Metal News for January 12, 2008
Last updated on October 4, 2025 at 3:07 AM ET
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25 news articles posted on this day.
Synthetic Breed Post New Song From Upcoming Album
Melbourne metallers Synthetic Breed have posted a few new songs up on their MySpace page. One is the opening track, titled "Synthetic Breed", of the bands' EP 'Synthetic Breed - Redux'. The other is called "Neiro Connectivity" and is taken directly from Synthetic Breed's upcoming new album, 'Catatonic', which is to be released abroad and locally next month. The song, which can be played in its' entirety, replaces the teaser preview song that was previously uploaded.
Shadows Fall Announce Australian, Japanese Dates
As previously mentioned, Shadows Fall will be touring Australia and Japan starting next month. Australian dates include a couple of festival dates and a run with Killswitch Engage, Divine Heresy and From Autumn to Ashes. Shadows Fall will be touring Japan with Arch Enemy. Here are the latest Shadows Fall tour dates, including a show at the end of the run in the Philippines:
Sat Feb 23 Brisbane - Riverstage and Parklands - Soundwave Festival
Sun Feb 24 Sydney - Sydney Park - Soundwave Festival
Tue Feb 26 Sydney - The Forum w KSE, Divine Heresy and From Autumn to Ashes
Wed Feb 27 Canberra - ANU Refectory w KSE, Divine Heresy and From Autumn to Ashes
Fri Feb 29 Melbourne - Melbourne Showgrounds - Soundwave Festival
Sat Mar 1 Adelaide - Bonython Park - Soundwave Festival
Mon Mar 3 Perth - Steel Blue Oval - Soundwave Festival
Fri Mar 7 Kawasaki Japan - Club Citta w/ Arch Enemy
Sat Mar 8 Tokyo Japan - Studio Coast w/ Arch Enemy
Mon Mar 10 Nagoya Japan - Diamond Hall w/ Arch Enemy
Tue Mar 11 Osaka Japan - Hatch w/ Arch Enemy
Sat Mar 15 Manila, Philippines Avenue Hall
Asmodeus Post Live Video Online
Asmodeus, the Austrian Black/Death legion has released a live-video from their tour with Belphegor. The song is called "Summon The Horde" and are taken from the "Phalanx Inferna" album, which was released in 2003 by Twilight Vertrieb. You can check their myspace page for the video or view it below.
Asmodeus has also been boked for the Northern Lights Festival in their homeland of Austria on June 7th. More...
Axel Rudi Pell Reveal Complete Tracklist Of DVD
SPV Records will release guitarist Axel Rudi Pell's new double DVD, Live Over Europe, on February 22nd in Germany, February 25th throughout Europe and on a "to be determined" date in North America.
The complete tracklist is as follows:
DVD 1 - Rock Hard Festival (Gelsenkirchen, Germany - May 27th, 2007): 'Fly To The Moon', 'Strong As A Rock', 'The Masquerade Ball / Casbah', drum solo, 'Tear Down The Walls', 'Mystica', 'Rock The Nation', 'The Temple Of The King', 'Fool Fool', 'Call Her Princess'.
DVD 2 - Official Bootleg DVD:
-- Sweden Rock Festival, Sweden (June 12th, 2004): 'Tear Down The Walls', 'Strong As A Rock'
-- Bang Your Head Festival, Germany (June 24th, 2005): 'Fool Fool'
-- Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland (June 6th, 2005): 'The Masquerade Ball / Casbah', 'Carousel' (incl. keyboard solo), 'The Temple Of The King', 'Call Her Princess'
-- Bloodstock Festival, UK (September 29th, 2006): 'Rock The Nation'
-- Wacken Open Air, Germany (August 6th, 2005): 'Strong As A Rock'
-- Zeche - Bochum, Germany (September 30th, 2006): 'Love Gun', 'Oceans Of Time'
-- Zeche - Bochum, Germany (October 1st, 2006): 'Fly To The Moon', 'Mystica', 'Haunted Castle Serenade', 'Rock The Nation'
-- Graspop Metal Meeting, Belgium (June 25th, 2005): 'Call Her Princess'
Black Stone Cherry To Open For Def Leppard
BLACK STONE CHERRY has been selected as the opening act for DEF LEPPARD and WHITESNAKE's co-headlining tour of the UK. The official press release is as follows:
Def Leppard and Whitesnake Announce Mammoth Co Headline Arena Tour
Plus Special Guests Black Stone Cherry
Def Leppard and Whitesnake, two of the World’s greatest arena rock bands, are set to play a series of co- headline shows across the UK in summer of 2008. This is the ultimate line up for many a rock fan and be sure this tour is going to sell fast, so get your skates on... More...
