Guitarist Alex Grossi (QUIET RIOT, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, HOOKERS 'N' BLOW) has joined the revamped ADLER'S APPETITE, the band led by former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler. "The new lineup is a kick ass one and I can't wait to get out there and play with these guys," Grossi says. "Tour dates and details to follow in the coming weeks."
ADLER'S APPETITE commemorated the 20th anniversary of GNR's classic debut "Appetite for Destruction" last year by touring South America. However, Adler was forced to cancel a European tour with the band due to "personal issues."
Adler pleaded no contest on November 14 to a heroin possession charge in the hopes of avoiding jail time by entering a treatment program, according to Reuters.
Adler is scheduled to appear in court on December 12 to determine if he is eligible for drug treatment instead of jail.
Adler was arrested in Los Angeles on July 18, after someone called police to report he was causing a disturbance.
He appeared this year on the reality television show "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" during an earlier attempt to get off drugs.
The other members of GUNS N' ROSES band threw Adler out in 1989, saying his drug use was harming his performance. In 1993, the band agreed to pay him $2.3 million to settle Adler's lawsuit claiming a 1990 agreement by which he gave up his interest in the band was read to him and signed without his attorney present.
Norwegian thrashers SUSPERIA have set "Speaking Killing Words" as the title of their new album, due in early 2009. The band has been working continuously throughout the year on the follow-up to 2007's "Cut From Stone" approximately ten tracks were written for the new CD. Commenting on the new material, SUSPERIA recently stated that "It's a mix of hard and fast songs with some nice touches of melody."
SUSPERIA will make an appearance at this year's Canarias Hard and Heavy Meeting, which is scheduled to take place Decemebr 5-6 at Maspalomas, Gran Canaria in the Canary Isles. The band will headline the event on Saturday, December 6. Other acts set to appear at the festival include VICIOUS ART, INFEKTOR and ESCLAVITUD.
Canarias Hard and Heavy Meeting is organized by Norway's Helvette and Scream magazines. It was originally intended for Scandinavian metal fans as a getaway from their notoriously dark days of winter. However, the opportunity to have a metal-filed sunshine winter break has been gaining interest from further afield. As a result, the magazines are organizing vacations to the event from various countries between December 3 and December 10.
SUSPERIA released its fourth studio album, "Cut from Stone", last year through the Tabu label in Europe and Candlelight Records in the USA. It entered the Norwegian chart at position No. 18 and was the No. 1 most added album on the influential CMJ Loud Rock and FMQB radio charts in the U.S.
"Cut from Stone" was recorded at Strand Studio, Oslo, Norway during 2006. The mix was completed by Daniel Bergstrand (IN FLAMES, MESHUGGAH, SOILWORK) at Dug-Out Studios in Uppsala, Sweden, while the production was handled by SUSPERIA and Marius Strand.
Fan-filmed video footage of SUSPERIA performing at the Metal Rock Festival in Lillehammer, Norway on August 16, 2008 can be viewed below.
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS/ex-VELVET REVOLVER frontman Scott Weiland performed his new solo track "Missing Cleveland" on last night's (Friday, November 21) episode of NBC-TV's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". Watch the performance below.
A brand new interview with Scott Weiland conducted by "Mike In The Morning" on Detroit's WRIF 101.1 FM radio station is available for streaming at this location.
"Happy In Galoshes", the sophomore solo album from Scott Weiland, is scheduled for release on November 25 via Weiland's label Softdrive Records and distributed by New West Records/ RED/Sony. The CD, produced by Scott Weiland and Doug Grean (VELVET REVOLVER, SHERYL CROW, CRYSTAL METHOD), with select tracks recorded by Steve Albini, features a collection of songs that bring a revitalizing sound to Weiland's highly praised and unique musical style. The album also features several guest appearances including Adrian Young, Tony Kanal and Tom Dumont of NO DOUBT, who, along with Grean and Weiland, penned "Paralysis", which features Young on drums. "She's so Cold" was co-written by Gary Beers from INXS. The album also includes other standout tracks such as the dynamic "Missing Cleveland" and the catchy hooks of "Talk About Love". A deluxe edition of "Happy In Galoshes" will be made available through Best Buy. The two-disc set will feature 19 songs and a total of 88 minutes of music, along with a 16-page color booklet, a redemption card for a free Scott Weiland T-shirt, and an immediate download of the first single, "Missing Cleveland".
