31st January 2007

Pink Cream 69

Frontiers Records have announced all details of the release of the forthcoming PINK CREAM 69 European studio album “In10sity” !

For a number of reasons “In10sity” is a special album in the band’s history. On the one hand it marks the band's debut for their new label, Frontiers Records. On the other it is the band's tenth regular studio effort and celebrates it’s 20th anniversary.

Three years after their critically acclaimed “Thunderdome” album, 2007 marks the full force return of PINK CREAM 69. Strengthened by second guitarist Uwe Reitenauer - now a regular member - the band delivers another brilliant piece of Melodic Metal!

“In10sity” was recorded from October 2006 to January 2007 at the famous House Of Music studios near Stuttgart/Germany and once again was produced by Dennis Ward. Besides a truly dynamic and explosive production the album blows the listener away with a blistering set of songs. “Crossfire”, “No Way Out”, “A New Religion”, “Stop The Madness” just to name a few, feature all the classic PINK CREAM 69 trademarks: a focused songwriting style, energetic vocals and a tremendous guitar work.

“Thanks to the addition of Uwe Reitenauer as second guitarist, we have the opportunity to realize many ideas on guitars where we previously used keyboards. The new record is much more guitar-driven than our last productions”, drummer Kosta Zafiriou states. And he is right – “In10sity” is a full blast of stadium hard rock power!

The final track listing will include the following songs:

Children of the Dawn; No Way Out; Crossfire; I’m Not Afraid; A New Religion; The Hour of Freedom; Stop This Madness; Desert Land; Out of this World; It’s Just a State of Mind; Wanna Hear You Rock; My Darkest Hour (*); Last Train to Nowhere.

(*) Bonus track exclusive to the first pressing in slipcase

“In10sity” will be released in Europe on Frontiers Records on March 23rd 2007. Don’t miss it !

31st January 2007

Nuclear Blast Update

31st January 2007

FOPP New Music Awards

The winners of this year’s Fopp Award for New Music have emerged from the studio with EPs containing brand new material, which they will perform live at a London Showcase at Dingwalls on Thursday 22nd February.

The competition has brought together four exciting and varied acts: Singer/songwriter Conrad Vingoe; eclectic, electronic pop seven-piece Morton Valence; three piece indie band Olympus Mons and mould-breaking Brighton-based five-piece The Dials. The artists spent the Autumn recording professionally in KORE studios and working with designers from CSV on the artwork for their new EPs. A compilation of all these bands, along with their EPs, will be released and on sale in Fopp stores nationwide from Monday 19th February. This will coincide with the London showcase performance to an audience of key music industry players, alongside fans of new music, at Dingwalls on Thursday 22nd February. Last year’s showcase was an unprecedented success, with new music-lovers queuing around the block for entry.

Unsigned bands from all over London and the South East were invited to send in their original material to enter the Fopp Award 2006, with the winners Conrad Vingoe and The Dials both from Brighton and the Olympus Mons and Morton Valence based in London. This initiative, which is a partnership between Fopp, PRS Foundation and Clear Sound & Vision, will give these acts a great opportunity to raise their profile and expose their music to new audiences.

The winners were chosen from many entries by a panel including: Dougie Bruce from Universal Publishing, the man responsible for signing Kaiser Chiefs and Maximo Park, Jimmy Smith A & R at Parlophone, home of Coldplay and Radiohead, and James Jam, New Band Editor at the NME, along with representatives from each of the partners.

As the scheme goes from strength to strength, the winners’ development will be closely watched. Look out for news on the showcase and other future gigs as well as tracks from the bands available to download from Fopp’s website www.fopp.co.uk …

The Winning Acts:
Olympus Mons:
EP: Follow You Down
www.theolympusmons.com
www.myspace.com/theolympusmons

Whilst being just a three piece it is believed by the band that a simple sound void of sparkles, twinkles or false places more emphasis on the songs as opposed to it's electronic embellishments.Their sound is modern indie meets new aged romantic, meets exhilaration; their songs portray the tales of every other regular guy or girl that you will meet in your everyday walk of life.

Lead singer Aaron says:

"It's great. It's not the end of the journey but it's the first step on a hundred step ladder. It's important to get something like this at our stage because the EP will be like a universal demo. Something to say we're here..."

Morton Valence:
EP: Melange a Trois
http://www.mortonvalence.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/mortonvalence

A regular kind of band, Morton Valence consist of four Colombians, girls from Hong Kong and Ireland and a bloke in a flat-cap from South London. The Metro describes this set-up as "the most interesting and intriguing band on these shores". They produce a unique brand of electronic pop, considered “irresistibly infectious” by a reviewer on The Times’s website.

Morton Valence say: “Morton Valence are extremely flattered to have won the 2006 Fopp Unsigned Award for New Music. We would like to thank Fopp and PRSF and all our mothers, and some of our fathers, except for the ones that keep telling us to get “proper jobs”. We are delighted at the opportunity to spread our music nationwide and hope that all who are smart enough to search Fopp for quality new music enjoy our offering. Thank you.”

Conrad Vingoe:
www.conradvingoe.co.uk
www.myspace.com/conradvingoe

Writing what has variously been described as melancholic, lo-fi and off-kilter pop, Conrad's songs draw on his own experience and explore a range of emotions from desperation to great hope.

Influenced by classic singer songwriters such as Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell, and contemporary artists like Talk Talk and Sparklehorse, Conrad composes fresh and intelligent songs with a timeless relevance, delivered in his own unique style. Conrad has a growing fan base on the Brighton scene which is sure to increase with the exposure winning this award could bring. Conrad has already self-released the Highwire album last year, and is in the midst of recording a second album in Denmark.

Conrad says: “I am very pleased to win the award and look forward to recording and putting a record out which people will be able to buy all over England. This will hopefully give me and the band the further exposure we need to take things to the next level, as well as enabling us to play at a great London venue and showcase material in front of industry.”

The Dials
www.thedials.co.uk 
www.myspace.com/thedialsuk

The Dials formed in Brighton four years ago. They fuse classic country rock with '60s psychedelic garage, folk and much, much more. Over the last few years they’ve been steadily winning over people with their intoxicating cocktail of instant but sometimes strange classics. BBC Radio 2’s Mark Lamarr is a fan and describes them as “really, really good”.

About to finish their first album, they take on board influences from The Byrds to early Pink Floyd, and from classic soul to Nick Drake, but The Dials occupy a space that is completely their own.

The Dials say: “This is excellent news. It’s all been going really well this year, we’ve had American radio airplay, UK national airplay and have even been invited to play a Radio 2 live session, and now we win this fabulous new music award. It’s all looking up”.

31st January 2007

Quick Updates

Visible Noise presents Miss Conduct, and the awesome ‘Sinner Vs Sinned’ mini album, release date 19th March 2007.

Miss Conduct has been used to describe a lot of things; Internet searches show that the name has been used for: The Agony Aunt from The Boston Globe, who specialises in Ladies’ Etiquette.  An aluminium diving dinghy. A Californian fetish bondage model. A 1968 porno flick.

