Argentinean rock journalist Lucas H. Gordon, who currently resides in Hollywood, California, conducted an in interview with former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. singer Udo Dirkschneider on April 23 at the Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, California. You can now watch the chat below.
"Metal Machine", the new video from U.D.O., can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Steelhammer", which will be released on May 24 via AFM Records. The CD was produced by Dirkschneider and Fitty Wienhold.
Guitarist Igor Gianola recently left U.D.O. and was replaced by Finnish axeman Kasperi Heikkinen.
U.D.O. last year announced the addition of guitarist Andrey Smirnov to the group's ranks. He replaced Stefan Kaufmann, who left the group for health reasons.
Stefan will continue to work with U.D.O. behind the scenes and produce other bands at his Roxx studio.
Kaufmann was the drummer for ACCEPT on nine albums but was forced to give up drumming towards the end of the band's initial run due to health problems.
Stefan joined U.D.O. as a guitar player in 1996, following ACCEPT's second breakup, and has recorded nine albums with them.
"Live In Sofia", the new DVD+CD and Blu-ray+CD from U.D.O., entered the Music DVD chart in Finland at position No. 1 and in Germany at No. 4.
"Live In Sofia" contains footage of U.D.O.'s November 16, 2011 concert at Hristo Botev Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Jeremy Lafrentz of Backstage Entertainment conducted an interview with guitarist Oli Herbert of Massachusetts metallers ALL THAT REMAINS at this year's Lazerfest, which took place on Friday, May 10 at the Central Iowa Expo in Boone, Iowa. You can now watch the chat below.
In conjunction with Record Store Day, ALL THAT REMAINS released a limited-edition vinyl version of their "The Fall Of Ideals" album (Razor & Tie). Available for the first time ever on vinyl, the LP is ALL THAT REMAINS' 2006 critically acclaimed metalcore classic. The album was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, UNDEROATH) and features 11 songs, including the hits "This Calling", "The Air I Breathe", "Six" and "Not Alone". The vinyl is pressed in a striking blue/black swirl color.
ALL THAT REMAINS recently wrapped up its tour with HELLYEAH, IN THIS MOMENT and NONPOINT. The band continues to tour in support of its 2012 release, "A War You Cannot Win" (Razor & Tie).
ALL THAT REMAINS' first "Stand Up" single spent three weeks at #1 at Active Rock Radio. This marked ALL THAT REMAINS' first -ever #1 radio single and the group's fifth consecutive Top 10 single at the format.
Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON recently entered the studio to begin recording their new album for a late 2013 release. The band's frontman, Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven, states in a new online posting: "The recording is coming to an end. Next week will be the last before the mix. Finally some light at the end of the tunnel after almost four months of recording! Right now I am just looking forward to share this with you and see what you think. It will be a while though, but it will be worth it. I am sure."
SATYRICON's new CD will feature a guest appearance by Sivert Høyem, the Norwegian singer best known as the vocalist of the rock band MADRUGADA.
Speaking to AOL's Noisecreep at this year's Inferno festival, Satyr stated about SATYRICON's upcoming album: "To me, it sounds very authentic, it's organic-sounding. And in this digital age where music is mostly played through computers, a lot of that analog vibe gets lost in translation when you play music through medias like that, but I still wanna do it because there's nothing quite like it. To me, it just makes everything sound the way it's supposed to sound — it's dynamical; the music is alive, it's not overly compressed, the levels are not pushed. So, musically speaking, it's a very atmospheric record… This record is full of life. There are a lot of surprises here, but I think it's gonna be a record that's gonna help the black metal movement perhaps find a new way for the future."
As previously reported, SATYRICON will perform with the Norwegian National Opera Chorus on September 8 at Den Norske Opera & Ballett in Oslo, Norway.
A press release states: "Mixing musical modes of expression is always interesting. New sound pictures emerge, and when they are successful, new directions in style and genre are created.
"What would a mix of heavy metal rockers and singers with operatic training produce? Let's find out! When the internationally renowned heavy metal group SATYRICON mix with the voluminous voices of the Norwegian National Opera Chorus, we can expect some thrilling surprises with two such powerful and monumental sound sources and widely divergent modes of expression come together as one.
"Will it be operatic metal or heavy metal opera? Performed as part of the Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival."
