NEWSDESK, 5th March 2010
> 7HARD SIGNS CRYSTAL TEARS
Established in the late 1990s, after three demo CDs, Crystal Tears' first official release was unleashed through German Pure Steel Records in 2006. The band are famous for their live appearances (alongside bands like Jag Panzer, Riot and W.A.S.P.) and their dedication to music.
The new Crystal Tears album - Generation X - is a cleverly written assortment of metal and rock classics revolving around various lyrical topics and themes, a boiling pot of ideas ranging from reality to fiction. The songs are structured around drummer and founding member Chrisafis Tantanozis; a hybrid of melodic metal music with heavy de-tuned guitars, speed double bass-drums and power hard rock anthems sealed together by an array of modernized melodic power vocals from Ian Parry (Vengeance, Elegy, Infinity Overture, Hammerhead, André Andersen), a vocalist with a huge range and a strong personality differing from all other power metal singers.
Crystal Tears have set their horizons towards the international stage working under the full guidance of metal producer/singer R. D. Liapakis (Mystic Prophecy). the band is completed by Dimitris Goutziamanis on guitar and Stratos Dionisopoulos on bass
Track listing: 01. The X Generation, 02. Empty Paradise, 03. Heroes, 04. Inner Spirit, 05. Crystal Tears, 06. Nightmare Serenade, 07. Flesh ‘N’ Bone, 08. Predators, 09. Rock Until We Fall, 10. In The Beginning
http://www.myspace.com/crystaltearsgr
> NEW DEMONICA VIDEO CLIP
http://www.youtube.com/massacrerecords
http://www.myspace.com/demonicaofficial
> Y&T ALBUM RELEASE SHOW
Y&T are excited to announce their new album release event at the Fillmore in San Francisco on Saturday, May 22. The band is especially happy to have their buddy Don Dokken open the show. This is an "All Ages" show, so bring the kids. Tickets go on sale Sunday, March 7. Y&T's annual Fillmore show always sells out so be sure to get your tickets early!
> DREAM THEATER TOUR NORTH AMERICA WITH IRON MAIDEN
Prog rock/metal institution Dream Theater will spend their summer supporting Iron Maiden on the band's month-long tour of major US and Canadian markets. The tour launches on June 9 and runs through until July 20, and includes a stop at the storied Madison Square Garden in NYC, marking the first time in a lengthy and respected career that Dream Theater have played the world's most famous arena.
This tour will mark another milestone in Dream Theater's history, which continues to expand and evolve twenty-five years deep. Of touring with Iron Maiden in North America, drummer Mike Portnoy said, "It is a bit of a dream come true for us. After 25 years together, at this stage in our career, there's honestly only three bands Dream Theater would consider opening for and Maiden is one of them. It is an absolute honour. Through the years, we've done many one-off shows with Maiden and they've almost all been overseas. It is very exciting to finally be doing a full tour with them and on our side of the pond no less. These are gonna be amazing shows that the fans won't want to miss. Up the f***ing irons!"
Playing MSG for the first time is also a huge accomplishment for the band and they are thrilled about the prospect. "Dream Theater has achieved so many dreams through the years, from playing the Budokan in Tokyo to Wembley Arena in London to Radio City Music Hall in NYC," Portnoy recalled. "But the one remaining dream that has eluded us through all of these years was to play at Madison Square Garden. Well, on July 12, along with Iron Maiden, that dream will finally be fulfilled."
Guitarist John Petrucci was equally stoked about the MSG play, saying, "I am unbelievably excited to be finally playing Madison Square Garden, and with the almighty Maiden to boot! They have been heroes to the band since the beginning and are iconic in our eyes. There is nothing like achieving success and recognition in your own country, in your own city. It's going to be an incredible night for sure."
Portnoy has proof of this career-long dream, saying, "About a month ago my family and I were watching a video of my first band Intruder from back in 1983, and in the video before the show, I was interviewed and asked what my dream goal was. I responded 'to play the Garden. It took almost 30 years, but it's surreal that I will now be able to check it off the list."
Dream Theater's Black Clouds & Silver Linings was released in 2009 and debuted at #6 on the Billboard Top 200 sales chart.
Tour dates for the Iron Maiden/Dream Theater run are as follows:
Wed June 9th - Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Center
Fri June 11th - Houston, TX - The Woodlands
Sat June 12th - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
Mon June 14th - Denver, CO - Fiddler's Green Amphitheater
Wed June 16th - Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion
Thu June 17th - Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Pavilion
Sat June 19th - San Bernardino, CA - San Manuel Amphitheater
Sun June 20th - Concord, CA - Sleep Train Pavilion
Tue June 22nd - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheater
Thu June 24th - Vancouver, BC - GM Place
Sat June 26th - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
Tue June 29th - Saskatoon, SK - Credit Union Centre
Sat July 3rd - Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheater
Tue July 6th - Ottawa, ON - Blues Fest
Wed July 7th - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
Fri July 9th - Quebec City, QC - International Summer Festival
Sun July 11th - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
Mon July 12th - New York City - Madison Square Garden
Wed July 14th - Pittsburgh, PA - Post Gazette Pavilion
Thu July 15th - Cleveland, OH - Blossom Music Center
Sat July 17th - Detroit, MI - DTE Music Theatre
Sun July 18th - Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
Tue July 20th - Washington DC - Nissan Pavilion
Dates are subject to change...
