On Friday November 11, 2011 (National Metal Day), the original members of the legendary Heavy Metal group Black Sabbath — Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Bill Ward (drums) — have announced that they will be making a special announcement at exactly 11:11 AM at a private ceremony that will be held at the Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles. The event will be hosted by former Black Flag front-man Henry Rollins.
The Whiskey A Go Go has a very sentimental value for Black Sabbath; the band made their Los Angeles debut on November 11, 1970 (41 years ago), opening for Alice Cooper.
Recently, Iommi told U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine that Black Sabbath recently started rehearsing together, adding, "We played some of the old stuff and to be together again was great. We're all on good terms and we're at a stage where we can play together again. It would be good if we could and I suppose it's the closest it's been to be able to do that. It could happen!"
Ozzy Osbourne told Billboard.com last month that a Sabbath reunion is a "very, very strong possibility." He added, "It's in the very early stages, so we haven't recorded anything yet. If it works out, it'll work out. If it doesn't, I'll keep doing my thing."
Speculation about a reunion was fired up when Ozzy missed the Hollywood premiere of the documentary about his life, "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne". Both his son Jack and daughter Kelly said that their dad was "doing something that is very, very exciting."
This past Thursday, November 3rd, Chickenfoot performed their songs "Three And A Half Letters" and "Big Foot" on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". You can watch the bands performance below.
Arguably considered one of the best new bands in Heavy Music, Chickenfoot has been making plenty of noise since the release of "CHICKENFOOT III" (out now via eOne Music/Edel/EarMusic). This supergroup features guitarist Joe Satriani, drummer Kenny Aronoff, former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and frontman Sammy Hagar. No, don't wipe your eyes, they are not deceiving you.
Recently, the band premiered their music video for "Three and a Half Letters (I Need A Job)".
The song is motivated by the dismal job economy and features letters that were sent to Hagar as pleas for help. Chickenfoot is partnering with Feeding America to encourage fans to help alleviate some of the effects of the job economy. This is what he had to say about this.
"I received a lot of letters from people over the years who were looking for help or work and recently I received one from an Afghan War Veteran that ended with 'Can you help? I need a job’... that just really hit me and the song came together. We really want to encourage anyone to help where they can and I think one of the easiest ways is by making contributions to their local food banks so I hope we get that message across in this video and while we are on tour."
"I Need a Job," directed by Arthur Rosato (Springsteen, Bonnaroo), features the real life letters received by Hagar and closes with a call to action in partnership with Feeding America. Beginning today, the band is inviting fans to post their own letters and stories to their website in hopes it will help them find employment and continue to shed light on the critical condition in America. The band is also planning on additional outreach to bring more awareness to the issue in each city on their upcoming “Road Test Tour.” While those who are better off may not be able to offer actual jobs, Chickenfoot believes that contributions to food banks in their hometowns is one simple way, among many others, that fans can help firsthand on a local level.
The band is currently on tour on what has been dubbed the “2011 Road Test Tour”. The tour is trekking through five US and five European cities in support of their most recent release "Chickenfoot III", which debuted on the Billboard album chart at #9.
"Chickenfoot III" features 10 tracks with so many moments of epiphany that one can barely take them all in on first listen. Colossal, stadium-shaking riffs abound on earth-movers such as “Alright, Alright,” “Last Temptation” and “Lighten Up.” Tradition meets innovation on the Nashville pop-tinged “Different Devil,” the Delta-blues flavored “Something Going Wrong” and the aching Rock ballad “Come Closer.”
Chickenfoot III follows the band’s 2009 debut album, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 100 and was certified gold for sales of over 500,000 units by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Tonight, New York City Rock history will be made as PUi headlines Irving Plaza. The show is NEARLY SOLD OUT, and it also features New York rockers Killcode, the great Anaka, P.T Grimm, Bound By Substance, and California's Viza. Presented by Horns Up Rocks and No Mercy Metal, the show will also act as a video release party for the band’s recently filmed video for the track "Army of Slaves", which was filmed as part of a shocking stunt in front of a surprised crowd atop a 33rd Street building at the intersection of 6th Ave and Broadway overlooking Herald Square.
PUi released an EP in January 2010 entitled, 'You Will Clap', which is available for purchase now on iTunes. The EP was recorded at Underground Studios and was produced by band members Shuva and Brian Hosey. It is mixed by Kyle Kelso and mastered by Howie Weinberg. The band plans on releasing a new full-length album within the next year, entitled Neo-Primal.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
11/5 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza w/ Killcode, Anaka, P.T Grimm, Bound By Substance, and Viza (Click to purchase tickets!)
Sponsored by Horns Up Rocks and No Mercy Metal
DJ's: Tim No 37 and Jo Schüftan of Horns Up Rocks
Tickets are $17 adv/ $20 at the door
Doors: 6:30pm
Show: 7pm
PUi is:
- Prince (Nazimcan Shuva): Vocals, Guitar
- Siren (Leo Henry): Vocals
- Shaa (Ory Baum): Drums
- Sub (Brian Hosey): Bass
- Tek (Tunch): Darbuka, Percussion
After a restless night spent hurtling through the desolate Canadian wilderness, I crawled from my bunk on the tour bus to face reality, grudgingly aware that the the dark dream that gripped us would not fade with the day. We have lost a brother, a husband, a son, and one of the most talented musicians that ever slung an ax. Cory Smoot, longtime lead guitar player for the band GWAR, has passed at the age of 34.
As the singer of GWAR and one of his best friends, I feel it is my duty to try and answer some of the questions that surround his tragic and untimely death. I know the sense of loss and pain is far greater in scope than in the insulated environment of a band on tour, and I will do my best to provide what clarity and comfort I can.
The most glaring question is how? And unfortunately that is the hardest question to answer. The truth will not be known until the medical officials have finished their work. All I can do is relate what we saw with our own eyes.
