, OH - Tower City Center
6 - Chicago, IL - [to be announced]
7 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
9 - Minneapolis, MN - Myth
10 - Winnipeg, MB - Convention Centre
11 - Saskatoon, SK - Prairieland Exhibition Hall
12 - Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Centre
14 - Calgary, AB - The Stampede Corral
16 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
Stay tuned for further details and official confirmation of dates.
Judas Priest Prepare To Mix "Nostradamus"
Metal-rules.com spoke to JUDAS PRIEST singer ROB HALFORD recently about a number of topics. A few excerpts from the chat found below:
Metal-rules.com: On the status of the new Judas Priest CD, Nostradamus:
Halford: "I’ve been away for about a month while Glenn and K.K. [Downing, Judas Priest guitarist] have been doing their final guitar overdubs. We’re about to start mixing, so I’m going to see the boys in a few days time and then we’ll be rockin’ and roaring through the mixing sessions."
Metal-rules.com: So your vocals are already laid down for the new album then?
Halford: "Yeah, I completed those some time back. Everybody does their bits as you go along and normally I don’t do my vocal work until the bulk of the recording has been done which is how it turned out and rhythm guitars and everything were laid and all the other instruments, but Glenn and K.K. have just been burning the midnight metal oil and getting all of their leads completed, so I’ll be excited to hear what they’ve been doing. Then we get on with the mixing and the mastering and get it out for (this) year when the tour kicks off."
Metal-rules.com: So we can probably expect something before the summer then I take it?
Halford: "I think so, yeah. I mean, you know the way it goes. Most bands hit the road when they’ve got a new release out there. It’ll have been a couple of years since we’ve been back on the world circuit."
Metal-rules.com: When Judas Priest does get out on the road again, is there any chance that any material from the two albums that you weren’t on - Jugulator and Demolition - will be performed live?
Halford: "Yeah and I’ve said this before that those two records are as important in the Priest world as everything else. Glenn, K.K. and I have talked about this and I’d welcome it. I think it would be an exciting moment for me to cover the tracks that my mate Tim [“Ripper” Owens] worked on while he was with the band. So again, anything is possible. Each time when we put a set list together, it gets increasingly difficult because we’ve got so many songs from so many records that we just have to look at the set list and figure out what the favorites are and go from there. Again, Priest fans around the world are always putting ideas upon what they’d like to hear us do, but I think it would be kind of fresh to pick maybe one or two tracks from both of those records and just give it the metal god touch."
Metal-rules.com: When War Of Words first came out you drew a lot of comparisons to PANTERA. Did you feel those comparisons were valid?
Halford: "No. That again is something that always irritated me. I think if I hadn’t have had such a wonderful time with Pantera on the Painkiller tour in Europe and if I hadn’t have had the pleasure to run down to Dallas for a day to work with the guys for the Buffy The Vampire Slayer movie on “Light Comes Out of Black,” I don’t think that would have been so much on the radar, under the spotlight. It irritated me because that’s not the kind of thing I do. I don’t chase after other people with my music. I try and be an innovator and the songs that I wrote for War Of Words which I’d never done before because I usually work with a team of writers—I did all that myself in Phoenix, whatever year that was. It was just pouring out of me just because it’d been waiting to flow and go for a number of years and when we found the players for Fight and we started to rehearse the music in Phoenix, everybody had their own definitive sound and style in place and ready to work and so there was never a moment of saying, “Hey guys, you’ve got to get a sound like Pantera”, which is what the implication is. That would be absolutely fucking stupid, you know. Everybody had their way of playing and so it was just a case of recreating those very rough skeletal ideas that I presented to them and then going into the demo phase. I mean, you listen to the demos, which obviously is the first stage before production, and you can just sense the great energy and the real determination from everybody’s performance."
Metal-rules.com: I was hoping you could clear up one misconception. Did you leave Judas Priest to do Fight or were you still in Judas Priest when War Of Words was being written and recorded?
