Metal News for November 25, 2007
Last updated on October 7, 2025 at 2:32 AM ET
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Hot Topics
- Enthroned To Release New Album In December
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33 news articles posted on this day.
Retro Grave Seek Bassist
TROUBLE drummer Jeff "Oly" Olson is seeking a bass player to record and tour with his RETRO GRAVE project. Interested parties can contact RETRO GRAVE's management at LeighRush@aol.com for details of where to send the press kit.
RETRO GRAVE's full-length debut, "Again", is scheduled for release in the spring. These recordings will feature collaborations with established, high-profile musicians whose identities have not yet been revealed.
"Again" will be released in time for TROUBLE's appearance at the Roadburn Festival on April 18, 2008 at the 013 club in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Olson is currently writing an exclusive RETRO GRAVE "studio report" for the Roadburn web site, to be posted in the very near future at www.roadburn.com.
In other news, the previously announced re-arrangement of TROUBLE's "Run to the Light" album (originally issued in 1987 via Metal Blade) will now be recorded by TROUBLE rather than RETRO GRAVE. Details of this exciting project will be revealed soon.
Primordial Frontman Clarifies File Sharing Stance
Vocalist Alan "Nemtheanga" Averill of the of the Irish dark metal masters PRIMORDIAL has issued the following update:
"The [new PRIMORDIAL] album ['To the Nameless Dead'] is officially out this week and while the shipping figures from the label are excellent and more than the last one sold, it remains to be seen if people will go out and buy the thing…perhaps we are going to become the greatest 'cult' band of the last decade or more and live with it."
"That, my friends, is simply the way of the world sometimes. I'm not, of course, setting us up for this before I know the facts, but as Mr. Steele said, 'No Hope = No Fear!'"
"Guess it's my self-defence mechanism kicking in before we know the results…"
"None of it was our intention when we started the band anyway so it has been strange to be courted by certain sections of the media as if this was our first album." More...
Eon Recording Debut Album
French metal/punk/hardcore band EON is currently recording their first album. You can follow the recording sessions in video on their MySpace page.
Sanctum Sign To 20 Buck Spin For New Album
Seattle’s Sanctum will release the CD version of their new album “On The Horizon” through 20 Buck Spin. The label previously worked with Sanctum earlier this year on their split CD with Oakland’s Stormcrow. You can expect no frills, straightforward crust-crushing mayhem in the vein of pre-Earache Bolt Thrower. The CD version of “On The Horizon” will include 7 additional bonus tracks compiling the bands first two vinyl only EPs, “Enslaved” and “Sanctum.” They’re shooting for an early February release and the band will commence a full US tour in mid February through March with Europe to follow in the Fall.
You can check out some of Sanctum's material on their MySpace page.
Quo Vadis Post Tracks From Live In Montreal CD
Montreal-based metallers QUO VADIS have posted two new tracks from their Live In Montreal Double CD at this location. The tracks 'Mute Requiem' and 'Legions Of The Betrayed' were recorded live in Montreal at the Medley on May 12, 2007 where the band appeared alongside MARTYR, BLINDED BY FAITH and ENDUST.
As previously reported, Quo Vadis are in the midst of working out the details for new material set to begin recording in January.
Malignancy and Mortal Decay Team Up For NYC Show
MALIGNANCY and MORTAL DECAY will be teaming up for a show on Saturday, January 12th at the Pussycat Lounge in New York City. Also performing will be COPREMESIS, CYAEGHA, and BATTLEMASTER. You can find more information about the show here.
Dir En Grey Talk Music Industry
Japanese outfit DIR EN GREY recently spoke to the UK's Planet Loud about the difference between the Japanese music industry and the European one along with their own influences and their plans for the future. A few excerpts follow:
Planet Loud - How do you think you managed to gather such a following without ever playing here before?
Dir En Grey - "It’s a complete mystery to the band; of course, with the internet people can hear bands like Dir En Grey from around the world without any sort of promotion or such like, but what’s more a mystery is why they listen to Dir En Grey specifically. Once the albums became available outside Japan, even though we weren’t touring at least there was some help from the labels, but there have been fans in Europe since we started 10 years ago which is a real surprise to us; we were making music for the Japanese market, not the overseas. We are very happy that we are now able to come over to Europe and tour and play to all our fans at last."
Planet Loud - Talk us through the new album.
Dir En Grey - "The album was written and recorded over a period of about a year whilst we were touring Japan, America and Europe. The only time we got to write songs was on tour in between shows. Instead of spending two months in the studios writing and rehearsing non-stop as before, we’d be writing for a bit then going and playing a show; new places, new environments and new sources of inspiration every day. We were also able to revisit songs later and change bits, listen with a fresh ear and take out bits we didn’t like and rewrite different sections. It was a mixed process, some of it went really well, but some of it went really badly."
Planet Loud - There’s such a marked difference in styles across the albums, what’s the thought process behind such stylistic leaps?
Dir En Grey - "It’s a mixture of a conscious decision not to make the same album twice, and getting a bit bored with a particular style and wanting to try something different. There is a natural process, we always want to release something different to before, not wanting to get fed up with any one style. It’s also a test, a challenge, to see how far we have improved and where we can go with the music. We do not like to release the same thing over and over again, and neither do the fans, we want to keep it fresh and keep the fans excited."
