As I Lay Dying Debut At No. 8; Sixx:A.M. At No. 63

As I Lay Dying's new album 'An Ocean Between Us' has debuted at No. 8 on this weeks Billboard Top 200 chart with 39,000 copies sold. Sixx:A.M.'s debut 'The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack' debuted at No. 63 selling 11,000 copies while Adema moved 2,000 copies of 'Kill the Headlights'

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Trap Them Announces New Members

Trap Them has finally found a new drummer and bassist, positions they've been trying to permanently fill since February. Joining the group on drums is Mike Sharp, who apparently "enjoys Waffle House, instant messaging and a Batman sippy cup." Meanwhile, Scuba Steve will take over bass duties and he "enjoys coffee, nihilism and his dog."

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Recon Signs To Rise Records

Albany, New York straight edge hardcore/metal crew Recon has officially joined the Rise Records roster. The group released an EP with Closed Casket Activities last summer while their Rise Records debut will surface in 2008. You can check them out here.

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Kingston Falls Signs with Facedown Records

Facedown Records has officially signed Indiana's Kingston Falls. Formed in 2003, the group released a full-length with Facedown imprint Strike First Records in 2006. The band will spend the winter writing their Facedown debut, which is expected to surface in mid-2008. You can check them out here.

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Modern Life Is War, Young Widows Tour Dates

Directly prior to hitting the road with Trap Them and Trash Talk, Modern Life Is War will hook up with Young Widows for a small tour. Here are the tour dates:

9/8 Indianapolis, IN @ Harrison Center for the Arts
9/9 Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
9/10 Milwaukee, WI @ Shorewood Legion Hall
9/11 Cedar Falls, IA @ The Reverb
9/12 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
9/14 Sioux Falls, SD @ Nutty's North
9/15 Omaha, NE @ American Legion Post 1
9/17 St. Louis, MO @ Creepy Crawl

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Edguy Bassist To Perform With Blind Guardian

EDGUY's Tobias "Eggi" Exxel will play bass for one evening with BLIND GUARDIAN on October 13 in Pretoria, South Africa.

EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet recently underwent appendix surgery.

The group's North American tour, which is set to kick off on September 11 in Hartford, Connecticut, will go ahead as scheduled.

EDGUY filmed a live DVD on November 3, 2006 at the Credicard Hall in São Paulo, Brazil.

The band's latest album, "Rocket Ride", entered the German national album chart at position No. 8 upon its release in late January 2006. The CD also came in at No. 8 in Sweden, No. 25 in Finland, No. 32 in Hungary, No. 48 in Japan, No. 50 in Switzerland, No. 50 in Austria, No. 79 in Norway and No. 81 in Italy.

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Evile Japanese Release To Have Bonus Tracks

Up-and-coming U.K. thrashers EVILE will have their Flemming Rassmusen-produced (METALLICA, MORBID ANGEL) debut album, "Enter the Grave", released in Japan on September 25 via Howling Bull Records. The Japanese edition of the CD will include two bonus tracks: demo versions of the songs "Darkness Shall Bring Death" and "Sacrifical".

"Enter the Grave" was released in Europe on August 27 via Earache Records. The CD will be issued in North America on September 25.

The band showcased its metallic thrash sound at an in-store show at Manchester's Virgin Megastore on the day of the CD's U.K. release.

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Former Biohazard Frontman Writing First Book

Former BIOHAZARD bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld is in the process of writing his first book. No details regarding the book's contents have been revealed, but according to Evan, "it is going to be off the wall."

Seinfeld is currently fronting THE SPYDERZ, which is described as "a reinvention of hard rock to the next level. The marriage of riffs and melody fused with lyrics straight from the gut that almost anyone who is willing to be real about who they are and what is really going on can relate to."

Explained Evan: "BIOHAZARD was the single biggest chapter in my life... Danny, Scott, Billy and I speak all the time, and all felt it was time we explored musical paths we had yet to travel, so no, there was no violent break-up, and we reserve the right to play together anytime we see fit.

