Roadrunner Records South Africa News

SLIPKNOT Claim 1st US Number One!!!

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:44:27 +1000

The Des Moines hard rock band take top placing from The Game after a re-count, while Dragonforce, The Verve and Motorhead score new entries On Wednesday morning, Billboard’s Chart Alert column was running a story claiming that, in the closest race for number one since SoundScan began tracking Data in 1991, “The Game’s LAX beats Slipknot’s All Hope Is Gone by a mere handful of units.” It went on to say that the former sold 238,285 copies, the latter 238,272. The margin: a mere 13 copies, or 0.005%. Twelve hours later, the story had been re-written, with Slipknot’s album now adjudged the bigger seller, “barely (winning) out over LAX, moving 239,516 copies...1,134 more than the rapper’s 238,382. Somewhere along the way, errors were detected in the data, and the chart re-run but the margin for error was small, and the records flipped. Chart re-runs are nothing new – we have had our own share of them here, the most notorious being in 1976, when Manuel & The Music Of The Mountains’ recording of Rodrigo’s Guitar Concerto was announced as the new number one single, only for the former incumbent, The Four Seasons’ December 1963, to be restored to pole position a few hours later because of a “computer glitch” – but Billboard undoubtedly suffered some embarrassment from the error. So, it’s a first ever number one for hard rock heroes Slipknot and not the third number one for The Game. Also new to the Top 10 are a Now! spin-off that hasn’t been tried here – the very first Now! That’s What I Call Country arrives at number seven on sales of 50,000 - and Solange’s Sol-Angel & The Hadley Street Dreams, debuting at number nine on sales of 46,000. Of 25 new entries in total, three are by British acts. Dragonforce debut at number 18 with Ultra Beatdown on sales of 24,000 copies; The Verve’s Forth debuts at number 23 on sales of 21,000; and Motorhead’s Motorizer earns a number 82 slot from sales of 6,500. The Verve’s last album, Urban Hymns, is their only previous chart entry, and also reached number 23, in 1997. Metal band Dragonforce have also had just one previous chart entry, reaching number 103 last year with Inhuman Rampage. Motorhead – actually an Anglo/Swedish alliance these days - have had five previous Top 200 entries, the first being Iron Fist in 1982, the last 1916, confusingly, in 1991. The latter album provided the group’s previous highest placing, reaching number 142. Coldplay’s Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends continues to be the top UK album, rebounding 11-10 on sales of 44,000, while their Viva La Vida single continues at number seven on the Hot 100. Leona Lewis’ Spirit – originally listed as a non-mover at number 18 but shuffled down to 19 on the chart re-run - sold 24,000 copies to increase its career tally to 1,042,000. In the lower regions of the chart, Led Zeppelin’s Mothership makes the most impressive upwards progress, vaulting 142-88 on its 42nd week in the chart. The album, which peaked at number seven last year, has sold 966,000 copies, including 6,000 last week. Its sudden lurch back into the top half of the chart is due to sales of the newly-issued deluxe four LP vinyl version of the set. On the Hot 100, T.I.’s Whatever You Like continues at number one but faces a tough battle against Pink, whose So What leaps 9-3. The top UK act on the list is M.I.A., whose Paper Planes glides 6-5, a move fuelled by increased airplay, though its sales are off from 124,000 to 114,000. Leona Lewis’s Better In Time also suffers a minor sales slip but still climbs 22-19 on the download chart and 28-22 on the Hot 100. Finally, Natasha Bedingfield’s Pocketful Of Sunshine holds at number 30 on the Hot 100, while reversing 39-43 on the download chart – but the 27,000 copies it sold last week bring up its two millionth sale in total. Her album of the same name climbs 72-64, with sales of 8,000 lifting its to-date tally to 404,000.

NICKELBACK to release new album!!!

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:19:29 +1000

Roadrunner Records announced the upcoming new album from multi-platinum rock powerhouse Nickelback. The band is currently recording the follow-up to 2005’s massively successful All The Right Reasons with famed rock producer Mutt Lange (AC/DC, Def Leppard) in their homebase of Vancouver, B.C. The album is set for release on November 18, 2008. The first single, “If Today Was Your Last Day” will impact at all radio formats on September 30th. Roadrunner and Nickelback have enjoyed unprecedented success during their ten-year partnership. The band has sold upwards of 26 million records worldwide, with All The Right Reasons accounting for 10 million of that total. In addition, the six singles from the album totaled 9.3 million downloads and 5.5 million ringtones. All proceeds of digital single and video sales for the song “If Everyone Cared” between February 1 and July 31, 2007 were donated to charity, equally distributed between Amnesty International and International Childrens’ Awareness Canada. Each of the five videos from All The Right Reasons has reached #1 on VH1’s playlist: “Photograph,” “Savin’ Me,” “Far Away,” “If Everyone Cared” and “Rockstar.” In 2006 Nickelback was awarded a World Music Award for “World’s Best Rock Group,” a Billboard Touring Award for “Breakthrough Artist,” an American Music Award for “Favorite Pop/Rock Album” and a People’s Choice Award for “Best Rock Group.” Both Roadrunner and Nickelback are looking forward to the start of a new album cycle and future success together. ‘In 1972, Robert John Mutt Lange produced our first platinum hit, now 36 years later, Mutt Lange produces Roadrunner’s Nickelback, proudly giving us another platinum record.’ says David Gresham, CEO of The David Gresham Record Company.

MACHINE HEAD to release special limted edition of 'The Blackening'!!!

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:18:00 +1000

On OCTOBER 27TH, MACHINE HEAD will release a VERY limited 2CD/DVD Special Edition of their current album THE BLACKENING. The release, which will feature a bonus DVD as well as additional tracks will be a one time only run of the CD. No more will be manufactured after initial production. The package will be a 3 panel / 6 page digipak ebossed sleeve, with expanded booklet. The tracklistings will be as follows: DISC 1 1. Clenching The Fists of Dissent 2. Beautiful Mourning 3. Aesthetics of Hate 4. Now I Lay Thee Down 5. Slanderous 6. Halo 7. Wolves 8. A Farewell To Arms DISC 2 (B-Sides and rareities): 1. Hallowed Be Thy Name 2. Alan’s On Fire 3. Negative Creep 4. Seasons Wither 5. My Misery 6. House Of Suffering 7. The Possibility Of Life’s Destruction 8. Ten Ton Hammer (Extended Original Mix) 9. Hole In The Sky 10. Colors 11. Hard Times (live in New York) 12. Halo (I Want Your Soul) (demo 2005) 13. Aesthetics Of Hate (Thrash-terpiece) (demo 2005) The accompanying DVD will feature the following footage (Frontliners, please make sure you are seated...): - With Full Force 2008 - 1. Clenching The Fists Of Dissent 2. Now I Lay Thee Down 3. Halo - Rock In Rio 2008 - 4. Aesthetics Of Hate 5. Davidian - Download 2007 - 6. Imperium 7. Old - Burn My Eyes 10th Anniversary 2004 - 8. A Thousand Lies 9. The Rage To Overcome 10. Death Church 11. Blood For Blood Music Videos: 1. Halo 2. Now I Lay Thee Down 3. Aesthetics of Hate (Plus The Making Of… each video)

STAIND confirm tracklisting

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:45:00 +1000

STAIND have confirmed the tracklisting for their upcoming release THE ILLUSION OF PROGRESS, which is scheduled for a SA release on SEPTEMBER 8th. The tracklisting, which features 2 bonus tracks exclusive to the ex-north American versions of the album, is as follows: 1. This Is It 2. The Way I Am 3. Believe 4. Save Me 5. All I Want 6. Pardon Me 7. Lost Along The Way 8. Break Away 9. Tangled Up In You 10. Raining Again 11. Rainy Day Parade 12. The Corner 13. Nothing Left To Say 14. It's Been Awhile (Acoustic at The Hiro Ballroom) 15. Schizophrenic Conversations (Acoustic at The Hiro Ballroom)

WITHIN TEMPTATION give a sneak peek on their new DVD!!!

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:33:57 +1000

WITHIN TEMPTATION have released a trailer for their upcoming DVD BLACK SYMPHONY. The DVD showcases a sell out Dutch show performed with full orchestra and choir. Check out what you can expect to see when you pick up the DVD, which hits stores September 22nd... Check it out here!

Roadrunner bands nomintaed for KERRANG awards!!!

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:30:34 +1000

The nominations for this years KERRANG! Awards have been announced and Roadrunner artists have been nominated in FOUR categories: BEST INTERNATIONAL NEWCOMER- KILL HANNAH BEST INTERNATIONAL BAND- MADINA LAKE BEST SINGLE- KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES and BEST LIVE BAND- MACHINE HEAD You can vote for YOUR Roadrunner fave at THIS LOCATION and we really really hope you do! You can check out the full list of nominations HERE.

CRADLE OF FILTH announce new album title!

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:29:15 +1000

CRADLE OF FILTH have announced the title of their new album on their Official MySpace. Titled GODSPEED ON THE DEVIL'S THUNDER, the album is tentitively sceduled for a release in October. The album is a 'concept album' about: "a legendary serial killer from the 15th Century, Gilles De Rais, a French nobleman who fought alongside Joan of Arc and accumulated great wealth before becoming a satanist, sexual deviant and a murderer." For full deets including the tracklisting, head to the bands MYSPACE BLOG.

DREAM THEATER's Mike Portnoy gets interviewed!

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:13:49 +1000

For a drummer, Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy can't seem to sit still. Portnoy checked in with MusicRadar.com for an exclusive podcast to discuss his love of playing the music of his heroes, and to answer questions. Download both parts of this interview below for free! Part 1 - on musical memory, multi-tasking and tribute bands Part 2 - Portnoy answers questions

Apeshit.org interview Max Cavalera

Fri, 30 May 2008 00:32:31 +1000

Extreme metal webzine Apeshit.org talked to Soulfly/Cavalera Conspiracy singer Max Cavalera about things such as what it was like to rehearse with his brother Iggor again together for the first time in years, the formation of Cavalera Conspiracy, writing riffs, jamming in the studio, Joe Duplantier from Gorjira joining the band, the video for "Sanctuary", and much more. Read it in full here. Soulfly's 'Conquer' will be in stores July 28th and Cavalera Conspiracy's 'Inflikted' is tearing up stores now!

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Interview on Hardtimes.ca

Wed, 28 May 2008 16:59:14 +1000

Killswitch Engage bassist Mike D'Antonio and drummer Justin Foley get their interview on with Canada's metal website HardTimes.Ca. Watch the dudes discuss being on the road for months, why it is a necessity to tour, missing being at home with family and friends, what it feels like to play old songs, plans for upcoming material, and much more, in this video entitled "23 Months On The Road To Hell" Check it out here!

SOULFLY Video Shoot Gallery

Tue, 27 May 2008 17:43:57 +1000

That's right Soulfly followers, we have decided to hype you up a bit by posting a gallery of the band's first video shoot from their upcoming album, Conquer, which comes out on July 29, 2008. The track, "Unleash", features guest vocals by Dave Peters of Throwdown who also makes an appearance in the video. The video was shot in Los Angeles' Mayan Theater with director Robert Sexton. Check out this gallery here!

OPETH Interview series Part 6

Tue, 27 May 2008 17:37:06 +1000

Here's part 6 of the 8 part interview series with Opeth's Michael Åkerfeldt. Check it out on the links below: Quicktime Windows Media Player Opeth's upcoming album, 'Watershed' will be in stores June 2nd! www.opeth.com

Audiophile SA's great KILL HANNAH review

Fri, 23 May 2008 17:23:22 +1000

Audiophile SA has posted a cool review of Kill Hannah's debut album 'Until There's Nothing Left Of Us'. An extract of the review by Walt Pretorius: 'Kill Hannah are a new entrant into the market, bringing with them a brand of undeniably emo music that is still fairly fresh in the ever expanding market surrounding the genre. This band looks set to be a “next big thing” for the genre, as their music displays some progress for the genre as a whole. It incorporates everything one would expect, but also relies on a number of other influences (including light punk, some rock and a little electronica) to craft songs that are infectious and relatively dark.' Check out the full review here Kill Hannah's 'Until There's Nothing Left Of Us' is in stores now! www.killhannah.com

OPETH Interview Series Part 4 & 5

Fri, 23 May 2008 17:19:14 +1000

Check out parts 4 & 5 of the 8 part interview series with Opeth frontman, Michael Åkerfeldt. Part 4: Quicktime Windows Media Player Part 5: Quicktime Windows Media Player www.opeth.com

MEGADETH Guitarist Interviewed

Fri, 23 May 2008 00:31:42 +1000

Metal Injection had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Megadeth's new guitarist Chris Broderick at the band's Worcester stop of the Gigantour. Chris went into depth about the time he got the call to join Megadeth, some of his favorite Megadeth songs, his early influences and guitar playing as well as some of the bands he listens to when on the road. The entire interview can be viewed here.

LAMB OF GOD Releases DVD Trailer

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:38:15 +1000

Lamb Of God have released a trailer for their upcoming DVD WALK WITH ME IN HELL, a 2 disc metal extravaganza that will be released here on June 30th!!! Check it out right here!

OPETH Interview Series Part 3

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:35:48 +1000

Here it is... Part 3 of the 8 part interview series with Opeth frontman, Michael Åkerfeldt. Check it out on the links below: Quicktime WIndows Media Player 'Watershed' will be in stores June 2nd! www.opeth.com

OPETH Interview Series Part 2

Tue, 13 May 2008 17:38:28 +1000

Here is part 2 of the series of interviews with Opeth's Michael Åkerfeldt where he talks about the recording of the upcoming album, Watershed. Click on the link below: Quicktime Windows Media Player www.opeth.com

Q&A with DOWN's Kirk Windstein

Tue, 13 May 2008 17:35:06 +1000

Down guitarist, Kirk Windstein, answers a Q&A while the guys were in the UK. Kirk talks about the start of Down , drinking beer and what the guys feel about the band. Click on the links below to check it out. Quicktime Windows Media Player 'Over The Under' is in stores now! www.down-nola.com

MEGADETH Frontman Video Interview

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:38:40 +1000

Hey Megadeth fans! Megadeth front-man Dave Mustaine opens up to Iann Robinson in an exclusive 10 Minute video interview now viewable on the main page of Nonelouder.com, the world's first social network for heavy music. Nonelouder is proud to present an in depth interview with one of the most influential people in the heavy music world. Go check out Dave's opinion on digital music, modern bands, politics, how to write songs and much-much more. Nonelouder is the home to the video blogs of Vinnie Paul, Scott Ian, Jose Mangin, Jennifer Arroyo, and Mistress Juliya. Check out all the exciting exclusive content on Nonelouder now! Check out the interview of Dave by clicking here.

OPETH Interview series Part 1

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:37:11 +1000

Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth sat down for a series of interviews that will be rolled out in the next few weeks. Check out part 1 here! And after you've heard what the Opeth frontman has had to say, check out the video for 'Porcelain Heart' here. Opeth's 'Watershed' will be in stores 2nd of June. www.opeth.com

Monte Conner Podcast

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:26:44 +1000

Host Bob Nalbandian discusses metal music and the state of the music business from an A&R perspective with one of the most respected and knowledgeable record company executives when it comes to metal music: Roadrunner Records A&R chief Monte Conner (responsible for signing the likes of Sepultura, Fear Factory, Machine Head, Slipknot, Trivium and many more over the years). In this 45-minute discussion Monte talks about the history of Roadrunner Records, gives advice to young metal bands in search of a record deal, and talks about the future of the recording business as well as the future for heavy metal and extreme metal. DOWNLOAD the podcast HERE

Holland's youngest metal band interview DEVILDRIVER

Thu, 08 May 2008 17:40:37 +1000

While Devildriver were on tour in Holland they were interviews by Holland's youngest band, One Bullet Left. Check the interview out here. Don't forget to check out Devildriver's awesome video for 'Clouds Over California' right here to wet your appetite for November's tour to South Africa. For more information, check out Puritymusic.co.za www.devildriver.com

The Gauntlet interview OPETH

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:51:13 +1000

Colette Claire from TheGauntlet.com got her interview on with Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth. This video was taken on the opening night of the Progressive Nation Tour at the Gibson in Los Angeles, CA on May 2nd. Mikael talks about the duration of this tour, the new album, Watershed, and the recording process, and going through different ideas while writing music. Check it out here! Opeth's upcoming album,'Watershed' will be in stores June 2nd! www.opeth.com

Roadrunner to release LAMB OF GOD

Mon, 05 May 2008 16:38:25 +1000

LAMB OF GOD 2 Years, 17 Countries, Thousands Of Miles, Millions Of Fans, One Camera… And A New Record Label. NEW DEAL WITH ROADRUNNER RECORDS WALK WITH ME IN HELL DVD DUE OUT JUNE 30, 2008 ROADRUNNER RECORDS are thrilled to welcome heavy metal masters LAMB OF GOD to the Roadrunner family. LAMB OF GOD are renowned for their world class metal. Comprising vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler, the band have accumulated global sales of around three million units. They have performed numerous sold out shows across the globe as well as appearing at some of the world’s biggest rock festivals, including Ozzfest & Download. In 2007, they were honoured with a Grammy nomination. “Having toured with countless Roadrunner bands both domestically and overseas Lamb of God has had the chance to see the amount of promotion and support the label puts into their bands. The foreign territories seem a perfect place to put the two machines in motion together. We look forward to a long partnership! Cheers!” enthuses frontman Randy Blythe. Roadrunner’s Senior VP International, Wally van Middendorp, agrees, “Roadrunner and Lamb Of God are a perfect match. We’re excited to be working with them. Everyone is looking forward to taking Lamb of God to the next level”. The first LAMB OF GOD release on Roadrunner will be an all-new, 2-DVD set on June 30, 2008. The Walk With Me In Hell 2-DVD set features around five hours of incredible, all-access footage. Disc 1 contains the highly anticipated feature documentary Walk With Me In Hell and multiple live performance extras from across the globe on the Sacrament World Tour. The documentary chronicles every detail in the lives of Lamb of God as they completed recording and toured around the world nearly three times over in support of the highly praised 2006 album Sacrament. Disc 2 includes an additional full-length Making of Sacrament feature plus LAMB OF GOD’s entire, uncut, brutal performance at the Download Festival 2007, where they performed in front of over 72,000 fans. Extras include deleted scenes, live performance videos for various tour stops, the official music video for Redneck, and a Making of Redneck documentary. “We're on stage for 90 minutes a day,” says drummer Chris Adler. “People want to know what's going on for the other 22 ½ hours. It's not always limousines and champagne! Killadelphia [LOG’s previous platinum-certified DVD] surprised a lot of people and proved that we refuse to censor or hold anything back. True to the high standard that we hold ourselves to, Walk With Me In Hell is unlike any music DVD I’ve ever seen. This is an entire new level of documentary taking you on an intense, worldwide journey with us.”

PORCUPINE TREE Video Interview

Mon, 05 May 2008 16:34:40 +1000

Porcupine Tree sat down and had a talk about their masterpiece album 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' and about today's society. Check out the Interview below: Quicktime Windows Media Player Porcupine Tree's 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' is in stores now! www.porcupinetree.com

DEVILDRIVER South African Tour Update

Mon, 05 May 2008 16:26:53 +1000

Thornrose Productions & Purity Music present DevilDriver in South Africa for 3 Shows!!! *********************************** TICKETS ON SALE THROUGH COMPUTICKET *********************************** 1st November 2008 - Oppidam - Hartbeespoort- JHB Tickets: R350 - Whole Day Fest - 10 Bands Line Up: 12:30 - Visus 13:30 - The Dead Will Tell 14:30 - Facing The Gallows 15:30 - New Found Disorder 16:30 - AOA 17:30 - Knave 18:30 - Chromium 19:30 - Agro 20:30 - Battle of the bands winner 21:30 - DevilDriver * Beer Tent * Ample Parking * Food Stalls * Merch Stores * Limited 5000 tickets 7th November - Burn Nightclub - Durban - KZN Tickets: R250 - Doors open 17:00 - 6 Bands Line Up: 18:00 - Deity's Muse 19:00 - Mind Assault 20:00 - Chromium 21:00 - Contrast the Water 22:00 - Durban SMS Battle Winner 23:00 - DevilDriver * Limited 1500 tickets 8th November 2008 - Klein Libertas Theatre - Stellenbosch - CPT Tickets: R250 - Doors open 14:30 - 7 Bands Line Up: 15:30 - Azrail 16:30 - Suicide Kings 17:30 - Enmity 18:30 - Pestroy 19:30 - Chromium 20:30 - CPT SMS Battle Winner 21:30 - DevilDriver * Limited 1500 tickets * All Ages Welcome * R.O.A.R. *********************************** TICKETS ON SALE THROUGH COMPUTICKET *********************************** N.B: We will be running a Battle for DevilDriver over the next 6 months with the first one taking place at Tempos in JHB on the 30th May 2008.

Meet Mike & Mike Pt.5

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:18:28 +1000

Have you been keeping up with our video clips of two of the best musicians in history, Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater & Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth, chatting it up in the Roadrunner NYC office? Only 2 parts left so catch up now and stay tuned.. In this segment, the dudes discuss the upcoming Progressive Nation Tour, seated audiences as oppose to standing venues, if Opeth will be playing new material on this tour; and is it going to be more or less heavy? Check it out by clicking here!

Exclusive OPETH Track & Video!!!

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:16:10 +1000

For all you Opeth fans out there, we have an exclsuive stream of the track 'Lotus Eater' available for you! Click here for an exclusive dose of Opeth!!! And also check out the amazing video for the track 'Porcelain Heart' in out media section here! Opeth's latest masterpiece 'Watershed' will be available June the 2nd!

3 INCHES OF BLOOD Fan Club!!!

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:49:13 +1000

Defenders of heavy metal faith, 3 Inches Of Blood, are launching its very own fan club, dubbed The Goatriders Horde. The Goatriders Horde offers 3IOB fans the chance to directly connect with the band! When you become a Goatrider, you will receive an exclusive Goatriders Horde t-shirt, an official Goatriders laminate, a poster autographed by the band, as well as access to exclusive content including music, videos and photos, privileges to attend special Goatriders-only events plus access to the members-only community message board. Most importantly, as a Goatrider you will be the first to hear about tour dates, ticket presales and band news. Go to to join now! The Goatrider's Horde

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY Audio Interview

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:51:10 +1000

Sepultura founding members and current Cavalera Conspiracy collaborators Max (guitar, vocals) and Igor Cavalera (drums) were interviewed by "Whiplash", a weekly metal show on Belgian national radio Studio Brussel, hosted by After All guitarist Dries Van Damme. Listen to the chat in streaming audio: Part 1 Part 2 On the topic of the similarities between Cavalera Conspiracy's sound and that of Sepultura, Max stated, "If we're creators of Sepultura and we can sound like that, then it must be the other guys [from the classic Sepultura incarnation] that didn't. I don't want to talk about Sepultura at all, but I'll tell you this much: before the other guys, there was Max and Igor with countless number of other guys that were part of Sepultura. It irritates me… a lot of people only use the more popular years to talk about Sepultura, but they forget an entire ten-year period, which is the foundation. Without those ten years, we would have never gotten to 'Chaos A.D.' and 'Roots'. These first ten death metal years were very important. Without those [years], nothing would have happened — we'd still be in Brazil or [we possibly would] not even be playing music [right now]. So those ten years were completely important. Regardless of how we were just a death metal band that didn't have musicianship. But we had the attitude. 'Troops of Doom', man — that's my favorite song of a long, long time." Cavalera Conspiracy's 'Inflikted' is wreaking havoc in stores now! www.myspace.com/cavaleraconspiracy

New SOULFLY album details

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:33:59 +1000

Soulfly has set "Conquer" as the title of its new album, due on July 29 via Roadrunner Records. Soulfly members Max Cavalera (guitar/vocals), Joe Nunez (drums), Marc Rizzo (guitar), and Bobby Burns (bass) entered Porch Studio in Florida on September 12, 2007 to begin recording the band's sixth studio LP. Working titles for some of the 13 songs which were tracked include "Burndown", "Enemy Ghost", "Axis of Wrath", and "Blood, Fire, War, Hate". Soulfly's upcoming CD will feature guest appearances by Morbid Angel frontman David Vincent and Throwdown singer Dave Peters. In a recent interview with PyroMusic.net, Max Cavalera stated about the new Soulfly CD, "Well, the next Soulfly album is being mixed in England with Andy Sneap, and it's very heavy in its own way. In a Soulfly way. It's still got craziness... I recorded a lot in Egypt this time. I spent some time in Cairo working with some Egyptian musicians and we came up with some really wicked interludes and passages. It sounds nothing like anything I ever done. Very very amazing Egyptian instruments. There is a song that is a colloboration with Morbid Angel's singer David Vincent which is one of my favourite songs forever in my whole life that I wrote. It's called 'Blood, Fire, War, Hate' and that should be the opening of the album. It's very energizing, verrrry powerful, man. I can't wait for fans to hear it. It's the shit. That one is gonna definitely create some chaos in the moshpit."

OPETH's Mike & DREAM THEATER's Mike Part 3

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:42:17 +1000

Watch two of the best musicians in history, Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater and Mikael Akerfeldt, of Opeth discuss what kind of music influenced them as well as the elements of progressive rock, in this 3'rd segment of Mike & Mike. Keep coming back for the continuation of this wonderful conversation! Click here to watch now.

Billboard Q&A with MEGADETH

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:40:22 +1000

BILLBOARD Q&A WITH MEGADETH'S DAVE MUSTAINE By Mitchell Peters, L.A. After spending the past two months touring Europe and the United Kingdom, the third annual traveling heavy metal festival Gigantour launches Stateside tomorrow (April 12) at the Fillmore in Denver. The 29-date trek -- featuring Megadeth, In Flames, Children of Bodom, Job For A Cowboy and High on Fire -- wraps May 22 at the Mesa Amphitheatre in Phoenix. Many of the festival's North American dates are already sold out, with tickets ranging between approximately $35 and $40. While Gigantour can't "do what Sharon (Osbourne) did by giving away" last year's Ozzfest for free, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine tells Billboard.biz that he's doing what he can to keep ticket prices low. "Having a reasonable ticket price makes the audience feel respected," says Mustaine, who founded Gigantour in 2005. "I want them to see great bands and be able to walk away with money in their pocket." The most recent edition of Gigantour in 2006 -- led by Megadeth, Lamb of God, Opeth, Arch Enemy, Overkill, Into Eternity, Sanctity and the Smashup -- grossed $1.8 million and drew nearly 70,000 concertgoers to 20 shows, according to Billboard Boxscore. Concert performances captured from Gigantour 2006 will be released on the "Gigantour 2" CD/DVD, which arrives April 22 via Image Entertainment. The CD/DVD offers a behind-the-scenes look at the 2006 jaunt, along with a bonus track of Megadeth's "Peace Sells." Mustaine recently spoke to Billboard.biz about launching Gigantour, the benefit of a package tour, dealing with hecklers and Megadeth's future album plans. Since founding Gigantour in 2005, you've played a very hands-on role in choosing artists for the tour. Explain how that process works? I don't necessarily always locate them, but when it comes down to the final approval, that's mine ... Our ultimate goal was to have bands that have guitar players in them that were guitarists that do solos. So we got this together and we wanted it to be a guitar player's festival -- positive and encouraging for kids to go to so they're safe. Their mom's aren't going to say, "You know what? This isn't cool for you to go to. You have to wait until you're older." Any age can come to these concerts. Have you ever dealt with younger bands that want too much money to play? There were a couple bands we talked to last year -- one band in particular from the Bay Area that I really dig. I asked if they wanted to do it, and the numbers they were asking for were unrealistic. I would've paid it, but I don't buy the talent, I just pick it. And that's a good thing, because I would probably overpay some of these guys. The people who pay the talent said they were worth about $2,000 per show, and they wanted somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000. That's a considerable difference if you're losing that over 40 shows. What response did you get after launching Gigantour in '05? I can't even tell you how many people thought Gigantour was a stupid name. There's always going to be naysayers. There are people who don't like me just because I was born, and that's OK. You just have to have people who believe in you. You have to work on relationships with people, because we're all different. When you have problems with another individual, you have to figure out how to deal with it. You've been a touring musician for more than 25 years. What's the benefit of doing a package tour, as opposed to headlining your own shows? It gives more variety, and makes it a little bit more affordable for the audience. If it's just me by myself, I've obviously got more expenses that I need to cover. As this is a business, you need to think of all these things. If you have another band and they have potential to not double-sell the same tickets, it's going to help me with being able to cover our expenses and move the festival into a larger capacity venue. Our whole thing is playing it safe. We don't want to go into venues and have a bunch of unsold seats. I hear there are sometimes hecklers at Megadeth concerts. How do you deal with them? You get the guys out there who pay their $35 to come and try and heckle me. If they think over the past 2,000 or 3,000 years of people having to deal with hecklers in literature, that I haven't learned how to shut people up, they haven't been to a Megadeth concert. I know when people are trying to get my goat nowadays. I just don't answer them anymore. Do you ever find yourself mentoring younger bands on Gigantour? It's none of my business. A lot of it is self-discovery -- or self-disappointment -- that comes from stuff like that. You need to learn that, because if you don't pay your dues, you're going to be like a lot of these hotshot bands that are selling millions of records, and then getting their asses whooped when they get out on stage. They don't have what it takes. In the studio they're great, but they're complete phonies and frauds, and when they get out on stage you can tell. All of the makeup, tattoos, eyeliner and black outfits may look good in pictures, but when they get on stage they suck. When will fans see the next Megadeth album? Roadrunner Records just extended their option for a new record from us. I'm pretty underwhelmed with having to go into the studio right now, because I'm pretty exhausted. As soon as Gigantour is done, I'm pretty sure I'll be taking a much-needed hiatus for a while. But a musician never stops writing. That's like asking a cook to stop cooking. Check the article out here! Megadeth's 'United Abominations' is in stores now! www.megadeth.com

In-studio BLACK STONE CHERRY footage

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:43:58 +1000

Black Stone Cherry has been doctumenting their time in Music City, TN while recording their second album in the studio. Watch this video of Jon's Birthday & Day 2, "The Vibe In The Studio", "Tracking the New Tunes, "Winter Storm at Blackbird", & "Words of Wisdom" Check it out here.

THE DRESDEN DOLLS to release 'No, Virginia'

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:58:39 +1000

The Dresden Dolls are set to release 'No, Virginia' next month and Amanda Palmer wants to explain the whole meaning behind their upcoming release: 'Ingredients for a No, Virginia: 1) one b-side from our last record, 2) four unreleased recordings, 3) one old demo, 4) one 80s cover tune (of course) and 5) five brand-new recordings of older tunes we've never laid to tape. Sprinkle on some Sean Slade producer-action and viola…instant record! The five brand-new songs on this record kept getting passed over for our first two albums, but we loved these songs, so we decided that we should just record them before it was too late. We went into the studio fresh off a tour in January and banged the whole new collection out in five days, including mixing. It was very cathartic. The unreleased b-sides from Yes, Virginia were just TOO GOOD to relegate to b-side status, so we hoarded them. Every few months we'd have a conversation that would go something along the lines of, "Damn, ‘Ultima’ is a fantastic song. Why didn't we record THAT?" or, "Damn, 'The Kill' is the best song we've ever written. Why didn't we put it on the record? Were we on crack?" Thus No, Virginia... The songs span the first five years of the band, from our first rehearsal though the making of Yes, Virginia, and represent all the favorite bastard children of our work through the years. Listening to it is really surprising; it sounds much more pop than our first two records. Maybe I was shying away from our pop side when we were making those selections. Could be. I surrender and relent to my new wave self. I should add, at this point, that "Ultima Esperanza" was a 100% no-brainer must-have when we were putting together Yes, Virginia. It's an awesome song. "Boston" was left off Yes, Virginia because we didn't want to make the running time too long. We had a full-on blowout battle about this. I still remember pacing around the mixing studio agonizing over the decision. We left it off, but I swore it would find its home someday; this album finally gives it a proper resting place. We figured, while we were at it, we'd include the harder-to-get stuff like “Lonesome Organist Rapes Page-Turner" (the only official b-side on the record) and the cover we did of "Pretty in Pink" for a high-school-reunion-John-Hughes-inspired compilation we were on. The incredible demo for "Mouse and the Model" also finally found a place in our official catalog, much to our glee. Our last record title, Yes, Virginia, is a direct reference to the famous "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" letter that the New York Sun printed in 1897. And I found that frightening stuffed Santa Claus photographed on the cover lying around Mad Oak studios when we were there on the last round of tracking. It was just too perfect. No, Virginia...there is no Santa Claus. But The Dresden Dolls just put together a bad-ass record if that makes you feel any better.' 'No. Virginia' will be available 21st of May! Watch out for it! www.dresdendolls.com

OPETH's Mike & DREAM THEATER's Mike Part 2

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:25:26 +1000

Mike & Mike - Pt. 2! Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater & Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth got together at the Roadrunner Records NYC office and had a great talk. Take a look at the second installment which comes complete with a Napalm Death reference - which excites us as we're sure it will you. You know the deal, click here!

DEVILDRIVER - Bound By The Road

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:23:24 +1000

Devildriver are currently on the road in the US, tearing various places now arseholes and no doubt scaring numerous security personel with their giant mosh pits. Bassist Jon Miller recorded the following update on the tour so far for the bands YouTube page... CLICK FOR EXTREME METAL!! And don't forget that Devildriver are hitting South African shores later in the year on the 'Driving Down The Darkness' tour performing in Johannesburg on Saturday 1st November 2008 and Cape Town on Saturday 8th November 2008. This sure-to-be brutal gig is not one to miss!!! Check out Puritymusic.co.za for more info! 'The Last Kind Words' is in stores now! www.devildriver.com

OPETH - New album out in June!!!

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:16:30 +1000

The new haunting, epic masterpiece from Opeth, Watershed, comes out on June 3rd, 2008. The album, recorded in the band's home of Sweden and produced by frontman/guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt and Jens Bogren, is the first to feature new guitarist Fredrik Akesson and drummer Martin Axenrot. Also available 06.03.08: Collector's Edition 2-disc CD/DVD set includes 3 bonus tracks, 5.1 audio mix of the entire album, extensive video content, and expanded artwork. Limited Edition 180-gram artwork and more. Watershed Track Listing: 1. Coil 2. Heir Apparent 3. The Lotus Eater 4. Burden 5. Porcelain Heart 6. Hessian Peel 7. Hex Omega How badass is that? www.opeth.com

Hardrockhaven.net review CAVALERA CONSPIRACY

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:27:38 +1000

"The famous Cavalera brothers are back together again and we are all the benefactors. The first release from this family “business” is entitled Inflikted and features some hellacious Brazilian-flavored metal. Joining Max and Igor are two excellent musicians, Joe Duplantier (Gojira) on bass guitar and Marc Rizzo (Soulfly) on lead guitar. Duplantier, a guitarist (capable of playing lead) and singer in the French powerhouse band Gojira playing bass and a top shelf shred guitarist in Rizzo being brought in from Soulfly to compliment the killer riffs of Max and the monster beats of Igor." Read more of this review here. Hardrockhaven.net Cavalera Conspiracy's 'Inflikted' is tearing it up in stores now! Check it out! www.myspace.com/cavaleraconspiracy

Live-Metal.net hang out with AIRBOURNE

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:23:49 +1000

Joel O'keeffe from Airbourne checked in with Live-Metal.net's Greg Maki to discuss his band's sound and influences, the new album, future goals and more. Read it. Along with this great interview are some killer photos taken at the Recher Theatre in Towson, MD on March 26th. Check 'em out here. Airbourne's 'Runnin Wild' is rocking in stores now! www.airbournerock.com Become a Fan of Airbourne on Facebook!

DEVILDRIVER are heading our way!!!

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:09:22 +1100

Thornrose Productions in association with Purity Music are proud to present DevilDriver in South Africa for 2 shows. Johannesburg on Saturday 1st November 2008 and Cape Town on Saturday 8th November 2008. Both shows will host many South African Hard rock & metal acts. Most of the South African bands are confirmed except the battle for DevilDriver bands. Tickets will be on sale mid April 2008. To check out the full line up click.. Johannesburg SHOW ! 15:00- Visus 15:45- Facing the Gallows 16:30- New Found Disorder 17:30- 16stitch (TBC) 18:30- Knave 19:30- Chromium 20:30- Agro 21:30- Battle winner 22:30- DEVILDRIVER! CAPE TOWN SHOW! 15:00- Enmity 15:45- Suicide Kings 16:30- Deity’s Muse 17:30- Pestroy (TBC) 18:30- Mind Assualt 19:30- Chromium 20:30- Contrast the Water 21:30- SMS Battle winner 22:30- DEVILDRIVER! plz note: this line-up is subject to change ! In the meanwhile, go out and check Devildriver's 'The Last Kind Words' to psyche yourself up for this insane show that's goping to be hitting SA shores before we know it!

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY Reviews!!!

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:01:12 +1100

Cavalera Conspiracy released debut album 'Inflikted' last week to a chorus of critical approval. Just check out the Metal Hammer and Kerrang! reviews below... The Rapprochement of the Cavalera brothers – Max and Iggor – has everyone awaiting the expected announcement of a Sepultura reunion. Inevitable? Perhaps, at some distant point. But, right now, the guitarist/singer and drummer respectively aren’t thinking about such weighty matters. And to some extent it shows, with a project that definitely doesn’t try to second-guess where the Seps should be in 2008. Obviously, there’s a great deal of the past locked into ‘Inflikted’. Nobody would suggest that the pair were ever going to remove all hint of their own heritage, and this is very much a return to the raw metal of the late 1980’s, infused with lashings of a hardcore attitude. If you take the Seps’ 1987 album ‘Schizophrenia’ as the starting point, then you’ll get an immediate feel for what’s involved. However, this is far from a retreading of old routes. The foundations might have been set two decades ago, but the power, the atmosphere and the focus belong to the modern age. Together with Gojira’s Joe Duplantier on bass and Soulfly guitarist Marc Rizzo, the Cavalera caucus have created a modern extreme metal experience. From the moment the riotous title track and the brutal ‘Sanctuary” rise up and bite, you’ll be overwhelmed by torrential post-thrash downpour. And, for the most part, the band do embrace hyper-drive, with ‘Hex’ and ‘Never Trust’ the equal of anything being delivered by the new-generation thrashers currently sweeping through metal. The latter, in particular, makes its mark as Max bellows a list of those types of people whom he has found unpalatable over the years. The snarl of retribution is obvious. But this is far from being a one-paced blur. Like all top-class metalheads, Cavalera Conspiracy understand the need for variation. So ‘Terrorize’ is built on a concussively supple guitar sound, ‘Black Ark’ is the closest we get to the ‘Roots’ era of Sepultura, and ‘Must Kill’ is an anthemic tirade, with a climactic guitar tornado. But the most impressive moments come on ‘Heart Of Darkness’ and ‘Bloodbrawl’. The former has a classic metal stride that brings to mind Judas Priest, being multi-faceted, yet never losing intensity. The latter is the album’s masterwork. It veers from uber-mania to a softer rhythm, within a structure that’s both stern yet also intimate. It’s here that the band’s propensity for spontaneity is clearest. They take a basic song discipline and stretch out, reveling in their musical freedom. It’s a monumental achievement. ‘Inflikted’ is a strong start from a new band with a spectacular history. Much was expected, and a great deal is delivered. But the real triumph is that, ultimately, not only have the Cavaleras used Sepultura as a springboard, they’ve made talk of a Seps reformation just a touch irrelevant. For the moment. METAL HAMMER It’s good to go away, but nothing beats coming home. If Inflikted is what happens when brothers reunite after a decade apart, then just maybe the rift has been worth it – in artistic terms, at least. Cavalera Conspiracy is anything but tokenistic. Remember the first tribal blast of Soulfly, the moment you realized the game might ultimately be up for the previously untouchable Sepultura? That’s the impression you get here. Inflikted sidesteps both Soulfly’s samba percussives and the corrosive distortion of early Sepultura, but at the same time it rebirths that shock and awe heaviness, the streewise riffing of the Cavalera’s first band, adding only a bigger production. That extra studio dynamic merely throws open the doors to let the storm roar in. Some storm it is too. Max Cavalera’s coals have probably never cut through with more controlled brutality than here. The title-track opens in a squall of synthesized biomechanical feedback, and seconds later Iggor Cavalera’s tubs rifle in, marshalling the familiar crunch of his brothers guitar. This isn’t power for the sake of it – Cavalera Conspiracy (completed by Soulfly guitarist Mark Rizzo and bass from Gojira frontman Joe Duplantier) build songs from rolling, concrete riffs, each pounding out simplistic, upper cut hooks. “I don’t give a fuck if everybody dies tonight” seethes Max in Sanctuary following a disconcerting spiral of guitar noise, before a churning time change hits you in the gut. Hex and Nevertrust are similarly aggressive, short bull-shaped nuggets of hardcore mangled metal designed purely to stun. There’s more ambition in Black Ark and Bloodbrawl, but Inflikted is an album that never deviates far from its central thrust – a simple equation of heaviness, groove and melody worked to perfection. One thing that separates Inflikted from previous Cavalera projects is the occasional suggestion of synths. Purists need not furrow their brow – machines drop in only scarce and shadowy embellishments to the carnage up top. Inflikted is not a Fear Factory record. It is a modern spin on an old theme, a polished, updated but no less bellicose take on the Sepultura of old. These are killing fields of metal, a precursor just possibly to a Sepultura reunion, and a fine debut in its own right. DOWNLOAD: Sanctuary, Nevertrust. FOR FANS OF: Sepultura, Machine Head. KERRANG Cavalera Conspiracy's heavy-as-hell 'Inflikted' is in stores now! www.myspace.com/cavaleraconspiracy

SLIPKNOT Teaser!

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:51:03 +1100

Get a taste of what's on offer from Slipknot later in the year with this short teaser on their official website! Check it out here! Slipknot are busy recording their upcoming untitled album which will be released in August! www.slipknot1.com www.myspace.com/slipknot1

THEORY OF A DEADMAN Live Footage!

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:41:45 +1100

Theory of a Deadman stopped by Billboard magazine's office to play a few songs and chat about the new album, Scars & Sovenirs, which hit stores today. Watch it here! www.theoryofadeadman.com www.myspace.com/theoryofadeadman www.youtube.com/theoryofadeadman Facebook - add yourself as a Theory of a Deadman fan!

DREAM THEATER's Mike & OPETH's Mike - Part 1

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:22:42 +1100

Mike & Mike! Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater & Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth got together at the Roadrunner Records NYC office and had a great talk. Watch Part 1 now and hear all about how Mike P first found out about Opeth. Check it out here!

STILL REMAINS call it a day

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:39:09 +1100

Bad and sad news for all the Still Remains fans out there. Due to personal reasons the band have decided to split after two succesful albums on Roadrunner. Here's the official statement from the band: "Dear friends, fans, and family, this is a goodbye letter from us to you. We will be seeing most of you again I'm sure but not from on stage. We've decided to make this US headlining tour our last as STILL REMAINS and Cornerstone Festival our last show. We want to thank all of the wonderful loving people we've met in the past few years for being there for us. It's been an amazing run but we are done for personal reasons. No, we don't hate each other or want to punch each other in the face. It's just time for us to move on to different things in our lives. Please come see us on our headlining tour and help us go out with a bang! We are extremely excited to see what the future holds for each and every one of us. So keep your eyes and ears open and God Bless!!!" Still Remains brilliant album 'The Serpent' is in stores now! www.stillremains.com

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE drummer sheds light on his massive beard!

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:17:06 +1100

"Justin Foley, the fire-maned skinsman for Killswitch Engage, has got one hell of a monstrous beard. You've no doubt seen it in the "Holy Diver" video, but if you saw the band on tour recently you'd see that Foley's man-whiskers have grown to catastrophic proportions. As an aspiring beardo myself, I was thrilled to have the opportunity recently to interview Justin - exclusively about his beard - both for the sake of interesting MetalSucks content and for my own beard-growing aspirations. Trust me, these things don't just take care of themselves; lots of time and effort goes into keeping our face-pubes nice and healthy." After the jump, Justin shares with Metalsucks.net the history and inspiration behind his beard, his beard heroes, the recent trend of beards in metal, beard grooming tips, and a whole lot more. It's every beard-grower's dream. Check out this killer interview here.

DOWN frontman checks in

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:05:59 +1100

Down frontman has been spilling his guts on his blog again. Talking about the recent dates they band have played in the US, Phil Anselmo writes: When we play live, and the lights are up, I mean it when I tell you that I can really see all of you standing in the crowd! (I strain my weary old eyes to see all the people way in the back or on the sides, but I do see you!). As for the masses I can lay my eyes on, face-to-face…I can truly feel, and feed from your energy! I stare directly into your eyes and see your addictive fire, and it’s hard to put into words the spiritual surge it sends through me! All of your voices singing every song, night after night is the only true payoff!!! I take it to heart. When we walk out on stage, and spend that designated, intimate night with our most loyal horde, that’s notoriously jamming side-by-side with us, in a floor-quaking frenzy… It’s the ONLY realistic reward! It’s all about the music! Our music is your music, so in turn, it’s all about you! (Read the full blog here) Down's monstrous 'Over The Under' is in stores now! www.down-nola.com

ATREYU promo at Metal Rights Festival!!!

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:05:17 +1100

Zeplins Nightclub, S.A. Music News and Rockfest (DSTV Audio Channel 169) are presenting the METAL RIGHTS FESTIVAL! SUNDAY 23rd March Zeplins Nightclub 384 Pretorius Street Pretoria You ask WHY the Sunday? FIRSTLY, because Friday is Korn at the My Coke Fest, so, Saturday you will MOST probably be to hung over, so by Sunday you will be back in action, ready for the next round of punishment... AND Monday is a public holiday, Family Day or something like that... ARRRRR 20 Bands on 2 stages! Doors open at 1pm. First band at 2pm. R 50 per person METAL STAGE 2pm - Elegy 3pm - Egregore 4pm - Warthane 5pm - Selfmoord 6pm - Only Forever 7pm - Psordid 8pm - All Forlorn 9pm - Undertone 10pm - Ancient Influence 11pm - Underbelly MAIN STAGE 2pm. Haggis and Bong 3pm. T.B.M. 4pm. Trippple Bypass 5pm. Erebus 6pm ...and Chaos 7pm . Autumn Sun 8pm. Mesadoth 9pm. Straw 10pm Chromium 11pm. Deity's Muse Directions : Take the N4 to Pretoria take Eeufees Offramp. Right at the T-Junction, left at Fountains. Keep left into Pretoria, into Nelson Mandela drive. Left into Pretorius St, Zeplins is one block down on the right hand side next to Adult World. There'll be loads of giveaways which includes Atreyu's 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor', so be there and get ready to rock out!

TRIVIUM - Paulo's guest blog!

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:46:22 +1100

Trivium bassist Paolo Gregoletto guest blog's on MTV's Headbangers Blog. See what he has to say about the simultaneous rise of old and new-school metal. "I think this a very unique time because one day you might be going to a Killswitch Engage or Machine Head show, and the next week your goingdown to your local arena to watch Iron Maiden play epic 13 minute songs. Some critics, for some reason or another, may not be thrilled by this, but for the vast majority of us, who appreciate music regardless of whether it was written in 1985 or 2005, it’s a once in a lifetime chance to see bands from all eras of heavy metal history playing and making music." Read the rest by clicking here! www.trivium.org www.myspace.com/trivium www.youtube.com/trivium Become a fan on Facebook!

Part 5 of the CAVALERA CONSPIRACY series

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:35:10 +1100

"The video was shot a lil outside of Paris in the suburbs, in a studio...it's almost like a short movie...me and Max had the idea of creating a creature and we created the creature for this video and a lot of people got hurt and there's a lot of blood..." Iggor Cavalera In this, the final of our 5 part Q&A with the Cavalera brothers, we learn about what the bejeezus is going on their video for ‘Sanctuary', all about their tattoos and their tips for anyone wanting to make it as a musician. Check it out!! Cavalera Conspiracy on Facebook

DAATH drummer's blog!

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:31:46 +1100

Daath's drumming extraordinaire, Kevin Talley posted a short but sweet blog on myspace about his finishing the drum tracks for the band's upcoming album. Check it by clicking here. www.daathmusic.com www.myspace.com/daath www.youtube.com/daathmusic

Roadrunner sign SOZIEDAD ALKOHOLIKA

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:01:15 +1100

SOZIEDAD ALKOHOLIKA It is not easy to classify Soziedad Alkoholika within a specific style of music. Thrash, Hardcore, Metal, Punk... The only sure thing is that its foundation has always been in its strength and speed, displaying a wide and varied selection of influences based on their particular style as is shown in their arrangements. With regard to their text, they have always been faithful to the music. Corrosive and explicit lyrics, full of social commitment and direct protest, have been one of its main characteristics. This irreverant attitude has brought with it certain problems with the legal system, instigated by the most conservative sectors of the Spanish State. Nobody has been left indifferent since they formed the group. After their massive hit with their first demo "Intoxikaziòn Etìlica" where they combine strength and speed, unusual for those times, it was in 1991 with their first LP "Soziedad Alkoholika" that they were able to surprise the specialists in their field and at the same time appeal to a wide variety of followers from all areas of heavy music. Their first official piece of work broke barriers which many had thought to be insuperable among such styles so defined as Punk and Metal, which was a salutary shock for the scene at the time. Needless to say, their first LP instantly became a crossover classic. Within a few years they set up their own independent record label in 1995, Mil A Gritos, having performed numerous concerts and releasing two EP`s and one more LP. In that same year they released their third LP "Ratas", surprising all once more with a specially cared for sound but at the same time as forceful as ever. Since then they have released all their material under their own label, as well as using it to produce other groups. Since forming the group, Soziedad Alkoholika has not stopped giving concerts all over Spain, America, Europe, Japan, etc. Having released 8 LP`s, it is one of the independent groups which has sold most in the Spanish market and which has had maximum audience in its live concerts. The group has hardly changed since it began, maintaining its identity both in its recordings as well as in its overwhelming live concerts. "Mala Sangre" was recorded during October and November of last year in Estudio Uno (Madrid) and mixed in Antfarm studio (Denmark) by Tue Madsen (Sick of it all, Born from Pain, Halford...), during February of this year. "For this album we spent more times than ever, entering studio just when we were absolutely convinced that it was exactly where we wanted to go. The crudeness of "Mala Sangre" makes us so satisfy about this new album." With both Gold album and DVD (Last release in date), S.A. keeps going stronger, sharing with their unconditional fans around the world, the same true Energy!!! Soziedad Alkoholika, strength and attitude. Juan:Voice Jimmy: y Javi:Guitars Pirulo:Bass Roberto: Drums www.myspace.com/soziedadalkoholika

Way more CAVALERA CONSPIRACY!!!

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:59:03 +1100

"We definitely want to tour with Cavalera Conspiracy...we just don't know when yet. Obviously with Cavalera Conspiracy we do things one step at a time; it's not like a huge plan where we know when we are going to be playing..." Iggor Cavalera Here it is- the penultimate installment of the Cavalera Conspiracy fan Q&A. If you have missed the first 3 parts of this series, you should check out their media page and catch up! You have seriously been missing out! Part 5 will be here on Monday 17th of March. 'Inflikted' hits shelves on March 25th! www.myspace.com/cavaleraconspiracy

New 3 INCHES OF BLOOD Video

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:33:52 +1100

If you head on over to Scuzz.com, you will be able to see the brand spanking new video from Canadian battle metallers 3 Inches Of Blood. The video, for the killer track 'Trial Of Champions' features non other than Slipknot's Joey Jordison. The guys all became buds when Jordison produced 3 Inches' current album 'Fire Up The Blades'. 'Fire Up The Blades' is in stores now! www.3inchesofblood.com

More of the CAVALERA CONSPIRACY!!!

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:28:32 +1100

"We grew up together and all of a sudden we got separated because of the business. It really sucked. But on the other hand it could be worse- there are families that are separated through war; through sickness...It was a bad experience definitely. I wouldn't wish that on anybody." Max Cavalera Here we bring you part 2 & part 3 of the exclusive Q&A session with Max and Iggor Cavalera, where they answer questions submitted by you- the visitors to Roadrunner Records websites worldwide. If you missed part 1, you can check it out HERE. Cavalera Conspiracy will unleash their awesome heavy-as-hell album 'Infikted' March 25th! www.myspace.com/cavaleraconspiracy Cavalera Conspiracy on Facebook

Meet the Cavaleras!

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:50:16 +1100

There is a spirit; an attitude in ‘INFLIKTED’ that’s very unique. You can say this has been on every album Iggor and I have done together, so for sure you can count on this being there again for this album…In vibe and in spirit it’s right there with anything we have done in the past…Musically different, but in spirit it’s the same.” Max Cavalera Cast your mind back a few months and you will remember us asking you, our glorious readers, for your questions for Max and Iggor Cavalera. Your response was OUTSTANDING and today- in the first of 5 installments- we bring you the answers some of the questions you submitted. Head to the CAVALERA CONSPIRACY MEDIA PLAYER to check it out. Watch this space for PART 2. And whilst you are there you can also check out title track INFLIKTED

ATREYU giveaways at the Purity Magazine Official Launch

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:07:31 +1100

The Doors in Edenvale, Johannesburg, will play host to the Purity Magazine Launch this Saturday the 8th of March. Purity magazine is going in stores and to celebrate is gonna have a night of raucous party. R40 entry, four bands, pre-release DVD screenings, promo girls, as well as magazine, CD and alcohol giveaways!! So much free shit you won’t know what to do with it. The line up is as follows: 16Stitch Knave Facing the Gallows Your Name In Neon There will be loads of surprises throughout the night, so best be there to celebrate the launch of Purity, otherwise known as the best music magazine known to man!! See you there, get ready to rock out. Line up times: 21:00-21:30 Facing the Gallows 21:45-22:15 Your Name In Neon 22:30-23:00 Knave 23:30-00:15 16Stitch The CD throwouts will be the latest Atreyu 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor' as well as spins of the killer tracks from the album! Be there!

