other noteworthy news from the past weeks
~ CELTIC FROST: New Demo Track Posted Online ~
CELTIC FROST have posted a new version of the previously released demo track "Ground" at this website: http://www.celticfrost.com/Groundrehearsal.mp3
Commented guitarist/producer Erol Unala: "This Saturday I just finished mixing a new version of 'Ground', this time it's the full band, recorded live at our rehearsal room. The vocals and lead guitar overdubs were added shortly thereafter."
CELTIC FROST have yet to announce a record label or release date for their long-awaited new album, tentatively titled "Probe". Joining Unala and mainman Tom Gabriel Fischer on the recording is the group's original bassist Martin Ain.
Tom Gabriel "Warrior" Fischer recently announced plans to record a solo album, tentatively due next year. The as-yet-untitled effort will reportedly contain material that "is very closely related to my personal life and emotions," according to Fischer. "It is much more somber and utterly dark [than previous band APOLLYON SUN], as has been my life in recent years. The music can perhaps be described as dark wave, electronica... or, much better, as my innermost feelings and emotions turned into soundscapes, aural paintings."
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~ DARKTHRONE: 'Sardonic Wrath' Track Listing Revealed ~
Despite DARKTHRONE guitarist/vocalist Nocturno Culto's (a.k.a. Ted Skjellum) previously published claims that the group's new CD would contain nine tracks, the promotional copies of "Sardonic Wrath" that have been distributed to the media include seven tracks with a total running time of 26 minutes and 43 seconds. The follow-up to last year's "Hate Them" will feature cover artwork by Lorenzo Mariani (MARDUK, ABORYM) and is scheduled for release in September through Moonfog Records. The complete track listing for the effort is as follows:
01. Information Wants To Be Syndicated (4:20)
02. Sjakk Matt Jesu Krist (4:03)
03. Straightening Sharks (3:26)
04. Alle Gegen Alle (3:21)
05. Mann Tanker Sitt (3:04)
06. God Of Doubt (4:33)
07. Silent Majority (3:56)
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~ DISSECTION To Tour UK And Ireland In December ~
Reactivated Swedish death metallers DISSECTION, featuring guitarist/vocalist Jon Nödtvedt, will be touring U.K. and Ireland in December. Confirmed dates are as follows:
Dec. 14 – London, UK - Scala
Dec. 15 - Nottingham, UK - TBA
Dec. 16 - Dublin, IRE - TBA
Dec. 17 - Belfast, IRE - TBA
Dec. 19 - Bradford, UK - Rio's
Support and other venues will be announced at a later date. Nödtveidt spent seven years in prison after being convicted of being an acomplice to a murder of an Algerian homosexual. A short-lived collaboration with former EMPEROR drummer Bård "Faust" Eithun ended in December over "the demands of DISSECTION's Satanic concept." A documentary DVD and a new studio album are expected sometime in 2005.
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~ SLAYER To Document 'Reign In Blood' Performance On Upcoming DVD ~
SLAYER will film their July 11 show in Augusta, Maine for an upcoming live DVD "Reign in Blood Live: Still Reigning". The disc will feature a full performance of the 1986 album "Reign in Blood" by all original members of the veteran thrash metal outfit. The DVD, due on September 28, will have an approximate 75-minute running-time.
SLAYER have modified their stage backdrop to reflect the look of the mid-'80s "Reign in Blood" tour, including the SLAYER eagle and the controversial upside-down crosses that are part of the lighting rig. A ten-camera crew under the direction of Dean Karr (IRON MAIDEN) will be on hand to document the show plus all the backstage action. "'Reign in Blood' is our signature record, and if people think that it helped set the path for that genre of music, that's great," said vocalist Tom Araya. "It's a record that means a lot to all of us in the band — it was our first record for a major label, and our first record with [producer] Rick Rubin, who gave it unconditional support."
"If what we're planning for the final 45-seconds of the song 'Raining Blood' looks half as cool as we hope it will," added guitarist Kerry King, "the kids will be blown away. And we'll probably have to replace all of our gear!"
