NEWS, 1st July 2010
> WHILE HEAVEN WEPT LIVE ALBUM
While Heaven Wept are currently working on the forthcoming release of their new live album "Triumph:Tragedy:Transcendence – Live At The Hammer Of Doom Festival" set for a November 2010 release date.
Triumph:Tragedy:Transcendence will be made available as a CD/DVD set courtesy of Cruz Del Sur Music, as well as a 2xLP set via a joint collaboration between Cruz Del Sur Music, Iron Kodex, and High Roller Records. The DVD portion will contain several bonus features that will be detailed after the band will finish the studio work on the masters.
The release is a stunning 24-track audio capture of While Heaven Wept's performance at the Posthalle in Würzburg, Germany on February 6th, 2010. The final master will be later synchronized to the multi-camera pro-shot footage, resulting in the band's very first DVD. This release is guaranteed to take all fans by surprise, seen the awesome quality of both audio and video materials.
The philosophy behind this release is twofold; First, it is an expression of gratitude to everyone who attended the show – who made it such a special, unforgettable experience for the band. Secondly, being that there are so many fans of the band who they've not been able to reach tour-wise, this record should help tide those fans over until While Heaven Wept can make it to their town.
In the words of WHW's Tom Phillips, "The audio quality of this release is incredible – perhaps in some ways better than even Vast Oceans Lachrymose - along with the excellent energy of the performances and the excitement of the improvisations. The video is even more amazing, so expertly filmed and edited by our friends at Streetclip TV in Germany."
Expect Triumph:Tragedy:Transcendence – Live At The Hammer Of Doom Festival to be an incredible live testimonial of WHV excellent musicianship and stage power, a release which will haunt your stereo and DVD player for many a night of relentless epic doom!!
http://www.whileheavenwept.net/
http://www.myspace.com/whileheavenwept
http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/cruzdelsurmusic
> WIN AN ESP LTD EX260 ELECTRIC GUITAR
TheLiveLine and ESP Guitars have teamed up to giveaway an ESP LTD EX260 Electric Guitar to one lucky shredder. To enter, head over to TheLiveLine and click the “ESP contest” graphic in the top right corner: http://www.theliveline.com/.
About the ESP LTD EX260 Electric Guitar: Featuring EMG-ESP LH300 humbuckers mounted in an agathis body. A rosewood fingerboard boasts 22 extra jumbo frets and dot inlays. Topped off by black hardwood and a 3-way pickup selector switch.
> CONSPIRACY TO RELEASE 3RD FULL LENGTH
Dutch extreme metal assault Conspiracy return with their third full-length, "Irremediable". The record offers 12 warring tracks with artwork inspired by controversial 17th century artist Félicien Rops.
Previously helmed by sole member Carpathian Wolf, aka A' Hazred, best known for his work with Sumerian black metallers Melechesh, Conspiracy now features Wolf alongside German guitarist, composer and orchestrator Aryan Blaze.
Elaborated Wolf on the latest offering: "This time Conspiracy doesn't just spit rage and hatred but presents the symphony of sinister entertainment for the elite black metal consumer. The material on Irremediable ranges from blackened heavy metal with melodic and harmonious guitar solos to black metal with unorthodox elements, which will pleasantly surprise even the most spoilt listeners. The cover art," he continues, "is based on the painting by the Belgian Satanist painter Félicien Rops (1833-1898), which goes really fine with the dark poetry of Aleister Crowley, Charles Baudelaire and some other classical masters. As an additional treat, some of the songs that are on Irremediable will feature pre-recorded drum performances by Dirk Verbeuren (Aborted, Soilwork, Scarve etc.) taken from The Library Of The Extreme - Blasts & Fills by Toontrack."
