"One Of Us Is The Killer", the fifth full-length album from the New Jersey-based "mathcore" act THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, sold around 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 25 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on May 14 through the band's own Party Smasher Inc., in partnership with Sumerian Records in North America. Party Smasher's partnership with BMG covers the rest of the world, including licensing deals with Grind House for Japan and Remote Control in Australia.
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN' 2010 CD, "Option Paralysis", opened with around 7,100 units to land at No. 78. This was roughly in line with the opening tally of the band'sprevious album, "Ire Works", which landed at No. 142 on the Billboard chart after premiering with 6,900 units back in November 2007.
"One Of Us Is The Killer" was recorded in Southern California with longtime producer Steve Evetts (GLASSJAW, THE CURE, SUICIDE SILENCE), with additional production at guitarist/co-founder Ben Weinman's studio. Mastering was handled by Tom Baker (DEFTONES, NINE INCH NAILS, BEASTIE BOYS).
The album represents a new holistic pinnacle of the band's constantly evolving and engaging dynamics.
Speaking to AOL's Noisecreep, singer Greg Puciato stated about the recording process for the band's forthcoming CD: "DILLINGER is a different beast in tracking than most normal bands. Even Steve has told me that there's no other band that he has recorded that requires this amount of attention to detail. We take a longer amount of time to do one thing than most bands take to do ten. At this point, talking to Ben about it, we only do this once every three years on average so ten years from now I don't want to look back and think, 'Fuck man, we should have finished that one three weeks earlier!' Who cares? You want it to be right and you want it to be the thing that was the closest to what your vision actually was."
Regarding the direction of the new THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN material, Puciato said: "I can hear [the influence of old punk and hardcore records] a lot. I can definitely hear that in some of the riffs, which are really aggressive. It's not a blatant hardcore record or anything like that. I actually think this is the most all over the place and weirdest record we've ever written. It's the first one since I joined the band where Ben has sent me songs and I've been like, 'What the fuck is happening? This sounds like a beehive!'"
According to TMZ.com, the woman who has allegedly been harassing Robert Plant for three years has been ordered to stay away from the legendary LED ZEPPELIN singer.
Plant filed a temporary restraining order earlier in the month against the woman, Alysson Billings, who has never met the LED ZEPPELIN frontman, claiming that she "leaves hotel keys for him, sends flowers, random packages, and constantly shows up to his concerts all over the world." Today, a judge made the restraining order permanent, ordering Billings to stay 300 yards away from Plant for the next three years.
Billings was said to have begun harassing Plant's girlfriend and collaborator, Patty Griffin, leaving the couple such disturbing and threatening messages as, "Your betrayal with another woman still stabs my mind"; "She's got you so p***y whooped and henpecked, it makes me want to puke. . . and I'm telling you that rotten crotch is ruining you"; and "This woman is literally evil for you and your life. . . you are about to fall for that dirty old crotch. And I'm not joking, I cannot, will not, shall not live this way anymore."
BLACK SABBATH members Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Ozzy Osbourne (vocals) were interviewed for a cover story in the July 2013 issue of Guitar World magazine. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
On Iommi being diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma at the end of 2011:
Iommi: "Once I heard my doctor say that, my whole world changed. I thought, Bloody cancerous lymphoma? Well, that's it. I've had it.
"Once they diagnosed it, I had to start the treatment right away. And it knocked me about. I'd go through stages thinking, Can I do this? And then: Of course I can do this. I don't want to die. I want to carry on and do what I'm supposed to do.
"They thought I would pack up. But I asked the doctor, 'Is it okay if I work?' And he said, 'Yes, you've just got to be careful.' So I'd go in the studio and play for a bit. Then I'd get tired and I'd have to go and sit down. The guys would tell me not to push it."
Osbourne: "We all rallied around him. But it's not like we'd be saying, 'Are you okay? Are you okay?' We just got on with it. Sure, he looked tired, but he was a soldier and marched on. He still had more riffs coming out of him than anyone. None of us would go, 'Oh, he's fucking ill again.' We're bros. We grew up together. It's like a family member getting sick."
