The first of two clips featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the making of "The Sun Comes Out Tonight", the sixth studio album from the rock act FILTER, can be seen below. Due on June 4 via Wind-Up Records, the CD was recorded in Los Angeles at Blue Room studios with producer Bob Marlette (BLACK SABBATH, ATREYU, SALIVA). The follow-up to 2010's "The Trouble With Angels" was written and recorded by leader Richard Patrick and guitarist Jonny Radtke, as well as collaborator Marlette. There are also performances from touring members Jeff Friedl and Elias Mallin (drums) and Phil Buckman (bass).
The song "Surprise" can now be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.
"The Sun Comes Out Tonight" track listing:
01. We Hate It When You Get What You Want 02. What Do You Say 03. Surprise 04. Watch The Sun Come Out Tonight 05. It's Got To Be Right Now 06. This Finger's For You 07. Self Inflicted 08. First You Break It 09. Burn It 10. Take That Knife Out Of My Back 11. It's My Time 12. It's Just You
In a 2012 interview with "All Knowing Force", Patrick said about the songwriting process for the new CD, "One of the main things we set out to do, we said let's make a song with all the elements of 'Hey Man Nice Shot', and we sat there and it wrote itself." He added, "We didn't want to write the same bass line or guitar progression, but it had to be an amazing riff; let's start with that. The riff was so good, it's a two-bar pattern, and we throw guitar over it with drums and I scream and the bass line never changes, it's a nonstop bass line that never ever changes."
Regarding the inspiration for the new material, Patrick said, "We were talking about some of the things that are going on in my life; there's been a lot of betrayal from people surrounding me. So we were thinking 'Hey Man Nice Shot', that's something that describes a desperate man's actions and trying to make sense of it, almost like a joke. So we started talking about betrayal and we played around with the words 'Take That Knife Out of My Back' and all of a sudden this song just wrote itself."
On the topic of the overall direction of the new CD, Patrick said, "We have this beautiful record that starts off heavy and mean and then it goes back to the more moody, almost joyful parts of life. For me, the record that we always try to model is the 'Title Of Record' era — that sets the standard in how heavy and how light we can go. We just aspire to make the songs as good and I think the songwriting is superior, we just have to make sure the performances are as desperate and powerful as those crazy takes I did when I was kid."
Canadian grinders FUCK THE FACTS have posted a new song and video for the track "L'enclume Et Le Marteau" from their upcoming EP, "Amer". Animation for the clip was created by Phil Osborne who has also made videos for DAIQUIRI and THE SUN THROUGH A TELESCOPE.
"Amer" was recorded and mixed at FUCK THE FACTS' own Apartment 2 Recording studio by the band's guitarist Topon Das and mastered by Scott Hull (PIG DESTROYER, AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED) at Visceral Sound. The cover artwork was created by FUCK THE FACTS vocalist Mel Mongeon.
"Amer" track listing:
01. Une Triste Vue 02. Vent Du Nord 03. Panser La Plaie Au Lieu De Soigner Le Mal 04. A Void 05. Jour De Souffrance 06. L'enclume Et Le Marteau 07. Amère
"Amer" will be released independently on June 18 as a limited-edition 10-inch vinyl record, limited edition cassette and as a digital download.
VAN HALEN singer David Lee Roth has written and stars in a new short film where he takes on a group of Japanese thugs in a card game who try to take advantage of "the American" who they think can't speak English. Roth takes matters into his own hands as only Diamond Dave can do. Check out the bloody (but censored) video below.
Roth is a resident of Tokyo since May 2012 but maintains homes in New York City and Pasadena, California.
In a recent interview with Australia's Brisbane Times, the 57-year-old singer said: "I live in Tokyo and hang out with a girl half my age and it's no longer a legal issue. It was not an impulsive move to come here. We are in love and my girlfriend is Japanese."
ALMAH — the Brazilian metal band led by former ANGRA singer Eduardo "Edu" Falaschi — hs released another teaser for its upcoming as-yet-untitled fourth studio album.
The ALMAH bandmembers are currently finishing pre-production of new songs in a home studio of Falaschi, who states: "The new album will be more positive. While 'Motion' (2011) is a fucking heavy, tense and dark album, the new one will be hopeful with fast songs."