Scott Weiland will perform on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on November 26.
Scott Weiland will celebrate the release of "Happy In Galoshes" by making an appearance at the Virgin Megastore in Hollywood, California on Monday, November 24 at 9:00 p.m. Scott will perform live in the Hollywood & Highland courtyard, and will follow it up by taking part in a CD-signing at the Virgin Megastore. Purchase your copy at this location only beginning November 24 at 10:00 a.m. and receive a wristband that guarantees you a spot in line to have your CD signed. (***While supplies last. One person per wristband. One wristband per CD purchased.)
Former CELTIC FROST guitarist Ron Marks, who currently fronts his solo project dubbed SUBSONIC, has issued the following update:
"The band is alive and well and working hard to find reputable agencies and promoters toward live shows. We've had very good response and now it's time to see how sincere these interests are. I'll leave it there because we never know from which direction something good may develop. That condition has proved true too many times before to make any projections.
"In the meantime, longtime friend Tony Mentzer of THE GLORYSTOMPERS has invited us to share a bill with them on December 12th at Cedars Lounge in Youngstown, OH. Arrangments are being made to shoot this show in hi-def. This should be a very interesting night, as THE GLORYSTOMPERS and SUBSONIC are stylistically different bands. I love that fact and so does Tony. I guess that's what happens when you get two Zappa fans planning the bill. So sneak a few bucks from your holiday shopping stash and check out this show. We are certainly looking forward to it."
SUBSONIC's current touring lineup is completed by Darren DiPreta (bass), Brandon Park (guitar) and Troy Allshouse (drums).
The band released its third album, "Blood Groove", on March 1 via Nexiardé Music.
VH1 Classic's Rock Autism Celebrity Bowl-Off took over Lucky Strike Lanes in Hollywood on Thursday, November 13 as rock stars, actors, and athletes alike put on their bowling shoes in support of autism awareness. The evening benefitted three autism organizations and raised funds which will be donated to the charities: hollyrod4kids, ACT Today!, and The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism.
The event was hosted by actress Holly Robinson Peete, her husband NFL legend Rodney Peete, and former JANE'S ADDICTION guitarist Dave Navarro. Members of the bands VELVET REVOLVER, CAMP FREDDY, THE CULT, L.A. GUNS, GREAT WHITE, STEEL PANTHER, LIT, GOO GOO DOLLS, ROONEY and LIFEHOUSE came out to bowl for the cause as did Jerry Cantrell of ALICE IN CHAINS, Billy Gibbons of ZZ TOP, Scott Ian of ANTHRAX, former NFL players Jason Sehorn and Ed Marinaro, and John Salley of the NBA.
GREAT WHITE pulled out all of the stops in the tough bowling competition and came out on top as the tournament winners. The rockers were awarded with trophies and VH1 bowling shirts.
As classic rock blared through the speakers and VH1 Classic videos streamed on screens through the bowling alley, celebrities and Bowl-Off attendees browsed a silent auction table overflowing with rare rock and roll and sports memorabilia. In addition to the silent auction, a few items were auctioned live including an autographed JANE'S ADDICTION guitar, a USC football helmet signed by seven Heisman Trophy winners, and a signed 2008 Lakers team jersey.
VH1 Classic's Rock Autism campaign is designed to help educate parents and build awareness about autism and to raise funds for a variety of autism research, advocacy and support organizations.
A brand new audio interview with guitarist/vocalist Rik Emmett of the legendary Canadian rock band TRIUMPH conducted by Tori Thomas of 95.1 WZZO in Allentown, Pennsylvania is available for download in six parts:
As one of the godfathers of prog metal and leading lights of arena rock, TRIUMPH formed in 1975, and built a large and loyal fanbase by the late '70s on the strength of their non-stop touring schedule throughout Canada and the USA and the success of their classic albums, "Rock & Roll Machine" and "Just A Game". But it was in the 1980s when TRIUMPH truly became a force to be reckoned with, as a string of gold/platinum-certified albums ("Progressions of Power", "Allied Forces", "Never Surrender" and "Thunder Seven") and classic hits ("Fight the Good Fight", "Magic Power", "Lay It On The Line") solidified the group as one of rock's top concert attractions.