Dani Filth revisited!

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:49:59 +1100

Cradle Of Filth fans will no doubt remember that DANI FILTH chatted exclusivly to Metalhammer.co.uk around the release of the special edition of Thornography in a special web edition of Spanish Inquisition. Well, part 2 is now up for your viewing pleasure and you can check it out here, so please do!! And if you aren't a COF fan and / or have no idea what I am whittering on about, head there anyway as you can still see part one and COF fan or no, you are bound to enjoy the interview! Witty bugger our Dani... 'Thornography: Harder. Darker. Faster.' is terrorising stores now! www.cradleoffilth.com

DRESDEN DOLLS drummer features on new NIN release

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:56:53 +1100

If you cast your mind back a few years to the release of Nine Inch Nails' 'With Teeth', you will recall that The Dresden Dolls were hand picked by Trent Reznor himself to support him on a US tour and also on a handful of dates in the UK. Well, Mr. Reznor must have been suitably impressed with 'Dolls drummer Brian's skills, as he asked him to work with him on his new album, which he currently has available for download on NIN.COM Brian comments: I had the great pleasure this past December to work with Trent Reznor and contribute some drum tracks to the new album. Trent really opened the door for it to be a very creative experience and allowed him to achieve what he needed musically, while allowing me free reign to express myself and ideas on the drums. You can read more HERE at their MySpace blog and also check out some awesome shots of the innovative kits that Brian used. The Dresden Dolls' 'Yes, Virginia' is in stores now! www.dresdendolls.com

DAATH announces new vocalist!

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:33:48 +1100

Daath announces Sean Z. as new frontman Band enters studio to record their second album 'The Concealers'! (New York, NY): Georgia-based, forward-thinking metal band Daath, who spent the summer of 2007 kicking up dirt on Ozzfest’s side stage, have completed their search for a new vocalist. Dååth are pleased to announce Sean Z. as their new frontman. The band, who parted ways with Sean Faber after Ozzfest, spent the autumn season holding open auditions for the position, with the unwavering goal of finding a diverse singer with enough range and power to match the band’s progressive style of metal. Fellow Atlantan Sean Z., who filled in on vocals during the band’s late Fall tour with Dark Funeral, fit the bill. Says guitarist Eyal Levi, “Sean Z. brings the whole package and destroys in every aspect of the word. He sounds killer on the new material. Now, we are stronger than ever and we look forward to hitting the road this summer.” Dååth are slated to enter the studio on March 1 to record The Concealers with producer Jason Suecof (Trivium, Chimaira) and Mark Lewis of Florida’s Audio Hammer studios manning the boards. Levi is thrilled about finally moving forward saying, “We’ve been biding our time for 4 years in order to be able to finally make an album the right way. We’re looking forward to making a record that reflects what Dååth is truly about.” Indeed, Dååth are a conceptual act, with the lyrics from The Hinderers revolving around the spiritual concept of the Tree of Life/Death. On the forthcoming The Concealers, the band will explore the various sides of human nature and behavior. With the new vocalist in place and a new album in the works, Dååth are more than prepared to expose their brand of thinking man’s metal to the masses.

Artistdirect.com interview CAVALERA CONSPIRACY

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:49:45 +1100

Max Cavalera of Cavalera Conspiracy took some time to talk to Rick from ArtistDirect.com. Read about things such as the long silence between his brother (Iggor Cavalera) and him that would not be broken until now, what it is like to to once again be playing together in Cavalera Conspiracy, and much more here. Cavalera Conspiracy's 'Infliked' will hit stores March 25th! Become a fan of Cavalera Conspiracy on Facebook www.myspace.com/cavaleraconspiracy

New CAVALERA CONSPIRACY interview!

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:03:03 +1100

Headbanger's blog posted the last installment in a series of interview clips with Sepultura founding members and current Cavalera Conspiracy collaborators Max Cavalera (guitar, vocals) and Igor Cavalera (drums) about their new band and their new bond. In the fifth and sixth clips, they discuss what inspired the lyrics of their new album, "Inflikted", and what it was like to be back in the studio together after all that time. Check the videos out here. 'Inflikted', Cavalera Conspiracy's upcoming debut album will hits stores with a vengeance March 25th! Be prepared! www.myspace.com/cavaleraconspiracy

Matt Heafy update on TRIVIUM's latest album

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:47:50 +1100

Orlando metallers Trivium are currently in pre-production for their new album, tentatively due before the end of the year via Roadrunner Records. The as-yet-untitled CD will be produced by Nick Raskulinecz, who has previously worked with Foo Fighters, Rush, Velvet Revolver, Shadows Fall, Stone Sour and Death Angel, among others. Guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy writes in an online posting, "20 songs recorded: 20. 20!!! We've Never recorded this many songs for an album ever, 20!!! I mean hot damn! And these are all Demos! These have been the most extensive demos we have ever done, before we'd merely just do a quick demo of the songs we were to record for the upcoming album. This time we wrote it, re-wrote it, worked and arranged, recorded and re-recorded so it's gonna be good. Next step is for me to write the lyrics and vocals for the latest batch of 10 songs, record those then we'll have our producer come down and we will work out the kinks of all 20 tracks and wittle them down and pick the absolute best songs for the new album. Then? Actually do it. Haha. We're so happy with the new material. It's our strongest material to date; it encompasses everything that is Trivium to the four of us and to our fans." In a recent interview with Revolver magazine, Trivium guitarist Corey Beaulieu stated about the upcoming CD, "We want to capture the best ingredients of everything we've done. Each song has a little bit of everything, going between something heavy and then melodic, and then back to something heavy. So it has a really interesting balance. On 'The Crusade', Matt did almost all singing, so this time we're bringing back some of the screaming that's on 'Ascendancy'." "I'm also trying new things vocally," Heafy added. "Live, I've been able to really push the high vocal part of my range in the style of Rob Halford. So maybe I'll put some of that on the album." While waiting for the new Trivium releases, check out 'The Crusade' in the meanwhile and get ready for total metal domination! www.trivium.org

PAIN launches tour blog

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:43:43 +1100

Pain, the Swedish band featuring Hypocrisy mainman Peter Tägtgren, is currently on the road in Europe as the support act for Nightwish. The band has launched a tour blog at this location where the bandmembers promise to "keep you updated with news and share whatever happens during the tour. Everything you read or see on this blog is exclusively uncensored. Similarities with now living persons is total coincidence." As previously reported, guitarist Marcus Jidell (Royal Hunt, Hose of Shakira) is once again part of Pain's touring lineup. In Flames bassist Peter Iwers makes a guest appearance on two songs on Pain's latest album, "Psalms of Extinction". Pain's video for the track "Zombie Slam" is available for viewing at this location. The clip was shot in February 2007 in Los Angeles by Ralf Strathmann. Ralf previously worked as a director for artists like Children Of Bodom, Apocolyptica and Soilwork. He is also a photographer for such bands as H.I.M., Aerosmith and Blink 182, to name but a few. Pain's 'Psalms Of Extinction' is in stores now! If you haven't heard it yet, go check it out! www.pain.cd

Planet Loud interviews THE CULT

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:32:51 +1100

The Cult recently spoke to Planet Loud about what they have been up to since the release of last years 'Born Into This', about how the album came into fruition and the upcoming UK tour. Talking about how the band came to their current dynamic, Billy Duffy coments, 'I think when we first started it was good and we had a common thing over the first few years as most bands do. You’re a gang, you against the world, success changes that though. Same with any band.' With the guys heading to the UK later this week, he continues, 'I enjoy coming and playing the UK, it definitely gets me on some sort of emotional level without getting too soppy, I get touched when we play and people show up even though I’ve chosen to live in another country.' You can read the full interview here. The Cult's 'Born Into This' is in stores now! www.thecult.us

Metal Hammer speak to Dani Filth

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:29:33 +1100

On the day Cradle Of Filth released 'Thrornography- Harder, Darker, Faster', Metal Hammer TV caught up with frontman Dani Filth to pose questions submitted by fans via their website in an exclusive, online version of their Spanish Inquisition. Head to the Metal Hammer TV page to check out part one of the video feature. Click here! Cradle Of FIlth's 'Thornography- Harder, Darker, Faster' is in stores now. www.cradleoffilth.com

Rapidinfo's killer ATREYU review!

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:57:41 +1100

Rapidinfo.co.za, South Africa's leading online media magazine, has posted a killer review of Atreyu's 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor'. An extract of the review by Sergio Pereira reads: 'Moving away from their metalcore sound to a more hard rock/metal frequency, Atreyu are certain to break sound waves with their latest release Lead Sails Paper Anchor. From the opening track ‘Doomsday’, fret-tapping, whammy-bar solos and melodies dominate the album, but it is in ‘Becoming the Bull’ where they blend 3 generations of metal into one mind-blowing track.' Check out the full review here! Atreyu's 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor' is tearing up stores right now! Check it out! www.atreyurock.com

3 INCHES OF BLOOD's hangover cures!

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:16:02 +1100

Drink a little too much last night while you were busy headbanging? 3 Inches of Blood vocalist Cam Pipes gives Deciblog.com his top remedies for curing that brutal hangover that occurs the day after that bout of heavy boozing. Check out his top 5 Hangover Cures here. 3 Inches Of Blood's 'Fire Up The Blades' is carving up stores shelves now! Check it out! www.3inchesofblood.com www.myspace.com/3iob www.youtube.com/3inchesofblood 3 Inches of Blood on Facebook

SLIPKNOT to start recording in March

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:34:56 +1100

Slipknot guitarist Mick Thompson said, "Been away for a bit. I'm sure I was missed. Or something. Or not. "I'm here to confirm the [Rockstar Energy] Mayhem tour rumor shit and say that we are starting to record in a couple weeks. We have been writing for a while and we are trying to be done recording some time in late March. Regardless, we will be back on the road this summer and for the better part of the next two years. New stage show, set list, visuals, expectations. We don't repeat ourselves as artists and know that fans don't want the same either." Slipknot is scheduled to enter the studio this month with producer Dave Fortman, who's previously worked with Mudvayne and Evanescence. An August release via Roadrunner is expected. Slipknot percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan recently told Revolver magazine that the masked nine-piece from Iowa is coming from a "different place" as it prepares to record its fourth major label album. When asked what has changed since 2004's "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)", Crahan replied, "I can't stress enough that we're going into this from a different place. When we did (2001 album) 'Iowa', we hated each other. We hated the world; the world hated us. The next record ('Vol. 3') was like rehabilitation. We had all this healing that needed to happen. Now, everything feels good because we feel good." Slipknot went on hiatus at the end of 2005, when it finished touring in support of "Vol. 3". Since then the band members have worked on various other projects, including a second album from singer Corey Taylor and guitarist Jim Root's Stone Sour. Crahan said, "These breaks that we take, they get our appetites going. They let our brains slow down and then speed up again. We gotta decompress for a little bit just to feel human if we're going to be forced to be here in this reality." If you haven't check out Slipknot's 'Voliminal: Inside The Nine' DVD, do yourself a favour and give a good watch. www.slipknot1.com

SCUZZ TV Interview CAVALERA CONSPIRACY

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:26:07 +1100

Cavalera Conspiracy were recently in the UK and SCUZZ TV caught up with them for a little chat about their new project together- their first since they parted ways in 1996. They have now loaded this into their website, and you can view it here.

THEORY OF A DEADMAN E-Card Launched!

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:22:26 +1100

Attention: Theory of a Deadman fans! Up NOW is a fun-filled electronic card to the song "So Happy". This track is the first single off of the upcoming release, Scars and Souvenirs; and has fans eager to hear more of whats to come from this rockin' album. This E-Card also features the Bio, wallpaper & an aim icon of the artwork, as well as the video for the album photoshoot EPK! Spoil yourself with all of this greatness here. Scars and Souvenirs comes to a store near you on April 1st, 2008! www.theoryofadeadman.com www.myspace.com/theoryofadeadman www.youtube.com/theoryofadeadman Facebook - add yourself as a Theory of a Deadman fan!

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY photo gallery!

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:07:28 +1100

An in-studio photo gallery of Cavalera Conspiracy — the new project featuring Sepultura founding members Max (guitar, vocals) and Igor Cavalera (drums) alongside vocalist Joe Duplantier (bass) of the French progressive death metallers Gojira and Soulfly guitarist Marc Rizzo — can be found here. The cover artwork of "Inflikted", the debut album from Cavalera Conspiracy, has been posted online here. (Note: The previously circulated "artwork" for this album was used on the promotional CD only and was never intended for the finished product.) Two songs from "Inflikted" are currently available for free download: "Sanctuary": MP3 "Inflikted": MP3

Artistdirect.com interview 3 INCHES OF BLOOD

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:00:31 +1100

ArtistDirect.com never fails to deliver great, in depth interviews with our bands. Featured on their home page now is a great chat that Rick Florino had with Shane of 3 Inches of Blood entitled "How To Become a Goat Rider" Check it out here. www.3inchesofblood.com www.myspace.com/3iob www.youtube.com/3inchesofblood 3 Inches of Blood on Facebook

OPETH announces new album title

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:14:34 +1100

Swedish progressive metal titans Opeth, often credited as being forward thinkers who are a genre of one, are proud to announce Watershed as the title of their forthcoming album, due out on Roadrunner Records on June 3, 2008. The album, recorded in the band's native Sweden and produced by frontman/guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt and Jens Bogren, is a masterwork that follows the time-honored Opeth tradition; it's modern yet timeless, progressive yet paying homage to the sounds of classic rock. Watershed is truly one of those special records that cycles through a variety of moods, speeds and textures, complete with lots of subtleties and nuances of sound. Because of its expansive scope, Watershed is destined to land the album atop many "Best of 2008" lists. Album opener "Coil" is a gorgeous acoustic number, featuring local folk vocalist Nathalie Lorichs, while "Heir Apparent" will knock listeners unconscious with its blunt force metal. "Porcelain Heart" is an epic, thanks to its quiet-loud dynamic structure. Always one to defy the rules, Opeth posits sung vocals over artillery-like blast beats on "The Lotus Eater," cementing their reputation as innovators and redefiners. Watershed combines elements of modern metal, prog rock, free jazz and hints of European folk music, all of which come together for a seamless, unique collection of songs that will leave an indelible mark upon all who listen. Watershed is the first Opeth release to feature new guitarist Fredrik Akesson and drummer Martin Axenrot and is the band's second album for Roadrunner Records. Watershed is the eagerly awaited follow up to 2005's critically acclaimed Ghost Reveries. The complete track listing is as follows: "Coil," "Heir Apparent," "The Lotus Eater," "Burden," "Porcelain Heart," "Hessian Peel" and "Hex Omega."

Thunda.com's NICKELBACK review!

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:22:50 +1100

Thunda.com recently posted this great review of Nickelback's 'The Ultimate Video Collection'. An extract from the review by Andre van Assche reads: 'This is a great DVD for fans of the band who love the videos and want to own them in high quality DVD format, and for fans of the music who haven't had the chance to see all the videos on TV.' Read the full review here! Check out Nickelback's 'The Ultimate Video Collection' in stores now! www.nickelback.com

Two CAVALERA CONSPIRACY tracks for you!

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:37:57 +1100

A second Cavalera Conspiracy track, entitled "Sanctuary", has been made available for download at this location. "Sanctuary" is the first single off CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's debut album, "Inflikted", which will be released in North America on March 25, 2008 via Roadrunner Records (one day earlier internationally). The CD's title cut can be downloaded here. Cavalera Conspiracy is the new project featuring SEPULTURA founding members Max (guitar, vocals) and Igor Cavalera (drums) alongside vocalist Joe Duplantier (bass) of the French progressive death metallers Gojira and Soulfly guitarist Marc Rizzo. "The Cavalera Conspiracy is about a sense of being unleashed," says Max Cavalera. "You bottle a monster for ten years and then let it out. It's explosive, and we waited a long time for this beast to be set free." It's true. The wait is over. And the time is now. Many said it would never happen, that Max and Igor Cavalera, the Brazilian brothers and visionaries that formed the groundbreaking metal band Sepultura in 1983 would reunite to make electrifying music together again. Despite having spent 12 years apart, the inescapable fact remains: Max and Igor share blood and are musical soulmates. Their time away from each other fostered musical growth leading to the newly inspired metallic magic. Hence, the Cavalera Conspiracy was born. While the Cavalera Conspiracy and their Roadrunner Records debut "Inflikted" may seem like the closest we'll get to a Sepultura reunion, make no mistake. The Cavalera Conspiracy is its own maniacal, untamable beast with its own set of rules. Igor sums up their musical connection, simply stating, "We don't need to speak. We look at each other and we know. With one look, we know if we're going in the right direction." That's how clearly they understand one another. Max continues, "There was over ten years of not seeing or talking to each other at all, which is a long-ass time. That's what made it more special when it did finally happen. While we were working together, I was thinking about how the last time I saw him, I was on a tour bus, after my last show with Sepultura at the Brixton Academy. Fast forward and I'm picking him up at the airport in Phoenix. It was heavy and emotional." Obviously, all those feelings, along with years of musical history, came flooding back, and once the personal relationship was restored, the musical one began to take shape. The first seeds of the Max/Igor reunion were planted when the duo played together at the D-Low Memorial show, an annual benefit played for Max's slain stepson. "I was playing with Igor at a show that was so meaningful," Max admits. "We got to play 'Roots' and 'Attitude', which is a song I wrote with Dana. From that point on, I couldn't help myself. I knew I wanted to record with him again. I had not done a 'project' since Nailbomb, which was a long time ago. Igor loved the idea. With no name, I just wrote songs all day long. We had to find musicians, and set the mood so we could just write a kick-ass record." Igor has similar fond memories of that show and that feeling, "Once we hit the first note, it felt like a bomb had dropped on stage. From that moment on, I knew we needed to do something together musically." Igor continues, "We reunited as a family first. Naturally, music came next. At first, we had no idea we would do music again. I have my own new project, and that takes so much of my time. I had no plans at all of going back and doing a metal project. But at the same time, it was natural to play again with Max." Max compares the situation to the "Godfather Part III", exclaiming, "Just when Al Pacino thought he was out, his family pulled him right back into the shit again! That's what I did: I pulled him right back." The brothers recruited Gojira guitarist Joe Duplantier to play bass. Guitarist Marc Rizzo, who plays guitar in Max's main band SOULFLY, was enlisted to play guitar. The duo purposely chose more up and coming musicians, because they didn't want to detract from the music. "We didn't want big names," Max says. "It was about me and Igor finding ourselves. This is about the music. We found cool musicians without pretension, who wanted to go into the studio and just kick ass." Once recording commenced, Max brought a bunch of songs he had written. Album opener "Inflikted" is an urgent, thrashy anthem designed for the most riotous moshpits, while "Sanctuary" has a classic "Beneath the Remains"-era Sepultura vibe. Max says, “I brought the tracks to the studio without the fury. Igor put his 'thunder drums' on top of it and it became something else!" Although Igor exited Sepultura and is working on his electronic music project, that familiar feeling coursed through his veins when he sat down to track drums. "We had no pressure on our backs. The most important thing is that we were happy in the studio; we worked a lot and it was a blast. That translates into the music," Igor says. By the time the record was finished, Max knew that they had recaptured the magic. "My brother makes the drums sound like thunder like no one else. Not many musicians can grab a kit and change the sound and personality of the drums, but he can. It's fucking scary." While the SOULFLY and SEPULTURA comparisons will undoubtedly — natch — arise, both brothers contend that the Cavalera Conspiracy is different because their tastes and influences have grown over the years. There's less of a world vibe on "Inflikted", but it's every bit as dangerous, thanks to its "fuck-the-world" attitude. "Why do I get goosebumps when listening to this? I don't want to know," says Max. According to Igor, "Inflikted"'s balance of the old and the new is what he loves about it and he thinks metalheads across the globe will share the same notion. "When I listen to the album, it sounds old-school, but new in its own way," he says. "It's a mix of both worlds. We both listened to so much different music during the time apart. Here, we each had our own input, so it came out different than back in the day." Summing up their personal chemistry, which is palpable on the booming "Ultra-Violent", "Bloodbrawl", and the uber-thrash attack "Terrorize" (formerly "Holy Poison"), Max says, "I'm crazy. I used to drink. I talk. He is quiet. He has never drank before. It's this weird combo that becomes lethal together. You either like it or hate it, but you can't ignore it. We're like a bomb." "Inflikted" final track listing: 01. Inflikted 02. Sanctuary 03. Terrorize (formerly "Holy Poison") 04. Black Ark 05. Ultra-Violent 06. Hex 07. The Doom Of All Fires 08. Bloodbrawl 09. Nevertrust 10. Hearts Of Darkness 11. Must Kill

Catching up with OPETH's Mikael Åkerfeldt

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:12:22 +1100

UK's Metal Hammer magazine recently conducted an interview with Opeth mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt. An excerpt from the chat follows: Metal Hammer: Your label, Roadrunner, has been criticized for the number of reissues it releases, including your last album, "Ghost Reveries". Do you think that's fair? Mikael: I think most labels do that today. The record industry is not doing that well; the companies are grasping at straws to try and make money, and perhaps that's the way to do it. I don't care how many reissues of our albums they put out — they could put out a thousand reissues and I couldn't care less, as long as the quality is good. You don't have to buy these things if you don't want to. Personally, I don't buy clothes and I don't go out drinking, I just buy records — so I don't have a problem with buying 20 different versions of my favorite album. Metal Hammer: "Ghost Reveries" was leaked via the Internet before its release in 2005. Does illegal file sharing piss you off? Mikael: It does piss me off. The main problem for me is that the magic gets lost. When you're downloading, you don't have the artwork, you don't have anything but the tunes, and in bad quality. It bothers me, because the ideal situation for me would be to gather up 5,000 fans every day and give them the record and we could listen to it together, although that's not possible. My music is sacred to me, and I don't want it to be presented in any form other than the ones we have approved. Metal Hammer: Opeth's drummer Martin Lopez left the band in 2006 and guitarist Peter Lindgren followed a few months ago. Is the new lineup stable now? Mikael: Well, you never know! But the overall vibe in the band now is really good. We've been hanging out getting to know each other, and it's good because everybody in the band just wants to play music. That's always been the most important thing with this band; I want everyone to be a musician, and fuck the other things. It's so easy to be carried away with this type of business. There's a lot of other things that are cool to do, but that shouldn't take away from the importance of the music, and if you don't have the music anymore, you're nothing. That was the problem with both Lopez and Peter; that's why they left. Because they probably didn't burn as much. It's not easy to be in a touring band like this one; it's tough. The guys in the band, they write and play music in their spare time, and there's no question about anything else. Get hold of Opeth's 'Ghost Reveries Special Edition' and be prepared to get blasted away! www.opeth.com

AIRBOURNE drummer proud to be compared to AC/DC

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:07:55 +1100

Jonni Starr of DirtyRock.net recently conducted an interview with Airbourne drummer Ryan O'Keeffe. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow: DirtyRock.net: Why did you guys choose New Jersey to be your U.S. base? Ryan: As we've discovered, a lot of bands have a U.S. market or UK market. And it's not very often that an act will be going well on both markets and it happens to be that we are. So we need to be positioning ourselves in between the UK and L.A. and that's New York. That way we're six hours from L.A., six hours from London so if we've got to jump on a plane and tour or do a last minute show or even an interview we're able to do it with ease. Plus Roadrunner are in New York anyway, all the other labels are in L.A., Roadrunner are in New York, so we're able to be close to them. It's just a center point where we can go everywhere in America and everywhere in the UK at a cheaper rate (laughs). DirtyRock.net: You've built up a fairly strong following in Australia. Are you worried you might lose some of the momentum relocating indefinitely overseas or have people been supportive? Ryan: Oh mate, it's only until Ev, our mixer, really said it and he sometimes gets mistaken for being in the band, but he goes, "One of the things you really realize from crowd members is how supportive they are about us going overseas. Everyone, everyone who even mentions about USA it's always positive." "You guys rip it up overseas," "Good luck, we'll be here thinking about you," "Do it for Australia." You know, everyone, I think they're all sort of on our side in that respect and know it's got to happen, we've got to take that step and get out there. DirtyRock.net: You mentioned about going to the UK. How has the support been over there? Ryan: Really good, really good. It's one of those things when we've been talking to them, all of us — band, crew and label — feel that we shouldn't fail. Or we don't want to be the ones to fail because there aren't that many people out there doing rock 'n' roll and if we fuck it up, we're going to look like dickheads! Because there are a lot of people out there who want this sound back who grew up with it or a lot of kids who like discovering it because they've spent their earlier years listening to emo or nothing Australian, as far as I'm concerned. There's a lot of passion going around the Airbourne camp about this. They're all really supportive — it's great. DirtyRock.net: A lot of people when they talk about Airbourne always compare your sound to AC/DC. Obviously they're a fantastic band but do you ever get sick of the comparisons or embrace it? Ryan: Embrace it. Every band is going to get compared to something. Any band you think of is going to get compared to something otherwise how are you going to describe them? And geez, I'm proud of someone to go "What are they like?" "They're like AC/DC." Oh, they're like one of the best rock bands in the world? That's flattering. It's one of those things that I don't feel I even deserve to be compared to band such as AC/DC. Read the entire interview at www.dirtyrock.net. Airbourne's rockin' 'Runnin Wild' hits stores shortly! Be sure to check this one out! www.airbournerock.com

Audiophile SA's awesome WITHIN TEMPTATION review!

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:32:33 +1100

South Africa's greatest new music online sensation, Audiophile SA, has posted a wicked review of Within Temptation's awesome 'The Heart Of Everything'! An extract from the reveiw by Jay Pienaar reads: 'Within Temptation has a unique sound that is a mixture between goth, symphonic metal, and rock. The obvious comparisons would be Lacuna Coil and Evanescence, even though there is something so much more mature and innovative to Within Temptation. No two tracks evoke the same emotion – thus, Heart of Everything has incredible replay value. I was unable to tear myself away from this album.' Read the full review here! Within Temptation's 'The Heart Of Everything' is in stores now! www.within-temptation.com

CRADLE OF FILTH - Paul Allender Remix!

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:13:10 +1100

So as most of you Crazy Cradle of Filth fans already know, the upcoming release, Thornography - Harder Darker Faster [Special Edition], is a new kind of cool called an MVI (Music Video Interactive). The album comes as a high-quality DVD Audio with tons of extra tracks, videos, mobile content, MP3s and loads of interactive bonus content. It also features 2 tracks that come in U Myx format which allows you to remix the tracks. Paul Allender (guitarist) has done a custom remix of the track,"Under Huntress Moon" using this capability. Go to Cradle of Filth's official website here and check it out! www.cradleoffilth.com www.myspace.com/cradleoffilth www.youtube.com/cradleoffilth Cradle of Filth on Facebook

Hear AIRBOURNE's 'Runnin Wild' in it's full glory!

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 01:40:57 +1100

Airbourne release their debut album 'Runnin Wild' on Tuesday, January 29th and in celebration of this are previewing it's fist pumping glory (recently described by a RR staff memeber as 'tunes that just make me want to get w*nkered- in a good way!') on Myspace. Their profile, with full album stream, can be found here. Airbourne's 'Runnin Wild' is hitting stores shortly! www.airbournerock.com

3 INCHES OF BLOOD video interview

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:29:08 +1100

Woozyfly.com conducted an interview with guitarist Shane Clark and bassist Nick Cates of the Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based metallers 3 Inches Of Blood last week in New York City prior to the band's show at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill. They discussed such topics as their forthcoming video for the song "Trial of Champions" as well as the clip for "The Goatrider's Horde" being named one of the "Headbanger's Ball" Top 20 videos. Watch the interview at Buckshot's Bonanza. 3 Inches Of Blood has recruited drummer Ash Pearson (Sound Of The Swarm, Just Cause) for the band's current tour with The Black Dahlia Murder, Hate Eternal and Decrepit Birth. Pearson joins the group as the replacement for Alexei Rodriguez, who was unceremoniously dismissed from the band after he landed in a physical confrontation with Saxon drummer Nigel Glockler at the Hard Rock Hell festival in England this past November. 3 Inches Of Blood's thrashing 'Fire Up The Blades' is in stores now! www.3inchesofblood.com

CRADLE OF FILTH: The Star Wars podcast

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:41:21 +1100

Dave Pybus and Charles Hedger of Cradle of Filth were recently interviewed by Vadercast.com about their massive Star Wars collections as well as the special edition of their most recent studio album ‘Thornography’. Download the podcast here! And after you've finished listening to what the guys have to say, check out the wicked E-Card for Cradle Of Filth's upcoming Deluxe Edition of Thornography entitled 'Harder. Darker. Faster.' right here! Cradle Of Filth's 'Thornography Deluxe: Harder. Darker. Faster.' will hit stores with a vengeance February 12th! Be prepared!

TRIVIUM's Corey & Matt talk Dean Guitars

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:33:19 +1100

Lacey Conner, villainess co-star of VH1's hit TV show "Rock of Love" featuring Poison's Bret Michaels, conducted an interview with Corey Beaulieu and Matt Heafy from Trivium about their signature Dean guitars at this year's winter NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show, which is being held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Revolver magazine recently conducted an interview with Beaulieu and Heafy about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the group's new album, tentatively due before the end of the year via Roadrunner Records. "We want to capture the best ingredients of everything we've done," Beaulieu said. "Each song has a little bit of everything, going between something heavy and then melodic, and then back to something heavy. So it has a really interesting balance. On 'The Crusade', Matt did almost all singing, so this time we're bringing back some of the screaming that's on 'Ascendancy'." "I'm also trying new things vocally," Heafy added. "Live, I've been able to really push the high vocal part of my range in the style of Rob Halford. So maybe I'll put some of that on the album." When asked who's going to produce the new CD, Heafy said, We've talked a little bit with Colin Richardson and Dave Fortman, who is incredible with vocals. I would love to treat the vocals on this album in the way Boston's first album or Queen's 'Night at the Opera' were treated — massively multi-layered. But the tones have to be massive also. We're also thinking of Nick Raskulinecz, but I haven't gotten to speak to him yet. Whoever we pick, there has to be excitement from both sides." Trivium's 'The Crusade' is tearing up stores shelves right now! www.trivium.org

THE CAVALERA CONSPIRACY!!!

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:08:33 +1100

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY: MAX & IGGOR REUNITE UNLEASH THE BEAST - FIRST ALBUM TOGETHER IN 10 YEARS INFLIKTED Due Out March 25th, 2008 on Roadrunner Records New York, NY: The sun shines in Metal as the two most influential brothers reunite after 10 years of silence. Max and Iggor Cavalera have formed the Cavalera Conspiracy and will release their first album INFLIKTED to the world March 25th, 2008 on Roadrunner Records. “Cavalera Conspiracy is about a sense of being unleashed,” says vocalist/guitarist Max Cavalera. “You bottle a monster for 10 years and then let it out. It’s explosive, and we waited a long time for this beast to be set free.” What all Sepultura fans have hoped and waited for finally happened on August 17th 2006 in Tempe Arizona. Max and Iggor, the Cavalera brothers, finally reunited. Soulfly played a show in memory of Dana Wells (D-Low), the stepson of Max and son of Gloria Cavalera, whose death changed the life of the family forever. However, this brought back the force of friendship and family when Iggor Cavalera stepped on stage, almost in secret. He joined the band in the drum jam and in continuation he took a seat behind the drums. With the first sounds of “Attitude” the crowd realized who was keeping time behind Max and the band. They went wild. “Once we hit the first note, it felt like a bomb had dropped on stage,” exclaims Iggor. “From that moment on, I knew we needed to do something together musically.” This amazingly phenomenal show will go down in every heavy metal encyclopedia as the historic moment when the brothers Cavalera joined forces again. “There was over 10 years of not seeing or talking to each other at all, which is a long ass time,” explains Max. That’s what made it more special when it did finally happen. Cavalera Conspiracy consists of Max Cavalera (vocals/rhythm guitar), Iggor Cavalera (drums/percussion), Marc Rizzo (lead/rhythm guitars), and Joe Duplantier (bass). INFLIKTED is the long-awaited moment providing Metal a new era with the Cavalera Brothers. In the veins of Sepultura with a twist, the band turns back to heavier and darker material giving their fans exactly what they have been waiting for. Max’s vocals explodes onto the 11 tracks of INFLIKTED joined with the pounding of Iggor’s drum beats, Marc Rizzo’s shred slicing guitar and Joe Duplantier thumping bass lines. “When I listen to the album, it sounds old school, but new in its own way,” explains Iggor. “It’s a mix of both worlds.” Recording took place this past July at Undercity Studios in Los Angeles, with Logan Mader (former Machine Head guitarist). Rex Brown (Pantera, Down) cameos on bass on Ultra-Violent, and Black Ark features a collaboration with Max, Joe and Richie Cavalera (Incite) all on vocals. Tours dates for the Cavalera Conspiracy to be announced in spring. INFLIKTED is currently scheduled for release via Roadrunner Records internationally on March 24th and in North America on March 25th. The tracklist for the album is as follows: 'Inflikted' 'Sanctuary' 'Terrorize' 'Black Ark' 'Ultra-Violent' 'Hex' 'The Doom Of All Fires' 'Bloodbrawl' 'Hearts Of Darkness' 'Nevertrust' 'Must Kill'' www.cavaleraconspiracy.com www.myspace.com/cavaleraconspiracy

New BLACK STONE CHERRY interview

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 23:44:18 +1100

Holland's FaceCulture spoke to Ben Wells and bassist Jon Lawhon from Kentucky's Black Stone Cherry prior to the band's concert at the Melkweg in Amsterdam. They spoke about their music, idols, songwriting and lots more. Watch the interview at this location. Roadrunner Records last year uploaded video footage of Black STone Cherry performing acoustically and being interviewed at Pub Anchor in Stockholm, Sweden. Check it out at this location. Black Stone Cherry's awesome self-titled album is in stores now! www.blackstonecherry.com

Audiophile SA's kickass AIRBOURNE review

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:55:45 +1100

Audiophile SA has posted an awesome review of Airbourne's upcoming album 'Runnin' Wild'. An extract from the review by Colin Windell reads: 'There is something extremely satisfying about listening to a band that insists on remaining true to rock and roll as an art form. Ted Nugent is quite special at this and has been quoted many times saying: “There is nothing between the guitar and the amp to fuck up the signal.” Airbourne are the same. Straightforward kickass rock with no trick effects, pretensions or overly complicated studio effects and their album Runnin’ Wild has just been released locally even though it first appeared in June of last year and has had three singles culled from the 11-track list.' Check out the full review here. Airbourne's killer Roadrunner debut, 'Runnin' Wild', will hit stores end of January so keep a look out! www.airbournerock.com

DIVINE HERESY wins Metalunderground.com's 'Best Newcomer Award'!

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:12:03 +1100

Metalunderground.com have given the award for 'Best Newcomer of 2007' to Divine Heresy! An extract from the website reads: Bands eligible for "Best Metal Newcomer of 2007" included bands who have released their first full length album or released their first album on a somewhat major metal label, or even have no formal release at all. This is a tough category to get consensus on, since we all have different tastes in metal and will hear of only relatively few new bands each year. However, when a new band with veteran musicians forms and make waves like these guys have, it makes the voting much easier. The clear winner was: Divine Heresy Check out the full list of winners here. So if you've been under a rock for the last 6 months and haven't checked Divine Heresy's face-melting debut album 'Bleed The Fifth', do yourself a huge favour and go check it out now! www.myspace.com/divineheresyband

New THEORY OF A DEADMAN track online

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:01:31 +1100

Good things come to those who wait. But in the meantime, while your anticipating Vancouver rockers Theory of a Deadman's new album, get a taste of what's to come by streaming "So Happy" here. The lyrics are already stuck in my head. See for yourself... www.theoryofadeadman.com www.myspace.com/theoryofadeadman www.youtube.com/theoryofadeadman

WITHIN TEMPTATION live photos posted online

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:12:24 +1100

Italian website DelRock.it published a new photo gallery of Within Temptation's January 11, 2008 concert near Milan, Italy. Check out the pictures at this location. Within Temptation guitarist Robert Westerholt is forced to sit out the band's current tour due to a recent "unfortunate accident" in which he severely bruised his right thumb, making it impossible for him to play guitar. Within Temptation's November 24, 2007 concert at the Beursgebouw in Eindhoven, Holland was filmed for an upcoming DVD, tentatively due next summer. The sold-out show at the 8,000-capacity venue included lots of special effects, an acoustic section, Broadway-style musical elements and guest appearances by Anneke van Giersbergen (Aqua De Annique, ex-The Gathering) and George Oosthoek (ex-Orphanage). An acoustic version of "What Have You Done", taken from the "special edition" version of Within Temptation's new album, "The Heart of Everything", is available for streaming at this location. Within Temptation was honored in the "Best-Selling Artist - Netherlands" category at the World Music Awards on November 4 in Monte Carlo. The World Music Awards (founded in 1989) is an international awards show that annually honors recording artists based on their worldwide sales figures, which are provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). As previously reported, Within Temptation will be joined by the Dutch Metropole Orchestra for a special concert at the Ahoy Stadium in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on February 7. Within Temptation's 'The Heart OF Everything' is in stires now. Check it out! www.within-temptation.com

Glenn comments on departure from MEGADETH

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:03:36 +1100

Guitarist Glenn Drover has delivered the following official statement to BW&BK in regards to his departure from Megadeth: "I am aware of the rumors that I left Megadeth to focus on family life. My family life has always been my priority. In the end, I was unhappy with the situation, which magnified me wanting to spend more time with my family and realizing that it’s time for me to move on to the next chapter in my musical career. First, I want to spend some good quality time here at home with my family for a little bit before getting into anything serious. Obviously, I have not spent the last several years of my life working hard to stop now. That would be insane, to put it mildly. This is what I do, and I am excited about what the future in music has in store for me. I would like to thank Dave (Mustaine) for giving me a great opportunity to be a part of Megadeth for the past 3 + years. To be a part of this band with my brother (drummer) Shawn (Drover) and tour the world, was awesome to say the least! I have a lot of great memories and met a ton of great people along the way, both fans and people in the industry. I am also very proud to have been a part of bringing Megadeth back to the forefront and firmly putting the band back on the map! Last but not least, I would like to thank all of the fans, the Megadeth road crew and all of my endorsements, as well as everyone who has supported me in making my time with Megadeth a very memorable experience! Glen Drover." As previously reported, Megadeth has officially welcomed new guitarist Chris Broderick (Nevermore, Jag Panzer). "I've noticed [on the Internet] that people are pissed with me over the way things were handled with Glen quitting the group," says Mustaine, "but they're gonna be pissed even more when they hear how fierce we are with Chris! Megadeth is playing at a new level." Broderick will make his live debut with Megadeth February 4th in Finland, where the group--guitarist/singer Mustaine, guitarist Broderick, drummer Shawn Drover and James Lomenzo on bass - is kicking off a long string of international dates which wrap March 14th in Bangalore, India.

KILL HANNAH sign to Roadrunner!

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:01:11 +1100

KILL HANNAH SIGN TO ROADRUNNER "They may have a sexually ambiguous nature like me. They may sing in a high nasal voice like me. But unlike me, they are the future of Chicago rock." - Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins Roadrunner Records are thrilled to announce the signing of Chicago alt rockers KILL HANNAH. Easily described as the bridge between The Killers, The Cure, Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance, their sound is at once familiar and refreshingly original, showing undeniable growth by taking chances in a world where most art is being played safe. Despite having no TV or radio play in the UK yet, the band have already headlined and sold out up to 1000 capacity venues on their recent tours here. You might also have caught them last year at the Give It A Name festival, or more recently as main support for the sold out UK tour with Finnish sensation HIM. www.myspace.com/killhannah

Catching up with TRIVIUM

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:14:58 +1100

Revolver magazine recently conducted an interview with Corey Beaulieu and Matt Heafy from Trivium about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the group's new album, tentatively due before the end of the year via Roadrunner Records. "We want to capture the best ingredients of everything we've done," Beaulieu said. "Each song has a little bit of everything, going between something heavy and then melodic, and then back to something heavy. So it has a really interesting balance. On 'The Crusade', Matt did almost all singing, so this time we're bringing back some of the screaming that's on 'Ascendancy'." "I'm also trying new things vocally," Heafy added. "Live, I've been able to really push the high vocal part of my range in the style of Rob Halford. So maybe I'll put some of that on the album." When asked who's going to produce the new CD, Heafy said, We've talked a little bit with Colin Richardson [Machine Head, Bullet For My Valentine, Napalm Death] and Dave Fortman [Mudvayne, Evanescence], who is incredible with vocals. I would love to treat the vocals on this album in the way BOSTON's first album or Queen's 'Night at the Opera' were treated — massively multi-layered. But the tones have to be massive also. We're also thinking of Nick Raskulinecz [Foo Fighters, Rush, Velvet Revolver, Shadows Fall, Stone Sour], but I haven't gotten to speak to him yet. Whoever we pick, there has to be excitement from both sides." Trivium's 'The Crusade' is tearing up stores shelves right now! www.trivium.org

Max on the CAVALERA CONSPIRACY

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:05:34 +1100

“The Cavalera Conspiracy, is about a sense of being unleashed,” says vocalist/guitarist Max Cavalera (Soulfly, ex-Sepultura). “You bottle a monster for ten years and then let it out. It’s explosive, and we waited a long time for this beast to be set free.” It’s true. The wait is over. And the time is now. Many said it would never happen, that Max and Iggor Cavalera (new spelling of his first name), the Brazilian brothers and visionaries that formed the groundbreaking metal band Sepultura in 1983 would reunite to make electrifying music together again. Despite having spent 12 years apart, the inescapable fact remains: Max and Iggor share blood and are musical soulmates. Their time away from each other fostered musical growth leading to the newly inspired metallic magic. Hence, the Cavalera Conspiracy was born. While the Cavalera Conspiracy and their Roadrunner Records debut Inflikted may seem like the closest we’ll get to a Sepultura reunion, make no mistake. The Cavalera Conspiracy is its own maniacal, untamable beast with its own set of rules. Iggor sums up their musical connection, simply stating, “We don’t need to speak. We look at each other and we know. With one look, we know if we’re going in the right direction.” That’s how clearly they understand one another. Max continues, “There was over ten years of not seeing or talking to each other at all, which is a long ass time. That’s what made it more special when it did finally happen. While we were working together, I was thinking about how the last time I saw him, I was on a tour bus, after my last show with Sepultura at the Brixton Academy. Fast forward and I’m picking him up at the airport in Phoenix. It was heavy and emotional. Obviously, all those feelings, along with years of musical history, came flooding back, and once the personal relationship was restored, the musical one began to take shape. The first seeds of the Max/Iggor reunion were planted when the duo played together at the Dana Tribute show, an annual benefit played for Max’s slain stepson. “I was playing with Iggor at a show that was so meaningful,” Max admits. “We got to play ‘Roots’ and ‘Attitude,’ which is a song I wrote with Dana. From that point on, I couldn’t help myself. I knew I wanted to record with him again. I had not done a ‘project’ since Nailbomb, which was a long time ago. Iggor loved the idea. With no name, I just wrote songs all day long. We had to find musicians, and set the mood so we could just write a kick ass record.” Iggor has similar fond memories of that show and that feeling, “Once we hit the first note, it felt like a bomb had dropped on stage. From that moment on, I knew we needed to do something together musically.” Iggor continues, “We reunited as a family first. Naturally, music came next. At first, we had no idea we would do music again. I have my own new project, and that takes so much of my time. I had no plans at all of going back and doing a metal project. But at the same time, it was natural to play again with Max.” Max compares the situation to The Godfather Part III, exclaiming, “Just when Al Pacino thought he was out, his family pulled him right back into the shit again! That’s what I did: I pulled him right back.” The brothers recruited Gojira guitarist Joe Duplantier to play bass. Guitarist Marc Rizzo, who plays guitar in Max’s main band Soulfly, was enlisted to play guitar. The duo purposely chose more up and coming musicians, because they didn’t want to detract from the music. “We didn’t want big names,” Max says. “It was about me and Iggor finding ourselves. This is about the music. We found cool musicians without pretension, who wanted to go into the studio and just kick ass.”' Once recording commenced, Max brought a bunch of songs he had written. Album opener 'Inflikted' is an urgent, thrashy anthem designed for the most riotous moshpits, while 'Sanctuary' has a classic Beneath The Remains-era Sepultura vibe. Max says, “I brought the tracks to the studio without the fury. Iggor put his ‘thunder drums’ on top of it and it became something else!” Although Iggor exited Sepultura and is working on his electronic music project, that familiar feeling coursed through his veins when he sat down to track drums. “We had no pressure on our backs. The most important thing is that we were happy in the studio; we worked a lot and it was a blast. That translates into the music,” Iggor says. By the time the record was finished, Max knew that they had recaptured the magic. “My brother makes the drums sound like thunder like no one else. Not many musicians can grab a kit and change the sound and personality of the drums, but he can. It’s fucking scary.” While the Soulfly and Sepultura comparisons will undoubtedly – natch - arise, both brothers contend that the Cavalera Conspiracy is different because their tastes and influences have grown over the years. There’s less of a world vibe on Inflikted, but it’s every bit as dangerous, thanks to its “fuck the world” attitude. “Why do I get goosebumps when listening to this? I don’t want to know,” says Max. According to Iggor, Inflikted’s balance of the old and the new is what he loves about it and he thinks metalheads across the globe will share the same notion. “When I listen to the album, it sounds old school, but new in its own way,” he says. “It’s a mix of both worlds. We both listened to so much different music during the time apart. Here, we each had our own input, so it came out different than back in the day.” Summing up their personal chemistry, which is palpable on the booming 'Ultra-Violent', 'Bloodbrawl', and the uber thrash attack 'Terrorize', Max says, “I’m crazy. I used to drink. I talk. He is quiet. He has never drank before. It’s this weird combo that becomes lethal together. You either like it or hate it, but you can’t ignore it. We’re like a bomb.” Inflikted is currently scheduled for release via Roadrunner Records internationally on March 24th and in North America on March 25th. The tracklist for the album is as follows: 'Inflikted', 'Sanctuary', 'Terrorize', 'Dark Ark', 'Ultra-Violent', 'Hex', 'The Doom Of All Fires', 'Bloodbrawl', 'Hearts Of Darkness', 'Nevertrust', 'Must Kill'.

Audiophile SA review NICKELBACK's 'The Ultimate Video Collection'

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:49:55 +1100

Audiophile SA, South Africa's own authentic online music community, has posted a cool review of Nickelback's 'The Ultimate Video Collection'. An extract of the review by Walt Pretorius reads: 'Nickelback deliver awesome live performances, as can be seen in a number of the 12 videos in this collection. Other videos (the story-type ones) are of the highest quality. This DVD is a must have for fans of this Canadian rock act.' Check out the full reveiw here and while you're there, have a browse around the site at all the other killer Roadrunner Records reviews. Nickelback's 'The Ultimate Video Collection' is in stores now! www.nickelback.com

Thunda.com's ATREYU review

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:37:59 +1100

Thunda.com recently posted a cool review of Atreyu's 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor'. An extract from the review by Andre van Assche reads: 'Atreyu broke onto the metalcore scene in 2002 with 'Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses', an album featuring heavy riffs with loads of screaming emo-core vocals. 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor' sees vocalist Alex Varkatzas dropping the gut wrenching scream, and opting for more clean melodic vocals and catchy anthemic choruses with drummer and vocalist Brandon Saller. The music moves towards more of an 80's metal sound, full of shredding guitar solos courtesy of kick-ass guitarist Dan Jacobs, and loads of gang vocals.' Check out the full review here. Atreyu's 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor' is in stores now! And don't forget to check out the video for the blasting track 'Doomsday' here in our media section. www.atreyurock.com

A DREAM THEATER extravaganza!

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:01:44 +1100

Dream Theater drummer, Mike Portnoy talks with Laestadea.com about what an honor it is to be considered one of the best progressive rock drummers of all time and how he feels like he was born with a natural talent and drive for drumming. He also discusses being into thrash, speed, and death metal and what it is like to tour for long periods of time, while all 5 of the members have wives and children back home. Check out Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the video interview here. www.dreamtheater.net www.myspace.com/dreamtheater www.youtube.com/dreamtheater

Yebo TV interview THE CULT's Billy Duffy

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:55:49 +1100

Dale from Yebo TV sat down for a chat with Billy Duffy of The Cult. They spoke about things such as how the band wrote for the album, the success of the band, what inspired him to be a guitarist, and much more. You can view the video of the full length interview by clicking here. Can I get a woot woot? The Cult's rocking 'Born Into This' is in stores now! www.thecult.us

Get your free TRIVIUM calendar!

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:17:42 +1100

With 2008 now a reality, what better time than to download your free Trivium calendar? It's a PDF file and approx 3MB. Get it here. www.trivium.org

KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES get Blog-Tastic!

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:15:23 +1100

Over the ole festive season, KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES used their lil bit of down-time to update their fans on how things are in the land of KIGH (erm...Wales?!). Amongst the many tit-bits there, they finished the tour with Funeral For A Friend (and it was 'life affirming'), Catwoman was watched (and it 'sucks', apparently), toffees in Roses are not their faves in the tin and they're about to film their first ever video (true dat- it will be for 'Easy Tiger' which will be released as a single in February. Not so true- the Star Trek cast are gonna appear in it). It will be filmed in London on the 7th and 8th of January. Anyway, you should check out their MYSPACE BLOG to read the full xmas updates, and if you are unfamiliar with their work, check out the demos on their page. Rad with a capital 'R' folks! In other news, the guys feature in this weeks Kerrang! magazine talking about signing to some record label called Roadrunner (check it out- it's on shelves now!) and they are currently back in the studio recording some juicy b-sides. Watch this space for news on the vid shoot and the title of their debut album, which is to be announced shortly...

The Gauntlet's awesome DEVILDRIVER photos!

