Detritus
Issue #408
Week of April 23, 2007
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*** CAST OF CHARACTERS ***
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Patrick Brower, Editor
patrickbrower@...
Sean P. Gahgan, Editor
lof@...
http://www.lakeoffire.net/
Tim Wadzinski, Owner
tsw512@...
Steve Shumake, Co-owner
vongoober@...
http://www.vongoober.com/
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*** LET IT BE KNOWN ***
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-So ya say ya like ta read album reviews? Then this is the issue for
you. Wow. - Tim
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*** PRESS RELEASE #1 ***
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-Heaven & Earth To Join Paul Rodgers And Others At Benefit Concert
For those of you in the Los Angeles area in June, Heaven & Earth will
be playing a benefit concert to raise money for the Los Angeles Police
Memorial Foundation that helps the families of officers killed or
injured in the line of duty.
The concert is at The Avalon (the old Palace) in Hollywood (
http://www.avalonhollywood.com/ ) on Wednesday, June 13th and will be
headlined by Paul Rodgers, (Free/Bad Company/The Firm/Queen) with
Heaven & Earth supporting. Also on the bill will be the all-girl AC/DC
tribute band Thund-her-struck and an acoustic set by Mark Castrillon.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
The evening will be MC'd by Jim Ladd of KLOS. All the artists have
donated their time free and 100% of the proceeds raised on the evening
will go to the Memorial Foundation.
Tickets are available from
http://www.wantickets.com/ or by calling 1-
866-926-8499 and cost $50.00 per ticket for general admission or
$100.00 for VIP Tickets (Limited number available), which will gain
you admission to the after-party in the Spider Club for the meet-and-
greet. There will also be a silent auction during the show.
If you are intending to come to the show please book your tickets now
as the event will sell out.
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*** PRESS RELEASE #2 ***
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-Mock Metal Group Spinal Tap To Reunite
[Note: This is an AP item by Jake Coyle, copyright April 25. - Tim]
NEW YORK -- Spinal Tap is back, and this time the band wants to help
save the world from global warming.
The mock heavy metal group immortalized in the 1984 mockumentary,
"This Is Spinal Tap," will reunite for a performance at Wembley
Stadium in London as part of the Live Earth concerts scheduled
worldwide for July 7.
The original members of Spinal Tap will be there: guitarist Nigel
Tufnel (played by Christopher Guest), singer David St. Hubbins
(Michael McKean) and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer). Rob Reiner,
who both directed "This Is Spinal Tap" and played the fake
documentarian Marty DeBergi in the film, will also be in attendance.
A new 15-minute film directed by Reiner on the band's reunion will
also play at the opening night of the Tribeca Film Festival in New
York on Wednesday. The slate for the opening gala, to be hosted by Al
Gore, was previously announced, excepting the Reiner short.
The festival is to open with a showing of several global warming-
themed short films produced by the SOS (Save Our Selves) campaign. SOS
is also putting on the Live Earth concerts, to be held across seven
continents.
Reiner spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday to explain the reunion
of Spinal Tap -- a band always known more as a parody of rock 'n roll
excess than environmental awareness.
"They're not that environmentally conscious, but they've heard of
global warming," said Reiner, whose other films include "When Harry
Met Sally" and "Stand By Me." "Nigel thought it was just because he
was wearing too much clothing -- that if he just took his jacket off
it would be cooler."
Spinal Tap has reunited several times since the film, but hasn't for a
number of years. For the band -- whose last album was 1992's BREAK
LIKE THE WIND -- the occasion warranted a new single: "Warmer Than
Hell."
Reiner provided a sneak peak at the lyrics: "The devil went to Devon,
it felt like the fourth degree/ He said, 'Is it hot in here, or is it
only me?'"
The director said the new short film explains what the band has been
doing with their lives lately. Nigel has been raising miniature horses
to race, but can't find jockeys small enough to ride them; David is
now a hip-hop producer who also runs a colonic clinic; and Derek is in
rehab for addiction to the Internet.
Reiner, 60, has for over 20 years worked with the National Resources
Defense Council, an environmental action organization. Though the
Spinal Tap reunion will be a lot of laughs, he hopes the SOS short
films program and the Live Earth concerts have a substantial effect.
"What I think is going to be nice about this whole effort is there
will be marching orders for people," said Reiner. "Not only from a
personal standpoint of what individuals can do in their lives, but a
macro perspective with respect to the public sector and government."
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*** PRESS RELEASE #3 ***
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-Sweden Rock Festival: Last Bands Out And Final Running Order Up!
We can proudly present the last bands confirmed for this year's
edition of Sweden Rock Festival:
HINDER (US)
SOUL DOCTOR (D)
ARCHER (US)
BALTIMOORE( S)
ZAN CLAN (S)
MAGIC PIE (N)
BC & HEARTKEYS (S)
BADDADZ & BIG BEAR (S)
Unfortunately Warrior Soul has cancelled their show at Sweden Rock.
We can also present the final running order for Sweden Rock Festival
2007:
Check out or homepage or if you can't wait just click
http://www.swedenrock.com/runningorder2007.htm .
What day?
Wednesday 6 June.
The Australian Pink Floyd Show, Annihilator, Nocturnal Rites, Wolf,
CrashDiet, Black Debbath, Crazy Lixx, Randy Piper's Animal, Vomitory,
Baltimoore, Andromeda, Mountain Of Power, Switchblade.
Thursday 7 June.
Heaven And Hell, Meat Loaf, Thin Lizzy, Quiet Riot, Dark Tranquillity,
Thunder, Dimmu Borgir, Axel Rudi Pell, Symphony X, Amon Amarth, Point
Blank, Bluestone Co, Solid Ground, Sφren Berlevs Gas Show, Sturm Und
Drang, Tokyo Dragons, Eldritch, Lion's Share, Trail Of Tears, Marduk,
Zan Clan, Backdraft.
Friday 8 June.
Aerosmith, Skid Row, U.D.O, Gov't Mule, The Answer, Hardcore
Superstar, November, Talisman, Pretty Maids, Kreator, Anekdoten, White
Lion, Tiamat, McQueen, Tyr, Memfis, All Ends, Circus Maximus, After
Forever, BadDadz & Big Bear.
Saturday 9 June.
Scorpions with Uli Jon Roth, REO Speedwagon, Blind Guardian,
Motφrhead, Iced Earth, Black Oak Arkansas, Trouble, Hinder, Focus,
Suzi Quatro, Fastway, Quireboys, Korpiklaani, Hellfueled, Falconer,
Bloodbound, Magic Pie, Soul Doctor, Krux, Archer, BC & Heartkeys Goda
Grannar.
Tickets on sale now
Tickets for Sweden Rock Festival 2007 are now up for sale in Sweden,
Norway, Denmark, Norway, Germany & the U.K. All info on our homepage.
Sweden Rock Festival
Norjebokevδgen 2
294 76 Sφlvesborg
Sweden
Tel: 0456-317 95
Fax: 0456-317 94
E-mail:
info@...
http://www.swedenrock.com/
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*** PRESS RELEASE #4 ***
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-Napalm Records News
Lacrimas Profundere - Christopher Schmid leaves the band
"I am unable to juggle the enduring stress (touring, music buisiness
in general, as well as the turbulence within myself) with my 'normal'
life anymore." Yet Christopher will not give up his vocal
responsibilities in Lacrimas Profundere without first thanking the
fans for their support and expressing his deepest respect for them.
The band regrets his decision, but are happy to report that
Christopher will not completely turn his back on the music buisiness,
choosing to continue on with Lacrimas Profundere as a songwriter and
part-time vocalist on the upcoming album. Due to this enduring work,
the brothers Christopher and Oliver will make sure that the LP-sound
does not change.
On a positive note, Lacrimas Profundere's music was selected as the
soundtrack to MTV's Bam Margera's "Unholy Union" season highlight --
the wedding episode!
http://www.lacrimas.com/
Midnattsol - Preparations for the new album
The German-Norwegian Nordic Folk Metal band Midnattsol has completed
work on seven songs and is currently preparing to enter the studio to
follow up on WHERE TWILIGHT DWELLS. Guitarist Christian Hector: "The
new songs are a bit more complex and have a higher Folk influence than
the tracks found on the debut. Carmen's vocals are more powerful and
you can most certainly count on a new version of a traditional
Norwegian song."
http://www.myspace.com/midnattsolfolk
Ahab - Return to the Wretched Sea
Nautik Funeral Doom band Ahab will play an exclusive mini-tour in the
fall. Currently, they are busy working on their second album. While
the lyrical concept of "Moby Dick" will be used again, the album will
not deal with the novel itself, but with its surroundings. The follow-
up to THE CALL OF THE WRETCHED SEA is scheduled for a late 2007
release.
http://www.myspace.com/ahabdoom
Leaves' Eyes - Live DVD Update @ MVFV
For the recording to their first live DVD at Metal Female Voices
Festival, Leaves' Eyes had a very special idea. Instead of playing on
a regular stage, they have opted to build a 10-meter long Viking ship,
in accordance to the theme of VINLAND SAGA & LEGEND LAND. On this
ship, the band will perform their live show.
MVFV 5 also features other Napalm artists including Battlelore (
http://www.battlelore.com/ ), Draconian (
http://www.draconian.se/ ) &
Elis (
http://www.elis.li/ ).
Win a Meet & greet with Leaves' Eyes at MVFV. Details at
http://www.napalmrecords.com/mfvf.pdf .
http://www.leaveseyes.de/
More Napalm Records news at
http://www.napalmrecords.com/news.shtml .
Upcoming releases:
Serenity - WORDS UNTOLD & DREAMS UNLIVED (May 22nd)
The Austrian quintet captivates with their unique brand of Progressive
Metal, which perfectly unites technical prowess and a multi-faceted
melodic approach with an extraordinary and catchy songwriting style.
"Strong contender for the Power Metal throne, indeed" - METAL MANIACS
"It's rare that a new power metal act shakes things up...sounding akin
to the young and hungry Sonata Arctica of old" - ZERO TOLERANCE
Pre-listening Links for WORDS UNTOLD & DREAMS UNLIVED:
Reduced To Nothingness
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Serenity02_ReducedToNothingness_3mi
ns.mp3
Canopus 3
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Serenity01_Canopus3_Edit.mp3
Circle Of My 2nd Life
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Serenity04_CircleOfMySecondLife_Edi
t.mp3
Engraved Within
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Serenity05_EngravedWithin_Edit.mp3
Forever
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Serenity06_Forever_Edit.mp3
Dead Man Walking
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Serenity08_DeadMenWalking_Edit.mp3
From Where The Dark Is Born
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Serenity09_FromWhereTheDarkIsBorn_E
dit.mp3
Thriven
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Serenity10_Thriven_Edit.mp3
Exclusive pre-listening of the WHOLE album: 29.4.07, for 24 hours on
http://www.heavylaw.com/ .
http://www.serenity-band.com/
Vintersorg - SOLENS ROTTER (May 22nd)
Vintersorg returns to its roots anchored deep within traditional
Nordic soundscapes, strengthening them by masterfully blending in the
elements that modern Metal has to offer. An eloquent symbiosis of
hymn-like passages, cold Black Metal, and Nordic music, crowned by
Vintersorg's impressive vocals.
"Magnificent" - ZERO TOLERANCE
http://www.vintersorganic.com/
Visions Of Atlantis - TRINITY (June 5th)
With their third offering, Trinity, the Austro-American sextet takes
Symphonic Metal to a new level as majestically powerful Metal songs
complete with heavy guitars and unrelenting drumming meet emotional
ballads and romantic soundscapes. By masterfully merging their classic
roots with powerful modern elements, Visions Of Atlantis deliver an
album that is not only mystic and heavy, but also insightful and
bombastic.
