Metal News for December 3, 2007
Last updated on October 7, 2025 at 6:57 AM ET
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Hot Topics
- Enthroned To Release New Album In December
- Potato Premiere New Single & Music Video "YUGE PP"
- Kreator To Release New Album In January
- Spite Premiere New Single & Music Video
- Carcosa (AngelMaker) Premiere New Single & Video
- Stellar Circuits Premiere New Single & Music Video
- Agnostic Front Premiere New Single & Lyric Video
- Omnium Gatherum Drops "Walking Ghost Phase" Video
- Tailgunner Signs With Napalm Records
- Messa Shares New Music Video "Reveal"
42 news articles posted on this day.
Watch Footage of Necrophagist Online
Capital Chaos has posted video footage of the German technical death metal band NECROPHAGIST performing on June 17, 2007 at The Boardwalk in Orangevale, California. Watch the clip here.
NECROPHAGIST earlier in the year announced the addition of drumming phenomenon and luminary Marco Minnemann to the group's ranks.
The band's most recent record, "Epitaph", came out in 2004. More...
Tribes of Cain Release New Album
Swiss black/death metallers TRIBES OF CAIN have released their third album, "Retaliation", the extreme metal label Fastbeast Entertainment. According to a press release, the 12-track record offers 60 minutes of "gloomy midtempo parts, mighty highspeed blasts and deviant melodies . . . a unique symbiosis of death and black metal in the veins of ULVER, DISSECTION and WATAIN." The CD was mixed by Jochen Sachse (PINK CREAM 69) and was mastered by Peter in de Betou (OPETH, AMON AMARTH, DARK FUNERAL, HYPOCRISY).
"Retaliation" track listing:
01. Reborn with Wings
02. Ikon der Einsamkeit
03. One Will Alone
04. Temptatio de Fide
05. Bringer of Disquiet
06. Escaping Life
07. WiduhudaR
08. De desesperatione
09. Where Blood Runs Cold
10. Hjaðningavíg
11. The Fifth Star
12. Ars Moriendi
Slash Speaks On Guns 'N Roses And More
Metro.co.uk recently conducted an interview with VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:
Metro.co.uk: What was the high point of your time in GUNS N' ROSES?
Slash: The whole thing was a high point. It was the best thing I could have got involved with. I always judged how successful we were by the response from the fans. Towards the end it was overwhelming. The biggest concerts we did were two Rock In Rio festivals, where we played to more than 190,000 people. Playing in front of that many people is a lot to take in so I hid behind the guitar, the hat, the hair, the cigarette — but you can definitely still feel them out there.
Metro.co.uk: You've worked with a variety of famous musicians. With whom did you get on best?
Slash: I really got on great with almost all of them. Michael Jackson's record was a special moment, so was working with Iggy Pop, Lenny Kravitz and Ray Charles. A not-so-great one was with Bob Dylan. That was a huge learning experience. I was recommended for a guitar solo on his track "Wiggle Wiggle" during one of his darker periods in the late 1980s. I put a solo on there that I was quite proud of and put an acoustic rhythm track underneath it. When I heard it, only the acoustic track was there. Apparently he took the solo off because it sounded too much like GUNS N' ROSES.
Metro.co.uk: That must have been disapointing.
Slash: A bit. It was one of my first sessions. If I knew then what I know now I'd have done things differently.
Playing to 190,000 people is a lot to take in so I hid behind the guitar, the hat, the hair and the cigarette
Metro.co.uk: What bands do you like at the moment?
Slash: FOO FIGHTERS, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, MEGADETH, WHITE STRIPES. Mostly bands that have been around for a while. There haven't been any new bands I've heard recently that have caught my ear.
Metro.co.uk: What was Michael Jackson like?
Slash: Very astute and professional — he knew exactly what he wanted me to do in the songs.
Metro.co.uk: What about as a person?
Slash: He was great. All that stuff about his extra-curricular sexual preferences — I hope isn't true. I never encountered anything like that. He was just a pleasure to work with.
Metro.co.uk: Will you ever work with Axl Rose again?
Slash: I always say "never say never" but it's not going to happen in the foreseeable future.
Metro.co.uk: Do you still collect pinball machines?
Slash: Yes, I just gave away a couple so now I only have 13. I want to get the new "King Kong" and the "Pirates Of The Caribbean" ones. My favourite is an old one called "Funhouse". They're programmed not to take money, or else I'd need a lot of loose change.
Metro.co.uk: What are the highs and lows of dating a porn star [Slash has gone out with at least two]?
Slash: It depends on the porn star. The sex is great and very uninhibited. The lows were getting too much of the same thing. It starts to feel like you're making a movie every time you have sex.
Read the full article at this location.
Heaven Shall Burn Post New Song Online
Germany’s HEAVEN SHALL BURN have posted a new song entitled “Endzeit” over at their official MySpace page. The track comes off the band’s forthcoming new album, Iconoclast (Part 1: The Final Resistance), which is set to be released on February 5th via Century Media Records.
The Red Death Post New Songs Online
You can check out two new tracks off New York’s THE RED DEATH’s forthcoming new album, Godmakers, over at their MySpace page. The album will be released on January 22nd through Siege of Amida Records.
