Detritus
Issue #284
Week of August 23, 2004
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*** CAST OF CHARACTERS ***
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Tim Wadzinski, Editor
tsw512@...

Steve Shumake
vongoober@...
http://www.vongoober.com/

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*** LET IT BE KNOWN ***
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-Wayward Detritus writer Stephanie Kushner checked in to let me know
Riot is playing a rare show this Friday in New York City. Here's da
poop:

"Riot is playing their first gig in NYC in many years this Friday,
August 27th, at Don Hills in NYC. Headliners at Don Hills
traditionally go on very late (or early, depending on how you look at
it), usually between 1 and 2 a.m. However, although Riot is the
headliner, by the band's request they are currently scheduled to go on
at midnight or so, with a band or two performing after them (this is
according to someone close to the band). So don't wait until 1 a.m. to
arrive or you might miss the gig! Details can be found at
http://www.donhills.com/events/2004/08/040827.html ."

HavocHate will also be at the show; see a press release below for more
on that.

-Congrats to Steve on the anniversary of his VonGoober RADIO, and be
sure to check out Sean's W.A.S.P. concert review below. - Tim

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*** PRESS RELEASE #1 ***
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-VonGoober RADIO Celebrates 3rd Anniversary!

Internet radio station VonGoober RADIO, http://www.vongoober.com/ ,
marked its 3rd anniversary on the air this past Sunday, August 22.

To mark the occasion, a brand new website has been launched! The new
site creates a much more interactive experience for listeners.
Listeners will now have the ability to request songs by visiting the
website. Brand new forums also allow the listener the chance to
interact with other listeners and with the station owner.

What was started as just a way for one person to hear a lot of his
favorite songs at work over the internet without having to drag around
tons of CDs, has turned into something that is experienced daily by
listeners from around the globe. Several months ago the station also
started broadcasting "live" only relying on Live365 to stream the
station content. The big plus about going "live" is that VonGoober
RADIO is now "commercial free"...but this also means that there are no
longer any space issues in regards to the music library. "The song
library will just continue to grow and grow," comments station owner
Steve 'VonGoober' Shumake. "Song selection continues to be driven
completely by what I like to listen to. If other people dig what I
like, all the cooler."

The station's short description "Power Metal + Heavy Metal + Melodic
Metal - MELODY RULES!!!" shows that the focus is on melody no matter
how heavy or how mellow.

A sampling of artists you can expect to hear on VonGoober RADIO are:
Virgin Steele, Blind Guardian, In Flames, Sentenced, Balance Of Power,
Running Wild, Edguy, Rage, Crash Alley, Last Tribe, Into Eternity,
Dogpound, Poisonblack, Evergrey, Iron Maiden, Children Of Bodom, Axel
Rudi Pell, Soilwork, Helloweem, Nightwish, Dream Evil, Halford,
Warlock, Annihilator, Rhapsody, Gamma Ray, Firewind, ASKA, Grave
Digger, Predator, Nocturnal Rites, Sinergy, U.D.O., Tarot, Vicious
Rumors, Jag Panzer, Therion, Mob Rules, Nevermore, Judas Priest,
Manowar, Impellitteri, HIM, White Skull, Pyramaze, Dark Tranquillity,
Iced Earth, Accept and many, MANY more!!!!

Come check out the all new website today:

http://www.vongoober.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #2 ***
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-Boston's Meliah Rage Reunites And Releases First Studio Album In Over
10 Years On August 24th Through Screaming Ferret / Escapi Music

Initial Pressing of Barely Human to Include Bonus Disc Unfinished
Business Featuring Godsmack's Sully Erna

Boston's reformed metal heroes Meliah Rage are primed to make 2004
truly a landmark year for the band. Recently having their music
featured on an episode of FOX TV's hit series The Shield, Meliah Rage
is following the success with a brand new studio album, their first in
over a decade. The nine-track sledgehammer of sonic vengeance Barely
Human is slated for release on Screaming Ferret Wreckords in
coordination with Escapi Music and Navarre Distribution on August
24th. A major North American tour will soon follow.

Guitarist Anthony Nichols, guitarist Jim Koury and bass guitarist
Jesse Johnson, all original members, are joined by new vocalist Paul
Souza and drummer Barry Spillberg (formerly of Wargasm) on Barely
Human. Original vocalist Mike Munro decided not to take part in the
Meliah Rage reunion in order to focus on family. The tracklisting for
this monumental release includes:

Hate Machine
Invincible
Barely Human
Ungodly
Wrong Place, Right Time
Rigid
Bloodbath
Hell Song
Motor Psycho

Barely Human was produced by Joe Moody and Nichols. Moody also
recorded and mixed the album at Danger Multitrack in Providence, RI.
All songs were written by Nichols and Souza except "The Wrong Place"
which was written by Nichols, Souza and Clark Lush and "Ungodly" which
was written by Nichols, Souza and Spillberg. Nichols completed all
musical arrangements and Souza wrote all lyrics for the album. Bob
Mayo, formerly of Wargasm and a one-time Meliah Rage member,
contributes special bass tracks on "Invincible."

A single for the title track "Barely Human", was recently filmed as a
video on the set of the upcoming horror film God Of Vampires, and is
currently available for download on the Screaming Ferret Wreckords
website: http://www.screamingferret.com/screamingpages/audio-video.php
. An MP3 of the track "Hate Machine" is available here:

http://www.screamingferret.com/sfw_audio/meliahrage_av/Meliah_Rage_Hate_Machine.\
mp3

As an added bonus, the initial pressing of Barely Human will include a
bonus disc, the previously unreleased album Unfinished Business, which
features performances by Godsmack's Sully Erna on drums. Originally
recorded in 1992, the tracks on Unfinished Business were intended as
demos in order to secure a new record deal, upon the band's departure
from Epic Records.

Formed by Nichols formed in Boston in 1985, Meliah Rage was named for
the Meliah Indians' practice of taking opium to prepare for battle.
The original lineup included Nichols, Koury, Munro, Johnson and
drummer Stu Dowie. They stood out as the only metal band around, since
Boston is renowned as a college town which supported big alternative
and hardcore music scenes. Nichols played briefly with the hardcore
icons Gang Green and that connection led to management and label
interest for Meliah Rage. The band signed with Epic in 1988 and
released the debut Kill to Survive. Intense touring followed and a
live EP, Live Kill, was issued in 1989. The second studio album,
Solitary Solitude, was released on Epic in 1990. The changing musical
tide in the early 1990s resulted in Meliah Rage leaving Epic in 1992.
The band soldiered on with a new rhythm section consisting of Sully
Erna and bassist Keith Vogele. Erna stayed with the band for 18
months. Several side projects were pursued but didn't produce, so
Meliah Rage reunited in 1995 with Nichols, Koury and Munro along with
Mayo and drummer Dave Barcos. The album Death Valley Dream appeared in
1996.

Now, Meliah Rage is back again! Despite weathering personnel changes
and changes in the musical tide, the band has endured. Meliah Rage is
here to stay.

Meliah Rage joins a proud group of classic metal bands, like Anvil,
Candlemass, Dismember, and Trouble, who have experienced rejuvenation
and renewed interest through the work and partnership with Screaming
Ferret Wreckords, LLC, & Escapi Music, organizations designed to
further expose new talent and to introduce groundbreaking classics to
a new audience.

