Detritus
Issue #415
Week of June 11, 2007
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*
*** CAST OF CHARACTERS ***
*
Patrick Brower, Editor
patrickbrower@...

Sean P. Gahgan, Editor
lof@...
http://www.lakeoffire.net/

Tim Wadzinski, Owner
tsw512@...

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

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*** LET IT BE KNOWN ***
*
-Update from last week: Thanks to those who sent money to be included
in the donation my wife and I made to help that Romanian family stuck
here in Chicago with a critically ill daughter. I sent the check
yesterday after speaking to someone at the mission that's handling the
family's fund, and he was very appreciative.

I still want to raise more money. Last week I mentioned I'd try to
scrounge up some items from my collection to put up for sale/auction.
It's not much but here's what I came up with...

1. Black Label Society - KINGS OF DAMNATION CD (1995)

This is Zakk Wylde's 19-track, 72-minute "best of" on Spitfire
Records, featuring 17 solo, Pride & Glory, and Black Label Society
songs, plus two new tracks: "Doomsday Inc." and "SDMF." Ozzy Osbourne
is featured on BLS' "Stillborn." This is the full retail version of
the CD, in a jewel case. I received this as a promo but never got
around to reviewing it.

2. Peter Criss - autographed Kiss Convention flyer (1993)

A friend of mine was hired to work additional security at a few
Chicago-area Kiss Conventions in the early '90s. (These unofficial
gatherings are now known as "Kiss Expos," ever since the real band
launched their own official Kiss Conventions in 1995.) In 1993 one of
the specials guests was original drummer Peter Criss, and my buddy was
positioned near the table where Peter was signing autographs.
Apparently, Peter pre-signed a pile of convention flyers, just in case
someone in line didn't have an item for Peter to sign. When the
signing session ended, Peter left a bunch of the signed flyers on the
table -- my buddy snatched 'em up and gave 'em to me. I still have a
few extras.

3. Crimson Glory - ASTRONOMICA promo CD (1999) - autographed by Wade
Black

This is the 10-track promo version of the mighty Crimson Glory's
comeback album on Spitfire Records. It's in a jewel case and although
the one-page insert is not the full booklet you'd get with the regular
CD, it is autographed on the front, in silver Sharpie ink, by vocalist
Wade Black. I was in touch with Black regarding his involvement with
the band Leash Law, and during that time he agreed to autograph a
bunch of Crimson Glory stuff for me. I mailed him some CD booklets,
and he signed and returned 'em. (Please note: This version does not
have the lengthy, hidden track full of UFO-related 911 calls.)

4. Crushed - MY MACHINE CD (2007)

This is a brand new 14-track, 49-minute disc out on No Relief Records,
and it's still in the shrink-wrap. The album was produced by the
renowned Mike Clink. We were sent two copies of this disc to review,
and this is an extra. See http://www.crushed.net/ and
http://www.myspace.com/crushed for more on the band.

5. Dokken - ERASE THE SLATE promo photo (1999)

It seems so long ago but bands used to include promo pictures in their
press kits. This one is a black-and-white 8x10 of the Don Dokken / Reb
Beach / Jeff Pilson / Mick Brown era of the band.

6. Enertia - DEMO 2003 CD (2003)

Funny story behind this one... Enertia bassist Joe Paciolla sent me
this killer three-track, 16-minute demo CD when it was new (prior to
the release of 2004's excellent FORCE), and I dutifully reviewed it. I
listened to it non-stop, but eventually it disappeared. Last year I
contacted Paciolla to see about getting another copy and, like the
cool dude he is, he sent me one of the last two or three copies in
existence. Then when I sold my car last fall, I found my original copy
wedged down behind the console. Oops... So now I had two copies. The
tracks: "Time To Go," "Messed Up Son," "Anything." The disc is in a
cardboard sleeve. See http://www.enertia.cc/ for more on Enertia.

7. Europe - "Always The Pretenders" CD single (2006)

I got this as a promo in advance of the release of last year's SECRET
SOCIETY album. Track list: "Always The Pretenders" (radio edit),
"Always The Pretenders" (album version), "Flames" (live),
"Superstitious" (live). The two live tracks were recorded at B.B.
King's in New York City. This is the full retail version of the
single, in a slimline jewel case.

8. Glenn Hughes - RETURN OF CRYSTAL KARMA promo photo (2000)

A promotional black-and-white 5x7 of The Voice Of Rock. It's a head
shot of Hughes smiling very nicely. :)

9. Metallica - ROCK WARRIORS DVD (2000/2002)

This is an unauthorized 46-minute documentary/biography disc, first
released in 2000 and then reissued on DVD in 2002, featuring
interviews with folks like Lars Ulrich's old friend Ron Quintana,
Cliff Burton's bass instructor, a teacher at Kirk Hammett's high
school, fans, etc. Since it's unauthorized there is no direct
involvement from the band, but as these things go, it's pretty good.

10. OhGr - WELT promo "photo" (2001)

Okay I'll be honest: I didn't remember too much squat about this
band/project so I had to go a-Googling. OhGr was formed by Skinny
Puppy's Nivek Ogre and Ruby programmer/producer Mark Walk. WELT was an
industrial album released by Spitfire Records after some hassles from
a former record label. (Check out an article at
http://www.mk-magazine.com/interviews/archives/000112.php for more
info.) Anyway, I say "photo" in quotes because this is actually a
black-and-white 8x10 illustration of some trippy, freaky looking ogre
monster. Could mean something to someone... :)

11. Pillar - THE RECKONING CD/DVD (2006)

Special edition of last year's THE RECKONING, packaged with a bonus
DVD. This is the full retail digi-pak version. The DVD features a
complete live show plus other goodies. Check out a great review at
http://www.musictap.net/Reviews/PillarReckoningCDDVD.html . (Not sure
why I never got around to reviewing this one...)

12. John Regan - autographed Kiss Convention flyer (1994)

The story behind this is very similar to the Peter Criss one above,
except that these are from 1994. Regan played bass on all the Ace
Frehley/Frehley's Comet releases in the '80s, as well as the 12 PICKS
and LOADED DECK compilations from the '90s and the 1997 RETURN OF THE
COMET tribute album.

13. Michael Schenker Group - BE AWARE OF SCORPIONS promo photo (2001)

A black-and-white 5x7 of Herr Schenker. The photo is of Michael alone,
not the full band; he's holding his trademark Flying V guitar over his
shoulder, smiling, and looking off into the distance...

14. Slave To The System - promo CD sampler (2006)

This band features Kelly Gray and Scott Rockenfield of Queensryche,
plus Damon Johnson and Roman Glick of Brother Cane. The full-length
debut was released early last year. This is a three-track promo
sampler with the songs "Stigmata," "Slave To The System," and "Will
You Be There," and it's packaged in a cardboard sleeve.

15. Luca Turilli - KING OF THE NORDIC TWILIGHT promo photo (1999)

Another black-and-white 5x7, from the Rhapsody/Rhapsody Of Fire
guitarist's debut solo album. It shows Turilli wearing a crown and
holding a sword, alongside shield-toting vocalist Olaf Hayer
(Dionysus, Lord Byron).

16. Violent Storm - STORM WARNING CD (2006)

We received two copies of this fine album from former Yngwie Malmsteen
and Ritchie Blackmore bassist Mick Cervino's new band. The disc was
executive produced by Judas Priest's K.K. Downing and features
Downing, Malmsteen, and Roy Z each guesting on two tracks. This is the
full European retail / jewel case version, with 10 tracks and a length
of just under 36 minutes. See http://www.violentstorm.net/ and
http://www.myspace.com/violentstormband for more on the band.

17. Voivod - VOIVOD promo photo (2003)

This black-and-white 8x10 came to me in the press kit for the band's
self-titled release, with Jason "Jasonic" Newsted on bass. The photo
is of all four band members: Away, Snake, Jasonic, and the late Piggy.

If you're interested in any of these, please e-mail questions and bids
to me at tsw512@..., with "auction" and the # of the item in the
subject line. Please rest assured I'm not trying to rip anyone off --
even though it's not cool to "sell" promo items, and I do not have
approval or authorization from any of the artists involved, I am just
trying to raise money for a good cause and 100% of what I take in will
be donated to this family's fund.

