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
Singer Terry Ilous of classic rockers GREAT WHITE was interviewed for the latest episode of the Japan's "Metal Moment" podcast. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.
GREAT WHITE — Mark Kendall (lead guitar), Scott Snyder (bass), Audie Desbrow (drums), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards) and Terry Ilous — took a different approach for their new video, for the "Elation" album track "Shotgun Willie's": they let their audience helm the clip.
Filmed over the course of this past March's Monsters Of Rock cruise, where the band headlined the floating rock festival, the "Shotgun Willie's" video encapsulates the vessel’s high energy and the five-piece band's bond. Check it out below.
"Elation" sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. Issued on May 22, 2012 via Frontiers Records, the 12-song CD marks GREAT WHITE's first effort with Ilous following the band's split with founding singer Jack Russell.
This version of GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with GREAT WHITE FEATURING JACK RUSSELL (formerly JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE), which features Russell alongside Robby Lochner (FIGHT) on guitar, Matthew Johnson (DOCTOR M, JACK RUSSELL) on guitar, Dario Seixas (FIREHOUSE, STEPHEN PEARCY) on bass and Derrick Pontier (GREAT WHITE, SAMANTHA 7) on drums.
GREAT WHITE released a live album, "30 Years - Live From The Sunset Strip", on February 22 in Europe and February 26 in North America via Frontiers Records.
To mark its 30th anniversary live on March 22, 2012, GREAT WHITE celebrated the only logical way — on stage. In a nod to its early days, GREAT WHITE returned to the infamous Sunset Strip, where a storied past of music's biggest fans are fused into the walls of the Key Club. GREAT WHITE delivered its entire repertoire to a packed house, pining for the band's raw energy and cheering its illustrious history track after track.
METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich is at the Cannes Film Festival in France, where he has done a couple of video interviews to talk about the band's movie, "Metallica Through The Never", which is due for release this fall. Ulrich is at the festival to help sell the film to international distributors.
Asked for his first impression of Cannes, Ulrich told Vulture.com: "It's insane. Everything that you thought it would be, times 10,000. I mean, it's great and it's overwhelming. Everything is just sort of accelerated and everything is exaggerated and it just moves so fast. The only bummer about the whole thing is I've come to the realization that when I leave Cannes in two days, I will not have seen a single film. And as a film fan, someone who's passionate about film, that kind of bums me out a little bit, because I was sitting with the schedule a couple days ago, like, 'I'm gonna see Noah Baumbach's new film ['Frances Ha'], I'm gonna see Lynn Shelton's new film ['Touchy Feely'], and I wanna see this film,' and it's just like, uggggghh. I wanted to see Sofia's film ['The Bling Ring'] last night. Actually had tickets for it.
"There's always something that comes up. There's another dinner I have to go to or some other interview I have to do. The one thing that I didn't realize about Cannes is that this place is basically all business. When you just hear about Cannes, you hear about movie stars walking down the red carpet. But that's not really Cannes. Cannes is business and financing and deals and distributions. The whole infrastructure of the movie business is here, and I didn't realize it was at that level, which is I guess also why I'm here, or why I was flown here. [laughs]"
Regarding METALLICA's current search for international distribution for the "Metallica Through The Never" film, Ulrich said: "What we're going for is independent distribution in each of the major territories. So we have Picturehouse [representing us] in America and then Exclusive Media representing us for the rest of the world. And what they do is go into each territory and get the best deal and hook up with the people that understand our film, that understand who METALLICA is.
"With each territory, it's different. We are fighting fiercely to keep this as independent as possible. We're financing the film ourselves. We're not taking any money, we don't owe anybody any favors or anything like that. This is as self-contained and autonomous as it gets around here, which is obviously a great thing. But because of that, then we have to micromanage more rather than just hand it over to one entity."
"Metallica Through The Never" will open on IMAX screens in the U.S. on September 27, with a wider release following on October 4. The movie stars Dane DeHaan has a member of the band's road crew who is sent on a mysterious mission while the group headlines a concert at an arena. The film is said to mix a conventional storyline with concert footage.
The latest episode of the "Dropping The Needle" podcast features an interview with brothers Carmine Appice (OZZY OSBOURNE, ROD STEWART, VANILLA FUDGE, JEFF BECK, GUITAR ZEUS, KING KOBRA) and Vinny Appice (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL). Check it out below.
"Dropping The Needle" is hosted by Michael Brandvold from Michael Brandvold Marketing and rock journalist Mitch Lafon. It is described as "the podcast where all music from all genres is discussed. New releases, classic albums, rediscovered music, signed and unsigned. No ass-kissing, just two guys talking about music."
