Detritus
Issue #319
Week of May 30, 2005
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*** CAST OF CHARACTERS ***
*
Patrick Brower, Editor
patrickbrower@...

Sean P. Gahgan, Editor
lof@...

Tim Wadzinski, Owner
tsw512@...

Steve Shumake, Co-owner
vongoober@...
http://www.vongoober.com/

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*** LET IT BE KNOWN ***
*
-New contest time! The kind folks at Perris Records have two copies of
the excellent new Zan Clan album, WE ARE ZAN CLAN... WHO THE F**K ARE
YOU!?, up for grabs. All you gotta do to win one is tell me the name
of the band Zan Clan vocalist Zinny Zan used to sing for. (Hint: The
band's self-titled debut was released in the US on Relativity Records
in 1989.) Send your answer, along with your full name and mailing
address, to me at tsw512@... and be sure to put "Zan Clan
Contest" in the subject line. Good luck! (And I ain't lyin' when I say
the album is excellent -- it's fun, it rocks, and Zinny sounds just
like his glory days self!) - Tim

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*** PRESS RELEASE #1 ***
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-Radiant Records Announcements: Yellow Matter Custard DVD 2

Hello,

We have some good news and some bad news. The good news is: The Yellow
Matter Custard DVDs are finally in! The bad news is we have limited
quantities and don't know when we will be able to get more, so, get
yours while you can! It's first come first served. As soon as we've
sold what we have we will take it off the site. If it's not available
on our site that means we've sold out but you can get it at
http://www.mikeportnoy.com/ .

Also, many thanks to everyone who joined the Neal Morse "Inner Circle"
and we hope you're enjoying your first custom CD. If you haven't
signed up yet it's not too late!! There will be one more shipping of
the first CD on June 15th and after that it will no longer be
available, so sign up now and get in the circle! Just go to
http://www.nealmorse.com/ , click on the inner circle banner and
follow the sign up instructions.

Here some info about the YMC DVD:

Yellow Matter Custard - One Night In New York City DVD

Yellow Matter Custard (Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Paul Gilbert and Matt
Bissonette) has been captured on DVD. Very cool. It's been Mike
Portnoy's dream all his life to be in a Beatles cover band. (Who
would've ever figured that?) Finally it came true one night in New
York City. Recorded live at New York's BB Kings Blues club May 18,
2003, Yellow Matter Custard perform some well known Beatles songs such
as "Nowhere Man" and "Revolution," as well as more obscure tunes like
"I Call Your Name," "Think For Yourself" and even a hilarious
rendition of the "Let it Be" B-side "You Know My Name." With the
amazingly Lennon-like sounds of Neal Morse's voice, the incredible
skill of Paul Gilbert (guitar, vocals) and Matt Bissonette (bass,
vocals) this disc brings the fab-four alive in all its simplicity and
complexity. Somehow they found samples of the actual orchestra tracks
from Sgt. Peppers and I Am The Walrus bringing the psychedelic Beatle
era to life in stunning reality. Highlights include Paul Gilbert's
extended guitar solo in "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," Morse's gut
grinding vocals on "Oh Darlin'," Bissonette's perfect bass playing in
"I Want You" and Mike Portnoy's Ringo-esque drumming will surely
surprise many.

The whole night has been brilliantly captured in a 2 camera shot
edited DVD. The quality is pretty decent especially considering the
circumstances. Relive this classic evening again and again in all its
fun and excitement.

Special added Features:

Rehearsal Footage
Audio Commentary with Mike and Howard Portnoy

Order now at http://www.radiantrecords.com/

Jessica is no longer with us as she is going to school. Don't worry;
she'll still lend her voice to our CDs now and then. For right now I'm
taking care of Radiant duties. I already miss Jessica!! :J

Thanks for all your support,

Cherie Morse
Radiant Records

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*** PRESS RELEASE #2 ***
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-Reviver Participates On Running Wild Tribute Album

[Note: This comes from the band's site http://www.reviver.nl/ . - Tim]

Reviver will participate on the Running Wild tribute album, called
REVIVALRY. The album will be released by Remedy Records in June 2005.
Reviver recorded the track "Pile of Skulls." The artwork of the album
has been done by Kris Verwimp.

