Metal News for November 23, 2007
Last updated on October 7, 2025 at 2:55 AM ET
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Hot Topics
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56 news articles posted on this day.
Vanmakt Confirmed For Filthrock Festival
Mainman Gorgoth of the Swedish black metal band VANMAKT has issued the following update:
"The first VANMAKT gig in Germany has been booked! More will come soon, so stay tuned! VANMAKT wants to send a big HAIL to Dani for making these German gigs happen! We will destroy Filthrock in Prenzlau, Germany September 20, 2008!
"We have also been booked as headliner at a small metal festival in Bromölla, Sweden Februrary 2, 2008! Be sure to be there since we will try one of our new songs live at this gig, and it will be bloddy brutal! That's a promise!
"If you have a venue that is interested in booking VANMAKT for a show or festival, please send a mail to us at: Info(at)Vanmakt.com."
VANMAKT's debut album, "Vredskapta Mörkersagor", features guest appearances by Jonas Renvaktar (SPAWN OF POSSESSION) on the song entitled "Open the Gates" and Hebbe from SKALD on the track "En Mardröm, En Strid, Ett Helvete". VANMAKT also filmed a video for the song "My Darkest Hate".
Dofka Announce New Drummer
West Virginia-based metallers DOFKA - who made an appearance on BW&BK’s Knuckletracks #12 - have issued the following update:
"First and foremost we have a pretty big announcement! We want to announce our new drummer Mr. Mike Barnett (aka Dr. Metal). Many may remember Mike from central Pennsylvania's thrash kings PHANTOM CREW! We wish former drummer Jeff Kalp all the best in his future endeavors."
Dofka are scheduled to perform two shows before the end of the year, they are as follows:
November
24 - Pizon's Place, Metal Madness - Smock, PA
December
1 - Yesterdays - Wheeling, WV
The Cursed Guitarist To Appear On Radio Tomorrow
THE CURSED/ex-HADES guitarist Dan Lorenzo has issued the following update:
"This Saturday night [November 24] I'm on at 10:00 p.m. on 'The Metal Collection' with Rockin' Ron on Arrow 95.9 FM in Panama City, Florida, then at 11:00 p.m. EST you can hear me on 'The Classic Metal Show'. You can hear that at www.cmsradionetwork.com. I'm not sure what Rockin' Ron wants to talk about, but I have a pretty good idea why I was asked to come on 'The Classic Metal Show' this Saturday! You can also hear my songs '1974', 'PHD. in Cleveland', 'Too Fast For Hate' and 'Keep It Together' in the new adult movie 'Punk'd Your Ass' by Matt Zane out now. The visuals are better than my music!"
Dan Lorenzo recently issued a statement in response to SEVEN WITCHES mainman Jack Frost, who slammed Lorenzo for allegedly "talking a lot of shit" about him and "putting a lot of shit on the Internet" about him "for no reason whatsoever."
An e-card for the debut album from THE CURSED — the new band featuring vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (OVERKILL) and former HADES guitarist Dan Lorenzo — is available at this location. Entitled "Room Full of Sinners", the CD was released on June 26 via Screaming Ferret Wreckords. The album was completed at Crystal Studios in New Jersey, before and after OVERKILL's successful stint on the Gigantour, which also featured MEGADETH and LAMB OF GOD. Mike Koenig from Crystal Studios engineered.
THE CURSED made its live debut on May 20 at the Highline Ballroom in New York City. Also appearing on the bill were former ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna and THE SCHOOL OF ROCK ALL-STARS (playing a set of metal classics by METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, KING DIAMOND and SLAYER).
New Lemmy Interview Posted Online
Headbanger's Blog has uploaded a podcast with MOTÖRHEAD frontman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister. During the 30-minute interview, Lemmy discussed the current state of metal, chasing women, the band's next studio album, 30-plus years of making eardrums bleed and the stupidest interview questions he's ever heard.
Click here for a direct MP3 download of the podcast interview with Lemmy Kilmister.
MOTÖRHEAD's latest album, "Kiss of Death", entered the national album charts in the following countries: Germany: #4, Norway: #9, Sweden: #13, Austria: #20, Switzerland: #26, U.K.: #45, Denmark: #53. The CD was recorded at the Paramount studios in Los Angeles with Cameron Webb, who also worked with the group on 2004's "Inferno". The album includes guest appearances by POISON guitarist C.C. Deville and ALICE IN CHAINS bassist Mike Inez.
Threat Signal Post Third Tour Blog Online
Canadian metallers THREAT SIGNAL have posted the third video blog documenting their fall 2007 "The Hard Harvest Tour". Watch the six-minute clip below.
Drummer George Parfitt recently left THREAT SIGNAL in order to focus on his family life. He has since been replaced by Norm Killeen.
As previously reported, THREAT SIGNAL frontman Jon Howard is collaborating with FEAR FACTORY members Christian Olde Wolbers (guitar) and Raymond Herrera (drums) on a brand new side project. The as-yet-unnamed group will occupy much of the trio's time while FEAR FACTORY frontman Burton C. Bell focuses on his ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS project, which recently inked a deal with MINISTRY mainman Al Jourgensen's 13th Planet Records.
Christian Olde Wolbers produced THREAT SIGNAL's debut album, "Under Reprisal", which was released in North America on August 22, 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records. More...
Smaxone Reveal New Album Details
SMAXONE, the Danish melodic metal band featuring Michael Bøgballe (vocals, ex-MNEMIC), Brian "Brylle" Rasmussen (drums; MNEMIC), Casper Skafte (guitar; ELOPA) and Claus Lillelund (vocals; ELOPA), has inked a deal with Zyx Music. The group's second full-length CD, "The Red Album", is scheduled for release in February 2008.
"The Red Album" track listing:
01. Red
02. Go Back
03. Smackzone
04. Somewhere
05. So Be It
06. Dead In The Dead
07. The Glory Of You And Me
08. Dead. Gone. Erased
09. Charlie
10. Our Curse
Two songs from "The Red Album", have been posted at SMAXONE's MySpace page.
SMAXONE's debut album, "Regression", was released in August 2005 via Scarlet Records.
Regarding the band's musical direction, a press release previously stated, "The basic idea of SMAXONE is to keep the music as personal and original as possible. The clean and unique voice of Claus mixed with the screaming of Michael creates a varied and extremely interesting sound: from hard grinding metal riffs to the more atmospheric rock-ballad approach, with modern elements as electronic samples, breakbeats and synthesizers. Let's say that FEAR FACTORY, Devin Townsend and FAITH NO MORE got a meeting in Denmark!"
SMAXONE recording lineup:
Claus Lillelund - Clean Vocals
Michael Bøgballe - Distorted Vocals
Casper Skafte - Guitar, Bass, Synths
Brian Brylle Rasmussen – Drums
Beneath The Massacre Announce Canadian Dates
Montreal’s BENEATH THE MASSACRE have lined up the following upcoming shows in Ontario, Canada:
December 7 - North Bay, ON @ Evolution Nite Club
December 8 - Ottawa, ON @ Cafe Deckuf
December 15 - Guelph, ON @ The Shadow
January 9 - Hamilton, ON @ The Casbah
January 10 - Toronto, ON @ The Kathedral
January 11 - London, ON @ The Embassy Hotel
January 12 - Grimsby, ON @ Peach King
January 13 - Belleville, ON @ The Bohemian Nightclub
Megadeth Drummer Issues Thanksgiving Message
MEGADETH drummer Shawn Drover has issued the following update:
"Turkey?? What turkey??
