Agents of Man Sign to Century Media Records

The New Jersey quintet Agents of Man have signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records. The group have just finished recording their full-length debut, "Count Your Blessings", tentatively due this spring.

Composed of former members of such acclaimed hardcore acts as Bulldoze, Cold As Life, One 4 One, Train Of Thought and Sworn Enemy, Agents of Man spent the past four years honing their craft "combining a stunning blend of underground and pop culture alike, which quickly evolved into a brilliant fusion of catchy and melodic, yet aggressive music that can’t be easily categorized," according to a press release.

Commented bassist Mike Couls (ex-Sworn Enemy): "We are very pleased to have signed with Century Media Records and are extremely confident in their abilities to market and promote our band.

"We went back to Purple Light Studios (Candiria, 40 Below Summer) once again with Mike Barilie to record 'Count Your Blessings', our debut full-length album.

"It's been a long time coming and we are ready to take our opportunities to the next level."

Agents of Man's first release, "AOM EP 01", was recorded and co-produced by Mike Barilie at Purple Light Studios in 2001. To date, the EP has sold over 7,500 copies despite very limited distribution. The group have toured the U.S. with 36 Crazyfists, Candiria, Full Blown Chaos and Sworn Enemy, and have played countless shows with such acts as Biohazard, God Forbid, Hatebreed and Thursday, to name just a few. More...

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Century Media to Provide US Marines With Sampler

Century Media Records has announced details regarding the Marine Corps sampler, tentatively titled "Code Red," that they will be distributing this spring/summer. 20,000 copies will be handed out to U.S. troops leaving for active duty in the Middle East. According to Major Stephen A. Cox, Director of Community Relations for the United States Marine Corps, "Intensity of spirit is precisely what makes the Century Family sampler appealing to many Marines. The donation of samplers to the Marines and their families is patriotic and a generous gesture appreciated by Marines serving their country around the world." Here's the tracklisting for the sampler:

1. Shadows Fall - What Drives the Weak
2. Arch Enemy - We Will Rise
3. God Forbid - Soul Engraved
4. Dark Tranquillity - Lost To Apathy
5. Diecast - Medieval
6. Lacuna Coil - Swamped
7. Nevermore - Tomorrow Turned Into Yesterday
8. Stampin' Ground - Pain Is Weakness (Leaving The Body)
9. Brand New Sin - Black & Blue
10. The Hellacopters - By The Grace Of God
11. The Bones - Do You Wanna...
12. Crash Kelly - She Gets Away
13. Swallow The Sun - Silence of the Womb

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The Bamboozle 2005 Details

The Bamboozle 2005 will be taking place April 29, April 30, and May 1st at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park, NJ. Tickets are $82 for all three days or $29 for a single day. The bill seems very mixed, but there are a number of heavy bands on the bill as well. Here's the lineup: More...

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Throwdown, The Chariot, It Dies Today Tour Dates

Dates have been announced for March's Throwdown, The Chariot, It Dies Today, and Cold War tour. The tour dates so far are as folows:

3/3 New Haven CT @ Toad's Place
3/4 New York NY @ Knitting Factory
3/5 Albany NY @ Saratoga Winners
3/6 Syracuse NY @ The Furnace
3/7 Cleveland OH @ Agora Ballroom
3/8 Detroit MI @ Shelter at St. Andrews
3/9 Indianapolis IN @ Bubbas Bowling
3/10 Milwaukee WI @ Rave 2
3/11 West Dundee IL @ Clearwater Theater
3/12 St. Louis MO @ Creepy Crawl
3/13 Kansas City MO @ El Torreon
3/14 Denver CO @ Rock Island
3/16 Las Vegas NV @ Roadhouse Casino
3/17 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
3/18 Los Angeles CA @ Whisky A Go Go

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Zao Bassist To Depart

Bassist Sean Koschick has reportedly decided to quit Zao, choosing instead to further his education. Koschick will apparently continue to play bass for the band until a replacement can be found.

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Wildhearts Member Comments On Joining Brides

The following was posted to the WILDHEARTS email list by guitarist GINGER, who recently joined BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, the band recently vacated by MOTLEY CRUE guitarist NIKKI SIXX:

I have been offered the job playing second guitar, as well as helping write the new album, for The Brides Of Destruction. This does not mean that The Wildhearts are over, it just means that I am going through a traumatic time of my life and need a break from being the frontman/chief in charge.

My spirits are low and my performance as a lead singer would not be worth the admission fee, believe me. I cannot stop playing music however, and the offer to join The Brides has come at a time where I desperately need to concentrate on something to help me cope, both mentally and emotionally. Tracii and the guys have been so kind to me, and I am more than grateful for their friendship and encouragement.

