Interview

Interview With Myke Long Of 2nd Offense

Altoona, Pennsylvania's 2ND OFFENSE has been a presence on their local scene now for three years and have self-released two albums. They have been well received by local radio and fans of other hard hitting acts like Stuck In Chaos and Scars Of Hatred. The band cites Hatebreed, Bad Religion and Slayer as a few of their main influences. They are still working hard to bring fans over to their MySpace page to checkout thier 2006 release 'Seven' and in the process hope to get more bodies out to their shows. I have just gotten in some Q&A in with their lead vocalist, Myke Long. More...

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Unearth Completes Video For "Sanctity of Brothers"

Unearth has completed work on a video for "Sanctity of Brothers." Frontman Trevor Phipps detailed the process:

"We had just begun to schedule the shooting of our second video, 'Sanctity of Brothers' with famed director Darren Doane, when he decided to retire to pursue other professional goals. Fortunately, he had written a pretty sick video treatment and told us we could use it if the director was new, talented and had never directed a music video before. So we took to searching the Internet for some new talent and came across a guy from Prague named 'Soren.' Soren's images were dark and well thought out, so we got in touch with him. We showed him the treatment Darren had written and he agreed to go with it, but he wanted to put his own flavor and twists into the video. This guy is crazy, he had a 10 day shooting schedule spanning 3 countries; he used a helicopter and some cool animation. It will have the same high energy as our video for 'Giles,' but will have an in-depth storyline and will be our first video with special effects. The video will be more like a short film with three parts. The first and third sections will be the intro and ending, while the second chapter will be the actual song. Soren is on to some groundbreaking shit here and we are stoked to be part of it. Even though Darren was not involved, we’re just happy that it will be different. Too many videos are the same these days with all the storylines, the bands and all the shots seeming to blend together. SOREN at least wants to challenge that and we support him in his attempt. We think that may be one of the reasons Doane retired and gave us the demands he did on his treatment. Look for the new video mid-January, just in time for our North American run with the mighty Slayer."

A short trailer for the video is available online.

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Twelve Tribes, 36 Crazyfists UK and Ireland Tour

36 Crazyfists will tour the UK and Ireland with support from Twelve Tribes in April.

04/01 Birmingham @ Barfly
04/02 Manchester @ Academy 3
04/03 Newcastle @ Northumbria University
04/04 Glasgow @ King Tut's
04/06 Dundee @ Fat Sam's
04/07 Aberdeen @ Tunnels
04/08 Edinburgh @ Liquid Rooms
04/09 York @ Fibbers
04/10 Nottingham @ Rock City
04/12 Leeds @ Cockpit
04/13 Sheffield @ Corporation
04/14 Northampton @ Soundhaus
04/15 Cardiff @ Barfly
04/16 Oxford @ Zodiac
04/18 Brighton @ Concorde 2
04/19 Portsmouth @ Wedgewood Rooms
04/20 Exeter @ Lemon Grove
04/21 Yeovil @ Ski Lodge
04/22 Bristol @ Bierkeller
04/24 Colchester @ Arts Centre
04/25 London @ Islington Academy
04/26 Liverpool @ Academy 2
04/27 Dublin @ Music Centre
04/28 Belfast @ Spring & Airbrake
04/30 Leicester @ Princess Charlotte

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Interview

Interview with Adder's Dan Marchini

Southern New Jersey's ADDER is a band I got turned onto while they were rocking it out in late 2006 as part of Adrian Lugo's lineup for Ironman Corp's first annual MetalFestEVIL and I took an immediate liking to the old school thrash, 'take it to the limit' metal sound these guys were throwing down and so I wanted to immediately learn more about them. The band cites influences ranging from Pantera, Slayer, Van Halen, Lamb of God, Machine Head to Black Sabbath. They are finishing up on their debut album and are planning to hit the local New Jersey club scene harder than hell throughout 2007. I recently got some Q&A in with their lead guitarist, Dan Marchini. More...

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The Haunted Vocalist Checks In

So we haven't seen any snow yet this winter. At ALL. Global warming someone? Nah... It's just um... a warm year?

I am so tired of that lame excuse for the ridiculously over-consumption of the average Urban Joe Schmo, working class with delusions of upper middle class brass balls, bought and paid with the new credit card and an optimist/moron hat on - thinking "Oh I'll just spend the weekend in New York, Hawaii or London or mutherfucking Uzbekistan - Hey I'll take one of those completely idiotic weekend trips on a lowbudget airline that struggles beyond their real financial life span and dumps millions of gallons of white spirit airplane fuel into the air before landing about ten thousand gazillion times per day. And yeah I need another couple pointless drives to the convenience store just because I happen to live in the city that ain't even a city and it's only a couple of miles and by the way I reeaaaaally need that plasma TV and one thousand other extra applications put together by some 11 year old kids in Malaysia, China and the Philippines because it somehow hightens the illusion that I have a life!" Vacation in the sun anyone?

