* Metal News for Oct. 20, 2005 (week 42)
~ MARDUK To Release Live Album ~
Swedish black metallers
MARDUK have posted the following message on their official web site:
"To celebrate 15 year of Blood and Iron, MARDUK will unleash upon mankind a live album recorded in Warsaw/Poland on the recent Deathmarch tour. The album features 17 songs and will be a limited edition CD of 10,000 copies worldwide. Also to be able as a strictly limited edition of 500 copies on double LP. Release date will be presented soon. Click here to check out the album cover.
"Those shows that were cancelled on the last tour will be rescheduled in February together with some additional dates. The dates will be posted very soon."
MARDUK were forced to cancel their European tour earlier in the year after drummer Emil Dragutinovic's arm was broken in a fight back in February. The band recently put the finishing touches on the videos for the songs "Throne of Rats" and "The Hangman of Prague".
MARDUK's ninth full-length album, "Plague Angel", was released in the U.S. in March. The album came out in Europe last November via Blooddawn/Regain Records. * News source: blabbermouth.net
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~ SADUS: New Album To Include Guest Appearance By TESTAMENT's Chuck Billy ~
Veteran San Francisco Bay Area thrashers SADUS have completed work on their new album, "Out for Blood", tentatively due early next year via Holland's Mascot Records.
Commented SADUS bassist Steve DiGiorgio: "Just wanted to say that finally, our new album is fucking done! No one knows how long I've been dying to type those exact words. So here it is, new SADUS 'Out For Blood' — eleven new songs, some bonus crap and a cool behind the scenes video are all comprising the fifth album.
"Man, I know it's so cliché to say this...but this is by far our best-sounding shit... Holy crap, we're psyched for you to get some of this shyssa (scheiße)! Hopefully the wait will be worth it when you get infected from the contagious brutal aggression found through all the varying songs. Some raging bear vocals to be found on one courtesy of crazy Chuck Billy [TESTAMENT].
"We finished [the new CD] at Trident Studios here in California, and now it's gone into production in the Netherlands and will be officially released by Mascot Records in late January/early February 2006. The new domain, www.sadus.us, foreseeably will be up before the end of the year."
SADUS worked on the new album with producer Børge Finstad (MAYHEM, BORKNAGAR, VINTERSORG, EXTOL), engineer Juan Urteaga and manager Rob Lewis. Songtitles set to appear on the follow-up to 1997's "Elements of Anger" include "Sick" and "Out for Blood".
* News source: blabbermouth.net (Thanks: Joachim Oude Vrielink)
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~ EXHUMED: Fall/Winter Tour Dates Announced ~
EXHUMED have announced fall/winter tour dates in support of their upcoming release, "Garage Daze Re-Regurgitated", to be issued on Parasitic Twin Records, distributed via Relapse Records. These West Coast gore fiends will kick off their five week tour on October 27 in Aptos, CA. Throughout the course of the tour, EXHUMED will share stages with the likes of BEHEMOTH, RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER, GRIEF and many others.
"Garage Daze Re-Regurgitated" is a collection of cover songs that harkens back to the band's filthiest roots (MASTER, SIEGE, UNSEEN TERROR) and pays homage to influential classics (PENTAGRAM, AMEBIX, SAMHAIN, THE CURE). The CD will see a U.S. release on November 8.
* News source: blabbermouth.net
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~ CHILDREN OF BODOM Bassist Comments On Lake Of Bodom Murder Case ~
CHILDREN OF BODOM have spent their career defending the controversy caused by their name. The group's moniker refers to the gruesome triple homicide that occurred at Lake Bodom in Espoo, Finland in 1960. Just this month the case was closed when sole survivor the massacre and suspect in the horrific murders, Nils Gustafsson, was found not guilty. Henkka Blacksmith, CHILDREN OF BODOM bassist, commented, "The further the trial went on, the more it seemed that it’s not possible to judge him. The prosecution side's evidence was too weak. The biggest surprise was the fact that he was even prosecuted in the first place. Most of the people wouldn't have guessed that kind of thing to happen in this matter. Now he is free, and innocent as he has always been (my trust towards our law institution is strong) and nothing has changed in the mystery of Lake Bodom. So we can go on and we don't have to change our name, like many people suggested to do if the case would have been solved!!!"
CHILDREN OF BODOM's video for the track "In Your Face" will be premiering on MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball" on Saturday, October 22 at 10:00 p.m. The clip was shot this past summer with Katapult Productions, who have previously worked with RAMMSTEIN, among others.
For more fan interaction with CHILDREN OF BODOM, the band has teamed up with MySpace, the extremely popular interactive online community. MySpace is highlighting Finish metal powerhouse CHILDREN OF BODOM as a featured artist of the week. CHILDREN OF BODOM have launched their own individual MySpace page at www.myspace.com/officialchildrenofbodom. This online hub allows COB to actively communicate with fans, and make new ones, as there are 31 million+ current users on MySpace. CHILDREN OF BODOM now has a new way of interacting with the metal masses via blogs, message boards and bulletins where they can alert "friends" about their upcoming events and breaking news, as well as post concert dates and downloadable music. Along with the new page, CHILDREN OF BODOM will also be featured as MySpace’s artist of the week on the music page from October 24 to October 30.
CHILDREN OF BODOM's new album, "Are You Dead Yet?" is scheduled for release in the U.S. on October 25 via Spinefarm Records. The album has been declared to be one of the first priority UMG international releases through Universal's Fontana Distribution system. The U.S. version includes a previously unreleased bonus track that is exclusive to the U.S. release — a cover of the RAMONES classic "Somebody Put Something In My Drink".
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~ MOTÖRHEAD: 'Stage Fright' DVD To Receive U.S. Release In January ~
SPV USA has set a January 10, 2006 release date for MOTÖRHEAD's 30th anniversary DVD, entitled "Stage Fright". A four-minute trailer for the DVD has been posted online at this location (Real Media).
"Stage Fright" was recorded during a show at the Phillipshalle in Düsseldorf on December 7, 2004. The set features 20 songs from the entire MOTÖRHEAD history, including "Overkill", "Ace of Spades" and "Iron Fist". Directly after the show, MOTÖRHEAD embarked on a three-month U.S. tour, culminating in a performance at the WrestleMania in Los Angeles in front of 20,000 wrestling fans. This memorable occasion was broadcast in 50 countries and witnessed by over 50 million viewers. "Stage Fright" consists of two DVDs, DVD 1 featuring the Düsseldorf show, shot with 23 high-definition cameras under the direction of Sven Offen (PAPA ROACH, HEATHER NOVA, among others). Gert Hof, famous not only for his work with RAMMSTEIN, was enlisted to take care of the show's light design. As a special bonus, there is an interactive DVD check with MOTÖRHEAD, with the three musicians contributing lots of interesting comments about the DVD.
DVD 2 reveals previously unreleased insights, not only into the inner life of the band, but also into the rock 'n' roll circus in general. There are interviews with band mastermind Lemmy, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee, as well as the road crew who talk about life on tour. Viewers get a rare chance to watch the roadies doing their work, listen in to the sound check, meet the band's cook and accompany their entourage on the road. There is also an L.A. special, fans' comments and other special features. The icing on the cake is the DVD-ROM part with the "Life's A Bitch" realtone for your mobile, MOTÖRHEAD wallpaper for your PC and mobile, photos from the WrestleMania show in Los Angeles, and an extensive discography. All in all, "Stage Fright" offers over four hours of playing time (!!!) and comes in an ear-bleeding 5.1 mix, making it the most complete (and mandatory) live MOTÖRHEAD release yet!
* News source: blabbermouth.net
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~ Guitarist RON MARKS Talks About Playing With CELTIC FROST ~
Former CELTIC FROST/current SUBSONIC guitarist Ron Marks has announced the addition of second guitarist Brandon Park to the SUBSONIC touring lineup. "Within the first few minutes of the audition, it became obvious that he's more than talented enough to cut the gig and also offered the level of commitment the project requires," Marks writes on the group's web site.
"I'm also in the studio laying down tracks for a song intended for the next release, entitled 'Christin'. Wow, those acoustic parts are tough! Who's the smartass that put heavy strings on my guitar? I got blisters on my fingers!"
In a recent interview with Australia's Inside_Out666, Marks spoke about his time with CELTIC FROST and SUBSONIC's eventual formation. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:
Inside_Out666: I want to talk to you a little about your time with CELTIC FROST. What comes to mind when you look back on those experiences?
Ron Marks: "Pride! Like with any musical movement, something happens and a million bands jump on it. FROST has fared very well as time goes by. I'm really glad that the legend continues and all the rest of it, but the thing I am most proud of is that you can put a FROST CD on today and it still sounds really cool, it's still competitive and sounds fresh to me. I'm a musician to a fault and that always comes first to me. Tom [Fischer] and Martin [Ain] are geniuses when it comes to writing; I love how intelligent the lyrics are. Reed St. Mark is one of my favorite drummers on the planet. I was a lucky [son of a bitch]; I knew it was great band when I sent them my demo. I could have been in a lot of other bands that were apart of that movement that didn't fare as well as FROST. I was very fortunate that they asked me to join."
Inside_Out666: What can you recall from the first performance you did with CELTIC FROST?
Ron Marks: "[Laughs] The very first show we did together was in a nightclub in Zurich before we officially went out on tour. It was really cool and was on a smaller scale of course. The first tour we did was in the U.K. and we headlined; it was amazing. I still have fans emailing me and keeping in touch from the tour. We played this amazing show in London at the Hammersmith Odeon; a lot of my heroes had played there so that was a big honor to me. The morning of that show we were sleeping on the tour bus. As we pulled up at the Hammersmith I woke up and the bus was shaking back and forwards. There was a bunch of kids outside the bus waking us up [laughs]. I loved that, we went out & said 'Hi,' signed some autographs and we were the centerfold in Kerrang! that month as well which was a really cool thing. About six months ago I received an email from one of the fans saying, 'I was one of the kids shaking the bus.' [laughs]. It really warms my heart that all these years on they would remember something like that. I have great memories from that tour."
Inside_Out666: Are there any funny stories you can share with us about the time you spent on the road with the guys?
Ron Marks: "Oh, there was one show were we opened up for ANTHRAX on the U.S. tour. We were playing in Boston and after the show we went out and had a little party and the bus call was for midnight. We had to be back because we were heading to Philadelphia. So about two, three o clock we all came back to the bus. When our road manager walked onto the bus he was wearing a policeman’s coat with a badge, we're like, 'What are you doing?' Laughing, he said 'A cop gave me a ride home and I was cold.' The bus takes off and he had passed out in the back. When we finally arrived in Philadelphia some seven hours later, we went to the venue and it was lined with cruisers ready to take us all away [laughs]. It was one of those fun little rock 'n' roll stories [laughs]. There are other ones but I don't know if you can print those [laughs]."
Read the rest of the interview at Inside_Out666.
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~ ABSU Drummer Talks About Auditioning For SLAYER ~
Patrick Rennick of MetalReview.com recently conducted an interview with ABSU members Proscriptor and Equitant. Several excerpts from the chat follow:
MetalReview.com: I understand that at one point you were rehearsing with the noted metal band SLAYER, but I read somewhere that you left due to your "occult beliefs." Could you elaborate on this story for me?
Proscriptor: "I auditioned for them but that is not true whatsoever. I auditioned with several other drummers. According to SLAYER's management, I was the third pick. As far as my Thelemic, occult, and esoteric beliefs; that didn't have anything to do with the consideration of me playing with SLAYER. I truly believe that all the drummers that auditioned for the band were not going to get the position to begin with. I think it was just a ploy to bring [Dave] Lombardo back into SLAYER full-time."
MetalReview.com: How was the experience of rehearsing with them?
Proscriptor: "Fantastic. It was outstanding, astounding. I can honestly say that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It has been documented on video and it was pretty amazing."
MetalReview.com: Is this video online? Is there anyplace we could see it?
Proscriptor: "No. The thing is I’m the only one who has it. I would like to release it but I would probably get into some legal disputes if I were to release that online."
MetalReview.com: Do you think that maybe somewhere down the road you could throw that on a DVD or something?
Proscriptor: "Yeah, possibly. I was actually thinking about including it on this anthology but there were just too many legal hassles."
MetalReview.com: Equitant, could you tell me a bit about your new solo releases?
Equitant: "It's very electronic kind of like KRAFTWERK, an old German band from the '70s. It is what's called 'electro.' It's kind of darkish with some dark implements, kind of cold, mechanical; there are some robotic voices, lots of keyboards, and electronic drums. It's a lot different from the stuff I did in the metal '90s."
Read the entire interview at MetalReview.com.
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~ Reunited RIGOR MORTIS To Headline New York's THRASHTOBERFEST 2005 ~
The original RIGOR MORTIS lineup of Bruce Corbitt, Mike Scaccia (MINISTRY, REVOLTING COCKS), Casey Orr (GWAR, X-COPS, THE HELLIONS, THE BURDEN BROTHERS), and Harden Harrison (PERVIS, SPEEDEALER, MITRA) have been confirmed as the headliners of this year's Thrashtoberfest 2005, set to take place November 4 at North Six in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York. Also scheduled to appear at the festival are DECEASED, THINE EYES BLEED (featuring John Araya, brother of SLAYER frontman Tom Araya), SUN DESCENDS, DIMENTIANON and SUNLORD. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.
RIGOR MORTIS recently announced their first shows together in 15 years. The "Re-Animate" tour starts with a handful of Texas dates this month, with tentative plans to continue after the first of the year followed by a new album.
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~ ROSTRUM To Open For DRAGONLORD In Montreal ~
Black metal act ROSTRUM will open for DRAGONLORD and FORCE OF EVIL on November 5 at Foufounes Electriques in Montreal. The band will take this opportunity to launch their first DVD project, which contains two videos ("The Lust of Raping Your God" and "I'll be Saved") and the band's experimental Satanic short film, entitled "Ritualis", plus live bootleg performances and live videos. Both videos and the short film have been directed and visually manipulated by graphic artist Pat Tremblay (responsible for the album covers of NECROPHAGIA, WURDULAK and GHOULUNATICS, among others).
In related news, ROSTRUM singer The Reverend will stage his Halloween Black Metal Fest in Montreal on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005. The following bands are scheduled to appear: (Friday) ELFIRE, ROSTRUM and SOUL OF DARKNESS; (Saturday) MALZERA, SAIGNEUR and PROFUGUS MORTIS.
ROSTRUM's next live appearance after the DRAGONLORD gig will take place on November 19 in Hull. The concert, which will also include appearances by INSURRECTION and HORFIXION, will be held in a church (!). * News source: blabbermouth.net
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~ ENGEL: New Song Posted Online ~
ENGEL, the new Gothenburg, Sweden-based quintet featuring guitarists Marcus Sunesson (ex-THE CROWN) and Niclas Engelin (PASSENGER, GARDENIAN, IN FLAMES), drummer Mojjo (RELEVANT FEW, DRACENA), bassist Robert Hakemo (ex-GARDENIAN, GOOSEFLESH) and vocalist Mangan Klavborn, have launched a MySpace.com page at:
http://www.myspace.com/engelmusic featuring a brand-new song, "Poisoned Design". Also available on the site are the previously released tracks "Walk the Wounded" and "Someone Died (And Made You God)".
ENGEL, who had previously recorded a self-produced demo that Tue Madsen (MNEMIC, THE HAUNTED, etc.) mixed at Denmark's Antfarm studios in February, are currently working on new material which is "coming out real strong," according to a posting on the group's web site. New songtitles include "Propaganda", "Shatterday" and "My Hero". The bandrecently supported ARCH ENEMY and on the Scandinavian leg of thier European tour. Also appearing on the bill were TRIVIUM
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