Archive For
1 STATIC-X Takes the Metal Down Under
Static-X will take the Metal Down Under on an Australian trek in support of chart topping album CULT OF STATIC.
Static-X announced TERMINAL as the third release off their critically acclaimed and most flammable work to date, CULT OF STATIC, on Reprise Records. This third release comes on the coattails of their first hit single STINGWRAY and second hit Z-28, while the album CULT OF STATIC charted Billboards Top 200 at the #16 position.
STATIC X – AUSTRALIA TOUR DATES:
Tue 10 Nov HiFi Brisbane 18+
Wed 11 Nov Metro Sydney All Ages
Thu 12 Nov HiFi Melbourne 18+
Fri 13 Nov Fowlers Adelaide All Ages
Sun 15 Nov Capitol Perth 18+
For More information go to www.myspace.com/staticx or www.static-x.com
0 SMILE EMPTY SOUL STREAMS ENTIRE NEW ALBUM ONLINE
NEW ALBUM “CONSCIOUSNESS”
IN STORES NOW
THROUGH F.O.F LABEL GROUP
Santa Clarita, CA based SMILE EMPTY SOUL is currently streaming their entire new album “Consciousness” online at this location. The album hit stores this week through F.O.F Label Group/EMI.
“Getting this album out hasn’t been easy,” says Smile Empty Soul guitarist and vocalist Sean Danielsen. “It’s literally been a roller coaster ride of highs and lows, but personally I feel this is our strongest album to date. We really came together as a unit to write and record some our best songs and I think there is a little something for everyone on this album.”
SMILE EMPTY SOUL’s new album “Consciousness” was recorded in Los Angeles, CA by producer by Eddie Wohl (Anthrax, Ill Nino) and mixed by Jay Baumgardner (Three Days Grace, Godsmack, Papa Roach). The album takes the signature hard rock sound that SMILE EMPTY SOUL has created with modern rock staples like “Bottom of a Bottle”, “Nowhere Kids” and “Silhouettes” and hones it to perfection on new songs like “Don’t Ever Leave” and “Faker”.
SMILE EMPTY SOUL recently filmed a video for their new single “Don’t Ever Leave” with actor Sean Faris who recently won an MTV Movie Award with his lead role in “Never Back Down” and up and coming actress Merisa Torneo. The video is expected to be serviced to all outlets sometime early next week.
SMILE EMPTY SOUL TOUR DATES:
Sep 04 – Cedar Rapids, IA @ First Avenue
Sep 05 – Flint, MI @ Machine Shop
Sep 05 – Flint, MI @ Machine Shop
Sep 10 – Evansville, IN @ Woody’s Bar
0 ARJEN LUCASSEN of AYERON has NEW PROG ROCK PROJECT
GUILT MACHINE Unleashes New Album In The USA
ON THIS PERFECT DAY To Release September 29th on Mascot Records USA
Arjen Lucassen creates the new prog rock project GUILT MACHINE. The band releases ON THIS PERFECT DAY September 29th on Mascot Records USA. The album will be released in three formats. Regular Edition of CD in jewel case, Special edition of CD/DVD Digipak and a limited edition CD/DVD Digibook.
“In my view this is my best side project so far,” explains Lucassen. “It comes completely from the heart, for it was written and recorded during a new inspiring phase in my life after my heavy depression. This, being an entirely new project, there were no expectations whatsoever, which enabled me to just let my inspiration guide me without any (outside) pressure.”
As AYREON fans have come to expect from Arjen, the music of GUILT MACHINE ranges from dark and heavy to atmospheric and melancholic. But GUILT MACHINE introduces some new twists as well, particularly when it comes to the vocals. Rather than putting together an ensemble cast of vocalists from the prog, rock and metal scene, Arjen has enlisted the talents of a single alternative rock vocalist, Jasper Steverlinck.
How did Arjen get an alternative rock vocalist to switch genres and sing on a prog rock project? “In the beginning, it was hard to convince Jasper to sing on this album, because he comes from a completely different musical background,” Arjen said. “He didn’t even know what prog was, but we’ve made a believer out of him! What I admire about Jasper‘s voice, besides its beautiful clear timbre, is the emotion and credibility he puts into his performance and his enormous range. Because this project features just one singer I needed someone versatile enough to portray all of the different moods, and Jasper didn’t disappoint. And he’s a really nice and dedicated guy as well!”
For GUILT MACHINE, Arjen also chose to record with a different drummer, Chris Maitland (ex-PORCUPINE TREE). “Chris was the ideal choice this time, having both the power for the heavy sections and the subtle touch needed in the more atmospheric parts,” Arjen said.
Rather than the explicit storyline you would expect in an AYREON release, the songs of GUILT MACHINE revolve around a central theme. Instead of looking outward into a world of fantasy or science fiction, the songs look inward, exploring the destructive psychology of guilt, regret and the darkest form of secret — the secrets we hide from ourselves.
“At first I asked my partner and personal manager Lori to quickly write scratch lyrics for one of the songs so I could record some guide vocals,” Arjen said. “I was so impressed by what she produced that I asked her to write the lyrics for all the songs. I was unable myself to create the type of darkly enigmatic, open-ended lyrics I wanted for these songs, my specialty being sci-fi lyrics about sinister aliens. She definitely gave the songs an extra dimension with her lyrics, exorcising the demons we both had faced in the past few years. It’s also no secret that I’ve always been a big fan of her melodic guitar style, so she also plays all the guitar solos on this album.”
Despite these differences, GUILT MACHINE still has much in common with AYREON. The songs are mainly long, “epic” tracks that feature dynamic contrasts between softer, dreamy sections and powerful, heavy passages. There are intricate harmonies, complex rhythms, soaring melodies, and an eclectic selection of instruments — all what you’d expect from an AYREON release.
0 Anvil – Re-release of the Band’s Live Album Out in September!
For some – a living legend of heavy metal, for others – a long forgotten relic of the past. Either way, there’s no doubt that Anvil left a visible mark in the history of heavy music. Their legacy reaches all the way back to the 80’s, when the group celebrated their biggest triumphs. Although Anvil’s popularity eventually expired, the band remained true to their passion and against all the odds, kept recording new material for years to come.
In January 2008 director and huge Anvil fan, Sacha Gervasi (known also as the writer of the blockbuster film “The Terminal”) released his documentary about the band, called “Anvil! The Story of Anvil”. Filmed between 2005 and 2007, it showcased with brutal honesty Anvil’s decline from greatness to obscurity. The documentary proved to be a big hit, winning thousands of hearts worldwide and getting raving reviews in the press. The Times called it “possibly the greatest film yet made about rock and roll”. The movie brought Anvil back on the metal radar – in 2009 the band performed on the Download Festival and supported AC/DC on three shows during their “Black Ice” world tour.This exclusive re-release brings back a truly exceptional live album. “Past and Present – Live in Concert” covers Anvil’s most successful period and delivers some of their most memorable hits and is the perfect way to get to know one of the most remarkable and die-hard bands in the history of heavy metal! Metal Mind Productions will re-issue this album on 21st September (worldwide except for USA, Canada, South & Central America).
Track listing:
1. Concrete Jungle
2. Toe Jam
3. Motormount
4. Forged In Fire
5. Blood On The Ice
6. March Of The Crabs
7. Jackammer
8. Metal On Metal
9. Winged Assassins
10. 666
11. Mothra
0 TrashPit Records Releases New EP from Red Light Rippers / Chop Suicide Guitarist
TrashPit Records is very proud to announce the UK release of the debut EP from STACI T. RAT – ‘Year of The Rat’ on September 28th.
The Toronto based guitarist, Staci T Rat serves up an infectious, heady mix of low strung, dirty bar room anthems that showcase the solid songwriting that was highly evident in past projects Red Light Rippers and Chop Suicide. It’s a talent and passion that has made him one of the Canadian underground rock scene’s most celebrated and hard working acts.
‘Year of The Rat’, boasts a collection of songs that pay tribute to Staci’s rock influences from AC/DC, Jane’s Addiction, the essential Van Halen I, old school Alice Cooper and a healthy dose of Faster Pussycat on a late night bar room jam! It’s these molded to Rat’s huge hooks, solid guitar skills and comfortable leap to frontman status that make this such an exciting slab of Rock n Roll.
From the guitar swagger of ‘Seven Years’ featuring Charlie Harper of the UK Subs on harmonica, through to the airy, last call acoustic gem ‘Another Time’, Staci T Rat has delivered his most adventurous and satisfying release yet.
‘Year Of The Rat’ is released in the UK on September 28th with pre-orders through www.trashpit.co.uk being taken from September 1st.
Live dates are planned for the latter part of 2009.
For more information please visit www.myspace.com/stacitrat or www.stacitrat.com
2 House of Lords – Cartesian Dreams (2009)
Is the sequel ever as good as the original? For House of Lords the answer is a resounding YES! After a “What the Hell Were They Thinking” moment that was the release of 2000’s “the Power & the Myth” James Christian said enough is enough, and with the blessing of founder Gregg Giuffria, put together a new lineup consisting of Jimi Bell (Guitars), BJ Zampa (Drums), and Chris McCarvill (Bass) and a return to the melodic sound House of Lords were known for. With the release of two very solid albums “World Upside Down” and “Come To My Kingdom” House of Lords were back at the forefront of the Melodic Rock world, but the release of the lineup’s third album “Cartesian Dreams” puts the band way ahead of the competition. If I could only use one word to describe the sound of “Cartesian Dreams” it would be heavy, by far the heaviest HoL album to date but still retaining HoL’s trademark melody and sound. James Christian’s voice still sounds fantastic and the band as a whole are tight and in sync with one another.
“Cartesian Dreams” starts out with a bang with the title track, and immediately gives us a taste of what we are in for with this release. Heavy, thumping, with nice keyboard fills and some outstanding background vocals Bell has an excellent solo but it is BJ Zampa that outshines everyone on this track with his drumming. “Born To Be Your Baby” follows up with a great sing a long chorus that will get stuck in your head and not let go. One of the catchiest tracks on the album that has single written all over it. “Desert Rain” is next in line and much like “Cartesian Dreams” is a heavy thumping song about the Iraq War, with the whole band sounding fantastic. On the American version “Sweet September” is the closest song you could call a ballad on this album and it is a great one with some nice background vocals and James Christian sounds amazing on this song. “Bangin'” is a great dirty rocker, which would make a great lead off single, a classic HoL song. At first listen you think “A Simple Plan” is a slow mid tempo number, but once Bell’s guitar kicks in, that changes your thinking completely, while it does stay in the mid tempo range it is anything but slow. Once again the band sounds outstanding on this song especially Bell and McCarvill.
The rest of “Cartesian Dreams” is filled with more heavy melodic rockers like “Saved By Rock”, “Repo Man” and the outstanding “Joanna” another song with single written all over it. If you get the European version look out for the song “the Train” a slow mid tempo song with some great lyrics and background vocals. Fans of HoL and Melodic Rock in general are going to find “Cartesian Dreams” to not only be the best release of HoL’s new Lineup but one of the best of the band’s entire career. Definitely a must have album.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
01. Cartesian Dreams 
02. Born To Be Your Baby
03. Desert Rain
04. Sweet September
05. Bangin’
06. A Simple Plan
07. Never Look Back
08. The Bigger They Come
09. Repo Man
10. Saved By Rock
11. Joanna
12. The Train (Bonus Track)
House of Lords are:
James Christian – vocals
Jimi Bell – guitars
BJ Zampa – drums
Chris McCarvill – bass
1 New Music – Vendetta – My Revelation
Vendetta has released a new video “My Revelation” for their forthcoming album, Heretic Nation. Check them out on myspace at this link.