Ayreon Post New Song Online
AYREON have posted a new song entitled “The Fifth Extinction” online here. The track comes off the band’s upcoming new album, 01011001, which is set to be released on January 28th.
The Dillinger Escape Plan Announce European Tour
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, POISON THE WELL, and STOLEN BABIES will team up for the following European tour dates next year:
February 26 - Eindhoven, NET @ Effenaar
February 27 - Amsterdam, NET @ Melkweg
February 29 - Malmo, SWE @ KB
March 1 - Stockholm, SWE @ Klubben
March 2 - Oslo, NOR @ Rockefeller Music Hall
March 3 - Gothenberg, SWE @ Sticky Fingers
March 4 - Linkoping, SWE @ Platens Bar
March 5 - Copenhagen, DEN @ Pumpehuset
March 6 - Hamburg, GER @ Logo
March 7 - Berlin, GER @ Kato
March 8 - Katowice, POL @ Spodek
March 9 - Prague, CZE @ Rock Cafe
March 10 - Munich, GER @ Backstage
March 12 - Budapest, HUN @ A 38
March 13 - Vienna, AUT @ Arena
March 14 - Erfurt, GER @ Centrum
March 15 - Fribourg, SWI @ Fri-Son
March 17 - Madrid, SPA @ Copernico
March 18 - Barcelona, SPA @ Apolo 2
March 19 - Clermont Ferrand, FRA @ La Cooperative de Mai
March 20 - Angouleme, FRA @ La NEF
March 21 - Six Fours, FRA @ Espace Andre Malruax
March 22 - Cesena, IRA @ Vidia Club
March 24 - Wiesbad, GER @ Schlachtorf
March 25 - Essen, GER @ Zeche Carl
March 26 - Antwerpen, BEL @ Hof Ter Loo
March 27 - Paris, FRA @ Elysee Montmarte
March 28 - Nantes, FRA @ Olympic
March 29 - Strasbourg, FRA @ La Laiterie
March 30 - Le Havre, FRA @ Le Cabaret
Obliterhate Sign With Pulverised Records
Singaporean Death Thrash Metal band Raspatul's guitar player Calvin has finally unleashed the announcement of a new band Obliterhate. Said to be in a more brutal and intricate direction, the line-up consists of some of Metal's legendary and highly renowned musicians in the industry.
Line-up:
Calvin Chiang (Raspatul) - Guitars
Dan Swano (Nightingale, ex-Edge Of Sanity, ex-Bloodbath) - Vocals
Erik Sayenga (Warthrone, ex-Dying Fetus) - Drums
Derrick Ramirez (Dragonlord, ex-Testament) - Bass
Mirai Kawashima (Sigh, ex-Necrophagia) - Keyboards
James Murphy (Disincarnate, ex-Death, ex-Testament) - Guest guitar solo More...
Inhume To Release Split CD With Phobia
Netherlands based grindcore act INHUME have begun work on material for forthcoming releases, of which a split with California's PHOBIA, as well as the band's fourth full length album will be included.
More on Inhume at this location.
To/Die/For Still On Hiatus
Over the weekend, TO/DIE/FOR vocalist Jarno "Jape" Perätalo issued an update, part of which read, "I think it's time to create the Darkest TDF album."
Apparently many fans took that the wrong way, prompting Jape to issue the following update earlier today: "Some people understood that we are making new album now... no. I mean we are doing new songs and still having a break."
Epica Announce New Full Time Drummer
Dutch symphonic metal band EPICA has posted the following bulletin on its official MySpace account:
"We are very happy and proud to announce that after having worked with us as a session musician for about a year now, Ariën van Weesenbeek [drums; also of GOD DETHRONED] has decided to join EPICA as a full time member! We also want to thank Koen Herfst for helping us out with all the live shows he did in the last couple of months and we want to wish him all the best with BAGGA BROWNZ."
Nuclear Blast Records released a limited deluxe CD edition in Europe of EPICA's new album, "The Divine Conspiracy", featuring the bonus tracks "Higher High" and "Replica" (FEAR FACTORY cover), video clips and a "making-of" enhanced section.
Drowning Pool Slam Bill O'Reilly
Texas hard rock band DROWNING POOL has taken exception to recent on-air remarks by Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly that he and is one of only two "celebrities" to support the troops via the USO. The group said in a press release, "This is simply (and sadly, typically) absolutely false. A number of musical artists, actors and comedians have done troop tours via the USO, including DROWNING POOL, who have visited the troops and performed for them on three separate occasions. Additionally, the band have donated a portion of all of their U.S. tour revenues to the USO and to other causes that support the troops."
In response to the "false" allegations by Bill O'Reilly, DROWNING POOL has created a two-minute video message, which can be viewed below. More...
Velvet Revolver Singer Arrested for DUI
According to TMZ.com, VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland was arrested for DUI (Driving Under the Influence) late last month.
The former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS frontman was driving on an L.A. highway around 6:15 PM on November 21 when he crashed his car. While the California Highway Patrol was investigating the non-injury wreck, they noticed Weiland appeared to be impaired. According to the police report, Weiland failed sobriety tests and refused to take a blood or urine test. He was booked for "driving under the influence of a drug."
