Intronaut Get Stranded In Texas, Miss Some Shows

Due to problems with their touring van, Intronaut is currently stuck in Texas, forcing them to cancel some shows. The band has issued the following statement:

"It all begins this past Saturday night (12/9), as we were totally stoked to roll into the bustling, culture-rich metropolis of Gainesville, TX. As we merged to hit our exit from the highway, our van (a 1984 Ford Club Wagon who has braved its way across this country with us for almost 100 shows this year) decides to totally eat shit. Fortunately, we were across the street from a mechanic and less than a mile from the venue we were supposed to play. We thought we'd leave the van in the lot at the mechanic to get fixed in the morning and have our very good pals/touring mates Yakuza come pick us up and take us to the show. Not five minutes after said plans are arranged, we get a call from the Yakuza dudes saying that the promoter claimed to have dropped both us and them from the show months ago in favor of like 27 myspace.com/haircut bands. Not only was this total bullshit, but he cost both bands hundreds of dollars in gas. Luckily we have his home address in our tour itinerary and will be UPS Next Day-ing him and his parents a couple boxes of poop and used condoms.

Fast-forward to today (Monday, 12/11). We're still in BFE, TX. Apparently everyone in town here is too busy being in church, fingerbanging kids' buttholes on Sunday to fix cars, so we had to wait until this morning to even go and TALK to a mechanic. Turns out our carbeurator (sp?) is fucked and they had to order a new one, due here tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon. That'll make four days here in this hotel, living off continental breakfast, Taco Bell, and wishes and dreams of leaving this fucking shithole.

We will be forced to miss our shows in Tempe, AZ and San Marcos, CA, but should be making it to Corona to the Showcase Theatre on 12/13. Our homecoming show is Saturday, 12/16 at Live Jazz in Downtown LA and is totally FREE. Yakuza will still be on all the shows, so go see them too.

Also, if you've ever thought about ordering a Tshirt or CD from us, now would be a great time to do it, since we're burning money out here. There are links for merch up on both our website and Myspace. Thanks to everyone who has been at our shows on this long ass tour, your support makes this one obstacle easier to swallow."

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Interview

An Interview With Cutthroat's Guitarists

In conjunction with the Hammerslag Vinterblot 2006 sponsorship, I sent over some questions for Cutthroat's by email. Cutthroat's guitarists Thor Øivind and Endre have taken the time to respond. More...

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Korn Drummer On "Temporary Hiatus"

Korn taped a performance over the weekend for MTV's "Unplugged" series without drummer David Silveria, who's stepping away from the group for awhile.

"I just need a break for right now," Silveria said in a press release.

According to the group's publicist, Silveria's bandmates Jonathan Davis, Fieldy and Munky will continue to record a new Korn album that's tentatively set to hit stores in June. The group also plans to head up another edition of the Family Values Tour next summer sans Silveria, though the drummer's absence is described in a statement as a "temporary hiatus."

Meanwhile, Korn's "Unplugged" special is expected to air early next year on MTV, but a specific date hasn't been announced. Joining Korn for the "Unplugged" session were special guests The Cure and Evanescence's Amy Lee.

MTV.com has an excellent article with more info on the album and a blow-by-blow account of the unplugged session.

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Unearth, Job For A Cowboy, Despised Icon UK Tour

Unearth will tour the UK in March with Job For A Cowboy and Despised Icon. Here are the tour dates:

3/20 Exeter @ Lemon Grove
3/21 Nottigham @ Rock City
3/22 Manchester @ Academy 2
3/23 Wolverhampton @ Wolfrun Hall
3/24 London @ Mean Fiddler
3/26 Oxford @ Zodiac
3/27 Glasgow @ Garage
3/28 Stoke @ Sugarmill
3/29 Portsmouth @ Wedgewood Rooms
3/30 Newport @ TJ's

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Wolf's Hunger Finish Recording Debut Full-Length

After very positive reactions on their debut release split CDr 'Pagan Thunders' with Posmrtna Liturgija earlier this year and several successful live and festival appearances in 2006 Wolf's Hunger completed recordings for their debut full-length effort 'Osveta u Krvi,' which is to be released via Grom Records.

"Osveta u Krvi" (Retaliation in Blood) was recorded and mixed during September-November this year. "These 11 brand new songs are some of the angriest and darkest Thrash Metal to be heard from Serbia ever," comments the label in their news release. "Their kind of Metal also contains some oldschool Black Metal influences which results in some serious evil headbanging experience."