Random. But your friends at Visible Noise have found the only Miss Conduct worth worrying about! Apart from that porno flick obviously…

The Welsh based tykes rise from the ashes of long term live favourites Then Came Bronson, featuring guitarists Gav and Shiner (Moose from Bullet for my Valentine’s brother!), drummer Ronnie, Bassist Benji and the extraordinary whirlwind of a vocalist Kim, who has been likened to ‘a seasoned sex kitten with all the overt sensuality of 1980's-era Madonna.’

The forthcoming mini album, ‘Sinner Vs Sinned’, available through Visible Noise on 19th March 2007, is full of pop punk attitude, epic riffs and anthemic choruses that you’ll be humming all day. If you’re not tapping you feet by the end of it, then we’ll eat our hats, or perhaps another similar, more edible garment.

Rock has been calling for a decent spokeswoman for ages, so ask Courtney Love to pipe down, tell Hayley Paramore that it’s past her bedtime, and get ready for Kim Waterson - worshipped by the girls and desired by the boys: everything you could want for 2007.

Expect a tour around the release date - for an early chance to check out Miss Conduct, here are the upcoming live dates:

* 04/02/07 – Camden Barfly/Subverse – London
23/02/07 – Punk Rock 101 Venue TBC – Liverpool
17/03/07 – De Valance – Tenby
22/03/07 - 2 Pigs - Cheltenham

For more information check out www.myspace.com/missconductband

Toby Jepson has lined up a series of UK gigs in March & April in support of his soon to be released Guitars, Drums & Bass EP. The full list of shows is as follows:

22nd March - Scarborough Vivaz
23rd March - Edinburgh Henry's Cellar
28th March - Bristol The Fleece
29th March -  Sutton In Ashfield The Diamond
30th March - Hull The Springhead
01st April - Farnborough The Tumbledown Dick
02nd April - Oxford Zodiac
04th April - Newcastle Trillians
06th April - Leighton Buzzard The Wheatsheaf
07th April - Cannock The Tackeroo

In addition to these Jepson also plays London's Shepherd's Bush Empire on March 25th as support to Glenn Hughes

The Haunted and  Municipal Waste team up for a UK tour in April and May. The full list of dates are as follows:

Apr. 28 - UK Leeds Cockpit
Apr. 29 - UK Norwich Waterfront
Apr. 30 - UK Newcastle Academy
May 01 - UK Glasgow Cathouse
May 02 - UK Dublin Voodo Lounge
May 03 - UK Liverpool Academy 2
May 04 - UK Birmingham Academy 2
May 05 - UK London MeanFiddler
May 06 - UK Bristol Academy 2
May 07 - UK Oxford Zodiac

30th January 2007

Download Festival

Starting the festival mania early, tickets for Download 2007 go on sale at 9am on Wednesday 31 January. Leaving no doubt that the fifth Download Festival will be more exciting than ever, the three headliners for Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively are confirmed as MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, LINKIN PARK and IRON MAIDEN. A mixture of the best new and established talent from across the globe is what makes Download the must see event of the year, and more acts will be announced the moment they are confirmed.

Celebrating its outstanding fifth anniversary this year, Download has rocketed into the UK’s hearts as the biggest alternative festival on the summer music calendar. The addition of a third day in 2005 proved a monumental success, and the popularity of this weekend of live music and non-stop activity continues to grow with each passing year. Selling out in advance, a massive 70,000 people descended on Donington Park last year experiencing the hottest bands and weather in festival history. With the three headliners already confirmed, Download 2007 kicks off on 8, 9 and 10 June.

First performing at Donington Park in 2005, My Chemical Romance’s meteoric rise sees them return to headline the opening night. My Chemical Romance have firmly established themselves as one of the best live bands of the moment. The release of ‘The Black Parade’ album in 2006 escalated them to international stardom and this will undoubtedly be one of the must see performances of the weekend.

My Chemical Romance’s guitarist Frank Lero said this about headlining the opening night, "Being asked to headline download festival was definitely a milestone in our lives...just two years ago we were playing the side stage...and now we're closing the main stage! A slot previously filled by Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and even Black Sabbath. These are legendary bands... so how do I describe that feeling? There really are no words to describe that honour. I just can't wait to play."

With a sound that is unmistakable, Linkin Park headline day two. Having sold in excess of 35 million albums worldwide, Linkin Park truly are the purveyors of a new brand of alternative rock music. With a hybrid of genres that appeal to a multitude of fans, the use of turntables, samplers and the classic ‘rock’ instruments, Linkin Park cover a truly versatile ground and provide an entertaining and unique performance. A new album (produced by Rick Rubin) is due for release in the summer of this year.

Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington says, "We're really excited to perform new music for all of our UK fans as well as the old favourites you know and love. Download is always awesome and the bands this year are going to be amazing. UK fans are some of the best in the world and we can't wait to see you!"

As headliners on the final night we are very proud to announce the return of legendary rockers Iron Maiden to Donington for a record breaking fourth headline appearance. The first time Maiden ever played at Donington was when they topped the bill in 1988, with Kiss and Guns N’ Roses among the supports, playing to over 100,000 people - the biggest Donington crowd by far and still the biggest Metal show ever in the UK - returning again in 1992 and 2003. With a career spanning almost 30 years, and album sales of over 70 million, Iron Maiden are seen by many as one of the most important rock acts of all time. Iron Maiden's integrity, passion and live power fully demonstrate why they have influenced and inspired so many modern day rock acts. The huge international success of their latest album and tour goes to show that their power is if anything still on the rise!

Says Bruce Dickinson "Our fans know that Donington is a special place for Maiden and we are all looking forward to getting back there for a fourth time. The "A Matter of Life and Death UK Tour" last December was very special for us and we very much appreciated the fans giving us such great support in us playing the whole album which, lets face it, was not necessarily the easiest thing to do for us or them! It was definitely the right challenge for us at that time but outdoors in the summer is different and as a thank you to our fans we will be including quite a few more "classic" favourites balanced with some of the tracks from the new album. We will naturally bring Eddie and his toys along, so all in all it should be a great day for everybody!!"

Tickets for the show go on sale as of 31st January. More information can be found via www.downloadfestival.co.uk

30th January 2007

Ian Gillan - Press Releases

The next few months look like being a busy time fro Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan. As well as touring with Purple in support of their latest album 'Rapture Of The Deep' Gillan also has seven of his solo albums re-released during March and April and a DVD telling the story of the man behind the mike. Full details of these are given below

Ian Gillan : Re-issues

Edsel Records (through Demon) will be releasing a selection of seven Gillan and Ian Gillan Band albums in March and April.  These will comprise of five chart albums, which were originally released between 1979 and 1982, including Glory Road which charted at 3 and Future Shock UK at 2.  Together the seven albums feature eight chart singles.   

The first batch of Gillan releases hit outlets on 2nd April and include Mr Universe (1979), Glory Road (1980), Future Shock (1981) and Double Trouble (1981).  These will be followed on 7th May with Ian’s first solo album Child In Time (Ian Gillan Band, 1976), Live At The Budokan (Ian Gillan Band, 1977) and Magic (Gillan, 1982).   For full track-listings including catalogue numbers and bonus details please see over. 

All seven albums have been digitally re-mastered by Ray Staff (Bohemian Rhapsody, Physical Graffiti, Corrine Bailey Rae, Deep Purple) and will feature bonus tracks including live recordings, and ‘b’ sides as well as album out-takes.   The deluxe packaging will contain photos, lyrics, memorabilia and some wry observations of the times by Ian Gillan himself.  

