NEWSDESK, 26th May 2010
> LIFE OF AGONY 20 YEARS STRONG
On Saturday April 3rd 2010 I Scream Records recorded & filmed Life Of Agony's performance at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium. This was the second show of their exclusive European "20 Years Strong" tour. In late 2009 the band performed their debut album River Runs Red in its entirety during a few exclusive, sold-out, US shows and, after popular demand, they went over to Europe in April 2010 to perform a set built around this amazing, legendary album.
20 Years Strong: River Runs Red | Live In Brussels will be a digipak combo release holding a CD of the entire show as well as a DVD with a 10 camera production of the show, an on-the-road documentary and much more.
Track listing: 1. This Time, 2. Underground, 3. River Runs Red, 4. Through And Through, 6. Bad Seed, 7. My Eyes, 8. Respect, 9. Method Of Groove, 10. The Stain Remains, 11. Other Side Of The River, 12. Love To Let You Down, 13. Weeds, 14. Lost At 22
20 Years Strong: River Runs Red | Live In Brussels will be in stores on I Scream Records, July 19th!
> SLECHTVALK: THE DUTCH DARK VIKING ATTACK
Hail and kill!
A Forlorn Throne is the fourth full length release of the Dutch Dark Viking Metal band Slechtvalk.
Starting in 2000, the band quickly became one of the most important black metal bands in the Netherlands. Signed by Whirlwind Records in 2009 they are now ready to take the next step.
Slechtvalk has already released three full-lengths, a split-cd with Kekal and a DVD. The band debuted with Falconry (2000) and had their breakthrough with The War That Plagues the Lands (2002), which reached #2 in the Lowlands Top-20 and stayed for weeks in the Top-10. After the release, Slechtvalk toured Europe for the very first time. The single ‘Thunder of War’ from their last album At The Dawn of War (2005) made it to MTV. Thanks to the media-exposure the band again was able to tour Europe.
In 2009, Whirlwind Records signed Slechtvalk and released their first best-of record, An Era Of Bloodshed. With the upcoming album A Forlorn Throne, Slechtvalk has done their new masterpiece including guest vocals by Erik Grawsiö from Månegarm. The cover front artwork was made by Raymond Swanland who worked for other projects like “Magic the Gathering”. Mixing and mastering was done at Fascination Street Studios.
http://www.myspace.com/slechtvalkofficialmyspace
> PROGPOWER USA XI LINE-UP FINALISED
The full lineup for the 11th annual installment of ProgPower USA -- the largest alignment of progressive, classic and power metal bands on American soil -- has been finalized for this September's festivities.
As always, the massive event, held in Atlanta, Georgia, will include a plethora of both stateside and European acts, including headlining acts Kamelot, Accept and Hammerfall, along with Turisas, Nocturnal Rites and more. This year's festival will also mark the first American appearances from Paradox, Leprous, Delain, Tarot (featuring Marcto Hietala of Nightwish), Seventh Wonder and many more international acts.
In addition to the main two days of the event, there will be two days of pre-fest shows and activities based around ProgPower, including a Mid-Week Mayhem show on Wednesday, September 8th, and a Fest Kick-Off Show on Thursday, September 9th.
There are actually only approximately 300 tickets still available for the fest, so don't wait! View the full lineup below, and check out the official website for full ProgPower USA details, ticket info, the history of the fest and more: http://www.progpowerusa.com/
9/08/2010 ProgPower USA XI Mid-Week Mayhem
Ross the Boss (New York) - "A Night of Manowar Classics" with Scott Columbus
Vangough (Oklahoma)
Seven Kingdoms (Florida)
9/09/2010 ProgPower USA XI Kick-Off
Accept (Germany) 10:45 - close
Leprous (Norway)* 9:15 - 10:15
Borealis (Canada) 8:00 - 8:45
Six Minute Century (Texas, USA) 6:45 - 7:30
9/10/2010 ProgPower USA Day 1
Kamelot (US/Norway)
Nocturnal Rites (Sweden)
Turisas (Finland)
Tyr (Faroe Islands)
Seventh Wonder (Sweden)
Leaves' Eyes (Norway/Germany)
Illusion Suite (Norway)
9/11/2010 ProgPower USA Day 2
Hammerfall (Sweden)
Tarot (Finland)
Delain (The Netherlands)
DGM (Italy)
Oceans of Sadness (Belgium)
Stormwarrior (Germany)
Paradox (Germany)
> NEW TITLES FROM ARMOURY RECORDS
Black River - Black ‘N’ Roll Release Date: July 20, 2010
All-star band Black River features within its ranks members of Behemoth, Dimmu Borgir, Neolithic and Rootwater. Black ‘N’ Roll is the band's second full-length and offers 45 minutes of gritty, bar-ready riff rock anthems! The 11-track long player was recorded at Studio Sonus and Studio Gdansk, engineered by Malta (Behemoth) and includes the eccentric track 'Jumping Queenny Flash' which is, as the title suggests, a merging of Sex Pistols' 'God Save The Queen' and The Rolling Stones’ 'Jumpin' Jack Flash'. Black ‘N’ Roll debuted at #20 on the official Polish charts upon its European release earlier this year.