Upcoming releases from the united labels include Canadian Metal
legends Anvil's latest slamfest Back To Basics, Texas-based
Tearabyte's new doomfest Gloom Factory, a reissue of Nuclear Assault
drummer Glenn Evans' rare CIA release Attitude, Swedish death metal
pioneers Dismember's debut live DVD Live Blasphemies, doom-rock
legends Trouble's new DVD Live In Stockholm, and many, many more.

http://www.meliahrage.com/
http://www.screamingferret.com/
http://www.escapi.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #3 ***
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-Screaming Ferret Wreckords In Conjunction With Escapi Music Unveil
New Anvil Studio Effort August 24th

Legendary Hard Rock Act To Have Ten Vintage Classics Reissued This
Fall

Over the past few years, Screaming Ferret Wreckords, LLC has aligned
itself with budding new artists, as well as a selection of traditional
metal bands in an effort to reintroduce lost classics to the audience
of the New Millennium. Having recently joined forces with upstart
Swedish entertainment organization Escapi Music and Navarre
Distribution, the label is now proud to present a campaign to
introduce Toronto, Ontario legends Anvil to the new generation of
metal fans. The campaign includes the domestic reissue of several
catalogue titles (some of which are either out of print or never
before available in the US), as well as the brand new studio album
Back To Basics.

For over 2 decades, Anvil has been a band that firmly understood that
Metal should not be taken completely seriously. The band's brand of
anthemic metal fuses intense, piercing metal with witty social sarcasm
to create a unique brand of music rarely seen and never equaled. Back
To Basics, released on August 24th, and produced by renowned Canadian
metal mastermind Pierre Rιmillard (who had produced 2 previous Anvil
albums, as well as 4 from Cryptopsy, and titles from Gorguts, Quo
Vadis, and Kataklysm) is described by frontman/guitarist Steven "Lips"
Kudlow as "a great pounding feel, like Accept meets Ozzy's Bark At the
Moon."

The tracklisting includes:

Fuel For the Fire
Keep It Up
Song of Pain
You Get What You Pay For
The Chainsaw
Can't Catch Me (When My Pants Are Down)
Go Away
Bottom Feeder
Cruel World
Fast Driver

The initial run of Back To Basics will also feature a bonus live DVD
Live At Wacken 1998, featuring such frenzied standards as "Five
Knuckle Shuffle", "Smoking Green", "Old School", "Winged Assassins",
"Forged In Fire", "March of the Crabs", "Metal On Metal", "666", and
"Mothra".

Screaming Ferret & Escapi will soon be releasing a number of classic
Anvil albums; discs that defined and secured the band's status in the
true heavy metal elite. Titles include three currently out-of-print
releases: 1987's Strength Of Steel (which featured such classics as
"Concrete Jungle", "Straight Between The Eyes", and "Mad Dog", the
song that yielded a quite humorous video that received recurrent
airplay on MTV's original Headbangers Ball program), 1988's Pound For
Pound (featuring "Blood On The Ice" and "Toe Jam"), 1989's Past &
Present Live (a brilliant live set capturing such seminal Anvil
anthems as "Forged In Fire", "Metal on Metal", "March of the Crabs",
and "Mothra"). SFW is also releasing a number of titles that never
received a proper United States release, including 1991's Worth The
Weight, 1996's Plugged In Permanent, 1997's Absolutely No Alternative,
1998's Speed Of Sound, 2001's Plenty Of Power, 2002's Still Going
Strong, and the special 1999 Anthology of Anvil, the perfect
introductory piece to the manic, semi-insane world of Anvil. All
titles will be re-mastered and will contain bonus tracks.

Lips is shocked and thrilled with this development in the band's
career:

"I can't believe after a quarter of a century we will finally be
released to the unsuspecting American audience. I've never understood
after all these years why Anvil has done so little in the United
States in the way of getting our recordings released, as well as
touring. It is a true tragedy if not a crime! For those people who
have never heard of us, it might be a surprise to find out we've been
recording music before the existence of what was once called Heavy
Metal, and to be more exact NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal).
Our first album came out in 81, however all the tracks on it were
written over a long period of time, some dating back as far as 73 or
74! This new opportunity to release new and back catalog would not
have come true if it weren't for the bravery and dedication to true
metal by Screaming Ferret and Escapi Music. We have been pleasing
European audiences for years and hope with all our might that we can
do the same in America."

Anvil joins a proud group of classic metal bands, like Meliah Rage,
Candlemass, Dismember, and Trouble, who have experienced rejuvenation
and renewed interest through the work and partnership with Screaming
Ferret Wreckords, LLC, & Escapi Music, organizations designed to
further expose new talent and to introduce groundbreaking classics to
a new audience.

Upcoming releases from the united labels include Meliah Rage's first
studio album in over a decade (Barely Human – which includes a special
bonus disc featuring Godsmack's Sully Erna), Texas-based Tearabyte's
new doomfest Gloom Factory, a reissue of Nuclear Assault drummer Glenn
Evans' rare CIA release Attitude, Swedish death metal pioneers
Dismember's debut live DVD Live Blasphemies, doom-rock legends
Trouble's new DVD Live In Stockholm, and many, many more.

http://www.anvilmetal.tk/
http://www.screamingferret.com/
http://www.escapi.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #4 ***
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-Sum 41 Announces New Album CHUCK In Stores October 12th

"If We Ever Get Out Of Here Alive, We Are Naming Our Album CHUCK" -
Sum 41

On October 12, 2004, Island Records will release CHUCK, the third
release from multi-platinum act Sum 41. Produced by Greig Nori and
mixed by Andy Wallace and Tom Lord-Alge, CHUCK packs the volatile punk
punch the band is known for, while showcasing the band's growth
musically and lyrically.

The story of CHUCK comes from the band's trip to the Democratic
Republic of Congo in May to shoot a documentary (with the nonprofit
group War Child Canada) about the impact of the longstanding civil war
on the nation. Although the band arrived during a time of cease-fire,
while there they encountered bombs and gunfire. The violence
continued, and the band hid in a hotel bathroom for safety. A U.N.
representative named Chuck Pelletier made an evacuation plan. He
herded the band into the lobby, then ran with them through gunfire to
an armored tank and eventually to safety. And that is the genesis of
the title CHUCK.

Sum 41 brings the intensity of their experiences in music and life to
CHUCK, making it their most inventive and creative release thus far.
The first single "We're All To Blame" highlights the band's frenetic
energy surrounded by a melodic harmony. "No Reason" gives fans a dose
of Sum's high-strung rock riffs, while "Pieces" showcases the band's
evolving song craft.