Gillan says: ‘It’s about bloody time!’  

These albums feature some of Ian’s cohorts including Janick Gers, Bernie Tormé, John McCoy, Colin Towns and Mick Underwood as well as the Gillan classics Sleeping On The Job, No Easy Way, Trouble, Mutually Assured Destruction, New Orleans, No Laughing In Heaven, Nightmare, Restless and Living For The City. There are also fabulous live versions of Deep Purple classics including Child In Time, Smoke On The Water and Woman From Tokyo. 

Ian Gillan is rock royalty, and has become an erudite elder statesman of the genre. He was the original Jesus Christ Superstar and – with Deep Purple – he co-wrote and sang Smoke on the Water (one of the most popular songs of all time) among dozens of other hits. He’s always made music for music’s sake, not to appease critics, the industry or anyone else; to quote the man…’It’s important to step off the highway sometimes and take the scenic route.’  He has played to tens of millions of fans, and sold over one hundred million records.  To this day he approaches writing, recording and touring with the zeal, passion and commitment of an eighteen year old.  Currently on tour with Deep Purple - His life is music – listen and enjoy.

IAN GILLAN - ‘HIGHWAY STAR: A JOURNEY IN ROCK’

UK release date : April 2^nd 2007  

UNIVERSAL MUSIC DVD TELLS THE FULL OFFICIAL STORY OF THE VOICE BEHIND DEEP PURPLE… 

IT TOOK just one Elvis movie to convince the teenage Gillan that he should give the whole ‘performing’ thing a go, and – with the exception of a short break after leaving Deep Purple for the first time – he simply hasn’t stopped since. Whatever the circumstances, whatever the continent, Ian has spent the past 40 years carving out his place as one of rock’s most influential & iconic singers. 

And it’s this four-decade-long stint in the spotlight that is gloriously celebrated on ‘Highway Star…’ – a lavish two-disc DVD set officially documenting The Gillan Story from Ian’s early years as a singer on the West London scene right through to his rise to the top as The Definitive Voice Of Deep Purple – a role, of course, he continues to occupy to this day.  

Released through Universal on April 2^nd and containing over six hours of material, including exclusive in-depth interviews, specially filmed live footage plus a host of bonus features,  ‘Highway Star…’ is a detailed, refreshingly candid look at the career of a man who has always been at his happiest (and most successful) when fronting a loud rock‘n’roll band.  

Which isn’t to say he hasn’t made his mark in other areas; he is, after all, the first interpretive voice of Jesus on the original ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ OST, and he’s been known to share a stage with Pavarotti no less, but it’s in the world of hard rock (either with Purple, Black Sabbath or leading the Gillan Band into the charts) that Ian’s natural charisma, intelligent lyrics and groundbreaking vocal gymnastics have consistently set him apart – loved by the fans and respected by his peers. 

Certainly, it’s no great surprise to see the likes of vocalist Ronnie James Dio, Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi or former Purple keyboard player Jon Lord speaking warmly to camera about Ian The Musician and Ian The Man, but it’s a measure of the Gillan reputation that these interviews can be juxtaposed with pieces from Sir Tim Rice, the late George Best (a Purple fan through & through) plus the aforementioned Pavarotti himself. There are also contributions from the Gillan family, not to mention the current members of Purple, with bassist Roger Glover providing some of the sleeve notes for the set, in addition to Ian’s entertaining foreword.

Gillan says: “The producers have done a brilliant job.”  

In the course of ‘Highway Star…’, Ian mentions that, at the age of 60, the last thing he thought he’d be doing was preparing for a two year world tour. However, to those who know him best (and they’re all featured here), it’s clear that this comes as no surprise at all! The journey continues…

30th January 2007

Quick Updates

Dante Fox new Third album titled "Under The Seven Skies" is to be released by Frontiers Records on 23rd March. The album was recorded at Mad Hat Studio's near Wolverhampton between July 2006 and September 2006 and was produced by Mark V Stuart. The artwork has been created by Swedish artist Carl Andre Beckston.

The album is a much harder more organic sounding release with classic Marshall guitar tones, multi layered harmony vocals, string arrangements and live drums and percussion. Song titles include "The Last Goodbye" "Breaking Me Down" "Firing Guns" "Save Me" and ballads "Goodbye To Yesterday" and "Love Tried To Find You"

The band are most excited about the Nine minite epic "Under The Seven Skies" which was written as a team with the new members and finished just prior to the recording taking place.

Dante Fox are in discussions with various promoters regarding live work both in the UK and Europe this summer. Please stay tuned. Meanwhile Dante Fox will be playing the Limelight Club in Crewe on Thursday 15th March and at this momentt the band believes the new album will be available on the night.

For samples of "The Last Goodbye" "Firing Guns" "Hold Out Your Hand" and "Breaking Me Down" please visit www.myspace.com/dantefox

The 'Gypsy Pistoleros' new album 'Wild, Beautiful, Damned' is finished at last, and, according to the press release, sounds amazing. Joe Gibb (Madonna, Catatonia, Robbie Williams, The Cure, Funeral for a friend, Janes Addiction ) who produced the album is a genius and loves the album. The CD will get a full worldwide release on June 4th 2007 through Distribution Code 7/Plastichead.

In the meantime a free download track is available via the bands MySpace site at www.myspace.com/gypsypisteleros . On the touring front the band have been added to the Love/Hate - Bang Tango bill that hits the UK in March and stops at the following venues and dates:

28th March - London Camden Underworld
29th March - Cardiff The Point
30th March - Bradford Rio's
31st March - Nottingham Rescue Rooms
1st April Dudley JBs

Cradle Of Filth have confirmed more dates for their upcoming UK tour in April. The complete of shows now looks as follows:

South London punk-rocksters LINCHPIN head out on the road this week to begin their 32-date headline UK tour in support of their new single 'All I Want' which is being released on Sleeper Records on March 26.

Linchpin are one of the most exciting young bands in Britain. Their first video was downloaded 33,000 times. The first pressing sold out in 48 hours. Dave Grohl has proclaimed them to be 'fucking awesome'. They've already been praised by Kerrang!, Metal Hammer and Rock Sound magazines. Even The Independent has raved about them. The fact that all four members of the group are just 16 years of age.......incredible!!!

Catch them at one of their following shows:

1 Feb Margate Sugar Lounge
7 Feb Bristol Croft
8 Feb Winchester Railway
9 Feb Dagenham MusicTek
10 Feb Tunbridge Wells Forum
14 Feb Colchester Twist
15 Feb Leicester Charlotte
16 Feb Stamford Corn Exchange
17 Feb Aldershot West End Centre
22 Feb Southampton Unit 22
23 Feb Bedford Esquires
24 Feb Harlow Square
27 Feb Welwyn Garden City The Green Room
28 Feb London Camden Barfly
1 Mar Northampton Soundhaus
2 Mar Wolverhampton Little Civic
7 Mar Bradford Exit 1 at Rio
8 Mar Wigan Café Nirvana
10 Mar Nottingham Rock City
11 Mar York Fibbers (pm show)
14 Mar Wrexham Rebellion @ Central Station
15 Mar Stoke On Trent Sugarmill
17 Mar Tenby De Valence Pavilion
18 Mar Manchester Retro
21 Mar Plymouth Hub
22 Mar Hastings Heros
23 Mar Milton Keynes Pitz Club
25 Mar Poole Mr Kyps
28 Mar Derby Vic Inn
29 Mar Glasgow King Tuts
30 Mar Arbroath Viewfield
31 Mar Aberdeen Tunnels

25th January 2007

Quick Updates

Frontiers Records have announced the signing of a brand new and exciting musical project. Timo Tolkki: the Finnish Grammy award winning guitar player who has sold 1.5 million records with his power metal genre pioneering band STRATOVARIUS, has taken the next step in his 20 year music career.

