Heaven and Hell To Headline Download Fest

According to a posting on Spain's MariskalRock.com web site, Ronnie James Dio revealed during an appearance at the Classic Rock Roll of Honour event in London Monday night (Nov. 6) that HEAVEN AND HELL — the new band featuring Dio alongside original BLACK SABBATH members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward — will headline next year's Download festival, set to take place in June 2007 at Donington Park, Leicestershire, England. The group, named after the first post-Ozzy Osbourne SABBATH album, is expected to announce many other festival appearances during 2007.

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Chris Cornell Tackles Gospel, Michael Jackson

MTV.com reports: According to Chris Cornell, fans should expect a few surprises from his second solo studio LP when it lands in stores in March — like, say, his cover of Michael Jackson's 1982 hit "Billie Jean."

"I didn't plan on it," he said with a chuckle. "It just sort of happened organically. I changed the music quite a bit, I didn't touch the lyrics. And it's not a joke. I took a completely different approach to it, musically. It's like when Johnny Cash did [the Soundgarden song] 'Rusty Cage,' " on Cash's 1996 LP Unchained, "and people started calling me and leaving messages saying, 'I heard the Johnny Cash version and the lyrics are really, really great.' No one ever told me that before. Ever. Not once. This is kind of like that. It does that to this song, because it's really an emotional song.

"The lyrical content is kind of panicky, because — well, it's a pretty bad thing, someone coming and lying to you, saying you're the father of their kid and you're not."

Cornell, who has played the cover during live gigs in Europe, said the track has to be heard to be believed. But in truth, the cover is rather apropos. The lyrics the Audioslave frontman wrote for the 12 cuts on the follow-up to 1999's Euphoria Morning deal with all kinds of relationships.

The album, which Cornell said has its "gospel and R&B" moments, will also feature the tune "Disappearing Act," an acoustic version of which appears in the upcoming movie "Bug," directed by William Friedkin ("The Exorcist") and starring Ashley Judd. The album cut is going to be a plugged-in rendition, while the film version was recorded in Cornell's living room.

In fact, Cornell revealed it was writing "Disappearing Act" and "You Know My Name," the theme from the upcoming James Bond film "Casino Royale," that inspired him to release a second solo LP. The songs are also part of the reason why Audioslave — who issued their third album, Revelations, two months ago — won't be touring anytime soon.

Read the full article at MTV.com.

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Cursed Post New Track From "Blackout at Sunrise"

Goodfellow hardcore act Cursed has posted a new track from their upcoming EP. The disc is the follow up to their sophomore release, Two. You can check out the first track from Blackout at Sunrise on their MySpace page.

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Deftones Debut At No. 10 On Billbaord Top 200

The Deftones have debuted at No. 10 on this weeks Billboard Top 200 chart. The band's latest album, 'Saturday Night Wrist', scanned 76,000 copies. Evanescence and Hinder both fell out of the top 10. Hinder holds the No. 11 slot and Evanescence No. 12.

Sales were up 6.4% from the previous week and down 2% compared to the same week last year. Overall sales for 2006 are down 5% compared to 2005 with 444.2 million units.

In related news, Evanescence's 'The Open Door' has been certified platinum by the RIAA for shipments in excess of one million copies.

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Darkest Hour Drops Off Soilwork Tour

Darkest Hour has cancelled the remainder of their shows on the Soilwork, etc. tour due to health issues. Here's a statement from the band:

"We are sorry to announce that we must cancel our upcoming shows in Pittsburgh, Rochester NY, and Detroit on our current tour with Soilwork, Mnemic, and Threat Signal. One of the us has a serious health issue that must be addressed immediately. We apologize to all the fans and the other bands, but when you're on tour forever health has to come first. We will see everyone in the UK next month and everyone in the US with a new record next year."

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Eighteen Visions Announce More Tour Dates

So Cal-based metal band Eighteen Visions has added new dates to its in-progress tour, which is a mix of opening slots for Hinder and Staind, along with headlining gigs through mid-December.

The outing supports the Eighteen Visions' self-titled album, which was released in July. The recording is a massive leap forward from 2004's "Obsession," bringing a more arena-rock approach to many of the songs, the band said in a message posted at its website.

"People who thought they had us figured out will hear this album and be surprised," singer James Hart said.

The entire album is streaming at Eighteen Visions' MySpace page.

Eighteen Visions tour dates: More...

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The Absence Cancels Tour, Prepares New Album

The Absence has dropped off the upcoming Entombed, Dismember, and Grave tour "because of several unresolved problems" with their booking agent. According to the band, "We apologize to all the fans that were looking forward to those dates and promise to see you again soon."

Meanwhile, the band will enter Florida's Mana Recording Studios in early-2007 with Jonas Kjellgren (Carnal Forge) to record their next full-length for Metal Blade Records.

