Detritus
Issue #474
Week of October 6, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Detritus/
http://www.myspace.com/detritusezine

To subscribe to the e-mail version do one of the following:
Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Detritus/
Send a blank e-mail to: Detritus-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To unsubscribe from the e-mail version:
Send a blank e-mail to: Detritus-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

To contact us:
Detritus-owner@yahoogroups.com

*
*** 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

*
*** LET IT BE KNOWN ***
*
-Check out the "Reviews" section for our new writer Jan W.'s debut,
the return of Rick Berg, and a review of Alice Cooper's new album by
Chicago's own James VanOdsol. - Tim

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #1 ***
*
-Saxon: New Album INTO THE LABYRINTH On SPV/Steamhammer

Out on January 12th, 2009 in Europe (January 9th in Germany, January
13th in U.S.A.)

Download single "Live To Rock" available from October 17, 2008

Tours in autumn 2008/spring 2009

All Saxon fans have a lot of things to look forward to in the coming
months: to start off with, the British metal legend will release their
new download single "Live To Rock," followed by the arrival at the
stores of their current studio album INTO THE LABYRINTH, as well as
major tours to support both releases. So a hot autumn is about to
start in a few days' time!

Saxon's new single "Live To Rock" will be available as an Internet
download from October 17, 2008, and Saxon will present their new track
live for the first time during the tour which will take Biff Byford &
Co., alongside Motörhead and Danko Jones, through England and Germany
in November/December 2008. Their new studio album, INTO THE LABYRINTH,
will be out on January 12, 2009 (Germany: January 9, 2009, U.S.:
January 13, 2009). February 2009 will see the band embark on another
major world tour, only one month after the album release.

INTO THE LABYRINTH was recorded at the Twilight Hall in Krefeld,
Germany, under the direction of Charlie Bauerfeind. Saxon recorded 13
new songs at Blind Guardian's studio, starting with their monumental
opener, "Battalions Of Steel," through "Demon Sweeney Todd" and
"Valley Of The Kings," which both cover historic events, to the final
slide guitar blues track, "Coming Home" (fans are already familiar
with the electric version of this track from Saxon's KILLING GROUND
album). Saxon are currently still working on an additional 14th track,
which will be available exclusively as a download on iTunes from the
release date. "The new material was written in England and at my house
in France," Byford explains. "Stylistically, I would describe the
album as an even balance between LIONHEART and THE INNER SANCTUM, a
mix of powerful, in-your-face rock songs and pure heavy metal tracks.
We're very happy with the production and proud of INTO THE LABYRINTH."

Tracks:

1. Battalions Of Steel
2. Live To Rock
3. Demon Sweeney Todd
4. The Letter
5. Valley Of The Kings
6. Slow Lane Blues
7. Crime Of Passion
8. Premonition In D Minor
9. Voice
10. Protect Yourselves
11. Hellcat
12. Come Rock Of Ages (The Circle Is Complete)
13. Coming Home (Bottleneck Version)

Tour Dates November/December 2008

01.11. GB-Holmfirth - The Picturedome

Saxon With Motörhead and Danko Jones:
03.11. GB-Wolverhampton - Civic Hall
04.11. GB-Ipswich - Regent
06.11. GB-Brighton - Dome
07.11. GB-Newcastle - Academy
08.11. GB-Sheffield - Academy
10.11. GB-Glasgow - Academy
11.11. GB-Leicester - De Montfort Hall
12.11. GB-Southampton - Guildhall
14.11. GB-Manchester - Apollo
15.11. GB-Cardiff - University
17.11. GB-Cambridge - Corn Exchange
18.11. GB-Bristol - Colston Hall
19.11. GB-Exeter - University
21.11. GB-Norwich - UEA
22.11. GB-London - Hammersmith Apollo
28.11. D-Düsseldorf - Philipshalle
29.11. D-Lingen - Emslandhallen
30.11. D-Bremen - Pier 2
02.12. D-Offenbach - Stadthalle
03.12. D-Bamberg - Jako Arena
05.12. D-Dresden - Messehalle
06.12. D-Stuttgart - Schleyerhalle
07.12. D-Munich - Zenith

http://www.saxon747.com/
http://www.spvusa.com/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #2 ***
*
-Edguy: North American Tour + Photos From Video Shoot Available

Hailed as one of the most entertaining live acts in the metal
underground, the trademarked unbreakable spirit of Germany's Edguy
will be coming back to North America in support of Kamelot starting
THIS week!

Edguy's dynamic front man Tobias Sammet checks in about the upcoming
trek:

"Why should Hollywood fear us walking its unholy streets? You gotta
ask Hollywood itself and it will tell you! Or better: What's left of
Hollywood after we've played...

"For the Edguy tour with Kamelot, we'll mainly focus on older material
as the new album [TINNITUS SANCTUS] is not gonna be released at that
point. People wanna come out, have fun, and sing along, so we'll focus
on our classic material. Did we choose the set list via democracy or
dictatorship? It's kind of both plus the principle of contingency:
Every band member writes down his own list of songs he wants to play,
we put 'em into a voting box, and then I draw until I got the list
I've written. Seriously, it's no big deal. Sometimes we sit backstage
an hour before the show and throw song titles back and forth to keep
it exciting to ourselves. We don't wanna impress people with
complicated or extremely fast stuff... that's childish. We just wanna
make 'em have a good time, so the songs should have maximum impact.

"There are no on-stage collaborations with Kamelot planned so far. I
think both bands do extraordinarily well without the other. Can you
imagine having a maladjusted peacock like me going on with Kamelot,
telling jokes and doing the splits while Roy tries to enchant the
audience? Ladies and gentlemen, Kamelot vs. Edguy is the new Clash Of
The Titans: Symphony versus Giant Crotches -- ha, ha.

Clothes are must-haves on my shopping list! I love weird clothes.
Hippie sh*t, stuff that you don't find at your local H&M. There are
some stores in Hollywood where I'll enter the door being sure that
I'll just look around and walk out having spent twice the advance
payment of our next record. And by the way, we are very brave with our
new material. It's a very serious kick-ass statement and is certainly
gonna be one of our most important steps into the future."

In other news, the band recently stated:

"Two weeks ago Edguy have been to Belgrade, Serbia to shoot a new
video clip for their new mid tempo anthem 'Ministry Of Saints' taken
from their forthcoming album, TINNITUS SANCTUS. While you read these
lines the clip is being cut and finished and it's gonna be ready to be
watched online here in a couple of days, so stay tuned. Here you find
some pictures of the video shooting:"

http://www.edguy.net/

Edguy Headlining Shows

10/10/08 - Harpo's Concert Theater – Detroit, MI
10/11/08 - The Opera House – Toronto, ON – CANADA
10/12/08 - Club Soda – Montreal, QC – CANADA

Edguy with Kamelot

10/14/08 - Middle East – Cambridge, MA
10/15/08 - B.B. King's Blues Club – New York, NY
10/16/08 - Jaxx – W. Springfield, VA
10/17/08 - Peabody's Down Under – Cleveland, OH
10/18/08 - The Pearl Room – Mokena, IL
10/20/08 - Station 4 – St. Paul, MN
10/23/08 - El Corazon – Seattle, WA
10/24/08 - Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
10/25/08 - Slim's – San Francisco, CA
10/26/08 - The Key Club – Hollywood, CA
10/27/08 - El Jardin del Silencio Extreme Rock Bar – Mexicali - MÉXICO

http://www.edguy.net/
http://www.myspace.com/edguy

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #3 ***
*
-Locomotive Presents: Randy Piper's Animal

Locomotive Records presents the new record from Randy Piper's Animal!
The forthcoming installment in the ongoing saga of Animal will be
released in the States on October 21.

The album is called VIRUS and will -- to use Randy Piper's own words
-- "smoke your ass." As a former member and co-founder of W.A.S.P. the
guitarist should know.

Containing 10 astonishing songs, it was produced by the band's
guitarist, Chris Laney. The recordings took place at Platform Studio
and the legendary Polar Music Studios (Led Zeppelin, Genesis, ABBA).

To up the ante, the band decided to make the album both more
aggressive and more melodic. It takes just one listen to realize that
that's exactly what they've done. In short, VIRUS combines the wrath
of 2006's VIOLENT NEW BREED with a majestic metal feel (including
Laney's trademark backing vocals), while adding some new tricks and an
unexpected cover for good measure.

Track listing:

1. Cardiac Arrest
2. Can't Stop
3. Don't Wanna Die
4. Crying Eagle
5. Unnatural High
6. Judgement Day
7. Who's Next
8. Zombie
9. Shoot To Kill
10. L.U.S.T.

Lineup:

Randy Piper - guitars
Chris Laney - guitars
Rich Lewis - vocals
Nalle "Grizzly" Pahlsson - bass
Johan Koleberg - drums

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #4 ***
*
-New Guns N' Roses Book Hits The Shelves

Marc Canter has authored a new book with the help of his childhood
buddy, Slash -- "Reckless Road: Guns N' Roses & The Making Of APPETITE
FOR DESTRUCTION."

Marc Canter, the owner/manager of the legendary rock 'n' roll hangout
Canter's Deli in Los Angeles, has been friends with Slash since the
fifth grade when Slash allegedly tried to steal Marc's bike. Canter
has photographed and recorded (audio and video) every performance that
Guns N' Roses played on the Sunset Strip in the group's early days --
from their first show on June 6, 1985, to their first intentional tour
in 1987.

"Reckless Road" contains interviews with Slash, Duff McKagan and
Steven Adler, as well as groupies, failed producers, and former
managers and band mates. Canter amassed a treasure trove of
memorabilia, including:

* Lyrics to "My Michelle," written on the back of a water-stained
flier
* A $37,500 advance check from Geffen that has Slash's name misspelled
as "Stash"
* 1,000 never-before-seen photos
* Audio/video recordings for the band's first 50 shows

For more information, visit http://www.recklessroad.com/ .

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #5 ***
*
-Chris Caffery: FACES Re-release Out On October 7!

Chris Caffery truly is one of the most respected and versatile
guitarists in the Metal world of today. Starting in 1984 with the band
Heaven, he first met producer Paul O'Neill -- who introduced Chris to
U.S. Metal legends Savatage in 1987, with whom he in the beginning
appeared as "hidden" guitarist and keyboard player for a couple of
live shows. After recording albums with both Big Mouth and Dirth Looks
(both 1988), Caffery again joined Savatage in 1989 for their GUTTER
BALLET album and tour.

DEAD WINTER DEAD (1995) saw Caffery joining Savatage as a full-time
member and quickly becoming one of the leading forces behind the band.
"Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)," a breathtaking instrumental from the
aforementioned album written by Jon Oliva and Paul O'Neill, became the
starting point for O'Neill's monster Christmas project Trans-Siberian
Orchestra, which since has been out on arena tours in the U.S. every
year with Caffery as guitarist and sold more than 1 million tickets on
the latest tour.

