ex-Damageplan Vocalist To Launch New Project

Former DAMAGEPLAN vocalist Patrick Lachman (ex-HALFORD, DIESEL MACHINE) is preparing to launch a new project in the coming weeks. The as-yet-unnamed band is rumored to involve notable San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles musicians. Lachman describes the material as, "heavy but also very melodic, with the focus being on good songwriting. It's a definite left turn and I think it's going to surprise a lot of people." The group have reportedly written and recorded nearly 20 songs and are preparing to shop for a major label record deal. Plans to launch an official web site are underway as well. More information will be made available soon.

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Thine Eyes Bleed Announce More Tour Dates

Canadian act THINE EYES BLEED, featuring former KITTIE guitarist/technician Jeff Phillips and bassist John Araya (brother of SLAYER's Tom Araya), have lined up the following dates during July/August:

Jul. 19 - L'Agora du Parc Beauséjour - Rimouski, QC
Jul. 21 - NB Studio 112 - St-John
Jul. 23 - O'Briens - Riverview, NB
Jul. 24 - The Manhattans - Moncton, NB
Jul. 27 - The Blue Whale Lounge - Dildo, NF The Blue Whale Lounge
Jul. 28 - Masonic Temple - St-John’s, NF
Jul. 29 - The New Junctions - St-John’s, NF
Jul. 31 - The Pavilion - Halifax, NS
Aug. 02 - Bugaboo Creek - Fredericton, NB Bugaboo Creek
Aug. 03 - Saphir - Montreal, QC
Aug. 04 - Rock Café Le Stage - Trois-Rivieres, QC
Aug. 05 - Café Deckuf - Ottawa, ON

THINE EYES BLEED are touring in support of their debut album, "In The Wake Of Separation", available now on The End Records. An MP3 of the track "Cold Victim" can be downloaded at this location.

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The Juliana Theory Sign To Abacus Recordings

The Juliana Theory have officially joined the Abacus Recordings roster. Formed in 1997, the Pennsylvania rock band features onetime Zao guitarist Brett Detar on vocals. The group has previously released material with Epic Records and Tooth & Nail Records, among others. Their Abacus debut, which will be released in conjunction with Paper Fist Recordings, is titled "Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat" and will hit stores on September 13th. Produced by John Travis (Social Distortion) and Detar, the recording was largely self-funded and recorded almost completely live. Here's a statement from Detar:

"We really set out from the beginning of the writing process to make an album that's a lot closer to our live show. We didn't want as many overdubs or vocal harmonies as on previous records. We just basically set out to make an album that showcased what our band actually is."

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Turmoil, The Warriors, With Or Without You Tour

Turmoil, The Warriors, and With Or Without You will be touring the West Coast briefly in September. Here are the dates:

9/1 San Diego, CA @ Che Cafe
9/2 Corona, CA @ Showcase
9/3 South Gate, CA @ Allen Theater
9/6 Roseville, CA @ The Underground
9/7 Reno, NV @ TBA
9/9 San Francisco, CA @ The Pound

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Tool Recording New Album In 'Secrecy'

Launch Radio Networks reports: TOOL's webmaster posted a message at the band's official site last Friday (July 8), stating that "for various reasons, the (new TOOL) album is being recorded in relative secrecy...even more so than past recording sessions and related TOOL projects." The webmaster added, "When (the band decides) to release certain details pertaining to the recording process, as well as any projected timetables, etc., it will most certainly be posted on the band's official website...this could be tomorrow, or two days from now, or in a couple of weeks or even a month from now."

While no other details were divulged, the posting did hint that "the members of the band are working hard and, as the saying goes, there is light at the end of the tunnel."

It's been four years since TOOL released its last album, 2001's "Lateralus", and drummer Danny Carey told Launch that the band prefers to take its time. "We're not pressured, I think, and we don't have a record company hanging over us, saying, 'You have to do an album every year,' or something," he said. "It's a lot more important to take our time and have something to say, and if you're putting out a record every year, how much can you really learn in one year? You know, you've got to develop as a person and develop as a player."

An August 23 release date had reportedly been set for a double-vinyl version of "Lateralus", featuring picture discs and a special holographic gatefold jacket. However, a representative for the band's label told Launch that while plans exist for a vinyl edition of the album, no arrival date has been determined.

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Evanescence Co-Founder Diagnosed Bipolar Disorder

EVANESCENCE co-founder Ben Moody recently spoke to RollingStone.com about his upcoming solo album, tentatively due this fall.

"It's a rock record, but it's a lot more organic than stuff I've done in the past," says Moody. "When it's heavy, it's straight-ahead heavy."

Moody is producing the album, with Jay Baumgarder (PAPA ROACH) co-producing a handful of tracks, and he's recruited GODHEAD's Jason Miller to play guitar and sing lead vocals on a few tracks. Drummer Lance Garvin (LIVING SACRIFICE), bassist Marty O'Brien (TOMMY LEE, METHODS OF MAYHEM) and guitarist Michael "Fish" Herring (PRINCE, CHRISTINA AGUILERA) round out the lineup.

