Metal News for December 7, 2007
Last updated on October 4, 2025 at 3:07 AM ET
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Hot Topics
- Kreator To Release New Album In January
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- Spite Premiere New Single & Music Video
- Carcosa (AngelMaker) Premiere New Single & Video
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- Tailgunner Signs With Napalm Records
35 news articles posted on this day.
Children Of Bodom Guitarist To Do Guitar Lesson
Rock House, the leader in music instruction, has announced that Alexi Laiho of the Finnish metal band CHILDREN OF BODOM, has joined its roster of instructors. Alexi will be featured in a comprehensive instructional DVD that will be jam-packed with the fundamental techniques that have propelled him to the status of one of today's most noted guitar players. The content of his instructional program will focus on helping aspiring players develop the skills needed to play Alexi's style. The program will be geared toward intermediate to advanced players. Production starts in January 2008 with a release date slated for March or April 2008.
Alexi's DVD will come with a FREE lesson booklet and membership to Rock House's lesson support site at www.rockhousemethod.com. This feature, exclusive to Rock House and its partners, offers students supplementary support for the lessons featured on the DVD. Once registered, students can interact with the community, utilize the additional learning tools and access the special features
Alexi's instructional DVD will be available at MI retailers around the world for $24.99.
Alexi Laiho joins Rock House's roster of instructors on the cusp of the release of "Blooddrunk", CHILDREN OF BODOM's wildly-anticipated new full length album. Set for an April 2008 street date, the record is said to be the band's "strongest and most advanced recording to date" and features a cutting edge take on COB's enthralling mix of modern metal, melodic hooks and guitar acrobatics.
Alexi, who has his own model ESP guitar, made Guitar World's list of the top 100 metal guitarist of all time in 2004 and appeared on the cover of Guitar World in January 2005 with Steve Vai and Zakk Wylde.
Hailing from Finland, Alexi started playing when he was about 11 years old and has dedicated his life to creating music and developing his technique. He is known for his incredible six-string momentum and melodic speed along with stern vocal strength.
Rock House has developed an accelerated yet easy-to-use system of learning that utilizes the functionality of DVD and print, integrated with the accessibility of the Internet. Aspiring musicians who have a product produced by Rock House receive free membership to www.rockhousemethod.com for 24-7 lesson support. Students use this fully interactive lesson site along with their product to enhance their learning experience, expand their knowledge, link them with instructors, and connect with a community of people around the world who are learning to play music using The Rock House Method.
Metallica Members Talk About New Album
In the latest issue of the METALLICA Club (the group's official fan club) members-only magazine "So What!" METALLICA's James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich offer more insight into the songwriting process for the group's forthcoming album. "We don't want pretty good, we want excellent and [producer] Rick Rubin is getting us to try and achieve that," Hetfield is quoted as saying. "He's [Rick] very good at getting the essence of an artist out and bringing that back to the top again. It's the 'Master of Puppets' mentality again. You need to prove the world that you're good, you need to be hungry again — you need to [put on] a showcase that says, 'Here we are, just like the first time we did it.'"
Added Hammett: "It's about doing the best that you possibly can. I have difficulty wading through all the ideas because I'm biased — I think everything we do has a lot of merit to it. In that regard Rick Rubin is great because he will just say, 'Such and such a part is not good, so come up with something else.' He just leaves the problem up to us and we just solve it between ourselves without too much interference from his side, which is completely different from [longtime METALLICA producer] Bob Rock whose musical thinking would permeate the record. Rick Rubin leaves a lot of the musical problem solving to ourselves, which keeps it more pure."
Lars commented: "A lot of the work we did after the band nearly broke up [during the making of 2003's 'St. Anger'] was not going to be so evident on the record we made at the time, but more evident on the next record, which is the one weré making now. This has been a much more enjoyable experience, much more fun, creatively stimulating and working with Rick is helping a lot."
Ulrich told Examiner.com in October that the band's upcoming album will be "heavier" yet more "melodic" than "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."
The new METALLICA album is tentatively due in the spring.
Dethklok Announce Free Atlanta Show
The self-proclaimed most brutal death metal band ever, DETHKLOK — stars of Adult Swim's animated "Metalocalypse" television series — will perform a free concert at the Atlanta Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, December 13, 2007. This one-night-only performance will feature songs from the band's first-ever CD release "The Dethalbum", which has quickly become "the best-selling death metal album of all time since its release in September," according to a press release. There are 450 tickets for the show which will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be obtained in advance. Must be 18 and over.
