Category: Hard Rock News
0 NEW RECORD LABEL FROM CARMINE APPICE TO UNLEASH INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM BY GUITAR MASTER ETHAN BROSH
GUITAR MASTER ETHAN BROSH UNLEASHES ‘LIVE THE DREAM’
Prepare to be amazed! Live the Dream, the upcoming all-instrumental album from guitar wunderkind Ethan Brosh, is due out March 4 on drumming legend Carmine Appice’s new label, Rocker Records LLC, and Brosh’s dazzling chops and limitless imagination as a player and composer will undoubtedly delight metal aficionados and fill them with awe.
An honest-to-goodness guitar hero, Brosh, who grew up in Israel, is a daring six-string acrobat who plays with fire and precision, never sacrificing technical proficiency for flashy showmanship – although his dynamic, fleet-fingered solos, furious riffs and complex acoustic figures are wildly entertaining. Having added to his already bulging bag of tricks, the Berklee College of Music graduate, now an instructor at the school, soars to new heights on Live the Dream, pushing the envelope with supernatural guitar wizardry and drawing up stunningly inventive musical designs that are wondrous to behold.
“Rocker Records and Carmine Appice are excited to be working with one of metal’s up-and-coming young stars,” said the label’s Michael Cusanelli.
They are not alone in their admiration. Mixed by Max Norman (Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth) and mastered by Bob Ludwig (Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Iron
Maiden), Live the Dream – with cover art painted by Joe Petagno – is progressive and intellectual in its construction, showcasing refined melodic sensibilities
and a maturing instinct for developing intricate and diverse harmonies. Live the Dream, an album Brosh began promoting last spring while touring in support of
Yngwie Malmsteen, finds Brosh quickly evolving as a songwriter, even going so far as to effectively experiment with flamenco, trading off nylon string and
full-on electric guitar parts in a completely unique and beguiling fashion while also employing the formidable talents of Megadeth’s Dave Ellefson in a way
nobody would expect.
Brosh used to be in the band Angels of Babylon with Ellefson, who appears on two Live the Dream tracks. Together again, they go nuclear on the track “Rude
Awakening.”
“The intent here was to create a heavy, in-your-face kind of tune with a real mean groove to it!” said Brosh, joined by bassist Alex Pierce and drummer Tyler
LeVander on Live the Dream. “I figured this tune could use the help of the greatest thrash metal bassist Dave Ellefson! I still can’t get over how huge
Ellefson’s bass intro sounds after the incredible mix of Max Norman!”
Brosh is just as enthused about the title track. “I feel this tune defines a lot of my guitar playing at this point in time,” he said. “It’s an epic tune that
combines some hard rock riffs that have lots of drive to them. I believe the beginning is a perfect introduction to this record and its dream concept!”
A product of an enjoyable creative process, “Space Invaders” is mind-blowing as well. “Since this is a guitar instrumental record after all, I figured I’d have
some fun with writing a tune that has a fast riff and lots of guitar harmonies, etc., etc. … I’m really proud of the way it came out because I feel the melodies
came out strong in the end,” said Brosh. “To me, that’s really important. People seem to respond really well to this one when we play it live. Maybe it’s because
it has too many nooooooootes!”
It’s a good bet they’ll embrace “Clean Slate,” too.
“The tune started as a guitar only idea,” said Brosh. “It developed through time. When I sit at the edge of the stage and play this tune, it is an intimate
moment between the audience and me, regardless of the crowd size. Once the band joins in with a big bang, it really hits the listener hard! I think we managed
to capture that vibe very well on the record, too. I have a feeling this will be a tune that stands out for people!”
Below is the track listing for Live the Dream:
Track listing:
1. Live the Dream
2. Forbidden Pleasure
3. Bottomless Pit
4. Knock on Wood
5. Space Invaders
6. Suspicious Exchange
7. Rude Awakening
8. Dawn of an Old Era
9. Clean Slate
10. Silver Lining
11. Up the Stairway
12. When Picks Fly
13. Crying Moon
For more information on Ethan Brosh, visit www.ethanbrosh.com
0 VICIOUS RUMORS Announce New Lineup and News for 2014
Heavy Metal Giants VICIOUS RUMORS start a new chapter and welcome new band members Nick Holleman on lead vocals, Tilen Hudrap on bass guitar and welcome back Bob Capka on guitar.
Nick, a native of Holland, has a powerful melodic voice with great range and tone. A natural talent with high octane stage presence and endless sustain. VR fans old and new were stunned by his performance on the last tour in the USA. Nick was hired on the spot after band leader Geoff Thorpe saw a video on Youtube!” I just imagined him singing our songs and it works perfectly. Once we met and the chemistry was right I realized I found the right guy for the job!”
Tilen is a native of Slovenia. After a series of auditions, Tilen was hired last summer to fill in on tour. The band liked his aggressive playing and monster stage presence so much that he was invited to join the band as a full time member after his first show in July. Tilen already played 2 world tours with the band (Europe and USA, 50 shows) and appears in the newest video for the title track off the current album “Electric Punishment”.
VR welcomes back Bob Capka, who played on the highly acclaimed ” Electric Punishment” CD and has been on 3 tours in Europe and the USA. Bob brings shredding solos and riffs as well as a hunter’s killer attitude to the stage show.
Original members guitar player Geoff Thorpe and drummer Larry Howe are proud to officially announce that this killer new line-up has already recorded a new live album!
The legendary institution that is Vicious Rumors is stronger and faster than ever. After eighty shows on tour in 2013, the new VR line-up has recorded the massive “Live U to Death 2 American Punishment”. VR has captured the power and precision with classics that have never been recorded live. “Towns on Fire”, “Worlds and Machines”, “Master Mind”, “World Church”, “You Only Live Twice”, to name a few. Thirteen tracks in total. The album was recorded during the “American Punishment Tour” in the United States of America in Sept/Oct 2013.
Four albums in four years the mighty, VR ball is sharper then ever. Upcoming tours include European summer festivals,a South America Tour in September/October and also Australian/New Zealand shows in 2014′. Vicious Rumors will play the “70.000 Tons of Metal” festval cruise this year from January 27th – January 31st playing the whole “Digital Dictator” album in its entirety for the first time ever!
Don’t miss VR’s epic Heavy Metal Attack… “Live U to Death 2 American Punishment” on SPV/Steamhammer to be released early 2014. Look for VR on Tour as the ball rolls through your town in the 2014.
0 LYNCH MOB ANNOUNCES WYNTER 2014 WEST COAST TOUR; THADEUS GONZALEZ (EX-ELECTRIC SISTER) JOINS AS VOCALIST
Lynch Mob will rock the west coast in February, delivering classic favorites and tracks from the latest record while introducing a new vocalist for the diversely-pedigreed band.
For twelve years with Dokken, George Lynch was able to develop a groundbreaking brand of guitar virtuoso that would also earn a Grammy nomination. In the early 1990s, Lynch launched his own project, Lynch Mob, which harnessed the talent of rock’s best players and released several well-received records, from 1990s WICKED SENSATION to the most recent UNPLUGGED. Tracks like “Wicked Sensation,” “River of Love” and “Tangled in the Web” have solidified George Lynch’s position on Guitar World’s list of Greatest Guitarists Of All Time. Live, Lynch Mob is described as desert- infused blues-based rock with a penchant for extended improvising, harkening back to the glorious jam days of the late 60′s and early 70′s.
“…a guitar hero by anyone’s standards.” Legendary Rock Interviews
“…one of the most gifted musicians on the planet…” Rock Music Star
Lynch’s current work also includes the film “Shadow Nation,” which explores a hybrid way of life, merging modern society with the ancient practices of people who have lived in harmony with the land for thousands of years; native American Indians. The film reveals its message through the journey of a group of renowned musical artists as they share their rock music on a road trip through Indian reservations of the southwest. http://shadowtrainmovie.com/synopsis/ He has also teamed with Arcane Inc. to create a new signature series of Mr. Scary guitar pickups http://mrscaryguitars.com/pickups/.
The current iteration of Lynch Mob is an unusual combination of rock backgrounds. Bassist Kevin Baldes is an original member of the Orange County alternative rock band Lit. Lit’s platinum album A PLACE IN THE SUN spawned three top ten hits including “My Own Worst Enemy.” He’s also played with Sugarcult, MEST and Good Man Down. Jimmy D’Anda is on drums. With L.A. based rock band BulletBoys and its hit “Smooth Up In Ya,” he earned a Gold album and toured the world with rock’s biggest acts.
Being introduced on this tour is new vocalist Thadeus Gonzalez. With Oakland-based Electric Sister, Tad enjoyed critical acclaim from not only the release of THE LOST ART OF ROCK & ROLL, but also supporting gigs with KISS/Motley Crue, Slash, Black Label Society, and Danko Jones. He’s been called “a frontman to watch” and “a definitive rock ‘n’ roll voice.”
Confirmed dates for the Lynch Mob Wynter 2014 tour include:
2/13 Vamp’d Las Vegas, NV
2/14 Whisky A Go Go Hollywood CA
2/15 Brick By Brick San Diego CA
2/19 El Corazon Seattle WA
2/20 Tonic Lounge Portland OR
2/21 The Boardwalk Orangevale CA
2/22 M15 Concert Bar Corona CA
2/23 910 Live Tempe AZ
0 ROTR: Guns N’ Roses, Avenged Sevenfold and Kid Rock Top 2014 Festival Bill
ROCK ON THE RANGE 2014
EXPANDS TO THREE FULL DAYS
GUNS N’ ROSES, AVENGED SEVENFOLD AND KID ROCK
TOP BILL OF MORE THAN 60 ACTS AFTER SELL-OUT IN 2013
PERFORMERS FOR AMERICA’S PREMIER ROCK FESTIVAL
MAY 16, 17 & 18 AT OHIO’S COLUMBUS CREW STADIUM
INCLUDE FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, SLAYER, STAIND, MOTORHEAD,
SEETHER, CHEVELLE, ALTER BRIDGE, MASTODON AND MANY MORE
Following last year’s expansion to include three nights of music, America’s premier rock festival–ROCK ON THE RANGE–has once again upped the ante by growing to three full days of music for this year’s annual event, May 16, 17 & 18 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH.
