"Monolith Of Inhumanity", the new album from California progressive grind conquerors CATTLE DECAPITATION, sold around 2,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 6 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
CATTLE DECAPITATION's previous CD, 2009's "The Harvest Floor", opened with 1,700 units to debut at No. 16 on the Top New Artist Albums chart.
Released on May 8, "Monolith Of Inhumanity" was produced by Dave Otero of Denver's Flatline Audio and sees the band exploring innovative new techniques in songwriting without abandoning their signature formula of confrontational audio wreckage and self-loathing lyrical content.
"Monolith Of Inhumanity" is an achievement that stands out as one of the most volatile, ambitious, and impossible to aptly categorize records you will hear in 2012. Dragging their ever-evolving deathgrind sound kicking and screaming into the epic territory inhabited by the likes of DIMMU BORGIR and ANAAL NATHRAKH, the quartet redefine all perceptions of what CATTLE DECAPITATION is. With their seventh full-length, the band have never sounded more focused, aggressive, or manically determined to get in the faces of those who erroneously believe they've already experienced the band at their extreme best.
The 11-track "Monolith Of Inhumanity" features a host of guests including Mike Majewski of DEVOURMENT (guest vocals on "Projectile Ovulation"), Lenard Leal of CEPHALIC CARNAGE (backing vocals by on "A Living, Breathing Piece of Defecating Meat"), The Cephalic Carnage Community Men's Choir, consisting of all current CEPHALIC members and alumni Jawsh Mullen and Zac Joe (gang choir vocals on "The Carbon Stampede"), and ambient and noise interludes by Los Angeles' most extreme decimator of sound, John Wiese, as well as another strikingly brutal cover by Wes Benscoter.
In addition, CATTLE DECAPITATION collaborated with famed pop culture artist Tom Bunk, best known for his work for the 1980s Garbage Pail Kids trading cards and MAD magazine, for a very special art project. Bunk was gracious enough to create individual pieces of art for each member of the band, heavily influenced by and practically just as they appeared in the Garbage Pail Kids series of the '80s! A GPK-inspired CATTLE DECAPITATION trading card set and T-shirts were included with special limited pre-order packages and collector's bundles.
Norwegian dark metallers AETERNUS will enter Bergen's Conclave And Earshot Studios in June with producer Bjornar E. Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES, BLACK HOLE GENERATOR) to begin recording their seventh full-length album, "And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth", for a late 2012 release via Dark Essence Records.
Formed in 1993 in Bergen, and with six full-length albums under their belts, AETERNUS is one of the pioneers of what the band calls "dark metal," meshing the sounds of black metal and death metal with superlative guitar playing and occasional haunting, melodic interludes. Of the original lineup, only founder, guitarist and frontman Ares remains, but he has put together a new and formidable lineup, bringing onboard drummer Phobos (GRAVDAL, GALAR, MALSAIN) and guitarist Specter (GRAVDAL, live session guitarist GALAR and VULTURE INDUSTRIES). Session live bass is handled by Skyggen (TORTORUM, live session guitarist GORGOROTH). The new lineup will hit the stage at the Hub and Heuy Metalfest at De Azijnfabriek in Roermond, Netherlands on May 19, with an exclusive set showcasing tracks from AETERNUS' first two albums, "Beyond the Wandering Moon" and "And So the Night Became".
Commenting on the re-emergence of the band, seven years after the release of their last album, "Hexaeon", Ares said, "Time seems to just pass by without you realizing. Although AETERNUS hasn't seemed to be very active recently, I have been writing and working on new material, and we have chosen ten tracks for the new album which we have been rehearsing ready for when we enter the studio. I'm not going to say much about them except that Phobos and Specter have brought their own approach to things without losing any of the heaviness, power and intensity that people have come to expect from AETERNUS. It's a whole new era for the band, and we can't wait to get going."
Arthur Kade recently conducted an interview with vocalist Geoff Tate of Seattle progressive rockers QUEENSRŸCHE. You can now watch the chat below.
Tate entered the studio on February 29 to begin recording his second solo album.
Tate released his first solo CD in 2002 on Sanctuary Records. Self-titled, the LP was a huge departure from the work he had previously done with QUEENSRŸCHE.