"The Dethalbum" sold nearly 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position #21 on The Billboard 200 chart. It also dominated the Loud Rock radio charts, hitting #6 on CMJ, #11 on FMQB, and #1 on Mediaguide metal specialty. The CD was also streamed 45,000 times when it went live on AOL Music during the week of its release.
The September 25 release of "Metalocalypse: Dethklok's The Dethalbum" coincided with the start of Season 2 of "Metalocalypse" on Adult Swim and the release of "Metalocalypse: Season 1" on DVD. The DVD, which hit streets on October 2, sold over 18,000 units in its first two days.
Undivine Bassist Leaves The Band
Swedish black/death metal act UNDIVINE have issued the following update from guitarist Erik Kumpulainen:
"This Sunday Robert (Faltstrom, bassist) told us he won't be able to play with us any longer. He will concentrate fully on his family and career. No hard feelings, you will be missed in the band. As for a replacement, we are currently not looking for a new bass player. On the next album we will share the bass tracks among the rest of us.
Since it is our main interest to keep on working with our music as dedicated as possible, we have decided to continue as a four-piece from now on. This will be the best in the end, and we will become greater as an unit, wherein every individual is working in the same direction with Undivine. Kristofer (Nilsson) is taking over the bass playing, and I will be the only permanent guitar player in the band. For live appearances we will be having various session rhythm guitarists."
Divine Ruins Fire Guitarist
US progressive metallers DIVINE RUINS have parted ways with guitarist Sean Noon.
Says the band, "After several months of working with guitarist Sean Noon it has become clear to us, that he his incapable of progressing with us as a full time member and writer for Divine Ruins ...his inabilities and lack of professionalism have led us to to this point, we feel that it is in the band's best interest that we let him go from Divine Ruins."
Disturbed Nearing Completion Of Fourth Album
The Pulse of Radio reports: DISTURBED has completed recording and has now moved to the mixing stage for its fourth album, tentatively titled "Indestructible". According to HardDrive Radio, the Chicago quartet is in Los Angeles to supervise the mix and meet with their record label to discuss the launch of the project. A release date has yet to be finalized, but singer David Draiman told The Pulse of Radio the band has a rough idea of its initial tour plans. "We're still trying to figure out what we're doing during the summer, but I know in the spring, when we start touring, the intention is to start in Europe with the European festivals," he said. "We may end up doing like a small warm-up run prior, I have no idea, we always tend to do that. But that's what we plan on starting the cycle off with."
"Indestructible" is tentatively due for release in the spring.
Draiman recently told RollingStone.com that the upcoming album's projected title track is "an anthem for soldiers" — specifically American soldiers fighting overseas. "It's meant to be something that would make them feel invincible, take away their fear, make them strong," Draiman said. "And that's what this whole body of work on this record does. It's music to help you feel strong."
Spotlighting the band's darker side, there's "Deceiver", inspired by one of Draiman's "really bad relationships," and the Edgar Allan Poe-esque tale "Inside The Fire". "That's a real racy song," Draiman admitted to RollingStone.com, "It's about me standing over the body of my girlfriend, who just killed herself, and the Devil is standing over me, whispering in my ear to kill myself."
DISTURBED's tour plans also include a fourth Music As A Weapon package in late 2008.
Nightwish Confirmed For Wacken Open Air 2008
Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH have been been confirmed for next year's installment of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place July 31 - August 2, 2008 in Wacken, Germany. The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AS I LAY DYING
AT THE GATES
AUTUMN
AVANTASIA
AXXIS
CARCASS
CHILDREN OF BODOM
CREMATORY
DESTRUCTOR
DREAM OF AN OPIUM EATER
EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS
GOREROTTED
GORGOROTH
HATEBREED
IRON MAIDEN
KAMELOT
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
KREATOR
KRYPTERIA
LORD BELIAL
NIGHTWISH
OBITUARY
POWERWOLF
PRIMORDIAL
SABATON
SALTATIO MORTIS
SONATA ARCTICA
THE BONES
Watch Exodus' Video For "Riot Act" Online
You can check out EXODUS’ new video for the song “Riot Act” on Headbanger's Blog. The track comes off the band’s latest album, "The Atrocity Exhibition… Exhibit A." The video was directed by Jon Schnepp of Metalocalypse (on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim) for Schneppzone Inc., and will debut on-air on Saturday, December 8th on MTV2’s Headbangers Ball (check local listings for show times).