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:30:40 +1100

Photographer Kristy Lingman from The Gauntlet shot DevilDriver on December 15 at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, CA. Check out the photo gallery here. Also Dez was top voted for Male vocalist of 2007 along with a ton of other RR artists, take a look at the Gauntlet end of year Poll results here. www.devildriver.com www.myspace.com/devildriver www.youtube.com/devildrivertube

Video interview with DREAM THEATER's Mike Portnoy

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:25:43 +1100

Spanish webzine Laestadea conducted an interview with Dream theater drummer Mike Portnoy when the band visited Spain in early November. Watch the first part of the chat here. Dream Theater's new anime-themed video, "Forsaken", will premiere in early 2008. To whet the fans' appetites, Roadrunner Records is offering a peek at the video's main characters at this location (that's Leo on the left and Alice on the right). Dream Theater's 'Systematic Chaos' is in stores now! www.dreamtheater.net

Metalunderground.com's DIVINE HERESY review

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 16:52:07 +1100

Metalunderground.com posted this awesome review of Divine Heresy's brutal debut album 'Bleed The Fifth'. An extract from the reveiw reads: 'Dino Cazeres' (ex-Fear Factory, Brujeria) latest project stormed the scene late this summer with their debut album, "Bleed The Fifth." The effort's sound both surprises listeners and offers some of what is expected from Cazeres. The band's influences are well represented on the opening and title track, "Bleed The Fifth," where we hear primarily a new-school take on melodic death-metal similar to early Killswitch Engage, but heavier. Blended into that sound is a classic death-metal guitar, also complimenting the fast drumming and blast beats primarily during speed bursts and during the non-chorus verses, as well as Fear Factory-style guitar stops. With drummer Tim Yeung (Hate Eternal, Vital Remains) on board, the drumming is extreme, using blast beats from the start and sporadically throughout the song, and generally driving the music to faster speeds. By the end of the song there is a Pantera-sounding riff, an influence that can be heard throughout the album as well. With a number of change-ups and a somewhat accessible but generally extreme sound, "Bleed the Fifth" is a great opener for the album.' Read the full reveiw here. Divine Heresy's blistering 'Bleed The Fifth' is ready to tear your sound system apart now! www.myspace.com/divineheresyband.com

OPETH's Mikael Åkerfeldt on upcoming album

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 16:44:50 +1100

Patrick Douglas of the Great Falls Tribune recently conducted an interview with Opeth mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt regarding the status of the 2008 slated Opeth album. "I just listened to Fredrik's [Åkesson, ex-Arch Enemy/Talisman and current Opeth guitarist] guitar solos. We've done four guitar solos for this album so far. Just 10 minutes before you called, I listened to the finished versions (and) I almost started crying. He's just amazing. In comparison to him, I'm just a nobody. I'm just blown away by him. I love his style." "From my point of view, I think it's the best album we have ever done. At the time I recorded ('Ghost Reveries') I felt the same as I do now about this album. The people I've played the demos to are like 'wow, this is really something special.' (But), it's not up to me to say." On Opeth's mass appeal — or lack thereof: "I think our music is a bit too complex to appeal to a wider crowd. That's the way we like it and that's the way we're gonna continue. I wouldn't mind ... if everybody in the world loved it. But, the bigger crowds seem to enjoy elevator music. Music that you don't have to listen to." Read more at the Great Falls Tribune. If you want a mind blowing experience and haven't checked out Opeth's Special Edition of 'Ghost Reveries' yet... Where have you been for the last 2 years?! Do it now! www.opeth.com

DEVILDRIVER frontman talks about downloading

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 05:59:52 +1100

Metal Injection recently conducted a joint interview with the vocalists of three of the biggest bands in underground metal today, Lamb Of God's Randy Blythe, Soilwork's Björn "Speed" Strid and Devildriver's Dez Fafara. One of the topics brought up during the discussion is a hot topic in the music industry, and that is illegal music downloading. An excerpt from the chat follows: Dez: It's gonna kill underground art. It's not gonna hurt Britney Spears and other people like that, but it's going to make the poet, the painter, the underground musician not be able to do his gig full-time, and if he can't do his gig full-time, he can't give you the art that's full-on. Gold records used to be gold records. Now they're telling you if you sell 100,000 copies that's like a gold record, so what we all say is well, where's the plaque? Change the industry standard, I want the plaque. Why are we not coming together as artists and suing iTunes and iPod? When you invent iTunes, it's supposed to accept something that was paid for, and the only way it can go from iTunes and the only way it can go onto iPod is that it was paid for so the iPod accepts it. But you know, right now, you can download illegal songs that go straight into your iTunes and iPod. So the fact that his device allows something like that, you can't go against the hugest guy in the world, but if every artist came together and just said, 'No more! You made the unit and the unit was only supposed to accept legally downloaded song and it's not, so you're the one fucking the artist. You pay everybody all the royalties that you owe from The Beatles on down." The subject of illegal music downloading, as well as other topics, are discussed in a 12-minute video interview, available on the Metal Injection video-on-demand page here. Devildriver's heavy-as-hell album 'The Last Kind Words' is in stores now! Check it out! www.devildriver.com

TRIVIUM video footage from French promo trip

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:38:33 +1100

Our friends over at Roadrunner Records France have posted video footage of Trivium making a promotional trip to France in support of the group's third studio album, 'The Crusade'. The three-minute clip features the guys in a French restaurant, taking part in a photo shoot, and wrapping up with a performance. Watch it here. Trivium will spend the first few months of 2008 writing and recording its new album for a late 2008 release via Roadrunner Records. While we all wait in anticipation for more blistering metal from the guys, go check out their latest offering, 'The Crusade', in stores right now! www.trivium.org

DREAM THEATER's Mike Portnoy's Top 10 of 2007

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:29:01 +1100

Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy has issued a Best Of 2007 wrap-up featuring his favourite albums, movies and TV series' of the year. His album Best Of (in no particular order) is as follows: 1. Between The Buried And Me - Colors 2. Machine Head - The Blackening 3. Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet 4. Beardfish - Sleeping In Traffic: Part One 5. The Dear Hunter - Act II: The Meaning Of And All Things Regarding Ms. Leading 6. Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - In Glorious Times 7. Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works 8. Blotted Science - The Machinations Of Dementia 9. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace 10. Oceansize - Frames 'I thought 2007 was really a particularly great year for music, so my year-end list would be incomplete without acknowledging a few other excellent honorable mentions as well:' 11. Symphony X - Paradise Lost 12. Pain Of Salvation - Scarsick 13. Riverside - Rapid Eye Movement 14. 3 - The End Is Begun 15. Down - Over The Under 16. Baroness - The Red Album 17. Overkill - Immortalis 18. Megadeth - United Abominations 19. Rush - Snakes And Arrows 20. Thought Chamber - Angular Perceptions 'And finally, two amazing late discoveries from 2006:--- Unexpect - In A Flesh Aquarium--- And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - So Divided' 'And of course:--- Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos--- Neal Morse - Sola Scriptura' MP's Fav Films of 2007 (in no particular order) 1. No Country For Old Men 2. Taxidermia 3. The Lives Of Others 4. Across The Universe 5. Eastern Promises 6. Grindhouse 7. Cassandra's Dream 8. 9. 10. 'These last spots are reserved for the many end of year films of 2007 that I am still waiting to catch......(most notable on my must-see lists: There Will Be Blood and I'm Not There)' 'I thought in general 2007 was a pretty lousy year for films and that some of the best writing, direction and performances took place on the small screen. So I felt the need to now include this list to my year-end wrapup:' MP's Fav TV of 2007 (in no particular order) 1. Lost 2 The Sopranos 3. Brotherhood 4. Rescue Me 5. Tell Me You Love Me 6. Dexter 7. The Shield 8. Heroes 9. The Office 10. Curb Your Enthusiasm 11. Extras 12. The Flight Of The Conchords To check out other Roadrunner artists and staff's top 10's of 2007, click here. Take a look out in stores for Dream Theater's brilliant 'Systematic Chaos' right now! www.dreamtheater.net

New video interview with SHADOWS FALL's Brian Fair

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:18:07 +1100

Casey Ryback from Finland's Get in the Pit TV conducted an interview with vocalist Brian Fair from Shadows Fall prior to the band's December 14, 2007 concert in Helsinki. Watch Brian talk about the tour and how to hydrate yourself! The eight-minute clip can be viewed here. Shadows Fall recently received a Grammy nomination in the "Best Metal Performance" category, alongside Roadrunner labelmates Machine Head, for 'Redemption, the first single from the band's newest release, 'Threads of Life'. This marks Shadows Fall's second Grammy nomination in the category, following the group's nod at the 2006 awards for 'What Drives The Weak' off their release 'The War Within'. Check out Shadows Fall's 'Threads Of Life' in stores now! www.shadowsfall.com

WITHIN TEMPTATION wish all a Merry Christmas

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 02:01:22 +1100

Sharon and the rest of the guys from Within Temptation wanted to wish all their fans a Merry Christmas and thanks for an amazing 2007! This post is taken from their official website: 'Dear fans, With this year coming to an end, we wanted to let you know that 2007 has been an amazing year for us! We released The Heart Of Everything and recorded videos that we still love a lot. We met many fans in countries we visited before and also a lot of new fans in countries we didn't visit yet! Anywhere from our European Tour in March and April, the various festivals during the summer, our Japan Tour in July, our US/Canada tours in May/June and September, our shows in Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland in October, winning all kinds of Awards, our UK tour and our Eindhoven show, there are just too many memories to write them all in one message. Visiting new countries has been very exciting for us, but being able to come back to all those countries we hadn't visited in a while was just as exciting, it was great seeing all of you again. Of course, we haven't been able to visit ALL of you out there, but since there are only 365 days in a year, of which we played 120 and travelled about the same amount of days, you'll hopefully understand! ;-) However, we can announce a few new shows, some which we announced a little while back, but are already selling out pretty fast. We will be visiting numerous countries on the summer festivals, but first Russia in February, Spain in March and .....(drumroll)....South America in April! We will be updating you soon with all the details. Right now, we're taking a short break, catching up with friends and families and getting ready for our shows in January and February. We want to wish all of you a very happy Christmas and an amazing New Year and hopefully we will see you all soon! Best wishes, Sharon, Robert, Jeroen, Stephen, Ruud en Martijn.' Within Temptation's haunting album, 'The Heart Of Everything', is in stores now and ready to rock your stereo! www.within-temptation.com

Thrashpit.com interview DOWN's Rex Brown

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:02:57 +1100

Mark Hensch of Thrashpit.com recently conducted an interview with Down bassist Rex Brown. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow: Thrashpit: Moving on to more personal topics, you replaced Crowbar's Todd Strange as Down's bassist. What initially attracted you to Down and why have you been able to come back to it so sporadically over the years? Rex: Originally, we had some free time in-between Pantera and everyone was home. Phil (Anselmo, vocalist of both Pantera and Down) was going to a party somewhere and asked if I wanted to go. I was like "sure, I'll go." So a bunch of us went down there and we all just sat there and kinda started jamming. It was going well, so Phil asked if I'd join the band and I said "why the f*ck not?" Everything gelled very fast and after that we wrote about six songs in a day. It was very cool. For now, we basically know that we make badass f*cking records together, so it is basically just us getting in a room and jamming. We take our time getting together and making everything strong. Thrashpit: Down often is credited with helping popularize a style of heavy metal that is distinctly "Southern." In my opinion, such a term stems from the fact that there is a large blues influence on Down's music. How do you think the traditional blues style has influenced heavy metal today? Rex: If you play the radio non-stop you'll hear the influence of rhythm and blues, jazz, all of it, everywhere. That's definitely the sound of the South. I would call our sound just taking elements of where we come from and making it something new. We're from the South and we play f*cking DOWN. There are a lot of bands who want to be in our little shoes, but pretty much we still tap into where we come from more than anything else. With this band I feel really comfortable in the style of music we play. Thrashpit: Another vital aspect to the Down touring experience is the large video package that is typically presented during the show. Having not seen the new video for the latest tour, what can you say about it? Rex: If you come to a concert with Down, we want it to be an evening with Down instead of seeing some band you've never heard of before. What we do is we run this set of clips of old artists, just real killer footage. It can be anybody that influenced us or we're really big on — classic rock kinda sh*t. Throughout it all, these clips have been interspersed with us. It just builds up to the very end, and then the curtain comes down, and we start playing. It is something we keep kinda sacred, as you're getting that evening with Down. If someone is going to pay to see an artist we're going to go right to the main event! Some people get it, some don't. Whatever man, that's just the part of the show. Thrashpit: You are a bassist who has toured the world extensively and done many things most people never get to do in a lifetime. Looking back on all you've accomplished so far, what would you say has been your greatest achievement? Rex: I wouldn't change any of it. We've worked our asses off to get to where we are and what we've done. I wouldn't change a thing except for the tragic loss of Dime ("Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, the guitarist of Pantera who was shot and killed by a deranged fan) and that's it. Just getting to be at the level we were at was hard work. We made it somehow though, amazingly. Being in a band like DOWN is kind of like that — we're just starting over. We could go out and play f*cking gospel music if we wanted, as now that we're cleaned up there's no limit to this band, you know what I'm saying? What I don't wanna do is pitch ourselves as an all-metal band, because that is not what DOWN is all about. My greatest achievement then is everything I got to do with Pantera, and NOW getting to do it again with Down. That doesn't happen very often. Thrashpit: One last question. Where do you see Down heading in the next couple years? Rex: I got a ton of shit coming up, some related to Down, some not. With Down, we're still going. We aren't going to take any big breaks or anything. Just getting this record together took a while as we all wanted to make the best thing possible and now we have to tour behind it. We have Europe left to go to and we have some shows to do in January and February. We just want to tour a lot and get this to as many people as we can. We will have some news for summer time so we have to get this touring cycle out of our systems, take a small break, and then get back to work. Read the entire interview at this location. Down's monstrous album 'III - Over The Under' is tearing it up in stores now! Go check it out! www.down-nola.com

PORCUPINE TREE nominated for Grammy!

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 02:01:14 +1100

Porcupine Tree have been nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award in the category 'Best Surround Sound Album'! Also nominated for a Grammy are Nickelback in the 'Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals' for the hit-single "If Everyone Cared" and Machine Head in the 'Best Metal Performance' category for their blistering track "Aesthetics of Hate". To check out the full list of Grammy nominees, click here! To hear for yourself why 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' has been nominated and what a masterpiece it is, run to your nearest music store and check it out now! www.porcupinetree.com

10 Minutes with TRIVIUM's Matt Heafy

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:01:04 +1100

Rockster.tv conducted an interview with Trivium frontman Matt Heafy prior to the band's December 1, 2007 show in Cologne, Germany. Watch the 10-minute clip — which includes performance footage from the Cologne concert — at this location. Watch the interview right here! Trivium's latest thrashing offering 'The Crusade' is in stores now! www.trivium.org

Headshotsa's brilliant PORCUPINE TREE review

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:57:06 +1100

South Africa's leading gaming website, HeadshotSA has posted an awesome review of Porcupine Tree's brilliant album 'Fear Of A Blank Planet'. An extract of the review by Jay Pienaar reads: 'Fear of a Blank Planet is a highly recommended album, especially to prog fans. It is one of those experiences that is difficult to define but should not disappoint in the end. Porcupine Tree is a talented band indeed, but it's just sad that they're not more well known in South Africa, considering their long history - I only heard of them a couple of months ago and most knowledgeable music fans I've spoken to have no idea who they are. Check Fear of a Blank Planet out – it is a great album from a very talented band.' Read the full reveiw here! 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' is in stores now! www.porcupinetree.com

New DEVILDRIVER video interview available

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:27:02 +1100

Buckshot of the newest social networking web site called Woozyfly.com conducted an interview with Devildriver when the band was in New York City playing at the Hammerstein Ballroom with Lamb Of God. Watch the footage at Buckshot's Bonanza here! Devildriver's blistering heavy album 'The Last Kind Words' is in stores now! www.devildriver.com

Corey Taylor to perform on new Walls Of Jericho EP

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:43:13 +1100

Detroit's Walls Of Jericho is wrapping up work on its new EP, to be released in March 2008 on Trustkill. Produced by Slipknot/Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor at his Iowa home studio, the CD will be included with Walls Of Jericho's "Live in South America" DVD, which was filmed this past August. In addition to frontwoman Candace Kucsulain's singing voice, heretofore only glimpsed in rare moments on Walls Of Jericho's albums, the upcoming release will feature acoustic instruments, fleshed out arrangements, and Taylor's voice on several songs. Taylor met Walls Of Jericho when the band shared the stage with Stone Sour on The Family Values Tour. He previously said in a statement, "I love this band, and the fact that their trust in me makes me incredibly grateful. I'm so excited to do this — it's going to be amazing!!! I've never produced anything like this before, so I'm going a little crazy. I can't wait."

MACHINE HEAD tears up the Kerrang! Reader's Poll 2007

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:38:32 +1100

Kerrang! Readers Poll 2007 Roadrunner Highlights: The Black Crusade Tour was voted Best Thing about 2007 Machine Head's The Blackening was voted album of the year Machine Head's Robb Flynn was voted Hero of the Year Machine Head was voted Best Live Band Click here to check it out!

Roadrunner atrists and staff pick their Top 10 of 2007!

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:11:06 +1100

Roadrunner Records recording artists and staff pick their top 10 releases for 2007. Look at the what everyone is listening to at this location.

Awesome MEGADETH video interview!

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:08:25 +1100

FaceCulture.nl spoke to Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine in June of 2007. Dave talks about the first songs he ever played: David Bowie, KISS, Led Zepplin; 'A Toute Le Monde' being banned twice, playing live, his setlist, disbanding the band in 2002, United Abominations and lots more. For those who may have missed this interview, check it out here. Megadeth's 'United Abominations' is thrashing it up in stores now! www.megadeth.com

Roadrunner signs KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:20:35 +1100

KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES JOIN THE ROADRUNNER RECORDS FAMILY KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES is: ALED PHILLIPS (vocals) / JOEL FISHER (guitar) / IAIN MAHANTY (guitar) / ANDREW SHAY (bass) / PHILIP JENKINS (drums) Cardiff based quintet Kids In Glass Houses, one of the hottest unsigned bands the UK had to offer in 2007, will end the year with a record deal to their name. The hook-laden rockers signed with Roadrunner Records on Saturday evening, just hours before taking to the stage to begin their current UK tour supporting Funeral For A Friend. The band recently completed the recording of their forthcoming debut album with producer Romesh Dodangoda (Funeral For A Friend, Bullet For My Valentine, The Blackout), which will see a release on the label in the Spring. It’s just over a year since the then unknown five-piece burst onto the UK’s underground circuit, armed with a humorously titled, five track demo outing, ‘E-Pocalypse’. Praise for the now out-of-print effort, also produced by Dodangoda, came from a plethora of well respected figures within the rock media, including writers at Kerrang! Magazine, as well as Daniel P Carter and Zane Lowe at BBC Radio 1. The aforementioned backing helped the band secure their first major support slots alongside Lostprophets and Cute Is What We Aim For. The early stages of 2007 saw the band declared as one of ‘The 10 Hottest New Bands On The Planet’ by Kerrang! magazine, record a Maida Vale session for the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show, as well as tours supporting the likes of Hundred Reasons and 30 Seconds To Mars. The group then also became the first unsigned band to headline Klub Kerrang! at London’s Koko venue. By the time June had come to a close, the band were fresh off their first headline tour of the UK, with the majority of dates having sold-out in advance. The tour was preceded by backing up their seemingly ever-present hype machine, with impressive performances at the Give It A Name, The Full Ponty, Download and Hyde Park Calling festivals. Further touring, combined with the groups relentless work ethic, was rewarded in early August, when the band were announced as nominee’s for the ‘Best British Newcomer’ category at the Kerrang! Awards. Despite losing out to Gallows, the band proved they were more than worthy of their nomination with sensational performances at the Carling Weekend in Reading and Leeds to capacity Carling Stage tents. As a result, the NME ranked the band at number 3 in their ’10 Best New Bands’ at the festival report. After taking the majority of September off, in order to complete the writing process for their debut full-length, the band re-emerged in October for another headline tour. This time culminating in a Halloween show at London’s Islington Academy. Never ones to do things by halves, the band opened their set with a cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, with the band sporting zombie makeup and attire. But it was frontman Aled who drew the most attention, dressed exactly as Jackson appears in the now classic accompanying music video. The incredible and inspiring journey the band has undertaken, is made even more impressive when you consider that the band have only officially released one very limited edition single, limited to just 500 signed and numbered vinyls. 2008 will no doubt see the band catapult further into the spotlight with an albums worth of their infectious brand of rock, bursting at the seams with pop sensibilities. Roadrunner Records MD for the UK, Mark Palmer, says: “We’re very excited to welcome Kids In Glass Houses to the Roadrunner family. We have been watching the band closely for well over a year now and have seen them develop into amazing live performers with incredible songs. They will be a massive priority for Roadrunner in 2008.” KIGH vocalist, Aled Phillips, says: “We couldn’t be happier signing with Roadrunner Records. Everyone at the company gets and loves what we’re doing and what we hope to achieve, and that’s the most important thing. It’s been a long process, but we definitely feel we’ve made the best decision and feel totally at home. We can’t wait to get the record out!” To listen to Roadrunner's latest addition to the family, head on over to their myspace page! www.myspace.com/kidsinglasshouses

Roadrunner Records 2008 Grammy nominees!!!

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:38:35 +1100

Roadrunner Records is proud to announce 2008 Grammy Awards nominations for two of its marquee artists. Multi-platinum rockers Nickelback have been nominated in the category of Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "If Everyone Cared" from the seven-times platinum album All The Right Reasons, in company with Daughtry, Green Day, U2 and The White Stripes. Thrash pioneers Machine Head land their first-ever Grammy nomination for the track "Aesthetics of Hate" from 2007's critically acclaimed album The Blackening in the category of Best Metal Performance. Other nominees are As I Lay Dying, King Diamond, Shadows Fall and Slayer. All proceeds from the digital single and video sales of "If Everyone Cared" between February 1 and July 31, 2007 were donated to charity, equally distributed between Amnesty International and International Childrens' Awareness Canada. Over 800,000 digital singles and 25,000 digital videos were sold during the six-month period of the humanitarian campaign. The track also reached #1 on the Hot AC chart and Top 10 at Pop. Nickelback's Mike Kroeger comments, "We are thrilled to receive a Grammy nomination, especially for ‘If Everyone Cared.' This song means a lot to the band. It carries a strong message that we feel very passionate about, and we are glad that has been recognized." This marks the first Grammy nomination for Bay-area thrash legends Machine Head."Aesthetics of Hate," an homage to the late "Dimebag" Darrell of Pantera and Damageplan is the focus track from Machine Head's 2007 opus, The Blackening which Revolver Magazine predicts "... may prove to be this generation's ...And Justice for All." The Blackening was the #1 most spun album of 2007 at FMQB's Metal Detector radio chart, among other accolades. Frontman Robb Flynn said from tour in Europe that the band is, "...completely blown away and honored by this! It's a great time for metal in the good ol' U-S-of-A right now, and Machine Head are stoked to be leading the charge!"

The Gauntlet interview MACHINE HEAD

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:36:45 +1100

The Gauntlet spoke with Robb Flynn of Machine Head via phone, he gave them the inside scoop behind the bands latest masterpiece, The Blackening in addition to shedding some light on the happenings on the Black Tyranny tour, the band's co-headlining jaunt with Arch Enemy and the plans for the remainder of 2007 going into 2008. Check the interview out here. www.machinehead1.com www.myspace.com/machinehead www.youtube.com/machinehead

Thunda.com's awesome PORCUPINE TREE review

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:28:22 +1100

Thunda.com, South Africa's leading social photography and lifestyle site, has posted an awesome review of Porcupine Tree's 'Fear Of A Blank Planet'! An extract of the review reads: 'In a nutshell Porcupine Tree are intriguing, the genuine article in the independent music sphere. I can’t wait to hear what they'll pull out of the hat next.' To read the full review, click here! Porcupine Tree's masterpiece, 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' is in stores now! www.porcupinetree.com

Tom-X review DOWN

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:21:32 +1100

Tom-X have posted a cool review of Down's latest brutal offering 'Over The Under'. An extract from the review reads: 'If you’ve ever yearned for the days of metal when Black Sabbath and the like were making their names, do not be despondent. A great many bands have taken homage to these “golden years” of metal and continue to keep the hearts and minds of die hard fans content.' Check out the full review here! Down's 'Over The Under' is tearing up stores shelves now! www.down-nola.com

CRADLE OF FILTH Special Edition details

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:29:45 +1100

A posting from the COF site reads, “(The) band has now returned home to start writing for a new record over the dark months in the rehearsal room. The new album, which is not yet titled, will be released some time in 2008 via Roadrunner Records." The end of January will see the release of "Thornography Deluxe – Harder, Darker, Faster". In addition to the album's original 12 tracks, the deluxe edition features new artwork, six new songs, live material and videos ("The Foetus Of A New Day Kicking", "Tonight In Flames" and "Temptation"). Most of the new songs featured on "Thornography Deluxe – Harder, Darker, Faster" were written during the "Thornography" sessions but were completed at a later date. "Thornography Deluxe – Harder, Darker, Faster" track listing: 01. Under Pregnant Skies She Comes Alive Like Miss Leviathan 02. Dirge Inferno 03. Tonight In Flames 04. Libertina Grimm 05. The Byronic Man 06. I Am The Thorn 07. Cemetery And Sundown 08. Lovesick For Mina 09. The Foetus Of A New Day Kicking 10. Rise Of The Pentagram 11. Under Huntress Moon 12. Temptation 13. Murder In The Thirst 14. In The Snake-Eyed And Venomous 15. Halloween II (MISFITS cover) (remix) 16. Courting Baphomet 17. Stay (SHAKESPEARS SISTER cover) 18. Devil To The Metal 19. The Making Of The Video for 'The Foetus Of A New Day Kicking www.cradleoffilth.com

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE wins 2 Boston Music Awards!

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:08:35 +1100

2007 has proven to be a sweet year for metal maestros Killswitch Engage. After headlining The Vans Warped Tour, getting awarded a Gold RIAA certification for 2004's The End of Heartache, and seeing "Holy Diver" crash into the Top 10 on the Active Rock charts, KsE kicked off December with two climactic wins at the Boston Music Awards. The band procured not only Outstanding Metal/Hardcore Band of the Year, but also took home Act of the Year, one of the biggest awards of the night. Since the band is currently on a co-headlining tour with Lamb of God, they could not physically attend the ceremony, but did send a rhapsodic video acceptance speech from the road. Proving metalheads have hearts, too, they showed their gratification by donating an autographed guitar to be auctioned off for the benefit of the Music Drives Us Foundation, which helps keep music in the lives of unfortunate children. www.killswitchengage.com/ www.myspace.com/killswitchengage www.youtube.com/killswitchengage

DREAM THEATER to release Anime video early 2008

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:02:35 +1100

Dream Theater and Roadrunner Records are ecstatic to announce that the band's new video, "Forsaken," will premiere in early 2008. We think this anime-themed video will be the best from Dream Theater. Period. To whet your appetite, we're giving you a peek at the videos' main characters right here! That's Leo on the left and Alice on the right. You'll learn more about them over the coming weeks... 'Forsaken' is taken off Dream Theater's epic 'Systematic Chaos' which is in stores now! www.dreamtheater.net

Audio interview with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's Howard Jones

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:30:37 +1100

Cara Carriveau of the Chicago Music Guide recently conducted an interview with Killswitch Engage frontman Howard Jones. Download the five-minute chat as an MP3 audio file at this location (7 MB). Killswitch Engage bassist Mike D'Antonio recently told Billboard.com that his group is unlikely to release a new studio album before 2009. "We are considering starting an album at the end of next year at this point," D'Antonio said. "We're not gonna stop touring on this record ('As Daylight Dies') until at least the end of April, and I know we're probably going to do a run of all the festivals in Europe in June and July. After that, I believe then we're gonna start talking about writing a new record." Killswitch Engage's 'As Daylight Dies Special Edition' features the brilliant video for the classic Dio track 'Holy Diver'! Go check it out or miss out! www.killswitchengage.com

DIVINE HERESY's Tim Yeung show's us how it's done

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:18:38 +1100

Divine Heresy's kit destroying drummer Tim Yeung unveils the first chapter in his instructional video collective. The clip breaks down the parts for the track "Failed Creation". Check it out here, and stay tuned for additional lessons coming early next year. Divine Heresy's 'Bleed The Fifth' is blast beating it's way in stores countrywide right now! www.myspace.com/divineheresyband.com

NICKELBACK & KILLSWITCH ENGAGE are the most demanded!

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:09:10 +1100

2007 demanded the hell out of Nickelback's "Rockstar" and Killswitch Engage's "My Curse." Music Choice on Demand just clued us in to these two facts: 1. "Rockstar" is the most demanded rock video of the year. 2. "My Curse" is the most demanded metal video of the year. For Videos and Originals, visit www.musicchoice.com for more info. Check out Nickelback's 'Rockstar' and all their other amazing videos on 'The Ultimate Video Collection' in stores now! And if you haven't yet seen Killswitch Engage's video for 'My Curse', then do yourself a massive favour and go check out the Special Edition of 'As Daylight Dies' now! www.nickelback.com www.killswitchengage.com

ATREYU seeks cure for boredom!

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:45:41 +1100

Buzznet.com has posted more video footage from Atreyu's "Tour Diary" series. The band documented its recent U.S. headline tour and the latest clip, entitled "Cure for Boredom", can be viewed right here. Atreyu recorded "Lead Sails Paper Anchor" this past spring with producer John Feldmann who worked with the band to create their most infectious, ambitious and musically challenging disc yet. While the band's juxtaposition of hardcore-influenced chaos and rock-influenced melody is still present, the gulf between the two styles is diminished, making the passages flow in a smoother and more naturalistic manner. "Lead Sails Paper Anchor" was mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Slipknot, Linkin Park). 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor' is in stores now! www.atreyurock.com

Roadrunner Rocks at Woodstock 9!

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:48:08 +1100

This weekend, the 29th of November to the 2nd of December 2007, Harrismith will be dominated by festival goers for Woodstock 9! Woodstock 9, the biggest festival in South Africa, over 20 000 festival goers attend this event; Roadrunner bands will get exposure during change over of acts on video screens & music, which will be blasted into the ears of festival goers! More than 60 of the very best of South African bands across all styles of music – from acoustic and mainstream rock to punk, indie, reggae, house, hip hop and contemporary styles – will be presented at the festival. The festival itself will have more than 60 food stalls, including vegetarian and health foods, several bars, three stages, deejays, dance arenas, extreme sports demonstrations (Moto-X, BMX and skateboarding in the Converse Skatepark.) Watch out for loads of Roadrunner giveaways which include Porcupine Tree's 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' and Nickelbacks 'The Ultimate Video Collection' DVD! For more information, visit the Woodstock 9 Official Website

The Gauntlet interview OPETH

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:14:30 +1100

The Gauntlet's Luci Suicide got her interview on with vocalist/guitaritst Mikael from Opeth. They spoke about their latest live album release, "The Roundhouse Tapes", the departure of band members, the album the band is currently working on, who will produce the upcoming album, what bands he is (or isn't) impressed with at the moment, and much more. To check out the full interview on the Gauntlet's website, click here. www.opeth.com

Roadrunner Records Artists on Facebook!

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:50:58 +1100

Do you have a Facebook page? No? Do you live under a rock? I think so. Its the new online spot to catch up with your friends. They recently have created a feature that allows you to create pages -a way to connect with products, businesses, bands, celebrities and more on Facebook. So if you don't yet have an account, go make one now (its free) and become a fan of your favorite Roadrunner Records artists! Artist Pages on Facebook (more to come!): Roadrunner Records Airbourne Killswitch Engage Nickelback Slipknot The Cult

THE CULT - On Cinemax Tour Stories!

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:45:58 +1100

Cinemax Tour Stories recently conducted an interview with The Cult vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy about how the radio business really works today and life on the road. The two clips - which include footage of The Cult performing the new single "Dirty Little Rock Star" - can be viewed below. Ian Astbury reportedly announced during a show in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday (November 17) that his band will support Led Zeppelin on a 2008 tour. According to an MTV.com report, Astbury told the crowd, "We'll be back next year because we're opening for a band you may have heard of ... the name starts with an 'L' and has a 'Z' in it." After a fan shouted, "Led Zeppelin," Astbury nodded and raised his arm in the air. The Cult's current touring lineup includes principals Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy alongside bassist Chris Wyse, drummer John Tempesta (ex-White Zombie, Testament, Exodus, Helmet) and rhythym guitarist Mike Dimkich. The Cult Pt. 1 - Tour Stories The Cult Pt. 2 - Tour Stories The Cult's rockin' Roadrunner debut, 'Born Into This' is in stores now! www.thecult.us www.myspace.com/cultmusic

Watch AIRBOURNE runnin'!

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:44:01 +1100

Airbourne is a band that knows how to have a hell of a good time, and I'm sure that anyone who has seen these guys play a live show has seen the amazing energy that they have on stage. Check out this video clip of Airbourne goofing around and see for yourself how hyped up they can get! Click here to see them runnin'! Runnin' Wild hits shelves on January 29th, 2008! www.airbournerock.com www.myspace.com/airbourne www.youtube.com/airbournerock

Jamnow interview with DOWN's Pepper Keenan

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:40:52 +1100

Down guitarist Pepper Keenan was recently interviewed by Rick Florino of JamNow. To listen to the chat, go to this location (select "Down - Pepper Keenan - Interview" in the Jam Player on the upper right). The newest social networking web site called Woozyfly.com recently conducted an interview with Jimmy Bower and Kirk Windstein of DOWN. The interview took place before the band's perfomance at The Roseland Ballroom in New York City and can be viewed at this location. Down's 'III - Over The Under' is wreaking havoc in stores now! www.down-nola.com

Roadrunner rocks on TuksFM!

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:48:05 +1100

TuksFM 107.2 are running a huge Roadrunner Records competition everyday this week on the drive time show from 16:00-19:00! Stand the chance to win killer Roadrunner hampers consisting of Stone Sour's 'Come What(ever) May', Porcupine Tree's 'Fear Of A Blank Planet', Slipknot's 'Live 9.0', Within Temptation's 'The Heart Of Everything' and Billboard's 'Album Of The Decade', Nickelback's 'All The Right Reasons' PLUS limited edition 7" vinyl of The Cult's 'Dirty Little Rockstar'! So if you're in the Gauteng region and want to hear and win some awesome music from the best Roadrunner artists, tune into TuksFM from 16:00 everyday until the end of the week!

Roadrunner Records & Tom Lipsky

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:35:09 +1100

Roadrunner Records today announced an exclusive worldwide agreement with music industry veteran Tom Lipsky to launch a to-be-named joint venture label. The primary goal of the label will involve new recordings by established classic and heritage rock artists to augment the already formidable Roadrunner artist roster. Roadrunner Records President Jonas Nachsin comments on the union, "Tom has had a distinguished career connecting with artists that have had a lasting impact on music culture. Pairing the world's premier rock label with his vision is a winning combination." Under the terms of the agreement, worldwide physical and digital distribution, marketing and licensing of all releases will run through Roadrunner's existing infrastructure, with Lipsky working closely on all aspects of his artists. "My time will be dedicated primarily to the artists, supporting their creative activities and designing strategies to further their relationship with the consumer," Lipsky explains, "which is made possible by the resources that exist within Roadrunner. This is an opportunity that I am very excited about and I look forward to bringing important artists into this partnership." Most recently CEO & President of Sanctuary Records Group North America, Lipsky is best known for his success in delivering Gold and Platinum RIAA certified album and DVD awards to music legends including Neil Young, Black Sabbath, Kiss, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, Johnny Cash, Styx, Widespread Panic, Bob Marley, REO Speedwagon and Bad Company. Prior to his tenure at Sanctuary, Lipsky was one of the founders and President of Raleigh, NC based CMC International Records, widely recognized as the premier frontline label dedicated exclusively to the marketing and further development of established artists. Lipsky takes pride in making notable impact on artists' careers that others may underestimate. "Having the opportunity to be involved in the continuing careers of the great artists I have worked with is a privilege," states Lipsky. "They are the cornerstone of our industry. These artists have earned the loyalty of multiple generations of fans. Their continuing relevance, creative validity and economic value are without question." Lipsky will continue to be based in Raleigh, NC, while visiting New York and other outposts often. About Roadrunner Records: Initially founded in the Netherlands in 1980, Roadrunner Records has earned its place as one of the most prominent international independent record labels. The Roadrunner catalog boasts early releases from such seminal artists as Type O Negative, Sepultura and King Diamond. More recently, the label has experienced unprecedented success with multi-platinum artists Nickelback and Slipknot, gold-certified Stone Sour and Killswitch Engage, as well as modern heavy hitters Dragonforce, Dream Theater and Megadeth. Though primarily known as a hard rock label, Roadrunner's roster also includes diverse acts such as The Dresden Dolls and newcomers Madina Lake, Biffy Clyro and Airbourne. Still headquartered in the Netherlands, Roadrunner occupies offices in New York, now the A&R hub for the label, as well as the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Japan and Australia.

TRIVIUM frontman updates us all

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:13:34 +1100

Trivium guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy has issued the following update: "Matt here in Birmingham, UK. First day off The Black Crusade. UK/Euro leg of the tour has been completely unreal... if you haven't had a chance yet check some pictures out of how the tour has been going. "The amount of killer friends showing up to all the shows is first of all, mindblowing... then, there's our fuckinjungle-gym-playhouse-for-metalkids-of-a-stage! It's the very stage all of us have always dreamed of- and i tell ya- it's a blast. "So it seems like everyone's having a great time! All four of us band dudes and all the people rockin' in the crowds always have bigggg ass grins on their faces before, during, and after the show... this is just one big -party; and we're lovin it. "Shadows Fall is fuckin rockin' out; Arch Enemy shredding the shit out of people; Dragonforce... is... wellll.... holy shit, right?; and of course Machine Head!!! MACHINE FUCKING HEAD, enough said. "So if you have an opportunity to come out to any of the shows, and for some reason aren't — you're crazy!! Come on out and have some fun with us. "This tour is a complete dream come true and we are so happy and thankful for everything that is going on. "Once this tour is over it's gonna be a very long while 'till we play any shows (unfortunately!); however, we gotta take the time to go and make the greatest Trivium album ever (we have demoed lotsa tracks and so far... it's already, in demo form, shaping up to be the best material we have ever created. "So 'till whenever I can see ya'll again (whether a show, hanging at a video game store, or whatever it may be)... take care!" Watch fan-filmed video footage of Trivium performing the song "The Deceived" on November 23, 2007 at the NEC in Birmingham, UK right here. Trivium's triumphant album,'The Crusade', is in stores and ready to conquer! www.trivium.org

Fan-filmed WITHIN TEMPTATION footage from Eindhoven concert

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:59:08 +1100

Within Temptation's November 24, 2007 concert at the Beursgebouw in Eindhoven, Holland was filmed for an upcoming DVD, tentatively due next summer. The sold-out show at the 8,000-capacity venue included lots of special effects, an acoustic section, Broadway-style musical elements and guest appearances by Anneke van Giersbergen (Aqua Dd Annique, ex-The Gathering) and George Oosthoek (ex-Orphanage). The group's setlist was as follows: 01. The Silent Force Intro 02. Jillian 03. The Howling 04. Stand My Ground 05. The Cross 06. What Have You Done 07. Hand of Sorrow 08. The Heart of Everything 09. Forgiven (acoustic) 10. Restless (acoustic) 11. Somewhere (w/ Anneke van Giersbergen, acoustic) 12. Memories (acoustic) 13. Our Solemn Hour 14. The Other Half (w/ George Oosthoek) 15. Angels (w/ act) 16. Mother Earth 17. Frozen 18. Jane Doe 19. The Truth Beneath The Rose Encore: 03. Deceiver of Fools 03. All I Need 03. Ice Queen Fan-filmed video footage from last night's concert can be viewed here. The acoustic version of "What Have You Done", taken from the "special edition" version of Within Temptation's new album, "The Heart of Everything", is available for streaming at this location. Within Temptation was honored in the "Best-Selling Artist - Netherlands" category at the World Music Awards on November 4 in Monte Carlo. The World Music Awards (founded in 1989) is an international awards show that annually honors recording artists based on their worldwide sales figures, which are provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). As previously reported, Within Temptation will be joined by the Dutch Metropole Orchestra for a special concert at the Ahoy Stadium in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on February 7, 2008. Go check out Within Temptation's The Heart Of Everything' in store now! www.within-temptation.com

New interview with MACHINE HEAD's Rob and Dave

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:47:22 +1100

Machine Head members Robb Flynn and Dave McClain were interviewed by Metal Sanaz on October 13, 2007 prior to the band's headlining concert at the Avalon in Los Angeles, California. Watch the six-minute chat here. In a recent interview with Australia's The Metal Forge, Flynn was asked for his opinion on why "The Blackening" has been such a huge critical and commercial success. "To tell you the truth, I'm not really sure," he repied. "I can only speculate at this point. But I do believe the metal scene is really strong right now. I also believe that the band had a lot of momentum going into this album from the success of 'Through The Ashes Of Empires'. By all standards, 'The Blackening' stands against everything that dictates what should be a successful album. I mean we open the album with a ten and a half minute long song ('Clenching The Fists Of Dissent')! 'The Blackening', overall, has four songs that are over nine to ten minutes long on there, features somewhat controversial lyrics and features edgy artwork. In our heads, it was almost like we were looking at the album as a piece of art. We definitely weren't expecting it to do the numbers that it has done throughout the world. All I can say is that we're really proud. We busted our asses and worked really hard on this album. We just tried to make a piece of art that would stand the test of time, whether people got it in 2007, or eventually in 2017. It was a musical statement that we hoped would change metal and make a lasting legacy for itself. That was really our only goal. Numbers, success and chart positions are not the sort of thing we were thinking about when we were writing this album. Those are only long-term projections you can hope for. And clearly, I think that shows. A ten-minute song doesn't stand that much chance of being played on the radio or MTV. In many ways, it's limiting. But in other ways, it's also quite liberating." Machine Head's brilliant 'The Blackening' is in stores now! If you haven't got it yet, do yourself a favour and own a part of heavy metal history! www.machinehead1.com

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE receive Gold record

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:07:02 +1100

As Killswitch Engage geared up for a co-headlining tour with Lamb Of God, Killswitch Engage recently received its first RIAA gold certification for its sophomore Roadrunner release, "The End of Heartache". Featuring breakthrough radio hits "Rose of Sharyn" and the Grammy-nominated "The End of Heartache", the album was released on May 11, 2004 and experienced a steady rise to gold status. The album was hailed as "a stunning collection retaining much of their signature musical brutality but teasing with electric hooks, strategic use of silence" by Rolling Stone and organically received a mass of critical acclaim. "The End of Heartache" elevated Killswitch Engage into the mainstream scope and was a catalyst for the band’s inclusion in national tours such as Taste of Chaos, Ozzfest and Vans Warped Tour. Continuing to push musical boundaries, the band is gearing up to embark on a U.S. co-headlining U.S. tour with Lamb Of God, kicking off November 28 and running until December 17. The band's latest single, "Holy Diver", from the special edition of their current album "As Daylight Dies", is secure in the top 15 of the Active Rock chart and continues to climb. The band was presented RIAA gold plaques on November 7 at the Roadrunner Records office in New York City. Killswitch's 'As Daylight Dies Special Edition' is tearing up store shelves right now! www.killswitchengage.com

The ATREYU tour diaries!

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:44:03 +1100

Buzznet.com have posted a video of the guys from Atreyu on tour and tearing it up! Check out the 1st video in the series entitled 'Fight is on a two brawl bill! - Alex vs. Travis and Brandon vs. Scott "The Mess"! Watch the madness here! After watching the guys beat each other down, check out their latest killer video, 'Doomsday', taken from 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor' right here in the media section! Atreyu's 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor' is in stores now! www.atreyurock.com

CRADLE OF FILTH's guitarist speaks randomly

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:35:53 +1100

Derek from IESB.net caught up with Paul, the guitarist of Cradle of Filth for an interview. They discussed his extensive history with the band, musical influences, crazy experiences on tour, the last movie he saw & other random shit like what his favorite childhood toy was. He also mentions how into 3 Inches of Blood he is! Click here for the video of the full interview. www.cradleoffilth.com www.myspace.com/cradleoffilth www.youtube.com/cradleoffilth

Interview with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's Justin Foley

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:24:43 +1100

SunJournal.com recently conducted the following interview with Killswitch Engage drummer Justin Foley: SunJournal.com: Name, age? Foley: Justin Foley, 31. SunJournal.com: How long have you been playing? Foley: About 8 years now. We came together from a bunch of different bands in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Now we're based in western Mass. SunJournal.com: What are your fans like? Foley: It's mostly I would say angry teenagers. I don't know. We've done some tours lately where the kids aren't quite as angry. But they're mostly younger than we are. SunJournal.com: They're angry though? Are you? Foley: Not at all, we're pretty goofy. Really the music is heavy and it's loud, but there's nothing mad about what we're doing. We're just having fun. SunJournal.com: So, do fans come up and ask for autographs in any odd situations? Foley: The weirdest thing that's happened was when I was driving down the highway and some kids pulled up next to me and asked me for my autograph. Oh, and when we were in a pet store. We were buying a bearded dragon lizard for the bus and there were a bunch of kids that followed us into the store — it was pretty weird. SunJournal.com: Any pre-show rituals? Foley: Not so much. I warm up a little bit. Everyone else drinks a lot. But I wait till afterwards to drink. But shots are the ritual. Shots of usually whisky, sometimes vodka. It depends. SunJournal.com: Where's your favorite place you've been on tour? Foley: We just went to Russia and it was absolutely amazing. It was pretty incredible. More and more bands are going there now. I think the kids there are really really stoked when shows come out. They went nuts. It was one of the loudest crowds ever — they were singing every word of every song. We had a day off in Moscow, we walked around and went to Red Square and it was snowing, and we were all soaking wet and miserable afterwards, but it was pretty cool. How often do you get to do something like that? SunJournal.com: How'd you come up with the band name? Foley: The bass player did. He came up with it a long time ago. He was watching TV and heard the word "Killswitch," thought it was a neat word. But not on its own, so we threw another word on it. SunJournal.com: Do you enjoy being on tour? Foley: Well, it ... sucks to be away from home, but it's still fun. It's fun to see new places, especially. SunJournal.com: Long-term goals? Foley: I don't think any of us thought this would happen, anyway, so we're just kind of hanging out and doing the best we can. We don't really think too far ahead. We'll probably tour through the summer and do another album after that. It's all so weird it can end very quickly. SunJournal.com: Has anyone been injured at a show? Foley: We've injured ourselves a lot. The most serious was our guitar player has had back surgeries partly because of his onstage antics. He jumps around and acts like a fool and it's not good for his back. But every now and then you hear about somebody in the crowd that got hurt and it sucks. We don't like that. SunJournal.com: Which of your song lyrics means the most to you, and why? Foley: I don't really know. I don't know what he's going on about up there (laughs). I try to tune him out. I think the things that mean the most to me are the spontaneous ramblings from our guitar player, Adam, who usually talks about doing horrible things to the young girls in the crowd. It's really funny, because you can't possibly take him seriously when you hear him. You just can't. Killswitch Engage's brilliant album, 'As Daylight Dies Special Edition' is in stores now! www.killswitchengage.com

OPETH complete drum tracks for new album

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:19:05 +1100

Opeth mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt has issued the following update: "Mission: Impossible = Possible? "That's the way I always feel facing a recording, but yes, we're doing just fine. "Axe [Martin 'Axe' Axenrot] nailed the drums [for the new OPETH album] in seven days which is just beyond me! The guy is amazing! He went up at 8 am every morning and started pounding the drums until 6-7 pm. Then he started practicing again after dinner, we had to tell him to stop playing. He's truly outdone himself. "Listening to the drum tracks alone makes me wanna bang my fucking head, but my stale old-man's neck prevents me. "We're recording a total of 11 songs — three of them are covers that we're doing since we had some extra time, the rest are originals out of which I think we'll leave one off the album. Anyways, it's already my favourite OPETH record, but I'm a boasting cunt so...who cares? "The band is in terrific shape (musically that is...). We've gone out for long walks which sounds like fucking senior behaviour, but it's really nice clearing your mind for a while and talk about everyday stuff. We all cook for each other, I do the dishes as usual. Gots to keep it sparkling clean! It's just a nice vibe down there... "We've been drunk only once so far! Had some wine, a few beers and a metal music quiz. "Jens is doing fine, him and the two drum techs (Peter and Urban) has fixed us a nice drum sound. Axe is endorsed by DW drums and they must be the greatest? I don't know but to me they sound just fucking fantastic! "Tomorrow we'll start setting the rhythm guitar sound and it will be exciting! Or something like that, maybe not that exciting after all.... "I've also recorded som vox for a friend of mine who's doing a solo album. I'm not sure if I can say who it is yet, but I guess it might interest some of you guys. "We've had great help from David Castillo as well, working with us after hours. Before our first break we worked from Thursday morning at 8 am until Friday morning at 5 am so our work ethic ís intact." www.opeth.com

Headshot SA review ATREYU's 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor'

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:16:04 +1100

Headshot SA, South Africa's leading gaming webiste, posted a rad review of Atreyu's latest album 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor'. An extract from the review by Jay Pienaar reads: 'Lead Sails is a step in the right direction. It is the most commercial release to date, as I have mentioned, but that doesn't mean that Atreyu has become soft. Tracks like Doomsday and Can't Happen Here still exemplify Atreyu's harder side. Lose It even has a slight tinge of Killswitch Engage, musically. What I enjoyed most is the fact that the vocals are more balanced on Lead Sails.' Check out the full review here! Atreyu's 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor' is in stores now! www.atreyurock.com

ROADRUNNER ROCKS IN SUMMER!

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:33:13 +1100

From November the 12th, 5FM will be running a massive Roadrunner competition on the 'F and Martinengo' show between 12:00 and 16:00 everyday this week! Stand a chance to win Oxydo sunglasses, double VIP tickets to Woodstock 9 and loads of Roadrunner prizes including Stone Sour's 'Come What(ever) May', Nickelback's 'All The Right Reasons', Within Temptation's 'The Heart Of Everything' and much more! Listen out or lose out big time!

CRADLE OF FILTH interview on BW&BK

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:24:08 +1100

In an exclusive BW&BK (Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles) interview, Cradle Of Filth vocalist Dani Filth speaks about how Roadrunner Records will release the Thornography Deluxe - Harder, Darker, Faster on January 29th. In addition to the 12 tracks found on the album's initial release last year, the deluxe edition features new artwork, new music, live material and videos. Click here for the full interview. www.cradleoffilth.com www.myspace.com/cradleoffilth www.youtube.com/cradleoffilth

BLACK STONE CHERRY win 'Best New Band' award!

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:25:01 +1100

Black Stone Cherry have won the award for 'Best New Band' at this year's Classic Rock Magazine Awards! This message from the band was posted on their MySpace page: 'We won best new band by Classic Rock Magazine! We couldn't have done it without you all! Click here to see who else won! Thanks again everyone. Much Love! BSC' Black Stone Cherry's self-titled Roadrunner debut album is in stores now! www.blackstonecherry.com

PORCUPINE TREE win 'Album Of The Year' award!

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:17:12 +1100

Porcupine Tree, along with Black Stone Cherry who won the 'Best New Band' award, have won the 'Album Of The Year' award at this year's Classic Rock Magazine Awards! Check out all the winners right here! Their triumphant album 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' has impressed fans, old and new, with it's breathtaking, innovative sound! Keep a look out for 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' in stores right now! www.porcupinetree.com

Headshot SA reviews MACHINE HEAD and STILL REMAINS

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:48:55 +1100

Headshot SA, South Africa's leading gaming website, have posted great reviews of Machine Head's 'The Blackening' and Still Remains' 'The Serpent' here! Quotes like 'The Blackening confirms their (Machine Head's) place in history as one of the strongest metal bands' and when referring to Still Remain's 'The Serpent as 'more accessible to fans of heavier music in general' proves that these two albums are must-haves! 'The Blackening' and 'The Serpent' are in stores now!

WITHIN TEMPTATION win World Music Award!

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:14:22 +1100

Within Temptation are dominating with another major award, this time at the World Music Awards which took place in Monte Carlo! They won the award for 'Best Selling Artist From Around The World' in the Netherlands category. Here's an extract from their official website: 'The story keeps getting better and better! Yesterday, we received a World Music Award! These awards are based on record sales outside your own country and we won it again, after the 3 TMF Awards and the MTV Europe Music Award. Thanks everyone!' 'The Heart Of Everything' is haunting store shelves now! www.within-temptation.com

WITHIN TEMPTATION win again!

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:50:04 +1100

Within Temptation have added to their impressive array of awards they've won this year with the 'Best Dutch & Belgian Act' award at this year's MTV EMA Awards! This is their message from their official website: 'Again we have some great news! Last night we won an MTV Europe Music Award in the category “Best Dutch & Belgian act”. It’s the fourth award we have received, after 2 Dutch and 1 Belgium TMF Awards. Thank you so much for your vote, we’ll see you soon!' A big shout out goes to everyone who voted online for Within Temptation and showing their support! Within Temptation's 'The Heart Of Everything' is in stores now! Go check out for yourself why they've won so many awards with this amazing album! www.within-temptation.com

Live STONE SOUR videos!

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:37:47 +1100

Need your Stone Sour fix? Check out these fan-submitted videos of Stone Sour performing in their hometown Des Moines. Made Of Scars Reborn Through Glass For more awesome Stone Sour live performances, check out the special edition of 'Come What(Ever) May' in stores now! www.stonesour.com

Kick ass CRADLE OF FILTH photos

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:27:39 +1100

BW&BK (Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles) magazine posted a gallery of an awesome set of pictures they took of Cradle of Filth rockin' out at a show they played in Toronto at The Docks on October 30th. Photo Credit: Aaron Small Check out the the live photos here! www.cradleoffilth.com www.myspace.com/cradleoffilth www.youtube.com/cradleoffilth

Rad interview with THE CULT's Ian Astbury

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 01:34:46 +1100

Keith Ryan Cartwright of The Post and Courier's Preview recently conducted an interview with The Cult frontman Ian Astbury. A few excerpts from the chat follow: Preview: What is it about now that lent itself to making this record ["Born into This"]? Astbury: Oh, maybe experience. I think having gone through every single permeation possible in a rock 'n' roll band — from the proverbial broken family childhood, traveling in a band, homeless, going through punk rock, touring America, selling platinum records, going through psychotherapy, going through the crash and burn, going to the Himalayas — the whole cycle is a very rounded experience of life, right? I think having done all of that you sort of find yourself back at the beginning point again where you go it's still me, it's still my life, it's still The Cult, it's still Billy and me and here we are. We're still standing as a group and as a body of work. I think that gives you a great sense of confidence. … I think our songwriting has evolved since "Beyond Good and Evil". I think that was a record we tried to make like a comeback record, so to speak, but when we got in the studio we all had different opinions about what we should be doing; from the record company level to even Billy and myself had different opinions. Now with this record it just became evident that the most important thing for us to do was to be as present as possible and as truthful as possible. My whole thing was if we got entrenched in the studio for a long period of time then we were going to get into the same situation as in the past. I said, "You know what? We need to run in, grab this and get out quick." Preview: That's exactly what allows you to capture the emotion much like a live show captures the emotion of that particular evening. Astbury: Precisely. This record isn't a refined record. It's interesting because I think it's a body of work that really works as a record. Those 10 songs tell the story of "Born into This". The other songs didn't connect and weren't as much a part of the collective story. … I think performing with Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger for the last three and a half years really helped me to elevate my performance abilities. We've never been great self-promoters. You've never seen The Cult at celebrity functions — very rarely. Occasionally, yeah, I might go to an event. We never whored ourselves out like that whereby you're better known than your art. Whereas now we're like ... why not us? Preview: You made a conscious effort to get in and out of the studio, but was it a lot of work on your part to make sure you didn't get bogged down with the machinery and the mechanics of being in a studio? Astbury: There was absolutely no time. It was 21 days in Los Angeles over maybe a seven-week period. I was in Vancouver, at the time, so I was going from Vancouver to L.A. for a four to five day session. The sessions were from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. You keep it tight like that because when you're in the studio you're there to work, not to screw around. You're not calling your buddies on the phone. You're not ordering food or hanging out. You're not looking at somebody's new car, goofing around or playing video games — pretty much what every other band does. It was probably six solid hours of work a day and out of that we walked out with 18 pieces of music. So we didn't really have time to (get caught up in) the recording process. … We pretty much stayed in the groove. Then we came over to London to work with Youth, who's someone we've wanted to work with for a long time, and he said, 'I've only got 15 days' and we were like, 'we'll take it.' We just rolled tape and in that studio we were there for like 10-hour, 12-hour days. Preview: And that's the way it should be done. Astbury: You can't lose your head. It's a busy place and it's not a place many people go to. Once you've recorded it, then it's none of your business how other people perceive it. Then it takes on a life of its own. Then you have a responsibility to those songs to go out and perform them and to communicate to anybody who is interested in what it's about. Life is full of contradictions and so you just go out and do the best you can with what you've got at the time. The Cult's rockin' new album 'Born Into This' is in stores now! Watch out for the special edition that includes a second CD with 5 extra awesome tracks! www.thecult.us

Killer DOWN review!

