Win A Ticket To See SOILWORK In New York City!

On Friday, March 15, SOILWORK is taking over The Gramercy Theatre in New York City as part of the "World Infinity Tour". Joining the Swedish Metallers, who are celebrating the release of 'The Living Infinite' (available now via Nuclear Blast Records), will be Jeff Loomis, Blackguard, The Browning, and Wretched.

Want to win a ticket to see this crushing tour live and loud in New York City? Leave a comment below telling us why we should pick you as the winner of one ticket. We will pick two winners on Wednesday, March 13, at noon ET. The winner will be announced right here, so keep checking back.

UPDATE: here are the winners of the contest!

Scott Frisa and Kenny Wotton! Gents, please email us your legal names (as they appear on your ID's) to events@hornsuprocks.com ASAP. Thanks and congrats!

Related links:

SOILWORK's Official Site

SOILWORK on Facebook

SOILWORK on Twitter

SOILWORK on YouTube

SOILWORK's Dirk Verbeuren: 'The Living Infinite', Upcoming Tour, Drumming Techniques & The Music Industry!

As previously announced, 'The Living Infinite', the ninth studio album and first dual-disc release by Swedish melodic Metal maestros SOILWORK, will be unleashed on February 27th in Asia (via license to Marquee Records), in Europe on March 1st, and in North America on March 5th (via Nuclear Blast Records). Peep the album cover and track listing HERE!

Earlier this week, we tapped into Dirk Verbeuren's phone line and questioned him about the bands NEW record. During our chat with SOILWORK's drumming machine, we discussed why the band decided to have the balls to produce a dual disc in a time in which most bands are sticking to releasing "short" format releases since the music industry is an all time low and record sales are compromised as a result. We also chatted with him about his drumming techniques both on and off stage, and what producer Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, God Forbid) brought to the table. Verbeuren also offered us some insight on the music business and how this recently affected the future of Dave Lombardo in SLAYER! Check the interview out and spread the word!



The tracks “Spectrum Of Eternity” (http://bit.ly/swsoeitun) and “This Momentary Bliss” (http://bit.ly/swtmbitun) are now available for purchase; in two weeks, two more songs will be made available.  Pre-order the album on iTunes here: http://bit.ly/swtlitune

In celebration of their highly anticipated album, SOILWORK will kick off their world tour with a 55-show headlining trek through the U.S. and Canada this March. Support comes from Jeff Loomis, Blackguard, The Browning, and Wretched.

Related links:

SOILWORK's Official Site

SOILWORK on Facebook

SOILWORK on Twitter

SOILWORK on YouTube

The SOULFLY Tribe Nearly Suffers Devastating Plane Crash - Statement From The Bands Manager Available!

Wow, we are very glad to hear that the members of the SOULFLY tribe are fine, following a very scary situation while flying back from Japan to the United States via airplane. The band wrapped up their Asian tour last night (October 23) at the Hollywood Awards in Bangkok, Thailand, which served as drummer David Kinkade's (formerly of BORKNAGAR, ARSIS and MALEVOLENT CREATION) final show as a member of SOULFLY. Kinkade announced last week that he is retiring from music. Read his statement HERE!  

Here is a statement from the bands manager Gloria Cavalera (Max's wife) regarding this near death experience:

"I just want to say thank you God for keeping us on this blessed Earth!! As we were leaving Tokyo's Narita Airport this afternoon, the auxiliary engine, which does many things... one of them is send the air into the aircraft's engines to keep them running, overheated and shut off. If it would have happened 20 minutes later, we would most likely be at the bottom of the ocean, with divers looking for the black box!! Luckily, it shut down before we lifted off, and here we all are, in a hotel fbing (Facebooking)!!! Thanks God, for sparing us all and not letting the Grim Reaper collect his debt!!!"

We are very happy to hear that the members of the SOULFLY tribe are OK! Please don't forget to count your blessings! \m/

Related links:
Soulfly's Official Site!

SOULFLY's Drummer David Kinkade Faces The Hardships Of The Music Industry & Quits - Official Statement Available!