Assailant Finishing Second Album
ASSAILANT, the Umeå, Sweden-based band featuring guitarist Oscar Norberg ("little brother" of Emil of PERSUADER/SAVAGE CIRCUS fame and Nils Norberg of NOCTURNAL RITES), is putting the finishing touches on its as-yet-untitled second album, tentatively due in early 2008 via Dockyard 1. The group will film a video for one of the new CD cuts in late December with Ove Lingvall of Village Road Film.
ASSAILANT's debut album, "Nemesis Within", was released in 2006 via Dockyard 1.
Video footage of the vocal-recording sessions for the new ASSAILANT album: More...
3 Inches Of Blood Post Live Video Online
3 Inches of Blood have posted a video of them performing "Forest King" live in Buffalo, NY on August 17, 2007 on their MySpace page. Check it out at www.myspace.com/3iob.
The band will be touring the US with The Black Dahlia Murder in January/February 2008. Tour dates are as follows: More...
Defender To Record New Album Next Month
Rusty Cage Records, the label for Netherlands-based metallers DEFENDER, has issued the following update:
"20 years after releasing their debut City Ad Mortis, Defender will start recording their first full length CD. They will start recording in Holland's Legacy Studios the second week of December. The album will be released summer 2008."
Within Temptation Getting Ready For UK Tour
Within Temptation have posted the following tour update on the band's official web site:
"Hiyaaaa!
"Yesterday we played at the Beursgebouw Eindhoven, we had an amazing time and we hope you did too!
"We'd like to thank all of you of course, but also: Anneke van Giersbergen, George Oosthoek, Jonas Pap, the percussionists Mike Coolen, Patrick van Fessem & Milangelo Martis, our ballet dancer Johanna, theatre group Close Act and last but not least our opening acts Agua de Annique and Threshold!
"Of course, a big applause for all the people working behind the scenes to create a beautiful production like you've seen. They did a great job!
"We'd also like to thank Santa Clause for handing out a Gold Record to us for sales exceeding 35,000 in Holland of 'The Heart Of Everything'. :-)
"If you want to write a report, please add it to our forum!
"To all our UK fans: the truck is already packed and getting ready to start driving to our first show this Tuesday in London! There are still some tickets available, we look forward to seeing you all there!
"Have a great weekend, we'll see you soon!
"Cheers,
"Ruud, Stephen, Martijn, Jeroen, Robert & Sharon"
Within Temptation UK tour dates with the 69 Eyes:
Nov. 27 London - Brixton Academy
Nov. 28 Birmingham - Birmingham Academy
Nov. 29 Manchester - Manchester Academy
Nov. 30 Glasgow - Glasglow Barrowland
As previously announced, Within Temptation's November 24, 2007 concert at the Beursgebouw in Eindhoven, Holland was filmed for an upcoming DVD, tentatively due next summer. For more information, follow this link.
Nailshitter Line Up Orlando Show
Florida’s NAILSHITTER will be performing at The Dungeon in Orlando, FL on Saturday, December 8th. Also performing will be CYSTIC DYSENTERY, SUCCESS WILL WRITE APOCALYPSE ACROSS THE SKY, and ARUSPEX. You can find more information on the show online here.
Dark Tranquillity Announce UK Tour
Dark Tranquillity have posted the following on the band's web site:
"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:
Feb. 2: Cardiff - Barfly
Feb. 3: Liverpool - Barfly
Feb. 4: Birmingham - Barfly
Feb. 5: Aberdeen - Barfly
Feb. 6: Glasgow - Barfly
Feb. 7: York - Fibbers
Feb. 9: London - Barfly
"These are small, intimate clubs, and the shows are projected to sell out, so make sure to play it safe by booking your tickets as quickly as possible at www.barflyclub.com."
Skies Devoured Announce Track Listing New EP
New Jersey's melodic death metallers, Skies Devoured, issue the following update on their Myspace page:
"Hails! As you know, we've been working on recording and releasing an EP this coming Winter. Since we've entered the studio with Joan Cordero in early November, we can finally announce that the recording process is complete! Meaning our part is done. This would have been finished earlier, but we've had scheduling conflicts plaguing our progress. All we wait on now is the mixing process and eventually the duplication process, being that this is an independent release. ;) The EP will be limited to 1000 copies, so be sure to get yours! Soon, we'll have a pre-order link available, and of course reveal the cover art. For now, here are the track listings for the EP:"
"1. Untitled
2. Somber Tears Awaken
3. Disgraceful Embrace
4. Skies Devoured
5. Throne of Lies
6. Beyond the Frozen Gates" More...
Within Temptation Film Concert For Upcoming DVD
WITHIN TEMPTATION's November 24, 2007 concert at the Beursgebouw in Eindhoven, Holland was filmed for an upcoming DVD, tentatively due next summer. The sold-out show at the 8,000-capacity venue included lots of special effects, an acoustic section, Broadway-style musical elements and guest appearances by Anneke van Giersbergen (AQUA DE ANNIQUE, ex-THE GATHERING) and George Oosthoek (ex-ORPHANAGE).