The last time I saw Cory was after our show in Minneapolis on Weds. night. It was a great show at First Avenue in Minneapolis, one of our favorite places to play. Cory was happy. He was excited about the band and especially the new studio he was building in the Slave Pit back in Richmond. He was deeply in love with his wife, Jamie, and was busily planning their family and future in the beautiful home they had. As usual, after some autographs and banter, I was probably the first person in their bunk as we got ready for a big drive into Canada, and Cory and the rest of the guys were not far behind. As I fell into the slumber that only playing GWAR shows can induce, everything seemed right in the world.
We found Cory the next morning as we collected passports for a border crossing. He was in his bunk, unresponsive, and it quickly was clear that he was dead. It was without a doubt the most horrible moment of my life. That's all I can say about it.
Within moments everybody was off the bus, standing in a wind-swept parking lot in the middle of nowhere, trying to come to grips with the shock of it. First the ambulance arrived, and then the police, but there was nothing that could be done other than fully investigate the scene and remove Cory with care and respect.
We are completely devastated and shocked beyond belief. One night we had our friend and colleague, happy and healthy in the middle of our best tour in years- and the next morning, so suddenly, he was gone. Never have I seen starker proof of the fragility of life.
Cory will be transported home to Richmond over the next few days, and an announcement regarding services will be made soon. We ask everyone to respect the families wish for privacy, and especially to keep his wife, Jamie, in your thoughts and prayers.
As we work our way through these difficult days the question is -- what will GWAR do? After a lot of consideration, we have decided to carry on with the tour. Although the great temptation would be to return home, curl into a fetal position, and mourn, we can't do that. First off, Cory wouldn't want that. He would want us to go on and would be pissed if we didn't. Plus we know the fans don't want us to quit. They are going to want a chance to come to grips with their loss, and there is no better place to do that than at a GWAR show. Though it's hard to believe, I think we all would feel a lot worse if we stopped. For better or worse we have to see this through.
That doesn't mean that Cory will make his final journey without us. When the arrangements have been finalized, Cory's best friend and GWAR's music tech Dave "Gibby" Gibson, and myself will return home to attend the services and pay the proper respects to our comrade.
Out of respect to Cory, we have officially retired the character of Flattus Maximus. Flattus has decided to return to his beloved "Planet Home", and will never return to this mudball planet again. And this is a sadder place for that.
Just the other day I heard Cory tell a story about how some 20 years ago he was fourteen years old, at his first GWAR show, grabbing at the rubber feet of our then- current Flattus, and how blown away he was at the fact that now HE was the one getting his feet pulled by the same kid that he used to be. Cory was always in awe of the patterns of life and went through it with a wide-eyed amazement that translated through his playing. I've never known anyone who could pick up literally any instrument and rock it the first time he touched it, and more than that make it look easy. Behind that rubber monster outfit, and sometimes even obscured by it, was one of the most talented and beautiful people I have ever known. I know everyone who's life was touched by Cory truly loved him, as do we, his bandmates and brothers.
There should be some kind of announcement soon regarding services, etc. It would be great to have a memorial show at some point soon, where some of the bands that Cory worked with could come together and show their love for this truly amazing man who left us all too soon and will be sorely missed by many, many people.
As leaders of extreme music and one of the hardest working bands around, the legendary Napalm Death is currently putting the final touches on their 14th studio album (excluding the cover album Leaders Not Followers). This new piece of brutality is entitled "Utilitarian", and it will hit stores on February 27th in Europe and February 28th in North America via the band's long time partner, Century Media Records. The cover artwork perfectly fits the album's theme and was created by the Danish artist Frode Sylthe, who is also responsible for The Haunted`s amazing "Revolver" artwork.
Singer Mark "Barney" Greenway explains the album title and concept: "After some deliberation, we have decided on 'Utilitarian' as the album title. We generally try to avoid generic titles, and this seemed to have a lot of scope to it. I won't explain the full meaning of Utilitarianism here because it's an ethical theory, and as ethical theories go, the depth and debate around it is quite heavy at times. It has a certain 'morality' aspect to it and that isn't something that drives me, so I also certainly have issues with it."
"So, rather than just nail that straight to the mast, of course we wanted to put our own spin on it by suggesting that those (i.e. the utilitarian in us, perhaps) who try to challenge everything, or fight against conventions, well, we go through periods of real self-doubt where we wonder if we're really making a difference. I suppose the conclusion is that, for the sake of all our freedoms, you should never stop, as even the feeling of resistance is at least a signal to those who would like to entirely control and dominate us - meaning everything from our instinctive behavior to our human entitlement to walk the earth unprovoked."
"Regarding the album overall, the final creases should be ironed out fairly soon, and immediately after that, we thought it would be good to top it off with a few UK dates. We've been playing one new song ("Quarantined") out on a tour of Canada and it's been well received, so we hope to perhaps throw in another one for now. Either way, we'll be bouncing off the walls again near you very soon. Cheers all."
Napalm Death is already confirmed for the 2012 Wacken Open Air, Hellfest, Maryland Deathfest, and much more. If you are a UK citizen, make sure to catch them on their year-end run in November/December and witness some of the new material live!
Throughout most of 2012, New York Hardcore legends Agnostic Front have been busy traveling the world in support of their latest album titled "My Life, My Way". If there is one thing that is for sure, is that AF never forgets their roots and no matter where they travel, they always pay tribute to their home turf of New York City.
Tonight, the ambassadors of New York Hardcore will be performing a very special show at Santos Party House in New York City. Joining them will be Setback, Naysayer, Mongoloids, and Incendiary.
Here are all the details:
- Date/Time: Friday, November 4, 2011 at 6 PM
- Location: Santos Party House - 96 Lafayette St Manhattan, NY 10013
Cost: $12
- Official Facebook invite!
Here are some interviews we conducted with members of Agnostic Front earlier this year!
