Metal News for October 28, 2007
Last updated on October 4, 2025 at 3:07 AM ET
We post metal news every day, throughout the day, covering thousands of metal bands including underground and unsigned bands. You are currently browsing the news archive, but you can also find news by band.
Hot Topics
- Kreator To Release New Album In January
- Enthroned To Release New Album In December
- Spite Premiere New Single & Music Video
- Carcosa (AngelMaker) Premiere New Single & Video
- Agnostic Front Premiere New Single & Lyric Video
- Potato Premiere New Single & Music Video "YUGE PP"
- Omnium Gatherum Drops "Walking Ghost Phase" Video
- Tailgunner Signs With Napalm Records
- Messa Shares New Music Video "Reveal"
- Stellar Circuits Premiere New Single & Music Video
32 news articles posted on this day.
Nick Barker To Join Gorgoroth On Upcoming Tour?
According to BW&BK sources, Nick Barker (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, CRADLE OF FILTH, TESTAMENT) will play drums on Gorgoroth's upcoming tour across Europe beginning November 2007. In addition to Nick, guitarist Teloch (NIDINGR, UMORAL, 1349) will again return to Gorgoroth's live assault, while guitarist Sykelig completes the group's 2007 live line up. Rehearsals for the European tour will begin in Gorgoroth's home town of Bergen, Norway beginning this week.
As previously reported, Gaahl and King, who are embroiled in a legal dispute with former guitarist Infernus, have enlisted none other than Hellhammer (MAYHEM, Dimmu Borgir) to join them on drums beginning in 2008. More...
Malummeh Post a New Song Online
Finnish metallers MALUMMEH have posted a new song, "Unbidden", on their MySpace page. The track comes off the group's debut album, "Revival", which is scheduled for release on November 7 via Spinefarm Records. The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Intro
02. Revival
03. Turning Point
04. Bipolarity
05. Open Your Eyes
06. Cross the Lines
07. Unbidden
08. Buried In Our Heads
09. Make You Bleed
10. Here To Reign
11. In Denial More...
Children of Bodom Bassist Issues Recording Update
Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM recently entered Petrax Studio in Hollola, Finland with producer Mikko Karmila to begin recording their new album for an April 7, 2008 European release via Spinefarm Records. The CD, which will feature a guest appearance by Peter Tägtgren of HYPOCRISY and PAIN fame, will be preceded by a single on March 3, 2008. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Pray for the Devil", "Good Morning Roadkill" and "Tie My Rope".
CHILDREN OF BODOM bassist Henkka T. Blacksmith has checked in with the following studio update:
"Now the guitars are mostly done!! There's only a couple of melodies missing, but anyway, we start recording bass tracks now, and then continue later with missing guitars. Janne [Wirman; keyboards] will also start recording his things now! Some guitar heroes were visiting the studio one day. Don't know what happened though, if they did any contribution to our album. Some banjos or what-have-yous were seen played at some point. I guess the cops had something to say also. And Mikko eats his booze nowadays."
CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho has told Revolver magazine that he plunged into an alcohol stupor that lasted several months following the completion of the band's two-year tour in support of 2005's "Are You Dead Yet?" "I was so tired of everything and everybody," he said. "I was just like, 'Fuck this, I'm going to get drunk."
"I was in a really aggressive mood, so I think the songs are thrashier and faster than the ones on 'Are You Dead Yet?'" Laiho added. "It's a faster album, but some of it is more progressive. You'll just have to hear it."
Salt The Wound Seek New Vocalist
Rotten Records’ SALT THE WOUND are searching for a new vocalist. If you’re interested/want to know what the requirements are, you can check here.
Die Pigeon Die Release Upcoming Shows Dates
Australian grinders DIE PIGEON DIE have lined up the following upcoming shows:
December 1 - Melbourne @ The Arthouse w/ The Kill, Captain Cleanoff, Roskopp
December 15 - Melbourne @ The Pony w/ Fuck…I’m Dead, Shagnum, Super Fun Happy Slide
You can find out more about the band, and check out some songs off their upcoming new album Ripped From V to A, online here.
