EPICA's Simone Simons is pregnant, band announces temporary break

Congratulations are in order for the very beautiful Simone Simons from EPICA. The band has announced that is pregnant with her first child! As a result, the band will be taking a temporary break. Here is a collective statement from the band:

"We are happy to announce that Simone is pregnant!

"Simone and longtime partner Oliver Palotai (Kamelot, Sons of Seasons) are expecting their first child around the end of summer. To ensure the best possible pregnancy and considering Simone's and the babies health, we have decided to stop our live activities from the 1st of July. This means Epica will not play this years Masters of Rock festival in the Czech Republic.

"However this does not mean Epica won't do anything!
Our Retrospect live-DVD will be released upcoming fall. Furthermore, during the second half of 2013 Epica will start working on a brand new record which will be released in 2014.

"We are looking forward to see you all at the remaining shows this year and will be back next year with a new CD, stronger than ever!"

In other EPICA news, last month the band celebrated their 10^th anniversary with a special performance entitled “Retrospect” which took place in the Klokgebouw in Eindhoven, in their home country the Netherlands.

“Retrospect” is Epica’s most ambitious project to date, and it featured a 70-piece symphonic orchestra and choir, international guests and lots of special effects. 

Related links:
Official Site of Epica
Epica's Blog
Epica on MySpace
Epica on Facebook
Epica on YouTube
Epica on Twitter

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS Premiere Music Video For "Wise As A Serpent"

Sweden's classic Rock heavyweights SPIRITUAL BEGGARS are now premiering the video clip for "Wise As A Serpent," the opening track of the band's stunning NEW album 'Earth
Blues'. The band's guitarist and main songwriter, Michael Amott, checked in to comment on the clip:  

"We chose this particular song as the first video off 'Earth Blues' 'cos it's an explosive track and also the shortest song on the album! I filmed and directed the video myself and Anders Björler (AT THE GATES) did a great job on the edit. We're more than pleased with the end result, it's done in true DIY spirit...raw and authentic."

You can now watch the clip below, courtesy of Decibel Magazine:



SPIRITUAL BEGGARS is:

- Michael Amott (Guitars | ARCH ENEMY, ex CARCASS)
- Ludwig Witt (Drums | GRAND MAGUS, ex FIREBIRD)
- Per Wiberg (Keys | ex OPETH)
- Sharlee D'Angelo (Bass | ARCH ENEMY, WITCHERY)
- Apollo Papathanasio (Vocals | FIREWIND) 

Related links:
Spiritual Beggars on Facebook

Spiritual Beggars on MySpace
Spiritual Beggars on Twitter

EPICA 10th Anniversary Celebration "Retrospect" = Bands Most Ambitious Project To Date!

On March 23rd, internationally renowned Metal band Epica will celebrate their 10^th anniversary with a special performance entitled “Retrospect” which will take place in the Klokgebouw in Eindhoven, in their home country the Netherlands.
“Retrospect” will be Epica’s most ambitious project to date, joined by a 70-piece symphonic orchestra and choir, international guests and lots of special effects.

 

Especially for this show the band has invited the Hungarian Extended Remenyi Ede Chamber Orchestra and Choir of Miskolc National Theatre, the same orchestra and choir with whom Epica recorded the highly acclaimed live album “the Classical Conspiracy”. This anniversary show will be a “Retrospect” on Epica’s career and will contain all trademark elements you can expect from Epica.

 

INFORMATION:

Tickets are available: www.epica.nl, www.epica-retrospect.com and www.klokgebouw.nl. Special VIP-tickets are available as well and cost €65,- + service costs. VIPs will get early access to the venue and exclusive VIP goodies.

Epica is:

- Simone Simons: Vocals
- Mark Jansen: Guitar
- Isaac Delahaye: Guitar
- Yves Huts: Bass
- Coen Janssen: Synthesizer, piano
-Ariën van Weesenbeek: Drums

Related links:
Official Site of Epica
Epica's Blog
Epica on MySpace
Epica on Facebook
Epica on YouTube
Epica on Twitter

Blast From The Past: Watch SLIPKNOT's Groundbreaking Debut At The Dynamo Open Air In 2000!