Besides Reviver, bands like Stormwarrior, Paragon, Torment and Dark
Age will contribute to this album. For more information and a complete
list of the participating bands, check out the following link on the
Running Wild website:

http://www.running-wild.net/releases/a-tribute-to-running-wild.php

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*** PRESS RELEASE #3 ***
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-Celtic Legacy News

[Note: This was posted by guitarist Dave Morrissey in the band's forum
at http://www.getsmf.com/phpbb/index.php?mforum=celticlegacy . - Tim]

"I'm sorry to say that Celtic Legacy have decided to put the band on
hold indefinitely with immediate effect.

"We were hoping to be able to relaunch the band at Day Of Darkness but
with only a few weeks to go and with a stable line-up still a million
miles away, we're left with little choice but to pull out now rather
than hope against hope of putting something together in time. I've
already mailed Crunch to apologise and he has reluctantly accepted our
pulling out.

"The Legacy website will remain open and those last few copies of both
CL albums will remain available until they are finally sold. There
aren't many copies left so hopefully they should go soon.

"I'd like to give a big thanks to everyone who supported us over the
past 8 years. The TBMC and Rosetta gigs from last year will always be
a fond memory. We still have material written for the next album and
there's no reason why we won't record these tracks at some point in
the future. But we feel that the wind that we are currently pissing
into is getting too strong and a lengthy break is the best solution
for all concerned.

"All the best,
"Dave"

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*** PRESS RELEASE #4 ***
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-Nevermore Update

The Seattle-based quintet Nevermore recently completed the recording
process for their highly anticipated new album, THIS GODLESS ENDEAVOR,
at Backstage Studios in England with legendary producer Andy Sneap
(Arch Enemy, Killswitch Engage, Opeth). The highly anticipated new
offering is currently set for a July 26 th release. This will mark the
group's first recording with guitarist Steve Smyth (ex-Testament).

Nevermore will embark on massive six-week summer festival tour, dubbed
the Gigantour, alongside Megadeth, Dream Theater, Fear Factory and The
Dillinger Escape Plan in late July. Warrel Dane (vocals) further
describes his thoughts on the new album and upcoming tour: "We have
completed the recording process for THIS GODLESS ENDEAVOR and Andy
Sneap will finish mixing and mastering the record this week. It was a
great experience working with Sneap again and he has really outdone
himself on this record. We are also really psyched up for Gigantour.
It's great to part of a tour that is focused on musicianship instead
of current trends. This summer is going to be great."

In other news, the new version of the group's critically acclaimed
2003 album ENEMIES OF REALITY, remixed by Sneap, is now available. It
was repackaged with altered cover artwork, two promotional video clips
(the title track and "I, Voyager") and a live video of the title track
performed at Germany's Wacken Open Air festival this past summer.

The remixed ENEMIES OF REALITY will replace the existing version of
the album in stores. Fans who have already purchased the record and
want to hear the new edition can special order it from the
CenturyMedia.com web shop, where the CD itself will be sold
individually (i.e., without jewel case and artwork) for $5, including
shipping. The disc will be mailed in a CD sleeve; a link to a special
website containing the downloadable revised artwork will be included
in order confirmation e-mails.

http://www.nevermore.tv/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #5 ***
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-Hirax And Laaz Rockit Added To Thrash Against Cancer Show

SAN FRANCISCO -- Los Angeles thrash metal veterans Hirax and the
recently reunited '80s Bay Area thrashers Laaz Rockit have been added
to the Thrash Against Cancer benefit, which will be headlined by
Testament, on July 9 at The Pound SF outdoor amphitheatre. Vicious
Rumors, announced last week, will also take part in this historic
gathering of Bay area musicians.

The proceeds from the show will aid in the financial recovery for
families dealing with life-altering medical diagnosis. Among the
families that will benefit from the concert are Keith and Brandy
Regan, whose son, Cole Regan, was born with cancer (leukemia / AML)
and survived up until three months short of his second birthday before
passing away on July 28, 2004. The show will also help other families
who have who have children with pediatric cancer and are in severe
need of help. These families struggle on a daily basis to pay for
medicine and co-pays, not to mention household bills and other
expenses, to keep their hopes and futures at a functioning level while
battling to keep their child alive.

Keith Regan is a long-time fan of thrash metal and approached
Testament's vocalist Chuck Billy about the possibility of the band
playing a benefit for his family and for other families who have
children with pediatric cancer. Billy brought the Regan's request to
the attention of Walter Morgan, one of the organizers of the Thrash Of
The Titans show, and the benefit began to take shape.