Entertaining, somehow, the notion that consuming the death of something else somehow makes us a more powerful being. One step closer to utter omnipotence and eternal life. Yes! I consume and therefore I am a GOD! Well, OK, not a god, but I'm fatter and better and obviously more worth than those dudes planting rice in the hills of the Cambodian jungle, becasue I can afford AN IPOD! I AM A FREE MAAAAAAN. Screaming an imaginary scream of defiance to the ever greyer heavens in a slo motion Braveheart meets Rocky mutation...

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Megadeth's 'United Abominations' Near Completion

Megadeth's Dave Mustaine posted the following today on the band's website:

"I am currently in Derbyshire, England with Andy Sneap finishing the record. Glen is over here doing some last-minute sleeping on the couch, er, uh, just kidding. He is seriously shredding some solos! :-)

"I, on the other hand, am finishing off the last remaining fixes on songs and last remaining vocal performances. There is a small list of guitars solos and three rhythm parts I need to finish and then we are into mix mode.

"I am just back from a walk in the English countryside with Pam, and I was thinking that I wanted to share with you the exceptional vibes that are taking place out here, but then I thought forget it! Last thing Andy needs is the sheep next door having Megadeth spray-painted on them, or worse!!! :-)

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Cryptopsy To Concentrate on New Record in 2007

Guitarist Alex Auburn of the Canadian extreme metallers CRYPTOPSY has issued the following update:

"CRYPTOPSY celebrates 15 years of extreme metal Saturday, January 6th in their hometown Montréal at the Medley. It is also the end of 2006 which was a year of intense touring for the last record, 'Once Was Not'. We are closing this chapter in Montréal.

"In the last year we toured everywhere — Scandinavia, U.K., Canada, USA, all of Europe and Australia. Now we need a break and CRYPTOPSY after this show will focus on the new record. We already have material for this one."

"Once Was Not" was released in 2005 via Century Media Records.

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Judas Priest Eyeing Mid 2007 Release for New Album

Launch Radio Networks reports: Things are going well with the recording of the new JUDAS PRIEST album. It's a concept album about the 16th Century French prophet Nostradamus, and the band has started thinking about release dates. Frontman Rob Halford told Launch that everyone's excited about the project. "The writing sessions were fantastic — some of the best writing that (guitarists) Glenn (Tipton) and K.K. (Downing) and myself have ever created, and we're in good shape, we're recording. And finger's crossed, and with the belief that it's ready when it's ready, we should be out by the middle of 2007 with 'Nostradamus'."

This will be PRIEST's first album since "Angel of Retribution" came out in 2005, marking Halford's return to the group.

JUDAS PRIEST is also working out the details for a stage show to go along with the album's subject matter.

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Mutiny Post Video Biography, Seek Vocalist

The New Jersey based melodic death/black metal outfit, Mutiny, have posted a biography of the band in video form on their myspace page.

As noted in the Metalunderground interview with Mutiny's bass player AJ, the band is looking for a new lead vocalist.

This message was posted on their myspace page in regard to the matter:

SINGER WANTED! Samus, Brandon, Drew, Lu, and myself feel like the ultimate band. The music is the sickest shit I've ever heard and we have a blast making it. Our singer, Kaan, has been in this band for over a year now and we have become very close with him. Kaan will be performing on the 26th as scheduled.

Okay, now the reason we are looking for a singer is because we want to see what else is out there. If you think you have what it takes to handle this sick rock, e-mail me at NeoMutiny06@hotmail.com or send us a myspace message. If you have any CD's or youtube videos showing your stuff, send that our way as well. Good luck...stay metal - Aj

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Suspyre Set Tentative Release For 'A Great Divide'

Progressive metal outfit Suspyre have set a tentative release date of March 20th, 2007 for their sophmore album. The effort, titled 'A Great Divide,' will be released via Nightmare Records. You can preorder a copy here.

The tracklisting for A Great Divide is as follows:

Total time (70:21):
Opus II: The Alignment of Galaxies (34:16)
I. 1. Forever the Voices (1:12)
2. The Singer (9:00)
II. 3. The Spirit (3:19)
III. 4. Galactic Backward Movements (9:50)
IV. 5. Manipulation in Time (8:44)
6. Resolution (2:11)
Opus III: The Origin of a Curse (36:05)
I. 7. April in the Fall (5:43)
8. Subliminal Delusions (6:37)
II. 9. Bending the Violet (2:31)
10. The Piano Plays At Last (6:02)
III. 11. Alterations of the Ivory (7:42)
IV. 12. Blood and Passion (7:30)

All tracks listed will be released on a single disc.