In the year 2004 the time was finally right for Caffery's first solo
album entitled FACES. Now Locomotive Records will re-release this
fantastic CD in the states on October 7th, 2008.

Track listing:

1. Alas
2. Faces
3. Fade Into The X
4. Pisses Me Off
5. Remember
6. The Fall
7. Music Man
8. Life, Crazy Life!!!
9. The Mold
10. Bag O' Bones
11. Evil Is As Evil Does
12. Never
13. So Far Today
14. Jealousy
15. Preludio
16. Abandoned

Lineup:

Chris Caffery - vox, git
Dave Z. - bass
Paul Morris - keys
Jeff Plate - drums

For more info:
http://www.chriscaffery.com/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #6 ***
*
-Iced Earth: New Tour Dates Announced For November 2008

[Note: This is from http://www.icedearth.com/ . - Tim]

American Metal Powerhouse Iced Earth has announced the continuation of
their current "North American Crucible" with 11 more shows in the U.S.
and Canada in November. "People kept on reaching out to us and
questioned why we weren't coming to their cities -- well, here's your
answer! I cannot wait to see more Minions out at these shows!" says
Jon Schaffer.

Support on these dates will come from Divine Heresy (main support) and
Early Man (opening act).

After the overwhelming success of the "Child Of The Wicked" VIP
packages, Iced Earth have decided to give their fans the chance to get
close to the band again and are offering VIP packages for all below
shows starting tomorrow, October 7, 2008:

http://tixx1.artistarena.com/icedearth/

Iced Earth is also planning something very special for their official
fan club members "Minions Of The Wicked" -- the fan club can be found
here:

http://www.fansiteproductions.com/icedearth

Public onsale for these dates is October 9, 2008.

November 2008

NOV. 07 2008 - Marquee Theater. Tempe, Arizona.
NOV. 08 2008 - Sunshine Theater. Albuquerque, New Mexico
NOV. 09 2008 - Bluebird Theater. Denver, Colorado.
NOV. 11 2008 - Ridglea Theater. Fort Worth, Texas.
NOV. 12 2008 - Beaumont Music Hall. Kansas City, Missouri
NOV. 13 2008 - Station 4. St. Paul, Minnesota
NOV. 14 2008 - Metro. Chicago, Illinois
NOV. 16 2008 - Odeon. Saskatoon. Saskatchewan, Canada
NOV. 17 2008 - MacEwan Ballroom. Calgary, Alberta, Canada
NOV. 19 2008 - Commodore Ballroom. Vancouver, British Columbia
NOV. 20 2008 - Studio Seven. Seattle, Washington

http://www.icedearth.com/
http://www.myspace.com/icedearth

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #7 ***
*
-Axel Rudi Pell's New Studio Album TALES OF THE CROWN Out On October
24, 2008

Track list:

1. Higher
2. Ain't Gonna Win
3. Angel Eyes
4. Crossfire
5. Touching My Soul
6. Emotional Echoes
7. Riding On An Arrow
8. Tales Of The Crown
9. Buried Alive
10. Northern Lights

With an impressive 17 releases in 19 years, the Axel Rudi Pell Band
counts among the most consistent, lasting and creative acts in the
whole of Europe. Very few German guitarists can point to as long and
successful a career as the musician from Bochum, whose unmistakable
signature marks not only his characteristic guitar style, but also his
compositional skills. October 27, 2008 (Germany: October 24, 2008)
will see the arrival of his 18th offering, TALES OF THE CROWN, a
haunting studio album featuring 10 brand new compositions. "Our fans
will get just the kind of songs they have come to know and expect from
me and my band," says Pell, adding, "plus a few little innovations."
Axel Rudi Pell is referring to the contemporary touch which some of
his latest tracks feature, mainly in terms of rhythm. "But don't
worry, these modern approaches are only gradual and don't affect the
typical flair of my songs."

TALES OF THE CROWN was recorded at Gelsenkirchen's Redhouse Studios by
the tried and tested lineup consisting of Axel Rudi Pell, American
vocalist Johnny Gioeli, keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg, bassist Volker
Krawczak and drummer Mike Terrana. The album was produced by Axel Rudi
Pell and sound engineer Charlie Bauerfeind, who also mixed the 10 new
numbers. Like its highly successful predecessor, the accomplished
cover artwork was created by the Columbian artist, Felipe Machado
Franco.

All those who were disappointed that the Axel Rudi Pell Band couldn't
make this year's Wacken Open Air festival (vocalist Johnny Gioeli was
unavailable due to commitments in the U.S.) can look forward to their
next tour in January/February 2009 -- detailed concert dates to follow
soon -- and make a note in their diaries of the 20th anniversary W:O:A
2009, for which the band has already been confirmed.

http://www.axel-rudi-pell.de/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #8 ***
*
-Pharaoh: Vinyl To Come With More Vinyl

The first-ever vinyl release from the Cruz Del Sur label will be the
album BE GONE by acclaimed U.S. act Pharaoh. BE GONE was released as a
CD and limited digi-pak CD in April. The upcoming deluxe vinyl version
will include a full-color poster and a bonus 7" record containing two
additional songs from the BE GONE album sessions. This package,
scheduled for a November release, will come in a gatefold sleeve and
be limited to 500 copies.

The album track listing had to be modified to accommodate the LP
format, and will be as follows:

Side A:
1. Speak To Me
2. Dark New Life
3. No Remains
4. Cover Your Eyes And Pray
5. Red Honor

Side B:
1. Buried At Sea
2. Rats And Rope
3. Telepath
4. Be Gone

Bonus 7":
A. Nothing I Can Say
B. Reflection And The Inevitable Future (alternate version)

The 7" bonus tracks will also appear on the band's upcoming mini-CD,
entitled "Ten Years," which is set to include two additional new
Pharaoh songs and two newly-recorded cover versions.

http://www.solarflight.net/
http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/cruzdelsurmusic

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #9 ***
*
-Perris Records: Six New Titles Released Worldwide On October 7

Dirty Looks - CALIFORNIA FREE RIDE
Catalog Number: PER2032
UPC Barcode: 670573020325

The latest weapon in the band's arsonal explodes with 10 tracks of
killer tunes guaranteed to blow away the fall/winter blues with a
heavy dose of down and dirty hard rock power. With the band having
been relatively dormant for years, really since the late '90s,
suddenly singer/guitarist Henrik Ostergaard and various ex- and new
members of the band have been putting out a slew of new material.
Already, Dirty Looks has released two discs of new material this year,
GASOLINE and SUPERDELUXE.

Perris Records will release another disc of new material called
CALIFORNIA FREE RIDE on October 7th, 2008. The disc was mastered by
guitarist Anthony Focx (Bang Tango, Beautiful Creatures, Buckcherry).

Track Listing:

1. California Free Ride
2. Look In The Mirror
3. Burning Rain
4. Only Child
5. Under My Skin
6. Strong Man
7. Come To My Party
8. Shake That Thing
9. Brass Bed
10. Clear Thought
11. Trip The Light

http://www.dirtylooksmusic.com/

Winter Parade - TWO
Catalog Number: PER2062
UPC Barcode: 670573020622

The Norwegian rock band Winter Parade just completed their second
album TWO for Perris Records. The CD was mastered by Beau Hill
(Warrant, Ratt, Winger). Winter Parade's debut album MIDNIGHT IN
PARADISE was released by MTM Music in Europe. The band's debut
recieved international rave reviews. Winter Parade fans will not be
disappointed with the many hit songs on this new release.

Track Listing:

1. Real Life City
2. St. John's Asylum
3. Homeward Bound
4. I'm Still Alive
5. Rollercoasting
6. Lion's Den
7. Leave It Behind
8. PFAM
9. Gone (From My Life)
10. Sophomoronic

http://www.winterparade.com/
http://www.myspace.com/winterparade

Lizhard - LIZHARD
Catalog Number: PER2072
UPC Barcode: 670573020721

Lizhard arranges their songs trying to preserve the sounds and the
warmth of '80s and '90s classic hard rock. In June 2008 they finished
the recordings of their new self-titled album. During the first months
of 2008 they open for former Mr. Big singer Eric Martin & Twin
Dragons, getting great feedback from the audience and critics. The
album has been co-produced, mixed and mastered by Alessandro Del
Vecchio, musician known worldwide for his collaborations with acts
like Edge Of Forever, Moonstone Project, Glenn Hughes, Ian Paice, Jeff
Scott Soto, and Axe. Lizhard band members are: Luke Marsilio (Voice,
acoustic guitar and harmonica), Paul Mainetti (Guitar), Colombo
Alberto (Guitar), Luca "Ze" Moroni (Bass) and Ricky Lecchini (Drums).

Track Listing:

1. Rock 'n' Roll Is Back
2. Devil's Highway
3. Let The Good Times Roll
4. I Cry For You
5. Life In The Fast Lane
6. Let's Party
7. Bad To The Bone
8. Angel
9. My Wild Side
10. Diamond

http://www.lizhard.com/
http://www.myspace.com/lizhardband

XYZ - THE BEST OF XYZ
Record label: IF Records, Distributed by Perris
Catalog Number: PER2052
UPC Barcode: 670573020523

This IF Records CD features the the best of XYZ from 1988's sexy
"Inside Out" to a 2008's unreleased track "Falling In You." This
compilation is a true snapshot of 20 years of sex, drugs, and rock 'n'
roll, with a touch of romance and free-flowing champagne. Every radio
and video hit, together at last, starting with the early days of KNAC
and climbing up to big time MTV and VH1. This collection is indeed a
picture of the band's road to success, out of the dive bars of
Hollywood to world stadiums. This CD includes the video classic "Face
Down In The Gutter," radio favorite "When I Find Love," mosh-pit
proven "Off To The Sun" and soundtrack "Maggy." The fans have waited
and waited, demanding a "greatest hits" again and again, and finally
here it is -- THE BEST OF XYZ.

Track Listing:

1. Don't Say No
2. Face Down In The Gutter
3. Inside Out
4. What Keeps Me Loving You
5. Off To The Sun
6. Souvenirs
7. Take What You Can
8. Maggy
9. When I Find Love
10. Falling In You

http://www.myspace.com/terryilousxyz

Iain Ashley Hersey - NOMAD
Catalog Number: PER2042
UPC Barcode: 670573020424

NOMAD features a allstar lineup including Doogie White (Yngwie
Malmsteen), Jochen Mayer (Casanova, Demon Drive, Domain), Frank Kraus
(Demon Drive), Paul Logue (Eden's Curse) & Holger Seeger (Midnite
Club).