On June 3, 2000, SLIPKNOT debuted at the Dynamo Open Air in Nijmegen, Holland. For many years the bands vocalist Corey Taylor considered the performance below as the best one in the bands career. Charged with eleven songs and plenty of fire, SLIPKNOT went insane as soon as they stepped on stage with their infamous intro "742617000027" and didn't stop until their closed their set with "Surfacing". Watch the video below to see how thousands of fans raged out of control to the demonic sounds of one of the most important bands in Heavy Music history!

Live at Dynamo Open Air, Nijmegen, Holland: June 3, 2000. SETLIST:

1. 742617000027 - 0:00
2. (sic) - 1:57
3. Eyeless - 5:25
4. Wait and Bleed - 10:25
5. No Life - 13:10
6. Liberate - 16:55
7. Purity - 20:59
8. Prosthetics - 25:20
9. Spit It Out - 31:20
10. Get This - 37:50
11. Surfacing - 40:15



Personnel Aside from their real names, members of the band are referred to by numbers zero through eight.

(#8) Corey Taylor: Vocals
(#7) Mick Thomson: Guitars
(#0) Sid Wilson: Turntables
(#6) Shawn Crahan: Custom percussion, backing vocals
(#2) Paul Gray: Bass
(#1) Joey Jordison: Drums, mixing
(#3) Chris Fehn: Custom percussion, backing vocals
(#4) Jim Root: Guitars (Performed on "Purity" and "Me Inside")
Josh Brainard: Guitars (not credited)
(#5) Craig Jones: Samples, media

Related links:
SLIPKNOT's Official Site

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS Locked In The Studio Working On NEW Album; Band To Appear At Roadburn 2013 Afterburner!

Sweden's classic Rock heavyweights SPIRITUAL BEGGARS are currently at work on a NEW studio album and are targeting a Spring 2013 release via InsideOut Music. The album, their eighth studio offering, will be the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2010 release 'Return To Zero'. Additionally, the band is proud to announce that they will be appearing at the 2013 Roadburn Festival Afterburner, on April 21 in Tillburg, Holland.  

"Back in the early '90s, Roadburn founder Walter Hoeijmakers was one of the very first supporters SPIRITUAL BEGGARS had in Europe," says bandleader Michael Amott. "His unbridled enthusiasm for our music back then when most people didn't 'get it' meant so much to us. It's a great feeling to now play his fantastic festival and celebrate the staying power of SPIRITUAL BEGGARS and the Roadburn concept together! We're releasing a NEW studio album and celebrating our 20th anniversary as a band in 2013, and I really can't think of a better way to start the party than at the esteemed Roadburn Festival!"  

Since their formation in the early '90s, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS have been at the forefront of the burgeoning stoner Rock scene, raising the benchmark for stoner Metal bands around the globe through a succession of much acclaimed albums that redefined the genre. Records like 'Another Way To Shine', 'Mantra III', 'Ad Astra', 'On Fire' and 'Return To Zero' deliver a masterful homage to the Rock sensibilities of DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW, URIAH HEEP and TROUBLE, and also the blistering guitar heroics of Frank Marino and MOUNTAIN's Leslie West.  

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS discography:    

- Spiritual Beggars: CD 1994
- Another Way To Shine: CD 1996
- Violet Karma: 10" EP 1998
- Mantra III: CD 1998
- Ad Astra: CD/2LP 2000
- It's Over: Split 7" EP with Grand Magus 2001
- On Fire: CD 2002
- Demons: CD 2005
- Live Fire!: DVD 2006
- Return To Zero: CD/LP 2010  

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS is:

- Michael Amott (Guitars | ARCH ENEMY, ex CARCASS)
- Ludwig Witt (Drums | GRAND MAGUS, ex FIREBIRD)
- Per Wiberg (Keys | ex OPETH)
- Sharlee D'Angelo (Bass | ARCH ENEMY, WITCHERY)
- Apollo Papathanasio (Vocals | FIREWIND) 

Related links:
Spiritual Beggars on Facebook

Spiritual Beggars on MySpace
Spiritual Beggars on Twitter

ARJEN LUCASSEN Premieres Video For "Pink Beatles in a Purple Zeppelin" - Watch It Now!