"I am so honored to have all these amazing bands from my past step up
and play this show to aid my family," said Keith Regan. "The Bay Area
has been my home all my life and to have this opportunity for fans to
see this show in our home town is awesome."

Although Hirax is from Los Angeles, the band considers the Bay area
their second home.

Hirax has played there many times since 1984, sharing the stage with
Slayer, Exodus, DRI, Dark Angel, and Cryptic Slaughter just to mention
a few. These bands helped to create the thrash metal scene and were
instrumental in the genre's worldwide popularity.

"Hirax is honored to be a part of this benefit," said vocalist Katon
W. De Pena. "When we were asked to play this show, we did not hesitate
to join forces with our brothers and sisters from the Bay area. This
benefit will prove that the heavy metal community cares about the fans
more than anything."

Hirax's 2004 recording, THE NEW AGE OF TERROR, will be released in the
US this summer on Deep Six Records, and singer Katon W. De Pena's
label, Black Devil Records, will also release NOT DEAD YET, a CD
consisting of the band's first two classic records RAGING VIOLENCE and
HATE, FEAR AND POWER.

Laaz Rockit, formed in 1982, were a mainstay in the Bay area thrash
scene for 9 years. Earlier this month, the original lineup reunited
for the first time since 1991 to play 2 shows with Testament,
including the prestigious Dynamo Festival in Holland. Their appearance
at the Thrash Against Cancer benefit will be their first US show in
over 14 years.

"We're excited and honored to be a part of this show to help out such
a worthy cause," said guitarist Aaron Jellum. "It will be interesting
to see all the old friends and fans again from the Bay area."

Tickets for the Thrash Against Cancer benefit will go on sale
Wednesday, June 1. The Pound amphitheater is located at 100 Cargo Way-
Pier 96 (3rd St). This is an all ages event (21 years old w/ ID to
drink). Tickets are $40.00 in advance and will be available at The
Pound SF's box office (415-826-5009).

http://thrashagainstcancer.blogspot.com/
http://www.testamentlegions.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #6 ***
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-Perris Records Update

Perris Records Opens Office In Europe!!!

Perris Records is proud to announce they have opened an office in
Copenhagen, Denmark. Perris will expand into many markets with Mika
Botfeldt heading the sales team. Mika will also attend the Sweden Rock
festival with Tom Mathers.

Mika Botfeldt has a lot of experience since he started Metalized mag.
in 1987, became the biggest metal in Denmark later. Did interviews
with all of them like: Kiss, Iron Maiden, Manowar, Black Sabbath,
W.A.S.P., Skid Row, Sanctuary, Dio, Metallica, Judas Priest, Saxon,
Def Leppard, Slayer, Motorhead, Motley Crue...whatever, you name
it..!! 1990 started Metalized records, a metal and hard rock record
store. 1993 stated Nordic Metal, became the best metal distro. in
Denmark. We did distribution and promotion for: SPV/LMP/Insideout,
Century Media, Metal Blade, Noise, Massacre, MTM, Sanctuary, PHD, AFM,
G.U.N., Moonfog, Frontiers, and many more.

Email contact: mika@...

Perris At Sweden Rock

Don't forget to look for the Perris Records Booth at this year's
Sweden Rock Fest!!!! At the Booth doing a autograph session saturday
June 11th between the hours of 13.30 & 14.30 will be Canada's own
legend Brian Vollmer of Helix, also appearing will be Loud 'N' Nasty
and Andy Pierce of Nasty Idols, United Enemies fame. Perris records
president Tom Mathers will at the booth June 9-11th. Please let Tom
know if you will be at the festival he would like to meet with many
people.

http://www.perrisrecords.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #7 ***
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-Z Records News

SONIC X UPDATE

"Sonic X has hired Warren Cooper to Co-Produce and Engineer the
follow-up to their critically acclaimed self-titled debut CD. Warren
co-engineered the Sonic X debut CD and this time will have a bigger
role in the overall recording and production of the new record, which
is slated for release in the Fall of 2005. The band is thrilled to be
working with Warren as he brings a lot of creative ideas to the
sessions."

To catch up on the latest Sonic X news here are a couple of links to
their most recent interviews:

Live Interview - Adam & Joseph with Hardrockhaven -
http://www.hardrockhaven.net/interviews/sonicx05.php

Print Interview with Sleazeroxx -
http://www.sleazeroxx.com/interviews/sonicx.shtml

TALKS IN PROGRESS FOR UK SHOW

Talks are currently in progress re the possible staging of a festival
in the UK during late '05 / early '06. Watch ths space!

