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Texas rockers NEVERSET will enter Tree Studios in Atlanta in February with producers Shawn Grove and Morgan Rose (Sevendust) to begin recording their new album. The CD will follow up the 2005 critically acclaimed “Behind Every Door”. NEVERSET has toured in 2007 with many bands including Candebox and Sevendust, they will soon hit the road for select dates with Three Days Grace " Breaking Benjamin " Seether tour. NEVERSET resonates a collaboration of sound from the true rock bands from the past 20 years. They maintain rhythms from the 80’s, but manage to incorporate them with a modern flare. Lead singer Shawn Hamm says, “I don’t think there’s currently any other band like us right now. They say the real rock stars aren’t around anymore, but I disagree. We’re here to party with the fans, have fun and not worry about the cash.” http://www.myspace.com/neversetband MISFITS RECORDS WELCOMES JUICEHEAD TO THEIR POWERHOUSE PUNK ROCK LABEL ROSTERNEW YORK In an age of recycled pseudo-punk, Juicehead, the latest addition to the powerhouse punk rock label roster at Misfits Records, is the real deal. On their debut album, "The Devil Made Me Do It," the Chicago trio provides an aggressive yet melodic take on punk, complemented by thought-provoking lyrics. The title itself is a social commentary on how people in this day and age refuse to take responsibility. Originally a DIY release, "The Devil Made Me Do It" is a shining example of punk rock ethic. Because money was tight, the group used whatever physical resources were available to them to record. The album's distinct vocal sound comes from a decidedly low-tech method of recording vocals in a bathroom and the original mix was done on a home computer, with the end result being a perfect representation of Juicehead's determination. The heart and soul of Juicehead was enough to catch the interest of Misfits Records. "They liked what they heard in Juicehead," said frontman Rob Vannice. "They came to see us when we played in New York, we talked, and a few months later we were offered a deal. We couldn't believe what was happening. It was like a dream." The album was soon fully re-mastered and released via the growing label. "It's amazing," Vannice said. "It's the little album that could!" The release also features new artwork from lowbrow monster fetish artist Dave Burke, whom the band connected with through Misfits Records. For "The Devil Made Me Do It," Burke created the "axe head" logo. "We were blown away," Vannice said. "We all felt it was a perfect fit for 'The Devil Made Me Do It.'" Juicehead had the opportunity to participate in the Fiend Fest tour along with the Misfits. "This was one of the most amazing experiences for Juicehead to date," said Vannice. "It was our first major tour and we learned a lot. We made a lot of friends and played some great shows." Following that, the band wrapped up a North American tour with skate punk legends Agent Orange. Juicehead will soon begin recording once again for the follow-up to "The Devil Made Me Do It," slated for a 2008 release on Misfits Records. Misfits Records is distributed by Rykodisc, a Warner Music Group company. http://www.misfitsrecords.com A7X Fans: We're very proud to be on the road with the mighty Maiden and look forward to seeing you guys out there, representing for A7X. The info on all the shows is below. M. Shadows/A7X AVENGED SEVENFOLD JOIN MAIDEN FOR TWICKENHAM STADIUM AND OTHER EUROPEAN SHOWS IRON MAIDEN are very pleased to announce that AVENGED SEVENFOLD will join them as SPECIAL GUESTS at Twickenham Stadium on July 5, Paris Bercy July 2 and 3 and a number of dates in Finland and Scandinavia (as listed below) on their "SOMEWHERE BACK IN TIME WORLD TOUR". Following the mighty success of their recent album, "Avenged Sevenfold" (which charted at No 3 in Billboard in the USA and is close to gold in the UK), the band are currently on an extensive sold out UK tour and vocalist M. Shadows comments - - "I've seen Maiden play countless times and am continually blown away, not just by their live show, but also by the great records they continue to make. We have learned much from Iron Maiden and are honored to be sharing the stage with some of the greatest ICONS in rock music." Maiden Manager Rod Smallwood comments: "It's a tremendous time for metal fans right now with some fantastic young bands making a real mark for themselves. Maiden are delighted to be bringing their fans one of the very best, Avenged Sevenfold, who will be joining them on a number of their European Summer shows. It all adds up to an even more memorable night out for the fans! We will now be considering who will play in the slot before Avenged at Twickenham" The dates on which A7X special guest with Maiden are as follows - EGYPT CENTRAL RETURN HOME