Geoff played a handful of acoustic solo dates, billed as GEOFF TATE AND FRIENDS, beginning on January 26 at Anthology in San Diego, California. According to Tate, he performed "acoustic renditions of songs from my solo album as well as some of my favorite QUEENSRŸCHE songs."
In a recent interview with AnthologySD.com, Tate was asked if he is looking into any future solo projects. "I am!" he replied. "I'm actually working on one right now that I hope to have wrapped up pretty soon. This show that I'm doing [on the solo tour] is an acoustic show with some friends of mine who are fantastic acoustic players. We're doing kind of a blend of my last solo album, some QUEENSRŸCHE songs, and we'll toss in some new ones that haven't been released yet. It'll just be a really fun night. Very homey, intimate, we'll probably take requests, things like that."
He added, "For the last couple of years, I've been doing more stuff outside of QUEENSRŸCHE in order to just stretch out. But I'll tell you, even though I've sang shows in front of hundreds of thousands of people and also intimate shows of a few hundred, but whenever I go out to an event or something and someone asks me to sing a song with them, I'm petrified! (Laughs) I don't know much material outside of my own material that I've written, and so if someone asks me to sing 'Danny Boy', I couldn't sing it! Not even if someone offered me a million dollars could I sing that song. So I'm trying to be a bit more versatile and learn more stuff."
"Spell Eater", the debut album from Los Angeles-based female-fronted metallers HUNTRESS, sold around 700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 56 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Spell Eater" recently entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 96.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Spell Eater 02. Senecide 03. Sleep and Death 04. Snow Witch 05. Eight of Swords 06. Aradia 07. Night Rape 08. Children 09. Terror 10. The Tower 11. The Dark
HUNTRESS vocalist Jill Janus told AOL's Noisecreep about the "Spell Eater" artwork, "The album cover captures the beauty and brutality of HUNTRESS. Vance Kelly is a warlock and he took our vision and created a magical illustration that breathes glory into the old crone. We contemplated having either a sultry sorceress or decrepit forest witch as our cover babe. Ultimately, the crone won because she is the true Huntress."
According to a press release, "Janus is an operatic banshee with an unparalleled four-octave range and lust for the occult. Born and raised in the Catskill Mountains of New York, she toured Europe as a teenage opera starlet. Upon her return to the States, Janus embraced Manhattan nightlife, creating Felliniesque cabarets and parties in a nihilistic club scene. Years later, Janus moved to Los Angeles and began the gestation period of HUNTRESS. In 2009 she met underground metal band PROFESSOR. The universe spread her legs and delivered HUNTRESS to Janus, combining former members of PROFESSOR, DARK BLACK and SKELETONWITCH."
HUNTRESS recently supported DRAGONFORCE on a North American tour.
HUNTRESS is:
Vocals: Jill Janus Lead Guitar: Blake Meahl Rhythm Guitar: Ian Alden Drums: Carl Wierzbicky Bass: Eric Harris
"True Love Never Dies", the debut album from Las Vegas rockers OTHERWISE, sold around 4,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 123 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 2 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"True Love Never Dies" was released on May 8 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded with producer Jay Baumgardner (BUSH, LINKIN PARK, PAPA ROACH, INCUBUS) at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, California.
"True Love Never Dies" track listing:
01. I 02. Die For You 03. Lighthouse 04. Scream Now 05. Don't Be Afraid 06. Vegas Girl 07. II 08. Silence Reigns 09. I Don't Apologize (1000 Pictures) 10. Crimson 11. Full Circle 12. Soldiers (2012 - Remaster) 13. III 14. Heaven (feat. Ashley Costello)
A five-minute "inside look" at the making of "True Love Never Dies" can be seen below.
OTHERWISE's "Soldiers" single became the first song by an unsigned artist to ever occupy the No. 1 spot on the SiriusXM satellite radio's Octane channel and has sold over 26,000 singles to date.
"'For the Warriors who fight and die... so the rest of us may fight to Live.' This quote, which preludes the video itself, is a direct dedication to the brave men and women who serve in the United States military," says OTHERWISE vocalist Adrian Patrick of the "Soldiers" video. "Their service allows our country's citizens to pursue their individual ideas of happiness... this song and video celebrate the beauty that is America. 'Soldiers' is an anthem for everyone living on the front-lines of life; every soldier is human, and we're all human... we are all fighting for something."