"My five-year career as an actor on HBO's 'Oz' and all my roles in film, along with my adult film career alongside my fucking bomb-ass wife, Tera Patrick, have catapulted my inner spirit to new heights where rock and roll, emotion, motorcycles, and sex kinda all become the same thing.

"THE SPYDERZ are an amazing bunch of musicians from many different genres of rock and metal that make up the foundation of our sound, which brings together classic rock, punk, metal, southern rock, and the blues. It is a fundamental and timeless rock project that is aimed at non-trendy rockers who have a true appreciation of song writing, and lyrics from the gut. No weird makeup, no costumes, no rap .... Just good old rock and roll that kicks you in the balls and leaves you on your knees gasping for air."

Writing constantly alongside his new partner Dirrty, Evan and THE SPYDERZ have been getting together a collection of songs, taking in influences from the STONES and the DEAD, from the MISFITS to SOCIAL DISTORTION, in preparation for their debut album, due to hit the streets early next year. The band made their live debut supporting BUCKCHERRY in Long Island in April, going down a storm with the sleazy rockers in attendance, and is now planning to show audiences what all the fuss is about.

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Los Angeles Cliveaid Show Reschedueled

Cliveaid, the organization which was set up in 2004 as a fund-raising event for original IRON MAIDEN drummer Clive Burr (who suffers from multiple sclerosis), has issued the following update:

"Cliveaid announces that its scheduled show for Los Angeles this September will now be taking place the first Saturday of March 2008. This is due to a chance meeting at a recent festival which will enable us to bring you the show we all want... a kick-ass metal/rock show. At this point the only info we can give you is that one of the biggest bands in the world is helping us out with something. Also we can announce that our Bergen [Norway] show that will be held on March 27th is taking great shape. So far we have OCTAVIA SPERATI and one huge name that has confirmed; we just need to cross the t's and dot the i's. However, it will be announced very soon. Also we are scheduling shows for France, Sweden, Italy, Denmark and even more in the USA. We are looking for corporate help for some shows as we need advertisers on our site and also help with various issues that are arrising so if you can help us please email sam@cliveaid.com."

The Cliveaid event that was previously scheduled for September 22, 2007 in Los Angeles, California was supposed to feature RONNY MUNROE PROJECT, LEATHERWOLF, HUCK JOHNS, MY EVOLUTION and CRUEL.

Burr is suffering from multiple sclerosis — a disease of unknown cause. The disorder is causing him intermittent numbness and can affect his balance. At present there is no known cure for MS, although he is helping test new drugs in the hope that his body response may contribute to a cure.

Clive joined IRON MAIDEN at the very end of December 1979 and played on the first three albums — "Iron Maiden", "Killers" and "Number of the Beast" — and toured extensively with the band over this groundbreaking period before leaving in early 1983.

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Danzig To Do Halloween Shows

DANZIG will be announcing a handful of East Coast US live shows for the week leading into Halloween. According to a band update, "looks like NYC, Philly, Baltimore and possibly Worcester/Boston. West Coast Halloween shows may also be added. Danzig has said he will perform a few songs from the new Lost Tracks double CD at these shows. Fans don't want to miss these shows, as they will be the only ones for a while."

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Dave Mustaine Checks In With Rehersal Update

MEGADETH's web site has been updated with the following message:

"[On Friday, August 31], from the rehearsal studio in Los Angeles, Dave Mustaine sent a reply out to fans through the SayNow voice mail: 'Hey this is Dave Mustaine calling you back. I'm finally at rehearsal right now, I'm sitting right next to Shawn [Drover, drums]. Say 'Hi Shawn!'

"Check out more of what Dave and the band had to say and be sure to call in and leave your own voice mail for Dave! He looks forward to hearing from you and replying!!

Fans can call Mustaine at 619-717-2000 and leave him a message. Leave a voice-mail or text message and you may just get a call or text back from Dave Mustaine himself. Dave will leave new messages for only people who are registered at SayNow.com.