Slipknot To Tour With Mudvayne And Disturbed?
SLIPKNOT are rumored to be planning a Summer tour with DISTURBED and MUDVAYNE. No further details are currently available.
Watch Two Rehearsal Videos of AM Conspiracy
Two new videos from ex-Drowning Pool frontman Jason Gong Jones' band AM Conspiracy have been made available on Rehearsals.com. Watch the rehearsal videos for "Believe" and "Abscence" online.
As previously reported, AM Conspiracy have two tracks featured on the Soundtrack for Smackdown vs. Raw 2008. They are "Welt" and "Right on Time."
Lordi Reveal Single Details
LORDI's new single, "Beast Loose in Paradise" will be released as a downloadable single via www.zed.fi on Decemebr 24 and as a physical CD on January 9. There will be two edits of the song: "Radio Edit" and the "Dark Floors Version". The "Dark Floors" version will include a longer intro.
"Beast Loose in Paradise" — which is one of two new songs the band recently recorded — will appear in LORDI's upcoming feature film "Dark Floors".
In a recent interview with MonsterDiscoHell.com, the group's mainman Mr. Lordi stated about the new material, "These two songs were composed mainly during the Ozzfest tour. As a matter of fact I remember composing the chorus and the main riff of 'Beast Loose in Paradise' in Milwaukee and the chorus and verses of 'Studs and Leather' in St. Augustine."
He continued, "The origin of the main riff of 'Studs and Leather' goes way back. That one was taken from the unreleased LORDI album 'Bend over and Pray the Lord!' (which was supposed to be released as LORDI's debut album in 1999)! Though the tunes were changed, but the rhythm is still the same. The verse of 'Beast Loose in Paradise' is from another therapy band sessions from last Christmas. And the rest of both of the songs was basically made between the Ozzfest and TYPE O NEGATIVE tours... I think that's the first time some part of a song was made like this in the history of this band. The arrangements are done pretty much while the songs are demoed. The rest while rehearsing the songs and the final decisions in studio when recording."
Asked if there was any truth to recent report in the Finnish music magazine Soundi that the new LORDI songs would be "more brutal and raw" than the material on "The Arockalypse", Mr. Lordi said, "Our music is not gonna get any brutal or heavier, but not any lighter [either], that's for sure! I think it's gonna be pretty much the same. But it's so hard to think and say for myself. You'll be the judges then. I'd say these two songs are familiar LORDI. Although 'Beast Loose in Paradise' is more 'movie-esque' and 'horror-ish' on purpose. And some might say it's even heavier, but at the very least the chorus will be familiar and melodic LORDI stuff. And "Studs and Leather" is basically 'Heaven's on Fire' meets 'Balls To The Wall'. But as I said, it's really hard to describe them myself. And like I've said before, it's pointless to start forming opinions based on what I've said as to what the the next album's gonna be like. These songs were made for the movie and do not necessarily represent the future material in any way."
LORDI recently postponed its previously announced December 14 hometown gig at Lappi Areena in Rovaniemi due to ongoing post-production work on "Dark Floors". Tickets already purchased for the December concert will be valid for the new show. Tickets will also be refundable at the point of purchase.
Marilyn Manson Deals With Bottle Thrower
MARILYN MANSON's performance at the Manchester Central in England Thursday night (December 6) was delayed slightly when the group's bass player was hit by a bottle thrown from the crowd. Manson dealt with the perpetrator by pointing him out to the angry mob and stating, "I just wanna be sure that you guys know that I did not say, 'Beat the shit out of him.' I said, 'No, whatever you do, don't beat the shit out of that guy that raised his hand. No matter what, don't beat that guy's fucking skull in, no matter what."
Watch fan-filmed video footage of Manson's speech below.
Manson has called his sixth studio album, "Eat Me, Drink Me" his most personal record yet, with many of the lyrics inspired by the end of his marriage to burlesque dancer Dita von Teese, the depression that followed, and his new romance with Evan Rachel Wood.