Butler: "It brought up how we're all just mortal beings, and we aren't gonna be here forever. Tony and I were on the HEAVEN & HELL tour with Ronnie James Dio, and six months later Ronnie was dead [from stomach cancer, in 2010]. We didn't have any inkling that was gonna happen. When Tony got the cancer, obviously that was in his mind. We didn't know how he'd respond to the treatment. So it was like, Let's get the album done at all costs, as long as Tony's up to it. So we'd write for three weeks, and then he'd go for his treatment and we'd all have three weeks off. But it didn't affect his playing at all. In fact I think it really encouraged him and kept his mind off the cancer, which is the best thing you can possibly do if you have that."
On BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward opting out of the band's reunion in early 2012 over some well-publicized contractual disagreements:
Iommi: "I was shocked. We were hearing stuff from lawyers, like, 'I'm not happy with this. I'm not happy with that.' We waited a long time for Bill and we wanted to sort it out. But at the end of the day, especially after I was diagnosed, I thought, Fucking hell, that's it. We've got to get a move on. I might pop off next year! So I emailed him and said, 'Bill, we can't wait any longer. We've got to get on with it.' And that was it."
On recruiting Brad Wilk of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and AUDIOSLAVE to play on the new BLACK SABBATH album, "13":
Iommi: "We had our doubts, because they play a different, funky sort of music. But after a few days of rehearsal, we knew [producer] Rick [Rubin] was right. Brad was a really good player, and he was getting it. We liked his style and the way he tried different things instead of being regimented. It was sort of jazzy and loose, like Bill."
On whether they felt any performance anxiety recording their first SABBATH album together since 1978's "Never Say Die!":
Osbourne: "The pressure on us was terrific. I didn't want to sound hokey, trying to cop 'Paranoid' or 'Master Of Reality'. But at the end of the day, you just have to go with your heart and 'let go and let god,' as they say. I'll know if I'm cutting corners and if I can do a better vocal take or melody."
99.7 The Blitz conducted an interview with ALICE IN CHAINS drummer Sean Kinney at this year's Rock On The Range festival, which took place May 17-19 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below.
ALICE IN CHAINS' new album, "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here", is due out May 28 and features the singles "Stone" and the chart-topping "Hollow". The group's fifth studio effort is its second with William DuVall on vocals and follows up 2009's "Black Gives Way To Blue", ALICE IN CHAINS' first all-new collection of material in 14 years and first since the 2002 death of original singer Layne Staley.
Guitarist Jerry Cantrell told Revolver about the new album, "I don't think you'll be surprised by anything you hear. It's us. But it's also really unique. It's got all the elements of any record we've put out, but it's unlike any record we've put out."
ALICE IN CHAINS began working on new material in 2011, but the sessions for the album were delayed when Cantrell had to undergo shoulder surgery.
ALICE IN CHAINS kicked off a tour to promote the new disc on April 25 in Miami Beach. The band will also headline the Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival later this summer.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, SOUNDGARDEN singer Chris Cornell said in a recent fan question-and-answer session at HBO's web site that inducting HEART into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame last month was an "eye-opening experience" that changed his view of the entire institution. Cornell explained, "I was certainly honored, but had always had a cynical attitude about an institution like this as it pertains to rock 'n' roll in general. The fan support of all the bands inducted and their emotional enthusiasm changed everything for me."
Asked "If SOUNDGARDEN is inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, who would be the presenter?" Cornell replied, "I would hope it is a when, as opposed to an if. How about Gene Simmons?"
As for who he would like to induct into the Hall if he had the chance to do it again, Cornell selected singer and songwriter Daniel Johnston, who recorded a lot of music on cassette tapes through a boom box.
Cornell said, "It occurred to me at one point that I got no less enjoyment out of listening to his records than I did from a PINK FLOYD record . . . That thought spoke to me as an absolute definition of what rock 'n' roll is really about."
SOUNDGARDEN plays in Kansas City on Wednesday night (May 22) as the band continues to support its 2012 album, "King Animal".
Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SEPULTURA) was recently interviewed by Shor Bazaar, Pakistan's first international artist management services. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below.
SOULFLY has inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Entertainment, a new division of Nuclear Blast formed by Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger and former Roadrunner A&R chief Monte Conner. The band will enter the studio this month to begin recording its as-yet-untitled ninth album. The record will be produced by the world-renowned Terry Date, who is known for his work with such bands PANTERA, DEFTONES and SOUNDGARDEN, among many others.
Date previously mixed SOULFLY's "3" (2002), "Prophecy" (2004) and "Dark Ages" (2005) albums, but has never produced any of the group's CDs.
