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03/08/2006: "SEMARGL HYPERION LOSS RELEASES IN STOCK NOW! + Tons o' NEWS!"
- LOSS "Life Without Hope ...Death Without Reason" MCD
- HYPERION (Ukraine) "Through Centuries" CD
- SEMARGL (Ukraine) "Attack on god" CD
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~ Emperor Frontman's Peccatum Project Is No More ~
PECCATUM, the Norwegian band featuring EMPEROR frontman Ihsahn and his wife Ihriel, have issued the following statement:
"After eight years of creating within the borders of PECCATUM, Ihsahn and Ihriel have decided to go elsewhere with their music. Ihsahn is going solo and Ihriel will continue her work in STAR OF ASH. They both still run Mnemosyne Productions and Symphonique Studio, and will definitely continue to explore the outer boundaries of dark music in many years to come — 'To boldly go where no man has gone before.' Ihriel and Ihsahn would like to take the opportunity to thank all PECCATUM fans and listeners, and hope they will find equal pains and pleasures in their new musical endeavours."
As previously reported, Ihsahn has set "The Adversary" as the title of his upcoming solo album, tentatively due later in the year via a collaboration between Mnemosyne Productions and Candlelight Records worldwide. Owned/operated by partners Ihsahn and Ihriel since 2003, Mnemosyne Productions was established as an outlet for duo's musical collaborations as well a place for new talent and innovative artists. The recordings for the album took place last year at Symphonique Studios in Norway with the final mix planned for early 2006. A video is in the works for the song "Invocation", though specific details as to director and concept are still in development.
"The music is a continuation of my work within the metal genre," said Ihsahn. "It incorporates influential elements from all periods/stages of my background since I first picked up the guitar 20 years ago. Powerful, epic, extreme and straight from the heart."
All music and lyrics for "The Adversary" have been written and performed by Ihsahn with exception of drums, performed by Asgeir Mickelson (BORKNAGAR, SPIRAL ARCHITECT). "He has been the perfect drummer for this album," noted Ihsahn. "He has really brought to live the patterns I programmed in pre-production.
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~ ENSLAVED Guitarist Reports On Album Recording, Video Filming ~
Guitarist Ivar Bjornson of the Norwegian extreme metallers ENSLAVED has posted a lengthy report on the recording process for the group's recently completed new album, "Ruun", and filming of the accompanying promotional videos at the band's official web site. Read it at:
http://www.enslaved.no/newsletters/feb06/nlfeb06.html .
ENSLAVED have just finished shooting two videos from the "Ruun" album: "Path to Vanir", which will be released before the end of March, and a follow-up clip, "Essence", which will be made available in the summer.
The recordings for ENSLAVED's follow-up to the band's Norwegian Grammy- and Alarm award-winning album "Isa" (2004) began in early January at Amper Studio in Oslo, Norway.
ENSLAVED will be teaming up with KHOLD and VREID for a European tour in the fall.
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~ NECRODEATH Finish Recording New CD, Announce New Guitarist ~
Long-running Italian black/thrash metallers NECRODEATH have announced the addition of rhythm guitarist Pier Gonella (LABYRINTH) to the group's ranks. Gonella joins the band as the replacement for Claudio, who recently left NECRODEATH for personal reasons.
NECRODEATH have finished recording their sixth studio album, "100% Hate", and will fly to Sweden in the near future for the final mastering. The follow-up to 2003's "Ton(e)s of Hate" was recorded at Outer Sound studios in Rome and features a guest appearance by VENOM frontman Conrad "Cronos" Lant.
Cronos had the following to say following his recording session: "I've liked NECRODEATH since their first album — great intensity and enthusiasm, as well as heavy as fuck. It was a pleasure to record my voice for one of their new songs. Their new album promises to be a monster-sized slice of intense metal. Can't fuckin' wait. Hell yeah!!!"
