Darkest Hour Replaces Guitarist

Darkest Hour has parted ways with guitarist Kris Norris on good terms. Kris will be working on several projects over the next few months. Follow him at www.krisnorris.net.

Joining the band is Houston’s own Cinderella story, guitarist Mike "Lonestar" Carrigan. Many of you have already seen him rock with us at this year’s Thrash and Burn tour.

With Lonestar officially on board the band is heading back into the studio to write and record with producer Brian McTernan of Baltimore’s Salad Days Studios.

About this choice, guitarist Mike Schleibaum comments: "We are excited to work with Brian again. He has been a long time friend and supporter of the band ever since its very first shows in 1995. When we recorded Mark of the Judas with him in 2000, it helped solidify our sound and define us as a band. Eight years later its time to do it again. With all the scars of our past to guide us, we look towards a new future."

Darkest Hour will enter the studio in November 2008. Look for a European headlining tour this January, and a new record in the spring of 2009.

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Type O Guitarist Joins Kingdom Of Sorrow On Tour

KINGDOM OF SORROW will be joined by Kenny Hickey of TYPE O NEGATIVE for a portion of dates on their upcoming North American tour with GWAR and label-mates TOXIC HOLOCAUST. Hickey will fill-in for Kirk Windstein, who will be on tour with DOWN in late October and November. Statements from Windstein, Hickey, and KOS's Jamey Jasta are below.

Kirk Windstein: "What's up everyone!? I just wanted to let you all know that we've found a GREAT fill in guitarist for yours truly, raging rocker and good friend Kenny Hickey of TYPE-O-NEGATIVE, and I couldn't be happier with the choice. He will be jamming with the young Jasta and crew during the first half of the GWAR tour so please go out and support KINGDOM OF SORROW while I am fulfilling my duties with DOWN. I wish I could rock in two places at once but my 1 priority is DOWN right now, we are touring with METALLICA and there's no way in hell I would miss that.

"I will however be playing the first couple of shows and the last leg of the tour with KINGDOM OF SORROW though, so don't fret! Come out and rock with us and buy the old one a cold one!!!"

Kenny Hickey: "About 2 weeks ago I was bitching to my daughter about how I needed to get back on the road - been home long enough and needed to break out. At that moment I received a text message from my friend Jamey Jasta. To my amazement he was asking me to hit the road with him with his new band KINGDOM OF SORROW! I would be filling in for Kirk whom I've known for years - way back to the beginning of the CROWBAR, TYPE O, PANTERA days. On top of that, TYPE O and HATEBREED had just finished tearing a hole through the states on a 7 week co-headlining tour which was over the top insanity and fun. I went out that next day and bought the Kingdom of Sorrow record and was sold immediately. I'm in boys.
We're gonna kick a hole in the universe!"

Jamey Jasta: "When DOWN was first confirmed on the METALLICA tour I really thought we would just have to cancel the GWAR run but Kirk INSISTED that I push on without him and do what's right for the fans and for KINGDOM OF SORROW. When faced with finding a suitable replacement for Kirk, Kenny Hickey instantly came to mind and I could not be happier that he is available and stoked to tour with us. I must say that Kenny is one of the most talented and underrated players out there in the rock / metal world and I had the time of my life touring with TYPE O this past summer.
We're pumped to be able to perform with KINGDOM OF SORROW in so many cities across the USA and Canada! Thanks for the support and we'll see you at the shows!"

Additionally, KINGDOM OF SORROW has announced a number of headlining dates leading up to the GWAR tour. The band will headline shows on their way to Florida to meet up with GWAR and TOXIC HOLOCAUST for the massive 12-week North American tour, hitting over 70 cities all across Canada and the U.S. A complete listing of confirmed tour dates and cities can be found below.

Here are the latest KINGDOM OF SORROW tour dates: More...

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Dimmu Borgir DVD To Get Theater Premiere

On September 30th at 10 p.m. at the Steve Allen Theater in Los Angeles, fans of Norwegian black metal will have the unique opportunity to attend an exclusive, advanced screening of footage from DIMMU BORGIR’s "The Invaluable Darkness" DVD, a three-disc package of 2 DVDs plus a bonus audio CD, scheduled for North American release on October 14, 2008.

