Detritus
Issue #443
Week of January 28, 2008
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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 ***
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-Woo-hoo, the Super Bowl is Sunday. Everyone drink beer and eat
nachos. - Tim

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*** PRESS RELEASE #1 ***
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-Vanishing Point To Open For Iron Maiden In Australia

On the eve of the highly anticipated Australian leg of the Iron Maiden
world tour, which will see the band play sold out arena shows in
Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in February, the support acts
have been announced.

Legendary local metal band Vanishing Point is confirmed as support on
the Perth and Melbourne Iron Maiden shows. The band has produced four
critically acclaimed releases and accolades too numerous to mention in
a career spanning more than a decade. Consisting of five like-minded,
yet distinct individuals, the members of Vanishing Point are among the
elite who push boundaries, erase labels and dismantle the
preconceptions of what a heavy metal band should be.

Iron Maiden's "Somewhere Back In Time" World Tour will open in Mumbai,
India on February 1st and continue through to play dates in Australia,
Japan, Los Angeles, Mexico, Costa Rica, Columbia, Brazil, Argentina,
Chile, Puerto Rico and New York, before finishing in Toronto, Canada,
on March 16th. Over the 45 day period it is anticipated that Maiden
will play to well over 400,000 fans in 21 cities in 11 countries,
flying close to 60,000 miles in the specially refitted Iron Maiden
Boeing 757 flown by vocalist Bruce Dickinson.

"Maiden Mania" is currently gripping the world as, in addition to
having to add extra shows in Melbourne and Sydney (where the arenas
sold out in 15 and 30 minutes respectively), tickets sales of the 2008
World tour are flying out of the box offices in India, Japan, North
and South America and Europe. All three shows in Mexico sold out in
record breaking time with all 22,000 seats for Mexico City's Sport
arena selling in four days and necessitating the move to the 48,000
capacity Sol Stadium. In Brazil unprecedented ticket sales have broken
all local records -- where the shows in Sao Paulo (42,000 capacity),
Curitiba (20,000) and Porto Alegre (13,000) sold out two months in
advance. This is despite the current economic climate, and the first
time ever that all 20,000 seats at Curitiba's Pedreira have sold out
in advance! Three stadium shows in Sweden and Finland had all 123,500
tickets purchased in a mad rush within two hours of going on sale! And
all the North American arena shows are sold out weeks in advance.

02/04/08 Mon. Burswood Dome, Perth
02/06/08 Wed. Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
02/06/08 Thu. Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

http://www.vanishing-point.com.au/
http://www.myspace.com/vanishingpointofficial
http://www.locomotivemusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/locomotiverecords
http://www.dcegroup.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #2 ***
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-Lizzy Borden Posts New Video Clip Online!

[Note: The video will also debut on MTV2's "Headbanger's Bal" this
weekend. - Tim]

California-based metallers Lizzy Borden have released the video for
their song "Tomorrow Never Comes." The clip, which was shot in
September 2007 on location in downtown Los Angeles with director Kevin
McVey, was previously described as "a haunted little tale."

Comments front man Lizzy Borden: "We had an amazing cast of characters
performing in this mini-film, along with a great crew guiding us
through our goal of over 90 shots. I think you all are going to love
this tale of 'the lost one' in a 'Twilight Zone' episode."

Watch the video here:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?
fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=27089056

"Tomorrow Never Comes" is the first video from the band's latest
album, APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH, which was released November, 5th via
Metal Blade Records. Appearing in the clip are band members Lizzy
Borden, Joey Scott, Marten Andersson and Ira Black.

http://www.lizzyborden.com/
http://www.myspace.com/lizzybordenband

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*** PRESS RELEASE #3 ***
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-Mystic Prophecy Places "Satanic Curses" On Metal Scene

TRENTON, N.J. -- The part German, part Greek combo of Mystic Prophecy
has seen the North American release of its fifth album, SATANIC
CURSES, via Locomotive Music.

With a title sure to grab attention in the power metal world, front
man R.D. "Lia" Liapakis explains that it's a reflection of and
commentary on the surrounding world.

"Take a look into this world... What will you see?" Liapakis said.
"Crime, hate, war, despair, rape, mayhem. Those are true facts and
these are the things that I wrote in my lyrics! It's time to speak the
truth... we must change something in this world or we will have a
total black out in a few years. The world is going down day by day and
that's our Satanic Curses."

On a positive front, Mystic Prophecy delivers a strong riff-laden
album of pure power metal on SATANIC CURSES. Written by guitarist
Markus Pohl and Liapakis, the pair worked individually at home, making
use of MP3s to avoid paying costly gas prices for the 120-mile commute
between the cities of Memmingen and Stuttgart. Once finished, the band
convened in its rehearsal studio to put the finishing touches on the
songs.

"The work was very relaxed," Liapakis said. "The chemistry between
Markus and me is very good, and Markus exactly knows what kind of
music I need. I think that the new record is a very good trademark for
Mystic Prophecy -- hard melodic heavy metal with a lot of power."

A career highlight for the group happened in December when they
discovered that the "Dark Forces" single, which had limited retail
distribution, entered the singles charts in Liapakis' native Greece.
"One day I read my mails and I got a message from my parents that we
are in the charts in Hellas and that the radio is playing 'Dark
Forces,'" he said. "I couldn't believe it and wrote a mail to our
distributor in Greece. 'Lia, that's true,' the distributor said. 'The
people like "Dark Forces" and you entered the Single Charts at 15!'
That was the greatest moment in the history of Mystic Prophecy!"

Locomotive Records was founded in 1996 by music producer Goyo Esteban.
Since its formation 11 years ago, the company has become one of the
biggest Independent labels in Europe, South America, and the United
States. With well-known artists from many genres, its main focus
remains rock and metal music, and as a U.S. licensor for bigger Indie
labels. As a small record label in Spain, the company started with a
lone office in Madrid but soon opened up another office in Cologne,
Germany, in 2002. That office is now responsible for the international
business and artistic vision for the whole company. In January 2008
Locomotive Records will open a U.S. office in New York to increase its
profile in the U.S. market and offer a local and country-specific
partner to expand its business even further.

Locomotive Records is driven by a passion for music and is always
anxious to pave the way for new artists and bands who also share their
love for good music and have an ability to delight the audience.

http://www.mysticprophecy.com/
http://www.myspace.com/mysticprophecy
http://www.locomotivemusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/locomotiverecords

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*** PRESS RELEASE #4 ***
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-Michael Angelo Batio To Appear On Asylum's Debut Album!!!!

Michael Angelo Batio is the latest member to make an appearance on the
debut album from Asylum, the Illinois-based project featuring Marcus
Johnson (lead vocals, lead guitar) and Johnny Rox (bass). Michael is
the inventor and the first one ever to play the double V-neck guitar
that he calls the "Double-Guitar." Michael is currently featured
monthly in Guitar World Magazine with an instructional column titled,
"Time To Burn." Also contributing to the CD are Kevin Talley (Daath,
ex-Chimaira, Dying Fetus, Misery Index), Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel,
Testament, Death, Strapping Young Lad), Larry Tarnowski (ex-Iced
Earth), David Shankle (Manowar, DSG), and Andy LaRocque (King
Diamond/Death).