Sounds2move.de has uploaded an 11-minute "tour movie" documenting the recent Headbangers Ball 2008 trek through Denmark featuring MERCENARY, RAUNCHY, PILGRIMZ and LAST MILE. Watch the footage below.
A German-language report can be foun at this location.
MERCENARY's latest album, "Architect of Lies", was released in early 2008 through Century Media Records. Featuring artwork by Niklas Sundin (ARCH ENEMY, DARK TRANQUILLITY), it was made available as a regular CD and a special limited-edition version featuring the bonus track "Death Connection" and a bonus DVD containing live footage filmed at Bang Your Head!!! festival 2007 and Summer Nights festival 2007, a detailed studio report and the promo video for "My World Is Ending".
Wisconsin death metallers JUNGLE ROT have inked a deal with Austria's Napalm Records. The band will enter Studio One in Racine, Wisconsin with longtime engineer Chris Djuricic on December 26, 2008 to record its new album, titled "What Horrors Await". The CD is scheduled for a spring 2009 release, with subsequent touring to follow. Artwork for the release is being handled by Gyula Havancsák (DESTRUCTION, ANNIHILATOR, GRAVE DIGGER). Songtitles set to appear on the album include "End Of An Age", "Worst Case Scenario", "Nerve Gas Catastrophe", "State Of War", "Black Candle Mass", "Speak The Truth", "What Horrors Await", "Exit Wounds", "Two Faced Disgrace", "Braindead" and "Invincible Force" (DESTRUCTION).
JUNGLE ROT is:
Dave Matrise: Guitar/Vocals James Genenz: Bass Geoff Bub: Guitar Eric House: Drums
Commented the band: "It's nice to finally have a label we can call home. We have watched this label grow from their beginnings. We're definitely glad to be part of the Napalm roster and we hope to be a great asset and addition to the label. The new album is going to completely CRUSH! We look forward to a long and prosperous tenure with Napalm Records!"
Two new songs — "State Of War" and "Nerve Gas Catastrophe" — are available for streaming at the band's MySpace page.
JUNGLE ROT's latest album, "War Zone", was released on June 27, 2006 via Crash Music.
JUNGLE ROT performing live in Holland (March 2008):
OSI (OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INFLUENCE), the project featuring FATES WARNING guitarist Jim Matheos and ex-DREAM THEATER keyboardist Kevin Moore, will begin mixing its as-yet-untitled album in early December with engineer Phil Magnotti. A spring 2009 release is expected. OPETH mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt has contributed vocals to a song entitled "Stockholm" for the CD. The track was recorded by David Castillo at Castillo Sound studios.
Commented Mikael: "I was approached by Jim Matheos about the matter some time ago, and since I'm a fan of OSI, I said 'Sure!'"
He added, "It's a very moody song and completely unlike anything I've ever done before. I wrote the lyrics and the vocal lines for the piece that I simply decided to call 'Stockholm'."
OSI has spent the past several months working on its third album. According to Moore, "Gavin Harrison (PORCUPINE TREE) is playing drums on this one; he's nearly done tracking and it sounds great. Along with guitar, Jim is handling bass this time. I still get to sing but may get some help."
OSI's previous recordings featured DREAM THEATER's Mike Portnoy on drums.
The band's last release was the 2006 EP featuring three remixes of "Free" album tracks. InsideOut Music issued a CD version of the EP, which also included a video for the song "Free" (see below) directed by Andreas Nilsson.
OSI's "Free" album featured a guest appearance on five tracks by FATES WARNING/ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera.
GALEXIA, the industrial/progressive project led by Orange, Connecticut-based musician Kenneth Joseph Spaziani, will release its self-titled debut album on March 10, 2009. The CD features guest vocal contributions from Arjen A. Lucassen from AYREON, Damian Wilson from THRESHOLD, Marko Eskola of FARMAKON, Martyna Halas, and Gordon Tittsworth of IMAGES OF EDEN.
In other news, Eskola has joined GALEXIA as a permanent member. "Marko sang amazingly on the two tracks he had the spotlight on for the debut," stated Spaziani. "The tracks we are going to be able to lay down together will be incredible. He is an extremely talented vocalist and I am glad to be permanently working with him as GALEXIA!"
HardTimes.ca recently conducted an interview with STIGMA, the band led by legendary AGNOSTIC FRONT guitarist Vinny Stigma. Watch the six-minute chat below.