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~ MORTAL SIN: DVD Launch To Take Place July 2004 ~
The long-awaited release of the MORTAL SIN DVD "Out of the Darkness" finally hits Sydney, Australia on Saturday, July 17 with the official launch at The Annandale Hotel — the venue where the DVD was shot. The concert features MORTAL SIN, DAYSEND (who just signed to Metal Blade Records in North America), LYCANTHIA, and THE DEAD REPUBLIC (ex-ANIMISM). The "Out of the Darkness" DVD track listing is as follows:
01. Out of the Darkness, 02. My Nightmare, 03. H, 04. Lebanon, 05. Rise or Fall, 06. The Infantry Corps, 07. All About You, 08. I Am Immortal, 09. Mayhemic Destruction
The DVD also features some rare footage of the band recording the classic album "Mayhemic Destruction" at EMI studios in Sydney in 1986. You will also find some cameo appearances and short clips from classic Australian bands SLAUGHTERLORD, ADDICTIVE, GRUNGEON and WHITE TRASH — bands that MORTAL SIN members have previously appeared in. A surprise mystery gig is also hidden on the DVD as a metal "egg." Another bonus on the DVD is two film clips recorded in 1987 for the songs "Women in Leather" and "Voyage of the Disturbed".
The DVD is currently only being released in Australia and can only be bought directly from the band, and is limited to only 1,000 copies and signed by the band. MORTAL SIN are currently looking for distribution in Europe, USA and Asia and will shortly be recording film clips for international release for the songs "Out of the Darkness", "My Nightmare" and "Deadman Walking". August will see the band touring the East Coast of Australia, then concentrating on finishing songs for the album "Far From Extinction" in the hope it can be recorded by the end of 2004.
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~ Couple Fined For Sex During Concert - July 7, 2004 ~
A couple that had sex on stage as 4,000 fans applauded and the extreme grind band THE CUMSHOTS played on at a Norwegian rock festival have been fined 10,000 kroner ($1,470) each.
Tommy Hol Ellingsen, 28, and his 21-year-old girlfriend Leona Johansson were called up on stage during THE CUMSHOTS concert by the lead singer, where they had sex (more photos) for almost 10 minutes as the crowd cheered and the band played on. "That fine is ridiculous. There'll be no fine here, there'll be a legal process and the whole shebang," Ellingsen told TV 2 Nettavisen on its online news site. The couple are members of the environmental organization "Fuck For Forest". They have sex in public in order to put focus on the rainforest. "Today's environmentalists have become more politicians than idealists," Ellingsen said to TV 2 Nettavisen. "We want to bring forth the message with attitude."
According to the organization's web site, " 'Fuck For Forest' are concerned youngsters, fighting to preserve the environment. We believe it is possible to use people's need for sexuality as a way to raise money for nature." Having sex in public is illegal in Norway and carries a maximum sentence of a year in prison. The five CUMSHOTS band members were also fined 10,000 kroner each, according to News.com.au.
Festival organizers initially didn't take any measures against THE CUMSHOTS singer Kristopher Schau, but later said they wouldn't allow him to be the festival's spokesman on Saturday, as initially planned, Aftenposten has reported. Police were questioning all involved in the stunt on Wednesday afternoon and considering fining the festival. Local politician Steinar Kristiansen remained furious.
"Kristopher Schau showed here a lack of judgment and defiance for Norwegian law," Kristiansen, who represents the Christian Democrats on the county council for Vest-Agder, told Aftenposten. "Fortunately, not only the conservative Christian Democrats are reacting to this. I hope that members of the public file police reports as well." Kristiansen also said Schau should never be allowed to perform at the festival again, and that he should be banned from Norwegian television. Schau, not surprisingly, was delighted with the act and claimed he's just doing his part to protect rain forests. "We've been accused of not having any cause," he said. "Here we've had a fine opportunity to improve our reputation." Last time Ellingsen and Johansson had public sex, they managed to collect NOK 100,000 ($14,677), but nobody wanted to take the money.