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 01:27:32 +1100

Metalunderground.com recently posted an awesome review of Down's 'III - Over The Under'! Quotes from the review like 'It's just great music, metal or otherwise. Timeless.' and 'A strong "buy" for any fan of heavy music' proves the point that Down have made an album that's going to tear the scene apart! Check out the full review here! Also take a look at this interview with bassist Rex Brown conducted by Metalmachine.net right here. www.down-nola.com

OPETH's Mikael Åkerfeldt updates us all

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:21:55 +1100

Opeth mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt has issued the following update: "On October 28 at 9:20 AM my wife gave birth to our second daughter, Mirjam Ebba Maria Åkerfeldt. She is so beautiful, just looking at her brings me to tears! Who'd known that I, a bum from the Stockholm suburbs would be the father of two beautiful daughters? Yes, guys! I am happy! "On top of that, the album is now written and the demos sound fantastic! We will start recording it tomorrow, actually! I don't wanna say too much but....gee, it is so fucking good!! If I may say so myself....Expected 'delivery date' on this one is sometime in April/May 2008. "On top of that (2)...my friends at PRS guitars and Laney decided to give me some early Christmas gifts. I had a stunning PRS Hollowbody II delivered and it's just awesome! Real ear and eye candy! And from Laney I got the new Lionheart mini stack which sounds beyond fantastic! That rig will be used quite a lot in the studio I'm sure! "Yes, you can probably say the last few days have been pretty fucking decent!" If you havn't heard Opeth's monumental 'Ghost Reveries' yet, do yourself a massive favour and check it out! www.opeth.com

WITHIN TEMPTATION win 2 more TMF awards!

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:12:39 +1100

Here's a statement from the band's official website: 'Great news! After winning a Belgian TMF Award 2 weeks ago, we picked up another 2 at the Dutch TMF Awards last night in the categories; best live act & best video! We got these thanks to your votes, so thanks a lot for that. 2007 has been a great year for us, playing live is what we love the most, so receiving 2 awards for best live act & best video is a big honour.' 'Thanks again, we hope to see you soon!' To stream Within Temptation's mind blowing single, 'What Have You Done' featuring Keith Caputo, click here! Their latest single, 'Frozen' is catching huge attention on radio and it can be found on their haunting brilliant album, 'The Heart Of Everything'. www.within-temptation.com

MACHINE HEAD's Dave McClain on the Disney ban

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 01:23:48 +1100

Pete Richards of ChartAttack.com reports: Machine Head, who were in Canada last month as part of The Black Tyranny Tour, received a lot of attention after Walt Disney Corporation cancelled the tour's opening night in Anaheim, California on September 7 with just two days notice. The event was scheduled to take place at the House Of Blues venue on Disneyland property, but Disney representatives suddenly cancelled the concert after reviewing Machine Head's music and deeming them unsuitable to perform there. Disney also cancelled their Orlando, Florida stop at the House Of Blues in Walt Disney World. "It's unbelievable that that can actually go down today still," says MACHINE HEAD drummer Dave McClain. "It's frustrating to be singled out like that, and the music you love playing. "We were all brought up on metal, and that's just lame that can actually happen in this day and age. We had heard that it was because of the lyrics on the album and they just didn't want our fans on Disney property. They're not admitting any of that stuff, they're just saying that they don't want certain types of stuff on their property. But the way they went about it, waiting two days before the show, you know we'll never get a straight answer from it. But we can pretty much figure things out." Disney has been on a roll lately by also canceling concerts by Cannibal Corpse. The weird thing is that Machine Head have played the House Of Blues clubs in Anaheim and Orlando in the past without incident. "It was fuckin' bizarre," says McClain. "We've played there for years and had great shows and had absolutely no problems with anything. "It's not like our fans went there and drew fuckin' dicks all over Mickey Mouse's forehead or anything, you know?" Read the entire article at ChartAttack.com.

DAATHumentary part 3!

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:30:54 +1100

Up now is Part 3 of Daath's 1st chapter of the series, Daathumentary. This one features clips of the band going crazy on tour and then their van breaks down yet AGAIN so they decide to have some fun at the beach. Woot Woot. Check the video out here. www.daathmusic.com www.myspace.com/daath www.youtube.com/daathmusic

Vote for Roadrunner artists!

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:53:58 +1100

You can vote now for the BOSTON MUSIC AWARDS taking place on December 1st! A few Roadrunner Records recording artists are nominated. Dresden Dolls, Dream Theater and Killswitch Engage are both mentioned! Voting has begun so click on the following link and cast your vote here! ACT OF THE YEAR DREAM THEATER KILLSWITCH ENGAGE ALBUM OF THE YEAR (MAJOR) KILLSWITCH ENGAGE "AS DAYLIGHT DIES" LOCAL PRODUCER OF THE YEAR ADAM DUTKIEWICZ (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, ALL THAT REMAINS, UNEARTH) NATIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR AMANDA PALMER - DRESDEN DOLLS NATIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR HOWARD JONES - KILLSWITCH ENGAGE OUTSTANDING LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR DRESDEN DOLLS KILLSWITCH ENGAGE OUTSTANDING METAL/HARDCORE BAND OF THE YEAR KILLSWITCH ENGAGE SONG OF THE YEAR KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - MY CURSE

Vampirefreaks.com MACHINE HEAD interview

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:25:58 +1000

VampireFreaks.com's VF Magazine got Phil from Machine Head in front of the camera for this exclusive interview. Click here for 10 glorious minutes of Machine Head talk. In other video fun we want to remind you to watch Robb Flynn's tour diary video. See it here. 'The Blackening' is tearing stores apart now! www.machinehead1.com www.myspace.com/machinehead www.youtube.com/machinehead

Metalogy 101 video interview with ATREYU's Brandon Saller

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:18:58 +1000

Possum of Altitude's "Metalogy 101" conducted an interview with Brandon Kyle Saller (drums, vocals) of Atreyu. Brandon talks how producer John Feldmann changed the band's sound and how it was the first time a producer of theirs actually did his job. Watch the two-minute clip here. Atreyu recorded "Lead Sails Paper Anchor" this past spring with producer John Feldmann who worked with the band to create their most infectious, ambitious and musically challenging disc yet. While the band's juxtaposition of hardcore-influenced chaos and rock-influenced melody is still present, the gulf between the two styles is diminished, making the passages flow in a smoother and more naturalistic manner. "Lead Sails Paper Anchor" was mixed by Andy Wallace. Ateryu's 'Lead Sails, Paper Anchor' is in stores now! Check it out and be blown away! www.atreyurock.com

An update from THE DRESDEN DOLLS

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:37:12 +1000

In case you have been wondering what the Dresden Dolls have been up to, here's an update they sent out to their mailing list. "Hola comrades!! Dear lord it's been a busy damn couple of months. Brian has been gearing up for his upcoming European tour with Jesse Malin , and I am putting the finishing touches on my solo record with Ben Folds and a bunch of other very special peoples in six different studios 24/7/36mofo5 across the country. The band re-convened this past week in Brooklyn, NY while Brian was rehearsing and I was recording. We both stayed at Hotel Miss Emily White (thanks em!) in Williamsburg, watched the hipsters, ate diner food and shared all of the youtube clips we have discovered on our different journeys. We both highly recommend "Slash Shreds". We also made big happy band plans for the upcoming year or so (releasing old things! recording new things! touring things! unholy things!!!). I'm home for about five seconds then heading to the west coast to embark on a musical collaboration of epic proportions with the west coast band Estradasphere (details below), doing a few shows out there, then heading to Australia for December, and then and then and then The Dolls will be hitting the states for an epic winter three-week tour in December/January to create more noise and art party than you can shake a goddamn stick at. We'll get the dates out to you as soon as they're locked. I would write something clever right now, but I have about the humor and creative drive of a rotting banana. I'll try to blog as soon as my head is a better fruit. For now I remain. Yours in the crunk pabaret, Amanda " The Dresden Dolls' 'Yes, Virginia' is in stores now! www.dresdendolls.com www.myspace.com/dresdendolls www.youtube.com/dresdendolls

DRESDEN DOLLS - Amanda Palmer videos!

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:17:57 +1000

Two new videos have been added to the Amanda Palmer YouTube channel! Go check out "Guitar Hero", which is set to be included on Amanda's forthcoming solo debut, "Who Killed Amanda Palmer" and "Marry Me", with Amanda and friends from Sxip's Hour of Charm. For more info, go to The Dresden Dolls' latest blog here and don't forget to subscribe to Amanda's YouTube channel! Take a look at The Dresden Dolls 'Yes, Virginia' right here www.dresdendolls.com www.myspace.com/dresdendolls www.youtube.com/dresdendolls

SOULFLY halfway through new album!

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:15:56 +1000

Soulfly appear to be half way through the recording of their sixth studio album. Soulfly members Max Cavalera (guitar/vocals), Joe Nunez (drums), Marc Rizzo (guitar), and Bobby Burns (bass) entered Porch Studio in Florida on September 12 to begin recording the band's sixth studio album for an early summer 2008 release via Roadrunner Records. After recording up until the end of September, the band was able to complete nearly all of the basic tracking for the recording including the majority of drum, bass, rhythm guitar, and lead guitar tracks. Working titles for some of the 13 songs which were tracked include "Burndown", "Enemy Ghost", "Axis of Wrath", and "Blood, Fire, War, Hate". Morbid Angel singer/bass player David Vincent will have a hand in this production also, though it is unclear at this stage just what that will be. For the time being, Soulfly has put recording at the Porch with engineer Tim Lau on hold; ever since they left the studio on September 29, Max has been traveling throughout Egypt and Siberia with recording devices, and when he returns he will begin to mold the samples, noises, and music that he collects during his travels into the framework of the songs which he jammed out with Marc, Bobby, and Joe last month. Vocals and percussion have only been completed on a handful of songs, but Soulfly plans to go back to the Porch before the end of the year to complete tracking. After that, Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Exodus, Arch Enemy, Machine Head) will be doing the mixing on this one. As of now, you can expect the next album to be ready for release by early summer of 2008. Why not check out Soulfly's blistering release, 'Dark Ages' here! www.soulflyweb.com

MACHINE HEAD frontman's tour diary

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:07:34 +1000

Machine Head's Robb Flynn posted a new tour diary entry on how much fun The Black Crusade tour was and what else he and the band have been up to lately. He also posted a video of Angela from Arch Enermy, Scott Ian of Anthrax & Machine Head rockin' out together on stage. Check it all out here. The Blackening is still crushing skulls and wreaking havoc in stores! Go check it out! www.machinehead1.com www.myspace.com/machinehead www.youtube.com/machinehead

The Gauntlet inerview WITHIN TEMPTATION

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:58:41 +1000

The Gauntlet's Collette Claire interviewed Sharon from Within Temptation. They talk about everything from the "Hottest Chicks of Metal" tour, and what it was like to tour the US for the first time, to the differences between female fronted bands in Europe & America, and what it was like recording "What Have You Done Now" with Keith Kaputo. Check out the full video of this interview here. Within Temptation's single, 'Frozen' is haunting the radio waves at the moment. Find it on their latest offering 'The Heart Of Everything'. www.within-temptation.com www.myspace.com/withintemptation www.youtube.com/wtofficial

Video interview with DREAM THEATER guitarist John Petrucci

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:27:59 +1000

A 10-minute video interview with Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci conducted by Morow.com can be viewed here. A 20-minute audio interview with Jordan Rudess conducted on August 11 by "Démentièllement Vôtre" on Québec City's CKRL 89.1FM has been posted online at this location. Rudess talks about his solo CD, "The Road Home", and "Systematic Chaos". Dream Theater's gigantic album, 'Systematic Chaos' is in stores now! www.dreamtheater.net

Awesome MACHINE HEAD, TRIVIUM and SATYRICON pics from Loudpark 07

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 23:40:58 +1000

Machine Head, Trivium and Satyricon performed a kick-ass show, along with many other artists, at the Loudpark 07 festival on October 20-21 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama City, Japan. Check out the pics here!

ATREYU guitarist launches clothing line

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:11:06 +1000

Atreyu guitarist Dan Jacobs has launched his own clothing line, Rokk Clothing, which aims to "bring alive the classic rock shirt of today." All are original authentic designs, inspired by Dan and executed by his brother Joe exclusive to the Rokk Clothing brand. The range also features Japanese style headbands, like the ones Dan wears during Atreyu's performances. An avid fan of Eighties rock, Dan would scour the Internet to find vintage t-shirts. One day, in conversation with Joe, they got to thinking about how much these t-shirts cost and surely there must be a less expensive way to produce them. Dan had a very definite idea of the design, fabric, fit he wanted and together with Joe's business skills they have put together their first range. Says Dan: "I wanted to design my own brand because I wanted to produce the kind of t-shirt I would buy, at a reasonable price. These 'Ts' had to look like real Eighties stuff, classic rock band t-shirts in bold primary colors and design Â— they've got to look so good that at first glance you'd think it was the real thing." The capsule range of Rokk Clothing was launched on October 1, 2007. Joe Jacobs says, "We have been really encouraged by initial sales and the excitement the range is generating. Orders have been received from all over the United States as well as from the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany and Italy." For more information, visit www.bringtherock.com. Also don't forget to check out Atreyu's brilliant new album 'Lead Sails, Paper Anchor', which is in stores now! www.atreyurock.com

Video interview with Dani Filth

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:05:14 +1000

Burlington, Vermont's 90.1 WRUV FM recently conducted an interview with Cradle Of Filth frontman Dani Filth. Watch the nine-minute clip here! Cradle Of Filth is spreading ample doses of mayhem, malice and macabre music to the stage as the headliners of Viva La Bands 2007 North American tour, sponsored by MTV personality Bam Margera and Rockstar Energy Drinks. The band is touring in support of its latest Roadrunner Records release "Thornography", whose brooding energy is accentuated by guest vocals by goth rock hero Ville Valle of HIM and Doug Bradley (Pinhead of the "Hellraiser" film series and longtime Cradle Of Filth collaborator). Cradle Of Filth's Thornography is in stores now! www.cradleoffilth.com

Killer DOWN photos!

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 23:37:02 +1000

Brian Leli has posted a killer collection of Down pictures shot on October 10th at the House of Blues in Chicago. Check out the slideshow here! Down's awesome album 'III - Over The Under' is in stores now! www.down-nola.com

Loads of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE!

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:59:48 +1000

Russia's HeadBanger.ru portal has uploaded photos of Killswitch Engage's October 13, 2007 performance at Moscow's Shadow Club. Check them out at this location. Killswitch Engage played in Moscow without their enigmatic guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, who has once again been forced to leave the tour due to health reasons. Adam underwent back surgery in early 2007 and is said to be continuing with daily physical therapy in order to fully recover from his injuries. The group is currently performing as a four-piece, with guitar tech Josh Mihlek filling in for Adam on select songs. Part 1 of a series of clips featuring Killswitch Engage performing in Stockholm, Sweden can be viewed here. Also, don't forget to check out Killswitch's awesomely humourous video for 'Holy Diver' here! Holy Diver and much more can be found on the special edition of 'As Daylight Dies'. If you haven't got it yet, go check it out! www.killswitchengage.com

DIVINE HERESY video interviews available

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:50:24 +1000

Heavymetalsource.com have posted an awesome interview in 2 parts with Dino Cazares,Tim Yeung and Joe Payne of metal titans, Divine Heresy. Check out part 1 here. And part 2 right here! Check out the mind-blowing "Bleed The Fifth' E-card right here! Divine Heresy's 'Bleed The Fifth' is blasting away in stores now!

Video interview with SHADOWS FALL's Brian Fair

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:39:57 +1000

HeavyMetalSource.com conducted an interview with Brian Fair of Shadows Fall on October 14, 2007 in Hartford, Connecticut at the Webster Theatre. Watch the nine-minute clip here. Shadows Fall's latest monstrous album, 'Threads Of Life', is in stores now! Go check it out! www.shadowsfall.com

WITHIN TEMPTATION honoured with Belgian TMF award

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 16:48:35 +1000

Awesome news!!! Within Temptation have been honored with the TMF Award in Belgium in the "Best International Live Act" category. "It was an extra special night for us, as we also received a platinum award for our previous album, 'The Silent Force'," the band writes on its web site. "In two weeks, the Dutch TMF Awards will take place and a few days later the MTV Europe Music Awards. Of course you can still vote for us, thanks!" To cast your vote and ensure Within Temptation dominate at the EMA awards, click here! (Choose ‘Beste Nederlandse Artiest’ = ‘Best Dutch Artist’) And don't forget to cast your vote for the Dutch TMF Awards here! (Click 'stemmen' and vote away!) Within Temptation's 'The Heart Of Everything' is conquering everything in it's path! So get to your nearest store and check it out! www.within-temptation.com

Audio interview with DEVILDRIVER's Dez Fafara

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 19:56:34 +1000

Vocalist Dez Fafara of Devildriver was recently interviewed by Rick Florino of JamNow. To listen to the chat, go to this location (select "Devildriver Interview" in the Jam Player on the upper right). Devildriver's triumphant third album, 'The Last Kind Words' is causing mayhem in the ear drums of listeners at the moment! Check it out here! The amazingly twisted video for 'Not All Who Wander Are Lost' can be viwed right here! www.devildriver.com

CRADLE OF FILTH's love-hate relationship

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 19:48:58 +1000

Amanda Chamberlain of In Utah This Week recently conducted an interview with CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani Filth. A few excerpts from the chat follow: In Utah This Week: Do you spend most of your time in your hometown of Suffolk, or in India, where you also have a home? Dani: In my hometown, where my main house is. The India thing is only for about a month each year, really. In Utah This Week: Has being married changed any aspects of your career in any way? Dani: Not really, because me and my wife have been together since we were 17. We were only married a couple of years ago. Really, it hasn't changed anything at all. In Utah This Week: Your daughter, is she growing up to be quite the metalhead? Dani: Yeah, but she's really into dance at the moment, and theater, so she has to listen to all kinds of things to dance. [Laughs] She's almost nine; almost to secondary school. In Utah This Week: She's quite older now than when she flashed devil horns on a COF DVD as a toddler! But speaking of your DVDs, it's obvious you all like to wreak havoc on tour. What is the most amusing prank you've pulled? Dani: We went back to the hotel from a venue in Greece, where we played with JUDAS PRIEST and MEGADETH, and the crew was busy breaking down our equipment into two buses. We had a couple of drinks when we got back to the hotel and thought it would be a brilliant idea to fill the lift [elevator] up with fire [extinguisher] spray. We didn't realize that it pressurizes inside the lift. So when the lift doors opened, and it got to the bottom in time for the crew to open it, it just went everywhere. Our guitarist was in the room next to me, and I retraced steps back into his room and left the fire [extinguisher] in there to make it look like he'd done it. Then I went to bed and thought, "Ha ha, this is the most fiendish plot ever!" In the morning, I found out that someone had been arrested for it; someone staying in the room next to me on the other side, not the guitar player. But we're not so bad anymore. We're practically saints now compared to that kind of stuff. In Utah This Week: In public, are you approached often by fans? Dani: I went to have a tattoo by Paul Booth a few weeks ago in New York with my family and it was weird because I got recognized in the weirdest places. Hemorrhoid cream is really good for clearing up tattoos, so I was standing in a store with loads of hemorrhoid cream in my hands and two fans came up to me. It happens at home as well, whenever we go to a club or something. In Utah This Week: Have you ever had a stalker? Dani: Not as in a person who has been turning up at my house, but we get people following us around on tour. In Utah This Week: Do you agree or disagree that since CRADLE OF FILTH has gained mass popularity in the metal scene, some metal fans are turned off by your more mainstream appeal? Dani: We have a love-hate relationship with a lot of people. They either love us or they hate us. Yeah, we can never do anything right to a certain degree with a certain amount of people. But I think we kind of self-deprecate ourselves, like if we're told to do one thing, we always do the other. That's why with each album, we always veer in strange directions. We've got a special edition of "Thornography" called "Heart of Dark Catharsis" coming out in February and it has seven, all-new tracks on it that didn't make the record; a couple are covers. We called it "Heart of Dark Catharsis" so we never have to explain to anyone what the content of the special edition actually is. But it's another sort of shift in another direction. It's old-school and very fast, but with an emphasis on catchiness. Read the entire interview at this location.

DELAIN win 1st round of New Sounds Of Europe!

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 19:45:17 +1000

Delain has won the first round of the New Sounds of Europe Award. The band played on the Uitmarkt in Amsterdam along with the other contestants, and afterwards the public was able to vote on their favorite act. You can watch Delain’s performance here! Thanks to the fans, Delain has gotten the most votes and will be competing in the second round against other European winners for the New Sounds of Europe Award. In this round, 18 artists from 18 countries will compete against each other. The 3 artists with the most votes will be invited to play on the MTV European Music Awards in Munich (Germany) on November the 1st. During the EMA's, people will be able to vote for their favorite with a live voting module; and the winning artist will close the EMA's during a worldwide, live broadcast! From Sunday 14 October, MTV will be knocking out one country (one local NSOE act) per day – no mercy. The act with the least votes on that day will go. 15 days later, on October 28th, only three bands will remain in the battle. If you want to see Delain play at the EMA’s, keep on voting and make sure they are one of the 3 bands that can play at the EMA’s!! You can vote until the 28th of October through the following websites: www.sonyericsson/mtvema and http://ema.mtv.nl/nsoe/voteNow (click on ‘stemmen’ or ‘vote’) Check out Delain's official website here!

MEGADETH bassist discusses 'United Abominations'

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:23:17 +1000

Mark Carras of RockMyMonkey.com recently conducted an interview with Megadeth bassist James Lomenzo. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow: Rock My Monkey: This CD does have a few songs on it with very strong political lyrics. Did you have any input in that at all? James Lomenzo: Just occasionally standing up and applauding and sitting down and keeping my mouth shut. (Laughs) This is off the typewriter of Dave Mustaine, and I got to say, you know, interestingly enough, I listened to some of the lyrics, "Amerikhastan", when he first wrote them, and my initial reaction was, "You're going to get yourself in a lot of trouble here." But then I started reading a little deeper into it, and I started to think, and I asked him this a few times, I said, "You're not really sitting on one position here, are you? You're just kind of weaving this tapestry of popular notion and ideas." He didn't agree with me on that, either, but that's kind of the way I interpreted it, anyway. So yeah, I mean, I felt very comfortable getting behind this stuff after I kind of read through it a few times and figured out exactly what was going on. For the most part I can't imagine too many people who are that continually enchanted with the current administration across the board. Rock My Monkey: Keeping in mind that you are not the one that wrote the lyrics, but you obviously have Dave's ear a little bit more than the average fan, when Dave says, "And tattooed is 'Property of USA,' a subsidiary of Haliburton,' I'm left wondering, is he pointing out all the massive… is that a little bit of sarcasm, and he's pointing out the massive amounts of corruption that happened with the Iraq war? James Lomenzo: I can't speak 100% for him, but I can tell you my reaction, and the snarl he gave me when I pointed that line out to him. I think he's being sarcastic. I don't think he's running the administration's flag with that one. Rock My Monkey: Good, good, good. James Lomenzo: I think we're pointing out corruption in that case. Rock My Monkey: Good, good, good. Now, also to say that there was no U.N. when America attacked Iraq is obviously correct factually. However, it doesn't seem to bring up the reasons that the U.N. made very clear of why they actually spoke out against it, and said, "Yeah, we don't think you should do this." And they actually tried to convince America not to do that. Is the song saying that the U.N. should jump every time an American president wants them to, or is again, is that pointing out the obvious ignorance of this administration? James Lomenzo: I hear your question loud and clear, and I have my idea on it. You got to go to the source. You're going to have to talk to Dave about that to see what he actually means. I would be speaking out of turn. Rock My Monkey: Okay, so then, without your interpretation of the lyrics, how do you feel personally about that? James Lomenzo: Well, personally I feel that, I think the administration tried to make the U.N. seem a little more irrelevant than they've been in the past. And maybe to a degree they are. Maybe it's kind of hard to get the world's attention these days, and run through an organization like that where there is some kind of base deals and corruptions being made. My opinion. That's my opinion. That's what I see. You know, the whole world is so globally… what's the word? It's all one big corporation after another kind of vying for their special interest. Nothing new here, but it's so exponential these days, that it's kind of hard to get down to the real story of who is actually benefiting from what. So this is again, man, I'm like you. I turn on the TV every once in a while and I see what's going on, and I lift up the paper and I see what's going on. And I'm trying to make sense of this just like everyone else is. Rock My Monkey: Yeah, I'm a news addict. Now, I got to say that I do agree with the basic message of the song, that the U.N. is irrelevant. But it was like, there's a couple things on there that seemed a little Fox News-ish, if you don't mind. James Lomenzo: Okay. Rock My Monkey: Now, I know you can't speak for Dave. But do you think that… what do you personally think is more important with this is that people agree with the lyrics, or that I guess people are talking about it? James Lomenzo: I think the most important thing, Mark, the most important thing is just that there's still dialogue. That everybody's thinking on their feet, and everybody's considering Dave Mustaine's viewpoint. Just consider it. Take it to their bank and see if they can gain interest on it, or if they feel they're becoming bankrupt by it. I think any conversation, anything that points us back to our current reality and our responsibilities to have to look and kind of monitor what our governments are doing is a good thing. I don't think everybody can get it right, because not everybody has all the dirt. Or all the cleanliness, if there's anything out there. But yeah, I think that any dialogue based on popular music and art is a great opportunity for people to use their own minds and figure things out for themselves. And by all means stand up and disagree, because that's part of the process, as well. Rock My Monkey: I think that's one of the great things about this album is that it actually has gotten a lot of people talking about this subject matter. It's definitely an album that's above and beyond the typical tits and beer stuff. James Lomenzo: (laughs) There's nothing wrong with tits and beer. Rock My Monkey: Nothing wrong with tits and beer. I like tits and beer, but yeah. Now, do you know why, do you know what the reason is for the release date on the "Warchest" box set being pushed back to October 9th? James Lomenzo: Just a production thing. That's all. Rock My Monkey: Okay. Alright. Now, you guys have been kicking the night off with my favorite song on this CD, "Sleepwalker". Now, anyone who reads the lyrics to that would see very clearly that the song screams for a video to be made. Is there any plans? James Lomenzo: You know what, we've been up and down this with Roadrunner for a while, and we've been taking their ideas and going with that, and sending back our ideas. I don't know if we're going to get to another video on this album. That would be, you know… if we could get a ground swell and a rally from our fans, and if they were as verbal as you are right now, and they said they really wanted that, of course we would supply that and would make that available. And you're probably right. That probably is a good across the board indicator of a solid, classic Megadeth song. I think I agree with you on that. United Abominations is still causing mayhem in stores! Check it out right here! www.megadeth.com

The second installment of the DAATHumentary

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:17:01 +1000

Daath's second episode from Daathumentary, their new series of video clips, is up now. In this one titled "Trailer Wreck", the guys get into a serious wreck in the middle of nowhere, and almost die. They end up trying to duck tape their seriously fucked trailer. Check this shit out here. More clips to be seen soon, especially with Daath on the Dark Funeral Tour with Naglfar that kicked off a few daysd ago! Daath's The Hinderers is in stores now! www.daathmusic.com/ www.myspace.com/daath www.youtube.com/daathmusic

Exclusive CAVALERA CONSPIRACY interview

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:08:47 +1000

During the 11th Annual D-Low Memorial Show on August 31st - the first live performance from Cavalera Conspiracy - the Soulfly Web team was able to sit down and conduct interviews with all the members of Cavalera Conspiracy to get the information on their unheard upcoming new album straight from their mouths. Except for a few small notes left on their website, Gojira's axeman/vocalist Joe Duplantier has been relatively quiet about his contributions in his brand new band with Max and Igor Cavalera and Marc Rizzo. This interview is Joe's first as the bassist for Cavalera Conspiracy, and it is available exclusively at the band's MySpace page.

Video interview with DOWN's Kirk and Jimmy

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:31:39 +1000

Synthesis.net recently caught up with Down's Kirk Windstein and Jimmy Bower at the Senator Theatre in Chico, California. Video footage from the interview is available here. Down's awesome Roadrunner debut, 'III - Over The Under' is in stores now! If you haven't heard them yet, listen to the monstrous track 'I Scream' right here! www.down-nola.com

Mind-blowing DREAM THEATER pics!

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:02:44 +1000

Our friends over at Roadrunner Sweden have posted some awesome pics of Dream Theater performing a breathtakeing show in Stockholm on the 28th of September. Check these masterpieces out here! Another masterpiece of Dream Theater's, 'Systematic Chaos', is in stores now! www.dreamtheater.net www.myspace.com/dreamtheater www.youtube.com/dreamtheater

Watch SANCTITY's 'Beloved Killer'!

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:16:49 +1000

Up now is Sanctity's "Beloved Killer", the second video from their purely brutal debut album Road to Bloodshed. Watch it right here, right now! Sanctity's 'Road to Bloodshed' is ripping the store shelves, take a look at it here! www.sanctityweb.com www.myspace.com/sanctity www.youtube.com/sanctity

Thunda.com's WITHIN TEMPTATION review

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 23:56:34 +1000

Thunda.com have posted a great review on Within Temptation's latest album, The Heart Of Everything. Here is an extract of the review by Philippa Walker: '6 piece Dutch band Within Temptation produce rich and sensual music of the Gothic Metal / Symphonic Metal genre. Classical orchestral sounds are dramatically woven with heavier drums and guitars, while lead singer Sharon Den Adel provides a strong and polished vocal accompaniment.' 'The Heart of Everything' is the bands fourth studio album. It debuted at number one in the Netherlands and received critical acclaim in many European countries. Furthermore it entered the United world Chart at number 38, the first Dutch band ever to appear on the chart.' Read the full review here! 'The Heart Of Everything' is in stores ready to be unleashed on an unsuspecting public. Go check it out! www.within-temptation.com

MACHINE HEAD's 'Now I Lay Thee Down' video premiere

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:04:51 +1000

Machine Head's video for "Now I Lay Thee Down" premiered on MTV's Headbanger's Blog. It kicks 'fuckin ass so watch it here. Machine Head's latest offering, The Blackening, is creating a black wave of chaos nationwide, go check it out! www.machinehead1.com www.myspace.com/machinehead www.youtube.com/machinehead

DOWN's Pepper Keenan speaks out

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 01:04:54 +1000

Steve Newton of Straight.com reports: "Just before Hurricane Katrina cut a horrifying swath across the U.S. Gulf Coast in August of 2005, the members of metal quintet DOWN had gathered in their hometown of New Orleans to work on new material for their third CD, "Over the Under". Guitarist Pepper Keenan made the smart move of leaving the area before the storm hit, and apart from losing power for a month, his house was all right. But he didn't walk away from the experience unscathed, and neither did his Big Easy bandmates. "It was somethin' we all went through and are still dealing with on a daily basis," he relates, on the line from Reno, Nevada, before the first stop on a 29-date North American tour. "I mean, it was devastating, man. People lost their houses, I lost family members. Half the city was destroyed." The fortitude of Louisiana natives in the face of Katrina's destruction is cited on "Over the Under" tracks like "On March the Saints", but as Keenan explains, the city is still terribly wounded more than two years after the disaster. And it hasn't gotten much help with reconstruction from the Bush administration. "If they did as much in New Orleans as they're doin' in fuckin' Iraq we'd be fine," blusters Keenan, before decrying Kanye West's assertion that Dubya's disregard for Katrina victims stems from his indifference toward blacks. "I don't care about Kanye West," he counters. "I mean, everybody was damaged in the storm. For Kanye West to make it a black thing was retarded." Down's 'III - Over The Under' is tearing up stores now! www.down-nola.com

TRIVIUM's Matt Heafy talks to The Metal Forge.com

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:18:41 +1000

Simon Milburn from Themetalforge.com spoke to Trivium frontman Matt Heafy about writing new material, touring and the 'M' word. An extract from the article reads: 'Trivium, in a relatively short time frame, has gone from obscurity to one of the most talked about metal acts around today. Of course, that talk is both good and bad depending on who you talk to, but the fact remains that metal heads have an opinion on the group. Since releasing Ember To Inferno as a three piece back in 2003, vocalist/guitarist Matt Heafy and drummer Travis Smith solidified their band line-up with the recruitment of guitarist Cory Beaulieu and bassist Paulo Gregoletto things began to pick up for the group. Their big break would be the release of their 2005 sophomore effort, Ascendancy, which received an abundance of attention.' 'Sure enough, the time would soon come for the Florida based quartet to follow it up, and 2006 saw the release of The Crusade – an album which shocked and surprised both fans and press alike thanks mostly to the distinct shift in Heafy’s vocals from the growl of the band’s previous effort to a modern day version of a cross between classic James Hetfield (Metallica) and Chuck Billy (Testament).' 'Whilst on tour in Dallas, Texas (U.S.A.) I caught up with Heafy between other media commitments to talk about their pending return to Australian shores, their experiences and comments on the band’s first ever tour here in January 2007, the shift in style between the latest album and the one before it, writing album number four and just how well things have been going for the group since they were last down under.' Read the full article here! Trivium's lastest offering, The Crusade, is still tearing stores apart, go check it out if you haven't! www.trivium.org

Your favourite ATREYU album?

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:05:34 +1000

Read the review of 'Lead Sails, Paper Anchor' that was posted at Beat.com.au After finding themselves on the cusp of a major breakthrough with their third album A Death-Grip On Yesterday, Californian outfit Atreyu decided to move on from their former label Victory Records, and sign up with Roadrunner Records. In a lot of ways, it all makes sense as Lead Sails Paper Anchor sees Atreyu once again changing tact in the musical sense. Doomsday and Honor are both heady tracks that feature some catchy riffs, memorable lead breaks and rock solid choruses that really do stick in the memory long after the songs are finished. Rather than simply churning out the same predictable metalcore formula the band originally started out with, Atreyu have instead opted for something more traditional in the metal sense, with Alex Varkatzas in particular focussing more on his clean vocals rather than simply providing screams to counteract Brandon Saller's own efforts. For something completely different, Atreyu experiment with horns and various vocal approaches on the anthem like Falling Down, while the vocal experimentation is pushed even further still with the inclusion of an operatic fill around the three quarter mark of Lose It. In contrast, Slow Burn and Blow are an all out tributes to 80's hard rock, with Buckcherry vocalist Josh Todd adding an air of authenticity to proceedings on the latter. Tracks such as Becoming The Bull, No One Cares and Can't Happen Here are probably as close as Atreyu get to the sound found on their last album, while the sweeping Lead Sails (And A Paper Anchor) ventures into completely alien waters for the band, with shades of country influenced guitars heard throughout. Old fans of Atreyu may find this album a disappointment. But if you've followed Atreyu progression throughout the years, and have enjoyed their constant evolution that comes with each album, then Lead Sails Paper Anchor may just end up being your favourite Atreyu release. 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor' is in stores now. To the Beat site www.atreyurock.com

WITHIN TEMPTATION need YOU!

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:20:14 +1000

This is a posting from Within Temptation's official website: Next to the nominations for the Dutch en Belgian TMF Awards we’re now also nominated for a Europe Music Award (EMA) in the category ‘Best Dutch Artist’. Also for this nomination we really need your support. You can vote through the following link: http://ema.mtv.nl/voteNow# (Choose ‘Beste Nederlandse Artiest’ = ‘Best Dutch Artist’) You can also still vote for the Dutch and Belgian TMF Awards: TMF Awards Nederland www.tmfawards.nl TMF Awards Belgie http://awards.tmf.be Thanks for your support! Best wishes, Robert, Sharon, Ruud, Stephen, Martijn en Jeroen. Within Temptation's The Heart Of Everything is in stores now! www.within-temptation.com

Awesome review of THE CULT's 'Born Into This'

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:10:49 +1000

Tom-x.com has posted a great review on The Cult's fantastic new album Born Into This. The review by Smart Tart goes a little something like this: 'Only set for release in October 2007, I was honoured and privileged to receive the pre sneak to review! My romance with them was spawned in the days of Southern Death Cult, and I am ecstatic to be able to say that The Cult are back, former glory intact! And, with the able production abilities of ex Killing Joke bassist Martin Glover, they are set to do Roadrunner Records seriously proud!' 'With the usual backbone of Ian Astbury’s vocals and Billy Duffy on lead guitar, the Cult current line up includes ex-Zombie / Testament drummer John Tempesta, Mike Dimkitch on rhythm guitar and bassist Chris Wyse who within a year of their first stage show in March 2006 in San Francisco, have signed a major deal with RR to produce one of the best Cult albums since Sonic Temple.' 'Dirty Little Rockstar is the first single and was released sometime in mid August 2007 but with tracks like “I Assassin” and “Diamond” there really is “Pure Cult” energy and sound back in the universe, and it is most welcome! It has been a long hiatus for fans and Born into This is going to make up for every minute of it! While there is something so comforting in the familiarity of their sound, this album is a pleasingly salubrious take on a winning formula. It is enticing with electric experience, a sonic temple of savvy sounds, but most of all the ceremony sans catatonia and I can’t wait till it is released on an unsuspecting public!' Born Into This is in stores now! So go get yourself a piece of legendary hard rock! www.thecult.us www.myspace.com/cultmusic

Some scorching 3 INCHES OF BLOOD footage!

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:00:44 +1000

3 Inches of Blood have sold out three shows on their way to meet up with Shadows Fall, Static X, and Divine Heresy for their fall tour. Things are hot, hot, hot! See some footage from their Ozzfest Summer Vacation on the band's YouTube page by clicking here. Fire Up The Blades is in stores now! So grab yer swords and viking helmets and prepare for war! www.3inchesofblood.com www.myspace.com/3iob www.youtube.com/3inchesofblood

THE CULT's new video for 'Tiger In The Sun' posted on Youtube!

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:07:46 +1000

Get amped for The Cult's mind-blowing new album, Born Into This! A video is making the rounds which combines footage of the uprising in Burma with The Cult's "Tiger in the Sun" from Born Into This. Click here to watch. Plus, The Cult's brand new website is up and running, check it out here! www.thecult.us www.myspace.com/cultmusic

DEVILDRIVER interview by Metal-Rules.com

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:59:12 +1000

Hey all. Check out this interview on Metal-Rules.com with Devil Driver's singer Dez Fafara about The Last Kind Words. Interview done by Lord Of The Wasteland. Click here to read it! Devildriver's killer new album, The Last Kind Words, is in stores now! www.devildriver.com www.myspace.com/devildriver www.youtube.com/devildrivertube

Exclusive DREAM THEATER tour clips

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:22:56 +1000

Ytsejam.com posted another set of exclusive Dream Theater Behind The Scenes Tour Clips. Click here to check them out! www.dreamtheater.net www.myspace.com/dreamtheater www.youtube.com/dreamtheater

Vote for PORCUPINE TREE too!

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:18:45 +1000

Porcupine Tree's Fear Of A Blank Planet is also up for a Classic Rock Award for Album Of The Year. Vote here now! The triumphantly amazing Fear Of A Blank Planet is in stores now! www.porcupinetree.com

Vote for BLACK STONE CHERRY!

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:27:29 +1000

Black Stone Cherry has been nominated for best new band on the Classic Rock Honor Roll 2007. You can vote for all your favourite categories on the Classic Rock web site. Black Stone Cherry are still riding high off their awesome debut, featuring the rock radio staples "Lonely Train," "Hell & High Water," and "Rain Wizard". Black Stone Cherry's sure-to-classic self-titled debut album is in stores now! www.blackstonecherry.com www.myspace.com/blackstonecherry www.youtube.com/blackstonecherry

MEGADETH - 'Never Walk Alone' video premiere

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:18:48 +1000

Megadeth's brand new video from United Abominations, "Never Walk Alone," is premiering now and only at MySpace. Click here to watch. United Abominations is wreaking havoc in stores countrywide! Go be a part of it! www.megadeth.com www.myspace.com/megadeth www.youtube.com/megadeth

Here comes the PAIN

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:08:40 +1000

Themetalforge.com have posted a great article on Peter Tägtgren's project, Pain, where he talks about the album, guest appearences and his passion for Bjork! Check out the full article here. Pain's Psalms Of Extinction is in stores now! Go check it out! Official Pain Website

WITHIN TEMPTATION interview on Vampire Freaks

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:31:25 +1000

Check out this video of an interview VF Magazine did with Sharon and Rob from Within Temptation, shot outside of a coffee shop across the street from Cervantes in Denver, CO. The Heart Of Everything is in stores now! www.within-temptation.com www.myspace.com/withintemptation www.youtube.com/wtofficial

Interview with SOULFLY drummer Joe Nunez

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:26:05 +1000

Soulfly's official web site has been updated with the following message: "During the 11th annual D-Low Memorial Show on August 31 — Soulfly's only U.S. show this year and the first live performance from Cavalera Conspiracy — Soulfly Web was able to sit down and conduct interviews with all the members of both bands to get information on both of their upcoming albums straight from their mouths. Every two weeks we will be posting a new interview with another musician, and two weeks ago we began with a video interview with Max Cavalera. "This week we continue the series with an interview with Soulfly drummer Joe Nunez, available exlusively at MySpace.com/Soulfly. "Soulfly entered Bobby Burns' Porch Studio on September 12, and we haven't had a chance to check in with Joe since then, but this interview gives a good indication of what to expect." Read the interview at this location. www.soulflyweb.com

Phil's 4th DOWN blog installment

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:21:20 +1000

The fourth and installment is as follows: "It was a 'spiritual' start for all of us jointly, and individually. "We came home and shook off the jet lag pretty quickly. We were back in the jam room immediately, finishing the writing process. From there, the decision was made to do the record in Los Angeles. The producer, Warren Riker (also the producer of DOWN 'II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow'), is located there, and had some killer sounding rooms in mind. "We cut the drum tracks at Sage and Sound studio. We were all there, working as a full band on the final takes with Jim. He played amazing and the tracks are rock solid. We were once again, pleasantly, interrupted after Jim's drums were recorded. This time, it was a short three-week tour with BLACK SABBATH in Canada (incredible contingency!). "The first show of the tour was one of our own in Seattle. It was the first show outside of N.O. played in the States. The show went awesome. The crowd was so incredible, it was tear jerking. I saw Terry Date, a great friend, also an amazing producer. Having worked with him closely on PANTERA's 'Cowboys from Hell' through 'The Great Southern Trendkill', I knew this very well. He loved the show, and I respect his opinion greatly. Sean [Kinney] from ALICE IN CHAINS was there and many other friends. It was a memorable evening. "We moved into Canada that night and joined up with BLACK SABBATH the following night. The first show in went excellent. We were powerful and our fans were there in force. The people who had never heard of us, and the older crowd there to see SABBATH were on their feet by the end of our set. And then, for the first time ever, I lost my voice. It was gone. I lost my mind as well. "To find a throat specialist who had any knowledge of a singers throat, was impossible. We were forced to miss three shows. "On the day of the fourth show, I couldn't let the fans, my band, nor the crew down any longer. With the worst croaking throat, I finished the rest of the tour, with us ending in New Orleans. I had just a little time to rest my torn up throat. "We flew to L.A. to lay guitar tracks. Pepper and Kirk both did excellent work. Kirk is a perfectionist and an incredible lead guitarist. Pepper is from a different school, and brings a slippery southern approach that's signature to our sound. He is also a great visionary. "Rex laid down bad-ass bass tracks in no time. He's so great, he makes it look effortless. But it's more passion and experience that he delivers. He always does. "I did my vocal tracks between Nodferatu's Lair and in L.A. I was extremely particular about my vocals. The different emotions each song brought had to be felt by the listener. I was drained after every night in the studio. Warren pushed me further. My WILL came into play. I got the job done. "The following week after that, Warren, Pepper, and I began mixing the record in June and July. Mastering followed shortly, which was no easy process. This wasn't just a 'heavy metal' record; we had to capture the unique DOWN sound. Our music has many dynamics, and being 'heavy' for the sake of being 'heavy' is something we've all done before. The new songs are heavy, but this time, the content may outweigh just tones in general. "It took many passes before everyone was happy. And we finally are. "There was one last opportunity that came just at the end of the mastering process. We did one last jaunt before the release of 'Over the Under', with BLACK SABBATH in Australia throughout August. The shows were sold out, and also great. This was all of our second time there, minus Kirk, under different circumstances. C.O.C. with Jimmy playing drums, opened for PANTERA in Australia a few years previously, to rabid fans. "Australia is absolutely beautiful, and the music scene, and fans are second to no one. (We will return soon!!). "The U.S. is next and we are anxious. "We began the journey at the beginning of '06. It is now September '07, and there is still much to do. As opposed to the second DOWN LP, which was recorded in 28 days, we've taken our time with this one. "'Over the Under' is about perseverance. One that touches on the pains of the blackest pitch, in the complex tunnels of the soul, toward a crack of light, that resonates clarity. Newly tapped compassion through struggle. Demons exorcised, for lack of better words. "This record is for the 'loyal' DOWN fans worldwide, and also for the MASSES of music fans that crave, and deserve, NEW MUSIC!! "I leave it up to you now. "The release date is Sept. 25th. BUY ONLINE OR IN STORES IN DROVES!!! CHANGE THE FACE OF MUSIC!!! "We'll see each other on tour!! "I love you all! And wish prosperity, and a big dose of WILL, for everyone all, both present and past in my lifeÂ… "'Till the next correspondence, it's been pleasant catching up with you (our life blood)." Check out the full blog here! www.down-nola.com

Catching up with DIVINE HERESY's Dino

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:22:36 +1000

Chad Bowar of About Heavy Metal recently conducted an interview with Divine Heresy guitarist Dino Cazares. A few excerpts from the chat follow: About Heavy Metal: What kind of response has "Bleed The Fifth" been getting so far? Dino Cazares: "The majority of the response is very positive. But we are between a rock and a hard place with my Fear Factory past. It's either too much Fear Factory or not enough Fear Factory for those fans. But I think we'll get past that and people will realize that this is a great metal record." About Heavy Metal: How did Divine Heresy come together? Dino Cazares: "The biggest challenge in putting this together was finding the time, really. I had plenty of other projects going at the time. I met Tim Yeung [drums] around 2003 and we kept in touch. We finally met up in 2005 and started writing songs. Tommy [Cummings] came aboard in 2006. Tim and I had recorded songs and sent them over to Tommy for his vocal audition. We heard passion and anger in his voice, which was something we wanted. It was also very aggressive. We flew him out to L.A. and went straight to the studio and started recording with him. That's how it came together." About Heavy Metal: You recently brought aboard Joe Payne as your new bassist. Dino Cazares: "On the record Tony Campos from Static-X did three songs. I had met Joe Payne in 2005 when he was touring with Nile. I saw him play live. Three months ago he called me. I told him to come on down, he had the spot. I already knew he was a kick-ass bass player and a good guy. Tim also knew him really well. He came highly recommended. We did have bass auditions for a lot of people, but we were picky. Joe is both a bass and guitar player, and he is able to play the bass like a guitar, which I really like, which is another reason we picked him." About Heavy Metal: Is he a permanent member, or just a touring member of the band? Dino Cazares: "We feel good about it. We're going to see what it's like on the road. We have two big tours coming up. As of now, he's pretty close to it." About Heavy Metal: I understand the video shoot at the Salton Sea in California was a bit rough for "Failed Creation" because of the location. Dino Cazares: "It was pretty nasty. It was about 116 degrees with rotted, dead fish everywhere. The water there is really polluted and thousands and thousands of fish die every year. Birds flock there and think they can feed on these fish, but when they do they end up dying too. It's a perfect place to shoot a video. (laughs) The combination of the smells and the heat made me throw up. I had to throw my clothes away after the shoot. We'd be jamming and someone would have to throw up." Read the entire interview at HeavyMetal.About.com. Divine Heresy's gut-crushing debut album 'Bleed The Fifth' is in stores now!

WITHIN TEMPTATION's Sharon den Adel talks to Live-Metal.net

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:08:01 +1000

Jeff Maki and Jason Price of Live-Metal.net recently conducted an interview with WIthin Temptation vocalist Sharon den Adel. A few excerpts from the interview follow: Live-Metal.net: When you are performing songs on stage does it take you back to when and where you wrote the lyrics? Or at this point in time, having played them repeatedly, is it merely performing the songs? Sharon: Well, eventually it becomes more performing the songs, but you have certain times when it's better not to always know when to go back to the time you were writing it. Sometimes it's very emotional and if you have that emotional kind of thing, it's sometimes good. It will always be emotional because you will always have emotions attached to it. You have emotions and emotion, of course — heavy emotion. Certain painful memories or beautiful memories. It's like through time, like scars they fade a little bit. So I think on stage sometimes when you are having a certain day, it might come back very heavily. It might be better not to play the song. But most of the times it's just playing the songs and enjoying it. It's also releasing and getting rid of certain negative emotions. Live-Metal.net: Your lyrics seem pretty personal to me. Are there any songs you just don't want to play live because it does bring you back to those emotions? Sharon: Yeah, of course, but it's ... "Forgiven" is maybe one of those songs, but I could play them and keep my tears inside. You can restrain it, of course. It depends on the day. Sometimes it's the day when “it” happened like four years ago, so it's better not to play the song because you're gonna be reminded and not be too happy, so yeah, sometimes it's like that. Live-Metal.net: What's next for you after this tour? Sharon: Well, we got a lot of shows in Europe. We are going to play on England in the academies, which are lots of nice venues to play in. So we're gonna play there like four or five shows and then we go to Germany. We do a tour in Germany and we have a few big shows, as well. Then in Holland, we do an arena with a real orchestra in February, a classical orchestra. And we're gonna play all our songs with a classical orchestra. Also in November, we're gonna play for 8,000 people in Eindoven, which is also in Holland and we're gonna play this java kind of big show with all kinds of things happening. So they're will be a lot of things, then come back here again. Live-Metal.net: So you're coming back here soon? Sharon: I hope so, because we just met our booking agency yesterday and they were like, "Please come back soon again." And we were like, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, but when?" So we're gonna see. So hopefully we will again. It will be on short notice — that's how it works probably in America, I don't know. It goes differently in Europe. They have ticket sales in Europe and it's like six months ahead of when you're really going to play. And America it's like — we announced this tour a month ago. And we're like, "Nobody's gonna come. Nobody's gonna know. How can I do this?" But there like that's normal in America — "OK, right." Live-Metal.net: You mentioned playing with the orchestra. How will that transition? How will that work? Sharon: It's gonna be different, but not that much different because we have an orchestra on tape, because we can't bring the orchestra to events and stuff like that. They're gonna play more or less the real thing, but of course it will be more organic. The sounds are gonna be different, but it's gonna be live. And we'll probably make a little bit different arrangements here and there. It's not the same orchestra we recorded with and we're gonna do some different things also to make it more special, try some things out. Also to give them some more space for their own interpretation. Live-Metal.net: Could that be released as a live album like what the Scorpions or Metallica did? Sharon: I'm not sure. It depends on how it works out. And like I said, we're gonna give them some freedom for their own interpretation and if some songs don't work out then we're gonna skip the song probably. [laughter] But we're not sure how things will work out. But it's not the first time working with a real orchestra. We have done it before in Europe. But to do a whole show with a real orchestra, it is our first time, so it depends on how it's going to look and how it is recorded. We're gonna film everything, of course. Live-Metal.net: Is there anything else you'd like to add? Sharon: Well, we start writing again in December probably. That's the first time we have days off again, so we'll probably start writing new songs again. We'll see where we are and how fast we can write a new album. I want to write a new album very quickly. But sometimes when you're touring there is no time or no space to sit down and relax and try some things. Read the entire interview at www.live-metal.net. Within Temptation's haunting new album 'The Heart Of Everything' is in stores now! www.within-temptation.com

The Gauntlet posts new MACHINE HEAD photos

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:59:54 +1000

The Gauntlet posted a bunch of kickass photos of Machine Head taken by Kirsty Lingman at the SOMA, San Diego show on 9/9/07. Check em' out here www.machinehead1.com www.myspace.com/machinehead www.youtube.com/machinehead

DOWN frontman's blog: Part 3

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:25:57 +1000

To chronicle the past five years leading up to the release of DOWN's new album, "III - Over The Under", singer Philip Anselmo (ex-PANTERA) has been issuing periodic installments leading up to the release of the record. This is Philip's personal communication to the band's loyal fan base and gives a first hand account of the tragedy, isolation, rebirth and ultimate triumph of one of the most important bands of our time. The third installment is as follows: "I don't want to skip over some of the finer points of interest that occurred during the writing of 'Over the Under'. So, I'm going to jump back and tell of some key happenings. "Before DOWN began writing new material as a whole band, I was four months out of surgery, and two months into physical therapy and was asked to sing with ALICE IN CHAINS by Jerry Cantrell (opening up for the majestic HEART). I hadn't been on stage in two years, but I accepted immediately. It was an honor. Layne Staley (R.I.P) was a friend, and an incredible singer. I hadn't sang in a long time, and singing his songs was no easy task. I did the gig. With my mobility still extremely compromised, I still felt confident. The show was spiritual. The surprise, and response of the fans, the tears, the symbolism/homage to our deceased brothers, so thick over the event, we could feel them. The band played with tight emotion. They were amazing. All of this was overwhelming (AIC is in my heart). This is what I needed. A catalyst. I was home on that stage. I needed it back, and I would have it. After that incredible experience, my workouts became even more intense, and the writing of the new DOWN began for real. "The songs to this point were very raw, recorded on hand-held cassette recorders and jam boxes. But, those tapes became priceless to us. We carried them everywhere we went, and became a canvas for ideas that consumed us all. After workouts and practice, I would spend my time intimately with a pen and paper, a guitar, an old generic amp (with a crushing tone!) and an old cassette four-track. I wrote insidiously. I dug through mountains of tapes, and found quite a large amount of jam sessions we had recorded over the years. Everyone else also had their own private library of jam tapes as well, and soon we were overwhelmed with riffs and half-songs. I put them all onto one CD. From start to finish it ran over an hour. There was enough material for four albums, and, they were all damn good parts. Jim [Bower, drums] and I recorded some raw parts for a few songs (just guitar and drums) at Balance Studios with 'the puma' courtesy of my partner in adventure and the owner of the facility Gene Joannen. After that, we were interrupted, pleasantly, by opportunity. We had to switch gears completely. "I was six months out of surgery, and we did a five week tour of Europe. Playing our own 'Evening With Down' shows, as well as the giant, (in)famous, outdoor summertime festivals, including being the unannounced, special guest band to play the main stage at Download that year (U.K./European fans, our homeland, YOU, our sisters and brothers, are incredible! THE LOYAL!!! We shall return…soon). It was a big deal. "DOWN had never been to Europe before. Word had it that our contingency there was insane. It would be our first tour in over five years, and there was no better way for us to return. We decided to document the event to be used as a movie (no release date yet). It was directed by one of my best friends Jim Van Bebber ('Deadbeat At Dawn', 'The Manson Family'), and his cinematographer, the ever-cool Mike King. "With Snake, our ever-loyal, kick-ass road crew, the film crew, and (us) the band, we all got onto a plane for an eight-hour flight. We landed in Hamburg, Germany, then piled into two buses. The shows were awesome! The audiences in Europe are as hardcore as you can get. As a band, we were in no way, shape, nor form, any where close to the standards we were capable of, but we pulled it off. "The highlights of the tour are many. Playing the Gods of Metal festival in Italy, seeing old friends like Satyr and Frost from SATYRICON (you fucking killed!), TESTAMENT, SODOM, and many others. But one of my greatest memories of all… The mighty VENOM (hail to Cronos, Antton, and Mike!) headlined the festival, and invited me onstage to sing 'Die Hard' (from the 'Bursting Out'/'Die Hard' EP). It made a part of my life. "Running into VOIVOD in London was an all night blast! (Much love to Snake and Away. You've influenced two generations of heavy metal, and are one of my favorite bands. We are friends for life! R.I.P. Piggy. I can't say enough about you as a person, neither your beautifully unique guitar talent. At rest, your legacy is forever). "The Download festival was great for us, and our last show in the U.K. We opened the whole show at 11 a.m. and the crowd was packed in and ready. They sang every word. It was a fucking jam session. We had the opportunity to watch a wide variety of bands that day, and the crowd were fanatic throughout (love to Dez, Tim, and anyone I left out)! "METALLICA (gods!) headlined that year. It was the anniversary of the release of the massive 'Master of Puppets'. They ripped through the entire LP from beginning 'till end. They were very animated, extremely tight, and they dominated the masses of fans, who could not get enough. It was as heavy as heavy gets. "Making it through that tour was a giant re-learning experience. Being in front of an audience again, and a great audience they are, our groove as a band came quickly. It was clumsy here and there, but there were more great moments than bad. It most importantly was extremely instrumental in the re-sharpening of our chemistry as a band, and, friends. On a personal note, in the back of my mind, there may have been a glimpse of doubt about the wear on my spine at that point, but my WILL saw me through. I knew I had a ways to go, but I'd get it. And it proved WE were damn well ready to roll on..." To read the full blog as well as parts 1 and 2, head down to the down website click here Check out photos at this location. Down's Official Website

THEORY OF A DEADMAN studio report

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:20:06 +1000

Theory of a Deadman, hard at work on their next album in Los Angeles, recorded this studio report just for you on August 18th. See some of the happenings inside, including some guitar work, the bathroom, and a whole messload of sound equipment. Click here to watch. www.theoryofadeadman.com www.myspace.com/theoryofadeadman www.youtube.com/theoryofadeadman

THE CULT gets back to basics

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:07:53 +1000

Wes Orshoski of Billboard.com reports: If THE CULT's 2001 reunion album, "Beyond Good and Evil", was a heavily produced, muscular rock affair, the band took the opposite approach on the forthcoming "Born into This", due Oct. 2 via Roadrunner. The Cult cut the disc in 36 days with a mind toward re-embracing its punk-rooted past. "Our last record, with all respect to [producer] Bob Rock ... we were guilty as much as he was, it was an overproduced record. We just went too far with it. It took about a year-and-a-half to make [and] an exorbitant amount of money," singer Ian Astbury tells Billboard.com. "This was one far more economic. We didn't want to get entrenched in debates of whether this is working or is this not working. If anything got a little bit drawn out, we just moved on to the next track." Read more at Billboard.com www.thecult.us

DAATHumentary: Destruction

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:25:14 +1000

Get the full Daath experience with the first of many clips in the Daathumentary series. Here Mike Kameron explains the philosophy behind Daath for a bit before Messrs. Farber, Kameron, and Werstler rain destruction upon an innocent keyboard. Check it out here! Daath's The Hinderers is in stores now! www.daathmusic.com www.myspace.com/daath www.youtube.com/daathmusic

Schweet Fire Up The Blades review!