The group's setlist was as follows:
01. The Silent Force Intro
02. Jillian
03. The Howling
04. Stand My Ground
05. The Cross
06. What Have You Done
07. Hand of Sorrow
08. The Heart of Everything
09. Forgiven (acoustic)
10. Restless (acoustic)
11. Somewhere (w/ Anneke van Giersbergen, acoustic)
12. Memories (acoustic)
13. Our Solemn Hour
14. The Other Half (w/ George Oosthoek)
15. Angels (w/ act)
16. Mother Earth
17. Frozen
18. Jane Doe
19. The Truth Beneath The Rose
Encore-
03. Deceiver of Fools
03. All I Need
03. Ice Queen
Gojira Post New Performance Footage Online
French metallers GOJIRA have uploaded a number of performance video clips from the Radio Rebellion tour with BEHEMOTH, JOB FOR A COWBOY and BENEATH THE MASSACRE on their official YouTube page.
In a recent interview with Scott McLennan of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, GOJIRA singer and guitarist Joseph Duplantier said that after making its first two records — "Terra Incognita" and "The Link" — the band approached its third album, "From Mars To Sirius", with more confidence and with more ideas.
"When we made our first album, we all had jobs or were in school. Whenever we could meet and compose, the only thing we composed were fast songs because we were so excited. We put all our aggression into the music," Duplantier said. "Now we are a full-time band. We are not just coming to the music with aggression. We play music all day, so we are playing music we want to hear. When you spend every day in a rehearsal space, you want to hear changes, so we go to some mid-tempo compositions and look for ways to keep the verses interesting. I think we are playing better because we are trying different things." More...
Moonsorrow Photos From Rock-n-Iasi Festival Online
Photos of Finnish folk/pagan metal band MOONSORROW's November 24, 2007 performance at the Rock-n-Iasi 2007 festival in Romania can be viewed at Metalhead.ro.
As previously reported, MOONSORROW will enter the studio in January to record a new mini-CD, entitled "Tulimyrsky" (Firestorm). The effort is tentatively scheduled for release on March 26, 2008 through Spinefarm Records. More information will be made available soon.
MOONSORROW has been confirmed for the Bloodstock Open Air festival, set to take place August 15-17, 2008 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire England. This will be the band's only UK festival appearance of 2008. More...
George Parfitt Team Up With Michael "Skip" Cromer
Former THREAT SIGNAL drummer George Parfitt has teamed up with BYZANTINE bassist Michael "Skip" Cromer to form an as-yet-unnamed new band. The group, whose musical direction is said to be "very heavy, in the vein of STRAPPING YOUNG LAD," also features former CHILDREN OF TRAGEDY guitarist Andrew Wiens. The band is currently writing material for its debut album, which it hopes to release sometime in 2008.
Decrepit Birth Announce Lineup Changes
DECREPIT BIRTH have announced the addition of guitarist Dan Eggers and bassist Joel Horner, both of ODIOUS MORTEM, to their lineup. The band’s current lineup is rounded out by vocalist Bill Robinson, guitarist Matt Sotelo, and drummer KC Howard (also of ODIOUS MORTEM).
Jetboy Guitarist Claims Slash Contrdicts Himself
BringBackGlam.com recently conducted an interview with JETBOY lead guitarist Billy Rowe. An excerpt from the chat follows:
BringBackGlam.com: Do you know that JETBOY is mentioned several times in the new Slash autobiography?
Billy: Yeah. That's a very interesting question. We played L.A. Friday and Las Vegas Saturday. A good friend of ours, he's 25, a huge fan of the band…he helps us out. Anyway, I stayed at his place Friday night and he was like, "I got the Slash book." I looked at it…and I just knew. I guarantee we're in that in bits, pieces and good size chunks. It's like history repeating itself all over again.
BringBackGlam.com: Well, it seems like Slash was a big fan.
Billy: Yeah. It's really interesting. Fern read the whole thing on the way to Vegas and back. It so personal because Todd (Crew, bass) died and was fired from the band due to substance abuse, mainly alcohol. We tried to get our manager and the band…we were buddies, two bands connected at the hip. Actually, Fernie and I knew Axl and Izzy before GUNS N' ROSES even formed and then once we got our bands going…well, HOLLYWOOD ROSE was hanging on by a thread. Axl was like "Dude, I got a new band, let's start doing shows together." Me and Izzy were pretty tight…it's kind of funny. We were the two that introduced Todd to GUNS N' ROSES and got that whole connection going. You know, Todd ended up just looking at different things… a lot of partying. When Todd joined JETBOY, he wasn't that much of a partier. It got to the point where we went to GUNS N' ROSES and said "Todd is going to die. He's bad off, you need to something." They were like "Todd's fine. We all party. You guys are tripping." We didn't know what to do. We were meeting with labels, our producer was making comments that he was cheating the band…we were a team. It was a hard decision — and to this day I don't know if it was the right decision — but from that day on, the two of us — JETBOY and GUNS N' ROSES — were at war. Six months later, Todd was dead. Todd's family went after Slash. They hired a private investigator and all this stuff. GUNS N' ROSES started badmouthing us all the way to the top. They became the biggest band in the world. A year later, they fired Steven Adler for the same reason. Is it the pot calling the kettle black? I say yes all the way around. It's very personal. I think they have guilt. They know we went to them. He was only 20 years old. He was doing too much and he died. It's a shame. When I read the book…there's a lot of stuff that isn't true. It bothers me. Slash wants the last laugh.