There will be a Question-&-Answer session with special guest Silenoz of DIMMU BORGIR. The event will be hosted by Brendon Small of Metalocalypse, who shares:

“DIMMU is one of the best bands around. As a fan, I'm really looking forward to the Q and A! And as a person who spends his time with a cartoon band, it's going to be nice to spend time with a human member of a band that actually exists..."

Tickets are $10.00 and will include a free Nuclear Blast grab bag plus raffle entry for the following prizes:

FIRST PRIZE: An ESP Guitar autographed by members of DIMMU BORGIR

SECOND PRIZE: Two tickets to DIMMU BORGIR’s Los Angeles show on November 5th at The Gibson Amphitheater

THIRD PRIZE: A promotional copy of "The Invaluable Darkness" DVD

For tickets and additional information on the DVD premiere, visit www.SteveAllenTheater.com.

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Rumpelstiltskin Grinder Completes New Album

Philadelphia thrashers RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER have completed recording their brand new album. The as-yet-untitled new full-length was recorded by engineer Dan O'Hare at Mark It Zero studios and will see a January 20, 2009 release (January 26th internationally) through Relapse Records.

The band recently visited Woozyfly.com's JSM studios to record a set where they debuted three tracks, "Nothing Defeats The Skull," "Beware The Thrash Brigade," and "Brainwasher," from the forthcoming album. The session is streaming online and can be accessed online here.

RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER has also announced a string of upcoming tour dates, their first since completing the new album. A listing of tour dates and cities can be found below with more to be announced shortly.

Here are the latest RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER tour dates:

September 18 Lancaster, PA Chameleon Club
September 27 Wilmington, DE Mojo 13 (w/ MISERY INDEX, MORTAL DECAY, REVOCATION, THE BARN)
October 11 Dover, DE Hardwired Rock Bar (w/ DIVINATION, VON KULL)
October 24 Allentown, PA The Sterling Hotel (w/ CAR BOMB, PSYOPUS, JUCIFER, and more)
November 21 York, PA Smalls (w/ SPINEBELT, GLOOMINUS DOOM)

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Savage Blade Posts New Single Online

Canadian power metal band, Savage Blade, are pleased to announce the online release of their first single, "We Are The Hammer," which is the title track from their forthcoming debut album.

Produced by the band and engineer/amateur wrestler Andy Chute, "We Are The Hammer" was recorded at Funktion Studios in Nelson BC, Canada and completed in the late spring of 2008. "We Are The Hammer" is currently being mixed in Vancouver BC by producer/engineer Futcher (the BeGoodTanyas, HellenKeller, Girl Nobody), and the band plans to announce an official release date for the album in the coming weeks.

In addition to posting the single on MySpace page, "We Are The Hammer" is also available for download here.

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Guitar Hero: World Tour Setlist Revealed

The makers of the forthcoming new game, Guitar Hero:World Tour has announced the final tracklisting for the game which is as follows:

311 - “Beautiful Disaster”
30 Seconds To Mars - “The Kill”
Airbourne - “Too Much Too Young”
The Allman Brothers Band - “Ramblin’Man”
Anouk - “Good God”
The Answer - “Never Too Late”
At The Drive-In - “One Armed Scissor”
Beastie Boys - “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”
Beatsteaks - “Hail to the Freaks”
Billy Idol - “Rebel Yell”
Black Label Society - “Stillborn”
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - “Weapon of Choice”
Blink-182 - “Dammit”
Blondie - “One Way or Another”
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - “Hollywood Nights”
Bon Jovi - “Livin’On A Prayer”
Bullet For My Valentine - “Scream Aim Fire”
Coldplay - “Shiver”
Creedence Clearwater Revival - “Up Around The Bend”
The Cult - “Love Removal Machine”
Dinosaur Jr. - “Feel The Pain”
The Doors - “Love Me Two Times”
Dream Theater - “Pull Me Under”
The Eagles - “Hotel California”
The Enemy - “Aggro”
Filter - “Hey Man, Nice Shot”
Fleetwood Mac - “Go Your Own Way”
Foo Fighters - “Everlong”
The Guess Who - “American Woman”
Hush Puppies - “You’re Gonna Say Yeah!”
Interpol - “Obstacle 1?
Jane’s Addiction - “Mountain Song”
Jimi Hendrix - “Purple Haze (Live)”
Jimi Hendrix - “The Wind Cries Mary”
Jimmy Eat World - “The Middle”
Joe Satriani - “Satch Boogie”
Kent - “Vinternoll2?
Korn - “Freak On A Leash”
Lacuna Coil - “Our Truth”
Lenny Kravitz - “Are You Gonna Go My Way”
Linkin Park - “What I’ve Done”
The Living End - “Prisoner of Society”
Los Lobos - “La Bamba”
Lostprophets - “Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)”
Lynyrd Skynyrd - “Sweet Home Alabama (Live)”
Mars Volta - “L’Via L’Viaquez”
MC5’s Wayne Kramer - “Kick Out The Jams”
Metallica - “Trapped Under Ice”
Michael Jackson - “Beat It”
Modest Mouse - “Float On”
Motorhead - “Overkill”
Muse - “Assassin”
Negramaro - “Nuvole e Lenzuola”
Nirvana - “About a Girl (Unplugged)”
No Doubt - “Spiderwebs”
NOFX - “Soul Doubt”
Oasis - “Some Might Say”
Ozzy Osbourne - “Crazy Train”
Ozzy Osbourne - “Mr. Crowley”
Paramore - “Misery Business”
Pat Benatar - “Heartbreaker”
R.E.M. - “The One I Love”
Radio Futura - “Escuela De Calor”
Rise Against - “Re-Education Through Labor”
Sex Pistols - “Pretty Vacant”
Silversun Pickups - “Lazy Eye”
Smashing Pumpkins - “Today”
Steely Dan - “Do It Again”
Steve Miller Band - “The Joker”
Sting - “Demolition Man (Live)”
The Stone Roses - “Love Spreads”
Stuck In The Sound - “Toy Boy”
Sublime - “Santeria”
Survivor - “Eye of the Tiger”
System of a Down - “B.Y.O.B.”
Ted Nugent - “Stranglehold”
Tokio Hotel - “Monsoon”
Tool - “Parabola”
Tool - “Schism”
Tool - “Vicarious”
Trust - “Antisocial”
Van Halen - “Hot For Teacher”
Willie Nelson - “On The Road Again”
Wings - “Band on the Run”

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Children Of Bodom Bassist Posts Tour Report

Children Of Bodom bassist Henkka Seppälä has posted the following update from the road:

"The first headlining tour in the States since 2006. We are excited!!! Our first time in Baltimore was really cool. Of course we didn't expect anything but there were people and the crowd was great!! Thanks for that. McNulty didn't show up tho...

"And the show in Masquerade in Atlanta was one of the hottest we have experienced ever. Really. It was difficult for us, but I bet it was difficult for the crowd too. But we pulled it off somehow and it was sweaty and intense. Just the way I like it!

"Now we are heading to Texas, hope there are no hurricanes coming our way. Looking forward to play the new venue in Dallas, and also to hang out more with the Black Dahlia and Between guys later on, not enough parties yet, but I m sure we'll fix that!"

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Oath To Vanquish Nearly Done with New Album

Lebanese brutal death metallers OATH TO VANQUISH announced the material for their long awaited second album, to be entitled "The Ruinous Fate of the Blind," is near completion. An advanced sample preview of a new track will be posted on the band's website and myspace profile soon.

The album focuses on the inevitable aftermath of unyielding undisputed faith in dogma of human manufacture. Song titles in progress include, "The Impervious Sanctity of Iniquity," "The Ruinous Fate of the Blind," and "Apothecary of Abhorrence."

A move into a new rehearsal facility, currently under construction, is imminent. Photos and video footage will be made available soon.

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Testament Announces Headlining US Tour Dates

TESTAMENT has announced a string of headlining dates this October with Louisiana metallers Soilent Green. The tour includes TESTAMENT’s appearance at the Hammerstein Ballroom on October 9 in New York City, where they will be direct support to headliners Children of Bodom; also special guests, The Black Dahlia Murder and Between The Buried and Me.

Guitarist Eric Peterson checked in to discuss the Metal Masters tour and the band’s upcoming US headlining dates: "We just finished the Metal Masters tour, and it was a great tour to be on. Unfortunately, it went by too quick. We got to know everyone towards the end, and it started to feel like family. It’s too bad it had to end so soon, especially after getting to know everyone. Hopefully, the Metal Masters will continue next year in Europe."