If everyone can kindly allow me the time to heal I would be grateful for the considerate approach to this most unfortunate of times for me. I trust I can count on the fans for support, as opposed to knee jerk opinions and malicious gossip.

Thank you, and never take advantage of the love that you have in your life.
Ginger

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Witchery Finish Recording New Album

Witchery, the cult Swedish metalheads featuring members of The Haunted and Arch Enemy, have finished recording a new, as yet untitled album. The band are now looking for a label deal. Interested parties should contact info@talent-trust.se.

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Dream Theater Confirmed For Sweden Rock Festival

Sweden Rock Festival will take place on June 9 to 11, 2005 in Sölvesborg, Sweden. The progressive metal band Dream Theater have just been confirmed for the festival. Other confirmed band are as follows:

Swedish bands: Morgana Lefay, Satanic Slauter, Symphorce, Crystal Eyes, Yngwie Malmsteen, Candlemass, Hammerfall, Therion, Hellfueled, Statetrooper, A.C.T, Thryfing

Foreign bands: Mötley Crüe (US), Accept (D), DIO (UK), Saxon (UK), Kansas (US), Styx (US), Blackfoot (US), Magnum (UK), Sebastian Bach (US), Helix (CAN), Vixen (US), Sonata Arctica (FIN), Robin Trower (US), Nazareth (UK), Shakra (CH), Force Of Evil (DK)

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Darkane Set Working Title On Upcoming Album

The Swedish thrash metal band Darkane have set "Layers Of Lies" as working title on their upcoming album wich will be released through Nuclear Blast Records in May 2005. Some songtitles that will appear on the new CD are: "Secondary effect", "Fading dimensions", "Organic canvas", "The creation insane" & "Layers of lies."

Drummer Peter Wildoer have posted the following message on the bands website:

We're working our asses of right now with the final recordings. So far six songs out of ten are done with vocals. A bit more than half of the guitar solos are also to be recorded. Just came back from a meeting about shooting a new video for a track called 'Secondary effect'. The video team will start working asap.

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Reclusion Seeking New Record Deal

The Swedish thrash metal band Reclusion are currently seeking a new deal with a label, to release their new album “Inventory of the Morgue”. The album are recorded at Los Angered Recording, produced by Rune Foss, Andy La Rocque & Risza. The brand new track "Eaten from within", taken from the new album is available for download here.

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Metal Musicians Comment On Violence In Metal

Imhotep Zine from Norway have issued an extensive report asking a long list of hard rock/metal musicians these two questions: "Can aggressive music led people to kill others?" and "Is there any connection between heavy music and violence / killings / crimes against humanity?". Here are some of the reponses:

Jens Johansson (Stratovarius):

I think the connection is not a useful one to make. This was just one of those freak things that no amount of planning, forethought or "self policing by the industry" could have prevented. I would blame it more on the state of health care (psychiatric health care in particular) in the USA and of course on the gun control laws! But I would not put much blame on those things. It's simply not useful. I also wonder a bit why the US Marine Corps take a schizophrenic guy and teach him how to use a gun. But maybe they need people like that, what the fuck do I know. Such a sad thing what happened. I only met Dimebag very briefly once when we played this Randy Rhoads benefit together in LA many years ago. He seemed a cool guy, surprisingly quiet for playing such aggressive music. :) Everyone I've spoken to who knew him say that he was one of the sweetest people they met. It's so typical somehow. Why don't they ever kill the assholes??? :)

Jonas Björler (The Haunted, ex-At the Gates):

No, I don't think brutal music causes violent behavior. The violence I've seen in pits during metal concerts have been all about 'friendly violent fun'", like EXODUS said. I really don't see a clear-cut connection. But there will always be exceptions to a certain rule, and in the case of Dimebag's killer - that was a really sick & troubled young man who dealt with his frustration & anguish the wrong way.

Gene Hoglan (Strapping Young Lad, Dark Angel, Death, Old Man's Child, Testament):

These people are VERY misinformed, and, by the looks of their articles, really have it in for heavy metal and anyone who listens to it or plays it. How could anyone seriously lay the blame back on Dime for some psychopath's delusional breakdown? No one came out to blame John Lennon for Mark David Chapman's murder of him, and he was under FBI scrutiny for years! Had he been in a metal band (or merely an avid fan), it would have been, "Oh, he got what was coming to him", and his death could have possibly been made fodder for some of the true haters out there.

Music only becomes an issue when it can be used to enflame a story. When Charles Whitman climbed to that bell tower in Texas and gunned-down dozens of people, no one questioned his musical tastes. Chances are, him being from Texas, the 1960's, ex-military, he was into country/western music. Did that drive him to kill a ton of people, with its discussions of how "I'm gonna take a gun and shoot my wife", or "I shot a man in Reno/ just to watch him die"? Sure it did. Is this this uninformed conjecture on my part? Of course it is. But it sure is easy to do...