"I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving yesterday. I, unfortunately, slept through most of it. I fell asleep during the second quarter of the Green Bay/Detroit game, and woke up during the fourth quarter of the Dallas game. Needless to say, I missed out on most of the food, etc. but man, I needed to sleep — that 16-hour time difference from Brisbane to Atlanta is killing me. I feel pretty good today, though — I think I am going to take a good walk on this awesome-looking fall day.
"OK, enough of that...
"As you know, [the Australian Gigantour] went off without a hitch and was a success all around. The crowds were so great, as they always are in the land of Oz — lots of cool sites as well. The beach in Perth, being my personal fave, as I was there each morning at 7 a.m. watching the surfers, etc. (The 'Damien - Omen 2' birds woke me up each morning, so sleeping in was not an option)
"All in all, very good memories of my time in Australia... Actually, all of the Pacific Rim tour, come to think of it.
"As I write this, I am spending quality time with my family. I am making plans to go and see the Atlanta Thrashers play my Toronto Maple Leafs, as I have a killer box seat hook-up.
"My brother Brian just informed me that my niece, Tara, went to school with Brian Little (great Thrashers player) so I will be paying close attention to him, though ultimately, I do want the Maple Leafs to win. It will be a fun time, regardless."
Cellador Comment On King Diamond Tour
Guitarist Bill Hudson of the Nebraska-based power metallers CELLADOR has issued the following update:
Alright, we've been getting tons of e-mails asking us whether the tour with KING DIAMOND, KREATOR and LEAVES' EYES is entirely cancelled or only the King is out of it.
"My honest answer as of right now is: I DON'T KNOW.
"I talked to our booking agent (John Finberg at First Row Talent, the guy who put the tour together) yesterday and he told me he's been working on a 'plan B' for three days and nobody more than him wanted this tour to happen. I can tell he's really bummed about it.
"It's almost funny, but ever since that happened, it seems like some of the bands are having problems. LEAVES' EYES has just parted ways with two members and we're having some problems I'd rather not talk about just yet. But what I CAN say is that we were supposed to be at the studio right now and the recordings were postponed.
"Now, another question we've been getting is: 'Is the January/February tour cancelled?' I do have an answer for that: NO, IT'S NOT.
"We will not cancel any shows on that tour. It starts on January 15th in Charlotte, NC and ends on February 10th in Houston, TX. About March 22nd - May 7th, please just sit tight. We'll announce something real soon. I really don't know what, but there will be something!" More...
Ozzy To Perform At New Zealand Rock Festival
According to Stuff.co.nz, OZZY OSBOURNE will join KISS in the two-day Rock2Wgtn music festival at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand next Easter.
Osbourne will headline the second night on March 23, 2008. KISS will open the festival on March 22. Promoter Phil Sprey said other acts would be announced later.
OZZY OSBOURNE's Tuesday, November 20 show in San Diego was postponed due to a stomach virus. The concert will be rescheduled for Sunday, December 2 and tickets for the original show will be honored.
OZZY's tour with ROB ZOMBIE resumes Saturday, November 24 at The Joint in Las Vegas.
OZZY OSBOURNE had his new album, "Black Rain", reissued this past Tuesday (November 20) as a "Special Limited-Edition Tour Package" featuring a bonus CD of live tracks and B-sides. The bonus CD includes the following cuts:
01. I Don't Wanna Stop (live)
02. Not Going Away (live)
03. Here For You (live)
04. Nightmare
05. Can't Save You
06. Love To Hate
"Black Rain" has sold 416,000 copies in the United States since its May 2007 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
In an interview with Australia's Herald Sun published earlier this month, Ozzy Osbourne made it clear that he wasn't too happy about the effect of downloading on the music industry. He said, "I've been suffering terribly from people downloading ['Black Rain']. If they don't find something to stop it, people won't be able to make records. There won't be any new bands. How are they going to survive? I'm an old-timer, I've been doing it 40 years now, but new bands are going to suffer. It's ridiculous, you could be doing it for nothing. Sharon said I'd be astounded to find out how many bands are touring because you can download a record but you can't beat a rock show."
"Black Rain" was reissued in August by Epic in a new jewel-case package containing the full booklet with lyrics and new color cover art and photos. It also contains CD extra bonus content featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the "Black Rain" photo shoot.
"Black Rain", which originally came out on May 22, was released in "eco-friendly" packaging, with the CD sleeve made out of recycled paper. In addition, the record came out without a booklet to further save paper, with the lyrics, credits and other inside material available to buyers of the CD at SonyMusic.com.
Sanctity Join Sonata Arctica Tour
SANCTITY has replaced VISIONS OF ATLANTIS as the support act for SONATA ARCTICA on their February 2008 North American tour. The dates are as follows:
Feb. 01 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
Feb. 02 - Bedford, NH @ Mark's Place
Feb. 03 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Feb. 05 - Quebec City, QUE @ Imperial de Quebec
Feb. 06 - London, ONT @ Embassy
Feb. 08 - Winnipeg, MB @ The West End Cultural Centre
Feb. 09 - Regina, SK @ Exchange
Feb. 10 - Edmonton, AL @ Starlite Room
Feb. 11 - Calgary, AL @ The Warehouse
Feb. 13 - Vancouver, BC @ Plaza Club
Feb. 14 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
Feb. 15 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Feb. 16 - Orangevale, CA @ The Boardwalk
Feb. 18 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
Feb. 19 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
Tickets are available through EnterTheVault.com and all normal ticketing outlets.
SANCTITY's video for the song "Beloved Killer" can be viewed below. The clip was shot in Asheville, NC with director Ramon Boutviseth. The track comes off the band's Roadrunner Records debut, "Road to Bloodshed", which hit stores on April 24.
SANCTITY formed in 2000 and is comprised of Jared MacEachern (vocals, rhythm guitar), Zeff Childress (lead guitar), Derek Anderson (bass) and Jeremy London (drums).
SANCTITY took part in last year's Gigantour alongside MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD, ARCH ENEMY and OPETH.
Kreator Frontman Speaks On King Diamond Tour
Guitarist/vocalist Mille Petrozza of the German thrashers KREATOR has issued the following statement:
"First of all, We are very disapointed that our tour [with KING DIAMOND] in March/April is not going to happen! We were really looking forward to see all our North American fans again and were preparing a killer show for you! But I must also say that right now the most important thing is King Diamond's health. I want to see the King playing shows and producing albums for many years to come in good shape and so all I can say in the name of the whole band at this point is: Get well soon, King, and all the strength and best wishes from Germany! All hail to the King!"
More information about KREATOR's future plans will become available in the next few days.
Otep Frontwoman Speaks On Being A Lesbian
Larry Nichols of Philadelphia Gay News recently conducted an interview with OTEP frontwoman Otep Shamaya.
"There's an old saying that labels are for soup cans," Shamaya said about the band's supposed association with nu-metal. "We're more of a fusion band. That's one of the things I wanted to accomplish when I started the band, to invite people that had many different styles and inspirations and wanted to make really aggressive emotional music. That included having inspirations from everything from punk to grunge to hip-hop to metal to spoken word poetry. Perhaps that's how we avoided it. It was the wrong category for us."
She continued, "There's a lot of metal traditionalists out there that don't consider us metal and that's fine. I don't really consider us metal either."