Featuring headlining sets from Guns N’ Roses, Avenged Sevenfold and Kid Rock, the lineup includes more than 60 of the World’s hardest rocking acts including: Five Finger Death Punch, Slayer, Staind, Motorhead, Seether, Chevelle, Alter Bridge, Mastodon, Black Label Society, Killswitch Engage and many more (the full line-up is below). Beyond the expanded musical offerings, this year’s festival will include the return of ROTR Comedy Tent, featuring Jim Breuer, Jim Florentine and many up-and-coming comedians.
Weekend passes including Field GA, Stadium GA, hotel and VIP packages and a stadium 4-pack go on sale Friday, January 24 at 10:00 AM (ET). Additional details about the variety of ticketing, hotel and camping packages can be found at RockOnTheRange.com. Visit the website, http://www.facebook.com/rockontherange and http://www.twitter.com/rockontherange for the most up-to-date information.
Some of the ROTR 2014 artists weigh in with their thoughts on performing this coming May:
“We are so honored to be headlining Rock on the Range. We take pride in our show and always try to outdo ourselves from the time before. Rock on the Range will be the perfect place to celebrate with our fans from all over the world and put on the killer show that they have come to expect from us. We are pulling out all the stops.”
–M. Shadows, Avenged Sevenfold
“We have had legendary shows at ROTR. We always try to arrange our tour schedules so we can be part of this festival. It’s just a must do. Rock On The Range has become a destination event where people travel to from all over the country, if not all over the world.”
–Zoltan, Five Finger Death Punch
“Super excited to be a part of Rock On The Range this year!! I think it’s awesome to have an edgy band like Slayer on board for this round. Can’t wait to hit the stage!!!”
–Kerry King, Slayer
The full ROTR 2014 Line-Up:
Guns N’ Roses, Avenged Sevenfold, Kid Rock, Five Finger Death Punch, Slayer, Staind, Motorhead, Seether, Chevelle, Alter Bridge, Mastodon, Black Label Society, Killswitch Engage, Bring Me The Horizon, Theory of a Deadman, Down, Black Stone Cherry, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience, Pop Evil, Of Mice & Men, Adelitas Way, Trivium, Gojira, Suicidal Tendencies, The Pretty Reckless, We Came as Romans, Fuel, Redlight King, Miss May I, Reignwolf, Thousand Foot Krutch, Texas Hippie Coalition, Rev Theory, Skindred, Kyng, Fozzy, Heaven’s Basement, Butcher Babies, Nothing More, Exodus, King 810, Devour the Day, We As Human, We Are Harlot, Kvelertak, Jim Breuer Band, One OK Rock, Twelve Foot Ninja, Avatar, WERM, Monster Truck, Wilson, Crobot and Truckfighters with comedians Jim Breuer, Jim Florentine and more.
“Sure it’s important to do this festival for the bands, but mostly we do it for the incredibly loyal rock fans…They truly are the lifeblood of Rock on the Range, and it’s really all about the value proposition to them,” commented Joe Litvag, Co-Executive Producer of ROTR for AEG Live. “So now we come with GnR, Avenged Sevenfold, Kid Rock and more than 60 other amazing bands starting at $99 to deliver on our commitment of ‘value’ to rock fans everywhere…It’s going to be an unforgettable weekend!”
“When ROTR sold out last year we knew the bar had to be raised. With these headliners along with Five Finger Death Punch, Slayer, Motorhead, Staind, Seether and so many more, there is no doubt now that Rock On The Range has become THE #1 rock festival.” said Gary Spivack, Co-Executive Producer of ROTR. “And since year one, Monster Energy has been a partner at the festival and we are excited to announce their expanding support; their dedication to the genre as well as breaking new artists is second to none.”
“Rock on the Range has emerged as a powerhouse event for our organization, the City of Columbus and rock fans from around the country,” said Columbus Crew President Mark McCullers. “We have invested in some significant facility improvements that will add to the Ranger experience and this year’s event will be another blockbuster show.”
Presented by Danny Wimmer Presents, AEG Live and Crew Stadium, ROCK ON THE RANGE is a multi-stage music and lifestyle event featuring a potent lineup of bands on three stages and is proud to be sponsored by Monster Energy, who return as the Main Stage sponsor; Crazy Dave’s Music Experience (an interactive exhibit that features all the elements that are involved in making music in in a professional band setting); the Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands Contest (launching this Spring for your chance to play the stage at ROTR).
The nationally renowned festival, part of the World’s Loudest Month Festival Series, is centrally located in the heart of the country and has annually drawn huge weekend crowds since its inception in 2007, including a sold-out crowd of over 103,000 fans in 2013.
0 New Video – Gus G – My Will Be Done;New Album “I Am The Fire” Coming March 18th
GUS G. Premieres “My Will Be Done” Music Video
Debut Solo Album ‘I AM THE FIRE’ Set For March 18 Release
Lead Single “I Am The Fire (featuring DEVOUR THE DAY)”
To Be Released Digitally February 25
NAMM Signings And Performance Announced
Guitar virtuoso GUS G., well known in rock and metal circles for his work as OZZY OSBOURNE’s guitarist and as leader of his own band FIREWIND, is proud to announce the March 18, 2014 release of his debut solo album ‘I AM THE FIRE’ in North America. The album will be released internationally on Century Media Records, and will come out March 17 in Europe.
A first song from the album can now be heard via the video for the album’s opening track “My Will Be Done (featuring Mats Levén)”, which was produced by Patric Ullaeus / revolver.se [Within Temptation, In Flames, Lacuna Coil].
You can watch the video here:
Says GUS G. of the song and album: “I hope you all enjoy the first taste of things to come. ‘My Will Be Done’ is a cool rock track with a modern edge to it… Looking back, I can’t believe all the great musicians that got on board for this album. Everybody brought in their unmistakable style and talent and they really lifted the songs! Check it out and enjoy the music!”
GUS G. will be attending the 2014 NAMM convention, which runs January 23 – 26, 2014, in Anaheim, CA. In addition to signing sessions at ESP Guitars [January 24, 2pm] and Blackstar Amps [January 25, 1pm], Gus will also appear as guest at the RANDY RHOADS REMEMBERED tribute concert at The Observatory in Santa Ana, January 25. Other guests include Nuno Bettencourt [Extreme / Rihanna], Phil Demmel [Machine Head], Marty Friedmann, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal [Guns N' Roses] and more.
Gus handles all guitar, bass and keyboards on ‘I AM THE FIRE’, and is joined by a roster of friends and guests that help bring his vision to fruition: drummers JEFF FRIEDL [A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, Devo] and DANIEL ERLANDSSON [Arch Enemy], bassists DAVID ELLEFSON [Megadeth], BILLY SHEEHAN [Mr. Big, David Lee Roth] and MARTY O’BRIEN [Tommy Lee, We Are The Fallen], and vocalists MATS LEVEN [Clandesmass, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen/Therion], BLAKE ALLISON [Devour The Day], MICHAEL STARR [Steel Panther], ALEXIA RODRIGUEZ [Eyes Set To Kill], TOM S. ENGLUND [Evergrey], JACOB BUNTON [Adler] and JEFF SCOTT SOTO [Trans-Siberian Orchestra, ex-Journey].
‘I AM THE FIRE’ was mixed by Jay Ruston [Anthrax, Stone Sour, Steel Panther] and was recorded between Los Angeles and Gus’ home country of Greece through the latter half of 2013. A few of the album’s tracks include “Eyes Wide Open,” “Redemption,” “End Of The Line” and “Blame It On Me.” The album showcases a well-balanced mix of active rock, classic hard rock, traditional metal and guitar-driven instrumentals, taking listeners on a diverse journey and opening doors to GUS G.’s soulful playing.
The album’s first commercial single – title track “I Am The Fire (featuring DEVOUR THE DAY)” – will be released digitally February 25 in North America.
GUS G. has had an amazing rise within the worldwide rock and metal scenes and has amassed an impressive body of work, both in studio and touring. He emerged as an up-and-coming talent with the groups DREAM EVIL [Sweden], MYSTIC PROPHECY [German] and NIGHTRAGE [Greece], but it is his work with his own band FIREWIND (who have released seven studio albums and two live releases) and as a member of OZZY OSBOURNE’s band that have helped him emerge as one of the world’s top metal and rock guitarists. His work on OZZY’s ‘Scream’ album led to a Grammy nomination in 2010, and his list of accolades includes Guitar Player Magazine’s Best Metal Guitarist, the Dimebag Darrell Shredder award at the Metal Hammer UK Golden Gods Awards, and Metal Hammer Greece Best Guitarist on four separate occasions.
GUS G. online:
0 James LaBrie releases digital EP, “I Will Not Break” Today via InsideOut Music
Following up on the success of his recent studio album, “Impermanent Resonance”, Dream Theater’s James LaBrie released a 9 song Digital EP entitled “I Will Not Break” today.
Check out the EP’s title-track “I Will Not Break” in a static video via the IOM YouTube channel below:
TRACK LISTING:
1. I Will Not Break (3:52)
2. Unraveling (3:31)
3. Why (3:45)
4. Coming Home (Alternate Mix) (4:23)
5. Jekyll Or Hyde (Demo) (3:48)
6. Just Watch Me (Demo) (4:17)
7. I Tried (Jason Miller Re-mix) (5:13)
8. Over The Edge (Mutrix Re-mix) (4:33)
9. Euphoric (NeonGenesis Re-mix) (4:41)
James LaBrie online:
www.jameslabrie.com
www.facebook.com/officialjameslabrie
www.myspace.com/officialjameslabrie
0 Circle of Witches Signs With Metal Tank Records
Metal Tank Records signed the Italian Stoner / Rock sensation CIRCLE OF WITCHES. The band will release their upcoming album entitled “Rock the Evil” on February 15, 2014.The first preview from the album has been posted on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCJEEP2wvbk
0 Kruk – Re-issue of the band’s debut album out in February & new album in mid 2014
As previously announced, Metal Mind Productions will re-release the debut album by the best Polish hard rock band – Kruk. The album entitled “Before He’ll Kill You” was first released in 2009 and now will be available again in a new digipak edition enriched with three bonus tracks recorded live in 2011. The release date is scheduled for February, 24th in Europe and March, 11th in North America (via MVD). The album should be interesting for fans of such big Artists as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath or DIO.