TO ROCK!Memphis, Tennessee's own EGYPT CENTRAL proudly return home to the Hard Rock Caf (315 Beale St, Memphis) on February 16. This EGYPT CENTRAL show will be FREE to the public, so Memphis should come out to celebrate 10 years of the Hard Rock Caf rockin' Beale Street! The last time EGYPT CENTRAL performed in their hometown was November 21, 2007, in front of a sell-out crowd at the Daisy Theatre. (Capacity: 1000). Prior to this hometown gig, EGYPT CENTRAL will be doing a CD signing from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Cat's (1569 Union Ave, 901.274.2287). Two pairs of VIP tickets will also be given away at the in-store signing! The Hard Rock Cafe holds 417 so it is an absolute first come, first served evening out with EGYPT CENTRAL, and openers Sore Eyes. Doors for the event are at 9:00pm, and the show begins at 10:00pm. The Jagermeister Tour Bus will be onsite to keep the festivities going as well! So Memphis, come on out and have a great time with your favorite hometown band. EGYPT CENTRAL, who take their name from a street in their hometown, released their self titled effort, January 15, 2008 through Fat Lady Music. EGYPT CENTRAL's release debuted at #8 on Billboard's Top Heatseakers chart scanning over 2,000 units. National radio airplay continues to build steam, cracking the Top 30 on Nielson BDS chart at #29 and moving to #31 in the Mediabase active rock chart. EGYPT CENTRAL's single, 'You Make Me Sick' has just been added to regular airplay on KOMP (of Las Vegas, NV) as well as WBZX (of Columbus, OH); joining the massive, and still growing list of rock stations currently blowing up the track. Be sure not to miss this band on this upcoming tour! EGYPT CENTRAL CURRENT TOUR DATES: EDENBRIDGE RELEASES DOUBLE-CD BEST OF AND RARITIES SETTRENTON, N.J. Edenbridge's "The Chronicles of Eden," a two-CD best of and rarities set, has been released in North American through Locomotive Music. "I think a double CD for the price of one is a real value for money," said guitarist/keyboardist/composer Lanvall. "For our longtime fans, we have a lot of songs they might not know and for new people we have the best of, which is a good overview of what we have done the past years." The Austrian act, whose music has been described as "angelic bombast," let its fans choose their favorite tracks to be included on the best of compilation through it website. The rarities disc was culled from unreleased recordings, freshly-written songs, and bonus tracks from international releases. "Thin Red Line" and "Silent Wake" were originally written during the "Arcana" time period but did not fit on the album. "For Your Eyes Only" is a cover of the James Bond theme that previously appeared on a single. The single version of "Shine," the European bonus from "Shine," "On Sacred Ground," and the Japanese bonus track, "Anthem," are included, as well as several other European and Japanese bonus tracks. "Images in the Sand" is a brand piano/orchestra piece. "I think it's a great product," said Lanvall. "It's got a nice booklet that captures the band's career from the beginning with a lot of liner notes, old unreleased photos, and so on." Both CDs were remastered by Andy Horn (Halford, Rob Rock, Cage, Wolf). The cover art was provided by Katja Piolka (Leaves Eyes, Rebellion, Primal Fear). Edenbridge is in the midst of production for its sixth studio album, to be titled "My Earth Dream." http://www.edenbridge.org ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS: BURTON C. BELL / JOHN BECHDEL MAKE “A DARKER, DIRTIER PORTISHEAD”New York, NY – Burton C. Bell (of Fear Factory fame) is a busy man! His brand new project – ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS – is readying its debut release, he is heading out on the road as a special guest with MINISTRY, he appears on the upcoming MINISTRY & Co-Conspirators album and he recently became a Dad for the seahead to fully realize his ‘dreams.’ Bell recently told MTV.com “The musical vibe, artwork and title for the band’s full-length debut stemmed from a dream (I) had in 2000. In it, (I) was traveling through vast expanses and came to a clearing where (I) saw a burning tree. The branches were silhouetted against the bright sky and (I) was struck with a sense of peace and awe…” This experience, according to one of the forefathers of psychology Carl Jung, is called a numinosum (a mystical or religious experience that occurs within oneself) and thus Bell named the album. Numinosum was made with friends John Bechdel (Ministry, Killing Joke) and Edu Mussi (Still Life Decay) and it makes its debut on February 19th, 2008 on 13th Planet Records. The music flies in the face of Bell’s previous work, instead of sounding like FEAR FACTORY’s raging Industrial music, it is being called “a darker, dirtier PORTISHEAD,” by early supporters