Paths of Possession Post Cancerslug Cover Online
PATHS OF POSSESSION, the Florida-based band fronted by CANNIBAL CORPSE vocalist George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher, has posted a cover version of CANCERSLUG's "Soulless" on the group's MySpace page. The track was previously released on the Japanese version of PATHS OF POSSESSION's third album, "The End of the Hour", which came out last October via Metal Blade Records.
In related news, FROM BLOOD AND BURNING — the band featuring PATHS OF POSSESSION bassist Randy Butman, Nick Goodyear (PATHS OF POSSESSION, DARK FAITH), Jack Goodwin (PATHS OF POSSESSION), and Josh Cannon (SORCERER, AFTER DEATH) — will enter Mana Recording Studios on January 20 with producer Erik Rutan (HATE ETERNAL, CANNIBAL CORPSE, GOATWHORE) to begin recording its full-length debut for a 2008 release via Blind Prophecy Records.
Norman Bates Post New Music Online
New Jersey death metallers, Norman Bates, issue the following update on their Myspace page:
"New songs from our upcoming EP, "Plaguebearer" are up now. take a listen to them and tell us what you think. we are very proud of these songs and happy to share them with our fans and new listeners. guitar solo played on Return Of Gomarrah was played by the great "Bobby Torres" from Akora. he is also the one who recorded this album. we are very proud to work with Bobby and approve him to any band who wants to get recorded."
AC/DC Officially Shoots Down Swiss Club Gig Report
Australian hard rock legends AC/DC have released the following statement:
"Contrary to rumours floating around the internet, AC/DC will not be playing at a special club performance in Switzerland in late January."
AC/DC's record label, Albert Music, told Undercover News earlier in the week that, despite reports to the contrary, the band is not in the studio, is not recording with Mutt Lange and does not have a title for an album which has been widely reported to be called "Strap It On" (a title which was apparently made up by a fan). More...
Ironclad Recordings Signs November 5, 1955
Ironclad Recordings, the label headed by Unearth frontman Trevor Phipps, has officially signed Massachusetts hardcore/rock project November 5, 1955. Formed in 2004, the Boston-based band features current and former members of Sluts, Burn Your Wishes, and Pictures Of Gabriel, among others. The experimental four-piece will see the release of their debut album, titled "Bears of the Sea," on February 19th through Ironclad. Two songs are available via streaming here.
Meanwhile, the band has lined up the following shows:
2/9 Stoneham, MA @ White Church
2/10 Springfield, MA @ Waterfront
2/23 Nashua, NH @ American Legion
Icarus Witch To Support Winger In Pittsburgh
ICARUS WITCH have issued the following update:
"It's the first hometown Icarus Witch show in 5 months...and what a way to start the year!"
"Don't be 'Headed For A Heartbreak' this Valentines, give her the kind of rock she's really 'Hungry' for. We'll be opening this concert for local guitar god, Reb Beach and his melodic metal machine, WINGER on February 14th at The Rex Theater in Pittsburgh, so if you 'Can't Get Enough' arena rock, make sure to contact us and get your tickets through Icarus Witch. If you don't have a date, even better...you KNOW where the crazy action will be on the South Side that night!" More...
