Category: Music
0 New Video – Chevelle -Well Enough Alone
Check out the first single/video “Well Enough Alone” off of Chevelle’s new disc, Vena Sera.
CHEVELLE has added two months worth of dates to its fall tour schedule, which now extends well into November. CHEVELLE is touring in support of its fourth album, “Vena Sera”, which came out this past spring. The Chicago trio took most of August off so that bassist Dean Bernardini could be home for the arrival of his child. Bernardini‘s daughter, Lola Anne Bernardini, was born on August 3, weighing in at seven pounds and five ounces.
CHEVELLE resumed roadwork on August 25 and plays Tuesday night (September 4) in Binghamton, New York.
The latest single from “Vena Sera” is “I Get It”.
Newly confirmed CHEVELLE tour dates:
Sep. 18 – West Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom
Sep. 20 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
Sep. 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – EnergySolutions Arena
Sep. 22 – Boise, ID – Big Easy Concert House
Sep. 24 – Spokane, WA – Big Easy
Sep. 25 – Seattle, WA – Showbox At The Market
Sep. 26 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
Sep. 28 – Edmonton, AB – Red’s
Sep. 30 – St. Louis, MO – TBA
Oct. 06 – Memphis, TN – Mud Island Amphitheatre (radio festival)
Oct. 07 – Hattiesburg, MS – The Bottling Company
Oct. 09 – Charlotte, NC – Amos’Southend
Oct. 11 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House Of Blues
Oct. 13 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House Of Blues
Oct. 14 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
Oct. 16 – New Orleans, LA – House Of Blues
Oct. 18 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Bar-B-Q
Oct. 19 – Amarillo, TX – Midnight Rodeo & Piranha Club
Oct. 20 – Odessa, TX – Dos Amigos
Oct. 22 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
Oct. 24 – San Diego, CA – SOMA San Diego
Oct. 25 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee Theatre
Oct. 26 – Ventura, CA – Ventura Theatre
Oct. 28 – Chico, CA – Senator Theater
Oct. 29 – Anaheim, CA – House Of Blues
Oct. 30 – West Hollywood, CA – House Of Blues
Nov. 01 – Reno, NV – Stoney’s Indoor Skate Park
Nov. 03 – Kinston, NC – Kinston Fairgrounds
Nov. 05 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
Nov. 06 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theatre
Nov. 09 – Lubbock, TX – The Pavilion
Nov. 10 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
Nov. 12 – Springfield, MO – Remington’s Niteclub
Nov. 13 – Louisville, KY – Headliners
For more info on Chevelle, check out the band’s myspace page.
0 New Video – The Order – Satisfaction
Swiss Metal band “The Order” has a new video, “Satisfaction“.This is on their CD, Metal Casino, available now through Impulse Music.
1 DIO – Holy Diver (Release Year – 1983)
After Ronnie James Dio left Black Sabbath, he started a solo career with a band under his own name, DIO.
Holy Diver is the debut by DIO, which features Vivian Campbell on Guitar, Black Sabbath band mate, Vinny Appice on drums and Jimmy Bain on bass.
To this listener, Holy Diver will always be a timeless metal classic. Ronnie James Dio’s ultra powerful vocals alone, make this a disc for all metalheads to check out. Vivian Campbell’s playing on this record is nothing short of superb. His playing on Holy Diver is far beyond anything he has done with his current employer, Def Leppard.
Vinny Appice has always been a great metal drummer, and his heavy drum beats on this record are nothing short of perfect!
The songs Holy Diver and Rainbow in the Dark, are still two of the biggest rock anthems that Ronnie James Dio has ever sung.
Some other favorite cuts of mine off of this disc, are Stand Up and Shout and Don’t Talk to Strangers.
Ronnie James Dio has been, and forever will be one of my favorite metal singers. I have followed his career since the Elf days, and Holy Diver is still one of my favorite records by Ronnie and company.
If you don’t own this record….what are you waiting for? Don’t miss out on this Classic Metal record!
Rating:Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Stand Up and Shout
2. Holy Diver
3. Gypsy
4. Caught in the Middle
5. Don’t Talk to Strangers
6. Straight Through the Heart
7. Invisible
8. Rainbow in the Dark
9. Shame on the Night
2 The art behind “The Heroin Diaries”
Nikki Sixx has always been known for his striking visual imagery dating all the way back to his glam days in the 80s.
With the release of Nikki’s new book, “The Heroin Diaries,” nothing has changed.
Nikki mixes disturbing sketches with eerie photographs to illustrate the decay that was going on in his mind and in his body.
To help bring his vision to life Nikki brought in P.R. Brown (Art Direction: Mötley Crüe, Marilyn Manson).
Check out the fifth edition of the Heroin Diaries Podcast to get the full story on the art of the Heroin Diaries.
http://newmedia.10thst.com/heroindiaries/podcast/hd_podcast5.mov
7 Trouble Tribe – S/T (Release Year – 1990)
One of the more obscure Pop Metal bands of the early 90’s is New York’s Trouble Tribe.
This band features singer Jimmy Driscoll , Adam Wacht on lead guitar, Eric Klaastad on bass, and Stephen Durrell on drums.
The band had a semi-hit on MTV with Here Comes Trouble. On the opening of this song, Jimmy Driscoll and band sounds a lot like mid 80’s KISS.
It is a fairly decent pop metal disc by one of the lesser known bands of the hair metal era. This record has a few solid cuts including Tattoo, Here Comes Trouble, and the solid power ballad, In The End. The band also covered the Beatles’ Dear Prudence.
After Trouble Tribe broke up, Adam Wacht later played in the bands Left For Dead and Opinion with drummer Bobby Borg. Jimmy Driscoll started the band, In the Wild.
You can still find a few used copies of the Trouble Tribe disc at Amazon.com. It is becoming more rare by the day. It is a nice little glam metal gem that is worth seeking out.
Rating:Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Tattoo
2. Here Comes Trouble
3. Gimme Something Sweet
4. In the End
5. Back to the Well
6. Boys Nite Out
7. Tribal Beast
8. Red Light Zone
9. (Angel With A) Devil’s Kiss
10. Dear Prudence
11. One by One
12. Cold Heart
13. F’s Nightmare
0 ATREYU ENTERS BILLBOARD’S TOP 200 AT #8
ATREYU ENTER BILLBOARD’S TOP 200 AT #8
AND BILLBOARD’S ROCK AND HARD ROCK ALBUM CHARTS AT #1
LEAD SAILS PAPER ANCHOR IS THE HIGHEST-CHARTING ALBUM OF THE BAND’S CAREER!
LOS ANGELES, CA – ATREYU’s Lead Sails Paper Anchor rocketed onto Billboard’s Top 200 this week at No. 8, and Billboard’s Rock and Hard Rock Album charts at No. 1, making it the highest-charting album of the band’s career. The debut is also significant in that Atreyu distinguish themselves as one among a very short list of hard rock acts to have debuted in the Top 10 this year.
News of the album’s explosive arrival follows a flurry of headline-making moves for Atreyu, who were recently named as a headliner on one of the biggest tours of the new year: “Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour.” That announcement comes on the heels of the Family Values Tour, which saw Atreyu play third on the bill and share stages alongside Korn and Evanescence. Atreyu will launch a headlining tour on September 9th at the Big Easy in Boise, ID with openers Haste The Day, It Dies Today and So They Say.
Lead Sails Paper Anchor has been drawing rave reviews from media outlets around the world, including Metal Hammer, who called the disc “a truly landmark album.” Kerrang! gave the record 4 K’s and Blender gave it 3 = stars and called it “metal that takes you to a magical bygone era.” Revolver awarded the album 4 stars and praised it for flowing “beautifully through the speakers” and for being “a coffin-tight collection of singles.”
Among those singles is propulsive lead track “Becoming The Bull,” which is featured in EA Sports mega-popular new Madden ‘08 video game. The band and director Kevin Kerslake (Green Day, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins) shot a video for the song, which was recently added at MTV2.
Atreyu recorded Lead Sails Paper Anchor this past spring with producer John Feldmann (The Used, Good Charlotte). The album was mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Slipknot, Linkin Park).
Don’t miss your chance to catch Atreyu live and hear them perform songs from new album Lead Sails Paper Anchor.
DATE CITY VENUE
Sept. 9 Boise, ID Big Easy Concert House
Sept. 10 Spokane, WA Big Easy Concert Hall
Sept. 12 Fargo, ND The Venue @ Playmakers
Sept. 14 Milwaukee, WI The Eagles Club
Sept. 15 Grand Rapids,MI Orbit Room
Sept. 16 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
Sept. 18 Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s
Sept. 19 Buffalo, NY The Town Ballroom
Sept. 21 Reading, PA The Silo
Sept. 22 Richmond, VA Canal Club
Sept. 23 Winston-Salem, NC Ziggy’s
Sept. 24 Charlotte,NC Tremont Music Hall
Sept. 25 North Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
Sept. 27 Orlando, FL House of Blues
Sept. 28 Jacksonville, FL Plush
Sept. 29 Nashville, TN Rocketown
Sept. 30 New Orleans, LA House of Blues
Oct. 2 Odessa, TX Dos Amigos
Oct. 3 El Paso, TX Club 101
Oct. 4 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre
Oct. 6 Pomona, CA Glass House
Dates, venues and other bands on the “Rockstar Taste of Chaos” 2008 tour will be released soon.
2 L.A. GUNS ANNOUNCE FALL WORLD TOUR
Legendary Sunset Strip band L.A. Guns will Embark on a fall world tour that will take them to Australia for the first time and will hookup with rock icons Hanoi Rocks for a European tour that will take them through Italy, Spain, the U.K. and Scotland.
The “ONE AND ONLY L.A.GUNS” featuring the real voice of L.A.Guns, the charasmatic Phil Lewis, legendary drummer Steve Riley,Lead Guitarist Stacey Blades and Bassist Scotty Griffin will hit the Australian shores for 4 dates in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. The Guns are stoked and honoured to be playing for rabid Aussie fans and this tour will surely blow the roof off down under!
Phil, Steve, Stacey and Scott are eager to get back to Europe as L.A.GUNS have not played there in 2 years. The Demolition Ball tour which will also feature Vixen is sure to pack the houses and the boys are stoked to be playing the famed “Astoria” in London.
The Guns will be playing all the favourites plus a few numbers from their crictically acclaimed 2005 release “Tales From The Strip”.
The band plans to release a new album in 2008 and will be produced once again by the legendary Andy Johns(Stones,Zepplin,Van Halen,etc)
The Climax and return of the European Tour for the Guns to the States will feature a show with Vince Neil of Motley Crue at the Myth in Minneapolis as part of a Thanksgiving Midwest Holiday run of dates prior to returing to home turf of the Sunset Strip.
For dates and venues please check out the Official www.myspace.com/lagunsofficial and laguns.net.
0 Invitro Guitar Giveaway
When I Was A Planet, the latest from Los Angeles quintet, Invitro, hits shelves September 11th. This Gridiron Records release marks the debut of Invitro’s full length album which features the single “When I Was A Planet.” Invitro’s mixed harmonies, melodies, layered guitars and trouncing drum beats yield one of the most creative records in metal, punk, and prog of the year.
In support of When I Was A Planet, Invitro has been performing on the Family Values Tour and will continue touring North America throughout the year.
To celebrate the release of When I Was A Planet, Invitro is giving you the chance to win this signed Fender Guitar. FIVE (5) lucky runner-ups will receive a lab coat that the band uses to perform in and an autographed copy of the CD.
0 New Video – Elven King – The Divided Heart
3 Supagroup – Rules (Release Year – 2005)
Supagroup will soon have a new CD out called Fire for Hire in 2007. I decided to check out Supagroup’s Sophomore effort Rules.
I haven’t listened to Supagroup before, so I didn’t know what to expect.
After listening to Rules a couple of times, I can safely say they fit into the Classic Rock mold. They have a party rock sound that is similar to, but not the same as AC/DC.
This disc is filled with high speed to mid-tempo, 3 chord mayhem that will get you on your feet rocking.
Let’s Go (Get Wasted) is about as big of a party anthem as you are ever going to hear.
Other highlights on this disc include the bluesy, “I’m Gonna Change“, The infectious “Ready To Go”, “Bastard” and “It Takes Balls”.
If you are a fan of AC/DC, Rhino Bucket or Airbourne, Supagroup may be a band for you to check out!
Rules is a solid slab of feel good, hard rock and will whet your appetite for the new disc, Fire for Hire coming at the end of September.
Rating: Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Ready To Go
2. Hot Times
3. Bastard
4. Let’s Go (Get Wasted)
5. It Takes Balls
6. Invincible Me
7. I’m Gonna Change
8. One For The Money
9. Ruling (Is Its Own Reward)
10. Hog Wild
11. Rough Edge
0 Hurt – Volume II
If there’s no education like adversity, then Hurt is the smartest band around. On the quartet’s second Capitol album, Vol. II, the sweat and sacrifice is palpable in the dozen potent tracks, which further the dramatic alt-metal meld forged on 2006’s Vol. 1. Singer J. Loren goes so far to say that Hurt’s music has the power to save lives: “I know that’s not unfounded, because people have written to the band and told me that.” And it’s saved his life—“I’m compelled to do it. I have no other functionality in this life,” he states unequivocally. His goals for the band are equally forthright: “I want to invoke feeling. Period. If listeners feel good, if it compels them to tears… If all you can think about is a song for five minutes at a time, I’m happy to be that distraction. I’ve wasted my whole life to be that.”Vol. II’s ‘first single, “Ten Ton Brick,” can actually be considered the third single—if you look at Vol. 1 and Vol. II as a body of work. “I would have released both albums together, but for a young band, that’s too ambitious. These Volumes are not concept albums—my life is not a fucking concept,” declares Loren, his direct personality as intense onstage as off. “Both records are like a collection of short stories. They often intertwine and cross-reference each other between the albums. Some of the songs were written 10 years ago, some this year, but our songs are often situational, and about irony and age-old truths, so I return to themes that are important to me.” For instance, Vol. II’s “Aftermath” is a companion piece to “Ten Ton Brick,” both songs on Vol. II, the pair akin to a “movement” in classical music. Vol. II’s ‘Summer’s Lost” is related to “House Carpenter” on Vol. 1…which the listener can discern by playing “House Carpenter” backward.
Togetherness was key to Vol. II. Although the sessions were exhaustive, the lineup, together for four years, got along better than they ever had. “Through adversity we’ve done this and I’m really proud of it. When you can’t afford to eat and you work 18 hours a day for six months, I’d call that adversity.” At the production helm (as he was for Vol. 1). was Eric Greedy (Ringo Starr, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Barbra Streisand), who, in tandem with Hurt, realized Vol. II in several studios around Los Angeles. While it wasn’t always smooth sailing, that’s what gives Vol. II—and the band members—a discernible audio edge.
Vol II. will be in stores Sept. 25th
Listen to “Ten Ton Brick” here!
Tour Dates:
9/22 Pittsburgh, PA @ TBA
9/24 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
9/25 Grand Rapids, MI @ Intersection
9/26 Libertyville, IL @ Austin’s
9/27 Maplewood, MN @ The Rock
9/30 Maryland Heights, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
10/2 Louisville, KY @ Headliners
10/3 Cincinnati, OH @ 20th Century Theatre
10/4 Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop
10/6 Noblesville, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
0 Destroy All Records signs Dave Evans!
Destroy All Records is pleased to announce the recent contract signing of Dave Evans aka King Of All Badasses, who is an original founding member and front man of AC/DC. Dave’s continued career included Australia’s Rabbit, Dave Evans & Hot Cockerel, and Dave Evans & Thunder Down Under. DA Records will release Dave Evans’ current CD, “Sinner” (which he will perform with his new band Dave Evans & The Badasses) through proper distribution channels.
The Release Date of Sinner through distribution will be September 25th 2007.
The quote released by Dave Evans; “It’s good to be a part of a label that understands the
artists needs and wants as the principals of the company are musicians themselves. Destroy All Records seems to be appropriate for the King Of All BadAsses!!
The quote released by a Spokesperson for Destroy All Records; “We have been looking forward to adding a dynamic act and individual to our roster of artists.”
0 New Video – Babylon Bombs – Jaded Heart
2 The Return of Alter Bridge
Out of the chaos, tumult, and uncertainty, Blackbird, Alter Bridge’s sophomore album, was born. In the time between One Day Remains and Blackbird, Alter Bridge have found a new label, tapped the songwriting skills of Myles Kennedy, and funded their own record. Putting all the chaos behind them, Alter Bridge are set to follow up their gold record with a new album that uses the full musical arsenal of the band, on October 9th.
Alter Bridge recruited producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette (Incubus, Chevelle, Three Days Grace). The recording process began in Nashville in February 2007. With no label to back the band they put up their own money to make the album they wanted and needed to make. The first single off Blackbird, “Rise Today” asks the personal question: Could this world be a better place? With a true collaboration between the former members of Creed and Myles Kennedy, Alter Bridge is ready to take their fans on an emotional journey that shows what combined efforts of the whole band can do.
Check out new tracks from Blackbird, including the first single “Rise Today,” and “Ties That Bind“.
1 HIM U.S. Tour presale!
HIM have just announced new U.S. and Canadian tour dates on http://www.heartagram.com/tour along with a special internet pre-sale that begins today and ends on Wednesday, September 5th at 10:00pm. Get pre-sale tickets, the new album Venus Doom, and a free month in the heartagram.com fan club for one special price and kick off the tour with HIM on Thursday, October 18th in Sayerville, NJ.
To be a part of this special offer, just go to Ticketmaster.com and enter the HIM INTERNET PRESALE code “vitruvian” to activate the pre-sale bundle. For those that do not wish to be a part of the special internet pre-sale, tickets will be available after 10:00pm on Wednesday through Ticketmaster. A public on-sale is available September 8th.
Stay tuned for more features to the new http://www.heartagram.com this Thursday, including a way to go deeper into the site and get access to exclusive merch, future pre-sales, exclusive contests worldwide, your own blog, and more!
0 Gary Hughes, Leverage, Danny Vaughn in the news!
Ten frontman Gary Hughes is currently working hard to put finishing touches to his forthcoming solo album entitled “Veritas”, latin word for “Truth”.
The new cd is taking shape in the Arena studios in Lancashire, UK and according to Hughes, “the songs on this album are among the strongest I have ever written in my lifetime“.
“Veritas” feels like the natural successor to “Precious Ones”, Gary Hughes’ last solo output dated 1998. This time around Gary used a different array of players to enhance the diversity of the album. “I have gone for a variety of music styles with regard to musicians this time around”, explains Gary, ”drummer Dave Ingledew and bass player Rick Stewart are currently members of British Dark Metal band Devil To Pay, Jason Robinson is the drummer with Alternative Metal band Absent Minds, whilst Simon Brayshaw is the bass player with British Blues outfit Nightshift. From the Ten ranks, Chris Francis contributes with leadwork once again and John Halliwell has taken acoustic guitar duties as usual”. Gary is playing keyboards and caring for all the orchestrations.
“Given the long awaited nature this album and the anticipation already beginning I have been working really hard to make this album the best I possibly can” concludes Gary “we could be sitting on a truly outstanding piece of product, and maybe a yardstick for my future releases”.
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Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the signing of the Finnish Melodic Metal band LEVERAGE for a multi album deal !Finnish Heavy Rock has of course long traditions, but this type of old school melodic heavy rock with a shade of progressive flavour hasn’t been heard from Finnish bands before.
Leverage debut album “Tides” created a real underground wave among the fans during 2006. Winner of the “Best Metal / Prog” album of the year award on Melodicrock.com (and getting great reviews all around the net), the band’s music offers a variety and exciting Melodic Metal formula with powerful vocals (courtesy of singer Pekka Heino, also known for his stint with Brother Firetribe) and killer guitars.
“Tides” charted in Leverage home country, Finland, reaching the general Top 30 in the first 2 weeks of release.
“This is not a boy band, a studio band, a wannabe-band, project band or whatever fake band. Leverage is a true and honest heavy rock band, for the love of heavy rock!”: states guitarist and main songwriter Pekka Heino and you can bet these guys are definitely one of the musical upcoming brightest stars around.
Leverage are:
Pekka Heino :: vocals
Tuomas Heikkinen :: guitar
Torsti Spoof :: guitar
Marko Niskala :: keyboards
Pekka Lampinen :: bass
Valtteri Revonkorpi :: drums
Check out the band listening to “Superstition”, a sample from “Tides” and judge it on your own !
Leverage spent the entire months July and August in the studio to wrap up the follow up to “Tides”. The new album will be released on Frontiers in early 2008, with a re-release in selected European countries on the band’s monster debut album “Tides” in mid price line with bonus tracks ! Stay tuned for more updates!
You can read the Hard Rock Hideout review of Tides here!
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Danny Vaughn and Fabrizio Grossi have started demoing new songs for the second FROM THE INSIDE album. This time the guys have decided to adopt more of a songwriting union approach that has brought plenty of killer new tracks such as “1st Century”, “Listen To Your Heart”, “Push Me Off”, “Telemetry”, “Making Waves”, “Moment To Moment” and “Light Years”. More songs have been supplied by Joey Carbone (Vertigo, Joseph Williams) and twins Tom and James Martin (Ted Poley, Khymera, House of Lords).
The recording lineup this time will include Jimi Bell (House of Lords) on guitars, Eric Ragno (Takara, Ramos) on keyboards and Pete Lobo on drums with final mix to be handled by Dennis Ward.
Fans of the debut album can expect a top rate production and improved songwriting. Frontiers hopes to release the album before the summer 2008.
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Bassist Mat Sinner sent us his track by track comments for the songs included on the forthcoming PRIMAL FEAR album “New Religion” due out on September 19th on Frontiers Records. Enjoy the insight !Sign of Fear
We wanted to create a very unusual introduction for the album: like a metal band with a kind of orchestra tuning or like Dire Straits did with Money For Nothing. We wanted to create a moment when people are listening very concentrated on what comes next! Of course, we wanted to start the album with a fast paced heavy track. All the people who thought that Primal Fear is getting more & more a pop band should get a kick in their butt with the first song! In my first demo version, my own vocals were based an octave lower, but Ralf is the master of screams and he delivered in an unbelievable way! For a part of the lead guitar on this song, we recruited my good friend Magnus Karlsson, Ralf gave me a lead vocal part in the Middle 8 part and we shot a video clip for this song!
Face The Emptiness
One thing counts for sure on the new album – we worked hard as never before on Ralf’s lead vocals and overall on this album, in my view it’s by far his best performance in his entire career! Face The Emptiness shows exactly this statement, in a sovereign manner. What a great chorus line. Here we used the first little orchestration, conducted by me and maestro Matz Ulmer on a basic idea by guitarist Stefan Leibing. The rhythm of the song is very complicated and it was a tough time for Randy and me recording the rhythm section, but it worked out great, always with the fine ears of co-producer Charlie Bauerfeind.
Everytime It Rains
Seventh album and again we planned to go another big step ahead with our musical claim. What we’ve didn’t realize in the past was indeed a duet with a female singer. We talked with some girls in Europe about joining us on a track for the new album and Ralf finally decided, that he wanted to record with Simone Simons. Next was to find the right track for this exciting new idea. We had a great time during the recordings of this song. Ralf built up a special cabin for Simone with drinks, roses and a candle – very nice and finally a great idea to record this track! We’re working on the idea to shoot another video clip for the song shortly! My sincere compliments to Simone & Ralf for this great performance!
New Religion
The burning tribal eagle marks the reincarnation for the band. The band is born again, with new record company partners in the entire world and we have Henny Wolter back in the band. Henny was always one my favourite guitarist in his Thunderhead days. Then he played on Sinner’s Bottom Line album and he blew me away. I knew, that Ralf & Stefan are big fans of Henny’s playing and his character. We discussed a lot, who will be the right guy for Primal Fear’s future and all guys in the band wanted Henny back! Then we split up after 6 albums with our basic record company partners and we’re looking for a new path for our future. This all together can describe the title of the album and the resurrection of our trademark – the eagle and this song lives by the typical Primal Fear guitar riff which switches to a untypical harmony change in the big chorus and a very nice breakdown part!
Fighting The Darkness
1. Fighting The Darkness
This is a very important song for Primal Fear and I worked very hard with both my brothers from Sweden, Ronny & Tobias on the song. Maybe this is the 15th song we wrote together but the vibe of our songwriting is still magic! You can hear a very detailed orchestration, between power chords and silence. I still get goose bumps when I listen carefully to the song on my headphones. Again an outstanding lead vocal performance by Ralf and a very tasteful lead guitar solo by Stefan, but all of the guys worked very hard on this track. For me personally it’s the best sounding track Primal Fear has ever produced and released. A huge credit goes to mixer Ronald Prent. He worked with a lot of major acts in his career and now we know why all this special bands like Rammstein, Def Leppard, Manowar etc. worked with him. His feeling to understand the music is unbelievable!
2. The Darkness
A lot of bands in the seventies used this kind of combination of huge and long songs. I’m always searching for some new influences to make the next Primal Fear record exciting and interesting, with content, which wasn’t used so many time before. I’ve learnt from Yes, Deep Purple, ELP, Kansas etc. that they built up ten minute songs with different parts. We follow the main melody of the A-Part and then moving into an halftime part, later into a fast part as built up throughout the composition, again with nice choirs, keyboards and orchestration! What I really like here are the outstanding drum breaks by Randy – always creative and played with such an enormous power! I really see a new album as a huge musical project for myself and the band now, which is not only to write and record 4 minute metal song. I think music overall is so special with never ending targets and temptations!
3. Reprise
Of course the Grande Finale of the track with a late “comeback” of the huge chorus line and the end of our opus. Well I’m looking forward to realize the song in our forthcoming concerts. This will be a huge mission to bring this song on stage, but I can imagine, that it will give a Primal Fear concert something special to include and perform this monster song in our set!
Blood On Your Hands
Well, after so much sophisticated music, we need to rock – that’s exactly what we want to do on Blood On Your Hands and of course Primal Fear style. The song is based on a fast paced killer riff from the guitars and the dedicated and controversial lyrics. Stefan is a fan of this kind of guitar riffs, he delivered in the past on some other PF songs like “Fear”, “Evil Spell” or “Fight The Fire” and it is great to play these songs on stage. Great breakdown part right before the lead guitar plays some oriental harmonies!
The Curse of Sharon
Here we can listen to a lot of harmony guitars and a great Ralf idea to singalong the melody line on top the guitars! I can already hear the fans singing with us at the concerts – be prepared! Even this song has a lot of different parts it feels very fluid to play and to listen to. Nice breakdown part with very creative drumming and very cool vocal fills. I really love the vibe and the chorus of the song. It’s very special for me and it’s really great how the band played especially this song!
Too Much Time
………. is starting a two song package with the a back to the roots feeling of the harmonies in Primal Fear’s music and we want to bring the kind of “Nuclear Fire” vibe back into our new album. The first song “Too Much Time” starts with vocals J and turning into a furious pace! Henny is playing a great duelling solo with Stefan and we’re going through a lot of emotion and different parts here! Cool track!
Psycho
A big factor in Primal Fear’s and my songwriting, was always a kind of groove and combination between riff and steady bass guitar, like we did on “Running In The Dust”, “When The Night Comes”, “Eye Of An Eagle” etc. or what was a trademark of, for example, Accept. The new song “Psycho” is a nice example to follow this path of Primal Fear special groove and history in very cool quality. I’m really excited about the great bass guitar sound and it’s not easy to push it, before the guitars are getting too low, but great executed by Ronald! It was the first song Henny played on, since he rejoined the band!
World On Fire
Well it is really nice, that we have such great songs like WOF at the end of an album. This song could also be easily an album opener in my view. Nice double bass drum playing by Randy and a typical Primal Fear chorus, great harmony vocals and tasteful orchestral parts. I love the bombastic breakdown part and again a very furious played lead guitar. One nice little spot too, is the rhythm & lead guitar work at the end of the song – killer! Yes, I love the track!
The Man (That I Don’t Know)
Based on an idea by Stefan, “The Man…” is a very special song on the album. I have always the James Bond kind of score song vibe in my head, when I listen to this total bombastic album closing track. Nice lyrics about when you look into a mirror and you really don’t know if it’s you. Scary J – Ralf interprets this song in an insane quality. I especially love his vocal performance on this track. It’s a kind of untamed cannonade and I really laughed, when he killed a microphone in the recording studio, because his vocals where so extreme loud in the chorus. Finally the album closes with a nice bluesy outro guitar for an overall wonderful dramatic track.
0 New Video – Aesthesia – Cold Case
Check out the new video, “Cold Case” by France’s Aesthesia.
You have to stop by the band’s myspace page and give their tunes a listen. Great Stuff!
3 Concert Review: Ugly and Operator in Cincinnati
Every Labor Day Weekend, Cincinnati Rock station WEBN, has their big Labor day celebration, that ends with one of the biggest Fireworks displays in the United States.
In 2007, there were three music stages. One in Newport, KY, and two in Cincinnati. Most of the stages had local acts, except for the P&G Pavillion where I sought out two national hard rock acts, Ugly and Operator.
Ugly is a newer Detroit hard rock band that is made up by former members of the band Tantric and Outspoken. Ugly took the stage around 6 P.M. I have not seen this band before, and only heard a song or two prior to their performance.
I am happy to say that Ugly put on a great show. Their hard-driving, high energy rock revved up the crowd waiting to see the Headliner, Operator.
The lead singer, Geo Teubl came out after the show and was signing autographs and meeting the fans. He has the right attitude that will take him, and his band to the next level of success. The band Operator could take some personality and attitude lessons from Ugly.
Kevin McCreery’s guitar solo
Operator is the band that I have been looking forward to seeing for a few weeks now. I can only describe Operator, as the Soulcrushing idiots. The sound company seemingly could not get their sound right, and the band was unhappy from the start. The band led off with the profanity filled, Live Your Way. Singer Johnny Strong immediately showed attitude as he grumbled about being denied his First Amendment rights. He sang the song without the curse words.
Considering the number of young kids present at this outdoor free show, that was probably a good thing. Their is a time and place for profanity in rock music. It doesn’t bother me at all. Profanity is a pretty normal thing in hard rock and metal music. That doesn’t change the fact that I certainly wouldn’t want my stepdaughter or any other children to listen to a song filled with profanity.
After three songs, the band pulled an Axl Rose and stormed off the stage, and did not return. The crowd followed up with plenty of “Operator Sucks” comments being yelled at the top of their lungs, and rightfully so. The drummer came back out and played a short solo, and tried to win back some fans by throwing out a handful of drumsticks, but the damage was already done.
Cincinnati got their first impression of Operator, and it wasn’t a good one.
A later conversation with the event’s sound guy provided the following info: “Operator showed up and were completely unapproachable all day”,”They seemed to have an attitude when they showed up.” There may be more to this story that meets the eye.
It is a true shame. I am sure every band has a bad day, but Operator will need to redeem themselves in a major way before I would even consider paying to see them.
The Soulcrusher album is a damned good one, but the band isn’t going to win any new fans by pulling stupid stunts like the one at this show.
The day wasn’t a total loss. Ugly was a nice surprise on this Sunday evening, and will be a band that will gain further support by the Hard Rock Hideout.
If you have tickets for another Operator show, prepare yourself for disappointment. If Ugly hits your town, don’t miss them. They will put on a great show for you!
0 It’s Time to Get Ugly
Check out the new video, “Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll” by the Detroit band Ugly.
They have a new, self title CD coming out on October 9th, via Rock Ridge Music.com.
You can go to Rock Ridge Music today, and down the new single for free!
0 Crashdiet – In The Raw
Crashdiet has released their first single, “In the Raw“, off of their upcoming CD, The Unattractive Revolution.
Go to this link to check out the new tune!
3 New Video – The Deadthings – Send Me An Angel
6 Van Halen – S/T (Release Year – 1978)
All the talk about the 2007 Van Halen Reunion, I thought I would break out VH’s debut disc from 1978.
I think it is safe to say that this is one of the biggest debut discs by any hard rock band, and is certainly one of the most influential records of all time.
As far as debut’s go, Van Halen has only been outsold by Guns N’ Roses‘, Appetite for Destruction. A Diamond Level in sales (10 Million Copies sold) is certainly nothing to sneeze at.
Eddie Van Halen’s guitar playing on this record, changed the face of rock music. Countless guitarists tried to replicate his style of playing over the years, and he continues to influence young guitarists today.
The dynamic front man, David Lee Roth was nothing like anyone else at the scene at the time, and he too has had plenty of imitators over the years.
This record is one that you can listen to from beginning to end. It rocks all the way through. Several of the cuts have been over played on rock radio. Four Singles were released from this record, Running With the Devil, (The Kinks‘ cover) You Really got Me, Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love, and Jamie’s Cryin.
One of my all time favorite Van Halen tunes, is the John Brim cover, Ice Cream Man.
In 2003, Rolling Stone picked this record as one of the greatest rock records of all time. I may not accede with all of their picks, but this is one that I would certainly agree with.
If you don’t own this record, Do NOT pass go, do not collect $200.00. Get you tail to your local record store and pick this up.
Rating: Out of 10
1. Runnin’ With The Devil
2. Eruption
3. You Really Got Me
4. Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love
5. I’m The One
6. Jamie’s Cryin’
7. Atomic Punk
8. Feel Your Love Tonight
9. Little Dreamer
10. Ice Cream Man
11. On Fire
1 Download Invitro’s Hollyvision for Free!
Invitro has posted a free download of the track “Hollyvision” from
their forthcoming debut album “When I Was a Planet”, through the band’s MySpace page.
The track has become one of the most requested songs on Sirius Hard
Attack and routinely charts right beside some of the biggest hitters in metal and hard rock.
Live Nation has recently posted live clips of Invitro from a recent
performance at The House of Blues in San Diego. The clips show Invitro’s full set including Hollyvision and Shark Attack plus a bonus live version of Invitro covering Snot’s “Stoopid.”
Invitro’s “When I Was a Planet” lands in stores everywhere September 11th, 2007.
Invitro will be having a CD release party at The Roxy in Hollywood, CA on September 10th, 2007.
INVITRO ON FAMILY VALUES TOUR 2007:
Wed 08/29/07 Bakersfield, CA Rabobank Arena
Fri 08/31/07 Marysville, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Sat 09/01/07 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sun 09/02/07 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
8 War Babies – S/T (Release Year -1992)
The War Babies are a short lived band by that was fronted by former TKO singer, Brad Sinsel.
This CD is filled with some great blues filled hard rock. Sadly, this music didn’t fit into the music scene at the time.
Like many of the bands of late 80’s early 90’s era, The War Babies didn’t fit into the grunge scene and disappeared as fast as they showed up. They had minor success with the song Hang Me Up. It received some airplay on MTV, and Z-Rock.
The stand out songs on this disc are Hang Me Up, the acoustic based Cry Yourself To Sleep, the Aerosmith inspired Sweetwater, my personal favorite, Blue Tomorrow and the rocking Satellite.
The War Babies are a band that will likely appeal to fans of Aerosmith, Thunder, Asphalt Ballet and Saigon Kick.
This disc has been out of print for a while. You can find some cheap used copies on EBay and at Amazon.com. It is worth grabbing if you can find it. Happy Hunting!
Rating: Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Hang Me Up
2. In The Wind
3. Cry Yourself To Sleep
4. Sweetwater
5. Sea Of Madness
6. Blue Tomorrow
7. Satellite
8. Death Valley Of Love
9. Big Big Sun
10. Killing Time
11. Care (Man I Just Don’t)
3 Awesome deal when you preorder HIM’s Venus Doom
On 9/4, HIM will be announcing new shows in the US and Canada, and on that day, fans can get tickets before anyone else, plus order a copy of the regular edition of Venus Doom and get a free one-month membership to the new HIM club, which opens on Thursday the 6th!
For fans who have already pre-ordered the album, tickets can be purchased on Thursday the 6th!
Also available for pre-order is the special edition of Venus Doom with a different album cover and two bonus songs, plus a very limited edition that comes with a journal with 60 pages of photos, and a bonus disc with three songs in parchment envelopes and 3 polaroid-style photos. You can order it now by clicking
here.
9 Sebastian Bach’s Angel Down – Update!
Certainly one of the most electrifying performers of any decade, Sebastian Bach is set to release “Angel Down” on November 20, his first solo album in eight years. The 14-song “Angel Down” was produced by Roy Z (BRUCE DICKINSON, ROB HALFORD, JUDAS PRIEST), and recorded in July and August 2006 at Sound City Studios in Hollywood, CA. The CD will be released via a joint venture between Merovingian Music, Ltd. (MRV) and Bach’s Get Off My Bach Productions, and distributed worldwide through Caroline/EMI Music Group.
Joining Bach in the studio for “Angel Down” were guitarists “Metal” Mike Chlasciak and Johnny Chromatic, and Bobby Jarzombek on drums, all long-time members of Bach’s touring band, as well as Rob DeLuca on bass, who will join Bach and company on the road next summer.
Nine of the 14 songs on “Angel Down” were written or co-written by Bach including the first radio track, “(Love Is) A Bitchslap” (co-written with Roy Z). While more than two weeks away from its official “add” date (September 4), “Bitchslap” is already being played at powerhouse rock radio stations like KUPD in Phoenix and Boston’s WAAF. Bach and Roy Z also co-wrote “You Don’t Understand”, “By Your Side”, and “Our Love Is A Lie”, while Bach teamed with Desmond Child for “Falling Into You”. In addition, the band covered the Steven Tyler/Joe Perry classic “Back In The Saddle”. Other tracks include “Stabbin’ Daggers”, “Take You Down with Me”, “Negative Light”, “Live & Die”, “American Metalhead”, “Stuck Inside” and “You Bring Me Down”.
The cover art for “Angel Down” is an original painting by Bach’s late father, the celebrated Canadian artist David Bierk who died in 2002. The painting, entitled “David’s Watching”, was the last piece of art Bierk created before his passing, so was an emotional choice for Bach. Bierk also created the cover artwork for SKID ROW’s 1991 album “Slave To The Grind”, which Rolling Stone voted one of the top 5 album covers of the year. His paintings have been exhibited in art galleries all over North America.
“Angel Down” also represents a reunion of sorts — 20 years ago, Jack Ponti (then a successful songwriter and record producer, now MRV’s CEO) worked with Jason Flom (then A&R rep at Atlantic Records, now Chairman and CEO of Capitol Music Group) who signed the Sebastian Bach-fronted SKID ROW to Atlantic Records. With MRV dedicated to supporting and developing artist-owned, management-owned and independent labels, and Flom calling the shots from EMI, a dynamic triumvirate has realigned.
Update: Listen to “Love is a Bitchslap” here.
Judging from this first song, this may be an essential CD to pick up in 2007.
1 New Video – Firewind – Falling to Pieces
Firewind is a Metal band from Greece that is currently on tour in the United States. The band has a new CD called Allegiance.
This CD was released in the UK last year, and in the U.S. in January.
Check out the video for the track, “Falling to Pieces”. The tour dates are listed below.
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0 Preview New Tracks off of the new Richie Kotzen disc
“The Mother Head’s Family Reunion” is the title of Richie Kotzen’s debut solo album for Geffen Records in 1994, his first post-Poison solo album. Regarded by many fans and critics as his real masterpiece album this new album features powerhouse drummer Franklin Vanderbilt, bassist and Arlan Schierbaum who has already played keyboards on Richie’s previous albums.
“Return” boasts an incredible collection of songs which encompass every aspect that Richie is well known for: amazing guitar playing, passionate vocals and songs that melt together influences from Rock, Soul, Funk and Blues with timeless melodies.
Critics are already raving about this album speaking of the best solo release ever from the former MR. BIG guitar player !
This European edition includes 1 exclusive bonus track !
– Sound samples in mp3 (Click on the song title to listen to a 90 sec. mp3 sample):
0 Nikki Sixx and NAADAC
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Motley Crue founding member Nikki Sixx whose brutally honest upcoming book The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star (due September 18th from MTV Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster) chronicles his battles with drug addiction and his road to recovery, will be a featured speaker at the 18th Annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month luncheon on Capitol Hill, September 6th. He is the first rock star to speak at this event — a particularly ironic distinction since he was once one of the wildest men in rock.
NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals invited Sixx to share his story at this national forum alongside Terry Cline, Ph.D, Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and H. Westley Clark, MD, JD, MPH, Director, SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.
The Heroin Diaries, and accompanying CD, The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack, (released August 21st via Eleven Seven Music) offers insight into Sixx’s self- destruction with substance abuse, and his subsequent freedom from addiction. The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack, written and produced by Sixx: A.M. (Sixx, James Michael and DJ Ashba), was inspired by haunting diary entries that became The Heroin Diaries. Although the album was not intended for radio, the lead single, “Life Is Beautiful” is already in the top 20 on the rock radio charts.
Twenty-five percent of the book’s profits go to “Running Wild In The Night” — Sixx’s fundraising initiative for Covenant House California, which helps keep runaway, abused and abandoned youth off the streets.
About Nikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx was born Frank Feranna in San Jose, California in 1958 and was reared by his grandparents in Seattle. He founded Motley Crue in 1981 and in a few short years, had international success, with worldwide sales exceeding more than 40 million albums. Motley Crue had one of the top-grossing tours of 2005, with all four members reuniting to play before one million people throughout the U.S.
About NAADAC
NAADAC is the largest organization representing addiction counselors and educators. “We Help People Recover Their Lives!” For more information visit www.naadac.org
SOURCE Nikki Sixx
0 New Video – Maeder – Another Thing Comin’
Another Australian band is about to hit the scene big time. Check out the new video, Another Thing Comin’ by Maeder.
This is the first single, off of the new Self Titled CD, on the way from Locomotive Records!
Guitarist Nic and singer Sebastian Maeder, raised in permanent transit between Melbourne and Switzerland, will have their self-titled hard-rock debut CD released by Locomotive Records on September 25.
Soaking up influences like grunge, glam and metal, The Brothers Maeder, with bassist Kit Riley, and drummer Travis Dragoni have taken their family roadshow far beyond the promising Business In Me debut EP. Although that particular slice of Cheap Trickery climbed within the Top 30 “National Chart” in their home country and #1 on the “Independent Chart,” it was just the beginning. Due to their penchant for catchy hooks, the pair became successful ad jingle writers and even penned “Another Thing Comin’” which was used as the theme song for the Australian Football Grand Final.
They’ve since signed with former Krokus drummer/producer Patrick Aeby and the result is Maeder, as catchy and as irresistible as an underage cheerleader.
Tracks
Never Last
Another Thing Comin’
Future Story
No Grass Is Greener Than Your Own
Business In Me
Night And Day
You’re A Freak
You Make Me Die
It’s All Good
Piece Of Me
White Pillow
Give Away