Rekords

Rekords Rekords is a new label is being started by Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss) in conjunction with Southern Lord Recordings.

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Signings

• Century Media has announced that it will take on the promotion and distribution of Spinefarm / Spikefarm releases in North America. The first to benefit from this new relationship will be Entwine and Shadow whose albums will hit US shores on July 24.
  
• The Swedish act Centinex has been picked up by Candlelight Records.
  
• Century Media has acquired the right to release Edguy vocalist Tobias Sammet's solo project Avantasia for release in North America.
  
• Imagika will finally get a stateside release with 'And So it Burns' to be made available by WW3 Records. Look
  for the album with three bonus tracks in August.
  
• Dreamscape Music Group has licensed Westworld's latest album 'Skin' for distribution in North America. The band's sophomore release was previously released by Roadrunner outside the US.
  
• The Danish melodic death act Compos Mentis has been signed by Lost Disciple Records.
  
• Dusk, the defunct US doom act's two EPs and exclusive Visionaries comp track will be released by Lost Disciple Records.

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Movement

• Piggy and Away have parted ways with Voivod vocalist/bassist Eric Forrest and the band's next move is unknown.
  
• Vicious Rumors vocalist Morgan Thorn has left the band. His replacement is Brian O'Connor who sang on the 'Cyberchrist' album.
  
• Imagika have replaced long-time bassist Mike Dargis with Elena Repetto.
  
• Burn It Down vocalist Ryan Downey has left Time In Malta. He only performed one show with them before the amicable split.
  
• Due to legal hassles involving the band name, Agent Steel will now be known as Order Of The Illuminati.

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Summary/Misc

Daily Reviews

Lots of new reviews this week from Metal Judgement:

• Megadeth 'The World Needs a Hero' (Committee Review)
  
• Candiria '300 Percent Density' (Committee Review)
  
• Nevermore/ Opeth/ Angel Dust/ God Forbid Concert (Summary Judgment)
  
• No Return 'Self Mutilation' (Summary Judgment)
  
• Mark D 'The Silent Treatment' (Summary Judgment)
  
• Natas/Dragonauta 'Natas/Dragonauta' (Summary Judgment)
  
• Specter 'Images of the Innocent' (Summary Judgment)
  
• Tool Concert (Summary Judgment)
  
• Rush '2112' (Classic Review)
  
• Orcus (Demo Review)

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RIAA Goes After Launch Media

The RIAA has taken aim at Launch Media, the parent company of Launch.com which powers the streaming audio on metalunderground.com.

The music lobbyist alleges that Launch's licenses with Universal, Sony, BMG and EMI do not allow for the level of interactivity and customization offered by LaunchCast, which allows users to decide how often they want to hear particular songs. After LaunchCast users rate songs, albums and artists, the service "learns" to play the types of music the user wants to hear.

Personally, I think the RIAA has been going too far with many of it suits, but this one seems to be really reaching. The idea that users can play only the songs they want (much less when they want) is more absurd the more popular the music genre, as the user has so many choices to rate.

Read the full article at The Standard.

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CDDB Access Restricted By Gracenote

There's an interesting article on ZDNet.com about the CDDB being closed off to some software:

While Gracenote claims the collection of CD information at the heart of the CDDB system belongs to the company, many cyber-rights activists and open-source advocates are raising eyebrows. Because much of the database was entered in by the public, they argue that the public should own the result.

Read the full article at ZDNet.

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Headline News

Chuck Schuldiner Update

As you may know, Chuck Schuldiner (of Death and Control Denied) has been battling a brain tumor for the past two years. Right now it is necessary for Chuck to have a very specific and immediate surgical treatment which is being denied to him based on a lack of funds. In order to make this treatment possible, Hammerheart America, in conjunction with labels, magazines, radio stations and bands worldwide, is organizing an online auction of rare collectibles, autographed musical keepsakes and custom-made instruments. You can find more information about the auctions and how you can help here.

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Summary/Misc

Daily Interviews

• About.com's heavy metal section has an interview with bassist Marcello D. Rapp.
  
• Metal Update talks to former Vio-Lence guitarist and current Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn.

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Staind Expected #1

According to Rocknews.com Staind's "Break the Cycle" is expected to sell around 600,000 copies in its first week of release, according to market analysts. Guitarist Mike Mushok says, "It's hard to even comprehend" that Cycle's initial sales may top the 555,000 mark Tool's "Lateralus" just achieved. Meanwhile, Staind's MTV Unplugged performance debuts July 26.

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