UPDATED RELEASE SCHEDULE

June 20th: Mitch Perry: The Mitch Perry Projects
June 20th: Prophet: Cycle Of The Moon +1 reissue
July 18th: Prophet: Recycled
July 25th: Soulskinner: Tomorrow Never Comes
August tbc: War & Peace: Live
August tbc: Black 'N Blue: Hell Yeah!
September tbc: Skull - title tbc

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*** PRESS RELEASE #8 ***
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-Kamelot Fill Virgin Steele's Slot At Bang Your Head!!! 2005

Virgin Steele had to cancel their appearance at this year's Bang Your
Head!!! event due to medical reasons. Mainman David DeFeis is
presumably suffering from severe health problems and must undergo
further testing and treatment procedures that are scheduled at the
date of the German festival.

The festival's organizers hired US Melodic Metal act Kamelot as
substitute to fill in the slot. It will be the band's third Bang Your
Head!!! show aftEr their appearances back in 1998 and 2001.

Virgin Steele's management's official statement about the cancellation
if the festival show:

"While undergoing a medical exam to discover the source of a severe,
persistent pain, additional serious health issues were discovered that
need attention, and it has been suggested by medical authorities that
David DeFeis undergo further testing and treatment procedures. Since
time is of the essence and these procedures will be ongoing, (several
are scheduled for the week of these Festivals), therefore it is with a
heavy heart and sincere regret that we must unfortunately announce to
you that the Group must bow out of these two engagements. We thank you
all for your understanding and patience, and we assure you that the
Band will be back onstage with you all once again shortly..."

http://www.bang-your-head.de/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #9 ***
*
-MEGADETH'S GREATEST HITS: BACK TO THE START To Be Released In CD And
Limited Edition CD/DVD Packages By Capitol/EMI

In Stores: June 28, 2005

Megadeth and Dream Theater to Co-headline Dave Mustaine's "Gigantour;"
Other Mainstage Acts Include Fear Factory, Dillinger Escape Plan and
Nevermore

Hollywood, California -- As Megadeth frontman and guitarist Dave
Mustaine prepares to take his Gigantour festival line-up to major
North American cities this summer, Capitol/EMI Music Catalog Marketing
is gearing up to unleash MEGADETH'S GREATEST HITS: BACK TO THE START
in two configurations. The 17-track CD and deluxe, limited edition
CD/DVD set will be released June 28, both including a package essay
written by the director of "The Decline Of Western Civilization"
documentary series, Penelope Spheeris.

MEGADETH GREATEST HITS: BACK TO THE START follows Capitol/EMI's 2004
extensive eight-album remastering campaign for the band's catalog and
the release of the band's tenth studio album, THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED,
which debuted at #18 upon its September 2004 release (Sanctuary
Records). The GREATEST HITS tracklist, selected by fans in a poll at
the band's official website, http://www.megadeth.com/ , packs 17 top
hits and favorites on a 78-minute single disc, including "Peace
Sells," "Symphony Of Destruction," "In My Darkest Hour," "Holy
Wars...The Punishment Due" and "Sweating Bullets."

The limited edition CD/DVD package is expanded to add approximately 40
minutes of video content, including a new Mega-Mix music video for
"Kill The King," edited from past music videos and behind the scenes
footage, seven previously unreleased live performance cuts from the
band's 1999 RISK tour, and a preview for the forthcoming 2-DVD set,
ARSENAL OF MEGADETH. To be released this fall, ARSENAL OF MEGADETH is
a new career anthology including videos, live performances, interviews
and Dave Mustaine's home movies of the band on the road. Pre-orders
for the two new GREATEST HITS: BACK TO THE START packages will be
taken at the band's official website: http://www.megadeth.com/ , just
as Megadeth's remastered catalog titles were first offered last year.

Co-headlined by Megadeth and Dream Theater, with other mainstage acts
Fear Factory, Dillinger Escape Plan and Nevermore, Dave Mustaine's
six-week Gigantour is set to launch in late July. Gigantour will
criss-cross North America, with stops in amphitheatres and arenas in
cities including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto,
Montreal, Washington, Philadelphia, Boston, Denver and Minneapolis,
among others, implementing a "fan friendly" ticket price of
approximately $35. Mustaine notes, "I think people may want an
affordable alternative to the choices out there, along the lines of a
pure music festival, like 'Monsters of Rock' or 'Clash of the
Titans.'"