“Saana-Warrior of Light” is a Classic Rock Opera featuring seven characters and numerous musicians (including Tolkki himself) who will collaborate in this ambitious project. The result is a unique sound, unlike anything ever heard before… from soaring majestic heights to soft and gentle moments and everything in between. It also tells a very dramatic tale.

“Saana-Warrior of Light” is the story of a woman who makes an unforgettable journey that changes her life and view of the universe forever. On her journey, she will discover the biggest secret of mankind… and her own destiny.

“Warrior of Light” introduces 29 year old Jennifer Sowle from the USA as Saana, the main character. She is a classically trained opera singer with a Master’s degree in music.

“Saana-Warrior of Light” will be released in autumn 2007 with more details to be announced in the coming weeks.

METAL HEAVEN sign CHRIS CAFFERY!

CHRIS CAFFERY truly is one of the most respected and versatile guitarists in the Metal world of today. Starting in 1984 with the band HEAVEN, he first met producer Paul O’Neill who introduced Chris to US Metal legends SAVATAGE in 1987 and in 1996 Savatage's song "Christmas Eve Sarajevo" led to the formation of the extra-ordinary US Platinum act Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The latest TSO tour, in which Chris was the frontman as well as lead guitarist, sold one million tickets.

After numerous tours and recordings with these bands and other projects the time was finally right for CAFFERY’s first solo album entitled “Faces” (2004) which was right away followed by the CD “W.A.R.P.E.D.” in 2005. These releases for the first time saw CAFFERY also taking over the lead vocals duties. His band consists of Paul Morris (RAINBOW, DORO) on keyboards, Nick Douglas (DORO) on bass guitar, Jeff Plate (SAVATAGE, METAL CHURCH) and Yael (MY RUIN, FIREBALL MINISTRY) on drums as well as Dave Z on bass guitars.

“Pins And Needles” exactly continues here. The songs definitely are deadringers for any SAVATAGE fan once again. However, there is a more powerful, aggressive, experimental and focused attack that is sure to catch the ears of any metal fan. The album was produced by CAFFERY together with Nik Chinboukas at Nik’s Hot Tracks Studio, Spin Studios and Happy Beaver Studios, Astoria, NY.

The ltd. edition first pressing of this release will be a digi-pack incl. the bonus track “Once Upon A Time”.

Tracklist “Pins & Needles”:

Pins & Needles, Sixty-Six, Torment, Walls, YGBFKM, Sad, Chained, Worms, Crossed, The Time, Metal East, Qualdio, The Temple and Once Upon A Time (bonus track)

The search is over! Altaria found their new man to take the place behind the microphone. Multi-talented vocalist Marco Luponero (ex TERRORWHEEL) attended auditions and managed to impress the band to the point that he was invited to join. The band is currently reharsing for shows with LORDI and HAMMERFALL as well as writing for the coming album. Here is a greeting from the man himself:

”Hello everyone! My name is Marco Luponero and I'm proud to introduce myself as Altaria's new singer. Considering that I've known the guys for many years, and that we've shared the same stage on several occations, it seems almost odd that it's not until now that we have joined forces. My musical background is somewhat different from the other members', I've been singing mostly in more brutal kinds of bands than ALTARIA, the most recent being TERRORWHEEL, from which a few of you might recognize me. But as I started my solo-project LUPONERO, I switched to a more melodic style of singing, that also fits ALTARIA's sound. I'm looking forward to play my first gig with the band and I also hope to see you all very soon! Take care!“

RAZORBACK are happy to announce their fantastic new drummer: Mike Terrana (MASTERPLAN)! Mike already has finised recording his parts for the upcoming, yet untitled RAZORBACK album which will be released in Spring 2007 via Metal Heaven.

Guitarist Rolf Munkes (EMPIRE) says: „It is great to work with Mike and he added a killer groove to our new songs which orientate again on the direction of our first album.”

Working titles of these songs include:

Deadringer, Hero, Last man standing, Give my lovin' to you, Line of fire, Burden, Take me to the other side, Razorblues, Miracle Babe, Rock'n Roll Life.

RAZORBACK are: Stefan Berggren – vocals, Rolf Munkes – guitars, Chris Heun – bass, Mike Terrana - drums

Metal Blade Records has just signed a worldwide deal with Death Metal Legends, Hate Eternal. Formed in 1997, Hate Eternal's goal has always been to challenge musical limitations and create new boundaries with no compromise; to obtain goals aimed at by many yet reached by only a select few; to create music that not only defies all clichés, but that creates a true sense of power, dissonance and consonance, heaviness and speed, melody and brutality, simply put horrific hymns. Guitarist Erik Rutan has crafted an impressive career by attaining that goal consistently for well over a decade with his legendary work in Ripping Corpse and Morbid Angel. Not to mention his other career as engineer/ producer for bands such as Cannibal Corpse, Soilent Green, Six Feet Under, Cellador, Vital Remains, Premonitions of War, Goatwhore and Into the Moat just to name a few, and the list goes on.

Metal Blade Records owner/CEO, Brian Slagel, had this comment:

"I am truly honored to be working with Hate Eternal. They are a legendary band and I am so happy to welcome them to the Metal Blade Family."

Hate Eternal guitarist, Erik Rutan, had this to say regarding their signing:

"Signing to Metal Blade for us reconfirms that all the hard work, blood, sweat and tears we have put into the band has been worth every single moment. This is completely amazing. We know we will forge on with all the support and confidence a band can ask for from their record label. We are proud to be a part of the hugely successful Metal Blade Family and look forward to bringing our music to the next level."

Hate Eternal is currently in the writing process for the follow-up to their 2005 release "I, Monarch" that shall be recorded at Rutan's own Mana Recording Studios in June/July 2007.

Poison The Well has announced a string of headlining dates to prepare for the release of their new full-length Versions.  

This is PTW’s first tour since last summer’s STRHESS TOUR w/ Shadows Fall and first since recording their upcoming album for Ferret Music, Versions to be released this April.  Speaking on the forthcoming trek drummer, Chris Hornbrook says “We’re excited to hit the road and get a chance to shake our rust off and debut our new material to fans”.  

Joining members Hornbrook, Ryan Primack (guitar) and Jeffrey Moreira (vocals) will be their touring line-up of Mike MacIvor (formerly of Candiria) and Brad Clifford (of Since By Man).  
            
