Detritus
Issue #359
Week of April 10, 2006
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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 ***
*
-Yep, REAL late again this week. To make it up to you we've got a
really cool Loudness report from our man John Erigo. Have a great
weekend. - Tim

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*** PRESS RELEASE #1 ***
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-"VH1 Rock Honors" To Honor Hard Rock

[Note: This comes from the Associated Press. - Tim]

NEW YORK -- The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame looks to be getting some
competition.

VH1 announced Thursday that it will debut the "VH1 Rock Honors" next
month to pay homage to the gods of hard rock. The inaugural honorees
are Kiss, Queen, Def Leppard and Judas Priest.

The ceremony, to take place May 25 in Las Vegas, will pay tribute to
hard-rock legends much like the Rock Hall of Fame does, with "spoken
tributes, filmed packages and performances by some of today's hottest
rock acts as well as the legends themselves."

VH1 has aired the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies the
past few years.

"VH1 Rock Honors" will air May 31. It's not the first genre to get the
tribute treatment from the network; last week VH1 announced plans for
its third annual "Hip-Hop Honors," which will air in October.

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*** PRESS RELEASE #2 ***
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-Third Wish Has Done It Again

As difficult as it may be to believe, the rock band Third Wish has
come out with a great follow-up to their debut album Y. Their latest
release, CAREFUL WHAT U WISH 4, features Lance Reynolds at the vocal
helm, with a powerful wide range of subtle to highly explosive
energies. Poised and ready to release on a deprived, starving,
hungrier than ever "Rock 'n' Roll" public. Third Wish bears witness to
the new and in your face hard rockin', heavy metal to blues music and
lyrical song writing magic of Tony Blevins and Lance Reynolds.

Third Wish was founded in the late '80s by Tony Blevins, who soon
joined forces with Lance Reynolds. Together they honed their song
writing skills, combining powerful musicianship with spirited lyrics.
Third Wish produced and released their first CD Y in 1996 to critical
acclaim, but was cut short by a five-year deliberation with their
record company who failed to release the CD worldwide. Hind sight
being 20/20, Blevins and Reynolds stood to make a lot more money
because they produced the album themselves and their record company
dropped the ball so to speak. Seven years of hard work, touring,
changing lineups and frustration took its toll on Blevins and Reynolds
and they both took a two-year hiatus from music only to realize even
more what they had with Third Wish.

Reunited and hungrier than ever, Blevins and Reynolds have put talent
and advancing technology together and have released their new album
CAREFUL WHAT U WISH 4 under their own record label, Smokin' Lamp
Records. Confident that great music will always rise to the top and
that the record industry's greed has destroyed artistry in music for a
few dollars more, Third Wish will stay with the independent
underground music seen which will soon be the larger music industry in
their opinion. "The artist can control every aspect of their music
now, which is the way it should be for true expression," said Blevins.

Third Wish's Web site address is http://www.thirdwishrocks.com/ and on
the site people can download the first two albums in MP3 format,
individual songs for $.99 or the entire album for $6.99. People
wanting to purchase the physical CD can click on the CDBaby link on
the site or go to CDBaby.com and search for Third Wish. Third Wish is
also available on towerrecords.com, musicnet.com, musicishere.com,
Apple iTunes and Verizon Wireless.

Third Wish has added a welcome friend and new bass player Sean Demoss
to the line up and is planning to start its own video podcast of live
shows featuring the first two albums and also feature songs from their
new upcoming album release due out later on this summer and the first
preview will be available on their Web site. They will also feature
other talent from Arkansas in the near future. Third Wish will also be
offering prerecorded video footage and DVDs from their Web site in the
near future. So stay tuned and get ready because Third Wish is back
and in better than ever form to keep you entertained and ever
guessing, what are they gonna do next?

http://www.thirdwishrocks.com/
http://www.musicsubmit.com/bandmusicfiles/7922-CallingMyName.mp3

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*** PRESS RELEASE #3 ***
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-Seismic Anamoly: "Rockin' The Planet Off The Richter Scale..."

The project Seismic Anamoly was started in 2002 by Michael S., who
hails from Meridian, MS, USA. Seismic Anamoly has been composing and
playing music only since 2000, and his work is done primarily
utilizing his EVH Wolfgang, Millennium J Series Bass, and Indianola ER
Acoustic. Seismic's arsenal includes tunes that could be classified as
Power Metal, Hard Rock and Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals, but it is
all home-grown Rock n Roll. Some of Seismo's success stories include:

1. "Broken Dreams" reached #1 on the Power Metal and #5 on the Overall
Metal charts at MP3.com, September, 2002

2. "Broken Dreams," "Cum With Me," and "Iron Horse" reached number 6,
27, and 31 respectively on Maddog Rock Radio's Top 40 chart the week
of October 24, 2002

3. Seismic Anamoly Featured in ZeBOX Showcase Number 44, Novenber,
2002

4. "Kick In Tha Nuts" reached #6 on New Artists Radio's Top 40 the
week of November 24-30, 2002