The video for the album's first single, "Heart Shaped Glasses", features several softcore sex scenes between Manson and Wood. When asked by Rolling Stone how her parents reacted to the clip, Manson said, "Well, I had to have a drink with Evan's mother and father. The main thing that needs to be established is that I might share my life with her, but that does not incriminate her in my behavior...Basically, I'm not as bad in the way they'd like to think I am. But I'm bad in a different way. I'm always going to be bad."
The shock rocker also called Wood "the most unique, stand-alone person who doesn't need a relationship with me to further her career." More...
Phil Anselmo Talks About Arson Anthem
DOWN/ex-PANTERA frontman Philip Anselmo recently spoke to MTV.com about his new label, Housecore Records, which will launch with an EP by ARSON ANTHEM, a group that features Anselmo on guitar, EYEHATEGOD singer Mike Williams, bassist Collin Yeo and SUPERJOINT RITUAL bassist Hank Williams III on drums. The group formed after Williams, who lost everything he owned in Hurricane Katrina, moved into Anselmo's spare apartment. They spent hours listening to Anselmo's extensive collection of early hardcore, and before long, they started jamming.
"Obviously Mike and I have a history, from high school, to touring together with EYEHATEGOD opening for PANTERA," Anselmo told MTV.com. "After Hurricane Katrina, I bailed him out of jail and put him up at Nodferatu's Lair [a space on Anselmo's property]. His apartment and everything he owned burned down in the post-Katrina riots. We always wanted to start a hardcore band. III and I were in SUPERJOINT RITUAL together, but I knew he was a drummer from when I first met him when he was in his teens. ... Collin was a young musician, he was in town at the right time, and it all fit perfectly."
Read more at MTV.com.
ARSON ANTHEM will team up with RIGOR MORTIS for three shows in December:
Dec. 13 - Exit/In - Nashville, TN
Dec. 14 - Vino's - Little Rock, AR
Dec. 15 - One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, LA
Unearth To Release DVD In March
Massachusetts metal heavyweights UNEARTH will release their as-yet-untitled new DVD on March 4 via Metal Blade. The disc will feature the band's October 9 concert at the Glass House in Pomona, California along with band interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and archive material spanning the group's nine-year career.
UNEARTH recently released the video for the song "This Glorious Nightmare". The track comes off the group's new album, "III: In the Eyes of Fire", which was released in August 2006 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at a Seattle studio with producer Terry Date (PANTERA, DEFTONES).
Sacramento, California's longest-running rock 'n' roll TV show "Capital Chaos" has captured UNEARTH performing the song "This Glorious Nightmare" at The Boardwalk in Orangevale, California on October 12, 2007 on the band's recent tour with DARKEST HOUR, AUGUST BURNS RED and SUICIDE SILENCE. Watch the clip below. More...
Testament Announces New Album Release Date
Bay Area thrash legends TESTAMENT have confirmed the release date for their forthcoming album, "The Formation Of Damnation," as April 29th via Nuclear Blast.
Testament are currently putting the finishing touches to the album at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California with producer Andy Sneap (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS). Testament 2007 features the originating classic thrash legends Chuck Billy on vocals, Alex Skolnick on lead guitar, Eric Peterson on rhythm guitar and Greg Christian on bass. Paul Bostaph (ex-SLAYER, EXODUS) was recently named as the band's drummer.
Therion To Record DVD On Upcoming Tour
THERION mastermind Christofer Johnsson has issued the following update:
"Today the 20 year anniversary tour starts where we will perform the entire Theli album. We therefore have printed a lot of Theli related merchandise plus some other old designs from the Lemuria/Sirius B era that we never ended up using using back then. Some designs will be available also through Therion Store after the tour, others may be if there's a remaining stock, if not they will be unique for the tour. We'll also offer super deals on some remaining stock from the last tour as long as it lasts.
Apart from that we have built a special stage for this event and prepared a special show to ensure you to get the best Therion show you've ever seen. So be there or be sorry! :)
There will be a DVD recorded from the tour, however due to DVD releases of the classical show in Hungary last year and the show we recorded in Poland in January, a DVD from the tour we're doing now will be put in the vaults for quite some time, not to flood our potential buyers with products. We're making a new album in 2009 and will release it and tour on it in 2010, so earliest would be to sync that, if the record label prefer it to be in a time with no other releases, then we'll push it to 2011."