Born in New Hampshire and growing up in New England, Iain cut his
teeth on the heavier British Blues Rock Bands such as Led Zeppelin,
Deep Purple, Bad Company and guitar players like Beck, Blackmore and
Hendrix. Later seeking to develop his musical vocabulary he studied at
the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he expanded his musical
realm into that of jazz improvisation, eventually to return to the
fold of Rock and Blues. Iain comments, "There was something about the
pull of one's roots and missing the power that comes with simplicity."

Relocating to Los Angeles, he spent a year as a student at Musician's
Institute in Hollywood. "More of an excuse to get settled into L.A. .
. . I skipped all the main classes as I already knew all that stuff
from Berklee and basically just hung out and played with Joe Diorio,
Frank Gamballe and Scott Henderson." At the end of the year, he was
invited on as an instructor which he did for the next six years.

Track Listing:

1. Nicotine Dreams
2. Sacrifice The Sun
3. Vintage Love
4. Flesh, Bone & Blood
5. Bloody Waters
6. Voodoo Spirits
7. More To Life
8. When Will My Love Fade
9. We've Lost The Rhythm
10. L.A. Connection

http://www.iainashleyhersey.com/
http://www.myspace.com/iainashleyhersey

Pleasure Maker - TWISTED DESIRE
Catalog Number: PER2022
UPC Barcode: 670573020226

The Pleasure Maker band is proud to present the release of its new
album entitled TWISTED DESIRE. Formal release to the audience is
scheduled for the month of October, 2008

The second album comes with more "direct" and matured compositions,
with more emphasis on the melody, stronger choruses, backing vocals
and keyboards, not forgetting the well known guitar by Alex Meister.

There are great news. Several new musicians are on the role as Andy
Starr (replacing the great Mark Sant'anna) on the bass and Sandro
Rossi on the keyboards. The others are Alex Meister (guitars, backing
vocals and producer), C. Marshall (lead vocals) and Adriano Morais
(drums and backing vocals).

The independent release of the previous album, LOVE ON THE ROCKS, got
memorable results: more than 20 reviews around the globe from Web
sites and magazines like BW&BK, Powerplay Mag (UK), HardRockHaven,
SleazeRoxx, Sleaze Metal (DE), This Is Rock (Spain) and
MelodicRock.com where the band got 84% of approval rating. The song
"Just Thinkin About U" got an honorable mention on the nomination of
the best song of 2005 by MelodicRock.com. During 2006, that album was
released in Japan by Spiritual Beast Records on a re-mastered version
and under new artwork.

This new album TWISTED DESIRE is definitely better than the LOVE ON
THE ROCKS release!

Track Listing:

1. Come N' Get It
2. Feel It This Time
3. Twisted Desire
4. What We Left Behind
5. Is There A Doctor In The House?
6. Remember
7. Chance Of A Lifetime
8. Hurts Me, Hurts You
9. Eden's Fruit
10. Do Your Revolution

http://www.myspace.com/pleasuremakerrocks

Perris Records
http://www.perrisrecords.com/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #10 ***
*
-Helix - A HEAVY MENTAL CHRISTMAS

TSM/SLW Promotions are proud and delighted to welcome to the gang cult
hard rockers Helix.

Band: Helix
Album: A HEAVY MENTAL CHRISTMAS
Label: GBS Records
Genre: Hard Rock
Release Date: Out Now

Web links:
http://www.planethelix.com/
http://www.myspace.com/helixonmyspace

Helix - A HEAVY MENTAL CHRISTMAS

A HEAVY MENTAL CHRISTMAS included nine Christmas classics done in the
true Helix rock and roll style -- plus an all-new Helix Christmas
orginal! This Canadian Classic Christmas Recording is what everyone
needs to keep their Christmas ROCKIN' and their New Year a 'ROLLING!!!

Lead singer of Helix, Brian Vollmer is a living legend!

For over 30 years Brian Vollmer of Helix has been rocking you and
loving it!

With five gold and two platinum albums under their belt and millions
of records sold around the world, we see Helix release their 14th
studio album this year, A HEAVY MENTAL CHRISTMAS!

Brian Vollmer's Helix stands out as a Canadian rock act that has
achieved international success and recognition.

Helix's music is rooted in classic rock and could easily be compared
to AC/DC, Aerosmith or Bon Jovi (you get the idea.)

Check it out! These guys toured Europe with Kiss & Motorhead in the
'80s and were there with Quiet Riot and Twisted Sister in L.A. for the
whole heavy metal explosion that brought bands like Judas Priest and
Scorpions into the mainstream! And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Brian was there when MTV and MUCH was new and was part of some of the
most successful rock videos of our time ("Rock You" for example.)

Helix recently had a song featured in the last "Trailer Park Boys"
movie and MTV's "Cribs" recently did a feature on Brian's home (Planet
Helix).

Helix also released a critically acclaimed CD last year (world wide)
and have been touring Canada non-stop this year including a stop in
Texas this summer!

Brian and the band continue doing what they do best and that's
performing live and making kick-ass records!

Helix are reaching out to its loyal fans and winning over the next
generation of head bangers. They have performed with over 200 national
recording acts world wide and most recently with (Alice Cooper, Vince
Neil of Motley Crue, Cheap Trick, Dio, April Wine, Swollen Members,
and The Trailer Park Boys.)

Helix - A HEAVY MENTAL CHRISTMAS

Track Listing:

1. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
2. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
3. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
4. A Wonderful Christmas Time
5. Jingle Bell Rock
6. Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
7. Sock It To Me Santa
8. Jingle Bells
9. Silent Night
10. Christmas Time Is Here Again! -- Helix original!!!

More about A HEAVY MENTAL CHRISTMAS from producer Gord Prior:

"As a producer I wanted to keep the traditional feel of these classic
Christmas songs and Helix-size them at the same time. (Make them
Rock!) We took a very stripped down Rock and Roll/blues based
approach, similar to the way AC/DC use to record.

"The end result, I feel is a very high energy, rocking Christmas CD. A
HEAVY MENTAL CHRISTMAS! (laughs)

"We weren't exactly sure how this would all turn out when we started
and we were blown away with the end result! (It's not every day you
make a Christmas CD -- especially in August!)

"We worked hard on creating arrangements for these songs and
rearranged some Lennon and McCartney Christmas songs as well for this
recording as well as classics like 'Silent Night.' (To name a few.)

"I had a great team of people to work with. Brian Vollmer is a
seasoned pro to say the least (and a great singer both live and in the
studio) and the band rocked in the studio."

Helix – A HEAVY MENTAL CHRISTMAS will be released across Canada in all
Wal-Mart stores October 21, 2008 and all other retail chains shortly
after that. It is on our new label GBS Records, distributed by Fontana
North Distribution/ Universal Music Canada and sold all over the world
thru http://www.planethelix.com/ .

Helix Are:

Brian Vollmer - Lead vocals
Paul Fonseca - Bass
Jim Lawson - Lead guitar
Brent Niemi - Drums
Rick Van Dyk - Lead guitar

TSM/SLW Promotions
http://www.myspace.com/nickyaor
http://www.slwpromotions.com/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #11 ***
*
-Virgin Steele: NOBLE SAVAGE Re-release Available On October 21

As one of the absolute pioneers of Heavy Metal New York-based Virgin
Steele were spreading the gospel of U.S. Metal since their foundation
in 1981. Besides the brilliant guitar works the music is dominated by
the impressive and variable voice of singer and main songwriter David
DeFeis. His use of epical and classical influences is one of the
distinctive trademarks of the sound and style of Virgin Steele.

During their outstanding career the band released some highlights and
classics every Metalhead simply has to know to call himself "Metal."
With NOBLE SAVAGE and AGE OF CONSENT two of them are now re-mastered
and reworked -- with newly designed booklets, previously unreleased
bonus tracks, and personal liner notes by David DeFeis himself.

NOBLE SAVAGE was officially released in 1986. Rock Hard Germany was
marveled by the unique mixture of melodies, classical arrangements
like in a Wagner opera and the unique vocals of DeFeis.

Locomotive Records will now re-release NOBLE SAVAGE in the States on
October 21. Enjoy this masterpiece again and again...

Track listing:

1. We Rule The Night
2. I'm On Fire
3. Thy Kingdom Come
4. Image Of Faun At Twilight
5. Noble Savage
6. Fight Tooth And Nail
7. The Evil In Her Eyes
8. Rock Me
9. Don't Close Your Eyes
10. The Angel Of Light
11. Obsession (It Burns For You)
12. Love And Death
13. Where Are You Running To
14. Come On And Love Me
15. The Spirit Of Steele
16. The Pyre Of Kings
17. Fight Tooth And Nail (Roman Sword Re-mix)
18. Noble Savage (Early take & mix)

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #12 ***
*
-Dockyard 1 News

[Note: This is an edited version of Dockyard 1's latest two e-mail
newsletters. - Tim]

Virgin Steele - Reveal Details And Extras Of Re-releases!

On October 31st... Halloween...

Virgin Steele will be re-releasing their albums LIFE AMONG THE RUINS,
THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL - PART ONE, and THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN
AND HELL - PART TWO. These discs will be issued in Europe through
Dockyard 1. All three albums will contain bonus tracks and new
booklets and liner notes. As bonus tracks on THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN
AND HELL - PART TWO album, Virgin Steele has included two live
performances recorded in Germany, and on LIFE AMONG THE RUINS, they
have included several live acoustic tracks that were recorded in the
living room of David DeFeis' house during rehearsals. As regards these
live acoustic rehearsal tapes David DeFeis had this to say:

"upon listening back to those recordings, we felt that we had achieved
a really interesting mood... the performances are really raw, honest
and direct. We did not add any multi-track overdubs or any additions
whatsoever, they are just the stereo recordings presented live and
unvarnished as we played them. In this age of high technology we felt
that it was nice to do something really raw and low-tech. The songs
work well in this stripped down format, and the feeling in the room
was incredible. At some point we may actually release an entire disc
of these various live onstage performances and rehearsals we have in
our archives. As regards the full band live tracks... it is the
same... no overdubs or enhancements. The tracks were recorded with
just a simple stereo cassette player... not a multi-track high-end
machine."

A brand new Virgin Steele album will appear early in the new year.

Stay tuned to us here for more information and the full track
listings!!!

Pure Inc. - On Tour With Jorn

Our Swiss Rockers Pure Inc. are confirmed as the Special Guest for the
European Tour with Jorn! Please check tourdates below, we expect them
to still fill up. Additionally to the dates with Jorn, Pure Inc. are
playing as the special guest for Primal Fear on November 1st at
Sounddock 14 in Dietikon, Switzerland -- take it as the warm-up show
for the upcoming tour!