Several of the fifteen songs Moody has demoed for his solo effort are about the turmoil he has gone through the past few years, "having to come to grips with my own anger and self-hatred and things that I tried to pin on EVANESCENCE." Moody, who was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder, confesses, "It goes much deeper than anything that came from being in a band."

Read the full article at Rolling Stone.

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Dirty Black Summer Tour Report, Springfield, VA

Having not gone to a show in too long, I decided to check out the Dirty Black Summer Tour at Jaxx in Springfield, VA on Saturday, July 9. It was on a Saturday, a good price and a good location for a weekend show (no metro and no beltway traffic to speak of), so I figured why the hell not. Besides, I had heard a lot about all of these bands in the news, but never listened to any of their music (except for The Agony Scene, who I streamed a few songs only a week before in preparation for my interview with drummer Brent Masters). I am not big into the metalcore scene and generally I dislike pure hardcore, but I do enjoy quite a few metalcore bands such as Unearth, As I Lay Dying, Bloodsimple, and My Bitter End to name a few. The Dirty Black Summer tour featured The Esoteric, Scars of Tomorrow, Full Blown Chaos, The Agony Scene, and Himsa. Apparently Scars of Tomorrow split some dates with Full Blown Chaos, because the former were not on this stop. There were two local openers as well, for a total of six bands. More...

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Urkraft Begin Recording Earache Debut

Newly signed chaotic Death/Thrash Metalers Urkraft are due to enter Antfarm studios with renowned producer Tue Madsen this Saturday 16th of July to begin the 2 week recording session for their hotly anticipated Earache debut. As previously revealed the new album title will be 'The Inhuman Aberration', dealing with issues such as the subjective human perspective, megalomania and general full on aural battery.

Urkraft frontman Thomas has been asked to give a little insight into the bands thoughts and feelings as they prepare to enter the studio:

"Well, we have reached the point where we can't get much more ready for the studio as a band. As individuals we might do some more practicing at home though. During the last few days we have been working with the small details on all tracks, been doing some last minute changes and I think this has given the final touch some of the tracks needed."

Having already released the killer 2004 debut 'Eternal Cosmic Slaughter', also recorded at Antfarm, how do the guys feel about the material they have ready for the next record:

"We are really exited about releasing the next album. Urkraft were expected to do deep Death Metal on our debut, but obviously surprised some people by putting in more thrash than earlier. We still play a combination, but this release will be both a new side of Urkraft as well as moving a little back to the old days. It will be more noisy and chaotic, a lot faster, more brutal and with that overall dark feeling to it that the 'Eternal Cosmic Slaughter' album had. Especially the keyboard will have a more conspicuous role. It is not just used as a lay over, but will also be a part of the chaos and help support the attacks in the music."

So we have an idea what to expect musically but what themes will the lyrics be dealing with:

"With the lyrics for the title track 'The Inhuman Aberration' the subjective human perspective on things is questioned. The voice in the song might belong to a sick megalomaniac mind, but at the same time a mind that can comprehend and dare to face the primordial horrors that exist underneath human made ideas of reason and logic. 'The Inhuman Aberration' is not a concept album as such. Different voices speak and contradicting views exist within the lyrics. Overall the lyrics attempt to describe what man can not control: The subconscious powers within and the subversive grinding of the cosmos."

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Hellfest Announces Skate Park Details

Hellfest has announced details for a 10,000 sq. ft. skate park this year. It started as a humble beginning of local kids unofficially setting up shop at the festival. What set it over the edge that year was an intimate skate session with Bam Margera and CKY. As the skate has slowly evolved since 2002, 2005 will be the second year that the skateboarding will be a predominant factor at Hellfest. With vendors like Zoo York, 5 Boro Skateboards, Adio and Element attending the event, Hellfest skateboarding has gained the attention from all corners of the industry.

They've recruited the best builders, ramps and pro skateboarders to bring Hellfest to an almost unreal level of skateboarding the festival has ever seen. They've decided to take it from what seems like zero to 80 in a matter of seconds. Tim Glomb of MTV's Viva La Bam and owner of Sk8 Ramps, a company at the forefront of park building, is bringing his craft to this year's Hellfest, building us an exclusive 10,000 sq. st. public street course to be skateboarded by not only those entering our contest to qualify for United Skateboard Association's (U.S.A.) legendary Beast of the East contest, but for any ticket holder willing and able.

U.S.A. joins Hellfest for it's second time at the mega-festival for it's 8th annual Beast of the East Series qualifying competition. U.S.A. has been instrumental in setting the pace for amateur skateboarding events. Part of the U.S.A.'s success has been attributed to fostering the growth within its target market. The contest will have three divisions of competition: Intermediate, Advanced and Sponsored. So make sure you bring your board, bike & balls.

What the park has to offer: (subject to change) More...

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Coalesce To Reunite For a Few Shows

After last performing together in 2002, Kansas band Coalesce will be reuniting for two shows, including a performance at this summer's Hellfest on August 20th. The group will also play a show in Lawrence, Kansas, the details of which will be revealed in the coming weeks. The lineup will consist of Jes Steineger, Nathan Ellis, Sean Ingram, and Nathan Richardson. According to Ingram, "Coalesce is not back together. We are playing these two shows and then going from there."

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