STIGMA released its first album, "New York Blood", in Europe on September 19 via I Scream Records. The CD was issued in the U.S. via HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta's Stillborn Records.
The MetalList webzine has uploaded photos of TIAMAT's November 21, 2008 concert at the Tochka club in Moscow, Russia.
TIAMAT utilized the services of guitarist Johan Nieman (ex-THERION) for its Russian dates following the recent departure of Thomas Wyreson.
The group's setlist was as follows:
01. Vote For Love 02. Children Of The Underworld 03. Cain 04. To Have And To Have Not 05. Raining Dead Angels 06. Whatever That Hurts 07. I Am In Love With Myself 08. In A Dream 09. Phantasma De Luxe 10. Wings Of Heaven 11. Do You Dream Of Me? 12. Until The Hellhounds Sleep Again 13. As Long As You Are Mine
Encore 1:
14. Via Dolorosa 15. Brighter Than The Sun 16. Cold Seed
Encore 2:
17. The Weeping Song (NICK CAVE cover) 18. The Sleeping Beauty 19. Gaia
Low-quality fan-filmed video footage of the show can be viewed below.
Century Media Records recently released a limited-edition collector's box from Swedish metallers TIAMAT entitled "The Ark of the Covenant - The Complete Century Media Years". Limited to 3,000 copies worldwide, this noble box set also includes two exclusive audio CDs, a numbered authenticity certificate, as well as a comprehensive 74-page booklet with all lyrics, terrific artwork, rare photos and extensive liner notes by Anders Iwers.
TIAMAT's latest album, "Amanethes", was produced by the group's mainman Johan Edlund, and was recorded mainly at The Mansion in Greece, with additional recordings taking place at Studio Mega in Sweden and Cue in Greece. The album was mixed and mastered by Siggi Bemm in Woodhouse Studios, Germany in January 2008.
The digipack version of "Amanethes" contains the exclusive bonus track "Thirst Snake".
HardTimes.ca recently conducted an interview with OVERCAST — the reunited Massachusetts band which features in its ranks KILLSWITCH ENGAGE bassist Mike D'Antonio and SHADOWS FALL singer Brian Fair. Watch the 10-minute chat below.
"Reborn to Kill Again" — a collection of re-recorded versions of more than a dozen of OVERCAST's classic tracks, along with two previously unreleased songs — was released on August 19 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded in 2006 with Adam Dutkiewicz (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) at the helm.
Started in August 1991, OVERCAST disbanded in November 1998 after years of being turned down by labels, skimped out on by promoters, and a general sense of the band being too much of an albatross to continue. Heartbroken and emotionally taxed, each of the members went their separate ways. Brian joined SHADOWS FALL (a band who had opened for OVERCAST on many occasions), Mike D'Antonio started working on a project called KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, Pete Cortese (guitar) continued writing and ended up in a band called SEEMLESS, Scott McCooe (guitar) began playing bass in TRANSIENT, and Jay Fitzgerald (drums) formed and played in many bands, finally settling down in the band TUNNEL DRILL.
Mike D'Antonio spoke about the OVERCAST reunion in an April 2006 interview with MTV.com. The group originally split up a week or so after the band's first U.S. tour (with DISEMBODIED and SHAI HULUD) had concluded, and the guys in OVERCAST returned from a six-week road trip with about $500 to their names.
"We were all just kind of beaten to death," D'Antonio recalled. "We had worked so incredibly hard to get the band to where it was, with little or nothing to show for it besides just fans coming out and seeing us and being really into the band. We just needed to cut our losses and go home, and unfortunately, that was the way most of the people felt in the band. We had gotten done with a practice, and everyone told me how they were feeling. [That band] was my baby — something I cared about more than almost anything else in the world at that point. So when people were telling me they didn't want to do it, I didn't want to face reality. It really bothered me."
Members of DEATH ANGEL, WILL HAVEN, PHALLUCY, EIGHTFOURSEVEN, DEATH VALLEY HIGH and other "special guests" will take part in a benefit concert for DEFTONES bassist Chi Cheng on Saturday, November 29 at Fat City in San Francisco, California.