Today, you can watch the video promoting the album. “Lady Chameleon” video is available on the band’s official channel on YouTube in THIS location.
In mid-January, the band will enter the studio to record material for a new, fourth album which will be released by Metal Mind Productions later this year. More information coming soon!
Tracklist:
1. Lady Chameleon
2. Be a Dream
3. The Guillotine
4. Reality (It’s A Foolish Cry)
5. The Escape
6. Dream Just A Dream
7. Paranormal Power Lasts
8. Out Of The Body
9. Before He’ll Kill You
2. Be a Dream
3. The Guillotine
4. Reality (It’s A Foolish Cry)
5. The Escape
6. Dream Just A Dream
7. Paranormal Power Lasts
8. Out Of The Body
9. Before He’ll Kill You
Bonus tracks:
10. Be A Dream (live)
11. Rzeczywistość (live)
12. Knocking At Your Back Door (Deep Purple cover) (live)
10. Be A Dream (live)
11. Rzeczywistość (live)
12. Knocking At Your Back Door (Deep Purple cover) (live)
The band was formed in 2001 by Piotr Brzychcy and Krzysztof Walczyk. The band members were heavily inspired by Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Uriah Heep and it was these influences that shaped Kruk’s music, placing it within a classic rock framework. In 2006 Kruk recorded the album “Memories” with Grzegorz Kupczyk (Ceti’s & ex-Turbo’s vocalist). The album was a tribute to the aforementioned bands. In the next years, Kruk followed their own path and managed to forge their own sound. Their proper debut album entitled “Before He’ll Kill You”, released in 2009, was well received both by media and by music fans. The year 2011 marked the release of their second studio album. Doogie White (ex.Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen, Tank) made guest appearance on “It Will Not Come Back”. The album was enthusiastically reviewed both in Poland and overseas. Kruk supported such legends of rock as Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Graham Bonnet, ex-singer from Rainbow, and Michael Schenker Group. In 2012 Kruk released their latest album “Be3”. Piotr Brzychcy commented on the title of the new album: “’Be3′ is a reflection of what is happening in our music and in ourselves. We are here now, we write music, we play it, we’re releasing another album, we love doing it and, most importantly, we are free to do so. It’s a kind of a manifesto which says – we do not want to change that state.”
In 2014 the band plan to release their new studio album.
In 2014 the band plan to release their new studio album.
Kruk – Official website:
www.kruk.art.pl/
www.kruk.art.pl/
0 BACK FROM ASHES RELEASE NEW SINGLE “RIZEN”
As one life cycle ends another one begins. They are back and ready to “Spread The Ashes”
Back From Ashes is proud to announce a new track to kick in 2014. Their new single called “RIZEN” was engineered and produced by Byron Filson of Villian Recording Studio.. It is the first track completed with their new singer Billy “Zane” Muna and drummer Bobby Anderson.
Check it out at the link below.
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/backfromashes/song/19743914-rizen
This is one the heavier aggressive tracks that will be on the new EP scheduled to be completed & released this by summer 2014.
Back From Ashes members include:
Billy “Zane” Muna – Vocals
Mike Butikofer – Guitar
Anthony DeJesus – Guitar
David DiGilio – Bass
Bobby Anderson – Drums
For more information visit: www.backfromashes.com
0 Black Sabbath The Complete Studio Albums 1970-1978: Now Available Exclusively On The iTunes Store
BLACK SABBATH THE COMPLETE STUDIO ALBUMS 1970-1978
GO DIGITAL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE U.S.—
EXCLUSIVELY ON THE iTUNES STORE
FEATURES ALL THE CLASSIC WORKS FROM THE ORIGINAL BLACK SABBATH LINEUP
HERALDED REUNION TOUR CONTINUES IN 2014
WITH UPCOMING DATES IN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE
When Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Terry “Geezer” Butler and Bill Ward formed Black Sabbath in 1969, they created a signature sound that set the blueprint for heavy music and influenced generations of disciples for years to come. For the first time, the full catalog from the original Black Sabbath lineup is now available digitally in the U.S. and has been mastered specifically for iTunes, ensuring the delivery of the music to listeners with increased audio fidelity, more closely replicating what the artists, recording engineers, and producers intended. Available exclusively on the iTunes Store worldwide (www.iTunes.com/BlackSabbath), fans now have the ability to download all albums in one newly created bundle (THE COMPLETE STUDIO ALBUMS 1970-1978), eight legendary studio albums, two classic compilations, or simply purchase each song individually.
“It’s about f**king time the first eight Black Sabbath albums were made available on iTunes in the U.S.,” said Ozzy Osbourne.
“Great news, been a long time trying to explain to fans why the music wasn’t available,” Tony Iommi commented.
“It’s going to be great to finally have the catalogue accessible on iTunes,” Geezer Butler notes.
BLACK SABBATH: THE COMPLETE STUDIO ALBUMS 1970-1978 features the band’s collected studio works for Warner Bros. Records from the 1970’s, including their iconic eponymous debut (1970), the multi-platinum landmark Paranoid (1970), the platinum albums Master Of Reality (1971), Vol. 4 (1972), and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973), and the gold-certified Sabotage (1975), Technical Ecstasy (1976), and Never Say Die! (1978). Also available is their classic 1976 compilation We Sold Our Soul For Rock ‘N’ Roll as well as 2006’s Greatest Hits 1970-1978, which was released in connection with their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
Following wildly successful shows in North and South America, Australia, Asia and Europe, Black Sabbath will kick off another North American tour with dates starting March 31 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The trek will hit ten cities in Canada, including stops in Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton, before wrapping April 26 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA. These dates will be part of the band’s final shows of their 2013-2014 world tour in support of their first studio album in 35 years, 13, which entered the charts at #1 in 13 countries (including their first #1 in the U.S.). Another run of European festivals and headlining shows will follow this summer.
First formed in Birmingham, England, Black Sabbath’s doom-laden sound pioneered a new kind of heavy rock music, a sound that would later influence hundreds of other bands. Many consider Black Sabbath to be the godfathers of heavy metal, but Sabbath were capable of surprising their fans with songs that showed other facets of their skills besides darkness and monstrous decibels. Thirty years after their initial impact, guitarists are still stunned by Tony Iommi’s jaw-dropping riffs, Geezer Butler’s swooping bass lines, and Bill Ward’s thunderous drums. And, of course, in Ozzy Osbourne the band had one of the most magnetic and unpredictable front men ever in rock, with a maniacal voice like few others before or since.
BLACK SABBATH Titles now available at iTunes: www.itunes.com/BlackSabbath
Black Sabbath (1970)
Paranoid (1970)
Master Of Reality (1971)
Vol. 4 (1972)
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)
Sabotage (1975)
Technical Ecstasy (1976)
We Sold Our Soul For Rock ‘N’ Roll (1976)
Never Say Die! (1978)
Greatest Hits 1970-1978 (2006)
The Complete Studio Albums 1970-1978 (2014)
0 IN THIS MOMENT Preview ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ Live DVD With Release Of “Beautiful Tragedy” Footage
IN THIS MOMENT Preview ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ Live DVD With Release Of “Beautiful Tragedy” Footage
‘BLOOD’ Special Edition With Bonus ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ Live DVD On-Sale January 21 In North America
Exclusive Pre-Sale Packages Available Now At CM DISTRO
THE HELLPOP II Tour Underway With
BUTCHER BABIES, DEVOUR THE DAY & ALL HAIL THE YETI
“WHORE” Remix EP On-Sale Now Digitally
Band To Set Sail On SHIPROCKED Cruise January 26
With the January 21 release of ‘BLOOD’ Special Edition only a week away, IN THIS MOMENT are offering a taste of the two-disc set online – watch “Beautiful Tragedy” from the bonus ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ live DVD here:
watch here:
The ‘BLOOD’ Special Edition package is set for a January 21, 2014 release in North America and includes a bonus cover of the NINE INCH NAILS track “Closer” on the ‘BLOOD’ CD, and a live DVD featuring a full 100-minute concert shot in Madison, WI, earlier this year, behind the scenes footage and interviews. In Europe, ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ will be released February 17 as a limited edition standalone DVD, and digitally in an audio-only format.
CLICK HERE to watch the official ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ trailer.
In North America, the album will be available in the following formats:
- ‘BLOOD’ Special Edition CD with ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ DVD (on saleJanuary 21)
- ‘BLOOD’ Special Edition CD with ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ BLU-RAY (on saleJanuary 21 exclusively at Best Buy)
- ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ digital audio release (on sale January 21)
- ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ digital video release (on sale February 18)
- ‘BLOOD’ Special Edition CD with ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ DVD pre-sale packages including exclusive merchandise (available only at CM Distro)
Exclusive pre-sale bundles including long-sleeve IN THIS MOMENT shirts, a tank dress for women, and 7″ “Blood” singles are on sale now - CLICK HERE to view.
3 M3 Rock Festival Announces 2014 Roster!
The 2014 M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, MD have announced their lineup, and it is a great one! The M3 Rock Festival takes place April 25th and 26th in Columbia, MD. Tickets go on sale January 17th. More details at m3rockfest.com.
0 FREE DOWNLOAD From Jake E. Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel!!
Get a FREE DOWNLOAD of the track “Feeder” from Jake E. Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel!! Just head to the Noise Trade website to grab a copy: http://www.noisetrade.com/reddragoncartel/feeder “Feeder” features Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander on vocals.
0 MOTÖRHEAD to Perform at COACHELLA 2014 on Sunday, April 13th and Sunday, April 20th
MOTÖRHEAD to Perform at COACHELLA 2014 on Sunday, April 13th and Sunday, April 20th
The world’s biggest and baddest Rock and Roll band of all time comes to COACHELLA in 2014!
MOTÖRHEAD is excited and getting ready to go back out on the road!
MOTÖRHEAD’s new album Aftershock can be ordered now in Limited Edition Digipack format via Amazon.com at this link. The album is also available in regular CD format and vinyl (gatefold – 180-Gram Single LP).