Pre-listening Links for TRINITY:
At The Back Of Beyond
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/VoA01_AtTheBackOfBeyond_3mins.mp3
The Secret
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/VoA02_TheSecret.mp3
Nothing Left
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/VoA05_NothingLeft.mp3
Passing Dead End
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/VoA03_PassingDeadEnd.mp3
My Dark Side Home
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/VoA06_MyDarksideHome.mp3
The Poem
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/VoA04_ThePoem.mp3
Wing-Shaped Heart
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/VoA07_WingShapedHeart.mp3
Return To You
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/VoA08_ReturnToYou.mp3
Through My Eyes
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/VoA09_ThroughMyEyes.mp3
Flow This Desert
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/VoA10_FlowThisDesert.mp3
Seven Seas
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/VoA11_SevenSeas.mp3
http://visionsofatlantis.com/
Korpiklaani - TERVASKANTO (June 26th)
Korpiklaani is back! The wild Finns have once again bottled the
atmosphere and energy of their live show and injected it into their
fourth album. TERVASKANTO delivers powerful Folk Metal songs that are
immediately absorbed into the blood and instinctively cause neck
muscles to headbang.
TERVASKANTO limited edition will include an exclusive Bonus DVD,
filmed at Wacken Open Air 2006!
http://www.korpiklaani.com/
Iron Fire - BLADE OF TRIUMPH (June 26th)
Heroic Power Metal complete with heavy guitars, majestic melodies and
in-your-face drumming pave the way for the unmistakable and
charismatic vocals of front man Martin Steene. This steam hammer of
traditional Metal albums is sure to appease the youth of steel. Get
ready for Danish Power Metal dynamite!
BLADE OF TRIUMPH will also be available as a limited edition digi-pak
including two bonus tracks.
http://www.ironfire.dk/
Recent releases:
Intense - AS OUR ARMY GROWS
U.K. natives Intense stand for stomping Power Metal in the vein of
their American counterparts. Anyone with a preference for solid,
thrashy riffs, glorious melodies, and genuine Metal will not be
disappointed.
Anger Of The Ancients
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Intense01_AngerOfTheAncients_3mins.
mp3
Mirror Shroud
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Intense02_MirrorShroud_Edit.mp3
Our Last Hope
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Intense03_OurLastHope_Edit.mp3
You Die Today
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Intense04_YouDieToday_Edit.mp3
Insanity's Call
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Intense05_InsanitysCall_Edit.mp3
Temptress
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Intense06_Temptress_Edit.mp3
Fear Is Not Enough
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Intense07_FearIsNotEnough_Edit.mp3
Trojan Transmission
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Intense08_TrojanTransmission_Edit.m
p3
Strange New World
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Intense09_StrangeNewWorld_Edit.mp3
Long Live The New Flesh
http://videos.napalmrecords.at/mp3/Intense10_LongLiveTheNewFlesh_Edit.
mp3
http://www.intense-uk.com/
Battlelore - EVERNIGHT
Epic Fantasy Metal complete with bombastic interludes, mystic
soundscapes and heavy riffs envelop the skillful interaction between
the Elven-like female vocals and the warlike Uruk-hai cries that
summon images of great battles fought by Men, Elves, and Dwarves
against the armies of darkness.
http://www.battlelore.net/
Trail Of Tears - EXISTENTIA
Serrated, fast, thrashing, and breathless guitars accompanied by the
perfect rhythm section supply the foundation for superb classical
arrangements and incomparable duelling vocals between the two
frontmen. A potent, clichι-free, and complete Dark Gothic Metal
masterpiece!
http://www.trailoftears.no/
Festivals:
11.-12.05.2007 DE - Marktsteft / Rockmania Fest - ELIS, BATTLELORE
06.-09.06.2007 SE - Sφlvesborg / Sweden Rock Festival - TYR, TRAIL OF
TEARS
15.-16.06.2007 DE - Glauchau / Woodstage Summer Open Air - LACRIMAS
PROFUNDERE
22.-23.06.2007 AT - Straίwalchen / Summer Nights Fest - SERENITY
29.06.2007 DE - Leipzig / With Full Force - KAMPFAR
29.-30.06.2007 AT - Linz / Soul Of Metal Fest - EDENBRIDGE & SERENITY
05.-07.07.2007 DE - Geiselwind / Battle of Metal Open Air - ELIS
06.-07.07.2007 DE - Osterode/Harz, Rock Harz Open Air Festival - TYR
12.-15.07.2007 CZ - Vizowice / Masters Of Rock - TYR, VISIONS OF
ATLANTIS
13.07.2007 AT - Semmering / Kaltenbach Open Air- KAMPFAR, TYR
19.-21.07.2007 DE - Kreuth / Earthshaker Fest KORPIKLAANI
02.-03.08.2007 DE - Wacken Open Air - TYR, KAMPFAR
11.-12.08.2007 DE - Hildesheim / Mera Luna - LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE
16.-18.08.2007 DE - Summerbreeze Open Air - LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE
08.-09.09.2007 DE - Paderborn / Medieval Emporium - ELIS & WELTENBRAND
19.-20.10.2007 BE - Wieze / Metal Female Voices Festival - LEAVES'
EYES, ELIS, BATTLELORE, DRACONIAN
Winter catalog 2006/2007:
https://ssl.kundenserver.de/s7992294.shoplite.de/shopdata/winter-
2006.pdf
Napalm Records
http://www.napalmrecords.com/
Napalm YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=napalmrecords
Napalm MySpace
http://www.myspace.com/napalmrecords
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*** PRESS RELEASE #5 ***
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-Brainstorm... Now Shooting!
[Note: This is dated April 13 and comes from a Metal Blade newsletter.
- Tim]
"Dear friends,
"We're just back from shooting the 'history' part of our upcoming
triple DVD box set. So far, everything went out amazing and we're
lookin' forward to releasing the box in the summer '07 to bring
BRAINSTORM LIVE to your apartment!
"We have tons of live recordings to check... but the more we watch
those recordings, the more we feel that it's time to go back on the
road again!
"Stay tuned for some great NEWS about the DVD box as well as for the
new album!
"Cheerz and storm your f*#§ing brain!
"Andy"
http://www.brainstormweb.com/
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*** PRESS RELEASE #6 ***
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-Think That The Beatles And Metallica Are Musically Worlds Apart?
Beatallica Will Prove You Wrong, With SGT. HETFIELD'S MOTORBREATH PUB
BAND!
Although the Beatles certainly had some "heavy" moments ("Helter
Skelter," "Revolution" or "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," anyone?),
they are certainly not considered a metal band. And on the other side
of the coin, Metallica is not considered a pop band. But then along
comes Beatallica, and the lines between both acts have been erased --
as heard throughout their first official release, SGT. HETFIELD'S
MOTORBREATH PUB BAND. Comprised of members Jaymz Lennfield (vocals,
guitar), Grg Hammettson (guitar), Kliff McBurtney (bass), and Ringo
Larz (drums), Beatallica has been converting naysayers into believers
for years by this point -- having made fans throughout the world, and
also with such renowned headbangers as Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy
and Anthrax's Scott Ian.
Originally coming to the attention of Headbangers everywhere with
their initial Internet phenomenon story, the quartet has signed on
with Oglio Records, to release SGT. HETFIELD'S MOTORBREATH PUB BAND on
July 10th. As evidenced by such song titles as "And Justice For All My
Loving," "Leper Madonna," and "Ktulu (He's So Heavy)," the quartet's
knack for combining both these music giants together remains as sharp
as ever. Not just a studio creation, Beatallica has amassed a huge
following -- known as the Beatallibangers -- throughout the world due
to their fun, hard rocking live show, as they've played shows with
such metal heavy weights as Motorhead, and have even headlined open-
air festivals themselves. Further U.S. and Euro live dates beckon, as
well as video clips for "Revol-ooh-tion" and "A Garage Dayz Nite."
Complete track listing for SGT. HETFIELD'S MOTORBREATH PUB BAND:
1. Sgt. Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band
2. Revol-ooh-tion
3. Blackened In The U.S.S.R.
4. Sandman
5. Helvester of Skelter
6. A Garage Dayz Nite
7. Anesthesia (I'm Only Sleeping)
8. Leper Madonna
9. Ktulu (He's So Heavy)
10. For Horsemen
11. Hey Dude
12. Sgt. Hetfield's (Reprise)
13. And Justice For All My Loving
For additional info visit the following sites:
http://www.beatallica.org/
http://www.myspace.com/beatallica
http://www.oglio.com/
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*** PRESS RELEASE #7 ***
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-Pre-order The Comeback CD From Lion's Share!
EMOTIONAL COMA will be released on AFM Records on June 15, but can be
pre-ordered now so you'll have it at your house on the street date:
Bengans - jewel case:
https://www.bengans.se/popup/LIONS_EMOTIONAL/popup_mall_se.asp
Bengans - digi-pak with bonus:
https://www.bengans.se/popup/lions_emotional_digi/popup_mall_SE.asp
Sweden Rock Shop (where all orders also includes a free Lion's Share
sticker):
http://www.swedenrockshop.com/browseArtist.cfm?ID=4227&ob=dt&so=ASC
Ginza:
http://www.ginza.se/Product/Product.aspx?
ItemId=194431&LogSectionId=699
Don't miss Lion's Share live at Sweden Rock Festival Thursday, June 7,
at 16.00 (Zeppelin Stage).
Lion's Share - EMOTIONAL COMA track list:
1. Cult Of Denial
2. The Arsonist
3. Emotional Coma (feat. Glen Drover / Megadeth)
4. Clones Of Fate
5. The Edge Of The Razor (feat Bruce Kulick / Kiss)
6. Toxication Rave
7. Trafficking
8. Bloodstained Soil
9. Soultaker
10. Hatred's My Fuel
11. Sorcerers
12. Ring Of Stupidity (digi-pak bonus track)
13. The Edge Of The Razor (digi-pak bonus video)
Lion's Share - EMOTIONAL COMA due out:
AFM Records June 15
4046661069020 - AFM 171-2 - CD
4046661069129 - AFM 171-9 - limited format
Lineup:
Patrik Johansson (Astral Doors, Wuthering Heights) vocals
Lars Chriss guitars
Sampo Axelsson (Glenn Hughes) bass & keyboards
Richard Evensand (Chimaira, Soilwork, Therion) drums
Mats Levιn (Yngwie Malmsteen, Therion, At Vance, Krux) backing
vocals
Quotes:
"Holy crap! Someone's really been provoking the Lion. This is no cub
at all, but one big angry beast! One helluva return indeed!"
- Janne Stark / FUZZ & Sweden Rock Magazine
"Outstanding classic heavy metal by these Swedes. Fans of Judas
Priest, Black Sabbath, Saxon and Megadeth -- don't miss out!"
- Chuck Robinson / Trouble
"On the prowl, the lion will take its share this time out! 'Licks his
lips' tasty!......"
- Eric Peterson / Testament & DragonLord
"Lion's Share is one of those rare acts who are able to mix classic-
sounding heavy metal riffs with infectious melodies without sounding
dated or coming across like a throwback to an earlier era. EMOTIONAL
COMA sees the revamped lineup at the peak of its game, both in terms
of the songwriting ability and individual performances."