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Soil Video Interview On UVTV "In Their Own Words"

Another edition of the UVTV video biography & interview segment “In Their Own Words” with Tim King and Adam Zadel of Soil is available for viewing at the Underground Video Television website. The footage was shot at a gig at Croc Rock in Allentown PA on the band’s tour with Mushroomhead.

Tim explains how the band Soil formed, their first record deal, how the band gained popularity & their evolution to their current record signing & lineup with new singer AJ Cavelier. “We tried out a few people then AJ came out, did a few songs with us, and blew us away” Tim explains. He goes on stating “We only had tried out a few people...but we felt in our hearts he was the right guy for the job”. Both Adam and Tim also make comments regarding their tour with Mushroomhead and their upcoming European dates. Soil is gearing up for a UK tour in January 2007 and has done some dates on the Godsmack tour as of late.

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Interview

Project Independent Roundtable Interview

Project Independent has had an incredible year. Headed by CEO Jeff Totten, the National Band Search Program has recently nailed down a new distribution deal with Century Media Records. This is a major victory for the underground scene because this will allow the next Project Independent compilation CD comprised of top unsigned U.S. metal acts to finally reach the masses and yet not sacrifice the original appeal of its grass roots approach: to find the best of the best burgeoning talents working hard to make a name for themselves directly out of the hottest club venues in cities from coast to coast . I recently conducted this roundtable interview with Jeff Totten himself, along with Florida area promoter J-Rock of The Rock Solid Pressure Showcase, Erik Ulrich of I.R.A.T.E, Greg Bowman of Level Nine Entertainment and Rick of the Texas-based thrash metal band Grain to get a deeper perspective from all of these forces involved on the good, the bad and the ugly of this impressive band search program. More...

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Nevermore Post 'Born' Video Online

Century Media have posted the video for Nevermore's song "Born" on their Youtube page. Check it out here. More...

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Porcupine Tree To Get Rush And King Crimson Guests

Famed guitarists Alex Lifeson (Rush) and Robert Fripp (King Crimson) are being lined up to guest on the new album from Porcupine Tree. As yet untitled, their new album should be released in the Spring by Roadrunner (in the UK/Europe at least).

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The Burning Season Sign To Eulogy Recordings

Ohio's The Burning Season have signed to Eulogy Recordings. The band formed in early 2002 with the purpose of making melodic, heavy hardcore with a message of conviction. Their songs deal with a variety of topics; including beliefs, relationships, persevering through trials, and real friendship.

In 2005, they released their first LP The Haze Of Infatuation through Hand of Hope.

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Circa Survive Prepares To Record New Album

Circa Survive will head to Baltimore, MD next month to begin recording a new album for Equal Vision Records. The effort will be produced by Brian McTernan (Cave In, Bane) at his Salad Days Studios and will hit stores in Spring 2007. Here's the latest from the band:

"We have about a month left before we start recording our album in Baltimore with our homeboy Brian Mcternan. Excitement really isn't the word. Right now there is a dry erase board hanging in our living room with the list of songs we are preparing for the studio. It's gonna be a task trying to cut songs. As of right now we have twice as many songs as we should for an album. In the film 'True romance,' the main character Clarence is talking about his gun and says 'I've learned it's better to have one and not need it than to need one and not have it.' I suppose that's the same with all these extra songs. Except for way less blood. Word."

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Shipwreck Recording New Album

Shipwreck is currently recording their Deathwish Inc. debut. Tracking has been taking place at The Getaway Group (In Remembrance) in Massachusetts. The effort will hit streets in early-2007.

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Harlots and The Concubine Tour Dates

Harlots and The Concubine will hit the road late this month for a two-week tour. Here are the tour dates:

12/27 Newark OH @ Panda Palace w/ Trife Life
12/28 Southgate MI @ The Modern Exchange
12/29 Niles MI @ The Skunks Nest
12/30 LaPorte IN @ Java Jim's Music Theatre w/ Iscariot
12/31 Milwaukee WI @ Shorewood Legion Hall w/ Veil of Maya
1/1 St. Paul MN @ Big V's
1/2 Dubuque IA @ The Busted Lift
1/3 Kankakee IL @ Club Illusion
1/4 Iowa City IA @ The Picador w/ Terraseethe, Empires
1/5 St. Louis MO @ TBA
1/6 Bloomington IN @ Rhino's
1/7 Dayton OH @ The Nite Owl

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Stuck Mojo Release New Album For Free Download

Atlanta based rap-metal pioneers STUCK MOJO have released their eagerly awaited eighth album 'Southern Born Killers' online as a free download from their official site.