Legendary rock drummer Carmine Appice (OZZY OSBOURNE, ROD STEWART, VANILLA FUDGE, JEFF BECK, GUITAR ZEUS, KING KOBRA) has enjoyed an amazing 30-year career as a rock star, music educator, and rock pioneer. He is widely considered to be one of the most accomplished showmen in rock and is the recipient of numerous awards, including dozens of gold and platinum selling records. Carmine co-wrote such monster-selling hits as "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" and "Young Turks". He has broken new ground in every aspect of his career as a performer, as a teacher, and as a writer, and he continues to inspire drummers and listeners throughout the world with his originality and his unwavering dedication to the art of drumming.
Vinny Appice has anchored the rhythm and power live and in the studio for the music of DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, WWIII, AXIS, Rick Derringer, John Lennon, and more. He has recorded and co-written songs on over 25 albums and CDs, including many multi-platinum records. Touring the world for over two decades resulted in selling millions of records! Vinny's drumming can also be heard on numerous movie soundtracks, including "Wayne's World 2", "Heavy Metal", "Iron Eagle" and "Bedazzled". Vinny, the author of drum instruction book "Rock Steady" and DVD "Hard Rock Drumming Techniques", has performed incredible powerhouse drum clinics around the globe. Numerous books have been written about BLACK SABBATH and DIO with the authors always mentioned Vinny's unique powerful drumming style!
Madrid, Spain-based symphonic metallers DARK MOOR will release their new album, "Ars Musica", on June 18 via Scarlet Records.
With the follow-up to their "Ancestral Romance" album, DARK MOOR have taken another step forward in their career, forging a more identifiable sound and expanding their songwriting in multiple directions. They still pay homage to the Spanish cultural heritage in songs such as "First Lance Of Spain", "Gara & Jonay" and "El Último Rey", but elsewhere they go more personal, still giving high priority to their trademark melodies and elaborate harmonies. Talented singer Alfred Romero offers his best performance to date, whilst orchestrations are less classical and more grandiose and epic.
"Ars Musica" was once again produced by Luigi Stefanini (RHAPSODY OF FIRE, LABYRINTH, VISION DIVINE).
A video for the song "The Road Again" was recently filmed in Madrid with El Ojo Mecánico Productions. Check out screenshots from the clip at this location.
Australian metallers PEGAZUS have announced the addition of vocalist Axel Winter to the group's ranks. Axel replaces Justin Fleming, who made an appearance by the band's latest CD, "In Metal We Trust".
Comments PEGAZUS guitarist and founding member Johnny Stoj: "Although we are laid-back Australian guys, we have always approached our music with 100% dedication, passion and loyalty. Heavy metal music and our fans deserve nothing less than that. This has always been like this for us and that will never change.
"When you are in a band, you have lots of commitments: you have to give 100% on and off stage, you have to keep improving yourself as a recording artist and entertainer, you have financial responsibilities, you have to be loyal to your bandmates and, of course, the fans, you have to be available for the band on all occasions ... I'm very thankful that we have found this all back again in Axel. He came on our path, we have been rehearsing and he fitted like a glove."
Adds Stoj: "We were already working on our next album and this process will only go faster now. So, you can expect new music and lots of touring. We are fired up, ready to go and the world will meet the Thunder From Down Under again very soon!"
British power metal mercenaries TANK recently tapped former DRAGONFORCE and current I AM I singer ZP Theart to front the band for their current shows while TANK's most recent vocalist, Doogie White (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, RAINBOW, CORNERSTONE), is out on tour and recording in the studio with Michael Schenker (ex-SCORPIONS, UFO).
Comments TANK guitarist Mick Tucker: "We thrive on bringing fresh blood into the band. It gives us a good kick in the ass and breathes new life into our songs.
"We've worked very hard over the past few years and have been rewarded with the success of our 'War Machine' and 'War Nation' albums and the release of our first official DVD, 'War Machine Live'.
"Bringing in a world-class vocalist like ZP is a great privilege for us and a real treat for metal fans."
Adds TANK guitarist Cliff Evans: "Mick and me have been playing together for a long time. We know what we want when it comes to making good music.
"We're very proud of the albums we made with Doogie and the response we received from the fans and press has proved that we are a band that can deliver the goods when it comes to it.
"We've been rehearsing with ZP this week and we can't wait to get on stage and do what we do best. Play British rock/metal the way it should be played."
On Saturday, May 18, TANK performed at the Rock Hard Festival in Germany. Evans states: "The Rock Hard show went very well. We definitely recruited many new fans and reinforced our position as one of the best British metal bands around at the moment."
The entire performance was streamed live online by "Rockpalast". And now you can watch a track recorded on that evening. "Judgement Day" is available at this location.