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:33:31 +1000

A tidy review of 3 Inches' latest offering 'Fire Up The Blades' by Themetalforge.com One of the more left field releases of 2004 was 'Advance And Vanquish' from Vancouver (Canada) based traditional heavy/power metal act 3 Inches Of Blood. Fusing together elements of N.W.O.B.H.M., 80's heavy metal (Judas Priest and Iron Maiden) and power metal (Manowar) sound wise, and fronted by dual vocalists Cam Pipes (Whose high pitched clean vocals bring to mind Judas Priest's Rob Halford) and Jamie Hooper (Who provides the deep melodic death metal growls), 3 Inches Of Blood's debut for Roadrunner Records (Their 2002 debut 'Battlecry Under A Winter Sun' was released through Teenage Rampage Records) was not only a throwback to a bygone era, but also something completely different from anything else on the scene. But for all the high praise (Not to mention criticism from those who view the band as nothing more than a novelty act) the band earned with the release of their sophomore effort, the vocalists have had to rebuild the group from the ground up, with the recording of the band's third album 'Fire Up The Blades' featuring an entirely new line-up consisting of guitarists Shane Clark (Ten Miles Wide/The Almighty Punchdrunk) and Justin Hagberg (Allfather), bassist Nick Cates and drummer Alexei Rodriguez (Ex-Walls Of Jericho/Catharsis). As you would expect, the introduction of new members has had an influence on 3 Inches Of Blood?s new album in the sound sense, but in regards to direction, 'Fire Up The Blades' is very much a continuation of where 'Advance And Vanquish', with only some subtle changes evident. After a militaristic instrumental opening piece entitled Through The Horned Gate, the band get off to a flying start on the fast paced Night Marauders. With a vibrant and clear production (Handled by Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison, and mixed by Zeuss), and a greater sense of maturity in their song writing approach, Night Marauders shows a progression from their past efforts (Especially within the guitar solos and the overall pacing), while remaining rooted in the retro metal sound that gave them a unique edge and sound. Both The Goatriders Horde and the melodic death metal influenced Infinite Legions manage to up the intensity and speed of the opener with clutches of blast beats and infectious dual guitar riffing throughout, while Trial Of Champions (Which features some great organ work from Hagberg), God Of The Cold White Silence (Which again features some great grand piano work), The Great Hall Of Feasting and Assassins Of The Light (The latter two boasting plenty of cowbell throughout) reveal some of the more 70's influences featured on the album. Forest King (Which features a nod to Black Sabbath's Heaven And Hell in the breakdown section), Demon's Blade (One of the few tracks where Hooper actually gets an equal amount of lines as Pipes), Black Spire and The Hydra?s Teeth help keep up the high standard of the album up around the tail end, before the instrumental Rejoice In The Fires Of Man's Demise finishes things off. Fans of 'Advance And Vanquish' will find that with 'Fire Up The Blades', 3 Inches Of Blood have once again managed to put together an album that satisfies old school cravings with a modern production, without losing any of the spirit that won over fans the first time around. 7.5/10 So grab your helmets and swords 'cos Fire Up The Blades is in stores now! www.3inchesofblood.com

A warped STILL REMAINS video

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:22:18 +1000

T.J. Miller is interrogated by PureGrainAudio.com Take a look at a video HERE featuring the band who made one of the albums of the year, 'The Serpent'. www.stillremains.com

TRIVIUM bassist checks in

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 22:26:15 +1000

Trivium bassist Paolo Gregoletto has issued the following update: "Thank you to everyone that came out to see us on the Family Values Tour or at an 'off date' show, we really appreciate it and hoped that you enjoyed the summer as much as we did! "It seems our quick vacation is coming to an end this week. Starting Monday we hit the studio to do some demos and rehearse for the rest of this year's touring. It's been quite awhile since we had more than a few days to jam because we usually just jump from one tour right into another. I am sure we will be getting pictures up on all the sites, especially www.triviumworld.com, of us working on the new stuff and rehearsing our set for the highly anticipated Black Crusade! "But before the first Black Crusade show kicks off in Perth, we are stopping through Japan for Loudpark 07 and a few shows with Heaven And Hell, as well our own headline show in Osaka. We can't wait to enjoy the food, culture and of course the shows once again. This will be our third trip over to Japan, and it looks to be the biggest and best tour there yet! After that we take a quick 10-hour trip down to our Aussie fans to join up with Machine Head and Arch Enemy for what is sure to be a legendary tour!!! Australia has been amazing to Trivium, so we knew we needed to return one last time before we finished the touring cycle. We are happy to be able to kick off the Black Crusade down under! "Fast forward a few weeks and we have reached the home stretch of touring for 'The Crusade' in what is shaping up to be a great end of the year with the Black Crusade going across the UK and Europe! This will be the last time you will see us for some time since we will be starting the new album in early 2008. "Thanks for all the support you give us; we can never thank you enough!!" www.trivium.org

MACHINE HEAD footage with replacement bassist

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:33:58 +1000

The first video footage has surfaced of Machine Head performing with temporary bassist Brandon Sigmund from fellow San Francisco Bay Area metal band Hostility. A six-minute fan-filmed clip of the band's live rendition of the song "Aesthetics of Hate" recorded on September 7, 2007 at the Glasshouse in Pomona, California can be viewed here. Sigmund is the temporary replacement for regular Machine Head bassist Adam Duce, who was forced to sit out the trek after suffering a broken leg while dirt biking in Redding, CA. Also joining the band onstage to reproduce Adam's backing vocals is Jared MacEachern of tourmates Sanctity. We're really stoked to have found guys as killer as Brandon and Jared to help us through this situation," Machine Head drummer Dave McClain previously said in a statement. Duce's leg is healing normally and he's currently on track to rejoin the band for the rest of their 2007 tour schedule, starting with their Loudpark 07 date in Japan on October 20. www.machinehead1.com

The CAVALERA CONSPIRACY

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:08:42 +1000

Brazilian metal titans Max and Igor Cavalera have commenced writing and recording new material for the first time in 12 years, since recording Sepultura's Roots in 1995. The new project, named Cavalera Conspiracy, features the Cavalera brothers (Max on vocals and rhythm guitar and Igor on drums), Soulfly guitarist Marc Rizzo and Joe Duplantier from Gojira on bass. Rex Brown (Pantera, Down) cameos on bass on one track. Another track features a collaboration with Max, Joe and Richie Cavalera (Incite) on vocals. Monte Conner, Roadrunner Senior VP of A&R recently visited the band in the studio. "Having stopped by the studio, I can tell you the magic between Max and Igor is still there. When these brothers play together, it's like the planets align," he says. "Igor's playing is simply on fire, and as always, Max continues to have one of the most recognizable and powerful voices in all of metal. It was great to see both Max and Igor with such big smiles on their faces." This long-anticipated reunion between the Cavalera brothers is something fans across the globe have been clamoring for since Sepultura's last gig in December 1996. Hailing from Belo Horizonte in central Brazil, Sepultura have gained a reputation as the one of the most highly regarded and successful death/thrash metal bands of all time, with two Gold albums under their belts - Chaos A.D. (1994) and Roots (1996). "When Igor, and I met at the 10th Annual D-Low Memorial Show and got the instruments in our hands, it was like we had never been separated. The metal was flowing in our veins," comments Max. "It was the same in the studio." Recording took place this past July at Undercity Studios in Los Angeles, with Logan Mader (ex Machine Head guitarist). Mixing at Undercity is currently underway. The still untitled record is tentatively slated for a February 2008 release. Among the 11 songs set to appear are: "Inflikted," "Bloodbrawl," "Holy Poison," "The Doom Of All Fires," "Ultra-Violent" and "My Sanctuary." A B-side cover of the Possessed death/thrash classic "The Exorcist" was also recorded. Click HERE to see the Cavalera Conspiracy's first official photo, and don't delay in joining their official MySpace page as a friend. A full-fledged Cavalera Conspiracy website is in the works now, so until then, stay tuned to www.roadrunnerrecords.co.za for news.

Interview with DIVINE HERESY's Tim Yeung

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:01:11 +1000

Blistering.com have posted a feature inteview with Tim Yeung discussing the release of the Divine Heresy album. Click here to read it.

MEGADETH update from the road

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:58:29 +1000

Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine has posted the following message in the "Forums" section of the band's official web site: "It is September 10th and I am back in the area I lived in when this all started. There is something very mysterious to me still everytime I come here. "I will always love having lived here in the Bay Area. We are going out on the town tonight in the Wharf and see The City. "Thanks for making the tour kick so much ass so far! We have been digging on playing again and each day, each time we play together we get closer as a band and closer as people. "I am super excited that James [Lomenzo; bass] is moving down near my family and what we are going to dig up as we get ready to start creating music from all of the energy coming off of these shows! "We need an outlet and writing and jamming are two different things for us. We are still making adjustments with some stuff on the tour because it is just starting still. "And I am impressed with what I have seen of 'The Confession', and as I said before 'In This Moment' are doing great! "I am rooting for the Bengals because I can't stand Ray Lewis, and for I am not sure about tonight's game; I lived in both Arizina and SF. "So, I am off to experience the San Francisco excellence. www.megadeth.com

OPETH honours heavy metal legends!

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:23:45 +1000

Swedish metallers Opeth have issued the following update: "A memorable evening for any Opeth fan took place on September 8th and 9th at the notorious Anchor Bar in central Stockholm, Sweden. Martin Mendez (bass), Axe [Martin Axenrot; drums] and Fredrik Åkesson [guitar] played a full-on heavy metal cover set fronted by Mats Levén [KRUX, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION]." The group's setlist was as follows (in no particular order): 01. Fast As A Shark (ACCEPT) 02. Disturbing The Priest (BLACK SABBATH) 03. Mob Rules (BLACK SABBATH) 04. Hole In The Sky (BLACK SABBATH) 05. Welcome Home (KING DIAMOND) 06. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) (METALLICA) 07. Painkiller (JUDAS PRIEST) 08. Victim Of Changes (JUDAS PRIEST) Opeth's phenomenal album, Ghost Reveries, is in stores now. Own this to have your own piece of metal history! www.opeth.com

WITHIN TEMPTATION photos posted!

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:15:53 +1000

Within Temptation kicked off their North American tour last week in the US. Check out some photos from their show in Philly on Bravewords.com at this location. Within Temptation's haunting new album, The Heart Of Everything, is in stores now! www.within-temptation.com

Phil Anselmo's 2nd DOWN blog installment

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:29:30 +1000

Down frontman, Phil Anselmo, updates us on his personal blog where he pays homage to victims of the tragic hurricane Katrina. Check his blog out first hand here. Down's Roadrunner debut album, III - Over The Under, is in stores 24th of September. Prepare yourselves for an earcrusher! www.down-nola.com

Mickey Mouse hates MACHINE HEAD

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:12:03 +1000

And won't have their antics in his house! Machine Head's official web site reads: "In a stunning last-minute move, Walt Disney Properties have pressured promoter Live Nation into canceling Machine Head's performance tomorrow night at the House of Blues venue in Anaheim (on their Disneyland property). Citing violent imagery, undesirable fans and inflammatory lyrics as the reason, the diversity-impaired corporation began pressuring the promoter on Saturday to cancel all upcoming heavy metal concerts, placing Machine Head under an internal 'review process' that took 5 days before bothering to convey their alarming decision to the band late yesterday, less than 48 hours before their Black Tyranny Tour was to kick off at House of Blues Anaheim on Friday night. "While the enactment of this new blanket rule applies to all upcoming heavy metal shows at the House Of Blues Anaheim (with some metal bands having been banned from performing on name alone), Machine Head is the first band to actually have tickets go on sale, and remain on sale for 2 months, before intense pressure and vague threats of liability from the Corporation left the promoter with no choice but to remove the show from the venue. www.machinehead1.com

HATEBREED Bassist launches clothing line

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:33:53 +1000

Hatebreed bassist Chris Beattie has launched a clothing line called Bridgeport Republic. "Bridgeport Republic is dedicated to reflecting individuality with a universal line of quality apparel which honors and represents an independent yet unified lifestyle rooted in the streets," says Beattie. "We plan to inspire a whole new generation and breathe new life into the way apparel industry." For more information, visit www.bridgeportrepublic.com. Hatebreed has just finished pummeling audiences across North America as the headlined of the second stage at Ozzfest 2007. Check the awesome photos here! www.hatebreed.com

Audio interview with DREAM THEATER frontman James LaBrie

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:28:17 +1000

A new audio interview with Dream Theater frontman James LaBrie has been posted on the band's Haystack page. In the interview he talks about the current U.S. tour, his solo album, the music industry, etc. A 20-minute audio interview with Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess conducted on August 11 by "Démentièllement Vôtre" on Québec City's CKRL 89.1FM has been posted online at this location. Rudess talks about his solo CD, "The Road Home", and Dream Theater's latest release, "Systematic Chaos". Dream Theater's video for the song "Constant Motion" has been posted on YouTube. The track comes off "Systematic Chaos", which has sold 86,000 copies in the United States since its June 5 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. www.dreamtheater.net

Hear a new cut from THE CULT

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:57:07 +1000

With a new album on the horizon, you can download a brand new track NOW! Forged in the Sonic Temple, the second cut from The Cult's forthcoming album 'Born Into This' is available now - Check out 'I Assassin' here. While waiting, why don't u check out the 'Born Into This' E-card right here! www.thecult.us

Great DIVINE HERESY Review!

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:49:49 +1000

The Metal Forge have offered up their thoughts on Dino Cazares' Divine Heresy debut. An excerpt reads, 'Opening up with the title track 'Bleed The Fifth', the band immediately set the tone and lay the template down in just over three minutes, with Cazares' machine gun tight knit riffing (Bar the brief solo midway through the track) locking into an inescapable groove with Yeung's precision drumming, while Cummings' vocals are aggressive, yet clear and strong in the melodic sense. The follow-up track 'Failed Creation' broadens the technical death metal aspect of the opener to allow Cummings to put in a little more melody within the chorus. Read the entire review here Check out the 'Bleed The Fifth' E-Card here! You won't be disappointed! Divine Heresy's 'Bleed The Fifth' is in stores now!

MACHINE HEAD provoke outrage!

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:45:54 +1000

The official Machine Head website has posted the following message: "Machine Head's 'Best Album' win at last Thursday's Kerrang! Awards over pop-rock powerhouses My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy has apparently cut deep with fans of both bands, prompting a flood of angry whining and sad-faced emoticons on the Kerrang! message boards. Machine Head's upset victory over the multi-platinum softcore acts sent their inherently sensitive fans into an emotional frenzy, building into a tizzy of unparalleled proportions. Wrought with dismay, polished fingernails the world over lashed out at the band and metal as a whole with diatribes the likes of 'MCR really should have won!!! I'm mad now!!!!' 'What a load of shit, who the fuck listens to them?' and "Stupid Machine Head!!' at times stooping so low as to say the competition was fixed, and often gravely endangering the integrity of their carefully sideswept hair with posts like 'I H8 METAL, I H8 METAL, I H8 METAL, I H8 METAL, I H8 METAL, I H8 METAL, I H8 METAL.' "Not surprisingly, Machine Head fans responded en masse to the tirades, lashing back in defense of the band and the undisputed quality of the album, citing critical praise, technicality, songwriting and fan response to 2007's 'The Blackening', as well as the band's influence on and history within their genre, with the occasional 'Machine Head piss all over anything MCR have ever done" thrown in for good measure. "To much less Internet-based commotion, the band also took home the 'Hard Rock Hero' award, netting them two Kerrang! awards for the first time since 'Burn My Eyes' where they received 'Best International Band' and 'Best Video' for 'Davidian'." The Official Machine Head Website

Vote for DELAIN!

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:42:00 +1000

This year, a new category will be introduced at the European MTV Awards (EMA's), called 'New Sounds of Europe". 18 MTV-countries have nominated 4 relatively new artists. In Holland, these 4 artists played during an event on the 25th of August at the mainstage of the Uitmarkt in Amsterdam, in front of a crowd of 25.000 people! One of the participating Dutch artists is Roadrunner Record’s own Delain, and the event was broadcasted live on MTV. From the 1st of September, people are able to vote for the 4 nominees, and 1 will be able to proceed to the next round. In this round, 18 artists from 18 countries will compete against eachother. The 3 artists with the most votes will be invited to play on the EMA's in Munich (Germany). During the EMA's, people will be able to vote for their favorite artist with a live voting module; and the winning artist will close the EMA's during a worldwide, live broadcast. Please vote for Delain and give them the chance to play at the EMA’s! Voting instructions: - Visit the following website: The Official MTV EMA Website - highlight Delain and click on "stemmen" All done! and it only took 5 seconds of your time! Spread the word and make sure that Delain plays at the European MTV awards!! www.delain.nl

3 INCHES OF BLOOD Ozzfest interview

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:46:53 +1000

Heavymetalsource.com caught up with the sword-wielding, orc-killing guys from 3 Inches Of Blood at Ozzfest check out what they had to say here! Also check out photos of the guys in action at Ozzfest here! 3 Inches Of Blood's latest beast of an album 'Fire Up The Blades' is in stores now! www.3inchesofblood.com

Have a lekker feast with STILL REMAINS' Mike Church!

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:44:57 +1000

Watch out Jamie Oliver! Still Remains' Church brings us the season 1 finale of Cooking with Church. Want to make the perfect summer meal? Watch the video here! Still Remains's The Serprent is in stores now! www.stillremains.com www.youtube.com/stillremains www.myspace.com/stillremains

THEORY OF A DEADMAN prepare for a return

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:30:02 +1000

That's right: Theory of a Deadman are currently hard at work inside Bay 7 Studios in Los Angeles recording their 3rd, as yet untitled, album for Roadrunner, with a release scheduled for early 2008. The guys have been off the road for a few months now, ever since wrapping up support of 2005's hit-studded Gasoline CD, and have a new batch of songs in hand, ready to record. So they've kindly started documenting the work-in-progress and posted the first f many behind-the-scenes clips to their official MySpace page at: www.myspace.com/theoryofadeadman Make sure you join their network of friends while you're there and stay tuned for much more Theory of a Deadman news in the coming months.

DEVILDRIVER interviewed by FaceCulture

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:28:41 +1000

Holland's FaceCulture recently conducted an interview with DevilDriver's Dez Fafara. Watch the four-part chat at this location. DevilDriver held a listening party for its third album, The Last Kind Words" on July 27 at On the Rocks above the Roxy in Hollywood, California. Full Metal Jackie of Hollywood Music TV attended the event, where she conducted interviews with a couple of the DevilDriver bandmembers and director Nathan Cox (Queens of the Stone Age, Marilyn Manson, System of a Down) who worked with the group on their clip for the song "Not All Who Wander Are Lost." Watch her report in two parts at YouTube. www.devildriver.com www.myspace.com/devildriver www.youtube.com/devildrivertube

Vinyl Roadrunner titles available online

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:17:36 +1000

Wanna get you favourite Roadrunner titles on vinyl?! Well Finestvinyl is now stocking some good 'ol classics and all the new shit in their online store. Titles include: Atreyu - Lead Sails Paper Anchor Misfits - Cuts From The Crypt & Famous Monsters Sepultura - Chaos AD Type O' Negative - Bloody Kisses Hatebreed - Rise Of Brutality Annihilator - Alice In Hell Sepultura - Arise Type O' Negative - October Rust Biohazard - Urban Discipline Life Of Agony - River Runs Red Machine Head - Burn My Eyes & Through The Ashes Of Empires Fear Factory – Demanufacture & Digimortal Slipknot – Slipknot & Iowa & Vol.3 Obituary - Slowly We Rot Killswitch Engage - The End Of Heartache Dog Eat Dog - All Boro Kings Upcoming releases include 'Down - III - Over The Under' and 'The Cult - Born Into This'. Check these ear-crushing products out at Finestvinyl

STILL REMAINS' Bone takes a shot to the gut!

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:13:38 +1000

Still Remains' drummer Bone volunteered for the scientific endeavor of a lifetime: find out what it looks like in slow motion when a belly gets whacked with a shoe. These are the results. Still Remains' The Serpent is in stores now! www.stillremains.com www.youtube.com/stillremains www.myspace.com/stillremains

SOULFLY's Max interviewed by Toazted.com

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:06:26 +1000

Toazted.com sent this interview with Max Cavalera of Soulfly our way this morning. Subjects included Sepultura reunion, Cavalera Conspiracy, and current music. Soulfly will be performing their only U.S. tour date this year at the 11th Annual D-Low Memorial Show. Check it out here. www.soulflyweb.com www.myspace.com/soulfly www.youtube.com/soulfly

Everyone's a Rockstar!

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:22:18 +1000

Unless you've been living under a ROCK or orbiting a distant STAR, you're surely aware that Nickelback's new video for their latest smash, "Rockstar" (yet another hit single from their Platinum monster, All The Right Reasons), is taking over the net with its hilarious combo of celebrity cameos and everyman karaoke. Our friends at AOL Music love "Rockstar" too, and have named it their Popeater Blog's 'Video of the Day'. In short: you can try and resist "Rockstar" all you want, but it'll win you over in the end, so don't be a hater - it's not often that everyone can be a rockstar. www.roadrun.com/rockstar/ www.nickelback.com

DIVINE HERESY play games

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:18:50 +1000

How do you keep a highly acclaimed band interested? Why you play the word association game of course!!! Roadrunner Germany met up with Divine Heresy’s Dino Cazares and Tony Cummings and you can watch the video clip here. Check out the new e-card featuring the new video for ‘Failed Creation’, photo gallery and tour dates, get it at this location. The guys will be taking part in the ‘Operation Annihilation’ tour in support of their album ‘Bleed The Fifth’: "DIVINE HERESY couldn't be more excited to be a part of the 'Operation Annihilation' tour playing alonside some of my closest friends. This is the perfect way for us to kick off the worldwide touring cycle for our debut album, and be sure to get there early because we are the first band of the night. We promise everyone an extremely intense and unrelenting show as we have only one goal in mind: to annihilate everyone in the crowd. We look forward to meeting you all soon." Commented Cazares You can check out the video for ‘Failed Creation’ at YouTube.

ATREYU talk to UVTV

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:15:21 +1000

During the recent family values tour, Atreyu guitarist Travis Miguel took time to chat with Underground Video Television (UVTV). He gives insights into learning to play bass guitar, musical influences, and their first record deal, you can watch the interview a UVTV. Lead Sails Paper Anchor is the latest colossal release from the guys, check it out here! www.atreyurock.com

South Park do TRIVIUM

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:40:10 +1000

Trivium.com have uploaded a hysterical video the the Trivium boys as South Park characters. To watch this video CLICK HERE. Trivium's Official Website

Phil Anselmo's view on DOWN III

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:20:58 +1000

One of the world's most renowned metal singers Phil Anselmo is keeping a blog. Check it out! This is Philip's personal communication to the band's loyal fan base and gives a first-hand account the tragedy, isolation, rebirth and ultimate triumph of one of the most important band's of our time. "Hurricane Katrina has been documented over and again, so I can only write about how it affected myself, and DOWN directly. "After the mandatory evacuation, every family member, friend, etc. were displaced all over the country for some time. Phone lines ripped down, cell phones useless, no communication. I was in a motel in Houston TX. Overlooking the thunderous 5/6 lane highway of endless congestion below, in sweltering heat. It was a tiny room, with my ol' lady, our two dogs, our cat, two bags, and an ice cooler, for a month and a half. "Two months after that, as some semblance of order was restored, we started jamming as a full band at Nodferatu's Lair. We eventually did a demo of some of the new songs with David 'The Puma' Troia (bad-ass). From there we picked what we felt were the strongest tracks. "The making of the new DOWN, has been by far the hardest recording process I personally have EVER done, and every other band member concur. "We are all visionaries, and the battle to refocus, and pull together, is a tale that only long time musicians can tell, or relate to. "IT WAS A WAR!!!!!! "However we know we have won that war. Regardless, in November of 2005, I had a triple fusion in my lower back, held together by titanium rods. Since then, from learning how to take my first steps again, through physical therapy (REHAB DYNAMICS!!!), which taught me positive pain, put regiment into my life, and changed a big part within the psychology of myself. There were no time for hangovers anymore. Because, from February on, I was awake at 9:30 a.m., at physical therapy 'till 4:00 p.m., come straight to band practice, which lasted 'till midnight or later/eat/sleep/five nights a week. My workouts became obsessive. I was pushed to limits that astounded myself, the trainers, the surgeon, and most neurosurgery 'experts.' Today, I am a better man. I am hardly limited. I haven't been this strong physically or mentally since I was 23-24 years old. All of this work was for a purpose: the oncoming of the new DOWN." See Anselmo's blog first hand Down's 'III - Over The Under' will unleash itself September 24th! Down Official Website

DIVINE HERESY's Dino Cazares interviewed by Planet-Loud.com

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:14:28 +1000

Dino Cazares from Divine Heresy is interviewed by Planet-loud.com. He talks about his amazing guitar playing innovations, his relationship with Fear Factory and his ambitions with Divine Heresy. To read this amazing interview CLICK HERE.

Fast Focus on DREAM THEATER

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:09:30 +1000

Dream Theater were recently the subjects of PBS TV's Fast Focus documentary series, and they've been kind enough to provide the following streaming LINK for all those who missed the TV broadcast. Catch Dream Theater on TOUR now, as they continue to support their magnificent new album, Systematic Chaos, with a string of European dates, and of course sample music, images and words via the band's ECARD. www.dreamtheater.net

MACHINE HEAD tear Kerrang awards apart!

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:19:17 +1000

Machine Head were the winners of 2 awards at the star studded Kerrang awards, as their stunning new album, The Blackening, beat out competition from Biffy Clyro, Enter Shikari and Fall Out Boy, to win BEST ALBUM honors; then scooped up a special HARD ROCK HERO award because...well, they rule basically! Click HERE for a complete list of Kerrang Award winners, and a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who voted! www.machinehead1.com

STILL REMAINS T.J. Miller talks about 'The Seprent'

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 23:44:24 +1000

Simon Milburn of Australia's The Metal Forge recently conducted an interview with STILL REMAINS vocalist T.J. Miller. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow: On signing with Roadrunner Records: "(It was) kinda weird. When we got signed to Roadrunner, we're written about 12 songs total as a band. We didn't know who we were, what we wanted to do... we weren't mature at all as far as being musicians. But there was something that Roadrunner saw in STILL REMAINS that took their liking and we're just really thankful. We don't know what that was. It seemed to work for them and it's working great for us. We were just a bunch of kids just really excited that a big label was interested in us, y'know? That was something that we could never dream about having and it worked out." On working with acclaimed producer Steve Evetts on the band's latest CD, The Serpent": "Steve was somebody who kind of stuck out to us after we had heard the last STORY OF THE YEAR album. We had heard that he is definitely a vocal producer and that's one thing that I really wanted to work with. I really wanted to work with somebody that could really push me as a singer and to bring out my personality. He's worked with some remarkable bands that we are big fans of. He's worked with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN. He's work with THE CURE. He's worked with HATEBREED, SEPULTURA…all these bands that we love the records. He's got a good sound. He's got a good mind. We actually finished our record and we decided, 'Man, we'd probably never go with another producer again,' and we want him to do our next record and the one after that, and the one after that… He's just a great producer. That's what we needed for the first album." On having the new album mixed by ex-MACHINE HEAD guitarist Logan Mader: “We didn't have too many options for mixers. We kept going back and forth and back and forth. Logan's name came about and we were like, 'Yeah, let's see what he can do. Let's see what he's got.' So, he sent over a test mix of one of the songs and we liked it. We actually had somebody mix the record before Logan. I won't say who. Somebody did mix the record. We weren't happy with how it sounded and I don't want to rub that in his face and I don't want mention his name. I just don't really think that that guy got really what we were trying to do. Then Logan tried a test mix and we were like, 'Oh my gosh! This is a million times better than what we were hearing before,' and we decided to go with him. He was really easy to work with. He was talking to Jordan a lot through the mixes and Jordan was kinda playing the middle man between us and him. He would look over all our notes and he really respected what the band had to say about the mixes and about how we wanted it to sound. It was just good working with that guy." On the new album's lyrical direction: "I've just grown up a lot. I realize that if there's something in my head, I shouldn't be afraid to say it. I shouldn't be afraid to express how I feel. That's what art is – it's an expression. For this album, I guess my personality as a whole, there's some things that I experienced in my childhood that I never really wanted to talk about. Some memories are pretty painful and some things that I experienced with my family when I was being raised were pretty out of this world. I just thought to myself, 'There's probably a lot of young people in the world that are going through the same things that I saw, and maybe if I write about this and somebody reads it, they won't feel like they're alone. They'll be like 'Wow, I can relate to this guy.'' That's what I want to do with out music. Besides just write awesome songs, I want to make a difference in this world. I want to impact people, and give them something to help them with whatever they are dealing with." Read the entire interview at www.themetalforge.com.

MACHINE HEAD's Adam Duce to miss US tour

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:06:07 +1000

Adam Duce To Miss U.S. Tour Due To Broken Leg In an unfortunate turn of events, Machine Head bassist Adam Duce will miss this Fall's highly-anticipated Black Tyranny Tour in the U.S. due to a broken leg suffered while dirt biking in Redding, CA. Initially thought to be nothing more than a bad sprain, x-rays later confirmed the break, which required surgery to attach a steel plate and two screws to the broken bone. A disappointed Duce laments, "It sucks to be in this position, because we have such a killer tour set up for the end of the summer and now we'll have to find a replacement for me. I've never missed one show that this band has ever played up to this point and I never thought I would see the day when Machine Head would be playing and I wouldn't be on stage." The band are currently rehearsing with temporary bassist candidates and are in the final stages of selecting Duce's replacement, the details of which will be announced as soon as they are determined. All Black Tyranny dates in the U.S. will go on as scheduled, and Duce will be returning for the Australian and European legs of The Black Crusade Tour, beginning with the band's Loudpark date in Japan. www.machinehead1.com

TRIVIUM thrash out 'To The Rats'

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:02:43 +1000

Trivium's video for their brilant , sure-to-be thrash classic 'To The Rats' taken from their latest offering, The Crusade, has been uploaded on the site. Watch it here in the band's video section. Check out photos of Trivium on the Family Values tour here! www.trivium.org www.myspace.com/trivium www.youtube.com/trivium

New interview with DEVILDRIVER's Dez Fafara

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:21:03 +1000

HeavyMetalSource.com has posted a video interview with Devildriver frontman Dez Fafara conducted on August 18, 2007 at the New England Dodge Music Center in Hartford, CT. Watch it here. Photos of the Ozzfest concert in Hartford can be found at this location. Devildriver's third album, "The Last Kind Words" is in stores now! As previously reported, Devildriver's video for the song 'Not All Who Wander Are Lost' has been posted on YouTube. The clip was shot in Los Angeles with director Nathan Cox.

DAATH Ozzfest 2007 photos

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:22:24 +1000

We just received some excellent photos of Daath on Ozzfest 2007 from Adrienne Darnell (LadyLush). See the whole gallery here. Daath's The Hinderers is in stores now so do yourself a massive favour and go check it out! www.daathmusic.com www.myspace.com/daath www.youtube.com/daathmusic

The ATREYU Webisodes!

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:58:09 +1000

Atreyu posted webisodes of their preparation for their briliant brand new album 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor' awhile ago online. Lead Sails Paper Anchor will be released on the 27th of August. Here is the complete collection of these webisodes for you to enjoy in all their gigantic glory! Webisode #1: Features interviews with the band members: Windows Media Version Webisode #2: Drummer Brandon Saller gets up close and personal: Windows Media Version Webisode #3: Bassist Mark McKnight's approach to his bass tracking: Windows Media Version Webisode #4: Guitarist Dan Jacob melting his fret board: Windows Media Version www.atreyurock.com

DOWN's Phil Anselmo chats about the last 5 years

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:28:39 +1000

Chronicling the last five years in the preparation of Down’s new album ‘III – Over the Under’ Phil Anselmo will be updating the official Down website over the coming month with all the highs and lows until the release of the album. It is Phil’s personal communication with Down’s loyal fan base. You can see the first instalment below: "It is clear that I have not personally addressed the people. Fans of the music I've created with other bands old and new, and more importantly the new Down venture. Nor have I made any statements via Internet, radio, 'music' magazines, 'music' television, etc. I apologize, in all humbleness to the loyal, but today is the now, and I choose to communicate on my own terms. In my own words. "Here is the story of Down – 'Over the Under': "The end of 04' into 05' were two of the worst years for myself, everyone I know, or ever have, in the history of our young lives. A time of mourning of the highest gravity, I cannot put it into any form of explanation here, nor will I attempt to. (R.I.P. Darrell, in the true spirit of the most lofty love). "Rex [Brown, bass] and I remained in constant contact. We had our separate therapists, in separate states, however, most importantly, we had one another for extended, real, therapy, then, and now. "Later, in June (05'), after months of grief, that seemed like decades, I had just been cleared for neurosurgery. I was ecstatic. "I was asked to jam with Eyehategod (unforgettable!) in New York at CBGB. The day before we did the gig, I was turned on to an incredible band named Witchcraft (first LP)/(respect and love to all of you!!) I was at Paul Booth's 'Last Rites' tattoo shop with EHG (much love brother!/thanks Sarah). The music blew me, and everyone else in the room away. Something else was out there. Being played pure and real. Jimmy Bower and I made eye contact, and telepathy ran its course between us. The first person I thought of was Pepper Keenan [Down guitarist]... "I hadn't seen him in two years. It was my obligation, and need, to reach out. I did the gig, got on a plane back to New Orleans, took a cab straight to Pep's house, and beat on his door at a well past 10:00 p.m. with the Witchcraft CD in tow. He opened the door, surprised and glad to see me. We sat and caught up for a while, then listened to the CD from the beginning 'till the last note. I noticed he would glance at me, and I at him acknowledging the classic and clever turnarounds and subtle hooks. I felt the telepathy. After the listening session, I told him of my 'awakening,' my upcoming medical agenda, and that I was 'returned.' I called a cab, and when it arrived, we hugged one another, and looked each other in the eye, and I saw his trepidation. I felt it. I had A LOT to prove. And my actions would have to speak volumes, to everyone close to me, who had to walk away, but I had planted a seed. The seed. "I got home, and over the next few days, and made some imperative phone calls. I called Jim, whom I knew would be ecstatic that Pepper and I had finally made contact, and all went well. I was also very proud to be with Jim. He and I had been through so much together, and to have him as a part of my life, and ours (any and everybody!!!), is an honor. The only drummer for Down. Jim is also one of the most underrated drummers today. "More importantly, Jim was in. "I called Rex, and once again, telepathy, was obviously in epidemic proportion between us all. He was ready, waiting for the word. His own gears were already in motion, through association with an old, dear friend of ours, that I had lost touch with for over a decade. "Rex was in. "Now, when it comes to Kirk [Windstein, guitar], I have known him the longest. For 27 years it has been a seamless relationship. We know each other so well. There has never been a lie between us. There cannot be and never will. To play in a band together has always been a dream of ours, fulfilled, sporadically, throughout recordings and brief touring. As a person alone, he is as irreplaceable as he is unique. Loved by myself, and all who happen to cross his path in life. He is also irreplaceable as a musician, and a member of Down. I called Kirk with the news, and I already knew what his reply would be, "Kirk was in. "I called Ross Karpelman (keyboards). "Ross was in. "All that was left to do was to have the time to let the seed planted into everyone's psyche begin to take root… "Eventually, we would all sit together, and talk this thing out. The telephone rapport became more frequent between all of us. We were ready to jam….Before we realized it, the next few weeks flew by into late August…. Installment II coming soon.

And the winners of the STILL REMAINS Video Contest are...

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:20:54 +1000

The time has come to announce our winner! The winner of the Still Remains video contest for "The Wax Walls of an Empty Room" is...Tyler Schrank. Tyler's masterpiece was the winner with over 9,300 views. The runner up is none other than Zach Roth (ex- Still Remains keyboards) with over 7,800 views. Congratulations guys! Winning Video (Tyler Schrank): Watch it here! Runner Up (Zach Roth): Check it out here!

CRADLE OF FILTH footage from Stufstock Festival

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:15:45 +1000

Fan-filmed video footage of Cradle Of Filth's August 16, 2007 performance at the Stufstock Festival in Romania has been made available for download at www.cradlebulgaria.com. Cradle Of Filth vocalist Dani Filth recently recorded vocals for the theme song to Dario Argento's latest horror/suspense opus "Mother of Tears: The Third Mother". The song, entitled "(She's) The Mother of Tears" was composed by Claudio Simonetti. Simonetti, a veritable legend among horror film scores, is also noted for penning music to such classics as "Dawn of the Dead", "Suspiria", "Phenomena" and several episodes of the popular series "Masters of Horror". Cradle Of Filth is also spreading the darkness over North America this autumn as they are confirmed to headline Bam Margera's Viva La Bands 2007 North American Tour, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink. COF is touring alongside some of Bam Margera's other favorite acts, including Gwar, CKY and up-and-comers Vains Of Jenna.

DOWN sign to Roadrunner!

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:04:20 +1000

Roadrunner Records has announce the worldwide signing (excluding North America) of New Orleans-based sludge-doom supergroup DOWN. Their forthcoming third album, "III - Over the Under" will be released on September 24th. Roadrunner Records prides itself on a roster of bands that are the very best in their genre and DOWN fit that criteria perfectly. Derek Oliver and Dante Bonutto, who brought their A&R skills to Roadrunner Records in November 2006, instigated the deal. They were thrilled to bring DOWN to the Roadrunner stable, stating, "Being involved with this new/third album from DOWN is something we're incredibly excited about. In many ways, 'Over the Under' represents a fresh start for the band; no more external politics, brand new teams taking care of business, nothing to hold the project back — and now of course former PANTERA bassist Rex is involved with the set-up too. As for Phil Anselmo, he's truly the most iconic frontman in the hard rock and metal worlds, a performer totally loved by the fans, who hang on his every word — and he always has something to say! Quite simply, his influence on the scene (both musically and visually) is hard to overestimate." In the summer of 2006, the band embarked on a six-week European headline tour with no opening band, no product, and strictly by word of mouth, proceeded to sell out all 21 shows. Inspired by the response, the band reconnected in New Orleans to begin work on its most ambitious record to date. Having already tapped Warren Riker, who produced DOWN's second release, "II - A Bustle in Your Hedgerow", the band demoed some 18 songs in Nodferatu's Lair, Philip Anselmo's studio in the swamps of Folsom, LA, with engineer David "Puma" Troia. In February of 2007, the band commenced recording on their third and most committed record to date. Recorded in Los Angeles between February and July, with a Canadian tour with HEAVEN AND HELL thrown in just for good measure, 15 songs were ultimately cut for "Over the Under". The result is over 60 minutes of genre-defying music further solidifying their place at the forefront of heavy rock as only DOWN can do. To chronicle the past five years leading up to the release of "III - Over the Under", Philip Anselmo will be placing periodic installments to be released over the course of the next month on the band's web sites leading up to the release of the record. This is Philip's personal communication to the band's loyal fan base and gives a first-hand account the tragedy, isolation, rebirth and ultimate triumph of one of the most important band's of our time. The first installment will appear on August 17 on www.down-nola.com and www.myspace.com/downnola. "III - Over the Under" track listing: 01. 3 Suns And 1 Star 02. The Path 03. N.O.D 04. I Scream 05. On March The Saints 06. Never Try 07. Mourn 08. Beneath The Tides 09. His Majesty The Desert 10. Pillamyd 11. In The Thrall Of It All 12. Nothing In Return (Walk Away)

HATEBREED's Jamey Jasta interview

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:53:53 +1000

Possum of Altitude TV's "Metalogy 101" conducted an interview with Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed backstage at Ozzfest 2007. Jamey dishes on being manhandled by the Prince of Darkness, the insanity of "Freefest" and playing with Lamb Of God. Watch the two-and-a-half-minute clip here! Hatebreed recently debuted its new video for "Destroy Everything" as a MySpace "Exclusive Video Premiere." Watch the clip at this location. The "Destroy Everything" video was directed by Martin Kames and filmed during the band's With Full Force festival performance. The clip marks the second video from the band's 2006 Roadrunner Records release, "Supremacy". Commented frontman Jamey Jasta: "We filmed this video in front of 30,000 raging German fans. It was a show we will never forget and we're very happy to have it captured on film for everyone to see!" www.hatebreed.com

WITHIN TEMPTATION talk about touring the USA

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:40:22 +1000

Chad Bowar of About Heavy Metal recently conducted an interview with WITHIN TEMPTATION vocalist Sharon den Adel. A few excerpts from the chat follow: About Heavy Metal: What has the response been in the United States to "The Heart of Everything"? Sharon den Adel: "We toured in the U.S. a few months ago and we didn't know what to expect when we went over there. We were a support act for LACUNA COIL. A lot of people came to see us even though we only played for 45 minutes. People came from Atlanta to Louisville, which is a really long drive. I was really amazed that so many people came to see us and already knew the music. It was really cool. A lot of them got to know us through MySpace. I think in Europe we underestimate MySpace. It's a lot bigger in the U.S. than here. That's how a lot of people got in contact with us. We were very surprised." About Heavy Metal: Every WITHIN TEMPTATION album has a different vibe and theme. How would you describe "The Heart of Everything"? Sharon den Adel: "We have been inspired by movies and books and, of course, our personal lives. It's about what an individual finds important in life. You have to make choices. It's about the journey toward those choices. If you were to ask me what's important in my life, I would say family, my health, that type of thing. But this is not to tell people what is good in my life, but to ask questions and search for what is good in life. That's why Lady Justice is on the album cover, weighing choices and hopefully making the right choices." About Heavy Metal: You signed with Roadrunner Records. Was the fact that your albums will now be released in the United States part of that decision? Sharon den Adel: "We have been around for some time and have been doing quite well in Europe. That is why America started noticing us, and that's why we got the deal with Roadrunner. They noticed us and thought we might be a good band for them to release in America. That's the way it happened. It was nice coming to America. It's such a different culture. It's another exciting journey." About Heavy Metal: You're coming back to the U.S. for a tour later this fall. Sharon den Adel: "We wanted to come back to America to play a headline show. We had so many good reactions after we played there and were approached by the promoter to come back." About Heavy Metal: Have you had any formal vocal training? Sharon den Adel: "No. But I think I did it the way people do when they are trained. I practiced every day. I was singing three or four hours every day. I grew up with parents who loved music and there was always music in our house. When I heard a song I liked I would rehearse until I could sing it the same way it was supposed to be. It was a challenge for me to be able to sing the songs I really liked. I trained myself that way." Read the entire interview at this location.

New Video Interview with SOULFLY's Max Cavalera

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:33:31 +1000

Andreas Feuerstein of MusigReview.com spoke to SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera on August 12, prior to SOULFLY's show at Event Center in Hohenems, Austria. To watch the interview CLICK HERE.

Learn to shred like STILL REMAINS

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 01:18:10 +1000

Radiohead once said that anyone can play guitar. Oh really Mr. Yorke? Can you play like Jordan and Mike from Still Remains? If you can't, let Still Remains show you how in their new guitar lesson. www.stillremains.com www.youtube.com/stillremains www.myspace.com/stillremains

Exclusive DREAM THEATER Vids

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:15:33 +1000

TheGauntlet.com has posted two exclusive clips from Dream Theater's summer tour. The first is a pre-show mini-tour at the Denver stop brought to you by keyboardsman Jordan Rudess. The second presents you with one of the band's wackier pre-show rituals. Check 'em out here. And of course, the band is out touring in support of its new record Systematic Chaos, a great review of which is available at TransformOnline.com. www.dreamtheater.net www.myspace.com/dreamtheater www.youtube.com/dreamtheater

Destroy Everything with HATEBREED

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:13:11 +1000

Connecticut hardcore/metal legends, Hatebreed, have just announced they will debut their new live concert video for "Destroy Everything" as a Myspace Exclusive Video Premiere. The destruction can be experienced by going to the "music" section under the www.myspace.com main page on Thursday, August 16th. Check out what Jamey has to say about their new video, "Destroy Everything": "We filmed this video in front of 30,000 raging German fans. It was a show we will never forget and we're very happy to have it captured on film for everyone to see!" "Destroy Everything" was directed by Martin Kames and filmed during their live With Full Force performance. The "Destroy Everything" video marks the second video from the band's 2006 Roadrunner Records Supremacy release. For other updates and other Hatebreed related news, please check out www.hatebreed.com and www.myspace.com/hatebreed.

On the road with ATREYU

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:29:11 +1000

Guitarist Travis Miguel demonstrates life on the road for Atreyu in the video below. With their new album 'Lead Sails, Paper Anchor' slated for a August 27th release date, see just how glamorous life on the road is for Atreyu! Watch the video www.atreyurock.com

TRIVIUM Photos from Family Values

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:15:04 +1000

MetalInjection.net dropped us a note to let us know they've posted a new photo gallery of Trivium pictures taken by Trevor Campbell. These photos were taken on July 25th at the Michigan stop of the tour with Korn. Find Family Values tour dates here. www.trivium.org www.myspace.com/trivium www.youtube.com/trivium

Outstanding DEVILDRIVER Review!

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:42:46 +1000

Keith Bergman wrote a truly excellent review of DevilDriver's new album The Last Kind Words which has been posted to Blabbermouth.net. Bergman essentially calls the album DevilDriver's magnum opus, and we agree wholeheartedly. FREE MP3 of "Not All Who Wander Are Lost" www.devildriver.com www.myspace.com/devildriver www.youtube.com/devildrivertube

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE interviewed on FBRPLUS.COM

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:38:31 +1000

Killswitch Engage were stopped back stage by the folks from Paramore during Warped Tour for a special discussion of Adam's gastrointestinal tract on Fueled By Ramen's fbrplus.com. Check out that plus more Warped Tour video on Fueled By Ramen's site. Killswitch Engage's As Daylight Dies [Special Edition] hits stores on August 27th. To find out when the band is touring and to watch their new video for "Holy Diver" visit their RR.com artist page. www.killswitchengage.com www.myspace.com/killswitchengage www.youtube.com/killswitchengage

CRADLE OF FILTH Members Talk 'Star Wars'

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:03:08 +1000

Star Wars.com reports: Along with their darker influences such as H.P. Lovecraft, John Milton, Clive Barker, "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Bathory, and werewolves (their music found its way on the soundtrack to Ginger Snaps), a few of the CRADLE OF FILTH band members — Dani Filth (vocals), Charles Hedger (guitar) and Dave Pybus (bass) — also are die-hard "Star Wars" fans with impressive toy, comic, book and game collections. All three began their quest as fans at an early age, often daydreaming of Star Destroyers before they could run to the local theater. "I was into 'Star Wars' before I could walk," Hedger says. "I have no memory of the first time I saw 'A New Hope' or 'The Empire Strikes Back'. I just grew up knowing them." "I remember my father taking me to see the first film back in 1977 when I was five and being so overawed by the whole thing," Filth says. "I suppose you could say my first memory would've been seeing the seemingly never-ending underneath of an Imperial Star Destroyer!" Pybus' induction into the Force centered less on the films initially and more on the mysterious merchandise. "Way back in late 1977, just before the first movie was released in the U.K., the collector cards appeared in my local newspaper store," Pybus recalls. "They became popular around school (I was seven at the time) and I managed to save up and buy a few packs. I remember looking through them with my grandfather who unfortunately died before the movie was released a few months or so later. I just remember him being quite interested in the cards with R2-D2 and C-3PO as he'd never seen anything like that before. Saying that, neither had I. Shame he never saw the film. I think he would have liked how it made us kids so happy." Read the entire article at Star Wars.com. Source: Blabbermouth

Get warped with Mike D of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:35:59 +1000

Dave Aguilera of NotMTV caught up with Mike D from metalcore heroes Killswitch Engage at the Warped Tour! Check out what the bassist had to say HERE.

8 Part DREAM THEATER Video Series

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:17:18 +1000

Dream Theater Fans Note: This is killer! Includes the following segments. * Phoenix Before Show * Dallas Backstage * Ant Placement * Kansas City After Show * Signing Autographs * Petrucci Warming Up * Denver Backstage * Smell The Glove??? Watch the clips here

BRUJERIA: Still Matando Gueros...

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:24:23 +1000

When AOL Latino decided to compile a list of the 'Most Controversial Album Covers' around, the unforgettable image gracing Brujeria's debut, Matando Gueros, was understandably a shoe-in! Don't remember it? Then go HERE and click PROXIMO a couple times to be reminded of its horror once again. Oh, and to stream the album's, ummm, decapitating title track, visit RR.com's Music page, under the Classic Track heading.