Fat City 314 11th Street @ Folsom San Francisco, California 94103 Cost: $12
DEFTONES bassist Chi Cheng has not shown any further signs of coming out of his coma, according to a recent post by his mother, Jeanne. Cheng was gravely injured in a November 3 car crash in northern California and remains unconscious and in the hospital. Although he showed some signs of response last week, Jeanne wrote a couple of days ago, "Chi's condition remains the same — serious, but stable. He still lies in a coma, however his vitals (heart, lungs, and blood pressure) all exhibit very stable functions and doctors have begun removing much of the excess monitoring equipment. Chi remains strong in his fight to recover."
Cheng's mother has been posting at the DEFTONES' studio blog but will now start her own to keep fans updated on her son's progress, saying, "DEFTONES will continue to update you on Chi's condition when there's a significant change in his condition."
Cheng is 38 years old and is a poet as well as a musician. He released a CD of his poetry called "The Bamboo Parachute" in 2000.
Cheng has been a member of DEFTONES since its formation in 1988. The band released its debut disc, "Adrenaline", in 1995 and scored a platinum record with 2000's "White Pony".
The group has been recording its sixth album, "Eros", with a spring 2009 arrival in the works.
Steven Rosen of Ultimate-Guitar.com recently conducted an interview with bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala of the Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: What was it like working with [former NIGHTWISH singer] Tarja Turunen?
Marco: Well, working with Tarja at first was really easy; she was — at least at the time — she was down to earth like a Finnish country girl and we were Finnish country boys. So, pretty easy. I still think that basically what led to the breakup was she listened to some really bad advice from her husband and ended up thinking she, as herself, is way too valuable compared to us. And [that] they can dictate the rules. However, it wasn't that way. We didn't put up with it and that's it.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: What was that process like in replacing Tarja? Did you think it was going to be an impossible task or did you feel secure that you could find someone pretty easily?
Marco: It was really funny because I think we got over 2,000 demos and we basically listened to all of them. I think I listened to something like 700 myself. What I found out was there were like a lot of potential singers, a lot of good singers, but people who were still wet behind the ears. So, in order to grow into the band they would need like one or two albums and probably would have done well after that. But of course we wanted to have somebody who would have the sounds down immediately. And this is how we ended up with Anette [Olzon] because she sounds like she had her thing down; she had a lot of energy to pull out and a high voice that has this really good like a tone of her own.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: What were some of the early recording sessions like with Anette? Was it a simple thing to work her into the framework of the band?
Marco: We basically had like instrumental versions of the old albums and she sang over them. Then we kind of invited her over to Finland to a rehearsal room and did some of those live and could hear that, "OK, she can do it." And then we moved with like a few of the demos that we've done for the upcoming album which eventually became "Dark Passion Play" and she sang those over. We were pleased.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: So, when she was actually in the studio and the record button was pushed, you knew that you had made the right decision in bringing her into NIGHTWISH?
Marco: Pretty much, yeah. Well, I guess we had a few songs from the new stuff and she went over them and we were really pleased. She could keep the tone, have the strength and have the sensitivity and all those things in between and everything. So, yeah.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: And then logically, let's talk about how the tracks themselves were recorded. The first single from "Dark Passion Play" was "Eva", a symphonic ballad with strings and piano and horns. There is a brilliant modulation following the solo and every aspect of the instrumentation screams epic. In fact, the classical instruments are recorded completely separate from the guitars and drums, correct?
Marco: Well, the studio process for "Eva" and for the whole album was, when we still didn't have a singer, we still spent two months in the summer of 2006, going over the stuff, rehearsing it and everything and discussing about what kinds of like orchestral stuff we would like to have on it. Even though mainly Tuomas [keyboards], of course, he writes the music and all the lyrics, (there was) some musical input from me and Emppu, the guitar player, as well. After some while after that, we got into the studio and started recording things. You know, what basic studio work is: You do like bottom line where you try to play as much as you can with the whole and then you're starting to go over bass tracks and guitar tracks and stuff; dubbing and doing like new stuff, keyboard stuff. And then the guys go to this orchestra and Abbey Road Studios for it in London. I was pretty pissed because I had to miss it; I was doing some vocal arranging and producing for AMORPHIS, if you know the band? That thing, it got stretched and we had to book four more days and everything so in the end, I missed the Abbey Road because of that. But from the guys I heard that it was pretty really amazing to hear like your stuff by played by real, real goddamned professionals! Still, about the studio thing as well, we had basically all the orchestral stuff recorded before we actually took Anette then into the studio to record the whole album. And, of course, I think it was something that she was a little bit scared but still managed to do a really good job. And by the time we get to the next one and everything, I think she'll be more involved in the whole like thing when we rehearse and arrange the whole stuff together. This time, she didn't really have a chance for it.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: We touched before on the heart of NIGHTWISH's music and that was good songs. But it's more than that — the music is smart without sounding overbearing; it challenged the listener. The band is like an acquired taste — it requires multiple listenings to really understand everything that is going on.