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Zombi Announce Headlining Tour Dates

Zombi has announced their first headlining shows in support of their new album, "Surface To Air." The group will begin the tour in late-November in Washington, DC, making their way up through the Northeast U.S. and into Canada. Joining Zombi on various dates throughout the tour will be Icy Demons (ex-Man Man, Need New Body), Maserati and a special appearance from the experimental jazz project of Ben Weinman and Chris Pennie of Dillinger Escape Plan. Here are the dates:

11/29 Washington, DC @ The Red and The Black w/ Icy Demons
11/30 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas w/ Icy Demons
12/1 Baltimore, MD @ The Talking Head
12/2 Brooklyn, NY @ North Six w/ Maserati
12/3 Wallingford, CT @ Wallingford American Legion Hall w/ Maserati
12/4 Providence, RI @ AS220 w/ Maserati
12/5 Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa w/ Maserati
12/6 Ottawa, ON @ Cafe Deckuf w/ Maserati
12/7 Hamilton, ON @ The Underground w/ Maserati
12/8 Toronto, ON @ Tranzac w/ Maserati
12/9 Buffalo, NY @ Sound Lab w/ Maserati

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Vocalist Lance King Parts With Pyramaze

Due to irreconcilable differences, Lance King will no longer be singing with Pyramaze.

Quote from Lance: "I would like to thank the PYRAMAZE guys for many wonderful memories, I'm
very proud of the music we created together! I wish each and every member of the band success in their careers and personal lives, as well as their search for a new vocalist. I look forward to hearing their new music."

Lance has several projects that he is working on at present to be on the lookout for:

• A New album from "AVIAN" that Lance will be singing on and producing.


• Lance will be doing a guest a vocal appearance, splitting vocals with a female opera singer on a new debut release from a new rising prog star named "SALINOCH". Being developed by SHK Records ( Switzerland )


• Lance has agreed to lend his voice and writing talents to a new Progressive-Shred project called "SECRET SOCIETY OF STARFISH" comprised of two members of DIMENSION X (Bass and Drums) and shredder TROY STETINA on guitar and a mystery 5th arm of the fish, a well know rock star axe player.


• Look out for other recent releases that Lance has sung on including "SHINING STAR - Enter Eternity" & "AVIAN - From the Depths of Time"


• Lance will continue to work daily on building his record company Nightmare Records, bringing the world great progressive / Power metal music from other great bands.

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Deicide's Backstage Room Vandalized By Openers

DEICIDE have been diligently blazing though the US in full support of “The Stench of Redemption” and are preparing to release their second live DVD, set for release in February 2007. In an unexplained act of vandalism on November 8th at The Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, California DEICIDE fell victim to vandalism of their personal property. During DEICIDE’S set a member of the opening band, California black metal outfit AMON ISIS, vandalized DEICIDE’S prep room – subsequently damaging the bands’ personal property as well as the clubs’ property. DEICIDE will be following up with legal action against this individual, as will the management of The Galaxy Theater. Soldiering on, DEICIDE will be wrapping up the US end of the tour with DESOLATION and entering the Mexican leg of the tour in late November.

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ATR, The Esoteric Nominated For Best Metal Video

Massachusetts' ALL THAT REMAINS and Kansas' THE ESOTERIC have both been nominated for Best Metal Video of 2006 by MTV2's Headbanger's Ball and Revolver Magazine, who are teaming up to bring you the Best Metal Videos of 2006. The results will be announced during a special year-end edition of Headbanger's Ball in December.

ALL THAT REMAINS is nominated for the video "This Calling," directed by Frankie Nasso (Mudvayne, Hatebreed) of Raging Nation Films, while THE ESOTERIC are nominated for video for "Your New Burden," directed by Matt Bass of factory features. Fans can vote the videos here and then clicking on VOTE. Both videos can be viewed on the Prosthetic Records YouTube page as well. More...

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Yakuza Extend Touring Plans

YAKUZA has extended touring plans into December with a string of dates playing alongside the like-minded Intronaut. Already teaming up with Intronaut for a string of dates with Misery Index and labelmates Burn In Silence, YAKUZA will soldier on for another handful of dates, also meeting up with Stretch Arm Strong and Vivisect along the way.

In other news, YAKUZA frontman Bruce Lamont recently took part in the making of a mix CD for charity. Helping out Chicago's Rock For Kids, proceeds went to the organization. "The organization asks club owners, musicians, writers, artists, etc. to put togther a mix CD and case and they are auctioned off," Lamont recently told ChuckRoaster.com. "This is the 3rd year I have done it. The disc ended up going for $50. Thats pretty cool." Lamont included YAKUZA's "Monkeytail" from the band's critically-lauded ‘Samsara’ record.

Here are the current YAKUZA tour dates: More...

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Hirax Post New Song Available For Download

A new HIRAX track, entitled "Lucifer's Inferno", is available for download at this location. "Lucifer's Inferno" and "City of the Dead" are slated to appear on the compilation "Speed Kills Again", to be released on Heavy Artillery, a subsidiary of Punk Core Records. Three other tracks, "Summon the Death Dealers", "Assassins of War", and "Invasion", will tentatively be released on limited edition vinyl through Black Devil Records. The compilation will also feature two songs each from MERCILESS DEATH, WARBRINGER, VIOLATOR, ENFORCER, MELTDOWN, and AVENGER OF BLOOD.