Due on April 17 via Scarlet Records, "100% Hell" is described in a press release as "the most diverse NECRODEATH album to date, containing 10 furious tracks spanning from the fast thrashing assault of the mid-eighties to the groove-oriented sonic holocaust displayed with the latest efforts."
NECRODEATH's current lineup is completed by vocalist Flegias (CADAVERIA), guitarist Andy (ANDRASTA), bassist John (CADAVERIA, DYNABYTE, RAZA DE ODIO) and drummer Peso (RAZA DE ODIO).
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~ CELESTIA Sign With PARAGON RECORDS ~
Paragon Records has announced the signing of aristocratic French black metal legends CELESTIA for the North/South American territory. The group's first release through the label will be a re-issue of their debut album, "Apparitia - Sumptuous Spectre". Remastered and remixed in a unique high-quality digipack, the set will include an extended layout featuring pictures of the "Apparitia" session done by the French photographer Andy Julia. An March/April release is expected. In addition, Paragon will release CELESTIA's latest album, "Frigidiis Apotheosia - Génčse De L'abstinence", tentatively due in the summer.
CELESTIA are signed to Aeternitas Tenebrarum Foundation for the European territory.
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~ ISOLE: New Audio Samples Available For Download ~
Audio samples of the new ISOLE tracks "The Beyond" and "Beyond the Black II" have been made available for download at the group's official web site, www.forevermore.se . Both songs will be included on the Swedish doom metal quartet's upcoming 7" vinyl release, "The Beyond", due on March 13 via I Hate Records. The single marks the group's first recording with new drummer Jonas Lindström, who is also a member of the death metal quartet WITHERED BEAUTY and black metal quintet UNDIVINE. The single's title cut, "The Beyond", is described in a press release as "a relatively up-tempo scorcher of a song" while "Beyond the Black II" is said to be "a really slow piece of mournful epic doom." Despite borrowing its title from the debut album track, "Beyond the Black II" doesn’t have much in common with its namesake, being much slower and with only some parts recognizable from its name predecessor.
ISOLE are currently recording their as-yet-untitled second album at their own Studio Apocalypse. The CD, which is expected to have a slightly rawer and heavier sound (both production- and music-wise) than the band's 2005 debut, "Forevermore", is expected to be completed by the end of March for a tentative June release.
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~ ROTTING CHRIST: Session Guitarist BOKOS Named Permanent Member ~
Legendary Greek death metallers ROTTING CHRIST have announced the addition of NIGHTFALL guitarist George Bokos as a full-time member of the group. "ROTTING CHRIST are deeply satisfied from the co-operation they had on their last tours with their session guitarist George Bokos and decided to offer him a permanent place in the band's lineup, something that was accepted from George's side too," the band write in a statement.
ROTTING CHRIST recorded their two live shows in Larissa, Greece for an upcoming live album. The pioneers of the Greek metal scene put on two special two-hour shows featuring songs covering their entire catalog. These live shows were held on February 3-4 at Blive Music House in Larissa, and were the only concerts to be recorded for the upcoming CD. The shows marked the band's 18 years in the metal scene and fans from around the world were in attendance. The band also played a very special concert consisting exclusively of material from their first three albums — "Passage To Arcturo" (1989), "Thy Mighty Contract" (1992) and "Non Serviam" (1994) - on January 14 at An Club in Athens, Greece. ROTTING CHRIST's "Passage To Arcturo" and "Non Serviam" albums were reissued just last month with bonus audio and video tracks.
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~ GORGOROTH Guitarist Appeals Sexual Assault Conviction ~
According to a posting on GORGOROTH's web site, the band's guitarist Infernus is appealing his conviction of aggravated sexual assault in connection with an alleged rape of a 29-year-old woman in Bergen, Norway in 2004.
