NEWS, 21st July 2010
> KISKE-SOMERVILLE ALBUM
Eighteen months in the making, some of the most beautiful voices in the scene, a massive production, one hell of an album, two videoclips and one documentary… The Kiske-Somerville collaboration album has all the trademarks of a real event for the Rock fans in 2010, and the release on September 24th in Europe and October 12th in the USA mark some dates that should be noted in every fan agendas.
The collaboration between vocalist Michael Kiske (Helloween, Place Vendome) and American singer Amanda Somerville was born as a concept put together thanks to the input of Frontiers Records President Serafino Perugino. “I did a duet with a female singer on 'Breathing Water' by Indigo Dying”, explains Michael Kiske. “It was so nice that he offered me a chance to make an album of all duet songs with a famous female singer."
This exciting album sees Mat Sinner (Primal Fear, Sinner) and Magnus Karlsson (Starbreaker, Primal Fear) handling most of the songwriting (with more contributions from Sander Gommans formerly of After Forever and Amanda Sormeville herself), with Sinner overseeing the production & mix at various recording studios in Europe.
Amanda Somerville is the American singer-songwriter and vocal coach who was tapped to replace Epica vocalist Simone Simons on the band's North American tour with Symphony X due to Simons' health issues. Amanda was also featured on Kamelot's latest release, "Ghost Opera", the Rock Opera “Aina” and recently toured with Avantasia. “When Mat Sinner asked me if I wanted to be the "other half" of the face of the album, I was very honoured and quite looking forward to working more closely with Michael Kiske” tells Amanda. “We'd both been involved in various projects over the years together, such as Aina and Avantasia, but it was always through third parties and we didn't sing together like we do here. It's not for nothing that Michael's a legend in the scene. He's got a very unique voice, a special delivery of his performance and is a wonderful person on top of it all. This has been a great experience all across the board!”. Kiske adds “To sing together with the gifted and beautiful Amanda was another genius idea of Serafino! And it was a most pleasant experience to meet her. Amanda has by far the best female voice I have heard for ages. And the album is a killer.”
Two videoclips were filmed for the songs "Silence" and "If I Had A Wish" in Nurnberg, Germany. Joining Kiske and Somerville for the shoot were bassist and main composer Mat Sinner, guitarist Sander Gommans (After Forever), drummer Rami Ali and keyboardist Jimmy Kresic (Voodoo Circle). The clips were directed by Martin Mueller of RCN TV, who previously helmed the videoclip production for Unheilig, Subway To Sally, Helloween, U.D.O. and Gotthard. The digital only release of the single, "Silence" on August 20th, will precede the release of the full-length CD.
The “Kiske-Somerville” album final track listing includes: Nothing Left To Say; Silence; If I Had A Wish; One Night Burning; Arise; End Of The Road; Don't Walk Away; A Thousand Suns; Rain; Devil In Her Heart; Second Chance; Set A Fire (bonus track)
The Bonus DVD will include: videoclips of “Silence” and “If I Had A Wish” plus a “Making of” documentary.
The songs “Silence” and “If I Had A Wish” can exclusively be listened to in full by streaming on the Frontiers Web Radio from July 20th. Tune in at: http://www.frontiers.it/webradio.
http://www.amandasomerville.com/
> GOLLUM'S BLACKSMITH VIDEO
North Carolina experimental extreme metal troupe Gollum are pleased to unleash their latest video for "Blacksmith (Summoning Wrath)," which comes off the band's critically-acclaimed The Core full-length released via Rotten Records last spring. The video was shot in the summer of 2009 in the band's hometown of Wilmington. The band performance portion was shot in a studio and later cropped and transformed into abstract CGI while the "movie" portion was filmed in a welding warehouse to capture a blacksmith at work.
Commented the band of the video's concept: "The concept for the 'Blacksmith (Summoning Wrath)' video was to have this visually experimental and abstract CGI background during our performance intertwined with a 'movie' depicting a blacksmith forging a battle-ready sword. With the limited resources and good dedicated friends that know how to film and use video software helping out, we think we accomplished that vision, even on such a slim budget!"
In related news, Gollum recently announced their appearance on the August 3rd stop of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina. This marks the second year in a row Gollum find themselves on the bill for the prestigious event. "We are thrilled to be invited back a for the second year in a row," said the band. "Last year, West Palm Beach, Florida was so surreal and unbelievable! We really look forward to playing on the Jager stage at the Mayhem Festival again this year; this time in front of our home state crowd in Raleigh! Thanks to Jagermeister! We are currently planning a fall tour and are in pre-production for the our next record."