Please take a look at the new story that inspired this at
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/InsideFox/Detail?
contentId=3421599&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=5.7.1
.

And once again, if you'd like to make a donation on your own, please
send a check with "Lavinia Bot" on the memo line to:

Our Lady of Guadalupe Anglican Mission
2500 S. Harding
Chicago IL 60623
Phone: 773-542-0577

Thanks. - Tim

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*** PRESS RELEASE #1 ***
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-Glenn Hughes Sells Out L.A. And N.Y.C.

TRENTON, N.J. -- Glenn Hughes took over Los Angeles' Whisky A Go Go
and New York City's B.B. King Blues Club this week with two wildly
successful shows.

The sold-out shows -- in support of his latest album, MUSIC FOR THE
DIVINE -- were Hughes' first significant U.S. shows in many years, and
drew devoted fans from throughout the U.S. and as far as the United
Kingdom and Japan.

Hughes was joined in L.A. by his friend and musical cohort, Red Hot
Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, with whom he worked closely on MUSIC
FOR THE DIVINE, before Smith jetted off to Japan for several Chili
Peppers shows.

Prior to the B.B. King appearance, Hughes dropped by the XM Satellite
Radio studios for a live appearance on Eddie Trunk's program on XM's
Boneyard Channel.

"I want to thank all the fans and media who came out to see my sold-
out shows in L.A. and N.Y.C.," said Hughes. "I was overwhelmed with
the reception I received. It simply brought me to my knees. I have
been touring the world for the last 10 years as a solo artist and was
longing to play in the country that I am proud to call home. These
shows will set the blueprint for more shows across the U.S.A. I
genuinely was taken by surprise at the intensity and the reaction of
everyone who attended. I want to thank my brother and partner Chad
Smith, and my band Jeff Kollman, Ed Roth, and Steve Stephens. The
shows were soulful, funked up and rocked out GH style, and I loved
that it was an 'in the moment' vocal event. I love you, my American
brothers and sisters, thank you for welcoming me home. I hope to see
you very soon in a city near you."

http://www.glennhughes.com/
http://www.myspace.com/glennhughesonline
http://www.myspace.com/demolitionrecordsus

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*** PRESS RELEASE #2 ***
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-The Celebration Continues!!! All Four Original Members Of Asia Return
With Acclaimed "Heat Of The Moment" 2007 North American Tour

Prime Tickets Can Be Purchased Through OriginalAsia.com

Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer, and John Wetton, the four
original members of Asia, return to the U.S. and Canada for an
extensive summer tour. The tour is a continuation of the group's 25th
Anniversary celebration, which began in August of 2006, with a highly
successful 19 city U.S. tour. Asia is about to launch its fourth leg
of the tour, since getting back together to mark both the anniversary
of the band (2006) and the anniversary of its landmark debut album,
ASIA. That album was released 25 years ago in 1982, and remains one of
only four albums in history to stay at the Billboard album chart
position of #1 for a staggering nine weeks!

Formed at the dawn of the MTV era, Asia was the first supergroup of
the '80s, featuring members from Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, King
Crimson and The Buggles. The videos from the band's first two albums
were a staple part of the historic music channel's initial
programming.

The 2007 Asia North American tour will launch on June 13th in
Sarasota, Florida and will continue through the U.S. until July 6th,
when the group performs in Detroit. After a return to Europe to
perform at outdoor festivals, Asia continues its trek with a swing
through Western Canada and the remainder of the United States, in
August and September.

Performing material from the band's first two albums (the only ones to
feature this lineup), as well as rock classics made famous from the
member's other bands, Asia has quickly become one of the most sought
after tickets for the current summer season.

"It had to be all four of the original members if we were going to do
a reunion, and here we are," says John Wetton, of the band's decision
to re-form in 2006. Adds Geoff Downes: "It is the sum of the four
parts that makes up what is 'the Asia sound.' That made for something
very special because we are all very different in our own musical
style."

"It's good to get back together and pull out that old repertoire,"
says guitarist Steve Howe. "It's a wonderful repertoire that sounds
better if we play it than anyone else."

"We have had the good fortune of being featured lately in some pretty
hip films, including, 'The 40 Year Old Virgin,'" says Wetton. "And
that exposure has given us a whole new fan base of younger people.
Now, at our shows, you see a spectrum of ages from teens to middle-
aged adults. And, why not? The more the merrier."

The group returns Stateside after successful, sold out tours of
Britain, Japan and Latin America. The band has recently begun
recording new material once again in the U.K., and is about to release
FANTASIA: LIVE IN TOKYO; a double live CD recorded this past spring in
Japan. A DVD companion to the live album is scheduled for release in
the fall of 2007. Both titles are on Eagle Rock.

The near two hour show features all of Asia's biggest radio hits
("Heat Of The Moment," "Only Time Will Tell," "Sole Survivor,"
"Wildest Dreams," "Here Comes The Feeling"), as well as several songs
from its second album, including "Don't Cry" and "The Smile Has Left
Your Eyes." The band will also include some rare songs, such as "Ride
Easy," which was not originally released on any album. In addition,
the fans have been treated to classic Yes, ELP, King Crimson and
Buggles hits, giving the show a full retrospective feel.

"The first Asia album had this progressive rock side but it also had a
commercial side," says drummer Carl Palmer. "The music still holds up
today, and that is something we are very proud of."

"We had a window when we could make this happen, in terms of all four
of us being available," says keyboard player Geoff Downes. "So, we
just decided to go for it. We are very excited to being making music
as the original Asia, once again."

2007 ASIA NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

Jun 13 - Sarasota, FL - Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Jun 14 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
Jun 15 - Hallandale, FL - Gulfstream Park
Jun 16 - Fort Pierce, FL - Sunrise Theatre
Jun 17 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live (Universal Studios)
Jun 20 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
Jun 21 - Albany, NY - Alive At Five
Jun 22 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre
Jun 23 - Atlantic City, NJ - Trump Marina Hotel Grand Cayman
Jun 24 - Ridgefield, CT - The Ridgefield Playhouse
Jun 26 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere
Jun 27 - Glen Allen, VA - Innsbrook Pavilion
Jun 28 - New Brunswick, NJ - State Theatre
Jun 29 - Jim Thorpe, PA - Penns Peak
Jun 30 - Westbury, NY - North Fork Theater At Westbury
Jul 3 - Mason, OH - Corwin Nixon Park
Jul 4 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest
Jul 5 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
Jul 6 - Detroit, MI - General Motors Renaissance Centre
Aug 17 - Edmonton, AB - Winspear Centre
Aug 18 - Calgary, AB - Jubilee Auditorium
Aug 20 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
Aug 21 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
Aug 23 - Agoura Hills, CA - Canyon Club
Aug 24 - San Diego, CA - 4th & B
Aug 25 - Cerritos, CA - Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts
Aug 26 - Corazon, CA - Morongo Casino - Ballroom
Aug 27 - San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Coach House
Aug 29 - Phoenix, AZ - The Dodge Theatre
Aug 30 - Tucson, AZ - Fox Tucson Theatre
Sep 1 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay Hotel & Resort

More Dates To Be Announced.

For all things Asia, please visit:
http://www.originalasia.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #3 ***
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-Bon Jovi Christens New Venue, Launches Digital Album Package Presale

[Note: This is from the latest HeadbangerNYC.com newsletter. - Tim]

As announced earlier this spring, Bon Jovi will be the first band to
play the new Prudential Center in Newark, NJ with a string of dates
beginning October 25.

To mark the occasion, the band has partnered with Ticketmaster for the
first advance ticket plus digital album package presale. A digital
download of Bon Jovi's new album, LOST HIGHWAY, (scheduled for release
June 19) will be packaged with every concert ticket purchased through
the online presale program launching 10 a.m. ET June 12. at
Ticketmaster.com/bonjovi.