It’s safe to assume that anyone reading these lines is aware of a publication called Revolver Magazine and their annual Hottest Chicks In Hard Rock issue. The hotness of the women presented there can be argued according to one’s personal taste, but that’s not the point. Revolver and its editor got endlessly bashed online for the latest issue on the grounds of it objectifying women and that the magazine highlighted their looks instead of their musical talents (which, frankly, are also questionable and taste-accountable). When I saw the first wave of this bashing, I just rolled my eyes and laughed at how stuck up and narrow-minded is the accusing female party. When it went on and on, I realized that it’s time to present a counter opinion, expressed by a woman as well.
It’s easy to jump on the feminist wagon and disregard the reality you live in and the history of rock and metal that preceded magazines like that. Revolver didn’t set the tendency to see women as sexual objects. It has been in the mainstream culture for ages. The magazine also wasn’t the one to bring it into the rock and metal subculture. Then who did it?
Let’s travel a few decades back in time when the first self-proclaimed groupies like Pamela Des Barres et al decided it was appropriate to give sexual favors in order to show their appreciation for one’s musicianship. Reading books and watching interviews with girls who were in the scene back in the days always amuses me, because it obviously never occurred to them that you don’t have to suck anybody’s cock to demonstrate that you like their music. It got worse and soon enough boy bands like Guns ‘N’ Roses and Mötley Crüe were swimming in bigger piles of naked girls than Led Zeppelin ever did. It is highly ignorant not to acknowledge the fact that groupies are an inseparable part of the rock scene.
Nobody forced these girls to be there, nobody forced them to do what they did (with a few exceptions). These women were fine with being seen as sex objects, a distraction for one night. Yes, in many of their heads it was a different story, and they hoped that one night would lead to a happy marriage. However, it was their conscious choice to be objectified. Ever since it is very hard to prove to musicians and men who work in the industry that you are not interested in getting laid, and that you actually are there for music or work (or both). One can’t really blame these men for assuming the contrary, because in 9 cases out of 10 their assumption would prove to be correct.
Now, fast forward to the autumn of 2011 and the Hottest Chicks In Hard Rock issue. Obviously, none of the women presented there were forced to do this. They understood the necessity of it for the sake of promotion or, as was stated by some, didn’t even give it much thought. What Revolver Magazine does is just business, plain and simple. Their task is to sell the magazine and that’s what they do. So when you are going to throw a bitch-fit about why some extremely talented front-woman, from a band that you and 10 other people know, was not chosen to be in this issue, the cruel reality of the business world will hit you in the face. Ten people know this singer and thousands know Amy Lee and others. It is highly probable that X singer is indeed more talented than Amy Lee, but selling 10 copies of a magazine will result in a complete failure. It is unfair to blame one publication for the fact that your favourite band is still underground. Oh and, why would you think that the awesome-singer-from-your-fav-unknown-band would want to be objectified in this horrible issue?
When you set to write an angry message/tweet/article about the evil misogynist and “female objectifier” Brandon Geist, why not bash instead every godforsaken string fiddler and his technician who see any remotely attractive female being in their sight as a piece of meat? Why not also bash thousands of women all around the world for indeed being just meat, accepting this and then posting pictures and stories on the Internet, publishing books to inspire the population of vagina meat to grow? Why not get that finger out of your ass and realize that the problem is rooted much more deep in this music culture than just a magazine making its profit?
If you think it’s wrong to look hot on a picture in a rock magazine – it’s your free choice not to do it, but don’t expect others to live by your morals. Don’t be an object if you don’t want to be objectified.
Last night (November 4th), Ohio's finest Heavy Metal export took over the legendary stage at B.B. King's in New york City and delivered a furious set! We are talking about Chimaira of course! The band is currently on tour in support of their latest album entitled "The Age Of Hell", and they are about to wrap up their North American tour.
While it did take a few songs for the crowd to get their adrenaline pumped into their necks, once the crowd was fueled with fire the pit opened up in a damaging way that didn't cease until the band said "good night New York!". The new lineup of Chimaira is a force to be reckoned with and kicked everyone's ass without showing any mercy whatsoever.
Warming the crowd up for Chimaira were No Remission, Revocation and Impending Doom. No Remission never disappoints and sounded tight as hell! Revocation is Revocation, the Massachusetts Metallers delivered a flawless display of technical Heavy Metal, just the like the way it should be! And Impending Doom got the job done by warming the pit up for Chimaira.
\m/ 11/4 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr Smalls
\m/ 11/5 - Columbus, OH - Al Rosa Villa
Yesterday, the Heavy Music community mourned the loss of GWAR guitarist and producer Corey Smoot. He was 34 years old. Smoot was found dead by his band-mates inside the bands tour bus as they were getting ready to cross the border into Canada. Even though the band is devastated by this tragedy, the show must go on! GWAR has confirmed that they will be performing tonight in Edmonton, Canada in what is going to be a very emotional show. Gwar is two weeks into a six-week tour.
Here is a statement by David Brockie (A.K.A. Oderus Urungus) regarding the death of his beloved friend and guitar player:
"It is with a sense of profound loss and tragedy that the members of Gwar must announce the passing of their longtime guitarist and beloved friend Cory Smoot.
"Cory was found deceased this morning as the band prepared for a border crossing. There is no word as to the cause of death.
"At this point we are just dealing with the loss of our dear friend and brother, one of the most talented guitar players in Metal today."
This is what Lamb Of God's vocalist Randy Blythe commented via Twitter:
"I am very saddened by the passing our friend Cory Smoot (A.K.A. Flattus Maximus) of GWAR. He was an awesome dude and a great guitar player, as well as a talented engineer and producer. I recorded guest vocals for a few projects at his studio (the Kris Norris project, the [Jamey] Jasta solo record) and as a friend he refused to take my money in payment for the sessions. Last session just gave me some killer tracks of HIS solo work and asked me if I ever had time to lay down some vocals for him. I really regret now not having had the opportunity to record those sessions with him. He was always fun to tour with, hang with, and we will be deeply missed, especially in our hometown of Richmond. It was an honor to work with such a kind human being.
"My most sincere condolences to his wife, family, and the rest of the GWAR family.