Gigantour, whose moniker was inspired by the classic 1960s cartoon
"Gigantor," follows Megadeth's sold-out 2004 "Blackmail The Universe"
tour in support of THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED and the band's extensive
catalog reissue campaign. Bandmates Glen Drover (guitar), James
MacDonough (bass) and Shawn Drover (drums) will once again join Dave
Mustaine on the road.

To pre-order MEGADETH'S GREATEST HITS: BACK TO THE START, and for
Gigantour tour dates and other news, please visit
http://www.megadeth.com/ .

* * *

MEGADETH: GREATEST HITS (CD)
1. Holy Wars...The Punishment Due
2. In My Darkest Hour
3. Peace Sells
4. Sweating Bullets
5. Angry Again
6. A Tout Le Monde
7. Trust
8. Kill The King
9. Symphony Of Destruction
10. Mechanix (2002 Remix)
11. Train Of Consequences
12. Wake Up Dead
13. Hangar 18
14. Dread And The Fugitive Mind
15. Skin O' My Teeth
16. She-Wolf
17. Prince Of Darkness
(TRT: 78:15)

Limited Edition Greatest Hits CD/DVD: DVD tracklist
1. "Kill The King" Mega-Mix video (New video, compiled from clips from
Megadeth's top music videos)
2. 'Megadeth Live' intro screen / Prince Of Darkness
3. Holy Wars...The Punishment Due
4. In My Darkest Hour
5. Hangar 18
6. Sweating Bullets
7. Symphony Of Destruction
8. Peace Sells
9. Preview for Arsenal Of Megadeth (forthcoming 2-DVD Megadeth
release)
(TRT: 39:09)

Megadeth catalog titles remastered and reissued June 29, 2004 by
Capitol/EMI:
(more than 300,000 shipped to date)

Title - Original Release Date
Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? - September 19, 1986
So Far So Good So What - January 13, 1988
Rust In Peace - September 24, 1990
Countdown To Extinction - July 6, 1992
Youthanasia - November 1, 1994
The Craving (MD.45, with Lee Ving) - January 1, 1996
Cryptic Writings - July 17, 1997
Risk - August 31, 1999

*
*** NEWS/RUMORS ***
*
-Check out an MP3 of "Word Of Death," by the "traditional '80s heavy
metal" band Clenched Fist, now at http://www.clenchedfist.tk/ .

-Corrosion Of Conformity will kick off its "Stone Breakers And
Hellraisers" tour tomorrow. There's a new e-card for the tour at
http://www.relapse.com/ecards/COC/ . Tour dates:

6/2 - The Vogue, Indianapolis, IN
6/3 - Harpo's, Detroit, MI
6/4 - Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH
6/5 - Madison Theater, Covington, KY
6/6 - Ten Bells Nightclub, Grand Rapids, MI
6/8 - The Buffalo Icon, Buffalo, NY
6/9 - Recher Theater, Towson, MD
6/10 - Irving Plaza, New York, NY
6/11 - Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
6/12 - Norva Theatre, Norfolk, VA
6/14 - Marzz, Wilmington, NC
6/15 - Stella Blue, Asheville, NC
6/17 - Ziggy's, Winston-Salem, NC
6/18 - House Of Blues, Myrtle Beach, SC
6/19 - Freebird Live, Jacksonville Beach, FL
6/20 - The Social, Orlando, FL
6/22 - Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
6/23 - Masquerade, Tampa, FL
6/24 - Masquerade, Atlanta, GA
6/25 - TwiRoPa, New Orleans, LA
6/27 - Exit/In, Nashville, TN
6/28 - New Daisy Theater, Memphis, TN
6/30 - Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa, OK
7/1 - Trees, Dallas, TX
7/2 - Engine Room, Houston, TX
7/3 - Emo's, Austin, TX
7/5 - Launchpad, Albuquerque, NM
7/6 - Coconuts, Tucson, AZ
7/7 - Galaxy Concert Theater, Santa Ana, CA
7/8 - Key Club, West Hollywood, CA
7/9 - The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
7/10 - Slim's, San Francisco, CA
7/12 - Berbati's, Portland, OR
7/13 - Neumos, Seattle, WA
7/15 - Club Vegas, Salt Lake City, UT
7/16 - Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO
7/17 - Bottleneck, Lawrence, KS
7/18 - Pop's, Sauget, IL
7/21 - House Of Blues, Chicago, IL
7/22 - Huntington Music Hall, Huntington, WV
7/23 - Ground Zero, Spartanburg, SC
7/24 - Lincoln Theater, Raleigh, NC

-Dark Moor's video for "Before The Duel," from the album BEYOND THE
SEA, is now available on-line at
http://www.dark-moor.com/videoonline.htm.