Aftershock is one of MOTÖRHEAD’s best-selling and highest-charting albums in 20 years, debuting at #22 on the Billboard Top 200. The band is honored on numerous “Best Of 2013” lists:
New Noise Magazine – #2
FullMetalRock.com – #3
Loudwire.com – #5 (Best Song)
Noisecreep.com – #5
Village Voice – #7
Loudwire.com – #7
MetalAssault.com – #15
UltimateClassicRock.com – #10
Guitar World Magazine – #18
COACHELLA 2014 will take place on April 11-13 and April 18-20 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
0 Monster Truck – Extensive Touring With Buckchery And Then Alter Bridge Announced
Monster Truck is confirmed to appear as direct support for Alter Bridge on a USA coast-to-coast run. The 12-date tour will begin on April 14 in Dallas, TX and end on a to be announced date in May. The initial announced appearances on the itinerary are cited below.
Monster Truck was fortunate to appear as support for Slash when they first set their sights on the U.S. market. The guitarist shared, “Monster Truck is one of the few really down to earth rock n roll bands I’ve heard in the last couple of years. Hard, soulful & heavy.” Singer Myles Kennedy, who enjoys a prolific career as front man in Slash’s ensemble as well as being the vocalist of Alter Bridge, took an interest in Monster Truck. That relationship, and outspoken support, was the primary driver in delivering this run with two bands sharing the stage. Monster Truck guitarist Jeremy Wildman offers, “We are extremely excited to tour with one of the top rock acts in America and even happier to rejoin the road with our good friend Myles. See ya soon!” Vocalist and Bassist Jon Harvey adds, “Looking forward to watching many stellar shows by the Alter Bridge boys. Watch out America! A real rock ‘n roll tour is on the way!”
Monster Truck and Dine Alone Records have selected “The Lion” as the follow-up single to their debut hit “Sweet Mountain River” from the album, FURIOSITY. The lyric video premiered on GuitarWorld.com and can be viewed here: http://www.guitarworld.com/exclusive-monster-truck-premiere-lyric-video-lion. “Sweet Mountain River” received support, in the US, from rock stations across the country. In Canada, the song achieved the milestone of becoming #1 at the Active Rock, and Mainstream Rock, for eight consecutive weeks. The follow-up track, “The Lion” stood at the top of the Canadian rock charts for six weeks, with an impact date planned for U.S. radio in early 2014.
Monster Truck took home the 2013 Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of The Year, toured their home country of Canada with Alice In Chains, and established themselves as a major headlining attraction. In the U.S., the band has been very active, appearing with Kid Rock, Slash, Guns ‘n Roses, Sevendust, and others, performing for hundreds of thousands of rock fans over the course of this year. Overseas, the band appeared on a 29-date run of Europe supporting Vista Chino (formerly Kyuss). In March, 2014, Monster Truck return to Europe as headliners of the “Lords of the Riff, Volume 1″ tour in association with Classic Rock and Metal Hammer Magazines.
The band has been filmed extensively as they travel the globe, and recently premiered a short-form documentary capturing their essence. It can be streamed here: http://youtu.be/IYLkY4mxcdk
Hailing from Ontario, Canada, Monster Truck was formed in 2009 by Jon Harvey (bass, lead vocals), Jeremy Widerman (guitar, vocals), Brandon Bliss (organ, vocals) and Steve Kiely (drums, vocals). What began as a side-project to their other more ‘serious’ bands quickly gained momentum and took on a life of its own. The band has released 2 EPs since their inception; a self-titled, and notably self-released EP produced by Gus Van Go & Werner F (The Stills, Priestess, Hollerado) and The Brown EP (also produced by Ratz) on Dine Alone Records.
Produced by Eric Ratz (Three Days Grace) at Vespa Studios in Toronto and Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC, FURIOSITY showcases Monster Truck’s ability to seamlessly integrate influences from grunge and punk era greats that they love so dearly with alt-sounding vintage rock. The resulting album remains anchored in grooves, yet propulsive and volcanic, fueled by front man Jon Harvey’s colossal and impressive vocal delivery. The Huffington Post exclaimed, “…no-frills classic rock and roll — huge Les Paul guitar riffs, spacey organ fills, thunderous drums, bottom-heavy bass, and one powerful vocalist. The spirit of Stillwater and Grand Funk Railroad lives! I predict these lads will be playing much larger venues very soon.”
Alter Bridge dates include:
4/14 Dallas, TX House of Blues
4/15 Houston, TX House of Blues
4/17 Biloxi, MS Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
4/19 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
4/21 Baltimore, MD Rams Head
4/22 Boston, MA Royale
4/24 New York, NY Best Buy Theater
4/28 Chicago, IL House of Blues
4/29 Chicago, IL House of Blues
5/01 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
5/02 Kansas, MO The Arvest Bank Theatre
Buckcherry Dates:
1/20 Idaho Falls, ID Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium
1/21 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory
1/22 Butte, MT Butte Civic Center
1/24 Bismarck, ND Bismarck Civic Center Arena
1/25 Winnipeg, MB The Oak
1/26 Edmonton, AB Encore at West Edmonton Mal
1/31 Lloydminister, AB The Kooler
2/01 Calgary, AB Marquee Beer Market & Stage
2/03 Minot, ND State Fair Center
2/04 Duluth, MN Clyde Iron Works
2/05 Turtle Lake, WI St. Croix Casino Turtle Lake Event
2/08 Montreal, QC Corona Theatre
2/11 Moncton, NB The Centre at Casino New Brunswick
2/13 Rochester, NY Water Street Music Hall
2/14 Pottsville, PA Goodfellas
2/18 Cleveland, OH Agora Ballroom
2/20 Hartford, CT Webster Theater
2/21 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero
2/22 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
Headline Dates:
1/28 Lethbridge, AB Average Joes
1/30 Red Deer, AB International Beer Haus
2/07 Guelph, ON Guelph Concert Theatre
3/06 London, ON London Music Hall
3/07 Barrie, ON Sound Empire
0 SISTER launches second single ‘Naked’ taken off new album ‘Disguised Vultures’ exclusively through Metal Hammer Germany!
SISTER launches second single ‘Naked’ taken off new album ‘Disguised Vultures’ exclusively through Metal Hammer Germany!
Swedish Punk Metal act SISTER has released the second single taken off their new album ‘Disguised Vultures’ exclusively through the website of German Metal Hammer. Click HERE to check out Naked!
Comments SISTER: “Naked is a slow and powerfull song that was written during some dark times. It reflects the feeling of being exposed and how life sometimes can be cruel to you. Naked is kind of different from all the other singles we’ve released and it feels like the right time for doing something like that. This album will give you even more suprises further on!”
Disguised Vultures was recorded with Martin Sweet and Linus Nirbrant and will be released on January 21 in North America and January 24th in UK/Europe. Fans can listen to the 1st single Sick watch videos, and pre-order Disguised Vultures at metalblade.com/sister. The album will be available on CD, LP and as a digital download!
European fans were able to get their hands on a limited colored 7″ of Sick while the band was on tour with Wednesday 13 throughout Europe. A limited number of singles are still available at emp.de HERE.
Disguised Vultures emphasizes what the band is all about: heavy, raw sound and attitude. Fans will find plenty more of what Revolver Magazine described as “a genre-bending amalgam of street punk attitude and glam-inspired melodies” on this new album.
More music and videos will be made available leading up to the release of Disguised Vultures, so keep an eye on metalblade.com/sister as updates are posted!
Track listing ‘Disguised Vultures’:
1. My Enemy
2. Sick
3. Disguised Vultures
4. Arise
5. We Salute ‘Em
6. Slay Yourself
7. Naked
8. DMN
9. (Stop The) Revolution
10. Please Kill Me
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http://www.youtube.com/sisterofficial
0 GAMMA RAY: Power Metal Icons To Release Empire Of The Undead This Spring Via earMUSIC/Armoury Records; Studio Burns Down – Band Marches On
Finally, the eleventh studio album from power metal icons, GAMMA RAY, is nearing completion! Titled Empire Of The Undead, it is the record that almost wasn’t.
Penned throughout 2013 with Eike Freese at the mixing desk supporting the ever-precious work of bass player and co-writer, Dirk Schlaechter, the band had just landed in South America with tour mates Helloween when some harrowing news reached Kai Hansen and crew: Hammer Studio, their home, rehearsal space, and meeting point for many metal bands throughout Germany, had burned down leaving nearly all its contents in ruins, with the exception of the tapes from their nearly-finished new studio album.
Back on their home turf, GAMMA RAY evaluated their losses only to do what they do best – move on. “If this could not stop us, nothing ever will,” joked a light-hearted Hansen, adding that, “We got rid of a lot of shit that we gathered there. Unfortunately, a lot of good equipment as well. Anyhow, we look towards the future, we saved the production and we can continue now in this new place. By mid-January we should be done with the work on this album.”
The title track, “Empire Of The Undead,” a high-paced number in the traditionally epic GAMMA RAY style that has influenced so many bands globally, has appeared on the single/EP Master Of Confusion which was released last year and served as precursor to the forthcoming full-length.
Empire Of The Undead will be released in North America on CD, LP and digitally via Armoury Records in conjunction with earMusic late this Spring. Further details to be revealed in the coming weeks. In the meantime, view a video message Kai Hansen at THIS LOCATION.
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0 EVE TO ADAM KICKS OFF NEW TOUR W/ESCAPE THE FATE & NEW YEAR’S DAY ON FEBRUARY 15
THE NYC GUITAR-DRIVEN, ANTHEMIC ROCK BAND KICKS OFF NEW TOUR WITH ESCAPE THE FATE AND NEW YEAR’S DAY ON FEBRUARY 15 IN FRESNO
NEW SINGLE “IMMORTAL” OFF CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ALBUM LOCKED & LOADED CURRENTLY #24 AT ACTIVE ROCK & RISING
“Immortal” Music Video Directed By Davo Gains Early Spike With “Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx” World Premier
NYC guitar-driven, anthemic rock band EVE TO ADAM announces new tour with ESCAPE THE FATE and NEW YEAR’S DAY kicking off February 15 in Fresno, fresh off the heels of their last 13-date tour with POP EVIL Widely regarded as one of the hardest working bands on the Modern Rock circuit, EVE TO ADAM are flying high with the success of new single “IMMORTAL” hitting #24 at Active Rock and rising, along with new critically acclaimed album LOCKED & LOADED, which is receiving some of the best reviews of the band’s career. KNAC ranks LOCKED & LOADED as one of the best Hard Rock albums of 2014 and Examiner ranks it at #2.