While there are more women in the metal scene today, openly gay practitioners of metal are few and far between. Shamaya said that being a lesbian hasn't been much of as issue in her career.
"The fact that I like girls doesn't seem to have an effect on anything," she said. "The fact that I find women beautiful doesn't have anything to do with the quality of our work or our songs. I think it would be more of an issue if I was a guy. One of the biggest stereotypes of people who are interested in same-gender relationships is that [people think] I can't find men attractive, which is absolutely false. I just don't have a sexual interest in them. The way our culture views the distinction between a gay man and a gay woman — that would be a bigger issue. I don't think it really matters in the end. Most people don't pay attention to the fact that I like girls. Why would they? I'm not trying to convert anyone. I'm not trying to give them 'the gay.' I'm just up here writing songs."
Thin Lizzy Guitarist Speaks Out
ThisIsNottingham.co.uk has issued the following report:
For many, when Phil Lynott died 21 years ago aged just 36 THIN LIZZY died with him. Particularly as he'd dissolved the band three years earlier. For five years following his death, the band did indeed cease to be but 1991 saw the start of several reunion projects associated with former members of the band.
These were often one-off shows to celebrate Lynott's legacy, but then in 1996 guitarist Scott Gorham received a call from another former member John Sykes.
"He'd been touring Japan and said he'd included three Lizzy songs in the set - and the crowd went wild," he says.
"I was amazed. I assumed that people would forget us. He suggested getting together to do some dates over there.
"I wondered who would sing but he said that he would. And when I heard his CDs I was blown away. I called Brian (Downey, Thin Lizzy drummer), he was up for it and things just took off.
"We just did the Japan tour, but the fan club got in touch and some of the fans were quite angry, asking "Why not play for us?" The truth is, we were worried about offending people. In the end, we did five UK shows and five in Europe... then people in the US were getting in touch. By 1999, we were playing pretty regularly and decided to carry on."
The current incarnation of Thin Lizzy features only Gorham from the 'classic' Lizzy line-up but he's not worried about that.
"I'm ok with it because of the people I have on stage with me. The drums just blow me away, the bass is amazing. Everywhere I look, I feel inspired."
Symphony X Confirmed For Artarfe Rock Festival
SYMPHONY X are the latest act confirmed for Spain's Atarfe Vega Rock Festival, which will take place March 7th/8th, 2008 in the city of Atarfe (at 11 km from Granada, Andalusia).
Confirmed acts on the bill now include: DESTRUCTION, EXCITER, GRAVE DIGGER, KATATONIA, KORPIKLAANI, KOTIPELTO, MAYHEM, MY DYING BRIDE, SYMPHONY X, TRIBAL and UNLEASHED.
For more info about the festival, visit the official website at www.brmusic.net.
Megadeth Guitarist Checks In
MEGADETH guitarist Glen Drover has issued the following message:
"I just wanted to say how happy I am hearing that we are nominated in Guitar World magazine for both "Best Metal Record" as well as Dave for "Best Metal Guitarist" AND our 'Never Walk Alone' video is nominated for "Best Metal Video Of The Year" on MTV2.
To get this kind of recognition means very much to me, and we worked very hard to receive these kinds of accolades within the industry.
Who knows, maybe there will be a few more before the touring cycle is over, eh???
See ya, Glen."
Deathstars Enter Studio
On Monday, October 29th, DEATHSTARS entered Metrosonic Recording Studios in NYC to begin the recording of their new album, to be released in spring 2008 via Nuclear Blast.
This album will start another chapter in their history of vanity, darkness, blood and sleaze. The recording sessions will continue throughout November and December and the mix is set for January.
Machine Head Wins Danish Metal Awards
Roadrunner Records Canada reports:
"Machine Head were in Copenhagen, Sweden recently to except the award for "International Album Of The Year"!
The band was there in person to except their award! Congrats to our friends in Machine Head for delivering such a kick-ass CD!"
Brainstorm To Tour Europe With Pagan's Mind
German metallers BRAINSTORM will team up with PAGAN'S MIND and POWERWOLF for a European tour in March 2008. Confirmed dates so far are as follows:
Mar. 04 - DK - Copenhagen @ The Rock
Mar. 05 - DE - Hamburg @ Markthalle
Mar. 07 - NL - Weert @ De Bosuil
Mar. 08 - DE - Memmingen @ Kaminwerk
Mar. 09 - DE - Saarbrücken @ Garage
Mar. 11 - CH - Pratteln @ Z7
Mar. 12 - DE - Ludwigsburg @ Rockfabrik
Mar. 14 - FR - Paris @ Venue tba
Mar. 15 - BE - Vosselaar @ Biebob
Mar. 16 - DE - Langen @ Stadthalle
Mar. 18 - DE - Bochum @ Zeche
Mar. 19 - DE - Nürnberg @ Hirsch
Mar. 21 - AT - Wien @ Szene
Mar. 22 - HU - Budapest @ A Zene Haza
More dates will be announced soon.
Cephelic Carnage Robbed In Tulsa
Hypersonic grindcore freaks CEPHALIC CARNAGE have issued the following update:
"While CEPHALIC CARNAGE were getting their van repaired in Tulsa, OK on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, we were robbed."
"A backpack containing the recent earnings from the tour (close to $4000.00), a laptop computer with over $2000.00 in music software programs loaded, an iPod and various personal items were among the items stolen. We immediately called the police and suspected that an employee grabbed the backpack in the process of getting the work done."
"The police came and took a written statement. The authorities suspected that it was an inside job as well but could not prove anything at that point. It is still under investigation but as of yet they still have not recovered the property or money." More...
Thor Schedule Vancouver Concert
Rock warrior THOR will perform at the Backstage Lounge on Granville Island (1585 Johnson Street) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on December 1 as part of the Night Of The Champions.
For a preview of what's in store, check out THOR's new ad produced by Jared Richter of Zero Gravity Studios here.
THOR's new album, "Into the Noise" — already available digitally — will be officially be released on January 9 by Sudden Death Records in association with Fathom Records.
"'Into the Noise' is basically a concept album where the band goes on a journey to the center of the mind, of noise," said THOR. "They come across all these alternate characters and creatures like The Sound King. It's a quest. Like in the song 'Back For More', it's about coming back to rise up again and do battle again. Sometimes you have to retreat when you get overwhelmed or defeated, but then you regain your strength and go back in. So we're heading back 'Into the Noise'." More...
Nile Post Video Interview and Guitar Lesson Online
In a new video interview, NILE's Karl Sanders and Dallas Toler-Wade talk about their new album Ithyphallic and give a deep insight to the secrets of playing their axes.
Check it out here.
Finnish thrashers DEATHCHAIN have been supporting Nile on their current Finnish dates. Also on the bill is SOTAJUMALA.
Remaining dates include:
November
23 - Pakkahuone - Tampere, Finland
24 - Nosturi - Helsinki, Finland
Clawfinger Record Interview For AreaGames
Nuclear Blast has issued the following CLAWFINGER update:
Clawfinger have recorded a Band´n Play interview for AreaGames.
See Zak and Jocke testing the new first-person-shooter Halo 3 in a nearly 20 minute interview. The guys talking about RAMMSTEIN, Enter The Matrix and the life of a pro-musician.
The moderation is in German, the interview is in English. Check it out here.