Pure Inc. just released their third album PARASITES & WORMS, which
marks their first chart entry in the Swiss charts! The Limited Edition
of this album comes with two bonus songs, one of them is the Led
Zeppelin cover "The Immigrant Song."

Vanishing Point - Final Tour Dates With Sonata Arctica!

All their European fans are sighing in anticipation: FINALLY the
Australian Prog Metal Masters are coming over again! Now it's only
days to count until the first concert in Huskvarna, Sweden in support
of Sonata Arctica! Please take a look below for the exact tour dates!

To ease the absence for the fans at home in Australia, Vanishing Point
played a highly acclaimed "Farewell show" at The Corner Hotel in
Melbourne, Australia -- to say hi and bye and as a last warm-up.

For the European folks it's the first show since Vanishing Point's
appearance at Wacken and since the tour with Gamma Ray. Vanishing
Point have released two fresh albums with Dockyard 1 since then,
EMBRACE THE SILENCE and THE FOURTH SEASON. Be there in time to finally
see them live!

Secret Sphere - Blood, Sweet Blood!

Secret Sphere -- a name guaranteed to make every Power Metal freak's
heart beat faster with exitement and anticipation! Crediting bands
like Helloween, Blind Guardian and Savatage as their biggest
influences, Secret Sphere manage to honour the heritage of such big
names while creating their very own brand of Symphonic Power Metal.
With SWEET BLOOD THEORY they deliver their fifth full-length album,
this time staging the concept of the strange and moody world of Tim
Burton's movies "Corpse Bride" and "Nightmare Before Christmas." With
those epic tales serving as a backdrop Secret Sphere build up a
musical landscape which completely suits the dangerous and grotesque
story.

SWEET BLOOD THEORY will be out on October 24th!

Eyefear - Reveal Album Title

Australia-based Progressive Power metallers Eyefear are not shy being
compared with the giants of the Melodic / Power / Progressive Metal
territory such as Queensryche, Iron Maiden and Fates Warning. What may
sound bold is easy if you're having Danny Cecati (ex-Pegazus) in your
ranks -- one of the most outstanding singers of the metal scene.
However, Eyefear have a sound of their own, and can easily keep up to
the aforementioned groups in terms of songwriting and artistical
performance. Now the band announced the title of their upcoming fourth
album, it will be called THE UNSEEN and will see the light of day on
November 7!

As a special extra feature Eyefear added a video to the song "Dreams"
to the album!

Dreamland - New Album In March!

Good news for Melodic Metal gourmets: Dreamland have booked the studio
to record their third album! To be precise: They have booked their
studio time at Andy LaRoque's Sonic Train Studios in Sweden where
HammerFall are currently recording their newest record and Dreamland
will enter the studio as soon as HammerFall are done. Dreamland's yet
unnamed successor of FUTURE'S CALLING and EYE FOR AN EYE shall be out
by March 2009!

AORHeaven.com praised EYE FOR AN EYE:

"If you like HammerFall, you will love Dreamland. But EYE FOR AN EYE
is not only a copy of the original. Here you can find a lot of tunes
that you expected to hear on the latest HF releases. You can really
feel that this band is hungry and enjoys themselves a lot."

Inside Dockyard 1

Well... if we still didn't introduce us to you enough... Now we do!

DOCKYARD 1 IS COMING is our first Official Label Compilation -- out
exclusively on iTunes. Click here and get it for the special price --
and then you know what we're about!

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?
id=288103725&s=143443

The staff at iTunes was already subdued by the compilation, it went
immediately into the Top 8 of the recommended albums!

Dockyard 1 A&R Christine Stephan states about the compilation:

"This is the ultimate sound track for this autumn! This is the
selection out of 40 bands and more than 60 releases so far. From
traditional Rock via Hardcore and Black Metal to Death Metal, this is
the best of three years Dockyard 1 covering Savage Circus,
StormWarrior, Virgin Steele, Lake Of Tears, Iron Savior, Waltari,
Shatter Messiah (featuring ex-members of Annihilator and Nevermore),
Dreamland, Degradead (the first band to be produced by members of In
Flames in the new IF studios), Hate Squad, As We Fight, Assailant and
Blood Stain Child."

On Tour

Pure Inc.
11.10.2008 - The Rock - Thun - Switzerland
01.11.2008 - Sounddock 14 - Dietikon, ZH - Switzerland (with PRIMAL
FEAR)
05.12.2008 - Sedel - Luzern - Switzerland

Pure Inc.
on tour with Jorn
12.11.2008 - JB's - Dudley - UK
13.11.2008 - Button Factory - Dublin - IRE
15.11.2008 - De Pul - Uden - Netherlands
17.11.2008 - Matrix - Bochum - Germany
18.11.2008 - Rockfabrik - Ludwigsburg - Germany
19.11.2008 - Z7 - Pratteln - Switzerland
20.11.2008 - Legend 54 - Milan - Italy
22.11.2008 - Plateruena - Durango (near Bilbao) - Spain
23.11.2008 - Ritmo & Compas - Madrid - Spain
25.11.2008 - TBA
26.11.2008 - Diesel Klub - Budapest - Hungary
27.11.2008 - Exit Chmelnice - Prague - Czech Republic
28.11.2008 - TBA
29.11.2008 - TBA
30.11.2008 - Markthalle - Hamburg - Germany

Secret Sphere
31.10.2008 - THE ROCK - Copenhagen - Denmark

StormWarrior
11.10.2008 - True As Steel Festival - Winterthur - Switzerland
28.11.2008 - Barbaars! Festival - Leeuwarden - Netherlands

StormWarrior on tour with Firewind
04.11.08 - Markthalle - Hamburg - Germany
05.11.08 - Turock - Essen - Germany
06.11.08 - 013 - Tilburg - Netherlands
07.11.08 - Musikzentrum - Hannover - Germany
08.11.08 - Vosselaar - Biebob - Belgium
09.11.08 - Rock Club - Kerkrade - Netherlands

Vanishing Point
Supporting Sonata Arctica
31.10.2008 - Folketspark - Huskvarna - Sweden
01.11.2008 - Rockefeller - Oslo - Norway
02.11.2008 - Tyrol - Stockholm - Sweden
04.11.2008 - Tivoli - Utrecht - Netherlands
05.11.2008 - Elysee Montmartre - Paris - France
07.11.2008 - Razzmatazz 1 Barcelona - Spain
08.11.2008 - La Riviera - Madrid - Spain
09.11.2008 - Rock Star Live - Bilbao - Spain
10.11.2008 - Bikini - Toulouse - France
12.11.2008 - Fillmore - Piacenza - Italy
13.11.2008 - Gasometer - Vienna - Austria
14.11.2008 - Petöfi Csarnok - Budapest - Hungary
15.11.2008 - Stuck - Maribor - Slovenia
16.11.2008 - Backstage - Munich - Germany
18.11.2008 - Z7 - Pratteln - Switzerland
19.11.2008 - Garage - Saarbrücken - Germany
20.11.2008 - Hof ter Lo - Antwerp - Belgium
21.11.2008 - Club Lucky - Rijssen - Netherlands
22.11.2008 - Turbinenhalle - Oberhausen - Germany

Release Schedule

Out Now:
Virgin Steele - NOBLE SAVAGE (Re-Release)
Virgin Steele - AGE OF CONSENT (Re-Release)
StormWarrior - HEADING NORTHE
Hate Squad - DEGUELLO WARTUNES
Assailant - WICKED DREAM
Crystallion - HATTIN
Pure Inc. - PARASITES AND WORMS
Magician - TALES OF THE MAGICIAN
No Return - MANIPULATED MIND

October 24, 2008
The Very End - VS. LIFE
Secret Sphere - SWEET BLOOD THEORY

October 31, 2008
Virgin Steele - THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL - PART ONE
Virgin Steele - THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL - PART TWO
Virgin Steele - LIFE AMONG THE RUINS

November 7, 2008
Eyefear - THE UNSEEN

Starting in 2009:
After All - TBA
Degradead - TBA
Dreamland - TBA
Virgin Steele - new album
Savage Circus - TBA
Persuader - TBA
and many more...

http://www.dockyard1.com/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #13 ***
*
-Nightmare Records: New Ivanhoe, Avian, Harmony And Much, Much More...

Nightmare Friends....

Here are the latest titles from Nightmare that are available. I
encourage you to check out our new Web site fully, and explore the new
abilities it has with its rich graphic and musical content and easy
ordering interface. Also we had a glitch with shipping calculations on
some of the overseas shipping destinations, that should be fixed now.

NEW RELEASES FROM NIGHTMARE RECORDS

COMING SOON!

Chaoswave - DEAD EYE DREAMING
*PRE ORDER NOW!
Street Date: Nov. 25th (Europe February via Silverwolf/SPV)
From Italy -- Dark, speedy and heavy -- Nevermore meets Lacuna Coil!
Nightmare Records
UPC Code: 734923005926
Catalog #: NMR-472
Genre: Rock/Hard Rock/Metal
$15.99

Halcyon Way - A MANIFESTO FOR DOMINATION
*PRE ORDER NOW!
Street Date: Nov. 11th (Europe February via Silverwolf/SPV)
From Atlanta, GA -- Slayer meets Dio, with a dash of Fates Warning!
Nightmare Records
UPC Code: 734923006025
Catalog #: NMR-482
Genre: Metal
$15.99

Theocracy - MIRROR OF SOULS
*PRE ORDER NOW!
COMING DECEMBER 9TH
Ulterium Records/Nightmare Records
UPC Code: 78694096894
Catalog #: ULTCD010
Genre: Metal/Progressive
$15.99

Beneath A Blackened Sky - THE ART OF SUFFERING
*PRE ORDER NOW!
COMING NOVEMBER 11TH
MEI Records
UPC Code: 801655193921
Catalog #: CD-010201
Genre: Rock/Hard Rock/Metal
$15.99

Harmony - CHAPTER II: AFTERMATH
COMING NOVEMBER 11TH
*PRE ORDER NOW!
Ulterium Records/Nightmare Records
UPC Code: 786984989721
Catalog #: ULTCD009
Genre: Melodic Power Metal/Progressive
$15.99

JUST HITTING THE STREETS

Avian - ASHES AND MADNESS
shipping NOW!
European release January via Silverwolf/SPV)
Dark crunchy epic power metal with soaring vocals and shreding guitar
work featuring vocalist Lance King (ex-Balance Of Power & Pyramaze)
and guitarist Bill Hudson (Power Quest & Circle II Circle)
Nightmare Records
UPC Code: 734923005728
Catalog #: NMR-452
Genre: Progessive/Metal
$16.99