Sumerian Records has set an August 6 release date for "From Death To Destiny", the third album from the British metalcore act ASKING ALEXANDRIA. The CD was recorded with renowned producer Joey Sturgis (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, EMMURE).
A new ASKING ALEXANDRIA song "The Death Of Me", was recently released digitally via iTunes, Google Play and Amazon MP3.
In an interview with Billboard.com, ASKING ALEXANDRIA guitarist Ben Bruce revealed that the follow-up to 2011's "Reckless & Relentless" will contain 13-15 songs, six of which will be "radio-friendly" while the rest will be "our usual balls-to-the-wall kind of stuff."
"We spent a long time honing in on song structures and writing techniques and stuff like that, but there are still heavy songs on the record," Bruce said. "We're not just going to throw that away and kick our original fan base in the teeth by getting rid of all that. There will still be a lot of riffing and screaming. But we feel like we did find a happy medium between being heavy and then being light enough to be on radio, but still keeping the balls in the song."
Most of the new CD was recorded at Sturgis' studio in Indiana, while the vocals and strings and choir parts were laid down at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California. "On the last one a lot of that extra stuff was all fake; we did it on computer," Bruce said. "This time we wanted to be more organic, so we got a live orchestra conducted by the brilliant Stevie Black (ALICE IN CHAINS, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) and did all the strings. Then we got a live church gospel choir to come into the studio for a few days to sing over a few tracks. It really sounds special."
ASKING ALEXANDRIA's remix record, "Stepped Up And Scratched", came out in November 2011.
ASKING ALEXANDRIA is:
Danny Worsnop - Vocals Ben Bruce - Guitar Cameron Liddell - Guitar Sam Bettley - Bass James Cassells - Drums
Jack Russell may not be the first musician that comes to mind when you think of Nashville, but the city of Nashville holds a special place in his heart, which is why he is one of the featured artists in the upcoming "Music City USA", a documentary by Chris McDaniel.
This film is about the resiliency of this legendary town, and the musicians that call it home, have been inspired there and the incredible spirit of Nashville — Music City. The film features musicians from all genres, country, reggae, rock, etc. and the antagonist in the film is the Nashville flood. Also featured in this inspirational movie are Naomi Judd, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Charlie Daniels and many more.
Jack talks about the healing powers of music, which have played such a huge part in his life, his recovery and his recent comeback to once again command the stage he was born to be on.
This will be a must-see for any musician, and anyone ever touched by or inspired by music.
The Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE played a brand new song, "Fallout", for the first time last night (Saturday, May 18) at the Rock Hard Festival at Amphitheater in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.
The Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE will release its new album, simply titled "Queensrÿche", on June 25 via Century Media Records. The cover artwork was created by Craig Howell, who has previously worked on designs for "Star Wars", SLIPKNOT and "American Idol", to name a few.
"Queensrÿche" marks the debut release from the lineup comprised of La Torre (vocals; ex-CRIMSON GLORY), Michael Wilton (guitar), Parker Lundgren (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums). The drums for the album were recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington with producer James "Jimbo" Barton — the man who engineered and mixed the band's classic 1988 LP, "Operation: Mindcrime", and its 1990 follow-up, "Empire", and co-produced 1994's "Promised Land". The rest of the music and vocals were laid down at several different facilities on the West Coast.
"Queensrÿche" track listing:
01. X2 02. Where Dreams Go To Die 03. Spore 04. In This Light 05. Redemption 06. Vindication 07. Midnight Lullaby 08. A World Without 09. Don't Look Back 10. Fallout 11. Open Road
*** Standard Jewel Case Version Regular CD that includes a 4x4 patch.
*** Deluxe Box Set Edition CD (North America only)
Regular CD with the following bonus tracks:
* Queen Of The Reich (live) * En Force (live) * Prophecy (live) Housed in a small box with an exclusive patch, sticker, guitar pick and button pack.