Halford: "Well, that’s a good question and the answer is that I was still connected to Priest while I was writing all of that music and looking for band players. It wasn’t until I was finding myself in a position where the only way I could venture out to look at other record company affiliations did I see that the legal language in the contract was what I felt to be really severe and restrictive. I wasn’t the only one going through it. I think [Bruce] Springsteen was going through it at the time and George Michael. Everybody was contesting the language and the language alluded to the fact that if you were going to step away from being in that band, in that contract, then you would be free to pursue other searches for other labels and that’s what I had to do and of course that’s when the proverbial shit hit the fan. I still insist today, in my own mind, that I didn’t leave Priest. I left Priest in the legalese of it all, but it just came at a time when…you know that Painkiller tour and the Reno trial before it had been extremely difficult for us all on a personal level and in retrospect, we’ve said now that the best thing we should have done was to have taken two or three years off. We’d been working hard from Rocka Rolla pretty much consistently up until Painkiller and bands are human and sometimes you need to take a holiday but we never did (laughs). But that’s really how the essence of it all came around. I mean, the thing that’s more important to me is the fact that Priest was still Priest and you know the band was still there, the band was still working and that was a little bit of a comfort. I think I would have been full of remorse if the band had completely broken to pieces but that was not the case because Tim went in and did some fantastic work on Jugulator and Demolition."
Metal-rules.com: Going back to the TWO years, there was an interview that you have been famously quoted as saying that "metal is dead.” Was there a defining moment that brought metal back to life for you again after the Two project?
Halford: "Oh well, that was an absolutely fucking stupid thing for me to say. I was just so emotional that day. I can remember I was sitting on my tour bus outside of the Hollywood Palladium in L.A. and I think the Two band was working with Rammstein that night and I was just in a bitch mood (laughs). I said something which I…..you know, everybody has the freedom to be stupid and I was completely stupid that day. I’ve made amends in recent years about making that ridiculous comment. I think I was probably just reflecting on my own situation, frustrations that come with what you do and I think it was probably a Monday night, I don’t particularly like Monday that much (laughs). Had it been Friday or Saturday, I’d have been in a different frame of mind. But I was just being a bit of a petulant rock star bitch that afternoon, so there you go. It’s all water under the bridge now."
Roadrunner To Re-issue More Albums
Roadrunner Records will repackage/reissue titles from SEPULTURA, MADBALL and LIFE OF AGONY in their "two-for-the-price-of-one" series.
Titles due for release on February 12th include: SEPULTURA - Against/Nation, MADBALL - Demonstrating My Style/Look My Way, LIFE OF AGONY - Ugly/Soul Searching Sun, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY - Tactical Neural Implant/Millennium.
AC/DC To Tour In Second Half Of 2008
Spain's TheMetalCircus.com are reporting that AC/DC will tour during the second half of 2008.
A source told the Spanish site that some of the AC/DC tour crew has been told that the band will tour in the second half of this year. There are currently no other confirmations regarding where or when the tour would start.
Total Rock has also announced that there's a fair chance that AC/DC will play one of the so-called "secret shows" in the UK, but that there is no official word on it.
Information is running wild regarding the possible cities that will have the chance of hosting the showcases, but Sony BMG are keeping it quiet, with Sony BMG Italy going as far as to say that there are "no plans" for an AC/DC album and tour at this moment.
Zakk Wylde To Do Montreal Signing Session
OZZY OSBOURNE / BLACK LABEL SOCIETY guitarist Zakk Wylde has confirmed a signing session at Steve's Music in Montreal, Quebec on January 15th at 3:00pm.
In addition, Wylde is due to call in to Montreal's CHOM FM The Metal File on January 11th. The program begins at midnight.
As previously reported, Wylde will be holding an autograph session at Long & McQuade (925 Bloor Street West) in Toronto, Ontario, on Sunday, January 20th beginning at 3:00pm. Please note that wristbands will be handed out to the first 150 people in line - so get there early. For more information call 416-588-7886.