Andromeda - THE IMMUNITY ZONE
shipping NOW!
European January via Silverwolf/SPV)
Sixth Release for this Brilliant progressive metal band from Sweden!
Nightmare Records
UPC Code: 734923005827
Catalog #: NMR-462
Genre: Progressive Metal
$16.99

Cloudscape - GLOBAL DRAMA
shipping NOW!
Third release for this melodic progressive power metal band from
Sweden -- their strongest to date!
Nightmare Records
UPC Code: 734923005629
Catalog #: NMR-442
Genre: Progessive/Metal
was: $16.99; now: $13.59 -- You Save: 20.00%

Memoira - MEMOIRA
shipping NOW!
(European release January via Silverwolf/SPV)
Price $15.99
Epic metal from Finland. Haunting female vocals, crunchy guitars,
reminding of Epica, Within Temptation, Evanescence!
Nightmare Records
UPC Code: 734923005520
Catalog #: NMR-432
Genre: Rock/Gothic/Metal
$15.99

Ivanhoe - LIFELINE
shipping NOW!
Silverwolf/spv/Nightmare
UPC Code: 786984042723
Catalog #: SWP0005IV
Genre: Progressive Metal
$15.99

Reload - CRIME THEORIES
shipping NOW!
Insanity Records
UPC Code: 786984987925
Catalog #: IRCD006
Genre: Progressive/Metal
$15.99

Suspyre - WHEN TIME FADES...
shipping NOW!
Sensory Records
UPC Code: 763232304420
Catalog #: SR3044
Genre: Progressive Metal
$15.99

Witchking - HAND OF JUSTICE
Insanity / Nightmare
UPC Code: 786984988021
Catalog #: IRCD007
Genre: Power/Thrash Metal
$15.99

Xystus - EQUILIBRIO (featuring Simone Simons from Epica)
Sensory
UPC Code: 763232304529
Catalog #: SR3045
Genre: Progressive Metal
$12.95

BRAND NEW CD'S IN STOCK READY TO SHIP!

Dark Empire - HUMANITY DETHRONED
shipping NOW!
Killzone Records
82716614922
KZ08
Price $13.99

Glass Wolfe - PREDATOR
shipping NOW!
Blastzone Ent. Group
647987200926
PWM0001
Price $13.99

Delta - BLACK & COLD
shipping NOW!
Independent (from Chile)
786984105824
Price $15.99

Gypsy Pistoleros - PARA SIEMPRE
shipping NOW!
Blastzone Ent. Group
786984942528
BZ00019
Price $13.99

Keith Miller - OVER THE ABYSS
shipping NOW!
Independent
796873043922
Price $12.99

Neverdream - SOULS 26-APRIL 1986
shipping NOW!
Independent (Import from Italy)
786984105626
Price $15.99

Perihellium - THE NEW BEGINNING
shipping NOW!
Insanity Records
5904259358781
IRCD004
Price $15.99

Saddleback Shark (featuring Rob Johnson) - THE KILLING SYSTEM
Shredguy Records
659696180420
Price $12.99

Smash Fashion - A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO SOPHISTICATED SAVAGERY
Blastzone / Nightmare Records
632127067224
EPR714
Price $13.99

Stonelake - UNCHARTED SOULS
Unlimited Music Production
634479711794
Stone4
Price $15.99

Symphony - MIND REFLECTIONS
Insanity Records
5904259358743
IRCD005
Price $15.99

The Jakals - UNITED
Blastzone Ent. Group
786984943020
BZ0002
wholesale $13.99

Vertigo - AND MILES TO GO BEFORE WE SLEEP
Blastzone Ent. Group
687474143824
D4815162342
Price 15.99

STILL HOT ON NIGHTMARE

Six Minute Century - TIME CAPSULES
UPC Code: 734923004929
Catalog #: NMR-362
Genre: Rock/Hard Rock/Metal
$14.99

Sacred Dawn - GEARS OF THE MACHINE...A NEW BEGINNING
UPC Code: 734923005124
Catalog #: NMR-392
Genre: Rock/Hard Rock/Metal
Chicago's Newest Metal Sensation!
$14.99

Perspective X IV - SHADOW OF DOUBT
UPC Code: 734923005421
Catalog #: NMR-422
Genre: Progressive rock/metal
Wonderful progressive hard rock/metal, giving a nod to the 70's
greats!
$14.99

Alkemyst - THROUGH PAINFUL LANES
UPC Code: 734923005223
Catalog #: NMR-402
Genre: technical speed power progressive
Amazing melodic technical speed metal / DragonForce meets Symphony X!
$14.99

Scelerata - SKELETONS DOMINATION
UPC Code: 734923005322
Catalog #: NMR-412
Genre: Rock/Hard Rock/Metal
Brazillian power metal sounding like Angra meets Helloween/Gamma Ray!
$14.99

Order Of Nine - A MEANSN TO KNOW END
UPC Code: 734923005025
Catalog #: NMR-382
Genre: Rock/Hard Rock/Metal
Speedy, Thrashy, in your face U.S. Metal.
$14.99

Please sign up on the Web site and receive for faster easier shopping.

DON'T FORGET TO TUNE INTO THE SHOPP ON METALEXPRESSRADIO.COM EACH
SUNDAY! SHOW PLAYS TWICE on SUNDAY!

NIGHTMARE RECORDS & DISTRIBUTION
7751 Greenwood Drive,
St. Paul, MN 55112 U.S.A.
Tel 763-784-9654
Fax 763-784-7914

NIGHTMARE RECORDS & DISTRIBUTION
http://www.Nightmare-Records.com/

OFFICIAL NIGHTMARE RECORDS FORUM
http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/nightmare-records-436/

CHECK OUT OUR MYSPACE PAGES!
http://www.myspace.com/NightmareRecords1 (Label)
http://www.myspace.com/NightmareRecordsMusic (Distribution)
http://www.myspace.com/lancekingvox (My Profile)

NIGHTMARE METAL FEST (March 19-20-21, 2009)
http://www.NightmareMetalFest.com/
http://www.myspace.com/NightmareMetalFestival
http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/nightmare-metal-fest-474/ (FEST
FORUM)

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #14 ***
*
-Black Succubi Announce November U.K. Tour

In conjunction with the release of their debut album in July,
Scandinavian melodic metal act Black Succubi sets out on their first
U.K. tour this November. The tour is presented by SLW Promotions and
Two Side Moon in U.K. as a follow-up to the very positive British
press regarding Black Succubi's debut album.

"We're very excited about this tour," tells guitar player and founding
member Thomas Pedersen. "It's what we're in it for; composing,
rehearsing, recording...and touring. Playing live on a London stage
Saturday night is definitely a dream come true, and we are honoured
and very happy about the support and this opportunity to rock with the
metal fans in U.K."

Nov 16, Thatched House, Stockport
Nov 17, tba (open for booking)
Nov 18, Monto Water Rats, London
Nov 20, The Salutation Inn, Nottingham
Nov 21, The Duke of Neath, Neath
Nov 22, BH2 Bridge House, London - supporting Joe Stump (U.S.)
Nov 23, Scruffy Murphy's, Birmingham

Black Succubi is a Copenhagen, Denmark based melodic metal act by
present and former members of Iron Fire, Fate, Sons Of Tomorrow and
PitchBlack. Black Succubi's debut album is independently released
through digital downloading only and have received numerous and very
supporting reviews from Internet webzines and magazines
internationally. Visit http://www.blacksuccubi.dk/ for music samples,
biography, photos and video.

Black Succubi
http://www.blacksuccubi.dk/

SLW Promotions
http://www.myspace.com/slwpromotions

Two Side Moon Promotions
http://www.myspace.com/nickyaor

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #15 ***
*
-Tadashi Goto

World Renowned Master Artist Ed Unitsky, has completed the CD Album
Cover Artwork for the new rising star in Progressive Metal -- Tadashi
Goto.

Tadashi Goto, born in 1976, grew up listening to classical music as a
child. He began his musical career playing the organ at age 5 and by
the time he was 10 years old he had begun composing.

His recognition for his creative talent grew, when he joined the
Yamaha Original Concert in Japan. While he was performing with the
JOC, he met Yoshihiko Ujihara, professional guitarist and lead
guitarist of former member of X-Japan.

Ujihara taught Goto synthesizers oriented composition and progressive
rock. Later, Goto was to meet Donny Schwekendiek, professional jazz
pianist from Atlanta who taught him jazz rock. Goto traveled to
Newcastle, NSW, Australia and lived there for 2000 - 2001 and he
recorded his first solo album SOUNDSCAPE which is released in 2005 by
Musea France/Intermusic Japan.

Goto's follow-up release since his first debut Soundscape in 2005, is
being released by ProgRock Records, in Rancho Marguarita, CA, entitled
INNERVISIONS. This an extraordinary mix of heavy, futuristic,
powerful, with fascinating and complex odd-time signatures that are
driven by Tadashi's excellent compositions.

You will be stunned and fascinated with Goto's mastery and the
powerful guest lists that has joined him to create this album.
Combining the extraordinary talents of Chris Poland, Brett Garsed, Ty
Tabor, Tony Levin, Tony Franklin, Matt Bissonette, Joseph Patrick
Moore, Randy George, Sean Conklin, Jose Bernardo and Marco Ahrens on
this album, you have one of the most powerful pieces of prog-fusion
music released this year. It is a testament to Tadashi's skill as a
composer and player that with little notoriety he was able to bring
together such esteemed guests.

Tadashi Goto's album can be purchased from ProgRock Records at
http://www.progrockrecords.com/ . For a quick sample listen on
Tadashi's MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/soundscape50 .

Ed Unitsky
http://www.edunitsky.net/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #16 ***
*
-Destruction Update

There is no better champion of thrash than Germany's Destruction.
Hailed as one of the genre's innovators (and best) the trio have
consistently delivered a characteristic one-two knock out punch of
speed and intensity. Uncompromising, honest and determined, they
continue decades after their genesis. The new album
D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. not only represents the latest release from the
thrash juggernaut, it additionally celebrates 25 years of commitment
from Destruction that continues to prove there is no slowing down for
them. Following the impressive 2005 INVENTOR OF EVIL and 2007 re-
recorded album THRASH ANTHEMS, D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. unveils a
hurricane of technically skilled, energetic thrash, executing an array
of material that bears influence from all eras of their discography.
Destruction never fail to deliver.

http://www.destruction.de/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #17 ***
*
-Brazilian Band Shadowside Ends International Tour

Brazilian metallers Shadowside just ended a successful international
tour. After three performances in Spanish ground the band led by
female singer Dani Nolden landed once again in the United States for
several dates. This time the Devastating The Theatre tour included
appearances in Minneapolis, Oklahoma, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois
and Indiana -- where they were one of the headliners of Indianapolis
Metal Fest II.

