NEWS, 28th July 2010
> BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION 3 ALBUM FORMATS IN UK
Black Country Communion, the new rock supergroup will release their forthcoming self-titled debut album in the following 3 formats; Limited Edition 2-Disc CD/DVD, CD, and vinyl. The album will be released in the UK on September 20th by Mascot Records.
The band features Joe Bonamassa (guitar, vocals), Glenn Hughes (vocals, bass), Jason Bonham (drums)and Derek Sherinian (keyboards).
Format #1 – Limited Edition 2-Disc CD/DVD Features 12 album tracks on CD, plus a bonus DVD that features interviews with the band, exclusive studio and live images, Kevin Shirley’s (Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin) album production notes, “The Great Divide” music video, ‘Behind The Scenes’ in-studio footage, plus live tracks as performed by BCC at Riverside, California.
Format #2 – Single Disc CD Single Disc CD edition
Format #3 – Vinyl Double-sided 12” inch vinyl album
The Limited Edition 2-Disc CD/DVD edition is available for pre-order now at Play.com, while all 3 of the above formats are available to pre-order from Amazon.co.uk and HMV.com.
> DAMNATION FESTIVAL UPDATE
GOTHIC metallers PARADISE LOST head up the latest additions to Damnation Festival. The genre-spanning Halifax quintet will bring their blend of atmospheric doom to the main Jagermeister Stage at Leeds University Union, on Saturday, November 6, 2010. And they'll be joined by German progressive metallers THE OCEAN, rising post-rock trio MAYBESHEWILL and the politically inspired industrial overtones of OCTOBER FILE. With The Dillinger Escape Plan, Earthtone9, Anaal Nathrakh, Lawnmower Deth and Alcest among the names already confirmed for the sixth edition of Damnation Festival, the event is shaping up to be the most vital date on the metal calendar.
Paradise Lost vocalist Nick Holmes last night revealed the band are looking forward to taking the stage in Leeds, if not negotiating the roads network. He said: "It's fantastic to be playing at the Damnation Festival, and we hope to see you all there. I never got my head around the one way system in Leeds, thankfully someone else will be driving so we should arrive on time!"
Festival Director Gavin McInally added: "Following the triumphant performances by My Dying Bride and Anathema in recent years, it's fitting to have Paradise Lost complete the final piece of the Unholy Trinity at Damnation. "We are also delighted to announce The Ocean, Maybeshewill and October File for what will be another vital bill on our Rock Sound Stage this year."
Damnation Festival will take place on Saturday, November 6 at Leeds University Union. Announced so far: The Dillinger Escape Plan, Paradise Lost, Earthtone9, Anaal Nathrakh, Lawnmower Deth, Rolo Tomassi, Alcest, The Ocean, SSS, Hecate Enthroned, Fen, Maybeshewill, October File and Fukpig.
Tickets are priced £27 and are available from: http://www.seetickets.com/, http://www.ticketline.co.uk/, http://www.leedstickets.com/
For more information visit the official Damnation Festival sites:
http://www.damnationfestival.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/damnationfestival
http://www.facebook.com/damnationfestival
http://twitter.com/damnationfest
> STONE AXE SIGNS WITH RIPPLE
Fresh off the success of their first collaboration, a 7" split single between Stone Axe and Mighty High, multi-instrumentalist and rock preservationist T. Dallas Reed has signed with Ripple Music to re-release the critically praised Stone Axe self-titled debut on both vinyl and deluxe CD packages. Originally released in 2009, Stone Axe lit the message boards on fire with it's ballsy, retro, bluesy sound, bringing back the classic sound of rock that so many were craving. Now set to be gloriously re-unleashed, the vinyl edition of the album includes an extended jam of one of the original tunes and a full lyric sheet. The LP version will hit the streets on September 7th.
The CD edition of the album, which will see the light of day later in the year, will be a deluxe package with almost 30 minutes of bonus live tracks and a DVD of original promotional videos, live performances, and bonus footage from the recording of the album. A true panacea for the Stone Axe fans!
