Metal News for July 25, 2007
Last updated on October 7, 2025 at 6:57 AM ET
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Hot Topics
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32 news articles posted on this day.
Vanmakt Posts Two New Songs and Video Online
Vanmakt's debut album "Vredskapta Mörkersagor" was released through Pulverised Records (Dissection, Watain, Satariel) this week. To celebrate the release they have uploaded 2 new songs from the album, "My Darkest Hate" and "Para Vindicta," to the band's MySpace page. The video for "My Darkest Hate" is also available on youtube and the band's website. The video is included as part of the album as well. More...
ChthoniC "Chaos" Interview To Broadcast Online
During a recent day off from Ozzfest, Taiwanese extreme metal act ChthoniC -- whose "shrieking, pummeling, swelling black metal" was recently hailed by the Los Angeles Times -- recorded an interview with Full Metal Jackie, the host of the "Chaos" program on influential Los Angeles radio station Indie 103.1. The show will be broadcast in Los Angeles and online at www.indie1031.com on Sunday night (July 29) from 10 p.m. until midnight PST. It will then be re-broadcast twice on KNAC.com, first on July 30 from 7-9 p.m. PST and again on August 5 from 7-9 a.m. PST.
ChthoniC is currently in the midst of its first American tour, a two-month trek that will see them play more than 60 concerts across the country. Meanwhile, the band continues to post regular entries to its "UNlimited Taiwan" tour diary at its official MySpace page, www.myspace.com/chthonictw.
The "UNlimited Taiwan" tour will become even more global in scope next month when ChthoniC -- whose 2002 release, Relentless Recurrence, and last year's live DVD/CD A Decade on the Throne were recently released in America for the first time -- will miss one Ozzfest stop in order to perform at Wacken Open Air, Germany's largest annual metal festival. ChthoniC will then return to the U.S. for another six weeks of touring, to be followed by the group's first full European tour this fall.
Matt Sorum Gives Opinion On New Metallica Songs
METALLICA is hard at work on its next album with producer Rick Rubin, and at least one person outside the band has heard the songs: VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum. He tells RollingStone.com, "Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer] is a good friend of mine. He played me the demos from San Francisco, and I turned and looked at him and I said, 'Master that shit and put it out.' It's ridiculous. The demos were sick. Eight-minute songs, all these tempo changes, crazy fast. It's like, 'Dude, don't get slower when you get older, but don't get faster!? How are you gonna play this live?' And then me and Lars were out partying all night, and he had to go in the studio the next day and do this stupid like nine- or ten-minute song, and I was laughing at him — because he played me the demo of it, and it was [sings really fast drum part], so fast. I called him, and said, 'Dude, how are you feeling?' He was like, 'Dude, I'm hurting.' They're cutting everything to tape, no fuckin' ProTools — live, no clicks. Bitchin'. I dig it. I'm really excited for them."
Mondo Generator Finished With Ozzfest?
MONDO GENERATOR, the band led by former QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE bassist Nick Oliveri, reportedly missed yesterday's (Tuesday, July 24) Ozzfest stop at the Cricket Pavilion in Phoenix, AZ. The group's logo/photo has also been removed from the "Bands" section at Ozzfest.com, and MONDO GENERATOR's name is conspicuously absent from the schedule for tomorrow's (July 26) Ozzfest stop at Journal Pavilion in Albuquerque, NM, fueling rumors that the band has dropped off the summer tour.
Korn Vs Devo?
According to MTV.com, new wavers DEVO are lashing out at KORN for allegedly biting the group's "devolution" concept in a fake movie trailer posted on EvolutionDevolution.com. "We denounce this as imposters playing with fire," Gerald Casale wrote in a post on Devo.com. He told RollingStone.com that KORN fans have been sending him hate mail since he posted the note on the site. "We went, 'Wow, this is insane. This is a perfect example of devolution. ... Gee, I'm sorry we thought all this up 30 years ago and have been putting it out there and preaching it ever since.' "
Asphyx Vinyl Reissues Planned
In August Century Media Records will release a re-issue of the first two Asphyx albums, "The Rack" and "Last One On Earth" on vinyl. You can check out some of the band's material on their MySpace page.
Scarlet Sins To Play All-Girl WA Powerbox Festival
Scarlet Sins is confirmed to play the first annual Powerbox Festival at the Whitehorse Amphitheatre in Darrington, Washington. The Powerbox Festival will feature the world's best female hard rock and metal acts. Other headliners on the bill include: Girlschool, McQueen, Kittie, Vixen and Doro.
Some of the proceeds of the show will go towards a breast cancer charity in the memory of former Girlschool guitarist Kelly Johnson who passed away on July 15.
The festival runs from Friday, August 31 to Monday, September 4 inclusive.
Scarlet Sins is set to play at 9pm on Saturday night.
Tickets are available through the festival site at: powerboxfest.com.
Benefit Show For Indianapolis Bands Announced
A benefit show will be held to help those bands affected by the recent thefts in Indianapolis (Demiricous, The Dream Is Dead, etc.). The Band Together Benefit Show will take place on August 15th at the Knights Of Columbus in Indianapolis. Tickets will be $15 and the show will include performances by Haste The Day, Demiricous, and The Dream Is Dead.