He was released on $40,000 bail and will be back in court on December 13.
Check out the police report at this location (PDF file).
Weiland is no stranger to run-ins with the law. He was busted for buying crack in 1995, domestic violence in 2001, DUI on his birthday in 2003, and as TMZ.com first reported, allegedly trashed a hotel room while brawling with his wife. His wife later issued a statement saying her hubby was "simply trying to help calm me down."
After Forever Guitarist To Miss Dutch Show
Dutch metallers AFTER FOREVER have issue the following update from guitarist Sander Gommans:
"Hi everybody,
Last Friday, on my way to a gig in the Czech Republic, I had a seizure attack in the airplane. No one knows exactly what it was at this point, but it was similar to an epileptic attack and was very scary.
After that, I was taken to an Austrian hospital where I stayed for one day. They did some research and told me to go to the hospital in Holland for more tests to find out exactly what the cause of the episode was.
I'm back in Holland now, and I'll keep you updated about my condition as soon as I know more.
Since I'm aware of the fact it could be related to my recent burn out, and the doctors confirmed this, I have to take absolute rest the upcoming week.
That means I will not be able to do the gig scheduled for this coming Friday in Hengelo.
Of course, I feel really frustrated, but let's hope I have more information soon."
Stench of Death Part Ways With Singer
Dutch death/black metallers STENCH OF DEATH have issued the following update:
"After two years working with STENCH OF DEATH, lead singer Niels Klompen decided to quit. He made this decision because he was increasingly experiencing difficulties with his voice while trying to grunt. STENCH wants to thank Niels for his dedication.
"STENCH OF DEATH is currently working on their next album which promises to a great degree to outperform their previous full-length album 'Retrospect'. The death metal known from 'Retrospect' is lifted to a new level by more complex guitar play and somewhat more industrial synthesizer works.
"The lineup includes two new members: Hans Hensinck, which is an excellent guitar player, and Pol Ramaer whom you might know from CONQUESTADOR.
"The name of the [upcoming] album is not known to this date."
STENCH OF DEATH was formed out of the ashes of MERGELGRAAF, a Dutch band which existed in the late 1990s.
The group's full-length debut, "Retrospect", was released in 2005.
For more information, visit www.stenchofdeath.com. More...
Children Of Bodom Announce Album Release Date
Spinefarm Records will issue CHILDREN OF BODOM's new album, Blooddrunk, on April 9th. There will also be a single, for the title track 'Blooddrunk', released on February 27th.
According to Spinefarm, the band will travel to Germany in mid-December to film two videos, to be produced by Katapult Filmproduktion.
COB recently issued two COBTV segments, available below...
Part 1 More...
Hooded Menace Sign to Razorback Records
Razorback Records issues the following announcement:
"HOODED MENACE has joined up with Razorback Records! The band will release their debut album, to be titled "Fulfill The Curse", sometime in 2008! HOODED MENACE are a crushing, heavy DOOM/DEATH METAL band from Finland that features members from early 90's death metal cult legends Phlegethon and also death/grinders Vacant Coffin! The band's 2-song promo demo, "The Eyeless Horde" can be heard on their myspace page and will be released on 7" EP format soon. The band is currently writing the material for the debut CD on Razorback Records. Keep checking for updates! The Blind Dead will NEVER die! HOODED MENACE Myspace page Razorback Records"
Stream Tarja's First Single, "I Walk Alone"
Ex-Nightwish frontwoman Tarja Turunen is releasing her first solo project here is the states, entitled "My Winter Storm," which will be in stores everywhere on February 26, 2008.
Nightwish has gone platinum numerous times and Tarja is bringing many of those core fans with her on this project. A stream for her single “I Stand Alone” is now available online here.
Seregon Come 2nd In Terrorizer Unsigned Contest
Bristol, U.K. based thrashers Seregon have posted the following message on their website:
"Remember that Terrorizor 'Fear Candy' unsigned bands competition we entered back in August? Well, recently we received news from Terrorizor magazine saying that we....didn't win.
Though all is not lost, as we did come second overall, which out of twenty great bands worldwide is pretty awesome! A big thanks to EVERYONE who voted, be it once, twice, three times a lady or even eleventy times.
On a side note, we have recently passed the 10,000 plays milestone on our MySpace. We're also playing FULL THRASH ASSUALT this Saturday in Wakefield, with Earache Records' Evile and Gama Bomb and a whole host of other excellent Thrash bands, if you live in the area come and check everyone out, especially Andy our drummer as he'll get semi-naked while playing."
Circle II Circle Cancel North American Tour
Intromental Management, which represents CIRCLE II CIRCLE (the band led by ex-SAVATAGE singer Zak Stevens), has issued the following statement:
"It is with extreme disappointment and reluctance that we must announce that CIRCLE II CIRCLE will not be participating in the previously announced North American tour scheduled for the spring of 2008 with CIRCUS MAXIMUS and MANTICORA. Due to reasons beyond the band's control, the new album, 'Delusions of Grandeur', will not be released to coincide with the tour as previously planned. Intromental Management, AFM Records, and CIRCLE II CIRCLE have agreed unanimously that it would be in the band's best interest to focus all resources and effort on completing the new record and properly promoting it prior to touring. While we cannot announce anything at the moment, we are beyond excited at the potential tour partners for the band both Europe and North America in 2008.