The drum tracks on the new SOULFLY CD will be laid down by Max's 21-year-old son, Zyon Cavalera, who joined the band as its touring drummer for its recent rampage through North America.
Zyon previously played with SOULFLY during the band's tour of Brazil in February 2012.
It is Zyon's unborn heartbeat that can be heard during the intro of SEPULTURA's classic song "Refuse/Resist", which appeared on the band's RIAA-gold-certified "Chaos A.D." album, released three years before Max's departure from the group.
Drummer David Kinkade (BORKNAGAR, ARSIS, MALEVOLENT CREATION), who played on SOULFLY's latest album, "Enslaved", left the band last October in order to focus on his personal life.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, the news that LINKIN PARK singer Chester Bennington was going to be the new frontman — more or less — for STONE TEMPLE PILOTS seems to have divided fans of both bands, but one person thinks it sounds great: Slash. The legendary guitarist, who played in VELVET REVOLVER with former STP vocalist Scott Weiland before dismissing him from that band, tweeted, "On a quick break from interviews, listening to new @STPband w/ @chesterbe sounds fantastic! Really excited for this new line-up."
It was Slash who first hinted that STP had fired Weiland for a second time last December, with the band itself making the official announcement in February.
Slash has made no secret of his problems with Weiland but admitted a while back that he was hardly surprised by them: "You know, we knew what we were getting into going into it and, you know, he managed to do pretty well for a while there. But then he turned around and it was aggravating and frustrating and all those negatives, but at the same time, you can't sit there and be surprised."
Fans were shocked when STONE TEMPLE PILOTS made a surprise appearance at a radio festival in the Los Angeles area last Saturday (May 18), with Bennington making his debut on the mic.
The group performed a new song called "Out Of Time" at the show, putting a studio version online earlier this week. Bennington later said that he was planning on doing more recording and touring with STP, while remaining in LINKIN PARK.
Reunited '80s cult metal outfit SANCTUARY has inked a deal with Century Media Records. The band's "comeback" album — tentatively titled "The Year The Sun Died" — is scheduled for release before the end of the year.
In 2010, four of the founding SANCTUARY members — Warrel Dane, Jim Sheppard, Lenny Rutledge and Dave Budbill — came together for a few select reunion performances. At first, it was just going to be a handful of shows, but the response and chemistry on stage was so overwhelming that the guys changed their minds. Now, some 20 years after they left off, SANCTUARY will continue with their unique mix of U.S. power metal, hard rock and progressive elements and begin work on a new LP.
To complete the lineup, Brad Hull (FORCED ENTRY) will be filling in for former guitar player Sean Blosi.
Comments Dane: "Having been with Century Media since 1995 with NEVERMORE, it was a very comfortable decision for SANCTUARY to sign with them. Century Media has a great team that always delivers for all of their bands. I've known most of them on a first name basis for many years and I look forward to this new chapter in history."
Added Rutledge: "I can speak for every member of SANCTUARY when I say we are all excited to join the Century Media family. We now have the opportunity to work with the best metal record label on the planet. We are looking forward to creating great music with an awesome team behind us."
SANCTUARY released the classic albums "Refuge Denied" and "Into The Mirror Black" during its short existence between 1985 and 1992. Following the band's split, Dane and Sheppard formed NEVERMORE.
Asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for SANCTUARY's new CD, Dane told GetYourRockOut in August 2012, "We've got so much stuff written that it's hard to sort through, but we played two new songs [at the Bloodstock Open Air festival]. We played the one ballad, it's called 'I Am Low', and we played another one called 'The World Is Wired'. Some of the other stuff is a little heavier, but those songs, I think, are… Sometimes the stuff that isn't as heavy is stronger, so that's why we picked those."
He added, "I don't think anybody is gonna be disappointed, because I am involved in the creative process and I know what's going on and I know where we're going and I know it's gonna be killer."
Regarding how SANCTUARY's reformation came about, Dane told Rock My Monkey TV, "[SANCTUARY guitarist Lenny Rutledge and I] always talked to each other, but never really been friends again. And when the whole thing came about, that we were actually friends again, that's when we started talking more about doing it. And it definitely wasn't because NEVERMORE was imploding... which it was, at that point . . . We all just started talking with each other again. That was kind of the groundwork for it. And then we started saying, 'Well, gosh, let's make music again.' And my god! Lenny is writing some stuff that is so friggin great! Obviously, he's been bottling this up for years, because he really hasn't been doing anything... Well, he's had bands here and there. But he's really writing some great stuff that's really inspiring me, and making me fall in love with music again, with the creative process... everything that revolves around that. Really inspiring me to write really evil lyrics."