KNAC.COM will play several of the new studio songs during their radio interview with the members of HIRAX on Sunday, December 10, between 3 and 5 p.m. PST.

HIRAX's highly anticipated East Coast tour will begin on November 10 at The Barbary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Lullacry Post Live Video Clip Online

Finland's LULLACRY has uploaded a video clip of the band performing an acoustic version of the song "Every Single Day" last year at the Semifinal Club in Helsinki, Finland. Check it out at this location.

LULLACRY is currently writing material for the follow-up to its fourth studio album, "Vol. 4", which was released in the U.S. in February via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at Astia Studios with Anssi Kippo (CHILDREN OF BODOM, ENTWINE) and at Finnvox Studio with Mikko Karmila (NIGHTWISH, STRATOVARIUS).

LULLACRY's first single off the new album, "Stranger in You", entered the Finnish single chart at position No. 16 upon its release in July 2005. The title cut was backed by a cover of KISS' "I Stole Your Love".

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Changer Post Another New Song Online

Icelandic extreme metal band CHANGER has posted another new demo song, entited "Drown in Misery", on its MySpace page. The track is the second of five new cuts recorded since the release of the band's "Breed the Lies" EP in June this year. CHANGER expects to spend the next few months writing material for a new album to be released in 2007, although a label for the forthcoming album has not been secured yet.

CHANGER recently participated in the Iceland Airwaves '06 festival alongside GOJIRA, MINUS and SOLSTAFIR, among many others.

CHANGER's "Breed the Lies" EP was mixed and mastered by acclaimed producer Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studios in Denmark.

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Saosin Stop Screaming On New Album

MTV.com talked to Saosin's current singer about their more melodic approach to their latest full-length. Here's an excerpt:

There's one thing Saosin singer Cove Reber really hates about the screamo and post-hardcore scenes that spawned his band: the screaming.

"What's the point?" he asked during a telephone interview from Australia on the group's worldwide Taste of Chaos tour. "Everyone's doing it now, and it's lost any meaning it might have once had. I'd much rather get across the same kind of emotion through an aggressive vocal melody."

Reber's consciously tuneful vocals make Saosin's self-titled major-label debut significantly more accessible than their screamy 2003 EP Translating the Name, which featured a different singer. The new album is also more musically developed. Over the past three years, the Newport Beach, California, musicians -- Reber, guitarists Beau Burchell and Justin Shekoski, bassist Chris Sorenson and drummer Alex Rodriguez -- have figured out how to anticipate one another's moves and complement each other's strengths. They've also learned patience and strategy.

"We kind of talk secretly behind each other's backs all the time," Reber explained. "If one of us doesn't like something that someone else wrote, we won't go to that person and tell them we don't like it. We'll talk to everyone instead, and then figure out what we have to do to make it a good song if it has potential."

Their game plan seems to be working. Saosin is a multifaceted offering that combines granite-heavy rhythms, metallic licks and strong hooks with cotton-candy harmonies that are equal parts Def Leppard and Blink-182. The album debuted at #22 on the Billboard albums chart, and single "Voices" has been embraced by radio and video outlets. The song, which features tinny, layered guitars over stuttering drums, is about the way people put on different faces depending on who they're talking to. "I think that even if you don't know someone, you shouldn't speak to them like they're a stranger, because we're all part of this big melting pot and we need to work together to make our lives better," Reber said. "Instead of taking steps backwards, it's about moving forwards."

The positive message in "Voices" is pretty representative of the rest of the album -- and typical of Saosin's desire to break beyond the anger and cynicism of most post-hardcore. For Reber, good music doesn't fuel misery and resentment, it inspires discussion and offers solutions.

"We really wanted to write a CD that portrayed who we are as people and what we love to be doing onstage, which is having a good time and smiling," Reber said. "And I think that's something that has been missing from our genre of music. It's not just instilling hope in people, it's helping those people with the hope that they have, and getting them out of the place that they've been stuck in if it's a bad place in their life."

One reason Reber approaches music differently than many of his peers is that he retains the influence of the mainstream artists he was listening to before he discovered bands like Thursday and Taking Back Sunday. "I grew up singing stuff like Dire Straits' 'Money for Nothing' and [Tracy Chapman's] 'Talkin' Bout a Revolution,' and not even knowing the right words," Reber laughed. "There's melody and emotion in those songs, but not anger, and I remember them being a really positive force in my life. And now, every time I listen to those songs I just start smiling because they remind be of being a little kid again."

Read the full article at MTV.com.

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Ozzfest 2007 Survey Is Online

Ozzfest.com has posted a survey to find out about your previous Ozzfest experiences and hear about who you would like to see on Ozzfest in 2007's tour. Completing the survey will also enter into a contest to win a Party Like A Rock Star package for two to Ozzfest 2007.

You can take the Ozzfest 2007 Survey here.

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Guns N Roses Drummer Takes A Break

There's been another change in the Guns n' Roses line-up. Drummer Frank Ferrer has temporarily replaced GNR Brian Mantia. Mantia is taking a break to spend time with his wife and newly born baby.

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