BringBackGlam.com: What is untrue?
Billy: First thing, he gives us props, but then he says "I didn't like the band very much."
BringBackGlam.com: Well, he doesn't like glam.
Billy: Well, I've got photos of that guy wearing lipstick, huge hair and fishnets up his arms. Whatever. He says stuff like "Their lead singer had a mohawk so that makes them less transparent, like POISON." Earlier in the book…he talks about auditioning for POISON while he was still in GUNS N' ROSES! He contradicts himself. He says he doesn't like glam but he auditioned for the glam band that was doing the best at the time because, obviously, he wanted success. When he says that he didn't like the band, that isn't true. We were all friends, we all supported each other. Axl used to trip on Mick. Mickey used to wear the chaps, then Axl started wearing the chaps. The whole overdose situation that Todd died in Slash's arms…and that he (Slash) swears someone else was there and gave him some bad dope. Todd wasn't very experienced. The bottom of the line is the guy OD'd and they revived him and then they put him back in bed. What kind of idiot doesn't call for paramedics right away? From what I know, the truth is, after he OD'd and they revived him, Slash panicked and left. They (GUNS N' ROSES) came back they found him dead, and that was their alibi. It makes complete more sense than him dying in Slash's arms when he's high as a kite on dope, probably facing possession, and he got not one charge, nothing. There's definitely some loopholes in the story.
BringBackGlam.com: So after Todd died, you never had anything else do with GUNS N' ROSES?
Billy: After Todd was out of the band, they were headed toward their trouble. They wanted to fire Axl — several times — before they even did a record. We all had issues with singers (laughs). I kept up with Izzy (Stradlin, original rhythm guitar for GUNS N' ROSES) he's the guy who definitely started separating himself from the band…especially when they started to get success. I remember we got thrown out of a (GUNS N' ROSES) show in the Bay Area. [JETBOY] had just moved back to San Francisco…in like 1991 and we were pretty good buddies with SKID ROW. They were touring with GUNS N' ROSES. We went to hang out at the show and we were backstage…and here comes Axl walking by. Mickey said "Hey Axl, what's going on?" We kind of did have a make-up thing. They made a public apology at the Cathouse one night (in 1988), but we didn't hang out like we used to. They were blowing up so big they were always on the road. Ten minutes later, I saw some crew guy…go up to SKID ROW's guy and whisper in his ear and I just knew. That crew guy talked to Rachel (Bolan, SKID ROW bassist) and he was like "What?!" and he came over and said "Dude, you've all got to leave. Axl said he won't go on until JETBOY is out of the venue." I was like "You've got to be fucking kidding." He really just wanted us out of backstage. The funny thing is they had given us fifth row seats, so it was almost like a slap. "Get out there and watch what you ain't got." The next day I ran into Izzy on Haight Street…me, Mick and Rachel and my sister were all there shopping around. My sister was like "Hey, there's Izzy!" I was like, "Fuck that!" and I walked out the door, but before I could get out of the door, he started yelling my name. He said "Dude, I'm so sorry about yesterday. I had nothing to do with that. You know it's not me. If you want to come tonight, you can be my personal guest it's totally good…" Once that happened, I knew it was all Axl and it was all over Todd. He was never around. He was always in his own world. It was another drama situation for him to embellish and be a part of…to use his wackiness. I never understood that.
Whitechapel Part Ways With Guitarist
Guitarist Brandon Cagle of Tennessee deathcore act WHITECHAPEL has posted the following update:
“Hey everyone this is Brandon. I’m posting this blog to answer any questions and clear up any rumors. I just got back from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the number one hospital in the country for Brachial Plexus injury. Which I have in my right arm from my motorcycle wreck on April 28th of this year. I’m going to need surgery to restore the function in my arm. At the moment I’m unable to move my arm at all, I can only shrug my shoulder. Even after the surgery I need, it will take a few years for all of the function to return to my arm. So I was not kicked out of the band, I’m just unable to play, so Zack is replacing me full time."
"Now that I’ve address that issue I have a small request of everyone. I don’t have health insurance so I’m having to pay for the surgery out of my pocket. I have to put a $10,000 down payment to get the surgery. The biggest problem is that I only have a 9 week window to get the surgery in. If I wait too long the surgery won’t help me, so I need it ASAP! My request is if you could spare a $1 to help me get my surgery that would be much much appreciated." More...