Chimaira Check In From The Road
Ohio's CHIMAIRA is currently on the road in the U.S. with KATAKLYSM, DIVINE HERESY and TERROR. The band, which cancelled a European tour earlier this fall, promises to return to crush European stages in early 2008.
CHIMAIRA has issued the following update from the road: "Just checking in from our headlining tour in the States, so far it has been going great! We could not have asked for a better line up with our bros KATAKLYSM, TERROR and DIVINE HERESY in tow. The crowds have been great! We could not be happier right now! Things are going great in our camp and we feel we performing at our peak every night!"
"Once again, we can't describe how bummed we were that we had to cancel the Eastpak tour but I can PROMISE you that we are more stoked than ever to come over and destroy in the UK and Europe early next year! We also promise to bring you one of our best live sets ever and make up for the fact that we have not been over in such a long time. Thanks again to all our fans for being patient with us and we will see you soon!!!"
Black Tide Post Video Interview Online
Miami, Florida-based hard rock band BLACK TIDE (formerly RADIO) was recently interviewed by Buzznet. Watch the five-minute report here.
BLACK TIDE has just released its first EP, entitled "Shockwave". Available for purchase at Hot Topic, the two-song disc includes the propulsive title track, "Shockwave", as well as the JUDAS PRIEST-like "Warriors of Time", exclusive video footage, sticker and guitar pick. The two songs are also available digitally through iTunes.
"Shockwave" comes off the group's debut album, "Light from Above", which is due in February 2008 via Interscope Records. The CD was recorded with producer Johnny K, who has previously worked with DISTURBED, MACHINE HEAD and SOIL, among others. More...
Necrophagist Drummer Performs 10-Minute Drum Solo
Metal Injection TV has posted three new video clips, including footage of NECROPHAGIST drummer Marco Minnemann performing a 10-minute drum solo so crushing a "Holy Sh-t" chant breaks out (see clip below). Also available are two new live clips of NECROPHAGIST. The footage is part of Metal Injection's coverage of the Summer Slaughter tour. These clips, as well as footage of DECAPITATED, CEPHALIC CARNAGE, CATTLE DECAPITATION, THE FACELESS, AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK, ION DISSONANCE and BENEATH THE MASSACRE, can be viewed at this location. More...
Nightwish Take Part in Gothenburg Signing Session
Finnish metallers NIGHTWISH are scheduled to take part in an autograph session on Friday, November 30th at Media Markt in Gothenburg, Sweden. The event is to begin at 5:30 PM.
As previously reported, Nightwish have announced a "platinum" edition of Dark Passion Play (release date yet to be confirmed, but can pre-order now), to include all the 13 songs from the original version plus 5 bonus tracks: 'Erämaan Viimeinen' (new track), 'The Escapist' (new track), 'Meadows Of Heaven' (orchestral version), 'The Poet And The Pendulum' (demo) and 'Bye, Bye Beautiful' (DJ Orkidea remix).
On December 5th the band will release 'Erämaan Viimeinen' (Last Of The Wilds) as a single, only in Finland. 'Erämaan Viimeinen' is actually the instrumental 'Last Of The Wilds' off DPP, but with Finnish lyrics, courtesy of Jonsu (from the all-girl pop band INDICA, who are set to open for Nightwish across Scandinavia).
Check here for more information and pricing.
Volbeat Announce Headlining Dates For Europe
Copenhagen-based metallers VOLBEAT have updated their MySpace page to announce a string of European headlining dates, which include:
February
14 - Hof Ter Lo - Antwerp, Belgium
15 - Melkweg - Amsterdam, Netherlands
16 - Zeche - Bochum, Germany
17 - Backstage - München, Germany
18 - F-Haus - Jena, Germany
21 - Underworld - London, England
22 - Nouveau Casino - Paris, France
May
10 - Fredericia Stadion - Fredericia, Denmark
As previously reported, Volbeat will support MEGADETH on Febraury 8th at KB Hallen in Copenhagen, Denmark. Tickets on sale from Monday, November 26th.
Trail of Tears Extend Contract With Napalm Records
Napalm Records has issued the following update:
By the end of 2006 and following a turbulent Mexican tour resulting in the departure of all band members except for frontmann Ronny Thorsen, the future of TRAIL OF TEARS remained uncertain.
Ronny, the last man standing, refused to give up on the band and it's legacy and single-handedly completed the work for the release of Existentia, promising a a fresh start with a new lineup, including former TOT vocalist, Catherine Paulsen.
Following the first successful shows, Napalm Records is pleased to announce the prolonging of TOT's recording contract. More...
Napalm Records Sign Finland's KATRA
Napalm Records reports:
KATRA, the Finnish rising force in gothic metal named after their charismatric frontwoman Katra Solopuro, has singed a worldwide deal with Napalm Records.
With their self-titled debut, the band is set to win over countless cross-genre fans in their native Finland. For the worldwide release, the vocals are to be re-recorded in English under the guidance of producer Risto Asikainen (STRATOVARIUS) at Jean Records Studio. This new version will also include 2 new tracks.
Artist Janne Uotila (HIM) will be responsible for the CD's artwork.
A release for the English version of Katra is scheduled for mid 2008.
Gama Bomb Comment on Gig With Machine Head
Irish thrashers Gama Bomb played the biggest gig of their career last weekend as they supported metal heavyweights Machine Head on their home soil. Gama Bomb guitarist and vocalist Phil Byrne has spoken out about playing the sell-out gig at Dublin's Ambassador Theatre:
"The experience of playing with Machine Head is going to be pretty hard to beat. Since it was a sold out show in one of our personal favourite venues and on our own home turf, it was a really exciting night. The gig was a real taste of what it?s like to totally storm in a high-end venue and we can't wait to do it again!"
He has also revealed how Rob Flynn made a special effort to meet up with them backstage:
"Rob Flynn actually came knocking on our dressing room door and we were all shocked by how genuine and friendly he was. He hung out for a bit and talked shite with us and had a laugh; he's a cool dude". More...
Melechesh To Support Immolation
Mesopotamian metal masters MELECHESH have been confirmed as the "special guests" on IMMOLATION's upcoming European tour, which is scheduled to kick off mid-March. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.
MELECHESH's latest album "Emissaries" — the follow-up to 2003's "Sphynx" — was released January 23, 2007 on Osmose Productions/The End Records.
Dillinger Escaple Plan Confirmed For Metalmania
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN has been confirmed for the 2008 installment of the Metalmania festival. The 22nd edition of the festival — the biggest metal event in Central-Eastern Europe — will take place on March 8, 2008 at Spodek Hall in Katowice, Poland. The billing is shaping up as follows:
MEGADETH
OVERKILL
IMMOLATION
VADER
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN will begin touring in support of its new album, "Ire Works", on December 1 along with A LIFE ONCE LOST and GENGHIS TRON. This North American tour will make up for the band's previously announced headlining tour that the group was forced to postpone due to an injury in the band.
Sepultura Guitarist Finish Up Solo Album
SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser is putting the finishing touches on his solo debut, entitled "Hubris I & II". A two-disc set, it is tentatively scheduled for release in April 2008 via Holland's Mascot Records. The CD was recorded in part at A Voz do Brasil studio in São Paulo, Brazil.
Commented Kisser: "I spent the last two weeks putting the last solos, vocals, percussion [for the solo CD] and it is set to be released in April 2008. I'm very happy with the result so far and I'm almost done. I went back to the studio right after we [SEPULTURA] came back from India."
