Metal News for December 20, 2004
Last updated on October 4, 2025 at 3:07 AM ET
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Hot Topics
- Kreator To Release New Album In January
- Enthroned To Release New Album In December
- Spite Premiere New Single & Music Video
- Carcosa (AngelMaker) Premiere New Single & Video
- Agnostic Front Premiere New Single & Lyric Video
- Potato Premiere New Single & Music Video "YUGE PP"
- Omnium Gatherum Drops "Walking Ghost Phase" Video
- Tailgunner Signs With Napalm Records
- Messa Shares New Music Video "Reveal"
- Stellar Circuits Premiere New Single & Music Video
24 news articles posted on this day.
Enslaved's "Isa" Premiere Set For January 1
Candlelight Records, in cooperation with Digital Metal, proudly announces the worldwide premiere of "Isa," the title track from Enslaved's new album. Digital Metal will premiere the lead video from the album at 3 p.m. EST on Saturday, January 1. Log on to www.digitalmetal.com to view the streaming video plus read one of the first U.S. features on the new album and enter to win a copy of the record before its February 8 US release date (the U.S. pressing containing extra material not on the current European release).
Recorded at Grieghallen Studios (Mayhem, Emperor), Isa is the new album from two-time Norwegian Grammy and Alarm Award nominated Enslaved. Terrorizer Magazine gave the album high nods as "Album of the Month" for their November issue, noting "for an album that resonates so deeply, whatever destination Isa is headed for, surely the status of a ‘classic’ is high on the list of possibilities." More...
Morgul Signs With Season of Mist
Morgul's 5th album "All Dead Here" brings back the familiar sound of twisted dementia and horror. "Old" listeners will immediately recognize the heavy onslaught and eerie atmosphere that is the music of Morgul. "New" listeners will be stunned by the band's willingness to explore different genres and moods within their music.
With tracks such as "Sanctus Perversum, "The Need to Kill" and "Hategrinder" the listener is left with little to be desired. Other tracks include "All Dead Here", "Willingly Shakcled", "Empty" and "The Mask of Sanity". All of which are tributes to the abhorrent and anthems of disgust. Out on Season of Mist April 2005.
Virgin Black Working On New Album
Virgin Black guitarist Samantha Escarbe has issued the following message:
Hello everyone, I'm amazed how rapidly this year has advanced, particularly as it equates to a new recording. It's been a gruelling year; the writing process has been very demanding. I know Rowan and I have faced our greatest challenge as writers. A week from now we will be entering the studio to begin the first part of the recording process. I look forward to sharing more with you as time goes by.
Keep us in your thoughts. The next album is partly dedicated to Narelle Carr. Murdered at the tender age of 26. 11/01/04 R.I.P. Love to you all.
Silentium Replaces Violin With Cello
Finnish goth metal band Silentium have announced a change in their line-up. The violin has been replaced by cello virtuoso Elias Kahila. Kahila's own "cello rock" show remains as a his number one project. Kahila is operating with Silentium at least on the forthcoming album and on the 2005 gigs.
Sun Caged Finds New Singer
Since Joost Van Den Broek (keyboard) and Andre Vuurboom (vocals) left Sun Caged earlier this year, Sun Caged is now back and complete. Joost Van Den Broek was replaced by Rene Kroon in July 2004 and Andre Vuurboom was just replaced by Paul Adrian Villarreal. Paul is currently still living in the USA, but he will relocate to Europe before the new year starts. The band is working on a new album which will be recorded at the end of 2005.
On Broken Wings Writing New Songs
Boston's On Broken Wings are currently writing songs for their next, as-of-yet untitled full-length. The group will enter Big Blue Meenie Recording Studios in February to record the effort, which should hit stores in late-Spring/early-Summer through Eulogy Recordings. In related news, the band's self-released, debut CD, "Number One Beautiful," will be re-released this summer.
Madball East Coast And Japanese Tour Dates
Madball have lined up a handful of winter shows, including several in Japan. Here's the info:
1/27 Pittsburgh PA @ Rex Theater
1/28 Poughkeepsie NY @ The Chance
1/29 Wallingford CT @ Knights of Columbus
1/30 Bucksport ME @ The Kave
2/22 Osaka, Japan @ Fandango
2/23 Nagoya, Japan @ Club Quattro
2/24 Shinjuku, Japan @ Loft
Mnemic & Raunchy Confirmed For Gig In Estonia
Danish modern thrashers Mnemic and Raunchy have been confirmed to play at the Rock Café in Tallinn, Estonia, on January 29th 2005. The third act to share the stage with the guys that night will be Recycle Bin.