Even though the purpose of the run was to promote debut album THEATRE
OF SHADOWS, Shadowside took the opportunity to play some songs from
their forthcoming record DARE TO DREAM, produced and mixed by Dave
Schiffman (System Of A Down, Audioslave, Avenged Sevenfold, and
others) and mastered by Howie Weinberg (Metallica, Iron Maiden,
Aerosimith, Pantera, and others) at Masterdisk Studio in New York.
Songs such as "Highlight," "Red Storm," "Nation Hollow Mind," "In The
Night," "Baby In The Dark" and "Memories" were among the best accepted
by the crowd which interacted really well with the band in all the
shows.

While the band was in the U.S.A., their management have been in
negotiations with interested labels. As of right now, Shadowside
members will be taking a few days off until the South American tour,
currently being book for late 2008/early 2009. Pictures can be found
at http://www.myspace.com/shadowsideband .

http://www.shadowside.ws/
http://www.myspace.com/shadowsideband

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #18 ***
*
-Kreator, Exodus, Belphegor, & Warbringer Team Up For '09 Tour

Bay Area thrash progenitors Exodus will return to touring in support
of 2007's THE ATROCITY EXHIBITION: EXHIBIT A with Germany's Kreator,
Austria's Belphegor, and California's Warbringer.

Exodus guitarist/songwriter Gary Holt checks in from his home in
Northern California with the following:

"If you can believe it, we've NEVER toured with Kreator even though
Mille and I go WAY back. We've played occasional festivals together
and played five shows back in '97 on Summer Metal Meeting with them.
We've always had a LOT of fun with them, so I'm looking forward to
spending time with old friends Kreator, new friends Warbringer, and
soon-to-be-good-friends Belphegor.

"We're pretty damned happy to be playing nine shows in Canada because
Canadian cities tend to get overlooked. The last time we were in
Winnipeg, Calgary, and another city which I can't remember right now,
those shows were full of 17-year-olds and they went insane. Those
dates were the best on that tour!"

Tickets for this tour are on sale now exclusively through
EnterTheVault.com through October 31st. As of November 1st, tickets go
on sale through all normal ticketing outlets.

Exodus' next album, THE ATROCITY EXHIBITION: EXHIBIT B is due out by
Summer 2009.

http://www.exodusattack.com/
http://www.myspace.com/exodus

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #19 ***
*
-The Underwater Schedules Live Dates

TRENTON, N.J. -- The Underwater has scheduled live dates in and around
its home base of York, Penn., following the release of its new album,
FORCES.

The hard-working group toured nationally and internationally while
promoting its EPs recorded prior to FORCES, and now The Underwater is
focusing on a string of dates before hitting the road for more full-
fledged touring. Longtime fans in these areas will be thrilled about
the return of The Underwater, a band that truly shines in the live
arena.

"With all of the pressure and stress that goes along with being in a
band, the live show is the one thing that is still just as exciting
and fun to me as it was when I was a little kid in a garage band,"
said guitarist Matt Holmes. "When I was younger, I remember not being
able to sleep before a sh*tty little fire hall show because I was so
nervous and excited. That's the one part of the day that is my time
and no one can take from me, and I hope I never lose that passion to
play and perform."

Through day and day out playing, The Underwater has developed an
unforced chemistry and deep connection with the music they are playing
that transcends any studio recording. "I think the best way to
describe it is that everyone is on the same page and in the pocket
together," said drummer Pat Besecker. "When the band gets on stage,
everybody knows what's going to happen before it happens. That is
special to me."

"When you all become the music as opposed to just going through the
motions and playing the music, you know it and start to develop that
'flow' and connection," said Holmes. "That is the chemistry and that
is what we work towards every tour."

The live goal of The Underwater is simple: Accurately recreate the
studio recordings with an extra dose of energy and power that can only
be found in a live setting. "If people leave the show and don't have a
greater love and appreciation for the band, then we haven't done our
job right," Holmes said. "When I was younger, a live show made or
broke a band in my eyes and I haven't forgotten that."

The Underwater live dates:
11/05/08 Wed. - Jammin Java, Vienna, VA
11/06/08 Thu. - 8x10, Baltimore, MD
11/07/08 Fri. - JC Dobbs, Philadelphia, PA
11/08/08 Sat. - Bill's Bar, Boston, MA
11/10/08 Mon. - Water Street Music Hall, Rochester, NY
11/11/08 Tue. - Reggies Rock, Chicago, IL

http://www.theunderwater.net/
http://www.myspace.com/theunderwater

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #20 ***
*
-Scar Symmetry MKII: The New Lineup Is Revealed!

[Note: This is from a blog posting at
http://www.myspace.com/scarsymmetry . - Tim]

Monday, October 06, 2008

Dear friends,

When things went from bad to worse and we realized that it wasn't
going to work out with Christian [Alvestam], we were faced with two
options; either calling it quits, or seizing the opportunity to take
the next logical step in the evolution of our sound. We chose the
latter. We've used both growls and clean vocals in our music since day
one, and with each album we've pushed the envelope of what you can do
vocally in a metal band to the point where a lot of the songs on
HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE would be hard if not impossible to sing live. So
the question is: Is it really possible to push the vocals even further
and manage to perform everything live?

The answer is YES! Instead of hiring a new singer, we decided -- some
of you might already have figured it out by now -- to recruit TWO
singers! The idea of having two vocalists in the band is something
that's been in the back of our minds for a long time, and after
auditioning and rehearsing with two of Sweden's best vocalists we're
thrilled, excited, stoked-beyond-belief!!!

So let us introduce you to...

Roberth Karlsson - lead growl vocals & backing clean vocals
Roberth was our first choice for the growling position. Jonas once
called him "Sweden's finest growler," which is no overstatement.
Roberth has been involved in many band throughout the years, among
others Edge Of Sanity and Facebreaker.

Lars Palmqvist - lead clean vocals & backing growl vocals
Roberth introduced us to his long-time friend Lars, who blew us away
with his powerful-yet-beautiful voice. You can imagine our excitement
when we learned that he's a fantastic growler as well! Despite his
amazing talents he's virtually unknown to the metal public, which just
might change as of today!

We are very fortunate to have found these guys. They bring to the band
not only their incredible skills but also a positive vibe we haven't
had for some time. We've posted a video clip from when we auditioned
Roberth and Lars, as a little teaser... Yes it might come across as we
were drunk the entire time, which probably is very close to the truth.
Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbkDV6pc0Vs

After we disclosed the news about Christian leaving Scar Symmetry, we
received a lot of applications for the vocalist spot, both from
unknown and well-known singers, from all around the world. Though we
had already decided upon Roberth and Lars, it was really cool to
listen to all of you! We didn't have time to reply to everyone, so
here's a big THANK YOU to all of you who made the effort to send us
your stuff!

Stay tuned for more news and updates!!!

http://www.scarsymmetry.com/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #21 ***
*
-Priestess Enter The Studio For Early 2009 Release

Announce Canadian and U.S. Dates In Support of New Material

LOS ANGELES -- The Montreal foursome Priestess is recording tracks
this fall in Los Angeles with producer Dave Schiffman (Anti-Flag,
Avenged Sevenfold, System Of A Down) for the band's follow-up to its
acclaimed 2006 debut, HELLO MASTER. After leaving the studio,
Priestess will tour Canada and the Northeastern U.S. this winter,
performing new material from the upcoming album set for an early 2009
release.

"I'm happy to say that it's going extremely well," says the Priestess
front man, Mikey Heppner, who couldn't hide his excitement to finally
be back in the studio. "Coming from a dude who has only made one
record prior to this one I'm still going to say it's the best sh*t
we've ever done, and we can't wait to put it out!"

Priestess spent 2008 on the road, converting new fans while opening
for Mastodon and playing a number of summer festivals with Iron
Maiden. The band's popularity continues to reach an even wider
audience, thanks to the inclusion of its song "Lay Down" on the
extremely popular video game, "Guitar Hero." The snarling blast of
relentless energy and infectious riffs pushed the song onto the iTunes
singles chart.

Priestess Tour Dates

November
11 - Mavericks Bar - Ottawa, ON
12 - Call the Office - London, ON
13 - Absinthe Club & Lounge - Hamilton, ON
14 - Le Skratch - the Groove Lounge - Oshawa, ON
15 - Lee's Place - Toronto, ON
18 - The Townehouse Tavern - Sudbury, ON
20 - Black Pirate's Pub - Thunder Bay, ON
21 - Pyramid Cabaret - Winnipeg, MB
22 - Sudds - Brandon
25 - The Hi Fi Club - Calgary, AB
26 - The Starlite Room - Edmonton, AB
28 - Sugar Nightclub - Victoria, BC
29 - The Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, BC
30 - Garibaldi Lift Company - Whistler, BC

December
2 - The Road House - Golden
3 - The Dog House - Medicine Hat
4 - Amigos - Saskatoon, SK
5 - The Distrikt - Regina, SK
9 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL
10 - Ravari Room - Columbus, OH
11 - Mohawk Place - Buffalo, NY

* with Bison, Flash Lightnin', Barn Burner
+ with 3 Inches Of Blood, Bison, Flash Lightnin'
% with Flash Lightnin', Barn Burner

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #22 ***
*
-Montreal's Special Ops Double Attack Toronto's Phoenix & Toronto
Exclusive Magazine Awards

MONTREAL -- Montreal's infantry rockers Special Ops are preparing to
invade Toronto for a double assault on Friday, October 10th at the
Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne Street 8 p.m. by Awsum Ink
Ent. & Wednesday, October 22nd at Smiling Buddha Lounge, 961 College
St. West for a performance at the 2nd Annual Toronto Exclusive
Magazine Awards Recognition Night.

This is quite an achievement for Special Ops after returning to
touring dates after the unfortunate news that Bassist Waldo Thornhill
was diagnosed with colon cancer earlier in spring 2008.

"We are so honoured to be returning back to Toronto, this city has
always been great to us, all the recruits for the Special Ops infantry
have just been amazing." Says Special Ops guitarist Akbar Johnson. "I
can't wait to shoot off our rockets again, it's been awhile since
we've played Toronto and to return to the trenches here in Toronto is
continuing the uphill battle."