OTHERWISE recently toured with POP EVIL and joined Century Media labelmates LACUNA COIL on the 2012 North American "Dark Legacy" trek.
OTHERWISE features brothers Adrian and Ryan Patrick (guitars/vocals) alongside Flavio Ivan (bass/vocals), Corky Gainsford (drums/vocals) and Vassilios Metropoulos (guitar/vocals).
No stranger to the stage, OTHERWISE has honed its captivating live show playing with such acts as AVENGED SEVENFOLD, KORN, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD, PUDDLE OF MUDD, PAPA ROACH, ROB ZOMBIE and the DEFTONES. In addition, Adrian Patrick appeared on IN THIS MOMENT's hit duet "The Promise" alongside Maria Brink and spent the summer of 2010 on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem tour performing the song with the band live.
PRONG is currently in the middle of a short European tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of its landmark "Beg To Differ" album. Decibel magazine has lauded that LP for "breaking sacred ground and directing where heavy music would inevitably head for the rest of the '90s." In addition, they are playing classics from their catalog as well as material from their recent "Carved Into Stone" album. Joining mainman Tommy Victor and drummer Alexei Rodriguez are bass players Matt Brunson of CROWBAR and former CRADLE OF FILTH bassist Dave Pybus.
Tommy explained the presence of not one, but two well-known bassists.
"Since Tony Campos (who has been touring with the band and played on 'Carved Into Stone') is touring with SOULFLY, we've had to tour with other bass players," Tommy said. "Everyone who has toured with us so far has been fantastic and brought their own personal style to PRONG. Phil Zeller from TOXIC HOLOCAUST did the CROWBAR tour. Jason Rapesi, who has played with STONE SOUR, did a few shows with us before that. We were heading to Europe and the guy we had couldn't do it in the eleventh hour. Rather than cancel, our friend Matt Brunson from CROWBAR stepped in and learned the entire 'Beg To Differ' album in a day and a half! Then we found out that Dave Pybus, who has played with CRADLE OF FILTH, was going to be the tech on the tour. As it turned out, Dave is a massive PRONG fan! He learned some of the other songs and has been joining Alexei and I onstage every night. Now we have two great bass players each night! This tour has been a blast!"
PRONG will resume tearing up the road in the U.S. this July for a string of shows with the legendary Maryland rockers CLUTCH.
Quality multi-camera video footage of PRONG's May 12 concert at Rescue Rooms in Nottingham, United Kingdom can be seen below.
PRONG's new album, "Carved Into Stone", sold around 1,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 13 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Carved Into Stone" was released on April 24 in North America via Long Branch Records/SPV. The CD was recorded with producer Steve Evetts, who has previously worked with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SYMPHONY X, SEPULTURA and HATEBREED, among others. The cover artwork was created by Vance Kelly (DOWN, THE SWORD) and can be seen below.
According to a press release, "Carved Into Stone" "is quintessentially PRONG. It stretches into the band's earliest and dirtiest foundations on which the band was founded on New York's Lower East Side to the present as a staple of today's post-metal and rock scenes."
Comments Tommy Victor: "It was hardest I've ever worked in the studio on any record I've ever been involved with."
PRONG — whose lineup is rounded out by bassist Tony Campos and drummer Alexei Rodriguez — has taken a major step forward in their constantly evolving brand of sonic schematics.
"I always believed there were many dimensions to PRONG," says Tommy. "Every record we've been associated with different scenes — hardcore, metal, industrial — even dance! I think this record brings all of that together and sounds very modern at the same time."
Founded in 1986, PRONG is considered to be a pioneer of the American post-hardcore and post-metal scenes whose influence is still being felt today.
A trailer for "A Girl Called Cerveza", the forthcoming 30th-anniversary album from German alcoholic thrashers TANKARD, can be seen below. The five-and-a-half-minute clip features footage that was filmed at the official listening session for the CD, which was held in late April at Studio 23 in Frankfurt, Germany.
"A Girl Called Cerveza" will be released on July 27 via TANKARD's new label home, Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Studio 23 in Frankfurt with producer Michael Mainx (ONKELZ, DER W, DISBELIEF, D-A-D).