MEGADETH's U.S. tour this fall kicks off in Anchorage, Alaska on September 4, taking the band through 24 U.S. cites ending up in Norfolk Virginia on October 6. Support on the dates will come from IN THIS MOMENT and THE CONFESSION.

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The Scourger Mixing New Album

Finnish thrashers THE SCOURGER have issued the following update:

"During the summer months the band has been supervising the mixing of the new, hotter-than-hell album, 'Dark Invitation to Armageddon'. Also some interesting artwork has been planned. Presumably Stay Heavy Records will issue a detailed statement about the album details, tours and other marketing related information during mid-September. Until then, stay awake, because this is just the calm before the storm..."

Tentatively due in October, "Dark Invitation to Armageddon" was recorded at Seawolf Studios in Helsinki.

THE SCOURGER's new single, "Never Bury the Hatchet", recently entered the Finnish chart at position No. 9.

THE SCOURGER reissued its debut album, "Blind Date with Violence", in October 2006 across Europe via Germany's Cyclone Records. The bonus material on the CD was taken from "To the Slayground" EP, the "Maximum Intensity" single and the Tuska 2006 live performance.

THE SCOURGER was formed in 2003 by former GANDALF singer Jari Hurskainen, guitarist Pekka Hämäläinen and drummer Seppo Tarvainen. Jani Luttinen of THE WAKE took the second-guitar post from Harri Hytonen, this new lineup debuting with a hometown (Helsinki) support to TRIVIUM in October 2005. THE SCOURGER issued their full-length debut, "Blind Date with Violence", produced by BLAKE's Aaro Seppovaara, in January 2006. In May Jani Luttinen injured his hand, necessitating WARMEN's Antti Wirman stepping in as substitute.

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Therion Announce Tour and New Album

Therion have announced the following North American tour dates in support of their recently released new album, "Gothic Kabbalah", which features their new vocalist, Thomas Vikström, replacement for Mats Levén who left the band prior to Therion's Wacken Open Air performance. Songs from "Gothic Kabbalah" can be heard on Therion's myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/therion . All confirmed North American tour dates are as follows:

Fri, Oct. 5 Mexico City, Mexico- Teatro Metropolitan
Sat, Oct. 6 Aguascalientes, Mexico, - Salon del Alba
Sun, Oct. 7 Guadalajara, Mexico- Teatro Estudio Cavaret
Mon, Oct. 15 San Francisco, CA- Slims
Tue, Oct. 16 Santa Ana, CA- Galaxy Theater
Wed, Oct. 17 Los Angeles, CA- Key Club
Tue, Oct. 23 Denver, CO- Cervantes
Thu, Oct. 25 Minneapolis, MN- Station 4
Fri, Oct. 26 Mokena, IL- The Pearl Room
Tue, Oct. 30 Quebec City, QC- Theatre Imperial
Wed, Oct. 31 Montreal, QC- Le Medley
Thu, Nov. 1 New York, NY- Highline Sat
Fri, Nov. 2 Springfield, VA- Jaxx
Sat, Nov. 3 Philadelphia, PA- Theathre of Living Arts
More...

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Insision Announce New Guitarist

Swedish death metallers INSISION have announced the addition of guitarist Magnus Martinsson to the group's ranks.

INSISION will release its third album, "Ikon" in Europe on September 26 via Dental Records. A U.S. release date via Candlelight Records has not yet been announced. The CD was recorded at Black Lounge studios (SCAR SYMMETRY, CENTINEX) in Avesta, Sweden. Mick Usher, who worked on INSISION's last album, "Revealed & Worshipped", designed the cover.

"Ikon" track listing:

01. A Ravenous Discharge
02. Unbind My Hands
03. By Habit
04. Depleting The Non-Being
05. Into The Cold
06. Breathing The Black Dust
07. Doubt Denied
08. Entangled In Thorns *
09. The Magnet Soul

* A remake of the song from the "Promo 2000" demo

Download the song "Doubt Denied" on the INSISION MySpace page.