Deep Purple Drummer Confirm Italian Live Date
According to DEEP PURPLE fan-site Thehighwaystar.com), drummer Ian Paice will play a gig in Italy in December with a band called MADE. Details are as follows:
Date: December 6
Venue: Discoteca “Le Blanc”, Lungomare Adriatico, Sottomarina (Venezia)
Tickets: 15 Euro, with dinner (pizza): 30 Euro
For more information and to book tickets call +39 328.4667104, +39 339.6458835 or +39 041.5540310, or visit www.lesfollies.it.
The Monolith Deathcult Reveal New Album Details
Dutch death merchants THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT are set to release the follow-up to their 2005 offering The White Crematorium. The new album is entitled Triumvirate and will be released on February 15th, 2008 through Twilight-Vertrieb. The album was recorded with producer Pascal Altena at Ground Zero studios.
The tracklisiting for Triumvirate is as follows: 'Deus Ex Machina', 'Wrath Of The Ba'ath', 'Demigod', 'Kindertodeslied', 'M.M.F.D.', 'I
Spew Thee Out Of My Mouth', 'Master Of The Bryansk Forest' and 'Den Ensomme Nordens Dronning'.
Believer Post Three New Demo Songs Online
Reactivated late '80s/early '90s technical-thrash metal band BELIEVER has posted three brand new "pre-production" snippets on its newly launched MySpace page.
Commented guitarist/vocalist Kurt Bachman: "It appears that the big questions are 'Where have you guys been?' and 'What's up with the new material?' To make a long story short, following the release of 'Dimensions' we decided to take an indefinite break and this had nothing to do with Roadrunner's support. They were very generous to us and we have nothing but fond memories of the work we did together. I decided to pursue another interest in biomedical research, particularly cancer genetics and therapy while Joey [Daub, drums] pursued other musical interests that resulted in FOUNTAIN OF TEARS. I was quite honored when asked to help out with the FOT production and it was great hanging with them in the studio. During this time, Joey and I began throwing around the idea of getting together at his studio, just for fun. Needless to say we had a great time and came up with some cool riffs. The next several months we would only get together a few times because of travel distance and busy schedules. I then decided to take a new research position that brought me closer to the studio. This is when the writing really started. We set up in my basement (shown in the video) and also moved some of my equipment to Joey's. The result will be a new BELIEVER recording." More...
Watch Serj Tankian Cover The Beatles' 'Girl'
Fan-filmed video footage of SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian performing a cover of THE BEATLES' "Girl" on October 22, 2007 at The Granada Theater in Dallas, Texas can be viewed here.
In a recently interview with Live Daily, Serj was asked which covers was going to be performing on his current tour. "One of the covers I'm doing is [the DEAD KENNEDYS'] 'Holiday in Cambodia', which I did with the FOO FIGHTERS at the VMAs," he said. "I figured, 'Hey, if I'm going to get that down and learn it, I might as well have the band learn it as well.' For the other one, I asked the band, 'Do you guys know any songs? Any cool covers we could play?' The pianist was like, 'I could do 'Girl' by THE BEATLES.' I'm like, 'All right, let's try it.' We kind of tweaked it our own way and it came out kind of funny." More...
Watch Skid Row Footage From Sayreville Show Online
Fan-filmed video footage of SKID ROW performing the song "Piece of Me" this past summer at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey can be viewed here.
SKID ROW's latest album, "Revolutions Per Minute", was released on October 24, 2006 via SPV Records. The follow-up to 2003's "ThickSkin" was recorded at WireWorld studio in Nashville, Tennessee with Michael Wagener, who previously worked with the band on their two most commercially successful albums to date, "Skid Row" (1989) and "Slave to the Grind" (1991). More...
Hirax Confirmed For Long Live Metal Festival
HIRAX and SACRED STEEL are among the confirmed acts for the Long Live Metal Festival, set to take place Saturday, May 10, 2008 at La Boite à Musiques in Wattrelos, France. The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
HIRAX (USA)
SACRED STEEL (GER)
THE BOTTLE DOOM LAZY BAND (FRA)
RELEASED ANGER (GRE)
LONEWOLF (FRA)
PORTRAIT (SWE)
EXCALIBUR (FRA)
HIRAX played two successful shows last month in Germany and France with new second lead guitarist Tim Thomas, formerly of STEEL PROPHET and AGENT STEEL, as well as returning drummer Fabricio Ravelli.