*** 2-CD Media Book (For Europe only) Standard CD, plus 2nd CD with the following bonus tracks, all recorded live in Snoqualmie, WA on October 27, 2012:
01. Queen Of The Reich (live) 02. En Force (live) 03. Prophecy (live)
*** LP Version One LP with the standard cd inserted into the sleeve as a bonus.
Side A
01. X2 02. Where Dreams Go To Die 03. Spore 04. In This Light 05. Redemption 06. Vindication
Side B
01. Midnight Lullaby 02. A World Without 03. Don't Look Back 04. Fallout 05. Open Road 06. Queen Of The Reich (live) 07. En Force (live)
*** iTunes Digital Version Standard CD version, plus the following bonus tracks:
01. Queen Of The Reich (live) 02. En Force (live)
Fans were treated to a taste of the new album when the band released "Redemption" and it has been garnering praise ever since. The song has been listened to over 185,000 times on YouTube since it was unveiled in March.
Asked which album in QUEENSRŸCHE's catalog would most closely compare to what the band is doing now, drummer Scott Rockenfield told "Noize In The Attic": "Our big goal was, once we kind of made our transition last year and moved on as a band, and Todd being in the band, and our focus of the live shows and everything, it's always kind of been about looking at what really made QUEENSRŸCHE special. And for the live show, it's the old stuff. And we've been focusing a lot, in the show, doing that, for the last year, and we're continue to focus on doing that. On the record, I think the vein of what the record is a combination of all that great old stuff that we're kind of known best for. I mean, for me, I kind of summarize it by saying, to me, it's everything from the [debut] EP up to 'Empire', or maybe even 'Promised Land' at that point, which is, to me, the most defining catalog that we've ever done. And I think for this record, it's visiting that and taking that into the future."
Added guitarist Michael Wilton: "I also think that when you hear this record, each song is gonna be unique in its own. For people that have heard the single that's on YouTube called 'Redemption'. Everybody's asking, 'Is the album gonna sound just like that?' And I can say, 'No.' What's great about this record is that every individual here was in the creative process and the writing — there was no outside writers, like [there were] on the last few albums. And it really shows, and it's a real great blend of everybody's strength and their creative elements, and the songs are definitely reflective of the personalities of this band right now."
Continued Scott: "I think that's important. Especially what Michael was saying. I think the focus of that earlier stuff, there was a massive chemistry between all of us that really worked, and we wanted to find that chemistry again, 'cause we've, unfortunately, had to struggle with that the last few years. But we always knew that that's what we wanted to do, so now that we're able to do that, finding that chemistry and that energy that got us to make those records is what that energy now is in this record. And Michael's right: the songs, there's a great variety of things in it, but they're all QUEENSRŸCHE, they're all us doing it, it's our chemistry of working together."
Said Michael: "If you listen to all the other albums, like from 'Promised Land' back to the EP, you're gonna hear all these dynamics, from song after another song — you're gonna hear those dynamics, and that's the same sort of approach we wanted to take on this new one."
Juliya Chernetsky conducted an interview with BUTCHER BABIES backstage at the fifth annual Revolver Golden Gods awards on May 2 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California. You can now watch the chat below.
BUTCHER BABIES last year signed a deal with Century Media Records. The band's full-length debut is scheduled for release before the end of 2013.
Fronted by Carla Harvey and Heidi Shepherd — named two of the "Hottest Women In Rock" by Revolver magazine — the blood-splattered group left its mark on the United Kingdom in June 2012, appearing on the Download festival and supporting ANTHRAX in Cardiff. They returned to America last fall as direct support for OTEP and this past winter on a tour with MARILYN MANSON.
In a recent interview with Rock Confidential, Carla said: "We're really excited for our full-length album through Century Media. We've been in the studio every single day writing. We're like little kids now, we're so excited." Heidi added: "To have it released through a label is going to be so awesome for us, especially a label we all looked up to. Century Media has always been like family to us. For them to take us on board and give us such high hopes and good support is really great." Carla continued: "We needed a label to take us to that next level. We're very proud of what we did on our own, but it was time to give the reins to someone else. We're very hands on. We run everything, but we need that machine behind us as well."
Despite the fact that Heidi and Carla often perform topless with nothing but nipple tape on, they believe that what they do is actually empowering to women. "I think we can definitely touch on that regardless of what we wear," Heidi said. "We can empower women or people in general to do what they want. Female empowerment is obviously where it started, but it can be about anybody that has a dream and a goal they really want to go for. It's never too late. We're not 21-year-old girls. We wish we were! We've had different careers, different paths in life. I got married once. We've done different things. We thought every time that was the end-all-be-all. It's never too late to follow your dreams. That's something that both of us really stand for."