INSISION last year parted ways with Earache/Wicked World Records. "Just like ENTOMBED and MORBID ANGEL before us, it [is] now time for INSISION to leave Earache in order to go ahead," the band said at the time of the split.

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Iced Earth Vocalist Talks New Album & Beyond Fear

Rich Catino of Metal Asylum recently conducted an interview with ICED EARTH/ex-JUDAS PRIEST vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Metal Asylum: So before we start talking about the forthcoming ICED EARTH album "Framing Armageddon", I wanted to ask how your other band BEYOND FEAR was received by both fans and critics?

Owens: It went good, man. Probably that was one of the best reviewed albums I had been part of. I know I really liked that debut album. To go over how well it did with the fans and critics was great. We didn't get to tour as much as we would have liked, guess since it was our first album, but it was a good surprise. The next one is gonna be even better. We're gonna do what we did with the last one, take the best parts, and continue on.

Metal Asylum: Do you think you may try something different on the next album?

Owens: It will always be classic metal, but I think a lot of the later songs that we recorded for the debut, like "Scream Machine", became favorites for fans. And lyrics to a song like that were not so serious and more cliché metal lyrics, you know about a metal machine. (Laughs) so I think some of the new songs may go in that direction. We are still gonna have songs like "Save Me", but I think it will probably have some more aggression. We have been writing now, John Comprix [guitar] and I, for a while. I have a lot of ideas and melodies in my head that I really can't use anywhere else (laughs). It's nice I get to use 'em for BEYOND FEAR. I mean, I have been a writer for many years but I don't get to do it as much as I would like, and ICED EARTH just keeps me so busy, but it's nice that every once and a while I get to do my thing with BEYOND FEAR. And we get to take our time with this band and practice together. I mean, that's what I want to hear with all my influences on one album that's what I like to do with FEAR.

Metal Asylum: Do you find that "Framing Armageddon" is closer to what the fans, and critics, expectations may be for ICED EARTH than what came our of "The Glorious Burden"?

Owens: I don't know, really. (Laughs) To me it's the same type of thing that happened when I was in JUDAS PRIEST. And it's the fact the I'm in a band that has never really been the same with every record. I mean, with ICED EARTH musically you could tell, but musically things changed — choruses were different, moods were different. But I think this one as a whole is more back to the roots of ICED EARTH and taking everything they have done up till now and mixing it in one record. You know, people say ICED EARTH is really a heavy band but they do have a couple balls out heavy songs per album, and then you have a couple slow ones, and then there are the mid-tempo ones. I think "Framing Armageddon" is a great CD and I can't see an ICED EARTH fan not liking it.

Metal Asylum: Since "Glorious Burden" was the first ICED EARTH album you sang on, what is different the second time around now for you as a singer.

Owens: It's similar vocal-wise because Jon [Schaffer, guitar] has always said he always writes the same. He said he always wrote for a singer like me. He said in a lot of interviews that Matt [Barlow, former singer] use to write lyrics but Jon writes all the melodies and vocal parts. And he doesn't write 'em for the singer in the band at the time, he writes them the way he thinks they should be sung. I know I naturally have a higher voice but I do wish I could sing more of the lower parts. I know with this album I was there when it was written, I went in there and did the demos and sang the parts. Jon said, "Here's the lyrics and melody and I want you to deliver it. Here's what I would like you to deliver it like, but you do what you feel." So that's what was cool about this album. "The Glorious Burden" was probably an easier album for me to sing than this one, even though it was already written when I came into the band. But when I go back and try to sing some of the stuff on "Framing Armageddon", I'm just like, "Holy shit, what did I do?"

Metal Asylum: Speaking of what you are singing on "Framing Armageddon", I was going to ask was there anything challenging to do on this record?