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The Messiah Complex: 8 Heavy Frequency Nods

Highly respected Kansas City metal webzine, HEAVY FREQUENCY, holds a very prestigious yearly award ceremony for native bands in the Missouri and Kansas area, and this year, THE MESSIAH COMPLEX has managed to earn a total of 8 nominations through fan voting.

The band is up for:

Best Guitarist
Best Guitar Duo
Best Bassist
Best Drummer
Best Vocalist
Best Frontman
And Album of the Year for “Black September”

Voting polls are officially open on www.heavyfrequency.com, and close on Jan. 27th. The band is extremely honored for the nominations, and would like to extend a public thank you to those who voted, and ask that you cast your vote for them in at least one category.

The award ceremony will be held in the lavish Overland Park convention center on Sunday, February 11.

Other great Kansas City nominated bands include MOIRE, OUT OF THE SUFFERING, AT THE LEFT HAND OF GOD, THE LEO PROJECT, & INSIGNIFICA.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW

Read the full article at Sin's Metal News.

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Deinonychus Finish Recording, Reveal Tracklisting

Dutch doom/death metal outfit DEINONYCHUS has posted the following statement about the new album:

"So it is done...

Back from Italy...the recordings of Deinonychus' forthcoming full-length album has been finished.

The following songs appear on the album:

01. Krematorium
02. Carpet Bombing
03. Manoeuvre East
04. NaPola
05. MG-34
06. False Flag
07. Nerve Agent
08. Morphium

In the coming month's we'll work on a proper lay-out for the album, as a release is sheduled for April 2007 by My Kingdom Music from Italy.

From January on we'll upload some excerpts each month up to the release of the album!"

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Purified In Blood Breaks Up

Norwegian metal/thrash outfit Purified In Blood has called it quits. Reasons behind the move haven't been disclosed. Formed in 2003, the group has released material with Alveran Records, Abacus Recordings, and New Eden Records.

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The Banner and Bela Kiss Tour Dates

The Banner and Bela Kiss will tour together this month. Here are the tour dates:

1/11 Poughkeepsie NY @ Club Crannel
1/12 Torrington CT @ Torrington Sons of Italy Hall
1/13 Sandown NH @ Sandown Town Hall
1/14 Saratoga Springs NY @ The SSCC
1/16 Detroit MI @ The Hayloft Liquor Stand
1/17 Cleveland OH @ Pirates Cove/Peabodys Complex
1/18 TBA
1/19 Danville VA @ Plan B
1/20 Wilmington NC @ Lucky's Pub
1/21 Jacksonville FL @ Thee Imperial
1/22 Miami FL @ The Dogpund
1/23 Orlando FL @ Haven
1/24 Tallahassee FL @ TBA
1/25 Augusta GA @ Sector 7g
1/26 Virginia Beach VA @ The Epicenter

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Dawn Of Azazel Announce More Shows

New Zealand death metal band Dawn of Azazel has issued an update following the band’s Australian and New Zealand tour with Deicide:

“Presently we are recuperating, nursing our livers and catching up on sleep after returning from our Australian/New Zealand tour with Deicide. This has definitely been the most enjoyable and sickest tour we have been a part of. We played to over 3,600 people over the six shows, the crowd reaction was exceptional, and it was amazing exposure for us across the Tasman. We would like to send out 666 brutal hails and thanks to Soundworks touring for hooking us up, as well as out tour mates in Furor, Ulcerate, and, most importantly, Terrorust for all their help with musical matters and the consumption of alcohol. Last but not least we would like to thank Glen, Ralph, Steve, and Jack for being cool cunts to drink with on this tour. We hope to party with you guys again soon!”

Another major international tour in support of their latest release, “Sedition,” will be announced soon.

Live dates are as follow:

01/20/07 Sat. Valve, Wellington
01/27/07 Sat. Kings Arms, Auckland
02/03/07 Sat. Jet Set Lounge, Christchurch
02/17/07 Sat. The Studio, Auckland (with Suffocation)

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Sphere Post New MP3 Online

As previously reported, Polish death metal newcomers SPHERE (featuring ex-members of Hate, Pyorrhoea) have signed a record deal with Empire Records. Their debut album entitled "Damned Souls Rituals" will be relased in January 2007, attached to Thrash'em All Magazine. It will contain 12 songs of technical death metal.

A track entitled "Next Morning's Mass" taken from the upcoming album has been posted online at this location.

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Metallica Entering The Studio, Update on Fan Death

Launch Radio Networks reports: METALLICA is tentatively scheduled to enter the studio this month and begin recording the follow-up to 2003's "St. Anger". Although the band spent most of 2006 writing the new record and will spend a good part of early 2007 laying it down, drummer Lars Ulrich told Launch that he doesn't feel the process is taking any longer than usual. "I don't think it's taking a particularly longer time than it has, it's just that the work is spread out," he said. "The days of 16-hour studio days and six days a week, that's not really happening. We sort of come down here at, you know, nine in the morning and then we sit and work 'til we have to go pick the kids up, or 'til somebody has to go to the dentist or something, you know (laughs)."