CHUCK follows the band's 2002 release 'Does This Look Infected?' and
their 2001 full-length debut 'All Killer, No Filler." Since their
debut, Sum 41 has toured across the world many times over and rocked
all over radio. The band has performed on television, not only
performing Sum 41's hits "Fat Lip," "Still Waiting" and "Hell Song"
but also appearing with various rock heroes such as Iggy Pop (Late
Show with David Letterman), Tommy Lee (MTV Video Music Awards) and
with Gene Simmons (as animated guests on King Of The Hill).

http://www.sum41.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #5 ***
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-Screaming Ferret Wreckords / Escapi Music Upcoming Releases

Boston-based thrash/metal pioneers, Meliah Rage, introduce their
return with a true heavy metal onslaught, their new studio album,
Barely Human. The disc is released worldwide August 24th 2004 through
Screaming Ferret Wreckords/Escapi Music.

The release will be a limited, two disc package which features a bonus
CD of the rare album, Unfinished Business (featuring Sully Erna of
Godsmack on drums). Barely Human is the first album featuring Meliah
Rage's new vocalist Paul Souza. Earlier this year, Meliah Rage teamed
up with horror movie director, Rob Fitz (God Of Vampires) to film
their music video for the title track, Barely Human, which is now
available for viewing at the Screaming Ferret Wreckords website. The
video was shot on the set of the movie God Of Vampires and the song
will be featured on the subsequent soundtrack. To check out additional
audio/video clips or to purchase Meliah Rage merchandise, visit the
Screaming Ferret Wreckords website. A new interactive Meliah Rage e-
card is available here:

http://www.screamingferret.com/ecard/meliah_rage-ecard-04.html

Canadian metal legends, Anvil, are back with their latest studio
album, Back To Basics. The album will be released in North America on
August 24th 2004, through Screaming Ferret Wreckords/Escapi Music.
Back To Basics will feature a bonus DVD containing a set of Anvil's
trademark classics, filmed live at the Wacken Open-Air Festival in
1998. Following this release, Screaming Ferret Wreckords/Escapi will
be re-releasing the majority of Anvil's vintage back catalogue in
North America, which includes many albums that never received proper
US releases. All titles will also be remixed, digitally remastered,
and include bonus tracks. To check out audio clips or to purchase
Anvil merchandise, be sure to visit the Screaming Ferret Wreckords
website. A new interactive Anvil e-card is available here:

http://www.screamingferret.com/ecard/anvil-ecard-06.html

The Texas-based thrash/doom trio, Tearabyte, are gearing up for their
third Studio album, Gloom Factory, to be released on August 24th 2004
worldwide through Screaming Ferret Wreckords/Escapi music. The band
features bassist/vocalist Al Mead of the infamous GG Allin & The
Scumfucks, guitarist Kevin Mead, and drummer Jeff Owens. As a bonus
for the initial release, Gloom Factory will feature an additional 30
minutes of audio material including live performances and remixes/
alternate versions of tracks from previous albums. The album also
features a memorable cover version of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb".
Tearabyte are currently recording their upcoming music video for the
track "Doom Gloom". To check out audio/video clips of the album/band,
or to purchase Tearabyte merchandise, visit the Screaming Ferret
Wreckords website. A new interactive Tearabyte e-card is available
here:

http://www.screamingferret.com/ecard/tearabyte-ecard-06.html

http://www.screamingferret.com/
http://www.escapi.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #6 ***
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-Sanctuary: Best In Metal!

The News from Metal-Is, Noise, Mayan and T&T Records

CANS - Last Emails Please!

This is you last chance to win the original text sheet of the song
'Silent Cries'. All you have to do is send us one of the setlists from
the 5 Cans shows in Sweden and Germany. The winner will be drawn on
Monday.

http://208.203.139.81/cans/btg/raffle.shtml
http://208.203.139.81/cans/btg/cd.shtml
http://208.203.139.81/cans/default.shtml

SIGN IN NOW!
http://208.203.139.81/cans/btg/raffle.shtml

Have a look at the Bochum Live Gallery!
http://208.203.139.81/cans/btg/bochum.shtml

SILENT FORCE - Free Online Single!

Silent Force is releasing their Noise debut "Worlds Apart" 20th of
Septermber. Now it's your chance to download the mp3 of the song "No
One Lives Forever". Don't forget to download the exclusive Cover, Tray
Card and Inlay for this new Online Single!

http://208.203.139.81/silentforce/default.shtml
http://208.203.139.81/silentforce/worlds/cd.shtml
http://208.203.139.81/silentforce/worlds/mp3.html

http://www.noiserecords.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #7 ***
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-UK Rock Legends Marillion Release New CD, Tour The US

New York City: Twenty-one years after the release of their first album
Script For A Jester's Tear, Marillion prepare release of their
thirteenth studio album, Marbles. Set for US release on October 5,
2004, Marbles is packed full of atmospheric and stirring songs.
Intense, deep-seated and musically rewarding, the CD had a pan-
European release May 3 via their own label Intact Records, with
international distribution and licensing handled by Absolute
worldwide.

The album's single, "You're Gone," charted at position #7 in the UK
(the week's second highest entry) and at position #8 in Holland,
earning the band a slot on Top Of The Pops. The airplay on the single
"You're Gone" has been phenomenal from all areas of the press
throughout Europe.

Marillion have a unique relationship with their fans. In 1997 the fans
learnt via an email newsletter that, due to lack of record company
support, the band could not afford to fund a US tour. One of the fans
instigated a whip-round and raised $60,000 enabling the tour to take
place. The release of the album Marillion.com in 1999 flagged their
newly launched web-site (and record label) and this online source of
information became an open conduit between band and fans.

At that point the band decided to adopt a completely new approach to
the way their albums were funded and their twelfth album
Anoraknophobia hit the headlines in 2001 when more than 12,000 fans
pre-ordered and paid for, the record twelve months before it was
released. A similar campaign has been launched to fund Marbles with
13,000 fans ordering the record in advance, but this time all the
money raised is going into a campaign fund to promote the album.

Marillion have sold more than fourteen million records worldwide.
Their thirteen studio albums (four with Fish as lead singer '82-88; 9
with Steve Hogarth) have hit worldwide charts continuously: eight UK
Top 10 albums, nineteen UK Top 40 singles. They have performed over
1100 shows to well over 2 million people and are currently working on
a 43-date worldwide tour that commenced May 2004 and will find the
band playing to audiences in England, Ireland, Germany, France,
Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Italy, Poland, Switzerland,
Mexico, and ending with dates in the US and Canada.

Marbles will be released via Dead Ringer Records. Distribution
throughout the United States is handled exclusively by Caroline
Distribution; PHD Canada for the northern territories and various
distributors throughout Mexico.

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*** PRESS RELEASE #8 ***
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-Swirl: Two Tunes In The GarageBand.com Top 100

Out of 1148 tunes...

"Controlled Emotions" is currently sitting at #52 and "I'm All for
You" has cracked the top 100 and is at #99.

"Time Won't Be Wasted" was the FEATURED SONG OF THE DAY on August 21,
2004.

http://www.garageband.com/artist/_Swirl

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*** PRESS RELEASE #9 ***
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-"I Am Jack's raging Cream Abdul Babar..."

Yup, Florida's oversized, explosive, rockin', ragin', mongoloid-mosh
masters Cream Abdul Babar are back for more. The band's out-of-print
material has been re-released by the fine folks at Public Guilt. The
title of the exhaustive double-disc monstrosity is EXCAVATION: 1995 -
1998 and includes a ton of songs -- 21 total. Included is the band's
first full-length, The Backwater of Masculine Ethics, singles, 7"s,
live stuff and a remix by Larvae. Trace their roots and find out how
fast they used to be able to play before the drugs took over and the
hangovers really started to kick in.