Owens: Definitely. I think there is a difference between a songwriter and a singer and Jon is a songwriter and I think he forgets sometimes that I have to breathe. (Laughs) And I do to I have to remember also in the heat of the moment while I am in the studio recording, so it's my fault, but then again when I have to go back and sing some of this stuff again, you know… It's like, "Ten Thousand Strong", that's just balls-out and when we were doing it in rehearsal I was like, "Man, this is tough." It's a natural high voice with no room to breathe; it's fun and challenging. There was stuff we did for BEYOND FEAR that was the same way but the difference is we rehearsed those songs first before we recorded those. I mean, with the new ICED EARTH album there are some registers that Jon has me reaching that I don't use that often, that I used in the past but not so much of recent. Two singers that were always like that were Bruce Dickinson [IRON MAIDEN] and Ronnie Dio, those are two guys that were always tough to do.

Metal Asylum: Do you think the ICED EARTH fans at this point have become more comfortable with you as the new singer?

Owens: I don't know. I mean, the real ICED EARTH fans know that Jon Schaffer was always the driving force of the band. And Matt Barlow [former ICED EARTH vocalist] was a great singer, but decided to make a career change. If they don't accept me, then listen to someone else, I guess; it doesn't really hurt my feelings. I know Jon is doing exactly what he wants to do and it's still classic ICED EARTH. I mean, people have to realize that I followed Halford in PRIEST and coming into ICED EARTH now doesn't hold that much pressure.

Metal Asylum: Contributing vocals to any other projects?

Owens: Not right now. ICED EARTH keeps me pretty busy, but I would like to. I would love to do a project with maybe Scott Ian from ANTHRAX, Vinnie Paul [PANTERA, HELLYEAH] on drums. I mean, there are so many people I would love to work with. You know, someone else I would love to work with down the road is Jon Oliva [SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA]. I mean, his style and my vocals would be a phenomenal mix, I think. I mean, imagine Jon Oliva, myself singing, Scott Ian doing rhythms and bring in Chris Caffery [SAVATAGE] on leads. That would be awesome!

Metal Asylum: Now that you mention Jon Oliva, I think you would sound great singing the old SAVATAGE stuff. And have you ever considered doing some vocals on a TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA album?

Owens: Man, I love that old SAVATAGE stuff. If they ever get it back together again, I would love to jam with them. Concerning TSO, I did speak with Paul O'Neill [TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA mastermind] but he just didn't pursue the idea. It was really surprising. I mean, I think it would work pretty well and I would sing what fits TSO's music. That band has some great singers that travel with them as it is. I mean, I would love to be part of that.

Read the entire interview at www.metalasylum.net.

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Raven To Begin Recording Vocals Next Week

Legendary British/American heavy metal trio RAVEN will return Assembly Line Studios next week with engineer/mixer Kevin 131 (PROJECT: FAILING FLESH, DECEASED, DYSRYTHMIA, GARDEN OF SHADOWS) to begin laying down vocals for their new album, tentatively titled "Walk through Fire". A spring release is expected.

As previously reported, RAVEN has been confirmed as the headliner of the first edition of Mario's Metal Meeting, set to take place November 11, 2007 at 013 in Tilburg, the Netherlands. The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

RAVEN
DREAMLAND
DIVINE RUINS
DOUBLE DIAMOND
IMPERIOUS REX

RAVEN's last studio album, "One for All", was released in 1999 via Massacre Records.

RAVEN has been confirmed for The Monsters Ball, set to take place Friday, October 12 at The Rock Room of the Sterling hotel in Allentown, Pennsylvania and Saturday, October 13 at Dingbatz in Clifton, New Jersey. Also scheduled to appear are HALLOWS EVE, SEVENTH CALLING and fellow British metallers OVERDRIVE (performing their first U.S. shows ever). RAVEN will also perform at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio on September 15 as part of the "Metal On Metal 25th Anniversary Concert", also featuring ANVIL, PILEDRIVER and DESTRUCTOR.

RAVEN is one of the confirmed bands for the Hard Rock Hell festival, set to take place from November 9-11 at Butlins in Minehead, UK (Somerset).