To keep fans updated on the recording process, Almah have launched a series of "making-of" videos. Edu comments: “The new album is almost ready; we are finishing the last songs now! We'd like to show you one part of a new song: it's a guitar duel with tapping and right now we are working at this idea! Very soon the whole new material will be ready for the recording!"
ALMAH's third studio album, "Motion", was released in Europe in October 2011 via AFM Records. The CD was recorded in May-June 2011 at Norcal Studios in São Paulo, Brazil and was mixed and mastered in July 2011 at Split Second Sound Studios in Amsterdam, Netherlands by Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES).
AC/DC fans worldwide seem to be moving one step closer to a film paying homage to their late Australian rock hero Bon Scott. In fact, it looks more like a giant leap forward.
Key production team members from High Voltage Productions Pty., the current controlling production company overseeing "Bon Scott - The Legend Of AC/DC", are slated to engage in talks this week with "one of the world's leading production and entertainment companies," according to a posting on the project's web site. The film project is a docudrama chronicling the career of late Aussie frontman Bon Scott, of AC/DC who died tragically at age 33 in 1980 after only six years with the band. Starring in the film is American singer/actor Rob Liotti, who is also the credited screenwriter.
Liotti is no stranger to things AC/DC as he has performed on stage as Bon Scott for many years. And although this is his first lead feature film role, it has been made apparent that he is a natural for the role. Also on board the High Voltage team is director J. R. Getches, who brings a great deal of vision and television experience. The production company also recently announced the addition of producer Michael Meltzer to its team. Also brought on board was entertainment lawyer Rhett Klok, who advises on business affairs.
MEGADETH kicked off its world tour earlier tonight (Wednesday, May 22) at Arenele Romane in Bucharest, Romania.
The bands setlist was as follows:
01. Trust 02. Hangar 18 03. Public Enemy No. 1 04. She-Wolf 05. Skin O' My Teeth 06. Countdown to Extinction 07. Architecture of Aggression 08. Sweating Bullets 09. Ashes In Your Mouth 10. A Tout Le Monde 11. Whose Life (Is It Anyways?) 12. Dawn Patrol 13. Poison Was The Cure 14. Super Collider 15. Symphony Of Destruction 16. Peace Sells
Encore:
17. Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
Fan-filmed video footage of the "Super Collider" performance can be seen below.
The track "Super Collider", which was premiered on Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio metal show on April 20, was released digitally on April 23 via iTunes.
"That song kind of came from that 'Symphony Of Destruction' corner of my mind," MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine told Guitar World magazine. "You can't always play aggressive, thrashy stuff. Sometimes those aren't even songs; they're like musical rams. But because I'm not a pop guy, I'm also not really comfortable playing sing-along songs. To me, 'Super Collider' made sense like a normal song — a verse-chorus-verse-chorus kind of thing. It's written the way a real songwriter would write the song, instead of just taking all these musical twists and turns."
The "Super Collider" album is scheduled for a June 4 release via Mustaine's new label, Tradecraft, which is distributed by Universal Music Enterprises (UMe). Other tracks set to appear on the effort include "Forget To Remember", "Dance In The Rain", "The Blackest Crow", "Burn", "Kingmaker" and "Don't Turn Your Back", a snippet of which can be streamed at MegadethGame.com.
"Super Collider" is MEGADETH's first release since the band's recent split with Roadrunner Records.
MEGADETH filmed a video for the title track and first single from the band's new album, "Super Collider", on May 10 in the Los Angeles area. California-based model, actress, singer and songwriter Hunter Elizabeth was cast in the lead role in the clip, which she says is "about a high-school couple still loving each other after all the years after graduation, and at the 10-year reunion, both characters find themselves successful (a model and a mathematician) and still very in love."
A few photos from the set of the "Super Collider" video shoot can be seen below. More pictures are available at this location.
As previously reported, MEGADETH will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Monday, June 17 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with MEGADETH by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). The show will be streamed on the "Rockline" web site for two weeks beginning the afternoon after the live broadcast.
SLAYER has commented on Westboro Baptist Church's plan to picket the public memorial celebration for the band's late guitarist Jeff Hanneman, which will be held May 23 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
The event — which will run from from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m — will be free and open to the public on a first-come, first-in basis (subject to venue capacity, which is listed at around 4,000 people). All ages are welcome, and paid parking will be available around the venue.