5. Seismic Anamoly Overall Featured Artist on ZeBOX Homepage week of
November 24-30, 2002

6. Seismic Anamoly Overall Featured Artist on New Artists Radio
Homepage week of November 24-30, 2002

7. Seismic Anamoly reached #22 on ZeBOX's Top 40 Artists list, week of
December 1-7, 2002

8. "Broken Dreams" reached #1 on the Overall and Hard Rock/Metal
charts at MPulse.com, December, 2002

9. "Broken Dreams" included on Volume II of WSVN Radio's Hall Of Fame
Compilation out January, 2003

10. "Howl At Tha Moon" Semi-Finalist at Make-A-Star.com, February,
2003

11. "Always On My Mind" included on HardCorePromo/BTG Music's Tribute
To Space Shuttle Columbia compilation CD, February, 2003

12. "Howl At Tha Moon" reached #2 on Instrumental Rock chart at
MP3.com, February, 2003

13. "Anthem For HCP" reached #1 on MP3.com Instrumental Metal chart,
February, 2003

14. "Snake Eyes" reached #1 on MP3.com Instrumental Metal chart,
March, 2003

15. "Runnin' Amok" reached #1 on MP3.com Progressive Metal chart,
March, 2003

16. "Reflections" reached #1 on MP3.com Soft Rock chart, April, 2003

17. "Way Of The Warrior" reached #1 on MP3.com Instrumental Metal
chart, April, 2003

18. "Liberation Day" reached #1 on MP3.com Instrumental Rock chart, #1
on Guitar Rock chart, #4 on Rock chart, and #11 on Pop/Rock chart,
April, 2003

19. "Always On My Mind" reached #1 on MP3.com Soft Rock chart, April,
2003

20. "Rainmaker" reached #2 on MP3.com Soft Rock chart, April, 2003

21. "And So It Goes" reached #1 on MP3.com Soft Rock chart, May, 2003

22. "Judee's Tune" reached #1 on MP3.com Soft Rock chart, May, 2003

23. "AfterBurner" reached #1 on MP3.com Instrumental Metal chart, May,
2003

24. "Walkin' The Line" reached #1 on MP3.com Experimental/Post Rock
chart, June, 2003

25. "Santa Rosa Shuffle" reached #1 on MP3.com Southern Rock chart,
August, 2003

26. Total of 13 #1's, 2 #2's, 1 #3, 1 #4, and 1 5 on MP3.com charts
since September, 2002

27. "Sweet Rock Candy" reached #7 on Best Selling Metal CD chart at
MP3.com, June, 2003

28. Seismic Anamoly wins "Guitarhoo MP3 challenge" at Guitarhoo.com
for the period May/June, 2003

29. Seismic Anamoly bio/article by MusicDish Music News Network
featured on 34 different Music E-Zine websites, July, 2003

30. "Walkin' The Line" selected as a Finalist in the BLUE MAN GROUP
Guitarist Search Opportunity at TonosPRO, August, 2003

31. "Broken Dreams" voted one of four Finalists in "Chicago Music
Madness" at Chicago Music Scene, August, 2003

32. "Walkin' The Line" Runner-Up at MakeAStar.com, August 19, 2003

33. "Walkin' The Line" named Semi-Finalist for Instrumental Song Of
The Year, Dallas songwriter's Association, November, 2003

34. "Broken Dreams" reached #5 on ARTISTLAUNCH Metal chart, January,
2004

35. "AfterBurner" reached #2 on ARTISTLAUNCH Metal chart, January,
2004

36. "Tsunami" reached #5 on ARTISTLAUNCH Metal chart, January, 2004

37. "Scuttlebutt Strut" reached #1 on ARTISTLAUNCH Metal chart, March,
2004

38. "Crying In The Rain" reached #1 on ARTISTLAUNCH R&B/Funk chart, #7
on overall Top 40 chart, March, 2004

39. "Crying In The Rain" included in GPLK Unsigned Music Compilation
CD, May, 2004

40. Seismic Anamoly named Gold Artist at RadioINDY.com, November, 2004

41. Seismic Anamoly one of three winners in MyGlobalSound's "1,000,000
Clicks To Fame" Contest, November, 2004

42. "Without Warning" reached #8 on ARTISTLAUNCH Metal chart,
December, 2004

43. "Broken Dreams," "Runnin' Amok," "Hong Kong Hustle," "Tsunami,"
and "Wreckinball" used in J-Bird Productions Comedy video "Rest Stop,"
directed by Jason Prugar, December, 2004

44. "Scuttlebutt Strut" and "Hong Kong Hustle" used in Lightwave Films
Horror video "The Plea," directed by Edward Reasor, January, 2005

45. "Reflections" featured on GetMeMusic.com's Anti-War Comp CD CHILD
ALIVE, benefiting Plan UK charity and the children of the Sudan,
January, 2005