The LOST HIGHWAY ticket packages for the shows at Prudential Center
will be available exclusively to American Express card holders from 10
a.m. June 12 through 10 p.m. ET June 14, and to the general public
from 10 a.m. June 15 through 10 p.m. ET June 22. Stand-alone concert
tickets will then be available for purchase by the general public
beginning 10 a.m. on June 23 via the usual outlets.

Fans who purchase the LOST HIGHWAY ticket package will receive a code
from Ticketmaster allowing them to download LOST HIGHWAY on iTunes
beginning June 19. Fans who have already pre-ordered LOST HIGHWAY from
iTunes and bonjovi.com will be e-mailed a passcode that will enable
them to purchase a single presale ticket independently of their
digital album order.

Those passcodes will be accepted by Ticketmaster.com beginning 10 a.m.
ET June 15. These fans will be able to purchase additional LOST
HIGHWAY ticket packages in the same transaction.

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*** PRESS RELEASE #4 ***
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-Classic Rock Cares Benefit Concerts

The John Entwistle Foundation ( http://www.johnentwistle.org/ ) has
created a fundraising concert featuring Brian Johnson, Cliff Williams,
Mark Farner, and Joe Lynn Turner. The show uses a single backing band
comprised of world class musicians led by drummer Steve Luongo of The
John Entwistle Band. Doing this allows some of rock's premier voices
to walk on stage and sing only their biggest HITS.

Joe Lynn Turner sings the best of Deep Purple and Rainbow. Then Mark
Farner takes the stage to sing and play guitar as he launches into his
biggest Grand Funk Railroad hits. The final set features Brian
Johnson, Cliff Williams, Steve Luongo and Mark Hitt who perform the
chart busting AC/DC hits along with their own new material.

After almost two solid hours of non stop classic rock all of the
musicians join together for the encore "Highway To Hell."

Classic Rock Cares will only perform 15 shows during the month of
July. These concerts raise money for the John Entwistle Foundation's
mission of "free music education and instruments for underprivileged
children through the public library system."

The John Entwistle Foundation was named for the late bassist of The
Who. In addition to the primary mission of free and easy access to
music education the foundation has also raised significant funds for
disaster relief including donations to The Red Cross and The Florida
Hurricane Relief Fund. The John Entwistle Foundation is a United
States Government approved 501(c)(3) non profit foundation.

Classic Rock Cares dates:

June 30th - Barbara B Mann Theater, Ft. Myers, FL
July 3rd - Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL
July 6th - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino @ The Joint, Las Vegas, NV
July 10th - House Of Blues, Chicago, IL
July 13th - Trump Marina Cayman Ballroom, Atlantic City, NJ
July 15th & 17th - B.B. King's Times Square, New York, NY
July 19th - Turning Stone Casino, Verona, NY
July 21st - The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY

http://www.johnentwistle.org/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #5 ***
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-Z Records News

Z ROCK 07 ROLL OF HONOUR

Z Rock 07 has joined forces with some good friends new and old. The
following companies are the latest to Endorse Z Rock 07 -- please
support them.

"Hair Metal Heaven" - http://www.rock247online.co.uk/ (Saturday 5-7pm
[UK Time])
http://www.Musicbuymail.eu/
http://www.schmankerl-records.com/

If your company wishes it endorse the show please e-mail
midas.ent@....

Ticket sales have been staggering so far with in excess of 25% already
gone with still four months to go until the event making the
possibility of a pre-date sellout more likely.

A reminder of the lineup:

DOKKEN [exclusive U.K. appearance]
HOUSE OF LORDS [exclusive U.K. appearance]
KINGDOM COME [exclusive U.K. appearance]
CHINA [exclusive U.K. appearance]
STEEVI JAIMZ [exclusive U.K. appearance]
LOST WEEKEND

plus new U.K. hopefuls: Crimes Of Passion, Sacred Heart, Bullitt

The date is of course October 7th at Maximes, Wigan, and tickets can
be purchased online at http://www.myspace.com/zrockfest or at Music90
- Wigan, X Records - Bolton, Probe Records - Liverpool and ST Records
- Dudley.

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*** PRESS RELEASE #6 ***
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-Twinspirits Update And Free Downloadable Song

Twinspirits is the latest step in Daniele Liverani's career. This
project comes with the purpose of creating a band that really can
break through in the progressive music world! During his musical
trips, Daniele gathered over the last few years the suitable elements
that could fit his design. Human engine Dario Ciccioni (
http://www.dariociccioni.net/ ) on drums, guitar prodigy Tommy Ermolli
( http://www.tommyermolli.com/ ), bass talent Alberto Rigoni (
http://www.albertorigoni.net/ ) and the raw voice power singer Sψren
Adamsen ( http://www.nico.dk/ ) alongside the mastermind keyboardist
Daniele Liverani make up this fresh powerful new band.

The first studio album called THE MUSIC THAT WILL HEAL THE WORLD is
released on Lion Music ( http://www.lionmusic.com/ ) on June 15th,
2007.

Track Listing:
1. Projected
2. Back To Reality
3. What You Want
4. Take My Hand
5. Power To Kill
6. Understand
7. Fire
8. It's Just Life
9. The Music That Will Heal The World

Get your FREE DOWNLOADABLE radio edit of "Back To Reality" taken from
then new album at http://www.twinspirits.net/ and on MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/twinspiritsband .

Plans are being set up for live shows around Europe to promo the new
album.

Web links:
http://www.twinspirits.net/
http://www.myspace.com/twinspiritsband
http://www.lionmusic.com/healtheworld.htm
http://www.lionmusic.com/artists/twinspirits.htm

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*** PRESS RELEASE #7 ***
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-"Get Thrashed: The Story Of Thrash Metal" Premieres In New York;
After-Party At L'Amour

TRENTON, NJ -- The After-Party for "Get Thrashed: The Story Of Thrash
Metal" will be held on Friday, June 22, at the legendary L'Amour rock
club on Staten Island.

L'Amour, the "Rock Capital of Brooklyn, New York" for over 25 years,
recently re-opened its doors at 2354 Arthur Kill Road in Staten
Island. The world-renowned club is featured in "Get Thrashed: The
Story Of Thrash Metal," and bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer,
Anthrax, Overkill, Type O Negative, Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front,
Biohazard, Mercyful Fate, Venom, Motorhead, Raven and many others have
graced its stages over the years. All those attending the "Get
Thrashed" screening on Friday, June 22, 2007, can bring their ticket
stub to L'Amour that same night to receive half price admission to the
club.

"Get Thrashed" will be screened on Friday, June 22 at 9 PM at The
College of Staten Island - Recital Hall (2800 Victory Blvd., Staten
Island, NY 10314). Tickets are $6.00 and are available through
http://www.sifilmfestival.org/ .

"Get Thrashed: The Story Of Thrash Metal" is the story of bands like
Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax and how they, and others,
pioneered a new form of heavy metal in the early 1980s. This new music
was called "thrash metal" and many of the bands went from playing
friend's parties and small clubs to touring the world and headlining
arenas. Along the way, there were drugs, drinking, fights, deaths,
mosh pits, leather jackets, long hair and most of all: groundbreaking
new music. Eventually, the scene fell apart, but the seeds these bands
planted gave rise to the new breed of extreme heavy metal we see and
hear today.

"'Get Thrashed' is the ONLY documentary about our music that makes
perfect sense!" said Kreator/guitarist vocalist Mille Petrozza. "I'm
happy someone finally created this."

"Get Thrashed: The Story Of Thrash Metal" documentary is produced by
Saigon1515 Productions in association with Kundrat Productions. "Get
Thrashed" was directed by Rick Ernst and the documentary's Associate
Producer is Rat Skates, founder and former drummer of the legendary
thrash band Overkill.

The Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) created the
Staten Island Film Festival in 2006 to expand and support an artistic
atmosphere on Staten Island, drawing visitors from the other four
boroughs and New Jersey. This year's festival will screen 114 films
and shorts.

http://www.getthrashed.com/
http://www.ratskates.com/
http://www.sifilmfestival.org/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #8 ***
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-Chris Caffery's PINS AND NEEDLES & Tour With Doro

It's been over two years since Hard Rock guitarist Chris Caffery put
out a solo album. Locomotive Records released Caffery's eclectic PINS
AND NEEDLES on June 5.