- Borivoj Krgin / BLABBERMOUTH.NET
"If you wake up and your neck hurts -- you must have been listening to
Lion's Share the night before!!! Made for headbangers. Metal Church
meets Black Sabbath...raw and powerful"
- Uli Kusch (Ride The Sky, ex-Masterplan, ex-Helloween)
http://www.lionsshare.org/
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*** PRESS RELEASE #8 ***
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-Herege: Re-mastered Songs Available Only On Internet
The traditional heavy metal band Herege posted new versions of the
songs "Call Me Herege" and "Flag Of The Metal," originally released in
the 2003 demo RISE OF THE FAIR, FALL OF THE CHURCH.
About the new songs the guitarist Dalton Castro, responsible for re-
mastering them, comments: "...since those songs are really good and
when we recorded them the production quality was low, I decided to add
some details which make them to sound with more energy. Right now we
decided to make these versions exclusive for Internet instead of
adding as bonus, but maybe we do it in future editions."
The new versions are available in the band's Web site,
http://www.herege.com/ , and MySpace,
http://www.myspace.com/heregemetal .
Herege is finishing their debut full-length and will give more
information about it soon.
Herege - True Heavy Metal
press@...
http://www.herege.com/
http://www.myspace.com/heregemetal
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*** PRESS RELEASE #9 ***
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-Dimebag Darrell Abbott To Be Inducted To The Hollywood Rock Walk
Honors To Take Place On Thursday, May 17th, 2007
HOLLYWOOD -- Guitar monster shredder, Dimebag Darrell Abbott, has been
chosen as the next inductee for the famed Hollywood Rock Walk at the
Hollywood Guitar Center on Sunset Blvd. The induction begins at 12:00
noon with many of Dimebag's friends to speak and others who will come
together to honor their brother.
Dimebag Darrell Abbott was loved by all and a hero to many. His
unexpected departure from our world has been a great loss, yet he left
us a legacy that will continue forever. It is a legacy to his family,
friends and fans of the great music that he loved to perform as well
as his crazy, charismatic sense of humor that touched many.
The ceremony for Dimebag Darrell Abbott's induction begins at 12:00
noon, May 17th, 2007 at the Guitar Center Hollywood on Sunset Blvd.
Rock Walk
7425 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90046
For more information on the Rock Walk go to
http://www.rockwalk.com/ .
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*** PRESS RELEASE #10 ***
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-Dimebag Darrell's Black Tooth Bash @ The House Of Blues
Six String Masterpieces is proud to present:
The Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute Auction to benefit The Little Kids
Rock Foundation
HOLLYWOOD -- Please join us at the House Of Blues Hollywood to honor
Dimebag Darrell Abbott and The Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute Auction to
benefit The Little Kids Rock Foundation. This event is held after the
induction of Dimebag Darrell Abbott to the Hollywood Guitar Center
Rock Walk May 17th, 2007.
The night will start out with ringmaster Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed and
"Headbanger's Ball" leading us into the three-ring circus in honor of
Dimebag Darrell Abbott and his induction. Jasta opens the night with
introducing to the masses the L.A Chapter of the Little Kids Rock. The
kids will rock out and show you how a little love from us can help
change the lives of these gifted kids that would not normally have the
chance to learn and play instruments.
Jasta will then head up the now famed Black Tooth Bash. This night's
Black Tooth Band will comprise performances by Vinnie Paul Abbott,
Scott Ian, Ripper Owens, John 5, David Draiman (Disturbed), Bob Zilla
(Damageplan), Aaron Lewis (Staind), Ace Frehley, Brent Smith and Jasin
Todd (Shinedown), Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins, Matt Byrne
(Hatebreed), Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) and many more surprise
artists!
Six-String Masterpieces: The Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute is a
collection of over 60 Dean ML guitars that have been hand-painted by
world-famous Rock Stars and internationally known Tattoo & Visionary
Artists in a memorial tribute to one of the greatest guitarists of all
time, Dimebag Darrell Abbott. The guitars can be viewed prior to the
auction May 4th to May 16th at LaLuz DeJesus Gallery in L.A. (4633
Hollywood Ave.).
The Little Kids Rock Foundation (501C3) is the charity of choice for
Dimebag Darrell -- so it's Dime-Time folks and we are going to rock
the house to honor Dimebag and raise money for the kids!
The gear companies are uniting as one to raise money for the kids. The
night's sponsors are Dimebag Hardware, Dean Guitars, Coffin Case,
Seymour Duncan, GHS Strings, EMG Pickups, Schecter Guitars with more
joining us each day!!
For more information on the charity and the Six String masterpieces go
to
http://www.rockwalk.com/ ,
http://www.littlekidsrock.org/ ,
http://www.actionartsagency.com/, and
http://www.myspace.com/sixstringmasterpieces .
*
*** PRESS RELEASE #11 ***
*
-Twisted Sister To Appear At Rocklahoma
Twisted Sister's Rocklahoma appearance is the band's only announced
North American show for 2007.
Twisted Sister, full on with costume, make-up and all five original
members -- Dee Snider, Jay Jay French, Mark "The Animal" Mendoza,
Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda and A.J. Pero -- along with 22 bands from that
era will appear at Rocklahoma, the largest rock festival of its kind
to ever be organized. To date, Rocklahoma's three-day line-up
includes:
Friday, July 13:
POISON
RATT
QUIET RIOT
SLAUGHTER
Y&T
WHITE LION
Saturday, July 14:
VINCE NEIL
DOKKEN
WINGER
SKID ROW
WARRANT
FIREHOUSE
ENUFF Z'NUFF
FASTER PUSSYCAT
BULLETBOYS
BANG TANGO
Sunday, July 15:
TWISTED SISTER
W.A.S.P.
JACKYL
GREAT WHITE
L.A. GUNS
BRITNY FOX
Rocklahoma, an official Oklahoma Centennial event presented by Rock
Fever and Miller Lite, will be held July 13-15, 2007, at the Catch The
Fever Festival Grounds four miles north of Pryor, OK, just off highway
69.
Tickets to Rocklahoma are currently on sale and available by calling
toll free (866) 310-2288 or online at
http://www.rockfeverfest.com/ .
*
*** PRESS RELEASE #12 ***
*
-New On DVD From MVD Visual: Metalmania 2006, Pendragon, NEO,
Andromeda
NEW MVD EXCLUSIVE TITLES
METALMANIA 2006 (DVD/CD)
Metalmania is the biggest and the most prestigious metal festival in
Central-Eastern Europe. Every year the main stage plays host to the
top metal bands from around the world (DVD), while on the side stage
there's a preview of the young Polish metal scene (CD). The 2006 DVD
features the best fragments of performances of such renowned artists
as Moonspell, Anathema, Therion, Acid Drinkers, Nevermore, Vesania,
1349, Hunter, and Hieronymus Bosch. The DVD includes detailed info
about all bands (biographies, discographies, Web links), photo
gallery, festival history, four downloadable desktop images, and short
interviews with all main stage bands featured on the DVD. METAL at its
best.
DVD/CD
SKU #: MVDV4579
UPC: 022891457992
SRP: $19.95
BOX LOT: 30
RUN TIME: 160 mins.
LABEL: MVD VISUAL
PRE-BOOK DATE: 05/01/2007
STREET DATE: 06/05/2007
HI-RES IMAGE:
http://files.dvdnote.com/images/300dpi/mvdv4579.jpg
SALES SHEET (PDF):
http://files.dvdnote.com/pdfs/mvdv4579.pdf
Pendragon - PAST AND PRESENCE
This DVD features neo-prog rock's great eminence Pendragon in an
exceptional show celebrating the 21st anniversary of the release of
THE JEWEL album. On this very special occasion, the band decided to
present to the audience an atypical set list, including mostly songs
from the band's classic debut THE JEWEL, and several other classics
back from the Marquee Club days, plus a few surprises. The band also
decided to perform in a special lineup, joining forces with other
musicians from Pendragon's history: John Barnfield, Julian Baker, and
Rik Carter. Get ready for nearly two hours of some of the best music
that the neo-progressive genre has to offer!
DVD
SKU #: MVDV4575
UPC: 022891457596
SRP: $19.95
BOX LOT: 30
RUN TIME: 185 mins.
LABEL: MVD VISUAL
PRE-BOOK DATE: 05/01/2007
STREET DATE: 06/05/2007
HI-RES IMAGE:
http://files.dvdnote.com/images/300dpi/mvdv4575.jpg
SALES SHEET (PDF):
http://files.dvdnote.com/pdfs/mvdv4575.pdf
NEO - BROADCAST
This spectacular DVD features a performance by the supergroup NEO
filmed at the Wyspianski Theater in Katowice, Poland. Formed by such
prog-rock veterans as Mark Westwood (the Martin Orford Band), Clive
Nolan (Arena, Pendragon, Shadowland), John Jowitt (IQ, Jadis) and Andy
Edwards (IQ), NEO delights the neo-progressive crowd with a repertoire
of songs from Shadowland, Arena, IQ, Pallas, and Pendragon. As Clive
Nolan comments, NEO's main aim was to try and break some new
frontiers. The gig featured a guest appearance of two other eminent
prog-rock figures: Pendragon's vocalist/guitarist Nick Barrett and
Pallas' vocalist Alan Reed.
DVD
SKU #: MVDV4578
UPC: 022891457893
SRP: $19.95
BOX LOT: 30
RUN TIME: 140 mins.
LABEL: MVD VISUAL
PRE-BOOK DATE: 05/01/2007
STREET DATE: 06/05/2007
HI-RES IMAGE:
http://files.dvdnote.com/images/300dpi/mvdv4578.jpg
SALES SHEET (PDF):
http://files.dvdnote.com/pdfs/mvdv4578.pdf
Andromeda - PLAYING OFF THE BOARD
Get ready for a strong dose of progressive metal! This Swedish quintet
offers their trademark powerful and sublime compositions that are both
structurally intricate and overflowing with a vast spectrum of
emotions. The band went on a European tour in the autumn of 2006 to
support the album CHIMERA and wrapped it up with a performance in
Katowice, Poland, which resulted in this, their first live DVD. An
hour and a half of progressive music at its very best, more than an
hour of bonus video footage (featuring, among other materials,
bootlegs and documents from the band's tour and gigs across Europe),
two interviews and much more!
DVD
SKU #: MVDV4574
UPC: 022891457497
SRP: $19.95
BOX LOT: 30
RUN TIME: 205 mins.
LABEL: MVD VISUAL
PRE-BOOK DATE: 05/01/2007
STREET DATE: 06/05/2007
HI-RES IMAGE:
http://files.dvdnote.com/images/300dpi/mvdv4574.jpg
SALES SHEET (PDF):
http://files.dvdnote.com/pdfs/mvdv4574.pdf
MVD on the Web
http://mvdb2b.com/
phone
800-888-0486
*
*** PRESS RELEASE #13 ***
*
-Z Rock 07 Lineup News
Four further acts have been added to the Z Rock 07 lineup. As before
we are giving new U.K. acts a chance of exposure as part of our
ongoing commitment to develop the U.K. scene rather than stay in the
past.
The fully confirmed lineup is at present...
DOKKEN [exclusive U.K. appearance]
HOUSE OF LORDS [exclusive U.K. appearance]
KINGDOM COME [exclusive U.K. appearance]
STEEVI JAIMZ BAND [exclusive U.K. appearance]
LOST WEEKEND
SACRED HEART
BULLIT
Venue: Maximes, Wigan
Date: October 7th
Tickets will go on sale April 23rd. Visit
http://www.myspace.com/zrockfest for full details. PayPal payments [no
booking or postage fees] can be made to
info@... and all
tickets will be shipped out within 48 hours. Z Rock 07 tickets are
priced at £45 advance however if you buy your ticket before May 31st
VIA PAYPAL you can purchase them for just £40 -- this is limited to
this time period only. This is going to be a show to remember see you
there!