Knut Announces European Tour Dates
Knut will tour Europe this Fall with support from Monno. Here are the tour dates:
09/22 Fr Paris @ Point Ephemere (no Monno)
09/23 Nl Tilburg @ ZXZW Festival
09/24 De Koln @ Gebaude 9
09/25 De Berlin @ Bastard Club
09/26 Cz Prague @ Klub 007
09/27 De Munich @ Feierwerk
09/28 At Linz @ Kapu
09/29 It Padova @ Cso Pedro
09/30 TBA
10/01 At Vienna @ Arena
10/02 Hr Zagreb @ Mochvara
10/03 Sr Belgrade @ Living Room SKC
10/04 Mk Skopje @ Castro Club
10/05 Gr Thessaloniki @ Eightball Club
10/06 Gr Athens @ An Club
10/09 TBA
10/10 It Bolzano @ Bunker
10/11 It Milan @ The Garage
10/12 Ch Martigny @ Les Caves Du Manoir
10/13 Ch TBA
Century Finishing New Album, "Black Ocean"
Century is currently finishing up a new full-length, titled "Black Ocean." According to band mastermind Carson Slovak, "Black Ocean has been over a year in the making and I am beyond excited for its completion. Since its inception in 2004 as an art project of mine to the release of the debut full-length, 'Faith and Failure', in 2007 as a full band, Century has undergone several manifestations and has now come full-circle."
Here's the "Black Ocean" track listing:
01. Terror Starts At Home
02. Dysgenics
03. Pantheon
04. Black Ocean
05. Erasure
06. Drug Mule
07. Equus
08. Rising Sun
09. Monolith
10. Daylight Algorithm
The artwork (viewable online here) is comprised of an 8-panel digipak with an 18-panel poster-fold and UV gloss overlay. The layout also contains a cipher, which, when solved, reveals encrypted audio content. In addition, there will be a limited, hand-numbered run of poster prints released in conjunction with the album.
Stuck Mojo Album Available On CD In Certain Areas
Stuck Mojo have released the following statement from their official Myspace:
We are happy to announce that in support of our upcoming fall tour, we have reached agreements with several distributors to import copies of the new Stuck Mojo album, Southern Born Killers. As of today, it is now available at HMV stores throughout the UK via Cargo Records UK, all throughout Germany via Just For Kicks Music and in Japan through RB Records Japan. These copies were manufactured and shipped by the band and include the bonus DVD featuring the Open Season video.
To continue our mission of staying as completely independent artists, the above companies have paid Stuck Mojo in advance for these copies. By purchasing from them in your local music store, you can be sure that you will be directly supporting the artists (Stuck Mojo) who created and recorded the music.
In the future, there will be more announcements about the availability of Southern Born Killers in cd stores all around the world. Thanks for continuing to support us in our attempt to bring you music without compromise.
Respectfully, Rich Ward
Dream Theater Kick Off US Tour
Legendary Progressive Metal act DREAM THEATER is launching a North American summer headlining tour, kicking off July 24 in San Diego, CA. Joined by breakthrough Progressive Metal acts INTO ETERNITY and REDEMPTION, the tour will span throughout the U.S. and Canada. DREAM THEATER will be taking the headlining reigns, performing songs from their Roadrunner Records debut, "Systematic Chaos", as well as compositions from their genre-defining back catalogue. Their ninth studio album, "Systematic Chaos" was released on June 5 and has been received with solid critical and fan acclaim. The tour will further solidify the band's legendary technical prowess, capturing a time when the quartet have reached their artistic Zen.
DREAM THEATER has just released a music video for their first single, "Constant Motion". Directed by Andrew Bennett (DEFTONES, VAN HALEN, THE DRESDEN DOLLS), the video highlights a technically induced performance by the band coupled with an animated spin-off of the album cover art, created by Hugh Syme (RUSH, IRON MAIDEN, MEGADETH). The video is currently available for viewing on the Roadrunner Records' website.
Here are the confirmed dates for the tour:
July 25 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theater
July 27 - Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheater
July 28 - Berkeley, CA - Berkeley Community Theater
July 30 - Salt Lake City, UT - E Center
July 31 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theater
Aug. 2 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Theater
Aug. 3 - Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless
Aug. 4 - Austin, TX - The Backyard
Aug. 6 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
Aug. 7 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater
Aug. 9 - Minneapolis, MN - State Theater
Aug. 10 - Chicago, IL - Rosemont Theater
Aug. 11 - Cleveland, OH - Tower City Amphitheater
Aug. 13 - Detroit, MI - State Theater
Aug. 14 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six
Aug. 16 - Quebec City, QC - Expocite Site
Aug. 17 - Montreal, QC - Bell Center
Aug. 18 - Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheater
Aug. 20 - Buffalo, NY - University Of Buffalo Center For The Arts
Aug. 21 - Boston, MA - Bank Of America Pavilion
Aug. 22 - Hartford, CT - Chevrolet Theater
Aug. 24 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC
Aug. 25 - Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach
Aug. 26 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theater
De Lirium's Order Posts New Track Online
Another track from "Diagnosis", the forthcoming album by Finnish technical deathsters De Lirium’s Order, out on Shadow World Records this August, can now be heard on the band’s myspace page. 'Catchy Ebola Instinct' represents the more melodic side of the band’s second album. Already on the site is available a track called 'Extermination Network', which is De Lirium’s Order at its most straigh-forward. These tracks can be listened now at www.myspace.com/dlorder.net
Also, "Diagnosis" can now be pre-ordered from a Finnish record store Levykauppa Äx. Together with the cd, the package deal also features a cool De Lirium’s Order t-shirt for only 23,90€. There will be only a limited number of t-shirts made and this offer is only for people pre-ordering the album, who will get the album at the time it will be released. This package can be ordered here.