MetalSucks.com. MINISTRY’s C U LaTouR will hit the road in Spokane, WA on March 25th and will run through May 9th in Chicago, IL. Bell’s role on the tour will be singing the songs he appeared on The Last Sucker, as well some classic Ministry songs. "Anything that he wants me to sing, I am there for him!" Bell’s contribution to the MINISTRY & Co Conspirators COVER UP album is a rousing cover of The Rolling Stones’ classic “Under My Thumb.” “When Al told me that he was going to cover a Rolling Stones song, and that he wanted me to sing it, I was curious and excited. I was picturing a later song, one that had raunchy vibe. I was surprised to learn that it was ‘Under My Thumb’,” he said “That was a song that usually flew under my radar, however, when I started reading the lyrics, I was totally surprised and impressed even more with Mick Jagger. I had a lot of fun recording this song with Al!,&rdquo ; he added. The track will hit radio in February and the covers album will be out April 1, 2008. Burton and his wife Amy, and daughter Violet Morning welcomed new son on December 19, 2007. Atticus Wolf Bell joins the family, lending inspiration to his father’s upcoming foray into the music of his dreams. Catch ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS on the road in February… THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN: THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN is currently on tour in support of Ire Works, on the last stretch of their U.S. tour alongside KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and EVERY TIME I DIE. Immediately following, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN will embark on a headlining U.K. and European tour. This will be the band’s first visit to the U.K. in over two years and will include support from BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME and STOLEN BABIES. The European portion of the tour will also include STOLEN BABIES along with POISON THE WELL. A complete listing of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN tour dates follows, with more to be announced soon. Ire Works saw ts international release in November of 2007 and has received critical acclaim the world the over, topping many year-end lists including those issued by Revolver, Kerrang, Decibel, Terrorizer, Total Guitar, Rock Sound and more. Audio tracks taken from Ire Works can be heard now via the band’s MySpace: http://www.MySpace.com/DillingerEscapePlan, including the video track “Milk Lizard”. THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN is available for interviews upon request. To speak with the band, please contact Jamie Roberts or Leo Lavoro at Big Machine Media (212-572-0760). Updated THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN news and tour information will be made available at the Relapse Records website: http://www.RELAPSE.com, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN website: http://www.DILLINGERESCAPEPLAN.com, and MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/DILLINGERESCAPEPLAN. THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN Tour Dates: MIGGS SIGNS WITH ROCK RIDGE MUSICNew Album To Hit Stores In June Bay Area band MIGGS has signed with Rock Ridge Music to release their next album, "Unraveled," on June 17th. Says band frontman and namesake Don Miggs of the signing: "MIGGS is excited to have a home with Rock Ridge. They represent the future of music where an artist and label act as a team instead of employer/employee. I feel like they are progressive but hold true to the core values of a quality record label. With Rock Ridge, we share in the success or failure of MIGGS and I like having my hand on the wheel so this is a perfect situation." Culling songs from the band's first three releases, "Unraveled" provides a chance for the band to rework some of their past material. "We re-recorded songs that I just didn't think we got right the first time and remixed ones that I thought just didn't sound like I heard them in my head," says Miggs. "It represents a rebirth of MIGGS to me. We unraveled over the life of the band and I feel like we've shed our skin to become a whole new entity. By going into the studio with these songs, I was able to put closure on my past and look to the future with a clear vision." Pama Records/Universal, based in Sweden, is set to release the same album throughout Scandinavia in 2008. Singled out by the San Francisco Herald as "the next big thing," the band saw its first national radio single, "Perfect," peak at number 46 on the radio charts, only to have their record label go chapter 11. The band lineup changed as well, shifting from a quartet to a trio and different band members coming on board. In the following years, MIGGS appears to have moved out of the shadow of expectations and overcome intense odds