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Wednesday 13 Talks About New Album

Wednesday 13 (ex-MURDERDOLLS) has issued the following update on the recording process of his new solo CD, "Skeletons":

"Day 5 of recording the new CD, 'Skeletons', is complete and we are way ahead of schedule, with three songs completely finished. Racci [Shay, drums] and Nate [Manor, drums] came in to do drums and bass tracks this week and finished in just four days. I will be handling all rhythm and lead guitar duties for 'Skeletons'.

"This is a new experience in the world of Wednesday 13. This is the first time the band has actually played on the recordings. In the past I've only had the drummer come in and do his parts and then I record everything else.

"Working with the guys in the studio was a really cool experience, and I am shocked about how easy it has been going. I can't thank Racci and Nate enough!

"I don't think I have ever been so excited to hear the final product of anything that I have recorded!! This record is turning out to be the most diverse music I have ever recorded. It is still very much Wednesday 13, the humor and campiness is still there but a whole new bag of tricks will be unleashed on 'Skeletons'. It really feels like I'm creating a Frankenstein monster with this record, it's coming to life every day and it's just getting scarier!!! I really can't wait for all the fans to hear it!!!"

Tentative songtitles set to appear on "Skeletons" include "From Here to the Hearse", "Dead Carolina", "All American Massacre" and "Not Another Teenage Anthem".

Recording of "Skeletons" will be finished in mid-September, just in time for Wednesday 13 to go to Texas and do a week's worth of acoustic shows with his country project BOURBON CROW — with the final show being a pre-party for the REVEREND HORTON HEAT show in Houston, TX. After that Wednesday 13 will tour the U.S. for the month of October and then head overseas for his "Fan Appreciation" tour in November.

In other news, it looks like the final editing of Wednesday 13's video project "Weirdo-A-Go-Go" will be complete next week for a tentative February 2008 release. The show will feature the campy and morbid sense of humor that any fans of Wednesday 13 can expect. In the first two episodes, Wednesday 13 hosts clips and trailers of cheap horror flicks, along with performing schlocky but witty skits with his strange and wacky sidekicks. The program promises to resurrect the tradition of Saturday morning TV shows that Wednesday 13 grew up on — the random creations of Sid and Marty Krofft and Pee Wee's Playhouse mixed with the comedic approach of horror hosts Commander USA, Elvira, and Zacherely. The project, to be distributed by Horror High, LLC, was shot by Rafa of Core Entertainment, Inc. Rafa is most noted for the video and web site projects he has done for AVENGED SEVENFOLD, EVANESCENCE, ROB ZOMBIE, DISTURBED, STATIC-X and the Dimebag tribute bracelet.

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Shatter Messiah Complete New Album

SHATTER MESSIAH guitarist/founder Curran Murphy (ex-NEVERMORE / ex-ANNIHILATOR) has issued the following update:

"Hey hey,

Here is the super late August update for the Smiley Sound Studio. Busy month this time out had Kelly Conlon from DEATH in here tracking bass guitars for the new band FIRES OF BABYLON featuring my good friend Lou St. Paul of WINTERSBANE fame, and my very best friend Robert "BOBS" Falzano on drums. I should be getting the vocal tracks back from Florida to go into mix mode and finish this album up and deliver it in October! Kelly hammered the tracks for 10 songs out in two days and we had three days left over for drinking and Boone Dock Saints (I'll have a coke). WOOHOO!!!!.

DRAGONWYCK came in and have been tracking their second E.P. of six songs here for the last two weeks and man o man is it sounding great(smiley dare I say?). Mike finished drums in two days, Tony got all of his rhythm guitars quadruple tracked in two days and Nick is writing and playing some amazingly melodic and heavy bass lines. So we should be able to get them wrapped up in a few more days of tracking and go to mix here in September.

I also had Chris from THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY MUSICIANS come in with his fellas and book time for the day after Christmas (what can I say I love to work) for six songs as well!!!! This should be a fun session because these guys are appropriately named for sure!