Marco: That is something I agree on. For instance, "Dark Passion Play" is pretty heavy to take on in one listen. And to be honest, in the process of making and listening to it multiple times, I kind of found myself into it. Even though we had done real rehearsing for a long time, but still, getting it down, getting all the instruments, the orchestras, the choirs, getting vocals and everything, it grew onto me. And even though I had a great trust for the whole project, even when we started it and I heard some demo songs from Tuomas and he heard mine, we had this kind of trust, "OK, we're gonna build this into something really good." But then again, the end always seems to surpass the expectations.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: Have you thought at all about a new album?
Marco: Yeah, I know that Tuomas has some songs; I've got some stuff that when we get off of tour, I should demo at home. We'd like to start exchanging some CDs and stuff and see what comes out of it.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: And something you referred to earlier, that this would be Anette's second album with NIGHTWISH and that you think her involvement will be much greater.
Marco: Yeah, that is true. This time around we were just trying to find out where we were in the woods so to speak because we really didn't know that. From the demos we had some inclination about what kind of ranges and what kind of keys we would use for the songs and all that. But this time, it'll be a lot easier; we can walk her straight to the business when we start out.
Fan-filmed video footage of NIGHTWISH's November 21, 2008 concert at Obras in Buenos Aires, Argentina can be viewed below (clips uploaded by "Luchoevolution").
Veteran San Francisco Bay Area thrashers EXODUS have released the following statement:
"Due to a number of circumstances beyond our control, we have decided to reschedule our Latin America tour until March 2009. We apologize to our fans for the inconvenience, but all tickets purchased for the November shows will be honored at the March dates. We will see you all then."
"Let There Be Blood", the controversial re-recording of EXODUS' classic 1985 debut album "Bonded by Blood", sold 2,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Released on October 28 through Zaentz Records, "Let There Be Blood" was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California; JKZ Production Studio in San Rafael, California; with vocal tracks recorded at J. Rod Production Studios in New City, New York. Andy Sneap mixed the CD at his Backstage studio in Derbyshire, England.
Regarding the band's decision to re-record "Bonded By Blood", guitarist Gary Holt previously said: "It is our way of paying homage to Paul Baloff [former EXODUS vocalist who passed away in 2002] by showing how relevant these songs we had written together still are. We aren't trying to replace the original; that's impossible anyway. We are just giving these songs the benefit of modern production. It's something we talked about before Paul's death and it's always been important to us to do. We were super-excited about entering the studio once again to record these classics, and now it's back to writing the next studio record!"
EXODUS' last collection of new material, "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A", has sold more than 20,000 copies in the United States since its October 2007 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California with producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY).
"Bonded By Blood" 2008 recording (with Rob Dukes on vocals):
The members of SLAYER spent a couple of weeks in a Southern California recording studio last month tracking three new songs, including "Psychopathy Red". The Jeff Hanneman-penned song gives a chilling look into the twisted mind of Andrei Chikatilo, a notorious Russian serial killer.
SLAYER's bassist/vocalist Tom Araya told Decibel magazine that the material that has been recorded for the band's next album so far is "all traditional SLAYER. One of them is a fast, very punkish tune, and another one is excitingly new, you know what I mean? Just what's been done I nthe song. It's kinda new territory — not really — but just a really great melody. Sounds really, really good. I like it, it's very exciting."
He continued, "The three songs kinda came together. Our manager had mentioned the possibility to us, and Jeff said, 'I got three songs. One, a fast one, is new, but I got two older songs too.' When we got together, it just fell into place. We definitely liked the songs initially; they just never made it on the last album. When he presented his new song, I said, 'What about those other songs you had on this disc?' reminding him about the disc he sent everybody. And he said, 'Wow!' He didn't recall one of the songs. The rest he remembered. Two turned out to be two of the three songs we've recorded so far. 'I always wondered what happened to these songs,' I told him. 'I thought they were really good.' The one that got done first, the fastest one, it's a really, really, very strong song."