"A Girl Called Cerveza" track listing:
11. Running On Fumes 12. A Girl Called Serveza 13. Witchhunt 2.0 14. Masters Of Farces 15. The Metal Lady Boy (feat. Doro Pesch) 16. Not One Day Dead (But One Day Mad) 17. Son Of A Fridge 18. Fandom At Random 19. Metal Magnolia 20. Rapid Fire (A Tyrant's Elegy)
The cover artwork for "A Girl Called Cerveza" can be seen below.
TANKARD vocalist Andreas "Gerre" Geremia's track-by-track commentary:
"Running On Fumes":
Gerre: "Within the last two years, it has happened at several concerts that we ran out of beer for both the audience and the band. That's, of course, an insupportable situation that has to be worked off lyrically. Apart from that, one of my favorite songs with a very catchy chorus."
"A Girl Called Cerveza":
Gerre: "Our bass player Frank came up with this brilliant album title during our first stay in South America in December of 2007. I really don't remember why this track didn't find its way onto the last album — we're all suffering from dementia already. A highly catchy chorus penned by our ex-guitarist Andreas Bulgaropoulos plus kind of an old school-ish verse. Not least because of the topic obviously the first choice for a video clip!"
"Witchhunt 2.0":
Gerre: "The first song that we wrote for the new record. A typical TANKARD thrasher that's also quite contentful on the lyrical side: It's about cyber mobbing and all the shit happening anonymously on the Internet!"
"Masters Of Farces":
Gerre: "The first political song on the album. It's mostly about the marionettes of the populist American tea party movement. Musically, it's a catchy vigorous thrasher."
"The Metal Lady Boy" (feat. Doro Pesch)
Gerre: "Absolutely my personal favorite song of the album — not only because Doro is singing on it. When I visited one of her concerts a while ago and she spotted me in the first row, I had to come onto the stage and join her for 'All We Are'. Later on, I asked her backstage in a slightly tipsy condition if she'd like to sing on a TANKARD love song — and she agreed. This song is based on our first trip to Thailand last summer and offers big hit potential!"
"Not One Day Dead (But One Day Mad)":
Gerre: "This one's about us being around for 30 years, never giving up and always fighting against the odds — our own birthday song, so to speak. There have been some changes in the chorus during the recordings in the studio, but yet I believe that it's a typical timeless TANKARD song that could have also been released 20 years ago!"
"Son Of A Fridge":
Gerre: "A terrific play on words referring to 'Son Of A Bitch'. Very melodic beginning with clean vocals. The song escalates, but nevertheless remains the most melodic track on the album due to the chorus."
"Fandom At Random":
Gerre: "Very dragging beginning that later on develops into a true thrash grenade. It's a critical analysis of a fan's life."
"Metal Magnolia":
Gerre: "When looking at the title, one could think the song contained funny lyrics, but in actual fact it's about the relationship between men and women in general — almost the second love song on the album with a really speedy and catchy chorus plus wicked effects in the middle of the song!"
"Rapid Fire (A Tyrant's Elegy)":
Gerre: "According to the opinion of many people who've heard the album so far, this is one of the most sophisticated songs on the record. With its strong chorus it's absolutely a worthy conclusion of the album with very serious and relevant lyrics: It deals with a dictator oppressing his nation!"
TANKARD's fourteenth studio album, "Vol(l)ume 14", was released on December 17, 2010 via AFM Records. The limited-edition digipak version of the album included a bonus DVD containing footage of TANKARD's performance at the 2009 edition of the Headbangers Open Air festival, which took place July 23-25, 2009 in in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany.
VEXT — the new New Jersey/New York-based heavy rock band featuring singer Tommy Vext (DIVINE HERESY, SNOT), guitar virtuoso Angel Vivaldi, and the rhythm section of the now-disbanded MUTINY WITHIN (Andrew Jacobs on bass and Bill Fore on drums) — will play a free showcase concert on Friday, May 25 at SIR Studios in New York City. More information is available on the flyer below.
These four musicians came together in search of a different sound since they had all been previously involved with more extreme metal projects. How they came to know one another is a quite unconventional.
On the evening of September 19, 2010, Vext was the victim of a brutal attack at his home in Brooklyn. Having suffered severe injuries to his skull, abdomen and an open compound fracture to his left arm, Tommy was rushed to the ER. With medical bills soaring above seventy-five thousand dollars, his friends in the music scene banded together to help raise funds.