“IMMORTAL,” which was co-written and produced by Dave Bassett (Halestorm, Shinedown), hit #1 at Octane (SiriusXM) generating heavy phones, and was featured on iTunes’ New & Noteworthy. “IMMORTAL” is a larger-than-life, cinematic anthem that pays tribute to heroic legacies. The track is impacting out-of-the-box with radio and the fans going hard for this single.
The “Immortal” music video, directed by Davo and shot at the beautiful and historic Loews Theater Journal Square in Jersey City, received an early spike by Nikki Sixx, with a world premiere at Sixx Sense With Nikki Sixx. The eloquently shot live performance video catches Eve To Adam in one of their most authentic moments, giving fans the feeling of being front-row-and-center at a live concert.
The single first premiered on Artist Direct, who says“The song is a grungey, dark, moody track. We love it. You will, too.”
New Transcendence says: “New York’s Eve To Adam has found a way to stay fresh in a scene that has been overrun with mediocrity.”
Screamer says: “If you are a fan of melodic, indie-style hard rock (sorry, no growler vocals or slick, corporate rock here) you need to get this album. As in, right now…”
For Locked & Loaded the band enlisted top notch writer/producers, who in addition to Dave Bassett, who was also involved in Halestorm’s GRAMMY-win for “Best Hard Rock Performance” as co-writer of “Love Bites (So Do I)”, includes Eric Bass (Shinedown) and Elvis Baskette (Incubus, Falling In Reverse, Alter Bridge).
Eve To Adam, who count legendary, GRAMMY-winning songwriter Desmond Child (Aerosmith, Katy Perry, KISS, Bon Jovi) is an early mentor, are clearly upping their game. As an arena and stadium level act positioned for global recognition, the band has performed sold-out tours with Motley Crue, In This Moment, Chevelle, POD, Hinder and Halestorm among others, and have played all of the major festivals including Rocklahoma, Rock On The Range and Jagermeister Presents Tour among others. The band’s live show has become their signature cornerstone.
The current line-up of Eve To Adam is: Taki Sassaris (frontman/vocalist); Gaurav Bali (lead guitar); Alex Sassaris (drums); Luis Espaillat (bassist/backing vocalist) and Adam Latiff (formerly with Puddle of Mudd) is the newest member, as rhythm guitarist/backing vocalist.
EVE TO ADAM is booked by Tim Borror of The Agency Group and managed by George Zoitas and Ian Joskowitz of Three For Five Entertainment Group.
EVE TO ADAM TOUR DATES WITH ESCAPE THE FATE AND NEW YEAR’S DAY:
February 15 Strummers Fresno, CA
February 16 Ace of Spades Sacramento, CA
February 17 Knitting Factory Reno, NV
February 18 WOW Hall Eugene, OR
February 20 Knitting Factory Boise, ID
February 21 Knitting Factory Spokane, WA
February 23 The Black Sheep Colorado Springs, CO
February 25 The Rock Tucson, AZ
For more information on EVE TO ADAM please visit:
0 ALICE IN CHAINS RAISE FUNDS FOR TYPHOON HAIYAN VICTIMS
FRIENDS FANTASY FOOTBALL CHARITY AUCTION PARTNERS WITH MUSIC FOR RELIEF TO AID PHILIPPINE SURVIVORS
5TH ANNUAL ALICE IN CHAINS & As part of their 5th annual Alice In Chains & Friends Fantasy Football League Charity Auction, multi-platinum rock band ALICE IN CHAINS have partnered with nonprofit organization Music For Relief to auction one-of-a-kind items and memorabilia to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
100% of the auction’s proceeds will go toward helping the survivors and aiding Music For Relief in delivering medicine, emergency medical services, water, sanitation and disease prevention efforts to the 12 million people impacted by the storm.
The 17-day-long auction includes collectible items donated by league participants and friends, including original paintings by Alice In Chains vocalist/guitarist Jerry Cantrell, a trip for two to NYC to attend the Porsche Design Fall/Winter 2014 Runway Show during New York Fashion Week with Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington, a custom Gibson Les Paul guitar signed by Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, a Fender acoustic guitar and acoustic bass autographed by Alice In Chains’ Mike Inez and much more.
Fans can click HERE to bid on these rare items and contribute to a great cause.
0 Legendary international hard rockers Scorpions MTV UNPLUGGED out 1/21
Sony International is proud to announce the release of legendary international hard rockers the Scorpions’ new offering MTV UNPLUGGED. Due out in North America on January 21st, 2014, material from MTV UNPLUGGED is taken from the Scorpions’ first-ever “MTV Unplugged” show and features new acoustic versions of best-loved classic hits, as well as five brand new songs. MTV UNPLUGGED will be available in North America as a deluxe CD + DVD package and as a Blu-Ray. MTV UNPLUGGED will be released in 50 countries, a testament to the German band’s iconic status worldwide.
Recorded and filmed just a few months ago on September 11th and September 12th of this year, the Scorpions’ MTV UNPLUGGED was culled from two dynamic acoustic sets at the Lycabettus Theatre in Athens, Greece. The spectacular open-air theatre, situated 300 meters above the city, was an impressive backdrop for the first-ever open-air show in the history of “MTV Unplugged” (the theatre also shares a birth year with the Scorpions themselves, having been built in 1965, the same year the Scorpions formed).
The Scorpions is Klaus Meine (vocals/guitar), Rudolf Schenker (guitars/vocals), Matthias Jabs (guitars), Pawel Maciwoda (bass) and James Kottak (drums). Additional musical support on MTV UNPLUGGED includes contributions from Swedish musicians and producers Mikael Nord Andersson (guitars, mandolin, lap steel, vocals) and Martin Hansen (guitars, harmonica, vocals); the duo is also responsible for the arrangements on MTV UNPLUGGED.
The Scorpions is one of the most successful international hard rock bands of all time, selling upwards of 75 million records worldwide and playing more than 5,000 concerts in 80+ countries globally. Formed in Germany in 1965, the band has come to be known for their colossal radio and MTV hits “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” “No One Like You” and “Wind Of Change,” as well as their status as international rock ambassadors. VH1 ranked the Scorpions as the #46 Artist on the “Greatest Artists Of Hard Rock” special, while “Rock You Like A Hurricane” came in at #18 on VH1’s “Greatest Hard Rock Songs”. The band recently received a star on the Hollywood Rock Walk in Los Angeles. To date, the Scorpions have released 18 studio albums and 5 live records. For more information, please visit www.the-scorpions.com.
0 Deep Purple “Now WHAT?!” Gold Edition 2CD and Limited Edition Boxed Set To Be Released January 21, 2014
EARMUSIC & EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE
DEEP PURPLE
LIMITED EDITION NOW WHAT?! GOLD EDITION 2CD AND BOXED SET
CHART-BREAKING ALBUM NOW ENHANCED WITH BONUS LIVE CD “THE NOW WHAT?! LIVE TAPES” –
OVER ONE HOUR OF LIVE MUSIC
~JANUARY 21, 2014~
NOW What?!, the 19th studio album from Deep Purple, reached Gold Status in Germany, Russia, Czech Republic and Poland, not to mention the fact the band has made a very much deserved return to the British Top-20 for the first time in 20 years. To celebrate the success of the album and the support of one of the greatest fan bases known in rock history, NOW What?! will be released on January 21, 2014 as a Golden Deluxe Edition. [MSRP $20.98 2CD, $59.98 Boxed set] The boxed set will be available exclusively via Amazon.
NOW What?! Gold Edition 2CD, packaged in a luxurious gold cover, will also include two bonus songs on disc 1 (a stunning cover of Jerry Lee Lewis’ “It’ll Be Me,” and the rare B-side “First Sign Of Madness,” previously only available digitally and on the CD single “Vincent Price”), and an extra live disc. The bonus disc consists of over 70 minutes of unreleased live music recorded during the summer shows (“The NOW What?! Live Tapes”).
The live recordings show a band that still love to improvise like only few others can, changing the classic songs all the time and challenging themselves. Still, that magic sound is there, as if time could do nothing against it. In an era when live albums are too often not much more than a studio exercise, one cannot help admiring the musicianship and the groove coming out of the speakers, especially considering that the record shows exactly what came out of the amplifiers on those nights. Great care has been paid to present this extra disc in a stunning hi-fi quality, still preserving its authenticity.The studio album and this exceptional live album are sold together with the inclusion of a brand new booklet to support the second disc, with notes by Ian Gillan.
The NOW What ?! Boxed Set includes The NOW What?! Live Tapes, a DVD with a 20-minute interview, NOW What?! The Singles (“All The Time In The World,” “Vincent Price,” “Above And Beyond,”), exclusive t-shirt (large), exclusive poster, and collectible sticker.
For more information regarding this and other Eagle Rock Entertainment releases, contact Carol Kaye at Carol@Kayosproductions.com. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/KayosProductionsInc.