46. Seismic Anamoly's "Howl At Tha Moon" featured on Skratch
Magazine's Indie Music Giveaway Compilation CD included in issue #108,
February, 2005

47. Seismic Anamoly's "Liberation Day" selected for use in DaftFilms
Documentary film "Niche'," February, 2005

48. Seismic Anamoly's "Howl At Tha Moon" featured on Green Dragon
Radio as background instrumental song to DJ Martin's commentaries
during his broadcasts, April, 2005

49. Seismic Anamoly's "Crying In The Rain" selected for use in
NYCVisions Films Tragi-Comedy film "Feral Autumn," directed by A. L.
MIG McFarland, April, 2005

50. Seismic Anamoly nominated for MAKATO MUSIC Artist Of The Year,
2006...January, 2006

Three reviews of my work:

"The brainchild of Meridian, Mississippi's Michael S., this
instrumental rocker seethes with a growling guitar attack backed by
post industrial rhythms. You feel the influences of Ministry and
Ramstein, kissed with guitar work that can range from punked up squawk
in 'Just Don't Give A Damn' to hair metal shred in 'Runnin' Amok.'
With fresh song writing approaches, Michael proves you don't have to
be an arpeggio master to create intense rock guitar instrumentals."

(Mark E. Waterbury - SERGE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, July, 2005)

"'Howl At Tha Moon' sounds like a Viking Throwdown. Despite no melody,
this track manages to be entertaining on sheer energy and heart. This
could be the new Indian music, transcendental and good for dancing or
meditating while you're ripped out of your brains. The tribal rage
will never die. Your playing is all heart and embodies the spirit
fully. The style is rendered without the need for fantastic solos or
parts. If there were some awesome breaks or beats, differing
instruments or passages of different music, there would be more
opportunity for glory. But it rocks as is. This is the most
straightforward music I've encountered in this genre; call it
'Wordless Rock Groove.'"

(Music Industry Review, Make-A-Star.com - January, 2003)

"The drums might sound slightly hollow although t e musicianship
throughout 'Broken Dreams' is fairly solid. You can especially here
this in distorted power guitars that enter with the climax around the
two-minute mark. This is the point where the song probably takes off
and displays the most energy and from here on in it's a great power
metal listening experience. For fans of up-and-coming power metal,
'Broken Dreams' is a track that you won't want to miss."

(MP3Magazine.net - December, 2002)

Sound Files:
http://www.getmemusic.com/artists/seismicanamoly/songs/Howl_At_The_Moo
n.m3u
http://www.musicsubmit.com/bandmusicfiles/203-BrokenDreams.mp3

http://www.seismicanamoly.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #4 ***
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-Crucified Barbara Embarks On Tour De France

Sweden's Crucified Barbara -- whose debut album, IN DISTORTION WE
TRUST, will be released by Liquor And Poker Music on May 30 -- will
kick off a nine-show French tour Friday night (April 14). It includes
a Le Mans show alongside Killing Joke on April 22.

"We're looking forward to get back to France once again, to play it
loud and eat a lot of French cheese!" says vocalist/guitarist Mia
Coldheart. "The French guys know how to put a dressing room table in
order for sure! After this, we're heading for Germany, Belgium and The
Netherlands to play cool rock clubs, do festivals, meet new people and
kick some rock ass!"

Those shows in Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands will be with Doro,
Sonata Arctica and Jon Oliva's Pain. From there, the group will play
such major European summer festivals as Sweden Rock, Gods Of Metal
(Italy) and Rock Hard (Germany), among others.

The North American version of IN DISTORTION WE TRUST will contain one
bonus track -- a cover of Motorhead's "Killed By Death" -- as well as
music videos for each of the group's three singles ("Losing The Game,"
"Rock 'n' Roll Bachelor" and "Play Me Hard") that have been released
in their home country. For more information on the band, visit
http://www.crucifiedbarbara.com/ .

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*** PRESS RELEASE #5 ***
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-Dr. Sin, Tribuzy And Kiko Loureiro Together

15/04/2006, The Head Banger stores, brings to Circo Voador, Rio De
Janeiro, three of the most famous names of Brazilian Heavy Metal:

Dr. Sin, Tribuzy and Kiko Loureiro.

Kiko Loureiro, Angra's guitar player, for the first time in Rio de
Janeiro, in the tour of his solo album NO GRAVITY. Featuring Angra's
bass player Felipe Andreoli and Fernando Schaefer (Pavilhão 9).

Tribuzy, best-selling band of 2005 in Brazil and in several countries
of world, in the tour of their debut album EXECUTION. With a very
special jam in the end of the concert, featuring Kiko Loureiro
(Angra).

Dr. Sin, in the tour of his new album, LISTEN TO THE DOCTORS. Where
the band plays their old sucsess, and all their influences, covering
bands such as: Kiss, Motorhead, Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, Van
Halen and more.