Enter Roadrunner recording artists MUTINY WITHIN. "We heard that GOD FORBID was doing a benefit concert for Tommy and when we found out why, we immediately jumped on the bill," says Jacobs. A few months later, Andrew introduced Tommy to Bill. After seeing Fore perform with the Angel Vivaldi band, it became apparent to Tommy that Angel and Bill were the missing pieces to this new musical effort.
The cover artwork of "Impermanence", the forthcoming debut EP from VEXT can be seen below. Also available is a stream of the EP's first single, "In The End".
VEXT is:
Tommy Vext - Vocals Angel Vivaldi - Guitar Andrew Jacobs - Bass Bill Fore - Drums
VEXT played a free show on Saturday, March 31 at the Goldskull Studios in New York City. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.
Matt Bishop conducted an interview with guitarist Herman Li of British epic power metallers DRAGONFORCE on April 23 at Theatre Of Living Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You can now watch the chat below.
DRAGONFORCE's new album, "The Power Within", sold 5,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 74 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The band's previous CD, "Ultra Beatdown", opened with 24,000 units back in September 2008 to land at No. 18.
DRAGONFORCE has just returned to North America for a spring tour. This outing marks the band's first trek with brand Hudson, who also makes his recorded debut on "The Power Within".
The tour kicked off April 21 at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival and will make several stops on the East Coast before winding through Canada and into the Midwest before wrapping out west on May 11 in Anaheim, California.
"The Power Within" was released in the U.K. on April 16 via the band's own Electric Generation Recordings, distributed by Essential Music.
Swedish black metallers DARK FUNERAL have inked a three-album deal with Century Media Records.
Comments DARK FUNERAL guitarist and founding member Lord Ahriman: "Our bad luck with labels in the past has for sure been very frustrating. So it is with great pleasure to finally be able to turn the page, move on and start a new dark chapter in the DARK FUNERAL saga, as we join the great Century Media family. Century Media has more than enough proven to be a stable and highly professional label. And we are totally looking forward to this new cooperation, which I'm sure will prove to be very satisfying and successful for both parts. Hail the goat!"
Adds Jens Prüter, head of A&R at Century Media in Europe: "I always respected DARK FUNERAL for their endurance and integrity. They've gone through some hard times, but never gave up and also never gave in to compromise on their musical and aesthetic vision. Almost 20 years after their formation, it's still the same powerhouse of unmerciful black metal and the new lineup is stronger and more focused than in the past. Thanks to Lord Ahriman and the whole band! Looking forward to their 20th anniversary in 2013 with a new album."
The new lineup of DARK FUNERAL — featuring the group's latest additions, vocalist Nachtgarm (NEGATOR) and bassist Zornheym — made its live debut on the Sweden Rock Cruise. The ship Tallink Silja Galaxy set sail from Stockholm, Sweden on October 6, 2011 and made a round trip to Turku, Finland before returning to Stockholm 23 hours later.
DARK FUNERAL last year parted ways with Regain Records. Lord Ahriman stated at the time, "Time went by and we didn't see any future whatsoever to continue to work with them."
Photo by Chris Ntaskas (from left to right): Lord Ahriman (guitar), Dominator (drums), Jens Prüter (Head Of A&R at Century Media Records Europe), Zornheym (bass), Nachtgarm (vocals), Chaq Mol (guitar)
MEGADETH will perform its 1992 album, "Countdown To Extinction", in its entirety on September 14 at Estadio Cubierto Malvinas in Buenos Aires, Argentina and on September 16 at Orfeo in Cordoba, Argentina.
As previously reported, MEGADETH will also perform all of "Countdown To Extinction" on September 7 at Teatro Caupolican in Santiago, Chile; on September 19 at the Pepsi Center in Mexico City, Mexico; and on September 21 at the Arena VFG in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Speaking to the Artisan News, Ellefson stated about the LP, "'Countdown' was really one of my favorite records of the whole MEGADETH catalog... for a number of reasons. Musically, I think it brought together the best of thrash, the melodic part, writing big, hooky riffs. And that record really launched us into the mainstream, which opened up a lot of other opportunites and things for us to do. But more importantly, I think, than all of that, is it was a really cool time when the four of us were really, probably, our most connected together as a band."
