A7X To Realease First Single On iTunes Soon

Avenged Sevenfold will release their first single, "Almost Easy," from their upcoming self-titled album on September 18 via iTunes. The album is due out on October 30th through the usual retail outlets. The new record will follow up the band's 2005 breakthrough effort, "City of Evil", and marks their first attempt at producing themselves.

In other A7X news, the band has released a new webisode in which Wolfie lays it down for all the haters. You can check this video out here or below.

As previously reported, Avenged Sevenfold has announced roughly half of the dates for their upcoming US tour. More...

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Lose None Recording New Material For Split CD

Lose None, featuring former and current members of On A Warpath and Hoods, among others, have reformed after a lengthy hiatus. The band is currently in the studio recording material for a split release with Line Of Scrimmage.

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Blood Red Throne Post Another New Song Online

Norwegian death metallers BLOOD RED THRONE have posted a nother track from their new album, "Come Death", which received a European release late last month via Earache Records. Check it out on the group's MySpace page.

BLOOD RED THRONE recently filmed a video for the song "Taste of God". Still photos from the video shoot are available at this location.

Commented guitarist Dod: "The filming was done quite fast at a venue located in our hometown. We're thinking of combining it with a story, but that's a matter of money, so I can't say anything, though the video will be cool. A lot of headbanging and some blood, hehe!"

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End-Time Illusion Seeks Drummer

End-Time Illusion (Spare Change Records) is looking for a new drummer. Here's the official word from the band:

"We want to be back and completely operational as soon as possible. If you or someone you know is a nasty drummer and you are interested please get in touch. Here are some requirements as well as details.

1. Sick double bass is a must
2. Must be proficient with blast beats
3. Needs to have a good understanding for rhythm and time signatures
4. Needs to be able to drive to practice
5. Needs to have decent quality equipment

"We currently practice in Manchester, CT, which is about 10 minutes northeast of Hartford. We have a brand new CD that we are finishing up while we look for a drummer. All the recordings will be available to help you learn the parts. We are hoping that a new person will bring some new ideas and different influences into the band."

Candidates should contact the band here for additional information.

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Venom Post New Album And DVD Updates

The follwoing message has been posted via the official Venom Myspace:

"History of Venom Videos DVD

Work has started on a special DVD release of Venom's classic videos. The Hammersmith show from 1984 (The 7th Date of Hell) and the Nightmare video to name a few, are set to feature along with new interviews from various members and 'never before seen' footage from the band members personal archives are also set to be included. More information and updates will be added soon.

New Album Update

Venom have decided to re-record some of the tracks on the new album and change the release date until early 2008. Anton explains: during the Scandinavian Tour we played through some of the new tracks in the sound-checks, there's something about the energy you deliver when playing on a stage that differs greatly from recording in a studio. All fired up we tore the tracks to shreds. We tried to organise a mobile studio to get to the next shows, but it was way too late notice, so on our return to the UK Cronos hired some small venues for us to record some new backing tracks to work on. At the end of the day it's all about recording a great album, and this new album is sounding absolutely awesome. The band are also preparing some samples to stream from the website, as well as some choice recordings from the tour.

More updates to follow soon!!!"

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Mastodon Guitarist/Vocalist Suffers Head Injury

MASTODON guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds suffered a severe head injury after his performance on Sunday night's [September 9] MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas. He is being treated by a Las Vegas hospital where he remains hospitalized.

It is rumoured that Hinds' injury was sustained during a brutal assault that took place shortly after MASTODON performed "Colony of Birchmen" at the Palms Casino Fantasy Suites in Las Vegas. However, it should be noted that this information has not yet been corroborated by an official source. He remains under physicians' care in a Las Vegas hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

MTV News reports that Hinds' nose was also broken, and he sustained two black eyes, according to the band's manager, Nick John. Although John did not provide details about what led to Hinds' injuries, he said they occurred at around 3 a.m. Monday morning, after the band had finished one of the highest-profile performances of its career — a guest spot in the FOO FIGHTERS' suite during Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. MASTODON performed its single "Colony of Birchmen" with QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE frontman Josh Homme; the song appears on the band's 2006 LP, "Blood Mountain".