Earlier this year, lead vocalist Bonz left the band while the album was in it's final stages and new front man Lord Nelson was brought in as a replacement. The album had to be re-recorded with fresh vocals and the final version is now online.

With regards to the reasons why the full album is available for free download, guitarist and founder member Rich Ward said: "Why would we give the songs away for free? Well, we've been recording records for free for almost twelve years now anyway! Of course it wasn't free to you, the fans. You thought you were supporting the band as you shelled out 16 bucks to a retail store which kept five or six of those dollars for a few inches of shelf space and the rest ended up at a record company.

If you like the songs and want to own a copy of the actual 'Southern Born Killers' CD, then purchase it at StuckMojoMedia.com. This guarantees you the album at it's highest possible audio quality as well as a full-colour, 16 panel booklet, a bonus DVD featuring the new video for 'Open Season' shot by British filmmaker Simon Evans and a 20 minute behind-the-scenes documentary.

If you don't have the dollars to buy the record, then just enjoy the free downloads. Tell everyone to go to myspace.com/stuckinthemojo or StuckMojo.us and come see Stuck Mojo live when we are in your town or a town near you.

A change in the way that we, the music fans, get access to and discover new bands and music has been underway for a few years and now it seems like a revolution against the music business itself is finally on the horizon. This is a revolution that sees musicians, not the music industry, controlling the music we create and how our fans get access to it."

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The Haunted Change Plans And Support KSE

Sweden’s THE HAUNTED have announced a change in their touring schedule for 2007. Instead of doing their previously scheduled headliner tour in Europe, THE HAUNTED have just been confirmed to embark on an extensive run of shows as main support to Killswitch Engage on a tour kicking off early January all over Europe.

The UK dates are as follows:

Jan. 07 - Nottingham @ Rock City
Jan. 08 - Glasgow @ Barrowlands
Jan. 10 - Dublin @ Ambassador Theatre
Jan. 11 - Manchester @ Academy
Jan. 12 - Birmingham @ Academy
Jan. 13 - London @ Brixton Academy
Jan. 14 - Bristol @ Academy

The Haunted will return for further own headline activity in Europe later in the year.

You can stream the brilliant new video for the song “The Flood” taken off “The Dead Eye” at the band’s Century Media Records artist page here.

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Sharon Osbourne On Sending Shit To Enemies

World Entertainment News Network reports that Sharon Osbourne likes to take revenge on her enemies by sending them a box of excrement.

The wife and manager of Ozzy Osbourne last used the dirty tactic four years ago, when a writer criticised her family's television show "The Osbournes".

She says, "The last turd? Three... no, four years ago, when the first review came out of 'The Osbournes'. The journalist said something about my kids being fat and how unappealing that was.

"I said, 'I heard you've got an eating disorder. Eat this.'" Osbourne adds, "I've done it for an awfully long time. I suppose I find it funny.

"I mean, I don't just do it to anybody. They have to have done something really bad."

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Ludichrist and Scatterbrain To Re-Form For One Gig

Influential '80s metalcore pioneers Ludichrist and offshoot Scatterbrain are to re-form to play a one-off show together in New York on February 23 at BB King Blues Club & Grill.

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Woe Of Tyrants Signs To Tribunal Records

Chillicothe, OH metal band Woe Of Tyrants recently signed with Tribunal Records for the release of their upcoming album, titled "Behold The Lion." Commented the band, "We're extremely excited about the future and hope that everyones as pumped as we are about the recent happenings." The already recorded album will be remixed and mastered by Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me) and will hit streets in early-2007.

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Holdfast Records Signs Two Bands

Christian hardcore label Holdfast Records have inked deals with two different bands for upcoming releases. The label will be releasing the complete discography of Materia Medica, as well as new material from Alcina.

Alcina has been working hard in the studio for several weeks now. The new 8-track album will be released Jan. 09, 2007. You can pre-order the CD at The Uprise Store for only $7.99 and you'll be entered to win 4 new shirts. Alcina's January CD release tour will run from 01/05 - 01-20. You can check out some of the band's material on their MySpace page.

Alcina tour dates are as follows: More...

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New Sirenia Tracks Available For Streaming

Sirenia will release "Nine Destinies And A Downfall" through Nuclear Blast on February 23rd. Three songs from the album are now available for streaming at their official MySpace page. The songs on offer are 'My Mind's Eye', 'The Other Side' and 'Sundown'. Go to this location to check them out.