Slagmaur Release New Album
"Skrekk Lich Kunstler", the new album from Norwegian black metallers SLAGMAUR, has been released on the band's own Nekk Brekk label after a series of events that have made everyone involved in the release wonder if it might actually be cursed. The group's manager commented: "All kinds of things seemed to happen during the recording of this album. Some were amusing, some were irritating, and some were strange to say the least, particularly as this has been an intensely personal album for General Gribbsphiiser, much more so than any of the others the band has produced. He set out to express his beliefs through music, and when those beliefs are as extreme as his, and when you are the perfectionist that he is, it is by no means an easy task, and there is a usually a price to pay, as any serious musician will tell you. Let's just say that the making of 'Skrekk Lich Kunstler' took its toll on all of us in one way or another."
Regarding the decision to release the CD through the band's own label rather than Black Hate Productions, the manager explained, "It started off with a disagreement between the band and Black Hate, with Black Hate having some concerns over, amongst other things, the rather unorthodox view of the creation theory expressed by General Gribbsphiiser in the album. Once that was sorted out, Black Hate was hit with year-end budgetary issues, which meant the release would have had to be delayed until next year. Rather than wait we decided to release it on Nekk Brekk instead. Fortunately our relationship with Black Hate is excellent, and we were able to use their original slot at the pressing plant, together with their distribution, so that at least was one less thing to worry about." More...
Celesty Post Helsinki Concert Highlights Online
Finnish power metal band CELESTY has posted a 10-minute video clip featuring highlights from the band's October 24, 2007 concert at Rocktown in Helsinki. Watch it here.
CELESTY's third full-length effort, "Mortal Mind Creation", was released on October 30, 2006 via Dockyard 1. Two songs from "Mortal Mind Creation" — "Lord of Mortals" and "Arrival" — have been posted online on the band's MySpace page.
The follow-up to 2004's "Legacy of Hate", "Mortal Mind Creation" was recorded at Midas Studios in Vaasa, Finland with producer Sami "Hannu" Koivisto, who has previously worked with AMORPHIS, NORTHER, WALTARI and NICOLE.
CELESTY vocalist Antti Railio earlier in the year competed in the Finnish "American Idol"-style show called "Idols". More...
Led Zeppelin Frontman Signs Guitar For Charity
According to The Sunday Mail, LED ZEPPELIN frontman Robert Plant backed the Tartan Clef awards by donating a signed guitar which raised £4000 ($8,230) at the fundraising auction.
He sent the Ibanez acoustic, while two tickets for LED ZEP's sold-out reunion show raised a staggering £25,000 ($51,436).
Plant will join guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones for the classic band's gig at the O2 Arena in London on December 10.
Single tickets have been selling on eBay for £1500 each.
Guests at the auction also bid for rock 'n' roll goodies including a Harley Davidson motorbike and a meal for 10 cooked at their home by Scots chef John Quigley.
Charity chairman Donald MacLeod said: "We want the Tartan Clefs to be Scotland's answer to The Brits...a tribute to our musical
Marilyn Manson Builds Robot Version Of Girlfriend
Billy Sloan of the Glasgow Sunday Mail reports that Marilyn Manson's girlfriend Evan Rachel Wood joins the singer on stage every night during his current tour. Well, almost.
Manson told the Glasgow Sunday Mail: "I've built a robot replica of my girlfriend. She brings me absinthe on stage — like any wonderful girl should.
"There's a very sentimental moment where I slice her head off and perform my sarcastic version of 'Hamlet' with it.
"It's very lifelike. Backstage, people stumble across it and say: 'Hello Evan' — and it's not her. Her response is a strange mix of confusion and amazement."
In 1999, Manson was blamed for being the inspiration for the Columbine high school massacre when two students — said to be fans — shot 13 pupils dead.
And last month a 14-year-old wearing a Manson T-shirt shot four people before killing himself at a school in Cleveland.
Manson told the Glasgow Sunday Mail: "If a kid wants to be violent all they need to do is join the army. I just want people to feel emotion — good or bad."
Now Manson would like to appear in a TV reality show.
He said: "I'm guilty of watching reality television. It's really shocking how fucked up people are.
"I've been offered a lot but always turned them down. But I'd do one if it involved machine guns and hookers."
Lacuna Coil Singer Talks Australia
LACUNA COIL singer Cristina Scabbia has issued the following update:
"I'm back home now… and take some time to tell you something about my experience in Australia.
"Some of you guys have been there before already and some of you are FROM there… But let me tell you something: if you've never been there, just GO OVER THERE RIGHT NOW.
"It's been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life, and I'm serious.
"I don't know where to start 'cause I think the experience of petting a koala and kinda kissing a walabi at the koala sanctuary in Brisbane is been priceless, so liberating. In these moments I felt I had nothing else I could care about, just me and the nature…
"I loved Sydney , tha Taronga zoo, the trip on the boat, the big bridge close the opera house and the huge amount of BIG bats, the Perth shopping area, Melbourne and Adelaide and their cool places.
"But I don't forget YOU guys!!! THANKS to the different crowds who gave us one of the best welcome EVER.
"We were opening the tour 'cause it was our very first time over there, but there was always a lot of people waiting for us, wearing t-shirts and singing all the songs.