HIRAX's new EP, "Chaos and Brutality", has just been released throughout Europe on Poland's Selfmadegod Records. The four-song EP was recorded in February 2007 at Shiva Industries in California. It includes the title track along with a re-recorded version of "Walk with Death" from the band's 2001 EP "Barrage of Noise", the instrumental "100,000 Strong" and "Lucifer's Infierno Reprise", an arrangement which HIRAX recently revamped and plays live.
HIRAX is currently writing and rehearsing new material for a full-length album titled "El Rostro de la Muerte" / "The Face of Death". The album's cover will feature artwork by Ed Repka, the undisputed king of thrash metal art.
HIRAX played two exclusive dates in Europe at the end of last month, including a September 30 appearance at La Boite À Musiques in Wattrelos, France.
Obsidian Enlist Disavowed Guitarist
Dutch death metallers OBSIDIAN have issued the following update:
"The cat is out of the bag and it's name is Gerben. We are pleased to announce that Gerben, guitar player of DISAVOWED, has joined Obsidian! We have begun practicing and Glen (Loupias) is helping Gerben how tune a bass guitar. Soon you can admire this handsome lad on a stage near you."
The Shotgun Suicides Issue Debut Album
THE SHOTGUN SUICIDES - the new Chicago, Illinois-based death metal band featuring former ENFORSAKEN guitarist Steve Stell - have released their debut album, A Glorious Tragedy, via Soulside Records.
The tracklisting is as follows: '2018', 'This Tortured Spirit', 'Stabwound Serenade', 'Here Lies The Warrior', 'Bloodwall', 'End It All', 'A Glorious Tragedy', 'Erasing Tomorrow', 'Die For Me', 'Funeral Winds'.
Watch Metallica's Entire Acoustic Performance
Fan-filmed video footage of METALLICA's acoustic performance last night (Saturday, October 27) at the 21st annual Bridge School Benefit at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California can be viewed here. Photos of the band's show can be found at Photographn.com.
The group's setlist was as follows:
01. I Just Want To Celebrate (RARE EARTH)
02. Please Don't Judas Me (NAZARETH)
03. Only Happy When It Rains (GARBAGE)
04. Brothers In Arms (DIRE STRAITS)
05. Disposable Hereos
06. All Within My Hands
07. Turn The Page (BOB SEGER)
08. Nothing Else Matters More...
Def Leppard's Guitarist To Play Soccer For Charity
DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell will play for the Hollywood United soccer team when it goes up against the Los Angeles Galaxy in a special charity match on November 4 at 5:00 p.m. on the campus of California State University - Dominguez Hills. All proceeds from the match, including donations collected on the day of the game, will go to the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army to aid in their efforts to assist those affected by the wildfires. The Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation will also raise funds through a silent auction at the stadium, featuring autographed Galaxy and other sports memorabilia as well as items contributed by Hollywood United. These items include a signed guitar from Vivian, a "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" script signed by Michael Douglas, and a "Without A Trace" script signed by star Anthony LaPaglia.
Commented Vivian: "Who knows, maybe I get to swap shirts with David Beckham after the game and we can auction that, too."
For more information, visit MSLnet.com.
Watch A Clip From The Black Metal Documentary
New York filmmakers Audrey Ewell and Aaron Aites are currently editing their forthcoming Norwegian Black Metal documentary Until The Light Takes Us. A small video clip from the documentary featuring BURZUM mainman Varg Vikernes can be viewed here. More...
Within Temptation Recieve Dutch TMF Awards
Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION have issued the following update:
"Great news! After winning a Belgian TMF Award two weeks ago, we picked up another two at the Dutch TMF Awards last night in the categories Best Live Act and Best Video! We got these thanks to your votes, so thanks a lot for that.
"2007 has been a great year for us, playing live is what we love the most, so receiving two awards for Best Live Act is a big honor. Thanks again, we hope to see you soon!"
WITHIN TEMPTATION's video for the group's latest single, "All I Need" can be viewed here. More...
Skyclad Issues 2007 Recap
British "folk metal" act SKYCLAD has issued the following update:
"Seeing as the site has been quiet for a while, we thought we should post a little note here to keep everyone informed as to all things SKYCLAD as we head towards the end of 2007. It has been, when all is said and done, quite a quiet and 'steady as you go' sort of year with just the usual round of gigs and festivals happening.