"In the meantime, we’re heading to Japan and Australia. The last time we played there in ’06, we promised our fans we’d have a new record out the next time we came around. We kept our promise and we’re excited to get back there and play it for them."

"Once we get back, we’ll be headlining some east coast shows, including a one-off with Children of Bodom at the infamous Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. We’ll have full production, so we’re excited to put on our whole show. This tour is going to focus on secondary markets, so we don’t spoil anything for next year. We plan on having a big year and putting a big package together, wink wink."

Upcoming Testament tour dates are as follows: More...

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Don Caballero Announces European Tour Dates

DON CABALLERO has announced the dates their first European headlining tour in support of their brand new full-length, "Punkgasm." This tour will kick-off in mid-October in the Netherlands and also include inaugural stops in Norway, Luxembourg, Croatia, and Poland for the band. DON CABALLERO will also be performing as part of the Hobaken Festival in London alongside FUCKED UP, PART CHIMP, SUN RA's ARKESTRA, and more as well as the Lo-Fi Festival in Poland during this run. A complete listing of tour dates can be found below with more to be announced soon.

DON CABALLERO released Punkgasm in late August and have just completed their first US run in support of the album. Tracks taken from "Punkgasm," "Lord Krepelka" and "Bulk Eye," can be heard now via the band's MySpace page.

Here are the upcoming DON CABALLERO European tour dates: More...

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"This Tour Sucks" Dates Announced

Eulogy Recordings has announced U.S. dates and venues for "This Tour Sucks," which features Jacksonville’s KIDS LIKE US, THE MONGOLOIDS, THICK AS BLOOD and YEARS SPENT COLD. On select dates are FURIOUS STYLES and South KNOW THE SCORE. This tour will hit clubs all across the U.S. between October 19th and November 23rd.

Here are the latest "This Tour Sucks" dates: More...

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Living Hell Signs To Eulogy Recordings

LIVING HELL has joined the Eulogy Recordings roster. Forged from the ashes of various notable New England hardcore bands, Living Hell fuses a sound of pestilent hardcore combined with raw metallic overtones.

Having released their first full length record, "The Lost and The Damned," on Revelation Records almost a year ago, Living Hell is gearing up to record their Eulogy debut in the winter of 2009.

You can check out some of the band's current material on their MySpace page.

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Poison The Well Continues Work on New Album

Poison The Well is roughly halfway through the writing process for their next album. The band recently demoed seven new songs and is currently working on three more, with plans to ultimately have 10-12 songs on the new album.

Bradley Clifford had the following to say about the new material: "Being a new dude, I was a little nervous about how everything was going to be when it came time to write, wondering what music would come out of us and if we'd all be on the same page. I'm very happy to say it's straight-up fucking awesome. It doesn't sound like any other PTW records, but it sounds like a great next step. I don't know how to describe it... the closest comparison I have is saying it sounds like music made by a vampire crust punk wearing a cutoff jean jacket with spikes and a giant Crass patch on the back, headbanging to darkly romantic 50s music while on his way to the beach for a surf party."

In related news, last week Clifford suffered a broken collarbone in a bike accident and will be in a sling for 4-6 weeks.

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Mudvayne Announces Tour Dates

Mudvayne has announced the initial tour dates for their upcoming North American trek. Joining them on the tour will be 10 Years and the recently reunited Snot.

Mudvaune are currently working on a new album which is entitled, "The New Game" and are hoping to release the record in mid-November. The first single from the album, "Do What You Do" will be hitting the airwaves on September 23rd.

The tour dates are as follows:

October 30 - Corpus Christi, TX @ Concrete Street Amphitheater
November 8 - Albuquerque, NM @ Albuquerque Convention Center
November 11 - Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
December 9 - Columbus, OH @ Lifestyle Communities Pavilion

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Virus IV Brings New Bassist On Board

Virus IV has announced that Christophe Babin has joined the band as bass player to replace Renaut Van Oeyen, who is now playing the second guitar. Chris was formally a member of Eradicate. He toured last year, opening for headlining band Symphony X, and has recorded several albums with French bassist such as Eric Serra and Bernard Paganotti.

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