Jeremy Lafrentz of Backstage Entertainment conducted an interview with former ANTHRAX and current VOLBEAT guitarist Rob Caggiano at this year's Lazerfest, which took place on Friday, May 10 at the Central Iowa Expo in Boone, Iowa. You can now watch the chat below.
VOLBEAT will take part in this summer's Monster Energy's Rock Allegiance Tour alongside HIM, ALL THAT REMAINS and AIRBOURNE.
"The fans have made our North American visits thus far this year great fun and truly memorable," Poulsen said in a statement. "We are looking forward to headlining Monster Energy's Rock Allegiance festival tour this summer, and sharing the stage with HIM, ALL THAT REMAINS and AIRBOURNE."
VOLBEAT's fifth studio album, "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies", sold 39,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 9 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on April 9 via Universal Republic
Caggiano, who was a producer on the new disc, recently joined the band as its new guitarist. He replaces guitarist Thomas Bredahl, who was given his walking papers in November 2011.
The new disc follows up 2010's "Beyond Hell/Above Heaven", which featured three No. 1 rock radio hits, "A Warrior's Call", "Still Counting" and "Heaven Nor Hell".
Metal Rules! TV recently conducted an interview with guitarist Dino Cazares of Los Angeles cyber metallers FEAR FACTORY. You can now watch the chat below.
FEAR FACTORY will perform its classic 1995 sophomore album, "Demanufacture", in its entirety aboard the 2014 edition of the world's biggest heavy metal cruise — 70000 Tons Of Metal — which will sail January 27-31.
FEAR FACTORY's video for the title track of their new album, "The Industrialist", was directed and edited by James Zahn. The clip utilizes live footage of the band from last June's Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium against a visual backdrop that pulls topical subjects from the story written by vocalist Burton C. Bell that served as inspiration for the group's latest CD.
A part of "The Industrialist" video was revealed in 2011 leading up to the release of the album. Now with the full video, the visual door to the concepts presented on the album are available for music fans to experience. Bell said, "We allowed James to take his time to create the video so that he could match his expertise with the conceptual imagery that was written in 'The Industrialist'. Being that he has been a longtime fan of FEAR FACTORY, he understood the nature of the FF machine; the concepts, imagery, and history. I believe he achieved a new era for FEAR FACTORY video concepts."
As a longtime fan of FEAR FACTORY, Zahn knew his work on "The Industrialist" would be enhanced by his extensive knowledge of the band.
"Growing up listening to FEAR FACTORY and being captivated with the heavy industrial scene of the 1990s, the one thing that always stuck with me was the accompanying visual aspect," he said. "Those videos that featured stock footage intercut with live performance clips were such a staple of the time and helped in editing 'The Industrialist'. Broken technology working alongside machinery in the midst of social change served as inspiration."
"The Industrialist" sold 9,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Mechanize", opened with 10,000 units back in February 2010 to land at No. 72.
Guitarist Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz (pictured below), who has been writing music for Massachusetts metallers THE ACACIA STRAIN but hasn't toured with the band for several years, will not be part of the creative team on the group's future albums.
Says Laskiewicz in a posting on his Facebook page: "Well, if you haven't noticed, I haven't played a show with THE ACACIA STRAIN in years and I've just been writing the music for them. I've been informed today that they will continue on without me, meaning shows and writing albums. This is totally understandable and I wish the band the best. I'll be around, as I'm still recording and producing and also have another project in the works. So once again, I WILL NOT be writing for THE ACACIA STRAIN anymore. It's been fun tas, later!"
During THE ACACIA STRAIN's tenure with Prosthetic Records, the band released four acclaimed studio albums — two of which, 2008's "Continent" and 2010's "Wormwood", cracked the Billboard chart — as well as a Top 10 live DVD. To commemorate the end of an era, Prosthetic has assembled "Money For Nothing", a compilation of rarities, B-sides and previously unheard tracks by the band. The six-track release, which was released on February 19, was made available as a specially priced digital EP and a limited-edition digipak.
"Death Is The Only Mortal", the latest album from THE ACACIA STRAIN, sold 8,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 50 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on October 9, 2012 via Rise Records, the CD was produced by Laskiewicz at his Western Massachusetts studio.