"The previously announced North American 'working vacation' will continue as planned with CIRCUS MAXIMUS stepping up into the headline slot and a third band added to the opening slot. Expectations for both bands on this tour are completely realistic. However, they are dedicated to getting out on the road in North America, spreading the word, and performing special, exclusive sets for their North American fans. A revised tour schedule will be released in the immediate future."
Gama Bomb Complete Thrash Assault 2 Lineup
The billing for Thrash Assault 2 (myspace.com/metalonmetal) is now complete with the addition of Ireland's GAMA BOMB from Ireland. The event will also be the first time ever that SABBAT and ONSLAUGHT appear on the same bill for a show.
Here is the final billing: SABBAT, ONSLAUGHT (Very Special Old School Show), PROTECTORS (feat. Martin Missy), AT WAR, DESASTER, GAMA BOMB, RUNAMOK, NOCTURNAL.
The event is scheduled for February 23rd in Wuerzburg, Germany at Soundpark-Ost (ex-Rockpalast).
Gorgoroth Confirmed For Wacken 2008
The Gaahl-fronted version of the Norwegian black metal band GORGOROTH has been been confirmed for next year's installment of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place July 31 - August 2, 2008 in Wacken, Germany. The group will be one of the headliners on the event's "Black Stage." The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AS I LAY DYING
AT THE GATES
AUTUMN
AVANTASIA
AXXIS
CARCASS
CHILDREN OF BODOM
CREMATORY
DESTRUCTOR
DREAM OF AN OPIUM EATER
EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS
GOREROTTED
GORGOROTH
HATEBREED
IRON MAIDEN
KAMELOT
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
KREATOR
KRYPTERIA
LORD BELIAL
OBITUARY
POWERWOLF
PRIMORDIAL
SABATON
SALTATIO MORTIS
SONATA ARCTICA
THE BONES
Otep Singer Faces Possible Surgery
OTEP frontwoman Otep Shamaya has issued the following update:
"So here it is. All summed up. Another tour winding down. Minds changed, lives saved. New album infecting the souls of the initiates. Drip by drip / creating stellar stalagmites for the futurists to ponder and study in awe. In our world of performance, all of life's intensitie can be celebrated and all of life's repressions can be abated. Here we recreate all the myths, legends, religions, archetypes, and moralities that have failed us from their cultural sources.
"It's liberating beyond explanation. it must be experienced to be truly realized.
"In performance, we can reinforce our connections, reinstitute the old gods, and repair the wounds and reap the joy of existing. Through art. Through music. In ritual, we celebrate the sexual, intellectual, and spiritual freedom our spirits hunger for.
"I recently found out that I have a polyp on my left vocal cord. Although terrifying, this is quite common for singers and speakers in all genres. I've had several follow ups with the doc and it's been determined that the swelling in the cords and the size of the polyp had reduced and the prospects for recovery look good. The doc has ordered me to a strict regimen of a variety of meds AND complete silence between shows. This silence thing is very difficult for me as I am quite loquacious BUT it was either that OR drop off the tour. I didn't want to do that and let anyone down, so here I am. However, the doctor has informed me that if the polyp doesn't reduce significantly then surgery might be necessary. This uncomfortable news has given new meaning and purpose to the 'silent treatment.' But I'd rather suffer through silence (and writing bad puns) than have a surgeon slicing puffy membranes off my vocal cords.
"So I want to thank everyone for understanding how hard and how serious this is for me. And also thank you for understanding if I don't speak to anyone after a show or don't respond to you verbally. I wish this wasn't happening. But it is. So be it."
"The 'Breed' video is doing very well and i want to thank you guys for all of your kind words and support. we have another video for 'Confrontation' that will be released sometime after the new year. it's a stylized representation of the song but we will also have a few other surprises pertaining to different versions of the video - but all that will be revealed next month.
"'Special Pets' is one of my FAVORITE songs and will be included on future tours and in future performances. This song is ONLY available via the Best Buy version of the album. The trick is — you have to buy the album in store. It is NOT included in the online version. Sooooooo, if you want 'Special Pets' — go to Best Buy and buy it there. We also included another track called 'Necessary Accessories' (another fave of mine) that tells a multi-layered story of trust, betrayal, and revenge and takes a swipe at the credit scams and judging system that fail the people its supposed to protect.
"I never thought I'd be here, at this place in my life, with the opportunities that I have. Without art, I could've easily fallen into many addictions (sexual, narcotic, psychopathic) or I could have just given up and succumbed to the criminal elements that surrounded me. (I think a lot of you can relate.) But thanks to my muses, to our supporters, my family and friends... this is (to quote Jim Morrison) 'the strangest life I have ever known'... and I love it."
OTEP has set up a new web site in addition to its official site. ThisIsOtep.tv will enable fans to enjoy live web video chats with Otep Shamaya as well as a chat room for fans to directly communicate with the band.