More...

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Testament Announce "The Spitfire Collection"

Testament's classic late '80s/early '90s period has been well documented over the years by several compilations. However, the group's latter era has thus far slipped through the cracks as far as compilations go. In February, this will change, as 'The Spitfire Collection' will be issued.

Consisting of tracks from such Spitfire/Testament titles as 'The Gathering,' 'Demonic,' 'Live at the Fillmore,' 'First Strike Still Deadly,' and 'Live in London,' the fourteen track set chronicles an era that ultimately saw the original Testament reunite for a successful 2005 tour. As a result, 'The Spitfire Collection' features both live versions of such Testament classics as 'Practice What You Preach,' 'Over the Wall,' and 'Souls of Black,' as well as such oft-overlooked studio tracks as 'Careful What You Wish For' and 'The Burning Times.' With such bands as Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax introducing the world to thrash metal during the 1980's, Testament was one of the few second wave thrash bands to make a strong impression on the charts - resulting in such renowned releases as 1988's 'New Order,' 1989's 'Practice What You Preach,' 1990's 'Souls of Black,' and 1992's 'The Ritual.'

TRACKS LISTING FOR 'THE SPITFIRE COLLECTION':
The New Order
Souls of Black
Practice What You Preach
Hatreds Rise
The Burning Times
John Doe
Careful What You Wish For
Down for Life
Riding the Snake
Over the Wall
The Preacher
Into the Pit
Trial by Fire
Disciples of the Watch

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Coalesce Record Two More Songs For Final Release

Coalesce was in the studio last week recording two songs they wrote last summer. The tracks will appear on a final book/7"/DVD release from the group, likely to be available through Second Nature Recordings later this year. A brief clip from one of the songs can be heard here. Frontman Sean Ingram has released the following update:

"On Dec 28th and 29th Coalesce was in action at Black Lodge Studios. Back during the Hellfest fiasco, We ended up writing a couple of songs. We were thinking of either just doing Coalesce again, or starting under a new name due to a couple things... one being how demanding anything with the name "Coalesce" would be due to our torrid history, and two, I have nothing lyrically to add to any Coalesce project. My anger and angst, and hatred and whatever else I drew from to make those songs, it's completely tapped out and no where to be found. We decided we were too old and busy to do either, but the 2 songs were written. We almost let them disappear until we realized that our DVD footage is terrible at best, and the one thing we really wanted to send this band off with, was a completely old school 7" release complete with a book of pictures, stories, tab, whatever, all of it. So that is what we have planned, and have been working on. So in short, we are making a book/7"/DVD as the last thing for Coalesce and want to put it out ourselves with some help from our best friend Dan Second Nature we hope. It's been a blast to say the least. Not only have 2 of the coolest Coalesce songs come out of this, but we've all rebuilt our friendships, and that's the absolutely best thing about all of this.

"For the songs, we settled on 2, and putting as much coalesce weirdness into each as possible. The first song starts out with a very punk or even NIN drum beat, and then stays upbeat for most of the song. It goes into an annoying screeching part, and Jes even pulled out Ed's electric sitar for that. The second song is a little more traditional Coalesce and has one of the best breakdown finales I think I have ever heard.

"The Instrumental tracks are all done, and I get to go back in to work with Ed on Feb. 20th to lay down all vocals and then go to final mix. I completely need the time because the band rewrote one of the songs from scratch the night before they recorded, and as Nate says, “I need a road map to find my way around this song." Below is a little few second clip to get a taste of what's to come. I'm very excited. I only hope my final lyrics ever for this project do justice to the creativity and talent Jes and the Nates put into these songs."

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Arsis Drummer Departs Band

Arsis drummer Michael Van Dyne, a founding member of the group, has left the band for personal reasons. He has tentatively been replaced by Darren Cesca (Burn In Silence, Goratory).

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Embrace The End Regroups With New Members

After losing three members in November, Embrace The End has regrouped with a new line-up. Here's an update from the band:

"We are happy to inform all of you who care that we have a solid line-up once more. It's been a couple months with a lot of try-outs and but thankfully we have found a couple guys that fit in perfectly with what we're trying to do. So we'd like to officially welcome Daniel (ex-Five Victims Four Graves, Paper City skyline) and Spencer (Cyanide Era) to the family. We should be playing shows again in a couple months and we are throwing all of our time and hearts into writing a new record. The new guys are amazing so be sure and keep a look out for that, you won't be disappointed. Anyways, thanks always for the support and we'll catch you at the rock show."

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