3 Mile Scream Check In, Reveal New Album Title
3 Mile Scream have issued the following road report following their recent tour of Eastern Canada.
"We just got back from New Brunswick, what awesome times and the shows were totally awesome. We made a lot of new fans, and discovered a whole bunch of fans we never knew we had," says guitarist Alex Delis. "I must say I have never seen that many 'Beware of Moose' signs in my life, it was quite scary and at one point we almost hit a deer. On the way back, when we finally got into Quebec, we hit the tail end of a massive snowstorm and after hitting a snow bank and pothole, we had two flat tires. The police were very helpful, so gave them CDs. Who would have thought the cops helping out a metal band like us? All in all it was a great time and we are already looking forward to going back to Eastern Canada in early 2008."
3 Mile Scream is currently touring in support of their Corporate Punishment debut, "A Prelude To Our Demise." The album was produced by Kataklysm’s Jean-Francois Dagenais and has prompted critical acclaim from critics and artists, including Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe who described the band as "Artfully orchestrated brutality." 3 Mile Scream’s A Prelude To Our Demise can be streamed online in its entirety here.
3 Mile Scream is currently putting the finishing touches on their sophomore album, "A Glimpse of Hope," which is due for release in early 2008. The album is being produced by Cryptopsy guitarist Christian Donaldson, who recently produced The Agonist for Century Media.
Here are the latest 3 MILE SCREAM tour dates:
Dec 21 Montreal, Quebec @ Bar St-Laurent
Dec 22 Quebec City, Quebec @ L’Anti w/ BURIAL
Jan 05 Montreal, Quebec @ cafe l’inco w/BBABH
Velvet Revolver Reschedule Australian Tour Dates
VELVET REVOLVER invites fans to celebrate New Year's Eve with them at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom. The Grammy-winning band's set will consist of material from their current and critically acclaimed "Libertad" and their three-million-selling debut album "Contraband", as well as songs from the members' respective bodies of work.
Tickets are available now at the Irving Plaza Box Office, select Ticketmaster outlets and charge-by-phone lines (212-307-7171 or 866-448-7849) and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.livenation.com.
The New Year's Eve concert will follow VELVET REVOLVER's Wednesday, December 12 headlining show at Los Angeles' Gibson Amphitheatre. The Los Angeles performance — with ALICE IN CHAINS — was originally set for Friday, October 26 at the outdoor Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA but was postponed due to the devastating Southern California wildfires. In an effort to help the victims of these fires, a limited edition VELVET REVOLVER t-shirt will be sold at the show, with part of the proceeds going to Southern California fire victims. In addition, the Red Cross will have an informational booth at the show with details about how people can help. More...
Watch The Black League Cover Steppenwolf
THE BLACK LEAGUE/ex-SENTENCED frontman Taneli Jarva has issued the following update:
"Now here's something of a special Christ Mass treat for all you bastards out there! We recently laid down a version of Hoyt Axton's classic drug rock anthem 'The Pusher' — STEPPENWOLF? Easy Rider? Ring a bell..? We recorded it 100% 'LIVE' in studio with the vocals, solos, keyboards and all, and found this approach rather refreshing in this day and age of endless overdubbing and cut-and-paste production. Guest Hammond and Wuerlizer keyboards were provided by Kasper Mårtensson of ex-AMORPHIS and MANNHAI fame. Kasper will also make a special appearance on our pre-New Year's gig at the Helldone festival, Helsinki on Dec. 29th. So be there." More...
Landmine Marathon Plan West Coast Tour Dates
Landmine Marathon will play a week of dates on the West Coast in early-January. Here are the latest tour dates:
1/4 Tucson, AZ @ The Living Room
1/5 City of Industry, CA @ A.W.S Shop
1/6 Southern CA @ TBA
1/7 Bay Area, CA @ TBA
1/8 Oakland, CA @ Warehouse Show
1/9 Portland, OR @ The Satyricon W/ Graves At Sea
1/10 Tacoma, WA @ Viaduct Venue
1/11 Medford, OR @ TBA
1/12 Reno, NV @ Fort Ryland
L.A. Guns Ripped Off While Performing In Dayton
According to Bring Back Glam, the L.A. GUNS version featuring Tracii Guns on guitar, Jeremy Guns on bass, Chad Stewart on drums and Paul Black on vocals had their wallets stolen while they were on stage performing last night (Thursday, December 6) at McGuffy's in Dayton. Ohio. However, it appears that a suspect was quickly apprehended before he was able to leave the venue and the stolen goods were presumably recovered.
For more information on what exactly went down, visit Bring Back Glam.