Friday, October 10, 2008
Special Ops
Time: 8 p.m. – 19+
Cost: $10
Place:
Phoenix Concert Theatre
410 Sherbourne Street

Wednesday, October 22, 2008
2nd Annual Magazine Awards Online Recognition Night & 6th Annual Food
Drive
Time: 8 p.m.
Place:
Smiling Buddha Lounge
http://smilingbuddhabar.com/
961 College St. West
Open to the public
19 years of age and over
$5 tickets to the public
Artists free admission w/ Food Item for Food Drive

http://www.torontoecxlusive.com/
http://www.awsumink.net/

Upcoming Tour Dates:

Montreal, QC - Oct 8, 2008 - Prophecies Of War Tour
Toronto, ON - Oct 10, 2008 - Phoenix
Welland, ON - Oct 11, 2008 - Club Social
Montreal, QC - Oct 16, 2008 - Prophecies Of War Tour
Toronto, ON - Oct 22, 2008 - Smiling Buddha
Montreal, QC - Nov 6, 2008 - Bar St. Laurent 2
Montreal, QC - Nov 7, 2008 - Café Chaos
Montreal, QC - Nov 8, 2008 - Prophecies Of War Tour
Toronto, ON - Nov 14, 2008 - Kathedral
Brantford, ON - Nov 15, 2008 - The Alex

http://www.opsmission.com/
http://www.myspace.com/opsmission

*
*** NEWS/RUMORS ***
*
-The Dead End Kidz recently hit 50,000 profile views and 50,000 plays
on their MySpace site, http://www.myspace.com/dekmusic . Congrats! The
band is hoping to line up some gigs soon. See
http://www.youtube.com/john8186 for more.

-Evergrey's new video for "Broken Wings" from TORN will debut on
MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball," this Saturday in the 2 - 3 a.m. hour. The
video will also be available at Headbangersblog.com on October 9.
Check out a widget for TORN now at http://www.spv.de/widgets/evergrey/
. See http://www.evergrey.net/ and
http://www.myspace.com/officialevergrey for more.

-Dates for Girlschool's 30th anniversary world tour:

10/10 - White Trash, Berlin, Germany
10/17 - Uden, Pul, The Netherlands
10/18 - Helendoorn, Lantaarn, The Netherlands
10/19 - Metal Female Voices Festival, Wieze, Belgium
10/20 - Zeche, Bochum, Germany
10/21 - Ballroom, Hamburg, Germany
10/22 - MTC, Köln, Germany
10/24 - Sackfabrik, Magdeburg, Germany
10/25 - Kulturhof, Lübbenau, Germany
10/26 - Bastard Club, Osnabrück, Germany
10/27 - Rosenkeller, Jena, Germany
10/28 - Garage, München, Germany
10/29 - Z7, Pratteln, Switzerland
10/30 - Halle 101, Speyer, Germany
10/31 - Outback, Bad Arolsen, Germany
11/1 - Conne Island, Leipzig, Germany
11/15 - Keep It True, Wuerzburg, Germany

More dates are coming soon. See http://www.girlschool.co.uk/ for more.

-Halloween's DON'T METAL WITH EVIL is being reissued on vinyl with
four bonus live tracks. There will be 500 copies made available -- 100
on orange vinyl and 400 on black vinyl. See
http://www.killermetalrecords.de/ for more.

-Iron Fire is working on a new album for Napalm Records. The disc is
tentatively scheduled for a spring '09 release. See
http://www.ironfire.dk/ for more.

-Jesse James Dupree & Dixie Inc. features the Jackyl main man, and the
debut disc REV IT UP & GO-GO is out now. Hype: "[The disc] contains
eight studio tracks as well as 12 live songs. Good rock in the style
of AC/DC, Jackyl!" Track list: "Rev It Up & Go-Go," "Bite," "Drop Dead
Ready," "Tank," "Wash Me Away," "1095 Days," "Money Lovin & Speed,"
"Get To Me," "One Extreme Intro," "Welcome To The Show," "Party,"
"Reality Star Intro," "Reality Star," "A.J. White's," "Well Enough,"
"Fire It Up," "Had To Get Stoned," "American As Apple Pie," "Far Out,"
"One Extreme Outro." Check out some song clips at
http://musicbuymail.eu/index.php?i=24929 .

-Finnish gothic metal band Katra has a new video fro "Beast Within,"
the title track from its current album on Napalm Records, available
for viewing at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4mKWjrulc8 . The band
worked on the video with Markku Kirves (Battlelore). See
http://www.katra.fi/ and http://www.myspace.com/katramusic for more.

-In Pantera news, drummer Vinnie Paul will release a paperback book/
DVD set about his late brother, guitarist Dimebag Darrell, through his
own Big Vin lable on November 18. The book is called "He Came To Rock"
and will feature "over 400 pictures of Dimebag along with a biography
of his life," plus "personal tributes" from guitarists Kerry King
(Slayer), Scott Ian (Anthrax), and Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black
Label Society). The DVD will included the DIMEVISION - VOL. 1: THAT'S
THE FUN I HAVE home video with bonus footage added.

-MP3 samples of several tracks off of Axel Rudi Pell's upcoming TALES
OF THE CROWN are available for preview at
http://www.axel-rudi-pell.de/ . There's also a new "gydget" for the
album at http://www.spv.de/gydgets/arp .

-Upcoming John Taglieri shows:

10/9 - Richboro Pub, Richboro, PA
10/10 - Mighty Joe Young's, White Plains, NY
10/11 - Cheeseburger In Paradise, Iselin, NJ
10/16 - Richboro Pub, Richboro, PA
10/17 - Chaplains, Lake Hopatcong, NJ
10/18 - Cheeseburger In Paradise, Wayne, NJ
10/20 - The Sandbar, Brielle, NJ
10/23 - Richboro Pub, Richboro, PA
10/24 - Mighty Joe Young's, White Plains, NY
10/24 - Jose O'Reilly's, Norwood, NJ
10/25 - The Sandbar, Brielle, NJ

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

-Tesla's FOREVER MORE is out this week. Check out the video for the
new track "I Wanna Live" at http://www.teslatheband.com/ .

-U.D.O. recently released a limited-edition, two-disc live set called
MASTERCUTOR ALIVE; there is also a DVD version. Track list: CD #1 -
"Mastercutor," "24/7," "They Want War," "The Bullet And The Bomb,"
"Midnight Mover," "Vendetta," "Mission No. X," "Midnight Highway,"
"The Wrong Side Of Midnight," "Breaker," guitar solo," "Princess Of
The Dawn," "One Lone Voice," "Winterdreams." CD #2 - "Living For
Tonite," "Thunderball," drum solo," "Man And Machine," "Animal House,"
"Metal Heart," "Holy," "Balls To The Wall," "Fast As A Shark,"
"Burning," "Outro," "I'm A Rebel." See http://www.udo-online.de/ for
more.

-Online reports indicate Eddie Van Halen is now engaged to his
girlfriend Janie Liszewski -- who is also his publicist -- and they
plan to get married next summer.

Thanks to Jeff "Modern Day Cowboy" Adee, Jens Häfner, Alexander Ford,
Nathan Birk, and Mikey@... for help gathering some of
this information.

*
*** AT THE ALTAR: RE-DISCOVERY ***
*
by Patrick Brower (patrickbrower@...)

-Strap yer climbin' boots on boys and girls; we've got ourselves a
tower to scale. A Clock Tower.

-I personally recruited Terry Gant to Detritus in early 2005. We met
in downtown Chicago in late 1999 but it would be a few years before I
found out his taste in music didn't suck. In fact we each listened to
totally different metal bands that the other would inevitably come
around to (Avenged Sevenfold, anyone?). Terry wrote a CD review column
called "The Clock Tower" and while he wasn't with us for long, he is
still with us in spirit.

-Hello Detritus Readers!

You may remember me from such memorable reviews as "That long ass
piece about Dillinger Escape Plan's MISS MACHINE and Lamb Of God's
ASHES OF THE WAKE." I'm Terry Gant and when I'm not opening new swanky
comic book stores (Third Coast Comics --
http://www.thirdcoastcomics.com/ ) I'm still making the metal sign and
wishing Racer X would just f'n bring it already!

I'm just recovering from a massive external hard drive crash (the one
with all of my music on it) and having finally recovered 3,000+ tunes,
I'm relaxing into a deep metal coma of Sympnony X's PARADISE LOST,
Testament's THE FORMATION OF DAMNATION, Dark Tranquillity's FICTION
and whatever the Mars Volta feel like committing to wax.

I've also got a heavy dose of Cut Chemist, DJ Spooky and DJ Shadow
going on Pandora. Edgewater is not an area where I'm gonna keep a ton
of customers if I'm playing SOUTH OF HEAVEN over and over but I'm not
gonna play the Arctic Monkeys either so Electron DJ movie scores seem
to do the trick around here.

If you're looking for me you can always slide by Third Coast Comics at
6234 N. Broadway or e-mail me at terry@....

Peeze,
TG

-All this time at Detritus and I have never pimped MY comic book
store, Challengers, in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago (
http://www.ChallengersComics.com/ ). Wow, Rick Berg, Terry Gant and
myself, all with comic book stores in Illinois. Metal + Comics = All
The Goodness in the World. Amen.

-With this we take a break from our looks-back as I'm off to dig up
the corpses of even more former Detritus writers! Re-Discovery goes on
hold for a little while but fret not, our reminiscing will continue.

-And welcome aboard, James! And welcome back Rick!!

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

-This past Sunday's edition of the Chicago Tribune had some cool
articles by music critic Greg Kot about the resurgence of vinyl, and
the differences in fidelity between vinyl and digital:

"Vinyl Spins To The Forefront Again"
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/arts/chi-vinyl-cover-
1005oct05,0,6053656.story

"Vinyl Versus The Rest: Which Is Best?"
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/arts/chi-vinyl-side1-
1005oct05,0,2083493.story

An associated short piece called a recent vinyl reissue of Metallica's
MASTER OF PUPPETS as "revelatory" and a "classic." Cool. And, there's
also a gallery of all-time bad album artwork at
http://www.chicagotribune.com/album .

-Check out an early review of AC/DC's BLACK ICE at
http://idolator.com/5059993/acdc-barrel-on-down-the-road . (Thanks,
Bill!) Choice comment: "[The AC/DC formula is] so effective on most of
the album, in fact, that one's left wondering if the more casual fans
of the Aussie hard-rockers will feel like they really need to pick up
BLACK ICE while on a deodorant run -- or will their copy of BACK IN
BLACK suffice, particularly in these hard economic times?" BLACK ICE
is due out October 20 in the U.S., exclusively through Wal-Mart, Sam's
Club, and ACDC.com. See http://www.ACDC.com/ , http://www.AC-DC.net/ ,
http://www.acdcrocks.com/ , and http://www.myspace.com/acdc for more.

-Check out Ozzy Osbourne coming in at #1 on a list of the "Top 9 Most
Embarrassing Live Performances Of All Time" at
http://www.spike.com/blog/top-9-most/69204?page=3&numPerPage=1 . The
incoherent performance is the song "I Don't Want To Change The World."
(Thanks again, Bill!)