-Demons & Wizards news: Check out the great interview with Jon
Schaffer over at http://www.thatssometal.com/ where he speaks in depth
on the new Demons & Wizards CD.

-Bruce Dickinson has announced plans to record a CD of cover songs in
the future with producer/guitarist Roy Z.

-Details for the running order of Gigantour have been announced.

Stage 1:

Megadeth - Co-headline (90 mins.)
Dream Theater - Co-headline (90 mins.) confirmed through 6/21 - 9/3/05
Fear Factory - Special Guests (45 mins.) confirmed 6/21 - 9/11/05
The Dillinger Escape Plan - Guests (30 mins.) confirmed 8/2 - 9/11/05
Nevermore - Guests (30 mins.) confirmed 6/21 - 9/11/05

Stage 2:

Life of Agony (40 mins.) confirmed 6/21 - 9/11/05
Symphony X (30 mins.) confirmed 6/21 - 9/11/05
Dry Kill Logic (20 mins.) confirmed 6/21 - 9/11/05
? [last act to be confirmed this week] (20 mins.) 6/21 - 9/11/05
Bobaflex (20 mins.) confirmed 6/21 - 9/11/05

The rumor is that Anthrax will take Dream Theater's spot when they
have to leave for their European tour in September. See
http://www.gigantour.com/ for more.

-Killer Dwarfs are gigging, with openers Revolver (featuring former
Slik Toxik vocalist Nicholas Walsh), on June 3 at The Second Last Call
in Orillia, ON.

-Salem's new album STRINGS ATTACHED will be distributed exclusively in
France by Holy Records, http://www.holyrecords.com/ . The French
release date is July 5. See http://www.salemband.com/ for more.

-Rumor has it that drummer/guitarist Snowy Shaw (King Diamond, Dream
Evil, Notre Dame) and singer Mats Leven (Yngwie Malmsteen, Treat) are
working on a new project together.

Thanks to clenchedcris@..., Andrew Demarest, Simon Fauteux,
tnivek1976@..., and zrtenenb@... for help gathering
some of this information.

*
*** ROCK HARD RIDE FREE ***
*
by Tim Wadzinski (tsw512@...)

-Didja catch that new VH1 show "Resurrecting Motley Crue" the other
night? OK, I suppose I can believe the band's management started
plotting the reunion and subsequent tour before any of the band
members were even told about it, but I have a hard time buying the
band members didn't know their initial meeting was being filmed on
"hidden camera." The gist of it was that in only six months,
management was able to get everyone back on the same page, shaking
hands, in the studio recording a few new songs, and then back out on
the road (and in the case of guitarist Mick Mars, under the knife for
hip replacement surgery!). I guess money can be a heck of a motivator.
:)

-Man, I just got deluged with a bucket of cool CDs from Nightmare
Records, Lion Music, and Perris Records. It's feast or famine as usual
-- I hadn't gotten much in the way of new stuff for a while. :) I'm
trying to squeeze in listens of the new Bruce Dickinson album, TYRANNY
OF SOULS, which I picked up last week. (Opinion so far: It's good but
not on par with ACCIDENT OF BIRTH.) And I *still* need to review a ton
of stuff like the latest from Jesse Damon, Ben Jackson Group, Mennen,
Revolver, Divinefire, etc. Phew. :)

-Someone help! The cover of the Union live DVD -- DO YOUR OWN THING
LIVE! -- is a photo of the front end of the band's tour bus. The hood
ornament is the band's diamond logo thingy, and there are two license
plates hanging off the bumper. One reads "BLUROOM" -- after the band's
album THE BLUE ROOM -- but the other reads "LITG8C" and I have no idea
what it means. Anyone?

-Now in my current playlist: Bruce Dickinson - TYRANNY OF SOULS
(Sanctuary), Zan Clan - WE ARE ZAN CLAN... WHO THE F**K ARE YOU!?
(Perris Records), Eyefear - 9 ELEMENTS OF INNER VISION (Nightmare
Records), Union - DO YOUR OWN THING LIVE! (DVD) (Creative Worx
Entertainment).