The busy musician, despite continuing his key roles in Savatage and
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, was hellbent to finish in the studio and get
back out on the road where he belongs, this time with Doro. Not only
is he in her band, but he will be showcasing the new material from
PINS AND NEEDLES when he opens for Doro. His legion of international
fans couldn't be more excited.

Caffery was halfway through the production of PINS AND NEEDLES when
the record label that signed him, Black Lotus, out of Greece, ceased
to exist. Ever the metal warrior, Caffery, though, forged on, and
feels it's his strongest musical statement to date.

The dictionary definition of PINS AND NEEDLES is a tingling sensation
in a limb recovering from numbness. For those who need a jolt in their
musical selections, here's the movement that will flush feeling back
into the hard rock soul. Caffery expresses his thoughts and
frustrations with a variant of topics. From dealing with death to
impact of the Internet on society to his hatred of Taco Bell, the
listener fully extrapolates the vast mind of this experienced
musician.

Life has much adversity, tragedy, and emotional challenges, he says.

Track Listing:

1. Pins And Needles
2. 66
3. Reach Out And Torment Again
4. Walls
5. It's SAD
6. Y.G.B.F.K.M.
7. Chained
8. WORMS
9. The Sign Of The Crossed
10. The Time
11. Mettle Eastern
12. In The Midst
13. Quaaludio
14. The Temple
15. Once Upon A Time

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*** PRESS RELEASE #9 ***
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-Journey Announces Departure Of Jeff Scott Soto

Journey has parted ways with their recently named lead singer Jeff
Scott Soto. Jeff's first appearance with Journey was July 7, 2006 in
Bristow, VA. He had been filling in for Steve Augeri, who had to leave
the tour shortly after it began on June 23 due to illness. Jeff's last
performance was May 12, 2007 in Leesburg, VA.

According to guitarist Neal Schon, "We appreciate all of Jeff's hard
work and we can't thank him enough for stepping in when Steve Augeri
got sick last year. He did a tremendous job for us and we wish him the
best. We've just decided to go our separate ways, no pun intended.
We're plotting our next move now."

Keyboardist Jonathan Cain continues, "We were lucky to have a friend
who was already a Journey fan step in on a moment's notice during the
Def Leppard tour to help us out. Jeff was always the consummate
professional and we hope that he remains a friend of the band in the
future. We just felt it was time to go in a different direction."

Journey -- Neal Schon (guitar), Ross Valory (bass), Jonathan Cain
(keyboards) and Deen Castronovo (drums) -- is taking the rest of 2007
off to spend time with their families, write new songs and map out
plans for 2008.

http://www.journeymusic.com/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #10 ***
*
-Firewind To Release "Breaking The Silence" Single (In Greece Only) &
Video Clip!!

Hard-working Greek melodic metal sensation Firewind will be releasing
their second single in Greece off the band's latest album ALLEGIANCE,
which stayed in the Greek album charts for nine weeks! With the
album's first single "Falling To Pieces" Firewind managed to reach
position #11 in the official Greek single charts and brought some real
Metal to the chart-lists for no less than eleven (!!!) weeks!

On July 2nd, 2007 Firewind will now unleash the power-ballad "Breaking
The Silence" (feat. Tara Teresa on duelling guest vocals), a song set
to continue this wake of success. A new video clip for "Breaking The
Silence" has already been shot with director Patric Ullaeus from
Revolver Company Sweden (Dimmu Borgir, Within Temptation, etc.) and
will be premiered soon!

Here is the exact track list for the single release:

Firewind (feat. Tara Teresa) – "Breaking The Silence" CD-Single:

1. Breaking The Silence (feat. Tara Teresa)
2. Healing Tool *
3. Till The End Of Time [live] *
+ Breaking The Silence (feat. Tara Teresa) [Video Clip Enhancement]

* Previously unreleased song / version!

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #11 ***
*
-Heaven And Hell Update

[Note: This is an update from Iommi.com. - Tim]

HEAVEN AND HELL – AUSTRALASIA DATES CONFIRMED!

We can now officially confirm the following Australasian dates for
Heaven And Hell, with support from Down:

August 2nd - Perth, Challenge Arena
August 5th - Adelaide, Thebarton Theatre
August 7th - Wollongong, WIN Entertainment Centre
August 8th - Newcastle, Entertainment Centre
August 10th - Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena
August 11th - Sydney, Entertainment Centre
August 14th - Brisbane, Entertainment Centre
August 16th - Auckland, Logan Campbell Centre

Tickets on sale now via http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/ and usual
outlets.

A reminder of the other upcoming confirmed dates:

June 16 - Biddinghuizen, Holland – Fields Of Rock Festival
June 17 - Offenbach, Germany – Stadthalle
June 19 - Warsaw, Poland – Torwar
June 20 - Katowice, Poland – Spodek
June 22 - Balingen, Germany – Bang Your Head Festival
June 23 - Dessel, Belgium – Graspop
June 25 - Prague, Czech Republic – T-Mobile Arena
June 26 - Kosice, Slovakia – Steel Arena
June 28 - Kavarna, Bulgaria - Kaliakra Rock Fest
July 1 - Athens, Greece – Rockwave Festival
July 4 - Budapest, Hungary – Petofi Hall
July 5 - Vienna, Austria – Rotundenplatz
July 7 - Montreux, Switzerland – Montreux Jazz Festival

November 4th - Newcastle Metro Arena
November 6th - Glasgow SECC Hall 4
November 7th - Sheffield Hallam FM Arena
November 9th - Manchester Evening News Arena
November 10th - London Wembley Arena
November 11th - Brighton Centre
November 13th - Birmingham NEC
November 14th - Cardiff International Arena
November 15th - Nottingham Arena
November 17th - Plymouth Pavilions
November 18th - Bournemouth BIC

Tickets for the U.K. dates available at http://www.livenation.co.uk/ .

HEAVEN AND HELL WIN GOLDEN GOD

Tony, Ronnie, Geezer and Vinny were in London last night for Metal
Hammer magazine's "Golden Gods" awards. The band were presented with
the "Resurrection Award" by Twisted Sister's Dee Snider at the
ceremony at Koko in Camden. Other winners on the night included
Machine Head, who supported H&H on their recent U.S.A. dates, Lamb Of
God who will be supporting the band on their U.K. tour in November,
and Bullet For My Valentine who are on the bill with Heaven And Hell
in Vienna. Visit http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/ for the full list of
winners.

More news coming soon!

The Iommi.com Team
http://www.iommi.com/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #12 ***
*
-Bobby Lucas Leaves Overlorde

Overlorde announces that it has parted ways with vocalist Bobby Lucas.
The band wishes Bobby the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Appearing onstage with the band during its upcoming set at Brooklyn
Metal Fest II will be vocalist Chris Colfax. The band will be
performing on Saturday, June 23rd, at approximately 7:00 p.m.

http://www.brooklynmetalfest.com/
http://www.overlorde.com/
http://www.myspace.com/overlorde

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #13 ***
*
-Fast-Rising New Metal TV Progrma, "Rocknation," Looking For
Salespeople Nationwide

The recently launched 30-minute metal program "Rocknation is looking
for salespeople to spread the word nationwide. Put together by the
fine folks at the Perris Records label, the program airs weekly each
Saturday night at midnight, and features only the best metal videos --
of artists from other labels as well as on Perris. The show is
available on both Time Warner and Comcast.

In addition to the TV program, "Rocknation" is also a metal newspaper,
which features both artists from the label as well as other notable
names -- including Halford, Slash, AC/DC, Shadows Fall, Machine Head,
Lamb Of God, Triumph, Heaven And Hell, and Megadeth. Thus far, three
issues have hit the streets, and they are currently viewable at the
"Rocknation" Web site. "I am very excited about the launch of
'Rocknation,'" says Perris head/"Rocknation" founder Tom Mathers. "I
believe that 'Rocknation' will bring rock back into the mainstream,
and will give bands a medium to promote their music nationwide."