"Thankfully, it seems he's going to [make a full recovery]," said John. "All I know is he had a bad head injury, broken nose and blacked-out eyes. He doesn't recall much."

Several unsubstantiated rumors circulating around the web claim that Hinds was attacked shortly after the band's MTV Video Music Awards performance.

Watch MASTODON's performance at the MTV Video Music Awards (with a special guest appearance by QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's Josh Homme):
More...

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Napalm Death Check In From The Road

British grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH have issued the following update:

"NAPALM DEATH tour's been great. Australia was a blast. Met some great new friends and the shows were killer. The best show in Australia? Tricky, but we would go for Adelaide — some crazy people there, for sure, and had a great time after the show. In Wellington, New Zealand today on a day off. Killer show again last night and we're looking forward to Auckland tomorrow — we won't leave it 11 years 'till we come here next time, that's for sure. Heading to China in a few days for the first time, so that will be a blast. It's been a fun year and we still have Latin America to come in October. Looking forward to meeting some old friends."

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Headline News

Tommy Lee Leaves Motley Crue

According to the amended complaint filed by MÖTLEY CRÜE against artist manager Carl Stubner and his three companies Sanctuary Group, Inc., Sanctuary Artist Management, Inc. and Carl Stubner Productions, Inc., drummer Tommy Lee "recently informed [bassist Nikki] Sixx and [guitarist Mick] Mars, the shareholders of MCI [Motley Crue, Inc.], that he was resigning from the band and his resignation was accepted."

According to a press release issued by MÖTLEY CRÜE earlier today, the group's amended complaint contains "newly obtained evidence" in its lawsuit against Stubner, consisting of statements from band members Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx and Mick Mars as well as ten sworn declarations from key professionals associated with the band, "demonstrates beyond any question that Stubner was a manager of MÖTLEY CRÜE and not just the manager of Tommy Lee as he has previously claimed in press releases and legal filings. The newly obtained evidence supports and confirms allegations in the amended complaint filed yesterday in Los Angeles Superior Court that Stubner breached his fiduciary duties to MÖTLEY CRÜE by orchestrating a scheme for his personal financial gain at the expense and to the detriment of the band."

The press release adds, "Even though he received approximately a million dollars in commissions from MÖTLEY CRÜE, Stubner used his positions as the band’s manager and the manager of one of the band members to demand a higher commission for himself. The amended complaint contends that his motivation was pure greed. The new evidence also confirms that Stubner demanded tickets from the band that he resold at 'scalper' prices for his own gain."

The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages of more than $20 million for lost earnings and profits resulting from the defendants' actions. The lawsuit also seeks punitive damages because, as claimed in the amended complaint, the defendants' "despicable" actions were undertaken "fraudulently, maliciously and oppressively."

In CRÜE's original lawsuit, which was filed on June 18 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, three of the group's founding members (Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil and Mick Mars) through Motley Crue Inc., claimed Stubner forced Tommy Lee to "to become engaged in 'reality' projects that were bad career moves for Lee, harming [Sixx, Mars, Neil and Lee], the MÖTLEY CRÜE brand and Lee's own image." According to TMZ.com, the suit calls the low-rated NBC show "Tommy Lee Goes to College" a "critical disappointment and a ratings disaster," adding it painted Lee as "incoherent, lazy and incompetent" and made him "look like a laughing stock who could not carry a drum beat." The suit also claims Lee's participation on "Rock Star: Supernova" "diminished the public's interest in Lee and their overall perception of his musical talents."