Luiz Correra
Tribuzy Fan Club
fc@...
http://www.tribuzy.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #6 ***
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-Angtoria To Record Video For Title Track "God Has A Plan For Us All"

http://www.angtoria.com/

Angtoria will soon start filming their first music video as a part of
the worldwide promotion for their album due to be released on
Listenable Records April 27th.

The video will be filmed during three days at two different locations,
and director of the video is an upcoming and very talented Swedish
director who has previously won awards for his work, Måns Berthas.

On April 19th Sarah, Dave Pybus (CoF) and Toni Davey (Dani's wife and
album cover model), will fly to Sweden to join Chris and Tommy and a
yet to be revealed drummer to shoot the video for the title track "God
Has A Plan For Us All."

"The song is based around child abuse by a religious person, which in
turn leads the girl to madness because of years of mental torture
through the offender getting away with what he has done to her.
Putting images to lyrics like these is quite difficult without getting
banned by every TV station, but we will sure try to portray the lyrics
in images as much as possible. Chris's young daughter Saga will play
the child and Toni will obviously play the girl as older. This is to
show the deterioration from start to finish of the girl's life.

"Wish us luck!"

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*** PRESS RELEASE #7 ***
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-Seasons Of The Wolf -- Live Shows

Upcoming SOTW shows.

**Friday - APRIL 28th - Brookfeild, OH - THE SKY CLUB
with Seasons Of The Wolf and Capitol Court
doors at 9:00 PM show starts at 9:30ish

**Saturday - APRIL 29th - Ithaca, NY - Xtreme Soundscapes IV DVD
release party
Venue - The HAUNT - Ithaca
http://www.thehaunt.com/
$5.00 over $7.00 under
Line-up 5 bands - Doors at 4pm - Show begins at 5PM and ends at 10:00
PM
Never the Sunshine, Inherence, Seasons Of The Wolf, Descends & Bone
Jar

**Saturday - MAY 13th - Plover, Wisconsin - SAVAGEFEST 3
Seasons Of The Wolf as Headliner
Venue - 5 Star Entertainment Complex - 1960 Post Road - Plover, WI
54481
Doors: 3:00 PM - Show: 4:00 PM to Midnight
Tickets: $10.00 in advance - $15.00 at the door
9 bands
Morality Crisis (Wausau, WI) 4:00 - 4:30
Dumah (Wausau, WI) 4:50 - 5:20
Repeated Trauma (Wisconsin Rapids, WI) 5:40 - 6:10
The Ottoman Empire (Milwaukee, WI) 6:30 - 7:00
SMB (Minneapolis, MN) 7:20 - 7:50
TBA - 8:10 - 8:40
Soldiers Of Scrape (Detroit, MI) 9:00 - 9:30
Led Devil (Wausau, WI) 9:50 - 10:30
Seasons Of The Wolf (Tampa, FL) 11:00 - 12:00

**Saturday - June 24th - Bradenton, FL - Rockerfellas
Hosted by Metal Masters UPN - More details soon

**Saturday - August 5th - New Port Richey, FL - Bourbon Street Night
Club
Metal Masters UPN - hosted Metalfest - More details soon

MORE SHOWS TO BE ADDED SOON - New CD release October 31st 2006

Thanks
Seasons Of The Wolf
http://www.sotwmetal.com/
http://www.myspace.com/seasonsofthewolf

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*** PRESS RELEASE #8 ***
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-New Planes Mistaken For Stars Tour Dates On Their Way To And From
Recording

Planes Mistaken For Stars ( http://www.pmfs.net/ ), recent Abacus
Recordings' signees, will be making their way to Seattle this week to
begin work on a new record with producer Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Isis)
and have lined up a few tour dates to and from Denver to Seattle.

Though an album title or release date has not yet been set, the record
is expected to be come out sometime in September of this year. The
band is also working on dates for a European tour in July and August.
More details to come.

Show details:

04/13/06 - Billings, MT @ Casey's Golden Pheasant w/ TBA
04/14/06 - Spokane, WA @ Fat Tuesday's w/ Stutterfly
04/15/06 - 05/13/06 - Recording in Seattle
05/14/06 - Portland, OR @ Sabala's Mt Tabor Pub w/ Akimbo, Sumara
(21+)
05/15/06 - Boise, ID @ The Venue w/ TBA
05/16/06 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court w/ TBA

Planes Mistaken For Stars links:

http://www.pmfs.net/ - official site
http://www.myspace.com/pmfs - official myspace
http://www.purevolume.com/planesmistakenforstars - official purevolume
http://www.merchco-online.com/pmfs/ - official merchandise store
http://www.pmfs.net/bb/ - official band message board

http://www.abacusrecordings.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #9 ***
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-Tiwanaku Solidify Lineup & Commence Pre-Production Recordings!!!

Tiwanaku, the central Florida based death metal band featuring Emo
Mowery (Nocturnus) on guitar/vocals and Mike Estes (Burning
Inside/Acheron) on guitar have solidified a full lineup by recruiting
some of the area's most talented musicians.