Drummer David Kinkade (formerly of BORKNAGAR, ARSIS and MALEVOLENT CREATION) will play his final show as a member of SOULFLY on October 23 at the Hollywood Awards in Bangkok, Thailand.

In a series of postings on his Facebook page, Kinkade stated about his decision to leave the band: "I decided two months ago that music is no longer worth the effort to me anymore. After this, I'm going to retire from drumming and music all together and focus on my family rather than myself.

"I've fought my hardest for 'my dream' in music over the past 10 years and failed. [Playing with BORKNAGAR in] Norway was the pinnacle of mistakes and I'll never let myself off the hook for it. I moved across the world for music, spent hundreds of thousands of $$$ and in the end I ended up digging myself into a deeper hole than before. I'm still trying to recover from that fuck-up.

"The only bit of light that my career ever saw was in the end, I was able to make a record and play some huge shows with a guy [SOULFLY/ex-SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera] whose music I grew up idolizing. Thats good enough for me."

He added, "I've always been an all-or-nothing kinda guy. I could never be the guy loading bags onto the plane, I'd have to be the pilot.

"I'm thankful for the real friends I've made, which are very few and far between, trust me, and, of course, the good experiences, but it's time.

"Music doesn't have a 401K plan, insurance, anything that I can count on in the end to support my family, and that scares me. I can't just crawl back to my mom's couch anymore if I drop the ball. I have people depending on me to provide, so I'd rather not be selfish anymore and focus on the real rather than a dream.

"A bunch of you say I'll miss it and I'll be back. You don't understand that this whole business has ruined any sort of want or will for me to continue on. I've done it and it's not glamorous or anything that anyone seems to think it is.

"I'm not a rock star or anything near it. So what if I was the drummer of SOULFLY and played huge festivals. I'm a hired gun and always have been just a hired gun... I'm just a hired gun who was luckier than most to have worked my way up the food chain a bit further than others. The fact is that I've tasted it all now and want nothing to do with the entire dish anymore.

"I don't enjoy playing drums anymore, shows or anything to do with it. I just want to be home with my family. My fiancée, the kids, my Mom, Grandpa. Those are the only people who mean something to me.

"I'm only here finishing the tour because I don't want to fuck anyone over. I have no desire to sit on a plane for 12 hours to Malaysia and trek around Asia for the next week dragging gear all over. I'd rather be at home fixing Mom's Malibu Lights LOL. I'm just thankful that I made the decision at 29 rather than 39.

"I'm done."

Kinkade's final shows with SOULFLY:

Oct. 20 - Rockaway 2012 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Oct. 21 - Lampangan D Senayan - Jakarta, Indonesia
Oct. 23 - Hollywood Awards - Huai Khwaeng, Thailand

Related links:
Soulfly's Official Site!

METALLICA Guitarist To Publish First Book: 'Too Much Horror Business - The Kirk Hammett Collection' + Collectible Toys!

Metallica’s Kirk Hammett announced today that he will publish his first book, 'Too Much Horror Business – The Kirk Hammett Collection', this October via Abrams Image. Documenting Kirk’s love of all things horror, and the legendary collection of horror memorabilia he has amassed over the years, TMHB is a stunning 228 page, hardback, large format coffee table book featuring well over 300 full color images from Kirk’s private collection and exclusive set photography by Mark Leialoha and Joe Gibbs. There will be three extensive conversations with writer Steffan Chirazi covering the importance of collecting in Hammett’s life from childhood, plus written captions by Kirk for many of the items displayed in the book.

“This is my gift to all the other horror nerds out there who are just like me,” says Kirk, “it’s been made with great love for all the many characters and movies which guided me through childhood, into adulthood and which still keep me on track today.”

On June 23rd-24th, at Orion Music + More, the new annual festival founded by Metallica and taking place in Atlantic City, NJ, fans will see a preview of what’s to come in Too Much Horror Business.  Hammett will be hosting Kirk’s Crypt and offering fans an extraordinary glimpse into his collection.   More information on Kirk’s Crypt and Orion Music + More can be found by visiting www.orionmusicandmore.com.