Headline News
Necro Leaves Sounds Of The Underground Tour
Self proclaimed "death rap" artist Necro has issued the follwing statement from his official Myspace:
"I decided to leave the tour collectively with my manager and booking agent (both tour organizers) because we felt the tour’s demographic was not receiving hip hop well. I was facing hostile, disrespectful crowds and was returning the same energy back ten-fold by being more aggressive than them.
It was making a lot of people in the tour crew nervous and there was concern someone might get hurt (NOT ME). It was also being suggested that maybe I tone down my live show and not antagonize the already antagonistic crowd. I couldn’t roll with that as it’s not my style. I was holding back enough as it is but there is a line. All the bands on the tour loved us and everyone behind the scenes knew we displayed major heart and never once got phased by the hostility. We finished every show with middle fingers up and a big "Fuck You" to the crowd.
I will make one thing clear for the haters: we NEVER got booed OFF the stage. Not once. Yes a ton of emo kids booed us at every show, but we had a twenty-five minute set every night and we stayed on stage for every minute of it, and we represented. Every show had at least 100 to 200 Necro fans in the pit tearing it up, and our meet and greets were incredible!
It’s just a shame these little kids are so close-minded. The majority of the hate was coming from mop top emo sixteen-year olds who have no clue who the originators of metal are, and didn’t respect my rest in peace chant to metal legends (Dime, Cliff, Chuck, Piggy, SOB).
As far as the tour organizers and I are concerned, you are my people so it’s all love and I’m thankful for the opportunity to prove I can murder it in the worst of situations. This actually did a lot for me and is just one move in many my team will make to blow Necro up"
Godsmack To Play The Rock'N The Rally Music Fest
Multi-platinum rockers GODSMACK combine forces with Coming Home Studios to hijack the world’s biggest, baddest biker event – a full day of undeniable rock ‘n’ roll bedlam Tuesday, Aug. 7 at the ROCK’N THE RALLY MUSIC FESTIVAL, part of the legendary Sturgis Bike Rally in Sturgis, SD.
GODSMACK will be celebrating its 10th anniversary by teaming with Coming Home Studios for a 19-camera, high-definition video shoot of their headlining performance a ROCK’N THE RALLY for an upcoming live concert DVD. GODSMACK’s appearance will be an illustrious close to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for over 40,000 hard rock fans -- a massive, daylong party during Sturgis Bike Week in which Coming Home Studios also will present TED NUGENT and FUEL in the 34-acre amphitheatre at Glencoe Camp Resort. GODSMACK and Coming Home Studios are thrilled to have such a pivotal role in the most exciting event ever added to the largest motorcycle rally on the planet.
“GODSMACK is more excited about this show than any other show we’ve played in the last decade,” says front man Sully Erna. “Not only is biking truly a part of our lifestyles, but Sturgis is the Cadillac of events. The Mac Daddy of Biker parties. We are currently setting up for this to be our biggest show EVER! Eighty-foot flames and the baddest ass drum battle you’ve ever seen is just a hint of what will ROCK the RALLY this year. AC/DC will be proud of this one! So strap on your drinking boots and fire up those engines, ‘cause Sturgis this year is making ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HISTORY!”
The Boston rockers are on tour supporting their fourth studio album, Godsmack IV, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 after its 2006 release and so far has produced the hit singles, “Speak,” “Shinedown” and “Enemy.” Later this year, GODSMACK will continue its 10th anniversary celebration with a commemorative box set gathering its four studio albums, the acoustic EP The Other Side and a DVD featuring mini-documentaries about the making of each album. FUEL’s new album, Angels and Devils, will be released the same day as their ROCK’N THE RALLY appearance. More...
Watch 36 Crazyfists Play "The Heart and The Shape"
There is a new live video of 36 CRAZYFISTS performing their track "The Heart And The Shape" available for viewing at the Underground Video Television (UVTV) website.
The footage was filmed at Northern Lights in Clifton Park, NY earlier this year when the band was on tour with KITTIE, WALLS OF JERICHO, IN THIS MOMENT and DEAD TO FALL. 36 Crazyfists recently signed a new deal with Ferret Records.
Dream Theater Book Details Revealed
London, England-based publisher Essential Works will release "Lifting Shadows – The Authorized Story of Dream Theater" in luxury format via the company's web site sometime before Christmas.