MEGADETH's fifth LP, "Countdown To Extinction" was released on July 14, 1992 through Capitol Records. The band's best-selling full-length CD to date, it was certified double-platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for U.S. shipments in excess of two million copies. The album also produced the band's most successful hit singles, "Symphony Of Destruction", "Sweating Bullets", "Skin O' My Teeth" and "Foreclosure Of A Dream".
The official EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for "Few Against Many", the new album from Greek melodic metallers FIREWIND — who feature in their ranks current OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Gus G. — can be seen below. Due in Europe on May 21 via Century Media Records and in North America on May 22 through DisManic, Inc. via eOne Distribution, the CD was mixed by Jason Suecof and Eyal Levi at Audiohammer Studios (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, DEATH ANGEL) in Sanford, Florida.
Produced by Gus, "Few Against Many" was recorded with his longtime bandmates, vocalist Apollo Papathanasio, keyboardist/guitarist Bob Katsionis and bassist Petros Christo, at Valve Studio in Greece as well as the Sweetspot Studios in Sweden and sees the band expanding on its signature melodic sound with some of its most aggressive songs to date. The CD also marks the recording debut of new FIREWIND drummer Johan Nunez (NIGHTRAGE). The young Belgian is regarded by Gus as a "phenomenal talent," and anyone that witnessed him on the band's most recent world tour will no doubt agree.
"Few Against Many" track listing:
01. Wall Of Sound 02. Losing My Mind 03. Few Against Many 04. The Undying Fire 05. Another Dimension 06. Glorious 07. Edge Of A Dream (feat. APOCALYPTICA) 08. Destiny 09. Long Gone Tomorrow 10. No Heroes, No Sinners
The song "Edge Of A Dream" features a special appearance of Finnish cello superstars APOCALYPTICA.
While the album's standard version will be available in the CD format as well as LP and also as digital download, "Few Against Many" will also be released as limited-edition digipak CD with two special bonus tracks: "Battleborn" and an acoustic version of "No Heroes, No Sinners".
The "Wall Of Sound" video can be seen below. The clip was filmed by Colin Marshall during the band’s recent shows in Greece.
Commented Gus: "We wanted to do a different video this time, instead of the usual indoor studio shootings. So we figured we'd show the band in its comfort zone — on stage. The clip was shot on our most recent shows in Greece this past January and you can witness the mayhem that goes down when we play in our home country! Enjoy!"
FIREWIND 2012 is:
Bob Katsionis - Keyboards, Guitar Apollo Papathanasio - Vocals Gus G. - Guitar Petros Christo - Bass Jo Nunez - Drums
FIREWIND debuted two brand new songs — "Wall Of Sound" and "Losing My Mind" — during its headlining concert on January 14 at the Fuzz Club in Athens, Greece.
FIREWIND has already announced a few summer festival appearances (including Summer Breeze in Germany and Czech Republic's Masters Of Rock) and will play three shows in China and Taiwan at the end of August. The band will also embark on a European headlining tour in September/October with support from LEAVES' EYES.
The soundtrack to the upcoming film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "Rock Of Ages", which showcases popular rock songs from the '70s and '80s, features the cast — Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand and Julianne Hough — singing some of the greatest hits of the "hair-band" era.
Due to be released June 5 — ten days before the film hits theatres — "Rock Of Ages: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" includes Cruise's renditions of DEF LEPPARD's "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and GUNS N' ROSES' "Paradise City".
In a brand new interview with Playboy.com, Cruise stated about his first attempt at singing, "I knew I could hold a note. I sang in a glee club when I was 14 years old and in a high school musical. But I never had a singing lesson. No one ever taught me how to use my voice.
It was previously reported that Cruise was preparing for his role by training with Axl Rose's vocal coach. "He was an opera singer who taught me how to control my voice," Cruise said. "It's like learning a new sport or a skill for a character. I had to find out how to move air through the vocal cords and where to place it in my head, in the chest. It's something you have to do every day to strengthen your voice."
The first song Cruise sang in front of a crowd was "Pour Some Sugar On Me", with members of DEF LEPPARD watching him.