Infernus (real name: Roger Tiegs) and a friend (whose identity has not been revealed by the Norwegian media) were found guilty of raping the woman last year. They were both sentenced to three years in prison. In early January, the court of appeals upheld Tiegs' friend's rape conviction, but found no evidence to support the rape charge against the GORGOROTH guitarist.
The actual charge Tiegs was convicted of is what is reffered to as "gross negligent rape," a provision introduced in 2000. In order for someone to be convicted of gross negligent rape, he would have to be seriously to blame for not understanding that the aggrieved person did not want intercourse. The maximum sentence for gross negligent rape is five years, but is being raised to eight years in more aggravated cases.
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~ KREATOR Frontman Checks In From New York City ~
KREATOR frontman Mille Petrozza has posted the following message on the band's official web site:
"The shows [on the North American Enemy of God Pt. 2 Tour] are going really well so far and I'm very happy to share the stage with NAPALM DEATH for a whole tour after all these years. We wanted to tour with Barney and co. for so long, since we feel that our bands have a lot in common! Finally it happens and it feels really great!
"Saw some of our old friends in Canada again (greetings to Snake and the Maddog!!).
"We've added some old-school songs to our setlist, brought over an even bigger production this time and the fans really seem to enjoy the concerts a lot!!! UNDYING and A PERFECT MURDER are definatelly a strong support in this package, so come early!
"I'm in New York City while I'm typing this, and our tour manager just told me that Tom [Fischer] and Martin [Ain] from the mighty CELTIC FROST are coming tonight... Man, I haven't seen those guys in ages!!"
As previously reported, KREATOR shot a video for their song "Enemy of God" on February 6 in Berlin. The clip was directed by Jörn Heitmann, known for his work with RAMMSTEIN ("Keine Lust") and THE RASMUS. More information about Heitmann's work can be found at www.katapultfilm.de
"Enemy of God" is the title track of KREATOR's latest album, available now on SPV Records. 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). ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott makes a guest appearance on lead guitar on the track "Murder Fantasies".
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~ SIG:AR:TYR: Debut Album Finally Sees Light Of Day ~
Canadian "atmospheric viking metal" act SIG:AR:TYR have announced the release of their debut full-length CD, "Sailing The Seas Of Fate", via Morbid Winter Records. "It has been a very long wait for this CD to be released, and I am glad to have it finally see the light of the sun," stated the band's mainman Daemonskald. "Special thanks to Morbid Winter for supporting this release and making it happen. Because of all the earlier problems with record companies, I really wanted to release through someone I trust and whose spirit and thoughts were more aligned with the essence of SIG:AR:TYR."
SIG:AR:TYR originally signed with Karmageddon Media in 2004 on the strength of the all-acoustic demo release, "The Stranger". Citing delays with the record company, SIG:AR:TYR obtained their release from Karmageddon in late 2005 to seek out other opportunities.
Described as "viking metal with acoustic atmosphere", "Sailing the Seas of Fate" tells the story of a Viking-age quest to the far northern reaches of the world to retrieve an object to turn the tide of Christianity. Two new tracks, "Skuld" and "Under the Dragon Star", can be downloaded at: www.sigartyr.com
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~ METALLICA To Help Induct BLACK SABBATH Into ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME ~
METALLICA have posted the following message on their official web site:
"So there we are, hanging out at HQ getting ready for our first visit to South Africa, and a call comes in wondering if we can leave a few days early and stop by New York to induct a bunch of guys from Birmingham, England (they're called BLACK SABBATH, you might've heard of them) into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It took us all of 3/4 of a second to say 'Fuck yeah!!'
"BLACK SABBATH wrote the book on heavy music, and like many other snot-nosed kids, we read it religiously over and over again. For all of us in METALLICA, BLACK SABBATH are a major influence not only on our music, but on our lives, and as you can imagine, we're psyched to join Bill, Geezer, Ozzy, and Tony for the induction ceremony on Monday, March 13.
"Not only will we be inducting SABBATH, we are going to make a humble attempt at playing some of their songs live in front of the gathered masses, including, most humbling of all, the four members of the band themselves.