The first live chat is scheduled for today (Monday, December 3) at 8:00 p.m. EST. Otep will ask fans trivia questions about the group's video for the NIRVANA cover "Breed". Every question is going to require users to watch the video numerous times to find the answer which is hidden within the video. Fans will be rewarded with prizes such as copies of the band's new album "The_Ascension", stickers, posters, and other merchandise. Otep will regularly visit this site to conduct impromptu video chats after the "Breed" promotion on Monday. Fans will learn of Otep's visits to the Otep TV site via MySpace bulletins and email alerts.
OTEP's new album, "The_Ascension", sold 10,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 81 on The Billboard 200 chart.
Produced by Dave Fortman (MUDVAYNE, EVANESCENCE), "The_Ascension" sees the band challenging itself to avoid clichés and classifications and finding a new landscape of sound and vision. "We said 'genre limits and music fads be damned, let's write music that is important to us and that motivates us," explained Shamaya. "I wanted to write songs we believe in and let nothing stop us from building the album we want to make."
Anthrax Guitarist Filming New Fox Poker Show
ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian has issued the following update:
"Played poker for 16 hours [in Las Vegas] yesterday. Online and live tourney and then the Poker Room at the Palms. You can say I'm hooked. Finished sixth in the 'Beauty And The Bet' tourney. Phil Hellmuth was very proud of his pupil.
"Filming the 'Best Damn Poker Tournament Ever' this week for Fox.
"Gearheads, check this out. The H4 is sick. It's a studio in your hand (and it looks like a Taser!!!).
"New ANTHRAX is killing."
Scott Ian recently told MTV.com that he, drummer Charlie Benante and bassist Frank Bello have spent most of 2007 writing and fine-tuning a batch of new songs, which Ian said are along the lines of the band's 2003 album, "We've Come for You All".
At this point, ANTHRAX have a pile of songs, and they're just waiting for the right guy to fill the frontman position so they can proceed. While they've got a short list of singers with whom they're in discussions, there's no word regarding who will fill John Bush and Joey Belladonna shoes.
"It's getting to be a little bit of a problem with the material we're writing," Ian admitted. "Because the singer we use will obviously have some bearing on what kind of songs we write. But we know that we want to make a proper follow-up to 'We've Come for You All', which we all loved. But we want it to be even better: heavier, faster, hookier. As songwriters, you try to improve on your craft. And fortunately, we've got the time to make that happen. We have no deadline at all because we've got no label deal, so my attitude is, 'Let's make the most metal record we've ever made in our lives,' and I would have to say that's coming to fruition."
Read the full article at mtv.com.
Metallica Will Not Play Bonnaroo Festival
According to HardDrive Radio, a source at Q Prime Management — which represents METALLICA — "flat-out denied" a report that surfaced over the weekend that METALLICA will headline the Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tennessee next June. The information, which was based on an an email published in industry commentator Bob Lefsetz's newsletter, also stated that LED ZEPPELIN would play its first U.S. show since July 24, 1977 at the event.
METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told Examiner.com in an October 2007 interview that the band's upcoming album will be "heavier" yet more "melodic" than 2003's controversial "St. Anger". Ulrich explained, "Whereas 'St. Anger' was an exercise in over-pummeling the listener, these new songs echo some of our stuff from the '80s — long, epic journeys through different musical landscapes, heavier, but a lot more melodic." When asked whether the new songs will be shorter, in the four-to-five minute range, Ulrich said, "Well, the most of the intros are four to five minutes. I don't know — METALLICA and short songs just don't go that well together."
Although none of the songs have official titles yet, Ulrich revealed that some of the "silly" working titles included "19", "10", "German Soup", "Glass Cow" and "Black Squirrel". Ulrich said the names "relate to where the idea came from, like Glasgow, Scotland became 'Glass Cow'. And when we don't have anything clever to call it, we just call it a number."
The new METALLICA album is tentatively due in the spring.
Soilwork Guitarist Talks About Making Of New Album
MetalSucks recently sat down with guitarist Ola Frenning of Swedish metal kings SOILWORK mere hours before their sold-out show at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, LAMB OF GOD, and DEVILDRIVER. Frenning talked about the tour, the band's new album "Sworn to a Great Divide", self-producing for the first time, the sudden exit of guitarist and songwriter Peter Wichers, future touring plans and more. An excerpt from the chat follows:
MetalSucks: How does it feel to be back on the road again after taking a break for so long to record the new album?
Frenning: It's fun, definitely. We were waiting for this. We had a long, long break while we were writing the songs and recording the album and so on. We just made one European tour, and this is actually the first tour promoting the new album.
MetalSucks: Speaking of the new album "Sworn to a Great Divide", how do you feel about that album as it stacks up against past SOILWORK?
Frenning: I'm very satisfied and happy with the album, definitely. We chose to record it back home, in our hometown so to say. All the previous albums we always went away to a studio some place else, and we had X amount of weeks that we were working. This time we just took it a little bit easy, and we produced a little bit more by ourselves. We also tried to have a little bit more dirty sound on this album, compared to the other ones. "Stabbing" ["Stabbing the Drama", 2005] was a little bit polished, that deep heavy sound and so on, and we just tried to get a little bit closer, down to earth sound. That's a little bit different compared to the others.