"Rest in peace, brother. I'll catch you on the flip side."
On November 1st, 2011, Thrash Metal titans Megadeth released their NEW album "TH1RT3EN" to the Headbanging community via Roadrunner Records. Today, they are premiering the music video for the first single of their 13th studio album entitled "Public Enemy No. 1".
The comical video was shot in California, a few days after Megadeth performed at the Big Four Concert at Yankee Stadium. Oh, and it features a very badass monkey! Watch it now!
Here is the cover art and track-listing of one of the most anticipated records of 2011.
CD track listing:
01. Sudden Death
02. Public Enemy No. 1
03. Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)
04. We The People
05. Guns, Drugs & Money
06. Never Dead
07. New World Order
08. Fast Lane
09. Black Swan
10. Wrecker
11. Millennium Of The Blind
12. Deadly Nightshade
13. 13
Vinyl track listing:
Side A:
01. Sudden Death
02. Public Enemy No. 1
03. Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)
04. We The People
Side B:
01. Guns, Drugs & Money
02. Never Dead
03. New World Order
Side C:
01. Fast Lane
02. Black Swan
03. Wrecker
Side D:
01. Millennium Of the Blind
02. Deadly Nightshade
03. 13
Here is an interview we conducted with drummer Shawn Drover, in which we discuss the bands new album, the Big 4 and more!
Here is our Big Four 4 special, featuring Megadeth!
11/9 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Estadio Cubierto Malvinas
11/10 - Estadio Cubierto Malvinas - Buenos Aires, Argentina
11/12 - Maquinaria Festival, Club Hipico - Santiago, Chile
11/14 - SWU Music & Arts Festival - Sao Paulo, Brazil
11/16 - Jose Cuervo Salon - Mexico City, Mexico
11/17 - Jose Cuervo Salon - Mexico City, Mexico
11/19 - H&H Metal Fest, Calle 2 - Guadalajara, Mexico
11/20 - Banamex Auditorium - Monterrey, Mexico
"Gigantour" 2012 with Motörhead, Volbeat, and Lacuna Coil,
January:
26 – Susquehanna Bank Center – Camden, NJ
27 – Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
28 – Theater at Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
29 – Tsongas Arena – Lowell, MA
February:
1 – Glens Falls Civic Center – Glens Falls, NY
2 – Colisee Pepsi – Quebec City, QC
3 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC
5 – K-Rock Centre – Kingston, ON
7 – General Motors Centre – Oshawa, ON
8 – Copps Coliseum – Hamilton, ON
9 – Palace of Auburn Hills – Auburn Hills, MI
10 – Aragon Ballroom – Chicago, IL
12 – Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
14 – Myth – St. Paul, MN
16 – Prairieland – Saskatoon, SK
17 – Shaw Conference Centre – Edmonton, AB
18 – Big 4 Building – Calgary, AB
20 – Abbotsford Ent & Sports Centre – Abbotsford, BC
21 – Showare Center – Kent, WA
23 – Event Center at San Jose State University – San Jose, CA
24 – Gibson Amphitheatre – Universal City, CA
25 – Comerica Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
26 – Tingley Coliseum – Albuquerque, NM
28 – The Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO
Our good friends over at Roadrunner Records recently conducted an interview with Slipknot's Shawn "Clown" Crahan (co-founder of the band alongside the late great Paul Gray) about the 10th Anniversary of the bands sophomore album entitled 'Iowa'.
In case you missed the memo, the deluxe edition of 'Iowa' came out this week and you should pick it up! Not only does this reissue include the masterpiece that is 'Iowa', but also the hour-long documentary 'Goat' (directed by Clown).
Here is the interview!
Iowa seems heavily inspired by the band's experiences traveling the world during the touring cycle following the debut, so why was it called Iowa?
Well, basically, you have your whole life to make your first record, and because of that, you have a lot of expectations for your dreams, and in this life, I think we all know how hard it is to achieve a dream that's not so easily obtainable. And when this happens, your whole outlook on life changes. So going through what we went through on the first record, which was basically receiving the dream, making the record, going through pre-production, recording, mastering, mixing, seeing Los Angeles, being exposed to people we’d never been exposed to before, then running the gauntlet of what touring is—because touring certainly isn't my idea of how I would do things. And once you go out there and you play all the sheds and you play all the clubs—it's pretty easy to think about, because you roll through a certain town and there’s only so many clubs you can play at, so that's where you play. And we got big kinda quick, so within that first cycle we went from alternating opening slots on Ozzfest to being the second band on the Coal Chamber tour to pretty much doing our own tour, always coming back to the same clubs. So we'd realize, “Oh, we’re coming back to this city. I hate this club, and I hate these people. And I hate this circumstance.” So we're learning all this while having achieved the only thing we all ever wanted to do, which is get out of Iowa in search of a larger world and live our dreams. So not only did we get out of Iowa, we got all over the United States, all over Canada, Australia, Europe, all on one album cycle, learning all the ups and downs. Then you start hearing about the sophomore curse, and for us it was just strange that people wanted to even interject their opinions into a place they shouldn’t even be sticking their noses in. And I think that’s how it all came about. We came home from such an intense cycle and went right into work—Paul and Joey and Jim just went right in, and they took all the angst and frustration of everything we were forced to learn and wished we hadn't—but don't get me wrong, there were just as many if not more better times, doing everything we did. All the beautiful people we met, all the beautiful places we got to go, all the amazing shows. But there was also the opposite side, the things you didn't think were going to come with your dream. So it was about nine guys having this dream to do the only thing they ever wanted to do since they were little kids, and we put it all into perspective, saying, look, this is what we wanted to do our whole lives, and going through all that dark shit on the first cycle and just having it shoved down your throat and falling into a dark place, whether it be, I'm not embarrassed to say, drugs and alcohol and situations that you normally would never be in and having the wrong people around you and all these things, they're all there for the second record while people are talking to you about the sophomore curse and how many more “Wait and Bleed”s they want, and that's not what we want. So it was truly a way for us to dig deep and remember the roots of why we needed to get out, and pinpoint it to an exact word, and there's no better word than just Iowa. Where we're from, what raised us, where the thought process came from, where we were born and maybe where we would die.