A new message on SLAYER's official Facebook page states: "Message to fans: Want to really piss off the Westboro Baptist Church at Jeff's memorial celebration? Do exactly what SLAYER members and family are going to do — totally ignore them. They don't exist. And then come inside and celebrate Jeff's life with us."
In a "news release" announcing its plans to picket Hanneman's memorial celebration, Westboro Baptist Church said: "Jeff Hanneman received his 'talent' from God. Indeed, his very breath of life was from God… Instead of being thankful and using his talents to glorify God, and warn the generation into which he was born to fear and obey God, Hanneman used this resource to encourage sin.
"In last week's Kerrang! magazine, Westboro Baptist Church explained why we will picket this memorial: to warn the living!
"Jeff made a mock of sin through SLAYER's music. No wonder God struck him down early in life.
"In the Kerrang! article, we also speak to the many threats from SLAYER fans.
"Hanneman had been out since 2011, recovering from necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease), but was finally slain May 2, 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. He was literally pickled in sin.
"God hates and casts down all your idols.
"Repent and obey God Almghty — otherwise HELL AWAITS!"
Westboro Baptist Church previously said that it would sing its "parody" of OZZY OSBOURNE's "Crazy Train" "at full voice" at Hanneman's funeral.
Members of the Westboro Baptist Church — the fringe group which continues to make headlines for its anti-gay protests at the funerals of U.S. soldiers regardless of their sexuality — first used lyrics from "Crazy Train" at events surrounding the October 2011 Snyder v. Phelps Supreme Court hearing. An attorney — a daughter of the church's founder, along with her sister — paraphrased lyrics from the song at a post-Supreme Court hearing press conference in Washington D.C.
The Westboro Baptist Church is described by the Wall Street Journal as a "tiny Kansas church… [that] … preaches that U.S. deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq are punishment for American's tolerance of homosexuality and abortion." As Examiner.com noted of the church, "their flamboyant demonstrations at the funerals of non-gay service members, using the events to highlight their belief that military deaths overseas are justified punishment for U.S. tolerance of homosexuality. ('You're Going to Hell,' 'Thank God for Dead Soldiers,' and 'God Hates You' are popular Westboro slogans.)."
Members of SLAYER released a statement on May 9 saying that Hanneman died of alcohol-related cirrhosis.
The guitarist had actually not been playing with SLAYER for more than two years since he contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, from a spider bite in his backyard in January 2011. The infection ravaged the flesh and tissues of Hanneman's arm, leading to numerous surgeries, skin grafts and intense periods of rehab that forced him into semi-retirement and left him near death at several points.
Hanneman's last appearance with SLAYER was in April 2011, when he played an encore with the band at the "Big Four" concert in Indio, California.
Hanneman recalled in a 2011 interview with Classic Rock magazine that he initially didn't even feel the spider bite, adding, "But an hour later, I knew that I was ill. I could see the flesh corrupting. The arm was real hot. I got to the emergency room, and thank god the nurse knew straight away what it was . . . At that point, I was an hour away from death."
For a long time, SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor seemed the most hesitant to get back into the studio and make a new album following the 2010 death of bassist Paul Gray. But with three years having passed since Gray's death, and with Taylor making three albums with STONE SOUR since then, the singer told The Pulse Of Radio that he thinks 2014 will finally be the year of the KNOT. "I know everybody is pretty keen on getting together and seeing what happens next year, so I mean, if it takes us a year to write an album, so be it," he said. "The main goal is to just get us in the room and just see what happens, you know. If we can get past that first day, I think it'll come together. Now that we're all kind of in better places in our lives and whatnot, it's making it a little easier to be excited about it again. It's just starting to feel like it's time."
SLIPKNOT has performed live over the past two years but has not recorded a new album since 2008's "All Hope Is Gone".
STONE SOUR issued "Audio Secrecy" in 2010, "House Of Gold & Bones - Part 1" last fall and "House Of Gold & Bones - Part 2" last month.
Taylor has also written two books, with the second one, "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Heaven (Or, How I Made Peace With The Paranormal And Stigmatized Zealots And Cynics In The Process)", due out on July 16 through Da Capo Press.