For info call +44 [0]7724 606920 or visit:
http://www.myspace.com/zrockfest
http://www.myspace.com/midasentertainment
*
*** PRESS RELEASE #14 ***
*
-Autumn Black Are Ready For Attack With BENEATH THE SHADOWS
Most up-and-coming metal bands use the word "intense" to describe
their sound and live show. But after listening to the debut album from
Autumn Black, BENEATH THE SHADOWS, these folks are truly, no B.S.,
100% i-n-t-e-n-s-e. One of the first-ever releases for the newly
launched Tyburn label, BENEATH THE SHADOWS is sure to appeal to both
metalheads and hardcore thrashers, as the group likes to describe
their sound as "east coast metal + west coast hardcore = Autumn
Black."
Formed in 2004 and hailing from Los Angeles, California, Autumn Black
is comprised of members Andrew Vargas (vocals), Ruben Platt (guitars,
vocals), Jonathan Koch (guitars), Albert Platt (bass, backing vocals),
and Christopher Daigle (drums). "What separates us from a lot of bands
is we attract a diverse crowd of hardcore and metal fans," explains
Platt. "This is a unique approach which is rather awesome cause
everybody is there to hear what they want."
The group has been touring steadily in support of BENEATH THE SHADOWS
since its September 2006 release -- with the intensity and emotion of
such album standouts as "Ashes," "Breathe For Me," and the title track
only proving more brutal in a live setting. "Fans that like our sound
usually say the same thing," adds Daigle, "Which is you guys are
different and kick ass!" The group continues to pile up the road miles
and make believers/new fans at every gig, which leads to Vargas
enthusing, "If you haven't heard of us or even seen us live all I have
to say is watch out!"
Confirmed Autumn Black live dates (with Psyopus):
06/17/07 - Roseville, MI - MySpace Internet Cafe - 16190 13 Mile Rd.
06/18/07 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Sunset Hall - 6809 S. Hanna St.
06/20/07 - Rapid City, SD - Trea Bingo Hall - 1981 Centre St.
06/22/07 - Portland, OR - C Mt Tabor Legacy - 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
06/23/07 - La Grande, OR - The Gadfly - 117 Elm St.
For more information, visit the following sites:
http://www.autumnblackmusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/autumnblack
http://www.tyburnrecords.com/
http://www.myspace.com/tyburnrecords
*
*** PRESS RELEASE #15 ***
*
-Skeletonwitch To Tour With Weedeater In May, Withered In July
Cleveland thrashers Skeletonwitch have confirmed touring plans this
summer with Weedeater and Withered on two separate tours. First,
Skeletonwitch will hit the road with Weedeater in May after making
appearances in Pennslyvania with Goatwhore and at this year's New
England Metal And Hardcore Festival. In addition, Skeletonwitch will
also hit the road again in July on a Decibel magazine-sponsored tour
alongside Withered, in anticipation of the band's Prosthetic Records
debut, tentatively due out this fall.
Skeletonwitch will hit the studio in between the tours in June with
producer Cory Smoot (Municipal Waste, GWAR) to record the yet untitled
record. To preview current material, visit
http://www.myspace.com/skeletonwitch from the band's two prior
self-released records.
Skeletonwitch on tour
4/26 Allentown, PA Crocodile Rock Cafι (with Goatwhore)
4/27 Worcester, MA - Palladium (New England Metalfest)
5/12 Parma, OH - The Jigsaw Saloon (with Insurrect, Lick The Blade)
5/17 Johnson City, TN The Hideaway (with Big Rig, If Looks Could
Kill)
(with Weedeater)
5/18 Asheville, NC The Joli Rouge
5/19 Cincinnati, OH Top Cats
5/20 Milwaukee, WI Mad Planet
5/21 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon
5/22 St. Paul, MN Turf Club
5/23 Des Moines, IA Hairy Mary's
5/24 Lawrence, KS Replay Lounge
5/25 Little Rock, AR Downtown Music
5/26 Ft. Worth, TX Wreck Room (with Rwake, Black Cobra)
5/27 Austin, TX Emo's (Emissions of the Monolith 9)
5/28 San Antonio, TX Rock Bottom Tattoo Bar
5/30 Atlanta, FL Lenny's Bar (with Withered, Zororoaster)
5/31 Athens, GA Repent Bar (with Withered, Music Hates You,
Tualatin)
6/01 Nashville, TN - Springwater (with Withered)
6/02 Indianapolis, IN The Secret Location (with Phantomwitch, Lamb's
Breath)
*
*** PRESS RELEASE #16 ***
*
-New Byzantine MP3 Available Exclusively On iTunes
With the recent release of the band's first DVD entitled SALVATION,
West Virginia thrashers Byzantine have made the track "Cradle Song"
available on iTunes. Only available on the DVD, and not featured on
the band's forthcoming new record, the track is available for purchase
at iTunes. Featuring a live film performance, bootleg performances,
interviews and behind the scenes footage and more, SALVATION is now
available through Prosthetic Records and a trailer for the film can be
seen on Byzantine's MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/byzantine .
Byzantine recently took a short break from recording with producer
Charles A. Fisher in Sissonville, WV, to join up with God Forbid,
Arsis, Goatwhore and Mnemic for a brief trek throughout the eastern
U.S. The band is currently wrapping up recording for the forthcoming
effort, OBLIVION BECKONS, tentatively due out this summer.
Byzantine on tour
4/20 Williamsburg, VA William and Mary University Center
4/21 Huntington, WV The Monkey Bar
4/22 Morgantown, WV 123 Pleasant St
4/28 White Oak, PA Lorenzo's
5/10 Columbus, OH CBR's
5/11 Lima, OH Harry Hideaway
5/12 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Metalfest
5/13 Marion, OH Hot Peppers Chili and Grill
5/18 Newport News, VA Budda's Place
5/19 Waynesboro, VA - The Federal Building
5/20 Hinton, WV The Ritz Theatre
6/08 South Charleston, WV LaBelle Theatre
6/09 Fredricksburg, VA KC's (The Brew Ha Ha)
6/10 Richmond, VA Rocks
6/23 Brooklyn, NY The Hook (Brooklyn Metal Festival)
6/24 West Springfield, VA Jaxx
6/29 Wheeling, WV Yesterdays
6/30 Stanton, MI The Carnival of Chaos
7/01 Columbus, OH Fran Bar Park (Independence Fest)
7/06 Cincinatti, OH Annie's (Freedom Festival)
7/14 Pittsburgh, PA - Belvederes
7/27 Lancaster, PA The Chameleon Club
7/28 New London, CT NEC Uprisingfest 2007
7/29 Levittown, NY Club MetaSin
*
*** PRESS RELEASE #17 ***
*
-Year Of Desolation: Extensive Summer Touring Plans
Indiana thrashers Year Of Desolation will be touring throughout the
summer on a handful of different packages. Starting in May with The
Handshake Murders, the band will continue on in June alongside a
rotating lineup with The Destro, Unholy, Apiary and Iscariot on the
Lambgoat-sponsored First Post Tour. Year Of Desolation will continue
on the tour through June 28, before departing to continue touring
throughout July and into August, this time with Threat Signal and
Bloodjinn.
Year Of Desolation continues touring in support of its Prosthetic
Records debut, YEAR OF DESOLATION, which has been praised by critics
as a welcome addition to the thrash and melodic death metal scene,
which saw a January release. Produced by Jamie King (Through The Eyes
Of The Dead, Glass Casket), YEAR OF DESOLATION features in-depth
design from renowned artist Paul Romano. Samples from the record can
be heard on the Year Of Desolation MySpace site:
http://www.myspace.com/yearofdesolation .
Year Of Desolation
4/21 Creve Couer, IL Tops And Tails
4/22 Evansville, IN - 1123
(with The Handshake Murders, Ligeia)
5/11 San Antonio, TX White Rabbit
5/12 Austin, TX Red 7
5/13 Houston, TX Walters on Washington
5/15 Tampa, FL The Orpheum
5/17 West Palm Beach, FL Ray's Downtown
5/22 Louisville, KY Bulldog Cafι
5/24 Indianapolis, IN Emerson Theatre (with Only When I Burn, Ghost
of Maine)
5/29 Omaha, NE Sokol Underground
5/30 Joplin, MO The Foundry (with The Gentleman Homicide)
(Lambgoat First Post Tour with The Destro, Unholy, Apiary, and
Iscariot)
6/03 Cleveland, OH Peabody's
6/04 Toledo, OH Vamps
6/05 Arlington Heights, IL Arlington Heights Knights Of Columbus
Hall
6/06 Lansing, MI Mac's Bar
6/08 Osseo, MN The Segue
6/09 Rapid City, SD Dahl Fine Arts Center
6/14 Oakland, CA Uptown Nightclub
6/15 Susanville, CA Susanville Elks Lodge
6/17 San Marcos, TX The Jumping Turtle
6/18 Tempe, AZ The Sets
6/19 El Paso, TX House of Rock N Roll
6/20 Austin, TX Red 7
6/21 Houston, TX Walter's On Washington
6/22 San Antonio, TX Scoobys
6/24 Baton Rouge, LA The Darkroom
6/25 Tallahassee, FL The Beta Bar
6/26 Orlando, FL Island Oasis
6/27 Jacksonville, FL Thee Imperial
6/28 Atlanta, GA Masquerade
6/29 Spartanburg, SC Ground Zero
6/30 Johnson City, TN The Hideaway
7/02 Brooklyn, NY Europa Night Club
7/03 Levittown, NY Club Metasin
7/04 Saratoga Springs, NY Backstreet Billiards
(with Threat Signal, Bloodjinn)
7/06 Joplin, MO The Foundry Music Venue
7/07 Fayetteville, AR The Dart Room
7/11 Houston, TX Walter's On Washington
7/12 Austin, TX Red 7
7/13 San Antonio, TX White Rabbit
7/14 Colvis, NM Absolute Zero
7/15 Ciudad Juarez, MEX - Centenario
7/17 San Diego, CA Brick By Brick
7/18 Hollywood, CA Knitting Factory
7/21 Oakland, CA Uptown Nightclub
7/22 Susanville, CA Susanville Elks Lodge
7/23 La Grande, OR The Gadfly
7/24 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre
7/26 Seattle, WA Studio Seven
7/26 Tacoma, WA Hell's Kitchen
8/01 Ogden, UT Country Club Theatre
8/02 Denver, CO Hubba's House of Rock
8/03 Topeka, KS Static Bar
8/05 St. Paul, MN Station 4
8/07 Arlington Heights, IL Arlington Heights Knights of Columbus
Hall
8/19 Rochester, NY Montage Music Hall
8/20 New York, NY Knitting Factory
8/21 Levittown, NY Club Metasin
8/22 Springfield, VA Jaxx
*
*** PRESS RELEASE #18 ***
*
-All That Remains Confirms Dates With Protest The Hero, Announces
Headling Shows
Massachusetts' All That Remains, currently wrapping up a headlining
run through Europe, has announced a slew of updated live shows back in
North America. First, All That Remains will play a string of dates
offering direct support to Bullet For My Valentine and headlining a
few off dates before meeting up later in May with Protest The Hero.