to right things for the band. And if the reviews and growing crowds are any indication, this lineup appears ready for its close up. The San Jose Mercury News proclaimed: "[Don Miggs] is a guy who deserves to be a star," while the San Francisco Examiner dubbed their sound "well-crafted, catchy, guitar-based, melodic rock" and Billboard magazine said, "Miggs is distinguished by a timeless quality that will keep them fresh-sounding for years to come." Prior to 2008, MIGGS sold over 20,000 units without any true label support and has shared the stage with diverse acts such as Train, Cake, Gomez, and Mandy Moore. MIGGS also have become veterans of the TV scene with placements on FOX, ABC and WB shows, as well as a Buena Vista video game. The band broke into the pop/rock scene in 2003 with their debut album, "Anyway." Their sophomore effort, "InsOmnia," merged Don Miggs' bright compositions with to-the-point stories to concoct yet another disc full of ultra-catchy gems. The lead track "Perfect," hit college and commercial radio in 2005. The band's EP which followed was an acoustic departure called "Late Nights & Early Mornings," and it hijacked Don Miggs' homespun vocal sketches with minimal instrumentation to reveal undeniably gorgeous music. MIGGS is: Don Miggs (vocals, guitar), Michael Lombardo (bass, vocals), and Brian Totten (drums). The band can be found online at http://www.miggsband.com and http://www.myspace.com/miggs. JOURNEY SCHEDULED TO OPEN VIRTUAL WORLD IN SECOND LIFE JOURNEY SCHEDULED TO OPEN VIRTUAL WORLD IN SECOND LIFE!January 25, 2008 -- On February 1, multi-Platinum rockers Journey will release their new Virtual Island in Second Life. A grand opening party is planned inside Second Life at the "Journey Rock Band" sim and will feature a meet and greet with band members. Live DJs will be spinning many of Journey's classic hits, recorded studio and live performances, as well as lots of other great music for fans to party to! The grand opening party is scheduled to start at 10:00am ET/PT. The Journey Island region in Second Life is named "Journey Rock Band". Learn more at http://www.secondlife.com. Journey has long been known for innovations in stage sets, so creating a Second Life Island for fans to enjoy was an easy decision. The Island features dedicated areas for each album along with audio and video presentations. There are also two venues on the island, the Escape Club and the Captured Amphitheater, where live SL events can be held. Journey's newly redesigned website, http://www.journeymusic.com, will be re-launch on or around January 29. It will feature band history, tour information, photos and a new forum. Journey is currently working on a new album with legendary producer Kevin Shirley, which they hope to release by spring/summer 2008. Their 2008 world tour begins in Santiago, Chile mid-February. More tour dates will be announced soon. The Journey Island was built by Industrial-Design.com, Journey's long time web developer and features work by SL builders Farrokh Vavoom, Argus Collingwood, Adrian Harbinger and Jocelyn Sands. Wino solo album!It has been a long time coming and now it is finally a reality! Legendary guitarist: Scott "Wino" Weinrich (Saint Vitus, Obsessed, Spirit Caravan, Place of Skulls, The Hidden Hand) has an albums worth of "solo" recordings in the works. Assisting Wino will on the album will be Jean-Paul Gaster (Clutch) on drums and Jon Blank (Rez n) on bass. The album will be called Punctuated Equilibrium and tracks are currently being layed down with J. Robbins (producer of the Hidden Hand's Mother Teacher Destroyer) in Maryland. Wino is really excited about the results so far and said: "Punctuated Equilibrium will bring my career into focus”. Stay tuned for more info regarding this incredible album! http://www.southernlord.com METAL SISTERS UNVEIL THEIR US PREMIER WITH TESTOSTERONE DRIVEN MUSICTRENTON, N.J. Meldrum has unveiled its premiere North American release, "Blowin' Up the Machine," a brand new album of fierce, hard-rocking metal on Locomotive Records. The multinational act singer Moa Holmsten and bassist Frida Sthl from Sweden, and American guitarist Michelle Meldrum released its European debut, "Loaded Mental Canon," in 2002 but has good reason for the delay of its follow-up. "What can you do when Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society and Motorhead take you under their wings and on extensive tours with them?" said Michelle. "You can't say no. We are so thankful to have worked with the people we have." During breaks from touring, Meldrum hunkered down to work on "Blowin' Up the Machine," and when it came time to record, they enlisted the drumming prowess of Michelle's former Phantom Blue bandmate Linda McDonald and none other than Gene Hoglan (Death, Strapping Young Lad, Dethklok [Metalocalypse]), with