Versions is the band’s first release since 2003’s You Come Before You on Atlantic Records which sold over 130,000 copies in the U.S. Alone.  
Heading from their tropical home in Ft Lauderdale/Miami FL to Umea Sweden, the band recorded with the production team of Pelle Henricsson and Eskil Lovstro who recorded You Come Before You as well as classic albums by The Refused, Breach and others.  Primack describes it as having many more colours and nuances than previous work.  “The songs are pretty open ended and there’s a lot of unique instrumentation in the background throughout such as Mandolins, slide guitar, horns and banjo.”  Primack who plays all of the unexpected instruments on the disc adds “this is not out of the blue, we actually started to add these elements to the last album but we didn’t have time to flesh them out like with Versions.  It’s going to be a really different sounding album in hardcore, well as different as you can be in hardcore nowadays.”  The band has released cover art and tracklisting of  the album (see below), and expect to announce new tour dates shortly.
 
 
The track listing for Versions is as follows:

Letter Thing, Breathing's For The Birds, Nagaina, The Notches That Create Your Headboard, Pleading Post, Slow Good Morning, Prematurito El Baby, Composer Meet Corpse, You Will Not Be Welcomed, Naive Monarch, Riverside, The First Day Of My Second Life

POISON THE WELL – MARCH 2007

March 8th – Oxford Zodiac
March 9th - Newport TJs
March 10th - Stoke Sugarmill
March 11th -Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
March 12th London Islington Academy
March 14th -Glasgow Garage
March 15th -Leeds Cockpit
March 16th -Manchester Club Academy
March 17th - Sheffield Corperation
March 18th - Exeter Lemon Grove
March 19th -Northampton Soundhaus
March 20th -Colchester Arts Centre
March 21st -Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms

24th January 2007

Lion Music - February Release Schedule

Moonlight Comedy - Dorothy

Moonlight Comedy were formed in 1998 in Italy and immediately started to compose their own music together to present an innovative sound and individual image. The influences of nineties progressive, power metal and hard rock music are specific characteristics of Moonlight Comedy. It is very evident from listening to just a few seconds of their new album “Dorothy” that the passion of the group lies in the fusion between melodic harmonies and innovative instrumental sequences.

The greatest characteristic of Moonlight Comedy is their continuous search for a sound that is able to integrate with completely free and limitless technique in order to spice up the final composition. “Dorothy” marks Moonlight Comedy’s second release on Lion Music following the 2004 release “The Life Inside” (LMC116).

Moonlight Comedy’s members, who prefer to define themselves as "Actors of the comedy at the moonlight", have also appeared on other numerous Lion Music releases. Andrea Scala - actor V - played on the following albums: Warmth in the Wilderness 2 / A tribute to Jason Becker (LMC2255 2). The Spirit Lives On / the music of Jimi Hendrix revisited vol.1 (LMC113). Shawn Lane Remembered vol.2 / tribute to Shawn Lane (LMC109). Mistheria / Messenger of the Gods (LMC124). Simone Fiorletta - actor III - has undertaken a solo career that has become very successful with Parallel Worlds (LMC152) with a follow up already in production.

Dorothy, which is released via Lion on February 23rd features the following track listing:

Int(r)o Desire & Whisper, Solar Eclipse, Fallin’ Under, The Sea And Time Of Mars, Metamorfosi, Lunar Eclipse, Into Whispers & Desire, Imperfect Mind, Dust Of The Past, And Why Not? and Side Effects.

Vitalij Kuprij - Glacial Inferno & Revenge

Ukrainian born Vitalij Kuprij is consistently at the top of keyboard player polls worldwide having been involved in some of the finest progressive/neo-classical albums of recent years from acts such as Artension and Ring Of Fire. In addition to these band works, Vitalij has had a very prolific solo output and his new solo album ‘Glacial Inferno’ marks his fifth solo adventure to date and second solo release on Lion Music following 2004’s ‘Forward & Beyond’. The new solo album sees an extremely powerful line up of Vitalij with Michael Harris on guitar, and the former Yngwie Malmsteen/Ark rhythm section of John Macaluso on drums and Randy Coven on bass.

‘Glacial Inferno’ offers up something truly special for Vitalij’s legion of fans with a very innovative sound that has all the trademarks one expects; but also fresh elements coming into the Kuprij arsenal with fusing's of Vitalij’s classical knowledge, progressive leanings, fusion and even folk. ‘Glacial Inferno’ is a very dynamic album that contrasts between heavy and mellow, straight virtuosic to very powerful and epic. On the album Vitalij comments, “The aim of the album was to express myself musically and compositionally in the best possible way to make my friends and fans enjoy it and relate to it, as well as to grow further as an artist and composer/instrumentalist and producer”. Just one listen proves that Vitalij has succeeded in this aim.

‘Glacial Inferno’ is being released as a limited edition double pack of just 2000 units with Vitalij’s latest band project release ‘Revenge’, which until now has been unavailable outside Asia. As with ‘Glacial Inferno’, ‘Revenge’ sees Vitalij team up with American guitarist Michael Harris who recently released the critically acclaimed ‘Orchestrate’ on Lion Music in 2006 to create a truly exciting musical pairing.

Vitalij Kuprij’s Revenge is home to a wealth of neo-classical treats with an all star line up including vocalists Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen, solo), Dougie White (Rainbow / Yngwie Malmsteen), Goran Edman (Yngwie Malmsteen / John Norum), Apollo Papathanasio (Time Requiem / Firewind), Chris Catena and Shaun Leahy. The solid rhythm foundations are again laid down by John Macaluso and Randy Coven (both ex Yngwie Malmsteen / Ark).

‘Glacial Inferno and Revenge’ is a must own release for fans of quality neo-classical metal as well the the more progressive leanings of Ring Of Fire and Artension making this limited edition double pack a truly prized release.

The track listing for the release, which hits shops on February 23rd is as follows:
Glacial Inferno
 Symphonic Force, Liquid Rain, Fire In The Sun, Divided Horizon, Glacial Inferno, Dancing Flame, Forgive, Dying To Live, Burning Ice and Theme By Albinoni

Vitalij Kuprij’s Revenge
Burning My Soul, I Don't Believe In Love, Into The Void, Revenge, Just Another Day, J. Haydn-Excerpt From Sonata In E Minor, Classic War, Emperor's Will, Follow Your Heart, Stand Up And Fight and Let The Future Unfold

Martone - When The Aliens Come

If you thought that Canadian rock started and ended with Rush, Saga or Triumph, think again. Canadian guitar virtuoso, Dave Martone is a force to be reckoned with. Dave has recorded several excellent albums with influences which range from straight ahead rock and progressive metal to more experimental tones, something that has brought him a considerable amount of attention from fans worldwide.

Dave has performed in countless cities in the world, given clinics and taught at Berklee College Of Music and the National Guitar Workshop. He has written instructional columns for the likes of Guitarpalooza Records, the Guitar 9 website, Italy's Guitar2001 as well as being featured in one of the worlds largest guitar magazines ‘Guitar One’ being profiled as one of four underground 'shred gods' in the January 2006 issue. This illustrious background shows the reputation that comes with the Martone name and Lion Music is proud to introduce Dave’s new solo album “Martone - When The Aliens Come”.