"I was down in Miami, recording different songs, and Adam [Shankman, director] called and said, 'DEF LEPPARD's coming by the set,'" Cruise told Playboy.com. "I said, 'Man, that's cool.' Then I paused. 'Wait, I'm rehearsing their song tomorrow.' And he's like, 'Yeah!' [laughs] So we started right in the deep end, and that was the first scene I shot in the movie. It's a great song, and I grew up listening to them. They went to the back of the Bourbon Room, and I looked at my band and was like, 'Hit it.' All the crew was watching them watching me. . . [After the song was done] the lead singer, Joe Elliott, points at me and goes, 'Fuck you! Fuck you!' Then I saw big smiles on their faces, and I realized I'd gotten their stamp. It was a very cool moment. It was important they knew I was honoring their music and not making fun of them."
DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen recently told VH1 Classic Rock Nights that Cruise "was a super-lovely guy" when they met. Collen added, "I was so impressed because he hadn't sung before and he had vocal lessons. He was literally doing five hours a day, five days a week, like truly real, getting in there and doing it. And we saw him and he was amazing, it was like Iggy Pop meets someone else and he's in great shape and it was like, 'What!?!' It was surreal, but he really pulls it off and it was like he's a total rock star."
An audio sample of Cruise singing the DEF LEPPARD classic "Pour Some Sugar On Me" can be streamed below (courtesy of RyanSeacrest.com).
Tom Cruise stars in "Rock Of Ages" as Stacee Jaxx, an aging musician whose glory days are long past.
"Rock Of Ages: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" features the following track listing:
01. Paradise City (Tom Cruise) 02. Sister Christian/Just Like Paradise/Nothin' But a Good Time (Diego Boneta) 03. Juke Box Hero/I Love Rock 'N' Roll (Diego Boneta) 04. Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Catherine Zeta-Jones) 05. Waiting For A Girl Like You Diego Boneta 06. More Than Words/Heaven (Diego Boneta) 07. Wanted Dead Or Alive (Julianne Hough) 08. I Want To Know What Love Is (Malin Akerman) 09. I Wanna Rock (Diego Boneta) 10. Pour Some Sugar On Me (Tom Cruise) 11. Harden My Heart (Julianne Hough) 12. Shadows Of The Night/Harden My Heart (Julianne Hough) 13. Here I Go Again (Diego Boneta) 14. Can't Fight This Feeling (Russell Brand) 15. Any Way You Want It (Julianne Hough) 16. Undercover Love (Diego Boneta) 17. Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Diego Boneta) 18. Rock You Like A Hurricane (Julianne Hough) 19. We Built This City/We're Not Gonna Take It (Russell Brand) 20. Don't Stop Believin' (Diego Boneta)
Adam Anders, executive music producer for the film and album, recently told The Hollywood Reporter about Cruise's vocal skills, "He had never sung in his life. He was like, 'I need to know that I can do this before I sign on.' So I went to his house to hear him sing and even though he was completely green as a singer, his vocal cords were amazing. He had this voice that blew me away. It was the most powerful voice I had ever heard. So loud. He could do anything and go as high as we wanted. It was like a kid discovering he had a new toy. I left there super-pumped knowing that not only could we make him pass as a singer in the movie, but we would blow people away with what he could do."
He added, "[Tom's] confidence kept growing as we worked together. I think he started off a little nervous, as anybody would who has never done this, but he just bought it 110%. He works harder than anybody I've ever met in my life. By the end of this movie, the guy was just phenomenal. I remember telling him, 'You're a singer!'"
"Rock Of Ages" also stars Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paul Giamatti, Malin Akerman and many others. It scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 15.
Former SAIGON KICK guitarist and vocalist Jason Bieler has just released two songs from his new project entitled OWL STRETCHING. The first songs released include the iconoclastic "All At Once" and the cinematic "Satellite", both of which can be streamed and downloaded below.
After a brilliant ten-plus-year run with SAIGON KICK, Jason changed his focus and spent the last few years producing bands like SKINDRED, SIKTH and NONPOINT at Bieler Bros. Studios alongside head engineer Matt LaPlant. Jason has also co-founded the indie label powerhouse Bieler Bros. Records (KARNIVOOL, FICTION PLANE, DEATHSTARS, A SILENT FILM, WILL HAVEN and many more). Jason has written, produced and performed on releases that have sold into the millions. He has also composed for major film soundtracks like "American Pie", "Miami Vice", "Sky High" and more.
OWL STRETCHING finds Jason truly in a "lunatics running the asylum" scenario.
"SAIGON was always penalized for being way too diverse," says Jason. "At the time, the industry couldn't fit us in any of their nice little marketing compartments. So learning life lessons from that I have created an even more musically diverse endeavor."