On the topic of the sound of SANCTUARY's upcoming studio album, Dane said, "This record is not going to sound like the other two. It might sound very similar to the second one ('Into The Mirror Black'). It's definitely not going to sound like the first one, because we're all a little bit older and I can't come up with a c-clamp for a scrotum and a helium tank . . . It's not going to sound like the old ones... it's 2011. It's still gonna be that good, I think, and there's gonna be high-pitched screaming. I'm making sure of that. With NEVERMORE, high-pitched screaming was never really called for. You know, with SANCTUARY... of course it is."
SANCTUARY's current lineup:
Warrel Dane - Vocals Lenny Rutledge - Guitar Brad Hull - Guitars Jim Sheppard - Bass Dave Budbill - Drums
Svart Records has set a June 14 release date for CANDLEMASS' vinyl-only "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus - Live at Roadburn 2011" album.
CANDLEMASS' debut LP, "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus", is a genre-defining classic if there ever was one — the starting point of modern epic doom metal, even.
In 2010 and 2011, CANDLEMASS invited the original "Epicus" vocalist Johan Längqvist back into the fold for a few select shows celebrating the album's 25th birthday. This vinyl-only release captures the band performing "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" album live at the sold-out Roadburn festival in Holland in April 2011. Mixed from a professional 32-track recording and mastered vinyl under the supervision of band founder/mainman Leif Edling, this is the ultimate live version of the classic.
The Svart release has the album spread over three sides of vinyl and an etching on side D. The two LPs are wrapped in a gatefold jacket, and the set is available on black or white vinyl. Both versions are limited to 400.
Comments Edling: "No volcano could stop us this time to perform the 'Epicus' album at the Roadburn festival in Holland. It was a very special day, filled with great music, incredible fans, and a band that had a lot of fun doing this!
"After 25 years original, 'Epicus' singer Johan Längqvist is onstage with us to perform something that people say is one of the doom metal classics. And I think we did a pretty good job there at Roadburn. We played well, and the show was a total success!
"So here it is, CANDLEMASS live at the Roadburn festival…as it was, no overdubs…recorded on 32 channels…a fine slice of legendary doom released on big, fat, double-packed vinyl!"
METALLICA guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield and bassist Robert Trujillo spoke to Billboard.com about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's long-awaited follow-up to 2008's "Death Magnetic", tentatively due in 2015.
"I want it done yesterday," Hetfield said, "and [METALLICA's second Orion Music + More festival] and [the upcoming 3D] movie ['Through The Never'] is keeping us pretty busy at this point and it's taking a lot of our time and effort. We've been touring some obscure places; I guess basically what we're trying to do is pay for this movie, so the touring is keeping us from getting in there and finishing the record. Right now the focus is on the movie."
He continued: "We got out into the room and jammed and we've come up with enough material for a record, for sure. We've gone through maybe one-tenth of the material that's on our riffs CDs. We've got enough for an album, we just haven't had enough time to really focus on it and dial in and start whittling it into these masterpieces, hopefully."
Trujillo added that "the work ethic is super, super strong, and that's what takes us longer than other bands, because we're sitting there and sometimes we're really analyzing things. I mean, for every one lyric, Hetfield has, like three lyric possibilities. But I can tell you this; the grooves and the riffs that are already on the radar are really, really awesome. We've still got more riffs to go through and jam out and throw into the process, but we're getting there, and we'll have something great, hopefully, in the next year."
Last month, Hetfield told Abu Dhabi's That's Entertainment about METALLICA's next CD: "We haven't even started writing it. We're going through riffs. We have, like, 800-and-something riffs we're going through — lots of ideas. We're really excited about it, but doing concerts here and there, trying to get back in the studio and get some stuff done, it's all really exciting. But it gets done on METALLICA time, which is not really scheduled. When it's done, it's done and when it's good, then it will be done."