MetalSucks: How was it producing yourselves? You also produced with Peter from DARKANE, right?
Frenning: Yeah. It was a tough job. I don't know if I am gonna do it again! I guess a little… at least I will try to do it. But, um… we learned that we need a lot of time, a lot of breaks. You can't record the album, and the day after start to do the mix. So we need to have weeks, or months… a couple of weeks off before we start to mix it, because you're so into it and you hear the wrong things.
MetalSucks: Did you mix it yourselves too?
Frenning: Yeah, we mixed it and produced it.
MetalSucks: Except, of course, for Björn ["Speed" Strid] who did his vocals with Devin Townsend. He prefers to work with Devin, who, of course, did the "Natural Born Chaos" album?
Frenning: Devin is doing a great job with Björn. He really gets the best out of him. We were talking about Devin before we started this album. Everyone could chose what they wanted to do, and how they wanted to do it and so on… at that time we were actually out on tour with FEAR FACTORY, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, and DARKANE, on the US tour. So, they started to discuss and all of a sudden they decided that OK, they'll do the vocals together.
MetalSucks: What was the writing process like for this album? Obviously you guys replaced a guitarist [Peter Wichers] who was also a big writer for the band, so what was it like writing without him in the band? Was it a challenge?
Frenning: Eh, a little bit maybe… but we knew that everybody in the band can write music, and everybody wrote music. If you look at our early albums, the whole band was more involved. I guess it came a little bit naturally that Peter started to write more and more, because Peter, you know, he's a fast songwriter and a good songwriter of course. So it was a little bit of a struggle in the beginning, but after we made the first song and we felt that "Wow, this is kind of cool," and "Exile" was one of the first we made. And then we felt that there was a little more confidence… continuity… and also, this time the whole band was more involved.
Read the full article at metalsucks.
Divinity Sign To Nuclear Blast
Canada's DIVINITY check in with the following news:
"We are pleased to announce we have signed a worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast Records!
The label will tentatively release the debut album, Allegory on March 28th, 2008. We are honored and excited to work with a label of Nuclear Blast's caliber and share the roster with so many great and influential metal bands.
Currently we are preparing for a barrage of live shows to support Allegory in the upcoming year, as well as composing new material for the follow up to
Allegory.
A promo video for the song 'Plasma' is also in the works along with a line of all new merchandise."
Helix Frontman Talks About Late Quiet Riot Singer
HELIX's Brian Vollmer has posted the following update:
"Last Sunday lead singer of QUIET RIOT, Kevin DuBrow, was found dead at his home. We would like to express our condolences to his family.
As most of you know, we toured with Quiot Riot and WHITESNAKE in the summer of 1984 through 20,000 seat halls all across the United States. I became friends with Kevin during that tour, and two years ago we met up again at a festival we were playing together.
This week John Hockley came to Planet Helix and we went through the archives to pick out some of my Super 8 home movie footage I had of that tour as well as a couple of clips that I filmed with my Sony cam the last time I saw Kevin and Franki."
You can view that footage below... More...
Sinking Ships Parts with Revelation Records
Seattle hardcore band Sinking Ships has addressed their recent departure from Revelation Records in addition to recent break-up rumors. Here's the official word from frontman Danny:
"First off, WE ARE NOT BREAKING UP. It's been a rough couple months but we still have more stuff we want to do, so we aren't ready to call it quits yet. We have parted ways with our label Revelation Records, and our drummer Andy is moving to Boston though.
"I want to make a few things clear about these two things. we left Revelation. They did not 'drop' us. Also, Andy did move to Boston, but he didn't quit Sinking Ships. He's still our drummer. We just wrote two songs for a split CD in Japan, and we will be writing a new record this March. He will still tour with us, just fly out when he needs to. Any local shows or small touring will be covered by former Shook Ones drummer, nasty.
"We just released two 7"s, one on Revelation (ten) and one that I put out myself (with a massive amount of help from Bob Shedd). This is a tour only 7" and there's 500 of them, but most people don't realize it exists cause we've only had it at Sound and Fury and in Europe.
"Since we left Rev we are planning on doing our next LP ourselves. It might not be the smartest thing to choose to put out a record ourselves instead of having Rev do it, but fuck it. We'll see how it goes. So far we know it's going to start as 1000 LPs, and we will figure out the CDs when we get to it. I mean who the fuck buys CDs anymore? We should start recording sometime in March/April. I'll probly do a limited 7" of the Japan songs at some point between now and then too, but we'll how that goes too. And just because we are doing this next one ourselves doesn't mean we are swearing off labels all together. So far we haven't had the greatest experiences, but hopefully we will work get to with someone else down the road.
"Finally, I wanted to say a few things about touring. We are done for the year, and so far in 2008 we have Japan in March, Europe in June, and we should be going down the West Coast again sometime in January or February. After that there's nothing planned so far. We probably won't be getting out there as much as we did last year, but we'll do our best to tour as much as we can."