Was there a song that, once you recorded it, you sort of realized, oh, okay, this is the kind of record we're making?
Well, you know, it's gonna be different for each person. For me, when we wrote “Skin Ticket”…everything started over at Paul's little brother's house, and then everything moved over to a big warehouse, and we used to practice at my house all the time. I bought a house, and the band moved in my house before I moved into it, to finish this record Iowa. And we started writing this song “Skin Ticket.” I can remember being in the basement—we built a room just for us and it's still like that, same carpet and everything from ten years ago. I put outlets everywhere for everybody. It's hard to explain without being in front of you, but at the end there's this breakdown, a crescendo that's also a falling apart. And a lot of it's in the drums. There's myself and Chris and Joey, and if you listen, everything is building just to this crescendo of crazy, distraught, dysfunctional whatever, but at the same time it's breaking down like into different times and everybody is on but off, but off in the right sense. And I can remember playing that and watching us, going, Wow, this is the farthest we've ever gotten in our heads as a band. We're gone right now. I'm watching everyone working to something that's going up and getting tighter and angrier and more intense and at the same time it’s falling apart in different areas to get to that end, and I was like, Whoa, this is what being in a band is really like when your thought processes can meet and you can connect so beautifully. And I was like, this next shit is gonna hurt people. This whole album is gonna hurt people in a way that they have been hurt, and they're gonna use it to heal, and it's gonna help, and really exorcise the demons and be something that's very, very needed in today's world.
How did the band's relationship with producer Ross Robinson change between album #1 and album #2?
I think maybe back then I might have said, you know, pressure this, pressure that, but in all honesty, you have to learn and Ross is the best coach ever. He taught us how to let go, he subjected us to things that we didn't want to be subjected to. As much as he was scared of Iowa, we were scared of L.A., and as much as he doesn't understand Iowa, we didn't understand L.A. We didn't understand preproduction, or what it meant to get in a room and have the door locked on you and some guy in your face telling you your part sucks for the song. Ross never came up to me or to anybody in the band and said “That sucks,” it was always like “OK, I hear what you're doing, but I think you can do better.” So there was a learning curve on that first record, and I think Ross was such an excellent mentor and teacher and producer that when we came to the second record, we had blood in our eyes. We had been through it. And he came to many shows, so he knew it, and I can remember he got into motocross and he did some insane fuckin' jump and broke his back, and that's how he started the record with us. With a broken back! Complete pain, just dysfunctional insanity. And I can remember talking to him on the phone and him saying he was running and working out, just to get ready to do the next record, to be healthy for us and to be able to work longer days and longer nights and get ready to fight the people that were trying to get in so we wouldn’t be imprinted by what people wanted. In fact, I can remember Ross making me smash my cell phone against the wall cause the outside influences were trying to get in. He's always been just a great fuckin' producer, one of a kind…he does not give a fuck when it comes to making music, you know what I mean? If you're not in the band, then he doesn't give a fuck. He is the man. So he's always been on our side. He always let us make the final decision on what we wanted, and if it wasn't something he necessarily agreed with, he did his best to make sure that he got the best out of us. I think we always got along. There was never any pressure with Ross. Never.
A lot of bands have been going out and playing albums front to back in recent years. Would you consider doing that with Iowa?
Well, we've talked about these things, you know, but our fans are so rabid—I don't think our fans are really ready to get into that thought process as of yet. We're still a fairly new band, in that we've been together 12, 13 years, something like that, and we still have only four records, because we take a while to do one, we do it right, then we tour it to hell, we kill ourselves, we take a year to repair, we take another year to get bored, refocus, pay attention to what's around us, reflect on what was, get back in the studio and do it again. So over this whole time, we haven't been a band that's wanted to get off its record label, make a bunch of shitty fuckin' records, and whatever. We've stuck to painting masterpieces in our minds, and I think when the maggots and our culture—we're not a band, we're a culture—there's a certain thought process that comes with needing to see Slipknot, and I don't think anybody's ready to commit to, “OK, Slipknot is coming to my town to just play Iowa and that's all we're gonna see.” I mean, people still need to hear “[sic].” They need to hear “Surfacing.” Now they need to hear “Duality.” “Psychosocial.” “Pulse of the Maggots.” “Left Behind.” They need all these songs to carry them through this world they live in.
Joey and I have sat down a lot of times and talked about it, but this is how crazy we are—we've been like, “Fuck it, we'll just play all four records in one night.” We didn’t even say hey, we could come down to a smaller venue and do four nights in a row, an album a night. We were like, fuck it, we’ll play all four albums in a row, from beginning to end. That’s kinda how we talked about it, ’cause we’re into the thought process of it, not the logistics of it. But yeah, I do believe there’ll be a day when we do that, but I don’t think our fans would want that right now. But I can’t speak for them. I could be 100 percent wrong. But I know we just played Rock In Rio in front of 150,000 people, and when you’re going from “[sic]” to “Eyeless” to “Wait and Bleed,” and ending with “Surfacing” and “People = Shit” and “Left Behind”…it’s like a meal. You’re not just eating steak, there’s gravy and potatoes and something you like to drink. You got all the best things you want to enjoy your meal. In the future, when it’s time and we can settle down and get into that thought process of returning to that era and doing it correctly, I’m sure we will do it. Because I think it’d be good for us and I think it’d be good for people. Because I look at our whole career here, and there are so many songs off the first album we’ve never played live. There are so many songs off the second record that we’ve never played live. Same with the third, same with the fourth. And I remember on the Vol. 3 tour cycle, towards the end we decided to add “Skin Ticket,” and I remember us looking at each other thinking, that was the best thing of the night. And I don’t know if it was new and we got to add it to this rigorous thing we’d been doing, but looking back on it and watching the tapes and listening to it, we were like, No, it’s just really good. And we can still do it. And we’re a good enough band to bring ourselves to those occasions, and it just felt good mixing it in with all the other stuff, and we realized that all the other colors on our palette are attainable at any time. It’s just up to us to mix ’em.
The reissue features a 2CD/1DVD set, which includes:
- The original album.
- Previously unreleased live audio from the band's 2002 DVD "Disasterpieces".
- "Goat", an-hour long film capturing the insanity that was "IOWA".
Official track listing of 10th-Anniversary Reissue of 'Iowa':
\m/ Disc 1:
"Iowa"
01. (515)
02. People = Shit
03. Disasterpiece
04. My Plague
05. Everything Ends
06. The Heretic Anthem
07. Gently
08. Left Behind
09. The Shape
10. I Am Hated
11. Skin Ticket
12. New Abortion
13. Metabolic
14. Iowa
15. My Plague (New Abuse Mix)
\m/ Disc 2:
"Disasterpieces - Live In London 2002"
01. (515)
02. People = Shit
03. Liberate
04. Left Behind
05. Eeyore
06. Disasterpiece
07. Purity
08. Gently
09. Eyeless
10. Drum Solo
11. My Plague
12. New Abortion
13. The Heretic Anthem
14. Spit It Out
15. Wait And Bleed
16. 742617000027
17. (sic)
18. Surfacing
\m/ Disc 3:
- "Goat" (hour-long film capturing the insanity of Iowa, directed by M. Shawn Crahan.
Music Videos:
- My Plague
- Left Behind
- The Heretic Anthem (Live)
- People = Shit (Live)
It is a sad day in Heavy Music. GWAR longtime guitarist and producer Cory Smoot (AKA Flattus Maximus) was found dead this morning inside GWAR's tour-bus as the band was getting ready to cross the border. Here is a statement from GWAR's front-man/leader Oderus Urungus:
"It is with a sense of profound loss and tragedy that the members of GWAR must announce the passing of their long time guitarist and beloved friend Cory Smoot, also known to thousands of metal fans worldwide as Flattus Maximus. Cory was found deceased this morning as the band prepared for a border crossing. There is no word as to the cause of death and the members of GWAR are completely shocked and devastated that this has occurred. At this point there is no word on arrangements and the disposition of the remainder of GWAR’s current North American tour, nor are there any details regarding long term plans. At this point we are just dealing with the loss of our dear friend and brother, one of the most talented guitar players in metal today. We ask that our fans and the media be respectful of our request for privacy for those that have suffered this terrible loss. A full statement will be coming in the next day or so, in the meantime please give your thoughts and your prayers to Cory, his family, and all the people that love him." - Dave Brockie (AKA Oderus Urungus)
Our thoughts and prayers are with Corey's family, friends, the GWAR camp, and all the GWAR fans! Rest In Peace brother of Metal! \m/
New York City will become slightly more dangerous tonight, as the mighty Chimaira takes over B.B. Kings in Times Square! Joining then will be label-mates Impending Doom, the brutallic boys of Revocation, and Rise Remain. Local support will come from No Remission, who are considered one of the best Heavy Music bands within the tri-state area.
Chimaira punched the world in the stomach with their latest album titled "The Age Of Hell", which is the band's follow up to their 2009 released titled "The Infection". The record has been released with a DVD containing an intimate in depth interview with the band. Pick it up!
\m/ 11/3 - New York, NY - BB Kings
\m/ 11/4 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr Smalls
\m/ 11/5 - Columbus, OH - Al Rosa Villa
Last night (November 2nd), progressive Metallers CYNIC celebrated the release of their upcoming NEW EP entitled "Carbon-Based Anatomy" (In Stores November 15th via Season Of Mist), at Idle Hands Bar in New York City. The band attended the party, signed copies of their EP, and even performed and intimate acoustic set.
During this unique event we were able to chat with CYNIC's co-founders Paul Masvidal (Vocals, Guitars) and Sean Reinert (Drums, Percussion), about their NEW EP "Carbon-Based Anatomy", as well as their creative process and musical philosophy. They also touched upon the arrival of new band members Brandon Giffin (ex-The Faceless) on bass and Baltimore Holdsworth-styled guitar prodigy Max Phelps.
On their new EP "Carbon-Based Anatomy", CYNIC have once again taken their natural inter-fusion of musical styles and turned it into something truly singular. "Carbon-Based Anatomy" is equal parts King Crimson, Tool, Muse and Allan Holdsworth. It's a 23-minute transcendent musical journey through the fertile musical minds of guitarist Paul Masvidal and progressive drumming icon Sean Reinert. Beginning with their much-venerated 1993 debut release "Focus", CYNIC have long been famous for pushing musical boundaries. Now in 2011, CYNIC have redefined themselves once again with a 6-song EP that combines diverse influences from 70s-inspired Prog Rock to cutting-edge Metal, tribal folk and futuristic alien shapes and sounds.
All of these diverse elements have been harnessed and carefully shaped by mixer John Hiler, into what is unquestionably the most open and expansive-sounding release of CYNIC's career. "Carbon-Based Anatomy" is retro, yet at the same time is unapologetically modern. It is respectful of the groundbreaking artists that have made musical evolution possible yet refuses to be stifled by that reverence. It is wholly appreciative of past musical landmarks but is unashamedly forward- thinking. "Carbon-Based Anatomy" is CYNIC's next bold step into the future and is a harbinger of the great music to come.
CYNIC is:
- Paul Masvidal: Vocals, Guitars
- Sean Reinert: Drums, Percussion
- Sean Malone: Bass (Album)
- Amy Correia: Vocals (Album)
- Max Phelps: Guitar, Vocals (Live)
- Brandon Giffin - Bass (Live)
CYNIC on tour with 3 and Scale the Summit!
- 11/3: West Chester, PA @ The Note
- 11/5: New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater (SuckFest)
- 11/7: Worcester, MA @ The Palladium (Upstairs)
- 11/9: Monteal, QUE @ Les Foufounes Electriques
- 11/10: Toronto, ON @ The Annex Wreck Room
- 11/11: Pontiac, MI @ Clutch Cargos
- 11/13: St Paul, MN @ Station 4
- 11/15: Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
- 11/16: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex (UT)
- 11/17: Sparks, NV @ The Alley
- 11/18: Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
- 11/19: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
- 11/22: San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
- 11/23: Hollywood, CA @ Key Club
"Carbon-Based Anatomy" can be pre-ordered from iTunes and at the Season Of Mist Web Shop. In addition the band has made the title track from the EP available for a free download on their website http://www.cyniconline.com and via the Season Of Mist Website.
2011 has been a tough year for Coheed and Cambria, the band announced this morning (November 3rd) that drummer Chris Pennie has decided to call it quits. This is what the band had to say about this:
"Tough decisions were made today that will help shape this band for the coming years. We extend our deepest appreciation to Chris Pennie for an incredible journey."
To this drummer Chris Pennie added:
"I am very thankful for the years that I shared the stage with the guys and want to thank the amazing, supportive fans that I’ve met while on tour, but there are a lot of exciting projects on the horizon, in addition to Return To Earth and Fight Mannequins, that I feel require my absolute 100 percent commitment and attention. I feel that this is the right time to make that happen."
Earlier this year (on July 10th to be more precise), Coheed and Cambria bassist Michael Todd was arrested by Attleboro, MA Police, after showing a Walgreens pharmacist a note on his cell phone which said he had a bomb and that he wanted some Oxycontin. Then to make matters worse, he fled the scene via taxi with six bottles of pain pills. Police arrested him without any incidents outside of the Comcast Theater where Coheed and Cambria were scheduled to open up for Soundgarden (the band performed without him). He was charged with armed robbery and unlawful possession of prescription narcotics. He was released on July 25th after posting a $25,000 bail. The band obviously decided to fire him!
Coheed And Cambria are currently working on the follow-up to their 2010 album "Year Of The Black Rainbow". If there is a band that is anxiously waiting for the new year, that band is Coheed and Cambria. We want to wish them the best of luck with the challenge of having to replace their drummer and bass player!
In celebration of the release of their 13th studio album, which is in stores now! Megadeth this past Monday on the Halloween edition of "Jimmy Kimmel Live". Not only did the band perform their new single "Public Enemy No.1" and their classic song "Symphony Of Destruction", but the entire band were dressed up in very cool costumes. Dave Mustaine was dressed as Frankenstein, fits him well ah? Mustaine also gave Jimmy Kimmel one of his guitars! You can watch the bands performance below.
Here are a couple of videos taken backstage prior to the bands performance:
Here is the cover art and track-listing of one of the most anticipated records of 2011.
CD track listing:
01. Sudden Death
02. Public Enemy No. 1
03. Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)
04. We The People
05. Guns, Drugs & Money
06. Never Dead
07. New World Order
08. Fast Lane
09. Black Swan
10. Wrecker
11. Millennium Of The Blind
12. Deadly Nightshade
13. 13
Vinyl track listing:
Side A:
01. Sudden Death
02. Public Enemy No. 1
03. Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)
04. We The People
Side B:
01. Guns, Drugs & Money
02. Never Dead
03. New World Order
Side C:
01. Fast Lane
02. Black Swan
03. Wrecker
Side D:
01. Millennium Of the Blind
02. Deadly Nightshade
03. 13
Here is an interview we conducted with drummer Shawn Drover, in which we discuss the bands new album, the Big 4 and more!
Here is our Big Four 4 special, featuring Megadeth!
Tour-dates:
Latin American tour:
11/9 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Estadio Cubierto Malvinas
11/10 - Estadio Cubierto Malvinas - Buenos Aires, Argentina
11/12 - Maquinaria Festival, Club Hipico - Santiago, Chile
11/14 - SWU Music & Arts Festival - Sao Paulo, Brazil
11/16 - Jose Cuervo Salon - Mexico City, Mexico
11/17 - Jose Cuervo Salon - Mexico City, Mexico
11/19 - H&H Metal Fest, Calle 2 - Guadalajara, Mexico
11/20 - Banamex Auditorium - Monterrey, Mexico
"Gigantour" 2012 with Motörhead, Volbeat, and Lacuna Coil,
January:
26 – Susquehanna Bank Center – Camden, NJ
27 – Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
28 – Theater at Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
29 – Tsongas Arena – Lowell, MA
February:
1 – Glens Falls Civic Center – Glens Falls, NY
2 – Colisee Pepsi – Quebec City, QC
3 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC
5 – K-Rock Centre – Kingston, ON
7 – General Motors Centre – Oshawa, ON
8 – Copps Coliseum – Hamilton, ON
9 – Palace of Auburn Hills – Auburn Hills, MI
10 – Aragon Ballroom – Chicago, IL
12 – Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
14 – Myth – St. Paul, MN
16 – Prairieland – Saskatoon, SK
17 – Shaw Conference Centre – Edmonton, AB
18 – Big 4 Building – Calgary, AB
20 – Abbotsford Ent & Sports Centre – Abbotsford, BC
21 – Showare Center – Kent, WA
23 – Event Center at San Jose State University – San Jose, CA
24 – Gibson Amphitheatre – Universal City, CA
25 – Comerica Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
26 – Tingley Coliseum – Albuquerque, NM
28 – The Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO
Richmond, Virginia's Lamb Of God, have set January 24th, 2012 as the release date for "Resolution", the follow up to their Grammy nominated album "Wrath". "Resolution", produced by Josh Wilbur, will feature 14 songs and will come in a deluxe softpak with artwork by longtime art director Ken Adams. The album was recorded in various studios in Virginia and New York.
Today, LiveNation announced that Lamb Of God will be hosting their record release show in New York City's Irving Plaza on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012. The Acacia Strain will support. Tickets go on pre-sale on November 17th at 10AM. Tickets will be released to the general public on November 18th at 10AM. Age restriction is 16+ unless accompanied by an adult.
Pre-orders for the new album are available now at www.lamb-of-god.com/resolution and will feature multiple premium bundles. On November 15th, the band will announce the first leg of what will be a 2 year world tour. Stay tuned!
The band has also announced the track-listing for "Resolution":
01. Straight For The Sun
02. Desolation
03. Ghost Walking
04. Guilty
05. The Undertow
06. The Number Six
07. Barbarosa
08. Invictus
09. Cheated
10. Insurrection
11. Terminally Unique
12. To The End
13. Visitation
14. King Me
Limited-edition pre-order bonus live album "Wrath - Tour 2009/2010" track listing (available only with the UK version):
01. The Passing
02. In Your Words
03. Set to Fail
04. Walk With Me In Hell
05. Hourglass
06. Now You've Got Something to Die For
07. Ruin
08. As The Palaces Burn
09. Blacken the Cursed Sun
10. Laid to Rest
11. Redneck
12. Black Label
As previously announced, The Devin Townsend Project will soon be releasing "Contain Us", a special tribute box-set for their epic quadrology (Ki, Addicted, Deconstruction, and Ghost)! Due out November 29th in North America via Century Media Records, "Contain Us" was designed and created by Man Alive's Tom Bejgrowicz (who also conceived the classic and must-have Misfits Coffin box-set) and is the ultimate collection for every diehard Devin fan. Pre-orders are now exclusively available at CM Distro, so be sure to reserve your copy here! The standard box-set is priced at $80.00 while the hand-numbered box with the 10" and a lithograph drawn and autographed by Devin is $100.
For more details about "Contain Us", check out an exclusive interview with Devin here and the official specs below:
- A 12" x 12", 64-page, perfect bound book featuring a charcoal linen hardcover with ink-less debossing of the DTP logo on the front and applicable titling on the spine.
- Housed in an uncoated, charcoal linen, hardcover slipcase - presented with a photographic portrait of Devin inset on the front and ink-less embossing of applicable titling on the spine.
- Contains the following: the DTP albums: Ki, Addicted, Ghost and Deconstruction plus 2 bonus DVDs and CDs. The DVDs have one featuring live performances and all the DTP promotional videos while the other has audio commentary for all 4 albums, live audio tracks, song stems for remixing and more. One of the audio CDs features all
the bonus tracks from the DTP sessions with the other having the DTP session demos. Ghost and Deconstruction were both remastered just for this set.
- The 4 DTP albums will be housed within the front cover's pastedown while the 4 unreleased discs will be in the back's.
- The interior features acid free, linen-embossed charcoal end papers and museum-quality, dull text and cover stock throughout.
- The center of the book will feature a double gatefold printed on cover stock and comprised of the 4 album covers.
- A clean, crisp, classic-yet-modern design featuring color and B&W imagery throughout. Materials include Devin and the band's personal archives, photography from around the world, and any Inside Out/Devin-related photoshoots from the period.
- A permanently attached, purple fabric linen bookmark.
- This edition is limited to 5000 copies worldwide
- 500 individually-numbered, limited edition copies that include two exclusive items: A. An autographed lithographic print featuring original artwork by Devin drawn exclusively for this edition, and B. A 10" piece of vinyl featuring two exclusive tracks, "Rapture" and "Dinosaurs". Note: 250 copies of the record will be pressed on black vinyl while the other 250 are on white.
The Devin Townsend Project will soon be in Ireland and the UK for some shows--including four special performances of the entire DTP quadrology! All upcoming tour dates are below, so check to see when Hevy Devy will be coming to a city near you.
THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT UK/IRE tour dates:
Nov. 5 - UK, Leeds - Damnation Festival
Nov. 7 - IRE, Belfast - Spring & Airbrake (with TURISAS)
Nov. 8 - IRE, Dublin - The Academy (with TURISAS)
Nov. 10 - UK, London - ULU - Ki show (opener TBC)
Nov. 11 - UK, London - ULU - Addicted show (with AMPLIFIER)
Nov. 12 - UK, London - ULU - Deconstruction show (with SHINING)
Nov. 13 - UK, London - Union Chapel - Ghost show (with HAZLITT)
Nov. 15 - UK, Newcastle - UNI (Dev acoustic)
Nov. 16 - UK, Sheffield - Corporation (Dev acoustic)
Nov. 17 - UK, Leicester - 02 Academy 2 (Dev acoustic)
Nov. 18 - UK, Stoke-On-Trent - The Sugarmill (Dev acoustic)
Before you head over to spend Thanksgiving Day with your families, come give thanks to Metal at the "Thanksgiving METAL Feast"! The event will take place on Friday, September 18th at the legendary Webster Hall (The Studio) and will feature 4 hard hitting bands that will be the perfect soundtrack to THE party to be at before Thanksgiving Day!
Lineup:
Resolution 15: A band whose sound is rooted in Thrash, Metal, Hardcore, Punk, and Classical Music that uses violins in place of guitars to disseminate their egalitarian message of global change.
- Wrench: Originally formed in the early 90's, founding members John Musto (Guitar)and Case (Bass) searched for a new sound in Heavy Music and found it when John put down his guitar and picked up a bass in an attempted to create the heaviest sound imaginable.
- Nostrom: An Industrial Heavy Metal band from Colombia, based in Queens NY. Formed in 2005, after analyzing the flood of generic music that exists within the tri-state area, Nostrom decided to go against the grain and create a blend of music that attracts your ears and then punches them without remorse.
- Iratetion: Being driven towards creating their own music,the Milano brothers did just that. Ismael and Ghork started writing for a project that didn't have a name at the time. While one brother was living in Venezuela and the other in New Jersey,the desire of writing became reality. They began to create music in a way many musicians do these days with the help of sending files to each other over the inter...net. Ismael handled duties of guitars/bass/vocals so they could be layered over Ghork's drum recordings that were sent from Venezuela. Not long afterward,the project was soon to be named Iratetion.