In a 2006 interview with The Metal Exiles, Kisser stated about the upcoming effort, "It will be a double album, with the first disc being electric and the second disc being more acoustic and percussion[-based]." On why he decided to release a solo album now, Andreas said, "There was this label in Holland [Mascot] and said I should release something myself. Here is the deal, release something if you want to. I have a lot of material lying around so I am organizing it and recording it now. I am taking my time, as I am not in a rush, I want to enjoy it as much as I can." More...
Watch Elis Perform in Vienna Online
Fan-filmed video footage of Liechtenstein-based gothic metallers ELIS performing the song "Der letzte Tag" live at Szene in Vienna, Austria on November 16, 2007 can be viewed here.
In other news, ELIS' new female singer Sandra Schleret (DREAMS OF SANITY, SIEGFRIED) has issued the following update:
"I'm just back from the tour with ELIS and ASP, and I still have to get back into my daily life again."
"The tour was really nice, lots of new impressions and experiences for me and the guys, and a lot of practice and fun (even though I had to go to bed very early every day)." More...
Deadsould Tribe Announce One-Off Show In Vienna
DEADSOUL TRIBE have announced a one-off show for Vienna, Austra, due to take place on January 18th at the Reigen.
In other news, until December 10th the band is selling all shirts on thier merchandise page for only €12 including shipment within Europe. Go to this location for more information.
Deadsoul Tribe's tour schedule is as follows:
December
3 - Reichenbach, Germany - Bergkeller
4 - Hamburg, Germany - Marx
5 - Koln, Germany at Underground
6 - Aschaffenburg, Germany at Colos-Saal
7 - Karlsruhe, Germany at Substage
8 - Weert, Netherlands at De Bosuil
9 - Pratteln, Switzerland at Z7
January
18 - Vienna, Germany - Reigen
Deadsoul Tribe's new album, A Lullaby For The Devil, was released through InsideOut on August 28th.
Hate Reveal New Album Track Listing and Cover Art
Polish extreme metal band HATE has finalized the track listing for its new album, "Morphosis", due in early 2008 via Osmose Productions. The CD was mixed in July/August at Hertz Studio in Poland by Wieslawski Bros. (VADER, DECAPITATED).
According to a press release, "HATE's previous album, 'Anaclasis', showed an adventurous and experienced death metal band, unleashing innovative and memorable material without falling into being over experimental and hard to digest for the listener. 'Morphosis' sounds even more disturbing. They've twisted the nail further into that fresh direction and have never sounded as catchy and intense while staying fully connected to the death metal genre!"
"Morphosis" track listing:
01. Metamorphosis
02. Thredony
03. Immum Coeli (Everlasting World)
04. Catharsis
05. Resurrection Machine
06. The Evangelistic Pain
07. Omega
08. Erased
Check out the cover artwork at this location.
Evidence One To Support Saxon In Europe
German melodic metallers EVIDENCE ONE will support SAXON on the following dates:
Dec. 07 - GER Karlsdorf Altenbürghalle
Dec. 08 - GER Andernach JUZ Live Club
Dec. 09 - AUT Hohenems Eventcenter
Dec. 10 - AUT Salzburg Rockhouse
Dec. 11 - SWI Pratteln Z7
Dec. 12 - BEL Antwerpen Hof Ter Lo
Dec. 14 - F Strasbourg La Laiterie
Dec. 16 - GER Nürnberg Löwensaal
Dec. 17 - CZ Prag Retro Music Hall
Also appearing on the bill is PHARAO.
Face Down Announce New Guitarist
FACE DOWN, the reactivated Swedish outfit featuring former THE HAUNTED singer Marco Aro, has issued the following update:
"After a very successful show at Ekens Gård we have decided to make Rickard Dahlberg (CONSTRUCDEAD) to a permanent replacement for Joacim Carlsson as the new guitarist in FACE DOWN.
"We are currently working with the last songs on our forthcoming album, 'Mass Murder Agenda'. Hopefully we will enter the studio early next year."
FACE DOWN earlier in the year uploaded a brand new song, entitled "Irreversible", to the group's MySpace page. The pre-production demo, which was completed in late 2006, was the first studio recording to feature new drummer Christofer Barkensjö (KAAMOS, BLACKSHINE).
Christofer Barkensjö joined FACE DOWN in February 2006 as the replacement for Erik Thyselius, who will continue to be involved with CONSTRUCDEAD and TERROR 2000.
My Ruin Announce Support Bands For UK Tour
DIE SO FLUID and PLASTIC TOYS have been confirmed as the support bands for the Los Angeles-based hard rock band MY RUIN on their upcoming UK tour, which is scheduled to launch in January.
"Tell Your God Tour" dates:
Jan. 19 - The Park - Peterborough
Jan. 20 - The Charlotte - Leicester
Jan. 21 - The Cathous - Glasgow
Jan. 22 - Moshulu - Aberdeen
Jan. 23 - Ironworks - Iverness
Jan. 24 - Academy - Liverpool
Jan. 25 - Corporation - Sheffield
Jan. 26 - Rio's - Leeds
Jan. 27 - Academy - Newcastle
Jan. 28 - Academy 3 - Manchester
Jan. 29 - Academy 2 - Birmingham
Jan. 30 - Concorde 2 - Brighton
Jan. 31 - Joiners - Southampton
Feb. 01 - Academy - Bristol
Feb. 02 - Islington Academy – London
The Banner Reveal New Album Title
New Jersey’s THE BANNER have posted the following update:
“Ok so for all the people who continue to ask about the new record it will in fact be called ‘Frailty.’ Writing has begun in earnest resulting in so far 3 new songs ‘The Hellbound Heart,’ ‘LeechBath,’ and a third as yet unnamed. This new record will, in the tradition of TB records, be slightly different from Each Breath Haunted and the other 3 records previous. This record is definitely taking from the previous records and fusing them more than we did with Each Breath Haunted.
THIS RECORD WILL BE HEAVIER THAN THE OTHER RECORDS, we’re telling you now! haha we know alot of you love the original EP (Posthumous) shit. we loved it also, so we have infact decided that this record we’re going to a, what we feel a heavier tuning for the songs. Will we still be playing the songs from the other records? Of course, we’re upgrading them slightly so everything sounds awesome and can be played together when we eventually start playing these live.
I know how this might sound to some of you and how it might be scary to some of you but if youre a fan of the band…please trust us. Anyway this is where we’ll be putting updates on the record front from now on so if youre interested please check back. Also well start playing the new songs soon.”
Poison The Well Offer Post Tour Update
POISON THE WELL have offered the following update on the band:
“Just checking in and letting everyone know what’s going on in the POISON THE WELL camp. We just finished up tour about two weeks ago from a two month tour with GALLOWS and BLACKHOLE in the UK and UNDEROATH, EVERY TIME I DIE and MAYLENE AND THE SONS OF DISASTER in the US. We just want to thank all the bands for having us out and thank everyone who came out to the shows and supported the tours. It was really an awesome time and a great way to close out the year for us!
We have some more tours being lined up. We’ll let you know as soon as something is a bit more soild to post. We’re also updating our Indie Merch page with left over merch stock from this past tour. That should be up very soon.
That’s about it for now. We’ll just be chilling out in Florida and are going to probably start writing some more new music for the next record very soon. We’ll keep everyone posted.”