Multi-instrumentalist ARJEN LUCASSEN has posted a NEW video for the track "Pink Beatles in a Purple Zeppelin," taken from his recently released concept solo album, 'Lost In The New Real'. The video was mainly shot where ARJEN grew up, near the sea in Holland. In regards to the video, ARJEN comments: "It's a very 'Dutch' clip, windmills and all! So you could say this clip goes back to my roots, also musically. It features many visual links (at least 10!) to the bands and albums that I grew up listening to. Peace, man!"

To watch "Pink Beatles in a Purple Zeppelin", click on the PLAY button below:

Featuring artwork created by ARJEN andrenowned designer Claudio Bergamin, plus an appearance by legendary actor Rutger Hauer as the album's narrator, 'Lost In The New Real' is a double-CD that tells the story of Mr. L, a 21st century man who was cryo-preserved at the moment of clinical death from a terminal disease. The album begins as Mr. L is being revived at a point in the distant future, when technology has advanced enough to cure his disease. Mr. L finds himself in a world that has drastically changed -- to the point that the line between what's real and what's not is no longer clear.

The tracks on disc 1 follow Mr. L's emotional journey as he is confronted with both serious and comical aspects of the "New Real" and desperately tries to decide if he can find a meaningful place within it. Disc 2 is a mix of tracks that are part of the concept but didn't fit on disc 1, plus cover songs related to the concept.

The track-listing for this epic concept album is as follows:

Lost In The New Real (disc 1):

1. The New Real

2. Pink Beatles In A Purple Zeppelin

3. Parental Procreation Permit

4. When I'm A Hundred Sixty-Four

5. E-Police

6. Don't Switch Me Off

7. Dr Slumber's Eternity Home

8. Yellowstone Memorial Day

9. Where Pigs Fly

10. Lost In The New Real

Lost In The New Real (disc 2):

1. Our Imperfect Race

2. Welcome To The Machine (PINK FLOYD cover)

3. So Is There No God?

4. Veteran Of The Psychic Wars (BLUE OYSTER CULT cover)

5. The Social Recluse

6. Battle Of Evermore (LED ZEPPELIN cover)

7. The Space Hotel

8. Some Other Time (ALAN PARSONS PROJECT cover)

9. You Have Entered The Reality Zone

10. I'm The Slime (FRANK ZAPPA cover)

Related links:

Arjen Lucassen's Official Site!

Arjen Lucassen on Facebook

Arjen Lucassen on Facebook

AMON AMARTH To Celebrate Their 20th Anniversary With 5 Specials Shows!

Swedish Death Metallers AMON AMARTH will celebrate their 20th anniversary with five special shows which will take place this August in Germany, Poland and Holland.

The band states, "We will perform two whole sets containing songs from our entire career and we will also arrange a meet-and-greet on all shows."

"An Evening With AMON AMARTH 20th Anniversary Shows" will include the following dates:

- 05/08/12: DE in Chemnitz at Südbahnhof
- 07/08/12: PL in Warsaw at Progresja Club
- 14/08/12: DE in Saarbrücken at Garage
- 16/08/12: NL in Utrecht at Tivoli
- 17/08/12: DE in Hamburg at Markthalle

Released in March 2011 via Metal Blade Records, 'Surtur Rising' is AMON AMARTH's eighth studio offering in a winding discography that's helped shape the very face of epic, Viking-inspired Death Metal. Named in tribute to Surtur, leader of the fire giants of Muspelheim ("flame land") and the oldest being in the nine worlds of Norse mythology, the record was recorded, mixed and mastered at Fascination Street Studios Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren and bears the striking cover art by Tom Thiel.