Tickets shall be sold in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland.
The Gathering Take Time Off Butt Continue Writing
The Gathering have just turned 15 years old, and Anneke van Giersbergen is pregnant. Congrats to the great news for the band and Anneke. They have also just finished up an European tour, and will take some time off so that Anneke can have her baby. The band is going to keep writing songs for the next record, and Anneke will continue to write lyrics.
Agalloch Writing and Demoing New Material
This is the latest update from Agalloch's Don Anderson (guitars):
“Agalloch are currently writing and demo-ing new material for their third full-length. We have no estimation as to when we will enter the studio. As it stands, we are very pleased with the new material. However, it is too primordial a state to begin describing it--and we'll probably never attempt describing it in the future anyways.. Thank you everyone for your support and interest.”
Gotthard Ink Deal With Nuclear Blast
After their appearance with the Olympia song "One Team One Spirit" on Swiss television during the election of the Swiss sportsman of the year, Gotthard got decorated with the "Diamond Award" for 1 million sold albums in their home country Switzerland. The same evening, the band signed a new, long term contract with Nuclear Blast Records. The cooperation will start with a first single, due on April 11th 2005, followed by a new studio album on June 6th 2005.
Nuclear Blast Records is very proud of its new signing, especially as Gotthard will tie up to "heavier times" with their new songs, ready to show once again that the band ranks among the top of the international Hard Rock league. "We're very excited about the signing of Gotthard. We heard the new material – the power and the quality of the new songs has convinced us completely", says NB label manager Matthias Lasch about the new cooperation.
First-Ever Apocalyptica North American Tour
Finnish cello-rockers APOCALYPTICA have announced the details of their first-ever North American tour. Confirmed dates so far are as follows:
Mar. 15 - New York, NY @ Knitting Factory
Mar. 16 - Toronto, ONT @ El Mocambo
Mar. 20 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas
Mar. 21 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
Mar. 22 - Los Angeles, CA @ Roxy
As previously reported, APOCALYPTICA have set "Apocalyptica" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in February 2005.
APOCALYPTICA travelled to Tallinn, Estonia last month to shoot the second video off the new CD, "Life Burns". The track features lead vocals and lyrics by THE RASMUS singer Lauri Yl?nen, who also appears in the clip.
As previously reported, SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo will be guesting on "Apocalyptica" on a song called "Betrayal". The track, which is described by APOCALYPTICA's Perttu Kivilaakso as a "really fast, thrash metal-influenced song," will mark the second time Lombardo has played on an APOCALYPTICA CD, having previously performed on 2003's "Reflections".
Lombardo recorded the drum tracks for "Betrayal" at Finnvox studios in Helsinki when SLAYER's "Unholy Alliance" tour hit Finland in October.
MH's Robert Flynn: "Long Live Dimebag Darrell"
Machine Head frontman Robert Flynn recently posted a piece on MH's message board remembering Dimebag Darrell. This incredibly detailed and well-written remembrance on Dimebag is as follows:
I still can't believe it.
To say that Machine Head were devastated...there aren't even words. We found out about this unbelievable event while in Zagreb, Serbia. The sports arena we were playing had no phone lines, no internet, virtually zero cell reception, no TV, no heat. We had nothing but patchy info for the next few days as we played more shows in Eastern Europe, and frustration started to boil. It was impossible to call anyone, check e-mail, anything. It's only now that I've finally been able to sit down and read everything surrounding what happened.
That night, we dedicated "Descend The Shades Of Night" to Dimebag, a man who inspired us in so many ways. I lost it on stage. We all lost it on stage. It's horrible. Things like this just don't happen. Musicians don't get KILLED on stage... while they're PLAYING... what the fuck? What the fuck is wrong with people?More...
God Forbid Tour Report From Doc Coyle
God Forbid just wrapped up a highly successful European tour alongside Machine Head and Caliban and Doc Coyle (guitars, vocals) checks in with the following report:
We finally arrived home from our mammoth 10 week European tour with Machine Head and Caliban. This was our first time to most of these places and this tour took us from as far north as Finland, down to Portugal, an entire UK tour, and even as far east as Serbia, Croatia, and Bulgaria. It was exhausting yet exhilarating because of the massive, insane crowds we got to rock in front of every night! With the exception of Ozzfest, this was the biggest tour we've ever done. From the bottom of our hearts we want to thank Rob, Phil, Dave and Adam from MH for taking us out. Much respect to Caliban and both crews for a successful tour.