Now, some factions of Black Metal seemed to embrace violence against others...that's a subject I don't know what to do about... RIP Dime. You are loved and missed...

Read the entire list of reponses from other musicians here.

Read the full article at Imhotep Zine.

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Metalium Announce Release Date And Tour

Germany power metal warriors Metalium are currently working on their new album, entitled "Demons Of Insanity", which is tentatively scheduled for release on April 25. Artist Frans Mensink will be taking care of the cover artwork once again as he did for the band's first album, "Millennium Metal Pt. I".

Metalium have planned a small tour of Japan, along with Sweden's Dream Evil. Here are the confirmed dates:

Feb. 10 Osaka, JPN - Club Quattro
Feb. 12 Tokyo, JPN - Shibuya Club Quattro
Feb. 13 Tokyo, JPN - Shibuya Club Quattro

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Extol To Tour With Mastodon

Right in time for the European release of their new album "Blueprint" on February 21st, 2005, Extol will go on road with Mastodon and Dozer. A good chance to see the new guitarists Tor Glidje and Ole Halvard Sveen - and also a good chance to hear some of the new songs of this gifted Norwegian band, that will definitely blow your mind.

Tour dates: More...

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Dark Tranquillity Enters Swedish Charts At #3

Dark Tranquillity's new melodic Death Metal masterpiece “Character” is set to become the most successful album in the band’s history: In Sweden they just entered the official national charts on an outstanding position 3. The band is excited about the news:

Weird! After having spent 16 years writing and performing songs for a small but devoted subculture, we suddenly find our new album on position #3 in the national Swedish album charts - and all this without having to compromise one single bit with our music.

Our aim has always been to do our own thing without paying too much attention to the current norms in the music scene; to give people time to change to appreciate our particular brand of mayhem rather than having us changing our music in a vain attempt to gain mass appeal. It seems like that time finally is here - and it's not a decade too late!

We'd like to thank all of you who have taken the initiative of buying "Character", and we're truly flattered by the fantastic feedback and reviews given so far. The chart position is a great way to kick off the European tour with Kreator, Hatesphere and Ektomorf, starting in just a few days. See you down the road!

Besides this brilliant chart-entry, the band is on top score position # 1 in the Swedish Metal charts. Keeping in mind that the band reached Position 47 with the “Lost To Apathy EP” in the Swedish single charts upon its release in November, the term “all the way success” is legitimate.

Don’t miss them live on tour with Kreator all over Europe starting next week (Exact dates in "tourdates")! “Character” is out now.

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New A Perfect Circle Video Available Online

A Perfect Circle's "Passive" video was directed by the legendary music video team, The Brothers Strause. It features performance scenes shot with thermal cameras and exclusive scenes from the upcoming motion picture Constantine.

Windows Media: hi | lo
Real Player: hi | lo

Based on characters from the DC Comics/Vertigo Hellblazer graphic novels, supernatural thriller Constantine stars Keanu Reeves as John Constantine, a man who has literally been to hell and back. Teaming with a police detective to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister, their investigation takes them through the world of demons and angels that exists beneath the landscape of contemporary Los Angeles. The film also stars Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Djimon Hounsou, Gavin Rossdale and Peter Stormare and marks the feature directorial debut of famed music video director Francis Lawrence.

Film release date is February 18, 2005

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Dream Theater Confirmed For Graspop Metal Meeting

Dream Theater are the latest band confirmed for the Graspop Metal Meeting festival, set to take place June 24-26 in Dessel, Belgium. Also scheduled to perform at the 10th-anniversary edition of the festival are Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Axel Rudi Pell, Grave Digger, Suicidal Tendencies and Exciter. More confirmations will be announced soon.

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Straight Edgers Banned After Fight At Diecast Show

According to an article from the Salt Lake Tribune, members of Diecast and Hatepiece have been attacked by Straight Edgers at a Midvale concert on Saturday. Solid Entertainment Promoter Bobby Baught now plans to exclude members of the anti-establishment group from future shows.

"Every band I talk to is worried to come to Salt Lake because they're worried about the Straight Edgers here," said Solid Entertainment promoter Bobby Baugh, who noted that the group, in most other communities, practices a lifestyle free of violence.

Baugh said he will have bouncers screen ticket holders at the door and keep out those who appear to be Straight Edgers.

No arrests have been made in the fight, in which several security guards and band members were injured. Officers from six agencies responded, but those involved in the fight had left.

Read the full article at Salt Lake Tribune.

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Download 2005 Aims For Three Days

Having previously programmed only Saturday and Sunday, the proposed expansion would make 2005 the biggest Download ever - with both weekend and day tickets being sold for the 60,000 capacity Donington Park event.

