NEVERMORE – The Obsidian Conspiracy
PAIN – Cynic Paradise
KEEP OF KALESSIN – Reptilian
WITCHERY – Witchkrieg
SOULFLY – OmenThe song “Gateways” from DIMMU BORGIR‘s forthcoming new album, Abrahadabra, has been posted for listening! This is the first glimpse at DIMMU BORGIR‘s new material. Stream it here:
Abrahadabra drops October 12th via Nuclear Blast Records.
Follow the band online:
http://www.facebook.com/dimmuborgir
http://www.myspace.com/dimmuborgir
http://twitter.com/dimmu_borgir
Southern California’s INTRONAUT have posted a video teaser for their forthcoming new album, Valley of Smoke (peep the cover art), the first of many videos documenting the making of the album. The album is set for an October 12th release through Century Media Records. Watch the clip…
Additionally, the band will be heading out on tour with HELMET. Here’s what Sacha Dunable (vocals, guitars) had to say:
“It’s hard for us to believe that we’re finally done recording this album after months and months of stress and late nights. Here’s a summative look at the process of making this album. If you would have told me at 15 years old that I’d be touring with HELMET, well, I’d probably think that was really cool. Now, it’s happening, and I still think it’s really cool. INTRONAUT is very much looking forward to this tour.”
Tour dates are as follows:
10/8 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theatre
10/9 Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre
10/10 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
10/12 Chicago, IL – Double Door
10/13 Cleveland, OH – Peabody’s
10/15 Columbus, OH – Skully’s Music Diner
10/16 Detroit, MI – The Magic Stick
10/17 Toronto, ONT – Lee’s Palace
10/19 Montreal, QUE – Studio
10/20 Boston, MA – The Middle East
10/22 Baltimore, MD – Sonar
10/23 New York, NY – The Gramercy Theatre
10/24 West Chester, PA – The Note
10/26 Charlotte, NC – Tremont
10/27 Nashville, TN – 12 and Porter
10/29 Houston, TX – The Scout Bar
10/30 Austin, TX – Red 7 10/31 Dallas, TX – The Loft
11/2 Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
11/3 Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
11/5 Los Angeles, CA – The Key Club
Following the recent announcement of DARK FUNERAL losing vocalist Emperor Magus Caligula, bassist B-Force has announced his departure from the band:
“After six awesome and crazy years with DARK FUNERAL, I have decided to leave the band. It’s my own decision to leave one of the best bands/friends in the world, but I feel that I need to move forward in life and do something else music-wise. There are absolutely NO hard feelings between DARK FUNERAL and myself. We are and will continue to be good friends! I want to thank the band and all the fans all over the world. You kick ass everywhere I’ve been playing with the band. I thank you all. May the dark forces be with you.”
Guitarist and band leader Lord Ahriman posted the following message regarding the recent activity:
“Ave! The dawn of a new dark era has risen, and a new hellish chapter has begun. Despite the circumstances, I must say that the band and I are extremely motivated and excited to start a new chapter in the saga that is DARK FUNERAL. We already have some killer plans for the future. And all I can say at this point is that we’ll be moving forward with full force and without mercy.
“Those of you who’ve followed DARK FUNERAL since the beginning in 1993, surely know that this is not the first time we’ve undergone a major lineup change. And whatever some people may have thought or whined about, no one can deny the fact that I/we’ve always succeeded in recruiting new and amazing musicians to move forward and reach new heights with the band. There is absolutely no doubt in our mind that this will again be the case.
“On August 21st we performed our last show with Emperor Magus Caligula at the Summer Breeze Festival in Germany. Since this was a very special performance in many ways, we not only put on our biggest pyro show ever, we also captured this gig with 10 cameras (including one crane). So you can be sure to expect a DVD release from this killer show in the near future. More info regarding the DVD will come in due time…
“Since parting ways with E.M. Caligula, it come as no surprise to the rest of us, that B-Force would follow the same path and throw in his towel too. So I wish to thank him for the six fantastic years he’d been with us on bass. It’s been a pleasure indeed working together.
“We have already found a new and totally amazing bassist; a bassist who lives and breathes DARK FUNERAL in its purest form. And we couldn’t be more honored to have him onboard. We will however wait until everything is settled before we present him to all of you, so please be patient.
“Since announcing the departure of Caligula, we’ve been overwhelmed with vocal applicants. Among them are a couple of very strong candidates. However, since we feel no hurry to fill the position, we’ll continue the search to make sure that when we eventually hire someone, it be someone who totally blows away everything in his path.
“If you do believe that you have what it takes for the job, we are still accepting vocal applications. Send us a brief introduction and some AUDIO/VIDEO files/links of your vocal performance to: vocalist@darkfuneral.se.
“From now until we have found and installed a new vocalist, we will keep ourselves busy rehearsing and working on material for a new full-length. Rest assured that as soon as the new lineup is complete, we’ll continue to tour the world in usual DARK FUNERAL manner. More news to come…”
Denmark’s VOLBEAT rolled into Downtown Disney in Anaheim for their first headlining tour of the U.S. While the turn out for their first Southern California show earlier this year in support of METALLICA at the Troubador was pretty good, tonight’s turnout was absolutely incredible. The House of Blues was packed with only the most dedicated VOLBEAT fans. The crowd were chanting the band’s name as MOTORHEAD was played over the house speakers. As soon as VOLBEAT took the stage, the crowd went totally apeshit. There were drunken smiles, cheering, singing, and dancing that created a fun party atmosphere. The band played very well and played their hearts out as they constantly interacted with the audience. Frontman Michael Poulsen took a time out to give a shout out to the legendary Ronnie James Dio. The setlist was focused on the band’s last two albums along with “Fallen” off of their upcoming album and a few from the first album. It was clear from the show that VOLBEAT are on the cusp of breaking bigger in the U.S.
Last night, Japan’s BORIS polluted Los Angeles with their sweet, amplified, audial nectar. Playing to a packed El Rey Theatre, the band showcased songs from their recently released 7″ series Japanese Heavy Rock Hits. The set also included some of their usual winners… “Farewell,” “Pink,” “1970“, “A Bao a Qu,” “Rainbow” with Wata on vocals, etc.
Distortion was at deliciously high volume, though better, sound-wise, from the back of the venue. Up front, house right (where I was) was overpowered by Michio Kurihara‘s guitars providing an unfortunately unbalanced mix of BORIS‘ wall-of-sound.
The band closed with the almost 20 minute “Untitled” track off their latest full-length of new material, Smile. The house lights came on during the epic, but the band played on… and loudly.
Check out some snapshots from the show…
BORIS‘ tour ends tonight after they play The Glass House in Pomona. Then they will head to New York for the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival where they and SUNN O))) will be performing their Altar album in its entirety, and again at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple on September 7th. (which I, @roycifer, will be in attendance).
The arrival of a new NEVERMORE album should always be considered a gift to the metal community and The Obsidian Conspiracy is no exception. Both great and good songs are what make NEVERMORE’s latest another success. And as we’ve come to expect, there are the invaluable, intangible characteristics of powerful emotions, fierceness, and metal spirit. “And the Maiden Spoke” is highly reminiscent of KING DIAMOND-style story telling as it deals with the ghost of a maiden. “Emptiness Unobstructed” is hands down one of the best songs that the band have ever written. The song opens up with a brilliantly emotional and compelling chorus led by vocalist Warrel Dane. “Without Morals” contains another one of the band’s best and passionate choruses. “The Obsidian Conspiracy,” scorches with urgency and the kind of tension that perfectly ends the album.
As much as the band have demonstrated just how insanely proficient and talented they are at their respective instruments, there are times on the new album when you feel as if they’ve gotten even better. Just the opening riff of the album with its lighting speed notes and precision is enough to make you shake your head. One aspect of the brilliance that lays on The Obsidian Conspiracy is the band’s ability to take a commonly used metal riffing style, tempo, etc. and give it a fresh, inventive, and invigorating stamp on it. As much as there are these young metal bands being touted for their technical prowess, few bands aside from latter era DEATH, DECAPITATED, or NILE can touch NEVERMORE’s absolutely intense, technical brilliance.
While it may or may not be obvious, Warrel Dane is one of the best (clean) vocalists in one of the heaviest bands in metal. His charisma and his ability to make all his memorable vocal lines sound absolutely natural and potent is something that should never be underappreciated. He may be one of the last of a dying breed.
If you want to know what defines “modern metal,” The Obsidian Conspiracy is exhibit 1. (Century Media Records)
Everyone’s favorite over-the-top, dramatic, symphonic, black metallers, CRADLE OF FILTH, are back with their ninth studio album, Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa. Set for a November 9th release on Nuclear Blast Records, the album is said to be “the fastest and most brutal album we’ve created to date,” according to frontman Dani Filth. The album artwork (right) was finely crafted by Natalie Shau.
Dani continues to describe the album: “This album is CRADLE at our most sinister and darkened fairytale. A gothic horror themed slay-ride of fervour and perversion; yet amidst the orchestral melodrama and lush, cinematic production, there sits stalwart a ravening beast of furious riffing, flesh ripping vocals and monstrous, unstoppable percussion.”
Okay… not particularly out-of-line with what we’ve come to expect from CRADLE OF FILTH (at least from a selling point).
Anyways, to get a free mp3 from the forthcoming album, sign up for their Peaceville mailing list, and an mp3 you shall receive: http://www.peaceville.com/cradleoffilth/mailinglist2.html
Poland’s BEHEMOTH have confirmed that recently announced tour cancellations have been due to bandleader, Nergal, having been diagnosed with leukemia. Nergal is in need of a marrow transplant to combat the sickness.
In light of this he wants to remind everyone about the need to be on the marrow registry. The more people get tested and donate, the more of a chance for life there is for him and people in the same situation.
The following statement was released by Metal Blade Records with information regarding the disease:
“BEHEMOTH and Metal Blade would like to thank everyone for their support and well wishes during this difficult time. The best thing we can all do right now is learn about the marrow donation process, not only help save one of metal’s leaders, but to also help save countless others out there struggling with the same disease.
“To learn more about how you can register to donate marrow check out:
http://www.marrow.org/
“Fans wanting to help out, register for the marrow program, or have questions on running a marrow drive may contact the organization Music Saves Lives by email at iCare@musicsaveslives.com or visit Music Saves Lives at http://www.musicsaveslives.org/“
Bazillion Points Books is proud to announce the late 2010 release of MEAN DEVIATION: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal, by Jeff Wagner – a former editor of Metal Maniacs magazine and veteran supporter of metal’s most risk-taking bands. Wagner analyzes the heady side of metal in this exhaustive history of a relentlessly ambitious musical subculture. The book features extensive original artwork throughout by VOIVOD drummer Michel “Away” Langevin, including the lavish front cover.
The book’s foreword was penned by PORCUPINE TREE founder Steven Wilson. Revered in progressive rock circles, the multi-talented Wilson is also highly respected by metalheads as producer of three landmark OPETH albums. As he writes: “In Jeff Wagner‘s MEAN DEVIATION, we now have a definitive book on the relationship between metal and progressive music, and the myriad variation of styles that it has given rise to…In the meantime, metal continues to mutate and evolve, sometimes in the most unexpected ways, demonstrating that it is far from spent and is, in fact, the most flexible of musical forms.”
Beginning with 1970s progressive rock acts RUSH and KING CRIMSON, MEAN DEVIATION unfurls a colorful tapestry of sounds and styles, from the “Big Three” of 1980s prog metal-QUEENSRŸCHE, FATES WARNING, and DREAM THEATER – to extreme pioneers VOIVOD, WATCHTOWER, and ARCTURUS. As sparks of inspiration spread to obscure outposts in Scandinavia, Florida, and Japan, progressive metal burst into full creative flame with the successes of prog metal overlords OPETH, MESHUGGAH, TOOL, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, and many others.
“One thing prog metal certainly is, is metal,” Wagner continues. “Hard and bold and brash, but refined, adulterated, and mutated. Progressive metal is heavy metal taken somewhere illuminating and sometimes bizarre.”
Weighing in at 400 pages, the heavily-illustrated book includes a 16-page color photo insert, a constellation of appendixes, and a full index. For more information, and to preorder, visit:
TESTAMENT vocalist and Native American activist Chuck Billy is pleased to announce his inclusion in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian’s new exhibition, “Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture.” The exhibition is located on the National Mall on the second-floor level of the Sealaska Gallery, and is open until January 2nd, 2011.
Quoting the Smithsonian official press release, “Up Where We Belong” tells [Native artist’s] stories and histories and provides visitors the opportunity to hear music and discover artists with whom these exceptional musicians collaborated. Visitors will also learn of the musical greats who inspired these artists, as well as the growing number of contemporary performers who follow in their path.”
Chuck Billy is featured in the “Encore” segment of the exhibition, which features artists who represent the span of Native achievement in mainstream music over the past half century, according to the Smithsonian. Other musicians featured in this segment are saxophonist Jim Pepper, and singer Debora Iyall.
For more information about the “Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture” exhibition, please visit this website.