Bracewar, Trash Talk, True Colors Euro Tour Dates
Bracewar, Trash Talk, and True Colors will team up for a European tour in March. Here are the latest tour dates:
07/03 Lanklaar, Belgium @ Tram 55
08/03 Birmingham, UK @ The Eagle and Tun (no True Colors)
09/03 Colchester, UK @ The Cambridge Arms
10/03 Stoke, UK @ On Trent The Glebe
14/03 Moers, Germany @ Break The chains Festival III - Volksschule
15/03 Rosswein, Germany @ JH
20/03 Karlsruhe, Germany @ Alte Hackerei
21/03 Venice, Italy @ CS Rivolta
22/03 Brugg, Switzerland @ Picadilly
24/03 Arnheim, Netherlands @ The Stage
By Autumns End Breaking Up
Buffalo, New York's By Autumns End is calling it quits. Formed in 2004, the group released an album with Hand Of Hope Records earlier this year. The following statement has been issued:
"By Autumns End has been around for several years in which it has been a huge part of our lives, and hopefully it's been some part of yours as well. Unfortunately it is time for the band to end. Our final show is January 17th at the Mohawk Place. It'd be an honor and mean the world to us to see a lot of you out there. The show is only 7 dollars and we will be playing pretty much all of our material. If you are traveling in from out of town we can make arrangements for you to sleep somewhere. If you need a ride contact us and we will put you in touch with someone who can give it to you. Thank you so much. We love you all."
Inquested Complete Work On Debut Album
Norwegian thrashers INQUESTED have issued the following update:
"[The debut INQUESTED album] 'The Red Chambers' has finally been done. We got the masters back the ninth of December last year and shipped it out to our label, Mondongo Canibale, the tenth.
"We don't have an exact date but hopefully it will be available in the beginning of February. The album can be ordered from the label's website."
"This album took much longer to complete than we had ever believed, but the result is so much better now then we had half a year ago. So it was really worth it in the end." More...
She Said Destroy Seek New Guitarist
Norwegian extreme metallers SHE SAID DESTROY have issued the following update:
"SHE SAID DESTROY are currently looking for a new guitar player."
"We are already a full team of songwriters, but we're still looking for a fulltime member."
"SHE SAID DESTROY will enter the studio to record their sophomore album in February. A new guitar player is needed shortly thereafter as we hope to make a hasty return to the live arena."
"Since we're in the business of extreme underground music, there's not much to gain economicaly by playing with us." More...
Winger Announce More Tour Dates For US
WINGER guitarist Reb Beach has updated the band's tour schedule. It is now as follows:
February
14 - Rex Theater - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15 - Lee's Palace - Toronto, Ontario
16 - Rock N Roll Heaven - Buffalo, New York
17 - Crocodile Rock - Allentown, Pennsylvania
19 - West Home Hardware Bar - Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
20 - BB King's - New York, New York
21 - Mulcahy's - Wantagh, New York
22 - Stone Pony - Asbury Park, New Jersey
23 - Middle East - Boston, Massachusetts
24 - Webster Theater - Hartford, Connecticut
27 - Agora - Cleveland, Ohio **
28 - House Of Blues - Chicago, Illinois
29 - Alarosa Villa - Columbus, Ohio
March
1 - Harpo's - Detroit, Michigan
4 - Pop’s - Sauget (St. Louis), Illinois **
5 - Beaumont - Kansas City, Missouri **
7 - Sunshine Theater - Albuquerque, New Mexico **
8 - Eck’s Saloon - Denver, Colorado **
10 - Club Vegas - Salt Lake City, Utah **
** new dates
Therapy? Sign With Demolition Records
Demolition Records are proud to announce the worldwide signing of Irish Rockers THERAPY? The band has begun the writing process for their 12th studio album, which is scheduled for release towards the back end of 2008. The release will be supported by an extensive touring campaign.
The band recently commented on their new relationship with Demolition:
“As mentioned in our end of year summary, after a long period of negotiating with quite a few labels, we’ve found a new home for THERAPY? with Demolition Records. We met the guys from Demolition way back in October and to be honest we just clicked. We love the labels attitude and forward thinking. In an industry that doesn’t seem to know what the next move is, Demolition are one of the few labels that are actually growing in stature whilst embracing the future of the music business.”
Demolition Records boss Ged Cook commented on the signing:
“Therapy? has always been a band that has achieved long term respect from both the music industry and music fans alike. When I met up with the guys and their management, I was knocked out by their down-to-earth attitude and enthusiasm with regards to their vision for 2008 and onwards. To actually be part of that vision is a total honour for both me and Demolition!!”