Deadlock Announce 10 Year Anniversary Show
Lifeforce Records issue the following press release:
"On December 28th, 2008 DEADLOCK is celebrating its 10 years of existence with a very special show presented by METAL HAMMER magazine you shouldn't miss. THE BLACKOUT ARGUMENT and DECON will be the special guests for the evening."
"DEADLOCK's fourth album "Wolves" was released April this year and received an amazing feedback from the international press and fans alike."
Forgotten Empire To Release Day Without Dawn Album
Forgotten Empire has announced plans to releaes Day Without Dawn's final album under there current name. Formerly known as The Postman Syndrome and having released an album through Now or Never Records in 2002, Day Without Dawn is a great example of what complex writing and outstanding muscianship can create. The band will undergo some more changes in 2008 when they change their name to Biclops with a semi new line-up. In March they will head out on a long nationwide tour in support of the new band. Expect a release date of late-February in time for the tour.
Cellador and Light This City Drop Off Tours
CELLADOR appear to have dropped off their tour next year with TRAIL OF TEARS, ECHOES OF ETERNITY, and UNEXPECT.
Also, LIGHT THIS CITY appear to have dropped off the remainder of the Death By Decibels tour with VADER, MALEVOLENT CREATION, CATTLE DECAPITATION, and others.
An official announcement/confirmation for these tours is expected shortly.
Dysrhythmia and Stay Fucked Team Up For NYC Show
New York’s DYSRHYTHMIA and STAY FUCKED will perform at the Cake Shop in New York City on January 10th. You can find more information online here.
Fuck The Facts and Psyopus Release Tour Dates
FUCK THE FACTS and PSYOPUS will team up for the following tour dates early next year:
January 11 - St. Catherines, ON @ L3 Nightclub
January 12 - Windsor, ON @ The Coach
January 13 - Hamilton, ON @ Absinthe
January 15 - Kingston, ON @ Ace’s
January 16 - Ottawa, ON @ Maverick’s
January 18 - Quebec City, QC @ L’Anti
January 19 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ Club Crannel
January 20 - Albany, NY @ Valentine’s
Mudvayne Frontman Speaks On Switching Bands
Danielle Hatch of the Journal Star recently conducted an interview with MUDVAYNE/HELLYEAH frontman Chad Gray. A few excerpts from the chat follow:
On performing with HELLYEAH at the East Peoria Convention Center on Wednesday:
"It's kind of where I spread my wings to get into the music business, it's where it all started to happen, so it definitely feels like home to me.
"I'm not on heroin, I've never done heroin, but I assume the road would be a lot like being on heroin. When you're on it, you don't really want to be, when you're off it, you need to get back on it."
On putting everything on the line to be part of MUDVAYNE years ago:
"I had a job that paid good money and I basically wasn't living my life, you know, I wasn't following the dream in my heart. I basically quit a $40,000-a-year factory job and moved to Peoria. In typical kid fashion, I didn't have one dime of savings, spent it on the stupidest crap ever, you know, bubble gum and pinwheels and beer.
"I didn't really know it was going to happen. I mean, I believed in what we were doing, absolutely. The way everything ended up panning out, it was a bit of a Cinderella story. It was kind of cool."
"I've always been an artist, I've always been a creative type of person, and I really needed to try to bring this to fruition. It's been the hardest damn job in my life, and just when I thought it couldn't get any harder, I got another full-time job."
On HELLYEAH's formation:
"It just came from bringing five different people together with five different attitudes and dropping our walls and letting go of our egos and really just trying to write our music. I started playing in HELLYEAH because MUDVAYNE consumed all of my time. (Now, with HELLYEAH) it's been nonstop, just beating it down and grinding. But it's showing in the sales. It's really hard to sell records these days and we're still selling anywhere between 4,700 and 5,500 records a week."
On how he keeps everything straight, switching back and forth between the two projects:
"It's not like I'm Jekyll and Hyde. But MUDVAYNE is a very calculated, very research-oriented math-metal kind of a band. That's how MUDVAYNE's always been and it's gotten more that way in themes and ideas. And that's great, that's fine, there's nothing wrong with that. But HELLYEAH, on the other hand. ... I'll listen to the music as I'm writing the song, and I'm not over-reading the book, and you just write it down and it works. It's just a different kind of thing."