whom Michelle formed her first band Wargod as teenagers. "It's kinda like coming full circle for both of us," Michelle said. "It feels like it did when we were kids. I mean, when you know someone so well musically and as friends, it is definitely a special chemistry. I love him like a brother." "Now, I may joke about how cool it is to play with three 'hot bitches,' but lemme tell ya, Meldrum are some damned fine and talented musicians," Hoglan said. "Moa can sing like an angel or summon the devil, Michelle can riff and lead with the best of 'em, and Frida is simply one of the best bassists I've ever worked with. I'm proud to be a part of the team." Motorhead's Lemmy also makes a special guest appearance on "Blowin' Up the Machine", writing the lyrics for the song "Miss Me When I'm Gone" and contributing vocals to the track. "I was sitting in a hotel room warmin' up before a gig and I thought, 'I'm gonna crank out a riff that would sound like us but with Lemmy's vocal style," Meldrum said. "Then we asked him if he would be interested in writing some lyrics for the song and he was totally into it. When the time came to record it, we asked him if he wanted to special guest on the CD and he did. It is definitely an honor to work with someone like Lemmy." "You say girls can't play rock'n'roll ?" said Lemmy. "Well listen to Meldrum and bite your tongue!" "Blowin' Up the Machine" was mixed by Michelle, Brett Chasen, Bob Kulick, and Toby Wright (Alice In Chains, KORN, Metallica, Fear Factory). Michelle also engineered the vocals and guitars, and served as Executive Producer, with Stahl and Holmsten Co-Producing. "We are the real thing," Michelle said. "We live, eat, and breathe this lifestyle of music. We sound brutal and heavy, but we are really nice gals and love having a good time!" http://www.meldrum.nu MUSTASCH RECEIVES SWEDISH GRAMMY FOR 'LATEST VERSION OF THE TRUTH'TRENTON, N.J. Swedish act Mustasch has been honored with the "Best Hard Rock" Grammis award, the Swedish version of the Grammy Awards, for its album "Latest Version of the Truth." The Gothenberg-based quartet was presented with the award by Motorhead drummer Mikkey Dee at the awards ceremony on January 9 at Globen in Stockholm. Mustasch beat out tough competition in veteran bands like Candlemass, Clawfinger, Entombed, and Arch Enemy. "It felt a lot more emotional and fantastic than we initially thought," said vocalist/lead guitarist Ralf Gyllenhammar. "Before the Grammys we thought of it more as an industry meet or a public event where it doesn't really affect us personally if we win or loose, but when Mikkey Dee announced us as winners it was almost like a blackout of joy! Can hardly remember what was said in the speech." Evoking images of rock heavyweights like Monster Magnet, Black Sabbath, and Soundgarden with a melodic sensibility, Mustasch is as heavy as it is mainstream-accessible. "We're a four-piece band consisting of the same members since day one, and I think that reflects what we do," said Gyllenhammar. "We're a band of a certain stability, and you always know what to expect of us. We stick to our mission, which is to deliver hard and heavy riffs in a melodic package. Straight from the heart." Mustasch's "Latest Version of the Truth" was released in Europe and North America on Regain Records after spending half a decade within the confines of a major label. "Being on EMI (Capitol) was great for business in the beginning," said Gyllenhammar. "Just the fact that a major label such as EMI signed a band like us was really surprising to the music industry in Sweden and Scandinavia. But it soon turned out that they had no clue what so ever on how to promote a band like Mustasch. Being treated like another Roxette was not what we needed. So when the deal was fulfilled we were happy to leave for Regain Records. Here we have completely free hands to do what we do best and they trust us in what we do." The major label years had left the band battered and bitter, and on the verge of resigning after "Latest Version of the Truth." "Normally I write the songs 80 percent, then bringing them to the rehearsal room to finish them up with the rest of the guys," Gyllenhammar said. "This time it was the common understanding that this was to be our last album. I couldn't even get the lazy bastards to the rehearsal room! Our producer was anxious to get started so the guys gave us a go. Instead of taking my riffs and ideas to the band, I was doing this with the producer in the studio. In fact, not one of the other band members had heard the vocals until it was time to mix the damn stuff!" The band's new-found freedom allowed them to record this way, as well as to experiment with songs like the epic "The End" that closes out the record. "The End" was culled from bits and pieces of music that had been presented