*
*** REVIEWS ***
*
DIVINITY DESTROYED - EDEN IN ASHES (A-) Escapi/Screaming Ferret, 2005
8 tracks, RT: 31:57
[ http://www.divinitydestroyed.com/ ]
[ http://www.escapi.com/ ]
[ http://www.screamingferret.com/ ]
Divinity Destroyed's new album EDEN IN ASHES shows why metal is so
hard to define. I would best describe them as a mix of V.A.S.T.,
Tiamat, and Paradise Lost with some Swedish folk metal thrown in for
flavoring. There is just such a variety of styles blended together I
am amazed it works as a whole. No one subgenre of metal comes close to
describing their sound. EDEN IS AHSES has a very mellow relaxing side
in between sonic blasts of guitar crunching metal. Track #4 "Nothing
But A Shadow" captures the band's remarkable abilities going from
flowing progressive beats to near Metallica like thrashings. Just as
hard to pigeonhole is lead singer Mark Ward. He goes from extremely
melodic, almost Gregorian style chants to a near prefect Dani Filth
clone. Just check out track #3 "Borealis" to see him smoothly
transition from screaming death god to virtuous choir boy. His range
is simply amazing and his voice is so different from anyone else I
find it hard to believe this is the first time I have heard of him.
Even with paradise in ashes my faith in metal is not destroyed but
stronger than ever. - Rick Berg (strngbrg@...)

EVERGREY A NIGHT TO REMEMBER (DVD) (A) Insideout Music, 2005
RT: 360+ minutes
[ http://www.evergrey.net/ ]
[ http://www.insideoutmusic.com/ ]
Well it's finally here -- Evergrey's first DVD, A NIGHT TO REMEMBER.
Track lists: DVD #1 (concert recorded October 9, 2004, Stora Theater,
Gothenburg, Sweden) - Act 1: "Intro," "Blinded," "End Of Your Days,"
"More Than Ever," "She Speaks To The Dead," "Rulers Of The Mind,"
"Blackened Dawn," "Waking Up Blind," "As I Lie Here Bleeding,"
"Mislead," "Mark Of The Triangle"; Act 2 (w/ Gothenburg String
Quartet): "When The Walls Go Down," "Harmless Wishes," "Essence Of
Conviction," "Solitude Within," "Nosferatu," "Recreation Day"; Encore:
"For Every Tear That Falls," "Touch Of Blessing," "The Masterplan."
DVD #2 - footage of recording THE DARK DISCOVERY - The solitude
episodes; European adventures 2001 - IN SEARCH OF TRUTH; The
recreation days North American fairytales; The shocking truth - North
America 2004; Inside the inner circle; A Group Interview and
interviews with individual members: Gear-talk, Arnold's Mixing School,
tour of Evergrey headquarters; music videos for "For Every Tear That
Falls," "The Masterplan," "I'm Sorry," "More Than Ever," and "A Touch
Of Blessing." I was fortunate enough to be present at this once in a
lifetime event which makes it even more compelling for me to watch. As
you may well know I am a huge Evergrey fan and they are one of my
favorite bands. I believe they are one of the most unique groups to
come along in the past 10 years. So, instead of me telling you how
great this DVD is (which it is, I have watched the concert portion
three times now), I will dive more into the specifics of the over six
hours worth of footage included on this double DVD. The concert
portion on the first DVD is approximately two hours long and is
available in stereo and DTS audio formats. The stereo mix suffers a
little compared to the CD, in my opinion, and that is due to a little
too much venue/reverb sound that seems to muddy up the mix. The DTS
version is a totally different story. This version offers a crisp,
clear, and very powerful sound with good separation of all the
instruments. The Gothenburg String Quartet can be heard well in their
spots, guitars are in your face, the drums are powerful but not
overwhelming, and Tom Englund's vocals are up front and in your face.
But most of all the backing vocals of Carina Englund, Tinna
Karlsdotter and Andy Engberg are simply phenomenal! Man do they accent
Evergrey's music and add the killer ingredient. The 15 cameras give
you every angle you could hope for and the lighting adds dramatically
to the mood. My only complaint about the lights is the same comment I
made when I first reviewed the concert last October, and that is the
absence of a follow spot. I think it would have added greatly to
accenting the certain individuals on stage at highlighted moments
during the show. The stage appeared a little too dark at times but I
assume that was of the band's choosing and what they were going for.
Anyway, it is a minor detail and does not detract to the great visuals
the band puts forth. The song selection is great when you consider
five albums worth of material to choose from -- that's 50+ songs. All
the songs are played flawlessly and with extreme emotion. Judging by
the crowd's reaction, highlights would have to include "When The Walls
Go Down" (which is the first song with the Gothenburg String Quartet),
"Solitude Within," "The Masterplan" and definitely "For Every Tear
That Falls," which features Carina and Tom displaying an incredibly
emotional and moving performance. Any fan of Evergrey will be sure to
enjoy this concert DVD and even casual fans will be drawn into the
grey more than ever. The second DVD is for true Evergrey fans that
can't get enough and want to know more detail on the guys, their gear,
their influences and their lives. The one thing I found most
interesting is watching how the band grows, matures, becomes stronger
and commands a larger audience over the span of nine years. It is also
quite apparent that although they take their music very seriously,
they don't take themselves too seriously. They don't mind poking fun
at themselves as there are some hilarious parts throughout the
interviews and touring footage. The touring footage and studio footage
is mostly in Swedish with subtitles but all of the professionally done
interviews are in English. A brief overview of what you will see
includes the following: Video footage of the recording of THE DARK
DISCOVERY at Los Angered studios in 1996 with Andy La Rocque. I find
this interesting as there is footage of Tom recording vocals for "When
The River Calls" and he is struggling to get a vocal part correct.
Compare this footage to the concert footage of "Essence Of Conviction"
and it becomes apparent just how far he has come as a singer. There is
also footage of IN SEARCH OF TRUTH being recorded, including my
favorite Evergrey song, "Dark Waters"; a piece of the infamous video
footage from ProgPower USA I in Lansing, Illinois, and their tour of
Chicago including a visit to the Sears Tower; the making of the video
for "The Masterplan"; detailed footage of the RECREATION DAY
recordings (30+ minutes) and how grueling and trying the recording
process can be; some of the recording of THE INNER CIRCLE at Division
One Studios, of which they give you an extensive tour; a session where
all the guys go through the gear and instruments they use; a group
interview as well as individual interviews; backstage footage of the
DVD show; and so much more. You can really tell they went through a
lot of trouble to make this the best possible DVD for the fans and
that says a great deal about the individuals involved. Overall this is
absolutely a great package with six-plus hours of footage bound to
satisfy all Evergrey fans and will surly garner some new ones. - Sean
P. Gahgan (lof@...)