Check out the site(s), check out deez live dates too:

http://www.creamabdulbabar.com/
http://www.publicguilt.com/

CAB, IN THE VAN....
8/31 - Tallahassee, FL @ Big Daddy's
9/1 - Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
9/2 - Charleston, SC @ Johnny Ola's
9/3 - Baltimore, MD @ The Talking Head (w/ Swarm of the Lotus, Monger)
9/4 - NYC @ Rothko (116 suffolk st.b/t rivington and delancey) (w/
Oxford Collapse)
9/5 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church (w/ Hulk Smash)
9/6 - Asheville, NC @ Green Eggs & Jam
9/7 - Savannah, GA @ the Jinx

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-Z Records News

JESSE DAMON RELEASE COMPLETED!

Jesse Damon's brand new studio album has been finished and sound
samples will be online shortly. "Nothin Else Matters" features 10
fantastic tracks, Jesse's latest outing is alot more up-tempo than his
2003 release and will please many Silent Rage fans. The album will be
released on Monday September 20.

WAR & PEACE CONFIRM MORE WEST COAST DATES

Jeff Pilson's War & Peace have added further dates to their West Coast
US tour.

September 10, 2004 The Pound San Francisco, CA
September 11, 2004 The Roadhouse Sacramento, CA

Z RELEASE SCHEDULE FOR AUGUST - OCTOBER

Due to some unforeseen delays our release schedule has been changed
slightly during August - October,

September 6th:

Adam Bomb - Boneyard
Snakeryder - s/t
Various - Rock The Nations 5

September 20th:

Jesse Damon - Nothin Else Matters

October 11th:

Sonic X - s/t

http://www.zrecords.net/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #11 ***
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-Uli Jon Roth To Embark On First US Tour In 19 Years

Guitar legend Uli Jon Roth is finally returning to the States after an
absence of 19 years. News of the tour was already spreading like
wildfire among the many admirers of one of the last great and original
guitar heroes before the tour was even announced.

Best known for his ground-breaking work with the German hard rock band
Scorpions, of which he was an original founding member, the enigmatic
multi-talent is at long last embarking on a US tour, which will
continue through September.

The long-awaited tour will start in Los Angeles at the House of Blues
on August 26th and ends in Mexico, where Roth is head-lining shows
with special guests. In the States U.J.R. is sharing the bill with the
Michael Schenker Group.

Roth has often been hailed as a true genius on the guitar, always
stoutly defying the conventions of the music industry and forging his
own way. It is virtually impossible to categorize his output which is
wide ranging from classic rock to full scale symphonic works with
orchestras.

Since his time with the Scorpions and his own group Electris Sun,
U.J.R. has persistently developed his unique playing style which
earned him the reputation of being one of the most influential and
greatest guitarists of our time. Always one to push the envelope on
the guitar as well as in his symphonic compositions, Uli is seen by
many as a musical trend setter who is well ahead of his time. He has
been an inspiration to artists world-wide, influencing generations of
younger players as well as his peers.

His show will include material from all periods of his career
including a new and amazing version of his Scorpions song "The Sails
of Charon," which Roth has just recorded with a symphony orchestra.
The song features Liz Vandall on vocals. Furthermore Uli's set will
feature parts of his latest release -- the critically-acclaimed
METAMORPHOSIS OF THE SEASONS, as well as material from each of his
Electric Sun albums.

The format of Uli's set is innovative. He will be playing his
legendary seven-string Sky Guitar, an instrument he designed himself,
which enables him to play a full six-octave range. He will also
perform in front of a cinemascope screen with just two other musicians
on stage. The screen will show spectacular footage directed by the man
himself, which often features the members of his own classical Sky
Orchestra as well as other musicians with whom Roth interacts live.
The result is a perfectly sounding trip through Space and Time.

Roth has recently toured this format in Europe with great success and
is very much looking forward to touring in the US again.

For more information on Uli Jon Roth, his art, his music and up-coming
tour dates, see http://www.ulijonroth.com/ .

The Following are Confirmed Dates on Uli Jon Roth U.S. Tour:

8/26/04 - WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - HOUSE OF BLUES
8/27/04 - VENTURA, CA - VENTURA THEATRE
8/28/04 - SACRAMENTO, CA - THE ROADHOUSE
8/29/04 - CONCORD, CA - THE CADILLAC RANCH
8/30/04 - SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA - THE COACHHOUSE
8/31/04 - SAN DIEGO, CA - BRICK BY BRICK
9/2/04 - ALBUQUERQUE, NM - GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION
9/4/04 - SAN ANTONIO, TX - SUNKEN GARDENS AMPITHEATRE
9/9/04 - MILWAUKEE, WI - SHANK HALL
9/10/04 - CHICAGO, IL - HOUSE OF BLUES
9/11/04 - CHICAGO, IL - HOUSE OF BLUES
9/13/04 - CLEVELAND, OH - PEABODY'S
9/15/04 - PHILADELPHIA, PA - TROCADERO THEATRE
9/17/04 - SPRINGFIELD, VA - JAXX
9/18/04 - FARMINGDALE, NY - THE DOWNTOWN

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*** PRESS RELEASE #12 ***
*
-Chris Tsangarides To Produce Winters Bane Album

Chris Tsangarides, producer for such metal luminaries as Judas Priest,
Thin Lizzy, Yngwie Malmsteen, Bruce Dickinson, Helloween, Angra and
Black Sabbath, will be mixing and producing the new Winters Bane
album.

This week he will be recording and engineering the drum tracks of
Winters Bane drummer Mark Cross at The Dump, Tsangarides' studio in
the UK.

Winters Bane will release their new album in early 2005. Songs slated
to appear on the album include "Dice With Death," "Seal The Light,"
and "Glory."

http://www.dcarecordings.com/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #13 ***
*
-HavocHate Show - Get A Free T-Shirt

Tim Bouchee – vocals
Freddy Ordine – guitar
Mario Rodriguez – guitar
Greg Christian – bass (ex-Testament)
Ovie Rodriguez – drums

Friday August 27th @ Don Hill's
511 Greenwich St (@ Spring St)
New York City
212-219-2850

http://www.donhills.com/

FREE T-SHIRTS

To the first 10 people to say they are at the club to see HavocHate.

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #14 ***
*
-Girlschool - BELIEVE

Jackie Chambers (guitar/vocals), Kim McAuliffe (guitar/vocals), Enid
Williams (bass/vocals), Denise Dufort (drums).

THE WORLD'S FINEST ALL FEMALE ROCK BAND

The band was originally formed at school by guitarist McAuliffe and
bassist Di 'Enid' Williams under the name Painted Lady, but changed
their name to Girlschool when Johnson and Dufort joined. The latter is
the sister of Dave Dufort of Angelwitch. The girls, from south London,
released their first material on City Records but signed subsequently
to Bronze Records. At first they were regarded as just another girl
group, but soon they established a musical ability which silenced the
chauvinists.