April To Release New Album In September
Finnish modern metallers APRIL will enter Tonteknik studio in Sweden in April 2008 with producer Pelle Henricsson (REFUSED, IN FLAMES, POISON THE WELL) to begin recording their as-yet-untitled sophomore album, tentatively due in September.
APRIL's debut album, "Tidelines", was released in February 2007 via Spinefarm Records. An e-card for the CD, containing soundclips of all the songs from the CD plus a video for the song "First Blood", can be found at this location. Produced by Tero Kinnunen (NIGHTWISH), the album was previously described in a press relase as "a majestic, violent modern metal monster with depth like of which you thought you'd never hear again."
Thanatoschizo Sign With My Kingdom Music
Portuguese avant-garde maniacs THANATOSCHIZO have inked a deal with My Kingdom Music for the release of their fourth album, "Zoom Code". The CD was produced by Luis Barros (TARANTULA) and was mastered by Tommy Newton (CONCEPTION, HELLOWEEN) and features guest appearances by Timb Harris (ESTRADASPHERE) and Svein Egil Hatlevik (ZWEIZZ, FLEURETY, ex-DØDHEIMSGARD). A March 21 release is expected (one week earlier in Portugal through Recital Records).
"Zoom Code" track listing:
01. Thick n' Blurry
02. L.
03. Hereafter Path
04. (Un)bearable Certainty
05. Pleasure Pursuit
06. The Shift
08. Pale Blue Perishes
09. Pervasive Healing
10. Nothing As it Seems
11. Awareness
Four studio-report videos can be viewed at the band's YouTube channel, where one can also find cool TV footage about metal that has aired on Portuguese TV since the early '90s.
Machine Head Check In
MACHINE HEAD have issued the following update:
"It was a busy 2007 for Machine Head and their new album The Blackening... from receiving glowing 5/5 and 10/10 reviews upon release, to winning Best Album / Album of the Year at the Kerrang! and Metal Hammer Awards respectively, to winning Best International Album at the Danish Metal Awards, all the way to their Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance, it's been anything but ordinary, and it didn't let up when it came to end-of-year Best-Of lists, polls and awards either.
The Blackening was awarded...
-- #1 Album of the Year by the Metal Hammer's Critic's Poll
-- Thrash Album of the Decade! by Hard Rock France
-- #3 Album of the Year by Kerrang!'s readers
-- #3 Album of the Year by Kerrang!'s critics
-- #1 Thrash Album of the Year by Hammer Germany,
-- #3 Album of the Year by Rocksound
-- Band of the Year and Album of the Year by Total Guitar
-- Best Band and Best Live Band by Terrorizer readers...
...the list seems to go on and on and on. Even the traditionally unsupportive U.S. press had to bow down and take notice, with Revolver putting the album at #5 on its Album of the Year list, calling it the finest Thrash album of the year, Guitar World naming it #1 Extreme Metal Album of the Year, and über-elitists Decibel grudgingly including it at #21 on their list.
To top it all off, The Blackening was the #1 most spun record on Sirius Radio's Hard Attack, Grammy nominated 'Aesthetics Of Hate' was the #1 most requested song on Hard Attack and Machine Head's 2007 Download performance was #7 on Kerrang!'s Top 100 Greatest Gigs of All Time!
Needless to say, it's been a hell of a year... bring on 2008!"