Since we left in early October a tyrant has been re-elected and a great legend has fallen. Sad times indeed. We were in Serbia when we heard the news of Dimebag Darrell's death. Being longtime Pantera fans, and having the opportunity to meet the man on several occasions, it has been a very emotional time for everyone in God Forbid. It's been emotional for the entire heavy music and hard rock scenes in general. Pantera was the first concert my brother and I ever went to, the first band T shirt I bought and part of the reason I play music. You don't want to believe it is real. All of us are hit really hard because it's the exact opposite of the way our scene is. The metal and hardcore scene is really close-knit and like a family. The bands are close with the fans and I know Pantera was always close with their fans and treated them like friends not just fans. You would never expect anything like this to happen in our scene. God Forbid sends our deepest sympathy to the Abbott family and anyone close to this great man. A lot of love for Dimebag! "We're sharing riffs man!"More...
SnoCore Tour Dates Announced
Chevelle is set to headline SnoCore 2005 this year with Helmet, Crossfade, Future Leaders of the World and Strata. The tour begins January 22 in Vail, CO and ends March 13 Orlando, FL.
SnoCore 2005 dates: More...
Blastmasters Stop Collaborating w/ Unholy Ghost
BLASTMASTERS, the Florida-based death metal band led by former DIABOLIC/UNHOLY GHOST drummer Lee "Aantar" Coates, will no longer be collaborating with guitarist Jerry Mortellaro due to his commitment to UNHOLY GHOST, according to a posting on the BLASTMASTERS web site.
Mortellaro is said to have helped write three new BLASTMASTERS songs ("We the Treacharous", "Altricial Metagenesise/Shell Fire" and "Tombstones") that will appear on the group's upcoming album, tentatively titled "Twisted Metal".
BLASTMASTERS recently completed work on their debut self-titled demo at D.O.W. Studios with producer Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez (MORBID ANGEL, UNHOLY GHOST).
Formed on June 27, 2004, BLASTMASTERS' brand of "death grind" is said to feature "blistering guitar riffs, stellar leads, devastating machine gun drum work, and demonic vocals."
Watch Korn's "Another Brick In The Wall" Video
Korn are out with the video to their Pink Floyd remake 'Another Brick In The Wall'. You can watch it online at Launch.com.
Godsmack Singer Revising Autobiography
Launch Radio Networks is reporting that GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna is currently revising the first draft of his autobiography, which will look at his life up until the point GODSMACK signed its major label recording contract. Erna said that the as-yet-untitled book "is about what it took to get from Point A to Point B. It's not the autobiography that's so cliche that talks about all the girls we (slept with) and how many drugs we've done and... who cares. This is a cooler story for me." Erna also said that the book will have "a lot of morals and lessons to be learned in it."
Erna plans to start shopping the book to potential publishers in the new year. The singer also said that GODSMACK will start writing by spring and hopes to have a new album out in the fall.
GODSMACK will perform on New Year's Eve at Hard Rock Live in Orlando, Florida.
Sons Of Slaughter Sign To Retribute Records
Death/grind outfit Sons Of Slaughter have now signed with Retribute Records. The UK group is currently writing their debut full-length, which should be available in next summer.
Headline News
Powerhouse Bassist Passes Away
Powerhouse bassist and West Coast hardcore stalwart Ernesto "Ernie" Cortez passed away earlier this week following a battle with cancer. For additional information, etc., go here. Funeral services will begin at 1 PM on Tuesday, December 21st at the Sunset View Cemetary in El Cerrito. The funeral will be open to the public.
Watch Arch Enemy's 'Dead Eyes See No Future" Video
Arch Enemy are out with the video to their new single 'Dead Eyes See No Future'. You can watch the video online at Launch.com.
Skindred Visit Fuse's 'Daily Download'
Skindred visited Fuse's 'Daily Download' on Wednesday (December 15) at Fuse Studios in New York City. You can check out pictures from FilmMagic.
Stryper's Action Un-Christian?
A few bands and some Mexican Christian concert promoters have launched a website (http://www.stryper-pay-back.tk) calling into question STRYPER's business practices, claiming the band unfairly asked for $100,000 to do a Christian metal show which they originally agreed to do for less. The issue is that the band did not show up for the gig yet still kept over $50,000 according to the website. The event also included the bands MORTIFICATION, NARNIA, SAVIOUR MACHINE. Stryper has issued few statements on the matter and, as of this writing, are only planning on reimbursing the promoters with internet sales of T-shirts that would have been featured at the event.
Video From Inside The Al Rosa Villa Released
Footage from inside the Al Rosa Villa nightclub from the fateful night of Dimebag Darrell's tragic death has been made available online by WBNS television, out of Colombus. The 2 minute and 14 second video feed can be viewed here.
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