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~ VOIVOD New Album Title Revealed ~
Canada's pioneering metal band VOIVOD have set "Katorz" as the title of their forthcoming album, due out late spring on The End Records in North America and Nuclear Blast Records in Europe. "Katorz" has been the working title for the new CD since at least the spring of 2005.
Legendary Canadian experimental metallers VOIVOD have finished mixing their much-anticipated new album with producer Glen Robinson (VOIVOD's "Nothingface", TEA PARTY, GWAR) at Multisons studio in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Drummer Michael "Away' Langevin has checked in with the following update:
"We just finished the mixing of the album. Glen, Jason [Newsted, bass], Snake [Denis Belanger, vocals] and I worked some crazy shifts to make sure that all the parts blend properly. Of course, we gave the guitar a particular attention. We really didn't want Piggy to be low in the mix. Glen is back in New York City and he's taking the album to Howie Weinberg for mastering today. Now I have to finish the art!"
The follow-up to 2003's "Voivod" is the first album in the band's 20-plus-year career that will 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. Artwork and a full track-listing for the album will be released in the coming weeks.
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~ KAMPFAR Complete Work On New Album ~
Norwegian old-school black metallers KAMPFAR have completed work on their third full-length album, "Kvass", due later in the year via Napalm Records. The track listing for the effort is as follows:
01. Lyktemenn
02. Til Siste Mann
03. Ravenheart
04. Ildverden
05. Hat Og Avind
06. Gaman Av Drřmmer
KAMPFAR's second full-length album, "Fra underverdenen" ("From the underworld") was released in 1999 via Hammerheart Records.
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~ ANCIENT RITES To Release 'Rubicon' In May ~
Belgian metallers ANCIENT RITES will release their new album, entitled "Rubicon", on May 15 via Season of Mist. The follow-up to 2001's "Dim Carcosa" was recorded at the Spacelab Studio in Germany under the watchful eye of veteran ANCIENT RITES producers Oliver Phillips and Christian Moos.
ANCIENT RITES will play a CD-release gig sometime in May. The date and venue will be confirmed soon.
Following the album's release, ANCIENT RITES — now a septet since the return of former members Domingo Smets and Raf Jansen in 2004 — will once again play live to spread their new music. Concerts all over Europe and the U.K. are currently being negotiated and arranged, so expect the band to be out there in full blast later in the year. *[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ UNLEASHED Announce Stand-In Drummer For Poland's METALMANIA Festival ~
Swedish death metallers UNLEASHED have announced the addition of drummer Jonas Tyskhagen (INCARDINE, PELLE & THE POORBOYS) as the temporary replacement for Anders Schultz, who is recovering from a recent lung-collapse. Tyskhagen will join the band for their appearance at the Metalmania festival on Saturday, March 4 in Katowice, Poland. "UNLEASHED have waited a long time to finally come back to Poland," frontman Johnny Hedlund writes on the band's web site. "You'd better believe we are ready to bang heads!!!"
As previously reported, UNLEASHED filmed their entire performance at the Up From The Ground festival (August 26-27, 2005) for their upcoming full-length DVD, tentatively due later in the year. UNLEASHED also shot their July 1, 2005 concert at the With Full Force festival in Leipzig, Germany for the as-yet-untitled disc.
UNLEASHED's seventh studio album, "Sworn Allegiance", was released in 2004 through Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Hell's Unleashed" was recorded and mixed by Fredrik Folkare at Chrome Studios and mastered by Peter In de Betou of Tailor Maid Productions (DIMMU BORGIR, AMON AMARTH, KATATONIA). *[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ DOWNLORD Featuring Ex-BOLT THROWER Frontman: Band 'Gob-Smacked' By Drum Performance ~
Denmark's DOWNLORD, featuring ex-members of BOLT THROWER / BENEDICTION, INIQUITY and SACRIFICIAL, have recorded the drums to their next demo. Stick duties were supplied by ex-DIMMU BORGIR/OLD MAN'S CHILD drummer Reno Kiilerich.