Continuing to support last year's THE FALL OF IDEALS, the band has
already logged a heavy dose of touring since the record's release,
including previous runs through Europe, North American and an
immensely successful headlining tour earlier this year. The Boston
Phoenix just nominated All That Remains one of the Boston area's best
metal/hardcore act (poll available at
http://thephoenix.com/bmp/boston/5/default.aspx ).
All That Remains on tour
(European tour with Misery Signals, Textures)
4/20 Hasselt, Belgium Muziek-O-Droom
4/21 Amsterdam, Holland Melkweg (Powerfest with Thursday, Sparta,
Senses Fail, MXPX)
(with Bullet For My Valentine, Escape The Fate, The Confession)
5/02 Philadelphia, PA Theater of Living Arts
5/03 Farmingdale, NY The Crazy Donkey (no BFMV)
5/04 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
5/05 Worcester, MA The Palladium
5/07 Baltimore, MD Ram's Head Live
5/09 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
5/10 Toledo, OH Gator'z
5/11 Flint, MI The Machine Shop (no BFMV)
5/12 Indianapolis, IN Emerson Theatre (no BFMV)
5/13 Grand Rapids, MI The Intersection (no BFMV)
5/17 San Diego, CA Soma
5/18 Hollywood, CA The Avalon
5/19 Orangevale, CA The Boardwalk (no BFMV)
5/20 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
(with Light This City)
5/22 Reno, NV Stoney's
5/23 Boise, ID The Venue
5/24 Bend, OR The Domino Room at Midtown
5/25 Spokane, WA Big Easy
(with Protest The Hero, Bless The Fall, The Holly Springs, Threat
Signal)
5/27 Edmonton, AB Starlite
5/28 Calgary, AB The Warehouse
5/29 Regina, SK The Distrikt
5/30 Winnipeg, MB The Garrick
6/02 Toronto, ONT The Opera House
6/03 London, ONT Cowboy's
6/04 Ottawa, ONT New Capital Music Hall
8/03-8/05 Wacken, Germany - Wacken Open-Air Festival
*
*** PRESS RELEASE #19 ***
*
-Light This City To Support All That Remains
Bay Area thrashers Light This City will again support label mates All
That Remains on a series of dates All That Remains headlining shows.
Currently wrapping up the School Of Rock Tour with Horse The Band, The
Number 12 Looks Like You and So Many Dynamos, Light This City will
return home briefly before meeting up with their label mates for a few
west coast shows. The band is continuing to support its latest effort,
FACING THE THOUSAND, which saw a fall 2006 release and has led to a
series of successful tours with the likes of Suicide Silence, All That
Remains, Through The Eyes Of The Dead and The Acacia Strain. Summer
touring plans are being ironed out now, so be on the lookout for those
dates.
Light This City's debut music video, directed by Soren (Unearth), for
the track "The Unwelcome Savior" is available online at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H4SVRApGhM . "It was an amazing
experience, and we felt honored to work with someone who has so much
experience capturing the intensity of this style of music," the band
previously stated about the shoot.
Light This City on tour
(School Of Rock Tour with Horse The Band, The Number 12 Looks Like
You, So Many Dynamos)
4/20 Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
4/23 Seattle, WA El Corazon
4/24 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theater
4/26 San Francisco, CA Slim's
(with All That Remains)
5/19 Orangevale, CA The Boardwalk
5/22 Reno, NV Stoney's
5/23 Boise, ID The Venue
5/24 Bend, OR Domino Room
5/25 Spokane, WA Big Easy
*
*** PRESS RELEASE #20 ***
*
-The Minor Times Offers Update On Forthcoming Record
Pennsylvania's hardcore stalwarts The Minor Times have unveiled a
preview of artwork from the band's forthcoming record, SUMMER OF
WOLVES, currently slated for a June 26 release through Prosthetic
Records. The preview of the Mark Price-penned artwork can be seen at
http://www.markpriceisafactory.com/tmt , while the album is currently
available for pre-order at
http://www.prostheticrecords.com/TMT_splash.html .
"There is a very small blurb on us in the new Alternative Press
(#226). They feature our upcoming album in the 'New Releases'
section," the band stated. "But you should really pick it up for the
article on the history of Botch. I'll leave it up to you to decide if
we're 'peppered with breakdowns.'"
In the meantime, The Minor Times has scheduled several regional shows
and are working on setting up some touring plans in advance of the
release of SUMMER OF WOLVES. Details will be available shortly. The
Minor Times has unveiled a brand new track, entitled "Casket City
Lights," from the forthcoming record on the band's MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/theminortimes .
The Minor Times on tour
5/04 Utica, NY Skate-a-Rama (with Architect, Revisionist, Seagrave,
Mammoth Hunter)
5/05 Syracuse, NY Westcott Community Center (with Turmoil, Ed Gein,
End Of A Year)
5/18 Collegeville, PA Perkiomen Township Firehall (with The
Arrangement, Caspian, Beorn, Aunteater)
5/19 Doylestown, PA Siren Records (with Engineer, Cosmonaut)
*
*** PRESS RELEASE #21 ***
*
-Light This City Offers Update From The Road, Video Available
Bay Area thrashers Light This City are nearing completion of the
band's current tour alongside Horse The Band, The Number 12 Looks Like
You and So Many Dynamos. Continuing to tour virtually non-stop since
last summer, Light This City will follow this tour up with a short run
alongside label mates All That Remains up the West Coast as direct
support, and follow that up with yet-to-be-confirmed summer touring
plans.
The band recently caught up with PureGrainAudio.com earlier in April
in Toronto for an interview, and the video of the interview can be
seen at
http://www.puregrainaudio.com/videos/videos.htm . A few
excerpts are available here.
On recording the new album:
"The last album and the first album, THE HERO CYCLE, I wrote all the
music myself because the guitar players we had at the time didn't
really want to write or didn't really know how to write," says drummer
Ben Murray. "So, I took that all on myself. Since the new album,
having Brian and Steve in the band, after REMAINS OF THE GODS came
out, it's really stepped up everything. Brian and I wrote a lot of it,
and Steve wrote a few things here and there, but I think everyone in
the band finally came together....For me, personally, it was a huge
step up from the last album."
On the current tour with Horse The Band, The Number 12 Looks Like You
and So Many Dynamos:
"It's weird, because this is the first tour, where we didn't know any
of the bands beforehand," front woman Laura Nichol says. "All our
other tours, we've at least played a show or gone on tour with them
[the other bands] or something. Everyone's just getting along so well.
Their sets are so entertaining; this is probably the most entertaining
tour I've ever been on, in terms of watching the other bands' sets."
On the band's recently completed music video:
"You don't expect, when you see music videos, you don't really see it
as demanding," guitarist Brian Forbes says. "It's not crazy, hard
work, but it's still basically any shot that you're in, you're playing
the whole song and you've got to give it your all." With a chuckle he
adds, "Yeah, I got shot in the balls, it was pretty hot."
The video, for the track "The Unwelcome Savior," was helmed by
director Soren (Unearth) earlier this spring and the video is
available online at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H4SVRApGhM . The
band continues to support its third record, and second for Prosthetic,
FACING THE THOUSAND, which came out in the fall of 2006.
Light This City on tour
(School Of Rock Tour with Horse The Band, The Number 12 Looks Like
You, So Many Dynamos)
4/24 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theater
4/25 Eugene, OR WOW Hall
4/26 San Francisco, CA Slim's
(with All That Remains)
5/19 Orangevale, CA The Boardwalk
5/22 Reno, NV Stoney's
5/23 Boise, ID The Venue
5/24 Bend, OR Domino Room
5/25 Spokane, WA Big Easy
*
*** PRESS RELEASE #22 ***
*
-The Acacia Strain Front Man Checks In From European Tour
Massachusetts' The Acacia Strain is currently on tour in the United
Kingdom as direct support to Hatebreed, to continue supporting the
band's latest release, THE DEAD WALK. Front man Vincent Bennett has
issued an update from the road:
"I know it's taken me forever, but here are some things from The
Acacia Strain's first trip to Europe:
"- Everyone speaks English, but I can hardly understand anything
anyone says. Between the heaviness of the accent, and the slang, it's
almost impossible. 'Cheers, mate' is said to me about 600 times a day.
"- Everyone here rolls their own cigarettes. My first day here I
thought everyone was smoking weed, and one kid told me that he came to
America and got 'nabbed by the coppers' because they thought he was
rolling a joint. Smoking age = 16. And yes, they do call cigarettes
'fags' here...and no, it's still not funny.
"- There is a whole lot of 'rapeseed' growing everywhere at all times.
I don't know what it is used for, but I do know that it's f*cking
yellow and smells like sh*t. I'm not quite sure where it got its name,
but I am sure that the word 'rape' has meant rape since before they
named the stupid plant.
"- There are roundabouts every five f*cking feet.
"- I was pretty sure they used the metric system over here, which they
do... but they still use miles and feet...but that's it. They buy
their gas in litres, but they have to drive a mile to get it.
"- One out of every five girls here is taller than me.
"- Drinking is a way of life here, bars open at like 9 am. And the
drinking age here is 18, which doesn't really matter, because they
don't really ID anyone. So, it's like a high school party everywhere.
"- Our money isn't worth sh*t anywhere; a British pound is worth $2.11
"- No Taco Bell.
"The shows have been phenomenal. Hatebreed is amazing, and we played
in a church that was built 200 years BEFORE Columbus first sailed off
for the West Indies. Every venue is packed and the reaction has been
amazing and every once in a while during our set I forget we are in a
different country. There are some brutal kids out here, this is really
starting to catch on. More fun facts soon!"
THE DEAD WALK was recorded with producer Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch
Engage) and saw a summer 2006 release. Since then, the band toured
relentlessly alongside the likes of Soilent Green, Through The Eyes Of
The Dead, Hatebreed and is now locked in to tear across North America
as one of the bands featured on this year's Sounds Of The Underground
tour. Prior to that, however, The Acacia Strain will tour the States
in May and June with Hatebreed, God Forbid, Evergreen Terrace, Terror
and After The Burial as part of the Monsters Of Mayhem 2 tour.