Remaining dates on the Ozzy / Rob Zombie tour are as follows:
January
10 - Wachovia Spectrum - Philadelphia, PA
14 - Colisee Pepsi Arena - Quebec City, QC
16 - Bell Centre - Montreal, QC
19 - John Labatt Centre - London, ON
21 - Air Canada Centre - Toronto, ON
24 - Quicken Loans Arena - Cleveland, OH
Within Temptation Guitarist To Miss Tour Dates
Dutch gothic metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION have issued the following message from guitarist Robert Westerholt:
"Dear fans,
Unfortunately, I have to inform you that I will not be joining the rest of the band on the tour that starts tonight. During an unfortunate accident, I severely bruised my right thumb, making it impossible for me to play guitar.
Of course I'm very disappointed that I can't visit you all as I was really looking forward to it a lot!!
The band will be playing with the 5 of them, so they will not be joined by an extra guitar player. I'm confident that you will make up for the difference by screaming even louder than you usually do!
I will definitely be back for the (sold out!) Ahoy show in February, hope to see you all there!
All the best,
Robert Westerholt."
Seregon To Support Municipal Waste In London
The following message has been posted by Seregon's Myspace:
"We're extremely excited to announce that we have been added to the lineup in London on Feb 6th at the Carling Academy in Islington playin alongside our friends MUTANT, supporting Toxic Holocaust and MUNICIPAL WASTE!
This show is gonna be awesome so anyone london based who wants to see 4 thrash bands at £10.00, MUST come along!
Fuck. Yes."
Seregon are continuing to gig in support of their debut EP "Kingdom Of The Blind" which, although being sold independently by the bands own website and at shows, has been receiving massive critical acclaim. The band are also in contention for a place at this years Bloodstock Open Air festival. They have previously supported such acts as Onslaught and Amen.
Municipal Waste are also touring in support of their latest offering, "The Art Of Partying", which also has been receiving alot of positive reviews from fans and critics alike.
Grief of War's New Album Available For Pre-Order
GRIEF OF WAR's Prosthetic Records debut, A Mounting Crisis..., is now available for pre-order. Go to this location for details.
According to the label, "if you think you like thrash, then this is your band! Bringing to mind the sounds of KREATOR, SODOM, SLAYER and NUCLEAR ASSAULT, Grief Of War are Japan's thrash metal kings!"
A Mounting Crisis... will be released on February 19th.
Metalium Reveal New Album Details
German metallers METALIUM have set "Incubus" as the title of their new album, due later in the year via Massacre Records. According to the band, "Incubus" is "carrying on the heavy style and touches very realistic themes like the controversy of the church and 'the evil". The title song, 'Incubus', is an epic song of over eight minutes and original phrases of an exorcism process were used to give the song an extra authentic feel."
"Incubus" track listing:
01. Trust (Intro)
02. Resurrection
03. Gates
04. Incubus
05. Take Me Higher
06. Never Die
07. At Armageddon
08. Sanity
09. Meet Your Maker
10. Hellfire
11. Soulchaser (Japan Bonus)
Commander Post New Song Online
German extreme metallers COMMANDER have completed work on their new album, "The Enemies We Create", due on March 28, 2008 via Bad Land Records/Twilight Vertrieb. The track listing for the effort is as follows:
01. Trust in Man
02. Vengeful Angel
03. The Enemies We Create
04. My Worst Enemy
05. New Age of Treason
06. New Age of Treason II
07. Ira
08. Still Alive
09. At any Cost
10. Valley of Fallen Stars
Check ou the new track "Vengeful Angel" on the band's MySpace page.
Threat Signal Announce New Guitarist
Canadian metallers THREAT SIGNAL have issued the following update:
"We are pleased to announce guitarist Adam Weber as the final piece of the THREAT SIGNAL puzzle. The writing process with Adam has already begun, and we're all looking forward to recording and touring with him."
THREAT SIGNAL recently uploaded the demo version of a new song, entitled "Beyond Recognition", on the group's MySpace page.
Drummer George Parfitt left THREAT SIGNAL last year in order to focus on his family life. He has since been replaced by Norm Killeen.