"Everyone went literally NUTS watching the duet with me and Dave [Mustaine] for 'A Tout Le Monde' during [MEGADETH's] set (believe me, it's funny to hear 'OH MY GOOOOOOD!!!' when you enter the stage, from the crowd, I LOVED it! Ahaha!).
"Awesome to meet some of you guys, you've been waiting for us for so long, we would have loved to be there earlier! Can't wait to come back again.
"MEGADETH, STATIC-X, DEVILDRIVER and BRING ME THE HORIZON have been a super-cool team to travel, perform, and PARTY with, had a lot of fun and…
"Most of all, thank YOU, MEGADETH, for having us…such a beautiful experience."
Siebenburgen Working On New Material
Swedish melodic black metallers SIEBENBÜRGEN have reformed and are currently working on material for a new album, tentatively due next year. Vocalist Marcus Ehlin has issued the following statement on the matter:
"Greetings fellow metalheads and all other dark creatures that follow our path!
"I'm glad to inform you all that SIEBENBÜRGEN has risen from the grave and are back with full force, with a new upcoming album in 2008.
"Mr. Bryngelsson [guitarist Richard Bryngelsson] and me have resurrected the band, though in a different shape and a different form, but still under the same black flag that SIEBENBÜRGEN proudly hails under. New members follows our course: Dennis Ekdahl on drums and Johnnie Gunther on keyboard. We are still trying out for lead guitar.
"Richard Bryngelsson is, of course, still handling the guitar and I the vocals, but this time I have mantled the bass as well.
"The music is in the same vein as before: dark and atmospheric metal.
"A new start, a new beginning and a new chapter in the glorious history of SIEBENBÜRGEN.
"We hope to see you all on tour soon!"
SIEBENBÜRGEN split up in February 2006, explaining at the time that "after 12 years, we sadly don't have the energy and inspiration to take the band any further and it would be wrong to us and to our fans to continue without the passion that SIEBENBÜRGEN deserve."
Exodus Guitarist Talks Latest Album
Jackie Smit of Chronicles of Chaos recently conducted an interview with EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:
Chronicles of Chaos: What were the circumstances surrounding Tom's [Hunting, drums] return to EXODUS?
Holt: If you had to put it in one word: time. He just needed time to get to grips with his own personal issues. He had been struggling with things like anxiety attacks, and things like that, and also trying to split your time between that and a band that's on the road all the time and takes up all your time; it's pretty fucking impossible. But he got back on his feet, got healthy, started playing and just found a level of health and vitality where he was ready to come back to the band. He was living up in the mountains about an hour and a half from where I live, which is about three hours north of San Francisco, and when he called I just chucked my amp and my guitar into my van, drove up to see him and we just jammed and I knew right then and there that this dude is ready to fuck shit up.
Chronicles of Chaos: How did you manage the situation with Paul [Bostaph]? Was he always of the understanding that if Tom decided to come back, then he'd move on?
Holt: Yeah, he knew that when and if the day came that Tom wanted to come back, then the job was waiting for him. He knew that it was the best thing for the band, and he's both a good friend of Tom's and a huge fan. He's really an amazing guy and he always lands on his feet, so he wasn't really blown out into the cold. He wanted to try some different things anyway, and as it turns out he's playing for TESTAMENT now and he's also reunited FORBIDDEN for a couple of shows. So everything's worked out pretty well for everybody.
Chronicles of Chaos: Having Tom back in the studio and having him be part of the writing process; do you feel like his presence affected in any way how the songs ended up sounding?
Holt: Definitely. Other than during his time away from the band, he's the only drummer I've ever really played with in my life. I've got a buddy who I used to get drunk with and play blues songs, but he could barely play anyway, so that doesn't really count. Other than that, Tom is the first guy I ever played with, and I never played with another drummer until he had to leave the band for similar health reasons back in 1989. There's just this natural unspoken language between he and I over what needs to be done to a certain riff drum-wise, and it's just hard to put into words.
Chronicles of Chaos: You used Andy Sneap once again for the recording of "The Atrocity Exhibition" and I know that in the past you've had nothing but good things to say about him. What's been the secret to keeping this relationship as productive as it has been?
Holt: You know, we all love the music and we're all very, very good friends. I mean, a guy like Andy works with so many different clients that I suppose he has to try and get along with everybody to a certain extent. You obviously don't want to repeat working with a band who you don't like personally. But us and Andy really love each other in a non-homosexual friendly way. [Laughs] We have a lot of fun together and I think he has more fun with us than he does with a lot of other bands. He's actually said to us that working with EXODUS is like walking into a cartoon, because when we're in the studio and we're by ourselves we're out of our minds and there's no logic or sense to anything we do. He's a fan of our music dating back to the old days, and he's almost like a sixth member of this band. So I just can't ever see the day when we'd want to part ways, and I think that if that day did come, then it would probably be because we've exhausted every avenue creatively and because the band needs something new. But I don't see that happening until I'm in my fucking seventies.
Chronicles of Chaos: It's interesting what he's done with your music as well, because he seems to take a very different approach to each record. "Tempo of the Damned", for example, was really slick, whereas "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" was a far rawer, organic album and "The Atrocity Exhibition" is really bass-heavy and brutal. Typically I find that bands always go to a producer because they want a certain sound, but that doesn't seem to be the case here at all. Would you agree with that?