Commented vocalist Dave Ingram: "We were all totally gob-smacked by Reno's performance. He's one of the most talented & hard-working guys in the scene today, and we're proud to have been able to utilize his talent. I can't wait to get cracking on the vocals! We've already started working on the guitars & bass tracks. It may take us a little time, but there's NO way we'll be rushing through this. It's gonna shred! We're sitting in the studio discussing how to continue as I post this."
DOWNLORD will soon be updating their web site, www.downlord.dk , with some MPEG video footage from the recording, and adding the tracks for free download as soon as they're done.
*[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ KATAKLYSM To Film 'To Reign Again' Video ~
Canadian death metallers KATAKLYSM have issued the following update:
"We are happy to announce that KATAKLYSM has hit position #63 on the German trend chart with their critically acclaimed new album 'In The Arms of Devastation'. This is a first for KATAKLYSM!! The album was also the #1 most added album at U.S. radio on its debut last week. KATAKLYSM are also schedualed to film a second video for the track 'To Reign Again' wich will utilise once again the services of acclaimed director Maurice Swinkel of Lowlife Media (who recently just finishing shooting an astonishing video for the track 'Crippled & Broken', which will shortly be released), the video will be filmed during the bands perfromances and touring activites at the No Mercy Festivals in April and will be released later in the year."
KATAKLYSM's new album, "In the Arms of Devastation", was released on February 20 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was mixed in Denmark by acclaimed producer Tue Madsen.
*[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ Brazil's HEADHUNTER D.C. Finish Recording New Album ~
Brazil's HEADHUNTER D.C. have finished recording their long-awaited fourth full-length album, "God's Spreading Cancer…", at Casa das Máquinas Studio in Salvador. Playing drums on and producing the new CD is the band's former drummer Thiago Nogueira (also currently in UNGODLY), who stepped into the drummer's role following the dismissal of Daniel Brandăo.
HEADHUNTER D.C., who will celebrate their 19th anniversary in May, are looking for a licensing deal in Europe and the U.S. will begin auditioning drummers as soon as the album is completed. A tour around Brazil and some concerts in other South American countries like Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru and Bolivia are also planned for this year. Frontman Sérgio Baloff says "God's Spreading Cancer…" is the band's "best effort to date due to the intensity, brutality and unholy atmosphere created by the songs," which include "God Is Dead", "Stillborn Messiah", "Black Miracle", "Inner Demons Rise!" and "Long Live The Death Cult". HEADHUNTER D.C. has also contributed a "bestial version" of "Slaughtered Remains" to the upcoming NECROVORE tribute CD, to be released on Holland's From Beyond Productions. Also planned for release is a split 10" EP with fellow Brazilians SANCTIFIER, to be made available via Legion of Death Rekordz from France. Entitled "…In Deathmetallic Brotherhood", the EP features HEADHUNTER's brand-new track called "Hymn To Babylon", a cover of SANCTIFIER's "The Cycle Of The Entity", and a live version of the song "Forgotten Existence" (from the band's second album, "Punishment At Dawn", 1993) recorded at the ForCaos Fest in 2004. In the meantime, check out the recent reissue of band's third album, "…And The Sky Turns To Black… (The Dark Age Has Come)" (originally issued in 2000) on Brazil's Dying Music, featuring five bonus tracks (among them a cover of POSSESSED's classic "Twisted Minds"), extra slipcase cover, an article written by the infamous Karnage and previously unpublished photos. *(Thanks: Voices from the Darkside)
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~ ROTTEN SOUND Part Ways With Drummer, Announce Replacement ~
Drummer Kai Hahto has left Finland's ROTTEN SOUND in order to concentrate more on his family and his other band WINTERSUN. His replacement is Sami Latva of DEATHBOUND fame.