In addition to "Too Much Horror Business", Hammett will also commence producing collectible items through his Kirk Von Hammett line, specifically toys. Each of the collectibles will be limited to only 500 pieces, with the first one being available on October 1st at www.kvhtoys.com. In the meantime, "Too Much Horror Business" t-shirts are now available, with other surprises due as the publishing date gets closer.

“I’ve spent my life collecting toys, so what could be more fun than making a series of toys which indulge my childhood fantasies AND which people can collect!  “It’s more about fulfilling a huge ambition than anything else, and I hope I get the first one!”

Fans wanting to pre-order the book can do so by visiting www.kvhtoys.com.

MAX CAVALERA Talks About The Change In Guard At ROADRUNNER RECORDS!

As previously reported, ROADRUNNER RECORDS may be closing all of their European Offices! And we have been informed that major changes are taking place at their U.S. offices. Here is a statement from MAX CAVALERA (SEPULTURA, SOULFLY & CAVALERA CONSPIRACY) regarding this punch in the stomach to our Heavy Music family!



Related links:
Roadrunner Records

ROADRUNNER RECORDS' Founder/CEO Cees Wessels Resigns - Statement Available!

As previously reported, ROADRUNNER RECORDS may be closing all of their European Offices, Ed Christman of Billboard.biz has filed the following update:

"In a changing of the guard at Roadrunner Records, founder/CEO Cees Wessels is leaving the label 17 months after the completion of its sale to the Warner Music Group. Concurrent with his departure, approximately 36 staffers worldwide were let go today (April 26th), sources tell Billboard.biz. The exact number was unclear at press time.

"Concurrent with his departure, the label is being realigned so that it will utilize the Warner Music Group for back-office and other support capabilities while retaining frontline label functions like A&R, marketing, promotion and publicity.

"In the U.S., Roadrunner will continue to operate as a standalone frontline label, although 16 staffers in the States are losing their jobs.

"Internationally, Roadrunner's staff will continue to carry out some label functions, such as marketing, promo and publicity. Other responsibilities, principally support functions, will be carried out by Warner Music teams, which means that 20 staffers will lose their jobs.

"Roadrunner, which continues to be a strong brand in rock music, will continue to have personnel in every territory it does currently, with the exception of the Netherlands office, which is being shuttered. Wessels founded the label in the Netherlands in 1980.

"Longtime label President Jonas Nachsin, who has served in that role since 1999, will remain on staff."

Related links:
Roadrunner Records

The Music Industry Takes A Punch To The Stomach; Roadrunner Records Closes International Offices!

Wow! Here is some evidence that the music business is broken, and might never be put back together again like Humpty Dumpty! In 2010, ROADRUNNER RECORDS got bought out by the Warner Music Group and as we all know this always means that the employees are the ones that will take the punch to the stomach via either salary reductions or by simply put: being "fired". While there had already been someone layoffs at ROADRUNNER RECORDS, today the hammer went down hard on their UK and Canadian employees.

According to various sources, ROADRUNNER RECORDS is closing their UK and Canadian offices. Apparently, their German office will face the same destiny. What about their U.S. team? Well, there are rumors that some staff members have been dismissed ever since WMG took over ROADRUNNER. The label has obviously been very quiet about this extreme situation! So far the only "statement" regarding this matter was this Twit by @ROADRUNNER_UK:

"What a day..."