"There have been a few high points and a few 'firsts' that are worth mentioning, from playing some songs for the first time — such as 'Helium' and 'Bury Me' (both at the request of the relevant promoters for the Dong Open Air and the Metieval Fest respectively). It was the first time for the Metieval Fest in Beverley, in fact, and we look forward to returning there. There was also the first visit by SKYCLAD to Moscow, Russia. This happened just a few weeks ago and (once we all got over the colds and got our equipment back — again) it was a great experience, Again, hopefully one we'll repeat." More...
TNT Plan New Album For Next Year
In a post on the band's official fan forum, TNT vocalist Tony Mills (ex-SHY) has stated that the band is planning to start work on a new album in April of next year, with a tentative release around October. As previously reported, Mills is also working on his upcoming solo release that has been delayed due to his current work load with TNT. The album is expected by spring of 2008.
Dave Mustaine And Ronnie Dio Talk Life And More
MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine and HEAVEN AND HELL's Ronnie James Dio recently told Christopher Toh of TodayOnline.com that they are just two ordinary guys who'd have been a teacher and an author, respectively, if they weren't rockers.
Dio spends time in his studio, where he "can write music and stuff." "I'm also a sports addict. I love watching sports," he says. "I can't sit around with nothing to do. I need to get things done, otherwise I get complacent."
Mustaine likes to spend time with his kids. "I played golf with my son for his high school tournament," he says. "It was his first time and I hadn't played in a long time. It was pretty good! We didn't finish in last place."
On the secret to staying married longer than Britney Spears did:
Dio: "There is no secret. It's all about finding the right person. I'm lucky because my wife is my manager, and she's the most daring and brilliant person I know. I'd be a fool to throw that away. I know she's always going to be my dearest friend. If I'm on a sinking ship and have to choose between two people? I would always save her first."
Mustaine: "Being married to somebody you're attracted to, somebody who's special — they're going to want to be treated special, and they deserve to be treated special."
On whether they get bored:
Dio: "Maybe the travelling bit, like flying long distance. But that's not boring, that's annoying. We're doing what makes us happy, and it should never be boring."
Mustaine: "I'd be lying if I said I don't get bored. Sometimes, when you're waiting to play and you've got a crappy band playing before you, it's like having your hand slammed in the door of a car. So, if I'm playing at a festival and I don't like the bands playing, I walk miles away."
On being raised to be level-headed:
Dio: "My parents brought me up really well — that kept me level-headed even when all the success happened. I never thought myself better than others. I can't fix a car, so I can't be better than a mechanic, right? I have problems like everyone else. It's just I'm very much in control of what I do."
On their life philosophy:
Dio: "Heaven and hell are here (on earth) and you have a choice to take either route. There is no afterlife ... this is my trial time, and I can choose to be evil or an angel."
Mustaine: "I'm a happy guy who has been very blessed. I'm confident, but people mistake it as arrogance. If confidence is arrogance, then I'm f***ing arrogant."
On how long they want to keep on rocking:
Dio: "When I can't give the same level I expect from myself, that's when I won't do this anymore."
Mustaine: "Hopefully, I'll still be doing what I do because I feel I've done it with self-restraint and dignity. But I think other guys should've stopped years ago! I know it's an arrogant thing to say, but why spend your life in a tour bus when you have children? Why not enjoy your legendary stature and go off into the sunset with that legacy?"
If they weren't going to be rockers…:
Mustaine: "I love teaching children. I used to teach martial arts to little kids at a school — but the instructor there was jealous because all the parents were asking me to teach their kids and not him!"
Dio: "I'm writing a book, so if you wanna know the truth about everything, it's going to be in there. It's going to be very funny … I hope! But no telling tales. I'm not going to hang (out) dirty laundry about anyone. If I was going to do that, I'd have a reality TV show."
New Audio Interview With Fozzy Frontman Posted
A nine-minute audio interview with Chris Jericho — lead vocalist for FOZZY and former WWE wrestling champion — conducted this past week by "The BJ Shea Morning Experience" on the Seattle station 99.9 KISW, has been posted online at this location.
