Metal News for June 26, 2003
Last updated on October 4, 2025 at 12:08 AM ET
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19 news articles posted on this day.
Anthrax Taking the Music Back
Having caused quite a rumble overseas during their headline tour & along the major festival circuit, ANTHRAX is primed to return to the USA. As a way to acknowledge the great new metal bands emerging from the world of independent labels, ANTHRAX is launching "Taking the Music Back 2003" on July 29 in San Diego.
Anthrax will be touring in support of the critically-lauded release 'We've Come for You All' . Support on this tour will be split among bands that ANTHRAX feels are the crux of a new wave of Heavy Metal. The first leg (July 29-August 13) will feature Lamb of God and E Town Concrete. August 14 through August 29 will feature Lacuna Coil and E Town Concrete. ANTHRAX hopes that the success of this tour will lead to further opportunities to introduce new independent metal bands to the masses.
Combining haunting melody with ANTHRAX's trademark heavy groove riffs, We've Come for You All features guest performances by The Who's Roger Daltrey, Pantera's Dimebag Darrell, and E Town Concrete's Anthony Martini.
The video for the single "Safe Home" is currently in rotation on all the major networks and features a cameo appearance by actor Keanu Reeves, a longtime ANTHRAX fan.
Current tour dates include: More...
Moonspell Get Bassist
Portuguese goth metallers Moonspell have brought in Aires Pereira to replace recently departed bassist Sergio Crestana. Although not yet a full time member of the band, he will join Moonspell for their upcoming tour in support of new album ‘The Antidote’, released at the end of September.
Deathride Become Devilrider
Deathride, who are fronted by Coal Chamber’s Dez Farafa (who has a side project by that name, I believe), have now changed their name to Devilrider. The band will release their debut album, ‘Thirteen’, through Roadrunner later in the year. It’s currently being produced by Ross Hogarth.
Godhead Get Ex-Static-X Drummer
Godhead have brought in former Static-X drummer Ken Jay to replace the just-departed Tom Z. The band’s new album, ‘Evolver’, is due out soon on new label Reality Entertainment.
Blinded Colony Complete Debut Album
The Swedish newcomers Blinded Colony just finished the recordings of their debut album "Divine". The album was mastered by Goran Finnberg at Mastering Room and it is scheduled for an October release through Scarlet.
Arachnes Complete New Album
Arachnes have finished recording and mixing their new studio album. The title of the album is "Primary Fear" and it will feature a song recorded in a church with a real church-organ and composed by the Maestro F.Castelli and a cover song of 'Eruption' taken from the prog-rock masterpiece 'Tarkus' by E.L.P.
Necrodeath Finish New Recordings
The Italian Black-Thrash band Necrodeath has just finished the recording sessions of their 5th album, "Ton(e)s Of Hate". It was recorded in Italy at the top-metal studios in Rome, Outer Sounds, with producer Giuseppe Orlando (Novembre) and mastered at Mastering Room in Sweden. The release date for "Ton(e)s Of Hate" is scheduled for September 2003.
Vader to Play at Polish Woodstock 2003
Polish death metal veterans Vader have been confirmed for this year's edition of Polish Woodstock 2003, the biggest of Poland's festivals. Vader are scheduled to appear on the evening of August 1st. They will have their entire set recorded and broadcast via Polish TV. The group will also film a video clip for an as-yet-undisclosed track at the gig.
Vader also plan to do an extensive tour of Poland in September, which will include support from Decapitated, Frontside and Vesania. The tour will most probably start on September 7th or 8th in Warsaw and will consist of 15 shows.
Satyricon to Audition Keyboardists
According to Satyricon’s website, the band will be auditioning keyboardists in July.
The posting reads: “Satyricon seeks talented musicians who can handle keyboards and samplers live. In addition to talent you will have to have a serious attitude and show true dedication. We've had a lot of problems with our e-mail account, so if you've tried us before without luck, try again. Waste no time, Satyricon will hit the road again late August. Submit your info to musician@satyricon.no.”
Rotting Christ's Summer Plans
Rotting Christ are confirmed for the Wet Stage at this year’s Wacken Open Air Festival. The band’s set takes place August 1st (Friday) at 8:40pm.
The same weekend, Sunday the 2nd, Rotting Christ will play at Pratteln's Metal Dayz festival in Switzerland with Slayer, Tankard, Masterplan and more.
Other Rotting Christ festival appearances include: Rock The Nations in Istanbul, Turkey on June 29th and the Slaughter Festival in Massafra /Taranto, Italy on July 19th.
Ephel Duath Confirmed for Brutal Assault Festival
Ephel Duath are confirmed to play the Main Stage at the Brutal Assault Festival on August 8th in Olomouc, Czech Republic. Other acts on the bill include Malevolent Creation, Pungent Stench, Novembre, Hollenthon and Kataklysm.
Ephal Duath will also play the Quart Festival on July 5th in Kristiansand, Norway.