On concerns from fans who are worried that HELLYEAH will cause the demise of MUDVAYNE:
"MUDVAYNE will always be there. Greg and I have been doing these back-to-back records — write, record, tour, take a small break, write, record tour, small break, write, record, tour. And we've been doing that for so many years, we were going to take a break (from MUDVAYNE) regardless. And I was like, you know what, man? We can go home and sit on our ass and watch TV or we can go do this thing. This is a must-needed break, and I think it's going to make MUDVAYNE even better."
HELLYEAH taking part in an interview and acoustic performance of "Alcohaulin' Ass" at 93X WMFS studios in Memphis, TN: More...
Bonded By Blood Bond With Fans
While preparing to head into the studio to record their debut album, "Feed The Beast", young thrashers BONDED BY BLOOD have been keeping busy by playing shows up and down the West Coast. Along the way, the band has been seeing more and more faces at every show they play. "We have been getting more and more dedicated fans recently," says lead singer Aladdin, who has taken definite notice of the steady growth of their fanbase. "To tell you the truth it feels GREAT. They love the music and they love that the band is down to earth and don't act like uptight 'rock stars.'"
There are some fans who see BONDED BY BLOOD once then bring all of their friends with them to see another show. There's also some very creative fans who show their support in other ways. "We have gotten some crazy fans that come to our shows and draw us pictures, make their own shirts, patches etc." says Aladdin.
Overall, the dedication of the fans has really taken the band aback. BONDED BY BLOOD's style of playing lends itself to the band feeding off the energy of their fans as much as the fans feed off the band's energy.
Aladdin feels positive about where things for the band are headed, even before "Feed The Beast" has been recorded.
On behalf of the band, Aladdin has a message for all who have been supporting them up to this point and beyond: "I just wanted to say thank you to all the old and new fans cus if it wasn't for you guys we wouldn't be where we are at right now."
BONDED BY BLOOD will commence the recording of "Feed The Beast" with producer Michael Rosen (TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL) on January 11, 2008 at J Street Recorders in Sacramento, CA. BONDED BY BLOOD will also be featured on the upcoming new-school thrash compilation "Thrashing Like A Maniac", out on February 5 in the U.S.
Machine Head Forced To Cut Milan Show Short
According to several e-mails received by BLABBERMOUTH.NET from people attending last night's (December 6) MACHINE HEAD show in Milan, Italy, the group was forced to cut its performance short after guitarist Phil Demmel apparently fainted on stage 35 minutes into MACHINE HEAD's set (during the intro to "Descend the Shades of Night"). He was subsequently tended to by medical emergency professionals and reportedly didn't require hospitalization (the ambulance was seen driving away empty).
MACHINE HEAD's concert at Alcatraz in Milan, Italy was part of the band's European "The Black Crusade" tour with TRIVIUM, DRAGONFORCE, ARCH ENEMY and SHADOWS FALL.
An official statement on the matter from the MACHINE HEAD camp is expected shortly.
Clip Of New Extreme Song Posted Online
Reunited hard rockers EXTREME — featuring original members Nuno Bettencourt, Gary Cherone, Pat Badger and new sticksman Kevin Figueiredo — performed a three-song set at the Boston Music Awards on December 1 at the Orpheum in Boston consisting of "Slide", "Decadence Dance" and "Communication Breakdown". A short clip of the band's new song, "Slide", can be viewed below.
EXTREME is currently working on an as-yet-untitled studio album with all-new material — the band's fifth — which is set to be released next spring. A massive tour will follow.
In a recent interview with BostonHerald.com, Bettencourt described the new album as a "straight-up rock record" that expands on EXTREME's funk-metal sound.
The new CD was the key to getting back together as a full-time band, he said. EXTREME did a handful of gigs this summer, including a gig at the Bank of America Pavilion in July, but Bettencourt wasn't interested in becoming a permanent part of a nostalgia act.
"Even though we wanted to do something for years, we had to have something new to offer," he told BostonHerald.com. "In the last six months we started writing some great songs. If they weren't, we wouldn't be doing this." More...
Wolf Writing For New Album
Swedish metallers WOLF have issued the following update:
"We are now in writing mode for the next album. We've come up with some killer tunes that will sure carry the name WOLF with pride. It's too early to reveal any details but we're excited to have started writing and trying out stuff at rehearsals. We're aiming on a summer recording session and details will follow soon.