New members include Chris Pangman on vocals, Derek Hubbard on bass,
and Josh "Pope of Metal" Woodhouse on drums.

The band has been rehearsing the material from the 2003 Demo and
writing material together for a full-length album which pre-production
recordings have already commenced. So be on the lookout for a sneak
preview MP3 to be posted soon! TiwanakuBand.com is now under
construction so keep checking back for new pictures, member profiles,
show updates, and album samples.

Emo on the latest additions: "This has been a very long time in the
making but what we have here has been well worth the wait!!!! Many
posts and many members have come and gone but finally this can be
called a band. Rehearsals are sounding awesome and the new material is
skull crushing and very metal!! This is a very exciting time!!! This
new lineup is kicking ass!! The vocal department is VERY powerful,
guitars are tight and crushing, the bass is thick and clear, and the
drums are, needless to say, fucking awesome! We are becoming a well-
oiled metal machine!!!! We'll be announcing our first live appearance
very soon!"

The Gateway to the Sun has opened and Tiwanaku is on the rise!!! Be on
the lookout for more news and music samples soon!

http://www.tiwanakuband.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #10 ***
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-Warren Appleby's New "Best Of" CD Out Now Through CD Baby

Blacktask's Warren Appleby has just released a "best of" CD titled
THIS METALLIC RENAISSANCE exclusively through CD Baby. This new CD
features 12 killer tracks from Warren's first four CDs, plus a bonus
Christmas track! Head over to CD Baby to check this CD out...

http://cdbaby.com/cd/warrenappleby

Also, in a few short weeks, many of Warren's songs will be available
for digital download from over 40 MP3 download sites including...
Apple iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, & MusicMatch!!!

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*** PRESS RELEASE #11 ***
*
-A Dose Of The Horrors Tour -- Ramesses & Sourvein -- UK April 2006

We will be touring the UK with very special guests Sourvein.

Expect full hour long sets from Ramesses as well as brand new tracks
from our forthcoming full-length.

Looking forward to seeing you all die at:

Wednesday 19/04/2006 - Manchester, Star & Garter (with Thade)
Thursday 20/04/2006 - Leeds, Fenton (with Narcosis and AOTM)
Friday 21/04/2006 - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach (with Dignity Dies First
and Twist the Knife)
Saturday 22/04/2006 - Liverpool, Magnet (with The Bendal Interlude and
The Nothing)
Sunday 23/04/2006 - Brighton, Engine Rooms (with Locust Resin and
Black Elemental)
Monday 24/04/2006 - Bristol, Croft (with Gonga)
Tuesday 25/04/2006 - Sheffield, Corporation (with Wounded Marsupial
and Graine)
Wednesday 26/04/2006 - Nottingham, Old Angel (with Legion of Doom)
Thursday 27/04/2006 - Newcastle, Cumberland Arms (with Marzuraan and
Annihilation Time)
Friday 28/04/2006 - Dundee, Westport Bar (with Eye and Bossk and Ix)
Saturday 29/04/2006 - Birmingham, Jug of Ale (with Goddam Ox)
Sunday 30/04/2006 - London, Camden Underworld (with Orange Goblin, Old
Crone and Jecano)

For further info: http://www.myspace.com/ramesses666

*
*** SPECIAL REPORT ***
*
by John Erigo (Erigo1@...)

-Rock Shocking With Loudness In 2006

Good things come to those who wait, and for Loudness fans that live in
America, those words never rang truer than in 2006. After a 20-year
recording/touring hiatus from America, the mighty Japanese metal band
Loudness returned for a short tour. Most metal fans in the US probably
haven't forgotten Loudness, but they probably did lose touch with them
and what, if anything, they had been up to since they exiled
themselves to Japan. Unless you are a hardcore Detritus reader (and
you all should be!) and read my reviews of Japan-only Loudness CDs,
you might not know they have never stopped kicking ass!

For a brief re-cap: Most of you probably remember that Loudness
changed lead singers and went with American Mike Vescera in the late
'80s because Atlantic Records wanted them to be more palatable for the
US market. They figured with an American singer, the audience would
relate better -- what a joke! The two albums they made with this
formula (1989's SOLDIER OF FORTUNE and 1991's ON THE PROWL) tanked and
the band wound up back in Japan. Then they recruited EZO vocalist
Masaki Yamada and decided to stay in Japan. They released albums and
played live but with guitarist Akira Takaskai eventually being the
only original member left, the band kinda lost steam. Then, in 2001,
for Loudness' 20th anniversary, the original lineup reunited and has
been making albums and touring in Japan since. With 2006 being their
25th anniversary, Loudness have decide to go Global and re-introduce
themselves to the world outside of Japan again.

OK, up to speed now? Good! So, 2006 sees Loudness as a much different
band that the one most of you remember in 1985. Long gone is the long
hair and pseudo glam look. They just look like four guys having a
great time and being genuinely grateful to be here and playing again.
The newer Loudness CDs have been very heavy and loud. What remains is
great songwriting and great musicianship. Every member of this band
has mastered his craft and they just kick ass!