Nashville, Tennessee's 102.9 Buzz radio station conducted an interview with guitarist Keith Nelson of Californian rockers BUCKCHERRY backstage at this year's Rock On The Range festival, which is taking place May 17-19 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now watch the chat below.
BUCKCHERRY's sixth studio album, "Confessions", sold 18,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 20 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The band's previous CD, "All Night Long", opened with around 28,000 units in August 2010 to debut at No. 10.
BUCKCHERRY's fourth studio effort, titled "Black Butterfly", premiered with around 47,000 copies back in September 2008 to enter the chart at No. 8.
"Confessions" was produced by Keith Nelson and Marti Frederiksen (AEROSMITH, OZZY OSBOURNE) and features eclectic CD artwork by graffiti artist Ewok. The songs on "Confessions" merge punk grit, gutter attitude, honest storytelling, and razor sharp hooks, while the lyrics are tied together by the underlying theme of the Seven Deadly Sins.
In a recent interview with Loudwire.com, singer Josh Todd elaborated on the album's subject matter. Josh explained, "There was a point in my life when I was a youth when I lost a family member and I acted out in my grieving process through the deadly sins, so that's kind of what the story's about on the record. I think the seven sins are timeless and that everybody struggles with them in their daily lives all the time."
The provocative video for the album's first single, "Gluttony", was directed by Billy Jayne and filmed in a North Hollywood church.
A two-disc deluxe version of the "Confessions" CD is also available and features the bonus tracks "Give 'Em What They Want" and "When The Fire Starts". In addition, a bonus DVD includes the "Gluttony" music video and lyric video, behind-the-scenes footage and band interviews from the set of the "Gluttony" video shoot, and "The Story Behind Confessions" featurette.
The fourth in a series of video clips featuring behind-the-scenes video footage of the making of "Ritual Zombi", the long-awaited sixth full-length album from Spanish death metal veterans AVULSED, can be seen below. The CD was recorded at Madrid's La Casa del Ruido Studios with Dani Blanco. A conceptual effort dealing with zombies, the CD will contain nine new songs, including three instrumentals, plus a cover version of the DEATH classic "Zombie Ritual". The first AVULSED album to feature new drummer Osckar Bravo was mixed in Barcelona at Moontower Studios by Javi Félez. Mastering duties were handled by Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE) at Unisound studios in Örebro, Sweden. The cover artwork, which can be seen below, was created by Juanjo Castellano, who worked on the latest PUTREVORE album and is said to be "the perfect choice to conceive the most putrid transcription of AVULSED's sound."
"Ritual Zombi" is scheduled for release on August 31 via Xtreem Music in Europe and Sevared in the U.S.
AVULSED parted ways with drummer Ricardo "Riky" Mena in March 2012 "due to differences on how to deal with different internal issues within the band."
AVULSED in 2011 scrapped plans to release a 20th-anniversary CD, "Fleshcube", due to "several problems regarding the recording sessions that delayed the whole project, to the point that it was going to be impossible to release it [in 2011]."
Behind-the-scenes video footage of the making of the cover artwork for "13", the first BLACK SABBATH record in 35 years to feature singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler all playing together, can be seen below. The CD is due out June 11 on Vertigo/Republic. This marks BLACK SABBATH's return to Vertigo, their original label, and the group's first studio album together since 1978's "Never Say Die!"
Details of the album's deluxe edition surfaced on April 19, with the band revealing that the eight-song effort will be accompanied by three bonus tracks called "Methademic", "Peace Of Mind" and "Pariah".
Several versions of "13" are available for pre-order, including a standard CD, a double CD that includes a second disc of exclusive bonus audio, a heavyweight vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve and a "Super Deluxe Box Set" containing the double CD, the vinyl album, an exclusive DVD documentary on the band's reunion, 13 photographic prints and hand-written lyrics.
"13" track listing:
01. End Of The Beginning (8:05) 02. God Is Dead? (8:52) 03. Loner (4:59) 04. Zeitgeist (4:37) 05. Age Of Reason (7:01) 06. Live Forever (4:46) 07. Damaged Soul (7:51) 08. Dear Father (7:20)
Deluxe-edition bonus tracks:
09. Methademic (5:57) 10. Peace Of Mind (3:40) 11. Pariah (5:34)
Total running time (with bonus tracks): 68 minutes, 42 seconds
The drum tracks on the album were laid down by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE sticksman Brad Wilk following original drummer Bill Ward's decision to bow out of the reunion.