OWL STRETCHING has created its own perfect world — no rules or structure and certainly no plans beyond today.
Several months before his death, the late, great Ronnie Montrose contributed to hardcover coffee table photo book, "Eddie Van Halen", by legendary rock photographer Neil Zlozower.
The Van Halen News Desk has the exclusive on the guitarist's story of meeting Eddie Van Halen.
Montrose: "The first tour I did with VAN HALEN, the bill was JOURNEY, Ronnie Montrose, and VAN HALEN was opening. I was doing my instrumental music on that tour. VAN HALEN was a young, loud, and brash band, and I liked them. Eddie came up to me backstage at soundcheck and he called me 'Mr. Montrose.' He shyly shook my hand and said, 'Mr. Montrose, I'm Edward Van Halen, and I'm a big fan. We told Ted Templeman to get the MONTROSE sound when we did our record.' He also told me they used to play 'Dancin' Feet' from one of the MONTROSE albums at their yard parties in Pasadena.
"I really enjoyed Eddie's playing. What made Eddie special was his youthful irreverence for the rules. That's what impressed me. He'd developed his own style. I think Eddie started out on drums first, and there's a very percussive nature about the way he plays. He plays very metered and percussive, and he's very fluid in that style."
The hardcover coffee table photo book "Eddie Van Halen" was released last October. It is currently is back in stock at the Van Halen Store.
Book details:
The definitive visual history of early Eddie Van Halen, this hardcover photo book is jam-packed with classic and never-before-published photos. It is a must-have for VAN HALEN fans and guitarists alike!
One of the most revolutionary and influential players ever to pick up a guitar, Eddie Van Halen's music and technique continue to energize legions of fans and guitarists around the world. This book of photographs and text focuses on the innovative early years of the band VAN HALEN, when Eddie burst on the scene and changed the face of electric guitar-playing and melodic hard rock. More than 200 images of Eddie in action — both classic and never before seen — are complemented by text and testimony from famous guitarists, music writers, and many others. Also featuring a foreword by guitar legend Slash, this is the definitive visual history of classic Eddie Van Halen.
Famous guitarists who contributed text:
* Angus Young (AC/DC) * Jimmy Page (LED ZEPPELIN) * Joe Perry (AEROSMITH) * Les Paul * Steve Vai * Joe Satriani * Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME) * Ritchie Blackmore (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE) * Gilby Clarke (GUNS N' ROSES) * Phil Collen (DEF LEPPARD) * Billy Gibbons (ZZ TOP) * Peter Frampton * Paul Gilbert (RACER X, MR. BIG) * Allan Holdsworth * Scott Ian (ANTHRAX) * Tony Iommi (BLACK SABBATH) * Steve Lukather * Mick Mars (MÖTLEY CRÜE) * Ronnie Montrose * Gary Moore * Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE) * Dave Navarro (JANE'S ADDICTION) * Rick Nielsen (CHEAP TRICK) * Ted Nugent * Paul Stanley (KISS) * Nancy Wilson (HEART) * Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) * Dweezil Zappa
VAN HALEN insiders who contributed text: Eddie Anderson (director of security 1980-84), Pete Angelus (creative consultant, production/lighting designer), Marshall Berle (personal manager 1977-78), Bill Gazzarri (owner: Gazzarri's nighclub), Michael Karlin (VAN HALEN business manager, 1978-present), Jas Obrecht (editor: Guitar Player magazine), Patrick Whitley (production manager 1978-84) and Michael Anthony.
Neil Zlozower's rock photography spans more than 40 years and includes work with THE ROLLING STONES, Ted Nugent, AEROSMITH, AC/DC, MOTÖRHEAD, Tom Waits, SLIPKNOT, and many others. From 1978 to 1984, Zlozower was the "fifth member of VAN HALEN," touring with and capturing images of the band during the David Lee Roth era.
Hardcover, 176 pages, 8.5 x 11 inches, Over 200 color and black-and-white photographs.
BLABBERMOUTH.NET is run and operated independently of Roadrunner Records. The accuracy of the information
contained herein is neither confirmed nor guaranteed by Roadrunner Records, and the views and opinions of
authors expressed on these pages do not necessarily state or reflect those of Roadrunner Records or its employees.