Jon Oliva's Pain Issue New Album Update
JON OLIVA'S PAIN drummer Christopher Kinder has posted a lengthy update on the recording sessions for the group's third album. An excerpt follows:
"[Jon] Oliva [vocals] was here on Friday and will be back today to continue on the journey of keyboard, string, and special effects. His ability to create unlimited counter melodies within every song is awe inspiring. He plays violin and chelo like a real player would, and while we will have some live string players on this CD... no one will be able to tell the difference between the actual player and his expert keyboard string tracks."
"We should begin vocals in the next week or so. Oliva's voice is once again in perfect shape and the amount of backing vocals that we have to record will make us all dizzy before it is done. But, goddamn, is it cool! Zahner [keyboardist John Zahner] will be coming in at the end to add all the bells, whistles, B3 organ and whatever else we need." More...
Kaltenbach Open Air Festival Confirm More Bands
Black metallers VREID from Norway as well as DESASTER and EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS from Germany are the latest additions to the billing of the Kaltenbach Open Air festial, set to take place July 18-19 in Spital am Semmering, Austria. Also scheduled to appear are HOLLENTHON, NECROPHOBIC and DEW-SCENTED. More acts will be confirmed over the coming weeks.
Gorefest Post Moscow Concert Footage Online
Russia's Darkside.ru has video footage and photos of GOREFEST's December 1, 2007 concert at Club Tochka in Moscow. Check out the pictures at this location. The clip can be viewed here.
GOREFEST's setlist was as follows:
01. The Glorious Dead
02. State of Mind
03. For the Masses
04. When the Dead Walk the Earth
05. Revolt
06. Rise to Ruin
07. Mental Misery
08. You Could Make Me Kill
09. Babylon's Whores
10. Get-a-Life
11. Erase
12. The War on Stupidity
13. Reality / When You Die
Encore:
14. Speak When Spoken To
15. Confessions of a Serial Killer More...
Suidakra Post Instrumental Version Of Song Online
German melodic black/death metallers SUIDAKRA have issued the following update:
"We have a little suprise for you. Maybe some of you know the song 'Fall of Tara' from our 'Auld Lang Syne' album. To reduce some waiting time to our DVD/'best of' release, we've add an instrumental version of this song to our MySpace profile, which was arranged by [frontman] Arkadius."
Check out the song at this location.
SUIDAKRA DVD and "best-of" CD package will feature the band's Wacken Open Air 2007 performance and will be released in early 2008.
Just For Fun
The History of Goth In One Minute, Emo As A Bonus
Spinner has a quite entertaining series going on in which they cover a music genre's history in a minute. Their latest treatment is Goth, which (as they do point out) bled over into other genres such as industrial and metal.
Their first treatment was on Emo, which many of our readers could surely learn a bit from. The introductory blurb about sums it up, but the video is a must-see as well:
Tired of people name-dropping rock genres and not having a clue what they're talking about? We sure are, so we put together the first in an ongoing series of edumacational, one-minute videos that'll drop a knowledge bomb on all unsuspecting ignoramuses. The first out of the gate is the much-maligned Emo, a genre that arguably jumped the shark almost a decade ago, yet continues to lurch onward like a zombie. You know, a zombie that whines like a bitch and wears its little sister's pants.
At a minute each, they won't even kill as much time as, say, a video of a horrible band covering butchering a classic metal song. More...
Extreme Noise Terror Offer New Album Update
EXTREME NOISE TERROR have posted the following update:
“After many delays due to a busy schedule & much last minute ‘fine tuning,’ work is finally underway on the new album! It is being recorded at the infamous Springvale Studio in Ipswich and we hope to have it finished by late December. Bass guitar is being recorded this week and then all that will be left to do will be vocals and lead guitar.
Already shaping up to be a total holocaust of a recording this new offering sees ENT get back to basics with 16 new tracks of ear splitting hardcore punk in the vein of their earlier offerings circa ‘Phonophobia’ and ‘A Holocaust In Your Head.’
Due to be released on Osmose Productions, no release date is set but we’re hoping it will see the light of day around April 2008.”
Dismember, Hatesphere Release European Tour Dates
The following dates have been released for DISMEMBER’s “Europa Burns Tour 2008” with HATESPHERE and FALL OF SERENITY:
February 8 - Nurnberg, GER @ K4
February 9 - Trier, GER @ Exhaus
February 10 - Vosselaar, BEL @ Biebob
February 11 - Hengelo, NET @ Metropool
February 12 - T.B.A.
February 13 - T.B.A.
February 14 - Breda, NET @ Mezz
February 15 - Purmerend, NET @ P3
February 16 - Essen, GER @ Turock
February 17 - Stuttgart, GER @ Ika-Longhorn
February 19 - Traun, AUT @ Spinnerei
February 20 - Munich, GER @ Metropolis
February 21 - Zurich, SWI @ Dynamo Werk 21
February 22 - T.B.A.