Here is what TRIVIUM's front man Matt Heafy Twitted regarding this sad truth:

“I wish I knew who or what to blame specifically, and chew off it’s heads – but Roadrunner records just fired some of their best employees,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s corporate greed or it’s due to the fact that no one puts value in physical art and that piracy created a domino effect, but our friends who are being tossed away so quickly by the label are now out of jobs. These people helped bands get where they are today. Wanna defend piracy? Do what you do for me and 10,000 others for free. Whatever your trade is – give me that for free or you’re a jerk. The real issue aside from whatever caused it is that in an industry NEEDING loyal people – higher-ups in their cushy desks wrote them off. Regardless of your stance, we all work for a living. I do what I do to pay RENT. If I wanted millions, I’d be in pop music. And the real fact of the matter is that I am pissed off at my GREEDY record label for canning my friends who helped build our band. My heart goes out to my friends who have been delivered this awful news today. You helped us get where we are. You’re in our thoughts. Truth is: I love Roadrunner. I'm upset with what happened to the people I care about. Roadrunner helped build the Metal that I love. And to address the other topic from my heat of battle. Technology is required in life. Technology in music reaches far beyond the physical.. In most places of the world, it's all bootlegged – there isn't officially a music market – people need to download music, or not even get it. The times are changing. Yes. Completely true. But the main thing is that we need to treat people like we want to be treated… Of course I'll be emotional when it has to do with people I love and care and respect for helping me. If I blew up on the wrong parties… Then I apologize. But. The main point is that people need to remember, Internet aside-we are dealing with human beings. I feel for my friends. It wasn't ROADRUNNER canning people. It's the "company" who "owns" it. Long live ROADRUNNER (the memory of something that once was great).”

To this Dez Fafara (DevilDriver/COAL CHAMBER) added:

"For you RR closing offices may be about your favorite BAND but in reality it's about the PEOPLE WHO MADE YOU AWARE OF YOUR FAVORITE BAND that worked at RR! From the Girl answering the phone to the ART department to the A&R who FOUND your favorite band in some small club and WORKED to sign them! To the PRESS persons who work day and night to get your favorite BAND in Mags on websites etc so they became visible and had a Shot at making their dreams come true! So while you want to worry and it's alright to do so for YOUR FAVORITE RR BAND/you should stop and take a moment to think about all the jobs lost, families out of work and band that will be getting dropped. You should TAKE THE TIME TO THANK IN WRITING ALL THE HARD WORKING PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT BELIEVED IN YOUR FAVORITE BAND BEFORE YOU EVEN HEARD THEIR NAMES …."

While METAL BLADE RECORDS' CEO Brian Slagel stated:


"Sad to see the closing of our friends at Roadrunner in Europe and the UK. What happened today to Roadrunner is one of the biggest reasons I never sold to a major. When we started 30 years ago we worked with Roadrunner. They distributed our stuff in Europe and we did their stuff in the USA. Sad day. We always had a great relationship with everyone at Roadrunner from Cees Wessels on down. Great label, sorry to see so many out of work. The music business changes all the time. Please support the bands and labels you like. Thanks!"


Related links:
Roadrunner Records

Spotify has Arrived to Revitalize the Music Industry

In times in which the entire music industry has a rope tied around the neck, Spotify has arrived just in time to revitalize the industry. After the success it has had in Europe, many are saying that it will take over other online music services such as iTunes and Rhapsody. Spotify is to music, what Netflix is to video. At first glance, the platform is very intuitive and the massive collection of music sounds very crisp when you sign up for a Premium account (just $9.99 a month). Here is all you need to know about Spotify!

1) Think of Spotify as your new music collection. Your library. Only this time your collection is vast: over 15 million tracks and counting. Spotify comes in all shapes and size, available for your PC, Mac, home audio system and cell phone. Wherever you go, your music follows you.

And because the music plays live, there’s no need to wait for downloads and no big dent in your hard drive.

2) Thanks to Spotify, it’s now easier than ever to share music. You’re free to share everything you listen to on Spotify with your friends - tracks, playlists, the lot. Connect Spotify to Facebook and you'll be sharing your favourites with friends in seconds.

Just send them a link to a track or playlist and they can listen instantly. If you like, you can also collaborate on shared playlists. Social music made simple.

3) Getting started is quick, easy and safe.

Create an account by choosing a username and password. Download and install Spotify on either Windows or Mac. Then search and play, over 15 million songs are now yours.

If you love music, sign up today and help revitalize the music industry!

Related links:
Official Site of Spotify
Horns Up Rocks Spotify Playlist - 7/18/2011