In 1980 Girlschool had a major UK hit single with Motorhead when they
combined to present a 10-inch two-track cut titled 'St Valentines Day
Massacre'.

The title reflects the sleeve's visual content more than the actual
record content. The A-side is a reworking of an old rock 'n' roll hit
'Please Don't Touch'.

Vic Maile produced Demolition and Hit And Run, but on Screaming Blue
Murder they switched to Nigel Gray. On Screaming Blue Murder then
bassist Gil Weston replaced Williams on bass and vocals, a move which
threw extra weight on the vocals of Johnson. The band attempted a more
commercially accessible style which was clearly evident on the
smoothly produced (by Slade's Noddy Holder) Play Dirty opus. Kelly
Johnson departed in 1984 to further her own career and was replaced by
Australian Chris Bonacci (ex-Mike Oldfield). They also brought in
vocalist Jaquie Bodimead (ex-Canis Major) to handle lead vocals.

The group left Bronze in 1984 eventually signing to GWR Records. Gil
Weston left in 1987, McAuliffe recorded with Beki Bondage (Vice Squad
vocalist). Bodimead put together a short lived band. Johnson had
"Cheers You Lot" released by Razor in 1989, during this year the band
were saddened by the death of former producer Vic Maile in 1989.

The girls resurfaced in 1992 on the Communique' Records label with the
eponymously titled album Girlschool. This was followed in 1995 with
Girlschool Live with the line up of Kelly, Kim, Tracy and Denise. Last
year (2003) saw the release of the 21st Anniversary album a
celebration to mark a place in rock history for an all female band
that is still touring today. Since recording 21st Anniversary Tracy
and Kelly have been replaced by original bass player Enid and new
guitarist Jackie (Jax) who had recorded three new tracks with Kim and
Denise to add to the album.

Girlschool also featured on the Communique' album "Second Wave" along
with Oliver/Dawson Saxon and Tygers Of Pan Tang.

However, a brand new studio album again produced by Tim Hamill has
emerged titled BELIEVE and is due to hit the stores late August. A
video of the opening track "Come On Up" has been made and the Girls
continue touring throughout July. This will be followed by a US tour
Aug/Sept.

Visit the Girlschool website: http://www.girlschool.co.uk/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #15 ***
*
-9/11 Fundraiser Show

Cosmo's Moon will be performing live at a very special 9/11 fundraiser
show on Saturday, Septmber 11th, 2004 at McCoy's in Commack...... Also
on the bill will be headliners Crackhead Mafia along with Axis
Unknown, Society Of My Era and more.......

Proceeds from this show will be donated directly to the FDNY Widow's &
Childrens Fund..... There will be raffles, door prizes, etc.....

We are looking for sponsors to donate items, gift certificates, etc.
that could be raffled off along with the items that we already
have....... If interested, please e-mail myself or Bob at
libandbookings@... ......... Check out
http://www.libandbookings.com/ for more information........

Thanx,

Mark Valentino
COSMO'S MOON
http://www.myspace.com/cosmosmoon/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #16 ***
*
-The Dio Message Board - Latest News

Hi all,

As you may or may not be aware 'The Dio Message Board' is moving! We
are leaving Proboards to go to a more secure and much more versatile
forum.

The url of http://www.diomessageboard.com/ will automatically take you
to the new forum when we go live with it. So can you PLEASE update
your bookmarks to use that URL from now on (if you aren't already
using it!).

The new forum will go live as soon as we can. Please bear with us as
we are striving to do this move as soon as we can.

On the new forum you WILL have to re-register in order to post.
However we will endeavour to transfer your current post counts from
the current forum.

Regarding Dio. The European tour has recently finished (and what a
tour it was!) and the band are now currently touring in South America.
There are NO dates announced for the upcoming US tour as of yet but as
soon we know they will be posted on the board, so keep logging in to
check.

The new album 'Master of the moon' is set to be released on August
30th in Europe through SPV and on September 7th in the US through
Sanctuary. Go and out and buy the album as soon as you can and we hope
to see your reviews and thoughts on it, posted on the board.

Once again remember to change your bookmarks to
http://www.diomessageboard.com/ and we look forward to seeing you
register on the NEW board soon.

Thank you once again for your continued support.

All the best
Warlord..

Regards,

The Team
http://dioboard.proboards4.com/index.cgi

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #17 ***
*
-Risestar Promotions - Bands For Compilation CD

Bands and labels,

Risestar Promotions is looking for bands interested in be include in
"The Iron Force: Metal Compilation Vol. I" to be released in
September. If you have a band into Black, Death, Heavy, Prog or
HardRock-Metal and you are interested in participate in our release.
contact us.

"The Iron Force: Metal Compilation Vol. I" will be released with:

- Professional CD and full color Duplex Box Case.
- 1500 copies for free distribution in South and North America.
- 1000 copies for Promotion in Webzines, Magazines and Radios.
- 500 copies Printed Stuff (Full color Posters)

You get also:

Special promotion in Risestar Promotions Agency, the most extended
South American Agency getting a special Promo Pack with:

- 3 Months Promotion Contract.
- 50 Promo Copies of you last album (or demo) manufactured by
Risestar.
- Sending to Media Partners (South and North America) and Labels
(Worldwide).
- Alternative Promo Site designed by Risestar.

This special offer have a cost of: 119 USD per song.

If you are interested, please contact us to: compilation@...

*If you want to sign up into our compilation, without the Special
Promo Pack: the price is: 89 USD per song

For info about promo pack check out http://www.risestar.cl/ ,
international promotion since 99 Euro at year.

Hoping that be useful for you,

Risestar Promotions Agency
http://www.risestar.cl/
Phone 1: (56)-(2)-5831763
Phone 2: (56)-(2)-2777403
Fax: (56)(2)-2777403
Mob: (09)-3285680

New Signings:

SUIDAKRA - Melodic Heavy/Black from Germany
MEDUSA'S CHILD - Melodic Heavy Metal from Germany
LET ME DREAM: Melodic Dark from Finland
BURNING ENGINES: - 80's Heavy Rock from Sweden

Presenting Also:

Serpent Soul - Melodic Death/Thrash from Germany
Vagh - Hard Rock featuring Jonas Blum (ex-Majestic) on vocals
Midwinter - Melodic Black/Death from Germany
Winterthrone - (German Death Metal)
Further Lo - (US Heavy Metal)
The Mansion Of SoulDrain - (Swedish Doom-Gothic)
Jacopo Galli - (Progressive Metal from Italy)
Aesthesia - (US Heavy-Hard Rock)
Bloden Wedd - (Heavy Metal From Chile)

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #18 ***
*
-Black Nasa Embarks On Another Tour.. Good News For You!!

Black Nasa brings the ROCK. No whiny introspection, no watered-down,
formulaic bullshit, this is rock for anyone who's pumped a fist to
AC/DC or screamed along to a fat BTO chorus. Infectious, guitar-driven
rock is a staple of American culture, from Grand Funk Railroad to
Monster Magnet to Mountain to Fu Manchu -- and there's no substitute
for the real thing.

The new release from Black Nasa, born of Atomic Bitchwax bassist/front
man extrordinaire Chris Kosnik and rounded out by guitarist Duane
Hutter and drummer Corey Stubblefield, has gathered immense amounts of
phoenomenal press since its April release. In support of the release,
the band is embarking on yet another tour which starts the first week
of September, rolling through the US East Coast and Midwest.