Accompanied by Talley and Tarnowski, Johnson and Rox began recording
the debut Asylum album in May 2006. By October of 2006, Gene Hoglan
made a guest appearance, ripping up the drums on the bonus track "Get
Up," a Van Halen cover. Brendon Small of Dethklok and "Metalocalypse"
fame also contributed a guest guitar solo to the same song.

Asylum's debut album is being engineered by Grammy nominee Bob "Doc"
Pucci. In addition, the album will be mixed by Grammy nominee Ulrich
Wild, best known for his mixing/engineering work with Dethklok,
Slipknot, Static-X, Pantera and White Zombie. The CD will be mastered
by Tom Baker, who has worked with bands like Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn
Manson, Motley Crue, White Zombie and Velvet Revolver.

Asylum is currently UNSIGNED and looking for label representation!!!

For more information, visit http://www.myspace.com/officialasylum for
contact details.

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*** PRESS RELEASE #5 ***
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-Danny Vaughn Returns With New Band And New Album

TRENTON, N.J. -- Vocalist Danny Vaughn has returned with a brand new
album, TRAVELLER, and new lineup for the band that bears his name.

The former Tyketto and Waysted singer fronted the band known as Vaughn
and also took part in the From The Inside Project, which released its
debut in 2004 and plans to release its follow-up in 2008. This new
venture features members Tony Marshall (guitar), Pat Heath (guitar),
Steve McKenna (bass), and Lee Morris (drums), whom Vaughn has worked
with off and on for the past two years.

"This is the first recording I've done with my English touring band,"
Vaughn said. "We had been playing the old songs with a two guitar
attack, which I had never done. So now we took all of that power and
energy and put it into our own work. All of these guys have been
playing with a number of bands over the years and have serious
skills."

TRAVELLER is a very personal record for Vaughn, and centers around two
main themes -- love and death -- something Vaughn hadn't planned but
discovered upon looking back at the finished work. It's also a
musically adventurous record for Vaughn, with songs such as the moody
seven-minute "Death Of The Tiger."

"This album goes through a life time of moods, which is what all of my
favorite albums did," he said. "Putting out a collection of similar
songs doesn't always satisfy the person taking the journey. There are
songs here that harken back to the Tyketto days and stuff that is
brand new ground for us. The most important thing is that each time I
make another record, the songs get more and more personal. It's
dangerous ground opening yourself up like that, but what's the point
of making things safe?"

Adding to the personal nature of the album, the cover art is a
painting by Vaughn's father, who has painted scenes of the American
west for many years. Additionally, the graphic design, including the
brand new Danny Vaughn logo that adorns the cover, were done by
Vaughn's girlfriend, Hayley Warren, a professional film editor and
graphics designer. The title itself is a reference to Vaughn's life,
having moved house over 25 times and lightheartedly calling himself "a
citizen of the world."

"TRAVELLER is a real labor of love from start to finish and all about
emotion," said Vaughn. "On this album I'm the main song writer,
producer, vocalist, and occasional guitarist, so I was involved in
every single step of the process. It's my favorite album I've ever
recorded."

http://www.dannyvaughn.com/
http://www.myspace.com/vaughnband
http://www.locomotivemusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/locomotiverecords

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*** PRESS RELEASE #6 ***
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-Five New Bands Confirmed For Sweden Rock

[Note: Any Primal Fear fans out there who can speak Swedish? - Tim]

Sweden Rock Festival
4-5-6-7 June 2008
Solvesborg, Sweden

MUCC (JAP)

No one could have missed that Japanese rock, or j-rock, is one of the
fastest growing musical movements today. Among those bands, Mucc is
the first to make it big on the "mainstream" metal scene. Their sound
could be roughly characterized as "emotional Eastern pop-melodies on a
steady base of heavy, contemporary metal." The band's European tour
was a big success, in Sweden as well, and is now followed by a "best
of" album and a new studio release in April. Their new single "Fuzz"
is included on the soundtrack to the box-office hit "Cloverfield."
Mucc are about to embark on an American tour with Avenged Sevenfold,
and after that they will arrive as an exotic and exciting addition to
SRF 2008. We recommend: GOKUSAI, THE BEST OF MUCC.

PRIMAL FEAR (D)

Tyska Primal Fear slog sig in bland heavy metals främsta redan med
1998 års debut, som av många entusiaster utsågs till det bästa album
som Judas Priest aldrig släppt! Men så utgörs också kärnan i bandet av
mästersångaren från det ursprungliga Gamma Ray, Ralf Scheepers, och
basisten/vokalisten Mat Sinner som med sitt Sinner skapat ett flertal
klassiska album såväl förr som senare. 2005 tog Primal Fear ännu ett
stort kliv framåt med sjätte albumet SEVEN SEALS, vars mångskiftande
och spännande sound utvidgade fanskaran rejält. Fjolårets NEW RELIGION
fortsatte på den inslagna vägen, och återknöt samtidigt kontakten med
bandets hårda rötter. I Sverige vann bandet många nya fans på sin
senaste turné med U.D.O., och nu är det alltså festivalpublikens tur
att avnjuta ett av vår tids mest populära tyska metalband.
Rekommenderad lyssning: PRIMAL FEAR, SEVEN SEALS, NEW RELIGION.

PRIMORDIAL (IRL)

Not only are Primordial the real pioneers on the Irish black metal
scene, they are also historical for their way of incorporating folk
music in an extreme metal sound. Since 1995, the band has released six
albums, gradually becoming more majestic and all of them displaying a
wild, pagan beauty in the midst of their brutality. Their latest
release, last year's TO THE NAMELESS DEAD, even has a pronounced
gothic element to it; undoubtedly a contributing factor in making
Primordial possibly more famous than ever before. The band is also
advanced lyrics-wise: the title of the aforementioned album is a nod
to all the unfortunate who ever lost their lives in more or less
pointless wars. Don't miss one of the most original and celebrated
metallic acts of today! We recommend: STORM BEFORE CALM, THE GATHERING
WILDERNESS, TO THE NAMELESS DEAD.

PICTURE (NL)

If we say Holland and the first Dutch metal band, which image comes to
mind? That's right, we're talking about Picture! And they're back,
stronger and more motivated than ever! Reforming with the three
original members Rinus Vreugdenhil (bass), Laurens Bakker (drums) and
Jan Bechtum (guitars) at the end of 2007, the group just recently
added their former lead singer Pete Lovell (who sang on the albums
ETERNAL DARK and TRAITOR) and former guitarist Rob van Enkhuizen (who
played on the final album MARATHON) to complete their reunion lineup.

Picture were active from 1979 through 1988 and they were the first
Dutch metal band to sign a major record deal. They paved the way for
many more great Dutch bands to come, but their influence stretched far
beyond the Dutch borders as their records were distributed in over 80
countries. Even successful Swedish metal band HammerFall covered one
of Picture's jewels, "Eternal Dark."

Picture are renowned for their excellent live shows and extensive
touring in Europe, both as headliners and supporting AC/DC, Saxon, Ted
Nugent, Rose Tattoo and April Wine.

They released seven albums and a few singles and were especially
successful in South and Central America and in Japan.

With classic albums like DIAMOND DREAMER and ETERNAL DARK, plus
immortal metal hymns like "Night Hunter," "Bombers," "Diamond
Dreamer," "Griffons Guard The Gold" and "Eternal Dark" in their
luggage, the final story about Picture is yet to be told and it is at
Sweden Rock Festival the saga continues. This is heavy metal at its
very best and a new album is around the corner!