Drowning Pool Frontman Speaks On Robbery
DROWNING POOL frontman Ryan McCombs has issued the following update:
"It's Thanksgiving. Kick-ass. That means spending time with family, watching football, eating till your belly button pops, napping and eating some more. It also means going a little crazy.
"It's always a bit hard during the holidays for me to keep my head on decent. It's so easy to get caught up in the routine that is touring that sometimes it is harder than you would think to change gears and be home for a bit.
"While you're out there hitting city after city you get into that mode, that mindset. The whole time I'm doing it, I'm missing my kids and all but as soon as I'm away from the routine I start going stir-crazy. Shouldn't I be getting ready for soundcheck. Who are all these kids running around (nephews)?? What time is doors? No I don't wanna watch cartoons. How many bands are playing tonight? Who did what with my whatever??? What time do we go on?? Who ate my turkey leg?? How many bottles of liquor do we have left??? Next thing you know you are where you wanted to be for the holidays but your patience is shot and you are pretty sure you could skin your Irish Terriers and make rugs out of them even though you have been missing them for months.
"The mind is a funny thing. Not funny 'hah,' funny like 'could you cut that funny shit out for a goddamn second????'
"This Thanksgiving is special, though this one started out with a couple fucknuts breaking into the DROWNING POOL rehearsal spot in Dallas and stealing a bunch of our shit. The day before Thanksgiving. AWESOME!!! I think being a thief is the closest thing to the cowards that key cars. What's the mentallity there??? 'I DON'T HAVE THAT BUT I WANT IT, FUCK IT... I'LL TAKE YOURS!!' You know what?? Die, you worthless pile of flesh. Get a fucking job, save up and buy your own. Like the person did that you're stealing from. It's really damn close to that fuckface that has a problem with you, so instead of being a human being about it and facing you straight up, they take a rock or key to your vehicle.
"This Thanksgiving theft reminds me of the wise words of Mr. Stevie Benton, 'People suck, they're the worst.' It seems like every day the population of bottom-feeding, ME-FIRST cocksuckers in this world slowly outnumber the people that should keep breathing.
"TO HELL WITH IT!!! I'm gonna go watch some football with my boys, sneak turkey under the table to my Irish bitches, and try not to break something over someone's head. Then tomorrow I'm gonna drive eight hours to the in-laws because, screw it, I ain't been traveling enough...lol
"Every day I realize just how lucky I am in so many areas of life, but every once in a while you realize the mind's ability to make a cavity out of candy.
"Happy Thanksgiving to all, except for thieves and worthless shitballs..." More...
Judas Priest To Launch World Tour In June
JUDAS PRIEST's official web site has been updated with the following message:
"The JUDAS PRIEST machine will be rolling out on the road again next year. The tour starts in June 2008 — dates to be announced shortly! Please note that only when dates are announced here on our website are they actually official and confirmed!!"
As previously reported, JUDAS PRIEST is among the bands who are rumored to be playing next year's Sweden Rock Festival, set to take place June 4-7, 2008 in in Sölvesborg, Sweden.
JUDAS PRIEST's upcoming tour will include shows where the group's entire upcoming "Nostradamus" album (based on the legendary 16th century prophet Nostradamus) will be performed as well as concerts featuring the band's classic songs, singer Rob Halford revealed during a November 16, 2007 appearance on Eddie Trunk's "Friday Night Rocks" radio show.
Regarding the direction of the material and how whole concept for the "Nostradamus" record came about, Halford recently told PureGrainAudio.com, "It sounds absolutely fucking amazing and that's not me inflating it, it is genuinely spectacular. So we're still carrying on with that and it should be out sometime in 2008. The idea (for the record) came from our manager Bill Curbishley, because we were ready to go in and do another studio record, but Bill came to see us towards the end of the 'Angel of Retribution' tour, he came to Russia, we were playing Russia and we had lunch with him and he said, 'Look, I have this idea.' Bill manages THE WHO, you know, Pete and Roger, and Bill was behind the enormous success of 'Tommy' and he said, 'I just think that you know, maybe you should think about this possibility of doing a concept album and I've been thinking about this guy Nostradamus.' And as soon as he brought the name up, I'm like, I'm there, let's go, you don't have to say anything else. I knew something of him already like everybody does about the books that you read about him, or on the Internet or on TV, documentaries and I thought wow, this is absolutely brilliant so that's where it all came about from."
On the rumors that "Nostradamus" will be a double album, Halford said, "It is a rumor still. I mean, there is an enormous amount of material and you can only put so much on a single CD so you know, we're trying to tell the story of his life and we're trying to cover every significant moment of his life and I think you know, when we got it all recorded, that's when you're faced with the reality of how much time you got and how much a CD will afford you and the timing of it all. So we just ask everyone to bear with us and as we actually get into the mixing mode, we'll be able to be more definitive and tell everybody exactly what we've got, but we just want to make sure we tell his life story so we'll do whatever it takes to do that."
The organizers of the Sweden Rock Festival will announce the first 20-25 bands confirmed for next year's event during the kick-off party on November 24 at Tyrol in Stockholm. The party will be broadcast live on the Stockholm radio station 106.7 Rockklassiker beginning at 7:00 p.m. local time and will be available for streaming worldwide via Rockklassiker.se.
This year's Sweden Rock Festival kick-off celebration will feature performances by GOTTHARD, SABATON and HAZY/DIZZY. In addition, a one-off all-star band has also been put together featuring:
Uli Jon Roth (SCORPIONS, ELECTRIC SUN) - Guitar
Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, RING OF FIRE) - Vocals
Mats Levén (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, AT VANCE, THERION) - Vocals
Liz Vandall (SAHARA, Uli JON ROTH) - Vocals
Janne Stark (OVERDRIVE, BALTIMOORE) - Guitar
Ule Ritgen (ZENO, ELECTRIC SUN, FAIR WARNING) - Bass
Thomas Broman (ELECTRIC BOYS, JOHN NORUM, 21 GUNS) - Drums
The group will perform vintage SCORPIONS and ELECTRIC SUN material, along with other "nice surprises."
Hail Of Bullets Sign With Metal Blade
HAIL OF BULLETS, the new band featuring GOREFEST drummer Ed Warby, THANATOS guitarists Stephan Gebédi and Paul Baayens, former PESTILENCE/ASPHYX singer Martin Van Drunen and former HOUWITSER bass player Theo van Eekelen, has inked a deal with Metal Blade Records.
HAIL OF BULLETS was formed in late 2006 through a mutual love for old-school death metal bands like AUTOPSY, BOLT THROWER, MASSACRE, CELTIC FROST and DEATH. In the summer of 2007, the band entered a Rotterdam studio to record a four-song promotional CD, which was mixed by the infamous death metal guru Dan Swanö in Sweden. Swanö stated upon the CD's completion: "If this promo doesn't get you guys a good record deal, I will eat my laptop!"
Commented Martin Van Drunen: "When we heard the final Swanö mix of the promo, the question for me was not if we got signed at all, but more to whom. We're all very experienced musicians and we knew that we created an awful fucking heavy piece of molten metal. A smart and appropriate A&R man/woman at a high-quality label recognizes this immediately. So Metal Blade didn't hesitate. Important to me was that they let us free in performing in our other bands and they didn't have a problem with that at all. Of course as a young metal kid I saw this label rising from a little company 'til the standard that it has now; the name Brian Slagel always remaining in the back of my head as one of the pioneers. Always delivering quality metal bands and never a bad word in the press from whatever what signing. The pact is solid. We'll deliver our old-school death metal supreme, Metal Blade will do the rest. We're one of the best in what we do and they're in theirs. Blades meet Bullets!"