9/3 - Pontiac Grille - Philadelphia PA
9/4 - North Six - Brooklyn NY
9/5 - SHOD 6 @ Nyabinghi - Youngstown OH
9/6 - Pirate's Cove - Cleveland OH
9/7 - Radio Down - Covington, KY (Cincinatti) (w/ Wooly Mammoth)
9/8 - Hammerhead's - Evansville IN (w/ Wooly Mammoth)
9/9 - Mac's - Lansing MI (w/ Wooly Mammoth)
9/10 - The Note - Chicago IL
9/11 - Vnuk's - Cudahy, WI
9/12 - Busted Lift - Dubuque IA
9/13 - Big V's - St. Paul MN
9/14 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City IA
9/15 - Replay Lounge Lawrence KS
9/16 - Rocket Bar St. Louis MO
9/17 - Woody's Tavern Louisville KY
9/18 - The Hideaway Johnson City TN
9/19 - The Wizard Hickory NC
9/20 - The Warehouse Washington DC
9/21 - Sidebar Tavern Baltimore MD

http://www.blacknasa.com/
http://www.meteorcity.com/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #19 ***
*
-IcebergRadio.com's Metal Radio Adds

The following albums have been added to IcebergRadio.com's Metal
Stations: BWBK.com, '80s Hair Bands, Budweiser Radio, BlackDeath,
ProgPower, Hair Transplant, Doom & Distortion, '80s Aggression, Roots
Of Metal.

AMON AMARTH - Fate Of Norns (Metal Blade): BWBK.com, BlackDeath
CHASTAIN - In An Outrage (Leviathan): BWBK.com
DIO - Master Of The Moon (Sanctuary): BWBK.com
HANKER - Web Of Faith (Skyscraper): BWBK.com, ProgPower
INCANTATION - Decimate Christendom (Century Media): BWBK.com,
BlackDeath
JAG PANZER - Casting The Stones (Century Media): BWBK.com, ProgPower
KITTIE - Into The Darkness (Artemis): Budweiser Radio
MASTODON - Leviathan Sampler (Relapse): BWBK.com, Budweiser Radio
NAPALM DEATH - Leaders Not Followers Part 2 (Century Media): BWBK.com
STARWOOD - If It Ain't Broke, Break It (Metal Blade): BWBK.com, Hair
Transplant
THRESHOLD - Subsurface (InsideOut): BWBK.com, ProgPower

Brave Pick Of The Week: UNEARTH - The Oncoming Storm (Metal Blade)

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #20 ***
*
-Lyzanxia US & Canada Tour Dates!

HARSH REALITY TOUR 2004 - LYZANXIA, SYBREED, FREAKHOUSE.

08 Sept. - Cedar Falls, IA @ The Reverb
09 Sept. - Maplewood, MN @ The Rock
10 Sept. - Lansing, IL @ JJ Kellys
11 Sept. - Fort Wayne, IN @ The Complex
12 Sept. - Bellefontaine, OH @ The Blue Cat
14 Sept. - Toronto, ONT @ Club Rock It
15 Sept. - Ottawa, ONT @ Club Far
16 Sept. - tbc (Wilkes-Barre)
17 Sept. – Randolph, NJ @ Obsessions
18 Sept. – Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
19 Sept. – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (downstairs)
21 Sept. – tbc (Fort Lauderdale)
22 Sept. – Tampa, FL @ Brass Mug
24 Sept. – Houston, TX @ Cardi's
25 Sept. – San Antonio, TX @ Sin 13
26 Sept. – Lubbock, TX @ Tokoyo Joes
28 Sept. – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
29 Sept. – Tempe, AZ @ Big Fish Pub
30 Sept. – Corona, CA @ Showcase
01 Oct. – W. Hollywood, CA @ Keyclub
02 Oct. – San Francisco, CA @ The Pound SF
03 Oct. – Portland, OR @ Sabala's
04 Oct. – Seattle, WA @ The Catwalk
06 Oct. – tbc (St. Louis)
07 Oct. – Cincinnati, OH @ Sudsy Malones
08 Oct. – S. Barrington Hills, IL @ Penny Road
09 Oct. – tbc

Please check back often at http://www.lyzanxia.com/ and
http://www.harshrealitytour.com/ for the latest updates on the tour
dates.

TOUR CONTESTS:

CONTEST 1: Win an Epiphone guitar signed by all three bands by
entering at the gigs using our ballot box at the merch table or at
http://www.harshrealitytour.com/ . 4 guitars will be given away during
the tour!

CONTEST 2: Get your review of one of the shows published in Metal Edge
Magazine! All you need to do is write a review of the show in your
town and submit it to Metal Edge (info@...).
Paul Gargano, the editor will select the best written review and post
it an upcoming issue! The winner will also receive a free subscription
to Metal Edge!

Good luck to you all and see you on tour!!!

LYZANXIA
http://www.lyzanxia.com/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #21 ***
*
-Blackfield US Release Date Confirmed

Philadelphia: Snapper Music today confirm September 14 as the US
release date for the anticipated self-titled debut album from
Blackfield. Featuring musician/producer Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree)
and Israeli singer/songwriter Aviv Geffen, the album's stateside
release will follow the already growing European pre-release buzz;
European release set for August 23.

A near two-year creative endeavor, Blackfield was recorded at various
studios in both London and Tel Aviv, with final tracking at London's
Abbey Road in October 2003. Featuring material written collaboratively
and separately, the album brings together a unique ensemble of music,
culture and exceptional talent. A video for the album's namesake first
single was filmed on location in London and Copenhagen and was
directed by Lasse Hoile, long-time designer for Porcupine Tree who
also takes credit for Blackfield's haunting artwork.

Drawn together by a mutual love for classic rock albums of the '60s
and '70s, Steven Wilson and Aviv Geffen have long admired each others'
collective works. In 2000, Aviv invited Steven to perform alongside
him for several concerts in Israel. They met again shortly thereafter
in London and before long began collaboration on the very first
Blackfield song.

Steven Wilson, a multi-instrumentalist who taught himself both guitar
and keyboard while still a teenager, is an accomplished and highly
respected musician. Starting with his art rock trio No-Man, Wilson
developed the initial foundation of the Porcupine Tree legacy in 1987.
On the Sunday of Life, their first full and proper record, was
released in 1992. It was followed by their UK live debut in late 1993.
US fans would have to wait several more years to catch the quartet on
stage, when a short US run culminated in a sold out performance at New
York's prestigious Bottom Line. In Absentia, the band's 2002
recording, is their first for Lava/Atlantic. To date it is the band's
best selling album, with sales over 100,000. The band's next album is
scheduled for worldwide release in early 2005. In addition to
Porcupine Tree, Wilson is an accomplished producer. His most notable
works include the last three recordings from Sweden's Opeth
(Blackwater Park, Deliverance, Damnation) and a recent mix of
Marillion's "Angelina" on the band's new UK single, "Don't Hurt
Yourself."