SLIPKNOT plays the Download festival in the U.K. on June 14 and the Graspop Metal Meeting festival in Belgium on June 29.
The official trailer for METALLICA's upcoming feature film, "Metallica Through The Never", can be seen below.
Award-winning filmmaker Nimród Antal ("Predators", "Kontroll") creates a groundbreaking 3-D motion picture event, "Metallica Through the Never". The music-driven feature film combines a bold narrative and spectacular live-performance footage of one of the most popular and influential rock bands in history to produce a bracing, raw and visceral cinematic experience. Emerging young star Dane DeHaan ("The Place Beyond thePines", "Kill Your Darlings", "The Amazing Spider-Man 2") portrays Trip, a youngroadie sent on an urgent mission during METALLICA's roaring live set in front of a sold-out arena.
As the band performs its most iconic songs for thousands of their fans in a never-before-seen performance created exclusively for the film, Trip is dispatched outside the arena to meet a disabled delivery truck and recover a mysterious item beingtransported to the show. But the seemingly simple assignment turns into a surreal adventure when his car is hit by an out-of-control driver. Trip, dazed and bruised, climbs out of his van only to find himself pitched in the middle of a tense standoff between angry protesters and charging riot police. In the ensuing mayhem, a vicious masked horseman sets his murderous eye on Trip while delivering indiscriminate deathblows to rioters and cops alike. Fleeing through the desolate, post-apocalyptic urban streetscape, Trip has only his wits toprotect him as he attempts to deliver the band's precious cargo and avoid becoming the horseman's next victim.
Featuring dazzling pyrotechnics, the most elaborate live-performance stage ever built and imagery drawn from the band's trailblazing iconography, the immersive 360-degree show creates a mind-bending, ear-shattering mirror image of the destruction and chaos of Trip's journey. "Metallica Through The Never"'s state-of-the-art 3-D photography, captured using up to 24 cameras simultaneously, engulfs audiences in one of the most innovative andexciting cinematic experiences ever imagined.
"Metallica Through The Never" will open on IMAX screens in the U.S. on September 27, with a wider release following on October 4.
METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich said about the filmmaking process, "Making a movie at this level has been a little overwhelming. In the music world, you get very used to controlling your environment and in the film world there is nothing to control . . . it's just like a complete clusterfuck . . . and there's a bizarre beauty in that."
All rockers can now enjoy a rosé wine that comes in a bottle full of attitude. Motörhead Shiraz Rosé has a massive rock'n'roll feeling to it and appeals to both the female and male rock audience.
Just like rock concerts, music festivals and BBQs, the absolute peak season for drinking rosé is during the summer months. Rosé is no longer looked down upon as the lightweight stepchild in the wine family, on the contrary, rosé wine is climbing in popularity everywhere.
Why, then, does a hard-rocking lifestyle band like MOTÖRHEAD make a rosé? The answer is as simple, straightforward and classic as the wine itself!
"Myself and the other band members have always liked drinking rosé, it's as simple as that," says MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee.
Made from 100% Shiraz, Motörhead Shiraz Rosé has a fruity, rich and flavorful taste with good spiciness. It is best served chilled and with foods such as quality charcuteries and cold cuts, which have both the saltiness and spice that makes rosé wine such a great accompaniment. It also works really well with grilled meats and spicy food, and, of course, on its own… with some Motörmusic in the background.
Name: Motörhead Shiraz Rosé Vintage: 2010/12 Grape composition: 100% Shiraz Origin: Southeastern Australia Bottles per case: 6
99.7 The Blitz conducted an interview with former ANTHRAX and current VOLBEAT guitarist Rob Caggiano 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.
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".
Jackson recently conducted an interview with Wayne Lozinak and Chris Beattie of Connecticut hardcore/metal masters HATEBREED. You can now watch the chat below.
HATEBREED's latest album, "The Divinity Of Purpose", sold 17,000 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, self-titled CD opened with 15,000 units back in 2009 to enter the chart at No. 37.
HATEBREED's "Supremacy" album premiered with around 27,000 copies in September 2006 to land at No. 31. This number was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "Rise Of Brutality", which shifted more than 32,000 copies in November 2003 to debut at No. 30.