"The goal is to take over the entire commercial porn industry and transfer all the money to protection of the environment," Ellingsen explained. However, the Rainforest Foundation Norway is not thrilled by the way the small organization has chosen to raise money. "I cannot see that this helps the work for the rainforest," Lars Løvold, head of the Rainforest Foundation Norway, told TV 2 Nettavisen. "Generally speaking, we accept donations, but if the money is coming from illegal activity, from someone who abuse the rainforest or wish to abuse our name, we say no thank-you. This may be the case here."
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~ Supreme Court Blocks Execution Of METALLICA-'Influenced' Killer ~
The U.S. Supreme Court (on Wednesday, July 7) blocked the scheduled execution of a man who chanted the chorus to METALLICA's "No Remorse" — "Another day, another death, another sorrow, another breath" — after fatally shooting a man in the head in Corpus Christi and robbing him of $13 twenty years ago. Appeals filed to the court contend jurors were not allowed to properly consider Troy Kunkle's drug and alcohol abuse history and that Kunkle's due-process rights were violated when appeals lawyers were denied access to a state-paid full transcript of juror questioning, according to the Associated Press. The Supreme Court issued an indefinite stay.
Kunkle, 38, was set for lethal injection Wednesday night for fatally shooting Steven Horton, 29, during a robbery in Corpus Christi. He would be the 11th Texas prisoner executed this year. On legal notepads in court, Kunkle wrote METALLICA lyrics, alleging the lyrics from "No Remorse" inspired him to kill. This disturbed the band's lead singer, James Hetfield, when he learned how Kunkle reacted to the verse, according to KZTV10. Hetfield, in 1984, said, "I guess this kid took it into his own ways. Of course, we're upset but I mean we had nothing directly to do with it."
Leslie Poynter Dixon, a former assistant district attorney in Nueces County who prosecuted the case, last week recalled a hearing about whether the METALLICA song could be used as evidence. "As this album [METALLICA's 'Kill 'Em All'] was being played for the judge so he could make his decision on whether it would be admitted, Mr. Kunkle was playing an air guitar," said Dixon, now the district attorney in Van Zandt County in East Texas. "That really struck me. It suggested to me that Mr. Kunkle had no regard for human life — even his own — because this was his trial and the state was seeking the death penalty."
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~ SATYRICON To Audition Drummers For Upcoming U.S. Tour ~ Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON have posted the following message on their web site:
"We will be headlining [Wacken Open Air] Saturday the 7th of August doing a special set where we will perform DARKTHRONE songs with their singer the last 30 minutes of our show. Anyone who knows their black metal is aware of DARKTHRONE's policy of not playing live. They've decided to do this special event and asked us to be a part of it and that is of course a great honour. We're also glad that this historical event has the approval of Fenriz and Zephyrous. Bonds between SATYRICON and DARKTHRONE have always been extremely tight and this is a great way of showing it. The thought of kicking into our opening song 'Walk The Path Of Sorrow' in front of 30-40.000 people makes the wait almost unbearable. Some of you have have been sending concerned e-mails asking what the festival means by using the phrasing 'last show forever' about our performance. We don't know WHAT THEY FUCK they are talking about and rest assured... SATYRICON is alive and kicking as ever before!
"[Regarding another USA tour] No movement on the Frost [immigration] case. We've will be auditioning drummers in August. So far we've had no luck as some drummers we have contacted have schedules that doesn't allow them to tour with us or they turn out not to be good enough. We're hoping to return in Sep/Oct/Nov. So be patient, darkness always prevails."
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~ DISSECTION Begin Recording New Album ~
Reactivated Swedish death metallers DISSECTION, featuring guitarist/vocalist Jon Nödtvedt, are currently in the studio with a full line-up, working on their first studio recording since 1995's classic album "Storm Of The Light's Bane". The first single and video is scheduled for release in September 2004.