Asked in a new interview with Revolver about the next album, Ulrich said, "We're in the early stages of writing, and all I can say is there are some good things lurking," adding, "2014 is a bit optimistic for the album to come out, so '15 is more realistic. But listen, there's no rush. It's gonna take what it takes. I don't feel stressed about it, but that doesn't mean we don't care."
METALLICA fans can next see the band headlining their own festival, Orion Music + More, on June 8-9 in Detroit, and then wait for the September 27 release of "Metallica Through The Never", an IMAX 3D feature film that combines concert footage with a fictional narrative.
Audio samples of all the songs that are set to appear on the forthcoming self-titled album from the Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE can be streamed at Amazon.com.
"Queensrÿche" will be released 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."
Legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde recently launched a new YouTube video series dubbed "Lick Of The Week." Check out episode 5 below.
In the two decades since Ozzy Osbourne hired him away from his job at a New Jersey gas station to become his new guitarist, Zakk Wylde has established himself as a guitar icon known and revered the world over. Writing and recording with Osbourne led to multi-platinum success, inspiring him to create the now legendary BLACK LABEL SOCIETY in 1998. In the decade since, BLS has turned the notion of what a rock band should be upside down by inspiring legions of fans (known as Berzerkers) all over the world to follow the mantra: Strength, Determination, Merciless, Forever — SDMF for short. The Berzerkers, with Wylde as their leader, have created a heavy metal institution true to his vision of uncompromising, unfiltered, and unrestrained rock and roll. Wylde has won nearly every guitar award imaginable, and is a major influence on a new battalion of rock guitarists currently popular today.
Wylde shares what really goes on behind bus windows and stage doors in the paperback edition of his book, "Bringing Metal To The Children: The Complete Berzerker’s Guide To World Tour Domination". The book, which was released on April 9 through William Morrow, was co-written by New York Times bestselling author Eric Hendrikx.
In support of the release, Wylde completed a string of West Coast acoustic performances beginning April 21 in San Francisco, and ending May 1 in San Juan Capistrano, California.
Norwegian black metllers SATYRICON have always pushed boundaries and never conformed to what was "expected". That mindset continues to this day, as they announce a very special, exclusive show on September 8 at Oslo's Norwegian National Opera House, where they will perform together with Norway's 55-strong National Opera Chorus.
The special event is part of the Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival, and fans of both SATYRICON and the National Opera Chorus can look forward to a very unique and exciting evening, which coincides with the worldwide release of SATYRICON's ninth studio album, which can now be confirmed to be self-titled.
Commented SATYRICON frontman Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven: "SATYRICON excels as a band, the bigger the platform is. In Norway, there is no greater stage than the main hall of our new Opera House. There is nowhere better suited to provide the dynamics, power and authenticity to such an occasion than the Opera Choir and SATYRICON. To us, there is no better way to celebrate with our fans that we are back with our first album in five years. We are also excited to have a couple of special musical friends come and play their part as well. Ladies and gentlemen — welcome!"
The Opera Chorus' lead conductor, David Maiwald, adds: "Mixing different musical expressions is always exciting. When the internationally acclaimed black metal band SATYRICON meets the voluminous voices of the Norwegian National Opera Chorus, we expect a powerful and monumental result, rich in innovative surprises."
"Satyricon" 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."
Behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the video for the song "Transference" from Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM can be seen below. The track comes off the band's eighth album, "Halo Of Blood", which will be released on June 11 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover art was created by Sami Saramäki, who was responsible for the artwork on previous CHILDREN OF BODOM albums "Follow The Reaper", "Are You Dead Yet?" and "Hate Crew Deathroll".
Pre-order the CD (including the bonus track and digital booklet) now and get the single "Transference" instantly.
Comments CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho: "'Transference' is a straight-up CHILDREN OF BODOM to-the-core-type song and therefore was a good pick for a video and obviously is one of our favorite tracks. It always had an evil vibe to it, which I wish I knew how to explain because it still gives me chills… Enjoy!"
CHILDREN OF BODOM's new CD was recorded at Danger Johnny Studios in Helsinki. For the recording of the LP, CHILDREN OF BODOM has teamed up with recording engineer Mikko Karmila, who worked with the band on their fan-favorite albums "Hatebreeder", "Follow The Reaper" and "Hate Crew Deathroll", as well as Swedish producer Peter Tägtgren (MARDUK, AMON AMARTH), who oversaw production of both vocals and keyboards on the record. The album was mixed at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki.