"Rocknation" is currently looking for advertisers from music stores,
bands, labels, tattoo shops, and clubs, among other metal-friendly
locales. Those interested should e-mail Mathers directly at
rocknation@... (please include your resume with your e-
mail).

For additional info on the "Rocknation" TV program, please visit
http://www.rocknation.us/ .

Also, add Rocknation MySpace as a friend, for nationwide concerts and
TV show info, at http://www.myspace.com/rocknationtv .

For news on the Perris Records catalog and upcoming releases, visit
http://www.perrisrecords.com/ .

*
*** NEWS/RUMORS ***
*
-Vocalist Nick Harras has left Adrenaline King. Guitarist Matthias
Schneider will step up to the mic for the time being. See
http://www.adrenalinekings.com/ and
http://www.myspace.com/adrenalinekings for more.

-Circus Maximus has samples of its upcoming sophomore release,
ISOLATE, posted at http://www.frontiers.it/ . The album is due August
31 in Europe (Frontiers) and September 4 in the U.S. (Sensory
Records). Check out the band's official Web site for more:
http://www.circusmaximussite.com/ .

-Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles reported Alice Cooper's next album,
which had been tentatively titled ALONG CAME A SPIDER, probably now
won't be out until 2008.

-The Dead End Kidz have finished recording their comeback album,
UNFINISHED BUSINESS, and hope to have it pressed "very soon." The band
has added another show in August; upcoming live dates:

8/24 - Vintage Lounge, Levittown, NY
9/9 - Elenaor Rigby's, Mineola, NY

See http://www.myspace.com/dekmusic for more.

-Def Leppard is reportedly still aiming for an '07 release of its next
studio album of all-new material.

-Dirty Looks are back -- well, main man Henrik Ostergaard is anyway --
and a new album is expected soon. See http://www.dirtylooksmusic.com/
for more.

-Dream Theater is celebrating the 15 year anniversary of IMAGES AND
WORDS by playing the album in its entirety at select dates during the
band's SYSTAMITIC CHAOS tour. Tour dates:

7/24 - OAT, San Diego, CA
7/25 - Dodge Theater, Phoenix, AZ
7/27 - Gibson Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA
7/28 - Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, CA
7/30 - E Center, Salt Lake City, UT
7/31 - Paramount Theater, Denver, CO
7/2 - Nokia Theater, Dallas, TX
8/3 - Verizon Wireless, Houston, TX
8/4 - The Backyard, Austin, TX
8/6 - Uptown Theater, Kansas City, MO
8/7 - Riverside Theater, Milwaukee, WI
8/9 - State Theater, Minneapolis, MN
8/10 - Rosemont Theater, Chicago, IL
8/11 - Tower City Amphitheater, Cleveland, OH
8/13 - State Theater, Detroit, MI
8/14 - Pier Six, Baltimore, MD
8/16 - Expocite Site, Quebec City, QC
8/17 - Bell Center, Montreal, QC
8/18 - Molson Amphitheater, Toronto, ON
8/20 - University Of Buffalo Center For The Arts, Buffalo, NY
8/21 - Bank Of America Pavilion, Boston, MA
8/22 - Chevrolet Theater, Hartford, CT
8/24 - PNC, Holmdel, NJ
8/25 - Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY
8/26 - Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA
9/26 - Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland
9/28 - Hovet, Stockholm, Sweden
9/29 - Spectrum, Oslo, Norway
10/4 - Lotto Arena, Antwerp, Belgium
10/5 - Zenith, Paris, France
10/25 - Land Rover Arena (Paladozza), Bologna, Italy
10/26 - Palalottomatica, Rome, Italy
10/27 - Palasport, Andria, Italy
10/29 - DatchForum, Milano, Italy
10/30 - Palasport, Padova, Italy
10/31 - Eulachhalle, Winterthur, Switzerland
11/9 - Newport Centre, Wales, UK
11/10 - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK
11/11 - King George's Hall, Blackburn, UK

-Frederiksen / Denander's BAPTISM BY FIRE is out now on Frontiers.
Track list: "Let Him Go," "Right Heart," "Silver Lining," "Crossing
Over," "Written In Stone," "Saving Grace," "Baptism By Fire," "Can't
Get Enough," "Never Try To Love Again," "Dead End," "Keep A Light On,"
"Left With Nothing." Also appearing on the album are guitarist Michael
Thompson (TRW), keyboardist Steve Porcaro (Toto), and session drummer
Eric Z Daniels (Robin Beck, Radioactive, Jimi Jamison). Ricky Phillips
(Styx), Jim Peterik (Pride Of Lions), and Bjφrn Lindbom helped with
the song writing on the disc. Check out a "Hot Spot" feature, with a
slideshow, band info, and more album info, at
http://musicbuymail.eu/?r=39&l=2 .

-Vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen will leave The Gathering in August,
to concentrate on her family. She will continue to perform at live
dates up to and including the Ankkarock Festival in Finland on August
4. She will also appear on the upcoming double live album and A NOISE
SEVERE DVD. The band will work on a new studio album for a 2008
release. See http://www.gathering.nl/ for more.

-Harakiri is an Argentinian band influenced by "Skid Row, Alice In
Chains, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Audioslave, Mars Volta, Metallica,
Guns N' Roses, Pearl Jam, etc." Check out CDbaby.com for more info on
the band's two albums, the 2004 s/t debut at
http://www.cdbaby.com/harakiri and the new INEVITABLE | MENTE at
http://www.cdbaby.com/harakiri2 . Videos are also avaliable at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JgN5MJtxCk and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHJxRuaUdmk . See
http://www.harakiriweb.com.ar/ , http://www.harakiri.megamusik.com/ ,
http://www.download.com/harakiri , and
http://www.purevolume.com/harakiriargentina for more.

-Helix will release THE POWER OF ROCK N' ROLL later this summer. The
disc is a combination of GET UP! and four new tracks: "Fill Your Head
With Rock," "Nickels & Dimes," "Livin' Life Large," and "Eat My Dust."
See http://www.planethelix.com/ for more.

-Helloween has tentatively chosen GAMBLING WITH THE DEVIL as the title
for its 12th studio release. The album is scheduled to be released on
October 31. Check out http://www.helloween.org/ for all the latest.

-Hurtsmile is the name of Gary Cherone's (Van Halen, Extreme) new
band.

-In Kiss-related news, former drummer Peter Criss' long-awaited new
solo album is now due out July 24 through Silvercat Records. The disc
is called ONE FOR ALL and reportedly features several cover songs.
Some tracks set for inclusion are "One For All," "Doesn't Get Better
Than This," "Last Night," "Faces In The Crowd," "Heart Behind The
Hands," "Send In The Clowns," and "Space Ace." Joining Criss on the
recordings are Paul Shaffer (from David Letterman's CBS Late Night
Orchestra), guitarist Mike McLaughlin, and bassist Will Lee. See
http://www.petercriss.net/ for more.

-Krucible, featuring vocalist Lance King (Balance Of Power, Pyramaze),
guitarists Eric Halpern (Leatherwolf, Helstar) and Don LaFon (Six
Minute Century), bassist Shane DuBose, and keyboardist Adam Rawlings
(Victim, Mindcrime), is looking for a "really killing" drummer.
Interested parties should leave the band a message at
http://www.myspace.com/krucible .

-Lion's Share's EMOTIONAL COMA is out this week on AFM Records. Track
list: "Cult Of Denial," "The Arsonist," "Emotional Coma" (featuring
Glen Drover), "Clones Of Fate," "The Edge Of The Razor" (featuring
Bruce Kulick), "Toxication Rave," "Trafficking," "Bloodstained Soil,"
"Soultaker," "Hatred's My Fuel," "Sorcerers" (Angel Witch cover),
"Ring Of Stupidity" (limited edition bonus track). Check out
http://musicbuymail.eu/?r=39&l=2 for a "Hot Spot" feature on the
album, with a slideshow, band info, and album info. The video for "The
Edge Of The Razor" is now available online at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9f2kNnuQF4 . The band is confirmed for
the Magic Circle Festival (along with Manowar, Gamma Ray, and others),
scheduled for July 7 in Bad Arolsen, Germany. Check out an EMOTIONAL
COMA e-card at
http://www.fanbay.se/buy/index.asp?movie_id=1897&company_id=39 , and
see http://www.lionsshare.org/ for more on the band.