The Acacia Strain on tour
(Destroy Everything Tour, with Hatebreed)
21/4 Liverpool, UK Carling Academy 2
22/4 Oxford, UK Zodiac
23/4 Brighton, UK Concorde 2
24/4 Portsmouth, UK Wedgewood Rooms
25/4 Stoke, UK Sugarmill
26/4 Newport, UK - TJs
27/4 London, UK - Barfly
(The Monsters Of Mayhem 2 tour with Hatebreed, God Forbid, Evergreen
Terrace, Terror, After The Burial)
5/18 Rochester, NY Water St. Music Hall
5/19 Hartford, CT Webster Theater
5/20 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
5/21 Charlotte, NC Tremont Music Hall
5/22 Columbia, SC Headliners Music Hall
5/23 North Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues SC
5/24 Atlanta, GA Masquerade
5/25 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution
5/26 Lake Buena Vista, FL House of Blues FL
5/28 Knoxville, TN Blue Cats
5/29 Memphis, TN New Daisy Theatre
5/31 Houston, TX Scout Bar
6/01 Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom
6/02 San Antonio, TX White Rabbit
6/03 El Paso, TX Club 101
6/07 Omaha, NE Sokol Auditorium
(Sounds Of The Underground 2007)
7/06 Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom
7/07 Corpus Christi, TX Concrete St. Amphitheatre
7/08 Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theatre
7/10 Orlando, FL UCF Arena
7/11 Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
7/13 Worcester, MA - Palladium
7/14 Sayreville, NY Starland Ballroom Outside
7/15 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
7/16 Winston-Salem, NC Millennium Center
7/18 Toronto, ONT Koolhaus Complex
7/19 Detroit, MI State Theatre
7/20 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom
7/21 Cleveland, OH Time Warner Cable Amphitheatre at Tower City
(with Mushroomhead)
7/22 Columbus, OH Lifestyle Communities Pavilion (with Mushroomhead)
7/23 Chicago, IL Congress Theatre (with Mushroomhead)
7/24 Minneapolis, MN Myth (with Mushroomhead)
7/27 Calgary, AB Macewan Hall
7/28 Edmonton, AB Shaw Conference Center
7/30 Portland, OR Expo Hall
8/01 Salt Lake City, UT Great Salt Air Pavilion
8/03 San Jose, CA Events Center @ San Jose University (with Suicidal
Tendencies)
8/04 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Side Stage (with
Suicidal Tendencies)
8/05 Mesa, AZ Mesa Amphitheatre
8/06 Las Vegas, NV House Of Blues
8/08 Denver, CO Fillmore
*
*** NEWS/RUMORS ***
*
-25 Yard Screamer, a band that's been compared to Rush and Marillion,
is being co-promoted by Get Ready To Rock! See
http://www.getreadytorock.com/reviews2007/25_yard_screamer3.htm and
http://www.getreadytorock.com/features/25_yard_screamer.htm for more.
-Check out About Heavy Metal's list of the top 10 "Best German Heavy
Metal Bands" at
http://glclk.about.com/?zi=1/3%5DUc .
-Broken Teeth have signed with Corporate Punishment Records and are
working on a new album called ELECTRIC (first single: "Roll Over").
The label will also reissue 2004's CD/DVD combo BLOOD ON THE RADIO -
LIVE this spring. In related news, the band recently recorded "Devil's
Child" for an upcoming Judas Priest tribute album called HELL BENT
FOREVER, which will also feature Motorhead and Sepultura. See
http://www.brokenteeth.com/ and
http://www.corporatepunishment.com/
for more.
-There's a "Hot Spot" feature on Gotthard's DOMINO EFFECT, due out
April 27 from Nuclear Blast, at
http://musicbuymail.eu/?r=39&l=2 .
Track list: "Master Of Illusion," "Gone Too Far," "Domino Effect,"
"Falling," "The Call," "The Oscar Goes To You," "The Cruiser
(Judgement Day)," "Heal Me," "Letter To A Friend," "Tomorrow's Just
Begun," "Come Alive," "Bad To The Bone," "Now," "Where Is Love When
Its Gone."
-In Judas Priest-related happenings, HeadbangerNYC.com posted a link
to a video showcasing a female singer named Yana singing "Diamonds And
Rust" while "wearing her High School Graduation Gown":
http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/b35ca5207749da4c26ec082eef694d81?
index=0
.
-Photos from Lion's Share's April 14 EMOTIONAL COMA listening session
and April 15 "The Edge Of The Razor" video shoot have been uploaded to
the "Pics" section of its MySpace site,
http://www.myspace.com/lionsshare .
-Nightmare Records has signed Heart Of Sun from Italy and Scelerata
from Brazil. Check out the label's new forum at
http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/nightmare-records-436 .
-Ratt -- Stephen Pearcy on vocals, Warren DeMartini and John Corabi on
guitar, Robbie Crane on bass, and Bobby Blotzer on drums -- will
reportedly join Poison for a two-month North American summer tour this
year. See
http://www.myspace.com/therattpack for more.
-The story of all-girl band The Runaways, which featured Joan Jett and
Lita Ford, will be told by a new R-rated film called "Neon Angels."
Jett is set to co-executive produce. See
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117963287.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
for more.
-Video of Salem performing "Slave" and "Eyes To Match A Soul" live
with an Israeli all-female string quartet is available at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoX3zyQqMVg .
Thanks to Lance King, Mark Blair Glunt, Chad Bowar,
rocknews@...,
Jason Ritchie, Michael Fleming, and
zrtenenb@... for help
gathering some of this information.
*
*** FROM THE MEGA-VAULT ***
*
by Keith Abt (
KeithAbt@...)
-This Week: "The Brutality Of Cursed Army Mullets," Or "Playing
Catch-up Yet Again"
Receiving CDs to review for Detritus is often a "feast or famine"
situation. Sometimes months will pass between shipments of promo CDs,
and then suddenly I'll start getting packages of random discs every
week. It makes going out to the mailbox feel like Christmas, I never
know what I'm going to find!! Well, the warm weather is finally here
and record labels are obviously stepping up their release schedules in
preparation for the Summer concert season, because I've been getting
regular infusions of promotional CDs again. Over the next couple of
weeks, I'm planning to tackle the stack of stuff that's been showing
up on my doorstep over the past month or so (either here in this
column or over in the reviews section). If I clean my plate quickly
enough, hopefully I will keep from getting too backlogged like I did
over the last quarter of '06...so what am I still yapping for? In the
immortal words of Marty DeBergi, "let's boogie!"
..."Let's Boogie" would be an apt catch phrase for our first selection
out of the chute, a compilation of '70s/'80s hard rock favorites
called MULLETS ROCK! TOO!: MULLETS IN LOVE (Legacy Recordings). This
is apparently a sequel to an earlier MULLETS ROCK! two-CD compilation,
inspired by the music from David Spade's mullet-centric comedy "Joe
Dirt" from a few years back. Since I live in New Jersey, (which I
often jokingly refer to as "The Home Of The Mullet") I couldn't stifle
a hysterical cackle when I opened the envelope containing this disc
and saw the god-awful cover art of a "Camaro-cut" dude in a half shirt
and zebra-striped pants, with a blonde bimbo on each arm (set against
a hot pink background no less!). Despite the hilariously ugly art and
design, MULLETS ROCK! TOO! is a solid enough collection divided into
two parts. The first 10 tracks make up the "PSYCHED!" portion and
includes such dependable FM rock-radio fodder as Boston's "More Than A
Feeling" (fittingly enough, I received this disc the same week that
Brad Delp passed away), "I Hate Myself For Loving You" by Joan Jett &
The Blackhearts, and Ted Nugent's classic ode to womanhood, "Wang Dang
Sweet Poontang." The "BUMMED!" half turns on the tears and features
over-the-top, heartbreaking power ballads like Nazareth's "Love
Hurts," Cheap Trick's "The Flame," and Cinderella's "Don't Know What
You've Got (Till It's Gone)." Some of the selections are not exactly
my taste (I have ALWAYS hated Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse Of The
Heart," and I was never big on Jefferson Starship's "Jane" or Night
Ranger's "Sister Christian" either), but listening to this collection
helped me rediscover some cool old songs that I hadn't heard in a long
time, like Aldo Nova's "Fantasy," J. Geils Band's "Love Stinks," and
Blue Oyster Cult's "Burnin' For You." Since I would probably never get
around to buying the individual CDs those songs came from, MULLETS
ROCK! TOO! provides a handy-dandy, money saving shortcut. Not only
will this be a cool mix CD to play at my next outdoor barbecue, it
would make a good gag gift for that guy in the beat-up Journey tour
shirt down the block from me who's always working on his car! :)
...Moving on to heavier things, we have LETHAL AGENDA by Temple Of
Brutality (Demolition Records), a self described "Pure F**king
Metal!!!" band that features former Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson and
one time W.A.S.P. drummer Stet Howland in its lineup. The album art is
festooned with pictures of American flag-draped coffins, barbed wire
and a shot of a run-down looking White House behind a padlocked fence,
so I'd say it's safe to assume these guys aren't big fans of the U.S.
government. Sadly, the packaging is probably the best thing about this
disc, as Temple Of Brutality (original name huh?) turned out to be an
extremely average aggro-metal band. The flat, muddy production falls
far short of the "kick-you-in-the-face" vibe that the band was
probably hoping for, and the phleghm-soaked vocals of Todd Barnes got
on my nerves VERY quickly. This guy sounds like Popeye with his nuts
caught in a vise. By about the fifth or sixth track, listening to him
yowling in his cartoonish, one-note voice over the top of these
generic Pantera worshipping tunes became pretty comical. LETHAL AGENDA
was a 24 karat disappointment (especially considering that there were
several all-stars on board) and I doubt that it will be darkening my
CD player ever again once this column is written! As for Dave
Ellefson, I hope for his sake that he was brought into this project as
a special guest and that he's not planning on making Temple Of
Brutality his full time gig...
...The gold star for this column goes to U.K. power metallers Intense
and their impressive AS OUR ARMY GROWS disc (Napalm Records), which
has been spending a lot of time in my player lately. The band's bio
sheet compares them to U.S. power metal kings Iced Earth, which I'd
say is fairly accurate, though to me Intense comes off as a less
thrashy, more "Maiden-y" version of Iced Earth. (I also detect hints
of Jag Panzer.) Though I'd never even heard of Intense before this CD
arrived in the mail, it turns out that AS OUR ARMY GROWS is their
third release and the band even participated in the Eurovision Song
Contest a few years back! Anyway, AS OUR ARMY GROWS quickly shot to
the top of my playlist on the strength of tracks like "You Die Today,"
"Fear Is Not Enough" and the title track. Those of you who miss the
days when Matthew Barlow fronted Iced Earth should find Sean
Hetherington's similar vocal style very satisfying, although Sean's
voice is bit smoother than Matt's. The Intense guitar team of Nick
Palmer and Dave Peak are the real stars here, playing off one another
like the classic six-string tag teams of yore (i.e., Murray/Smith or
Tipton/Downing), and though Intense occasionally revs up their RPM's,
thankfully they never go over the top into out-and-out high-speed
wankery like their countrymen in DragonForce. The album-ending three
part "epic trilogy" (gee, I wonder where they got THAT idea from? Heh
heh!), "Chronicles Of The New Flesh," is a winner as well. Overall I'd
say AS OUR ARMY GROWS is definitely a keeper and I'm now on the hunt
for the band's other two CDs...wish me luck!
...One last disc before I split for this week: My inner Jersey Metal
Geek is anxiously awaiting the release of ROOM FULL OF SINNERS by The
Cursed, a new "Supergroup" side project featuring two Jersey metal
legends, Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth of Overkill and former Hades
guitarist Dan Lorenzo. The album will be out on Screaming Ferret
Wreckords on May 22nd (my birthday!), and the label was kind enough to
send along a one-track promo of the album's first single, "Evil, In
The Bag," recently. Obviously it's impossible to guess what the rest
of the album will sound like based on one song, but "Evil, In The Bag"
sounds like a departure from what we'd usually expect to hear from two
guys known for speed/thrash metal. This song has a heavy Sabbath-style
groove and Blitz is actually sorta SINGING here instead of screaming
his ass off! There's even a harmonica solo! For comparison's sake I'd
say the song reminds me of Overkill's "Spiritual Void," which was one
of the few decent tracks off of the otherwise-unremarkable I HEAR
BLACK (1993) album. "Evil, In The Bag" sounds like a promising start
and I can't wait to hear the finished product!
-That'll do it for this edition of the "Mega-Vault"... Please join me
next time when I line up another batch of metal goodies and either
praise 'em or squish 'em as I see fit!!