-In my current playlist: Xystus - EQUILIBRIO (Sensory), Girlschool -
LEGACY (Wacken Records), Science Faxtion - LIVING ON ANOTHER FREQUENCY
(Mascot Records), The Underwater - FORCES (Megaforce Records).

*
*** REVIEWS ***
*
ALICE COOPER – ALONG CAME A SPIDER (C+) SPV/Steamhammer, 2008
11 tracks, RT: 44:20
[ http://www.alicecooper.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/alicecooper/ ]
[ http://www.spv.de/alicecooper/ ]
[ http://www.spv.de/ ]
[ http://www.spvusa.com/ ]
[ http://www.mypace.com/spvusa ]
A new Alice Cooper album really only exists to serve existing Alice
Cooper fans, and those fans are getting harder to please. Most gave up
after TRASH. Those still on board have only grudgingly accepted later-
in-life releases like THE LAST TEMPTATION and THE EYES OF ALICE
COOPER. Call it a sense of duty. Call it nostalgia. Call it an
unfulfillable hope that somehow Alice will write another song like
"Elected" or "Ballad Of Dwight Fry" before he goes to the Great Back
Nine in the sky. Because the possible appeal and saturation level of
an Alice Cooper album in 2008 is limited to the black-mascaraed
faithful, the only way to look at his recent concept album about
serial killing, ALONG CAME A SPIDER, is to hold it up against his
previous four decades of catalog. First, the good: ALONG CAME A SPIDER
has a more well-expressed concept than Alice's previous, watershed,
entry into the concept album arena, WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE. In a
reverent nod, that album's Steven manages to scare up a reference
before ALONG CAME A SPIDER's boo-scary, plot-twist closing. ALONG CAME
A SPIDER tells the James Patterson-lite story of a serial killer who
creates a spider from the parts of his victims (those victims are
wrapped in silk, 'natch). It's over-the-top, ridiculous -- even
stupid, at times. It's also as close to "classic," theatrical Alice as
we've seen in a long while. The best songs on the album, two in sum,
are as good or better than anything since the late '80s. "(In Touch
With) Your Feminine Side" is instantly familiar, seemingly crafted for
fist-pumping karaoke sessions in either the violent crimes wing of
your local prison or one of the outer rings of hell. Lyrically, it
could be taken as an AC/DC-penned, lusty obsession for a member of the
opposite sex. Looking at it within the album's greater context, it's
really just a creepy ode to calculated stalking. Stronger still is the
soaring anthem "Salvation," with its melancholy contemplation and
pianos giving way to crashing guitars, understated guitar solo, and
commanding vocal performance. It's SPIDER's finest moment; one that
would have sounded just as natural on Cooper's semi-autobiographical
(and entirely underrated) insane asylum chronicle FROM THE INSIDE.
Moving beyond "Salvation" and "Your Feminine Side," the songs on ALONG
CAME A SPIDER are merely okay -- not awful when they pop up in an iPod
Shuffle, but nothing to intentionally add to an iPod playlist. The
album's "single," "Vengeance Is Mine," is mostly aimless, though
ultimately harmless. And so goes the rest of the disc. Looking at the
album as one body of work, where the sum of the parts is ignored for
an analysis of the greater whole, SPIDER lacks real bite. For an album
about a truly lunatic serial killer, a self-described "arachnophobic
psychopath" ("Catch Me If You Can"), SPIDER never feels dangerous. The
album's first song, "I Know Where You Live," opens with a news report
that sets up the album's narrative. It's flat exposition for its own
sake, and amateur-sounding at that. For true opening chills, Cooper
need only refer back to the title track of his DADA album, which still
manages to evoke spontaneous pantsh*ttings from the faint of heart.
Since Alice Cooper's glory days, he's found his golf swing and Jesus,
but has never lost his unique skew on the world and what collectively
freaks us out. And while ALONG CAME A SPIDER doesn't necessarily add
to Cooper's legacy, it doesn't take away from it, either. Finally, how
does ALONG CAME A SPIDER place among Alice's other 25 decades-spanning
works? BILLION DOLLAR BABIES > LOVE IT TO DEATH > WELCOME TO MY
NIGHTMARE > FROM THE INSIDE > LACE AND WHISKEY > TRASH > SCHOOL'S OUT
> HEY STOOPID > KILLER > GOES TO HELL > CONSTRICTOR > MUSCLE OF LOVE >
RAISE YOUR FIST AND YELL > THE LAST TEMPTATION > ALONG CAME A SPIDER >
FLUSH THE FASHION > DRAGONTOWN > DIRTY DIAMONDS > EASY ACTION > BRUTAL
PLANET > DADA > THE EYES OF ALICE COOPER > SPECIAL FORCES > PRETTIES
FOR YOU > ZIPPER CATCHES SKIN.
- James VanOsdol (jamesvanosdol2@...)

DARK SUNS - GRAVE HUMAN GENUINE (B-/C+) Sensory, 2008
8 tracks (9th hidden), RT: 58:04
[ http://www.darksuns.de/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/dunklesonnen ]
[ http://www.prophecy.cd/ ]
[ http://www.lasercd.com/ ]
[ http://www.lasersedgegroup.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/lasersedge ]
Third outing from Germany's Dark Suns finds the band in dark territory
indeed, GRAVE HUMAN GENUINE unfolding as a brooding, eerie statement
built on dense guitar and keyboard interplay, progressive drumming and
plaintive vocals. The album starts off in fine form with three very
good tracks quite representative of this genre, the powerful
"Stampede," haunting "Flies In Amber," and the atmospheric
"Thornchild." As good as these songs are, unfortunately the album
falls prey to too much meander, with ponderous excursions such as
"Rapid Eye Movement" and "Free Of You" detracting from the overall
impact. One of those releases I have to be honest about, I don't spend
a lot of time listening to this style of music so take that into
consideration, but despite its shortcomings GRAVE HUMAN GENUINE does
have some interesting moments and will likely appeal to those into
Pain Of Salvation, Opeth and Tool. If this sounds like your thing,
definitely check out some samples...
- Neal Woodall (MysticX9@...)

METALLICA – DEATH MAGNETIC (A) Warner Bros., 2008
10 tracks, RT: 74:46
[ http://www.metallica.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/metallica ]
[ http://www.warnerbrosrecords.com/ ]
Metallica is back (again) and I love it (again). There, I said it for
the one millionth time. I am almost tired of defending myself for
buying this album much less liking it. Almost every time I listen to
this album in front of people I am attacked on all sides. Yes, I
bought it. Yes, I like it. Yes, it may even be their best album since
...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. And I like it more every time some idiot
laughs at me for liking it while admitting to never having listened to
the album. It's just like the pre-MTV days where I was picked on for
having a Metallica patch on my book bag. I am proud to like something
that others hate. It shows I have some courage not to follow the pack
and do things for myself. Okay, enough soap boxing, let's discuss
DEATH MAGNETIC. Let me see, what have I always loved about Metallica?
I love super long songs that have major riffing and powerful solos
that surround short bursts of angry lyrics. At five minutes, the
shortest "My Apocalypse" and at the longest, two seconds shy of 10
minutes of pure Metallica jamming without vocals, "Suicide &
Redemption," check it off. Blistering larger than life guitar riffs.
Check. Track #3 "Broken, Beat & Scarred" features some of Kirk's best
work, ever. This is easily my favorite track and I can't believe this
was not the single. Not to mention the just as fast track #5 "All
Nightmare Long." Both tracks should please even the most jaded
Metallica hater. Over the top drums and a bad-ass bass line. Double
check. Have you heard a Metallica album? Then you have heard Lars'
drumming. I liked it then; I like it now. It's tight, fast and loud.
Mr. Trujillo's bass playing blows Jason out of the water and is nearly
as inspiring as Cliff Burton. He is easily and quickly becoming one my
favorite metal bassists out there. He was fine with Ozzy, better with
Suicidal Tendencies but really seems to have found a home with
Metallica. Lastly, we need James screaming away at the Gods to
complete a great Metallica; check it off. While there are many who
prefer his "older style," i.e., pre-black album, I think of his newer
stuff less as a stylistic change and more of a growth change.
Everything old is still there; he just shows a wider range and sounds
like his vocal mix has finely been tuned in to match the rest of the
band. Try listening to old Testament albums. It took Chuck more than a
couple albums to sound his best. Is there a negative to this album?
There is a slower song like "The Unforgiven III" which starts off with
a piano of all things! Is it my favorite Metallica song? No. Is it my
least favorite? Probably so, but it still has an awesome Metallica jam
session for the final third. And is this not why I have loved them
since MASTER OF PUPPETS? Devil horn shaking, throat scratching, air
guitar blasting metal that makes me play it over and over again.
- Rick Berg (Eppythor@...)

PAUL SABU - STRANGE MESSIAH (C) Locomotive Records, 2008
10 tracks, RT: 41:05
[ http://www.paulsabu.com/ ]
[ http://www.locomotivemusic.com/ ]
[ http://www.locomotiverecords.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/locomotiverecords ]
[ principal@... ]
After extensive searches online for Paul Sabu, it turns out he's
worked as a producer with many well-known artists, including: Alice
Cooper, David Bowie, Shania Twain, Motels, John Waite, Robbie Neville,
Malice, W.A.S.P., The Nelsons, Tattoo Rodeo, Silent Rage, Elvira, and
Madonna. He's been involved in bands of his own: Only Child and Sabu.
You can add various movie and TV credits to his list of
accomplishments -- just don't add his newest album, STRANGE MESSIAH. I
went back to view the video of his most well known single,
"Heartbreak," which I did enjoy. But this album is trying to be too
many things at once while simultaneously boiling it all down to sound
much the same. The title track, "Strange Messiah," seems to try to
mimic early Crue -- the growled spoken inset is much like the intro to
Crue's "Shout At The Devil." Sabu's vocals at times sound like David
Coverdale. However, he seems to think that adding a "metal yell"
similar to Bobby Beers of Steel Dragon in the movie "Rock Star" will
make his album both AOR and metal, which does not work in this case.
"Headbangers" comes off like a soundtrack to a clichéd metal movie.
"Hey Look (But Don't Touch)" and "Piece Of My Heart" are hard to tell
apart. Of all the tracks, "Jack Of All Trades" is the worst, and
"Dangerous Behavior" would be the lone track I'd listen to more than
once. This album would be recommended to fans of Sabu, but not many
others. Track list: "Strange Messiah," "Dangerous Behavior," "Blow By
Blow," "Ashes Of Wrong," "Fighting To Die," "Headbangers," "Hey Look
(But Don't Touch)," "Piece Of My Heart," "Jack Of All Trades," "Rock
Your World."
- Jan W. (jw4jzon@...)

*
*** OUT ***
*