by all the members throughout the years. "The medley of songs on this! record in the mid-section was an idea from our crazy drummer, and the theme in the end is something our rhythm guitarist made on a crappy acoustic guitar while I was playing the piano when we were flatmates some 10 years ago!" http://www.mustasch.net GREAT WHITE EUROPE TOURS DATES:January 25, 2008 Copenhagen, DENMARK The Rock Since reuniting in January 07 to perform a benefit concert, GREAT WHITE has moved forward and hit the studio for their first album in 8 years. Its just like old times, states lead singer, Jack Russell. Theres a bond that forms between people that is very special. Ive missed my friends. BILLY BOY ON POISON WILL BE THE THIRD RELEASE FROM KIEFER SUTHERLAND AND JUDE COLE'S RECORD LABEL, IRONWORKS MUSIC; BILLY BOY ON POISON'S DEBUT EP SWEET MESS IS NOW IN CIMS STORES AND WILL BE AVAILABLE IN HOT TOPIC STORES FEBRUARY 5 AND ON ITUNES FEBRUARY 19 Self-described rock/pop/post-punk rockers BILLY BOY ON POISON are releasing a taste of their neo glitter-rock era music via EP five-song Sweet Mess on Kiefer Sutherland and Jude Cole's label, Ironworks Music. Out now in CIMS stores, the EP will be available in Hot Topic stores on February 5, then on iTunes on February 19, along with a free download of the video for the song "Happy Valentine's Day." Additionally, BILLY BOY's "Dirty Bomb" is the theme song for VH1's new show "Free Radio," which premieres Friday, February 8 at 9:30pm. The name BILLY BOY ON POISON was culled from the Stanley Kubrick film "A Clockwork Orange," which pretty much sets the tone for the band itself. Infectiously energetic 16 year-old frontman Davis LeDuke is a bona fide rock star in the making, and BILLY BOY's music sounds reminiscent of the glory days of Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie, New York Dolls and Iggy and the Stooges. Although none of the band members are old enough to drink, let alone remember the music scene that influences their music, one listen to the five tracks on Sweet Mess and you'll be a believer. Rounding out the band are guitarist Ryan Wallengren, 16; bassist Julian Borrego, 16; rhythm guitarist Greg West, 18; and female drummer (and Davis's cousin) Jessi Calcaterra, 19. "I can't wait to get in a shitty van and travel the country!" exudes Davis. "Play our songs, speak our truth to audiences who can relate to our sense of frustration with this screwed up world. Yeah we've got songs about getting laid and blowing shit up, but we think it's much more than that." There will be a full-length release later in the year, and tour plans are in the works. Meanwhile, LA residents can catch BILLY BOY ON POISON's mind-blowing live show at the Ironworks Music party on February 7 at The Roxy. SWEET MESS Track Listing: About Ironworks Music: "We're doing things that we lovetrying to incorporate that lust for music to make inspired pieces of work, and just hope that over time Ironworks develops a name that represents thatinspired work." For further information: http://www.myspace.com/billyboyonpoison and http://www.billyboyonpoison.com. Demonical Update: http://www.myspace.com/dreamtidemusic AXEMASTER is happy to announce that it has completed it's lineup with the addition of bassist Jim Curtis. Jim's a world class player with vast experience in a wide range of music. He says "I'm honored to be in Axemaster and ready to help the band kick ass". With him and new singer Dan Kaisk, the band's lineup is by far the best in it's long history and will display it on their new CD. The band would also like to announce that a special guest guitarist will appear on the new release. Ivan Hurd, who recorded 7 releases with the classic band Anvil during a 12 year span, will be featured playing a solo on a selected song from the band's upcoming release. Special thanks goes to Tiziana Hurd of Sol Music Management for making it all happen! http://www.solmusicmanagement.com Hope everyone will check out the clip of the new Axemaster singer at http://www.myspace.com/thebandaxemaster THE DOGS DIVINE FEATURED ON BETTY BLOWTORCH TRIBUTE ALBUMTHE DOGS DIVINE will be a featured artist on the upcoming BETTY BLOWTORCH TRIBUTE ALBUM. For the tribute THE DOGS DIVINE have recorded the track 'Rock N Roll 69' from the 2001 release Are You Man Enough? The legendary Los Angeles-based, all-women rock/punk band BETTY BLOWTORCH is the subject of an upcoming Tribute Album that will benefit Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Created in memory of late BETTY BLOWTORCH frontwoman BIANCA "BUTTHOLE" HALSTEAD, the collection will feature bands from around the globe celebrating Bianca's life and music for a worthy cause. Scheduled for a late spring 2008 release, the BETTY BLOWTORCH TRIBUTE ALBUM has received the full blessing and support of surviving Betty Blowtorch