At present, the festival is scheduled to take place on the weekend of 11-12 June but according to a popular music weekly, organisers are hoping to run the event on Friday 10th as well. It is believed that Feeder have been approached to headline that day, followed by an Ozzy Osbourne-curated Ozzfest day on the Saturday. Word is, that Ozzy may re-form Black Sabbath to headline this day!

Other strong rumours doing the rounds include Velvet Revolver, Motley Crue, The Datsuns, The Prodigy, Marilyn Manson, and Green Day.

System Of A Down have revealed via their own website that they will be playing on the Sunday, which is expected to be a more traditional metal line-up.

Download 2005 takes place at Donington Park, Derbyshire, on 11-12 June (and possibly the 10th). It is believed that tickets will go on sale in February.

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Dave Pybus Still In Cradle Of Filth

Contrary to the report, it appears that Dave Pybus has not left Cradle Of Filth. A revised statement on the band's official website, reads as follows:

For personal reasons Dave Pybus will be unable to take part in the COF European tour in the Spring. He is really sorry he is not going to be able to see everyone out there.

This does not mean that Dave will not appear be appearing on the next album. But we are all very sorry that he won't be on the next COF jaunt around Europe.

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Hetfield Says 'Monster' Still Difficult To Watch

Launch Radio Networks is reporting that METALLICA frontman James Hetfield said "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster", the 2004 documentary about the turbulent making of the group's last album, "St. Anger", with its revealing scenes of band arguments and therapy sessions, is still difficult for him to watch. "First couple times it was difficult," he said. "There are certain scenes in the film that will always be difficult. You know, the fighting scenes - they're always pretty difficult. They always start to get your heart pumping again, and it makes sense 'cause it pushes a certain button in me, and everyone's got those buttons."

The DVD version of "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" is scheduled for release today (Jan. 25). As if the original 140-minute film wasn't enough, the two-disc DVD is filled with extras. Among its 28 deleted scenes are more bass player auditions, a longer version of drummer Lars Ulrich's therapy session with former METALLICA guitarist Dave Mustaine, and footage from a live show with producer Bob Rock playing bass before METALLICA hired Robert Trujillo.

"Some Kind of Monster" also resulted in a book, "Metallica: This Monster Lives", written by co-director Joe Berlinger.

METALLICA are currently taking time off but hopes to begin working on a new album later this year.

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Exodus Announce New Singer

San Francisco Bay Area thrashers EXODUS have announced the addition of singer Rob Dukes (pictured here with EXODUS guitarist Rick Hunolt) to the group's ranks. "[Rob] has been absolutely crushing in practice and only gets stronger every day," guitarist Gary Holt writes in the group's official forum.

"I know some of you will want details, i.e. what bands has he been in, etc., but I'll have to get back to you on that one," Holt added. "I've heard some of his old demo stuff, but he is a virtual unknown. But he is going to blow people's minds. He does incredible justice to both Paul [Baloff] and Zetro's [Souza] material, but when you hear the new shit you won't believe your ears. Totally crushing!

"To all who sent in their demos and such, I'd like to thank each and every one of you for taking the time. But now our search is over.

"Rob just happened to end up my guitar tech for the MEGADETH tour after things didn't work out with my first tech.

"Rob was referred to me by a friend at the Hollywood show and the rest is history. Divine intervention, if you will!

"We will be recording some demos of a few new songs next week and if everything stays on track we will be in the studio recording the next album in April."

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Headline News

Founding Member Dino Cazares Quits Brujeria

Former FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares has quit BRUJERIA, the extreme metal project he co-founded 16 years ago.

According to Dino, he made the decision to leave the group in order to spend more time working on a new band he recently formed with ex-DIMMU BORGIR/CRADLE OF FILTH drummer Nick Barker. "Sometimes you have too many projects and one always suffers," Dino explained.

Although BRUJERIA's most recent touring lineup included Barker and bassist Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH), neither musician will continue to perform with the group, according to Cazares. It is not presently clear if singer John Lepe (a.k.a. Juan Brujo) — the band's sole remaining member — will attempt to carry on with BRUJERIA using replacement musicians.

Formed in 1989, BRUJERIA released four full-length albums through the Roadrunner label and boasted a revolving lineup of high-profile musicians, including former FAITH NO MORE bassist Billy Gould and FEAR FACTORY drummer Raymond Herrera.

Despite his split with BRUJERIA, Cazares will continue his involvement with ASESINO, the BRUJERIA off-shoot project that also features in its ranks STATIC-X bassist Tony Campos on bass/vocals and SADISTIC INTENT drummer Emilio Marquez.

Dino's as-yet-unnamed collaboration with Barker recently recorded a two-song instrumental demo with producer James Murphy (TESTAMENT, DEATH, OBITUARY) and is currently seeking a bassist and singer.

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