Please be aware that this book will not be available in high street shops or other online retailers. The book can ONLY be ordered via the Essential Works web site. The book is also being produced in a special, limited-edition format which obviously means that stocks are not endless.
"Lifting Shadows" is being produced because of the fans' support. As a special added thank you, it has been agreed with the publishers that for a limited time, those fans who order soon will get their names printed in the book in a special "Roll Of Honor" section at the rear of the "Images" book. This offer will be open until midnight GMT on August 31. After that time, you will still be able to order the books, but your name will not appear.
"Lifting Shadows" will be printed in a deluxe "Images and Words" limited-edition version that includes a free CD of DREAM THEATER music. This limited edition comprises two hardback books that are held together in a slipcase. It is likely that the book cover will be designed by legendary rock artist Hugh Syme.
The first of these books is entitled "Images" and is crammed with color photos of the band, previously unseen/unused album artwork, letters, press releases and a host of other memorabilia. "Images" is printed on luxury 130gsm art paper, measures 234 x 197mm and has around 192 pages.
The second book, "Words", contains the definitive biography of the band. It is printed on 80gsm paper, measures 234 x 153mm and has around 384 pages. The book features all new interviews with the band and a host of others who have played their part in the rise of one of prog-metal's finest bands. The book's foreword has been written by DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy.
The material on the CD has been compiled by Mike Portnoy from his personal archives and contains the following tracks:
01. Another Won (1985) (Original Instrumental Berklee Demo)
Taken from the Ytsejam Records CD "The Majesty Demos 1985-1986"
02. Two Far (1986) (1986 Majesty Demo)
Taken from the Ytsejam Records CD "The Majesty Demos 1985-1986"
03. Status Seeker (1988) (Radio Remix)
Previously only available as a Mechanic Records radio promo CD
Remixed by Terry Brown
04. Don't Look Past Me (1990) (Vocalist Audition Demo)
Taken from the 1999 DREAM THEATER fan club CD "Cleaning Out The Closet"
Music originally recorded in February 1990
James LaBrie vocal tracks added in October 1999
Mixed by Doug Oberkircher
05. Under A Glass Moon (1993) (Live At The Marquee Outtake)
Previously Unreleased
Recorded at the Marquee - London, England - April 23, 1993
Mixed by Doug Oberkircher
06. Caught In A Web (1995) (Live on BBC Radio One)
Previously Unreleased
Recorded Live on Bruce Dickinson's BBC Radio 1 Show - January 30, 1995
07. You Or Me (1996) (Demo)
Taken from the Ytsejam Records CD "Falling Into Infinity Demos 1996-1997"
08. Burning My Soul (1998) (Once In A LIVEtime Outtake)
Previously only available on the "Five Years In A LIVEtime DVD"
Recorded at Le Bataclan - Paris, France - June 25, 1998
Live Mix by Kevin Shirley
09. Through Her Eyes (1999) (Original "Long Titanic" Arrangement)
Previously only available on the end credits of "Metropolis 2000 - Scenes From New York"
10. Your Majesty (2002) (Live in Paris)
Previously Unreleased
Recorded at Mutualite - Paris, France - October 23, 2002
11. Metropolis (2004) (Live in Los Angeles)
Special Guests: Charlie Dominici and Derek Sherinian
Taken from the Ytsejam Records CD "When Dream And Day Reunite"
Recorded at The Pantages Theater - Los Angeles, CA - March 6, 2004
Destruction To Film W.O.A. Performance For DVD
Long-running German thrashers DESTRUCTION have issued the following update:
"The show in Wacken [in early August] this year will feature some special surprise performances. Beside the 'Mad Butcher and his pleasure slaves,' all the original and former members will join the band for the finale of the performance. Although the band will perform 'The Alliance of Hellhoundz' with different guest singers! You can enjoy the 75-minute 'Best of Destruction' set at 6:45 p.m. on the Wacken BlackStage. The event will be filmed for the 25th anniversary DVD that will be released in 2007!"
Wacken Open Air is scheduled to take place August 2-4 in Wacken, Germany.
Slipknot Likely To Tour Before New Album
Launch Radio Networks reports: SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison recently offered up a tentative timeline for the recording of the band's fourth major label album, saying that the group would begin writing in October and get into the studio by January of 2008, with the CD likely to arrive in the spring. Jordison then told Launch that SLIPKNOT will most likely return to the road even before the disc is out. "We'll probably start touring a month or so before the album comes out, kind of the same way we did the Jagermeister Tour before 'Vol. 3' came out," he said. "So we'll do something like that as well and we're looking at right now doing some European festivals next year, but nothing's in stone yet. You know, there's still some things to be worked out, but the main thing is, you know, the fans should know that there will be another SLIPKNOT record."
Jordison told the U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine that SLIPKNOT's follow-up to 2004's "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)" will be "heavy as f***," adding that it will also be "just as weird and as experimental" as that album.
Jordison is currently the touring drummer for KORN on that band's Family Values tour, which pulls into Detroit on Wednesday (July 25).