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~ CRADLE OF FILTH To Embark On South American Tour ~
British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH will embark on a South American tour in late September. Confirmed dates are as follows:
Sep. 23 - 3.0 (La Escena) - Monterrey, MEX
Sep. 24 - Circo Volador - Mexico City, MEX
Sep. 25 - Plaza de Toros Quito - Quito, ECU
Sep. 26 - Coliseo El Salitre - Bogota, COL
Sep. 28 - Coliseo Mayor de Pereira - Pereira, COL
Sep. 30 - Estadio Victor Jara - Santiago, CHL
Oct. 02 - Via Funchal - Sao Paulo, BRA
CRADLE OF FILTH's new album, "Nymphetamine", is scheduled for a September 28 release through Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to last year's "Damnation and a Day", "Nymphetamine" (roughly translated as the druggish beast-like addiction to beautiful, classical women) was produced by ANTHRAX guitarist Rob Caggiano, who has previously worked with the group during the mixing stage for "Damnation…". Mixing duties were handled by Colin Richardson (FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD, NAPALM DEATH).
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~ Heavy Metal Fans Rob Convenience Store To Get Money For OZZFEST Tickets ~
Jim Collar of The Northwestern is reporting that three people accused in the Monday armed robbery of a Wisconsin convenience store devised the plan in order to get money for tickets to an Ozzy Osbourne concert, according to Winnebago County criminal complaints.
Anthony S. Lewis, 17, Staci M. Beckerson, 18, and Matthew C. Melhorn, 21, were charged with armed robbery Wednesday afternoon in Winnebago County Circuit Court. The criminal complaint states that Melhorn watched the door to Omro Travel Center Monday, while Lewis and another teen held up a clerk with a BB handgun. Beckerson sat in the car, and was meant to be the get-away driver, according to the complaint.
The fourth suspect had not been in custody as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Winnebago County Jail staff. Officers caught the three suspects soon after the robbery was committed, the complaint states.
Upon arrest, Beckerson told officers that they were talking about getting money to go to an upcoming Ozzfest concert and eventually settled on robbery. Lewis and the fourth teen entered the store with bandannas and hooded sweatshirts, pointed the BB gun at the clerk and demanded money. They left the store with about $300, the complaint states.
Beckerson and Melhorn each face maximum penalties of $100,000 in fines and 40 years imprisonment. Lewis faces $130,000 in fines and 46 years in prison. Beyond the robbery, Lewis was charged with battery to an officer, resisting police and criminal damage to property. Lewis struggled with police during arrest, kicked an officer and later kicked out the rear passenger window of the squad car, the complaint states. Each will appear in court for preliminary hearings on Tuesday.
*(Thanks: Jason Crooks)- - - -~ ANAAL NATHRAKH Name New Album ~
British black metal act ANAAL NATHRAKH have set "Domine Non Es Dignus" as the title of their second full-length album, tentatively due before the end of the year through Season Of Mist Records. The follow-up to 2001's "The Codex Necro" is being recorded at Necrodeath studios and will include the following cuts, among others: "Revaluation of All Value", "To Err Is Human, To Dream – Futile" and "Procreation of the Wretched". No further information is currently available
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~ MARDUK Confirmed For Italy's AGGLUTINATION METAL FESTIVAL ~
Swedish black metallers MARDUK have been confirmed for the Agglutination Metal Festival on August 12 in Chiaromonte, Italy. Also set to appear are IRON SAVIOUR, CRYSTAL BALL, NOVEMBRE, CENTURION, THY MAJESTIE, RAIN, NAMELESS CRIME, DISGUISE and WALKYRIA.
As previously reported, MARDUK recently entered Endarker studio in Norrköping, Sweden to begin recording their ninth full-length album, tentatively due in November. The group's forthcoming CD will be their first recording with new singer Mortuus (previously a member of FUNERAL MIST and TRIUMPHATOR under the alias Arioch).
MARDUK recently parted ways with longtime bassist B.War. His replacement in the group is Magnus Devo Andersson, who played second guitar on the group's first two albums ("Dark Endless" and "Those of the Unlight").
