OPETH: celebrate 10 years of 'Damnation' at an in-store performance on Record Store Day!

This past Saturday, April 20, Sweden's OPETH performed a very special set at a record store in Leominster, Massachusetts in celebration of ‘Record Store Day‘ as well as the 10th anniversary of their groundbreaking studio album 'Damnation'. Fan-filmed footage can be seen below.

'Damnation' was released on April 22, 2003 via Koch Records. Damnation is the seventh full-length studio album by Opeth and produced by Steven Wilson. 'Damnation' was released only five months after 'Deliverance' and was dedicated by Mikael Åkerfeldt to his grandmother, who died in a car accident during the recordings of 'both albums which was also the reason why he did not write lyrics to "Death Whispered a Lullaby" because of how distraught he was the incident, distracting him to do so.

The album was a radical departure from their typical death metal sound and the first Opeth release to do so with a much softer with clean vocals and guitar sounds, prominent mellotron, 1970s inspired progressive rock genre which features no heavy riffs, extendedly fast tempos and shorter songs.

Here is video of OPETH jamming on Record Store Day:



In case you missed this: OPETH are writing NEW music! According to Fredrik, the next record will go "in a somewhat different direction to 'Heritage'. It won't be a step back, but it will be different. Maybe more intense in a way. You'll have to wait and see! I was in the studio today and put down my solos and I was very happy about it. The song I heard that Mikael [Åkerfeldt]wrote today sounds very cool. I think that's all I can say at this point!"

According to Åkesson, the band is planning to re-enter the studio this fall, perhaps at the end of September! Exciting ah? Stay tuned for more OPETH news!

Get your tickets HERE!

Here is the official tour poster:

Related links:
Official site of Opeth

Music Worshipers: It Is RECORD STORE DAY!

Today is Record Store Day. Record Store day is an internationally celebrated day, which takes place the third Saturday of April each year. The purpose of the holiday is to celebrate the art of music and to support artists from all calibers. Today hundreds of fans and artists will roam around 700 independently owned record stores in the United States, along with hundreds of independent record stores all over the globe.

Here are some facts about Record Store Day:

- Record Store Day was founded in 2007 by Eric Levin, Michael Kurtz, Carrie Colliton, Amy Dorfman, Don Van Cleave and Brian Poehner.

- It is a global celebration in which recording artists from all calibers participate in by making special appearances, performances, meet and greets, the holding of art exhibits, and the release of special vinyl and CD releases along with other promotional products. The event is also celebrated with cookouts and drinking parties.

So get your ass over to a record store, buy A LOT of music and celebrate today YOUR way!

Related links:
Record Store Day
Find a Record Store near YOU

Phil Anselmo: Record Store Day & The Comeback Of Vinyl Records; DOWN's US Tour Begins Soon!

Earlier this week, Forbes Magazine (Forbes.com) posted an in-depth piece on the comeback of vinyl and Record Store Day, written by Tim Clark. In a time where people are quick to label the current state of the music industry as "failing" or "experiencing a downfall", Tim Clark points out that the independent record store experience illustrates otherwise.

Ex-Pantera and current DOWN vocalist and Housecore Records CEO Philip H. Anselmo was interviewed for the piece, and gave his personal thoughts on the rise in record store activity and how it supports growth in the music business and community. As one of the leading voices of the recent indie label and independent music takeover, Forbes looked to Anselmo has a voice of authority.

From Forbes piece: "When he was younger, Anselmo used to constantly scour underground record stores and to this day still believes in the vinyl format."

"Record Store Day promotes this type of passion of having the actual product in your hand instead of just a download", said Anselmo. "I love having the full album, art, lyrics and I think vinyl sounds better. And as a label owner, it makes me happy to see that people slowly but surely want to have this tangible copy in their hands instead of a free [expletive] download, which is driving me [expletive] bananas."

Record Store Day is now celebrated on the third Saturday every April is the one day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Which means that Record Store Day is TOMORROW! Forbes calls Record Store Day, "an industry phenomenon".

To read the full article, visit this direct location. 

DOWN's upcoming tour dates:

- May.23.2013: Birmingham, AL, Zydeco
- May.24.2013: Raleigh, NC, Lincoln Theater
- May.25.2013: Baltimore, MD, Sonar/Maryland Deathfest
- May.27.2013: August, GA, Sky City
- May.28.2013: Nashville, TN, Marathon Music Works
- May.30.2013: Broussard, LA, The Station
- May.31.2013: New Orleans, LA, House of Blues
- June.14.2013: Donnington, UK, Download Festival
- June.15.2013: Copenhagen, Denmark, Copenhell
- June.16.2013: Törnävänsaari, Seinäjoki, Finland, Provinssirock
- June.18.2013: Moscow, Russia, Moscow Arena
- June.20.2013: Jaworzno, Poland, Metalfest Poland
- June.21.2013: St. Goarshausen, Germany, Metalfest Germany
- June.22.2013: Clisson, France, Hellfest
- June.24.2013: Ljubljana, Slovenia, Kino Soska
- June.25.2013: Zagreb, Croatia, Culture Factory
- June.27.2013: Tisza Kemping, Tokaj-Rakamaz, Rakamaz, Hungary, Borsodi Hegyalja Fesztival
- July.1.2013: Athens, Greece, Rock Gods

HERE is an extensive gallery of DOWN's recent concert in New York City!

Related links:
DOWN

Spread The Word: It Is RECORD STORE DAY! WORSHIP MUSIC!

Today is Record Store Day. Record Store day is an internationally celebrated day, which takes place the third Saturday of April each year. The purpose of the holiday is to celebrate the art of music and to support artists from all calibers. Today hundreds of fans and artists will roam around 700 independently owned record stores in the United States, along with hundreds of independent record stores all over the globe.

Here are some facts about Record Store Day:

- Record Store Day was founded in 2007 by Eric Levin, Michael Kurtz, Carrie Colliton, Amy Dorfman, Don Van Cleave and Brian Poehner.

- It is a global celebration in which recording artists from all calibers participate in by making special appearances, performances, meet and greets, the holding of art exhibits, and the release of special vinyl and CD releases along with other promotional products. The event is also celebrated with cookouts and drinking parties.

So get your ass over to a record store, buy A LOT of music and celebrate today YOUR way!

Related links:
Record Store Day
Find a Record Store near YOU

OZZY invites you to Record Store Day

Today is Record Store Day. Record Store day is an internationally celebrated day, which takes place the third Saturday of April each year. The purpose of the holiday is to celebrate the art of music and to support artists from all calibers. Today hundreds of fans and artists will roam around 700 independently owned record stores in the United States, along with hundreds of independent record stores all over the globe.

Here are some facts about Record Store Day:

- Record Store Day was founded in 2007 by Eric Levin, Michael Kurtz, Carrie Colliton, Amy Dorfman, Don Van Cleave and Brian Poehner.

- It is a global celebration in which recording artists from all calibers participate in by making special appearances, performances, meet and greets, the holding of art exhibits, and the release of special vinyl and CD releases along with other promotional products. The event is also celebrated with cookouts and drinking parties.

- The Official Ambassador for this year is the "Prince of Darkness" Ozzy Osbourne and he has a message for you:

OZZY RSD Ambassador from Record Store Day on Vimeo.

Related links:
Record Store Day
Find a Record Store near YOU