HATEBREED's covers album, entitled "For The Lions", sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release in May 2009 to debut at position No. 58 on The Billboard 200 chart.
"The Divinity Of Purpose" was released on January 29 in North America via Razor & Tie and on January 25 in Europe through Nuclear Blast. The CD was co-produced by HATEBREED, Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SUICIDE SILENCE, ALL THAT REMAINS, SHADOWS FALL) and Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD), with Wilbur also handling mixing duties. The cover artwork was created and illustrated by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS, GWAR) and can be seen below.
Heather of Manchester Rocks conducted an interview with bassist Derek Boyer of New York death metal veterans SUFFOCATION prior to their May 15 performance at NQ Live (formerly Moho Live) in Manchester, England. You can now watch the chat below.
SUFFOCATION has recruited John Gallagher (DYING FETUS) to handle lead vocals on a number of shows this spring. Gallagher is filling in for SUFFOCATION's regular vocalist, Frank Mullen, who is unable to make the dates due to personal commitments.
"I'm stoked to be performing on several shows with longtime friends and my brothers in metal, SUFFOCATION," said Gallagher a couple of monts back. "It's going to be a blast and since I'll JUST be singing the vocals, they are going to be super sick and guttural. So make sure to come out and party with us and witness the brutality!"
"Pinnacle Of Bedlam", the new album from SUFFOCATION, has entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 58. The CD was released on February 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork was handled this time around by Raymond Swanland and can be found below.
As previousy reported, "Pinnacle Of Bedlam"sold 3,200 copies in the United States during its first week of release to land at position No. 152 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort 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.
"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" was produced by the band at Full Force Studios in New York with longtime collaborator Joe Cincotta. The mixing and mastering of the effort was handled by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, ARSIS, SUICIDE SILENCE).
"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" features 10 genre-defining-bone-crushing tracks and also marks the return of drummer Dave Culross, who previously played on the "Despise The Sun" EP. Founding member and former drummer Mike Smith also makes a special guest appearance on the re-recorded "Breeding The Spawn" track "Beginning Of Sorrow".
Sacramento, California's modern death metal juggernauts THE KENNEDY VEIL will enter NB Recording in Santa Rosa, California in June with producer/engineer Nick Botelho (ENIMUS, DEADLY REMAINS, HATCHET) to begin recording their debut full-length, "Trinity Of Falsehood", for a late 2013 release via Unique Leader Records.
Comments drummer Gabe Seeber: "*FINALLY! We're so excited to get into the studio to record 'Trinity Of Falsehood' this June.
"This album will be leaps beyond 'Sentence Of Their Conqueror' and will really showcase where the songwriting is going with future material.
"We've been working on this album for a long time now and it's exactly what we want it to be, so we can't wait to get it out there for everyone to hear!"
Added the band's new vocalist, Taylor Wientjes: "After collectively working on this album for the last two years, we are SUPER-stoked to hit the studio to record our debut album for Unique Leader Records. Not only are we ecstatic about recording, but to hit the road as well.
"THE KENNEDY VEIL got a small taste of touring, doing a few dates on the 'Bloodletting North America' tour with VALE OF PNATH, INANIMATE EXISTENCE, KAMIKABE, and the absolutely crushing GOROD. As the new guy and young blood in the band, I have to say that it was a surreal experience to be a part of. Meeting so many amazing people and talented musicians was incredible. It was a small preview of what's to come. We are ready to hit the road and show the metal community what we have to offer. Prepare yourselves!"
Former and current members of JUDAS PRIEST, ALICE COOPER, OZZY OSBOURNE and SCORPIONS are currently taking part in a week-long tour of Russia where they are playing classic songs from their respective bands under the banner ROCKSTAR.
In a video interview, Owens said about the ROCKSTAR project: "We all have such diverse backgrounds in so many different bands that we just want to get there and play WHITESNAKE and ALICE COOPER and DIO and PRIEST and GUNS N' ROSES. So I think this project is just to go play for the fans with this special show with all these songs and all these bands."
ROCKSTAR's tour kicked off on May 19 in Krasnodar, with stops in Rostov, Voronej, Penza and Saratov, before the tour ends May 28 in Moscow.
Fan-filmed video footage of the May 21 concert in Rostov can be seen below.