Iron Maiden Schedule Spanish Date
IRON MAIDEN has confirmed a Spanish date as part of its "Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 2008". The concert will take place on July 11 at the Via de La Plata Festival, which will be held in Merida, in southwest Spain. According to The Metal Circus, some rumors suggest that SLAYER and AVENGED SEVENFOLD, as well as LAUREN HARRIS, could be playing the event, although there is no official confirmation. Tickets will go on sale this Saturday, January 12 through Tick Tack Ticket and the usual outlets. The second Spanish date, which will supposedly take place on July 12, will be announced during the coming days.
Dub Trio Release More Tour Dates
Brooklyn’s DUB TRIO have posted the following upcoming tour dates:
January 31 - Brooklyn, NY @ Luna Lounge
February 1 - New York, NY @ Blue Note
February 7 - Vancouver, BC @ Richards on Richards w/ Umphrey’s McGee
February 8 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox Theater w/ Umphrey’s McGee
February 9 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater w/ Umphrey’s McGee
February 11 - Ventura, CA @ Majestic Ventura Theater w/ Umphrey’s McGee
February 12 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues w/ Umphrey’s McGee
February 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Crash Mansion w/ Umphrey’s McGee
February 14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Viper Room
February 15 - San Francisco, CA @ 12 Galaxies
February 17 - Sacramento, CA @ Harlows
February 19 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
February 20 - Telluride, CO @ Las Montanas
February 21 - Boulder, CO @ Trilogy
February 22 - Breckenridge, CO @ Sherpas
February 23 - Englewood, CO @ The Falcon
February 25 - Madison, WI @ Highnoon Saloon
February 26 - Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
February 27 - Chicago, IL @ Sub T
February 28 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop w/ Dälek, Russian Circles
February 29 - Columbus, OH @ Basement
March 1 - Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room
In Flames Reveal New Single Details
Swedish metallers IN FLAMES will release a new single, "The Mirror’s Truth", on March 7 via Nuclear Blast Records. The European-only release will contain the following tracks:
01. The Mirror's Truth
02. Eraser *
03. Tilt *
04 Abnegation *
* Exclusive non-album tracks
The cover artwork for the single was created by Alex Pardee for ZeroFriends. Alex has also done all the artwork for IN FLAMES' upcoming album. More...
Trouble Announce U.S. Live Appearances
Legendary Chicago doomsters TROUBLE have scheduled the following U.S. dates:
Jan. 26 - Vnuk's Lounge - Cudahy, WI
Jan. 27 - House of Blues – Chicago, IL
TROUBLE will team up with DRAGONLORD and COVERED CALL for a European tour in April 2008.
The band was scheduled to begin shipping its long-awaited "Unplugged" CD last month. The first 100 copies to be sold will be signed by the band. More...
Watch Live Evergreen Terrace Online
A new live video of Evergreen Terrace performing the title track of their latest release “Wolfbiker” is online for viewing at The Underground Video Television website.
The live footage was filmed in Rochester NY during the band’s run on the Monsters Of Mayhem tour last year which also featured The Acacia Strain, God Forbid and Hatebreed. "Wolfbiker" was released in July of 2007 via High Impact Recordings/Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2005's "Sincerity is an Easy Disguise in This Business" was recorded at Vision Sound in Florida and was mixed by Jason Livermore.
Seventh Calling Announce Upcoming Live Dates
Minneapolis, Minnesota based heavy metal band SEVENTH CALLING have lined-up the following live dates in support of their latest CD, Melissa:
March
30 - Station 4 - Minneapolis, Minnesota (supporting DORO)
July
24 - Headbangers Open Air Festival - Hamburg, Germany
For more information on Seventh Calling visit www.seventhcalling.com or www.myspace.com/seventhcalling.