I had the privilege to catch four of the US shows and in no way was I
disappointed. For those wondering, attendance was good for a band that
hasn't played a gig or released one note of new music in this country
for 20 years -- Loudness played to packed houses. The show at B.B.
King's in Manhattan was filmed for a DVD release. The set list was the
same and basically consisted of newer Loudness songs. This might have
made it a little difficult for older fans who didn't know the tunes,
but the crowds seemed respectful enough to give them a fair chance.
Older tunes like "In The Mirror" and "Crazy Doctor" from the
DISILLUSION album were received very well. Of course the anthemic
"Crazy Nights" brought the house down! Newer songs like "Crazy
Samurai" and "The Battleship Musashi" were super heavy with amazing
grooves. No drum solo, no guitar solo, not much talking (although
vocalist Minrou Niihara's English is very good!) -- just 80 minutes of
pure kick -ass, heavy metal bliss!

Now, this would seem like enough. I waited so long and was wanting
Loudness here so bad that this was a real treat. Little did I know the
"show" was just the beginning for me. Thanks to tour manager Danny
Stanton (from Coallier Entertainment), an old friend of mind, I was
able to go on the bus and meet the band. I have long held Akira
Takaskai as my favorite guitar player, so this was an amazing
experience! As I entered the bus with my girlfriend Dalila (who by the
way got to document the gigs from the camera pit -- check out
http://www.rockstarpix.com/ ) and my friend Ron (who is Japanese and
another longtime Loudness fan), we were greeted by Akira. He was still
energetic and very friendly. We wound up chatting with the whole band
and taking pictures! It was like a dream come true. My Detritus senses
told me to ask questions and here's what I got... The band is set to
return to America in June to record a new album. Seems most likely
they'll be in Cali, and they are searching for a big-name current
producer. Akira said he'd like the new music to be louder, faster and
heavier! I don't know how possible that is, but we'll see. Akira also
hinted on some future releases (like another solo album) but I can't
relay that just yet. Minoru also thanked me for my comments on his new
solo album ASHES TO GLORY, which just came out a few weeks ago. He
also saw Dalila's pictures from the two shows before and said he loved
them! I had to keep saying to myself, "You're on the tour bus with
LOUDNESS!!!!" It was amazing!

After our last show in Jersey (the band had one more in Pennsylvania
the next night), we got to hang with Akira again. We really seemed to
hit it off and he seems like a great guy -- very funny. For those of
you who haven't seen him, since the reunion he wears this unique,
bizarre wig. It has dreads and it is colored and some of the dreads
have beads and plastic tubes on them -- strange. He had only worn the
wig at the tour's first show in Cali. I asked him on the tour bus
"Where's the wig?" He said it was too hot and was afraid it would go
"sayonara"! His words, not mine. (Sorry if that's spelled wrong!) So,
we asked him to wear it in Jersey and he made a "pinky promise" with
Dalila. Sure enough he wore it! Just for us -- he rules! So, after the
gig he brings us to the dressing room and takes the wig off. After
some clowning around, he allowed us all to try it on and take
pictures! It looked so funny on my friend Tom because he shaves his
head! He said we were the first fans he let do this. A very surreal
experience!

All in all after four shows I can't wait for them to come back. The
word is they will do a worldwide tour in September. Akira did say we
were invited to visit them in Cali when they are recording their new
album. So Tim, there might be an in-the-studio Loudness report --
would that be cool? The newer Loudness CDs are supposed to be released
(and some of their newer DVDs also) through the American label Crash
Music. If you can't wait, you can always go to
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/ .

A special thanks to Danny Stanton again for an experience I can't
forget! Loudness is back people, get ready to be Rock Shocked all over
again!

Relevant links:

Coallier Entertainment
http://www.coallierentertainment.com/

Loudness
http://www3.live.co.jp/loudness

Rock Star Pix
http://www.rockstarpix.com/

*
*** NEWS/RUMORS ***
*
-Axemaster's first video, for "Slave To The Blade" from BLESSING IN
THE SKIES from 1987, can now be viewed at
http://helloworlda.razorstream.com/razorgate/player.jspx?
enc=2F1ZQ2QTK2BZQAAI%2B6Njtw%3D%
3D&ppid=663364&KEY_RECIPIENT_ID=KARRVR78Jt0%3D&KEY_MSGID=j9BFB6Qb0uE%
3D
.

-Battlelore bassist Timo Honkanen and keyboardist Maria are working on
a new album from Elderthrones.

-Bludgeon's WORLD CONTROLLED is due out June 27 from Magic Circle
Music. Check out the brand new site http://www.bludgeon.tv/ for more,
including three songs from the album.

-Byfist singer Robb Steele is back with the band after spending 13
months in prison.