Added Stephan Gebédi: "The HAIL OF BULLETS promo was sent out to just a handful of carefully selected record labels. Metal Blade was my personal first choice, so when they actually made us an interesting offer, it was an offer I definitely could not refuse! Many classic metal albums have been released on Metal Blade Records over the past few decades, so an old-school death metal band signing to a classic metal label can be seen as the ultimate metal marriage forged in the fires of Hades!"
HAIL OF BULLETS will enter the studio in February 2008 to begin recording its as-yet-untitled debut album for a May European release. The band is planning to promote the CD with a number of live appearances during the European summer festival season.
HAIL OF BULLETS' entire four-song promotional CD is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
Illdisposed Complete New Album Recording
Guitarist Jakob Batten of the Danish extreme metallers ILLDISPOSED has issued the following update:
"The recordings [for the new ILLDISPOSED album] are done!!! All drums, guitars, bass and vocals are now recorded. Next week we'll spend a day checking if everything's perfect or if something has to be corrected. Then we'll send the sessions to Fredrik Nordström so he can start mixing the album on December 3rd. Bo [Summer, vocals] and I will go to Sweden to mix with Fredrik.
"The new album is recorded differently compared to the previous two albums. We didn't really cut into the tracks while recording so nearly everything you'll hear is first takes. We want it all to sound more raw and alive this time. A lot of the new albums you hear these days are so tight and over-produced that it doesn't sound like humans playing anymore and in the long run you get tired of it — I think.
"The front cover for the album will be made by Mattias Norén (who yesterday revealed that he will quit making album artwork). So I guess our cover will be one of the last covers you'll see him."
ILLDISPOSED's new album will be released on March 28, 2008 via AFM Records.
The band's last CD, "Burn Me Wicked", entered the Danish album chart at position No. 58 in June 2006. The follow-up to 2004's "1-800 Vindication" was recorded at ZigZound Studio during November/December 2005 with producer Ziggy and was mastered by Tue Madsen at Antfarm studio.
Dark Tranquility Announce U.K. Tour
Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY have issued the following update:
"Given the great response at the recent UK/Scotland shows, we decided to book a headline club tour in order to be able to play real full-length sets to the ever growing legions of British fans.
"These are the currently confirmed dates. More shows will most likely be added, and support acts will be announced in the near future."
"Great British Fiction Tour 2008" dates:
Feb. 02 - Cardiff, UK - Barfly
Feb. 03 - Liverpool, UK - Barfly
Feb. 04 - Birmingham, UK - Barfly
Feb. 05 - Aberdeen, UK - Barfly
Feb. 06 - Glasgow, UK - Barfly
Feb. 07 - York, UK - Fibbers
Feb. 09 - London, UK – Barfly
DARK TRANQUILLITY's new album, "Fiction", was released in April via Century Media Records. The CD was mixed by Tue Madsen (HIMSA, THE HAUNTED) and "encompasses all of the elements on which the band built their career: thought-provoking lyrics, shredding guitar work, captivating melodies and sheer brutality," according to a press release.
Led Zeppelin Denies 2008 Tour Rumour
MonstersAndCritics.com reports that LED ZEPPELIN have denied they are planning a world tour in 2008.
The legendary rockers claim "no decision has been made" as to whether they will follow up their comeback concert at London's O2 arena on December 10 with a globetrotting series of shows.
Excitement over a possible LED ZEPPELIN tour peaked this week after Ian Astbury, lead singer of British band THE CULT, told fans at a show in Cincinnati: "We'll be back next year because we're opening for a band you might have heard of. The name starts with 'L' and has a 'Z' in it."
When asked by an excited member of the crowd if he meant LED ZEPPELIN, Astbury reportedly nodded his head and raised a celebratory arm in the air.
But an aide for ZEPPELIN insists: "No decision has been made beyond the band's performance at the O2 arena.
"Maybe Ian got mixed up and they're supporting LIMP BIZKIT!"
LED ZEPPELIN have been sending out mixed messages concerning future shows.
Lead singer Robert Plant has been quoted as saying "there'll be one show and that's it", whereas guitarist Jimmy Page insisted: "It's a bit selfish to do just one show. If that's it, we probably shouldn't have taken the genie out of the bottle."
The band — which also features bassist John Paul Jones — have reformed for a tribute concert for the late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, who signed the group.
Sodom And More Confirmed For Zagreb Metal Fest
AMORPHIS, SODOM and UNLEASHED are among the confirmed bands for the Zagreb Metal Fest, set to take place May 30, 2008 at the Boogaloo Club in Zagreb, Croatia. This will be the first metal festival of this kind in Croatia and it is expected to grow in the coming years.
The final festival billing is as follows:
AMORPHIS
SODOM
UNLEASHED
FINNTROLL
BELPHEGOR
CASKETGARDEN
USUD
Pre-sale will start on December 15, 2007.
Destruction Slam U.K. Booking Agent
Germany's DESTRUCTION have released the following statement in the wake of their the recent UK tour:
All three bands really want to thank all of the fans who turned out to support us on our recent Tour of the UK., but we also wish with hindsight, to apologise to some of you that you had to see us in circumstances that were not ideal, at some venues which sometimes should not have even been included on the schedule. This is solely down to the work undertaken by the booking agent we opted to use, Jon Knight of HAGP Music and we would like to draw the attention of all other bands and the fans to this person because we are most disappointed that charlatans like this continue to be in positions of power in the industry we all love – that of Metal!
Destruction frontman Schmier comments: “After 24 years of playing Metal on a professional level, working with this concert agency was the worst and most unprofessional experience we’ve ever had in Europe! I wanna thank all the faithful fans that made this tour a success. Our loyal crew and our brothers in ONSLAUGHT and AMENTI who suffered the same circumstances as well, (Sorry mates!!) but, we all really deserve better than this HAGP Music guy, surely?! No catering on most of the gigs, no posters and advertisement for the shows and the technical rider, which we did send to the UK several months ago, all just seemed to have evaporated or been ignored!
Some of this tour was an insult to METAL! A bloody fuckin´ shame, but because the fans had waited so fuckin´ long, we did not want to disappoint any of you. I really hope that the of the lack of professional equipment at some of the venues will not harm any of the bands in the future or take away from the fact that we know many of you supported us to the hilt on this tour. We found solutions to go on and did not lose a single show on this chaotic horror trip! The replacement gig (Nottingham, Old Angel) for the cancelled show (in Liverpool) came with local assistance and from within the touring family, not from HAGP Music, who then decided also to stop talking to our management and ignoring our email requests for assistance.
Realistically, several shows on this tour should never have been booked in the first place. HAGP Music didn’t care about contracts, venues, the fans, the bands, not even his local guys who were making the best of it sometimes. To have shows announced as being cancelled without our knowledge, to not have the right equipment or have even researched the venues at all etc., caused dreadful tumult to everyone on the tour and required us ourselves to go on to metal forums telling people that the gigs would go ahead. How unprofessional is that? Without the long held experience of our combined band and crew and the great support shown by the Onslaught and Amenti blokes, this tour wouldn’t have survived! I publicly thank every single one!