The new album is 13 tracks full of crunching guitars with the song writing emphasis on maintaining an element of the future. Dave comments, “My goal was first off complete it. I did a DVD in the middle and that took some time. The main concept of the album is trying to envision what music of the future might be. Trying to imagine that I could hop in some alien space ship 400 years from now and see what was playing on their I-pod equivalent!”. Dave used everyday life as inspiration for the album, “There are so many things we go through on a day to day basis. Being able to capture them sonically is quite challenging. Sometimes it is quite easy”.

“When The Aliens Come” showcases what the guitar is capable of in the right hands in 2007 and may just show where the guitar is heading in the future.

When The Aliens Come is released on February 23rd with the following track listing

Starz Scarz, Flatulation Farm, The Four Horsemen, Really Now!, Mike Crow’s Mailbox of Doom!, Fumble Fingers, Pung Yao, Angel, O My God I’m Swelling!, Double FF’s, Maneemanaw, Techno Bee’z and When the Aliens Come

24th January 2007

Quick Updates

Cradle Of Filth return to live action in the UK in April with another round of shows promoting their latest 'Thornography' album. The confirmed shows are as follows:

April 18th - Newcastle Carling Academy
April 20th - Liverpool Carling Academy
April 22nd - Sheffield Plug
April 23rd - Bristol Carling Academy
April 26th - Oxford Zodiac
April 27th - Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall

Love/Hate & Bang Tango are teaming up for a series of UK dates this spring. You can catch them at the following dates and venues

March 28th - London Camden Underworld
March 29th - Cardiff The Point
March 30th - Bradford Rios
March 31st - Nottingham Rescue Rooms
April 1st - Dudley JB's

23rd January 2007

Quick Updates

ELLIOT MINOR release new single 'Parallel Worlds' on April 2 on Repossession Records

22nd January 2007

Deathstars/48 Carat Darkness UK Tour 2007 - Press Release

NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS is VERY proud to announce the Deathstars 48 Carat Darkness Tour 2007. Yes, the Glamdeathdiscoers are back again! The UK doesn’t seem to get enough of the Swedes who toured the UK in November last year, a headline tour which was a great success all over the country. In December we also saw DS support CRADLE OF FILTH on their Hammered at Xmas UK tour. This is what the some of the UK press said about the band on their last adventure:

“World Domination Awaits” – Rocksound
“A Near Perfect Saturday Night” – Kerrang
“They will be huge” – Metal Hammer

Deathstars have sold an amazing 8,000 copies of 2006’s album “Termination Bliss” in the UK alone and it keeps on selling each week. he videos “Cyanide” and Blitzkrieg have been aired A LOT on SCUZZ TV and have also been seen on MTV2 and Kerrang TV, just to mention a few. Deathstars are right now also recording a third video for the track “Virtue To Vice” which is due out just in time for this UK tour, more info on that VERY soon.

The dates for the 48 Carat Darkness UK tour looks like this:

April
3 Birmingham Academy 2
4 London Islington Academy
5 Bristol Bierkeller
6 Mansfield The Intake Club
7 Bradford Rio
8 Glasgow Cathouse
9 Newcastle Academy 2
10 Sheffield Corporation
11 Dublin Voodoo Lounge
12 Oxford Zodiac
13 Liverpool Academy 2
14 Stoke On Trent The Sugar Mill
15 Middlesbrough Teeside University

22nd January 2007

Quick Updates

Thunder have been confirmed to headline a gig at Chepstow Castle. The show takes place on June 30th 2007 and tickets for the gig, priced at £17.75 are available from the box office on 01291 627122.

Following the departure of Tony Mills to TNT, UK band Shy have announced details of their new frontman in a posting on their website. The full text of the announcement is as follows:

"After several months of careful consideration, we are delighted to name our new lead singer as Lee Small. Lee has sung with his own band Surveillance as well as featuring on the new Phenomena album. He has a very soulful voice reminiscent of Glenn Hughes which we hope to exploit on the new material we are currently working on. The band believes that our best way forward is to spend the year concentrating on writing and recording a new album for release early 2008. However this does not mean we our turning our back on the gigging front as we hope to try out some of the new stuff live later this year as well as introducing some of our older material that you've not heard in a while. Whilst not straying too far from what we did on Unfinished Business and Sunset and Vine, we hope the new material will come across as a natural evolution to its predecessors.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Tony O'Hora for his time and we wish him all the best for the future. Likewise, we'd all like to wish Tony Mills every success with TNT and all his other ventures".

Former Iron Maiden & Wolfsbane frontman Blaze Bailey has announced details of two UK shows later this year. The gigs will take place at Tamworth The Palace on Saturday 12th May and at Dudley JBs on Saturday 15th December

Danish/American hard rockers ROYAL HUNT have added a Finnish date to their previously announced itinerary. The group's schedule is now shaping up as follows:

Feb. 21 - Helsinki, FIN @ Nosturi
Feb. 22 - Copenhagen, DEN @ The Rock
Feb. 24 - St. Petersburg, RUS @ Ice Palace
Feb. 25 - Moscow, RUS @ Apelsin

Damage Control, the band featuring UFO bassist Pete Way and Quireboys frontman Spike alongside guitarist Robin George and drummer Chris Slade will release their self titled debut album in February through Cargo Records. The album will feature the following track listing:

Dead Man Walking, Savage Songs, Alice, Selfish, C'Mon Down, Damage Control, Victim, Raw, One Step Closer, Redundant, Seven Golden Daffodils & Bitchin' Blues

US shock rockers GWAR return to the UK for a series of dates in March. The confirmed dates are as follows:

March 9th - Liverpool Carling Academy
March 10th - Nottingham Rock City
March 13th - Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
March 15th - Bristol Bierkeller
March 16th - London Mean Fiddler

19th January 2007

Dokken - From Conception:Live 1981

Frontiers Salutes the Multi-Platinum Metal Artists DOKKEN with “From Conception: Live 1981” A CD of an Unreleased Concert with 3 Previously Unreleased Tracks

Dokken ruled the charts and airwaves in the ‘80s with a trio of platinum albums powered by an unforgettable mix of Metal and melody. With the band headed in the studio in January to record their ninth album – “Lighting Strikes Again” due out summer 2007 – Frontiers Records revisits the quartet’s early days with a Live CD from 1981, packed with unreleased material.

“From Conception” finds singer Don Dokken, guitarist George Lynch, drummer Mick Brown and bassist Jeff Pilson ripping through 10 unreleased live performances of several songs that were eventually recorded for the band’s debut album, “Breaking The Chains”, including “Live To Rock (Rock To Live)”, “Knightrider,” the title track, “Paris Is Burning” plus a showcase for Lynch’s formidable guitar heroics. The live disc also contains three previously unreleased tracks that didn’t make it onto the debut album because the label did not feel they were commercial enough at the time: “Goin’ Down,” “Hit And Run” and “You’re a Liar.”

“In 2006 I was asked to remix the original tapes for “Breaking The Chains” for a 25-year anniversary release” says Don Dokken. “So I went to our locker where we had been storing our master tapes for years and while I was there I noticed some old 2-inch tapes that were in faded boxes. When I put them on the machines, I was surprised to hear a few songs that never made it onto our future records”.

“I love the angst in the performance” continues Don, “we were hungry and ready to take on the world. It brought back a lot of memories hearing that show after all these years. I hope our fans will enjoy adding this to their DOKKEN collection—it’s definitely a blast from the past”.