Fan-filmed video footage of SLAYER performing the new song "Psychopathy Red" last night (Friday, November 21, 2008) at Valby Hallen in Copenhagen, Denmark can be viewed below (clip uploaded by "Solarsdk").
A non-CD-quality version of "Psychopathy Red" has surfaced on YouTube and can be streamed below.
SLAYER kicked off the European "Unholy Alliance Tour: Chapter III" on October 27 at the Manchester Apollo in Manchester, England. The trek is scheduled to wrap in Helsinki, Finland on November 27. The band plans to return to the studio early next year to finish recording the new album.
Fans who attend any of the upcoming European "Unholy Alliance Tour: Chapter III" dates, will receive "Psychopathy Red" via an exclusive download card that will also include special material from the entire tour's lineup — SLAYER, MASTODON, TRIVIUM and AMON AMARTH. The download card, along with a limited edition "Unholy Alliance Tour" clothing patch, will be given away free only to ticket holders when they arrive at their local venue the night of the show.
"Psychopathy Red" live in Copenhagen, Denmark - November 21, 2008:
The 1988 critically maligned self-titled album from Canadian thrash metal pioneers EXCITER will be reissued with new artwork on January 20, 2009 via Magnetic Air/MVD.
"Exciter" saw the group's drummer/singer Dan Beehler relinquishing his vocal duties to singer Rob Malnati. But the strategy backfired, according to Answers.com, as the album's almost complete abandonment of thrash for a slower, mainstream metal approach alienated what remained of their already dwindling fan base and led to the band's breakup shortly thereafter.
The track listing for the reissue is as follows:
01. Scream Bloody Murder 02. Back In The Light 03. Ready To Rock 04. O.T.T. 05. I Wanna Be King 06. Enemy Lines 07. Dying To Live 08. Playin' With Fire 09. Eyes In The Sky 10. Termination
"Exciter" recording lineup:
Dan Beehler - Drums Rob Malnati - Vocals Brian McPhee - Guitar Allan James Johnson - Bass
EXCITER's latest album, "Thrash Speed Burn" — which features sole remaining original member John Ricci (guitar) alongside Rik Charron (drums), Clammy (bass) and Kenny Winter (vocals) — was released in North America on November 4 via Blistering Records, the new label formed by industry veterans Tomas Sunmo, Lars Chriss (LION'S SHARE) and Jim Pitulski (Inside Out Music America). The CD was issued in Europe on February 22 via Massacre Records. It marks EXCITER's recorded debut with new singer Winter, who joined the band in October 2006.
Veteran bassist Neil Murray (BLACK SABBATH, WHITESNAKE) has been added to the list of musicians who have contributed to "Blizzards From Oz", an international, all-star compilation tribute CD (featuring musicians from Italy, United States, Scotland, Germany, and Canada) paying homage to OZZY OSBOURNE bassist/producer/lyricist of 14 years, Bob Daisley. This ten-song compilation CD also features OZZY OSBOURNE keyboardist of 17 years John Sinclair (also of URIAH HEEP, COZY POWELL, THE CULT, SPINAL TAP), guitarist Dario Mollo (who has played with former BLACK SABBATH frontman Tony Martin), and renowned Canadian bassist Harrison Crotin (who has worked with DAVID BOWIE guitarist Tony Springer, BACHMAN CUMMINGS guitarist Tim Bovaconti and SASS JORDAN/DAVID WILCOX drummer Karim Moussa). Also featured are guitarist Rolf Munkes (who has played with Tony Martin in EMPIRE), producer/vocalist Joe "Reaper" Lalonde (who played with former ALICE COOPER guitarist Pete Friesen in BLACKNIGHT in the early '80s), and acclaimed drummer Bobby Rondinelli (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, SCORPIONS, RIOT).
"Blizzards From Oz" track listing:
01. Suicide Solution 02. Crazy Train 03. I Don't Know 04. Mr. Crowley 05. Flying High Again 06. Bark At The Moon 07. Miracle Man 08. Ultimate Sin 09. Mama, I'm Coming Home 10. I Don't Want To Change The World
Former MEGADETH/KING DIAMOND guitarist Glen Drover is selling a custom ESP guitar (see photo below) with the following specifications:
* Custom black finish by ESP for Glen Drover before MEGADETH's Gigantour 2 * Kahler locking system * Two Seymour Duncan pickups * Distortion in neck and 59 in bridge * One-piece body * This is a "custom shop" model — not the "standard series."