-The Magnum "Hot Spot" feature at
http://musicbuymail.eu/index.php?a=222 has been updated with a review
of a recent gig.

-Manowar will releae a double live album called GODS OF WAR LIVE on
July 6. It was recorded on the "Demons, Dragons And Warriors Tour
2007." Track list: "Manowar," "Call To Arms," "Gloves Of Metal," "Each
Dawn I Die," "Holy War," "Mountains," "The Oath," "Secret Of Steel,"
"Son Of William's Tale," "The Gods Made Heavy Metal," "Die For Metal,"
"Kings Of Metal," "Warriors Of The World United," "Black Wind, Fire
And Steel," "The Blood Of Odin," "The Sons Of Odin," "Glory Majesty
Unity," "Gods Of War," "Army Of The Dead, Part II," "Odin," "Hymn Of
The Immortal Warriors," "The Crown And The Ring."

-Updated lineup for the Maximum Rock Open Air, slated for August 10-12
in Cluj-Napoca, Romania: Overkill, U.D.O., Grave Digger, To/Die/For,
Orphaned Land, Iron Maidnem (Iron Maiden tribute), Inner Wish, Emerald
Sun, Urkraft, Burning Point, The Cold Existence, Voices Of Silence,
Psycho Symphony, Indian Fall, Dirty Shirt. See
http://www.promusicprod.ro/mrfest for more.

-Old schoolers rejoice! Nazareth and Uriah Heep are reportedly working
on new albums for release this fall.

-Reb Beach will replace guitarist Jeff Watson on Night Ranger's tour
this summer.

-Poison has a new video for its cover of the Romantics hit, "What I
Like About You," from the new all-covers album POISON'D. It can be
viewed on http://music.yahoo.com/ . [Editor's Note: While I am not
crazy about the song, the video is actually quite creative. - Sean]

-ProgPower USA VIII organizers have confirmed Zak Stevens (Circle II
Circle, Savatage) will be at the festival all weekend and participate
in the all-star vocal jam.

-There's a new interview with Temple Of Brutality guitarist Peter
Scheithauer online at
http://ballbusterhardmusic.com/hard_talk/05-
2007/temple_of_brutality.html
.

-Check out a new Udo Dirkschneider interview and a review of U.D.O.'s
MASTERCUTOR at http://heavymetal.about.com/b/a/258010.htm .

-There's a new interview with Vixen guitarist Jan Kuehnemund online at
http://ballbusterhardmusic.com/hard_talk/05-2007/vixen.html .

-W.A.S.P tour dates:

6/23 - Bang Your Head!!!, Balingen, Germany
6/27 - Komma, Worgl, Austria
6/29 - Basin Fire Fest, Pilsen, Czech Republic
6/30 - Tusca, Helsinki, Finland
7/2 - Petofi Hall, Budapest, Hungary (w/ Type O Negative)
7/4 - Zeche, Bochum, Germany (w/ Doro)
7/5 - Garage, Saarbrucken, Germany (w/ Doro)
7/6 - Rock Harz Open Air, Osterode/Dorste, Germany
7/11 - Key Club, Los Angeles, CA
7/12 - Galaxy Theatre, Santa Ana, CA
7/13 - The Canyon Club, Las Vegas, NV
7/14 - Sunshine Theatre, Albuquerque, NM
7/15 - Rocklahomma, Pryor Creek, OK
7/17 - Red Eyed Fly, Austin, TX
7/18 - Scout Bar, Houston, TX
7/19 - The Palladium Ballroom, Dallas, TX
7/20 - The Arean Pier 10, San Juan, Puerto Rico
7/21 - Cafe Iguana, Monterrey, Mexico
7/22 - Circo Volador, Mexico City, Mexico
7/24 - Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg, MB
7/25 - The Annex (Holding), Madison, WI
7/26 - The Rock, Maplewood, MN
7/27 - Harpo's, Detroit, MI
7/28 - The Pearl Room, Mokena, IL
7/29 - 8 Seconds Salon, Indianapolis, IN
7/31 - Toad's Place, Richmond, VA
8/1 - Mulcahy's, Wantagh, NY
8/3 - The Webster Theatre, Hartford, CT
8/4 - Jaxx, Springfield, VA
8/5 - ADC Performance Center, Southbridge, MA
8/6 - B.B. King's, New York, NY
8/7 - Big Bop/Reverb, Toronto, ON
8/8 - Imperial Du Quebec, Quebec City, QC
8/10 - Crocodile Rock, Allentown, PA
8/11 - The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY
8/12 - The Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ

-White Wolf is back and a new album called VICTIM OF THE SPOTLIGHT is
due July 23 from Escape. Track list: "Victim Of The Spotlight," "The
Wolf," "America," "Eyes Of The World," "One More Lie," "Hard Cold
Stone," "Price Of One," "Dreams Are Forever," "Nightmares," "Hold On,"
"Don't Turn Away," "Out Of Control," "Night City" (Japanese bonus
track). The band's previous discs, 1984's STANDING ALONE and 1986's
ENDANGERED SPECIES (which featured an excellent cover of Magnum's
"Just Like An Arrow"), will be reissued by Escape as a double digi-pak
with two bonus tracks and three bonus videos, according to Brave Words
& Bloody Knuckles. See http://www.whitewolfworld.com/ ,
http://www.myspace.com/whitewolfquotofficialquot , and
http://www.myspace.com/httpwwwmyspacecomdonwolf for more.

-In XYZ news, vocalist Terry Ilous is releasing HERE AND GONE
(subtitled RARE TRACKS FROM THE XYZ AND SOLO YEARS) which will feature
"current or former members of Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Sting,
XYZ, Dokken, Scorpions, AC/DC, David Bowie, Steve Miller Band, and
many more." See http://www.terryilous.com/ , http://www.xyzmusic.com/
, and http://www.myspace.com/xyz for more.

Thanks to John Haseltine and Chad Bowar for help gathering some of
this information.

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

-From the "That Sucks" file, Steve had to put an end to his VonGoober
RADIO 'net radio station last weekend, after a whopping six-year run.
R.I.P. http://www.vongoober.com/ . Please note his new URL in the
"Cast Of Characters" section above.

-Yeah, short column. :)

-Now in my current playlist: Beyond Fear - s/t (SPV/Steamhammer),
Helloween - CHAMELEON (EXPANDED EDITION) (Castle Music), Korpiklaani -
TERVASKANTO (Napalm Records), Beardfish - SLEEPING IN TRAFFIC: PART
ONE (Inside Out Music America).

*
*** REVIEWS ***
*
CLUTCH - FROM BEALE STREET TO OBLIVION (B) DRT Entertainment, 2007
12 tracks, RT: 48:30
[ http://www.pro-rock.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/clutchband ]
[ http://www.drt-entertainment.com/ ]
Is there such a thing as a "metal jam band?" If not, Clutch may want
to consider taking that mantle for themselves. Even though FROM BEALE
STREET TO OBLIVION is Clutch's eighth full-length album (their
discography dates all the way back to the early '90s), this is the
first time I've heard the band. Therefore I can't compare this disc
with the rest of their back catalog, but based on its own merits, I'd
say that FROM BEALE STREET TO OBLIVION is a groovin' good time. From
what I've read about the band, it seems that they've been taking equal
parts from the worlds of metal, punk, stoner rock, and '70s hard rock
over their long career, which has made them a rather hard band to
pigeonhole, but at the same time has earned them a large and loyal
cult following. The '70s rock influence is the first and most obvious
thing that jumped out at me upon the first listen to leadoff track
"You Can't Stop Progress," which sounds like early Aerosmith bumpin'
nuts with old ZZ Top -- straight-up boogie rock with splashes of
Hammond organ heightening the retro vibe. Seriously, you could slip
most of these songs into the playlist of your local '70s rock station
and nobody would even realize that they were recorded in 2007.
Vocalist Neil Fallon reminds me of a less manic Pepper Keenan
(Corrosion Of Conformity), laid back when the tune calls for it, but
when the band starts throwin' down he picks up the intensity level BIG
time. These songs sound like they'd have a helluva kick in a live
situation. My favorite tracks were the aforementioned "You Can't Stop
Progress" as well as the catchy-as-hell "Child Of The City" (the
chorus of "Bang bang bang bang; vamanos, vamanos!" is irresistible!),
and the oddly titled "When Vegans Attack" (no, I don't understand what
it's about, but it sounds great!), but quite frankly they all sound
great blasting from my car stereo as I cruise. This may have been my
first taste of Clutch, but I don't think it will be my last. FROM
BEALE STREET TO OBLIVION should keep the dirt-rock crowd happy till
the next offerings from C.O.C. and Monster Magnet hit the streets.
- Keith Abt (KeithAbt@...)