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Behemoth Enter The Studio

Polish extreme metal titans Behemoth entered the studio this week (December 11) to begin tracking their much-anticipated new album, "The Apostasy" (thesaurus definition of the word: the state of having rejected your religious beliefs or your political party or a cause [often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes]) which is currently set for a summer release. The new effort will be recorded in the band's hometown with mainman Nergal and longtime sound engineer Malta in the producer's chair.

Nergal (vocals, guitars) checks in with the following report: More...

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Interview

Q&A With Sarkom Vocalist E. Unsgaard

In conjunction with the Hammerslag Vinterblot 2006 sponsorship, I sent over some questions for Norwegian black metal band Sarkom by email. Sarkom's vocalist E. Unsgaard has taken the time to respond. More...

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Machine Head's Demmel Talks About "The Blackening"

Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel recently spoke to Ultimate Guitar about 'The Blackening', and their Mercyful Fate influence.

Ultimate Guitar: After everything the band has been through over the years, did you approach songwriting differently on "The Blackening"?

Phil: I think we kind of carried over a lot of the same process that we did on the last album, as far as the writing for ourselves. We write for ourselves and that's what our fans like. So we stayed with that formula with this. This will be the first time that I was with band from the beginning as far as the writing process is concerned. I joined on the last album and only helped write three songs. They had pretty much 95 percent of the album already written. So with this one, I was involved in the beginning. Robb (Flynn, vocals/guitar) and I really had a chance to kind of go back to a little bit of our history in the early '80s thrash stage. There's a lot of fast riffing, kind of intricate, technical stuff. We kind of wanted to push ourselves. Everybody in the band, we just kind of wanted to push ourselves musically. So what can you expect from "The Blackening"? Long songs! A couple 10-minute songs, a couple eight-minute songs. Just really the most intricate and most technical MACHINE HEAD record to date.

Ultimate Guitar: Talk a little about those 10-minute songs. What are they called and what was the process behind those in comparison with the other tracks?

Phil: The opener is called "Clenching The Fists of Dissent". It's basically 10 minutes because there's kind of an intro at the beginning. What basically started with the song is Dave (McClain, drums) coming up with something. We had like a middle section and it was really rocking kind of double-bass, a cool breakdown. Robb is really good at melodic little breakdowns. As we add the intro to it and the stomping, moshing metal part to it, the songs just tend to grow. We end up adding riffs to it that we don't want to lose. It's just like, "Why? Why do we have to take it out?" We're not a radio-driven band. It's just like, "Man, we like it. That's all that matters. Let's keep it in."

Ultimate Guitar: Were there certain bands that had an influence on the way the band constructs its songs?

Phil: Definitely. There are certain elements to these songs that made us think like that. One comes to mind in the song called "Wolves", METALLICA does come up because it's a staple of metal. But there's a band called MERCYFUL FATE, and they've got timing changes in their stuff. We are really influenced guitar-wise, Robb and I, from some of the stuff that Hank (Shermann) and Michael Denner do. We totally have a couple parts where people are gonna go, "Oh, man, that's totally MERCYFUL FATE right there!"

Ultimate Guitar: Are there any particular solos on "The Blackening" that you spent more time going over and perfecting?

Phil: There's a solo in the song "Halo" that has like a 16-count hold, where it's just me playing. I had originally written a hold for this riff that I had, and then Robb changed it. So it became something else and I was really struggling with it. I came in and actually recorded something for it, and all three guys from the band just kind of went, "Oh, dude, you're so much better than that." So I think the solo in "Halo" I'm pretty proud of.

Ultimate Guitar: Have the other members of the band told you if the songwriting process was much different before you joined the band?

Phil: I'm not too sure. I've heard them say that it's kind of familiar with the way when the first guitar player was in the band. Robb and I, we were both in a band previously, in a thrash band called VIO-LENCE. So we spent a considerable amount of time playing together. When I first joined the band, it was just like crazy how things were just flying out, ad-libbing it. So I think as far as a writing partner, Robb and I might be the closest. That's what makes it different.

Read the full article at Ultimate Guitar.

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Interview

Interview With Deliver Us From Evil

DELIVER US FROM EVIL from Evansville, Indiana is one of those discoveries I can lay claim to this year that I still feel is pound for pound one of my best. They are doing daring things musically that most metal acts wouldn't even try and they continue to put fear into each and every local band that have to share the stage with them. It's been a tremendous year for these guys and I freely admit that they are several heads above the rest of their peers in terms of collective determination and pride in how they go about laying down their groundwork for how heavy music will move forward into the next decade. More...

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