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~ CHTON: New Song Available For Download ~
CHTON, the Norwegian death metal band featuring Kenneth of KEEP OF KALESSIN and Torstein of MANES, have posted a track from their upcoming debut album, "Chtonian Lifecode", at their official web site. The song, entitled "Unholy Communion", can be downloaded at this location:
http://www.chton.com/mp3/Chton_-_Unholy_Communion.mp3
"Chtonian Lifecode" was recorded, mixed and mastered at Godt Selskap Studio between April and June 2004 and is scheduled for release in early August through Retribute Records. The album includes guest vocals by Attila Csihar (ex-MAYHEM, TORMENTOR) and Frediablo (NECROPHAGIA, GRIMFIST).
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~ DISMEMBER Set Release Date For 'Live Blasphemies' DVD ~ Long-running Swedish death metallers DISMEMBER have set an August 24 release date through Escapi for their double DVD, entitled "Live Blasphemies". The first disc will contain the group's live performance from May 27, 2003 at Klubben in Stockholm, while the second disc will feature a 90-minute documentary/home video spanning the group's entire career (including the group's first-ever performance from 1988).
DISMEMBER's most recent album, "Where Ironcrosses Grow", was released in the U.S. in April through Candlelight Records. The follow-up to 2000's "Hate Campaign" was recorded at Stockholm's Sami studio and features artwork by acclaimed artist Dan Seagrave (ENTOMBED, SUFFOCATION, MORBID ANGEL).
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~ BLOODBATH: New Album Release Date Announced ~
Century Media Records has set a September 27 European release date for the sophomore BLOODBATH CD, "Nightmares Made Flesh". BLOODBATH is the Swedish death metal supergroup featuring Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström (KATATONIA, DIABOLICAL MASQUERADE, BEWITCHED), Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN), Jonas Renkse (KATATONIA, OCTOBER TIDE) and Dan Swanö (NIGHTINGALE, DAN SWANÖ, UNICORN, EDGE OF SANITY, INFESTDEAD, ODYSSEY, PAN-THY-MONIUM)
Guitarist Nyström commented on the release: "After being resurrected through carnage our nightmares made flesh! This time we promise the world an even more brutal and varied piece of real and pure death metal. Take the outstanding performances by the new members Axe and Tägtgren into account and BLOODBATH will prove no longer only to be a tribute to death metal; but also death metal's very own elite."
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~ BETHLEHEM Complete Work On New Album ~
German Dark Metallers BETHLEHEM have completed work on their fifth full-length album, "Mein Weg", for a September release through Red Stream Records. Featuring ten songs with a running time of over sixty minutes, "Mein Weg" is said to have it all: "distinctive melancholic melodies, sturdy heavy metal riffs, rapid black metal blast beats, mega-slow doom dirges, dim piano lines and emotionally serene rock themes." The follow-up to 2001's "Schatten Aus Der Alexander Welt" will be issued in a special digipack containing an 18-page booklet
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* Watch the PROBOT video featuring Lemmy (MOTORHEAD) and Wino (ex-SAINT VITUS, THE OBSESSED, HIDDEN HAND, PLACE OF SKULLS, etc.) with the SUICIDE GIRLS here:
http://suicidegirls.com/sgtmp/probot/probot.mpg
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~ BRUJERIA Play Two Sold-Out Gigs In Hollywood ~
BRUJERIA/ex-FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares (a.k.a. Asesino) has sent the following message:
"BRUJERIA are extremely proud to announce that we had two successful back-to-back sold-out shows at the Key Club in Hollywood on July 14th and 15th. 1,600 people attended over the two days. This was the first time ever that the band had officially performed in Los Angeles in its 14-year history. All past attempts were plagued with religious protests and weary promoters who feared to book the band do to BRUJERIA's reputation and politically incorrect stance, both musically and lyrically. We also had a very successful show at the Ventura Theater [Saturday] night [July 24]. BRUJERIA would like to say 'gracias' to all the bands and fans that came out to support the BRUJERIA revolucion!!!!!! Next stop Brazil for two shows in Sao Paulo, along with a special guest appearance on MTV Brazil, where the band will perform live. Also a show in Buenos Aires Argentina is also confirmed. More details to follow."