For more info, visit: http://www.rockstarmayhemfest.com/
> PARIS KEELING TO DONATE
Rock band Paris Keeling, featuring core members Marty Paris (The Marty Paris Band, Permanent Reverse) and Kelly Keeling (Baton Rouge, Michael Schenker Group, Blue Murder, Carmine Appice's Guitar Zeus, King Kobra, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, O'2L), will donate $1 for each CD sold and $2 for each of their newly styled Paris Keeling baby doll T-shirts sold to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation between now and September 30, 2010. Through our National Fish and Wildlife Centers, the Foundation is responsible for cleaning all the animals affected by the Gulf Oil Spill. More info about the Foundation can be found at http://www.nfwf.org/.
'We just can't sit by in the face of this natural disaster and do nothing," states Marty Paris. "Paris Keeling is donating $1 for each of our "End of Ride Revisited" CDs sold and $2 for each Paris Keeling baby doll T-shirts sold to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation because we care about the future of this planet and we encourage others to get involved any way they can. When it comes right down to it - we are all in this together".
Along with Paris and Keeling, the "End of Ride Revisited" CD features celebrity musician performances by Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, King Kobra), Don Dokken (Dokken), Al Pitrelli (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Erik Norlander (Rocket Scientists, Lana Lane), and Shane Gaalaas (Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker Group, Vinnie Moore). Along with Paris and Keeling, core band members consist of Rick van Benschoten (Madonna, Amy Grant, Celine Dion, Brian Eno, Phil Collins), Matt Goeke (Stamford Symphony), Gintas Janusonis (Carlos Santana, Eryka Badu, Tony Bennett) with additional performances by Corky McClellan (Baton Rouge), Nate Howell, and The Aevia Trio featuring Diane Cox, Maud Kelley, and Juli Roach. The collaboration between Paris and Keeling began several years ago with the culmination of their songwriting styles blossoming into melodic rock/pop political and relationship-based songs.
The new Paris Keeling baby doll T-shirts were designed by DesignRWear and feature the Paris Keeling sword logo with gems and glitter on the front and the Paris Keeling web url on the back. To view the T-shirt, please visit http://www.kellykeeling.net/merchstore.htm.
> HELIOGABALUS: COMING SOON FROM RORCAL
After 4 great releases, Rorcal, swiss doomcore creature will release its new album in september : "Heliogabalus".
Going right out of inferno, "HGBLS" is a 70 minutes song which illustrate the decadence of a roman emperor. This time Rorcal is going ways further than before, with crushing doom parts, including long hellish droning fields.
This album is scary, really aggressive, completely gloomy. Be sure, you never heard something like that, and you never will. Rorcal is doom at its best, it's like Hell on Earth. If you're looking for something really extreme, this is exactly what you need.
Released by Cal of Ror Records (Lilium Sova), in partnership with Division Records (ASIDEFROMADAY, Kehlvin, Unfold, Vancouver...), this monolith will be presented in a A6 digifile, including 6 pages booklet, limited to 500 copies, hand numbered.
Expect something really slow, really doom and droning. In just a word : Hard. More than ever.
> THRASH AND BLACK FOR DAMNATION
THE legendary LAWNMOWER DETH and rising crossover Scousers S.S.S. will bring the thrash to Damnation Festival 2010.
While representing the finest homegrown black metal at the sixth installment of the Leeds-based event are HECATE ENTHRONED and FEN.
Festival Director Gavin McInally said: "Anyone who witnessed Lawnmower Deth's fantastic set at Download last month can look forward to a second helping of good-old thrash fun at Damnation while S.S.S. are sure to live up to their moniker and provide a short, sharp, shock for the thrash fans who've enjoyed sets by the likes of Onslaught, Kreator and Evile over the years.
"And for those who prefer their music more grim, it's a pleasure to be able to announce Hecate Enthroned and Fen who'll deliver their distinctive takes on black metal this year.
"The latest additions mark another diverse lineup for Damnation Festival, adding to stages already bursting with the best in extreme, progressive and alternative talent such as The Dillinger Escape Plan, Anaal Nathrakh, Earthtone9 and Alcest."
Damnation Festival will take place on Saturday, November 6 at Leeds University Union. Announced so far: The Dillinger Escape Plan, Earthtone9, Anaal Nathrakh, Lawnmower Deth, Rolo Tomassi, SSS, Hecate Enthroned, Alcest, Fen and Fukpig.
Tickets are priced £27 and are available from: http://www.seetickets.com/