Because Lee was so busy doing reality TV, the band says he was unavailable to tour with the CRÜE, thus causing the cancellation of several key concert dates. The band claims that they lost $8 million in ticket and merchandise revenue because of Lee's scheduling conflicts. The band claims these conflicts were "both real and concocted" by Stubner to "leverage his control over Lee to his financial advantage and to MÖTLEY CRÜE and Lee's detriment."

Tommy Lee's attorney Barbara Berkowitz issued a statement on June 20 claiming that Lee "is not an individual participant in the lawsuit filed [on June 18] by the corporation, Motley Crue, Inc. against Lee's personal manager, Carl Stubner and Sanctuary Management. Mr. Stubner and Sanctuary do not manage MÖTLEY CRÜE, however they continue to represent Tommy Lee personally."

The statement from Tommy's attorney went on to say that "Mr. Lee was neither consulted regarding this matter nor authorized the lawsuit. Mr. Lee has not made any allegations against his current personal manager. Mr. Lee feels fortunate to have been part of the MÖTLEY reunion tour, as well as other opportunities outside of MÖTLEY CRÜE over the past several years. It is unfortunate that others believe that they all could have made more money had Mr. Lee exclusively participated in the band that he co-founded in 1980. However, Mr. Lee is a versatile artist, and is grateful that he participated in other projects as well."

MÖTLEY CRÜE's litigation attorney is Skip Miller of Miller Barondess, LLP in Los Angeles.

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Despised Icon Complete New Video

DESPISED ICON are currently doing shows throughout the US, on tour alongside SUICIDE SILENCE, WINDS OF PLAGUE and SEE YOU NEXT THURSDAY. This marks the group’s fourth North American tour this year in support of their latest album, The Ill’s Of Modern Man, and they recently shot a new video for the track 'Furtive Monologue', with director Jonathan Desbiens. Look for it to make its debut online later this month.

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Iron Maiden Drummer To Appear At Drummer Live

IRON MAIDEN fan-site Maidenfans.com has posted the following press release:

"The Drummer Live show is the ultimate day out for all drumming, percussionist and music enthusiasts. The UK's greatest drum show is bought to you by Drummer Magazine and takes place on 20 and 21 October at the London Docklands fantastic ExCeL Centre.

With a star-studded line-up for the 2007 event, this year's show has the most exciting group of drummers ever assembled, live over two days. From drumming icon Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN) to the legendary Cindy Blackman (LENNY KRAVITZ) through to BEYONCE's drummer, Gerald Heyward, this promises to be a spectacular opportunity to see the world's most prestigious performers up close and personal. The Live stage also features international artists such as the highly respected Thomas Lang, top UK drummer Steve White (PAUL WELLER BAND), latin supremo Walfredo Reyes Jr, pop maestro Andrew Small (KYLIE MINOGUE) and many more.

With the UK's most impressive collection of drumming gear all under one roof, Drummer Live will be bringing together the world's most famous drum manufacturers, displaying the coolest new innovations and the most exciting kits the percussion world has to offer. The show will be crammed with companies and traders offering every conceivable product, service, part or accessory a drummer could wish for. There will be unmissable show deals with the chance to buy the latest gear from the UK's best drum retailers."

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Chimaira, Kataklysm And Terror To Tour

CHIMAIRA will team up with KATAKLYSM and TERROR for a North American tour in November/December. DIVINE HERESY is expected to open the trek on all dates between November 14 and December 8, with THE END taking over the opening slot beginning December 9. The dates are as follows:

Nov. 14 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
Nov. 15 - New York City, NY - The Blender Theatre
Nov. 16 - Allentown, PA - Crocodile Rock
Nov. 17 - Williamsville, NY - Club Infinity
Nov. 18 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts
Nov. 19 - Mokena, IL - The Pearl Room
Nov. 21 - Winnipeg, MB - The Garrick Centre
Nov. 22 - Saskatoon, SK - Ryly's
Nov. 23 - Calgary, AB - MacEwan Ballroom
Nov. 24 - Edmonton, AB - Dinwoodie Lounge
Nov. 26 - Vancouver, BC - Croation Cultural Centre
Nov. 27 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
Nov. 28 - Bend, OR - The Domino Room
Nov. 29 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's
Nov. 30 - West Hollywood, CA - Key Club
Dec. 01 - Pomona, CA - Glasshouse
Dec. 02 - San Diego, CA - House Of Blues
Dec. 04 - Tucson, AZ - The Rock
Dec. 05 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
Dec. 07 - San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit
Dec. 08 - Houston, TX - Meridian
Dec. 09 - New Orleans, LA - House Of Blues
Dec. 10 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
Dec. 11 - St. Petersburg, FL - State Theatre
Dec. 12 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
Dec. 14 - Jacksonville, NC - Hooligans
Dec. 15 - Springfield, VA - Jaxx
Dec. 16 - New Haven, CT - Toad's Place
Dec. 18 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
Dec. 19 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda
Dec. 20 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
Dec. 21 - Millvale, PA - Mr. Small's Theatre

CHIMAIRA recently pulled out of the Eastpak Antidote tour with SOILWORK, CALIBAN, and SONIC SYNDICATE in order to spend the next few months "laying down some material that is flowing through us uncontrollably," according to a statement released by the group.

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Evile And Sanctity To Do U.K. Tour

Fresh off the back of their debut release Enter The Grave, Yorkshire thrashers EVILE are to team up with North Carolina's SANCTITY and ROMEO MUST DIE for an ear-splitting tour, aptly titled Bonded By Bloodshed. The tour begins in Southampton on October 21st and looks set to spread the sound of thrash up and down the UK.

Evile guitarist Ol Drake has spoken out about the upcoming dates: "We're looking forward to ripping UK venues up with Sanctity. We hear they're really good live so it'll be a great experience to tour with them. It'll be the first American band we've been on tour with, so it'll be a learning curve haha. See you all on the road with Sanctity and Romeo Must Die!"

Catch Evile with Sanctity on the following dates:

October
21 - Southampton, England at Joiners
22 - Cardiff, England at Barfly
23 - London, England at Barfly
24 - Wolverhampton, England at Little Civic
25 - Glasgow, Scotland at Barfly
26 - Leeds, England at Josephs Well
27 - Stoke, England at Sugar Mill
28 - Sheffield, England at Corporation
29 - Oxford, England at Zodiac
30 - Northampton, England at Soundhaus
31 - Colchester, England at Arts Centre

Evile will be taking part in an exclusive signing session at Nottingham store Pandora's Box on Saturday, September 22nd from 2- 4 PM.

Enter The Grave is out now in UK/Europe and released in the US on September 25th.

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Full Details Of Led Zeppelin Reunion Announced

LED ZEPPELIN will reform for a one-off show at the O2 arena in London it was confirmed today (September 12th).

The band will reunite for the show on November 26th, topping a bill that also includes PETE TOWNSHEND, FOREIGNER and PAULO NUTINI with BILL WYMAN AND THE RHYTHM KINGS backing those three acts as well as playing themselves.

The show is being held to raise money for the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund, which pays for university scholarships in the UK, US and Turkey.

The fund was created in honour of Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun who died last year. He worked helped further the career of a host of acts including Led Zeppelin.

"During the Zeppelin years, Ahmet Ertegun was a major foundation of solidarity and accord. For us he was Atlantic Records and remained a close friend and conspirator," explained Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant of the band's decision to reform. "£his performance stands alone as our tribute to the work and the life of our long standing friend."

Tickets for the show cost £125 each and they are limited to two per person and will be distributed by ballot only.

Those wishing to go must register on Ahmettribute.com to be in the ballot. Registration closes on Monday (September 17th), while any tickets that appear on online auction sites afterwards will be immediately cancelled.

A big after show for the gig is set to take place on the night at the O2's Indigo venue.

Led Zeppelin will feature original members Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, while Jason Bonham, the son of their late drummer John Bonham, will play with the band.