The son of esteemed Israeli poet Yehonatan Geffen and nephew of Moshe
Dayan, Aviv Geffen is Israel's most outspoken counter-culture rock
musician. A highly successful solo artist with a string of gold albums
in his native country, he is respected by David Bowie, Nick Cave, and
Roger Waters among others and has found US media coverage within the
pages of Newsweek, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times. It was at a
peace rally in Tel Aviv on November 4, 1995 that then 22-year-old
Geffen performed his popular ballad "I Cry for You" in front of over
300,000 people. While congratulating Geffen, Prime Minister Yitzhak
Rabin was fatally wounded. It was a turning point for the musician
whose already prolific and often controversial works have inspired the
generational youth of his homeland. For Geffen, Blackfield is his
first English-language recording project.

Blackfield features guest musicians Gavin Harrison and Chris Maitland
(current and former Porcupine Tree drummers), Yermi Kaplan and the
Illusion String Quartet. Track listing for the album is confirmed as:
Open Mind, Blackfield, Glow, Scars, Lullaby, Pain, Summer, Cloudy Now,
The Hole in Me, Hello.

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #22 ***
*
-Listen To Sum 41's New Single "We're All To Blame" At Sum41.com

Hey Goons,

The band's new single, "We're All To Blame" is now up at Sum41.com!
The single comes from the band's upcoming CD, CHUCK, which hits stores
on October 12th.

Go to Sum 41.com now to listen to the song over and over. We're doing
the same thing over (and over) here. Only those that subscribe to the
Sum 41 newsletter get to listen to the full song, so all you have to
do is log-in and listen. We make it easy, don't we?

http://www.sum41.com/
http://www.islandrecords.com/

*
*** SPECIAL REPORT ***
*
by Sean P. Gahgan (lof@...)

-W.A.S.P./Devil May Care/7th Heaven
August 22, 2004
House Of Blues, Chicago, IL

With all the negative press that Blackie has been getting in the past
couple of weeks surrounding canceled shows and short sets, I must
admit I was a little skeptical of going to see W.A.S.P. on this Sunday
evening. But after confirmation that the last three shows went off
without any incidents, and knowing that the House Of Blues in Chicago
is an artist's favorite when it comes to venues, we decided to go. I
have seen W.A.S.P. twice before, once in 1986 (opening for KISS) and
once in 1999 (at the House Of Blues in Chicago), and both times I
enjoyed them very much as I find Blackie Lawless to be a very
interesting person.

The first of two opening bands started at 8:35. 7th Heaven delivered a
strong 30-minute set full of good power pop songs, but they were
totally mismatched for a W.A.S.P. crowd. However, they brought enough
of their own crowd to garner a fair response from the audience. Devil
May Care came out next and played for about 35 minutes, but the crowd
was not very kind to them as they were basically booed offstage --
again, mismatched for this overly enthused bunch of Metal heads. I was
starting to worry with the almost one-hour delay between bands but
W.A.S.P., who were scheduled to go on at 10:30 p.m., finally hit the
stage at 10:55 p.m. to a very anxious three-quarters full House Of
Blues.

W.A.S.P. (75 minutes)
medley (On Your Knees/Inside The Electric Circus/Hellion/Chainsaw
Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue)) / L.O.V.E. Machine / Animal (Fuck
Like A Beast) / Wild Child / What I'll Never Find / My Tortured Eyes /
The Real Me / I Wanna Be Somebody // acoustic medley (The Titanic
Overture/The Idol/The Gypsy Meets the Boy/Sleeping In The Fire) /
Blind In Texas

The band started at full throttle opening with a similar four-song
medley that they have been using for the past six-plus years. I was
happy to hear the inclusion of "Inside The Electric Circus" as I have
always loved that song. The band was full of energy and sounded great.
The lead guitar of Darrell Roberts was a little low in the mix but was
soon fixed. In talking with the house sound guy he looked back at me
and smiled, "These guys give me an excuse to really mix loud tonight."
And that it was, LOUD! Blackie was sporting a #81 Oakland Raiders
jersey (no one on their active roster has this number; anyone know the
significance?) as well as a Raiders emblem on his guitar. His vocals
sounded good, at times out of breath as he was all over the stage, so
that is to be expected.

The pleasant surprise in seeing this version of W.A.S.P. that Blackie
has put together is that everyone sings, and I don't just mean gang
vocals. Drummer Stet Howland did the majority of harmonies that
Blackie normally does on the recordings with himself, and bass player
Mike Duda sang lead on a number of parts in various songs. Darrell
Roberts even joined in on some parts and they all sounded very good!
Blackie had his trademark microphone stand that doubles as a pair of
handlebars. If you have never seen this monstrosity before it is
something to witness. The whole structure weighs over 1,000 lbs. It
gets mounted on a platform that is about a foot off stage and houses
three heavy duty springs. This allows him to practically ride the
thing and it sways in all directions. Decked out with chains and a
steel skull it is pretty intimidating and as described later, an
integral part of the show.

"L.O.V.E. Machine" sounded great as Stet's toms were very loud and
powerful, and Mike Duda sang some of the lead vocals on this song
which was a cool change of pace. "Animal (F@#k Like A Beast)" got the
crowd way jacked up and everyone was singing. By the time they got to
"Wild Child" the lead guitar was audible but you could barely hear
Blackie's guitar in the midsection which was disappointing. This is
what happens when you have a house guy, who is not familiar with the
band or set list, mixing the band. I was surprised that they did not
have their own guy mixing or doing lights. "What I'll Never Find" from
THE NEON GOD: PART 1 was up next. This song came off well live and
Darrell got an extended solo at the end. He jammed for about four
extra minutes and I was very impressed. He had a well constructed,
melodic, building solo that was very emotional.

The most interesting part of the show came next. My friends and I were
standing directly behind the mixing board as, being the sound freak I
am, it's the best sounding position at the House Of Blues. I noticed
one of the roadies come and ask the light guy to completely shut off
the house lights for the next song, as they had been just dimmed. As
the group went into "My Tortured Eyes" the light guy left the stage
dark. I'm thinking to myself, "What the hell is this guy doing?" They
were playing a song and you could barely see them 'cause it was so
dark. Well, by mid-song Blackie was perched high up on his mic stand/
handlebars -- remember with the platform and all this thing is close
to eight feet high and Blackie was sitting on the top of it now with
his leg wrapped around and locked in to hold him in place is like 10
feet in the air. The only lights on were these eerie black lights. He
started to smear fluorescent paint all over his face, arms and hair,
and with the black lights illuminating the paint it was one of the
coolest and most wicked things I ever saw live. The facial expressions
and his animated gestures were just so freaky! He had the stand
swaying over the crowd and in time to the music...it made what would
otherwise be a slow plodding song into a spectacle. He had the crowd
simply mesmerized. It was very cool! After that song ended and the
stage lights came back on he cleaned himself off and looked over the
crowd as if for approval -- well let me tell you, he had the crowd's
approval as well as their undivided attention.