According to Glen, the guitar is "in great condition." Price: $1,400. Contact webmaster @ glendrover.ca if interested.
Drover was interviewed for the November 12, 2008 edition of "The Metal File" podcast from Montreal's CHOM-FM. You can stream the show online at this location.
Glen filled in for Alex Skonick on TESTAMENT's recent Mexican dates with JUDAS PRIEST because Skolnick had prior commitments with the TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA.
Drover left MEGADETH at the end of last year and was replaced by Chris Broderick, who has previously played with NEVERMORE and JAG PANZER.
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of the legendary Canadian rock trio RUSH will be the featured guests on "The Hour" this coming Wednesday night (Wednesday, November 26). The program, which airs at 11:00 p.m. on CBC in Canada, is hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos. The interview will be available for viewing at this location once it has aired.
Geddy Lee last appeared on "The Hour" back in June 2007. That appearance is available for viewing here.
Zoë Vision/Anthem Entertainment will release the "Snakes & Arrows Live" DVD from the legendary rock trio RUSH on November 25. This three-disc DVD set, also available as a Blu-ray Disc, follows the band's Zoë Vision DVD releases "R30" (2005) and "Rush in Rio" (2003).
RUSH's most recent concert leg wrapped July 24 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The group has been out behind its 18th studio album, "Snakes & Arrows", which marked RUSH's first set of all-new material since 2002's "Vapor Trails".
RUSH's songs "Closer to the Heart" and "Working Man" were recently made available for the Rock Band video game.
RUSH will receive a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame next year.
Danish modern metallers RAUNCHY have announced the first dates for 2009:
Jan. 29 - Pier 2, Bremen, GER (w/ VOLBEAT) Jan. 30 - Werk 2, Leipzig, GER (w/ VOLBEAT) Jul. 03 - With Full Force Festival, Loebnitz, GER
A Scandinavian tour will take place around May/June 2009. More information will be made available soon.
RAUNCHY's new masterpiece, "Wasteland Discotheque", was released on June 30 in Europe and July 7 in the U.S. via Lifeforce Records.
Vocalist Kasper Thomsen previously described the new material as "dirty, melodic, thrashy, epic, melancholic and... drum roll... heavy. We are experimenting a lot this time around, with vocals, arrangements and musical expression, but we're not gonna change radically — don't worry! But as a wise man once said: there's no point in writing the same record twice, right?"
The Danish band split with Nuclear Blast Records in January 2005 after releasing two albums through the label (2002's "Velvet Noise" and 2004's "Confusion Bay").
HEAVEN AND HELL, MOTÖRHEAD, DREAM THEATER, IN FLAMES, URIAH HEEP, RIOT, EUROPE and FORBIDDEN are among the first confirmed bands for next year's Sweden Rock Festival, set to take place June 3-6, 2009 in Sölvesborg, Sweden.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AMON AMARTH BLACKFOOT BULLET DREAM THEATER ENFORCER EUROPE FORBIDDEN FOREIGNER HAMMERFALL HEAVEN AND HELL IN FLAMES LITA FORD MARILLION MOTÖRHEAD RIOT SEVENTH WONDER SOILWORK STORMZONE THE OUTLAWS THE TUBES TORCH URIAH HEEP
ICS Festival Service GmbH, which organizes the Wacken Open Air festival, has announced that 50,000 tickets have already been sold for next year's event, which will be held July 30 - August 1, 2009 in Wacken, Germany. The remaining tickets are expected to be snapped up by the end of January.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AMON AMARTH AXEL RUDI PELL CALLEJON CATHEDRAL EINHERJER EPICA HAMMERFALL IN EXTREMO IN FLAMES KAMPFAR KORPIKLAANI MACHINE HEAD NEVERMORE TRISTANIA WALLS OF JERICHO
Wacken Open Air festival was honored with a Live Entertainment Award in the "Festival Of The Year" category. This award recognizes distinguished achievements in live entertainment and is given out by Live Entertainment Award (LEA) committee. The winners were announced on March 11, 2008.
Contraband Candy's two-part report on this year's Wacken Open Air festival, which was held July 31 - August 2, 2008 in Wacken, Germany, can be viewed below.
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