Relevant links:
MULLETS ROCK! TOO!: MULLETS IN LOVE:
http://www.legacyrecordings.com/mulletsrock
Temple Of Brutality:
http://www.templeofbrutality.com/
http://www.myspace.com/templeofbrutality
http://www.demolitionrecords.com/
Intense:
http://www.intense-uk.com/
http://www.myspace.com/intense
http://www.napalmrecords.com/
Video for "Fear Is Not Enough" on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oEYsxh_h1U
The Cursed:
http://www.the-cursed.net/
http://www.myspace.com/thecurseddotnet
http://www.screamingferret.com/
-THIS WEEK'S PLAYLIST: Firewind ALLEGIANCE, Helstar BURNING STAR
and MULTIPLES OF BLACK, Judas Priest SAD WINGS OF DESTINY, Ramones
ANIMAL BOY.
*
*** ROCK HARD RIDE FREE ***
*
by Tim Wadzinski (
tsw512@...)
-I received a promo copy of Foghat's LIVE II double album in the mail
yesterday, and it came complete with a big, custom Foghat folder to
hold the press kit. Haven't seen one of those in years! Made me think
of the days when Detritus was young, when most bands' promo materials
included a full-blown retail version of the CD, an 8x10 photo,
multiple pages of press/bio info, business cards, stickers, and
sometimes a folder to hold it all. Ah, the good old days... Thanks,
Foghat. :) (I love saying "Foghat.")
-Keith mentioned the piles of CDs he's been receiving to review. Dude,
tell me about it... My desk at work looks ridiculous. I've got bundles
of CDs squirreled away in file cabinets with post-it notes on them
(marked "For Keith," "For Neal," etc.), stacks of press kit papers,
etc. Thing is, a lot of what I'm being sent these days is just *not*
Detritus-worthy. I try to dish stuff out to writers who will
(hopefully) dig it, but that's just not always the case.
-I'm still hanging in there watching this season of "American Idol,"
but I'm on the brink... This is a boring show. Wow. Can we please have
Metal Night just once? But seriously, I know I'm biased against this
show because of my musical tastes, and I've heard from "experts" that
this season is the worst so far, but even with that I don't understand
how or why this show has had such a stranglehold on U.S. pop culture
since it debuted.
-Oh yeah, *awesome* to see some Beatallica stuff getting an official
release!
-Now in my current playlist: Kotipelto - SERENITY (Candlelight USA),
Fosterchild - INDEPENDENCE DAY (SMG), Eddie Ojeda - AXES 2 AXES (Black
Lotus Records), Onslaught - KILLING PEACE (Candlelight Records),
Nuclear Assault - LOUDER, HARDER, FASTER (DVD) (Screaming Ferret
Wreckords).
*
*** REVIEWS ***
*
CRIMSON GLORY - ASTRONOMICA (REISSUE) (C+, A-) Rising Sun/Metal Mind/
MVD Audio, 2007
Disc 1: 10 tracks, RT: 48:33
Disc 2: 8 tracks, RT: 47:26
[
http://www.crimson-glory.com/ ]
[
http://www.mvdb2b.com/ ]
[
http://www.metalmind.com.pl/ ]
[
http://www.myspace.com/metalmindproductions ]
[
http://www.metalopolis.pl/ ]
In 1999, back from the dead after eleven years, Crimson Glory was
faced with the impossible task of replacing one of the best metal
vocalists to ever hold a mic. The band tapped Lucian Blaque alumnus
Wade Black whose style is a better match for Rob Halford's than
Midnight's. It would have worked, too, if only the material on
ASTRONOMICA had lived up to the band's past. Wade proves this on "The
Other Side Of Midnight" and "Cydonia" which are awesome albeit slower
old style Crimson Glory tracks. For most of the album, though, the
predominance of plodding grooves, tuneless melodies, and processed
vocals bring the proceedings to a dead halt. Ultimately, like Ripper
Owens era Judas Priest, ASTRONOMICA tries so hard to be heavy that it
buries itself. This digi-pak reissue seems premature, but gets full
marks for including the bonus material from the original limited
edition digi-pak release of the album as well as all of the content
from the oddball saw blade shaped "War Of The Worlds" single. The real
treasures here are the five 1989 live tracks recorded with the
original lineup for a Z-Rock radio broadcast. To my knowledge, this is
the first time all of these tracks appear on the same disc. In spite
of the rough recording quality, the contrast between the glorious live
tracks and the wooden new material is very dramatic. Thus we have a
split grade, giving a "C+" to the newer material and an "A-" to the
Z-Rock broadcast.
- Pete Dziadzka (
petedz@...)
CRIMSON GLORY - STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL (REISSUE) (B+) Roadrunner/Metal
Mind/MVD Audio, 2007
11 tracks, RT: 59:11
[
http://www.crimson-glory.com/ ]
[
http://www.mvdb2b.com/ ]
[
http://www.metalmind.com.pl/ ]
[
http://www.myspace.com/metalmindproductions ]
[
http://www.metalopolis.pl/ ]
[
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ ]
Crimson Glory was a progressive metal outfit so unique and powerful
that their early output still inspires and influences to this day.
Somehow, just as the window to mega-stardom opened for them, the band
appeared to self destruct. Released in 1991, the album that ushered
Crimson Glory into commercial obscurity was called STRANGE AND
BEAUTIFUL -- a nearly complete break with the style they were known
for. Before the tour was over, signature vocalist Midnight had left.
The band wouldn't be heard from again for over a decade. By now,
nearly all the band members have gone on record denouncing the album
as a mistake. Was it really that bad? I've been a Crimson Glory fan
from '88 on, and it was indeed a shock back in '91 to hear an album of
panty moisteners from a group known for songs like "Azrael" and
"Eternal World." Bottom line -- this album has more in common with
Kingom Come than Queensryche or, well...Crimson Glory. Leaving second
chair guitarist Ben Jackson by the roadside and replacing metal
drummer Dana Burnell with Ravi Jahkotia's more tribal/world music
influenced style was just the beginning. Five or six of the eleven
tracks are ballads! Once you get past your expectations, though, the
music isn't half bad. Midnight's voice was in fine form, and he does
Plant very well. Jon Drenning is one heck of a guitar player, and he
plays a blend of Zepp-ish riffs and big blues-bend solos like his life
is on the line. The songs are a mixed bag. While the abovementioned
ballads don't do much for me, rockers like the title track, "Promised
Land," and "Dance On Fire" are decent. If you would otherwise like
Zeppelin-esque hair metal you need to check this out because it hasn't
been done better very often. They just shouldn't have called it
Crimson Glory. This digi-pak reissue adds some insightful track by
track commentary from Midnight and Jon Drenning to the liner notes.
The re-mastered disc is a tad louder than the original, but the album
was a state of the art big budget recording in '91 and not much needed
to change.
- Pete Dziadzka (
petedz@...)
ENGINE OF PAIN I AM YOUR ENEMY (C) Lion Music, 2007
10 tracks, RT: 41:42
[
http://www.engineofpain.com/ ]
[
http://www.myspace.com/engineofpain ]
[
http://www.lionmusic.com/engineofpain.htm ]
[
http://www.deanguitars.com/engineofpain.php ]
[
http://www.lionmusic.com/ ]
Whoa NELLY, how did this band ever wind up on Lion Music, a label
known mainly for progressive/power metal and AOR rock? This Dutch
band's debut is certainly an unusual release for Lion, but I guess I
can't blame them for trying to get in on the melodic death/thrash
metal craze while the iron's hot. As modern thrash bands go, Holland's
Engine Of Pain have all the right ingredients to compete in that
extremely crowded field -- tight-as-hell musicianship, frenzied
riffing, ear splitting soloing, blasting drums and a pissed off
vocalist who conveys an overall vibe of anger, chaos and destruction.
Mind you, I love a good thrash record as much as the next guy, and
Engine Of Pain certainly deals out some serious musical punishment
here, but I simply can't wrap my ears around "extreme" vocal styles
(never could and likely never will!), so once it became clear that
front man Nick Hameury (credited with "vocal implosions" on the bio
sheet) was going to be stuck in "WOOOAAARRRGH!" mode all the way
through I AM YOUR ENEMY, I knew that I was going to be in for a long
ride from the opening title track all the way through to the final
song, "XTRM FKVR." (That would be "Extreme Fakeover" for those of you
who aren't hooked on phonics.) I'll give Engine Of Pain points for the
rock-solid musicianship and for the cool samples sprinkled throughout
the album (the clip of Eric Cartman of "South Park" screaming "God
DAMMIT!" in the song "Fuel The Engine" caused the most chuckling), but
aside from that I'd say that fans of In Flames, The Haunted, and the
rest of the current crop of metal-core bands will definitely get more
enjoyment out of this disc than this old soul did. By the way, it
seems almost cruel that the label's hype sheet states "U.S. Porn star
Tyler Faith will feature in the album inlay and promotional pictures
wearing Engine Of Pain T-shirts," when all I got was a plain promo CD
in a paper sleeve so I can't see her for myself!! :(
- Keith Abt (
KeithAbt@...)
ERIC GALES - THE PSYCHEDELIC UNDERGROUND (A-) Blues Bureau
International, 2007
12 tracks, RT: 50:14
[
http://www.myspace.com/ericgales ]
[
http://www.shrapnelrecords.com/ ]
Eric Gales makes good on the promise that was CRYSTAL VISION by
releasing a first-rate follow-up in THE PSYCHEDELIC UNDERGROUND. Once
again Eric pulls together an array of heavyweight blues and rock
influences such as Robin Trower, Eric Johnson, Stevie Ray Vaughn and
Jimi Hendrix to produce a volatile aural concoction. High energy
opener "Wake Up Call" should alert you as to what you are in for, its
vigorous groove and blasting solos immediately putting a smile on your
face. "Day Of Reckoning" is one of my favorites, showcasing not only
Eric's magnificent six-string abilities but also his passionate
vocals. "Dark Corners Of My Mind" is one of those smoldering blues
ballads that Gary Moore would probably love to have written, while
"Circling The Drain," "Someday," and "Crossing The Line" will have
fans of hard rocking blues nodding in approval. Mike Varney co-
produced the album with Eric and he is really showing himself to be
not only a true connoisseur of this style but also an effective
facilitator, really helping to bring out Eric's best performance.
Ultimately, THE PSYCHEDELIC UNDERGROUND is hard rockin' blues steeped
in the '70s and early '80s with a contemporary edge and bite. Pick up
a copy and lets bring Eric out of the underground...
- Neal Woodall (
MysticX9@...)
VITALIJ KUPRIJ - GLACIAL INFERNO + REVENGE (B+) Lion Music, 2007
Disc 1: 10 tracks, RT: 50:57
Disc 2: 11 tracks, RT: 57:13
[
http://www.vitalijkuprij.com/ ]
[
http://www.myspace.com/vitalijkuprijofficialms ]
[
http://www.lionmusic.com/artists/vitalijkuprij.htm ]
[
http://www.lionmusic.com/glacialinferno.htm ]
[
http://www.lionmusic.com/ ]
Lion gives us two sides of virtuoso keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij on this
double release, a veritable smorgasbord of neoclassical metal.