And then BAM!, they launched into "The Real Me." The enthusiasm and
energy that the band kept up for the entire show was fabulous. They
closed the set with "I Wanna Be Somebody" which included the ever-so-
popular sing-along. Blackie talked about this year being the 20th
anniversary of the first album being released. Stet also sang the pre-
chorus both times. Blackie threw his sweaty towel into the audience
midway through the song and I have never seen such a crowd frenzy over
anything before. After 30 seconds of scuffling two individuals played
tug-of-war for the next two minutes, neither one giving an inch until
security broke it up -- all of this over a sweaty towel -- pretty
funny!

After a five-minute intermission, Blackie emerged with his acoustic
guitar and did a very nice aucostic set. I wish they would have done
the complete version of "The Idol" as it's one of my favorites but he
did enough to whet my appetite. I really thought the whole band was
going to come crashing in all heavy like in the middle of "Sleeping In
The Fire" but they didn't; that would have been cool. But all in all,
Blackie did a good job with just him and his guitar. The rest of the
band came back out and flattened the stage playing "Blind In Texas"
which got the crowd pretty damn rowdy!

It was a very good and entertaining show but I was disappointed that
they only played an hour and 15 minutes. With as much material as they
have to pull from they could have easily played longer. Hell, exactly
a week ago I was at the same venue watching two ladies in their mid-
50s (Heart) play for over two hours (they kicked ass and can rock with
the best of them!). Blackie is only 48 and appears to be in good shape
for his age so in my opinion they should have played longer. "Sister
Sadie" was on the set list but they did not perform it. But for what
they did they sounded the best I have heard them sound with great
vocals, killer guitar, and a tremendous amount of energy. Check them
out if you get a chance.

Relevant links:

7th Heaven
http://www.7thheavenband.com/

Devil May Care
http://www.devilmaycaremusic.com/

W.A.S.P.
http://www.waspnation.com/

*
*** REVIEWS ***
*
HEAVEN & EARTH - A TASTE OF HEAVEN (A-/B+) Black Star, 2004
8 tracks, RT: 34:27
[ http://www.stuartsmith.com/ ]
[ http://www.blackstarrecords.com/ ]
Guitarist Stuart Smith is preceding his band Heaven & Earth's third
full-length album, SCREAMING FOR REDEMPTION, with the release of this
"taster" EP. (OK, yeah, technically the first album HEAVEN AND EARTH
was out as a Smith solo effort, but it and the follow-up release
Heaven And Earth - WINDOWS TO THE WORLD really should be grouped
together along with the upcoming third disc.) Smith now has vocalist
Paul Shortino (Rough Cutt, Quiet Riot) in the fold, and he fits like a
glove. Four new tracks featuring Shortino kick off this EP: "Screaming
For Redemption" is a mid-tempo bluesy rocker, "Heaven" is is a tad
more commercial and rousing, "Nasty Piece Of Work" is tinged with
Hammond B3, and "It'd Be True" is an acoustic-tinged full-band ballad.
The songwriting is clear, concise, and sharp, and everything
(including Shortino's soulful vocals) flows seamlessly. Put simply,
Heaven & Earth's sound is classic and timeless. The remaining four
tracks are all taken from the soon-to-be reissued HEAVEN AND EARTH
disc: "Dreams Of Desire" is a light, bouncy neoclassical instrumental;
"When A Blind Man Cries" (an old Deep Purple B-side) is sung by Richie
Sambora (Bon Jovi) and has a slow, smokey vibe; "Heaven & Earth" is
sung by Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow, Deep Purple, Yngwie Malmsteen) and
is the commercial gem in Smith's crown; and "See That My Grave Is Kept
Clean" features a spirited Glenn Hughes (Trapeze, Deep Purple, Black
Sabbath) singing over another cool, bluesy rocker. (Normally I don't
care for Hughes too much but this song is quite good!) Overall, fans
of classic bands like Deep Purple, Rainbow, Whitesnake, etc. will
certainly appreciate Heaven & Earth's slick, mature songs and Smith's
knack for crisp, effective soloing. - Tim

STARWOOD - IF IT AIN'T BROKE, BREAK IT! (B) Metal Blade, 2004
9 tracks, RT: 33:05
[ http://www.starwood-band.com/ ]
[ http://www.lizzyborden.com/ ]
[ http://www.metalblade.com/ ]
The members of Lizzy Borden -- Lizzy on vocals, Joe Steals on guitar,
Marten Andersson on bass, and Joey Scott on drums -- have resurfaced
with a new attitude and a new moniker, Starwood, in homage to the
legendary rock club. The tunes on IF IT AIN'T BROKE, BREAK IT! are
decidedly more commercial and "rock" than Borden's more metallic
attack, and there's plenty of fun to be had here. Lizzy's voice has
stood the test of time amazingly well -- don't forget he's been
screeching and wailing for 20 years now -- and fits these Kiss, Cheap
Trick, and Alice Cooper-inspired songs perfectly. Openers "Subculture"
and "Won't Back Down" are a formiddable one-two punch (and I swear
that is a lick from Kiss' "Shout It Out Loud" stuck in the middle of
the latter), "Social Zero" has a killer bratty/punky chorus and two
different lead vocal styles, "You're So Real" has a wildly grooving
bass line and a melody that is oh-so-familiar and instantly catchy,
and closer "Bad Machine" has some slide guitar and finishes the short
disc off on another "up" note. Good clean glammy rock fun. Well, OK,
maybe not exactly "clean"... :) - Tim

TIWANAKU (DEMO) (C+) indie, 2003
4 tracks, RT: 18:55
[ http://www.beyondearcandy.com/tiwanaku/ ]
Tiwanaku has essentially the same lineup as Leash Law, the band
featuring former Crimson Glory/Seven Witches screamer Wade Black that
recently released its debut DOGFACE on Black Lotus Records, but the
music is *very* different. Black, guitarist/bassist/keyboardist Emo
Mowery (Nocturnus), guitarist Rick Renstrom (Rob Rock), and drummer
Richard Christy (Death, Iced Earth) combine here to bang out some
psychotically arranged thrash with death metal overtones. Frankly, I
didn't know Black could sound so downright *evil* with his ultra-low
growls! Some of the guitar soloing is at blitzkrieg speed, which comes
at the expense of some melody. The tracks seem to get better as the
demo rolls on, with openers "Illusion" and "Magnacore" sounding much
rougher or less polished when compared to closers "Shockwaves" and
"What If." When it settles down a little "Illusion" has a nice, heavy
groove in the chorus. "Magnacore" takes turns speeding, chugging, and
churning, and incorporates the sound of a tolling bell nicely.
"Shockwaves" starts out slow before kicking in, and even at its
fastest seems more controlled than the first two songs; there is a
definite King Diamond vibe going on here with Black's vocals, too.
"What If" starts out like a -- gasp! -- ballad featuring Black's
smoother, more soothing higher register; it also kicks in around the
2:00 mark but like its predecessor remains more even-keeled than the
first two tracks. Mowery's keyboard work deserves special mention for
two reasons: 1) not many thrash bands use keys, and 2) some of his
sounds have a wickedly cool 1950s sci-fi movie vibe. (It's quirky but
it works!) Overall, honestly, the music is too scattered for my tastes
and (for now) I definitely prefer the guys wearing their Leash Law
hats, but with some more work Tiwanaku will probably stand on its own.
- Tim

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*** OUT ***
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Tim Wadzinski
tsw512@...
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