-Extreme has confirmed some reunion dates featuring all four original
members. Check out guitarist Nuno Bettencourt's official site for all
the latest: http://www.nuno-bettencourt.com/ .

-Heathen has signed with Season Of Mist Records.

-Helloween is recording shows from its current tour for an upcoming
CD/DVD release. Sofia, Bulgaria, is already in the can and plans
include recording shows in Tokyo and Sao Paulo.

-Marco Hietala (Tarot, Nightwish) has contributed backing vocals to
Eternal Tears Of Sorrow's BEFORE THE BLEEDING SOUL, and also appears
on Stoner Kings' F*CK THE WORLD.

-News from the world of Iron Maiden... Vocalist Bruce Dickinson is
scheduled to release a three-disc DVD set on June 20 via Sanctuary
Music. ANTHOLOGY will include over six hours of footage. For the
complete track listing check out http://www.screamforme.com/ . In
related news, former vocalist Paul Di'Anno will release THE LIVING
DEAD May 15 on Cleopatra Records.

-According to http://www.judaspriest.com/ , Judas Priest's next album
will be the band's first concept album, "based upon the life and
predictions of Nostradamus. This album will be theatrically staged and
performed in its entirity as an epic musical." The album is due out
early next year.

-Kamelot/Epica North American tour dates:

9/15 - Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (no Epica)
9/16 - State Theater, St. Petersburg, FL (no Epica)
9/19 - Jaxx Nightclub, Springfield, VA
9/20 - B.B. King's, New York, NY
9/22 - The Chance Theater, Poughkeepsie, NY
9/23 - The Penny Arcade, Rochester, NY
9/24 - Le Medley, Montreal, QC
9/25 - Imperial, Quebec, QC
9/27 - The Opera House, Toronto, ON
9/28 - Agora Theater, Cleveland, OH
9/29 - Harpo's, Detroit, MI
9/30 - The Pearl Room, Chicago, IL
9/02 - Star Central, Columbia Heights, MN
10/6 - Studio Seven, Seattle, WA
10/7 - Rock N Roll Pizza, Portland, OR
10/8 - Pound SF, San Francisco, CA
10/10 - Galaxy Theater, Santa Ana, CA
10/11 - Key Club, Los Angeles, CA

-Yngwie Malmsteen's updated North American touring schedule:

5/3 - The Handlebar, Greenville, SC
5/4 - The Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte, NC
5/5 - The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
5/6 - The State Theatre, Falls Church, VA
5/8 - The Roper Performing Arts Center, Norfolk, VA
5/9 - Webster Theatre, Hartford, CT
5/10 - Crocodile Rock, Allentown, PA
5/11 - Mr. Smalls Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
5/12 - Northern Lights, Clifton Park, NY
5/13 - Imperial, Quebec City, QC
5/14 - Le Medley, Montreal, QC
5/15 - The Opera House, Toronto, ON
5/16 - Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak, MI
5/19 - Jillian's, Louisville, KY
5/20 - Pop's Nightclub, Sauget, IL

-In news related to Mercyful Fate, according to Brave Words & Bloody
Knuckles front man King Diamond will be "lending his inimitable voice"
to "The Passion Of The Clerks, the sequel to "Clerks" that's due in
theaters later this year. Also, guitarist Hank Shermann's resurrected
band Fate will release V this month.

-Jeff Plate (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) has replaced Kirk
Arrington as Metal Church's drummer. The band's new album A LIGHT IN
THE DARK is due late May/early June, and it's set to include a new
version of "Watch The Children Pray" as a tribute to late former
vocalist David Wayne. Seee http://www.metalchurch.com/ for more.

-Narnia's ENTER THE GATE is due April 21 on Massacre Records.

-Poisonblack hit the studio this week to work on the last three songs
for its next album, which should be mixed and mastered later this
month. The band is set to gig May 27 in Vuokatti, Finland, with
Amorphis, Turmion kätilöt and Machine Men. See
http://www.poisonblack.com/ for more.

-It is rumored that Queensryche is shopping the story behind
OPERATION: MINDCRIME to various movie studios. If a deal is made and
gets green-lighted, it's likely the film wouldn't hit the silver
screen until at least 2008.

-Rose Tattoo guitarist Peter Wells passed away two weeks ago from
complications due to prostate cancer.

-Sonata Arctica's FOR THE SAKE OF REVENGE comes in at least two
versions: one includes 2004's RECKONING NIGHT, and another includes
RECKONING NIGHT, a bonus track, and a bonus DVD.

-According to Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles, former Tad Morose
vocalist Urban Breed is set to work on a solo album and may involve
Tad Morose guitarist Daniel Olsson. Breed's current band, BloodBound,
will start working on album #2, the follow-up to NOSFERATU, this
summer.