"We've been having a great 2007 with great tours and awesome festival gigs. We've met a lotta friends (fans) and made a lotta new ones that we hope to run into in the future."
WOLF recently announced the addition of bassist Anders "Tornado" Modd to the group's ranks.
The band's latest album, "The Black Flame", was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden. The follow-up to 2004's "Evil Star" is the first album to feature new drummer Tobias R Kellgren and longtime session/live guitarist Johannes Losbäck alongside founding members Niklas Stålvind (vocals, lead guitar) and bassist Mikael Goding (who has since left the band).
As I Lay Dying Announce European Tour
San Diego's AS I LAY DYING will embark on a European tour in March/April 2008. Support on the continental European shows (outside the UK) will come from NEAERA. The details are as follows:
Mar. 20 - UK - York - Fibbers
Mar. 21 - UK - Aberdeen - Barfly
Mar. 22 - UK - Liverpool - Barfly
Mar. 23 - UK - Cardiff - Barfly
Mar. 24 - UK - Cambridge - Barfly
Mar. 25 - FR - Paris - Trabendo*
Mar. 26 - DE - Karlsruhe - Substage*
Mar. 28 - DE - Chemnitz - AJZ Talschock*
Mar. 29 - DE - Herford - Club X*
Mar. 30 - DE - Saarbrücken - Garage*
Mar. 31 - CH - Pratteln - Z7*
Apr. 01 - IT - Milano - Alcatraz*
Apr. 02 - IT - Bologna - Estragon*
Apr. 03 - AT - Linz - Posthof*
Apr. 04 - AT - Vienna - Planet Music*
* With NEAERA
AS I LAY DYING recently completed a video for the track "The Sound Of Truth". The clip, a sequel to the story in the video for "Nothing Left", was filmed in Los Angeles while the band was between tours. It was directed by Brian Thompson and is slated to debut in January on MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball".
Acey Slade Comments On Joining Wednesday 13
"I can't believe nobody got the hints! If you read my blogs, I think all of the last few I was listening to either Wednesday or Murderdolls and talking about playing 'old songs' ha,ha. I was talking to Jason, the other guitarist today about the songs, and I just know this All American Massacre tour is going to KILL (pun intended)!
I have always felt like Wednesday and I had some unfinished business to attend to and the timing couldn't be better! The stars lined up right for the first time in MONTHS! Wednesday has such a large catalog of songs and I'm very flattered to have the oppertunity to play them live. Shit, lot of people have never been able to see Wednesday and I on stage together. I feel like Christmas came early!"
Tour dates will be announced soon.
Thin Lizzy Guitarist Comments On Tour
The following story is courtesy of Mylespaul.com:
THIN LIZZY guitarist Scott Gorham is speaking of fallen friends. "We play as if he's never gone away. Every night on stage, we introduce him as though he's still here - and he still gets the biggest cheer of the night. So the bastard is still overshadowing me."
A good-natured guffaw follows down the phone. He is, of course, talking about Lizzy's former front man, bass player and vocalist Phil Lynott, the charismatic black Irishman who died at just 36 after fighting a losing battle against hard drugs abuse 21 years ago.
Lynott's legend lives on in spirit - but, in reality, so does the band, and mighty fine they are, too, as anyone who witnessed the wild scenes the last time the reformed Lizzy played Liverpool University a couple of years ago will concur.
They're back again next week and Gorham, speaking midway through their current British tour, is confident that it'll be every bit as good - if not better. And, despite being the only member of the band remaining in the line-up from their classic Jailbreak days of the mid-70s, he is adamant that this is still the real deal and no cash-in con job.
"It re-started with just seven shows in Japan in 1994 and then there were all these world tours which followed and we wondered what the hell happened," says the Santa Monica-born axeman who has lived in London for 23 years, but still has a Californian drawl that's as long and lazy as ever. "But there was nothing premeditated or grab-a-buck about it: the whole thing snowballed and we've been rolling with it ever since."
Read the full article at this location.
Soilwork Confirmed For Bloodstock Open Air
Swedish melodic death metallers SOILWORK are the latest act confirmed for the Bloodstock Open Air 2008 which is scheduled for August 15th - 17th at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, England.
Acts on the bill include: DIMMU BORGIR, AT THE GATES, OPETH, PRIMAL FEAR, MOONSORROW, SOILWORK, SWALLOW THE SUN, COMMUNIC, EVILE and ELUVEITIE.
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