members BLARE N. BITCH, SHARON NEEDLES and JUDY MOLISH. In fact, Blare has officially signed on to perform on the album with her current band, SUCKERSTAR. More information on the BETTY BLOWTORCH TRIBUTE ALBUM can be found at http://www.myspace.com/bettyblowtorchtribute. Visit http://www.chavisrecords.net, http://www.myspace.com/chavisrecords, and http://www.myspace.com/thedogsdivine for all the latest information. AS WE FIGHT RECORDING THIRD ALBUMAs We Fight will spend the next three weeks recording their third album at the Smart N Hard Studio with Jacob Bredahl (Hatesphere, Machinemade God)! The album will show the band toning their rock influence down in favor of a metal approach. A release-date is yet to be announced. Make sure to check the studio diary on myspace. http://www.aswefight.com Upcoming Shows BLACK MOUNTAIN To Play Late Night With CONAN O'BRIEN; Release New Album, Embark On Nationwide TourVancouver's Black Mountain make their national television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on Thursday, February 21. The band will take a break from their tour to share a track from their new album in living rooms across the nation. Black Mountain's eponymous debut, "a modern heavy psych masterpiece," according to Mojo magazine, came out almost three years ago. In the subsequent years the band has grown in scope and scale, refining their sound while blowing it out to massive heights. So it's no surprise that the advance word on the new album "In the Future" from the UK and US press has been glowing. The new album lands on January 22nd, and here's what folks are saying: WORD magazine -- "heady, heavy and brilliantly executed: stoner rock for the masses." Mojo (lead review by Jon Savage, 4 stars) -- "an ambitious state-of-the world address that delivers on an emotional and visceral level." NYLON -- "Black Mountain make thundering anachronistic prog-rock. And there's nothing wrong with that." Elle -- Black Mountain "fashion twisting riffs into a heart of guitar darkness that's all their own." WIRE Magazine: In The Future "eclipses their previous output and hits a consistent note of righteous force." The band will be rolling out their news songs during the Black Mountain tour, which kicks off January 31. This time around, tour-mates include HOWLIN' RAIN, BON IVER, LADYHAWK, BLOOD ON THE WALL and DEAD MEADOW. Full dates below. And in the meantime, when you pre-order Black Mountain's CD, limited edition 2xCD, or the 2xLP version of "In the Future", you will receive MP3s of the full album before the release date (and before the physical records arrive). This can be done at participating brick-and-mortar record stores, or via mailorder at Insound or direct from Jagjaguwar (at http://www.scdistribution.com). The limited edition 2xCD version includes three additional songs, two of which were on the tour-only Bastards of Light 12". Finally, for a limited time, anyone and everyone can listen to a full album stream of the full album on the band's myspace page, at http://www.myspace.com/blackmountain. North American Tour Dates: Metal Mind Productions is very proud to announce a multi licensing deal signed with Nuclear Blast Records for their interesting, valuable back-catalogue. In the first half of 2008 Metal Mind Productions will re-issue nearly 70 albums from their deep archives. The selection of bands includes Brutallity, Control Denied, Darkseed, Disharmonic Orchestra, Gardenian, Horde, Hypocrisy, Impulse Manslaughter, Macabre, Mortification, Night In Gales, Slaughter, Warhammer or Winter to name a few. This is a must-have offer for fans of good music - re-issues of classic material in new digipak editions, each title limited to 2000 copies, digitally remastered using 24-Bit process. The albums will include additional features like bonus audio or video material, biography, liner notes from Artists etc. Tomasz Dziubinski, the President of Metal Mind Productions: "We are very proud to have finalized the deal with Nuclear Blast. It is a huge distinction for Metal Mind Productions that such a fantastic label wanted to start co-operating with us. We expect that we will achieve great sales results as we want to make re-releases of the highest quality: classic albums in new, improved editions. We want to achieve the best results possible. We do hope that our cooperation with Nuclear Blast will develop very well and fans can expect more and more interesting albums to be re-released" Among first titles to be re-issued as part of this deal are 8 Mortification albums, Control Denied and Macabre! More details on each release will follow soon! http://www.metalmind.com.pl WAY OF LIFEChicago, IL based rockers THE DOGS DIVINE has signed with CHAVIS RECORDS for their debut release 'Way Of Life'. Paul Crosby (of SALIVA) was selected to produce the album and what has been delivered is 10 tracks of energetic, soul shaking, whiskey fueled thunderous rock n' roll.