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TRACK LISTING
CD1
1. A Simple Song
2 . Weirdistan
3. Out Of Hand
4 . Hell To Pay
5 . BodyLine
6 . Above and Beyond
7. Blood From A Stone
8 . Uncommon Man
9. Après Vous
10. All The Time in The World
11. Vincent Price
BONUS TRACKS
12. It’ll Be Me
13. First Sign Of Madness
CD2
THE NOW WHAT?! LIVE TAPES
1. Strange Kind Of Woman (Live in Rome)
2. Hard Loving Man (Live in Aalborg)
3. Vincent Price (Live in Aalborg)
4. Contact Lost (Live in Aalborg)
5. All The Time in The World (Live in Milan)
6. No One Came (Live in Gaevle)
7. BodyLine (Live in Rome)
8. Perfect Strangers (Live in Gaevle)
9. Above And Beyond (Live in Milan)
10. Lazy (Live in Gaevle)
11. Black Night (Live in Rome)
12. Smoke On The Water (Live in Rome)
0 IN THIS MOMENT To Release ‘BLOOD’ Special Edition With Bonus ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ Live DVD
Album Package On Sale January 21, 2014 in North America;
Exclusive Pre-Sale Packages Available Now At CM DISTRO;
DVD Trailer Out Now
“WHORE” Remix EP On-Sale Now At iTunes
THE HELLPOP II Tour To Launch January 3 With
BUTCHER BABIES, DEVOUR THE DAY & ALL HAIL THE YETI
“WHORE” Single #16 At Active Rock Radio
Band To Set Sail On SHIPROCKED Cruise In January
IN THIS MOMENT and Century Media Records are proud to announce the release of ‘BLOOD’ Special Edition, a two-disc set featuring the band’s breakthrough album ‘BLOOD’ and the bonus live DVD ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’. The package is set for a January 21, 2014 release in North America and includes a bonus cover of the NINE INCH NAILS track “Closer” on ‘BLOOD’, and the live DVD featuring a full 100-minute concert shot in Madison, WI, earlier this year, behind the scenes footage and interviews. In Europe, ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ will be released February 17 as a limited edition standalone DVD, and digitally in an audio-only format.
CLICK HERE to watch the official ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ trailer.
In North America, the album will be available in the following formats:
- ‘BLOOD’ Special Edition CD with ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ DVD (on sale January 21)
- ‘BLOOD’ Special Edition CD with ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ BLU-RAY (on sale January 21 exclusively at Best Buy)
- ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ digital audio release (on sale January 21)
- ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ digital video release (on sale February 18)
- ‘BLOOD’ Special Edition CD with ‘BLOOD AT THE ORPHEUM’ DVD pre-sale packages including exclusive merchandise (available only at CM Distro)
Exclusive pre-sale bundles including long-sleeve IN THIS MOMENT shirts, a tank dress for women, and 7″ “Blood” singles are on sale now – CLICK HERE to view.
“Whore” is the third single from ‘BLOOD’, and continues to climb at radio, where the track currently sits at #16 with a bullet on the Active Rock charts. Released in August 2012 on Century Media Records, the album made the highest debut of the band’s career, entering the Billboard Top 200 at No. 15 and selling more than 20,000 units first week. The record has emerged as one of the best selling rock albums of the past year, recently surpassing 200,000 in sales according to SoundScan.
The video for “Whore” [CLICK HERE to watch] is turning heads with its stark, voyeuristic feel, combining the theatrical aplomb that marks IN THIS MOMENT’s live performances with visuals that are as compelling as they are disturbing. Directed by Robert Kley, who was also at the helm for the band’s “Adrenalize” [CLICK HERE to watch] and “Blood” [CLICK HERE to watch] videos, “Whore” co-stars MOTIONLESS IN WHITE frontman Chris Motionless. “His look is so perfect for the dirty vintage feel of the video, and he was a perfect gentleman while being violated by me,” says ITM frontwoman Maria Brink.
A “Whore” remix EP is now available digitally on iTunes and Amazon, and features the following tracks:
- “Whore” (album version)
- “Whore (Nikka Bling Remix)”
- “Blood (Sluggo Remix)”
- “Adrenalize (Mr. Kane Remix)”
- “The Blood Legion (Mitch Marlow Remix)”
IN THIS MOMENT are kicking off 2014 with THE HELLPOP TOUR II. Set to launch January 3 in Seattle, WA, the month-long tour wraps January 25 in Cape Coral, FL, where the band will then make a return engagement on the SHIPROCKED cruise January 26-30, which sets sail out of Miami, FL, to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. For more information, visit www.shiprocked.com. Joining IN THIS MOMENT on HELLPOP II are BUTCHER BABIES in direct support, DEVOUR THE DAY and ALL HAIL THE YETI.
Two Crowd Surge fan packages are available for the January run, one with a ticket and pre-show meet-and-greet, and the other including a ticket, t-shirt and meet-and-greet. For more details on fan club packages, please visit the official In This Moment Facebook page. Tickets for all shows are available now, and complete dates are listed below.
IN THIS MOMENT HELLPOP TOUR
(BUTCHER BABIES, DEVOUR THE DAY & ALL HAIL THE YETI in support):
JANUARY
07: Denver, CO – The Fillmore Auditorium
08: Kansas City, MO – The Midland By AMC
10: Arlington Heights, IL – HOME Bar
11: Fort Wayne, IN – Piere’s
12: Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
14: Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
15: Pittsburgh, PA – Club Zoo
17: Philadelphia, PA – The Trocadero
18: Hartford, CT – Webster Theater
19: Huntington, NY – The Paramount
21: Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
22: Winston-Salem, NC – Ziggy’s
24: Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
25: Cape Coral, FL – Dixie Roadhouse
SHIPROCKED
(featuring FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, PAPA ROACH, THREE DAYS GRACE, SEVENDUST, TREMONTI, BUTCHER BABIES, CANDLEBOX and more)
JANUARY
26-30: Miami, FL to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas
IN THIS MOMENT online:
facebook.com/officialinthismoment
IN THIS MOMENT is:
MARIA BRINK – vocals
CHRIS HOWORTH – lead guitar
TRAVIS JOHNSON – bass
RANDY WEITZEL – rhythm guitar
TOM HANE – drums
0 Kirk Hammett Announces Encore Performance with EXODUS at the Upcoming FEAR FestEvil!
Just when you thought things couldn’t get more brutal…
Recently, Bay Area thrash legends EXODUS announced that they will perform at the very first FEAR FestEvil, taking place on February 7 at Regency Ballroom (located at 1300 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108).
New information has surfaced – FEAR FestEvil creator and Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett has announced that he will not only perform at the festival himself, but will also take part in a special encore performance with a blast from his past – that’s right, EXODUS! This is a can’t-miss event!
Guitarist Gary Holt adds, “EXODUS is stoked as fuck to announce that none other than Kirk Von Hammett himself will be jamming with us during our encore at FEAR FestEvil! What song? Hmm, that remains to be seen! I guess you will have to be there to find out!
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime moment! For more information about the fest and to buy tickets, visit http://www.fearfestevil.com/.
When it comes to thrash metal, in particular Bay Area thrash, EXODUS are one of the true Godfathers. Formed in 1980 by guitarist Tim Agnello, drummer Tom Hunting, bassist Carlton Melson and some other six-stringer called Kirk Hammett, Agnello soon left, allowing Hammett’s guitar tech Gary Holt to step up and in. Hammett then stumbled across Paul Baloff, a demo was recorded, Hammett left to join some other upstarts, Rick Hunolt took the other guitar and the rest became history. Their 1984 debut Bonded By Blood is a stonewall genre classic, and with cranium crunching classics such as ‘”A Lesson In Violence”, “Strike Of The Beast” and more.
EXODUS can promise that this show will not be a calm or gentle soiree… more than an aural beatdown.
The current line-up of Gary Holt on guitar, Lee Altus on guitar, Tom Hunting, on drums Jack Gibson on bass and Rob Dukes on vocals has been in place since 2005. EXODUS‘ last album was 2010′s Exhibit B: The Human Condition on Nuclear Blast Records, and the band have just started working on new material for a prospective release later in 2014.
0 AXEL RUDI PELL Releases Third Audio Snippet From “Into the Storm”
AXEL RUDI PELL will release his new studio album January 21, 2014 in North America via SPV/Steamhammer. Today AXEL RUDI PELL has given fans the chance to check out another sample from Into the Storm. A snippet of the song the title track Into the Storm can be heard HERE.
The first snippet made available from Into the Storm “Long Way to Go” can be heard HERE.
The second song snippet made available from Into the Storm “Burning Chains” can be heard HERE.
Into the Storm can be pre-ordered on Amazon and iTunes.
There aren’t many artists around whose career has already lasted a quarter of a century. But then, there are even fewer who have experienced no setbacks whatsoever in 25 years. And there are only a few guitarists in the world of rock music who have created their own brand just with their name, causing over 1.3 million people to buy their music. AXEL RUDI PELL is one of those rare exceptions. And so it doesn’t come as a surprise that his latest offering “Into The Storm” is also one of his best; after all, anniversaries are always special.
Although this is the fifteenth studio album (featuring his own material) in PELL‘s career to date, he didn’t approach it any different than its predecessors. “There hasn’t been one day in my life when I haven’t been pushed by Ronnie James Dio’s spiritto write something mystical,” the 53-year-old explains his motivation. Even though ARP has nothing against efficiency and discipline, creativity doesn’t come at the flick of a switch. “I couldn’t sit down with it and compose from nine to five, that doesn’t work for me.” As inspiration doesn’t comply with office hours, Pell praises the technological achievements of recent years. “My cell phone is almost like a mobile recording studio, it’s always busy. And this time things worked particularly well.”
Well, the compositions are catchier, more elaborate. Melodic rockers like “Long Way To Go” and “High Above” alternate with up-tempo songs like “Tower Of Lies” and “Burning Chains”. Of one Axel’s most beautiful ballads to date, “When Truth Hurts”, is almost as heartrending as the touching Neil Young cover “Hey Hey My My”. Epic masterpieces such as “Touching Heaven” and the ten-minute-plus title track still have that 70s touch we all love. There are also two extra tracks for the Digipak: the glorious instrumental “White Cats (Opus #6 Scivolare)” is likely to see “guitar hero” fanatics go nuts and the Blackmore’s Night cover “Way To Mandalay” could easily have been borrowed from a Rainbow album now. ARP is on the next level now and it wouldn’t be a great surprise if he cracked the German Top 10 this time, seeing that his 2012 release Circle Of The Oath already went to no. 16! He’s certainly earned it. If someone has delivered the goods for 25 years, there’s got to be a reward.