In a July 2007 interview with The Baltimore Sun, Jericho had the following to say about FOZZY's current status: "We did a lot of touring last year in the UK. We've actually made a good name for ourselves in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. We toured there five times between February '05 and February '06. We also toured Australia, Germany, Canada and a little bit in the States. We did kind of a world tour. Once you do that, in order to tour again, you have to work on a new record. That's where we're at right now. I've already written all the lyrics for it and the guys in the band are starting to come up with some riffs. But they [some of the other members of FOZZY] have another band called STUCK MOJO that they've been touring with all summer, so it goes back and forth. It's kind of on hold just until we can get time together to start working on a new record. We're very fortunate. The last record did a lot for us and it was cool because we got to headline at a lot of big places, especially in England. We played at the London Astoria three times and sold it out all three times, and that's a famous venue. THE BEATLES played the Astoria. IRON MAIDEN played the Astoria. Some really big bands still play there to this day, so just to go to places like that and sell them out and tear the house down, it's like you put a little checkmark by that knowing that, 'Well, we did that.' It's cool to know that you've been vindicated and know that the band got big enough to do that basically on our own with not a lot of help from anybody."
Chris Jericho has just released "A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex" (Grand Central Publishing). The autobiography focuses on the early days of his wrestling and performing career.
Chris is in the middle of a book-signing tour that will take him through the middle of November.
FOZZY recently released a collection of never-before-heard demos, early mixes and instrumental versions taken from guitarist Rich "The Duke" Ward's personal library.
FOZZY's third album, "All That Remains", was released in January 2005 via SPV Records. A video for the album's first single, "Enemy", was filmed in San Diego, CA in December 2004 with director/British filmmaker Paul Hough.
"All That Remains" was produced by Rick Beato (SHINEDOWN, CHARLIE MARS, INGRAM HILL) and features guest performances by guitar legends Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY), Marty Friedman (ex-MEGADETH), and Mark Tremonti (CREED, ALTER BRIDGE). Gold-record-selling rap artist BONE CRUSHER also makes a special guest appearance on the record.
Grind Inc. Sign With Twilight Vertrieb
German death metallers GRIND INC. have inked a deal with Twilight Vertrieb for the release of their third album, "Sudden State of Hate", tentatively due in early 2008. The follow-up to 2006's "Inhale the Violence" is being recorded at Ezy Soundz Studio in Krefeld and will include such tracks as "Voice of Premonition", "To Descendants", "Hole in the Ground", "Sudden State of Hate", "Collateral Body Count" and "Certifiably Insane". The artwork is being created by Björn Goosses of Killustrations.com.
GRIND INC. started out in 2001 as a side project of HATE FACTOR and NIGHT IN GALES members. The point was "to make the most brutal music possible without neglecting groove and having shitloads of fun," according to the band's official bio. The group's debut album, "Executed", was released in May 2005.
For more information, visit www.grindinc666.de.
Commander Update Tour Schedule
German death metal act COMMANDER have completed nine songs for their forthcoming album, The Enemies We Create. Some song titles include 'My Worst Enemy', 'Vengeful Angel', 'At Any Cost' and 'The Enemies We Create'.
In other news, the band has updated their tour schedule. It is now as follows:
October
31 - Freising, Germany - Lindenkeller
November
1 - Luzern, Switzerland - Sedel
2 - Lustenau, Austria - Culture Factory
3 - Uster, Switzerland - Rock City
16 - Jena, Germany - Rosenkeller
17 - München, Germany - TitanicCity (Bad Land Festival 2007)
23 - Waldsassen, Germany - Turnhalle
24 - Kiel, Germany - Kielowatt
December
14 - Rosenheim, Germany - Blackout
Ayreon Present "Three Mystery Keyboardists..."
AYREON's webmaster has issued the following update:
"More guessing fun, and also the very last 'guessing round' we'll have for this album (but don't hold me to this, please). Beside guest guitarists, Arjen also invited keyboard players for the new Ayreon album. Check the link for an MP3 to hear the Three Mystery Keyboardists. Have fun!"
Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen recently revealed that the new album, due out in January 2008, will be titled 01011001. The album will feature the following vocalists: PAIN OF SALVATION's Daniel Gildenlöw, BLIND GUARDIAN's Hansi Kürsch, former THE GATHERING singer Anneke van Giersbergen (AGUA DE ANNIQUE), Jonas P. Renske (KATATONIA), Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN), Tom S. Englund (EVERGREY), Ty Tabor (KING'S X), Magali Luyten (VIRUS IV), Simone Simons (EPICA), Liselotte Hegt (DIAL), Phideaux Xavier, AFTER FOREVER frontwoman Floor Jansen, GOTTHARD's Steve Lee, Dutch hip-hop/soul artist WUDSTIK, ELISTER's Marjan Welman and Lucassen himself. More...
Unjust Post New Music Online
Three new UNJUST tracks — "In Search of a Ghost", "We Be Robots" and "The Cloud Collectors" — have been posted on the band's MySpace page. All three songs are expected to appear on the San Francisco Bay Area band's upcoming fourth album, entitled "To Lose a Name". The CD was once again recorded with producer/engineer Mark Keaton (MACHINE HEAD, ONE MAN ARMY, MR. T EXPERIENCE, KGB) at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California.
UNJUST's last album, "Glow", was released through indie label Koolarrow Records, the brainchild of former FAITH NO MORE bassist Billy Gould.
Joey Belladonna Comments On Rejoining Anthrax
"The Classic Metal Show" recently conducted an interview with ex-ANTHRAX vocalist Joey Belladonna. When asked about the persistent rumor that he is once again working with ANTHRAX as they move forward on their new album, Joey said, "I don't know much about that kind of stuff. I don't know where that comes from, to be honest with you. There is a rumor going around. I see that. It's interesting when that stuff pops up." In response to the suggestion that ANTHRAX may "wise up" and bring him back, Belladonna said, "Well, my answer to that is we never really had to go through this phase. They could have just left it alone. Granted, they had fun doing whatever they did for the five records without me, but they could have just eliminated all of this malarkey if they wanted to."
Joey has lined up several solo dates during the coming weeks, including a few shows in the UK in December and an appearance with TWISTED SISTER at The Filmore at Irving Plaza in New York City on December 21.
Belladonna last year made three full albums' worth of solo material available for paid download via his official web site.
Commented Joey: "These songs are assorted experiments that I have done and are varied in style. They are sort of 'one-offs,' basically just songs that I wanted to record for fun."
Ozzy Auctioning Quad Bike That Nearly Killed Him
According to People.co.uk, Ozzy Osbourne is auctioning the quad bike that nearly killed him.
The 350cc Banshee still has a dented front bar and split rear guard from the 2003 accident.
It is expected to fetch £1,500 (approximately $3,000) in a sale of memorabilia by the star and his wife/manager Sharon. Ozzy, 58, who broke several bones in the crash at his Buckinghamshire estate, said: "I don't know why we're selling everything — I want it all. But Sharon says if we don't get rid of some stuff our house will fucking explode."
Bidding starts on November 30 in Beverly Hills. Some proceeds will go to Sharon's colon cancer charity.
Among the items is the wig she wore while having chemo for the disease.
As previously reported, Ozzy has announced that he will donate all of his net profits from a November 30 show in Los Angeles to the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program. According to a press release, that will include money from both ticket and merchandise sales. In addition, 50 cents of every ticket sold to the Staples Center concert will also go to the cause, which was founded by Osbourne's wife and manager Sharon after her own public battle with colon cancer.
The Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer program works with the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where Sharon was treated, to improve the lives of patients and their loved ones by providing at-home help, childcare, transportation, access to support groups and patient care services.
Information on the disease and the program will be available at booths set up for the Staples Center show.
The concert, which marks Ozzy Osbourne's first headlining arena appearance in Los Angeles in six years, is part of a 40-date tour which kicked off on October 18 in Seattle. Ozzy headlined the annual Ozzfest this past summer.