Two other members of SLIPKNOT, singer Corey Taylor and guitarist Jim Root, will launch a U.S. tour with their other group, STONE SOUR, next month.
Overkill Set Release Date For New Album
Bodog Music has set an October 9 release date for the new album from the legendary thrash metal band OVERKILL, entitled "Immortalis". The group's collaboration with Bodog reunites OVERKILL with Jonny and Marsha Zazula, previous owners of Megaforce Records, the label responsible for putting metal on the map and bringing OVERKILL's New Jersey thrash metal to the world. The Zazulas are now a part of the Bodog Music team in the United States.
"Whoever said you can't go home again?" says OVERKILL frontman Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth. "Well, whoever it was, they were wrong, as this reunites OVERKILL with their first and biggest supporters. Here we come — again!"
"I went to meet up with OVERKILL at their recent sold out show in New York City and they were better than ever," says Jonny Zazula. "They're heavy as hell and I loved it."
Since forming in 1980, OVERKILL has put out over 20 albums. Despite various lineup changes, the band has never gone on hiatus and has continued to stay true to the metal genre it helped create. With Megaforce Records and their management company, CraZed Management, the Zazulas were responsible for the early careers of such bands as METALLICA, ANTHRAX and MINISTRY, among many others.
"Now, as it was 20 years ago when we signed OVERKILL, I continue to have the utmost respect for what they have done," Marsha Zazula says.
The upcoming album and corresponding East Coast tour will feature OVERKILL's latest lineup, which along with Ellsworth, includes original bassist D.D. Verni, guitarists Derek "The Skull" Tailer and Dave Linsk, as well as the newest member to join the band, drummer Ron Lipnicki.
Ellsworth says Lipnicki "adds a new dimension of brutality to a proven formula. I was knocked on my ass by his talent. We look forward to debuting him on our upcoming Bodog Music release."
OVERKILL released three albums on Megaforce Records before making the jump to Atlantic Records where a string of critically lauded albums, including 1991's quintessential "Horroscope", solidified OVERKILL as one of the best metal bands of all time. In the past few years, the band has released such gems as "Killbox 13" (2003) and "ReliXIV" (2005).
Dimmu Borgir Drummer Sidelined With Injury
Due to a recently diagnosed injury, DIMMU BORGIR drummer Hellhammer will be unable to play drums for the band on the remaining festival dates this summer and the upcoming European tour with Amon Amarth and Hatesphere.
Hellhammer's x-ray confirmed a severe neck prolapse causing numbness in his right arm. He will be going into treatment soon and could - quite possibly - undergo corrective surgery.
Taking over drum duties for the upcoming shows will be Tony Laureano (Nile, Angelcorpse, Aurora Borealis), who played for DIMMU BORGIR during the band's North American stint on Ozzfest in 2004 and during festival performances throughout 2005.
Eyes To The Sky Update On New Album, Lineup
Milwaukee-based hardcore act Eyes To The Sky have posted an update regarding the band's upcoming album and line-up changes. Here is the official statement:
"Alot of exciting stuff in the works in the ETTS camp. We've just entered studio with producer Kevin Forsythe to begin recording our Seventh Dagger Records debut full-length "All Bets Are Off". The album will contain nine tracks of some of the heaviest and most polished music we've ever written as a band.
"In other news our bassist Jay has decided to move on with his life. He will be heading back to college in fall and has many other exciting things ahead of him. His departure is sad as he has been with us from the start, but there is definitely no bad blood and we wish him all the best!
"Enter Charles Forsberg III, our new bassist! Charles is an exceptional bassist and many of you may already know him from the Milwaukee death metal band Empire. Make sure to come out and meet him at our upcoming dates.
"Eyes To The Sky is ready to continue doing what we do best, playing passion-filled hardcore with a strong straight edge message. We'll see you all on tour soon!!"
"All Bets Are Off" is set to hit stores this fall followed by touring.
Obituary Ltd Edition To Include Extra Track/Poster
Obituary have posted the cover artwork for their forthcoming album, "Xecutioner's Return", which was was mixed at Redroom Recorders and was mastered last month at Morrisound Studios in Tampa. The band once again worked with artist Andreas Marschall, who has previously created the art for "The End Complete" and the group's most recent record, "Frozen in Time". A Limited Edition version of the album will contain an additional Track not available on the regular release, and a special poster. You can purchase it here.
According to a recent update by vocalist John Tardy, "All is going good. We have been busy putting one last song together for a limited-edition release of [the new Obituary album] 'Xecutioner's Return'. Along with the newest song, it will have special packaging and a poster included! We have also been working out our set list for the U.S. tour so we have been busy!"
A fan-filmed video footage of Obituary performing the song "Find the Arise" on 5th July, 2007 at the Underworld in London, England has been posted on YouTube.
Obituary will team up with Alabama Thunderpussy, Full Blown Chaos and Hemlock for a North American tour in September/October, and then continue on with long-running German thrashers Holy Moses for a European tour in January 2008. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.
More...