-John Taglieri is celebrating a ton of new MySpace friends (nearly
4,000 in the last five weeks) by putting his discs NOW and HALF & HALF
on sale ("about 40% off") at CD Baby through the end of April. Go to
http://www.cdbaby.com/taglieri for HALF & HALF and
http://www.cdbaby.com/taglieri2 for NOW. Upcoming shows:

4/14 - Axis Lounge, Carlstadt, NJ (full band)
4/15 - The Stone Tavern, Bernardsville, NJ
4/17 - Jessie's Roadhouse, Merrick, NY (w/ Ready In 10)
4/21 - The Acoustic Cafe, Bridgeport, CT
4/26 - Heidelberg College, Tiffin, OH
4/28 - Hope College, Holland, MI
5/4 - The Studio Bar, Cliffside Park, NJ
5/5 - The Frozen Monkey, Hoboken, NJ
5/12 - The Stage House, Scotch Plains, NJ
5/13 - Cafe Arabica, Morristown, NJ
5/14 - All Asia, Boston, MA
5/19 - Zigs Bar, Alexandria, VA
5/20 - The Front Page, Arlington, VA
5/24 - Grasshoper Off The Green, Morristown, NJ

See http://johntaglieri.com/ , http://myspace.com/johntaglierimusic ,
and http://sonicbids.com/johntaglieri for more.

-Wolf will start recording its fourth album in June.

-Z Records announced Snakeryder and Eden are the two latest confirmed
acts for the Z Rock 06 Pt. 2 festival. See
http://www.myspace.com/zrockfest and http://www.zrecords.net/ for
more.

Thanks to Bill Eikost and Chris@... for help gathering some
of this information.

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

-So didja see the Judas Priest bit up there in the "News/Rumors"
section? Frankly, I'm stunned the band is going to do a concept album
at this point in its career. I guess the guys need a challenge or
something, eh? I could swear I read they had enough material left over
from the ANGEL OF RETRIBUTION sessions for another album, so I was
just expecting (and hoping for) a quick turn-around between releases.
We'll see how this new endeavor goes. And it's going to be based on
Nostradamus? Odd choice, I say, and not *entirely* original since
we've already seen the rather ambitious NOSTRADAMUS rock opera from
Brazon Abbot main man Nikolo Kotzev back in 2001. (And heck, even
Helloween's 10-year-old THE TIME OF THE OATH dealt with Nostradamus.
And I'm sure there are others I'm just forgetting now.) On the up side
is the fact the band intends to perform this new concept album live in
its entirety -- that leaves no doubt these concerts will have a vastly
different set list than what Priest normally does. Although I bet Rob
Halford will still stick his "whoa-ooh-oh-ooh-oh-yeah!" audience
participation bit somewhere. :)

-Speaking of Helloween, I'm still wading through that pile of Castle
Music reissues I mentioned last week: WALLS OF JERICHO, PINK BUBBLES
GO APE, CHAMELEON, MASTER OF THE RINGS, THE TIME OF THE OATH, and
BETTER THAN RAW. My close buddies know I'm a bit of a 'weenie fanatic
and have managed to collect just about all of their singles, rarities,
etc., and after mucho research I've now determined I already have all
the bonus tracks from these reissues...except for one. Yep, I thought
I had these guys conquered but lo and behold, the CHAMELEON two-disc
set closes with a demo of "Windmill" that I didn't already have. And
wouldn't you know this is probably my least favorite Helloween song of
all time? Figures.

-Now in my current playlist: Judas Priest - LIVE VENGEANCE '82 (DVD)
(Columbia/Legacy), Satyrian - ETERNITAS (Lion Music), Dreamquest -
LOST HORIZONS (Magic Circle Music).

*
*** REVIEWS ***
*
ASCENSION THEORY - ANSWERS (B-/C+) Nightmare Records, 2005
10 tracks, RT: 46:04
[ http://www.AscensionTheory.com/ ]
[ http://www.Nightmare-Records.com/ ]
Lance King continues to release quality music on his Nightmare label,
with recent albums by the likes of Avian, Pyramaze and Shining Star
revealing that he has an impressive ear for talent. Lance is not
singing on this one, but you can now add Ascension Theory to the list
of Nightmare's accomplished bands, as they have just come out with
their second album ANSWERS. Ascension Theory play an interesting style
of prog metal, their focus more on heady concepts and eerie
atmospherics rather than showy musicianship. ANSWERS starts off strong
with the excellent "Passion Of My Heart," where Leon Ozug's vocals are
moving and confident with a great melodic chorus. Songs like "Perfect
Plan," "Saturn's Reign" and "End Game" project an intriguing contrast
where the music's somewhat detached, mechanistic quality blends with
Ozug's plaintive vocals in a manner not unlike Tool or latter period
Fates Warning. "To Be Content" offers us a sensitive, well written
ballad while "The Way Of Death" and "Decisions" feature crunchy riffs
and female vocals that sound somewhat out of place with the music. The
title track completes the album with unique rhythms and more weighty
lyrical themes. Overall a good disc that will likely appeal to those
with an ear for more of a modern prog metal sound. - Neal Woodall
(MysticX9@...)

*
*** OUT ***
*