Holt: I think you absolutely hit the nail on the head, man. With every album that we do, we never want it to sound exactly like the previous record. It doesn't mean that we're intentionally trying to sound different; we still go through the motions of plugging in our gear and finding our tone. But we just want to make shit work with the songs, and on this album, we purposefully wanted to make the guitar sound super crunchy and abrasive, with the big bottom-end on them. With "Shovel Headed Kill Machine", it was more of a high-gain sound that we were after. With this one, we tried out different settings until we knew that we'd found something that was heavy as shit.
1349 Frontman Speaks On Next Album
MTUK metal 'zine recently conducted an interview with 1349 vocalist Ravn and bassist Seidemann. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:
MTUK: Have you been in song writing mode or anything like that?
Ravn: We are in, like, limbo state. We have this tour going on and we have a lot of new material which is in the process of being made and a lot of shit is happening and has been for the last six months actually and will be also for some time. Everything is like…we're juggling a lot of balls in the air and we have to get them down one at a time to make the bits fall together the way we want it. So in many ways you can say the feeling in the band is tense, but in a good way, because a lot of shit is happening, everybody's on the spot to get the best out of it, to grab the moment, so to speak. To get the band to the next level, which will, of course, result in a new album being released.
MTUK: When is that due to be released? Is there a date yet?
Ravn: No… next year… We've scheduled the studio for December.
MTUK: What kind of direction is the new material going to take?
Ravn: Well, it's hard to say…
Seidemann: It's going to be 1349, there's no doubt about that; it will probably still be black metal…
MTUK: Is it going to be a bit darker like "Hellfire" was?
Ravn: In many ways it will be wilder and darker, deeper. We've done so far for each album, things that have been stretched in all directions. The clarity of the music and the songs have kind of stretched in all directions…slower parts and faster parts…it's had to be more extreme in all directions. General feeling so far is that this is still going on, on the next album. So now we have a more settled sound and way of making our music that will of course be the main path of the album. We are not interested in repeating ourselves on any album, so it will be something different…of course not revolutionary new, but we are not out to make a revolution. We just want to make the music that we want to make. That is the main focus; we need to make an album that we are happy with, that really does it for us, something that makes the whole process easier to go out and defend it in interviews and say we're really happy with this album. We won't release an album unless we get that feeling, so we have to work until we've completed all of that. I'm confident that we'll come a long way in December.
MTUK: Since Tjalve's departure, has anyone in particular taken more charge of the songwriting or is it a group effort mostly?
Ravn: Archaon is writing most of the music but in general everyone is pitching in. We have riffs, maybe some ways of arranging the songs which is done in the rehearsal room to put the song together, but Archaon has grown a lot writing songs and the structure. He has his very own way of making songs and thinking them out…obviously he got a lot better, it's two years since "Hellfire" came out. He's grown a lot as a musician. Tjalve's departure…his riffs and playing style was very different to Archaon's and people who liked that will probably miss that. I think a lot of the types of riffs and music that Tjalve made is still very present though and Archaon has of course played this over the years. They both inspired each other with what they did…it's kind of a merging so that he leaves and Archaon draws influence from the older material but making new material and new paths. We look backwards and forwards at the same time, trying to combine the two into one. That's what we've always done, creating black metal in general…looking backwards and forwards for inspirations and visions to come together.
MTUK: How is the relationship with Candlelight going?
Ravn: Well it's a record label like any other…they do their thing and we do ours…
MTUK: Any conflicts?
Ravn: There are always conflicts with any label. We are happy with them on some issues and not on others. It's all about making it work…it's a normal relationship, with good and bad terms like any other band has. I don't think there's any band that's 100% happy with their label and…
Seidemann: I don't think every label is happy with their bands.
Ravn: But of course if the band makes a lot of money for the label, they are willing to stretch more…in the process of building a band so to speak. It's a difficult thing for a label to do from their side. There are so many bands…who do you put your money on? It's an ongoing process.
MTUK: Hahaha! Do you have any particular favourite bands at the moment…what do you think of present day black metal scene?
Ravn: Hmmm…I have no opinion about this…
Seidemann: Nooo…I mean, current-day black metal…I don't pay attention anymore. Of course this could be the time for shameless self-promotion like a lot of other bands, but I'm going to stay clear of that. So no I don't have any idea…I fell off the black metal scene as it was, around the time we started doing gigs and touring. When you play black metal every day, the first thing you want to hear when you come home is not black metal.
MTUK: What do you typically listen to then?
Seidemann: Folk music, classical music, progressive stuff, jazz, anything that's got a heart and soul, any music that you can feel has been done properly. I mean there's no use turning on the radio because all you hear is mass-produced shit. Any music that speaks with a proper voice and with emotion…that's what I listen to.
Ravn: But we did have the release of the new MAYHEM album.
Seidemann: Yeah, that was great! That was really good!
Ravn: And of course DARKTHRONE have released a new album.
Seidemann: Yes that was good too.
MTUK: Yep, they're still alive!