February 23 - Ravenna, ITA @ Rock Planet
February 24 - Nova Gorica, SLO @ Mostovna
February 25 - Wien, AUS @ Arena
February 26 - Prague, CZE @ Rock Cafe
February 27 - Darmstadt, GER @ Goldene Krone
February 28 - Hannover, GER @ Musikzentrum
February 29 - Oelsnitz, GER @ Schützenhaus
March 1 - Bischofswerda, GER @ East Club
March 2 - Berlin, GER @ K17
Ensiferum Announce More Paganfest Dates
ENSIFERUM, TURISAS, TÝR and ELUVEITIE will team up for the Paganfest USA tour beginning in April. Confirmed dates so far are as follows:
Apr. 25 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
Apr. 26 - Montreal, QC - Medley
Apr. 27 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
Apr. 28 - Springfield, VA - Jaxx
Apr. 29 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
Apr. 30 - Detroit, MI - Harpo's
May 01 - Chicago, IL - The Pearl Room (Chicago Powerfest)
May 05 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
May 06 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
May 07 - Sacramento, CA - The Boardwalk
May 10 - Orange County, CA - California Metalfest
May 15 - Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX - Ridglea Theater
May 16 - San Antonio, TX - The White Rabbit
May 17 - Houston, TX - Java Jazz
May 22 - New York, NY - BB King Blues Club & Grill
More dates will be announced soon.
Tygers Of Pan Tang Announce UK and Ireland Dates
NWOBHM legends TYGERS OF PAN TANG have scheduled the following dates in the UK and Northern Island in support of their recently released "Back & Beyond" EP:
Feb. 02 - Crook Town
Feb. 09 - Leeds Rios
Feb. 16 - Athens Greece AN Club (NWOBHM Festival)
Feb. 22 - Londonderry The Nerve Centre (Northern Ireland)
Feb. 23 - Belfast Spring & Airbrake (Northern Ireland)
Feb. 29 - Mansfield The Intake Club
Mar. 14 - Blackpool Riffs Club
Mar. 15 - Holmfirth Picturedrome (Huddersfield)
Mar. 21 - Newcastle Carling Academy 2
See You Next Tuesday Plans Midwest Mini-Tour
See You Next Tuesday has lined up a brief Midwest run for this month. Here are the tour dates:
12/8 Sidney, OH @ Shelby Elks Lodge
12/10 Lake Station, IN @ Eagle’s Club
12/11 Midlothian, IL @ JT Music
12/13 Houghton, MI @ Level II Skatepark
12/14 Flushing, MI @ Flushing Masonic Temple
Cursed Frontman Starts New Band
Cursed frontman Chris Colohan has started a new band called Burning Love with members of Toronto outfit, Our Father. The group has posted a demo track here and will release a 7" EP in early-2008 through Colohan's own label High Anxiety 416.
Nile, Suicide Silence, The Faceless Tour Dates
Nile, Suicide Silence, and The Faceless will tour the U.S. together in March/April of 2008. Here are the tour dates:
3/8 St. Petersburg, FL @ The State Theatre
3/9 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ The Culture Room
3/11 Winter Park, FL @ The Haven
3/12 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
3/13 New Orleans, LA @ The Parish
3/14 Houston, TX @ Meridian
3/15 San Antonio, TX @ The White Rabbit
3/16 Ft. Worth, TX @ Ridglea Theatre
3/18 Albuquerque, NM @ The Launch Pad
3/19 Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse
3/20 Los Angeles, CA @ The Key Club
3/21 Santa Ana, CA @ The Galaxy Theatre
3/22 San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
3/24 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
3/25 Kansas City, KS @ Mission Theater
3/26 Chicago, IL @ Metro
3/27 Louisville, KY @ Headliner's
3/28 Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
3/29 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
3/30 New York, NY @ BB Kings
4/1 Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero
4/2 Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
4/3 Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Music Hall
4/4 Charleston, SC @ The Music Farm
Arsis Demos To Be Released By Negative Existence
On December 28, 2007 Negative Existence will officially release Arsis's demos on a proper format. The album will be entitled "As Guilt Becomes Regret." The disc will contain two demos from 2001and 2002 plus rare bonus tracks and a live video CD-Rom segment.
The music on the disc was recorded between 2001 and 2002 by guitarist/songwriter James Malone and drummer Michael Van Dyne. These demos gained them considerable attention in the underground music scene leading to several tours and landing them with recording contracts from several prospective labels. The two additional tracks found on this release are alternative studio takes never before released. The CD-ROM video segment was recorded April 12, 2003 at Pallette’s Outer Banks (Norfolk, VA).
“As Regret Becomes Guilt” features impressive packaging with a 12 page booklet that was designed by Mark Riddick. The ghastly illustrations and lyrics contained within this unique packaging are printed in black and metallic gold.
The CD can be pre-ordered now from negative-existence.com for $12.00. The ship date is December 28, 2008.
Arsis is known for their unique blend of old school shredding heavy metal and modern gut wrenching death metal. A range of influences from Iron Maiden, Dio, and Alice Cooper to the modern sounds of Carcass, At The Gates and Death can be detected.
Arsis has since released two full length albums and one EP with Willowtip Records, and will soon release another full length on the Nuclear Blast label. Their complete discography is as follows:
Demo 2001 Demo, 2001
Demo 2002 Demo, 2002
A Celebration of Guilt Full-length, 2004
A Diamond for Disease EP, 2005
United in Regret Full-length, 2006
As Regret Becomes Guilt, 2007
Negative Existence was created in 2007 by Alex Cox formerly of Deathgasm Records. The new label is currently working with respected artists Maniac Butcher, Demoncy, and now Arsis.
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