Later this month, DOKKEN will return to their Redondo Beach studio to begin work on their ninth studio album, “Lightning Strikes Again”, their first studio release on Frontiers Records. Taking its title from a track from “Under Lock And Key”, the new album will be available everywhere this summer, featuring founding members Don Dokken and Mick Brown along with Jon Levin on guitars and Barry Sparks on bass.

“From Conception: Live 1981” will be released on March 23rd 2007 on Frontiers Records with a release in Japan on King Records with the following tracklisting:

Paris is Burning; Goin’ Down (unreleased); In The Middle; Young Girls; Hit And Run (unreleased): Knight Rider; Gtr Solo; Live To Rock; Breakin’ The Chains; You’re a Liar (unreleased).

19th January 2007

MTM Music Update

MarysCreek

MTM announces the signing of Swedish hard rock band MarysCreek. Their demos were already starting to create a "buzz" in the music community with fantastic reactions from fans, reviewers, publishers and radio, who often compared them to big guns like Soundgarden. and Kings X:

They also gained live experience and acquired appreciable reputation by constantly touring Sweden and presenting themselves with a powerful and convincing stage show, for example together with URIAH HEEP and FROM BEHIND. In December 2005 MarysCreek began to record the tracks for the debut album “Some Kind Of Hate”.

Guitar based melodic rock and heavy groove, successfully delivered in a big sounding modern production with sweet sounding, melodic songs bound to be remembered. A perfect mixture of traditional hard rock with heavy guitar riffs, modern sounding melodies and hook-lines, ennobled by Mats Nilsson's mighty voice. Famous Swedish producer Fredrik “Fredman” Nordstrom (In Flames, The Haunted, Dream Evil) mixed this powerful debut album. The worldwide release of their debut album “Some Kind Of Hate” is scheduled for March 2007. So be prepared to face the power of a perfect working hard rock machine!

Line-Up:
Mats Nilsson: Lead Vocals & Guitar / Bobby Ho: Guitar & Backing vocals / Stefan Halldin: Drums / Robban Möller: Bass & Backing vocals

Tracklist
A Little Bit Of Everything, Down, She, There Is No God, Things What You Do, I Don’t Believe, I Can Feel It, New Religion, Hold On, State Of Mind, Some Kind Of Hate and Dying For A New Day

"The journey of MarysCreek has just started. And thanks to MTM Music and all of our fans we are already on our way. See you on stage!"

Scelerata

MTM announces the signing of Brasilian Melodic Metal band SCELERATA. SCELERATA is a young and talented band from Brasil, now stepping into the scene with a very technical and powerful melodic metal debut album. Formed in 2003, they had no great interest in doing cover songs but immediately began writing their own songs. Heavy and also a bit progressive in style they wrote powerful metal tracks and began to elaborate them to sophisticated songs with high energy and beats that keep pushing forward.

Influenced by metal heroes like Helloween, Iron Maiden and Dream Theater, SCELERATA's songs represent the new era of modern and melodic but at the same time classic heavy metal music. Ambitious guitar work, fast and aggressive double bass parts and pretentious melodies supported by Carl Casagrandes brilliant voice.

Also live SCELERATA already gained some respect while standing on same stages with giants like DEEP PURPLE and ANGRA. One of their biggest supporters Edu Falaschi, singer of ANGRA, is featured on SCELERATA's debut “Darkness And Light”, singing the song “Spell Of Time” of that album.
Recorded in Brasil last year and mastered by Dennis Ward at House of Audio Studios, Germany, MTM MUSIC now releases this brilliant debut worldwide. Get ready for some real heavy and at the same time melodic metal music!

Line-Up:
Carl Casagrande: Vocals / Magnus Wichmann: Guitars / Bruno Sandri: Guitars / Gustavo Strapazon: Bass / Francis Cassol: Drums

Tracklist
Land of the Sins, Holy Fire, Eminence, The Spell of Time, Ethereal Places, Endless, Darkness & Light, Spirits Looking For..., Wings to Fly, Adonai (Sacred Melodies), Video Bonustrack “Eminence” + Making Of

19th January 2007

Debut CD By EverBlue Creates Major Buzz In The Music Industry - Press Release

Not just another band from L.A., with the release of their debut CD, formidable rock group EverBlue , is about to set the music industry spinning on its ear. Described as, "A sexy, soulful and emotion filled blend of passionate singing, masterful musicianship, and memorable songwriting," EverBlue is creating a big buzz amongst the music community with their special brand of bluesy rock and roll. It's not easy to find a band as genuine as EverBlue in popular culture these days when considering all the carefully scripted rises to glory and the falls that inevitably follow careers built on hype. This California-based band is poised to go from zero to sixty by virtue of a combination of finger-on-the-pulse songs, powerful live performances and new metropolitan adult pop sound. Evidence of the electricity that is surrounding EverBlue, with the release of their eponymous debut CD, comes with the nomination for three awards from L.A.'s premier music rag, All Access Magazine.

EverBlue consists of L.A. native Adam Exler on vocals, keyboards and "keeper of the flame." "I have always had a deep connection with music," says Exler , whose influences range from Stevie Wonder and B.B. King to Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles. Upon hearing B.B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone" as a boy of twelve, Exler declares, "I heard passion and soul like I never had heard before coming from a voice and guitar, which started seeping through my veins from that day on. I have been hooked on heartfelt and genuine music ever since!"
Russell Anguiano, who hails from Culver City, CA, is the band's bass player and background vocalist. His musical influences are deeply rooted in the pop-rock vein, with acts like The Beatles, Badfinger, Elvis Costello and Gerry Rafferty.
Guitarist Nigel Taylor is originally from the Isle of Wight in the UK and also handles the background vocals. Taylor's guitar influences span from Duane Allman, Randy Rhodes and Eddie Van Halen to jazz great Joe Pass (he also digs The Beatles).
Rounding out the quartet is Mark Pohl, who delivers the drum grooves for EverBlue along with some expert background singing. Another Beatle advocate, Pohl also listens and learns from drummers such as Keith Moon, Neil Peart, Terry Bozzio and Vinnie Colaiuta.

In a recent review of EverBlue's 14-track debut CD, music journalist Alice Loweecey praises, "Adam Exler's voice - a blend of John Fogerty and Mac Powell - and the smooth, tight harmony of the rest of EverBlue make for songs that drench you in rock-and-roll like the sun on a hot August day. This is a real-world blueprint for 'How To Sweep Her Off Her Feet.' "

DJ Terri at Seismic Radio exclaims, "I love the disc! I have dubbed it alternabluesrock… The vocals are especially appealing to me; sort of a gritty, smoky, smooth and emotive quality. You guys are talented!"

Highlights from EverBlue's new CD release are the opening track "Somebody Like Me," which features Adam Exler's honest vocal delivery and tight background harmonies by the band. The acoustic vibrations and soulful balladry of "Someday" draws the listener right in, while "Sunday Morning" displays an infectious 1960's feel, replete with Dylan-esque organ and chord patterns. The tasty guitar slinging by Nigel Taylor is apparent on "No Pain," as is the band's vocal prowess and songwriting abilities on track eight "I Need You (Come On Let's Go)."