Track Listing: 1. Nocturnal Hunters, 2. Ouverture (Instrumental), 3. Black Mass, 4. End Of Religion, 5. Pentagram, 6. The Invocation Of Hecate, 7. Irremediable, 8. The Hag, 9. Armageddon Broke, 10. A Dream Of Fear, 11. Carpathian Sunset (Instrumental), 12. Bukovina
Irremediable will be released via Pulverised Records later this year. Official street date TBA.
http://www.myspace.com/metalconspiracy
http://www.myspace.com/pulverisedrecords
> CITIZEN CHARLIE UK TOUR + NEW EP & ALBUM
The Norwegian warrior princess Citizen Charlie returns to UK shores this week to begin her UK Tour with British classic/sleaze rockers Falling Red. Charlie also releases her new EP “Until The Day” in time for this tour. The title track of the EP is a preview from her forthcoming 2nd album “Up Yours” which is due out on Rocksector Records on September 6th. The EP also includes remasters of “Cheater” & “Pulling Out Your Nails” from her debut self-released/self-titled album of 2008.
Classic Rock magazine first found the best words to describe Charlie…. “A raven-haired Norwegian warrior princess.. with a voice pitched somewhere between the scorched fury of Courtney Love & the glacial cool of Amy Lee”.
Both Charlie & Falling Red play SOS Festival in Manchester, with day one headlined by Black Spiders & day two headlined by former-Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bayley.
UK Tour schedule (all gigs with Falling Red, plus others where stated)….
July 2 Newcastle Legends (w/Tigertailz, New Generation Superstars)
July 3 Keswick The White Horse
July 4 Grimsby Yardbirds Club
July 6 Boston Axe & Cleaver
July 7 London Purple Turtle (w/Wasted Sinners, The Electric Wasted)
July 8 Bridgend Hobos (w/Queensbury)
July 9 Radcliffe Civic Hall (SOS Festival, Manchester.. w/Black Spiders)
July 10 Carlisle The Brickyard (w/The Crave)
July 11 Wakefield Snooty Fox
http://www.myspace.com/citizencharlie
> ETERNAL DESCENT #4 FEATURES WAYNE STATIC
Eternal Descent comic book presales for issue #4 are now available. Issue #4 features guitarist Wayne Static of the popular metal band Static-X. In the storyline, Wayne is featured as a super-powered nemesis under Loki's control, taking on heroes Lyra and Sirian. Depicting a sequence inspired by Static-X song "Electric Pulse", Eternal Descent presents Wayne Static as you've never seen him before.
A list of Issue #4 presales retailers is available here. The comic book will be available at comic book stores worldwide in September through Diamond Distribution.
Llexi Leon, creator of the multimedia concept Eternal Descent, recruits ESP artists for cameo appearances in the Eternal Descent comic which is inspired by a host of iconic metal musicians. The initial launch issue was released on March 31st, 2010 with subsequent issues to be released every 4-6 weeks, spotlighting God Forbid guitarist Doc Coyle in issue 2, and Gus G of Firewind and Ozzy Osbourne in issue 3. Other bands including Atreyu, Shadows Fall, and Soulfly are slated for upcoming cameo appearances in subsequent issues.
The Eternal Descent comic book is also available in the Playstation Portable (PSP) format at the Sony Playstation Portable site (http://tinyurl.com/ygg2yx3).
Llexi Leon began making noise in London, England in 2005. His highly intricate guitar style exhibits the many influences corralled to create his intense sound - from classical, flamenco, electronica, and ambient genres to the more prominent genres of rock and metal. All of these genres infused to one, Leon has built a cinematic metal fantasia with his music which has branched out to a comic book series. His main aspirations are bringing stories to life through escapism. He utilizes everyday events and his vivid imagination to drive him to create more avenues for his multimedia enterprise.
Eternal Descent endorses ESP Guitars. Ovation Guitars, Kahler Tremolos, DiMarzio Pickups, Ernie Ball Strings, Marshall Amps, Digitech Pedals, Guitar Grip, Pickboy, and Coffin Case.
http://www.eternaldescent.com/
http://www.myspace.com/eternaldescent
> SWEDISH DIO TRIBUTE CONCERT
On October 7-8 musicians from some of the most important bands on the Swedish metal scene will join forces to pay tribute to the legendary Ronnie James Dio, who recently passed away. Songs from Dio's career with Rainbow, Black Sabbath and the band Dio will be performed.