Various Metal Stars Featured In NY Art Exhibit
Egyptian artist Nader Sadek has invited Steve Tucker (ex-Morbid Angel), Trym (EMPEROR, ZYKLON), Alex Skolnick (Testament), and Ralph Santolla (OBITUARY, ex-Deicide, Death), as well as Middle Eastern legend Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Miles Jay (ex-Weird Al, Fathy S alama's Orchestra), Liron Peled (Raquy And The Cavemen) and Raquy Danziger to contribute to his multimedia installation "The Faceless" that opens 6th September at Michael Steinberg Fine Art in New York's Chelsea district.
These musicians worked with Sadek to produce a noise experiment moving in and out of independently conceived death metal and Arabic music tracks. This sonic composition accompanies Sadek's uniquely installed drawings which juxtapose the iconographies of death metal and Middle Eastern fundamentalism, which outsiders often associate with darkness, moon worship, and anti-Christian fervour. "The Faceless" startles the audience into rethinking connections between these two frequently misunderstood and villified cultures.
Having grown up a death metal fan in Egypt, Sadek works from the knowledge that the Egyptian state perceived both death metal and religious fundamentalism as threats to its power and legitimacy: death metal rebels against religious and political hypocrisy; piety rebels against a bureaucratic, commercialized, and godless world. Through sound, image, and space, "The Faceless" mingles these cultures in thoughtful, frightening, and uncanny ways.
Says Sadek: "For a while now, I've been interested in exploring what different cultures perceive of as extreme. 'The Faceless' grows out of years of walking the crowded streets of down-town Cairo dressed as a full-on death metal fan (i.e., long black hair, long-sleeve Morbid Angel/Deicide t-shirts, and an overall grungy look). Then, in a sort of twisted reversal, I decided to walk the streets of New York's Times Square in the black garb of a fully veiled woman. The intense reactions I got in each case confirmed for me the potential of this project. Those experiences inspired me to channel the popular paranoid fantasy in which the fully veiled woman is wrought from a dark death metal world, full of serpents, skulls, demons and dark mountains. I hope that by reflecting back to the audience their paranoid fantasies, which totally oversimplify the reality of Middle Eastern and death metal culture, that my work will get them to question their own prejudices and sense of the extreme."
To preview photographs of the artists and artwork that will be on display during The Faceless event, click here.
New Sear Bliss Album Cover Artwork Revealed
The new Sear Bliss album "The Arcane Odyssey" is set to release on Sept 24, 2007 through Candlelight Records.The artwork is painted by Jozsef Tari, a highly talented Hungarian artist who painted the artwork of the previous Sear Bliss album and also Venom's Wastelands album, amongst others. The piece depicts an ancient Hungarian legend of the origin of the Milky Way which is often locally called "The Road Of The Warriors" . The legend says that Csaba, commander of the mighty Huns, came from the night sky to the aid of the fighting Hungarians and after the great battle was won, the dead army of thousands returned to the stars on their horses, leaving the path of the Milky Way.
To see the artwork click here.
Abacus Recordings Shuts Down
Abacus Recordings has officially ceased to exist. Portions of the one-time Century Media Records imprint will now be folded back into Century Media. Launched in 2002, the label was originally headed by Century Media co-owner Robert Kampf. Roughly two years ago Abacus and Century Media split, with Kampf choosing to relinquish his portion of ownership. Details regarding the latest arrangement between the two entities are scant, but it appears that certain Abacus bands will now be brought over to the Century Media roster. In recent years Abacus has released material by Sick Of It All, Ion Dissonance, and Sworn Enemy, among many others.
Motorhead To Tour Australia With Rose Tattoo
According to Undercover News, MOTÖRHEAD will return to Australia for a headline tour, playing all major cities with Oz-rock legends ROSE TATTOO in support. The tour dates are as follows:
Oct. 03 - Convention Centre, Brisbane, Australia
Oct. 05 - Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia
Oct. 06 - Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia
Oct. 07 - Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, Australia
Oct. 10 - The Forum, Melbourne, Australia
Oct. 11 - The Forum, Melbourne, Australia
Oct. 13 - Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide, Australia
Oct. 16 - Challenge Stadium, Perth, Australia
Oct. 20 - TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Disturbed Guitarist Talks About New Material
DISTURBED guitarist Dan Donegan gave a brand new interview to "The Big Rock Show" about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the group's new album and the band's future plans. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:
On what DISTURBED has been up to in the last few months:
"We've just been writing. We've been real busy. Our personal lives have been busy as well. Mike [Wengren], our drummer, just got married a couple of weeks ago, and I just had a baby boy a little over a month ago. We're all just kind of balancing family life and trying to get back in writing mode, which we've been kind of hitting it pretty hard. Before Mike's wedding and before the baby came, we wanted to get the majority of the material [for the next DISTURBED album] written, which we we seemed to be pretty successful at, so we're just kind of fine-tuning a lot of stuff right now."
On how the new DISTURBED material compares to previous albums:
"Definitely, as far as musically, it's a lot ballsier than we've written. There's gonna be those signature things that are us, just 'cause stylistically that's the way we perform, and David [Draiman], vocally, is always gonna sound like him, so… he's got some big melodic moments, but there's some still aggressive stuff — just a lot ballsier, I think. [We're] trying to get a good blend of the elements of the past three CDs to try to evolve into something fresh and new for us as well."