Said guitarist Kay of the offering: “It has the taste of good whiskey, it smells with sweat of girls dancing at the strip bar and with odour of car tires burnt on tarmac.”
For fans of The Cult, Monster Magnet and Danzig.
http://www.myspace.com/blackriverpl
http://www.youtube.com/blackriverrock
Proghma-C - Bar-do Travel Release Date: July 27, 2010
The tale of Proghma-C began in 2002, when a group of experimental music aficionados decided to merge their paths of musical exploration into a single, sonic entity. The band seamlessly combine trance, ambient, rock, pop, new age, death, fusion and progressive influences into a sound that is very much their own unique, powerful beast.
Debut Bar-do Travel was recorded at Studio X in Olsztyn, Poland with Szymon Czech and features nine-tracks of heady, eclectic awesomeness (including an unexpected cover of Bjork’s 'Army Of Me').
Proghma-C wishes only to enhance the palette of our musical universe. For fans of everything from Tool to Meshuggah.
http://www.myspace.com/proghmac
Votum - Metafiction Release Date: August 3, 2010
The second full-length from Polish prog/atmospheric wizards Votum, Metafiction is at once dark, somber and beautiful; emotional music for those who enjoy the mysteries of the human mind. The record, recorded at the famed Izabelin Studio in Poland, is a seven-track concept album that focuses as much on the music as it does the lyrics and visual art surrounding it. Votum's concern is not of the particular style of music they play but rather the atmosphere pouring from within.
For fans of Opeth, Porcupine Tree and Anathema.
http://www.myspace.com/votumband
> NEW JANEY SUMMER SINGLE
This week, Holier Than Thou Records are releasing the track ‘Sometimes’ from the album Along The Way to radio stations. Fireworks Magazine described the song as “a big sounding track, which you could imagine in a soundtrack for a movie such as The Crow or James Bond, and is a fitting finale to the album.”
The single is available to download from iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and many more download sites.
http://www.myspace.com/janeysummer
> RITE; THEY WILL BURN YOUR EARS
Rite, a stoner metal band is leaving Finnish cold fjords to release its fourth "kick ass" album death I hear you calling but I can't come home rite now on June 4th. It will be available in a digisleeve CD edition (Longfellow Deeds Records / Season of Mist). Beware, a powerful stoner sound is coming Rite now.
For fans of Down, Entombed, High On Fire...
Track listing: Crack Of Doom, Man Or Maggot, Going, Going, Gone, Meanwhile In Hell, If I Had A Heart, I Rest Your Case, Death After Life, Rival Damnation, Blood Turning Black
http://www.myspace.com/riteband
> MTV - HEADBANGERS BALL TOUR 2010
Invocator, Rauncy & The Burning are playing the follow dates:
03-09-2010: GIMLE, Roskilde
04-09-2010: FERMATEN, Herning
10-09-2010: TRAIN, Aarhus
11-09-2010: PUMPEHUSET, København
17-09-2010: BADEANSTALTEN, Slagelse
18-09-2010: POSTEN, Odense
23-09-2010: TOBAKKEN, Esbjerg
24-09-2010: STUDENTERHUSET, Aalborg
25-09-2010: GODSET, Kolding
http://www.myspace.com/headbangersball_live
> THERAPY? CROOKED TIMBER ‘DELUXE GOLD EDITION’
In Therapy’s 20th year of music-making, Global Music are proud to announce a limited edition Digi-pack of the band’s 2009 release, Crooked Timber. This limited ‘Deluxe Gold Edition’ will be available worldwide from July 19th 2010.