CROWN THE LOST - REVERENCE DIES WITHIN (B-) indie, 2006
9 tracks, RT: 41:38
[ http://www.crownthelost.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/crownthelostmetal ]
[ crownthelost@... ]
This is probably going to make me sound like a total jerk, but when I
first received this disc I quickly and unceremoniously relegated it to
the bottom of my "to be reviewed" pile, because I assumed it was going
to be a screamy metal-core act due to the band name and album title.
Imagine my surprise when I finally gave REVERENCE DIES WITHIN a spin
several weeks later and found them to be a fairly impressive technical
thrash metal act. Whoops, is my face red. Sorry guys! (To those of you
saying, "You shouldn't judge a book by its cover," I only got a
promotional copy in a paper sleeve, which didn't HAVE a cover. So
there!) These boys hail from Pittsburgh and were apparently formed by
former members of the tech-thrash band Sinning Is Our Savior. (Ever
heard of 'em? Me neither.) From what I've been able to gather, Sinning
Is Our Savior featured most of the same musicians that make up Crown
The Lost, with the exception of vocalist Chris Renaldi, whose cleaner
vocal style replaced S.I.O.S.' harsher vocalist. The instrumental
first track, "Devoid of All Praise," immediately grabbed my attention
and prompted me to think "Whoa, these guys have got some chops." A lot
of the tech-thrash bands I've heard have a tendency to overdo it with
showing off their instrumental mastery and forget that they need hooks
to grab the listener. Crown The Lost builds their compositions off of
a base of vintage Metallica with an added shot of Nevermore-style
weirdness. Interesting stuff. Renaldi's vocal delivery might take a
bit of getting used to (his warbling style would almost be better
suited for a Euro-styled "true metal" band), but instrumentally this
band is rock solid. My only complaint is that occasionally the drummer
goes into bursts of one-note, death metal style speed runs that sound
like someone shooting BB's into a tin can ("bam-bam-bam-bam-bam-bam-
bam!") which seem rather out of place behind the more traditionally-
minded material. Aside from that, I'd say that the ProgPower crowd
should have a field day with this one. According to their Web site, a
follow-up EP is already in the works. If the fellas send me that one,
I promise it won't go to the bottom of the pile this time.
- Keith Abt (KeithAbt@...)

THE CURSED - ROOM FULL OF SINNERS (B+) Screaming Ferret
Wreckords/Locomotive, 2007
11 tracks, RT: 37:17
[ http://www.the-cursed.net/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/thecurseddotnet ]
[ http://www.screamingferret.com/ ]
[ http://www.locomotivemusic.com/ ]
Metal fans who live in and around New Jersey are sure to be familiar
with the two principal members of this combo: vocalist Bobby "Blitz"
Ellsworth of the legendary Overkill and guitarist Dan Lorenzo of the
greatly-missed Jersey thrash act Hades. This side project grew out of
a longtime friendship between the two Garden State residents that
started when Lorenzo's post-Hades band, Non-Fiction, toured with
Overkill in the early 1990s. Blitz also contributed guest vocals to a
track on Lorenzo's NICE BEING ALONE solo CD several years ago, and now
they've put their talents together on a full album's worth of material
(backed by bassist "Job The Raver" of Murder 1 and former Non-Fiction
drummer Mike Cristi). Those expecting a balls-to-the-wall thrash CD
based on Blitz and Lorenzo's past associations may be a bit surprised
when they first hear ROOM FULL OF SINNERS; it's heavy as hell, but not
exactly what I'd call "thrash." Then again, why would these guys want
to create a CD that sounds exactly like their day jobs anyway? Instead
of simply thrashing its way to oblivion, ROOM FULL OF SINNERS has a
laid-back heavy groove to it, like 1970s Kiss being fist-f**ked by a
combo of early Black Sabbath and Motorhead. If anybody out there is
familiar with Dan's self-released trio of solo albums or Overkill's
atypical I HEAR BLACK disc, ROOM FULL OF SINNERS comes across as a
combination of the best parts of both. You can tell that these guys
must've had a helluva lot of fun recording this album. Lorenzo's
guitar work is thick and chunky from beginning to end, and even the
most hardcore Overkill fans have probably never heard Blitz swing
(yes, I said "swing!") like he does on this disc. It's unusual to hear
him actually "singing" after so many years of him screaming his ass
off. He's got a bit of an evil Bon Scott thing going on in tracks like
"Sweeter" and the sinister-but-catchy single "Evil, In The Bag." I
have no idea what the title of "Wij Leven Als God In Frankrijk" means,
but it's one heck of a cool track. Blitz's guttural vocals on the
chorus to the slow-n-creepy "Native Tongue" also raised an eyebrow;
damn, this guy could go death metal on us if he really wanted to! I
don't know if The Cursed is going to become an ongoing project or if
it's destined to remain a one-shot deal (Blitz still has Overkill, of
course, who will reportedly have a new CD out later this year, or so
I'm told), but it doesn't matter either way to me. ROOM FULL OF
SINNERS has grown more addictive with each spin in my player so it's
likely to be stuck there for quite some time. Those of you looking for
a groove-laden heavy good time should enter this ROOM as soon as
possible. Good show fellas!
– Keith Abt (keithabt@...)

ICED EARTH - OVERTURE OF THE WICKED (B+) SPV/Steamhammer, 2007
4 tracks, RT: 22:28
[ http://www.icedearth.com/ ]
[ http://www.spv.de/ ]
[ http://www.spvusa.com/ ]
This single/EP is a taster of the forthcoming two-album conceptual
piece that will (finally) tell the story begun by the ambitious
"Something Wicked" trilogy of songs that appeared on 1998's SOMETHING
WICKED THIS WAY COMES. Opener "Ten Thousand Strong" is an album track
that will appear on FRAMING ARMAGEDDON (SOMETHING WICKED PART 1) this
September, and it's a trademark Iced Earth up-tempo churner that
should please fans of the band's power metal style. The real treat of
this EP, though, is the new version of the trilogy -- "Prophecy,"
"Birth Of The Wicked," and "The Coming Curse" -- that's exclusive to
this release. The three songs have been "completely re-recorded" by
the current lineup, with vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens really eating 'em
up. (He definitely fits in better here than in Judas Priest.) Longtime
fans will have a blast comparing these new versions to the originals
-- let the Ripper vs. Matthew Barlow debates renew!
- Tim Wadzinski (tsw512@...)