Heaven Shall Burn Announce New Release Shows
German extreme metallers HEAVEN SHALL BURN have issued the following update:
"Thanks to everybody, who came out to the shows on our Darkness over X-Mas tour! Most of the shows were sold out and all places were packed! Check out YouTube for some cool live videos! Or read our tour diary at www.metal-hammer.de. And we're already planing things for 2008 - we wanna invite you to come and celebrate the release of our new record Iconoclast! We're playing a few exclusive release shows, so check out the dates below."
Heaven Shall Burn's new album, Iconoclast (Part1: The Final Resistance), will be released in Europe on January 28th and in North America on February 5th. The new song 'Endzeit' is currently streaming on the band's MySpace page. More...
Airbourne Post New Song Online For Streaming
The title track of AIRBOURNE's debut album, Runnin' Wild, is currently available for download at this location.
As previously reported, Runnin' Wild, hits store shelves on January 29th and AIRBOURNE has booked the following UK tour dates:
February
5 - Oxford, England - Jericho Tavern
6 - Birmingham, England - Bar Academy
7 - Exeter, England - Cavern Club
8 - Manchester, England - Roadhouse
9 - Edinburgh, Scotland - Hive
10 - Glasgow, Scotland - King Tuts
11 - Nottingham, England - Rock City
12 - Bristol, England - Louisiana
16 - Sheffield, England - Corporation
17 - Stoke, England - Sugarmill
18 - London, England - Borderline More...
Pitch Black Forecast In Mixing Mode
PITCH BLACK FORECAST (formerly ABSENTEE), the new project featuring vocalist Jason "J" Popson (MUSHROOMHEAD, IN COLD BLOOD, Fractured Transmitter Records), drummer Gene Hoglan (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DEATH, DARK ANGEL, TESTAMENT), guitarist Robert Reinard (NDE) and bassist Craig Martini, is currently mixing its debut release with Bill Korecky at Mars Recording Studio. A tentative May release through Fractured Transmitter Records is expected.
Check out some demo mixes at this location.
PITCH BLACK FORECAST (under the ABSENTEE moniker) previously recorded a cover of the MELVINS track "Revolve" for the MELVINS tribute album "We Reach: The Music of the Melvins", which came out in August 2005 via Fractured Transmitter Records.
Jason Popson left MUSHROOMHEAD in late 2004 and has since been replaced by Waylon Reavis.
Twiggy Ramirez Rejoins Marilyn Manson
Bassist Twiggy Ramirez (real name: Jeordie White) has rejoined MARILYN MANSON for the group's upcoming North American tour. Joining Manson and Twiggy on stage for the U.S. leg of the "Rape of the World Tour" will be Chris Vrenna, Rob Holliday, and Ginger Fish. Tim Skold has amicably split with Manson, but future collaborations aren't being ruled out between the two.
According to a posting on Marilyn's web site, expectations for the upcoming tour are best described by quoting one of Manson's most infamous lyrics, "Everyone will suffer now." More...
Elenium Issue Update
Finnish "progressive death" metallers ELENIUM, whose lineup includes current OMNIUM GATHERUM vocalist Jukka Pelkonen (a.k.a. "J"), have issued the following update:
"New year, new tricks. That's the plan in camp ELENIUM as well. We've had some new material bubbling under for a while but since we've had all kinds of setbacks like member departures and delay in the release of the 'Caught in a Wheel' [album breeding new material hasn't been our first concern.
"Now we are, however, feeling better than ever and the group has a got a great chemistry. We feel we can do even better than with 'Caught in a Wheel' and this line up has got a lot to offer. There are plenty of ideas for the next ELENIUM release and we are anxious to bring out some new shit. The next couple of months will be spent breeding, arranging and demoing new shite and after that we`ll know better what kind of a release it will be. It will kick ass — that we know already." More...
Sepultura Post 'Ostia' Video Online
SEPULTURA's video for the song "Ostia" can be viewed here. The second clip from the Brazilian thrashers' "Dante XXI" album was shot at a studio in São Paulo, Brazil in March 2007 prior to the band's departure for their European tour. During the following week, the video crew and the main actor shot the outdoor scenes in downtown São Paulo. The script, which adapts the story from the book "The Divine Comedy" to the modern days, was directed by Geraldo Moraes.
SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser is putting the finishing touches on his solo debut, entitled "Hubris I & II". A two-disc set, it is tentatively scheduled for release in April 2008 via Holland's Mascot Records. The CD was recorded in part at A Voz do Brasil studio in São Paulo, Brazil. More...
Circus Diablo To Continue As A Four-Piece
Los Angeles-based rock act CIRCUS DIABLO will warm up for 2008 with a show in Venice, California on January 30 at club Venice Rocks. According to a posting on the group's MySpace page, "none of the band have the ability to be in two places at once, so due to THE CULT, RIDERS ON THE STORM and THE ALMIGHTY being busy and active, the decision has been made to continue CIRCUS DIABLO as a four-piece." The band's frontman, Billy Morrison, said "We all had a ton of fun writing and making that record, but it has proved impossible to commit to any serious plans with so many members being that busy. So much love and respect to the guys."
CIRCUS DIABLO will write and record a second album during 2008 with the current lineup of Morrison, Charles Ruggiero (drums; SLUNT), Rob Patterson (guitar; KORN, OTEP) and Patrick Cornell.
CIRCUS DIABLO recently posted the song "Mary's Shadow" on the group's MySpace page. The track is a bonus cut recorded during the sessions for the band's self-titled debut album, which came out this past summer via Koch Records.
Fave The Panic Post New Songs Online
FACE THE PANIC, the Buffalo, New York-based traditional hardcore/punk band featuring current and ex-members of LOCKJAW, HEROD and EVERY TIME I DIE, has posted two new tracks on its MySpace page. According to the group, the first track is "a cover of INSIDE OUT's 'Burning Fight'. We were in Watchmen Studios recording a live BLACK FLAG covers 7" for Reaper Records, and had some extra time, so figured why not. Track recorded 100% live at Watchmen Studios. The second track is 'Elitist Fool'. The track is from our Reaper Records full-length 'The Reclamation' and was recorded live in Vacaville, California by Ron Gallus on our summer 2007 U.S. tour."
FACE THE PANIC previously released the CDEP "For the Lifers" on Luchador Records out of Rochester, NY.
Entwine Begin Writing New Album
Finnish goth-metallers ENTWINE have issued the following update:
"During the end of year 2007 and at the beginning of 2008, ENTWINE has been spending some time in rehearsal room gathering new ideas for the new album. Already there are about eight new songs or at least the basic structures of them. The plan is to hit the studio some time in the spring. The studios and the producer are yet unknown, but the album should be out later this year! Due to the writing and recording of the new album, unfortunately, there will be no time for live shows. There might be some exceptions though, in case we need some time off from writing."
ENTWINE's fifth studio album, "Fatal Design", was released in September 2006 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Benelux via Century Media Records through a licensing deal with Spinefarm Records. The CD was recorded at Petrax and Groveland studios by ENTWINE drummer Aksu Hanttu and producer Janne Joutsenniemi (STONE, SUBURBAN TRIBE). The album was mixed at Finnvox by Mikko Karmila (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM).
Sworn Enemy Comment On Earth Crisis Tour
SWORN ENEMY kicks off the North American touring cycle for their upcoming new album, Maniacal, on February 29th as part of the much-anticipated EARTH CRISIS reunion tour, a month-long trek which also features TERROR, SHAI HULUD, DOWN TO NOTHING, and RECON.
Lorenzo Antonucci (guitars) commented: “We are excited to be a part of the long-awaited EARTH CRISIS reunion tour. It’s been over six years and people have to be pumped for this. I remember talking to Karl (EARTH CRISIS vocalist) a year ago about this amazing tour and I was hoping for it to finally happen because kids need to see a true straight-edge band. We are really happy to be meeting back up with our bros in TERROR and reuniting with SHAI HULUD, as it’s been years since we’ve played together. It will be good times as well sharing the stage with DOWN TO NOTHING and RECON. We can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions to the new songs and we hope to rage with you all soon.”
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