Scott Kara of The New Zealand Herald has written a track-by-track review of "13". Check it out at this location.
Osbourne went on the BBC in England to discuss the band's new single, "God Is Dead?" and the inspiration behind the track. Ozzy explained, "I was in somebody's office and there was a magazine on a table and it just said, 'God Is Dead', and I suddenly thought about 9/11 and all these terrorist things and religion and how many people have died in the name of religion. When you think about the tragedy that's happened throughout time, it just came in my head. You'd think by now that their God would have stopped people dying in the name of, so I just starting thinking that people must be thinking, 'Where is God? God is dead' and it just hit me."
Ozzy added that the question mark at the end of the title is his way of showing that he's not sure about the answer himself, saying, "At the end of the thing, there's still a bit of hope because there I sing that I don't believe that God is dead. It's just a question of when you see so many dreadful people killing each other with bombs, and blowing the tube trains up and the World Trade Center."
Ozzy told an Australian radio station that "13" is "mind-blowing," adding, "It's better than my wildest dreams; it's so good."
SABBATH kicked off its world tour in support of "13" on April 20 in Auckland.
The Front Row Report conducted an interview with KORN bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu on May 17 at the Rock On The Range festival at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now watch the chat below.
KORN played its first full concert since 2005 with guitarist Brian "Head" Welch in the lineup on Wednesday night (May 15) in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, where the group kicked off a string of spring North American dates. Welch joined the group onstage for one song last year at the Carolina Rebellion festival, sparking rumors that more shows together and even a full reunion were in the pipeline. The band has also just finished recording its first studio set with Welch since 2003's "Take A Look In The Mirror".
Asked how he felt about the hitting the stage again with Welch for a full show after being apart for so long, Fieldy said: "[I felt] excitement. Excitement, but in a different way. Because a lot of times when I feel excited, I kind of feel nauseous; I don't really know what to do with it. But I was excited with contentment. I knew it was gonna be good, I knew it was gonna be how it used to be, so there was no insecurity in my being excited. So it was a different emotion than I've ever had."
Fieldy also spoke about the upcoming KORN album, due out in late summer, which will follow up 2011's "The Path Of Totality", a record that found the group experimenting with dubstep.
"I guess we were just going in knowing this time that we were gonna be doing what we do, what KORN does," the bassist said. "And it probably [turned out to be] the easiest [album to make], but the most challenging too. Because you've gotta just try to be ourselves and just do what we do. And it came out as probably the best KORN CD that we've ever done."
Wednesday night's 21-song set drew heavily from the band's early years.
KORN has used a variety of touring guitarists since Welch's departure, without ever permanently replacing him.
Welch left KORN in 2005 to embrace Christianity and embark on a solo career.
On May 14, AndrewHaug.com, Australia's first-ever dedicated 24/7 rock and metal online radio station launched by Andrew Haug, the former host of Triple J Australia's "The Racket" radio show (originally "Full Metal Racket"; 2001-2011), conducted an interview with vocalist Dani "Filth" Davey of British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.
As previously reported, Dani has completed work on a poetry book, "Across The River Bedlam", for release later in the year. The book, which will contain "poems that [Dani has] written from time to time over the years," will include illustrations by Sam Araya, the artist responsible for CRADLE OF FILTH's "Thornography" and "Harder, Darker, Faster" releases as well as various COF t-shirt designs.
Artwork that will be included in the book can be found at this location.
In other news, CRADLE OF FILTH is working on an adult comic book, the story for which has been scripted by the comic writer Kurt Amacker (with assistance from Dani Filth). Several artists are in the process of mocking up some example pages for the prospective publishers. Dani states: "I am very excited about this venture, as it promises to be a very adult story woven straight from the CRADLE OF FILTH universe, featuring a liberated Oscar Wilde, the Demoness Lilith, nefarious sexual magickal practices and an errant Suffolk Lord who is in the unenviable process of being charged under 19th-century blasphemy laws, discovering himself engaged in a nightmarish occult netherworld."
CRADLE OF FILTH's tenth studio album, "The Manticore And Other Horrors", sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous full-length effort, "Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa", opened with 5,800 units in November 2010 to land at No. 99.