"Stone Axe are quietly becoming one of the most seminal “new classic” rock bands on the scene.” – Sleazegrinder, Classic Rock Magazine
But, that's not all. Now signed to Ripple Music, T. Dallas Reed has opened his ever expansive vault of recorded material to Ripple Music. In 2011, Ripple Music will release a mind-blowing third Stone Axe full length LP, and a re-release of the first Mos Generator LP to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the debut of this legendary stoner rock band. This Mos Generator LP will be laden with bonus material and live performances.
Look for a surprise Stone Axe EP to come out later this year as well!
> TWO EMPEROR SONGS ADDED TO ROCK BAND NETWORK
EMPEROR classics “Curse You All Men (Live)” and “Inno A Satana (Live)” are now available for download via Rock Band 2 for Xbox 360. Both songs are taken from EMPEROR’s 2009 double-live album, Live Inferno. The songs represent UK-based Candlelight Records’ first to appear via the popular music video game.
Members of EMPEROR, with Brooklyn-based Noisy Puppet Studios, have been working for months scripting, testing, mixing and perfecting the songs. Founder/developer Jeremy Parker says “these tracks will put you through the ringer on every instrument. It’s a struggle to survive but once you master these tracks you have lived through one of the most intense, powerful, rock game-play ever seen.”
Guitar and drumming charts were quite a challenge to development during the creative process confirms Parker. “Both songs are a torture session that seems to never end,” he says. “And the expert drum chart in 'Curse You…' is the most difficult challenge ever seen in a music video game. You may need a friend to play the kick drum pedal for you, just to play half the hits from the live performance.”
EMPEROR/The Wretched End guitarist Samoth notes, “we think it's great kids want to be able to play more classic extreme metal! EMPEROR is pleased to offer these songs to those that dare to give them a try!"
Vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn adds, "several of my guitar students started out with music games and I believe this is how many young people develop a more passionate relationship to bands and songs these days. It's cool to be part of it."
EMPEROR released their swansong, Prometheus – The Discipline Of Fire And Demise, early September 2001. It was an epic and progressive metal album that once and for all marked EMPEROR as one of the most adventurous and gifted black metal bands of all times. In 2005, EMPEROR surprised all with an un-announced appearance at Oslo’s famed Inferno Fest. Following the performance, the band announced additional concerts that would include a visit to America; marking the second trip to the states in the band’s legendary career. Fans flocked to New York City and Los Angeles to witness the sold out performances. In 2007, additional shows would see the band return to the US for a repeat performance in New York City, a stop in Chicago, and what would be their final American performance in Los Angeles.
Released in April of last year, Live Inferno is an exclusive/professionally tracked live recordings. The beautiful 2CD package contains a stunning 16-page booklet capturing the inner details of the special reunion performances from both band and fan perspectives. Also released was a lavish deluxe version which included an enhanced 24-page booklet plus the 70-minute Live At Wacken Open Air DVD in a captivating box.
Noisy Puppet Studios works with premier labels and bands to develop quality downloadable content for Rock Band video games. The company offers a full authoring service, which includes charting the game-play for all of a song’s playable parts, programming character animations, and designing lighting and cinematography for the in-game venue.
Free demos of the songs are available to Xbox LIVE members by visiting the links below:
"Curse You All Men" - here
"Inno a Satana" - here
http://www.myspace.com/emperorhorde
http://www.candlelightrecordsusa.com/
> ATARGATIS NEEDS NEW MEMBERS!
New guitarist and bassist with background vocal skills wanted!
The german symphonic dark/gothicmetalband ATARGATIS (Massacre Records) is now looking for a creative guitarist and bassist with background vocal skills, who is dedicated, has got semi-professional ambitions, who can identify with their music and is willing to focus on ATARGATIS and their music.
If you are interested and feel that this applies to you, don't hesitate to send them your application (preferably including a photograph, information about your musical background and audio samples) to band@atargatis.de.
They are looking forward to your response!
> FURY UK: NEW ALBUM & UK TOUR
British metal 3 piece Fury UK return with their third album “A Way Of Life” set for release on September 6th, followed by a 21 date UK Tour including 8 dates as special guests with Y&T.