Track listing:
1) THE INQUISITORIAL PROCEDURE 1:48
2) TOWER OF LIES 4:26
3) LONG WAY TO GO 5:32
4) BURNING CHAINS 5:23
5) WHEN TRUTH HURTS 6:46
6) CHANGING TIMES 6:05
7) TOUCHING HEAVEN 7:02
8) HIGH ABOVE 4:49
9) HEY HEY MY MY 5:02
10) INTO THE STORM 10:35
DIGIPAK BONUSTRACKS:
11) WHITE CATS (Opus #6 Scivolare) 4:54
12) WAY TO MANDALAY 7:52
Configurations: limited edition digipak incl. 2 tracks + poster, double gatefold LP with colored vinyl, standard version and download.
=> Watch Out for the deluxe edition incl. 2 LPs, digipak edition, pick, metalpin, poster, postcard, sticker, flag and patch!
Line Up:
Johnny Gioeli – Lead and Backing Vocals
AXEL RUDI PELL – Lead, Rhythm and Acoustic Guitars
Ferdy Doernberg – Keyboards
Volker Krawczak – Bass
Bobby Rondinelli – Drums
For more information on Axel Rudi Pell check out the links below:
0 New Video – Pop Evil – Behind Closed Doors
Completing the video trilogy, Pop Evil debuted “Behind Closed Doors” music video via VEVO. Watch here:
The video serves as a follow up to Johan Carlen directed, “Deal With The Devil” and the initial video for single, “Trenches”. Earlier in 2013, Pop Evil released Onyx, the third studio full length to much success; the lead off single “Trenches” climbed to #1 on the Active Rock charts and Mainstream rock charts where it held steady for 3 consecutive weeks.
Pop Evil will be hitting the road this January with Stone Sour, and Stolen Babies,for all dates, visit the band’s official Facebook page.
0 Jizzy Pearl – Crucified (2013) – EP Review
I have seen Jizzy Pearl perform with L.A. Guns, RATT, and I have always wanted to see Jizzy Pearl perform live with Love/Hate. I sadly missed my chance at the 2013 M3 Music festival which I was unable to attend. Jizzy Pearl’s latest effort Crucified started out as a Love/Hate record, but after a recently released statement, the album title was changed to a Jizzy Pearl solo record, and sadly, we may never see Love/Hate perform again.
This album works better as a Jizzy Pearl album as it doesn’t really have a Love/Hate feel. That doesn’t make it any less enjoyable however.
Crucified starts out strong enough with the punk infused rocker “Hanging You Out To Dry”. This song is the heaviest on the EP.
“Sunny Day” is a mid tempo number that Jizzy says is a love song to his girlfriend. It is a trippy number that grows on you with a few plays. “You’re Making Me Nervous” is a song that I could hear get some serious airplay. This is the catchiest song on the Crucified EP.
“I Don’t Want To Be Your Baby” is a slower acoustic based number that is a cool twist on the 80′s power ballad. If there was one song that screams hit on Crucified, this is the one. Jizzy wears his Zeppelin influences on his sleeve with “Love Is All”. This is another bit of late 70′s classic rock. I love this tune.
I wonder if playing with Traci Guns had an influence on the song “Too Late”. This song has a 90ish LA Guns feel to it, with a bluesier twist.
Overall, this is a solid effort from Jizzy Pearl and one that I will get a lot of plays out of. If you are a Love/Hate or Jizzy Pearl fan, you should definitely check this out. You can purchase it at Amazon.com & iTunes.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
01. Hanging You Out To Dry
02. Sunny Day
03. You’re Making Me Nervous
04. I Don’t Want To Be Your Baby
05. Love Is All
06. Too Late
0 Silent Force – Rising From Ashes (2014) – CD Review
Alex Beyrodt and Mat Sinner are busy men. Beyrodt and Sinner already have two great releases with Voodoo Circle & Sinner in 2013, and now in 2014, Silent Force & Primal Fear. In the case of Silent Force, it has been seven long years since the band’s last album, Walk The Earth.
Silent Force’s new album Rising From Ashes boast a new singer, and a great one at that! Michael Bormann replaces former Silent Force singer DC Cooper on vocals, and helps to turn in one of the best melodic rock albums of 2014 so far. For those of you not familiar with Bormann, he has lent his vocals to several great bands over the years including Jaded Heart, Bonfire, Redrum and more. He is a fantastic singer, and a great addition to Silent Force.
Rising From Ashes is packed full of heavy, melodic and catchy rockers. Alex Beyrodt delivers an album full of amazing guitar work, and Alessandro Del Vecchio adds a melodic flair to the music with his outstanding keyboards. Some of my favorites on the album are “Caught In the Wicked Game”, “There Ain’t No Justice”, “You Gotta Kick It “, and “Born To Be A Fighter”, but this is an album that I can listen to from beginning to end without the need to skip a track.
Rising From Ashes grows on you more and more with each play. I have always loved Michael Bormann’s voice, and he does an outstanding job as Silent Force’s new front man. I can only hope that Silent Force will make it to the U.S. as some point. I would love to hear the songs from this album live. If Rising From Ashes is any indication of the music to be released in 2014, it will be a great year for hard rock. Check it out!
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
01. Caught In The Wicked Game
02. There Ain’t No Justice
03. Circle of Trust
04. Living to Die
05. Before You Run
06. You Gotta Kick It
07. Turn Me Loose
08. Born To Be A Fighter
09. Anytime Anywhere
10. Kiss of Death
Silent Force is:
Alex Beyrodt – guitars
Michael Bormann – vocals
Mat Sinner – bass
Alessandro Del Vecchio – keys
André Hilgers – drums
0 New Video – VITNE – Nasty Habit
Norway’s VITNE has released his new single entitled “Nasty Habit” alongside a new music video, marking the third single from his full-length album “Neon” released just before the new year (December 3rd, 2013). Produced by VITNE and directed by Fajrin Affandi, the video features the singer with a variety of special effects, from cyberpunk imagery to computer animation.
VITNE’s “Neon” album released December 3rd, 2013, and has consistently received highly positive reviews with VITNE and his lead guitarist Julian Angel (of Beautiful Beast fame) being compared to a modern-day version of Billy Idol and Steve Stevens. SleazeRoxx says “Neon’ is a winner…. For the hard rock glam metal community at large, this oh-so-tasty collection of aural stimuli is as relentless as it is amazing.” The album has received ratings of 9/10 (EGHTS.com), 8.5/10 (Rock Garage Germany), 8/10 (Heavy Paradise), and 4.5/5 (Sputnik Music). Sputnik Music says “Neon” is a “A different, creative, and really refreshing new entry into the hard rock genre.”
VITNE draws from a variety of musical influences from Jethro Tull to Japan’s mega-icon GACKT, hair-metal to Japanese visual kei. Recently Vitne participated in Broken Rose Records’ omnibus project “Decadent Society Volume 1” featuring visual rock artists from all over the world.
9 Hard Rock Hideout’s Top 10 Hard Rock & Metal Albums for 2013
There were a bunch of great releases in 2013 and each year it seems harder and harder to pick the 10 best. Ryo Vie and I have listed our 10 best hard rock and metal albums of 2013. Agree or Disagree? Let us know what your picks are in the comments below!!
Rob Rockitt’s Top Hard Rock & Metal Albums of 2013
I am glad 2013 is now in our rear view mirror. 2013 has hung heavily over my family on the injury and overall health and wellness. Not only has it affected my family members, I laid to rest two of my furry family members, Jake & Mia. On the music front, 2013 was pretty good. maybe not as strong as some of the recent past years. That doesn’t mean we were without quality music. There was a lot of great music that was released, and 2014 looks to be another great year for hard rock & metal music.
10. Death Angel – The Dream Calls for Blood
It had to happen sooner or later…. a band has out-thrashed the Big 4. Death Angel’s The Dream Calls For Blood is the best thrash metal album of 2013. When I first heard the title track “The Dream Calls For Blood” I was immediately hooked. This album is heavy, dark and sometimes brutal. It is Bay Area metal at its finest. This album also has a killer cover of Black Sabbath’s Heaven & Hell”.
9. Motörhead – Aftershock
You have heard one Motörhead, you have heard them all right? WRONG! Lemmy Kilmister and company prove they have plenty of fire left in them, and have crafted one of their best albums to date. I have all of 21 of their albums, and I have found Aftershock to be completely satisfying. Lemmy pulls out a bunch of new riffs for Aftershock, making this one of the most surprising albums of 2013. Fair warning, you may want to set your cruise control if playing this album while driving. It may be hazardous to your driving record.
8. Michael Monroe – Horns & Halos
Michael Monroe has done it again with his latest effort Horns & Halos. Monroe has crafted another great album. Horns & Halos is a little more punky and a little less glammy than 2011′s Sensory Overdrive, but it is a solid album all the way through.
07. Alter Bridge – Fortress
Man oh man, Alter Bridge quietly released their new album Fortress in October.With their album Blackbird being so great, I thought ABIII (2010) was a step backward for Alter Bridge. The band righted any wrongs with their new album Fortress. Fortress is Alter Bridge’s heaviest album to date. Myles Kennedy dishes out some powerful vocals, and Mark Tremonti’s riffs are drifting ever so closer to his metal roots.(Check out the video for Addicted to Pain below) Fortress is another one of 2013′s great surprises.
06. Stryper – No More Hell To Pay
If someone would have told me Stryper would release one of their best albums in 2013, I wouldn’t have believed it, but that is exactly what happened. No More Hell To Pay is packed with heavy riffs,and the fantastic vocals of Michael Sweet. No More Hell To Pay is one of Stryper’s heaviest albums, and packed with great songs. I am hopeful to see Stryper perform some of these in 2014. That would be a real treat!
05. Black Sabbath – 13
While the drama between Bill Ward and Black Sabbath continues, one thing is for certain, 13 is the strongest albums that Sabbath has ever released, and definitely one of the strongest with Ozzy Osbourne singing. If you didn’t pick up the bonus edition CD of 13 (available at Best Buy), you missed out one not one, but three killer Sabbath songs “Methademic”, “Peace of Mind” and “Pariah”. “Methademic” was a staple in Sabbath’s concert list this summer.
04. Tom Keifer – The Way Life Goes
Tom Keifer worked on his solo album for many years before finally releasing The Way Life Goes in 2013. The wait was well worth it, as the Cinderella front man has turned in one of 2013′s best rock albums. Getting to see Tom perform with his solo band was one of my favorite concert moments of 2013 too.
03. Airbourne – Black Dog Barking
Sooner or later, Airbourne is going to get the respect they deserve. The band released their third and arguably best album in 2013. This album has gotten countless plays from me in 2013, and will continue to be played for many years to come.
02. Winery Dogs – S/T
Billy Sheehan, Mike Portnoy, Richie Kotzen are some of the best hard rock musicians to ever grace the stage. With this in mind, I knew the Winery Dogs album would have to be awesome, and it is. Great songs, vocals and musicianship. The Winery Dogs are a dream band for any hard rock fan and should not be missed.
01. Brand New Machine- The Devil Made Me Do It
Sometimes simple is better…. Ever since I stumbled upon this album by complete accident in August of this year while music shopping with my buddy Ryo Vie, I have not been able to stop listening to The Devil Made Me Do It. Former Beautiful Creatures guitarist Michael Thomas has breathed some serious life into Brand New Machine. I am a sucker for good old 80′s style sleaze rock and The Devil Made Me Do It delivers from beginning to end. Check out the clips below and buy the album here!!
There were so many great albums in 2013, it wouldn’t be fair to not mention those albums that nearly made my top list. All of the albums below are very worthy of your hard earned dollars.
Age of Days – Radioactivity
Avenged Sevenfold – Hail To The King
Buckcherry – Confessions
Deep Purple – Now What?
Krokus – Dirty Dynamite
Megadeth – Super Collider
Pop Evil – Onyx
Sammy Hagar – Sammy Hagar & Friends
Sideburn – Electricity
Skillet – Rise
Suicidal Tendencies – 13
Voodoo Circle – More Than One Way Home
Ryo Vie’s 10 Favorite Hard Rock Albums For 2013
Another year is over. A new one has just begun. 2013 was a solid year for hard rock music lovers. Some exceptional albums were released by new comers, young stars, and the royal guard of the past. We were blessed with new music from Pearl Jam, Black Sabbath, and the return of Suicidal Tendencies.
Young bands like Pop Evil and Five Finger Death Punch released their best material to date. And a new band put out one incredible record. All in all 2013 was a fantastic year for music. We can only hope that 2014 will be just as great. And as we look forward to the new releases of 2014, let’s take a moment to reflect on the best releases of the past year. Here’s Ryo’s picks for the 10 best hard rock albums of 2013.
10. Suicidal Tendencies – 13
“Suicidal’s back, Suicidal’s back!” So sang Cyko Miko on the latest Suicidal Tendencies record, 13. This was a fantastic record that heralded the return of one of the best hard rocking bands around. 13 was a solid release that made me glad Suicidal Tendencies were back in action. Layered with multiple infectious grooves, powerful hooks, heavy guitars, and lots of funk and fun, 13 is a powerful album that takes the listener on a journey of musical styles with thrash always remaining as the main focus. Suicidal is back indeed— and we couldn’t be happier.
09. Five Finger Death Punch – The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1
2013 was a very good year for Five Finger Death Punch. They released two terrific albums in the span of 10 weeks and both charted high on the Billboard charts, deservedly so. Both albums are exceptional works of art, and worthy of multiple listens. Volume One was an enjoyable, unexpected delight that really caught my ear and got my attention. And it was only the beginning of what was to come for this band in 2013. However, if this was the only record the band put out, it would have been good enough. Thankfully for hard rockers everywhere, Five Finger Death Punch wasn’t stopping at just one.
08. Hell Or Highwater – Begin Again
Atreyu drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller’s side project released one hell of a record this year. Begin Again is a stellar modern rock album packed with gems. The album had plenty of staying power and longevity and I found myself returning to it again and again as the year went on. That’s always the sign of an amazing record, which is just what Begin Again is. If this album somehow passed you by, I still recommend that you seek it out.
07. Buckcherry – Confessions
It was nice to see Buckcherry back with a new record in 2013. Most people may have forgotten about this album since it came out so early in the year (early January) and that’s a real shame, because Confessions is a strong record filled with enjoyable songs that rock eardrums hard. It was interesting to see Buckcherry put together a themed album, and they pulled it off, delivering a grand collection of songs on Confessions. I still listen to “Wrath” on a regular basis and it has become one of my favorite Buckcherry songs, up there with “Lit Up.” Yes, I did just state that.
06. Tom Keifer – The Way Life Goes
No Cinderella? No problem. Tom Keifer went solo and released the biggest surprise of 2013 with The Way Life Goes. I had no expectations when this record was released, and it absolutely blew my mind. After all that he has been through, it was amazing to see Tom Keifer can still make meaningful music, and that his voice still sounds as terrific as ever. It may be the best he’s ever sounded. The Way Life Goes has me hopeful to see Mr. Keifer at some of the festivals this year, particularly M3. With or without Cinderella, Tom Keifer is a force, and The Way Life Goes proves it.
05. Black Sabbath – 13
The godfathers of heavy metal reunited (sans Bill Ward) and released a record. 13 is bound to be on everyone’s top 10 list this year, simply because it’s Black Sabbath and that creates a lot of exposure. However, the record deserves to be on most top 10 lists because it’s a spectacular album. Returning to the early sound of Black Sabbath (from their debut release), 13 is a mind trip of amazing music performed by real heavy metal pioneers. Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Ozzy Osbourne worked hard to create a sound that was true Black Sabbath—and they succeeded marvelously. 13 is a magnificent release and one that any hard rock fan should own.
04. Avenged Sevenfold – Hail To The King
Avenged Sevenfold just keeps getting better and better with every record they release. If there is any successor to the great Iron Maiden, Avenged Sevenfold are it. Their music is complex, layered in multiple guitar riffs, complicated drum beats, and heavy bass lines that pull every note together into a harmony of joyful sound. Hail To The King is certainly Avenged Sevenfold’s best album yet and catapults the band to the next level of greatness. If you haven’t spent much time with Avenged, or if you don’t own any of their albums, Hail To The King is a great place to start.
03. Pop Evil – Onyx
2013 was a good year for Pop Evil fans. The band continued their endless touring opening for any band that would have them, their live act became better than it ever has been, and they released their hardest album to date, Onyx. I admit, it took me a few spins to get into Onyx, but once I did, I couldn’t get out. I still listen to this album on a weekly basis and continue to find new parts to fall in love with. Pop Evil worked hard to get away from the acoustic ballads they were becoming known for and went to a much darker place. The result was magnificent and Onyx was a serious contender for best album of 2013.
02. Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt
As is usually the case when Pearl Jam releases a new record, expectations were high. It had been four years since their last release, which was scattered at best. Many fans were wondering if Pearl Jam still had the goods and if they did, could they still deliver. And then the band released the first single, “Mind Your Manners.” Most doubts were squashed right there. Then the band released their next single, “Sirens.” Even critics jaws dropped at that point. “Sirens” is one of the best Pearl Jam songs ever recorded, and Lightning Bolt is one of the band’s best records ever released. In 2013, only one band could make a record better than Lightning Bolt.
01. Five Finger Death Punch – The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2
When a band has two albums in a top 10 list for one year, it’s obvious that the band has had one magnificent year. Such is the case for Five Finger Death Punch. After the release of Volume 1, I was curious to see what Volume 2 would bring, but felt there was no way it would be better. I have never been more wrong about an album in my life. Volume 2 is one of the greatest records I have ever heard. It blends the perfect mix of hard, heavy, angry, introspective, and soft at just the right times. Volume 2 contains power, emotion, and a level of magnificence that is hard to find on a record. Without question, if you only purchase one release from 2013, The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2 has to be it. It will be a long time before you hear a better record.
0 Vie’s Verses – Finally…KISS Is Going Into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
They’ve been eligible for fifteen years, and finally, this April, Kiss will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I understand that in the end it doesn’t matter if they were inducted or not. When bands like Public Enemy and Run-DMC are in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, it’s all a marketing joke, but deep down inside, I’ve always wanted Kiss to be inducted. As a fan, it’s the recognition of the band’s longevity and success by their critics and peers that makes me excited. Yes, it is silly, but when they stand up there and give their speech and get enshrined, as a fan, it’s our way of justifying that we were right, this is the greatest rock band in the entire world.
After years of being ignored, Kiss will finally have their day alongside Nirvana and Peter Gabriel (as well as Hall & Oates and Linda Ronstadt). This year’s ceremony is going to be held at the Barclay’s center in Brooklyn, and former members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss are expected to be present and may even take the stage with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley for a performance. As amazing as that will be, I don’t think it will open the door for a full reunion. Gene is happy with Tommy and Eric being in the band, and even though many fans still refer to them as “scabs” they are talented musicians in their own right and add an element to the band that was lacking in prior years. Hopefully they will attend the ceremony along with former guitarist Bruce Kulick. Ultimately, I would love to see all 7 members on stage for at least one song (ala the Unplugged concert from 1996). It would be a magnificent experience, but I am sure that most fans only want the original four to perform and be honored on that night.
Kiss is going to be celebrating their 40th are still performing (The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band are the only two I can think of). Kiss has been entertaining the masses for 40 years anniversary next year. Not many bands reach that plateau andvand they still put on one of the best shows in all of rock and roll. To see them enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame is going to be fantastic. It’s an honor they should have been given years ago. And for one night, the spotlight will be on the original four once again. I’m sure they will perform the overplayed hits like “Rock And Roll All Night” and “Deuce,” but that’s all right. To see the four original members perform together again will be nice, but again, I expect that it will be only for one night, and that’s all right.
Rather than do a nostalgic reunion tour, I am hoping that Kiss gets back in the studio and releases another record. Their last album, Monster, was one of the strongest of their career and I want to see that creativity continue on. As a fan, I am greedy. I want more Kiss albums and I want them now. To tour with the original members would halt that production, unless they record a new album with all four original members. That would be a real treat, but not something I will hold my breath for.
Tickets for the April concert are going on sale to the general public in January, and I am going to do my best to try and get them, but I expect to be shut out. However, I am going to give it my best effort. To be at this ceremony, watching Kiss get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would be a lifelong Kiss fan’s dream. Hopefully, it will be a dream come true.