EverBlue's independent debut CD can be obtained through CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon.com, Myspace and www.tdrsmusic.com as well as the band's official website.To support the release of EverBlue's new album, the band is in the planning stages of a major US tour.

For more information on EverBlue visit the band's website: www.everbluemusic.com  and www.myspace.com/everbluemusic 

18th January 2007

Quick Updates

Vomitory have completed their new album! Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize was recorded, mixed and mastered at Leon Music Studio, Karlstad/Sweden during December together with producer/engineer Rikard Löfgren.

Comments drummer Tobias Gustafsson: “We have now finally completed our sixth album, Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize! And I say finally because it has been three long years since our latest album, Primal Massacre, saw the light of day. We're totally satisfied with how it all turned out - the production is top-notch, the songs and our performances are at their best and the variation in the songs is better than ever before. The album has some of the fastest shit we've ever done as well as some of the heaviest. The album contains 40 minutes of death fucking metal!”

The full track listing for Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize is as follows:

Eternal Trail Of Corpses, Scavenging The Slaughtered, Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize, The Burning Black, Defiled And Inferior, March Into Oblivion, Whispers From The Dead, Heresy, Flesh Passion and Cremation Ceremony

Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize will be released on April 20th through Metal Blade

Jens Maluschka leaves DISILLUSION…

To make a long story short, Jens Maluschka, drummer in DISILLUSION since 2000, decided to quit the band at the beginning of the new year. It is sad to separate after six years of dreaming and working together for an idea.

Jens wishes to say the following: ”After six years of intensive work with DISILLUSION it is time for a break. There are various reasons. I want to concentrate more on my private life, meaning I will become a father in June of this year. At that time I wish to focus on my family. So, the decision has been made to leave the band. Of course, my musical endeavours will continue – but I can't decide yet exactly in which from. I wish Andy and Rajk all the best for their future and lots of success with Disillusion.”

"Born To Rock: The Life and Times of the Electric Guitar", Europe's biggest guitar exhibition, will open at Harrods on 2nd February to 3rd March 2007.

Hailed as the biggest guitar exhibition in Europe (featuring over 150 guitars), the vast collection will include "The Frying Pan" - the world's first electric guitar (circa 1931).

The centre piece and inspiration for this event is the "RockCouture™" collection: over 50 stunning and unique electric guitars, personally customised by the biggest names in fashion, music and design, including Bono, Nick Rhodes, Patrick Cox, Sir Peter Blake, Lord Richard Rogers, David LaChapelle, Jennifer Lopez, Graham Coxon, Diane Von Furstenberg, Theo Fennell and many more.

Following the exhibition the RockCouture guitars will be auctioned for charities nominated by participating creators.

Also on show will be many rare and extremely valuable guitars, both vintage and modern, and offers visitors a chance to get up close to guitars normally only seen in hands of rock stars. "Born To Rock™" gathers into one place priceless guitars played by the likes of Brian Jones, Keith Richards, Noel Gallagher, The Edge, The Velvet Underground, John Lee Hooker, Ted Nugent, Marc Bolan, Neil Young, Eddie Cochrane, and blues legend Rory Gallagher.

Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA have begun mixing their new album at Finnvox studio in Helsinki. "There is not much more I can say about the music," keyboardist Henkka Klingenberg writes on the group's web site. "Generally I feel that trying to describe music with words is basically like having someone telling the radio news by playing a piano piece.....you can't win, and will definitely not know what's going on. Odd enough? Nevertheless, the stuff sounds really great. This is actually the first time we hear all the elements together, one of the drawbacks of using a zillion studios.

Finnish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH have posted the following message on their official web site: "The auditions for the new vocalist have ended, with more than 2,000 demos sent to us (yesterday, Jan. 15, we received 120 demos!). A big thanks to everybody! So please don't send anymore demos, since now we need to concentrate on finishing the album recordings. The new vocalist will be announced at the end of May, together with the release of a new single." More news on www.nightwish.com 

Chimaira have issued the following update about the DVD which is to be included with the Special edition version of “Resurrection” Out March 5th: "We had the opportunity to watch the DVD that is going to come with the special edition of "Resurrection" last night. We are blown away by the work Todd and Nick did on this thing. We didn't set out to make a sequel to "The Dehumanizing Process", but it's pretty much what happened... in a sense. There is no live footage because we are not on tour yet! The movie runs a little over an hour in length and is packed with... laughs... yes, I said laughs. It's almost a comedy. It reflects who we are now though, and that's six happy dudes stoked to be playing together again and making the music we are making. I highly suggest if you are fan of the first DVD to pick up the special edition because you truly won't be disappointed.”

After successfully setting Europe ablaze at the end of last year with Darkest Hour, ferocious Wisconsin hardcore outfit Misery Signals will join All That Remains on tour in Europe in April. The follwing dates are confirmed for the UK leg of the trek

April 8th - Kingston The Peel
April 9th - London Carling Academy
April 10th - Southampton Nexus
April 11th - Oxford Zodiac
April 12th - Newport TJs
April 13th - Stoke On Trent The Sugarmill
April 14th - Sheffield Corporation
April 15th - Manchester Music Box
April 16th - Glasgow Classic Grand
April 17th - Aberdeen Moshulu
April 18th - Middlesbrough Teesside University
April 19th - Brighton Concorde 2

The bands second album ‘MIRRORS’ is out now via Ferret and the video for "The Failsafe", a track culled from 'Mirrors' can be found here: http://www.ferretstyle.com/thefailsafe/

The Legacy Release Mini Album

The aim of The Legacy is to create fast intense hardcore with a heap of melody and passion thrown in. Frontman Adam and drummer Andy originally met at school, and, inspired by bands like Black Flag, Minor Threat and Rites of Spring, decided to form a band of their own in 2002. They soon met bassist Joey and guitarist Dick, both of whom were playing in other local Hardcore bands at the time. Thus, The Legacy was born.

After a well received demo The Legacy released their first EP ‘Dead Weight’ on UK label Dead and Gone Records in late 2003. Throughout 2004 the band continued to tour, leaving their own legacy (see what we did there?) on the UK, whilst also working on the next EP. December 2004 saw the release of ‘We Gave it Everything’. Promotion for this tour came in the form of a massive European tour in the winter months of 2005 with US punkers Life Long Tragedy.

The successful tour covered Belgium, Holland, Germany, Poland, Austria and of course the UK, and was so extensive that the van gave out, forcing them to push a 2.5 tonne van five miles down a French motorway in the middle of the night! Nevertheless, it was all worth it, and the band has won over crowds from all over Europe.

The title of the forthcoming EP, ‘Solitude’, available 26th Feb 2007 on Visible Noise, reflects their feelings on individuality in the often overly simplistic UK hardcore scene. The EP’s dark, evocative artwork is supplied by Dan Mumford, soon to be featured in Metal Hammer’s Art of Darkness section. Musically, ‘Solitude’ follows a harder, faster sound, while still conserving the band’s passionate, melodic qualities, and will be supported by dates in both the UK and Europe in May 2007.

The Legacy are:
Adam Cox - Vocals, Dick Smith - Guitar, Joey Hayes - Bass and Andy Boswell – Drums

Teesside trio DARTZ! release their debut album ‘This Is My