The core band of the evening will be melodic metallers Lion's Share, fronted by Nils Patrik Johansson (Astral Doors). Guest artists confirmed this far include Björn Gelotte and Peter Iwers (In Flames), Joacim Cans (Hammerfall), Ian Haugland (Europe), Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth), Jens Johansson (Stratovarius, ex-Dio), Messiah Marcolin (ex-Candlemass), Johan Edlund (Tiamat), Joakim Berg and Magnus "Adde" Andreasson (Hardcore Superstar), Johan Hegg (Amon Amarth), and Mike Wead (Bible Black, King Diamond). More guest artists may be added.
Five other bands will be playing on board. Confirmed this far are Tiamat, Alien (original line-up!), and Nifelheim.
During the cruise, money will be raised towards Dio's "Stand up and shout" cancer fund.
Tickets are available from 395 SEK, including part in a cabin. More info is available on the website: http://www.swedenrockcruise.com/
> OCTOBER TIDE'S A THIN SHELL
Candlelight Records today confirms September 28 as the North American release date for "A Thin Shell", the new album from Sweden’s October Tide. Currently featuring guitarist/founder Fredrik Norrman (Katatonia), vocalist Tobias Netzell, drummer Robin Bergh, and session bassist Jonas Kjellgren (Scar Symmetry, Carnal Forge), the album is the band’s first in ten years and follows the 2009 reissue of their debut, Rain Without End (Candlelight).
Mixed/mastered at Black Lounge Studios in Sweden and featuring artwork from American photographer/graphic designer Travis Smith (Opeth, Katatonia, Testament, Death), A Thin Shell delivers what fans have anxiously awaited from this treasured band. Seven doom-laden and emotive songs that are every bit as heavy as they are catchy fill the impressive recording that officially closes the band’s self-imposed, decade-long hiatus.
"I have wanted to get October Tide back together for some time,” reveals Norrman. “When we decided the time was right, ideas for new songs surprisingly came together nicely. Many sleepless nights were involved, with lots of coffee of course, but the songs were written in flow one after another.”
Discussing the recording process Norrman notes, “we started recording in March of last year. Jonas (Kjellgren) liked what he heard and offered to get it into the (Black Lounge) studio’s schedule even though we didn’t have a label yet. What was meant as a side project so long ago is now my main project and I am very proud of it. We only hope people enjoy it as much as we do.”
Formed in 1995 by then Katatonia guitarist Norrman and Katatonia/Bloodbath vocalist Jonas Renkse, October Tide quickly made a mark with two albums recorded and released during the years 1997 and 1999 (Rain Without End and Grey Dawn, respectively). Much of the band’s music was written during a short break up of Katatonia which later proved only temporary as the band would reform and continues today; their latest album Night Of The New Day features work by Norrman. October Tide would not perform live during this short period of activity and few interviews with the members were granted despite praise from both media and fans. The band, until reforming in late 2009, would maintain a cult status throughout the doom/metal community.
Decibel Magazine calls Rain Without End "a peculiar album. It reminds of past and future Katatonia albums yet, it’s entirely unique in vibe and riff assembly. October Tide's slow to mid-paced doom/death stuns... Renkse and Norrman using counterpoint, build/release tension and melody to peerless effect."
EBlogger Lonely Ghost Transmissions on its 2008 review of the album’s European re-release says, "Rain Without End is without a doubt the greatest doom-death metal album ever."
Track Listing: 1. A Custodian of Science, 2. Deplorable Request, 3. The Nighttime Project, 4. Blackness Devours, 5. The Dividing Line, 6. Fragile, 7. Scorned
Candlelight Records is distributed exclusively in the United States by Caroline Distribution, EMI Music for Canada, and Plastichead Music for the rest of the world.
http://www.myspace.com/octobertideband
http://www.candlelightrecordsusa.com/
> BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN DVD
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's new concert film, London Calling: Live In Hyde Park, debuted at number one on the DVD chart in the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Austria and France. It was released as a two-DVD set and on Blu-ray Disc.
Captured in London at the Hard Rock Calling Festival on June 28, 2009, the 172-minute film documents 27 tracks of live Springsteen that begin in daylight and progress through a gorgeous sunset into night — all in HD.
You can watch a clip from the on Pitchfork from the DVD / Blu-ray Disc of Bruce playing 'No Surrender' with some help from the Gaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon.
http://www.brucespringsteen.net/