The band will also release a new best of compilation, Mothership, on November 13th.

Promoter Harvey Goldsmith said at the moment the band "have no plans to tour but hopes they will". He added they were enjoying working together again and were currently planning a two hour for the gig.

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More Info and Video Of Tommy Lee vs Kid Rock

In the saga of the Tommy Lee verus Kid Rock scuffle at the recent MTV Video Music Awards (VMA), MTV.com sheds some more light on the events of that night and even has a video capturing the tail end of the confrontation (viewable here or below).

The former Pamela Anderson flames Kid Rock and Tommy Lee traded words in a heated exchange during Alicia Keys' performance at the Video Music Awards, resulting in both rockers being escorted by security out of the Pearl Theater in the Palms Casino Resort.

Security quickly detained both men, with Lee being immediately removed from the venue. Rock, with his cigar still in his mouth, was held back momentarily until Lee left and calmly walked out alongside security.

"I never hit nobody for nothing before," Rock was overhead saying in the lobby of the casino. "I told him to shut the f--- up."

According to a spokesperson for the Las Vegas Police Department, Rock was cited for misdemeanor battery for his assault on Lee. Rock was not detained or taken into police custody but was issued a summons. He'll need to return to Vegas for a future court date, and if convicted, he faces a $500 fine and up to six months behind bars. More...

Read the full article at MTV.com.

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Ferret Music and Siege Of Amida Announce Deal

Ferret Music has announced a partnership with the U.K. based Siege Of Amida Records (AKA SOAR) for North America. Carl Severson of Ferret says of the deal "We will be jointly releasing records together for the U.S. SOAR will be handling A&R and Ferret believes strongly in their vision. We have had a long friendship with Darrent Toms of the label and have been stoked to see his label grow and florish and are excited to bring them here." SOAR is the brainchild of Toms who has worked for Candlelight Records and Plastichead Distribution and Jamie Graham formerly of Terrorizer and One Little Indian Records. The label has become known for breaking new metal heroes from both sides of the Atlantic. The first releases of this new partner ship will be from The Red Death and The Breathing Process to drop in January 2008.

The Red Death hail from upstate NY and fuse the speed and barbarism of Gothenburg Thrash with the unrelenting violence of American Death Metal. They are recommended for fans of The Haunted, Malevolent Creation and At The Gates. The Breathing Process hail from Connecticut and compose in their own words melodic Death Metal with devastatingly heavy breakdowns. They are recommended for fans of Dimmu Borgir, Meshuggah and Bleeding Through. Other releases waiting in the wings for 2008 will be from SOAR artists, The Red Shore, Annotations Of An Autopsy and Traces.

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Modern Life Is War, Bouncing Souls Tour Dates

Modern Life Is War and World/Inferno Friendship Society will support Bouncing Souls on the road in the Northeast next month. Here are the tour dates:

10/16 New York, NY @ Webster Hall
10/17 Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance
10/18 Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street
10/19 Providence, RI @ Living Room
10/20 New Haven, CT @ Toad's Place
10/21 State College, PA @ Cell Block

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Brainstorm Reveals New Song Titles

German melodic metallers BRAINSTORM recently entered Gate Studios in Wolfsburg with producers Sascha Paeth and Michael Rodenberg to begin recording their as-yet-untitled new CD, tentatively due on January 25, 2008 via Metal Blade Records. A single will precede the album sometime this fall. Song titles set to appear on the full-length CD include "Fire Walk With Me", "All Alone", "Protect Me From Myself", "Surrounding Walls", "Stained With Sin" and "Falling Spiral Down".

"This will become the strongest BRAINSTORM album so far!" stated singer Andy B. Franck.

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Our Darkest Day Parts With Guitarist

Our Darkest Day (Redemptive Records) has announced the departure of guitarist Matt Carney. The band is subsequently searching for a replacement in the MA/CT area with transportation and gear. Interested parties should contact them here.

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