Commented the band in a statement: "Two weeks ago Sami Latva joined ROTTEN SOUND to replace our longtime drummer Kai Hahto. We are very excited about this change because Sami is highly motivated, extremely talented and very good friend of ours. He already learned to play 20+ songs for our live set during this time and is also joining us actively in the creation of the EP songs. Other members of ROTTEN SOUND can assure everyone that you have to scrape your brains off the walls also in future. And some other organs too, if you even survive his blasting at all!
"Oh, one more thing: two weeks ago Kai Hahto decided to leave ROTTEN SOUND to spend more time with his family and WINTERSUN. Thanks for the 12.5 years together and make sure you don't forget grinding in your other bands and projects. Or else..."
ROTTEN SOUND was formed on 1993 and has released 13 recordings so far, including four full-length albums, one DVD and numerous smaller releases. Their last effort, "Exit" (Spinefarm Records) CD/LP, received many rave reviews around the world and made it to Finnish charts for three weeks after it was released. The previous full-length, "Murderworks", was originally released in 2002 through Century Media Records (in Europe) and is now being reissued by Relapse Records. ROTTEN SOUND has a great deal of touring experience, including numerous tours in Europe, two U.S. tours and many festivals on both continents. *[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ BLACK SABBATH: 'Greatest Hits 1970–1978' Cover Artwork Posted Online ~
The cover artwork for BLACK SABBATH's upcoming "best of" collection, entitled "Greatest Hits 1970–1978", has been posted online at:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000E6EHHM.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Due on March 14 from Rhino, the CD was executive produced by Sharon Osbourne and contains 16 monster hits from the original BLACK SABBATH, with over 80 minutes of remastered musical mayhem. Liner notes were written by BLABBERMOUTH.NET contributor and esteemed metal journalist Don "Fang" Kaye.
"Greatest Hits 1970–1978" track listing:
01. Black Sabbath
02. N.I.B.
03. The Wizard
04. War Pigs
05. Paranoid
06. Iron Man
07. Sweet Leaf
08. Children Of The Grave
09. Changes
10. Snowblind
11. Supernaut
12. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
13. Hole In The Sky
14. Rock 'N' Roll Doctor
15. Never Say Die
16. Dirty Women
As previously reported, BLACK SABBATH will finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month. The 21st annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on March 13 in New York at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Artists are eligible to be inducted into the Rock Hall after at least 25 years have passed since their first record was released.
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~ MELDRUM: More Dates With MOTÖRHEAD Announced ~
MELDRUM, the Swedish/American band led by former PHANTOM BLUE guitarist Michelle Meldrum (wife of EUROPE axeman John Norum), have been confirmed as the support act for MOTÖRHEAD for two more dates on their upcoming short U.S. run.
MELDRUM entered a Los Angeles studio earlier in the month to do some recording for the follow-up to their debut album, "Loaded Mental Cannon". The band completed a Scandinavian tour late last year with MOTÖRHEAD after touring both the U.S. and Europe with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY earlier in 2005. In addition, MELDRUM singer Moa Holmsten recently recorded some guest vocals for MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister's upcoming solo album. The CD, tentatively titled "Lemmy & Friends", will reportedly feature collaborations with Dave Grohl (FOO FIGHTERS, ex-NIRVANA), REVEREND HORTON HEAT, THE DAMNED and SKEW SISKIN.
Holmsten joined MOTÖRHEAD onstage for a rendition of "Killed by Death" during the band's 30th anniversary DVD shoot at the Astoria in London, U.K. on June 16, 2005. The day before, Moa was on the set when MOTÖRHEAD shot the video for their "Whorehouse Blues" single and appeared in the clip together with the band "among some fine-looking women and 'worldwide celebrities,'" according to a posting on MELDRUM's web site.