The band commented on the making-of-the album: "When the idea of the Crooked Timber re-issue was raised we thought it'd be good to tie up the project and collect all the material 'under one roof' so to speak. While we were at it we got a couple of artists we are fans of to remix/mangle a couple of our live favourites and add to the pot. It should be a good opportunity for those who've yet to get the album to catch up on what they've been missing."
The ‘Deluxe Gold Edition’ will feature a number of remixed tracks, edited in styles which have influenced Therapy? throughout the years, including Dub-step and samples taken from British Cinema. The package also includes four bonus tracks.
Full track listing for Crooked Timber ‘Deluxe Gold Edition’: 1. The Head That Tried To Strangle Itself, 2. Enjoy The Struggle, 3. Clowns Galore, 4. Exiles (Sample Version), 5. Crooked Timber (Breathless FX Mix), 6. I Told You I Was Ill, 7. Somnambulist, 8. Blacken The Page, 9. Magic Mountain (Sample Version), 10. Bad Excuse For Daylight (Sample Version BONUS TRACKS: 11. Exiles (Bong-Ra Gutteral Exodus Remix), 12. Magic Mountain (Snug Slut Remix), 13. Low Winter Sun, 14. Don’t Try
The album is available NOW for pre-sale from the Global Music Shop: http://www.globalmusic-shop.com/
Therapy? will be releasing their second single, ‘Exiles’, available to download from July 7th 2010.
The band's first official live album is set be to released later this year as part of their 20th Anniversary celebrations!
http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/
> TONY HARNELL & THE MERCURY TRAIN
Frontiers Records will release on July 2nd in Europe and July 27th in the USA Round Trip, the debut album from Tony Harnell & The Mercury Train.
This is a very special record: a stripped down, reinvented retrospective of Tony Harnell's past classics originally recorded with his previous bands TNT, Westworld and Starbreaker, with one brand new song 'Anywhere But Here' recorded especially for this release.
Click here to hear samples from the album.
> THE PERFECT CRIME: ALBUM RELEASE AND FREE DOWNLOAD
Cambridgeshire's epic-rock act The Perfect Crime will release their debut album, Everything Else Can Wait, via Speechless Records on August 16th and, to celebrate that fact, they are offering album opener, 'Hailstones', as a free download for a limited time from http://www.everythingelsecanwait.com/
The Perfect Crime recorded the album in March with top producer Pete Miles (King Blues, Crazy Arm, Failsafe, The Steal etc.) at Holne Bridge Studios in Devon. He captured their sound live, showcasing the technicality in the arrangements of a band that has become water-tight through intense practice and years of musical understanding between the members.
The band take influence from a variety of artists – most notably Deftones, Thrice, early-Biffy Clyro and Oceansize, distilling and breaking that down into something that’s both honest and all-encompassing on impact, but with intricacy enough to reward further listens.
Belying their young age, Everything Else Can Wait is a mature and powerful statement of intent across ten tracks.
Check out 'Hailstones' and get a taste of it for yourself...
> GET SHIPROCKED ON THE 2010 CRUISE
Legendary rockers Cinderella, Vince Neil and Tesla headline the second installment of ShipRocked, the ultimate Rock n' Roll music fan experience at sea, November 11-14, 2010. Cinderella make their ShipRocked debut, showcasing their raspy hard rock blues, while Motley Crue front man Vince Neil returns to the seven seas with all the Crue and solo hits in tow. Not to be outdone, and by popular demand, California rockers Tesla return as the "passenger favourites" from 2009's maiden voyage.
"ShipRocked 2010 will be wall-to-wall music for three days and nights, giving fans the rare opportunity to listen to and hang out with multiple generations of rock legends. With 14 acts performing on multiple stages onboard, there's enough music for whatever your mood desires," says promoter Alan Koenig of ASK4 Entertainment.
Main support comes from platinum metal heads Drowning Pool and Sevendust, along with modern rock phenom 10 Years, southern metal boogie rockers Black Stone Cherry, and a rare appearance by the all-star super group HAIL!, which features band members from Megadeth, Dream Theater, Sepultura as well as Judas Priest/Yngwie Malmsteen. In addition, the rock never lets up as The Letter Black, Aranda, Lynam, Broken Teeth, Niki Barr Band and Pianotarium bring up the stern of this floating festival.