ROYAL HUNT (DK)

Danes Royal Hunt get credit for being one of the most persistent, and
probably foremost cult acts in melodic metal. They debuted as early as
1992, and now keyboard master Andre Andersen and friends are about to
release their eleventh studio album COLLISION COURSE - PARADOX 2. As
indicated by the title, this is a "sequel" to one of the band's most
celebrated releases, PARADOX (1997). It also marks the beginning of a
new era for Royal Hunt, being their first album with new vocalist Mark
Boals whose amazing voice graces, for instance, the Yngwie classic
TRILOGY. To those yet unfamiliar with Royal Hunt, this is a fine
indication on what type of music the band plays. Explicitly neo-
classical, and as previously mentioned, truly "cult." Discover, or
rediscover! We recommend: PARADOX, FEAR, COLLISION COURSE - PARADOX 2.

Tickets To Sweden Rock Festival 2008

The regular 3-day and 1-day tickets are now released.

You buy the tickets directly from our home page!

This tickets for all 4 days are limited to 10.000 and not to many are
left!

Buy the tickets here:
http://www.tickster.com/c/swedenrock/Default.aspx?lang=en

Confirmed Bands So Far:

JUDAS PRIEST (UK)
DEF LEPPARD (UK)
TRIUMPH (CAN)
WHITESNAKE (UK/US)
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (UK) former members of ELO and ELO Part II
BLUE ÖYSTER CULT (US)
SAXON(UK)
TESTAMENT (US)
JOE SATRIANI (US)
TESLA (US)
AT THE GATES (S)
DERRINGER BAND (US)
MINISTRY (US)
HAVANA BLACK (FIN)
PRIMORDIAL (IRL)
THE BLUES BAND (UK)
COHEED & CAMBRIA (US)
CARCASS (UK)
HENSLEY/LAWTON & LIVE FIRE (UK)
PICTURE (NL)
DARE (UK)
MUCC (JAP)
ULI JON ROTH (D)
SHAKIN' STREET (FR)
ELÄKELÄISET (FIN)
GOTTHARD (CH)
MUSTASCH (S)
SABATON (S)
PRIMAL FEAR (D)
LIZZY BORDEN (US)
BONAFIDE (S)
SONIC SYNDICATE (S)
GLYDER (IRL)
FASTWAY (UK)
AXEWITCH (S)
FIVE FIFTEEN (FIN)
ASTRAL DOORS (S)
AVATAR (S)
VOLBEAT (DK)
ROYAL HUNT (DK)
H.E.A.T. (S)
NEGATIVE (FIN)

Buy the tickets here:
http://www.tickster.com/c/swedenrock/Default.aspx?lang=en

All-inclusive

Sweden At Its Best -- Welcome To Visit South Sweden And Sweden Rock
Festival 2008 The 4-5-6-7 June

We offer you the complete All-inclusive Sweden Rock packages,
accommodation and festival transfer.

Check up our services. http://www.visitsouthsweden.com/

Sweden Rock Festival
Norjebokevägen 2
294 76 Sölvesborg
Sweden
Tel: 0456-317 95
Fax: 0456-317 94
E-mail: info@...
http://www.swedenrock.com/

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*** PRESS RELEASE #7 ***
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-Nightmare Metal Fest News

Dimension Added To Nightmare Metal Fest Lineup

Dimension, a Mexican/American Melodic Progressive, yet very METAL
band, now hailing from Colorado, has been added to Saturday's lineup,
and the roster bumped up.

The original second Headliners for this evening we're not able to
confirm due to some personal and professional conflicts, so we are
proud to bring in this amazing band that has a new release on
Nightmare that hit stores in October.

Dimension's new album EGO is in stores now, take the time and check
some of this band's music out, they're a very interesting and talented
force.

http://www.dimensionshome.com/
http://www.myspace.com/DimensionBand
http://www.NightmareMetalfest.com/
http://www.myspace.com/NightmareMetalFestival

Tickets Now On Sale For Nightmare Metal Fest

Tickets are available from ETIX for more information, go to
http://www.NightmareMetalFest.com/ and click on the "Tickets" Link.

The new Metal festival features:

o California's own power metal powerhouse Cage
o Avian -- featuring Lance King (Pyramaze / Balance Of Power) and
members of Cellador
o Disasterpeace -- featuring Wade Black (Crimson Glory / Leatherwolf)
and Pete Blakk (King Diamond)

...and Toronto based Warmachine as its headliners (Warmachine at the
base of controversy from the Gigantour liveline poll)

Also on the festival lineup are X-Thirtien (produced by Jon Oliva,
with members of Doctor Butcher, Overlord), power / thrash Order Of
Nine (Pittsburgh, PA), prog metallers Dimension (Mexico / America),
groove power metal band Pownd (Kentucky), prog-power band Sacred Dawn
(Chicago, IL), and newly signed Nightmare artist Six Minute Century
(Houston, TX, featuring Krucible guitarist Don Lafon) and local
Florida thrash metallers Shades Of Twilight.

AS A BONUS...Guitar Center has sponsored the event and given us a
brand new top of the line "Dimebag Darrel" signature series Dean
guitar for our Guitar Hero contest we'll be running during the change
overs between bands on Saturday March 22nd, the second day of the
event. (For more information on this, click through to our "FestForum"
from our Official Web site link below.)

http://www.NightmareMetalFest.com/
http://www.Myspace.com/NightmareMetalFestival

http://www.NightmareRecords.com/
http://www.myspace.com/nightmarerecords1
http://www.myspace.com/nightmarerecordsmusic
http://www.myspace.com/lancekingvox

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*** PRESS RELEASE #8 ***
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-Vanishing Point Enters Fourth Season With New Album

TRENTON, N.J. -- Australia's progressive metal outfit Vanishing Point
is entering the "fourth season" of its career with a new album on
Locomotive Records.

THE FOURTH SEASON is an album written straight from the heart, without
anything to cloud the band's collective mind. "We had a strong
positive view of what direction we wanted to go musically with this
release and everything just fell into place perfectly," said vocalist
Silvio Massaro. "We honestly feel the songs are emotionally stronger,
drawing the listener deep into every chord and word."

With THE FOURTH SEASON, Vanishing Point has taken a more
straightforward approach, churning out 11 tracks that are full of
enough melody to plant them firmly in the listener's head. Massaro's
vocals soar above all, adding the words to accompany the captivating
music. Fans of groups like Gamma Ray, Kamelot, and Symphony X will be
enthralled with Vanishing Point's technical prowess, as well as the
group's ability to craft distinct melodies.

The album's music is complemented by its stark yet beautiful cover art
by Estonian artist Kadri Umbleja. "This cover is one of the most
visually stimulating images I personally have ever seen," said
Massaro. "We thought this piece of art work would be perfect with our
release."

Hailing from the somewhat isolated country of Australia, Vanishing
Point has had to work extra hard to get its music across the ocean to
the rest of the world, yet the group was invited to play the heralded
Wacken Open Air Festival after its first release and then received an
invitation to tour Europe with Gamma Ray.

"It is definitely a lot more difficult breaking into the world music
scene considering that Australia only holds about two percent of the
world's music scene in its entirety," Massaro said. "We can only do
what we do best and try and promote our music as much as we can."

With rave reviews of its first three releases, and similar reviews of
THE FOURTH SEASON coming from Europe, the band is poised to break down
all international walls. "We have our sights set for Japan and the
U.S., as well as Europe once again for sure!" said Massaro.

http://www.vanishing-point.com.au/
http://www.myspace.com/vanishingpointofficial
http://www.locomotivemusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/locomotiverecords

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*** PRESS RELEASE #9 ***
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-Mercenary -- Post New Track, Reveal Artwork & Confirmed To Support
Megadeth!

Right on time with the release of their highly anticipated new album
ARCHITECT OF LIES, Danish metal outfit Mercenary has been confirmed to
share the stage with the mighty Megadeth in February/March 2008. See
below for the exact dates.

ARCHITECT OF LIES, the follow-up to 2006's THE HOURS THAT REMAIN
(which subsequently was awarded the Danish Metal Award in the category
"Best Album") will be available on the following release dates:

DENMARK: Monday, March 17th, 2008
GERMANY, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND, BENELUX, ITALY: Friday, March 21st,
2008
U.K., FRANCE, NORWAY, REST OF EUROPE: Monday, March 24th, 2008
SPAIN, PORTUGAL: Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
SWEDEN, FINLAND, HUNGARY: March 26th, 2008

Mercenary guitarist Jakob Molbjerg comments on the new album and the
European shows with Megadeth as follows:

"Hell yeah! What better way to kick off 2008 and preparing for our new
album release than getting out on the road with the almighty Megadeth?
What a blast! We will be playing five shows with the Godfathers of
Thrash during February and March, and four of the shows are even as
direct support. This is an immense honor for us and a dream come true,
as Megadeth has always been a great source of inspiration, as well as
one of the main reasons I ever picked up a guitar in the first place.
So check the new tour dates and prepare to 'Embrace The Nothing,' the
new track on our MySpace profile. See you all out there on the Killing
Roads!"

Powered by countless live performances prior to the recordings, the
new album certainly turns out to be Mercenary's most spontaneous album
to date, combining melodic and dark elements, the catchy and the
complex in irresistible metal hymns. To grant you a glimpse at the
final result, the brand-new track "Embrace The Nothing" has just been
posted at the band's MySpace site, listen to it now!
http://www.myspace.com/mercenarydenmark

Garnered with artwork by Niklas Sundin (Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquility),
ARCHITECT OF LIES will be released as CD and Limited Edition incl. the
bonus track "Death Connection" and bonus DVD offering live footage
filmed at Bang Your Head festival 2007 and Summer Nights festival
2007, a detailed studio report and the promo video for "My World Is
Ending." See below for the album's track listing:

Mercenary - ARCHITECT OF LIES (52:03)
1. New Desire (4:57)
2. Bloodsong (4:47)
3. Embrace The Nothing (4:51)
4. This Black And Endless Never (5:40)
5. Isolation (The Loneliness In December) (6:03)
6. The Endless Fall (5:08)
7. Black and Hollow (4:50)
8. Execution Style (5:50)
9. I Am Lies (5:43)
10. Public Failure Number One (5:00)

To not miss the opportunity to see Mercenary unleash their new
material live, have a look at the dates below and be there!

Mercenary live:
2/7 (DK) - Aalborg @ Eskildsen Musik
2/8 (DK) - Copenhagen @ KB Hallen / supporting Megadeth
2/10 (D) - Berlin @ Columbiahalle / supporting Megadeth
2/11 (D) - Dortmund @ Westfalenhalle / supporting Megadeth
3/10 (D) - Munich @ Zenith / supporting Megadeth
3/11 (D) - Neu-Isenburg @ Hugenottenhalle / supporting Megadeth
3/20 (DK) - Herning @ Kulturellen
3/21 (DK) - Aalborg @ Studenterhuset
3/22 (DK) - Aarhus @ Voxhall
3/23 (DK) - Copenhagen @ The Rock
7/5 (SI) - Tolmin @ Metal Camp Festival 2008

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*** PRESS RELEASE #10 ***
*
-Katagory V Parts Ways With Singer And Guitarist -- Seeking
Replacements!

Utah-based progressive/power metallers Katagory V have officially
parted ways with long-time lead vocalist Lynn Allers and guitarist
Marc Hanson. This comes only a few short months after the release of
the band's fourth album, HYMNS OF DISSENSION (Nightmare Records in the
U.S.A.).

Commented bassist and founder Dustin Mitchell:

"Concerning Lynn, I'm sure everyone out there knew something was going
on when we had Norman Skinner of the Bay Area-based band Imagika
filling in for our CD release party. It seems kind of obvious that
something is up when the singer that recorded the album that is being
celebrated is not taking part in an important event like that. And
then when our band is enlisted to back Ronny Munroe of Metal Church as
his band for his solo gig to boot? Yeah... something is certainly
amiss.

"Sadly, it had come to a point where Lynn's time and dedication to
Katagory V was no longer a priority for him, and we could see it in
his attitude for some time now. This was probably one of the harder
decisions we've had to make as a band, but ironically, this situation
has been a long time coming. In the end, we really cared about Lynn as
a friend and about him being in the band, but we knew it was time to
make a change.

"With Marc, it was almost the same scenario concerning his dedication,
only he has decided to leave of his own accord. It finally came down
to him having to make some hard choices, and due to minor musical
differences and many conflicting factors in his personal life, Marc
has officially decided to part ways with Katagory V.

"These decisions have come as a huge disappointment for us in Katagory
V, and we are certain many of our fans will be disappointed as well.
However, we will look ahead, carry on and continue moving on to the
next chapter of the band! There were a lot of good times and memories
with Lynn and Marc in the band, and there is no doubt that both of
their contributions made them an integral part of Katagory V during
their tenure. We wish both of them the best in their future
endeavors."

Katagory V is now looking to find a new, more versatile and highly
motivated vocalist and guitarist as soon as possible. Interested
parties, both locally and nationally, can contact the band directly at
vocalist@... . For more information on the guitarist slot
write to guitarist@... .

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #11 ***
*
-Z Records News

HOUSE OF LORDS + Bullitt - Limelight, Crewe
Wednesday, May 14th

tickets: £15
box office: 01270 251929
tickets on sale from Friday, February 1st

Z Rock 08 Lineup Complete

After months of hard work we are pleased to announce that the lineup
for Z Rock 08 is now completed. This year's event is a bombastic two
day outing that must be a success if we are to stage a another show
during 2009. We urge fans to buy their tickets in advance and support
the show and scene in the U.K. Advance sales so far are up on the 07
which is positive but we still need your support. If you are able to
put a few flyers out or even get an A3 poster put up in your local
rock pub or record store please contact us via info@... with
"Z Rock 08" as your header. In addition if you will be helping if you
can display the Z Rock 08 Banner on your MySpace site or Web site!

Tickets that have already been ordered will be mailed out by recorded
delivery in a week's time.

The lineup:

Day 1 - May 16th: HOUSE OF LORDS, SHY, BOMBAY BLACK, BULLITT, ROCKSTAR
[admission £25 advance]

Day 2 - May 17th: BLACK 'N BLUE, BONFIRE, BRITNY FOX, VON GROOVE,
SNOW, STORMZONE, REDLINE [admission £45 advance]

Tickets are only currently available online at
http://www.zrecords.net/ [see online store] or
http://www.myspace.com/zrockfest and will be available from S T
Records [Dudley] and X Records [Bolton] over the counter from February
18th. For mail-order enquiries e-mail info@... .

Venue: The Asylum, Birmingham
Dates: May 16 - 17 2008

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #12 ***
*
-Imperia Sets Alight With New Album

TRENTON, N.J. -- Boasting the versatile, multi-dimensional voice of
Helena Iren Michaelsen, Imperia has given birth to QUEEN OF LIGHT.

While often put in the "atmospheric metal" realm, Imperia truly defies
simple categorization. Its keyboard-laden music lends itself to a
sense of grandiosity, while the guitars anchor the group's music into
a strong rock/metal base.

"I believe we have a lot of different elements in our music and that
makes it hard to categorize," said guitarist Jan "Örkki" Yrlund.
"Quite often bands with female singers are described as 'gothic metal'
but I don't believe that does any justice. In our music we do have
fast and slow songs, atmospheric songs, but also fast up-tempo songs.
The most recognizable part is the voice of Helena, which is truly
remarkable. She can do everything from high soprano voice to deep
grunts."

During the recording of the album Michaelsen gave birth to a daughter,
giving the title of the album a deeper meaning. "For Helena the album
title has a symbolic meaning and refers to the birth of her daughter
Angel," said Yrlund. "Helena was pregnant while we were doing the
first vocal parts, and later when finishing her parts she had already
given birth. She wanted to record a piece of the crying of her
daughter as well, so you can hear her on the intro to the song 'Queen
Of Light.'"

Spread out through Europe -- Michaelsen and keyboardist Audun
Gronnestad in Norway, Yrlund in Finland, guitarist John Stam in
Holland, drummer Steve Wolz in Germany, and bassist Gerry Verstreken
in Belgium -- the group does its songwriting in home studios.

"We send a lot of files around through the Internet," Yrlund said.
"When we have decided which songs we will record, we get together and
head for the studio. The songs on the latest album are written by me
and our keyboard wizard Audun but everybody's role is equally
important in the recording process."

QUEEN OF LIGHT is available through Locomotive Music.

http://www.helena-michaelsen.com/
http://www.myspace.com/imperiaband
http://www.locomotivemusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/locomotiverecords

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #13 ***
*
-The Feds Acoustic Gigs Planned

The latest from The Feds camp:

"In the past few weeks, we've started rehearsing our acoustic set.
We're all really excited about playing these acoustic shows coming up
and the songs sound so good! I can't wait for everyone to hear us in
this setting, it already blows me away and we've only just begun this
thing! We will be joined by a drummer for these shows and possibly
another fantastic musician on keys as well. Stay in touch for more
details. Take care of yourselves and we'll see you soon."

On Tour:
2/10 - Denton, TX @ Andy's
3/2 - Dallas, TX @ Lakewood Theater
3/10 - Austin, TX @ Thirsty Nickel - SXSW Film (Megatrax Party)

The Feds - A TOUCH OF PANIC
IN STORES NOW!

It all comes down to spirit, and The Feds have it exactly right: no
pretense, just a purity of focus and energy that comes only when
you're doing exactly what you're put on this earth to do, which in the
case of The Feds is just one thing...to rock!

Listen
http://www.myspace.com/thefeds

Watch - "Saturday Girl" music video
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?
fuseaction=vids.showvids&friendID=1284545&n=1284545&MyToken=224d5e57-
a16c-4daf-a762-a9a867af52b6

The Press:

"The Feds is exactly what the music industry needs. They are not
bullsh*t and they are not pop... every track on this album could be a
potential hit on mainstream rock radio."
OUTBURN (9/10)

"...the band fully and unabashedly embraces the sonic spectrum of
everything from Classic Heavy Rock, Blues, Power Pop, and Alternative
Rock to even slightly Metallic sounds, unleashing a unique and
completely satisfying hybrid of the best of these genres."
METAL OBSERVER (9/10)

"The Feds, a now Texas-based quintet that combines the songwriting
maturity of practiced hard rock veterans with the enthusiasm and heart
of a young punk band hungry for success. Make a place in your
permanent collection for this one!"
PIVOTAL RAGE (5/5)

"I could hear any number of these songs becoming big rock radio hits,
and easily half of them are better than most of the stuff I hear on
rock radio -- but the band does add a little depth the deeper you get
into the record."
ECLIPSE MAGAZINE

"Panic-striken choruses unleash a beast of melody while the verses
manage to dangle a crushing element of pop-punk and modern rock.
Imagine a lighter version of The Refused with less screaming and more
melodic crooning."
SMOTHER

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #14 ***
*
-Mannhai Caravans Its Latest Release To North America

TRENTON, N.J. -- HELLROAD CARAVAN, the fourth release from Finland's
hardest rocking groove-masters Mannhai, has received a North American
release through Locomotive Music.

HELLROAD CARAVAN is the first album that unites former Amorphis band
mates Olli-Pekka "Oppu" Laine (bass) and Pasi Koskinen (vocals) but
its sound is eaons away from duo's Finnish folk-inspired death metal,
walking a ground along the lines of classic Black Sabbath and modern-
day Black Label Society.

"Mannhai already existed when I left Amorphis, but I also wanted to do
something completely different after that," Laine said. "I listened to
lots of Kiss and AC/DC when I was a kid, so it was exciting to learn
how to play rock music properly. But really we just started the band
for fun, and we didn't think about how we should sound."

The group released three albums, THE SOUNDS OF YESTERDAY'S BLACK
GROUSE, EVIL UNDER THE SUN, and EXPLODER, before embarking on a
European tour in 2005. In the midst of the tour, Mannhai split with
its vocalist and called upon Koskinen to fill in. After returning home
from the tour, the group quickly decided that things were gelling with
the new vocalist and agreed to continue the collaboration. "It feels
great to work with Pasi again, as I've always dug his voice and vocal
arrangements," said Laine.

With a tighter band and heavier, more melodic songs, Mannhai holed up
in a friend's Helsinki studio for a month to record HELLROAD CARAVAN.
"I recall it as one of the most hectic sessions I've ever been in,"
said Laine. "We recorded 14 songs and 10 of them ended up on the
album. It was a great session and I remember that we spent the whole
Christmas in the studio too!"

HELLROAD CARAVAN has also proved to be Mannhai's most successful
record to date. "Spaceball," its first single, entered the Finnish
single charts at number and stayed in the Top 10 for three weeks. "It
was a huge surprise, of course," Laine said. "I think people were
curious to hear Pasi singing with us, so they went and bought the
single. Finland is more open to heavy music. Even small children and
old people seem to dig metal here nowadays."

http://www.mannhai.com/
http://www.myspace.com/mannhai
http://www.locomotivemusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/locomotiverecords

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #15 ***
*
-Belgian Thrashers After All Release New Album

TRENTON, N.J. -- THIS VIOLENT DECLINE, the latest album by Belgian
thrashers After All, has received a North American release via
Locomotive Records.

"On THIS VIOLENT DECLINE, we managed to find the right balance between
the catchy and more melodic approach of MERCURY RISING (2003) and the
full-speed-ahead thrash metal of THE VERMIN BREED (2005)," said
guitarist Dries Van Damme. "That makes THIS VIOLENT DECLINE our most
mature album to date, both in musicality and power."

The group also made seriously steps in the production department,
enlisting the services of heavy weights such as Fredrik Nordström (In
Flames, Arch Enemy, Dimmu Borgir) and Tue Madsen (Halford, Mnemic).

"Of all the albums we made, we needed the least time to write this
one," said Van Damme. "We toured a lot over the last couple of years.
In some way, this has inspired us a lot. The songs for THIS VIOLENT
DECLINE came to us very fast and very spontaneously. It also shows, as
the songs have a very natural flow to them."

Together and releasing music since the early '90s, After All is one of
Europe's most active touring bands, having toured with the likes of
Anthrax, King Diamond, and Stone Sour, among others. The band's last
tour included stops in 15 countries, where the set was built entirely
around the new songs. "The response has been nothing but
overwhelming," Van Damme said.

Despite its waning popularity in the '90s and current revival in North
America, After All has proudly held the thrash metal torch through the
years.

"Thrash was never really gone -- at least not in Europe," said Van
Damme. "A couple of bands soldiered on, like we did ourselves, so the
music never totally disappeared. It is good to see there is a renewed
interest in thrash metal right now. We benefit from that as well.
Being the only active thrash band in Belgium right now, we really do
stand out in a local scene that has countless death metal and
metalcore bands."

After All will make its American live debut in 2008. Stay tuned for
dates.

http://www.afterall.be/
http://www.myspace.com/afterall
http://www.youtube.com/afterallmetal
http://www.locomotivemusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/locomotiverecords

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #16 ***
*
-Leaves' Eyes And Atrocity News

Leaves' Eyes - Live At The "Mandragora's Fest" In Mexico

Leave's Eyes are playing in Mexico again! On the first of March the
"Mandragora's Fest" takes place in Mexico City. Leaves' Eyes will
perform their live debut with Nick Barker on drums and Alla Fedynitch
on bass!

Leaves' Eyes & Atrocity - Alla Fedynitch New Session Bass Player!

Alla Fedynitch (ex-Pain, Enemy Of The Sun, Eyes Of Eden) will go on
tour with Leaves' Eyes and Atrocity! The bands are looking forward to
the shows in cooperation! The first show will be with Leaves' Eyes on
the first of March in Mexico City!

Leaves' Eyes As Special Guest At Doro's 25th Anniversary Show!

Leaves' Eyes will be playing as Special Guest at the Doro Anniversary
Show "25 Years In Rock" at the ISS Dome in Düsseldorf on the 13th of
December 2008! This will definitely be a historical night!

Tickets at http://www.metaltix.com/ .

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #17 ***
*
-To-Mera's DELUSIONS Releases In February!

CLEVELAND -- In the 18 months since the release of their debut album
TRANSCENDENTAL, U.K.-based To-Mera find themselves amongst the cream
of the new progressive metal crop. Now with DELUSIONS, To-Mera once
again push their musical ideas forward to even greater heights.
Embracing a broader range of moods, tempos and dynamics, To-Mera
succeed in creating a daring and forward-thinking album for all to
enjoy. DELUSIONS features guest appearances from members of Ulver and
Hardingrock.

Track Listing for DELUSIONS:
1. The Lie
2. Mirage
3. The Glory Of A New Day
4. Inside The Hourglass
5. A Sorrow To Kill
6. Asylum
7. Fallen From Grace
8. Temptation

To-Mera features former Extreme Noise Terror bassist Lee Barrett and
former Hungarian-born Without Face vocalist Julie Kiss. The band made
their performance debut in London October 2006; hand-selected to
support Emperor's farewell gig at the renowned Astoria.

To-Mera - DELUSIONS is in stores, February 26, 2008.

Candlelight Records USA
http://www.candlelightrecordsusa.com
http://www.myspace.com/candlelightusa

To-Mera
http://www.to-mera.com/
http://www.myspace.com/tomeraband

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #18 ***
*
-Misfits Records Welcomes Juicehead To Their Powerhouse Punk Rock
Label Roster

NEW YORK -- In an age of recycled pseudo-punk, Juicehead, the latest
addition to the powerhouse punk rock label roster at Misfits Records,
is the real deal.

On their debut album, THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, the Chicago trio
provides an aggressive yet melodic take on punk, complemented by
thought-provoking lyrics. The title itself is a social commentary on
how people in this day and age refuse to take responsibility.

Originally a DIY release, THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT is a shining example
of punk rock ethic. Because money was tight, the group used whatever
physical resources were available to them to record. The album's
distinct vocal sound comes from a decidedly low-tech method of
recording vocals in a bathroom and the original mix was done on a home
computer, with the end result being a perfect representation of
Juicehead's determination. The heart and soul of Juicehead was enough
to catch the interest of Misfits Records.

"They liked what they heard in Juicehead," said front man Rob Vannice.
"They came to see us when we played in New York, we talked, and a few
months later we were offered a deal. We couldn't believe what was
happening. It was like a dream."

The album was soon fully re-mastered and released via the growing
label. "It's amazing," Vannice said. "It's the little album that
could!" The release also features new artwork from lowbrow monster
fetish artist Dave Burke, whom the band connected with through Misfits
Records. For THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, Burke created the "axe head"
logo. "We were blown away," Vannice said. "We all felt it was a
perfect fit for THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT."

Juicehead had the opportunity to participate in the Fiend Fest tour
along with the Misfits. "This was one of the most amazing experiences
for Juicehead to date," said Vannice. "It was our first major tour and
we learned a lot. We made a lot of friends and played some great
shows." Following that, the band wrapped up a North American tour with
skate punk legends Agent Orange.

Juicehead will soon begin recording once again for the follow-up to
THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, slated for a 2008 release on Misfits Records.

Misfits Records is distributed by Rykodisc, a Warner Music Group
company.

http://www.misfitsrecords.com/
http://www.myspace.com/juicehead69

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #19 ***
*
-Black Cobra To Attack The U.K. With The Sword

After the monumental response to the U.S. dates Black Cobra opened for
The Sword at the end of last year, both bands will hit the U.K. in
March together, joined this time by Saviours. Building up to this
venture is the previously announced stateside assault with Pelican and
Unearthly Trance. They just don't quit...

Black Cobra in the U.S. with Pelican, Unearthly Trance
02/28/2008 Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL
02/29/2008 The House - Dekalb, IL
03/01/2008 Rhino's All Ages Music Club - Bloomington, IN
03/02/2008 The Gargoyle - St. Louis, MO
03/04/2008 Hi Tone Cafe - Memphis, TN
03/05/2008 Bottletree - Birmingham, AL
03/06/2008 Sluggo's - Pensacola, FL - w/ City Of Ships
03/07/2008 Common Grounds - Gainesville, FL
03/08/2008 The Big Cypress Reservation / Langerado Fest - Clewiston,
FL
03/10/2008 The Social - Orlando, FL
03/12/2008 Drunken Unicorn - Atlanta, GA
03/13/2008 Casbah @ Tremont Music Hall - Charlotte, NC
03/15/2008 Headliners Music Hal - Louisville, KY - w/ Your Black Star

Black Cobra in Europe with The Sword, Saviours
03/25/2008 Rock City - Nottingham, UK
03/26/2008 Carling Academy Oxford - Oxford, UK
03/27/2008 Carling Academy Birmingham - Birmingham, UK
03/28/2008 Manchester Academy - Manchester, UK
03/29/2008 King Tut's Wah Wah Hut - Glasgow, UK
03/30/2008 The Sugarmill - Stoke, UK
04/01/2008 T.J.'s - Newport, UK
04/02/2008 Wedgewood Rooms - Portsmouth, UK
04/03/2008 The Underworld - London, UK
04/04/2008 Colchester Arts Centre - Colchester, UK

"...FEATHER AND STONE still proves why Black Cobra kicks twice as much
ass than their peers, with only half the members." 8/10 - Outburn

"When it comes to Black Cobra, you can take heavy metal pretense,
instrumental excess and tour buses, and stick 'em up your ass." -
Metal Maniacs

"Live, Black Cobra are a truly ferocious, unforgiving beast, a hyper-
kinetic duo of bovine, fuzzed-to-death, gibsonic bong-slurry riffage
and wild-man percussive bombast" 5/5 - Zero Tolerance

"...Black Cobra will happily bludgeon you into oblivion." 8/10 -
RockSound

http://www.blackcobra.net/
http://www.myspace.com/blackcobra
http://www.atalossrecordings.com/
http://www.myspace.com/atalossrecordings

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #20 ***
*
-Mediaskare Signs A Breath Before Surfacing, To Release Debut Album On
May 27th

Mediaskare Records is proud to announce the signing of Tucson, AZ's A
Breath Before Surfacing and will release their debut album DEATH IS
SWALLOWED IN VICTORY on May 27th. Produced by Zack Ohren (As Blood
Runs Black, All Shall Perish), DEATH IS SWALLOWED IN VICTORY will
feature 11 tracks including "Cosmetic Abomination" and "A Night In
Terror Tower" which can be heard on the band's MySpace page located at
http://www.myspace.com/abreathbeforesurfacing .

The band had the following to say about signing with Mediaskare:
"We're very proud to announce our signing to Mediaskare, everyone
we're working with is amazing and they've really got our best interest
at heart. We're just some dudes from the desert who love playing heavy
music. We are really looking forward to getting our music out there
this summer with the release of our album and subsequent national
tour."

A Breath Before Surfacing will hit the road on May 2nd with The
Classic Struggle, With Dead Hands Rising, and Ghost Of A Fallen Age
for a U.S. tour that will end on June 7th. Confirmed dates for the
tour will be announced soon.

http://www.myspace.com/abreathbeforesurfacing
http://www.mediaskare.com/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #21 ***
*
-Prophecy Productions To Begin North American Production &
Distribution

Today, Prophecy Productions announces that it will take its first
steps on Vinland soil with three new releases: Drautran's THRONE OF
THE DEPTHS, Farsot's IIII, and Helrunar's BALDR OK ISS. These three
albums will be Prophecy's introductory releases into North America,
and will be released on April 29th, 2008. Prophecy has teamed up in
North America with Season Of Mist, Caroline (U.S.A.) and FAB (Canada)
for distribution of its releases.

Prophecy Productions began in 1996 in Zeltingen-Rachtig, Germany. Its
focus was and always will be to release high-quality "eerie-emotional
music," i.e. dark, emotional music of all varieties, in an
aesthetically satisfying manner. With nearly 100 lavishly packaged
releases to its name, Prophecy has always prided itself on both
quality and quantity, offering listeners two other branches of the
label: Lupus Lounge, specializing in black metal, pagan metal and
beyond, and Auerbach Tonträger, specializing in contemporary folk
music in the widest sense of the word, and thus also covering the so-
called neo-folk genre.

As a result, Prophecy has introduced to the world such unique and
groundbreaking acts as Empyrium, The Vision Bleak, Dornenreich, Tenhi,
In The Woods..., Green Carnation, Secrets Of The Moon, Orplid, Alcest
and Antimatter. In 2008, Prophecy plans to release further new
releases by Negura Bunget, Todesbonden, Klimt 1918, Dornenreich,
Tenhi, and Secrets Of The Moon.

For distribution inquiries, please contact Chris@... or
pellet@... . For press and promotional inquires, please
contact nathanprophecy@.... For more info, consult
http://www.prophecy.cd/ .

*
*** NEWS/RUMORS ***
*
-About Heavy Metal's "Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1999" list is at
http://glclk.about.com/?zi=1/4lCj .

-Alex Beyrodt, guitarist for Silent Force, will release his first solo
album this spring. The disc will be called VOODOO CIRCLE and will
feature Mat Sinner (Sinner, Primal Fear), Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot,
Whitesnake, Dio), Mel Gaynor (Gary Moore, Brian May, Elton John), and
others.

-The Dead End Kidz' UNFINISHED BUSINESS is now available digitally at
http://www.digstation.com/AlbumDetails.aspx?albumid=ALB000015513 , and
in a digi-pak CD release at CD Baby at http://cdbaby.com/cd/dendkidz .
(And attention New York/Long Island people -- the disc is available at
the listening station at Slipped Disc Records in Valley Stream, NY.)
Check out http://www.myspace.com/dekmusic and
http://www.youtube.com/john8186 for more.

-Dream Theater's new animated video for "Forsaken," from SYSTEMATIC
CHAOS, can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE3vmwolHOg .

-Paul Gilbert's new instrumental album, SILENCE FOLLOWED BY A
DEAFENING ROAR, was released in Japan on January 23. A distribution
deal for the U.S. and Europe is in the works.

-Check out a Magistral video at http://youtube.com/watch?v=pNGxW71jD18
. See http://www.magistralweb.com/ for more.

-Check out http://www.breakdownroom.net/forum/index.php?topic=140.0
for information on the set lists Queensryche's been playing recently.

-Upcoming John Taglieri shows:

2/1 - The Stage House, Scotch Plains, NJ
2/2 - Cheeseburger In Paradise, Oxford Valley, PA
2/8 - Mighty Joe Young's, White Plains, NJ
2/9 - Cheeseburger In Paradise, Newark, DE
2/13 - Delaney's Tap Room, New Haven, CT
2/14 - Cheeseburger In Paradise, Iselin, NJ
2/15 - Jose O'Reilly's, Norwood, NJ
2/16 - Ligonier Tavern, Ligonier, PA
2/19 - Arnold's Bar & Grill, Cincinnati, OH
2/20 - Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY
2/21 - Cheeseburger In Paradise, Cincinnati, OH
2/22 - Cheeseburger In Paradise, Polaris, OH
2/23 - Cheeseburger In Paradise, Hilliard, OH
2/24 - Delaney's Tap Room, New Haven, CT
2/28 - The Green Turtle, Columbia, MD
2/29 - The Sand Bar, Brielle, NJ

See http://www.johntaglieri.com/ for more.

-W.A.S.P./Fatal Smile tour dates:

2/8 - Granada Theatre, Dallas, TX
2/9 - Tiffany's Live, San Antonio, TX
2/10 - House Of Blues, New Orleans, LA
2/12 - Expo 13, Louisville, KY
2/13 - TBA, Charlotte, NC
2/14 - Monkey, Huntington, WV
2/15 - 2/16 - Jaxx, Springfield, VA
2/17 - Webster Theatre / Underground, Hartford, CT
2/20 - Crazy Donkey - Club Loaded, Long Island, NY
2/22 - Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
2/23 - The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY
2/24 - The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza, New York City, NY
2/25 - TBA, Buffalo, NY
2/26 - Capital Theatre, Quebec City, QC
2/28 - The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON
2/29 - Harpo's, Detroit, MI
3/1 - Machine Shop, Flint, MI
3/2 - The Pearl Room, Mokena, IL
3/4 - The Palladium, Denver, CO
3/5 - Club Vegas, Salt Lake City, UT
3/6 - Canyon Club, Las Vegas, NV
3/7 - Coach House, San Juan Capististrano, CA
3/8 - Key Club, Hollywood, CA

See http://www.waspnation.com/ for more.

Thanks to Chad Bowar and Bill "GGCTY" Kotowski for help gathering some
of this information.

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

-Last week I mentioned the flick "Still Crazy," and how apart from
Billy Connolly I didn't recognize any of the film's actors. Mistake.
Steve sent me an e-bitchslap listing all the other actors' credits
that I probably should've known. (Or, at least, taken the time to
check out at IMDB.com.) So, oops. I hope I didn't insult any of those
actors, 'cuz you know tons of famous people read Detritus. :) Anyway,
goofiness aside, Steve pointed out some of the other "names" in the
movie were Bill Nighy of "Underworld," "Pirates Of The Caribbean," and
"Shaun Of The Dead" fame, Timothy Spall from the "Harry Potter" movies
and "Rock Star" (oof!), and Stephen Rea from "Interview With The
Vampire." And Steve pointed out Foreigner's Mick Jones was involved
with most of the movie soundtrack. Thanks, Steve, for making me feel
like a schmuck.

-My commute to work this morning took a nice, tidy four hours and 30
minutes due to train problems. That, my friends, is how you get to
read EVERY bit of your daily newspaper. Also, before all the mishaps
started we were at one stop and the doors were closing, and this
teen-aged boy was *hauling* ass running, trying to make the train. He
wiped out hard in the snow, got up, dusted himself off, and made
it...right as the conductor shut the door on him. That's harsh.

-Now in my current playlist: Brainstorm - DOWNBURST (Metal Blade
Records), Vanishing Point - THE FOURTH SEASON (Locomotive Records),
Blaze Bayley - ALIVE IN POLAND (DVD) (Metal Mind Productions/MVD
Visual), UFO - THE MONKEY PUZZLE (SPV), Tiles - FLY PAPER (InsideOut
Music).

*
*** REVIEWS ***
*
CANVAS SOLARIS - CORTICAL TECTONICS (B+/B) Sensory/Laser's Edge, 2007
6 tracks, RT: 45:58
[ http://www.canvassolaris.net/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/canvassolaris ]
[ http://www.lasercd.com/ ]
[ http://www.lasersedgegroup.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/lasersedge ]
Technical metal is one sub-genre that is not littered with thousands
of bands vying for attention, so if you are a fan of the style you are
probably already quite aware of Canvas Solaris; for those who aren't
yet familiar, Canvas Solaris play a rich concoction reminiscent of
instrumental WatchTower, Spastic Ink and Spiral Architect. As you
might have guessed, this type of thing is designed for a niche
audience, often made up of musicians and those whose tastes run to the
more abstruse. Opening track "Berserker Hypothesis" is a good
representation of what this kind of thing is all about, and frankly if
the whole album had continued in this fashion it would have been a
difficult listen for even the die-hards. Wisely, Canvas Solaris have
opted to enrich their music with effective contrasts, like on the
fascinating "Sinusoid Mirage" and hypnotic "Interface." Longtime fans
won't be disappointed, however, as there is plenty of insane, involved
playing on songs such as "Gamma Knife," and while I usually don't care
for lengthy workouts, the 17 minute "Reticular Consciousness" is right
where these guys live, and one can't help but be swept up while
marveling at the proficiency on display here. Canvas Solaris excel at
making music that is sometimes jarring and unpredictable, with
frequent use of odd times and changing themes, and this approach will
inevitably be incomprehensible to those used to traditional melodic
structures. CORTICAL TECTONICS, however, reveals a maturation woven
into the complexity that may just help release these guys from the
realm of obscurity.
- Neal Woodall (MysticX9@...)

KATAGORY V - HYMNS OF DISSENSION (A-) Nightmare Records, 2007
11 tracks, RT: 59:07
[ http://www.katagory5.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/katagoryv ]
[ http://www.Nightmare-Records.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/nightmarerecords1 ]
Quick quiz: are Katagory V (a) power, (b) progressive, (c) melodic, or
(d) traditional metal? Trick question, they are all of the above! I
hate that I am so late getting a review of this album in, as HYMNS OF
DISSENSION is certainly Katagory V's best album to date, and surely
deserves a place as one of my favorite metal releases of 2007. It's
unfortunate that two of the band's members have since departed
(vocalist Lynn Allers and guitarist Marc Hanson), because this lineup
had really jelled into a tight, cohesive entity who sounded ready to
assume their rightful place as preeminent torch-bearer for this style
of metal. In the past I've compared these guys to Fates Warning, and
while their influence is still a strong foundation there is now a more
even blend of other flavors such as early Queensryche, Crimson Glory,
Vicious Rumors and Helstar. Everything is just as it's supposed to be,
from Matt Suiter's powerful, precise drumming and Dustin Mitchell's
vigorous bass lines to the excellent twin-guitar crunch and tasty
leads of Curtis Morrell and Marc Hanson. Lynn Allers' vocals here
often remind me of Ripper Owens' work on the Winters Bane album HEART
OF A KILLER, with equal parts Ray Alder and Geoff Tate mixed in. The
death metal vocals on "Forlorn Child" (courtesy of Greg "Grogg" Bock)
are an interesting experiment but sound a bit out-of-place, and I'm
still not sure how I feel about Allers' singing on "Can You Hear
Them," but these are very small complaints; when you have material as
strong as "The Workforce," "Do Feelings Remain," and "Kings Of The
Valley," as well as two choice bonus tracks in "Enemy" and "Sands Of
Time" (2007 Version) you'll get no, er, dissension from me! Seriously,
HYMNS OF DISSENSION kicks ass -- here's hoping the vacancies are
filled soon and we get a chance to see this talented outfit live! Get
it.
- Neal Woodall (MysticX9@...)

WATERCLIME - IMAGINATIVE (B-) Lion Music, 2007
9 tracks, RT: 48:49
[ http://www.vintersorganic.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/waterclime ]
[ http://www.lionmusic.com/cd/imaginative.htm ]
[ http://www.lionmusic.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/lionmusiclabel ]
Andreas Hedlund (a.k.a. Mr. V) has his hands full on Waterclime's
second album IMAGINATIVE, as he writes and performs all the music!
IMAGINATIVE is pretty much in line with 2006's THE ASTRAL FACTOR --
which is to say that if you like music that is heavy on '70s prog rock
influences (think Yes meets Jethro Tull) with some Scandinavian folk
and a bit of jazz thrown in you'll likely enjoy this unusual outing.
On songs like "The Angel And The Fireball," "A Journey To The Center
Of The Soul" and "Body Migrated," Mr. V is able to effectively combine
those influences into an interesting listening experience, but his
strange vocal style (an acquired taste to be sure) might make it
difficult for some to appreciate the rest of what's going on here.
Waterclime is a unique project that has the potential to attract a
sizeable prog audience, but in the future Mr. V might want to share
vocal duties to broaden that aspect of his sonic tapestry...
- Neal Woodall (MysticX9@...)

*
*** OUT ***
*