Whitesnake Update Tour Schedule
WHITESNAKE guitarist Doug Aldrich has updated the band's tour schedule. Along with the previously announced co-headlining dates with DEF LEPPARD, it includes new shows for Croatia, Bosnia, Norway, Denmark and Iceland:
March
22-23 - Rock2Wgtn Festival (Westpac Stadium) - Wellington, New Zealand
June
2 - venue tba - Banja Luka, Bosnia
3 - Gripe - Split, Croatia
6 - Sweden Rock Festival - Solvesborg, Sweden
8 - Sauna Open Air - Tampere, Finland
10 - Laugardalsholl - Reykjavik, Iceland
12 - Spektrum Scene - Oslo, Norway
13 - VEGA - Copenhagen, Denmark
17 - SECC - Glasgow, Scotland **
18 - NEC - Birmingham, England **
20 - MEN - Manchester, England **
23 - Arena - Sheffield, England **
24 - Arena - Newcastle, England **
26 - Wembley Arena - London, England **
27 - Graspop - Dessel, Belgium
** with Def Leppard
Vader Issue Tour Update
VADER have issued the following update:
"We are hard at work to complete the tour schedule of Vader's upcoming XXV-Anniversary Tour 2008 . Only a few dates left to announce the entire list, but they will be confirmed sooner than later! We have already confirmed three gigs in the UK- London, Dublin and Nottingham. A gig in France is moved to Annency, a show in Valencia (Spain) will take place at really beautiful venue called Loco Club. In Italy we play in turn: Milan, Pinarella and Pescara. Two confirmed dates in Austria (Worgl, Graz) and also confirmed venue in Cluj Napoca - Irish Music & Pub. During the upcoming tournee Vader will be teaming up with SEPTIC FLESH, DEVIAN, INACTIVE MESSIAH and local supports.
Judas Priest Announce More Summer Shows
Judas Priest have revealed more European tour dates throughout the summer, they are as follows:
JUNE 2008
2nd ICEHALL, FINLAND
5th ROCK FESTIVAL, SWEDEN
7th ROCK FESTIVAL, TRONDHEIM, NORWAY
8th BERGENSHALL, BERGEN, NORWAY
11th ROCKHAL, LUXEMBOURG
17th CEZ ARENA, OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC
23rd PHILIPSHALLE, DUSSELDORF, GERMANY
24th ZENITH, MUNICH, GERMANY
Judas Priest are currently mixing their new album "Nostradamus" which is a concept album based around the French philosopher of the same name.
27th GRASPOP METAL FESTIVAL, BELGIUM
28th BANG YOUR HEAD FESTIVAL, STUTTGART, GERMANY
29th GODS OF METAL FESTIVAL, BOLOGNA, ITALY
JULY 2008
1st SMEDEREVO FESTIVAL, BELGRADE, SERBIA
2nd DOM SPORTOVA, ZAGREB, CROATIA
3rd LIBEREC ARENA, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Dream Theater Greatest Hits Details Revealed
After recently celebrating the band's 20-year anniversary, DREAM THEATER returns with its first-ever best-of collection. Spanning 1991-2005, the two-disc set contains rare single edits, B-sides and a trio of new remixes that spotlight that band's nonpareil musicianship, complex arrangements and amazing songwriting. DREAM THEATER's "Greatest Hit (…& 21 Other Pretty Songs)" will be available from Rhino on April 1 at all physical retail outlets and www.rhino.com for a suggested retail price of $19.98 and at all digital retail outlets for a suggested retail price of $12.99.
Referring to DREAM THEATER's first and only major radio hit, "Pull Me Under", the compilation's tongue-in-cheek title is a testament not only to the band's sense of humor but also highlights the acclaimed New York-based quintet's ability to make music and cultivate a legion of fans on its own terms, without help from radio or MTV. The collection features more than two hours of progressive hard rock from James LaBrie (vocals), John Myung (bass), John Petrucci (guitar/vocals), Mike Portnoy (drums/vocals) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards).
The collection contains three newly remixed versions of tracks from DREAM THEATER's breakout 1992 album, "Images And Words": the aforementioned "Pull Me Under" as well as "Take The Time" and "Another Day". Portnoy says this album presented the perfect opportunity to give the songs a bit of a facelift. "The original mixes always sounded a bit '80s' to me, so we had our good friend and longtime mixer Kevin Shirley give the tracks a bit of an update to sound more like the rest of the DREAM THEATER catalog. The songs remain the same (no pun intended — Kevin just mixed that album as well), but there are little nuances in the tracks that I forgot were originally there, and it's very cool to hear them again."