Currently unsigned, MELDRUM released their debut album, "Loaded Mental Cannon", in 2001 via Record Heaven. *[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ HARMS WAY Featuring Former UNLEASHED, MERCILESS Members: Debut Album On The Way ~
HARMS WAY, the new Swedish quartet featuring Fredrik "Eugene" Lindgren (guitar; ex-UNLEASHED, BORN OF FIRE, TERRA FIRMA, LOUDPIPES, CELESTIAL PAIN), Mr. Dim (vocals and bass; BORN OF FIRE), Erik Wallin (guitar; ex-MERCILESS) and Stefan Carlsson (drums; ex-MERCILESS, DIA PLASMA, TRANSPORT LEAGUE, BLACKSHINE), have inked a deal with Black Lodge Records. The band are currently at White Chapel Music Machine studio in Stockholm, Sweden recording their full-length debut, due later in the year.
According to a press release, HARMS WAY "creates a fresh and heavy form of catchy stoner/metal/rock in the vein of BLACK SABBATH, LED ZEPPELIN, and early IRON MAIDEN but with an touch of the 21st century and bands like QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE etc. without any boundaries whatsoever." For more information, visit www.harmsway.se
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~ PLACE OF SKULLS: 'The Black Is Never Far' To Receive U.S. Release In April ~
PLACE OF SKULLS, the Knoxville, Tennessee-based band featuring former PENTAGRAM guitarist Victor Griffin, will release their third full-length CD, "The Black Is Never Far", in the U.S. on April 17. The CD, which came out in Germany on February 17 (on Exile On Mainstream Records), will be issued in the rest of Europe on March 20.
"The Black Is Never Far" was recorded at Lakeside Studios with producers Travis Wyrick and Mike Dearing, and features Griffin alongside Dennis Cornelius of REVELATION and OVERSOUL fame and drummer extraordinaire Tim Tomaselli. Longtime friend and original PLACE OF SKULLS / DEATH ROW bassist Lee Abney also makes a guest appearance. Touring plans include a possible European trek in the fall. *[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ SODOM: New Album Cover Artwork Posted Online ~
The cover artwork for SODOM's upcoming self-titled album has been posted online at:
http://shop.nuclearblast.de/artikelbilder/133/133253.jpg .
"Sodom" is scheduled for release in Germany on April 21, in Europe April 24 and in the USA May 9. "Every band needs a self-titled album at least once in their career," band mastermind Tom Angelripper points out, adding that the twelve new tracks will contain pure thrash metal in its most dynamic incarnation. "We have to apologize to our fans that the album didn't come out sooner, but the work on our DVD, 'Lords of Depravity Part I', was so time-consuming that things took a little longer than expected." However, the band featuring singer/bass player Tom Angelripper, guitarist Bernemann and drummer Bobby Schottkowski will make the long wait worthwhile for their fan community with an offering that could hardly be more straightforward or determined. "We wanted to prove to the world what we can do, that's why we decided to roll up our sleeves and pool our strengths."
The current SODOM lineup has proved to be the most consistent in the band's history. "The team Angelripper/Bernemann/Schottkowski will celebrate its anniversary this year: We've been together for ten years," explains Tom, who is determined to continue to sail into the wind with his band in an increasingly short-lived world, not deviating from his present course when it comes to SODOM's lyrics. "I've always written about things that go on in the world, the injustice and mistakes that happen everywhere. I know that you can't change anything politically, but I would at least like to make clear where I stand and raise people's awareness of those deplorable states of affair."
"Sodom" was recorded and mixed at the premises of an old friend: Andy Brings. The former SODOM guitarist produced the new album at his Midas Twins studios in Hagen, Germany, together with sound engineer Haan Hartmann, bringing out the best in the musicians. "Andy did a great job and really lured the optimum performance out of me," states Tom. "Our new album proves that you don't necessarily have to go to an American studio to get a good sound." *(Thanks: Hans en Ingeborg)
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