MILAN POLAK - DREAMSCAPES (B-/C+) Lion Music, 2005
13 tracks, RT: 51:56
[ http://www.milanpolak.com/ ]
[ http://www.lionmusic.com/ ]
I first became aware of Milan Polak's considerable talents back in
1993 on a compilation CD called GUITAR ON THE EDGE, when I was stunned
by his killer compositions "Where Were You Tomorrow" and "Absolutely
Positive." Nineteen ninety-five saw the release of Milan's first
full-length solo album GUITAR 2001 and once again he impressed with an
excellent mix of his influences (Randy Rhoads, Paul Gilbert, etc.) and
his own modern approach to the instrument. Following stints with
Tangerine Dream and Falco, Milan is back with his latest release
DREAMSCAPES. I've noticed that many talented musicians like to explore
a variety of styles on their solo CDs and Milan is no exception here,
as he includes everything from the hard-rocking style displayed on
GUITAR 2001 to forays into flamenco, classical and jazz. "Panic Room"
starts things off heavy with some cool intervallic ideas and crunchy
rhythms reminiscent of Joey Tafolla's INFRA BLUE album. The title
track is filled with emotional playing over a relaxed groove, while
"Spanish Romance" allows Milan to display his exceptional skill on
acoustic guitar. "Quicksilver" gets us back into rock territory with a
"Hot For Teacher" type boogie sure to thrill fans of high octane
guitar playing, but we're back too quickly into a relaxed Larry
Carlton flavored piece entitled "Slowgold." "Shadowdance" features
some of Milan's most dynamic playing on the album, with the dreamy and
hypnotic "Ground Zero" also a highlight. I think it's the constant
switching between styles that brings the album down a bit, as I feel
sometimes Milan's diversity shines at the expense of excitement and
consistency. Still, DREAMSCAPES is a solid instrumental album sure to
appeal to fans of classy guitar playing. Full marks for the
musicianship, points off for the potpourri of styles which too often
dilute the power of this fantastic guitarist. - Neal Woodall
(MysticX10@...)

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