*(Note: ex-CRADLE OF FILTH/DIMMU BORGIR drummer Nick Barker was BRUJERIA's drummer for these 2 shows above!)
In other news, ASESINO, the death metal/grindcore project featuring Cazares and STATIC-X bassist Tony Campos (on bass/vocals), will be playing the Key Club on September 16 (Mexican independence day) and September 25 at the Showcase Theater in Corona, California.
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antinome666 on 08.07.04 @ 08:00 PM PST [link]
Burzum, Shining, Slayer, King Diamond...
~ Norwegian Church Draws Black Metal Fans ~
Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten is reporting that the restored stave church in Fantoft in Bergen, Norway has become a pilgrimage site for European black metal music fans who want to visit the site of the church-burning that Varg Vikernes (aka Count Grishnack) of the one-man band BURZUM was suspected of carrying out.
On the cover of the BURZUM EP album "Aske" (Ashes) one can see a 1992 picture of the charred ruins of Fantoft stave church. Varg Vikernes is serving a sentence for murder and church burnings.
Guide Arne Dyroy is not terribly thrilled about some of the new tourists to Fantoft.
"The church has received unwelcome attention because of the 1992 fire and we have had visitors wearing T-shirts with pictures of the burnt ruins. This is very disrespectful," Dyroy said.
Dyroy told NRK that many of the black metal tourists ask about Vikernes, and want to visit him in Bergen Prison. The church as also been visited by a Canadian film team making a documentary about heavy metal music.
Torgrim Oyre, music reviewer and assistant organizer of the annual Bergen metal festival Hole in the Sky, agrees that the Fantoft burning was a "classic event in Norwegian black metal history" but believes the pilgrimage is a phenomenon limited to "slightly nerdy" foreigners.
Dyroy told NRK that he kept a watchful eye on the black metal tourist crowd.
"As a rule they are very polite and easy-going but I am a bit on guard in case they try some kind of stunt," Dyroy said.
Several hundred people attended the consecration of Fantoft stave church after its reconstruction in 1997
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~ Swedish Black Metal'ers SHINING Call It A Day ~
Swedish black metallers SHINING have officially called it a day. The group's final album, "IV: The Eerie Cold", will be issued this winter through Avantgarde Music.
"I have achieved what very few others have with this ill child of mine and I sincerely hope that you will hate the new album," said SHINING mainman Kvarforth in a statement. "It's a legacy over eight years of complete disgust towards every single one of you fuckers out there and will for sure make you realize you can't do better, the chill along your back, this is where we will remain from now on, SHINING are no more."
In addition to ceasing all SHINING-related activities, Kvarforth has also decided to end his work with one of today's most respected underground record labels, Selbstmord Services.
Commented Kvarforth: "The firm has been hanging in fragile threads the past two years. I tried to do something about it but failed gigantically, most of our artists are now signed to other labels though, so expect no fucking mercy from these harmful units the coming months! I want to send my deepest gratitude to all of you who supportred Selbstmord Services 'till the end, no fucking matter what. I owe you all... You know who you are."
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~ NECROPHAGIA's KILLJOY Joins Denmark's FORLIS ~
NECROPHAGIA mainman Killjoy has joined the Danish ambient band FORLIS as the group's new vocalist. "You can expect nothing but haunting and mellow music from this new and improved lineup!" reads a message on the band's official web site.
FORLIS will release their first full-length album on Baphomet Records sometime during 2005. The disc will feature the "Hellseeker" promo CD along with 5-6 new songs with Killjoy on vocals.
The "Hellseeker" promo CD was recorded and mixed at Hellpig Studio between September 2003 and March 2004 and features the following lineup: Svest (guitars, keyboards and whispers) and Vuml (bass and drums).