On the group's plans for the rest of the year and the possibility of live dates:
"Right now the gameplan is to hit the studio this fall. That's where our heads are at, that's where we feel… that we're ready for it, so as long as we get the green light from the record label to give us our budget and let us go in and make this record, then that's our main goal right now — just bang this out and get it ready. More than likely, we probably won't hit the road until after the first of the year, but I don't wanna rule that out — anything is possible in this business; things pop up all the time and opportunities pop up, but the main priority is, once we get into the stuio, it's highly unlikely that we're gonna leave until we're finished with the CD. I Once we get in that mode of recording, we like to just see it through and finish it."
Skindred To Release New Album In October
Welsh ragga-punk-metal outfit SKINDRED has set October 23 as the release date for its second album, entitled "Rock Roots Riot". The group plan to release the first single from the effort, "Rat Race", in the coming weeks, with a radio impact date to shortly follow.
The recording of "Rock Roots Riot" was completed at Bieler Bros. Studios in Pompano Beach, FL with producer Matt Squire (PANIC AT THE DISCO) and was mixed by Rick Will (BABYLON). The album will feature twelve tracks sure to take hardcore SKINDRED fans to a whole new level.
"Rock Roots Riot" will be the follow-up to the band's groundbreaking, breakthrough, debut album, "Babylon", which sold over 250,000 copies and featured the smash single "Nobody" and its successful follow-up "Pressure". During the time of "Babylon"'s release, SKINDRED toured the world exhaustively with the likes of KORN, CHEVELLE, BREAKING BENJAMIN, H.I.M., SEVENDUST, PAPA ROACH, SOULFLY and also appeared on the mega Download festival, where SKINDRED frontman Benji Webbe took over vocals for KORN to perform their legendary song, "A.D.I.D.A.S."
SKINDRED has kept a low profile stateside while writing the new record and touring their native U.K. That will change upon the release of "Rock Roots Riot" as the band has extensive tour plans in the works.
Vinnie Paul Talks About Former Bandmates
Andre Mihsin from Canada's Chart Attack has posted this report:
After the murder of his brother, Dimebag Darrell Abbott, Vinnie Paul Abbott took a break from making music. But he has finally returned with HELLYEAH, a band that includes Abbott on drums along with DAMAGEPLAN bassist Bob Zilla, vocalist Chad Gray and guitarist Greg Tribbett from MUDVAYNE and guitarist Tom Maxwell from NOTHINGFACE. After such a long time away from the music scene, there was a lot of catching up to do with Abbott's new project, his Big Vin Records label and the relationship with his former PANTERA band mates.
Chart Attack: Did you guys make a conscious decision to make a more straight-up rock record as opposed to a heavy record like DAMAGEPLAN or PANTERA?
Vinnie Paul: "The two most important things to me for this record were I wanted everything to have a really kick-ass groove to it that you can tap your foot to or bang your head or mosh to or whatever and have really great songs - songs that people will remember."
Chart Attack: You have a lot of friends from Zakk Wylde to David Allan Coe that you could have worked with. Did you approach anyone about forming a band?
Vinnie Paul: "I decided it was something that was going to have to fall in my lap. It wasn't something that I was going to go searching for. I was really content at the time working on my record label. We had just released the Rebel Meets Rebel and the Dimevision when the [MUDVAYNE] guys called me."
Chart Attack: Even back in the PANTERA days you were always involved in the production aspect of the record. Is producing a record without being in the band something you would want to try?
Vinnie Paul: "I've thought about it, but I still love touring and I still love being out on the road. I missed it quite a bit during the time period I was away from it. So I feel like as long as I'm physically able to go do that, playing is always going to be a part of what I do."
Chart Attack: As the most experienced guy in the band you certainly add a level of leadership. However, is there anything you learned from working with the younger guys?
Vinnie Paul: "I think we always complemented each other quite well. It was really cool to see how well Chad and Greg worked together on his vocal performances. Everyone has different ideas and different techniques that they bring to the table so every time you go into the studio it's new and a different experience and you try to remember all the good things that you learned from it and pass on the things that didn't work and the ideas that were time-consuming and just go from there."
Chart Attack: Why did you guys decide to join the Family Values Tour?
Vinnie Paul: "They invited us to be a part of it. We wanted this band to play to as many people as possible. Going out doing a headliner as a brand new band is really tough, you only reach 500, 600, maybe 1,000 people a night, whereas being part of a big package tour like that there's an opportunity to play for anywhere between 10,000 to 20,000 people a night. We really felt like this music was made for the masses and that's what we want to do is bring it to as many people as possible."
Chart Attack: Will you get involved in any other musical projects when the other HELLYEAH guys go back to their bands?
Vinnie Paul: "The main thing is I'm really going to listen to a lot of demos this summer while I'm out because I really am interested in signing a band or two to my label that I really feel has something new and different to offer and putting them out. When those guys get done touring for the MUDVAYNE and NOTHINGFACE records, we'll get back together and do 'Hellyeah II' as soon as we can because everybody is really fired up about it, and they all come from great bands so we'll see where it goes from there."