Vitalij's latest album is GLACIAL INFERNO, a completely instrumental
affair with plenty of the maestro's dazzling performances to
appreciate. Vitalij is in my opinion one of the top five keyboardists
in metal today, and GLACIAL INFERNO will bring that point home in
spades. Check out "Liquid Rain" with its gorgeously composed keyboard
themes and guitar melodies (courtesy of master shredder Michael
Harris), the instantly captivating atmosphere of "Divided Horizon," or
the super intense chops workout "Burning Ice" for evidence. No doubt,
the man is a true artiste; my only real complaint is the mix, which
buries the rhythm guitar and muffles the drums, reducing the overall
listening experience. Vitalij's last project REVENGE is included in
this two-disc set, and once again the playing is top-notch on the
predominantly vocal-oriented album. REVENGE clearly builds from the
template Yngwie established on TRILOGY and ODYSSEY (Vitalij even
enlists past and present Yngwie vocalists Joe Lynn Turner, Goran Edman
and Doogie White on several tracks). The production on REVENGE is
better than that on GLACIAL INFERNO, with punchy rhythms and strong
vocal performances comfortably sharing space with Vitalij's
resplendent keys and Michael Harris' exciting guitar solos. Despite
being a little too close to Yngwie's style at times, Vitalij's band
still impresses with strong material like "Don't Believe In Love,"
"Just Another Day," "Classic War," and "Stand Up And Fight." Essential
for fans of Vitalij, I can also recommend GLACIAL INFERNO and REVENGE
to those who appreciate excellent neoclassical metal.
- Neal Woodall (
MysticX9@...)
LAST CRACK SINISTER FUNKHOUSE #17 (REISSUE) (B) Roadrunner/Metal
Mind/MVD Audio, 2007
12 tracks, RT: 46:58
LAST CRACK BURNING TIME (REISSUE) (A+) Roadrunner/Metal Mind/MVD
Audio, 2007
15 tracks, RT: 69:00
[
http://www.lastcrack.com/ ]
[
http://www.mvdb2b.com/ ]
[
http://www.metalmind.com.pl/ ]
[
http://www.myspace.com/metalmindproductions ]
[
http://www.metalopolis.pl/ ]
[
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ ]
It is fair to call Wisconsin's Last Crack the Midwest's answer to
Jane's Addiction or Mother Love Bone, but the comparison only goes so
far. Last Crack painted from a larger palette of colors. No sloppy
musicianship or meandering vocals here. Instead, Last Crack was all
about high energy grooves without rules. Buddo, the singer, band
leader, and driving force behind Last Crack, clearly suffers from an
excess of personality (to borrow a line from "Jurassic Park"). Haunted
by the ghost of Jim Morrison, Buddo's often melodic singing also
showcased a range of shrieks growls that laid the groundwork for guys
like Devin Townsend. In spite of the alternative leanings, Last Crack
remained a heavy, guitar driven band with funky metallic rhythms and
competent fusiony freak-out leads. These digi-pak reissues are very
nicely done, with added photos, lyrics, and liner notes. When compared
to the original releases, the re-mastering process has added welcome
clarity and low end punch. SINISTER FUNKHOUSE #17 was an uneven debut
which showcased most of the elements that would coalesce and bloom
later on. The controversial cover art is a photo of the singer in his
birthday suit. Having Buddo stripped and posed as a prancing cupid in
front of a wall dripping with "blood" probably killed the album's
sales back in the day. As for the music, there are moments of
greatness surrounded by much experimental clatter and confusion. Buddo
pushes his voice a bit too hard, and the production is not exactly
world class. It makes for an interesting listen, but if you're new to
the band, this is not the album to buy. What makes this re-release
essential for those already acquainted with Last Crack is the addition
of the two live tracks: "Saraboyscage" and "Blood Brothers Of The Big
Black Bear." These tracks improve on the studio versions of the songs,
sounding more muscular, confident, and vital -- a window into the
band's future. BURNING TIME, without risking any accusation of
hyperbole, is a masterpiece. The band showed amazing growth from their
debut. The songwriting was mature and focused, with strong, memorable
hooks. By then, the band had soaked up even more diverse influences. I
hear shades of Pink Floyd, Marillion, U2, and Rush layered on top of
the already solid alt-funk base. The result is so fresh and unusual
that it is utterly impossible to pigeonhole. The drug trip lyrics of
the debut are upgraded to honest, unpretentious poetry on BURNING
TIME. Buddo no longer strains his voice as often, and emerges as a
powerful and unique singer. As a fan of shred guitar, I would
characterize the playing on this album as virtuosic -- certainly
unexpected from alt-anything. From the crushing opening riff of
"Wicked Sandbox" on, the album has no weak tracks. The anti-drug rant
of "Kiss A The Cold" (yep, that's the correct title) is chilling.
"Mini Toboggan," based on childhood reminiscence, creates a surreal
Floydian soundscape that takes the listener flying. One can't escape
the Jane's Addiction influence on "Blue Fly, Fish Sky," but it's
forgivable. "Down Beat Dirt Messiah" rocks hard. Producer Dave Jerden
of Jane's Addiction fame did wonders in taming the chaos of the band's
music with a crisp, mid heavy mix. The addition of live tracks "Energy
Mind" and "Black Molasses" on this reissue prove that the magic was
real, not just studio trickery. It is absolutely criminal that BURNING
TIME didn't make a bigger impact, and I can think of few out-of-print
albums more deserving of reissue.
- Pete Dziadzka (
petedz@...)
REALM ENDLESS WAR (REISSUE) (D) Roadrunner/Metal Mind/MVD Audio,
2007
12 tracks, RT: 43:34
REALM SUICIETY (REISSUE) (D+) Roadrunner/Metal Mind/MVD Audio, 2007
12 tracks, RT: 50:42
[
http://www.realm.name/ ]
[
http://www.myspace.com/realmendlesswar ]
[
http://www.mvdb2b.com/ ]
[
http://www.metalmind.com.pl/ ]
[
http://www.myspace.com/metalmindproductions ]
[
http://www.metalopolis.pl/ ]
[
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ ]
Realm has been hyped on the Internet for the crowd of people seeking
out lost gems among obscure late '80s and early '90s albums. While
I've found plenty of listenable second tier bands in the hair metal
(excuse me, melodic rock) world, it's a different story on the speed
metal side of things. Are either of these Realm albums an overlooked
RUST IN PEACE or MASTER OF PUPPETS? Let's find out. Realm's fusion of
vaguely progressive and musically complex elements with speed metal
has been done stunningly well by Shrapnel artists Cacophony and
Apocrypha and with absolutely horrid results by many other genuinely
talented musicians. A band called WatchTower comes to mind -- sorry
guys. Watching Realm make the attempt is a bit like waiting to see
whether Evel Knievel is bound for the hospital this time. When I found
myself totally exhausted 30 seconds into the first track of ENDLESS
WAR, I knew this was going to be a rough ride for our daredevils. As
it happens, Realm sounds a bit like the Shrapnel bands referred to,
but without the killer guitar soloing. Mark Antoni's vocals are an
unfortunate blend of early Geddy Lee and a generic high pitched yelp.
The rhythms are dominated by dual staccato guitars and jerky meter
shifts. The guitar solos are full of really bad whammy abuse. I found
myself wishing for a time machine to go back and steal the tremolo
arms from the band's guitars. The worst news is that the songs are
just plain tiresome. There are no hooks. The lyrics never crack a
smile. The album snoozes along in a never-ending hyperspeed blur.
Realm even manages to pork the unscrewable pooch, butchering a cover
of The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby" by pushing the tempo too far. I don't
have the original release for comparison, but ENDLESS WAR sounds like
every other low budget "serious" metal release of the period. In other
words, the production sucks harder than a $20 whore. Knievel crashed,
and the x-rays look gruesome. Listening to the first frantic track, I
could already tell that SUICIETY was going to be the more interesting
headbang of the two. The revolting Geddy Lee warble has been nearly
exorcised from Antoni's voice, leaving a rougher dog whistle shriek
like WatchTower singer Alan Tecchio or perhaps one of labelmate
Toxik's singers. The guitar solos are a bit tighter and more
interesting. To my horror, the soloists still can't let go of their
whammy bars. The mix is a bit less amateurish, but still not fun to
listen to. Although there is some growth on the songwriting front,
Realm doesn't overcome the yawn inducing sameness. I can't recall a
single standout moment on the album. In short, there is some
improvement, but SUICIETY is generally more of the same. Landed the
jump this time, but the bike spun out and got trashed. Too bad.
- Pete Dziadzka (
petedz@...)
SOLITUDE AETURNUS - INTO THE DEPTHS OF SORROW (REISSUE) (A-/B+)
Roadrunner/Metal Mind/MVD Audio, 2007
11 tracks, RT: 69:37
[
http://www.eternalsolitude.com ]
[
http://www.myspace.com/solitudeeternal ]
[
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com ]
Solitude Aeturnus' 1991 debut album INTO THE DEPTHS OF SORROW gets the
full reissue treatment from Roadrunner and it's one fans of epic doom
metal will definitely want in their collection. Solitude Aeturnus
wisely steered clear of imitating Black Sabbath in favor of a unique
mix of doom and progressive metal, more like a blend of Candlemass and
early Fates Warning. Vocalist Robert Lowe is simultaneously able to
convey despondency, aggression and a sense of the supernatural,
beckoning the listener to enter a dark and mysterious realm. One of
the things I like most about the band is their knack for knowing just
when to change tempos to add interest, ramping things up in unexpected
places on "Opaque Divinity," "Dream Of Immortality" and "White Ship."
Guitarists John Perez and Edgar Rivera really know their way around
riff and solo, always crafting them with an ear for maximum power and
effect. In addition to the re-mastered mix, INTO THE DEPTHS OF SORROW
also includes a redesigned sleeve, liner notes and three bonus tracks
in the form of demo versions of "Opaque Divinity," "Mirror Of Sorrow,"
and "Transcending Sentinels." No matter if you are new to doom metal
or a longtime fan, I highly recommend you check out Solitude Aeturnus
as they are one of the best exponents of the style. Currently reformed
with original members Robert Lowe and John Perez, it's great to have
these guys back!
- Neal Woodall (
MysticX9@...)
ZNOWHITE - ACT OF GOD (REISSUE) (A-) Roadrunner/Metal Mind/MVD Audio,
2007
9 tracks, RT: 49:04
[
http://www.bnrmetal.com/groups/znow.htm ]
[
http://www.mvdb2b.com/ ]
[
http://www.metalmind.com.pl/ ]
[
http://www.myspace.com/metalmindproductions ]
[
http://www.metalopolis.pl/ ]
[
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ ]
Many moons ago I picked up Znowhite's 1984 debut ALL HAIL TO THEE (on
vinyl!), an impressive dose of traditional and NWOBHM influenced metal
featuring the muscular guitar work of founder Ian Tafoya and the
equally powerful female vocals of one Nicole Lee. Four years later saw
the release of ACT OF GOD, the band's swan song and also one of the
best thrash releases of the period. Now Roadrunner scores again with
this excellent re-master of the album, including a fantastic mix and
liner notes by Ian. Ian shows himself to be an absolute riff monster
all throughout ACT OF GOD, with devastatingly crunchy rhythms
colliding with furious, unbridled solos on songs like "To The Last
Breath," "War Machine," "Disease Bigotry," and "A Soldier's Creed."
Nicole Lee effectively stuns with a killer performance and deserves to
be mentioned right up there alongside Leather Leone, Doro Pesch and
Wendy O. Williams for her confident and tenacious delivery. Znowhite
can be compared to early Metallica and Exodus but they had their own
distinctive presence as a result of Nicole's voice and the prevalence
of their germinal influences. Unfortunately there are no bonus tracks
on this one but the 49 minute running time keeps things exciting,
making this a release you'll want to put back in and hear over again
immediately. Znowhite may have had a brief career, but they left us a
certifiable classic in ACT OF GOD. Seriously, get it.
- Neal Woodall (
MysticX9@...)
*
*** OUT ***
*
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