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~ Guitarist JEFF HANNEMAN Talks About His Favorite SLAYER Album "Reign in Blood" ~
In a recent interview with KNAC.com, SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman was asked to name his favorite SLAYER album. "I hate to say it, but probably 'Reign In Blood'," Jeff replied. "Not just because of what other people think of it - it's more like at that time that album was stamped into my memory because things were really starting to change for us and things were starting to get professional and serious, and that's the first time we had a tour bus and a real record label. And we put that album down… I don't know how long it took us, but everything was done, everything was fast, everything was good. In fact, you've probably heard this, but our biggest scare on that record is that once we got finished with it we checked the time and it was like 28 minutes. We were like, 'Holy shit. Too short!' [Laughs] So we sat there with [producer Rick] Rubin and thought, 'Does it sound great? Yes. Do we all like it? Yes. Fuck it!' [Laughs]"
With regards to the songwriting process in SLAYER, Hanneman said, "We just basically - we always start with music. So I'll come up with something at home, or Kerry [King] will come up with something. And eventually - you know, because I can do my stuff at home because I have a new 24-track and a drum machine, so if I get an idea, I can run with it as far as I can get it. Then I'll bring it to these guys and play it, see what they think, and Kerry will add a riff or Dave [Lombardo] will say something about 'Change it here' or 'Change it there' and Kerry does the same thing. And then when we get together we try to get the basic structure of the song done, and then we kinda know where the lyrics go and where the leads go. That's when the lyrics start falling into place, and the song will change here and there; but it's all done spontaneously, it's not like - we don't sit down around a table before the album comes out and have a meeting on what the album is going to sound like. It's whatever we're into."
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~ KING DIAMOND Shoots Down 'Poor Health' Rumors ~
KING DIAMOND singer and namesake has issued a statement via the group's official web site refuting rumors that his "poor health" was the reason the band's European tour has been postponed until next year.
Commented King: "The ONLY reason for postponement of the Euro tour is that my immigration/naturalization process with the U.S. government is taking longer than expected, and this procedure prevents me from leaving the country. I already missed the first test, and had to reschedule it due to being on tour last November. This rescheduled test has still not taken place, and if I, for some reason, miss it, I will have to start the whole procedure all over again.
"The reason for this taking so long, is probably because of all the extra precautions and checks the U.S. government has to take in these times of TERRORISM. So.... in order to not waste any time, songwriting for the next KING album will start in a couple of weeks, and if everything goes without any problems, we might have the music recorded right before X-mass. Vocals would then be put down in January, and then who knows what???? Mix the album??? Tour??? Where??? That I can't see in my crystal ball. BUT, one thing is for sure, a European tour should happen next year. Until then, I hope the fans will enjoy the double LIVE-album.
"By the way, my health is excellent !!!!!!!!!"
KING DIAMOND's live album, "Deadly Lullabies Live", will be released as a 2-CD, double digipak and 3-LP edition on September 20 (September 21 in the U.S.) through Metal Blade Records. The album 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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~ Norwegian Black Metallers GRIMNORTH Sign Record Deal ~
Norwegian viking black metal band GRIMNORTH, featuring ex-TAAKE bassist Sindre Hillesdal, have signed a three-album deal with Mester Productions (TSJUDER, DIABOLICUM, DUST, CHAOS FEEDS LIFE). The group's first release through the label, "I Nivlhelvs Djup", is tentatively due in November. GRIMNORTH released two demos prior to signing with Mester: 2001's "...From The Calls" and 2002's "Vi Seiler Hjem Igjen".
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~ THYRANE Announce New Drummer ~
Finland's THYRANE have announced the addition of session drummer Kristonic (a.k.a. T. Kristian, YEARNING, SAATTUE, CARCASE INC.) to the group's ranks. "We've also considered him as a permanent drummer from now on, so maybe you'll hear him on our next studio album," the group write on their web site. "Studio has not been reserved yet but eight songs are waiting for [the upcoming CD]."
THYRANE released their third full-length effort, "Hypnotic", last year through Century Media Records. The album, which was released in Finland through Spikefarm Records, was mixed at SundiCoop Studios and mastered at Finnvox Studios.
blackmetal on 08.07.04 @ 06:29 PM PST [link]
ASTRIAAL (Australia) "Renascent Misanthropy" DIGIPAK CD
FUNERAL ORCHESTRA (Sweden) "Feeding the Abyss (Hand-#'ed./999)" DIGIPAK CD