Ozzy is touring in support of "Black Rain", which was released earlier this year and is his first new album
Metallica Covers Dire Straits And More At Benefit
METALLICA played the first of two acoustic performances last night (Saturday, October 27) at the 21st annual Bridge School Benefit at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. The group's setlist was as follows:
01. I Just Want To Celebrate (RARE EARTH)
02. Please Don't Judas Me (NAZARETH)
03. Only Happy When It Rains (GARBAGE)
04. Brothers In Arms (DIRE STRAITS)
05. Disposable Hereos
06. All Within My Hands
07. Turn The Page
08. Nothing Else Matters
In his review of last night's concert, Shay Quillen of The Mercury News wrote, "The metal superstars, performing their only U.S. show of the year in front of an audience plentifully stocked with die-hard fans of the band, sat down on their stools and prompted jaws to drop throughout the amphitheater by opening with the 1971 Motown hit 'I Just Want to Celebrate'.
"'Bridge School shocker,' said singer-guitarist James Hetfield as the song concluded. 'METALLICA goes acoustic and funk.' But that wasn't the half of it. They followed that curveball with a wildly eclectic trio of covers — NAZARETH ('Please Don't Judas Me'), GARBAGE ('I'm Only Happy When It Rains') and DIRE STRAITS ('Brothers in Arms') — before finally tackling a couple of METALLICA songs, 'Disposable Heroes' and 'All Within My Hands'. The band's familiar cover of BOB SEGER's 'Turn the Page' followed, before the band wrapped up the set and the first day with its own 'Nothing Else Matters' about 20 minutes after midnight.
"The combination baffled Bridge School regulars while it frustrated the METALLICA faithful. The band would have been better served by picking just one of the covers — ideally 'Brothers in Arms', which featured some nice guitar work from Kirk Hammett — and using the remaining time to explore more METALLICA material in the stripped-down acoustic setting. Hetfield's interpretive singing is not the band's strong suit."
METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told Examiner.com in a new interview that the band's upcoming album will be "heavier" yet more "melodic" than 2003's controversial "St. Anger". Ulrich explained, "Whereas 'St. Anger' was an exercise in over-pummeling the listener, these new songs echo some of our stuff from the '80s — long, epic journeys through different musical landscapes, heavier, but a lot more melodic." When asked whether the new songs will be shorter, in the four-to-five minute range, Ulrich said, "Well, the most of the intros are four to five minutes. I don't know — METALLICA and short songs just don't go that well together."
Although none of the songs have official titles yet, Ulrich revealed that some of the "silly" working titles included "19", "10", "German Soup", "Glass Cow" and "Black Squirrel". Ulrich said the names "relate to where the idea came from, like Glasgow, Scotland became 'Glass Cow'. And when we don't have anything clever to call it, we just call it a number."
The new METALLICA album is tentatively due out in February of 2008.
New Wolf Fan Myspace Set Up
Sweden's WOLF now have a US-based MySpace fan site up and running. Check it out at www.myspace.com/wolfusafansite.
As previously reported, Wolf is confirmed as co-headliner for the Uppsala Thrashfest which takes place in Uppsala, Sweden, at Ungdomens Hus on the November 23rd. Other acts on the bill include: F.K.Ü., MARTIN MISSY AND THE PROTECTORS, TRIBULATION, MISTER GREEN, CORRUPT, DR. LIVING DEAD, IMMACULATE, IN SOLITUDE, PYROTOXIC, HEADED FOR DISASTER, UNDERGÅNG, DEGIAL, DIVIDER, DEFORMED, ELIMINATION, WASTER.
Mourning Beloveth Reveal New Album Details
Irish doom titans MOURNING BELOVETH have issued the following update:
"We have just finished recording album number four, and first with bass player Brendan Roche. Recording sessions were held over two weeks in the now-familiar surrounds of Studio E with Markus Stock at the helm.
"The album contains five songs and has a running time of 56 minutes. The track list for 'A Disease for the Ages' is:
01. The Sickness
02. Trace Decay
03. Primeval Rush
04. The Burning Man
05. Poison Beyond All
"Sound-wise the album is similar to 'A Murderous Circus' but two extra guitar tracks this time has beefed the rhythm creating a huge wall of sound. Musically the songs are very direct and we have cut off the flab that appeared on 'A Murderous Circus'. Combining the organic feel of 'Dust' with the density of 'The Sullen Sulcus' and some of the experimentation of 'A Murderous Circus' along with an aggressive undertone only hinted at previously we feel we have come up with the sound track for our deconstruction.
"The album is due for a February release. Artwork will be completed by Lukasz ('A Murderous Circus') in the coming weeks.
