HAMMERFALL
singer Joacim Cans and guitarist Oscar Dronjak will be part of a Swedish
ice-hockey team called "Artists for Life". The team will feature
celebrities like football and ice-hockey legends, stand-up comedians, Mikkey
Dee (Motörhead) and several other Swedish musicians etc.
The game be partly broadcasted on television and will be against a reality show
team from Swedish ZTV. The entire happening is part of a charity event that put
together football games, ice-hockey games etc. to raise money.
Amazing stuff! Weird, funny and a really good idea!
ANTHRAX - We barely made it
out alive”
ANTHRAX
guitarist Scott Ian has elaborated on his previous claim that the band could not
have continued without a reunion of their "classic" lineup —
featuring singer Joey Belladonna and guitarist Dan Spitz. Explaining that
"fu*ked-up contracts" are the reason he cannot be more specific
regarding the exact reasons behind the group's decision to rejoin forces with
Belladonna and Spitz, Ian said, "That's why I can't just answer a
question. That's why I have to remain vague. Sorry, my ego just isn't that big.
I don't need to hear myself speak. I can keep my mouth shut, especially when our
lives in this business are on the line.
[In a recent interview with Germany's
Rock Hard magazine] John [Bush, ex-ANTHRAX singer] couldn't answer straight
either [regarding the reasons for the reunion of the band's classic lineup].
You have to understand that sadly this is a business and for me to be specific
would cause unbelievable damage to this band and all its individual members.
We'd be done. Buried under a mountain of litigious bullsh*t and we wouldn't be
able to dig ourselves out and continue this time. We barely made it out alive
after 'Volume 8'. It would probably be easier for me to say nothing but I feel
you [the ANTHRAX fans] deserve the respect you've earned from us.
They may not
be the answers you want but at least I'm here [to answer your questions]. I'm
in the CDC [the official ANTHRAX fan club] all the time. I don't see anyone
else being so proactive. This is my life and if you think for one second I take
any of this for granted you are dead wrong. "Over the next few months we
expect the air to clear for us. Until that happens, mum is the word."
ANTHRAX are expected to begin work on a new studio album with Belladonna and
Spitz later in the year.
SUBWAY TO SALLY - “Nackt”
on the road
According
to the official homepage,
SUBWAY TO SALLY, Germany's most successful "medieval" rock/metal
band, have thanked all fans for a fantastic Christmas-tour back in 2005. Right
now Eric Fish, Frau Schmit and the rest of the band are preparing themselves
for the forthcoming “Nackt” Tour, set to take place in April 2006, and added
some additional show due to high ticket sales! Confirmed dates are as follows:
SUBWAY TO SALLY
"NACKT" AKUSTIKTOUR 2006
07.04.
D Leipzig - Anker
08.04. D Magdeburg - Factory
09.04. D Kiel - Max
11.04. D Hamburg - Grünspan
10.04. D Köln - alter Wartesaal
13.04. D Hannover - Capitol
15.04. D Gotha -Stadthalle
16.04. D Aschaffenburg - Colossaal
17.04. CH Zürich - Rohstofflager
19.04. D Mainz - KUZ
20.04. D Nürnberg - Hirsch
21.04. D Stuttgart/Ludwigsburg - Scala
22.04. D Ulm - Roxy
23.04. D Pirmasens - Quasimodo
24.04. D Bochum - Christuskirche (additional date)
25.04. D Bochum - Christuskirche(SOLD OUT)
26.04. D Wuppertal - Musiktheater Rex
27.04. D Osnabrück - Lutherkirche (SOLD OUT)
28.04. D Osnabrück - Lutherkirche (SOLD OUT)
29.04. D Bremen - Schlachthof
30.04. D Berlin - Passionskirche (SOLD OUT)
02.05. D Fulda - Kulturzentrum Kreuz
03.05. D Freiburg - Jazzhaus
04.05. D München - Backstage
05.05. D Berlin - Passionskirche (additional date)
---
10.05. D Münster - Jovel (Rockshow)
13.05. D Marktsteft bei Kitzingen - Benefizfestival
17.06. A Nickelsdorf - Novarock
07.07. D Osterode - Rock Harz Festival
08.07. D Mühlheim / Ruhr - Castle Rock Festival
13.07. D Kulmbach - Plassenburg
14.07. D Jena - F-Haus Open Air / Thüringentag
21.07. D Tuttlingen - Honberg Sommer
22.07. D Köln - Amphi Festival
05.08. D Wacken - Wacken Open Air
***
AGNOSTIC FRONT - More tourdates announced
New York hardcore legends AGNOSTIC FRONT have announced
more tourdates for the summer. Confirmed dates are as follows:
24.06. Le Means – Hellfest (France)
25.06. Desselt – Grasspop (Belgium) NEW!
28.06. Turin – Chico Bum Festival (Italy)
30.06. Mezotur – WAN 2 Festival (Hungary)
01.07. oitzschjora – With Full Force Festival (Germany)
06.07. Praha – Rock For People Festival (Czech Republic) NEW!
15.07. Dour – Dour Festival (Belgium)
04.08. Selestat – Zone51 Festival (France)
05.08. Lierop – Nirwana`s Tuinfest (Netherlands)
ALL SHALL PERISH - In recording mute
ALL
SHALL PERISH are currently at Castle Ultimate Studios in Emeryville, Ca working
on the follow up to their underground hit release “Hate. Malice. Revenge”! The
album has yet to be titled but the band has released some song titles which
include “We Hold These Truths, The Day of Justice, Last Relapse, The True Beast
and Prisoner of War”
“We are done with drums, rhythm guitars, and we are about to start on vocals
and solos! The new record sounds fuc*ing incredible; there is definitely
something for everyone on this thing!”
The band has enlisted famed tattoo artist Adam Barton to handle the cover art
for the album which is expected to be released late this summer.
THERION - Christofer retires from singing
Christofer
Johnsson, founder, songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for the symphonic
Swedish group THERION has announced today via the band's official website, www.MEGATHERION.com, that he
will be retiring from vocal duties. The following is an excerpt from his post:
"As was announced at the Metal Mania festivals, I am going to retire from
vocals. The reasons for this are two: One is that I feel it's not fun to sing
anymore (even though I have enjoyed playing the old songs on guitar). [My]
voice is getting weaker over the years and I experienced problems at the end of
the U.S./Canada tour.
The problem isn't only getting older, but rather that we
basically never rehearse as a band and therefore, I don't keep my throat
'warm.' It simply doesn't work to not sing for half a year and then go on tour
for two months and shout every evening. It used to work when I was younger, but
now I feel it's not comfortable anymore and when it doesn't feel right, it's
definitely time to stop.
The second reason is that we would like to stop playing old songs, anyway. By
old I mean 'Lepaca Klifffoth' and older. We are now working on our 13th studio
album and it is getting harder and harder to choose which songs to play live.
The number of 'classics' - songs that we more or less must play - is growing
all the time and we don't want to end up like one of those bands where you know
beforehand 95% for sure what songs that are going to be played.
We want to be
able to have space to play a couple of unexpected songs each new tour. We, of
course, realize that many fans will miss those old brutal songs, but we are
convinced that those fans also will prefer to hear something new each time from
the Theli album and onwards.
The ProgPower festival in England will be the final show where I do vocals on
stage. This will be our 106th and final show supporting Lemuria/Sirius B. We
will not be on stage again until 2007. I have planned a special surprise for
this festival (not even the other band members know it), so don't miss this
festival if you live in the U.K.!"
THERION will be releasing Celebrators Of Becoming, a 4 DVD+ 2 CD set (featuring
over ten hours of video footage and two hours of live audio).
IN FLAMES - Peter checks in from Holland
IN
FLAMES bassist Peter Iwers has posted the following message at the band's
official website:
"Lying in my bed right now. It's 2 pm in the afternoon and I'm starting to
consider getting up and taking a shower and some breakfast. Being on tour can
sometimes be really slow. You sit around the entire day waiting for the magical
time when you're about to play and then when you hit the stage it's great. The
energy that we get to share with the audience is fantastic and something I feel
very privileged to experience almost every day. Wow, I'm kinda deep this time
of day it seems...hehe. Well, take care and I'll see you later here in Holland.
Later"
VOIVOD - New song available for streaming!
A
brand new VOIVOD song, entitled "The X-Stream", has been made
available for streaming at MP3.com.
The track comes off the Canadian pioneering metal band's upcoming album,
"Katorz", due in June.
VOIVOD recorded and mixed the album with producer Glen Robinson (ANNIHILATOR,
TEA PARTY, GWAR) at Multisons studio in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and mastered
the CD in New York.
The follow-up to 2003's "Voivod", "Katorz" is the first
album in the band's 20-plus-year career that did not feature founding guitarist
Denis "Piggy" D'Amour working alongside his bandmembers in the
studio. D'Amour died August 26, 2005 in a Montreal hospital from complications
of advanced colon cancer.
In order to record "Katorz", drummer Michael "Away"
Langevin, singer Denis "Snake" Belanger and bassist Jason
"Jasonic" Newsted utilized all of the guitar parts that Piggy had
recorded for the record on his laptop with ProTools before his death.
News from THE OCEAN and
UNEARTH
THE
OCEAN tour diary online!
THE
OCEAN are on their European tour right now. To read and see what´s happening
just click here:
The
band is doing an online tour diary. Feel free to check back there for updates!
UNEARTH ON OZZFEST SECOND STAGE ALL SUMMER LONG!!!
As
UNEARTH wraps up the recording of their second album on Metal Blade Records
with Legendary Producer Terry Date (Soundgarden, White Zombie, Pantera,
Deftones); they will then embark this Summer as non rotating direct support on
the legendary second stage on Ozzfest..
Unearth will have a non-rotating slot direct to Atreyu who are
direct to second stage headliners Black Label Society. Prior to Unearth’s
performance is Norma Jean then Bleeding Through.
Band
Vocalist Trevor Phipps states, "Ozzfest 2006, another summer of drinking
Miller Lite and Jagermeister. Another summer of playing for and hanging out
with the best metal fans on the planet. Another summer of BBQ-ing and boozing with
all of our friends bands. And another summer of kicking peoples a** with a new
record. Honestly we are looking forward to this more than any tour we have ever
done. We are straight up honored to be part of this tradition once again. See
you all this summer!"
Known for raising the bar; Unearth are prepared to release their
new album in August. With a solid foundation of 130,000 records scanned in the
U. S. of their monumental Metal Blade Records Debut ‘the oncoming storm’ –this
highly anticipated recording will be the blueprint for setting the standard for
Metal and beyond.
No strangers to audiences worldwide, Unearth proves themselves repeatedly,
laying audiences to waste on previous tours such as the legendary lineup of
Ozzfest 2004 with Judas Priest, Slayer, and Dimmu Borgir and Hatebreed ;
Atreyu, Sounds of the Underground 2005 with Lamb of God, Opeth and more;
Slipknot and label mates As I Lay dying. Unearth took their relentless brand of
metal overseas to pummel international audiences on the Download Festival in
the UK and Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park in Germany.
CELTIC FROST: unveil CD/LP cover artwork for
"Monotheist" & Euroepean tour dates !
On
May 29th, one of the most anticipated metal albums of this year is going to be
released on Century Media Records: Legendary CELTIC FROST’s new monumental,
dark opus “Monotheist”!
Now,
the time has come to unveil the visual aspects of this highly anticipated
gloomy masterpiece by granting you a glimpse at the extraordinary cover artwork
of the album. “Monotheist” will be available in three different formats with
three variations of the artwork: standard jewel case, limited edition digipak
(including a slipcase with the regular jewel case cover artwork but an
alternate interior cover and fold-out digipak sleeves as well as a poster) and
for all you vinyl-lovers as a gatefold double LP. Both special editions will
include an exclusive bonus track: "Incantation Against You" for the
double LP and "Temple Of Depression" for the digipak.
This
album's conceptual ideas not only extend to music and lyrics, but also to the
exceptional visual design as created by Michel Casarramona and bassist Martin
Eric Ain. Ain comments on the artwork as follows:
"Monotheist
is as personal as it gets. So is the artwork to this album. Michel had
approached me at the very beginning of the creative process that would turn out
to be Celtic Frost's new manifesto, with the idea of developing the art to the
music. Both music and visuals served to shape each other just like we, the
creators, where struggling with our own personal demons as a group and as
individuals. What we have evoked or exorcised within these past years is now
bound in form of this “record” for you to behold."
The
album release will be followed by live appearances throughout the summer, along
with extensive subsequent touring activity.
The
dates so far confirmed for CELTIC FROST are:
May
31, 2006, Vosselaar, Belgium @ Biebob
June
1, 2006, Zaandam, Holland @ Kade
June
3, 2006, Gelsenkirchen, Germany @ Rock Hard Festival
June
10, 2006, Sölvesborg, Sweden @ Sweden Rock Festival
June
25, 2006, Clisson, France @ Hellfest
June
30 – July 2, 2006, Helsinki, Finland @ Tuska Festival
July
2, 2006, Roitzschjora, Germany @ With Full Force
August
4, 2006, Wacken, Germany @ Wacken Open Air 2006
August
26, 2006, Bergen, Norway @ Hole In The Sky Festival
More dates soon including a UK show
After
this run of high class festivals CELTIC FROST will return to North America to
play a massive North American tour that will kick off September 12th
2006 and last for almost two months. For the exact dates click on the following
homepages:
www.centurymedia.com
www.celticfrost.com
D.A.D - New album soon to
be released
Scare Yourself European Release
Dear Friends,
At last! Between May 26 and May 29, 2006 “Scare
Yourself” will be released in the following countries:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
France
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Italy
Lithuania
Malta
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Slovakia
Spain
Switzerland
The record company is Sanctuary
Records, with local distributors in each
country.
Thanks to you all for helping Lawrence Of Suburbia reach #1 on the Liga DK
video c hart!!
Kind regards,
D-A-D
AS I LAY DYING coming back
to Europe!
AS
I LAY DYING have confirmed several European shows in June! More to come so stay
tuned!
Confirmed
UK headlining dates (Kerrang! will sponsor these UK dates)
Jun-15
London, UK @ Barfly
Jun-16
Birmingham, UK @ Barfly
Jun-17 Cardiff, UK @ Barfly
Jun-18 Liverpool, UK @ Barfly
Jun-19 York, UK @ Fibbers
Confirmed Festival Dates
Jun-23 Herne, Germany - Pressure Fest
Jun-24 Clisson, France - Hellfest
Jun-25 Dessel, Belgium – Grasspop
TURISAS, IMPALED, KRISUIN and more UK shows – update
KRISIUN
Brazillian death metallers are heading back to the UK to
promote their recently released ‘AssassiNation’ check them out at the following
venues:
March
2006
Tues 28th Southampton The Nexus Club
Weds 29th London Barfly
Thurs 30th Nottingham Horn In Hand
Fri 31st Brighton C2
IMPALED
Death Metal freaks cheer up! A truly brutal package consisting of
US acts Monstrosity, Deeds Of Flesh, Vile and Century Media artist IMPALED is
coming over to Europe to deliver some sonic slaughter onstage. Finally the band
are able to bring to these shores their latest aural autopsy "Death After
Life". With the legendary Monstrosity, the masters of pummelling
riff-orgies Deeds Of Flesh and underground hopefuls Vile, heavily
Carcass-inspired IMPALED are in very strong company to make this an
unforgettable death metal tour. So, don’t miss the band on their first extended
trip to Europe in years!!!
March/April
2006
|
Tues 28th
|
Manchester
|
Jilly´s Rockworld
|
|
Weds 29th
|
Glasgow
|
Soundhouse
|
|
Thurs 30th
|
Leeds
|
Josephs Well
|
|
Fri 31st
|
Birmingham
|
Edwards No8
|
|
Sat 1st
|
London
|
Electrowerkz
|
|
Sun 2nd
|
Brighton
|
Engine Room
|
TURISTAS
Wow, doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun .. it’s been a year
since those Battle Metallers, Turisas paid a memorable visit to these shores.
For those of you who already know what to expect from our Finnish Warriors, I
know you’ll be down the front, those who missed it last time do not make the
same mistake again .. grab your sword, mead and the nearest wench and get down
to the Underworld on the 6th April. Battlelore in support
Thursday 6th April – London, Camden Underworld
GRAVEWORM - Benefit show announced
Italian gothic black metal band GRAVEWORM will take part in the
fund-raising event “METAL FOR FAIRNESS” Festival set to take place Saturday,
May 5th at the PLanet Music in Vienna (Austria). The earned profit will be
donated to the ‘Amna Grenda Girl school in the region of Kosti / Sudan (Africa)
and should help the children to renovate, improve the sanitary equipment and to
finance serious teaching aids. GRAVEWORM will be co-headlining the event next
to German BRAINSTORM.
Be there and support this fantastic idea!
Doors will open at 18:30h
Headliners:
BRAINSTORM
GRAVEWORM
Supports:
Final Breath
Madog
Perishing Mankind
www.metalforfairness.at.tc
DIMMU BORGIR - Signing session @ musikmesse announced
Silenoz , Shagrath and Galder of Norwegian symphonic black metal
masters DIMMU BORGIR have announced an exclusive signing session on Saturday,
April 1st at the Musikmesse Frankfurt/Main (Germany). The Session will take
place at the booth of their Norwegian guitar endorser ESP.
Get your personal autograph there! …
IN FLAMES - Peter checks in from Ireland
IN FLAMES bassist Peter Iwers has posted the following message at
the band's official website:
"Dublin - Ireland - Ohoy Sailors. We are in Dublin now for the first time
ever and it's great to be here. You would think that I would take this
opportunity to get out and see stuff, but I've actually spent the entire day in
my hotel room. Enjoying some private time for a change, but tomorrow I'll be
out and check things out. I've heard a lot of things about shows in Ireland,
and I really hope that tomorrow's sold-out show will be as great as all those
rumours promises. But I think so.
This whole tour has been amazing like I said before,
and our first time as headliners on a UK-tour is working out really well so far
as well. The shows have been crazy. One time, (at bandcamp) we went to the pub
(of course) to watch some soccer with our friends in SEPULTURA. Of course the
game was cancelled due to rain, so we decided to start a FIFA tournament on the
x-box instead. So far only a few games have been played but hell what everybody
gets wired up around this. Hehe… me too. That's it for now my friends."
RAGE - "It's the best of both worlds on this
album"
In a recent interview with BW&BK, RAGE frontman/founder
Peter "Peavy" Wagner discussed the difference between composing with
an orcehstra for their new album, "Speak Of The Dead", versus the way
they composed the classical pieces for the Lingua Mortis album in 1996:
Wagner: “It was a completely different thing this time around. First of all,
Victor (Smolski/guitars) composed and arranged everything for the orchestra by
himself. This guy comes from the country of music (Russia), so when was 6 he
was studying cello, piano, composition, everything.
He was never in a regular
school, he was always at this music academy in Minsk (in Belarus) where his
father was the headmaster. So, Victor is used to working with an orchestra and
is trained to compose that kind of stuff, which meant it wasn’t a problem for
him at all. He just did more work than he would have done for a regular Rage
album.
I was involved at the very beginning when we discussed what kind of direction
the new album was going to take, and I did compose some of the classical
material, but when we got together to rehearse the ideas I saw that Victor had
everything straight in his mind. He knew where the music was going, which was
really great. I just stepped back and said, ‘Okay, you’re going to do your
masterpiece now…’ (laughs). We decided that Victor would focus on the
orchestral thing and I would take care of the metal stuff. So really, it’s the
best of both worlds on this album.”
As previously reported, "Speak Of The Dead" was released on March
24th through Nuclear Blast. The track list, which features a 25 minute-long
quite for band and orchestra composed by Smolski, is as follows: 'Mortituri Te
Salutant', 'Prelude Of Souls', 'Innocent', 'Depression', 'No Regrets',
'Confusion', 'Black', 'Beauty', 'No Fear', 'Soul Survivor', 'Full Moon', 'Kill
Your Gods', 'Turn My World Around', 'Be With Me Or Be Gone', 'Speak Of The
Dead'.
Watch for the full interview with Wagner in BW&BK #96.
NEW AS I LAY DYING release!
Long out of print, AS I LAY DYING’s earliest recordings have
become harder and harder to find as the bands’ popularity continues to
skyrocket. Now, available for the first time, Metal Blade Records and AS I LAY
DYING have teamed up to bring "A LONG MARCH: THE FIRST RECORDINGS" to
the metal masses. This single disc collection contains the original Pluto
Records recordings of "Beneath The Encasing Of Ashes" and AILD’s much
sought after "EP", while offering something entirely new!
Here's the complete tracklisting:
I. The re-recorded...
THE EP - Newly recorded
versions of the entire 2002 "EP"
1. Illusions
2. The Beginning
3. Reinvention
4. The Pain of Separation
5. Forever
II. The first two months
(2001)...
BENEATH THE
ENCASING OF ASHES
6.
Beneath the Encasing of Ashes
7. Torn Within
8. Forced to Die
9. A Breath in the Eyes of Eternity
10. Blood Turned to Tears
11. The Voices that Betray Me
12. When This World Fades
13. Surrounded
14. A Long March
15. Refined by Your Embrace
16. The Innocence Spilled
17. Behind Me Lies Another Fallen Soldier
III. A year later (2002)...
THE EP (original
versions)
18.
Illusions
19. The Beginning
20. Reinvention
21. The Pain of Separation
22. Forever
AS I LAY DYING´s two prior releases have combined sales of
400,000+ units in the U.S. only! The band will headline the SOUNDS OF THE
UNDERGROUND 2006 U.S. Tour and will come to Europe in June to play shows in the
U.K. and festivals in Europe!
"A LONG MARCH: THE FIRST RECORDINGS" will be released the
19th of May in Germany/Austria/Switzerland and the 22nd
of May in the rest of Europe!