And now down to brass tacks! On a personal note I spent the last three weeks frantically tracking, re-writing and re-recording the new Shatter Messiah album God Burns Like Flesh. All of the guys threw down with the most amazing effort I have seen from any band I have ever played in, it was awesome! I spent the last two days (about 32 hours straight with no breaks) on mixing and sending the files to Germany for master and artwork details as well. Talk about down to the fucking wire! Had to meet that label deadline baby to make for a good release time for this new record!!! Now it is all up to the fine people at Dockyard 1 to put this monster out and move some units baby!

I literally was recording guitar Solo's at 7a.m. the day of delivery, back against the wall, and having Wags throw down vocals while I am doing emails with our manager and my artwork guy AND the record label WOO HOO! Damn damn damn, I look back on it and just laugh at how I get myself into these adventures and then also remind myself I wouldn't change a fucking thing about it! Love this job and I love this game!"

Love,
Curran /SHATTER MESSIAH

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Bloodsimple Miss Last Three Family Values Shows

New York metalcore crew BLOODSIMPLE has issued the following statement:

"Well, that's it. [Vocalist] Tim [Williams] (a.k.a. The Elephant Man) can barely even open his mouth [after having an emergency tooth pulled in L.A.], much less scream bloody murder, so we're forced to cancel the last three shows of the Family Values tour. Nobody is happy about this and in turn we spent $200 at the liquor store and will try and deal with it while we're stuck in L.A. We do have tour plans being solidified now and hope to be back out late September. Hope to have an update next week......in the meantime AAGGHHHHHHH."

BLOODSIMPLE is scheduled to release its sophomore album, "Red Harvest", on October 9. A single, "Out to Get You", is expected to impact radio shortly.

Rehearsal footage of BLOODSIMPLE playing the new song "Dark Helmet" from its forthcoming CD "Red Harvest" has been posted at MetalKult.com. MetalKult.com has posted a new video interview with BLOODSIMPLE in which the band talks about a range of topics, including their roots in VISIONS OF DISORDER and SKREW, and their approach to writing their latest album, "Blood Harvest".

"This record is definitely a step up from the last one," says guitarist Nick Rowe.

"We tried to write more as a band this time," adds guitarist Mike Kennedy. "The last record was written a lot on ProTools and it was a little more structured whereas on this record we tried to open it up a little bit and make it feel like a real band wrote it. I think we definitely achieved that, for sure."

"Red Harvest" was produced by Machine (LAMB OF GOD, WHITE ZOMBIE). The LP will contain around 11 tracks, including "Dead Man Walking", the title cut and "El Myr" — the name of an Atlanta burrito bar the band loves to visit while on the road.

BLOODSIMPLE's debut CD, "A Cruel World", was released in March 2005 on MUDVAYNE singer Chad Gray's Bullygoat label imprint (via Warner Bros.).

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Rob Zombies Halloween Heading For Labor Day Record

Peter Rosenberg of New York City's Hot 97 conducted a radio interview with Rob Zombie about Rob's remake of the horror classic "Halloween". Watch video footage of the 10-minute chat below.

Despite opening to mostly negative reviews, Zombie's "Halloween" is on track to gross a record-breaking $23-$26 million at the box office in the United States during the four-day Labor Day weekend, according to SlashFilm.com.

According to DailyHerald.com, John Carpenter filmed his 1978 indie chiller on a $325,000 budget. The film made roughly $47 million at the domestic box office, and still ranks among the most impressive budget-to-box office ratios in history. Zombie's studio-approved "Halloween" cost about $20 million.

Dimension Films, which is releasing "Halloween", has just signed Zombie to a two-picture deal. According to Variety, Zombie will write and direct both films. There are no further details about the projects or whether they'll be horror outings like Zombie's three movies to-date.

Zombie also told MTV.com's movie blog that his animated flick, "The Haunted World of El Superbeasto", is finally finished. He described the film as a "superhero monster sex comedy" and a "filthy adult movie," adding, "People are just not going to believe this movie exists. It is so strange."