UGO Posts Feature on DREAM THEATER Tour

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:51:59 +1000

Progressive metal bombardiers Dream Theater are the main feature on UGO.com. Keysman Jordan Rudess is keeping fans updated on the preeminent lifestyle portal with a tour blog and live video. Once your done there, make sure to keep visiting as Jordan updates both. Dream Theater are currently on tour supporting their new album Systematic Chaos. Special guests include Into Eternity and Redemption. Check out the dates on the band's tour page. www.dreamtheater.net www.myspace.com/dreamtheater www.youtube.com/dreamtheater

Metalinjection.net Interviews RR Bands

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:41:20 +1000

Super metal portal MetalInjection.net has posted interviews with three of Roadrunner's bands. Check out their discussions with DevilDriver, 3 Inches of Blood, and Still Remains at Metal Injection TV. DevilDriver and 3 Inches of Blood are currently out touring with Ozzfest, with dates across the country. Still Remains is playing Warped Tour dates throughout August. All three groups have released albums in the past few weeks. DevilDriver - The Last Kind Words 3 Inches of Blood - Fire Up the Blades Still Remains - The Serpent

Get Stills of STILL REMAIN's "Stay Captive"

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:35:29 +1000

You're probably as addicted to Still Remains as the rest of us, so you'll love the new photo gallery we just posted. All of these shots were taken during the filming of their latest video, "Stay Captive," from their latest album The Serpent. The Serpent is in stores now! The Still Remains Create Your Own Video Contest has been extended to August 17th because of the great entries we've already received. To enter: 1. Go to www.roadrun.com/freeshit/ to download the FREE mp3 for 'The Wax Walls Of An Empty Room,' the band's logo and cover art. 2. Go to www.youtube.com/stillremains and subscribe to the band's YouTube page where you'll be directed to the contest page with instructions on how to upload your video. www.stillremains.com www.youtube.com/stillremains www.myspace.com/stillremains

NICKELBACK Rockstar E-Card

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:28:34 +1000

Ever wanted to be a rockstar? So did lots of people famous, infamous, and unknown in the new Nickelback video for "Rockstar." Coming right after the release of Nickelback's All the Right Reasons [Special Edition], see if you can identify stars from the past and present. www.roadrun.com/rockstar Nickelback has also just re-written the record books by becoming the first band in the 14-year history of the BDS Top 40 chart to send five singles from ONE album into the top 10, as "Rockstar" joins other All The Right Reasons hits, "Photograph," "Savin' Me," "Far Away" and "If Everyone Cared," in accomplishing this feat. www.nickelback.com www.myspace.com/nickelback

STONE SOUR's Jim Root interviewed

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:25:12 +1000

Sarah Owen of the Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers recently conducted an interview with STONE SOUR/SLIPKNOT guitarist Jim Root. The brief question-and-answer session follows: Q: Out of what need or drive for something different did STONE SOUR arise? Why stretch yourselves between two bands? Root: Well, basically Corey and I were in STONE SOUR before we joined SLIPKNOT. There was all this stuff we wanted to continue working on that we'd never really gotten to record right away … We all got together, just writing songs and jamming, and revolved to STONE SOUR again. We were going to do it a little bit for fun, but the first album really took off, and we've always wanted to keep it going. Q: It's hard enough to get one act off the ground running, to get multiple nods from the Grammys. How do you make two hard-rock projects succeed? Root: It's a lot of work. We basically kiss friends and family at home goodbye, live on our bus, get aggravated and wonder why we do it sometimes. When you get home and you're able to take a break and settle down, you realize you're really lucky and fortunate to be doing what you're doing. Q: Being on the road so much, is it a pretty tight group of guys? Root: Yeah, it is. I mean, the thing is, it's weird because we all get along really great, we're all really great friends. But we don't necessarily write together because of the fact we're juggling two bands. The chemistry really doesn't come together until we start playing live shows. Q: You've been touring, what, some 10 years? Do you look out into the crowds at both kinds of shows and see a lot of familiar faces, SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR crossover fans? Root: Yeah, I think definitely there's a lot of fans that are fans of both bands, but there's also a little bit of everything. People that like SLIPKNOT that could care less about STONE SOUR, people that like STONE SOUR that don't know a lot of SLIPKNOT. You do see people with SLIPKNOT shirts showing up; you can tell who the SLIPKNOT fans are. Q: Songs like "Through Glass" have really made waves on radio stations around the country. What is it like knowing fans have gotten so behind this band? Root: It's very flattering. To be well-received in such a fickle industry nowadays, it's definitely a really cool thing. I think at a time when you can turn on active rock radio and every band sounds the same, we can take a little pride that we managed to achieve something and not finish like everybody else. Q: A lot of artists seem jaded when it comes to mainstream music and the industry nowadays. How do you view the rock scene? Root: I think rock 'n' roll, in a way, has been dead for a long time. I think everything's become so oversaturated and packaged and homogenized, the vibe isn't real anymore. There's such an energy and emotion to rock music, which is a lot of the reason I go back to '60s and '70s bands and look at some of the fire they had. STONE SOUR'S COME WHAT(EVER) MAY SPECIAL EDITION is available in stores now. Courtesy of Blabbermouth.net

MACHINE HEAD's frontman proud of 'The Blackening'

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:22:32 +1000

Justin Donnelly of Australia's The Metal Forge recently conducted an interview with MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn. A few excerpts from the chat follow: On how well the band's new album, "The Blackening", has done immediately after its release: "We're pretty stoked man. We're really proud. It was pretty shocking to hear the chart positions for 'The Blackening' around the world, particularly in place like in Australia. I mean, what 'Through The Ashes Of Empires' sold in three years, 'The Blackening' sold in two weeks. That is pretty fucking insane! (Laughs) I guess people are feeling 'The Blackening' around the world, but more so than anywhere down in Australia!" On why "The Blackening" has been such a huge success: "To tell you the truth, I'm not really sure. I can only speculate at this point. But I do believe the metal scene is really strong right now. I also believe that the band had a lot of momentum going into this album from the success of 'Through The Ashes Of Empires'. By all standards, 'The Blackening' stands against everything that dictates what should be a successful album. I mean we open the album with a ten and a half minute long song ('Clenching The Fists Of Dissent')! 'The Blackening', overall, has four songs that are over nine to ten minutes long on there, features somewhat controversial lyrics and features edgy artwork. In our heads, it was almost like we were looking at the album as a piece of art. We definitely weren't expecting it to do the numbers that it has done throughout the world. All I can say is that we're really proud. We busted our asses and worked really hard on this album. We just tried to make a piece of art that would stand the test of time, whether people got it in 2007, or eventually in 2017. It was a musical statement that we hoped would change metal and make a lasting legacy for itself. That was really our only goal. Numbers, success and chart positions are not the sort of thing we were thinking about when we were writing this album. Those are only long-term projections you can hope for. And clearly, I think that shows. A ten-minute song doesn't stand that much chance of being played on the radio or MTV. In many ways, it's limiting. But in other ways, it's also quite liberating." On guitarist Phil Demmel's involvement in the songwriting process for "The Blackening": "Demmel had a big say on 'The Blackening', but he also had a big say on 'Through The Ashes Of Empires' as well. He was there for the last third of the writing process for 'Through The Ashes Of Empires', but he contributed a lot of that third. A lot of people don't know this, but (Drummer Dave) McClain writes a lot of the riffs for this band. I don't think a lot of people realize just how much music McClain contributes to this band. McClain wrote the main riff in 'Imperium', 'Halo' and 'Descend The Shades Of Night'. He writes a sizeable chunk of stuff that sometimes gets overlooked. But when you talk about Demmel being a part of everything from the word go on this album, then yes, I would agree. Where he really contributes is in all of the detailed stuff that you hear between him and me. It's where we bounce those ideas back and forth to come up with all the crazy guitar runs, and all the shit like that. Having a person like him in the band really opens thing up. Ultimately, I am still the main songwriter in the band, but having someone like Demmel in the band, who has been with us for like five and a half years now, it just opens up so many possibilities. Most of that comes from the team stuff we used to do in our previous band VIO-LENCE. I think a lot more of that stuff is starting to come out more again." On whether Flynn had clear ideas as to what he had in mind for the album prior to starting work on the songs themselves: "I would love to sit here and say that when we started out writing 'The Blackening' that we had this grand vision, but we really didn't have any idea of what the hell we were doing! (Laughs) When we're writing, it's so 'Beavis And Butthead'. When it's just the four of us in the practice room, we're literally throwing stuff away, and keeping the good stuff that we think is cool sounding. I kind of guide and shape the riffs and arrangements, but it is very dumb like that. When we were writing, we kind of had these broad goals as far as what we wanted to accomplish, which was essentially to put together a timeless metal album. We had that goal. We wanted to have a 'Paranoid' (BLACK SABBATH) or 'Master Of Puppets' (METALLICA). That METALLICA album in particular became our goal. That's not to say that we were writing the album that we think METALLICA should be writing, or that we're trying to be the next METALLICA. No one will be the next METALLICA. We're just trying to be the next MACHINE HEAD. We wanted to write an album that had the influence, the power, the epic grandeur and timelessness that METALLICA's 'Master Of Puppets' had. That was one of the more wide-ranging goals that we had with this album. Another goal that we had was to lyrically have something to say. We were so sick and tired of listening metal bands and thrash bands sing about how their girlfriends were leaving them. When we grew up listening to thrash and listening to metal, no one even thought to write about that shit. It seems like every fucking band that has a thrash sound is singing about this non-issue. In our eyes, and with all the fucked up shit that's going on in the world today, the only thing they can find to sing about is their goddamned girlfriend is something that's really pathetic. They should open their fucking eyes.” Read the entire interview at www.themetalforge.com.

COREY TAYLOR Exclusive!

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:16:04 +1000

Corey Taylor has exclusively told Metal Hammer that problems with scheduling will prevent his dream of joining childhood heroes Anthrax from coming true. Until recently, the Slipknot/Stone Sour frontman had harboured hopes of replacing Joey Belladonna, who himself had taken John Bush’s place in order to reunite the New York thrash group’s best-known line-up. As recently as June, Taylor was refusing to rule out the possibility that collaborating with Anthrax on the follow-up to ‘We’ve Come For You All’, recorded with Bush in 2003, might lead to something a little more permanent. Having written lyrics to fit nine songs for the album, Taylor said he was “taking baby steps” towards what would happen next, though he was clear to point out his responsibilities towards Slipknot and Stone Sour. Talking on the latter’s latest UK tour, Corey now reveals: “All I’m going to be able to do is help Anthrax with the album. I’d known all along that it would come down to how much time I had. Unfortunately but fortunately I’ve got a new album to do with Slipknot. The Slipknot guys got together for a brief meeting before I left home [in Iowa], and it was a lot of fun. There was a lot of laughing and goofing on each other. We all felt really stoked about starting up again. We’ve already started to put together a plan for the album and tour, everything starting to come together.” The flipside is that thoughts of doing anything meaningful with Anthrax are now impossible. “Various people at the record company [Roadrunner] put their foot down about that,” reveals Taylor. “So the way we’ve left it is that I will do a couple of songs with them, and not the whole album.” That must have been incredibly frustrating? “Of course. I was so stoked that the Anthrax guys would consider doing anything with me. So the last thing I wanted to do was let them down. I have no idea of what they’ll do now [that I’m unavailable], but the fact that they would still want to do something with me is very exciting. We’ll have to see what happens.” Having broken ties with Ross Robinson to work with Rick Rubin, Slipknot are still undecided as to who will produce the successor to 2004’s Â‘Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)’, but drummer Joey Jordison has already revealed that preparation for their fifth studio album (1996’s independent debut ‘Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat’ is often overlooked) begins in October. “That’s when the writing is due to start,” clarifies Corey. “Recording will hopefully be in January, that’s the plan at least.” Expect to hear the album in the spring, possibly preceded by live dates. Meanwhile, has the singer been stockpiling plenty of material? “Oh, I’ve got an absolute ton of stuff, man,” he laughs. “I got three notebooks of ideas from the past year and a half alone. It’s so great, I think we’re gonna do something really different with this album. Different, but brutal.” Many thanks to Dave Ling Source: Metal Hammer

Backswitch Disengage

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:43:57 +1000

Metal heroes Killswitch Engage's enigmatic guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz has been forced to leave band's successful run as stand-out performers on the Vans Warped Tour due to health reasons. Adam underwent back surgery in early 2007 and in order to fully recover, his doctors have advised leaving the tour and continuing with daily physical therapy. The band will carry on as a four-piece, with their guitar tech Josh Mihlek filling in for Adam on select songs. After playing with this line-up on the July 31st Milwaukee and August 1st Cincinnati Warped dates, the band feels confident that this solution works well and will allow them to finish the tour. The Vans Warped tour has three weeks left; dates are as follows: 8/02/07 Tower City Amphitheatre Cleveland, OH 8/03/07 Tweeter Center Camden, NJ 8/04/07 Nassau Coliseum Uniondale, NY 8/05/07 Raceway Park Manalapan, NJ 8/07/07 Verizon Wireless Music Ctr Noblesville, IN 8/08/07 Post-Gazette Pavilion Burgettstown, PA 8/09/07 Tweeter Center Mansfield, MA 8/10/07 Darien Lakes Darien Center, NY 8/11/07 Molson Park Barrie, ONT 8/12/07 Parc Jean Drapeau Montreal, QUE 8/14/07 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Maryland Heights, MO 8/15/07 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Bonner Springs, KS 8/17/07 Idaho Center Amphitheater Nampa, ID 8/18/07 The Gorge George, WA 8/19/07 Columbia Meadows St. Helens, OR 8/20/07 Vibes Medford, OR 8/22/07 Selland Arena Fresno, CA 8/23/07 Sleep Train Amphitheater Marysville, CA 8/24/07 Coors Amphitheatre Chula Vista, CA 8/25/07 Home Depot Center Carson, CA www.killswitchengage.com

Home Made, Fan Made, SHADOWS FALL Video

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 23:44:15 +1000

New fan-submitted video for "Burning the Lives" posted on YouTube. There are a lot of great live clips in there from recent Shasows Fall shows, plus some crazy historical footage. Go to Shadows Fall's Youtube channel to check it out.

TRIVIUM Family Values update

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 23:05:47 +1000

Trivium, currently out on the Family Values Tour with Korn and Evanescence, just released a live video of "To the Rats" through the Triviumworld.com fan club. The band, fresh off of its world tour in support of The Crusade, posted the first photos from Family Values here. www.trivium.org www.myspace.com/trivium www.youtube.com/trivium

THE CULT reveals new album artwork

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:59:57 +1000

The Cult has unveiled their new album cover in a splash page on their official site, www.thecult.us. The album, Born Into This, will be released on October 2nd. Expect the first single, "Dirty Little Rockstar," on your radio dial this soon. www.thecult.us www.myspace.com/cultmusic

Free CRADLE OF FILTH MP3

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:59:19 +1000

If you've seen Cradle of Filth's dark live video for "Tonight in Flames" from Thornography and you want to grab a copy of the track for yourself, download it here. The band recently announced tour dates on the Viva La Bands tour with CKY and Vains of Jenna. Important announcements about other big name acts on that tour are forthcoming. www.cradleoffilth.com www.myspace.com/cradleoffilth www.youtube.com/cradleoffilth

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE: Best. Video. Ever!

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:58:33 +1000

Here's a sneak peek at the Killswitch Engage video for the classic 'Holy Diver' 'Holy Diver' was of course recorded originally by Jack Black's pal Ronnie James Dio and his band back in 1983 and Killswitch have not only done the song justice, they have created a truly classic video that people will be scrambling to watch. Here's a scan of a piece that ran recently in Kerrang UK magazine. Your wildest imagination won't prepare you for this! The CD/DVD special edition of 'As Daylight Dies' will be in stores on August 27th.

Dino Cazares' top albums!

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:57:52 +1000

Founder of Divine Heresy Dino Cazares has listed his favourite albums and told us why they are so important to him. If you want to know what makes his stereo rumble click here. Divine Heresy release 'Bleed The Fifth' on Aug 27th.

11 Minutes with Corey Taylor

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:57:18 +1000

Corey Taylor has recently been interviewed by 95.1 Wizzo in Pennsylvania. In the 11 minute audio interview he talks about the meaning behind ‘Come (What)ever May’ , making the video for ‘Made of Scars’ and about the ladies of the night in the Netherlands. Listen to the interview at this location. The guys recently released the special edition of 'Come What(ever) May' and you can check this masterpiece out at this location Stone Sour Official Website

Zachattack!

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:55:58 +1000

Still Remains are running an ongoing competition on You-tube to see who will get to make their next video. Zach Roth, the bands ex-keyboard player, has entered the competion with his own personal attempt. CLICK HERE to see Zach's video.

Get teased by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:55:34 +1000

Killswitch Engage's new video for their Dio cover "Holy Diver" will make you lose your pants. It premieres tomorrow on the band's MySpace page, but to whet your appetite we've loaded up a teaser for the video HERE. "Holy Diver" is just part of the bonus material you can find on As Daylight Dies [Special Edition], in stores August 27th. Click HERE to check out this awesome edition of the guy's latest release! Killswitch Engage on is this year's Vans Warped Tour, criss-crossing America now - click HERE for dates. www.killswitchengage.com www.myspace.com/killswitchengage www.youtube.com/killswitchengage

Get comfy with STILL REMAINS

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:55:00 +1000

Roadrunner UK nailed down Michigan’s Still Remains to get comfy and chat about ‘The Serpent’ their forthcoming second studio album. Watch the video here! If you can’t wait to hear the new album then head over to their Myspace page and listen to ‘The Wax Walls of an Empty Room’ and ‘Aenima in Your Sheets’ streamed over the internet. Also online is an e-card, which you can get at this location. Still Remains Official Website

The Serpent's Last Kind Words

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:53:48 +1000

Our friends at MP3.com are hosting exclusive album streams of both DevilDriver's impossibly heavy new juggernaut, The Last Kind Words, and Still Remains seductive new offering, The Serpent. Click HERE to listen now! You'll find The Last Kind Words in stores NOW and The Serpent as of next Tuesday, so prepare yourself for a metal onslaught! www.devildriver.com www.stillremains.com

TRIVIUM Talk Heavy Metal

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:53:07 +1000

Matt Heafy, Trivium frontman was recently interviewed on the Family Values Tour by Heavy Metalsource.com. You can watch the clips below: Matt Heafy interview part 1 Matt Heafy interview part 2

Still Remains Snake Game

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:52:29 +1000

The Still Remains game is ready for you all! Click HERE!

STILL REMAINS full album preview

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:52:12 +1000

Our friends at Roadrunner Australie have given us all a chance the preview the ENTIRE Still Remains 'The Serpent' album. Click here, but do it now as the album stream will only be live for one week.

THE CULT : new album artwork!

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:51:33 +1000

Check out the album artwork for The Cult's upcoming release 'Born Into This' on the band's official website. Click HERE.

Apocalyptica feat COREY TAYLOR

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:51:19 +1000

Corey Taylor appears on the first single “I’m Not Jesus” (Aug 31 G/A/S, Sept 10 rest of Europe) taken from Apocalyptica’s upcoming album Worlds Collide. Check out the video for “I’m Not Jesus” featuring Corey Taylor here, along with the single artwork.

New SANCTITY interview

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:51:03 +1000

Metal Mayhem UK has just put up their fascinating interview with Sanctity. Metal Mayhem's Darren Cowen asks the bands front man, Jared MacEachern, about the bands past, influences, signing with the legendary Roadrunner Records, rapid rise to fame and his musical ambitions. This interview is a must read for all Metal enthusiasts. To read the interview CLICK HERE

HOLY DIVER!

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:49:44 +1000

No more teasing and no more waiting...here's the much anticipated video premiere of Killswitch Engage's "Holy Diver"! As you'll see, the current Warped Tour sensations took this all-time heavy metal classic by Dio to new heights of modern power, without losing any of its epic, medieval glory. Look for both the song and video in the special edition of As Daylight Dies, coming to stores on August 27th, and feast your eyes upon the VIDEO and join KSE's MySpace page in the meantime. www.killswitchengage.com

DEVILDRIVER's 'Not All Who Wander Are Lost' World Video Premiere

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:08:45 +1000

DevilDriver's first video from their latest release The Last Kind Words is "Not All Who Wander Are Lost" and it's available exclusively at Hot Topic. Watch it now! Pick up your copy of The Last Kind Words in stores now! Prepare for absolute mayhem! FREE MP3 of "All Who Wander Are Not Lost" www.devildriver.com www.myspace.com/devildriver www.youtube.com/devildrivertube

3 INCHES OF BLOOD interview from Ozzfest

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 23:11:48 +1000

3 Inches Of Blood are currently on the Ozzfest tour in the U.S. and guitarist Shane Clark was interviewed by Synthesis.net. You can watch the seven-and-a-half minute video interview online at YouTube. ‘Fire Up the Blades’ is the new album by the heavy metal fighters and the video for their track ‘The Goatrider’s Horde’ has been posted online: High-Quality and YouTube

DAATH check in from Ozzfest

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 23:07:57 +1000

Eyal Levi, Daath guitarist/synth player has issued the following update: "I'm sitting here in Portland, Oregon. We have two days off, which is altogether too much for me. I absolutely hate more than one day off in a row and more than one day off every week and a half. I'm out here to fucking play. That said, the weather here is pleasant, the scenery is gorgeous, everyone knows the weed on the west coast is the best and so all in all this is about as chill as an environment as I could hope for on a day off. "Anyways onto business… Two Ozzfests and one 'off' date with Nile and Cthonic down. "People were wondering how this year's free fest would go down but with an average draw of 35,000 people I would say that things are going well for Ozzfest. "As far as DAATH goes, these have been the two largest shows we have ever played. The biggest prior to this was 1,100 people with Job For A Cowboy in San Antonio, Texas but there's no telling how many times bigger these shows are. All I know is I've looked out into the crowd and devil horns spanning back past the soundbooth is a great site to see. These people are ready for extreme music. About as ready as the bands are for the five minute changeover. "Playing the second stage is a fucking rush! From the moment the band before us is done it's go go go time. There's like 20 people onstage yelling and moving gear and we literally have five minutes to be completely set up and ready to play. How the fuck is a band supposed to be completely set up and ready to rock thousands of people in five minutes flat? It seems impossible but everyone is getting it done. From start to finish the second stage show experience is like a whirlwind. It's the most intense rush and then it's over. "So far I've seen some things in the audience that make me happy. Huge pits, crowd surfers, lots of headbanging, and in general a bunch of crazy motherfuckers throwing down. I'm sure most of you know that we have a contest running where you can upload footage from your mobile phone to YouTube and we'll pick our favorite one at the end of Ozzfest and give you some free shit. Well, we have one that's in the lead. It's the crowd-surfing trash can. I was watching that happen from the stage laughing to myself that it was fuckin' classic. It's great that someone actually captured that and uploaded it. The only thing that would be better than that would be if you guys invited about seven more trash cans to crowd surf. Think about it… "Well that's it for now. Got to catch some sleep before our 5am load-in." Roadrunner Italy conducted a video interview with Daath guitarist Emil Werstler and drummer Kevin Talley, the video has been posted in our media section. Check it out now! For more videos of Daath check out their new YouTube channel. www.daathmusic.com

STILL REMAINS: The Serpent review

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:28:07 +1000

Courtesy of Blistering.com comes this favourable review of the forthcoming Still Remains album. One of the more interesting acts Roadrunner Records signed a couple of years ago was Grand Rapids, Mich's Still Remains. Its 2005 debut full-length effort, 'Of Love And Lunacy', quickly caught the attention of many by incorporating Gothenburg-inspired melodic death metal into metalcore. On its all-important sophomore effort, the band has altered its game plan. 'The Serpent' is quite a departure from the band we heard on 'Of Love And Lunacy'. The opening/title track is an impressive instrumental that indicates Still Remains new sound, with the keyboards playing a greater role alongside the twin-guitar attack. The relentless double-kicking on the drums from Adrian Bone Green gives the song a definite ongoing drive in the background. Melody is a big component of this record. For instance, there's plenty of aggression at the start of 'The Wax Walls Of An Empty Room', the track that fans have a chance to make a video for in a contest that ends July 30. Yet it's J.T. Miller's clean vocal presence in the chorus that ensures listeners are well and truly hooked, with the melodic aspect of the band's former style becoming well and truly magnified. The focus on such structures continues with 'Stay Captive', the dramatic and atmospheric 'Maria', 'Sleepless Nights Alone' a song that could have easily emerged from Finnish melodic rock/gothic act HIM and the spiteful 'An Undesired Reunion'. All work with varying degrees of success. However, the highly experimental 'Dancing With The Enemy' does not. Its emo/rock sound is completely at odds with the Still Remains heard on 'Of Love And Lunacy'. Sounding a little more familiar to fans of that record are first single 'Anemia In Your Sheets'; the dark, heavy 'Dropped From The Cherry Tree'; 'The River Song'; and crushing melodic death metal closer 'Avalanche'. Unlike Still Remains debut effort, 'The Serpent' has two distinctly different halves, with the band's melodic side being fleshed out on one half the tracks while the remainder stay true to the direction the band established on its first LP. Credit must be given to Still Remains for trying something new, and while it doesn't work 100 percent of the time, the change will likely be to the band's benefit in the long run. By Justin Donnelly Visit Blistering.com here. And you can hear the album in its entirety from this Friday at the Roadrunner Australia MySpace page: Check it out! www.stillremains.com

TRIVIUM under threat!

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:12:08 +1000

On the Trivium message board, Matt Heafy answered fans submitted questions and you can see a couple of excerpts below: Q: How does terrorism affect a touring band with a lot of equipment? Particularly at airports. Matt: Nowadays we try to always ship what we need to have overseas and have duplicate equipment of all the big crap like amps, cabs, drums, risers, lights, and all that. We basically just ship guitars, wireless, pedals, and other bits and bobs thru a music transportation company. I'll tell you what does suck now from all that terrorism airport crap… the fact that I can't bring my bathroom supplies on the plane anymore. That's about the only thing terrorists accomplished — making people's lives just slightly inconvenient at airports. Q: Do you believe you are good role models for your fan base? Matt: For sure. Lots of bands these days provide shit examples on how to live to younger fans, or people who want some sort of role model. Whether these bands actually are drug addict, misogynist, fire-breathing, fighting tough guys; or they just play one for show — it's all a crappy image to portray. We're down-to-earth people like everyone else who just happen to have a killer job that they get to share with the best fans in the world. Read the entire question-and-answer session at this location. Official Website Trivium's Myspace Trivium's Youtube Channel

New KILLSWITCH ENGAGE ecard

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:02:30 +1000

Killswitch Engage's most recent album, the much raved over As Daylight Dies, will be given the special edition treatment on August 28th, so we've created a new ECARD to describe all the gory details. Take a look inside and you'll not only learn about the special edition CD/DVD's 3 videos and 4 previously unreleased tracks, but also be able to stream the song "Be One" and KSE's anthemic cover of Dio's classic "Holy Diver," plus download new AIM icons, banners and wallpapers. Oh, and snoop around a little for a not-so-hidden easter egg containing a preview of the "Holy Diver" video - soon to be debuted right here on www.roadrunnerrecords.co.za. www.killswitchengage.com

The most brutal SLIPKNOT is on it's way!

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:43:20 +1000

Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison told Kerrang! That their heaviest work is still to come. "It's going to be heavy as fuck!" promised Jordison. "It's going to be heavier than 'Vol. 3...' but just as weird and as experimental. We have a whole bunch of song titles, but nothing I wanna say right now." Read the article from Kerrang! where Joey talks about the future of Slipknot and being on the road with Korn here. www.slipknot1.com

Want to hear a new ATREYU song?

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:41:52 +1000

Want to hear a new Atreyu song? Well you're going to have to work for it. Head on over to atreyurock.com and click on the link for the new Atreyu game. The new song, "Becoming the Bull", is split up in to a bunch of pieces, and it's your job to put them in the right order. Once you do, you can play the song all the way through and get a taste of what's to come this Summer when Atreyu plays the Family Values Tour. What tour you ask? Oh, the one with Korn, Evanescence, Trivium, Hellyeah, and Flyleaf. Theyll be coming to a town near you between July 20th and September 2nd (dates available at this website and our MySpace page). Unless, of course, you don't live in a town they're coming near. Not up for a road trip? Then sit tight. Atreyu's new album will be making its way into your hands later this Summer. Until next time... -That Guy www.atreyurock.com

DELAIN backstage at Bevrijdingsfestival

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:12:13 +1000

Check out Delain's website to view their new video for 'See Me In Shadow' and see what they got up to backstage at Bevrijdingsfestival. Check these and more awesome things at www.delain.nl

In studio with MEGADETH

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:00:21 +1000

The Guitar World web site is hosting a special feature with Dave Mustaine. Secrets revealed!!! Check out the exclusive seven minute video, "In The Studio With Megadeth's Dave Mustaine". Dave talks about the gear he used on the recording of the band's latest album, United Abominations. Check out the video Source: BLABBERMOUTH

DIVINE HERESY announce bass player

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:12:08 +1000

Dino Cazares is back with his modern tech-death metal horde and their new bass player is? Former Nile member Joe Payne. Divine Heresy is fleshed out by ex Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares, former Vital Remains, Hate Eternal drummer Tim Yeung and powerhouse vocalist Tommy Vext! The band's debut album 'Bleed The Fifth' hits the stores at the end of August and I have to say that if ever you found yourself appreciating anything Dino Cazares had a hand in that this album will definitely impress. Hear Divine Heresy now!

SOULFLY's Max announces new band

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:10:11 +1000

Many of you will have been anxiously waiting on details pertaining to Max and Igor?s new venture. Soulfly frontman Max Cavalera has revealed that the new outfit he and Igor are working on will be called Inflikted. Cavalera spoke recently to Metal Hammer. Metal Hammer: Who made the first moves to get in touch between you and Igor? Max: "Igor made the contact. I was touring Europe doing a lot of festivals and I got a phone call and someone passed me the phone and said, 'It's your brother,' and I almost had a fucking heart attack. I hadn't talked to my brother in like ten years and this guy hands me the phone like it's the pizza man! He just said, 'What's up, man? I gotta see you.' I hadn't even thought about a project at that time. But we kept in touch and later on I told him I'd written some songs with him in mind and did he want to come over and play. They don't fit anywhere else, not SOULFLY, not SEPULTURA. It wasn't like I was asking him to join SOULFLY, it was something new and fresh. Like a new beginning of our lives. He liked it very much and that's where we are at the moment." Metal Hammer: That must feel pretty good? Max: "It feels really cool. It's something we've both wanted to do for a very long time. We had to go through this ten year period and it's something that we couldn't force. I was very patient about it and just kept doing my thing, SOULFLY and stuff, and Igor was doing his." Metal Hammer: Have you got a name for the project yet? Max: "Yes, it's called INFLIKTED. It's a real metal/punk thing. Anyone who knows SEPULTURA will know we were pioneering in terms of introducing metal fans to bands like DEAD KENNEDYS, working with Jello Biafra before he did anything with anyone else in metal. I love metal but me and Igor also love hardcore and punk, so it's coming from that mentality." Metal Hammer: So can we expect some pretty extreme sounds? Max: "Very punk, very hardcore, but also metal too. You'll hear stuff and you'll know it's coming from songs like 'Arise' and 'Beneath The Remains'. I've even done some death metal stuff 'Morbid Visions'-style which I haven't done for ages. Everyone was into it and it was such fun to record that shit. And we did fun stuff like a POSSESSED cover, 'The Exorcist', but we did it in a more punk style." Metal Hammer: How worried are you that people will look at you reuniting with Igor and jump the gun by assuming it's some kind of SEPULTURA reunion? Max: "I tried to do this as naturally as possible. If you play together and that's the way the music comes out then you can't really change anything, even if you wanted to. There's a natural fucking energy coming out of both of us playing together. It's something I have no control over, because we have both worked on different things for many years and learned different stuff. Using the first drum track, that's something I wish I would have done with SEPULTURA so many times. Things like 'Refuse/Resist' or even 'From The Past Comes The Storms' from 'Schizophrenia', the best take was the first one but we re-recorded it and screwed it up. I listen to the album and then the tapes and the first take was so much better, so much more powerful. So my attitude [with this] was to try and capture that, but everything else is natural man. But you do hear a lot of SEPULTURA and SOULFLY, and also in what Igor drums on but that's understandable." SOURCE: Blabbermouth

Australia's Most Exciting Band: AIRBOURNE!

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:07:05 +1000

Australia's top music tv station Channel V has offered up this great review of a recent Airbourne show down under. The fans are so into the band that only a few weeks after the release of their album Runnin' Wild, the entire crowd could sing along word for word. Get a taste with this stream of "Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast" and expect their music in stores soon. www.airbournerock.com www.myspace.com/airbournerock www.youtube.com/airbournerock

Killing Time with Dez Fafara

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:33:22 +1000

Having just stormed through some European festivals. DevilDriver are back home and frontman Dez Fafara issued the update below: "Been home for about a week now. It's good to have alittle time off. "We had a killer time in Europe playing festivals. I'd like to thank everyone who came out to support DEVILDRIVER! "Here's what's going on with us: We just wrapped up the video for 'Not All Who Wander Are Lost', directed by Nathen 'Karma' Cox. You're gonna love what this MTV award-winning director has done! Keep tuned here and we will let you know when the first airing will be. "As you all know, the new music comes out here in the USA on July 31st. Buy your copy at Hot Topic and get a bonus track 'Damning the Heavens' that WON'T be sold anywhere else! 'The Last Kind Words' is out in Europe already and DEVILDRIVER has charted both in Germany and the U.K. Thank you to our record company Roadrunner for all their hard work on DEVILDRIVER's behalf! "DEVILDRIVER will be having a listening party in L.A. on July 27th at On the Rocks above the Roxy on Sunset. The party will be from 7 to 11 p.m. From 7 to 8:30 will be 'open bar' for the press only. At 8 we will open it up to the first 150 people in line, so you can come in listen to the record and have a drink with us. If you live in or around L.A., get there early and get ready to party! Thanks to Alan at ESP, who will be giving away a guitar that night, and to the Rainbow, who will be catering the party with their KILLER food! "In mid-August we will be doing a short warm-up run for our first major headline shows in Europe that will begin around mid-September. Look for us to be doing 12 dates throughout California, Arizona and Texas." When you buy ‘The Last Kind Words’ from the iTunes store you will receive an exclusive live recording of ‘Grinfucked’ free! SOURCE:BLABBERMOUTH

Scorching Fire Up The Blades Review

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:30:22 +1000

TransformOnline.com posted a hugely positive review of 3 Inches of Blood's new album, Fire Up the Blades. Reviewer Eric Chon says that the album provides "13 anthems for true metalheads to crush their enemies with." Read more at TransformOnline.com. 3 Inches of Blood released Fire Up the Blades on June 26th. Get Fire Up the Blades, in stores now! www.3inchesofblood.com www.myspace.com/3iob www.youtube.com/3inchesofblood

Amazing MACHINE HEAD photos from Metaltown 2007

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:33:48 +1000

Metal masters Machine Head took to the stage this past June for Metaltown 2007 in Sweden and Roadrunner Sweden's Jesper Thorsson took some beautiful photos of the band. Check out the fist-pumping action here. Machine Head's latest and possibly the best metal album ever is The Blackening, available in stores now! So what you waiting for? Go get a piece of metal history now! www.machinehead1.com www.myspace.com/machinehead www.youtube.com/machinehead

A Medley of STONE SOUR

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:23:11 +1000

Check out Stone Sour playing The Netherlands' Pinkpop Festival in June 2007. This video is a selection of clips from their set, starting with "Made of Scars." Stone Sour's latest release is Come What(ever) May [Special Edition] available as a two-disc CD/DVD in-stores or audio-only online. www.stonesour.com www.myspace.com/stonesour www.youtube.com/stonesour

The Rising of TRIVIUM's Corey Beaulieu

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:27:56 +1000

A five-and-a-half-minute video interview with TRIVIUM guitarist Corey Beaulieu, conducted by C. Ryback from Finland's Get In The Pit magazine on May 8, 2007 in Helsinki, has been posted at this location. TRIVIUM's video for the song "The Rising" has been posted online at this location. The clip was shot in March with directors Artifical Army in the Los Angeles area. According to a casting call sheet, the concept for the video is "a technological assault on the world told through the eyes and shadows of youth, nature, war, and disaster." "The Rising" comes off TRIVIUM's follow-up to 2005's "Ascendancy", "The Crusade", which was recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, FL, just outside of Orlando. Once again produced by TRIVIUM and Jason Suecof, the CD has sold more than 100,000 copies in the United States since its October 10 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. TRIVIUM guitarists Corey Beaulieu and Matt Heafy recently answered some of the "Ask the Band" questions from Scuzz TV viewers. Watch the seven-minute clip at YouTube.

Get a small dose of THE CULT

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:35:17 +1000

A 90 second edit of the lead single from The Cult’s new album ‘Born Into This’ can be heard now! The single is titled ‘Dirty Little Rock Star’ and will appear on the band’s new album toward the end of September. ’Born Into This’ was recorded in London with producer Youth (VERVE, PRIMAL SCREAM). Listen to the track now!

DEVILDRIVER Update

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:31:53 +1000

As reported earlier today on Blabbermouth, DevilDriver frontman Dez Fafara posted an update describing the band's recently completed European tour, the soon-to-be-released new video for "Not All Who Wander Are Lost," and a planned listening party in L.A. for their decapitating new album, The Last kind Words. You can read all of Dez's message HERE. Oh, and have you stopped by the band's website lately? We encourage you to, as www.devildriver.com has been given a complete overhaul, including some amazing flash work that will get you even more pumped up for The Last kind Words. www.myspace.com/devildriver www.devildriver.com

DREAM THEATER'S 'Constant Motion' Video Premiere

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:28:22 +1000

Yes, we know you've been waiting, and we're happy to announce the premiere of Dream Theater's new video for "Constant Motion," exclusively at www.dreamtheater.net. "Constant Motion" is but one of eight epic masterpieces to be found on the group's Systematic Chaos album - in stores now. www.roadrun.com/SystematicChaos www.myspace.com/DreamTheater www.dreamtheater.net

ATREYU signs to Roadrunner!

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 16:48:25 +1000

Roadrunner Records are proud to announce the worldwide signing (ex-North America) of Orange County bruisers, ATREYU. The release of debut album ‘Suicide Notes And Butterfly Kisses’ (2002) exploded ATREYU onto the world scene. Their much lauded follow-up, ‘The Curse’ (2004), further illustrated they were a force to be reckoned with. When their third album ‘A Death-Grip On Yesterday’ (2006) hit stores, it smashed into the US Billboard chart at #9. Several world tours, 18 million MySpace streams, and one million US album sales later, their dynamic new studio album ‘Lead Sails Paper Anchor’ is set for release on August 27th. ATREYU can’t wait to take it to the next level with Roadrunner. Vocalist Alex Varkatzas comments, “We’re excited to be on a label with a roster we respect and with such a strong track record overseas. The ATREYU / Roadrunner combination is going to really shake things up, we feel confident about this relationship and can’t wait to start crushing together!” ATREYU is completed by drummer/co-vocalist Brandon Saller, guitarists Travis Miguel and Daniel Jacobs, and Marc McKnight on bass. ‘Lead Sails Paper Anchor’ is produced by Goldfinger’s John Feldmann (Good Charlotte, The Used, Lostprophets) and features the incendiary guitars, battering rhythm section, and the soaring vocals with big choruses ATREYU are known for. At the same time, it sees the band broadening their horizons more than ever before. The legendary Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Slayer, Sepultura, Biffy Clyro) is behind the mixing desk. The track listing is: 1.Doomsday 2.Honor 3.Falling Down 4.Becoming The Bull 5.Lose It 6.Two Becomes One 7.No One Cares 8.Can’t Happen Here 9.Slow Burn 10.Blow 11.Lead Sails (And A Paper Anchor) In June, ATREYU launched a game in which fans are able to hear and arrange snippets of hook-laden first single ‘Becoming The Bull’. The fan who stitches all parts of the song together fastest, in the correct order, will win a sought after collection of prizes, including a signed guitar and a phone call from the band. Try it for yourself at www.atreyugame.com. Brandon concludes, “Roadrunner has been supportive of our band for a very long time, it’s great to finally be an official part of the family. We love travelling to other parts of the world; now we have a label who will actually support us in doing so!” ATREYU hit the road from July 20th on the US Family Values tour (Korn, Evanescence, Trivium, Hell Yeah) and hope to schedule international dates before the end of the year. www.atreyurock.com www.myspace.com/atreyurock.

Corey Taylor interviewed

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 16:20:54 +1000

toazted.com posted an interview with Corey Taylor recently discussing, among other things, the upcoming Stone Sour tour and future Slipknot plans. As you can see, contrary to popular internet rumour and people who like to argue with me, Slipknot are not currently in the studio. However, Stone Sour is going to be out on the road again in less than a month with Sydonia supporting. This end-of-summer tour supports Stone Sour's new Come What(ever) May [Special Edition] release. See "Blotter" and "Hell and Consequences" from the DVD half HERE or check them out on our YouTube channel. You can get the CD/DVD in-stores or the audio-only online. www.stonesour.com www.myspace.com/stonesour www.youtube.com/stonesour

MACHINE HEAD Face Off

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:36:03 +1000

Machine Head’s Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel were recently interviewed by Holland’s FaceCulture. Check out the video interviews online now! Phil Demmel was also interviewed by France’s Radio Metal last month, you can listen to the audio interview at this location. (look for the audio player to the right of "The Blackening" album cover). Machine Head’s new album "The Blackening" is available in stores now! SOURE: BLABBERMOUTH

Shredding with DAATH

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:32:59 +1000

Daath’s Eyal Levi and Emil Werstler have been guitar shredding and FPE-TV caught them in the act and posted a video online at YouTube! The guys have also launched their own YouTube channel where you can watch all their videos! ‘Dead on the Dance Floor’ is taken from Daath’s debut Roadrunner release, ‘The Hinderers’. The track has an exclusive remix and due for release this month! www.daathmusic.com

Play STILL REMAINS' The Serpent Game!

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:15:35 +1000

Still Remains' The Serpent goes into circulation on August 7th and the band's hitting the road for the Warped Tour to get everyone psyched about it. You can play along with the Still Remains The Serpent Game, featuring "The Wax Walls of an Empty Room" and "Anemia in Your Sheets." Get one of the highest scores and you could win a Still Remains skate deck! Submit your screenshot HERE (score to beat) along with your name, email address, and mailing address for a chance to win. Submissions without all of these items will not be considered. You can also help us out by voting for the game at Newgrounds.com! Also, don't forget to take part in the Still Remains Create Your Own Video Contest. Hit up the Still Remains YouTube page for more info. www.stillremains.com www.youtube.com/stillremains www.myspace.com/stillremains

AIRBOURNE rock up St.Kilda

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:17:43 +1000

You can tell Airbourne are a hell of a lot of fun checking out these live shots from the St. Kilda Festival in Australia. You can hear that they're a crashing rockslide of awesome when you listen to "Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast." And a lucky few will get to see it all for themselves as the band kicks off its Australian Tour. We'll be bringing the band and its music to U.S. shores soon, but you should get a taste of what Joel, David, Justin, and Ryan are all about. Of course, if you happen to be in Australia, check Airbourne out at the dates below. 13th July Gaelic Theatre Sydney, NSW 14th July Mona Vale Hotel Mona Vale, NSW 19th July Prince Of Wales Hotel Bunbury, WA 20th July Hyde Park Hotel Perth, WA 21st July Mojos Bar Fremantle, WA 26th July National Hotel Geelong, VIC 27th July Prince Of Wales Hotel St Kilda, VIC 4th August Splendour in the Grass Byron Bay Sold Out www.airbournerock.com www.myspace.com/airbournerock www.youtube.com/airbournerock

Interview with HATEBREED guitarist Frank "3 Gun" Novinec posted online

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:09:17 +1000

A short video interview with HATEBREED guitarist Frank "3 Gun" Novinec, shot by the Roadrunner Italy team on June 20 a few hours before the HATEBREED gig in Turin, has been posted online at this location. HATEBREED is continuing to tour in support of its new album, "Supremacy", which has sold around 100,000 copies in the United States since its late August release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. www.hatebreed.com

Max Cavalera Q&A

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:34:47 +1000

Soulfly mainman Max Cavalera has updated the official Soulfly website with a Q&A session, shown below: Soulfly Web: Can you tell us what what you're going to be up to this month? Max: Yeah, man, this week is actually really exciting. The date today is 7/7/7 and tomorrow we are starting to record on the new project that I'm doing with my brother Igor. I've talked about it a bit last year and throughout this year, and now finally we are pulling through with it and we're entering the studio tomorrow morning — and it's just going to be some brutal, aggressive, out-of-control shit. Soulfly Web: Have you been jamming with him at all, or is the first time you guys are playing together going to be in the studio? Max: Nah, we're going to do it all in the studio. I think it's sounding like a combination of things I've done with NAILBOMB and SEPULTURA, and even SOULFLY, of course, but these songs are coming to be more live on the spot. I recorded some simple four-tracks for a lot of them, similar to the ones that people may have heard through the SOULFLY MySpace, and I sent out a CD to everybody about a month ago with like 10 songs, but at that time I didn't even know exactly who else I'd be working with in the project. I knew that Igor would be doing drums and percussion, and I'd be doing vocals and guitar. Now Marc Rizzo is going to be playing lead guitar and and the bassist and vocalist from GOJIRA will help us out to give it a bit of a different vibe. I like GOJIRA a lot — they're a fucking kick-ass band. It's a special album for me because it's a very global group of musicians. One from France [from GOJIRA], one from the U.S., and two from Brasil. I think that's going to add something very cool, even trippy, and definitely my style. Soulfly Web: Who are you going to be working with in the studio tomorrow? Max: The album's being done Logan Mader and Dirty Icon in L.A., where I did the last two things that I've recorded in the studio. I just did the "Beautiful People" [MARILYN MANSON] cover for Kerrang! that came out a couple of weeks ago, and and I also did four lines for a rapper named ILL BILL from the East Coast. It was very cool — I'm not usually very big into rap, but he contacted me, he's a fan of mine from way back, and he actually met me and Igor way back on our first U.S. tour with SEPULTURA. So he sent me a copy of this song he did called "War Is My Destiny" — and it's fucking kick-ass. It's the most evil rap I've ever heard in my life — both the music and the lyrics. So when I was here last time, I recorded a couple lines and added some stuff on top of it. All of this shit was recorded with Logan — who has played with MACHINE HEAD and with me in SOULFLY right after the first record — out here in L.A., and it's really cool to work with Logan as a producer because he's an amazing engineer, we know him already, and it's fit perfect. I give my respect to Gloria [Cavalera, wife/manager] because it was all planned very well and she did a fucking kick-ass job finding the right people for the studio. All that's left for us to do now is to go into the studio tomorrow and jam out a sick-ass record, and that's what we're aiming for. Soulfly Web: Do you think SOULFLY's going to be working on their new album with him this fall, as well? Max: It's still too early to say. Right now this project is literally consuming all of my time. I'm still writing for the next SOULFLY, and Marc is, as well, and so are Bobby and Joe. We've all been in good contact over the break and we're all excited to be going into the new SOULFLY album, but that's going to be a chapter of its own that will have its own time. I like to keep touring, but I'm the kind of guy that likes to focus on one of my projects at a time to give it its own attention. I did NAILBOMB at nearly the same time that SEPULTURA was recording "Chaos A.D.", but they still had their own time for me. So yeah there's idea floating around, but as far as technical things like which producer, where to record, or even the general vibe of the CD — these are things that we haven't decided yet. I think it's going to be very cool, and in fact, this project will probably have a strong influence on what comes out of the next SOULFLY album. I know that NAILBOMB strongly had an influence for me in the "Chaos A.D." recordings, and even on into "Roots". I hope this project is going to do the same for SOULFLY, and it's going to provide some excellent inspiration. Soulfly Web: Is this project going to be similar to NAILBOMB in the same way that you won't be performing live, or do you have plans for more shows than you played with NAILBOMB? Max: We're going to try to play more shows than me and Alex [Newport] did with NAILBOMB. NAILBOMB was very unique the original idea between me and Alex was that we'd never play live and it's what we believed while we were making the songs in the studio. But we received a request for Dynamo Open Air that we just couldn't refuse. For them to put NAILBOMB in front of 120,000 people on the bill was incredible, and we were like, "We've got to do this one, man!" It's not everyday that you get to play in front of 120,00 people so we went ahead and did the show, but originally we never thought we play live. So this should be a bit different — I'm liking the material we've got so far quite a bit and it'd be very fun to do more live shows. My goal in the end would be to play a couple of shows in North America, a couple of shows in Europe, a couple of shows in Australia, a couple of shows in South America, so that all the fans of me and Igor's shit can get the opportunity to see what we're doing together live. It'd be fairer to my fans to play more than one show this time around, so we'll try to do a small number of shows, but play them all over the place. Soulfly Web: You mentioned that you're going to be on ILL BILL's next album, "The Hour of Reprisal". Does Igor's collaboration with ILL BILL's little brother and fellow hip-hop artist NECRO have anything to do with your decision to record some lines for Bill, or is your only connection with him the chance meeting you guys had when you were in SEPULTURA? Max: Igor working with Necro actually had nothing to do with it. Bill called me completely out of the blue. When he sent me the CD, I'm going to have to be honest, I didn't know much about what he did. The only thing that I did know for sure was that he had met me and Igor in New York on our first or second U.S. tour and we went to get some pizza with him. He grew up as a metalhead and a SEPULTURA fan I thought that was pretty respectable coming from someone from the rap world. He does something very different from a lot of the bullshit that's out there in rap. This is rap with a very different, almost "metal," attitude woven into it and it sounds very fucking cool. He told me it was an honor to have me on his record, but as far as I can tell, I don't think Necro working with Igor really had anything to do with it. I haven't met Ill Bill for quite a while though, and we're going to get to reunite at a festival that we're both playing at over in Europe this summer. The guest spot was his idea, he contacted me, and I put some vocals on top of it. Since he was a big SEPULTURA fan, I decided to do something I normally don't do, and I took a couple lines that fit his song from "Arise" and "Chaos A.D.", and I screamed those over the top of the rap that he's doing. It's going to sound fucking wild when it's done — lots of intensity and some very evil rap. Even if you don't like rap, I'd suggest giving Ill Bill a try, because it's a lot closer to some of the things that we do in metal than you might think. Soulfly Web: Finally, do you have anything special in mind for SOULFLY's short European tour in August or for the 11th annual D-Low Memorial show that SOULFLY's scheduled on August 31st in Tempe, Arizona? Max: Whoa, yeah, you know, we've got a lot that we're doing all at once right now, between the studio and touring in Europe, and of course, the Dana memorial show. The one thing that I think would be cool for this year's D-Low Memorial Show would be to have our new project play live at the show before SOULFLY. Every year the D-Low show is a very special one — at last year's show I talked to Igor for the first time in person in 10 years. My fans here in Arizona deserve that and I think SOULFLY fans are going to fucking love it if it happens — yeah, we'll get to SOULFLY the end, but before that we'd hopefully play through some songs from the project. The bill isn't completely confirmed yet, but we're working on it, and we hope to get some guests who have known Dana in the past to come out. 90% of the people I've worked with have had some type of connection with Dana — from the first D-Low show when the DEFTONES played with DUB WAR until now. Throughout the years most bands that have played have met Dana, or they know about it, and it's important to keep that involved. That awareness is what the show is really about — it's an opportunity for us to remember Dana as a friend. He was a very awesome metal fan, he was here for the music, and that music was his salvation from all the bullshit. He stayed away from shit like drugs, stealing, and all of that crap because he had music, you know? He loved music more than anyone I know and I hung out with him everyday playing music; he was one of the best friends that I've ever met. It fucking sucked to lose him, so I'm just trying to do my part to let people know about Dana. I don't want to let the world forget Dana ever — the impact he made and the memories we share — and that is the most important thing that this show will be about. www.soulflyweb.com

More MEGADETH!

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:28:42 +1000

Ex-Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman has been interviewed by Shockwaves/HardRadio for their podcast. Marty talks about his years with Megadeth and you can download the podcast at this location (20 MB). Shawn Macomber of The American Spectator recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine. A few excerpts from the chat follow: On the United Nations: "I'm sure the United Nations does some good stuff. I mean, they've got one of the most beautiful women in the world pushing rice in Darfur. But that's the irony of it all. They'll send those C130s over there full of supplies, drop it off and...the rebels get it. Deliver it all the way if you're going to deliver it. What good is it if it goes to the bad people? Then there are these allegations of women and children being raped by peacekeepers in Africa — the first time that happens it's a crime, the second time it is a travesty." "Why doesn't Michael Moore do an expose on the UN? When I see Syria on the Security Council [in 2002-2003], am I supposed to feel secure? It's mad....They just rely on UNICEF, this one good thing they're doing, to cover up all the stuff that they're not doing, to put them beyond dissent. I'm not impressed. How long are they going to sit by and watch Hezbollah fire Katyusha rockets into Israel from Lebanon? That's a question I'd like answered." On musicians making their political views public: "People say musicians should stay out of politics, and I agree. But I'm a citizen, too. I love my country. When I went to cover the [1992] Democratic National Convention for MTV, I walked around like a respectable American who happened to be in the music business instead of like one of these idiots in a T-shirt that says 'F -- k Our President.' "In a lot of ways, it doesn't matter. I can't tell you how condescending the look I got from John Kerry was when I walked up to interview him at the 1992 convention or the way Oliver Stone treated me. I was like, 'You know what? Don't let the hair fool you, guys.'" On MEGADETH's early lyrical approach: "I had labelmates when I was on Capitol Records like POISON who had songs like 'Talk Dirty to Me'. That never appealed to me. I wanted to do something that was a little bit more profound, even if I didn't really want a bunch of pontificators in the front row." Read the entire interview at www.spectator.org. Source: BLABBERMOUTH www.megadeth.com

SOULFLY call for a revolution

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:18:33 +1000

Soulfly drummer Joe Nunez has issued the following update: "This summer I've been working construction and rehearsing with my side project SLAMPEDE. Our new singer/guitar player, Kevin Kowalski, is the latest addition to our band and we've been shredding ever since. We will be looking forward to playing live in the near future and updating our myspace/websites later this year! You can check out some music from our last album, 'The Revolution', at www.myspace.com/slampede. I've also been breaking in my new Gen-X drums by Premier, and I'm loving it. I've really been hitting it hard and practicing for the new SOULFLY record! Hopefully, we'll be out on the road again and then recording soon." Soulfly performed the Sepultura tack ‘Refuse/Resist’ at the XII Festival Arte-Nativo / Viña Rock festival in April you can watch a video clip here. SOURCE: BLABBERMOUTH

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE: Bridging the gap between Metal and Punk

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:10:23 +1000

With KILLSWITCH ENGAGE taking part in the Vans Warped Tour this year, the band talked to Artisan News Service about being a bridge between metal and punk. Watch video footage at this location. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's video for the band's new single, "The Arms of Sorrow", has been posted online at YouTube. According to the casting call sheet, "this video revolves around a man falling from a high-rise building in slow motion and people reacting to it." "The Arms of Sorrow" comes off the group's new album, "As Daylight Dies", which has sold 257,000 copies in the United States since its November 21 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD is the follow-up to 2004's Grammy-nominated album "The End of Heartache", and 2005's gold-selling DVD "(Set This) World Ablaze". Source: BLABBERMOUTH www.killswitchengage.com

MACHINE HEAD interviewed on Metal Scene

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 23:56:44 +1000

The Metal Scene got this massively long sit down with Robb Flynn and Dave McClain of Machine Head. Check out our YouTube Blog. Machine Head's latest album, The Blackening, is likely the best metal album ever. Get your own copy to hear why! www.machinehead1.com Machine Head on MySpace Machine Head on YouTube

Martijn Westerholt of DELAIN Q&A

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 23:48:47 +1000

Your Name Martijn Westerholt Your Age 28 Your Instrument Keyboards Your All Time favourite record and why? Ow that’s a difficult one….. Nightwish – Once. Just perfection in terms of some of the songs. Really my taste. Your favourite song at the moment: “What Have You Done”. Within Temptaion What’s on your I-Pod right now? I don’t have an I-Pod What was your greatest experience on tour? The audience in Lille this spring. That audience was magic. What was your most horrible experience on tour? Not being able to sleep one night after a gig and having a gig the next day, because we had to cut on hotel costing. What was you most embarrassing moment on the stage? Starting “Restless” (with Within Temptation) in the wrong tune. Do you have any sort of ritual before you go on stage? To tell each other (the band) to kick some ass on stage. With which band would you love to tour and why? Nightwish, because I love the music they make. Which song would you like to cover and re-invent with your style? Nothing else matters (Metallica.) If you couldn't be a musician, you would work as... A history teacher Best advice ever given to you: Don’t worry so much. Eveything in live is unsure anyway. Which places would you like to travel to: United states and a bounty island. Favourite movie: Lord of the rings (all 3 parts) Favourite Actor/Actress: Harrison Ford If you had to choose an actor to play you in the movie about your life, who would you choose? Harrison Ford Favourite book: I don’t read that much at the moment. Can’t choose any. Any Last words? Nice questions! Always difficult to choose favourite things. Hope people will check our music if they don’t know it yet.