PLANET X - QUANTUM (A) Inside Out Music, 2007
9 tracks, RT: 50:47
[ http://www.xplanetx.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/planetxsite ]
[ http://www.dereksherinian.com/ ]
[ http://www.virgildonati.com/ ]
[ http://www.therealallanholdsworth.com/ ]
[ http://www.brettgarsed.com/ ]
[ http://www.insideoutmusic.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/insideoutamerica ]
[ info@... ]
Derek Sherinian and Virgil Donati revitalize their incredible fusion
project Planet X with QUANTUM, a thoroughly absorbing and exciting
album full of the clever arrangements and mind-bending technical
displays these guys are known for, but also reigned in just enough to
keep things interesting. Whereas in the past Planet X has boasted
participation by such outstanding players as Tony MacAlpine, Billy
Sheehan and Dave LaRue, this time Derek and Virgil are joined by no
less than bona fide guitar legend Allan Holdsworth (making an
appearance on two tracks) and Aussie phenom Brett Garsed. The whole
album sounds fantastic, the band expertly blending atmospheric, exotic
and dramatic passages on pieces like "Desert Girl," "Matrix Gate,"
"The Thinking Stone," and "Poland." QUANTUM certainly reflects Derek's
influences, sounding at times like a mix of WIRED era Jeff Beck, Jean
Luc Ponty (sans violin) and Tribal Tech. Yep, this one is that good
folks, a veritable masterpiece of jazz, rock and metal with stellar
performances by all involved, including fantastic bassists Jimmy
Johnson and Rufus Philpot. Indeed, QUANTUM is the Planet X album I've
been waiting for. Planet X play what could be characterized as
"musician's music," and undoubtedly a trained ear would allow one to
best appreciate all the complexities of the material, but don't worry
if you lack a degree from Berklee, as QUANTUM actually presents as the
most accessible of the Planet X catalog. Highly recommended, I doubt
you'll hear a better fusion album all year.
- Neal Woodall (MysticX9@...)

POWND - CIRCLE OF POWER (B) Nightmare Records, 2007
11 tracks, RT: 48:09
[ http://www.Pownd.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/pownd ]
[ http://www.Nightmare-Records.com/ ]
Let me get this out of the way first: What kind of band name is
"Pownd?" Come on guys, intentional misspellings are SO 1987! (Upon my
first glance at the CD cover, I thought the band's name was "Pwnd," as
in the annoying chat-room catch phrase, "haha you got PWNED!")
Anywhoo, I've spun CIRCLE OF POWER, the debut from this Detroit (by
way of Kentucky) five piece, a few times now and found it to be an
enjoyable, if not totally original, collection of traditional heavy/
power metal. After a few spins I began to get the feeling that in
their home area, Pownd are most likely "that band," i.e. the local
metal band that gets to open for every national act that comes through
their area, soaking up a bit of influence from each of the headliners
and pouring it into their own original material. The band's bio states
that they've opened shows for Halford, Iced Earth, and Nevermore, just
to name a few, and I can hear bits and pieces of each of these bands
throughout the 11 tracks. The stars of this band are the brotherly duo
of Michael and Ronnie Duncan (vocals and guitars, respectively).
Michael has an impressive set of pipes (though his Halford-esque
higher-end screams, as witnessed in tunes like "Ellie" and "Slowly
Drowning," can be a bit grating) and his bro (in tandem with second
guitarist Rick Sargent) can definitely shred on the six-string. The
majority of the album is made up of catchy, mid-tempo pounders (sorry)
like the impressive opener "Still I Bleed" and "Monster," though the
band mixes things up a bit with the album's centerpiece, a seven
minute-plus, acoustic-laced track called "Never Means Forever" (the
opening of which, oddly enough, reminded me of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy
The Silence," though I'm sure I'm the only one who will make that
connection...). This song ended up becoming a fast favorite of mine
for its varied moods and changing tempos (plus a white-hot solo that
is pure George Lynch-inspired goodness.) By the time I got to the
album-closing speed burner "Swatting Flies," I was reaching for the
"repeat" button on my CD player and wondering how this band had
managed to stay under my radar for so long, as this is the kind of
stuff that is right up my alley. I'm even more pleased that they're
from the U.S., as the American scene can always use more bands like
this. This one's well worth seeking out. Shame about the silly name
though.
- Keith Abt (KeithAbt@...)

QUEEN - DVD COLLECTOR'S BOX (DVD) (B, A) Chrome Dreams/MVD, 2007
DVD 1: RT: 61:43
DVD 2: RT: 103:01
[ http://www.queenonline.com/ ]
[ http://www.chromedreams.co.uk/ ]
[ http://www.mvdb2b.com/ ]
This collector's set gathers two previously-issued, unauthorized Queen
DVDs in a new box package: MAGIC MOMENTS (2004) and UNDER REVIEW 1973-
1980 (2005). Though unauthorized, the content and production of both
documentaries is well-done, informative, and professional quality.
Both include snippets of archival interview footage -- with Freddie
Mercury, Brian May, and producer Roy Thomas Baker -- and UNDER REVIEW
1973-1980 also features numerous clips of live performances and promo
videos, but otherwise the discs center on stories, recollections,
testimony, and musings from music journalists, industry experts, DJs,
and some folks that are/were close to the band, including several of
Mercury's friends. Both documentaries, naturally, spend a great deal
of time on the inimitable Mr. Mercury, but the other band members do
get a bit of the spotlight as well. MAGIC MOMENTS is a breezy overview
of the band's entire career, with some funny and poignant stories, and
UNDER REVIEW 1973-1980 is a far more detailed examination of the
band's first eight albums, from the 1973 self-titled debut up to and
including 1980's THE GAME. This latter disc is the better of the two
(although both are good) because of its in-depth nature and
discussions. Guitarist magazine's Simon Bradley (who actually appears
on both discs) offers tons of detail on Brian May's gear, writing, and
playing, often demonstrating critical elements of May's unique style;
Paul Gambaccini -- music historian and BBC Radio DJ, sitting in his
office amid shelves of thousands of CDs -- offers stellar insight; and
the hyper-speed Malcolm Dome (from Kerrang and Total Rock, and wearing
a Hades T-shirt!) and the wry Nigel Williamson (Uncut Magazine) pretty
much have the viewer hanging on their every word. The best segment on
either disc is an old interview with Mercury where he describes
meeting The Sex Pistols' Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious in a recording
studio; Mercury sassed Vicious, calling him "Simon Ferocious," and
even proposed trading guest appearances on each other's albums -- he
was turned down. :) For bonus features, each disc has a (different)
Queen quiz, a discography (UNDER REVIEW 1973-1980's is, of course,
longer), and ads for other Queen products from Chrome Dreams. My only
real complaint is the background music on MAGIC MOMENTS sometimes
swells to levels high enough that the interviewees' voices are nearly
drowned out -- a minor quibble to be sure. Good stuff.
- Tim Wadzinski (tsw512@...)

SAXON - THE INNER SANCTUM (A-/B+) SPV/Steamhammer, 2007
CD: 10 tracks, RT: 44:37
DVD: RT: 41:41
[ http://www.saxon747.com/ ]
[ http://www.spv.de/ ]
[ http://www.spvusa.com/ ]
The Ageless Wonders return with yet another strong album of classic
rock and metal songs, and welcome back longtime drummer Nigel Glockler
as well. Just about everything here is, at a minimum, in the "pretty
cool" category. The opening 1-2-3 punch of "State Of Grace," "Need For
Speed," and "Let Me Feel Your Power" is right up there with anything
else the band has ever done, "I've Got To Rock (To Stay Alive)" is a
fun mid-tempo ditty, "If I Was You" is a surprisingly gritty (and
somewhat dark) single, "Going Nowhere Fast" has infectious riffing,
and "Red Star Falling" (about the fall of Communism) and "Empire
Rising"/"Atila The Hun" (about, well, duh...) are the latest two
historical epics for the Saxon catalog. That just leaves "Ashes To
Ashes," which to these ears seems a little filler-y, but still retains
a cool solo and some nice anthemic qualities. The bonus DVD that comes
with the limited edition of the album is a mini-documentary entitled A
NIGHT OUT WITH THE BOYS, and it centers on the group's recent "retro"
tour where songs from the '80s were featured. There are interview
segments with all five band members (main man Biff Byford also talks
about the fire that destroyed his house, and guitarist Paul Quinn
kinda comes off a little peculiar...) and performances of seven songs:
"To Hell And Back Again," "See The Light Shining," "Redline," "Suzie
Hold On," "Stand Up To Be Counted," "Frozen Rainbow," and "Never
Surrender." Throw in some striking, atmospheric artwork and, all told,
THE INNER SANCTUM is a solid package.
- Tim Wadzinski (tsw512@...)

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