The setting is the MSC Poesia (Italy) one of the cruise industry's most acclaimed new vessels. It all begins in Fort Lauderdale, FL, visiting the premier Bahamian port, Nassau with a special stop at the pristine private island of Coco Cay Bay. Exuding her Italian roots, the Poesia features include the luxurious Aqua Spa, two pools, four Jacuzzis, a state-of-the-art cardio gym, salon, sushi bar, wine tasting bar, Teatro Carlo Felice, a beautiful, 3-level, Las Vegas-style theater, plus additional stages on deck and around the ship for both bands and passengers to enjoy all night long!
Prices start at only $599 per person, double occupancy and include exclusive access to all ShipRocked concerts and special events, deluxe stateroom, meals, ship activities, ship entertainment and much, much more! Space is very limited so early booking is encouraged.
In addition, a special charity auction of one-of-a-kind rock music memorabilia will be featured. All money raised will go towards cancer research, in honour of hard rock music legend Ronnie James Dio, who recently passed away.
Tickets for ShipRocked are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and are only available at http://www.GetShipRocked.com/ or by calling 1-888-370-9680.
> FINALLY; A NEW DESULTORY ALBUM
Reactivated legendary Swedish death metallers Desultory recently completed work on their long-anticipated upcoming new album, Counting Our Scars. The full-length - their first since 1996's Swallow The Snake - was recorded, mixed and mastered by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio (Watain, Unanimated, Deströyer 666 etc) in Alvik, Sweden. Song titles include: 'Counting Our Scars', 'In A Cage', 'Ready To Bleed', 'This Broken Halo' and 'Uneven Numbers'. Full track listing and cover art to be revealed in the coming weeks.
Said the band of the new record: "What gets inside always stays inside. This music once shaped us and the marks it left will forever keep itching. Desultory never died; it just went down deep below and beneath the surface and it slowly kept growing. Throughout the years, there are many of you out there who never stopped waiting, asking the same question over and over. Now when we finally meet again, Counting Our Scars feels like liberation; the bleeding is over. This album is for all of us who never stopped waiting."
Counting Our Scars will be released via Pulverised Records later this year. Official street date TBA.
Desultory is: Klas Morberg - Vocals, Guitars Håkan Morberg - Guitars Johan Bolin - Bass Thomas Johnson - Drums
http://www.myspace.com/desultoryofficial
> ABIGAIL WILLIAMS TOUR NEWS
Abigail Williams will headline a string of West Coast dates in the coming week to celebrate the completion of their second full-length album. The shows will follow the band’s first Australian dates, supporting North Carolina’s Nile. The shows are the first American performances of the year for the band.
Abigail Williams have completed work on their still untitled second album. Recorded at Conquistador Studios in Cleveland, Ohio, eight new songs are planned for the band’s album currently planned for release on September 14. Vocalist/guitarist Ken Sorceron with engineer Cole Martinez commanded the audio takes while Peter Tagtgren (Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Celtic Frost) mixed the tracks. The record was mastered at Black Lounge Studios in Sweden.
Sorceron recently commented, “there is a lot less keyboards on the new songs. They are far more guitar-driven and have a bit more of a traditional sound in some ways but still very Abigail Williams sounding. We let ourselves have much more room with writing this album, kind of a more open, free environment than any we have employed before. The studio experience this time round was very natural to us. We recorded everything with much more ease and I think it has helped in capturing a very honest vibe.”
Confirmed dates for Abigail Williams:
6/01/2010 The Rock - Tucson, AZ
6/02/2010 UB’s Bar - Mesa, AZ
6/03/2010 Whiskey A Go-Go - West Hollywood, CA
6/04/2010 The Crossing - Palmdale, CA
6/05/2010 Stramler Park - Bakersfield, CA
6/06/2010 Chain Reaction - Anaheim, CA
Abigail Williams' debut full-length In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns and Legend EP are available in stores now (iTunes, Amazon and others for digital).
http://www.myspace.com/abigailwilliams
http://www.candlelightrecordsusa.com
http://www.myspace.com/candlelightrecordsusa