Join THE CULT

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:27:01 +1000

The Cult performed at Romania’s Coke Live Festival this year, you can check out their performace at this location. The guys were also interviewed at the festival by Metalhead.no, you can watch the video here. The guys have been working hard on their new album entitled ‘Born Into This’ and is tentatively due for release in September. SOURCE: BLABBERMOUTH

Mike D of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE interview

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:22:22 +1000

Live365.com's Glass Kitten Radio got a chance to speak with Killswitch Engage bassist Mike D'Antonio this week and is running the interview on the station all this week. Killswitch Engage is currently headlining the Warped Tour, supported by fellow Roadrunner bands Still Remains and Biffy Clyro. Check out some pictures of the band at the Ventura stop of the Warped Tour in this post. www.killswitchengage.com www.myspace.com/killswitchengage www.youtube.com/killswitchengage

DELAIN: Spotlight on Martijn Westerholt

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:24:09 +1000

Delain was founded by Martijn Westerholt, the ex-pianist and brother of one the founders of Within Temptation, Robert Westerholt. He left Within Temptation in 2001. He started Delain in 2002. The band started recording the debut album in July 2005, after they had signed a contract with Roadrunner Records. The band consists of Martijn Westerholt (keyboard) and Charlotte Wessels (vocals). Furthermore, the live band consists of Ronald Landa (grunts and guitar), Ray van Lente (guitar), Rob van der Loo (bass) and Sander Zoer (drums). For their first album, Lucidity which was released September 4th 2006, they invited several well known musicians: Jan Yrlund from Lacrimosa (guitar), Ariën van Weesenbeek from God Dethroned (drums), Ad Sluijter from Epica (guitar), George Oosterhoek (grunts) and Guus Eikens, both formers member of Orphanage, Sharon Den Adel from Within Temptation (vocals), Marco Hietala from Nightwish (bass, vocals) and Liv Kristine from Leaves' Eyes (vocals). Here's an interview with Martijn Westerholt conducted by our comrade Alberto Giostra of Roadrunner Italy. Let’s start from the beginning: after “Mother earth” you had to leave Within Temptation for important personal reasons. How did you feel in that moment, when you couldn’t play anymore? This was one of the darkest periods of my live. I left because of health problems. Mostly because my whole future possibility’s were gone. I wasn’t able to do anything, because of dizziness, and I was tired after walking one step. I didn’t know if I was ever able to work again, and I didn’t know if it ever would go away. So actually I wasn’t even worried about the fact that I had to leave WT, but more what would happen to my life. When did you start thinking about creating a new band? Just after leaving WT I began writing again (when I was able to). Just for the fun of it. I didn’t plan doing anything with it, at the time. Slowly things developed. Because I wrote 90% of the stuff alone in these years, I felt the need for fresh external contribution, and I began asking people (people I knew from my WT period) to help me out. First I asked some people to help me out with playing some stuff. Slowly I gathered people around me to. I always wanted to work with a wide range of musicians sometime. Obviously this was my chance in doing so After finishing the album I slowly started to recover from my health problems unexpected. Suddenly I was able to do a lot of things which I couldn’t do in a couple of years. I also felt like playing live again. Also Roadrunner asked us if there were possibility’s for that. So that’s where the band Delain started. So the band is just one year old. How did you find the members of the band and, in particular, Charlotte (an incredible talent, in my opinion…)? Thank you! I was in search of a new vocalist who could help giving Delain it’s own identity. After a very long search I found Charlotte. Actually I almost gave up the search of my own vocalist for the album. I searched the entire country but I couldn’t find anybody. I had a lot of demands I was searching for someone who could write her own lyrics, and melody lines so she could add to what I write. Besides that, I wanted somebody with her own characteristic voice. No opera kind of voice and not powerful all the time. So a lot of demands. Because of a local project I came in touch with Charlotte. I asked her to write some lyrics (so not even to sing) When she went over, and gave me the lyrics, she proposed to sing them for me, so I could see if they would fit. When she started to sing I knew the search was over. After this I discovered she lived in the same street my parents live in. So I searched the whole country for nothing. The other guys were very easy to find actually. It helped I had a lot to offer (a record label, live gigs, an album etc) So Charlotte an I specifically searched to people who were had an professional approach, and would fit to our group. I’m very grateful how this group developed. I really feel it’s a friends group, and we all really fit together. What can you tell me about the songwriting process behind “Lucidity”? How the songs were born? I wrote all song concepts alone (even before there was anyone included) slowly I asked people to help me out with some things and let them add small things . If it was to my liking it stayed in. When we started the recording (In Spacelab studio Germany), all song concepts were finished already. However some end results (like Marco’s vocals) were not planned at all. Marco would only play the bass guitar stuff for the album, and would sing one or two songs perhaps. Instead of one song, we recorded five songs, because the recording process worked really well. I was very satisfied with the result. For the recording of Sharon, I was not even present. We know each other so well, that I had every confidence that the result would be to my liking. And it was. I was in charge of the whole writing process, however I left room for the guests to have their own input in there as well. Which kind of sound did you want to create for Delain? Did you want to continue from where you stopped or did you want to create something different? I don’t care if there are 1 or 1000 bands who make the same style of music regarding to Delain… I just make the music I love to make, and comes out of my heart. I don’t care if it’s “fashionable / new” or not. I wanted to make music with heavy elements / metal in it but also pop, rock, sympho. On top of this I wanted another kind of voice then what I heard so often. No opera of powerful kind of voice, but more poppy. And what was also very important, a voice what you can recognise. A voice with it’s own character/identity. “Lucidity” has some very important special guests: how did they get involved in the album? Sharon is a logical story. She’s family (My Brother Robert, and Sharon have an relationship). I always wanted to work with her one more time, and asked her to sing a song. On Lucidity. I met Marco at a Nightwish concert, and asked him if he wanted to help me out with for bass guitar stuff. He was very positive, and I told him, if he liked the material, I could come over to Helsinki and record him over there. Later on I also asked Liv. I simply called her, and send her some material. She liked it, and wanted to help me out as well. How would you describe the sound of your band? And what would you like to tell to a potential listener to convince him to buy the album? That our music comes out of our heart. Music is emotion, and you have to try to translate it as good as possible to the listener. So we make the music we love to make. Not because it’s popular or not. I think Charlotte has a very special fragile voice. So I hope people will like this to. What are the lyrics about? Are the songs tied together or every song stands alone? Which kind of message did you want to communicate with the lyrics and the music? They stand alone and our about several subjects. Charlotte wrote most of the songs. When she experience something in her life, she just takes a pencil and starts to write. So a lot of things are about her life, or things what intrigues her. This kind of music and bands like yours (anyway, you were one the musicians who started everything, of course) has become hugely successful in the last couple of years: did you expect that? Nope, not at all. I was really surprised how many bands popped up. Altough already in the beginning of WT I noticed it worked very well. A lot of people loved this kind of music, so it was logical that it grew when I look back to the whole process. But as big as now, I couldn’t guess that. How is the tour going? How do the people react to your music? It’s going beyond our expectation. We just went to France the crowd there is really great! So I’m curious what other country’s will bring us in terms of that. “Lucidity” has been released in the most important European countries: is there something you’d like to say to the European Roadrunner Records’ websites users? I hope you will take the time to check out our album. I really hope you’re gonna like it. That’s would be the biggest compliment you could give to a musician! What’s in the future of Delain? To let people in Europe and beyond to get acquainted with our music. And I hope we can meet this people when we start touring again this fall! www.delain.nl

Roadrunner signs Australia's AIRBOURNE!

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:51:12 +1000

Roadrunner Records is proud to announce the signing of Aussie hard rockers, Airbourne. Forming a genuine brand of fist-pumping, beer-slinging rock ‘n’ roll, Airbourne have established a respectable name for themselves in their native country. Although still very young, the band sonically tears pages from the bible of anthemic rock of the 70’s and 80’s, taking us back to a time where music was loud, fiercely genuine and hook laden. Their dynamic and energetic live performances offer a much-needed cure for the downtrodden vibe of popular music. Much like their forefathers, Airbourne offers nothing but a good time! Airbourne is: Joel O’Keeffe (vocals/lead guitar), Ryan O’Keeffe (drums), David Roads (guitar) and Justin Street (bass). Forming out of the musical connection of two brothers, Airbourne was conceived by brothers Joel and Ryan O’Keeffe, and was vested in their mutual love for bands such as Rose Tattoo, Van Halen, Motorhead, AC/DC and The Angels. Later joined by David Roads and Justin Street, the quartet set out to make straightforward rock ‘n’ roll, complete with catchy choruses, decadent themes and the driving rhythm to match. “It’s hard to explain,” vocalist/guitarist Joel O’Keeffe states, “but that’s what I always wanted to hear – straight-ahead Aussie pub rock.” The resulting product was a stripped down approach to rock with song titles to match the party oriented sentiment. Investing time and money for the love of the music, the band spent years working the local circuit, eventually graduating to national tours and exposure. Years of hard work paid off, catching the attention of music fans throughout Australia and the world. Roadrunner A&R representative Ron Burman instantly fell in love with “their brand of anthemic, catchy, hard rock-n-roll.” He states, “I am so excited that we signed Airbourne. They are a young, fists in the air, high energy, in-your-face type of hard rock band. I saw them play a few times in Austin at South By Southwest and they blew me away.” Sharing national stages with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Motley Crüe and The Living End, the band has honed in on its performance Zen. A live show is sure to include bursting energy, rowdy crowds singing their hearts out and free-flowing beer. “We always go on-stage and try to prove a point,” O’Keeffe directs, “about how GOOD rock ‘n’ roll is!” The band takes on the mission to spread that infectious love of rock, even performing at Australia’s biggest rock festival in 2006, Big Day Out. They are currently playing dates throughout Australia. In May the band released Runnin’ Wild, a red-blooded collection of rallying rock anthems with undeniable choruses and feel good momentum in Australia. Scheduled to be released in the US and Europe through Roadrunner Records in early 2008, the album channels the endearing qualities of classic rock while breathing new life through modern production and arrangement. Boasting an all-star team, Runnin’ Wild was produced by Bob Marlette (Ozzy Ozbourne, Alice Cooper, Saliva) and mixed by Andy Wallace (Guns N’ Roses, The Cult). With lead tracks such as “Runnin’ Wild,” “Stand Up For Rock n Roll,” and “Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast,” Runnin’ Wild will be the new soundtrack to all-night partying. Airbourne have risen to the challenge and are ready to bring their authentic brand of power rock to the US in 2008! www.airbournerocks.com www.myspace.com/airbournerocks

3 INCHES OF AUDIO!

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 16:29:03 +1000

Not only do we have the amazing new 3 Inches Of Blood album out, but we have Metal Gods raving about it! Just check this out, from none other than Rob Fuckin' Halford!!!! Halford Hearts 3IOB We also have producer Joey Jordison giving his views on the album: Joey Talks About Fire Up The Blades

STILL REMAINS launch new website

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 16:25:24 +1000

Still Remains, who appear all over the map on this Summer's Warped Tour with Killswitch Engage and Biffy Clyro, have just launched their brand new web site ahead of the August 7th release of The Serpent. Visit it HERE. Take part in the Still Remains Create Your Own Video Contest. Hit up the Still Remains YouTube page for more info. www.stillremains.com www.youtube.com/stillremains www.myspace.com/stillremains

The Gauntlet reviews FIRE UP THE BLADES

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:28:12 +1000

The Gauntlet's Erin Fox posts this excellent review of 3 Inches of Blood's Fire Up the Blades. On this third full-length album from 3 Inches Of Blood, the band has developed into a metal juggernaut. "Fire Up The Blades" has all the elements that make a metal album great - from its incendiary dueling vocal acrobatics to the irresistibly headbangable riffing to overpoweringly convincing song crafting, this is everything metalheads are looking for and so much more. What the hell are you waiting for? Get Fire Up the Blades now! www.3inchesofblood.com www.myspace.com/3iob www.youtube.com/3inchesofblood

DAATH Remixed and Reloaded

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:21:59 +1000

Put a knife in your calendars on July 17th. That's when Daath's Dead on the Dance Floor Digital EP is available online. Featuring a remix of "Dead on the Dance Floor" by Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle's Danny Lohner, the EP also includes the tracks "Inversion" and "From the Blind." Ahead of Daath's Ozzfest appearances the band has completely redesigned their MySpace page. It's entirely too metal for MySpace. Take a look. Also getting a lot of attention is Daath's YouTube Channel. We hear that the band will be rolling out a lot of Ozzfest performance footage, interviews with other bands on the tour, and probably a couple of show reels of various band members doing things better left to the imagination. www.daathmusic.com

STONE SOUR Live Videos

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:13:05 +1000

Stone Sour's brand new Come What(ever) May [Special Edition] debuted spectacularly last week and we've got "Blotter" and "Hell and Consequences" from the DVD portion for you to check out HERE in high quality. Or check them out on our YouTube channel. You can get the CD/DVD in-stores or the audio-only online. www.stonesour.com www.myspace.com/stonesour www.youtube.com/stonesour

Subscribed to our Youtube channel yet?

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 23:38:18 +1000

Subscribe here and you'll get updated instantly when new official videos, behind the scenes movies, and weird-ass clips from bands are posted. On top of that, we run contests every few weeks giving out some awesome stuff to our subscribers. Check out what our 3 winners this week got.

SLIPKNOT feature in Doomsday

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 23:33:21 +1000

Mick Thomson, Slipknot guitarist has spoken out about his guest appearance on the new Malevolent Creation track, ‘Deliver My Enemy’. Said Thomson: "I played the second lead (starts at 3:22 and goes until 3:55). Jon Rubin played the first (1:13 - 1:43). "I am proud beyond words to have been asked to be part of this recording and I am grateful to be able to call them friends. "My part was recorded using one of my Ibanez RG customs through a Line 6 pod pro that I tweaked and engineered by Sid Wilson (yeah, SLIPKNOT Sid) at his studio here in Des Moines. I dont know how soon it will be before he starts recording and producing other bands. He certainly has the fucking talent. "Again, I'm proud to be a part of the CD. I was playing 'The Ten Commandments' in the darkroom of my photo class in high school and pissing everyone off. Fucking surreal. "Love you, guys." SOURCE: BLABBERMOUTH

Knowing the force with SOULFLY

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 23:25:03 +1000

Bobby Burns, Soulfly bassist was the featured guest on All Knowing Force a web-based interview show on 26th June. You can access the show at www.allknowingforce.com. Bobby has been speaking about his busy schedule, "I've been bouncing back and forth from Atlanta to here in Orlando for that. We recorded at my studio, The Porch, and I couldn't be happier with it! Our MySpace and all that shit will be up before I head out once again with SOULFLY for Europe. I also just posted a few tunes that I did for my side project with Billy Keeton (ex-SKRAPE vocalist) and Will Hunt (Tommy Lee, Dark New Day drummer), and you can find that over at this location." SOURCE: BLABBERMOUTH

Witchfest Festival / 2007 line up takes shape

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 22:43:27 +1000

WITCHFEST BAND SUBMISSIONS date has been extended to the 30th June 2007. Here is a list of confirmed bands for the 2007 FESTIVAL. They are in no specific order and more bands are being added each and EVERY day. READ MORE to view the curent line up for the festival. The venue has been confirmed. We will be doing the festival in PRETORIA NORTH this year on an AWESOME plot owned by Wolmer Studios. The Wolmer Events Arena has hosted many small events and this year it will host the festival of all festivals. Witchfest 2007 The Venues official address is Wolmer Events Arena Dale Avenue, Plot 20, Doreg (Karen park) Akasia Pretoria North We will post MAPS, DIRECTIONS and various other details in the INFO section of the site. The festival dates are also now going to be Friday 28th September 2007 Saturday 29th September 2007 Here is a list of confirmed bands for the 2007 FESTIVAL. They are in no specific order and more bands are being added each and EVERY day.... Click the READ MORE to view the curent line up for the festival. Well here they are in NO specific order. Jo Day ( JHB ) - Hard Rock Forever Will Burn (CTN) - Metal Core Nemesis Army (DBN) - Alt Rock Fire Through The Window (DBN) - Garage Rock Architecture Of Aggression (PTA) - Metal Wrust (BOTS) - Metal Rhutz (PTA) - Metal Chief Rebel Angel (DBN) - Metal A Fix For Grace (PE) - Metal Core Contrast The Water (DBN) - Metal Far Beyond Driven ( JHB ) - Metal Hokum - ( JHB ) - Alt Rock The Twelve 40 Five - ( DBN ) - Metal Marching Dead - (CTN) Metal Fuzigish - ( JHB ) - Punk Not My Dog - (PTA) - Hard Rock F#*K - (PTA) - Metal More to be announced real soon..Main site being updated and upgraded this week with more info... also this topic will be UPDATED and once i have more bands i will start to split them into the different days.

A DREAM THEATRE process

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:37:52 +1000

Dream Theatre’s Mike Portnoy (drummer), John Petrucci (guitarist) and John Myung (bassist) were interviewed by Berklee Today. Snippits from their interview are shown below: Berklee Today: Tell me about the band's writing process. John Petrucci: For the past few albums, we've set up in the studio in a circle so we could see each other. We start jamming, and ideas develop out of that. We record everything while we do this. We write things down on a big board and start developing an inventory of ideas. We name them, sometimes after bands we feel they sound like. Ideas become a section of a song. Once we start to see a direction and begin arranging the song, the ideas become more solid. After we have something, we demo it, listen to it a lot, and then record it. We may stay in the studio for several months. Mike Portnoy: The process is really the same now as it was in 1985. At Berklee it was the three of us in Room E19 bouncing ideas off of each other and creating music. The format of writing instrumental pieces first remains the same 22 years later. These days, John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess will be the most hands-on with the notes, riffs, runs, and chord progressions. They kind of mold the song. I tend to be the grand architect, working out the form using a blackboard behind the drum kit and directing. We write something and then start recording it. We focus on one song before we start another. Berklee Today: What role do the other band members play in crafting songs? John Myung: I contribute by listening and taking in what is going on, and then reacting to parts of a song as it develops. I also try to come up with things that spark an idea for a song. John Petrucci: James LaBrie is there taking everything in, but his part comes later. Since we write as an instrumental band, it's hard for him to contribute in the early phase since he doesn't play an instrument. But he knows what's happening. As a song evolves, he'll make comments. Berklee Today: Does James write the melodies? Mike Portnoy: Not exclusively. Once the music is done, the lyricist will have the biggest part in writing melodies. Usually, we'll discuss the melodies, but on the new album we left the melodies solely up to the lyricist. John, James and I take turns writing the lyrics. John Petrucci: Since I'm a lyricist, I'm always thinking about the sections that will feature the vocals. We don't write an instrumental tune and slap vocals on it. The melodies may come from a keyboard or guitar part. Mike, James, and I write most of the lyrics. I'm a fan of creative writing and telling stories. John Myung has written lyrics in the past but not recently, and Jordan Rudess hasn't written any. Mike Portnoy: I think having the three of us work out the melodies gives uniformity to our style, but our lyrical styles are different. John's lyrics on the new album tap into fantasy; they're fictional. My lyrics have a harder edge and are straightforward. James tends to be more poetic. We have different styles, but in the end, it all sounds like DREAM THEATER. Berklee Today: How do you conform your personal lives to the rigors of a heavy touring schedule? John Myung: I've grown accustomed to it for the most part. I have a family with two sons. When I'm home, I try to play catch-up with everything. This aspect is hard for me personally, it can be challenging, but you grow accustomed to it and manage. John Petrucci: I love playing live, but our tours generally last about a year. I could never do this without the understanding and support of my wife. She's also a guitar player, and we knew each other before DREAM THEATER started touring. We have three children, and the sacrifice they make by not having their dad home for months at a time is unbelievable. It's almost too much to ask. This is the hardest issue for a musician, because your calling and passion is your livelihood and it takes you away. But I'm thankful every day that I'm able to do it. Read the entire interview at Berklee Today. Also online is a video interview with vocalist James LaBrie conducted in Germany earlier this month has been posted at YouTube. SOURCE: BLABBERMOUTH

Going underground with 36 Crazyfists

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:59:02 +1000

36 Crazyfists recently toured the U.S. with Kittie, Walls of Jericho, Dead to Fall and In This Moment. A video of them performing ‘At the End of August’ on this tour has been posted at the Underground Video Television website

PITRIFF reviews 'The Last Kind Words'

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:46:58 +1000

"...every time I see a posting about DevilDriver on Blabbermouth, it's followed by an endless stream of comments that are tied to Coal Chamber." "If you aren't buying this band because of the Coal Chamber tie-in, then you are an idiot that's missing something great." So proclaims Pitriff's Chris Akin. To read the rest of his great review of The Last Kind Words, visit www.pitriff.com. DevilDriver's latest ECARD features new music, photos, AIM icons, wallpapers, and other goodies drawn from their imminent new album, The Last Kind Words, which hits store shelves July 31. OFFICIAL WEBSITE DEVILDRIVER ON MYSPACE DEVILDRIVER ON YOUTUBE

Hatebreed head for Supremacy

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:41:55 +1000

Hatebreed have issued the following update: "The summer of supremacy has begun!!! We have been getting insane footage here in Europe for our 'Destroy Everything' video as well as the DVD which we promise will eventually come out, haha! "Thank you to all you diehards out there who actually bought our album 'Supremacy' and read the inside booklet. Your messages and emails of support and inspiration are so amazing!!! You all rule! "This last year of touring has been absolutely unreal and we owe it all to the fans who truly support us, you make it possible! Now we are ready to destroy Ozzfest and many cities all over the U.S. with our pals Lamb of God. This is the package that everyone has been waiting years for." You can view footage of Hatebreed’s set at this years’ Download Festival at this location. Hatebreed’s current album ‘Supremacy’ has sold around 100,000 in the United States since it’s August release, according to Nielson SoundScan.

'Goatriders Horde' sneak peak

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:53:28 +1000

Get an early look at the first video from 3 Inches of Blood's Fire Up the Blades. "Goatriders Horde" is available in high-quality HERE, or on YouTube. Fire Up the Blades, like the troll under the bridge, will demand your immediate attention starting June 26th. OFFICIAL WEBSITE 3 Inches of Blood on MySpace 3 Inches of Blood on YouTube

SHADOWS FALL: Entire DOWNLOAD Festival Performance Available On YouTube

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:49:02 +1000

Professionally filmed video footage of SHADOWS FALL's entire June 9, 2007 performance at the Download festival at Donington Park, Leicestershire, England has surfaced on YouTube. A video interview with SHADOWS FALL, conducted by PureVolume.com as part of its "Beyond the Disc" feature, has been posted at this location. SHADOWS FALL recently added a few headlining dates before embarking on this summer's Sounds of the Underground tour. Fellow SOTU artists EVERY TIME I DIE, THE ACACIA STRAIN and DARKEST HOUR will be supporting. SHADOWS FALL is continuing to tour in support of its new album "Threads of Life", which has sold 63,000 copies in the United States since its April 3 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Other groups on this year's Sounds of the Underground tour include: JOB FOR A COWBOY, NECRO, AMON AMARTH, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, HEAVY HEAVY LOW LOW, THE NUMBER TWELVE LOOKS LIKE YOU, GOATWHORE, THIS IS HELL, and 2 CENTS. This year's Sounds of the Underground launches July 6 in Dallas and runs through August 11 in Louisville Source : Blabbermouth

Megadeth : Video footage from Glasgow

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:30:00 +1000

Fan-filmed video footage of MEGADETH's June 12, 2007 performance at the Glasgow Barrowlands has been posted at YouTube: "Symphony of Destruction": Video "Mechanix": Video More footage from the Barrowlands can be found here. In the latest "Headbanger's Ball" clip shot after a recent New York gig on a boat trip around the harbor on a private yacht, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine comments on the song "Amerikhastan" from the band's latest album, "United Abominations". Watch the clip at Headbanger's Blog. STV Music's John Kilbride had a chat with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine when the band played the Glasgow Barrowlands on June 12, 2007. Dave spoke about the new MEGADETH album, "United Abominations", the band's new lineup, and he revealed his plans for bringing Gigantour to Europe next year. Watch the STV Music interview with Dave Mustaine at this location. Professionally filmed video footage of MEGADETH's June 8, 2007 performance at the Download festival at Donington Park, Leicestershire, England has been posted at YouTube. Source : Blabbermouth

Max Cavalera update posted to Soulflyweb

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 17:11:15 +1000

Soulfly's official site, www.soulflyweb.com, has posted the first installment of its update series with Max Cavalera HERE. Listen to the latest unfinished demo releases from Soulfly HERE. OFFICIAL SITE SOULFLY ON MYSPACE SOULFLY ON YOUTUBE

Theory Of A Deadman update

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 17:07:54 +1000

Canadians Theory of a Deadman are at it again working on their next album. The quartet has been working steadily on new material and began revamping their MySpace page in the interim. If you want instant notification when more information on the album is forthcoming, sign up for Theory of a Deadman's email list. OFFFICAL SITE THEORY OF A DEADMAN ON MYSPACE THEORY OF A DEADMAN ON YOUTUBE

MEGADETH's DAVE MUSTAINE Steers The Ship

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 17:04:49 +1000

After a recent New York gig, "Headbanger's Ball" took MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine on a boat trip around the harbor on a private yacht, and while there was a captain and crew aboard, it wasn't long before Mustaine was steering the ship — literally. Watch video footage at Headbanger's Blog. More clips taken from the MTV2 shoot on the Hudson River will follow over the course of the next four days. The first part of a video interview with MEGADETH bassist James Lomenzo, conducted recently by VidDREAM, has been posted at YouTube. STV Music's John Kilbride had a chat with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine when the band played the Glasgow Barrowlands on June 12, 2007. Dave spoke about the new MEGADETH album, "United Abominations", the band's new lineup, and he revealed his plans for bringing Gigantour to Europe next year. Watch the STV Music interview with Dave Mustaine at this location. Professionally filmed video footage of MEGADETH's June 8, 2007 performance at the Download festival at Donington Park, Leicestershire, England has been posted at YouTube. Source : Blabbermouth

DEVILDRIVER CIRCLE PIT @ DOWNLOAD 2007

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 20:01:31 +1000

With thousands of fans trampling barricades, smashing into each other, and helping DevilDriver create one of its best performances ever, we thought the Guinness Book of World Records would want to certify the circle pit from Download 2007 as the biggest in history. Turns out not so much. Here's what Guinness told us. Thank you for sending us the details of your recent record proposal for 'Largest Circle Pit'. We are afraid to say that we are unable to accept this as a Guinness World Record. Unfortunately, as there is no way you can physically definie (sic) where any circle/mosh pit starts and ends, we cannot accept this as a category. We receive over 60,000 enquiries a year from which only a small proportion are approved by our experienced researchers to establish new categories. These are not 'made up' to suit an individual proposal, but rather 'evolve' as a result of international competition in a field, which naturally accommodates superlatives of the sort that we are interested in. We think you will appreciate that we are bound to favour those that reflect the greatest interest. We realize that this will be disappointing to you. However, we have considered your proposal fully; in the context of the specific subject area and that of records as a whole, and our decision is final in this matter. Once again thank you for your interest in Guinness World Records. I dunno. Being really fucking huge sounds like a good way to define the pit to me. And if that isn't enough, Kerrang! gave DevilDriver's live performances 5 Ks in this month's issue! Check it out for yourself in the video below. DevilDriver's next album, The Last Kind Words, comes out July 31st. Find out why Kerrang! gave the album 4 Ks in this month's issue with a FREE MP3 of "All Who Wander Are Not Lost." OFFICIAL WEBSITE DEVILDRIVER ON MYSPACE DEVILDRIVER ON YOUTUBE

Discover Cradle Of Filth

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:51:44 +1000

Over at Metal Discovery, they've just posted a massive interview with Cradle Of Filth guitarist Paul Allender. Read the whole lot here : Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

MACHINE HEAD: Footage From Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards Available

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:13:33 +1000

A video clip of MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn accepting the "Golden God" award at the fifth annual Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards on June 11, 2007 at Koko in London, England has been posted at this location. MACHINE HEAD reportedly played an "incredible" three-song live set at the awards ceremony following their appearance at Download festival just days earlier. They stole the show with two awards, including "Best Album" for the critically-acclaimed "TheBlackening". Professionally filmed video footage of MACHINE HEAD's entire performance at the Download festival on June 9, 2007 at Donington Park, Leicestershire, England has been posted at YouTube. A video interview with MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn, conducted on June 10 by Metal Hammer TV, has been posted at Blabbermouth

3 Inches Of Blood exclusive album stream

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:34:40 +1000

Hear the entirety of 3 Inches of Blood's June 26th release, Fire Up the Blades, only on MP3.com. Listen HERE. It's only up for a limited time, so hurry up and get your ears blown off. While you're listening, make sure to check out the Fire Up the Blades E-Card so you can get hot for the band's Official website 3 Inches of Blood on MySpace 3 Inches of Blood on YouTube

Stone Sour free mp3 download!

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 21:53:41 +1000

We're giving away an MP3 of the previously unreleased song "Suffer" for a limited time, so make sure you DOWNLOAD it before it's gone. Also, do not forget check out "Made of Scars" on Stone Sour's MySpace page at THIS LOCATION. This amazing song, plus 5 others, will be featured in the special edition of the band's Gold-selling album, Come What(ever) May, which also boasts a full length Stone Sour concert DVD filmed LIVE in Russia - click HERE for complete details of this awesome package. OFFICIAL WEBSITE STONE SOUR ON MYSPACE

Daath explained

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 21:49:51 +1000

Mike has written a couple of short excerpts on the meaning behind our band. Of course what we are exploring is psychological and in no way religious. We feel that the tree of life is simply a good means of conveying the mind and its various ills. You can find the write ups at the following locations: In depth explanation and Short Q+A

Killswitch Engage to film Dio cover

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 21:48:03 +1000

Metalcore giants cover old school classics Killswitch Engage has tapped Brian Thompson to direct its video for the cover of the DIO classic "Holy Diver". The shoot will take place in the Calistoga, California area the weekend of June 16-17. Commented Thompson: "We need a good crowd of medieval period people from the era of the knights in shining armour (please forgive my lack of specific knowledge of what era in time this is; I know that you all are well versed in the history). This is going to be a fun music video and will be played on MTV, Fuse, and also included on the band's special-edition DVD. We need both women and men of all ages. We will be shooting sometime around June 16 or 17 in the Calistoga area. Also if anyone has a horse with the appropriate dress for a horse in that era would be magnificent." To contact Brian Thompson, write to brianscreation@gmail.com. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's cover of DIO's "Holy Diver" was one of several exclusive tracks that were made available on a special CD accompanying Kerrang!'s 25th anniversary issue (street date: May 31, 2006). Entitled "High Voltage", the 15-track disc was made up of classic rock and metal songs covered by contemporary bands, with 10 of the tracks recorded exclusively for the CD. More information is available by clicking here. Source: Blabbermouth

Metal Hammer 'Golden Gods' awards

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:34:51 +1000

Our friends at Roadrunner UK has done very well once more at the yearly Metal Hammer ‘Golden Gods’ awards which is always held one day after the Download festival. This year they’ve bagged Best Album – Machine Head ‘The Blackening’, Best Metal Label – Roadrunner Records, Best International Band – Killswitch Engage and last but not least, ‘Golden God’ Award – Robb Flynn. More news can be seen HERE.

Max Cavelera streaming unfinished demo songs

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:16:48 +1000

From Soulfly's MySpace Blog: "Last month Max gave us the permission to release one of his newest songs, the "Inflikted" 4-track demo, for the world to hear in its unfinished form, many months before it has even had the chance to be properly recorded for an album. Max agreed to do this in order give his fans an inside look at the process that he goes through to assemble his albums, and in doing so, he hopes to expand views of how music should be created. Although the response to "Inflikted" has been amazing (and Doctors Without Borders has been very thankful for the donations), we were very disappointed to learn that because of current copyright restrictions governing the sale of online music we aren't allowed to distribute the song to any Soulfly fans outside of North America. As a result, as an apology to Soulfly fans throughout the rest of the world, "Inflikted" has been made available for Soulfly fans everywhere to listen to for free in streaming audio from our MySpace player wherever an internet connection is available!" Read the rest and listen to the tracks HERE. www.soulflyweb.com

Stone Sour feeling special!

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:11:07 +1000

Lot's of happenings in Stone Sour land these days: First off, their new video for "Made of Scars" is now viewable on the web at THIS LOCATION. Secondly, we're giving away an MP3 of the previously unreleased song "Suffer" for a limited time, so make sure you DOWNLOAD it before it's gone. This amazing song, plus 5 others, will be featured in the special edition of the band's Gold-selling album, Come What(ever) May, which also boasts a full length Stone Sour concert DVD filmed LIVE in Russia - click HERE for complete details of this awesome package. OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Video interview with Shadows Fall

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:07:11 +1000

A video interview with SHADOWS FALL, conducted by PureVolume.com as part of its "Beyond the Disc" feature, has been posted at this location. SHADOWS FALL recently added a few headlining dates before embarking on this summer's Sounds of the Underground tour. Fellow SOTU artists EVERY TIME I DIE, THE ACACIA STRAIN and DARKEST HOUR will be supporting. SHADOWS FALL is continuing to tour in support of its new album "Threads of Life", which has sold 59,000 copies in the United States since its April 3 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Other groups on this year's Sounds of the Underground tour include: JOB FOR A COWBOY, NECRO, AMON AMARTH, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, HEAVY HEAVY LOW LOW, THE NUMBER TWELVE LOOKS LIKE YOU, GOATWHORE, THIS IS HELL, and 2 CENTS. This year's Sounds of the Underground launches July 6 in Dallas and runs through August 11 in Louisville. Source: www.blabbermouth.net

Witchfest Festival SMS submission up and running

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:57:26 +1000

Witchfest Festival now has a SMS system up and running. It will allow you, the fans, to tell us who you think should play. It will also help us build a cellular database of festival fans. So how does it work ? All you have to do is sms WF The Bands Name to 36560. So that's WF followed by the name of the band you would like to see on stage, to the number 36560 SMS costs R5.00 ALL money raised from SMS will be added towards ARTISTS show fee's. So while you nominate bands and build the festival database, you are also giving back to the bands. PLEASE DON'T SMS A MILLION TIMES FOR YOUR OWN BAND AS IT WONT HELP. YOUR NOMINATIONS ARE BASED ON UNIQUE NUMBERS.

Slipknot VS Anthrax

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:17:37 +1000

A two-minute video interview with SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor in which he confirms that he has been working with ANTHRAX on material for their upcoming studio album (as BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported yesterday) has been posted at YouTube. Speaking to Germany's Rock Hard magazine, Taylor said of the possibility that he will become the new ANTHRAX singer, "It's been bandied about. I'm not saying anything right now because all it's been is just talked about. Obviously, I'm really good friends with those guys. It kind of started as a joke. And then the more we talked about it, the more serious it got. I'm gonna at least help them out. It's kind of a dream come true — ANTHRAX is one of my favorite bands. We're just kind of taking baby steps right now. I know that we worked on about eight or nine songs together that I've written lyrics for, and there was a song that I had actually written for them that I was just gonna give them the music for, and once this kind of happened, I had to turn around and write lyrics for it myself. But there's nothing definite right now. It's one of those things where it's like we're just gonna kind of play it by ear and just see what happens. So there's nothing definite. It's something that we're talking about — it's something that we kind of wanna do. But I'm in two huge bands right now. So it's like I barely get enough time to sleep, let alone do another band. . . I'm gonna be busy, period. I'm just kind of honored that they would even consider me. These are people that I grew up listening to, these are guys that I had the privilege of getting to know on a real basis. To have them look at me and go, 'You know what? We would love to work with you,' it's such a huge compliment. It kind of makes me feel like I've come a long way in my life." A video clip of ANTHRAX performing its cover of the PUBLIC ENEMY classic "Bring the Noise" with Corey Taylor at the 2003 With Full Force festival in Germany is available for viewing at YouTube. ANTHRAX announced its split with vocalist Joey Belladonna in January, less than two years after the group's classic lineup reunited for a "25th anniversary" tour. A replacement singer will officially be announced at the end of June, according to guitarist Scott Ian.

SHADOWS FALL "Road To Redemption" Flash game launched!

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:16:02 +1000

Massachusetts metallers SHADOWS FALL have released a flash game titled "Road to Redemption" at this location. The game allows you to stomp around in SHADOWS FALL's bus as you avoid the root man, demonic birds and the band's management on a floating PDA of death! Try to obtain the high score to win a copy of Guitar Hero II! SHADOWS FALL recently added a few headlining dates before embarking on this summer's Sounds of the Underground tour. Fellow SOTU artists EVERY TIME I DIE, THE ACACIA STRAIN and DARKEST HOUR will be supporting. SHADOWS FALL is continuing to tour in support of its new album "Threads of Life", which has sold 59,000 copies in the United States since its April 3 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Other groups on this year's Sounds of the Underground tour include: JOB FOR A COWBOY, NECRO, AMON AMARTH, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, HEAVY HEAVY LOW LOW, THE NUMBER TWELVE LOOKS LIKE YOU, GOATWHORE, THIS IS HELL, and 2 CENTS. This year's Sounds of the Underground launches July 6 in Dallas and runs through August 11 in Louisville.

FREE Devildriver mp3!!

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:31:47 +1000

Get a taste of the forthcoming and long awaited new album from Devildriver entitled "The Last Kind Words". How you ask?? Simple - just CLICK HERE and follow instructions.

Hatebreed wins SESAC award

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:16:45 +1000

Along with other chart topping industry leading artist/writers/producers such as Swizz Beatz, Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, Diddy, and Nelly Furtado, HATEBREED was awarded SESAC's "National Performance Activity Award" in the Rock/College Category for work on their "SUPREMACY" release. Congrats to Hatebreed and a big THANK YOU to all the radio programers and stations for their continued support!!! Click here for more information

Bella Italia

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:14:15 +1000

Our lovely Italian cousins have indeed been busy of late, and have been kind enough to share some of the love. First up we have some great photos from the recent Milanese stop on the mighty Trivium European tour; Trivium Photos Sanctity Photos Not only that, there's a couple of Q&A's with James LaBrie and Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater for you to get your teeth into! JAMES LABRIE Q & A Your Age 24 of course, ah ah ah!!! No, 43. Your All Time favourite record and why? Oh, jeez, how can I choose only one album? Here are some of my favourite ones: - Deep Purple “Machine Head” - Pink Floyd “The Wall” - Yes “Fragile” - Rush “2112” - Rush “Hemispheres” - Rush “A Farewell To Kings” - Metallica “Master Of Puppets” - Judas Priest “British Steel” - Iron Maiden “Piece Of Mind” - Queen “A Night At The Opera” Your favourite song at the moment: Right now I’m deep into System Of A Down’s music, so I’d say… well… maybe “Science”. What’s on your iPod right now? The latest thing I put it in there was the last Porcupine Tree album. What was your greatest experience on tour? Probably the most recent great experience on tour was when we went down to Santiago, Chile and we played there for the first time in front of 25000 people. That was amazing… and unexpected. We knew it was gonna be good, but we didn’t expect that kind of reception, so it was very cool. What was your most horrible experience on tour? Trying to sing with an injured voice. And it lasted for seven years. So that’s my most horrible experience on tour: no doubt about it and we had several experience in many years of touring! What was you most embarrassing moment on the stage? Ah, ah! There are few of those! One was during the “Images And Words” tour and I got my hair cut by John Myung’s bass; they were stuck into his tuning pegs. The other one was in Romania, I guess, and I fell off the stage and I was laying on my back yelling “Aaargh… aaargh!” in front of thousands of people. Those two were the top embarrassing moments. Do you have any sort of ritual before you go on stage? Oh yeah! I always do some vocals exercise before I warm up, I do a little bit of stretching. I jog everyday, almost three miles a day. When I’m on stage I drink lot of hot water. So these are the kind of rituals that allow me to perform at the best I can possibly be, at any given time. With which band would you love to tour and why? Rush! I don’t’ even have to think about it. Rush! If we had a tour with Rush, I’d flip out. A tour with Dream Theater and Rush would be the ultimate tour! Which song would you like to cover and re-invent with your style? Uhm, I’d like to cover an entire Queen album, if possible. Freddy Mercury is my all-time favourite singer and I’d like to re-invent his vocals line with my voice, to recapture the magic of his voice with mine. He was the best vocalist and frontman… ever! Who is the true metal god? I would say Dimebag Darrell, he was the riffmaster, so intense… that guy was unnatural! If I had to choose a vocalist, I’d say Ronnie James Dio and Rob Halford. If I couldn't be a musician, I would work as... I think I would be a paramedic, something like that. MIKE PORTNOY Q & A Your Age 40 Your All Time favorite record and why? Uhm, for me it's easier to give my top 10 than my top 1. I will break down my top 10 in 5 classics and five modern. Here it is: - Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" - Pink Floyd "The Wall" - David Bowie "Ziggy Stardust" - Elton John "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" - The Who "Tommy" - Beastie Boys "Paul's Boutique" - Mr. Bungle "Mr. Bungle" - Radiohead "OK Computer" - Muse "Absolution" - Jellyfish "Split Milk" Your favourite song at the moment? "Capillarian Crest" by Mastodon. It's a fuckin' amazing song! What's on your iPod right now? If you go to my personal MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/mikeportnoyofficial) you can find an updated column of what's on my I-Pod. Anyway, right now I'm listening to some new releases, especially the new Machine Head album and the new Porcupine Tree album. What was your greatest experience on tour? There are a lot of great experiences on tour, but one of the highlights was when we played with an orchestra for the "Score" dvd. It was an incredible moment. What was your most horrible experience on tour? Dislocating my wrist on the stage: I had my wrist snapped completely backwards. It happened in Munich, Germany, 1997. What was you most embarrassing moment on stage? It was Toronto, 1994: during my drum solo I had a back problem and I couldn't move anymore. We had to stop the show and we had to ask if there were a doctor in the audience. I had to get worked in the backstage for about 15 minutes and we had to hold the show until I could move. Do you have any sort of ritual before you go on stage? The last thing I do before I go on stage is taking a piss! With which band would you love to tour and why? There's only two left, Metallica and Rush. Whoever else we wanted to tour with, we have... Which song would you like to cover and re-invent with your style? Once again, whatever I wanted us to cover we have, but there's one particular cover that would be cool to do in our style and it's "Rhapsody In Blue" by George Gershwin. I think we would do a pretty fuckin' cool arrangement of it. Who is the true metal god? Dimebag Darrell. If I couldn't be a musician, I would work as... Film Director. Best advice ever given to you? Lift up the toilet seat before you pee! Ah, ah! With which person (alive or dead) would you love to spend some time and why? My mom. Which places would you like to travel to? I still haven't seen Hawaii, probably is the only place left where we didn't play... Favourite movie? "Children Of Men", a really great movie. Favourite Film Directors: I'd say three: David Lynch, Stanley Kubrick and Quentin Tarantino. If you had to choose an actor to play you in the movie about your life, who would you choose? Tough question...Uhm, I don't' know...Woody Allen? Ah, ah, ah! Any Last Words? This is for the fans: stop yelling "Metropolis" between every song! Ah ah!

STILL REMAINS 'Create Your Own Video' Contest

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:50:46 +1000

So you think you can create your own video, huh? Let's let Still Remains and your friends be the judge of that! Still Remains want YOU, that's right YOU, to create a video for a brand new song from The Serpent. Just follow the easy instructions below and get going! Contest begins 6/4 and ends 7/30. 1. Beginning on 6/4, go to HERE to download the FREE mp3 for 'The Wax Walls Of An Empty Room,' the band's logo and cover art. 2. Go to THE BAND'S YOUTUBE PAGEM and subscribe to the band's new and improved YouTube page where you will then click on 'Groups' to be directed to the contest page with instructions on how to upload your video. GOOD LUCK!!

Witchfest 2007 - send in your submissions NOW

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:44:00 +1000

3 Days - 3 Stages – and over 80 bands……. The submissions for Witchfest 2007, one of South Africa's most prominent metal festivals, have begun. Visit the official website for more info how to get your band heard and considered for appearance. Submissions have been extended and will close 30 June 2007 at midnight!

Get instant access to your local rock community with the new Roadrunner Records Toolbar!

Wed, 30 May 2007 23:34:51 +1000

GET ACCESS TO OUR SOUTH AFRICAN ROADRUNNER COMMUNITY BY INSTALLING THIS NIFTY NEW TOOLBAR TODAY! For those of you already familar with toolbars such as Google or Yahoo, you will know the advantages of having instant access to your favourite database. For those that don't, no better place to start than installing this fantastic new feature. Roadrunner Records brings you the latest web enhancement : a permanent toolbar that features instant click-though's to brand new E-cards, downloads, search engines as well as a brand new personalised internet radio tab (including Roadrunner Records Radio). For these and more, CLICK HERE to install the Roadrunner Records S.A. branded toolbar now!!!!

ROADRUNNER JOINS THE CULT : ALTERNATIVE ICONS THE CULT LAUNCH NEW WORLDWIDE DEAL

Wed, 30 May 2007 19:18:20 +1000

ROADRUNNER JOINS THE CULT ALTERNATIVE ICONS THE CULT LAUNCH NEW WORLDWIDE DEAL EUROPEAN SUMMER TOUR WITH THE WHO; NEW ALBUM SET FOR SEPTEMBER 25TH RELEASE (New York, NY) - ROADRUNNER RECORDS announces the signing of multi-platinum alternative rock band The Cult, the influential UK group who have built an extensive global fan base with hits such as “She Sells Sanctuary,” “Rain,” “Wild Flower,” “Love Removal Machine,” “Edie,” “The Witch” and “Rise.” A new studio album, the first since 2001, is currently being recorded in London with producer Youth (Verve, Primal Scream), who will be adding final touches and mixing. The expected release date for the yet untitled album is September 25, 2007 and will be released in conjunction with The Cult’s imprint label, NEW WILDERNESS. The Cult, led by founding members vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy, will embark on a series of European arena shows with rock legends The Who starting June 5th. The band will be adding headline dates and festival appearances along the route, building on the overwhelming reaction to their 2006 sell-out world tour. A U.S. headline tour will follow in the fall. “We have always dreamed of finding a label that allows us artistic freedom and has the muscle to get the music to the people,” comments Astbury. “At the heart of this recording is an urban directness of savage rawness and an earnestness that is the center of any great rock and roll band.” “What’s especially great about The Cult,” A&R men Derek Oliver and Dante Bonutto state, “is their instinctive ability to live in the present, not just reflecting current taste but actually helping to shape it – something you can hear in Ian’s contributions to the UNKLE project. They have a magnificent and hugely influential history, but when you bring the classic and the contemporary crashing together in the way that Ian and Billy can, it gives real potential for this new album to be their most exciting ever.”

Roadrunner Records Announces the Still Remains Create Your Own Video Contest

Sat, 26 May 2007 00:40:24 +1000

So you think you can create your own video, huh? Let's let Still Remains and your friends bet the judge of that. Still Remains want YOU, that's right YOU, to create their first video for The Serpent. PRIZES: Grand Prize - Video iPod loaded with the winning video and the Top 5 contenders plus the video posted on teh band's MySpace page and Roadrunnerrecords.com. 2nd & 3rd Prize - will each receive a Still Remains/Roadrunner Prize Pack. The contest begins on June 4th and ends on July 30th. Beginning on June 4th, look for our posting of complete instructions for the contest and CLICK HERE to download the FREE mp3 of "The Wax Walls of an Empty Room," the band's logo, and the cover art. The same day, go to Best Album Ever? campaign to discover whether fans agree. What do you think is the best metal album ever?

Youth Day @ Tempo's - Music festival & launch of 'FULL METAL ASSAULT'!

Tue, 22 May 2007 17:32:31 +1000

Mainframe Productions presents YOUTH DAY - a show with a cause, featuring The Slashdogs / Bloodline / New Found Disorder / Suicide Kings / Reach / Libido / Japan & I / Wickhead / 7 Monkey Fury / Sub Rosa / Hikitori / Autumn Sun / Warthane / Downward Spiral / Southworld / Groundstar. Tons of giveaways, including the launch of brand new compilation 'FULL METAL ASSAULT', showcasing who's who in modern metal and cream of the crop of Roadrunner Records catalogue. Where? : Tempo's, 119 Hans Strijdom Drive, Kya Sands, Randburg When? : 16 June 2007 R50 Entrance, ALL AGES See you there!

BREAKING NEWS! - OPETH AND PETER LINDGREN PART WAYS. NEW GUITARIST ANNOUNCED!

Thu, 17 May 2007 22:47:25 +1000

Peter Lindgren has stepped down from his guitar wielding duties after 16 years in Opeth. Below is an open letter from Peter addressing the issue: "It is with sadness I announce that Opeth and I are going separate ways after almost 16 years. The decision has been the toughest I've ever made but it is the right one to make at this point in my life. The reason behind this is that I feel that I simply have lost some of the enthusiasm and inspiration needed to participate in a band that has grown from a few guys playing the music we love to a world-wide industry. The love of music has always been, and still is, our motive, but I personally have lost something along the way. The massive amount of touring has taken its toll. Opeth has worked extremely hard to get where we are right now and in order to persist and maintain the quality of the music, it is necessary that we continue to work hard and always stay focused. But in doing so, it means that we nowadays spend 18 or 19 months on the road and I don't feel the same enthusiasm for the upcoming world tour that I have felt earlier. I have come to a point where I realize I won't be able to give the band 100% and from both sides this will not be good enough for what Opeth stands for. I will always love playing, listening to and living music, but I will do it differently from now on. These years have easily been the best of my life and I will always cherish the memory of what we have experienced together. I would like to thank the band, our management, record label people, all the bands I've made friends with for everything. Most of all, I would like to thank the fans from the depth of my heart for the support throughout the years. I wish Mikael, Martin, Per and Axe all the best and I am confident they will continue doing the greatest music in the world!! - Peter" Meanwhile, Fredrik Åkesson (ex-Arch Enemy, Talisman) has been confirmed as Opeth’s new guitarist after Peter Lindgren’s departure. Visit his MySpace. Says Mikael Åkerfeldt: ”Well, I think it’s too soon right now to fully be able to explain what I feel. Peter and I had been working in this band together for almost half of our lives and we shared some unforgettable experiences together all over the world. We will obviously remain friends and this “break up” has been on very good terms from both sides. We all wish him the best of luck with his future ventures! “ Opeth are working on their new album which will likely see the light of day in early 2008. Additional info: The special-edition deluxe version of OPETH's "Ghost Reveries" CD was released on October 31 via Roadrunner Records. Bonus material on the set includes the band's cover of DEEP PURPLE's "Soldier of Fortune", a 40-minute documentary about the making of the record complete with the band's own private tour footage, the video for "The Grand Conjuration", liner notes, photos, an enhanced 24-page booklet, deluxe sleeve, and 5.1 surround exclusive mix of the record made by original mixed/engineer Jens Bogren.

Dino Cazares’ DIVINE HERESY Signs With Roadrunner Records

Wed, 16 May 2007 19:44:32 +1000

After a five-year hiatus from the metal world, Dino Cazares, co-founding member of the revolutionary band Fear Factory, has triumphantly returned with a new group that is quickly going to force the entire genre to take notice. This new juggernaut is DIVINE HERESY whose members feature Cazares handling guitar and bass duties, Tim Yeung (Hate Eternal, Vital Remains) on drums and newcomer Tommy Vext on vocals. This band will redefine the true meaning of extreme with their Roadrunner Records debut offering, ‘Bleed The Fifth’ which is set for release later this Summer. ‘Bleed The Fifth’ was produced by Dirty Icon (Logan Mader (ex-Machine Head, Soulfly) and Lucas Banker) and co-produced by DIVINE HERESY. Dirty Icon and DIVINE HERESY also handled the mixing duties. Joachim Luetke (Dimmu Borgir, Arch Enemy, Marilyn Manson) has also created the album’s striking cover art, which perfectly compliments the music’s sheer intensity. This offering is unquestionably Cazares career defining work and he states: “It took me four years to find the right musicians to make this happen and I'm very excited to finally unleash this to the world. Many people will be wondering what it sounds like, but it is hard for me to describe it. All I can say is when you hear the legendary machine gun riffs mixed with Tim Yeung's lighting speed double bass drums combined with Tommy's brutal and powerful vocals, just be prepared to face the annihilation. I promise you will not be disappointed.” Tommy Vext delivers what could be the most impressive debut vocal performance in years and the world has yet to witness such a dynamic individual. Vext states, “Approaching this I realized that I would have to bring a lot to the table working with such renowned and accomplished musicians. Having everyone coming from different metal backgrounds was a challenge, but it is that exact formula that gives us such an eclectic sound. Also, having worked with vocal instructor Melissa Cross (‘Zen of Screaming’) for the past three years I'd utilized those tools and exercises to push my abilities further than I ever imagined. I am so proud and excited to unveil this band to the world!” The metal/hard rock world has been anxiously awaiting Cazares return since he left Fear Factory and he will quickly prove that he was a key force in propelling them to the forefront of the scene in the 90’s. Cazares takes his performance to a new level with DIVINE HERESY whose brutal, unrelenting and overall refreshing sound will quickly garner legions of followers who are starving to hear something devastating and unique. Official MySpace Page

Trivium 'The Rising' : Exclusive video launch on UK MySpace

Wed, 16 May 2007 18:16:14 +1000

Check out the EXCLUSIVE screening on Trivium's new single 'The Rising' on the front page of the newly launched UK MySpace!