Related links:
Amon Amarth's Official Site
Amon Amarth on MySpace
Amon Amarth on Facebook
Amon Amarth on Twitter

Asphyx Debut First Single Of Their NEW Album 'Deathhammer' & Reveal Track-listing!

On February 27th in Europe and February 28th in North America, Dutch Doom-Death Metal legends Asphyx will be releasing their 8th studio album entitled 'Deathhammer', via Century Media Records! In anticipation of this release, the band is now giving fans their first preview of 'Deathhammer' with the premiere of the album's title track on CVLT Nation.com (see the link below).

In regards to this new, merciless track, the band comments:

"To us this song is 100% real Death Metal! It's heavy, aggressive and it simply can't get more in your face than this. This song is composed by just a few shredding riffs which stick in your brain like a buzz-saw, vocals so angry that it could be a declaration of war, relentlessly pounding drums and a bass that roars like a tank. We are very proud of this song since it shows our view on real Death Metal: how we've always seen it, how we feel it and how we want it to be! Martin already roared a clear statement in the very beginning of this song: THIS IS TRUE DEATH METAL, YOU BASTARDS! And so it is!" - ASPHYX

Featuring artwork by the band's long-time partner in designs, Axel Hermann, Deathhammer was recorded at The Mörser Studio as well as at Harrow Studio with their long-time engineer Harry Wijering, and was mixed and mastered in Sweden by Dan Swanö, who previously worked with the band on 'Death...The Brutal Way' as well as on the 'Live Death Doom' release.

ASPHYX - Deathhammer track-listing:

1. Into The Timewastes
2. Deathhammer
3. Minefield
4. Of Days When Blades Turned Blunt
5. Der Landser
6. Reign Of The Brute
7. The Flood
8. We Doom You To Death
9. Vespa Crabro
10. As The Magma Mammoth Rises

Prior to 'Deathhammer's' release, Asphyx will perform a very special concert at this year's 'Eindhoven Metal Meeting' on December 16th, at the Effenaar club in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, where the band will be playing 'The Rack' album in its entirety for the 20th anniversary of its release. Additionally, Asphyx recently announced their appearance at the 2012 edition of the 'Summer Breeze festival', taking place from August 16th - 18th, 2012 in Dinkelsbühl, Germany. See below for all of the band's confirmed shows.

ASPHYX live:

- 12/16/11: Eindhoven Metal Meeting in Eindhoven (The Netherlands) **special 20th anniversary show of The Rack**
- 7/5-7/12: ExtremeFest Deutschland in Hünxe (Germany)
- 7/5-7/12: ExtremeFest Österreich in Salzburg (Austria)
- 7/5-7/12: ExtremeFest Schweiz in TBA (Switzerland)
- 7/14/12: Obscene Extreme Festival in Trutnov (Czech Republic)
- 8/16-18/12: Summer Breeze Festival in Dinkelsbühl (Germany)

Related links:
Click here to listen to Asphyx's NEW single titled Deathhammer
Official Site of Asphyx
Asphyx on Facebook
Axel Hermann

Epica Announce Album Title & Release Date!

Dutch symphonic Heavy Metal act, Epica, has revealed the title of its fifth studio album, "Requiem for the Indifferent", which will hit stores in North America on March 13th via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented the band, “This title refers to the end of an era. Mankind can no longer stick their head in the sand for the things that are happening around us. We are facing many challenges. There is an enormous tension between different religions and cultures, wars, natural disasters and a huge financial crisis, which is getting out of control. More than ever we will need each other to overcome these problems. As we are all connected; the universe, earth, nature, animals and human beings, this period in time will be the prelude to the end for those who still don't want to, or simply won't see it. A REQUIEM FOR THE INDIFFERENT but also a possibility for a new beginning with great new chances!”





Epica is:

- Simone Simons: Vocals
- Mark Jansen: Guitar
- Isaac Delahaye: Guitar
- Yves Huts: Bass
- Coen Janssen: Synthesizer, piano
-Ariën van Weesenbeek: Drums

Related links:
Official Site of Epica
Epica's Blog
Epica on MySpace
Epica on Facebook
Epica on YouTube
Epica on Twitter