Chart Attack: I heard that 'Hellyeah II' is already in the works.
Vinnie Paul: "We'll let that rumour fly around, but there's a lot of material there. We're videotaping and collecting everything that we're doing out on the road and we definitely feel like the kind of excitement and fun that goes along with this band that would definitely dictate us having a DVD. So I think that's the next thing you'll see from us."
Chart Attack: You mentioned your label, Big Vin Records. Do you have any upcoming releases?
Vinnie Paul: "The only thing that's really in the works is Dimevision II. We're looking for a fourth quarter release. I also got this comedian that I love called The Chinaman. I'm working on his DVD that we're going to get out pretty soon. That's where it kind of sits right now."
Chart Attack: Any unreleased DAMAGEPLAN, PANTERA or Dimebag material?
Vinnie Paul: "I've got all the demos that me and Dime were working on before everything had happened, and we felt like it was some of the best music we'd ever written and we were really excited about it. We felt like it was going to get us back to a place of recognition like we were with PANTERA. I would think people would definitely want to hear that music and we'll get it out, but right now I'm really focused on HELLYEAH and seeing where this goes. And once this runs its course for this particular record then I'll look at some of those demos."
Chart Attack: What's HELLYEAH doing after Family Values?
Vinnie Paul: "We plan on staying out until the end of the year. The success of the band will dictate that. I'm hoping we finish strong on the Family Values Tour. At that point we'll go out and do another headlining run."
Chart Attack: I don't want to talk too much about the past because what needed to be said has already been said. But what I haven't heard anything about is your relationship with former PANTERA bassist Rex Brown. Do you still have relationship with him?
Vinnie Paul: "Not really. The bridges and the family and everything were destroyed back in 2001. It's kind of hard to have any reason to want to speak to either one of those guys [Rex and former PANTERA vocalist Phil Anselmo]. I just leave it at that. I'm moving on with my life and I'm sure they're moving on with theirs and that's how that's going to be."
Biomechanical Vocalist Adresses Departed Members
BIOMECHANICAL vocalist John K. has posted this message on the band's MySpace page regarding the recent departures of Jamie Hunt (guitar), Chris Webb (guitar) and Jon Collins (bass):
"I didn't want this situation to come to this. There is a long history of unpleasant feelings but I never thought that these guys would go so low and attack me publicly. I can say alot of things that could hurt their reputation but I am not going to.
I feel though that I have to explain myself to all the fans who have embraced BIOMECHANICAL. Right from the beginning when I picked each musician for BIOMECHANICAL I explained my self that this was my baby. They all knew what the score was. However I was always open to suggestions and input.
I have to make clear now that I have written, arranged recorded and co-produced all the music for BIOMECH. Artistic direction, lyrical content direction wise, internet content, guitar solo direction, record label relationships were all done by me. I never asked for any recognition for all this. All I asked was to at least respect some decisions that I had to make as a band leader.
I told the guys the band was going to become a project as I was ferociously attacked over my decision to not do the SIKTH gigs due to the fact that the work load for the new album 'Cannibalised' was way too heavy for me and I was clearly going to get ill. It was a simple decision: album or gigs.
I was continuously attacked and cornered to commit into something I couldn't do and on top of this I was told that they outvoted me to go and perform without a singer (which as far as I am concerned it's highly unprofessional unless there is a second singer in the band or enough instrumentals to cover a set) I had no other choice than to tell them this will now be a project on my terms so that I wouldn't have to be subjected to any other attacks again.
I have to thank the guys for leaving the band as they made some decisions a lot easier for me.
BIOMECHANICAL will not be a project as I am now looking for band members.
I am pleased to say I have a drummer Jonno Lodge and I am for looking the rest of the guys to get BIOMECH on the road after the album will be released.
Again really sorry the other members of the band stooped so low but believe it or not I still wish them good luck."
Maroon Finish Work On New Album, To Tour Europe
German metalcore band MAROON have finished the work on their forthcoming new album “The Cold Heart Of The Sun”. The drums were recorded at the Danish Hansen Studios by the mighty Jacob Hansen (Heaven Shall Burn, Neaera, Fear My Thoughts, Volbeat, etc), who also did the mixing and mastering duties for the album while the other instruments and vocals were nailed down at the Rape Of Harmonies studio in Germany with Ralf Müller, Patrick W. Engel and Alexander Dietz (Heaven Shall Burn).
Here is the MAROON “The Cold Heart Of The Sun” tracklisting:
1. [Reach] The Sun
2. Only The Sleeper Left The World
3. Steelbath Your Heart
4. My Funeral Song
5. Black Halo!
6. The Cold Heart Of The Sun
7. For Those Unseen
8. As Truth Becomes Vain
9. The Iron Council
10. Fear The Most Them Who Protect
11. Some Goodbyes Are Farewells
“The Cold Heart Of The Sun” will be released in Europe on October 22nd.
Furthermore MAROON have been confirmed for the mainland for the European tour alongside As I Lay Dying, Darkest Hour and labelmates HIMSA. More...
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