"To follow the album in March we will have a ten day tour of Europe taking in three dates in Finland, Czech Republic, Holland, Germany, Belgium and France so check your local press for details. All of our live performances are now being booked through Lugga Promotions run by our friend and ex-bass player Adrian.
"As is the norm now during recording to break the monotony we played at the Way Of Darkness festival in Bamberg. The time slot of 3pm wasn't great as it was still daylight but we played a good 35-minute set considering the drunken excursions the previous night. It was also good to see some unsigned Irish bands, namely MASS EXTINCTION and GROUND OF RUIN, play at WOD and here's to seeing more Irish bands brave the European circuit before too long."
MOURNING BELOVETH's last CD, "A Murderous Circus", came out in 2005.
Bullet For My Valentine Reveal New Album Title
Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE have set "Scream, Aim and Fire" as the title of their new album, according to Revolver magazine. The follow-up to 2005's "The Poison" was recorded at Sonic Ranch studios near El Paso, Texas with producer Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, FEAR FACTORY, NAPALM DEATH) and will contain 11 songs, all of which frontman Matthew Tuck describes as "really melodic heavy metal. It's not 'The Poison II'; but at the same time it's got everything that you'd expect BULLET to have — really catchy, hooky choruses and full-on vocals, and the music is very much in-your-face and heavy. We've still got songs that are like 'Tears Don't Fall', but they're much more '80s-arena influenced. It's stuff that in 10 years' time will probably be really uncool to listen to; but in 20 years' time it's going to be the best thing ever," he laughed.
Tuck added, "The majority of the album is in a totally new gear for us. We're a band that doesn't see the point in standing still or doing the same thing twice, you know? The only thing we could do was completely blow 'The Poison' out of the water, and we think we've done that."
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE recently shot a video for the song "Scream, Aim and Fire" in Australia. Video director Frank Borin described the clip for "Scream, Aim, Fire" as "a social commentary about the facade of war and the deceitful tactics used to recruit the young men of our country."
"The Poison" has sold 336,000 copies in the United States since coming out in February of 2006 (the CD was issued in Europe in October 2005), according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Children Of Bodom Frontman Promises Faster Album
CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho has told Revolver magazine that he plunged into an alcohol stupor that lasted several months following the completion of the band's two-year tour in support of 2005's "Are You Dead Yet?" "I was so tired of everything and everybody," he said. "I was just like, 'Fuck this, I'm going to get drunk."
CHILDREN OF BODOM recently entered Petrax Studio in Hollola, Finland with producer Mikko Karmila to begin recording its new album for an April 7, 2008 European release via Spinefarm Records. The CD, which will feature a guest appearance by Peter Tägtgren of HYPOCRISY and PAIN fame, will be preceded by a single on March 3, 2008. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Pray for the Devil", "Good Morning Roadkill" and "Tie My Rope".
"I was in a really aggressive mood, so I think the songs are thrashier and faster than the ones on 'Are You Dead Yet?'" Laiho said. "It's a faster album, but some of it is more progressive. You'll just have to hear it."
As previously reported, Finnish acts MOONSORROW and KIUAS have been confirmed as the support bands for CHILDREN OF BODOM at their one-off show on March 8, 2008 at London, England's Astoria.
CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho made a guest appearance the new album from the Finnish band GODSPLAGUE. He played a solo in the song "Don't Come Back" and he sings backing vocals on the CD, entitled "H8", which came out on September 5.
Two songs from CHILDREN OF BODOM — "Angels Don't Kill" and "In Your Face" — are featured on the "Unholy Alliance Tour" DVD, due on October 30 via American Recordings. The set will feature the the "Unholy Alliance Tour: Preaching to the Perverted" lineup — SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, MASTODON, CHILDREN OF BODOM and THINE EYES BLEED. The DVD will have an approximate running time of 90 minutes.
The "Unholy Alliance Tour" DVD was shot at Vancouver's General Motors Place on July 13, 2006, was directed by Adam Rothlein (Speedway Films), and boasts performance footage plus bonus material to include backstage, behind-the-scenes and one-on-one interviews, many of which were conducted by the Unholy Alliance artists themselves.
Navigate forward or backward through each day of news below: