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09/30/2004: "METAL NEWS (End of September 2004) C.O.F. TS BANNED!"
~ CRADLE OF FILTH's 'Gilded Cunt' T-Shirt Banned ~
According to Roadrunner Records U.K., merchandise company Blue Grape have had their printing plant refuse to handle the proposed artwork for the new CRADLE OF FILTH T-Shirt. The factory (TOT Shirts Ltd.) have been forced to reject the order since staff literally downed tools in disgust. The proposed artwork features the image of a bare-breasted woman seemingly bleeding from between the legs and the band's logo on the front, with the words "You Gilded Cunt" on the reverse. Blue Grape have had huge demand for the T-shirt with worldwide orders flooding in. The company have no choice but to work on an alternative design.
The director of TOT Shirts Ltd. stated: "It is believed that the requested image and associated wording will cause offence to the general public and to our staff due to the controversial nature of the subject."
It wasn't long ago CRADLE OF FILTH found their fans the subject of a brush with the law for the now infamous "Jesus Is A Cunt" T-Shirt. Lord Provost of Glasgow demanded the shirts be removed by the police from Tower Records. The Catholic League of America, along with the Governor of Wisconsin, campaigned heartily for the shirt to be banned.
Further religious controversy is being fuelled by CRADLE OF FILTH's upcoming visit to Chile where a Satanist teenager stabbed and murdered a priest. The promoters are having to bring in extra security for the backlash this has now created against the band and it seems CRADLE OF FILTH will not get the welcome to South America they had hoped for.
Over in the U.K., the "Gilded Cunt" track has been subject to the usual censorship only being allowed plays on radio post mid-night. Radio One's "Rock Show" have championed the track here, being careful to adhere to ITC rulings forbidding presenter Mike Davies from actually saying the "C" word whilst introducing the track
without a forewarning.
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~ BEHEMOTH Film Video For 'Conquer All' ~
Polish black metal'ers BEHEMOTH have finished filming a video for the track "Conquer All" off their upcoming CD, "Demigod". "We worked with Joanna Rechnio, one of the most talented Polish video producers," BEHEMOTH frontman Nergal said in a statement. "The whole filming session took us about 11 hours and I believe we did a great job. It's for sure the best thing we have done so far."
"Demigod" was mixed by BEHEMOTH frontman Nergal and producer Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, IN FLAMES) at Dug-Out studios in Uppsala, Sweden. Mastering duties were handled at the Cutting Room studios in Stockholm. A guest appearance by NILE's Karl Sanders is included in the track "Xul".
"Demigod" is scheduled for release on October 25 via Regain Records in Europe, Mystic Records in Poland, Raven Music in Israel and Irond in Russia. A U.S. release is planned for early 2005.
BEHEMOTH have lined up a number of North/South American and European tour dates in support of "Demigod".
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~ KING DIAMOND: No Bonus Disc Included With Live Album ~
KING DIAMOND manager Ole Bang has issued the following statement regarding the band's just-released double live CD, "Deadly Lullabyes Live":
"The independent distributor in Germany named H'art Music Vertrieb (not Massacre's [Records] main distributor) have a promo sheet in stock for the live album indicating that there's a bonus CD/Disc available in one of the formats.
"The listing reads like this: 'LIMITED EDITION DIGIPACK + BONUS CD LIVE 2003' thus making it look/sound like there's a bonus disc included.
"THIS IS NOT CORRECT, and we don't want our fans to believe it either.
"We can imagine that some of you dedicated collectors might try and import this item, and will be very disappointed. All the releases are identical. There is NO bonus CD in any form in any of the releases. The music purchased will be the same regardless of the format, be it 2CD, digipack or 3LP set."
"Deadly Lullabyes Live" was recorded during the band's last U.S. tour and was mixed at guitarist Andy LaRocque's Los Angered studio outside Gothenburg, Sweden
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~ KREATOR Set Title, Release Date For New Album ~
German thrashers KREATOR have set "Enemy of God" as the title of their new album, due in Europe and South America on January 10 and North America on January 11 via SPV Records. A limited-edition version of the CD will come with a bonus DVD containing a "making of" documentary and video clips. Artwork duties will be handled by Austrian artist Jochim Luetke (www.luetke.com). ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott makes a guest appearaonce on lead guitar on the track "Murder Fantasies".
The follow-up to 2001's "Violent Revolution" was recorded and mixed at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, England with producer Andy Sneap (MACHINE HEAD, SKINLAB, NEVERMORE), and was previously described by KREATOR mainman Mille Petrozza as "pure brutal thrash! Tons of fast shit, sick solos, aggro riffing... I am really psyched about the new shit. Can't wait to hear what [the fans] think about it..."
"Enemy of God" projected track listing (in no particular order):
01. Enemy of God
02. Impossible Brutality
03. Suicide Terrorist
04. Murder Fantasies (feat. Michael Amott)
05. Dying Race Apocalypse
06. One Evil Comes - A Milion Follow
07. Dystopia
08. World Anarchy
09. Voices
10. Under A Blackened Sky
11. When Death Takes It's Dominion
12. The Ancient Plague
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~ SUMMON Enter Studio To Record New Album ~
Michigan-based black metallers SUMMON have entered Flatline Audio Studios (formerly Hellion Studios) in Denver, Colorado with producer Dave Otero (CEPHALIC CARNAGE, SERBERUS) to record their sixth album, "Fallen", tentatively due in early 2005 via Moribund Records. The follow-up to 2002's "And the Blood Runs Black" promises to be "the sickest SUMMON CD to date," according to bassist/vocalist Chas Schoals. No further information is currently available.
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~ OBITUARY singer John Tardy has issued the following message regarding the band's upcoming European tour:
"Things are going pretty smooth right now! It seems that the tour is falling into place nicely. All of the emails we have been getting have been nothing but positive about the upcoming shows in October. We thank everyone for all their support. Your emails and messages on the message board are so important for us to get a good understanding of what is happening. Please let us know anything you can about the shows near you. Good or bad it is important for us to be aware of what is going on. We have been going over the set list time and time again so we should be ready to go come the first show on the 8th in Holland. We do get their a day or so early so we will have a little time to hang out in Amsterdam and party down a little before we have to get to work. Maybe we will see some of you around the town."
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~ Former CANCER Guitarist Explains His Departure ~
Former CANCER guitarist Rob Engvikson has commented on his decision to leave the group following the completion of their recent European tour.
Writing to the web site of his long-running ASATRU project, Rob said, "Myself and CANCER have indeed gone our seperate ways. I wish John [Walker, CANCER guitarist/vocalist] and Carl [Stokes, CANCER drummer] all the success in the world, and have had a great time with them (albeit quite a short time). I made a good many friends in my short time with CANCER, and shall keep in touch with them all.
"People are gonna ask why me and CANCER went our seperate ways, so I will briefly state why. CANCER are a superb Midlands metal band, that required a damn good lead guitarist. I tried to fill that role, but I was never confortable being LEAD guitarist. After all, I have ALWAYS been a rhythm guitarist/vocalist. In the end, it was mutually decided that I go back to concentrating on my solo project, ASATRU. John and Carl wanted to give me a chance after being a friend of theirs for so long, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. It was a great trip.
"So now I go back to what I do best, vikings, rhythm guitar and vocals. ASATRU is again my main focus, and I hope to hit the road again sometime soon, for a 'Tour of Fire'."
As previously reported, Stokes and Walker will spend the next few months writing material for a new full-length album, tentatively due in 2005 through Copro Records.
CANCER recently issued their comeback EP, "Corporation$", through Copro. Included on the effort was the group's cover version of the CELTIC FROST classic "Dethroned Emperor".
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~ ABSU/MELECHESH Drummer Becomes A Father - Sep. 21, 2004 ~
Congratulations are in order for ABSU/MELECHESH drummer/vocalist Proscriptor (Russ R. Givens) and his wife Tiamatsu (Cristal A. Givens), who became the proud parents of a "wonderful" daughter, Saxon, on Sept. 21st.
In other news, Proscriptor has completed the drum tracks for an extreme epic metal project guided by guitar virtuoso Magnus Thorsen. A full-length release under the MAGNUS THORSEN banner will see the light of day sometime in early 2005 on Proscriptor's label, Tarot Productions.
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~ NOTRE DAME, DESTINY To Team Up For Sweden's HALLOWEEN METAL FEST ~
NOTRE DAME, the Swedish band featuring drummer Snowy Shaw (KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, DREAM EVIL), will be teaming with long-running Swedish metallers DESTINY for Halloween Metal Fest on November 6 at Musikenhus in Gothenburg, Sweden. Support will come from SIN SISTER and an as-yet-unannounced fourth act. Anders Iwers of TIAMAT will be the Metal DJ for the event.
NOTRE DAME recently announced the addition of drummer Daniel "M" Moilanen (RELEVANT FEW, RUNEMAGICK, FUNERAL ORCHESTRA) to the group's ranks. Moilanen had previously performed with NOTRE DAME at this past summer's festivals as a temporary replacement for original drummer Mannequin De Sade, who was sidelined due to a "self-inflicted injury."
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~ DARK FUNERAL: Russian/Ukranian Tour Dates Announced ~
Swedish black metallers DARK FUNERAL will be embarking on a tour of Russia/Ukraine in early December. Support at the dates will come from the Russian bands HORNED NECROCANNIBALS and ICEWIND BLAST. DARK FUNERAL's complete touring schedule is shaping up as follows:
Oct. 31 - Espace Culturel de Seichamps Seichamps, FRA
Nov. 06 - Nordic Rage Festival Boden, SWE
Dec. 01 - Arctica Club - Saint-Petersburg, RUS
Dec. 02 - Tochka Club Moscow, RUS
Dec. 03 TBA Kiev, UKR
Dec. 18 013 Tilburg, NETH
Dec. 19 - Hof Ter Loo Antwerpen, BEL
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~ TANKARD, THE FORSAKEN To Co-Headline Germany's STEEL MEETS STEEL Festival ~
TANKARD and THE FORSAKEN have been confirmed as the co-headliners of the Steel Meets Steel festival on October 1 at the club Spektrum in Castrop-Rauxel, Germany. Other groups scheduled to appear at the event include INTERITUS DEI, SCANNER, POUNDING DEAD HEART and ONEIROS. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. Admission price is 18 euros.
For more information, visit www.steel-meets-steel.de