Belphegor Complete Work on 'Lucifer Incestus"
Austrian death/black metal act Belphegor have completed work on their fourth full-length album, "Lucifer Incestus", tentatively due in September.
Guitarist/vocalist//founder Helmuth states: "The eight tracks have reached a 'new level' of extreme-brachial high-speed intensity. We have a lot of new elements and a higher level of composition and structure, without sounding less brachial. The recording will be the first to feature new snareblastfetishist Torturer and bassist Barth. The new lecherous lineup is the strongest since the foundation of the hellgroup. We feel that this will be the mightiest Belphegor opus/jewel yet, the soundtrakk for the ultimo hellride!"
The follow-up to 2000's "Necrodaemon Terrorsathan" was recorded at Mastersound studios In Stuttgart/Fellbach, Germany with producer Alex Krull (Atrocity). The complete track listing for "Lucifer Incestus" is as follows: More...
Tucker: New Morbid Angel will be "Amazing"
Morbid Angel bassist/vocalist Steve Tucker recently posted the following update to the Earache Records web site:
"Tucker here. I am done tracking all of the bass and vocals for the new CD, and I can truly say that I have done some things I never did before vocally on this recording. I am extremely pleased with the material, and I think everyone involved is doing a tremendous job. Pete [Sandoval] did an incredible performance on drums, and songwriting as usual! Trey [Azagthoth] has put together a seriously twisted set of songs that I am very proud to be a part of. I haven't heard the solos yet, but I am quite sure they will be amazing as always! Punchy [co-producer and longtime front-of-house mixing engineer Juan 'Punchy' Gonzalez] and the studio [D.O.W. (Diet Of Worms)] are great!! I can say that the bass tones we got on this record (Punchy and I) are excellent, the kind of bass sound I always wanted — very driven and gritty yet very audible, it blends perfect with the drums guitars and vox. Punchy is great to work with — a true friend of the band — and I hope we do this again. The mixing is starting and I think this will be an amazing sounding record."
Soilwork to Tour Australia
Sweden's Soilwork have lined up an Australian tour in September. Support at all dates will come from Frankenbok.
The details are as follows:
Sep. 11 – The Arena – Brisbane, AUS
Sep. 12 – The Hi Fi Bar – Melbourne, AUS
Sep. 13 – The Gaelic Club – Sydney, AUS
Sep. 14 – The Uni Bar – Adelaide, AUS
Arch Enemy Cover Art Posted Online
The cover artwork for Arch Enemy's "Anthems Of Rebellion" CD has been posted online at this location. The follow-up to 2001's "Wages Of Sin" is due on Aug. 26 through Century Media Records. A Japanese release is expected on July 23 through Toy's Factory Records. The full CD booklet features 20 pages of amazing artwork and pictures designed by Niklas Sundin of Cabin Fever Media. A special two-CD version digi-pack format is in the planning stage as well. More details will follow soon.
Transport League Sign with Seamiew Records
Sweden's Transport League have inked a deal with Holland's Seamiew Records for the European, Asian and Australian territories.
The group's new CD, "Multiple Organ Harvest", is scheduled to be released in October. A single will precede the CD and will include the album cut "Disconnect Massconnect", plus the previously unreleased track "Never To Burn" (from the "Grand Amputation" recording sessions) and "industrial" remixes of several of the songs from the upcoming album.
The complete track listing for "Multiple Organ Harvest" is as follows: More...
Blind Guardian Replace IcedEarth at Gates of Metal
Blind Guardian have replaced Iced Earth at this year's Gates Of Metal festival, set to take place Aug. 2 in Hultsfred, Sweden.
The complete list of artists currently scheduled to perform at the event is as follows: More...
RIAA To Sue Thousands of File Swappers
In its most serious crackdown yet on file swapping, the Recording Industry Association of America said it will gather evidence against individuals who trade songs online and slap thousands of them with copyright-infringement lawsuits.
Bolstered by recent court rulings that make it easier to unmask individual file swappers, the music industry trade group said it will launch a massive campaign Thursday to target individuals who offer "substantial amounts" of music through peer–to-peer networks.
"Once we begin our evidence-gathering process, any individual computer user who continues to offer music illegally to millions of others will run the very real risk of facing legal action in the form of civil lawsuits that will cost violators thousands of dollars and potentially subject them to criminal prosecution," RIAA president Cary Sherman said in a statement.
Read the full article at ZDNet.
Korn's Jonathan Davis Calls In To K-Rock
Jonathan Davis of Korn called into the Cane Show on K-Rock in New York to talk about Korn's new single 'I Did My Time' on Wednesday (June 25). They goofed on Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit for a minute and revealed the band's new album will be coming out some time in the fall. Davis says the new album is being produced in his house and security is beefed up after 'Untouchables' was leaked months before its release. Davis says the new album is raw and takes the music back to the beginning when the group first came out -- pretty heavy. He also responded to criticism from Chino of the Deftones about his lyrics. Davis also praised Metallica and explained that that was the only reason they agreed to perform on television for the first time as part of the mtvICON tribute. Listen to the interview here.
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