The new album is full of contrast with a more direct approach suggested in tracks like “Fall From Grace” & “Saviour”, plus anthemic choruses like those in “Run Away From No-one” & “Athena”, the latter dedicated to the band’s Greek fans. Yet, at the same time there are progressive twists in tracks such as the epic album closer “The Remainder” & also “Nemesis”, itself not short of an uplifting, flag-bearing anthemic chorus. Put all this together with the now well-known guitar super-powers of Chris Appleton, combined with a rhythm section of Martin McNee & Luke Appleton in its’ very finest form to-date, & “A Way Of Life” is a stunner. A promo video for the album is now up at the band's website http://www.furyuk.com/.
The extensive UK tour begins early in October, the first 8 dates of which as special guests of Y&T, & covers most parts of the country before the band travels in December to return to Switzerland & anticipated debut appearances in France. Meanwhile, returns to Greece & Belgium are planned for February & March 2011.
UK Tour schedule (2nd-16th October with Y&T):
October 2 Manchester Academy 3
October 3 Bradford Rios
October 7 Glasgow O2 ABC
October 8 Newcastle O2 Academy
October 9 Nottingham Rock City
October 14 Southampton The Brook
October 15 Birmingham O2 Academy
October 16 London O2 Islington Academy
October 21 Leeds The Well
October 22 Newcastle Trillians
October 23 Carlisle The Brickyard
October 24 Grimsby Yardbirds Club
October 28 Birmingham The Flapper
October 29 Derby The Old Bell
October 30 Radcliffe Civic Hall
October 31 Stoke Victoria Hall
November 4 Swindon The 12 Bar
November 5 Milton Keynes SnoBar
November 12 Bathgate Dreadnought Club
November 13 Aberdeen The Moorings
November 14 Glasgow Ivory Blacks
> WEEDEATER TOUR AND ALBUM
Sludge bastards WEEDEATER have announced several new headlining shows throughout the Midwest and Southeastern US this September. Kicking things off in their home state, the band will devastate the crowd at Raleigh, North Carolina's Hopscotch Festival on September 11th, also with Public Enemy, Tortoise, Kylesa, U.S. Christmas, Harvey Milk and tons more. WEEDEATER will be dropping plenty of new material from the upcoming album on these shows, which will lead directly up to the recording of Jason...the Dragon with Steve Albini, finally.
WEEDEATER have been pushed to their limits over the past twelve months. While it's been a year of heavy and successful touring for the band, it was also a year of catastrophic physical injury to this seemingly invincible trio. Leading off with Dixie Dave Collins' shotgun accident which spawned the brutal "Nine Toe Tour" earlier this year, and continuing shortly after that with drummer Keko tearing his meniscus after returning from said tour and requiring surgery. Both of those accidents prevented the group's two previously scheduled meetings with Albini. The group's latest installment of injury includes guitarist Shep breaking his pinkie finger while on tour in Europe this July alongside Black Cobra and Saviours. Luckily, Shep can still riff with his cast so the European tour and the recording session were spared.
These accidents have forced the band to push the recording for their now hard-earned upcoming full-length back several times now. Initially scheduled to take place in January of this year, then again in April, the trio will now step into Albini's Electrical Audio Studio this September 15-19 to hammer out their mammoth 4th full-length Jason... The Dragon, their 2nd release for Southern Lord Recordings.
WEEDEATER 3rd Time's A Charm Tour:
9/11/2010 Hopscotch Music Fest - Raleigh, NC w/ Public Enemy, Kylesa, U.S. Christmas
9/12/2010 The Hideaway - Johnson City, TN
9/13/2010 Southgate House - Newport, KY
9/20/2010 High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
9/21/2010 Reggie's Rock Club - Chicago, IL
9/22/2010 FuBar - St. Louis, MO
9/23/2010 The Muse - Nashville, TN w/ Black Tusk
Check out the tour poster, killer new live footage of WEEDEATER at Hellfest this summer, raging with their cover of 'Skynyrd's "Gimme Back My Bullets" and more at this location: http://www.earsplitcompound.com/site/?p=1026.
Stay tuned for more shows still being scheduled around the band's recording schedule in September, as well as more updates on the upcoming album.
http://www.myspace.com/weedeater
http://www.tonedeaftouring.com/