Commented Laiho: "'Halo Of Blood' is the eighth studio album from CHILDREN OF BODOM, and believe it or not, but we still managed to keep it fresh and new while still maintaining the elements that make COB sound recognizable. It's got the fastest and the slowest song we ever made and lyrics wise there are themes we had never had before. It's 10 new songs of pure Nordic metal and whether you enjoy it with a beer or a glass of water, I'm sure you will have a good time."
"Halo Of Blood" track listing:
01. Waste Of Skin 02. Halo Of Blood 03. Scream For Silence 04. Transference 05. Bodom Blue Moon (The Second Coming) 06. The Days Are Numbered 07. Dead Man's Hand On You 08. Damage Beyond Repair 09. All Twisted 10. One Bottle And A Knee Deep
Legendary actor Christopher Lee, who has appeared in such cinematic milestones as "Lord Of The Rings", "Star Wars", "The Man With The Golden Gun" and "Dracula", will release his second heavy meetal album, "Charlemagne: The Omens Of Death", on May 27 on audio CD, a two-disc gatefold vinyl and MP3 downloads.
"Charlemagne: The Omens Of Death" signifies Christopher Lee's move into "full-on" heavy metal.
The singer-actor's first solo affair into the metal genre was the critically acclaimed album "Charlemagne: By The Sword And The Cross" (2010), which was more symphonic than its successor.
Sir Christopher says: "The first 'Charlemagne' album is metal, of course, but what I sang was more symphonic. Now on the second one, 'The Omens Of Death', it is one hundred percent heavy metal. I've done my bits and pieces, and they are heavy metal. I'm not screaming or anything like that, but it is definitely heavy metal."
Lee also spoke about being presented with the "Spirit Of Hammer" prize by BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi at Metal Hammer magazine's Golden Gods awards in London in June 2010. Lee said: "It was a most amazing occasion for me — very exciting — and something I'd never had happen to me my whole career, my whole life, in terms of awards," he said. "I have received quite a few. But I was interviewed, actually in this room, by Tony Iommi, who founded BLACK SABBATH. And I hadn't heard them, but I made it a point [to do so]. [And] I thought it was extraordinary. And then I went to O2 [in London] in front of a fairly large crowd, I would say, all, of course, very young. And I got a greeting, which was really quite amazing. The decibel level was very high. Very high, very high."
The music in "Charlemagne: The Omens of Death" was arranged by Richie Faulkner. He completed the work shortly before he was called to join JUDAS PRIEST as lead guitarist.
Richie said: "Most of the songs were already there, but they needed riffs, drum parts and musical parts that reflected what the guys wanted — which was a metal record with an aim to be played live by a band. Some of the tracks didn't have any music at all and were just Sir Christopher singing his melodies. I remember how surreal it was sitting in my place at the time with Saruman blasting out over the speakers! I've no idea what the neighbours thought!"
Guitar idol champion Hedras Ramos Jr., is given the guitar duties in the album. Something of a daunting task, but he managed to pull it off.
Hedras said: "It was a lot of fun for me. I just had to listen a lot to IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST and all those guys — the old-school heavy metal, to absorb the sound and the flavour of this music. Composing the music for 'The Devil's Advocate' and 'The Ultimate Sacrifice' was quite a trip and tons of fun, because I was given total freedom to add my personal guitar approach to the album. This is a great album for all metal, fantasy and Christopher Lee fans!"
"Charlemagne: The Omens Of Death" track listing:
01. The Portent (4:29) 02. Charles The Great (6:23) 03. The Siege (7:09) 04. Massacre Of The Saxons (5:41) 05. Dawning Of A New Age (4:40) 06. Let Legend Mark Me As The King (5:45) 07. The Betrayal (5:02) 08. The Devil's Advocate (4:54) 09. The Ultimate Sacrifice (5:09) 10. Judgement Day (3:41)
Singers:
* Christopher Lee as Charlemagne (Ghost) * Vincent Ricciardi as Young Charlemagne * Phil S.P as Pippin The Short * Mauro Conti as Pope Hadrian * Lydia Salnikova as Hildegard * Gorgon Tittsworth as Roland * Aaron Cloutier as Duke Lop * Daniel Vasconcelos as Oliver
Musicians:
Electric Guitar: Hedras Ramos Jr. Bass Guitar: Hedras Ramos Sr. Drums: Ollie Usiskin