It’s scary how losers like this guy, Jon Knight, can be in charge of representing us to the fans. I’m posting this to warn othert bands, DO NOT work with this liar! He calls himself a concert agent, but he is no more than a shady amateur!
Thanks again to the fantastic UK & Irish fans; Onslaught, Amenti and the locals that made the gigs possible! Metal doesn’t need this guy, and I can only discourage everybody to not work with him if you don’t wanna lose your ass! Be warned!!!”
Destruction’s European Booking Agent, Dragon Productions add: “In the beginning, Jon Knight (HAGP Music) left a great and professional impression on us. His offer was good so we decided to commit to this tour. Then, when time came to fix the contracts etc., the original offer broke down to only 50%. And this left the band without income, only payments for crew, flights etc. covered.
The band decided to do the tour anyway; they didn't want to let their fans down, but our feelings got worse and worse. The closer the tour became, the more questions we had, and the less Jon responded. He brought in a tour manager who tried to save the chaos, but of course, this guy was fighting a losing battle as the tour progressed because this was a disaster just waiting to happen caused by the lack of professionalism at its base. That tour manager left during the tour and Destruction’s sound engineer took this job on as well. If band and crew hadn’t been such a brilliant team this tour could never have been finished. No one should work with dreamers like HAGP Music, simply look for the professionals.
We will not make this mistake again as I’m sure won’t others who we are told have also worked with HAGP Music. We’re hopefully the last who will suffer this.”
J. Dusedau (Dragon Productions)
Schmier (on behalf of Destruction)
Mike Exley (UK Press Representative to AFM)
The Agonist Cancel Enslaved Dates
Alissa White-Gluz, vocalist for THE AGONIST out of Montreal, has checked in with the following update:
"So, after desperately trying to make our way through a blizzard's Rocky Mountain terrain to get to our Oregon show and continue the ENSLAVED tour... we found ourselves stranded in a ditch, with the trailer upside down on it's nose. Yes, we crashed trying to get to a show... but nobody was hurt at all. Our vehicle however, a different story.
Long story short, our gear got wrecked, then the van short-fused, we nearly killed a deer (poor thing! I'm still hyper-ventilating), the wipers broke and we got a flat tire on the trailer while attempting to drive our newly mutated van and trailer combo. Then, I found out that I had yet another family member to bury, the third one since the beginning of tour. I now have missed three funerals in total between the Sonata and Enslaved tours...and given the string of bad luck we decided to cut our losses and head home.
So, we apologize greatly for missing those of you on the West coast and through the lower States, we were looking forward to new fans as well as familiar faces... but we will be back there soon with tons of new material to play... so until then ... rock on and keep in touch!!"
-Alissa and The Agonist
The Agonist WILL NOT be appearing at the following shows:
November
23 - Slim’s - San Francisco, CA
24 - Galaxy Theatre - Santa Ana, CA
25 - Key Club - Los Angeles, CA
26 - The Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ
27 - Launch Pad - Albuquerque, NM
28 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
30 - White Rabbit - San Antonio, TX
December
2 - Meridian - Houston, TX
4 - The Muse - Nashville, TN
Criminal Demoing New Songs
Anton Reisenegger from Chilean metallers CRIMINAL has issued the following update:
"Last weekend was spent demoing four new songs. We are lucky that our new bass player Dan (Biggin) has got all the infrastructure to record on ProTools, so we took the gear to the rehearsal studio and recorded there.
We had a few technical problems though, so we didn't manage to finish everything, but what we hear so far is fucking brutal.
The songs in question (some are working titles):
'Invasion' - an epic intro gives way to a typical Criminal song, with many rhythm changes and some interesting guitar harmonies.
'Temptation' - very METAL song in 6/8, with a few PENTAGRAM influences (you know which Pentagram I mean).
'Sons Of Cain' - reminds me a bit of NEVERMORE, again with loads of rhythm changes and some ultra heavy slow parts.
'The Infidel' - 100% old school thrash/death, with a little SLAYER and a little Pentagram, and a middle-eight that will destroy everything when we play it live.
We are thinking about posting this last one on our MySpace page within the next few days, when the mix is done. We may even play it on the Chilean tour, who knows.
We'll keep you updated on the progress of the new material and, of course, when there is concrete news about the new album."
Megadeth Mainman Talks Australia
Rod Hunt at Australia-based TimeOff.com has filed the following report:
GIGANTOUR, the mini-festival masterminded by MEGADETH vocalist and guitarist Dave Mustaine, delivered a loudly welcomed dose of metal to Australia last October. This month it returns, with a line up boasting - along with the ’Deth - DEVILDRIVER, STATIC X, LACUNA COIL and BRING ME THE HORIZON.
The four-piece have become regular visitors to this country in recent years. But it wasn’t always like that. “There was a long drought in-between [tours],” Mustaine acknowledges. Now, with Gigantour, there’s a good chance we’ll see Megadeth dropping by annually.
“We want to make Australia one of our regular territories,” he explains. “It’s not about the money for us. There are a lot of territories where it actually costs you to go and play, but in some circumstances, it’s not about the cost, it’s about the relationship you build, by starting to go down there and playing more often.”
Mustaine is so intent on furthering the connection with his fans that he’s posted a mobile phone number (619-717-2000, in case you feel like giving him a call) on Megadeth’s MySpace page, which you can send a text to, or call and leave a voicemail message. He must receive some ‘interesting’ calls?
“You get some good ones and there’s some that are not so good,” he considers. “We have people to filter them out, so I don’t hear them. So people who go to all this effort to make [abusive] calls, I don’t even hear them. They may as well just talk to their hand. But their other hand is probably already busy doing other things,” he smirks.
Forever In Terror Seek New Guitarist
Streetsboro, OH’s FOREVER IN TERROR have issued the following update:
"Hey friends. We are on the hunt for a new lead guitarist! Seven-string players only apply! Must be under 23. A sick shredder on guitar (sweeping, tapping, speedpicking, etc ... A MUST!) We will have tabs posted soon. If seriously interested in joining the new heavy metal machine, please get in touch via Foreverinterrorband@yahoo.com."
Lemmy Receives Mosiac
Manchestereveningnews.co.uk is reporting:
Heavy metal legend Lemmy may be no oil painting - but he reckons he's a great mosaic.
The MOTÖRHEAD frontman was so impressed by his portrait by a Manchester mosaic artist that he will hang it in his Hollywood home.
The head-banging rocker was presented with artist Ed Chapman's piece following his group's sell-out performance at the M.E.N. Arena.
Mr Chapman, 33, of Castlefield, spent weeks using thousands of bits of ceramic tile to create the portrait.
He said: "Lemmy is regarded as one of the genuine legends in rock and roll. I also felt that his face would make a very interesting portrait and I am very pleased with the result. I've also approached the National Portrait Gallery with a view to it going on exhibition there and Lemmy said that he will happily loan it to them if it is accepted."
Primordial To Play Exclusive U.K . Show
Irish pagan metal outfit PRIMORDIAL have announced a one-off UK show at the Camden Underworld on February 2nd 2008.
This will be the bands first London show since the summer of 2006 and follows hot on the heals of their most recent album To the Nameless Dead which was released earlier this month on Metal Blade to much critical acclaim, both in mainland Europe and the UK.
Full line up details will be announced in the following week, but the band are keen to make this a special event and are working to add some of their personal favourites to the show.
Tickets are £10 in advance here or call 08700 600 100.
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