Your own RoadrunnerRecords.co.za!

Wed, 16 May 2007 17:13:09 +1000

Ever felt like customizing your favourite website to your own preferred specs? Here's your chance. We have implemnented a nifty new trick to RoadrunnerRecords.co.za - You can now drag and drop the menu boxes to make the site most appealing to your liking. Check it out and play around with it!

Stone Sour 'Come What (Ever) May' CD Launch - Pretoria, Gauteng

Fri, 11 May 2007 15:22:25 +1000

Official Stone Sour 'Come What (Ever) May' CD launch takes place this Friday (11.(May).2007)at South Africa's premier heavy rock club Zeplins (Pretorius Street, Pretoria, Gauteng).

NICKELBACK'S LATEST SINGLE “IF EVERYONE CARED” HITS #1; RAISES $500,000 FOR CHARITY

Fri, 04 May 2007 17:59:46 +1000

LATEST SINGLE “IF EVERYONE CARED” HITS #1; RAISES $500,000 FOR CHARITY BAND ANNOUNCES SUMMER TOUR DATES New York, NY, April 30, 2007— “If Everyone Cared,” the latest single from Nickelback’s five-times platinum album All The Right Reasons, reached # 1 on last week’s Hot A/C chart, making it the sixth consecutive single from the album to reach #1. An unprecedented feat, all singles from All The Right Reasons have reached #1 at various formats: “Photograph,” “Animals,” “Savin’ Me,” “Rock Star,” “Far Away” and most recently “If Everyone Cared.” A #1 debut on the Billboard Top 200 in October 2005, All The Right Reasons has now produced four Hot A/C #1 hits, a success achieved only by Matchbox Twenty, according to Nielsen BDS. On January 29th, Nickelback announced a charity initiative that has the band, along with Roadrunner Records, WEA Corp. and Warner Chappell donating 100% of the proceeds from the digital sales of the single and video for “If Everyone Cared” to charity. Since the single’s February release, the band has raised $500,000 for Amnesty International and International Children’s Awareness Canada. Now, just halfway through the campaign, YouTube is reporting 1,000,000 streams of the track, while the single has been downloaded over 500,000 times. Hot off the heels of a sold-out North American spring arena tour, the band has announced new summer tour dates. Kicking off on June 28 in St. Johns, NF, the routing takes the band through Canada to the Northeast and Midwest states, ending in Alberta on July 30. Nickelback Summer Tour Dates: June 28 Bay Roberts St Johns NF June 30 Fesival of Lights Charlottetown PEI July 1 Citadel Hill Halifax, NS July 4 Molson Amphitheater Toronto, ONT July 4 Lynx Stadium Ottawa, ON July 7 Festival Dete Quebec City, PQ July 8 Saratoga Performing Arts Center Saratoga Springs, NY July 10 Blossom Music Theater Cuyahoga Falls, OH July 11 Merriweather Post Pavilion Columbia, MD July 13 Tweeter Center Mansfield, MA July 14 Hershey Park Amphitheater Hershey, PA July 16 Joe Louis Arena Detroit, MI July 18 Bayfest Sarina, ON July 20 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Noblesville, IN July 21 Alpine Valley Music Theatre East Troy, WI July 23 Target Center Minneapolis, MN July 24 Alerus Center Grand Forks, ND July 27 Pengrowth Saddledome Calgary, AL July 30 Edmonton, AL Rexall Place For further information, including on-sale dates, please visit the official website. Nickelback is singer/guitarist Chad Kroeger, bassist Mike Kroeger, guitarist Ryan Peake and drummer Daniel Adair.

Caliban FREE MP3!

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:38:21 +1000

Want a free MP3??!! Our friends at Roadrunner UK are feeling extra generous this week. Click here to download the brand new track from Caliban 'I Will Never Let You Down'.

FULL METAL ASSAULT compilation hits the South African streets this week!

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:07:27 +1000

Introducing…. THE FIRST REAL METAL COMPILATION TO COME OUT IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 2007! ‘Full Metal Assault’ will pound the listener’s senses with an array of who’s who in modern metal. Amongst others, included are BRAND NEW tracks from Machine Head, Trivium, Killswitch Engage, In Flames, Cradle Of Filth, Sanctity, Hatebreed, Lacuna Coil, Nightwish , Daath, Shadows Fall, Stone Sour, Arch Enemy and much much more! A must for both newcomers and seasoned veterans alike, ‘Full Metal Assault’ will quench the thirst of any listener who likes it HARD, HEAVY & RELENTLESS. Great package, awesome price & 36 killer aggressive rock anthems on 2 CD’s, highlighting the best of the best. Not to be missed in a world where a large portion of these recordings are all too rare and hard to come by. TRACKLISTING: CD 1 : 01. Trivium - Anthem (We Are The Fire) 02. In Flames - Crawl Through Knives 03. Atreyu – Creature 04. Machine Head - Now I Lay Thee Down 05. One Man Army and the Undead Quartet - Killing Machine 06. Opeth - The Grand Conjuration 07. Dead To Fall - Smoke & Mirrors 08. The Haunted – Abysmal 09. Slipknot - Pulse Of The Maggots 10. Shadows Fall – Redemption 11. Daath - Subterfuge 12. Hatebreed – Defeatist 13. Chimaira - Pray For All 14. Nightwish - The Siren 15. Cradle Of Filth – Temptation 16. The Autumn Offering - Embrace The Gutter 17. 36 Crazyfists - I’ll Go Until My Heart Stops 18. Between The Buried And Me – Alaska CD 2 : 01. Killswitch Engage – My Curse 02. Stone Sour - 30-30/150 03. Roadrunner United - Independent (Voice Of The Voiceless) 04. Dimmu Borgir - Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse 05. Caliban - It’s Our Burden To Bleed 06. Sanctity - Beneath The Machine 07. Lacuna Coil - Our Truth 08. The End - Throwing Stones 09. Satyricon - The Pentagram Burns 10. Bury Your Dead - Mirror Mirror 11. DevilDriver - Hold Back The Day 12. Beneath The Sky – 7861 13. Dark Tranquillity - Out Of Nothing 14. Still Remains - White Walls 15. Arch Enemy - Taking Back My Soul 16. Mastodon - Iron Tusk 17. Soulfly – Innerspirit 18. Underoath - Everyone Looks So Good From Here

MEGADETH Never shy of politics

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:03:21 +1000

Dave Mustaine spoke recently to CausticTruths.com about the motivations behind ‘UA’. “Well Megadeth has had political records for ever,” explains Mustaine. “All you need to do is look at the titles: Peace Sells, But Who’s Buying, The System Has Failed, The World Needs a Hero. The majority of the music has always been political in nature. And a while ago, there was something that had happened in New York where a Russian ambassador from the United Nations had driven through a stop sign, drunk as a skunk and killed a dude and got off because of diplomatic immunity. You know what? If that was MY kid, I don’t know if I would be satisfied with that. I absolutely have to tell you, I don’t know if I would be satisfied that a guy could kill my kid, driving drunk, and that just because he’s a diplomat from another country that he would be exonerated. “So that made me really start looking at what the UN was all about. And the more I would watch politics, I would see most people don’t really give much credence to the UN. They just kind of think it’s a figurehead. Well, it wasn’t created to just be an empty figurehead. It was created to promote peace and keep people from going to war against one another. And there’s a new movie coming out called You And Me that I had a chance to participate in and when I saw the trailer for it I said I absolutely want to say something as a person that travels from country to country. “You know we went into Serbia, and I watched out the window of the bus as we drove from disaster area to disaster area, getting to the place that we stayed, and these kids were so poor, brother, we had to sell our t-shirts for I think five bucks that night, and they usually sell for like $25 to $30 just so that we could show them that we love them and we support them and that heavy metal knows no boundaries and it’s color blind. You know we went there as four musicians that don’t really care about politics. All we care about is just bringing the music to them and them standing up for themselves. I myself find that a little bit incredulous after you take a swipe at the UN, to say that we don’t, that we don’t care about politics but that’s my own particular feelings and my opinions and I’m not pushing that on anybody, I never have. Even though I got involved in Rock The Vote in America back in 1992 and I went to the White House, and I’ve shaken hands with the President. I’ve never told any of our fans how to vote. I just say do vote.” Check out the Megadeth E Card

DREAM THEATER's Choice Cuts

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:00:51 +1000

Wanna know the track that Mike Portnoy believes best sums up Dream Theater’s forthcoming album? Morley Seaver of CausticTruths.com recently spoke to drummer Mike Portnoy regarding the band’s songwriting process. "I don't know if we've ever had one song that could really sum up what DREAM THEATER is about because there are so many sides to the band. I guess the big epic songs are always the ones that tend to show all of the different sides. So I guess if I could only play one person one song, if they had 25 minutes to spare, I'd play both parts of 'In The Presence Of Enemies' from the new record because that's really going to show the full spectrum. Usually the shorter songs, something like just 'Forsaken' or 'Constant Motion' isn't going to really give the big picture. It'll just give you a little taste of one side of what the band is." For more from this interview

Megadeth E-CARD launched

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:44:32 +1000

Our friends at the American Roadrunner Records office set up this AWESOME animated Megadeth E-card, featuring sound clips from the album, downloads, wallpapers, photo's and much more! Check it out and spread the word. Megadeth's brand new album 'United Abominations' out 15 May 2007!

Porcupine Tree E-CARD

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:26:23 +1000

Check out this awesome E-CARD for the latest release from Porcupine Tree. The stunning 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' album features the tracks 'Fear Of A Blank Planet'& 'Anesthesize'

Daath and Danny Lohner of Nine Inch Nails

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:29:21 +1000

Danny Lohner, known for his work with Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, and A Perfect Circle, is working on a remix from Daath's new album The Hinderers. The track, "Dead on the Dance Floor," will be out in a few weeks to be announced in this space. You can watch the video for Daath's 'Subterfuge' on our YouTube Channel. "http://www.daathmusic.com">OFFICIAL DAATH WEBSITE

Threads of Webisodes

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:39:14 +1000

THREADS OF WEBISODES PT.6 - 05.04.2007 The sixth instalment of the Shadows Fall webisode series is now available online at Mp3.com, also available is a listening party for ‘Thread of Life’. You can view the webisode at this location. OFFICIAL WEBSITE

DevilDriver new album artwork

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:36:24 +1000

We've been getting email for weeks about DevilDriver's next album, The Last Kind Words. Here's your first dribble of information about the album: THE COVER. Expect more information here in the next few weeks. Before you know it, it'll be release day! OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Roadrunner Records on MYSPACE and YOUTUBE

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:44:13 +1000

Next time surfing the net, check out the new-look Roadrunner Records YouTube Channel, hosting almost 1,000 more subscribers than a week ago, taking it to a #33 rank overall amongst Music channels! The Official Roadrunner MySpace page keeps growing as well, up to 72,000 friends, 33,000 page views and 676,000 songs streamed! Be sure to stop by!

Happy Easter from CRADLE OF FILTH

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:31:09 +1000

Happy Easter from Dani Filth and the C.O.F. crew! Please feel free to spread THIS E-CARD to your (less religion sensitive!) friends.

'THE BLACKENING' HAILED MODERN-DAY CLASSIC

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:25:45 +1000

As reported by our pals at Blabbermouth, Machine Head's new CD, The Blackening, is fulfilling expectations laid down by widespread rave reviews, and crashing the top echelons of album charts worldwide. This week, The Blackening, entered the U.K. Charts at #16, the Dutch Chart at #29, Germany at #12, Ireland at #23, and is currently the #79 best-seller overall on iTunes. Don't waste time sitting around *wondering* whether to pick up one of 2007's top candidates for modern day metal classic - get your copy of The Blackening in stores now. OFFICIAL WEBSITE

A PASSION FOR DEAN GUITARS

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 11:41:44 +1000

Check out the awesome video interview of Trivium’s Corey Beaulieu and Matt Heafy, where the guys talk about their passion for Dean Guitars. View the video interview at this location View the Trivium page on the Dean Guitars website at this location View the Dean Guitars website at this location

HARD FILES WELCOMES MACHINE HEAD TOMORROW

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 11:36:18 +1000

Machine Head's The Blackening is coming out tomorrow and no doubt you won't want to beg off listening to the album at all. But you'll want to tune in to Hard Files on Sirius Satellite Radio's Hard Attack Tuesday, March 27th at 5 PM EDT. Jose welcomes one of the finest metal bands in existence into the studio for a chat about their lives and music. Visit Machine Head's official website

BEST OF THE BEST COMMUNITY WEBSITES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 11:36:00 +1000

Ever tired of searching the web looking for the most informative South African rock and metal community sites? LOOK NO FURTHER : Roadrunner South Africa found 2 new awesome websites, profiling both the music as well as gig reviews & any other information you may be after. TOM-X : gigs, music, reviews, EVERYTHING. Check out the latest in Roadrunner Records reviews (including PAIN, STONE SOUR, and much more!). MYNOISE : Music, videos, radio, labels and more! All the latest news relating to both the local and international scenses.

3 INCHES SHRED BLOOD

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 11:32:39 +1000

Shane from the simply awesome 3 Inches Of Blood has just posted a quick update from on the road/warpath somewhere just outside London. "Crazy crazy show in London at the Underworld last night! Thanks to all for comming out, we all agree it was the best London show we've had, and the 3IOB drinking team fought long and hard into the next morning with some great friends. Biomechanical has been laying it down every night, and the fans at every show have been supportive. We're excited as all hell for Fire Up The Blades to be released, and we're throwing lots of new tunes in the set. The reception fucking rules with the new stuff, thanks again for the support people! Alright enough about that, favorite part of the tour you ask? Ireland, St. Paddy's Day ( morning ) Guinness and Jameson's. I don't think that needs explanation. Thats it for now, Enjoy and get it on! Shane" Time to start thinking about polishing that helmet and sharpening the ol' broadsword, as the new 3 Inches Of Blood album, Fire Up The Blades, produced by none other than SlipKnot's own Joey Jordison(!!!),is due for invasion on June 26.

OPETH´S MIKAEL ÅKERFELDT OCH PORCUPINE TREE STEVE WILSON=PROJEKT IHOP

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 11:30:16 +1000

Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt will team up for a project with Porcupine Tree's Steve Wilson. "We've been talking about this literally since the day we met," Porcupine Tree guitarist Steve Wilson explained to MTV.com. "The original idea was to collaborate together on something else, but since then both bands have been becoming more and more successful. We kind of got immersed in our own projects, and we've never really found the time to get together and follow through on what we'd discussed. In the meantime, the rumors have gotten around that we were planning to do something. Realistically, it is going to happen, but it won't happen until next year. "I just hope it can live up to [people's] expectations," he continued. "I think there's always this sense that this whole idea of supergroups is sometimes one that can disappoint, because people always expect it's going to be Opeth plus Porcupine Tree, so it's going to be twice as good as either band on its own. I think it will be something a bit different, and I think it will be something good. I just hope the expectations aren't too enormous." Porcupine Tree's forthcoming album 'Fear of a Blank Planet', scheduled for release by Roadrunner Records on April 14th, is a 50-minute suite of six tracks that features guest spots from Rush's Alex Lifeson and King Crimson's Robert Fripp. Wilson said the LP is more potent than any of the Tree's previous offerings. "It's a very intense listen," he admitted. "There isn't really any what you would call 'light relief' on this record in terms of songs you could take out and kind of get played on the radio. It's very intense, it's very dark, and it's really taking the whole idea of album-oriented rock music to the next level.”

OPETH… downright evil sounding

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:49:45 +1000

Mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt has issued the following update on a new DVD and the new album!!! "Just a quick note to fill you (if you care) in on what's cooking and stuff....like that..... "Roundhouse/U.K. gig DVD: Well, the music is mixed and it sounds nothing less than awesome I must say. The film material is also edited and it looks great too! We went through a lot of fan interviews as well which was hilarious. Most of the interview material that was shot is going to be used, although there were severe audio problems with some and those can't be used for that reason. I was struck by how drunk all of you fuckers were... great!! I felt like partying myself watching it! All I can say is, it will be pretty good all in all... pretty fucking good indeed. Release date? Don't know right now, I guess late spring. "Next OPETH LP: I'm writing and it's going quite well. I have around a dozen of song ideas. Some are downright evil sounding....a few BATHORY (evil era '83-'87) parts, some tech-death ones, some overblown prog ballad ones, one Nick Drake thing, one complete prog thing with triple harmony vocals, one evocative Middle Eastern psychedelic metal arrangement with falsetto vocals (not as wimpy sounding as you might think), one '70s SCORPIONS sounding bit (like 'Living and Dying' type of stuff), one's totally murky forest-ish sounding dark prog-rock with loud vocals that shifts between major and minor, one tedious ugly/pretty little hobbit sounding symf part with moogs over a classical guitar, some soundtrack-ish sounding ones etc... "Yes, it's business as usual.... "I don't know when or where we'll record but I guess late this year. I want to make sure it....rocks....somewhat! The Official Opeth site

See Cristina in the MEGADETH Video

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 18:01:00 +1100

Lacuna Coil vocalist and one of the hottest singers around made a guest appearance with Megadeth. A video has been uploaded to LACUNA COIL's MySpace profile in which singer Cristina Scabbia talks about the video shoot for MEGADETH's new version of the song "A Tout Le Monde", now retitled "A Tout Le Monde (Set Me Free)", which took place March 8-9 in Los Angeles. "A Tout Le Monde", which originally appeared on the 1994 CD "Youthanasia", has created controversy because the song was cited in an online post by Dawson College killer Kimveer Gill as one of his favorites before his Montreal shooting spree last September. MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine contends that he wanted to give the song a second shot at success, as the original video for it had been banned by MTV, and most radio stations followed suit. Commented Cristina: "[Dave Mustaine] actually asked me to be part of this duet, and I was really surprised about it because 'A Tout Le Monde' is a song that I've always loved. It was a big surprise for me to get this invitation — I was really honored to be part of it. And seriously, when I heard the final result, I was awesomely surprised 'cause I think that the two voices are fitting incredibly. I think that the version of 'A Tout le Monde' 2007 has a stronger attitude. If the original version was for the mellow mood, this one is way more rock, way more powerful. I totally love it. I was surprised myself, and I think that a lot of people will be pleasantly surprised. "I tracked the entire song because we weren't really sure what we had to do, so we just wanted to be totally sure, so we recorded all the parts that Dave sung with some improvisation with it, double vocals. We basically made anything possible, so they could pick up whatever they wanted to." Take a look at the video

Opeth working on new material!

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:58:39 +1100

Mikael Åkerfeldt has started writing for what is supposed to be the 9th Opeth record and is also working on a as of yet unnamed side project. The members of the band wish to extend a big "thank you" to all our fans worldwide who came and saw us on the "Ghost reveries" world tour 2005/2006. Thanks also to the promoters and agents who made this tour possible. We hope to see you again soon! Visit the official Opeth website THIS GUY, who walked on stage during a Nickelback show. Check out Nickelback's official website HERE.

Megadeth's "Sleepwalker" inspired by a "Particular news site"

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:50:36 +1100

Our friends at Blabbermouth reported today that Dave Mustaine of Megadeth was interviewed by KNAC.com's Gnarly Charlie. During the interview, Mustaine is quoted as saying that the inspiration fort he track "Sleepwalker" came from sniping on "one particular news site." READ THE FULL INTERVIEW If you haven't heard "Sleepwalker" off of Megadeth's forthcoming United Abominations, you can DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE. Check out Megadeth's official website HERE.

Stone Sour speaks out with 'Sillyworld'

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:43:17 +1100

Grammy-nominated Stone Sour has just unleashed their latest video for the hit single "Sillyworld," from the band's latest RIAA gold-certified Roadrunner Records release, Come What(ever) May. Directed by David Brooks for Factory Features and shot on Jan 9th, 2007, "Sillyworld" is chock full of political commentary. The video is now available online HERE and will start spinning on MTV2 and Fuse, among other stations, this week. Aesthetically, "Sillyworld" showcases Stone Sour playing to a shifting background of classic stencil images, as frontman Corey Taylor sings the lyrics "I can't take your Silly World no more." The simple, two-toned images and muted colors coupled with the band's stripped-down wardrobe represent a visual display of the meaning behind the song: Taylor's feelings on corporations, governments, and icons. Images range from government leaders past and present (including a certain Chinese dictator), to major corporate logos (distinct pair of golden arches) to icons of American life (think Orlando's favorite mascot). The end result is intended to evoke a strong reaction in the viewer - whether it is one of protest, reflection, anger, disagreement or awakening. As long as a thought process is inspired, the message has been conveyed. Says Taylor, "People forget how powerful the context of words are. Ideals are not just ways to sell hamburgers and designer jeans. They are things to strive toward. Unfortunately, America seems content on turning certain ideas into fast food. But this song brings out a hope that maybe someday we can get some of that back." Dissent toward idolatry is nothing new for Stone Sour. "Sillyworld" continues the theme the band began with the video for the smash single "Through Glass" last summer which exposes America's obsession with Hollywood.

FREE Shadows Fall mp3!

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 01:40:07 +1100

To download your FREE copy of "Redemption" from Shadows Fall's forthcoming album, Threads Of Life, simply

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 18:31:20 +1100

Be the first to hear the brand new MEGADETH track. To download your copy of "Sleepwalker" from Megadeth's forthcoming album, 'United Abominations', simply CLICK HERE. UNITED ABOMINATIONS - out everywhere May 17th 2007!

SHADOW THREADS

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:43:23 +1100

The second webisode documenting the making of SHADOWS FALL's new album, 'Threads of Life' has now been posted online at this location. As previously reported, SHADOWS FALL was featured in last week's Kerrang! Audio Podcast, which can be downloaded at this location. In the episode, SHADOWS FALL stops by and gives the listeners the lowdown on its forthcoming album, "Threads of Life". Frontman Brian Fair also reveals which film makes him cry like a tiny baby. There's music from CLUTCH, GLASSJAW and MACHINE HEAD as chosen by K!'s Terry Bezer. SHADOWS FALL's new single, "Redemption", is available for streaming at the band's MySpace page. The band will film a video for "Redemption" shortly with director Zach Merck. 'Threads of Life' will be released on April 2nd.

THE BLACKENING MACHINE

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:41:17 +1100

Enter the studio with MACHINE HEAD in the third and final part of "The Blackening Sessions", a behind-the-scenes look at the band as they recorded their new album, "The Blackening". Head on over to the band's official web site at this location to watch all three parts. MACHINE HEAD frontman Robert Flynn has been commenting on the band's decision to release "Now I Lay Thee Down" as the first video/single from the group's new album, "The Blackening". Said Flynn: "It's a tough choice. The problem is that, most video stations in the U.S. will absolutely not play anything past 5 1/2 minutes (unless you're double platinum... which we ain't). Some stations in the U.K. won't play anything past four minutes (?!), and they wil do their own video edits without the bands' consent (which is fuckin lame). And in Germany there are almost no major video stations for metal at all. "We tried editing 'Clenching the Fists of Dissent' and 'Halo', both 10 minutes, and it was just WACK. I mean where do you start? You literally have to cut out half the song. It just didn't make sense as a song anymore... So then we looked at how much play 'Imperium' and 'Days Turn Blue To Gray' got in the U.S., five spins each... on MTV2... that's it!! Not main MTV like the 'Davidian' video did all over Europe (when 'Headbanger's Ball' was still on MTV) ... MTV2. And the 'Days' vid got those five spins over the course of six months, which is just crazy, considering what it cost to make a video. We have to give them something they want play more than that, or financially, we might as well just not make one. "So we kinda look at it like this, MH 2007, hardcore fans wil have heard the album, most likely from more web-savvy sources / street sources, the tour will spread the news in another way — as that is always how we've made fans, the album will speak for itself, and if someone is just seeing our MTV2 video as the first taste of the new album they are obviously out of the main loop of our fanbase, because let's face it, were not a new band, so hopefully, we trick them into thinking we are a new band and get some new fans, and turn some of the MTV2 generation into metalheads instead of fucking emo kids!!" A crushingly heavy new MACHINE HEAD song, entitled "Aesthetics of Hate", is available for download at this location (free registration required). The track, which comes off "The Blackening", was inspired by an article called "Aesthetics of Hate: R.I.P. Dimebag Abbott, & Good Riddance". The article, written by William Grim for the conservative web site the Iconoclast, basically kicked fans of the slain PANTERA guitarist while they were down, just days after he was killed onstage. The song is a "fuck you" to Grim, from MACHINE HEAD mainman Robert Flynn. Due on March 26 'The Blackening' was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, CA, with MACHINE HEAD frontman Robert Flynn returning to the producer's chair, and Mark Keaton once again handling engineering duties. Longtime MACHINE HEAD collaborator Colin Richardson (CANNIBAL CORPSE, TRIVIUM, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) mixed the record in London.

STONE SOUR singer does the full coco

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:39:53 +1100

Check out SS singer Corey Taylor's new haircut. Recently nominated for a Grammy award for their now Gold certified album 'Come What(ever) May', the photos were taken during the Danish leg of their current European tour. A freshly shorn Corey Taylor

MACHINE HEAD explain video decision

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:38:44 +1100

When you write long songs, the selection process for a video is complex. Frontman Robb Flynn explains… "Now I Lay Thee Down" is the first cut selected for the video treatment from the band's forthcoming album 'The Blackening'. Said Flynn: "It's a tough choice. The problem is that, most video stations in the U.S. will absolutely not play anything past 5 1/2 minutes (unless you're double platinum... which we ain't). Some stations in the U.K. won't play anything past four minutes (?!), and they will do their own video edits without the bands' consent (which is fuckin' lame). And in Germany there are almost no major video stations for metal at all. "We tried editing 'Clenching the Fists of Dissent' and 'Halo', both 10 minutes, and it was just WACK. I mean where do you start? You literally have to cut out half the song. It just didn't make sense as a song anymore... So then we looked at how much play 'Imperium' and 'Days Turn Blue To Gray' got in the U.S., five spins each... on MTV2... that's it!! Not main MTV like the 'Davidian' video did all over Europe (when 'Headbanger's Ball' was still on MTV) ... MTV2. And the 'Days' vid got those five spins over the course of six months, which is just crazy, considering what it cost to make a video. We have to give them something they want play more than that, or financially, we might as well just not make one. "So we kinda look at it like this, MH 2007, hardcore fans will have heard the album, most likely from more web-savvy sources / street sources, the tour will spread the news in another way — as that is always how we've made fans, the album will speak for itself, and if someone is just seeing our MTV2 video as the first taste of the new album they are obviously out of the main loop of our fanbase, because let's face it, were not a new band, so hopefully, we trick them into thinking we are a new band and get some new fans, and turn some of the MTV2 generation into metalheads instead of fucking emo kids!!" The band have also posted the third video instalment of the making of 'The Blackening' Check out the clip

Listen to PORCUPINE TREE Now!

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:37:08 +1100

Heard Opeth's Mikael raving about them, but never heard them? Call yourself a diehard Opeth fan? Here's your chance to broaden your horizons! Listen to the Medley/ Or why not take a look at this kick ass innovation: Tune Glue. Enter your fave band, and find a collective of associated acts you may like. To the Tune Glue site to find out exactly where this band stands in the genre field.

Video Conflagoration

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:12:13 +1100

Trivium's recent touring slog across Europe in support of their new album, The Crusade, and metal legends Iron Maiden, was documented in a series of video diaries posted individually on RR.com. But now you can watch all FOUR clips in one convenient location, right HERE. Trivium are currently in Australia, gearing up to perform at the Big Day Out festival, but will soon be back in the States to start a new tour on February 16th with Lamb of God, Machine Head and Gojira. The Crusade is in stores now. Visit Trivium's official website

Daath E-Card available

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:09:41 +1100

Here's your chance to get acquainted with Daath and their forthcoming debut album, The Hinderers, coming to stores on March 20th... We've just launched the band's official ECARD, featuring band photos, wallpapers, an IM icon, band website and MySpace links, plus two songs from the CD, "Subterfuge" and "Ovum." Have a look for yourselves and email or IM them to your friends, if you think they'll like Daath - what true metal fan wouldn't? A brand new video for "Subterfuge" is in the works and will be added to the ecard soon, but in the meantime, you can the awesome clip for "Festival Mass Soulform" on RR.com. Stay tuned for more Daath news, and we'll also let you know when their ringtones become available for purchase. Vistit Daath's official website.

Roadrunner Records signs De Novo Dahl

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 21:55:05 +1100

Roadrunner Records proudly announces the signing of Nashville's pop stunners De Novo Dahl. The name, a combination of Latin for "the new" and the last name of creative and visual author Roald Dahl (James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), translates roughly "the new Dahl" - which is a good way to describe their collective approach to music. De Novo Dahl has been busy earning a name for themselves over the past few years. The band released an ambitious double disc debut, Cats & Kittens in 2005. The album, Cats being filled with traditional pop tunes and Kittens basically a remixed, reworked completely rearranged version of Cats, was well received by the masses and gained the band critical acclaim. Pitchfork Media says of the band "The net impression left by the two discs of Cats & Kittens is one of a confident, talented band letting its collective imagination run wild, deconstructing it's own ideas and recycling them into something new...overflowing with mostly realized ambition," and CMJ says De Novo Dahl is "...bursting with new ideas." De Novo Dahl, comprised of Joel J. Dahl (vocals, guitar), Serai Zaffiro (omnichord, vocals, percussion), Keith Lowen (Bass, vocals), Arlo Hall (Keys, vocals) and Mixta Huxtable (drums), has shared bills with the likes of TV on the Radio, The Detachment Kit, Wilco, Elf Power, The Impossible Shapes and VHS or Beta. In addition, the band has played countless festivals and were all the rage at 2005's SXSW and 2006's CMJ Music Marathon. De Novo Dahl is moving full steam ahead with writing and recording their new record. Producers David Fridmann and Tony Dugan (Flaming Lips, Super Furry Animals, Belle & Sebastian) have signed on to mix the new tunes. Frontman Joel J. Dahl says of the new partnership, "De Novo Dahl is extremely excited to be working with Roadrunner, a label who believes in artistic integrity and career development. We have always had a strong musical vision that incorporates a lot of energy, and Roadrunner will help take that vision to the world of art and music. Roadrunner seems to truly understand the concept of embracing the vision we already have." Brought to Roadrunner by A&R man Dave Bason, credited for bringing in much of the label's more recent diversity, De Novo Dahl adds a deeper dimension to the label's multi-faceted direction. "The songs drew me in immediately. They are a mix of uplifting pop songs and weird textured stuff that give you that feeling you get after eating too much candy. What do you expect from a band named after the guy who wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? When I saw the yellow and red striped swimwear from the 1800s, I knew this band was going to be a lot of fun. I love this record!" Look out for De Novo Dahl's next album and debut with Roadrunner Records, due out summer 2007. Check out De Novo Dahl's official website for more info.

Tattooed Crusaders

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 21:32:43 +1100

Back from their tour of Australia and gearing up for their upcoming jaunt with Machine Head, Lamb of God and Gojira, Trivium have posted a new selection of Fan Art on their official website. Said singer/guitarist Matt Heaffy, "We would like to take a moment and thank everyone for the amazing fan art that we get every single day. And the great adventurous people who go out and get our name, or our logos tattooed onto your body. We love getting the fan art and we love seeing the tattoos." Click HERE to view these beauties. Continues Matt: "We head out February 16th [and] it is going to be a great tour. So if you can make it out to one of the shoes do so and get your tickets soon as a lot of the venues are selling out quickly. Thanks to everyone and we'll see you on the road soon!" Visit Trivium on their Myspace to keep up with all latest news.

Roadrunner Records signs Dream Theater

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 18:07:36 +1100

WHEN DREAM THEATER AND ROADRUNNER RECORDS UNITE! BAND AND LABEL JOIN FORCES WITH NEW STUDIO ALBUM PLUS WORLD TOUR TO FOLLOW ROADRUNNER RECORDS is proud to announce the signing of progressive metal pioneers Dream Theater. A new studio album, Systematic Chaos is due in June. Dream Theater will hit the road in support of the album for a world tour, including major festival appearances in Europe. Since their first studio release in 1989, this US based five-piece has notched up record and DVD sales in excess of six million and headlined to audiences of 20,000. Having undertaken seven world tours across 42 different countries, Dream Theater has established a live reputation that has swept them to arena-status around the globe. They have appeared alongside acts such as Deep Purple, Iron Maiden and Yes. Recognized by peers and public alike for their advanced musical expertise, the band (Mike Portnoy, drums; John Petrucci, guitar; John Myung, bass; James LaBrie, vocals; Jordan Rudess, keyboards) has long held the ability to combine complex arrangements with unadulterated songwriting skills, the material often underpinned by riffs as heavy as anything in the Metallica repertoire. “This album’s got all of the elements we’ve become known for,” reveals Portnoy. “The focus on musicianship, the skull-crushing riffs, the big progressive epics and the heart-wrenching melodies. We’ve got one of the strongest and most devoted fan bases in the world, and they should certainly be happy with the new material. By working closely with the label we hope to turn a great many new heads, too.” “Dream Theater and Roadrunner Records have led parallel careers on the cutting edge of metal for many years,” say A&R men, Derek Oliver & Dante Bonutto, “We’re thrilled to be working with a genuine market-leader, and when you add everything the guys bring to the table to the independent spirit and work ethic of the label, the results can only be exciting in the extreme!” Prior to teaming up with Roadrunner, Dream Theater was signed to a seven-album deal with Warner Music Group worldwide. The deal commenced with the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Images And Words (1992), a Gold-certified US release, and concluded, in equal style, with Octavarium (2005), a Top 40 Billboard outing. In August of last year the band issued Score, a live album/DVD (recorded at Radio City Music Hall in New York), which went straight to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard DVD charts, knocking Pink Floyd from the top! By the following month, the five were holed up at Avatar Studios in New York, working on the new album with veteran engineer/ mixer Paul Northfield (Rush, Queensrÿche, Porcupine Tree). As usual, Portnoy and Petrucci chose to co-produce the project, which features seven compositions (one a 25-minute epic), and word on the grapevine is that the Dream Theater/Roadrunner alliance looks all set to kick off with a classic. Systematic Chaos, Dream Theater’s ninth studio release, arrives at a time when the band is casting a longer-than-ever shadow across the rock and metal landscape. Their influence is being acknowledged by an increasing number of contemporary, cutting-edge acts such as Stone Sour, Trivium, Shadows Fall, Opeth as their fan base continues to grow. Touring plans will be announced shortly.

Pain signing to Roadrunner Records

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 22:25:21 +1100

Roadrunner is pleased to welcome PAIN to the label. New album out spring 2007! Since Peter Tägtgren appeared on the music scene back in the early nineties he has been a most extraordinary artist and producer. Known as guitarist and front man of the hard working touring band Hypocrisy, he is also known for his work as a Producer. He has his own studio, Abyss, located in the Swedish outback outside the small town of Ludvika. Hailed by alternative press as “the Rick Rubin of Scandinavian Metal” he has produced Celtic Frost, Immortal, Destruction, Dimmu Borgir, Dark Funeral, and Marduk and others. As if this weren’t enough for this true Renaissance man, Peter Tägtgren could be seen and heard, not only live, or on TV, but also in the movies. He has delivered scores and has been seen in cameo roles in many Swedish hit films, including Sleepwalker","Nolltolerans" and “Exit”." Pain, his more industrial and catchy project, was signed to Universal (Stockholm Records) in 1999. The band has obtained great chart entries, substantial sales and gold disc awards. Music channels have found themselves plugging their videos which were more brutal than anything they’d rotated up to then. As well as touring the Nordic countries, Pain has been touring throughout Europe with In Flames, Tiamat, Atrocity, Theatre Of Tragedy amongst others. Pain’s Roadrunner debut, which is the artist’s fifth album and the first signing to the Bonnier Amigo / Roadrunner A & R joint venture, will be released in April 2007. On the new album which is still untitled we find a sharper production, heavier guitars, massive string movements and even more in your face vocals. Actually, on this album there is more of everything. Release date and quite a few exciting guests performing on the album will be announced shortly. “Pain has been a huge success in the Nordic territories and also here and there in continental Europe, but now the time has come to feed the planet with the music of this extraordinary artist" says Jesper Thorsson, A & R, who brought the artist to the Roadrunner. "What a great combination! Both Roadrunner and Peter are highly respected in the metal scene. We couldn't have found any better partner for Pain than a label with such a tremendous history and experience in marketing and promoting metal music! We cannot wait to see first results!" say Ulysses Hüppauff and Michael Smilgies, Management of Pain Tour dates and festivals all over Europe are being booked right now.

Cradle Of Filth promo at Zeplins (Pretoria)

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 00:27:19 +1100

ZEPLINS nightclub will be holding an exclusive Cradle Of Filth launch of their latest offering 'Thornography'. Stand in line to win a limited promo edition of Cradle Of Filth's strongest albums to date. Date : 26 January 2007 Place : Zeplins Nightclub, 384 Pretorius Street, Pretoria

MotherFUDD

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:24:07 +1100

MotherFUDD, a 2-day metal music festival of monstrous proportions is taking place at Walkerville Show Grounds on the 2nd February 2007 in Johannesburg. Look out for some of South Africa's finest and hardest talent AND catch some sneak-peaks of the newly-released SLIPKNOT dvd 'Voliminal : Inside The Nine'.

Porcupine Tree are on a Blank Planet

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 21:33:27 +1100

Porcupine Tree has revealed the title to their new release 'Fear of a Blank Planet', whose lyrical content is described as a 21st century cocktail of MTV, sex, prescription drugs, video games, the internet, terminal boredom, and subsequent escape. The album is due for release in mid April. Check out the Porcupine Tree website

PORCUPINE TREE sign to Roadrunner Records

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 02:08:21 +1100

Opeth fans will be well aware of Porcupine Tree even if only through Mikael Akerfeldt's praises of the band?

A press release reads:

Porcupine Tree is unquestionably one of the most difficult-to-categorise and innovative bands out there. The music is breathtaking, ranging from psychedelic trip-hop to progressive metal, and a compendium of other sounds in between.

Evolving from one man's self-indulgent creative outlet back in 1992, Porcupine Tree has grown into a well respected major-label-signed four-piece who have released several albums. Their most recent, 2005's 'Deadwing', served to further skyrocket the band's renown and they are currently hard at work on a brand new record - set for release on Roadrunner (excluding North America and Japan) in early 2007.

The band is fronted by singer/guitarist Steven Wilson, who also is well-known for his production work (Opeth, Anja Garbarek) and other musical projects: No-Man, Bass Communion, and Blackfield - the highly acclaimed collaboration with Israeli musician Aviv Geffen. Richard Barbieri (keyboards), Colin Edwin (bass), and Gavin Harrison (drums) complete the quartet.

Porcupine Tree are extremely happy about our new partnership with Roadrunner Records for our forthcoming album,? comments Wilson. ?Roadrunner has established itself as one of the world's premier independent labels for rock music, and we couldn't be more enthusiastic about working with them to expand our audience and elevate Porcupine Tree to the next level.?

Porcupine Tree will also release their first live DVD, titled 'Arriving Somewhere?', on October 9.

The Porcupine Tree site

Roadrunner Records signs CKY

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 02:00:31 +1100

ROADRUNNER RECORDS ANNOUNCES WORLDWIDE SIGNING OF CKY New York, NY - Roadrunner Records is pleased to announce the worldwide signing of genre-defying rock outfit CKY. Formed in Pennsylvania in 1998 by Deron Miller (vocals/guitars), Chad I Ginsburg (guitars/vocals) and Jess Margera (drums), CKY’s debut album Vol. 1 surfaced in 1999 on the indie label Volcom Entertainment, and was eventually picked up by Island Def Jam in 2001. The band’s first Island Def Jam album and breakthrough Infiltrate-Destroy-Rebuild came in 2002, followed three years later by An Answer Can Be Found. “CKY is a massively underrated band,” says Roadrunner Senior VP A&R Monte Conner. “Everything about them screams unique, from Deron Miller's dark, melodic vocals and iconoclastic songwriting, to Chad I Ginsburg’s cutting-edge production and mix techniques, to their one-of-a-kind guitar sound and rampant use of the Moog synthesizer. They simply sound like no other band I have ever heard. I've known Deron since he was a teenager and have been dying to work with CKY ever since I heard the stunning Infiltrate-Destroy-Rebuild album. I am honored to finally have the opportunity to do so, with such a forward-thinking band.” Deron Miller shares the enthusiasm: "Roadrunner is one of my all-time favorite labels, so for me this partnership is very inspiring on a personal level and the fans will hear that on our next record." Adds Jess Margera, “It’s seriously an honor to be working with such a legendary rock/metal label like Roadrunner. CKY has had a great relationship with Roadrunner over the years and our signing with them seems long overdue.” “CKY has never had the rep for being an easy band to work with,” affirms Chad I Ginsburg. “We've only been honest and best of all, enterf**kintaining! Believe it. That said, Roadrunner, the label with God-sized balls, has decided to take the CKY challenge! God bless ‘em! So, that's two laser-sighted entities combined. Legendary. The potential is exciting to say the least. The future is purely for our enjoyment. CKY & RR - Let’s do this.” CKY’s official website is run by their fans, The CKY Alliance (www.ckyalliance.com), and numbers 250,000 members strong. The band is extremely involved with the site and hence shares a close relationship with their very dedicated fans. Over the years, they have personally answered 9,500 questions from fans on the “Ask CKY” section of the site. After the addition of new bassist Matt Deis in July 2005, CKY embarked on a rigorous touring cycle which ended this past August following a highly successful European run. After taking a much needed break, CKY has just began the conception and planning process towards what begs to be a highly labor intensive and collaborative effort. Look for new music sometime in 2007.

Machine Head new album 'The Blackening' out soon!

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 01:37:24 +1100

Machine Head is currently recording THE BLACKENING at Sharkbite Studios in the band’s hometown of Oakland, California. Once again produced by singer / guitarist Robert Flynn and mixed by Colin Richardson (previous MH efforts, Bullet For My Valentine, Napalm Death) THE BLACKENING, set for worldwide release Spring 2007, is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed album Through The Ashes Of Empires. Regarding THE BLACKENING Flynn states, "This is the most ambitious thing we have ever attempted. We all challenged ourselves and each other to write a record that pushed the boundaries of complexity and technical structure.” Meanwhile, Flynn’s lyrics have gone from what has been, recently, a more introspective focus, back to the social commentary tackled on previous albums like Burn My Eyes. Flynn continues, "The nature of what is happening in the world led to a darker, bleaker album in every sense.” Pointed and timely, the lyrics in songs such as "Clenching The Fists Of Dissent," “A Farewell To Arms" and "Halo" touch upon politics, the war in Iraq and organized religion. The lyrics to the aforementioned songs spit anger and disdain at their topics in the true spirit of angst that fueled punk rock in the mid- 80's. "Aesthetics Of Hate" captures the bands anger towards an article that bashed ‘Dimebag’ Darrell right after his death and slammed the metal community as a whole for mourning it. The band actually performed this new track during the special appearances they made along the Sounds of the Underground Tour this past summer. "Now I Lay Thee Down" has a Romeo and Juliet-esque love story slant to it, while “Slanderous" addresses the hate that still permeates throughout society and "Wolves,” tackles the bands competitive, ‘winner take all’ spirit. Machine Head fans have always played a big part in the recording process. However, for the first time ever, the band brought in a group of loyal fans and had them sing backing vocals on a new track. Additionally, as with previous efforts the band has once again allowed their fans into their world through online diaries and pioneering the use of “video updates” from the studio and the road. All of which can be seen on the official MH site www.machinehead1.com. Slowing down from the roller coaster ride of Through The Ashes Of Empires to write The Blackening was a natural evolution. Upon release of TTAOE in April 2004 (2003 overseas), the band embarked on what would become the most successful, and comprehensive touring cycle of their careers. The relentless trek around the globe saw MH headlining three major U.S. runs, bringing as support rising metal stars including Trivium, Chimaira, DevilDriver and Arch Enemy. The band also completed two headlining tours of the U.K. and Europe and a headlining tour of Australia. Machine Head headlined the Wacken festival in Germany and was one of the first metal bands to play the Middle East when they played Dubai’s Desert Rock Festival. The culmination of the world tour was the filming of Machine Head’s amazingly successful DVD Elegies at a sold out Brixton Academy in London, England in front of 5,000 fans (affectionately called ‘Head Cases’). Elegies debuted in the Top 20 on various charts around the world including at #13 on Billboard’s Music Video Chart in the U.S., toppling same week releases from Rob Zombie and Sheryl Crow. Machine Head is Robert Flynn (vocals / guitars), Dave McClain (drums), Adam Duce (bass / backing vocals) and Phil Demmel (lead guitars)

Megadeth album update

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 01:35:51 +1100

Megadeth Frontmann Dave Mustaine issued the following album update on the band's website forum : "Whilst being burried under the workload of this last session with Andy Sneap [producer/mixer] on the new album, I can't help but enjoy the countryside out here in Derbyshire, England. I am working on finishing by Thursday (fingers crossed), and will return to the States to start unwinding in order to just wind back up again for the U.S. run which is going to be super selective cities, venues, and with the perfect support groups. "Gigantour NA will go out in January of 2008, as we are going to be spending most of 2007 trying to get into some of the countries that we have not been in for a while. Of course this means scaling things down so we can revisit, or in the case of South Africa (which I yearn to play), visiting for the first time and places like Serbia, or Romania again, now that we have made our first impression there. I still hope to find my cell phone in Serbia I certainly can't have the posuers in my cell phone being revealed and crank-called. Well, there are two idiots that I guess I would enjoy getting cranked, but whatever!!! "So, here are the new song titles that I know you know: * Gears Of War * Washington Is Next * United Abominations And here are some other titles: * Amerikhastan * Blessed Are The Dead * Never Walk Alone "and . . . "We finally covered a Led Zeppelin song – 'Out on the Tiles'. "There you have it. Half of the titles (I may change the rest) are here for you to speculate what I have in store to surprise you with. There are 11 songs for the U.S., an additional song for Japan, and two extra songs for later use as 'b-sides.' "Lastly, Glen [Drover, guitar] said that there were 'at least ten million solos on this record' which makes us both very happy! So much so, that the nail on my right-hand middle finger just split right down the middle, and I nearly glued my fingers together trying to stop the blood from gushing from my 'flipper.' "I am off to sing the last song that I wrote for this record called 'Never Walk Alone' which is a promise to you. We wish you were all here and it is possible that Andy may allow a few fan club members over to the studio, that can attend a brief listening (in underwear so there are no more leaks, like the loser U.K. journo that leaked my last record as 'a favor' to me). "I will let you know if it is possible, as it will have to be this Wednesday, before we leave for our homes back in North America this Thursday. I will find out how many people are available to come how many people Andy will allow here and then I will hand choose the members randomly. Stay tuned you U.K. fan club members!!! Confirm with our beloved webmaster if you can attend and we will notify you if you have been picked. "P.S.: You can bring cameras and stuff to sign, but any recorders will result in my kicking yer ass." The new album 'United Abominations' is set for release in April 2007.

Hatebreed world tour - possible South African dates

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 01:30:09 +1100

Jamey Jasta the awesome frontman of Hatebreed has issued the update below: "Happy New Year everyone! Thanks for a great year. 2007 is looking to be an amazing one for us as well. We are ready to start announcing our world tour plans this month. "As most of you know we are going to Australia in February and March and after that the rest of the world will follow. We have plans to finally return to Ireland, the smaller cities in the U.K., Greece, Spain, Portugal and many more places we have not been to in a long time as well as places we have never been before like Alaska, Iceland, South Africa, Isreal and other countries. "Thanks for your continued belief in what we do! You are the most dedicated, supportive and amazing fans a band could possibly have! You are as diehard as they come!!!" SOURCE: BLABBERMOUTH

Stone Sour nominated for Grammy Award

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 21:10:06 +1100

STONE SOUR NOMINATED FOR GRAMMY AWARD COME WHAT(EVER) MAY CERTIFIED GOLD New York, NY— Roadrunner Records’ Stone Sour is having a great week. Come What(ever) May, the band’s sophomore album has earned an RIAA GOLD certification, surpassing 500,000 copies sold since its August release. Stone Sour also received a Grammy nomination for their track “30/30-150” in the category of Best Metal Performance. Upon release, Come What(ever) May debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 charts with over 80,000 copies sold in its first week. In the 18 weeks since, the album has held a spot in the Top 10 Hard Rock charts each week. In addition, the first single, “Through Glass” is a multi-format smash. The single was #1 on the Rock radio charts for 8 weeks, Top 5 at Modern Rock, is currently Top 15 on Hot AC and is racing up the Pop charts. The 2nd single, "sillyworld" is already Top 20 at Active Rock and climbing fast. The video for the single recently went to #1 on MTV2’s T-Minus Rock countdown. “Either way you slice it, [Come What(ever) May] is an intense, taut piece of work where every song could be a single,” says Billboard. The album, produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver), is an exercise in dynamics. It's tight, crisp, and full of rowdy rockers and melodic numbers.” Lead vocalist, Corey Taylor is one of the most recognized figures in rock, thanks to his dual role as the frontman for Stone Sour and the Grammy Award winning Slipknot, a multi-platinum act in its own right. The band is also comprised of guitarist James Root, who is also in Slipknot, bassist Shawn Economaki, guitarist Josh Rand and new drummer Roy Mayorga. The band’s 2002 self-titled Roadrunner debut was also certified gold. Stone Sour is currently touring North America as part of the Music As A Weapon Tour 2006. For tour dates, please visit www.roadrunnerrecords.com.

Anthrax guitarist Ian Scott endorses STONE SOUR

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 14:01:23 +1000

Scott Ian can't get enough of Stone Sour's new album 'Come What(ever) May' "My humble opinion: The new [STONE SOUR] album 'Come What(ever) May' is incredible. I listen to it every day from start to finish at least twice. I think it's the best record I have heard since REFUSED's 'Shape of Punk to Come' or FAITH NO MORE's 'Album of the Year' or SYSTEM OF A DOWN's 'Mezmerize'. It's a perfect combination of metal riffs, rock grooves, and pop melodies, creating a tight, concise sound that is wholly original. I will still be listening to this record in 10, 20, 30 years, that's how good I think the writing is. The hooks are as infectious as airborne Ebola and there is this sense of urgency throughout, like theyre going to jail the next day. You can feel the energy in the tracks. I love the album from top to bottom, a rare thing these days. My current favorites are '30/30 150', 'Come What(ever) May', 'Silly World', 'Through Glass', 'Socio', and 'Your God'. Get this record." Source: Blabbermouth

SOULFLY performs with Igor Cavalera

Mon, 21 Aug 2006 14:22:50 +1000

Brothers Igor and Max Cavalera have performed together for the first time in 10 years? A posting at the Blabbermouth site reads, "The 10th annual D-Low Memorial show is over and we thank you all for making it a huge success. The show, which was opened by NORTH SIDE KINGS and INCITE, sold out and it was a very historic night for SOULFLY. The band was joined on stage by many friends from their past including Danny Marianinho of NORTH SIDE KINGS (on 'Defeat U'), Richie Cavalera of INCITE (on 'Bleed' and 'Stay Strong'), [former MEGADETH bassist] Dave Ellefson (on 'Prophecy' and 'Defeat U'), and their former longtime drummer Roy Mayorga (on 'No Hope = No Fear') who currently plays with STONE SOUR. But most importantly, Max was reunited onstage for the first time in 10 years with his brother Igor Cavalera. Max and Igor formed SEPULTURA together in the early 1980s, but have not played together since the band split in 1996. Igor joined the band mid-way through the set for a jam on the drums and stayed onstage to play the SEPULTURA classics 'Roots Bloody Roots' and 'Attitude' with the guys!" SOULFLY bassist Bobby Burns previously told BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "The show was fuckin' insane! Roy Mayorga came out and did 'No Hope = No Fear' with us. Dave Ellefson did 'Prophecy' and 'Defeat U'. And the one and only Igor Cavalera came out and did 'Attitude' and 'Roots' with us!!! It was far beyond badass, trust me... Best D-Low show yet..." Also, SOULFLY have been confirmed as the direct support for MEGADETH on the upcoming Australian leg of the Gigantour. ARCH ENEMY and CALIBAN will also be playing before SOULFLY, and tickets go on sale on Tuesday (August 22) at 9:00 a.m." The dates for the shows are: Oct. 21 - Brisbane, Australia - The Riverstage Oct. 22 - Sydney, Australia - Hordern Pavilion Oct. 24 - Melbourne, Australia - Festival Hall The Blabbermouth site

Satyricon's new album 'Now, Diabolical'

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 13:01:00 +1000

Satyricon's new album 'Now, Diabolical' gets the 4 star treatment from the Metal Forge. The album debuted at the #2 position in their native Norway, and was described by Kerrang in their 5K review as, "Its metal at its heaviest and most menacing and rock 'n roll at its darkest and most direct, but its also brave, original & wholly unique."