The collection's 22 songs are split evenly between two discs, which are divided into "The Dark Side" (the metallic) and "The Light Side" (the melodic). Filled with some of the band's most sinister sounds, the first disc lives up to the billing of "The Dark Side." Longtime fans will appreciate the abundance of alternative versions of classic tracks, including single edits of "Lie", "Home" and "Misunderstood". Disc One concludes with two tracks from the band's 2005 album "Octavarium": "The Root Of All Evil" and "Sacrificed Sons".
The second disc, "The Light Side", spotlights the band's melodic side and features an alternate mix of "Through Her Eyes", a single edit of "Solitary Shell" and "To Live Forever", a 1994 B-side from the U.K.-only single of "Lie".
A grassroots phenomenon for 20 years, DREAM THEATER continues to record studio albums acclaimed for award-winning musicianship as well as artistic vision. To meet the demands of a demanding global fan base, the band also maintains an active touring schedule that regularly includes sold-out performances around the world.
DREAM THEATER has currently been on the road since June 2007, traveling the globe in support of their latest studio album "Systematic Chaos". Their world tour will conclude with a final run throughout North America in May as they premiere their "Progressive Nation" package tour with OPETH, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, and 3 supporting.
"Greatest Hit (…& 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)" track listing:
Disc 1 (The Dark Side):
01. Pull Me Under (2007 Remix)
02. Take The Time (2007 Remix)
03. Lie (Single Edit)
04. Peruvian Skies
05. Home (Single Edit)
06. Misunderstood (Single Edit)
07. The Test That Stumped Them All
08. As I Am
09. Endless Sacrifice
10. The Root Of All Evil
11. Sacrificed Sons
Disc 2 (The Light Side):
01. Another Day (2007 Remix)
02. To Live Forever
03. Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
04. The Silent Man
05. Hollow Years
06. Through Her Eyes (Alternate Album Mix)
07. The Spirit Carries On
08. Solitary Shell (Single Edit)
09. I Walk Beside You
10. The Answer Lies Within
11. Disappear
Marilyn Manson Speaks On Reunion WIth Twiggy
Marilyn Manson spoke to RollingStone.com about his reunion with longtime collaborator guitarist Twiggy Ramirez for Manson's Eat Me, Drink Me tour.
Though the two had already re-connected during a chance meeting on the streets of Los Angeles, it was Manson witnessing another reunion that inspired him to invite Twiggy back. "The turning point for me was when I went to see LED ZEPPELIN's reunion show, and I saw Jimmy Page and Robert Plant look at each other for a moment, and they probably said, 'Holy shit, we wrote 'Stairway To Heaven'.' I wanted that look again," Manson explains. "I want to look at Twiggy and go 'Holy shit, we wrote 'The Beautiful People'.' I called him and I said 'Let's go do this.'" Plus, the duo had some unfinished business. "We started music together because we wanted to bring about the apocalypse, and we realized we didn't finish," Manson says. "The world could suffer much more if we were together again, and we really wanted to bring back the suffering."
Read the full article at Rolling Stone.
Tygers Of Pan Tang Announce More Tour Dates
NWOBHM legends TYGERS OF PAN TANG have scheduled the following dates:
Feb. 02 - Crook AFC - Durham, UK
Feb. 09 - Leeds Rio's - Leeds, UK
Feb. 16 - An Club – Athens, GRE
Feb. 22 - Spring & Airbrake - Belfast, Northern Ireland
Feb. 23 - The Nerve Centre - Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Feb. 29 - Intake Mansfield - Mansfield, UK
Mar. 06 - The Underworld – London, UK
Mar. 14 - Riffs Blackpool - Blackpool, UK
Mar. 15 - Holmfirth Picturedrome – Huddersfield, UK
Mar. 21 - Newcastle Carling Academy 2 -Newcastle, Northeast, UK
Apr. 10 - Auditorium F.L.O.G - Florence, ITA
Apr. 11 - Music Drome - Milan, ITA
Apr. 12 - Lucille Rock n roll House - Verona, ITA
Apr. 13 - Sottotetto Sound Club - Bologna, ITA
Apr. 19 - The White Rabbit, Plymouth - Plymouth, UK
May 31 - Cliveaid - Birmingham - Birmingham, UK
Sep. 06 - Rock of Ages Festival The Palace - Tamworth, UK
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