Ravn: Yes, very much so. The last two, since signing with Peaceville again, it's revitalized the band, so to speak, because on Moonfog they kind of fell into this…
MTUK: Hole?
Ravn: Yeah basically. Good albums but they sounded much the same and there wasn't anything particular about them. Now the sound has changed and the attitude in the band I think is turning back to their roots. But DARKTHRONE has never been like that. Going from strict death metal into the black metal path; they have not been in that punk era which they are entering now. Maybe in the end they'll find the strict way of black metal…which is the path we have come on so to speak, even though if you listen hard enough you can hear a lot of punk attitudes and music that generated from a lot of older thrash metal. There's a lot of thrash influence in 1349. That also makes the biggest difference from most other black metal bands. They try to move their music into a more rock-based thing. To draw from the thrash scene is different, it's more aggressive…
Trivium Frontman Talks Next Album
TRIVIUM guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy has issued the following update:
"Matt here in Birmingham, UK. First day off The Black Crusade. UK/Euro leg of the tour has been completely unreal.
"The amount of killer friends showing up to all the shows is first of all, mindblowing... then, there's our fuckinjungle-gym-playhouse-for-metalkids-of-a-stage! It's the very stage all of us have always dreamed of- and i tell ya- it's a blast.
"So it seems like everyone's having a great time! All four of us band dudes and all the people rockin' in the crowds always have bigggg ass grins on their faces before, during, and after the show... this is just one big -party; and we're lovin it.
"SHADOWS FALL is fuckin rockin' out; ARCH ENEMY shredding the shit out of people; DRAGONFORCE... is... wellll.... holy shit, right?; and of course MACHINE HEAD!!! MACHINE FUCKING HEAD, enough said.
"So if you have an opportunity to come out to any of the shows, and for some reason aren't — you're crazy!! Come on out and have some fun with us.
"This tour is a complete dream come true and we are so happy and thankful for everything that is going on.
"Once this tour is over it's gonna be a very long while 'till we play any shows (unfortunately!); however, we gotta take the time to go and make the greatest TRIVIUM album ever (we have demoed lotsa tracks and so far... it's already, in demo form, shaping up to be the best material we have ever created.
"So 'till whenever I can see ya'll again (whether a show, hanging at a video game store, or whatever it may be)... take care!"
Rock Star Supernova Frontman Speaks Out
Ben Rayner of the Toronto Star recently conducted an interview with ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA frontman Lukas Rossi. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:
On ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA coming to an end this past spring after dismal sales of its debut album and disastrous concert reviews:
"It takes a chunk out of you, man. I'm not gonna lie. I thought it was gonna go on longer. I think my ego got blown a little out of proportion after it was all said and done, and coming back down to earth is obviously where I belong. Coming off that tour, it was like: 'Where's all the glory?' But I like it where I am right now. If I have to pay my dues until I die, that's the way God wants it to be."
On weaving his way across Canada on a small-venue acoustic tour that brings him to Lee's Palace in Toronto Sunday night (November 25):
"It's not really an adjustment. I've always been a really hard worker. In my other bands, no one did shit for us. It's just as hard on my wife [former porn star Kendra Jade] as it is on me. I failed my driver's test four times so, unfortunately, she's been having to do all the driving. She basically tour-manages and handles all the crazy people and so forth that I can't. ... She's good support. We get hard on each other sometimes – it's pretty grueling, driving and playing, driving and playing, especially in the winter. I'm sick now and I have 10 shows in a row to do. But the fans are waiting, man, so it's my pleasure to do it."
On ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA's possible comeback:
"It actually felt like a real band. I thought it was gonna go on much longer. But at the end of the tour, everyone just kind of went off and started deejay-ing or whatever [apparently referring to ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA drummer Tommy Lee]. I don't know what that's about, but let 'em do what they want. I'd just started to fire. I'm ready to start rockin'. I'm just getting my feet wet and I've got no time to relax. I don't have time to make pit stops. I'm not a deejay.
"All these [solo acoustic] shows in Canada are sold out, man, and they're not there to see Tommy Lee. They're there to see me. And that's a good feeling." More...
Axl Rose Fought To Save Home
KCAL-TV (Channel 9), an independent station in Los Angeles, California owned by CBS Corporation, is reporting that GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose has plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend, but it was a close call. The wildfire in Southern California that left six firefighters hurt and destroyed dozens burnt his roof and all around his expansive property.
Rose's assistant Beta Lebeis, who lives on the property, says the rock legend fought to save his home. "He helped a lot," she said. "He did a lot. He was with the hose everywhere. Then the firetruck came in and locked us. So then they told us, 'Just close the garage doors and just go back in. There's nothing you can do,' because it was like an inferno outside."
Megadeth Mainman Thanks Fan Club Members
MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine has issued an in-depth tour recap for all MegaFanClub members. The following is a brief excerpt of the post:
"I am going to start getting my chops up with the footage from the ATLM performance from Australia with Christina Scabbia from LACUNA COIL, and the footage that the videographer for DEVILDRIVER did for us, as well as the tapes that you - the Martin Scorcese's of the night - filmed for me."
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