Zombie's first-ever concert album, simply titled "Zombie Live", is scheduled for release on October 23. He'll support OZZY OSBOURNE on a fall tour that will begin sometime in October and last through December.

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Destruction And Shining Confirmed For Inferno Fest

Veteran German thrashers DESTRUCTION and controversial Swedish black metallers SHINING have been confirmed for next year's installment of the Inferno metal festival, set to take place March 19-22, 2008 at the Rockefeller and John Dee venues in Oslo, Noway.

The full lineup will be announced at the Inferno kick-off party at John Dee on January 26, but a few more bands will be revealed before Christmas.

Tickets are available from tomorrow, September 1.

The organizers of the Inferno festival recently announced plans to expand the event to four days in in 2008, with the total number of scheduled performers going up from 30 to 40. More information about this fourth day will follow.

In other news, Inferno organizers are launching the third edition of Inferno Music Conference (IMC) in 2008. Promoters, journalists, designers, artists, managements, labels, venues, booking agencies, photographers are welcome. Registration will start September 1. It will be four days (to be announced soon) of metal industry featuring keynote speakers, panels, speed meeting sessions, listening sessions, meet-and-greet parties every evening, black metal bus sightseeing, Inferno Metal Expo and more.

For more information, visit www.infernofestival.net.

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Alice In Chains Record Show For Live Album

ALICE IN CHAINS recorded its acoustic performance Friday night (August 31) at The Rave/Eagles Club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for an upcoming live album. It is likely — although not officially confirmed — that the remaining three AIC acoustic shows while on the road with VELVET REVOLVER this summer and fall will also be recorded for the live CD, which is tentatively due in early 2008.

ALICE IN CHAINS's setlist for last night's concert was as follows:

01. Don't Follow
02. Heaven Beside You
03. Brother
04. I Can't Remember
05. Nutshell
06. Killer is Me
07. Love Hate Love
08. Sludge Factory
09. Angry Chair
10. No Excuses
11. Down in a Hole
12. Got Me Wrong

Encore:

13. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (ELTON JOHN cover)
14. Squeeze Box (THE WHO cover)
15. Rooster

Remaining ALICE IN CHAINS "Acoustic Hour" shows (in between regular dates with VELVET REVOLVER):

Sep. 01 - Pageant - St. Louis, MO
Sep. 29 - Antone's - Austin, TX
Oct. 01 - House Of Blues - New Orleans, LA

ALICE IN CHAINS singer William DuVall recently posted a message online about the new music that the band has been writing recently. DuVall wrote, "As it says on the ALICE IN CHAINS website, we've been working on new material. The first in over 10 years. It's been deeply rewarding and the stuff is insane." DuVall also mentioned the band's just-started tour with VELVET REVOLVER, adding, "What you may not know is how f***ing ravenous we are to get out there and rock your faces again. We are coming (like a pack of wild dogs) to an amphitheater/arena near you. There will be no quarter asked. And none given. You've been duly warned."

DuVall's comments were the first made publicly by a member of ALICE IN CHAINS regarding new music from the band, although reports surfaced earlier this summer that the band was writing new songs.

ALICE IN CHAINS reunited last year, with DuVall on vocals, for its first live dates since 1996. Original singer Layne Staley died in 2002.

Guitarist Jerry Cantrell told The Pulse of Radio last year that the band hadn't given much thought yet to writing new music. "Well, you know, it's been all we can handle just to get this thing going, you know," he said. "It's quite an undertaking on a lot of different levels — professionally, musically, between us as friends and working through the loss of Layne, you know, so there's so many levels of things that we've dealt with. We intended to do exactly what we're doing right now and that pretty much takes up most of our attention, I guess."

ALICE IN CHAINS' 1996 "MTV Unplugged" album will be reissued on September 18 with a bonus DVD featuring additional songs left off the original version. The tracks are "Frogs", "Angry Chair" and "The Killer Is Me".

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