THE DOGS DIVINE features Tom Hart(v), Trent Anderson(d), Johnny Harley(g), Tommy Montgomery(g), and James Dean(b). THE DOGS DIVINE blend the old with the new and turn it up loud to deliver a non-stop macabre rollercoster ride as seen through the eyes of five rock and rollers who live it everyday. The DOGS have already hit the road in support of 'Way Of Life' while the album is being mixed and mastered. Initially, 'Way Of Life' will be available exclusively through digital download via iTunes and Rhapsody with additional digital outlets to follow and the physical drop of the CD in April. BCD Music Group will handle national distribution. Tour dates announced here. Lane Productions handles booking. Pick up the latest issue of Metal Edge. THE DOGS DIVINE are in this month's issue with the track MY OLD FRIENDS featured on the very first Metal Edge Compilation CD. For more information visit the newly redesigned http://www.chavisrecords.net, http://www.myspace.com/chavisrecords and http://www.myspace.com/thedogsdivine MORE DATES ANNOUNCED FOR DROID ON THE GUERILLA CARNIVAL TOUR!!!More dates were just announced for DROID on the Guerilla Carnival Tour with Ill Nino. The tours line up has been changed as well. The shows will no longer see support coming from Bury Your Dead or Soil, both of whom had to unfortunately drop off the tour. The band Ekotren have been added in their place. James "Buddy" Eason lead singer of Droid had this to say, "We are really excited to get back out on the road and the ILL NINO guys are good friends of ours so it will be great to see them rip it up every night. I really like the fact that all the bands on this tour are a little different than each other musically. This diverse package will give fans an exciting show from beginning to end. Get ready DROID fans...here comes the pain!!!!" DROID's video for "Fueled by Hate" came in as Headbanger's Ball's #11 Video of the Year. DROID were also voted Best Newcomers on TheGauntlet.com. There are more big things to come for DROID so be sure to catch them when they come through your town. DROID with Ill Nino, Bobaflex, and Ekotren on The Guerilla Carnival Tour: UK Rock Band UXL Invited To Perform At Canadian Music WeekJanuary 15, 2008 - Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A. - Following a year of great live work and impressive reviews for their debut album 'Can I Dream Again?', UK rock band UXL have attracted attention outside theUK. The President of Canadian Music Week has invited UXL to perform at CMW 2008. Canadian Music Week is Canada's largest entertainment event and takes place inToronto, Canada March 5th-8 th. UXL are scheduled to perform on Friday March 7th at the Hideout ( 484 Queen St. West) as part of an Amnesty International sponsored showcase. UXL, which include the Tierney brothers and friend Dan Clark, are described by one reviewer as "hard-hitting and heart-warming". UXL generally make a pretty 'big' sound, but they can also do controlled minimalistic, beautiful semi-acoustic and just about everything in between. "Indie rock at its most melodic and uplifting". Tracks from the new album have received 80,000 + plays on myspace. 'UXL could be massive Stateside -destined for major attention.' MUSICIAN MAGAZINE You can view more information about UXL and upcoming concert dates at http://www.uxlofficial.com and http://www.myspace.com/uxlofficial and http://youtube.com/watch?v=-voknKZI4FY Coming Soon! Iron Maiden's Live After Death DVD.Finally available on DVD for the first time, New Door Records/UMe are proud to announce the eagerly awaited release of the Double Disc DVD of "LIVE AFTER DEATH," the legendary recording of Maiden's four-night stand at Long Beach Arena, California, in 1984. In stores February 5th, 2008, the release will coincide with the start of the band's "Somewhere Back In Time World Tour," on which they will recreate many of the aspects of this original and spectacular show. Disc one contains the recording of this full 90-minute concert. Originally filmed on 35mm, the footage comes alive on DVD resulting in a visually stunning film that far outstrips the usual live video of the '80s. The disc carries two sound options -- the original concert audio specially mixed into 5.1 Surround Sound by Kevin Shirley, Maiden's producer since 1999, plus the original stereo sound track by Martin Birch, the band's producer from 1981 to 1993. Originally released on video in 1985, this has been largely unavailable for the past 20 years. Disc two has Part 2 of the 'History of Iron Maiden,' continuing on the Maiden story from "The Early Days" DVD, along with rare and unseen bonus footage in the form of BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN, ROCK IN RIO '85, and 'ELLO TEXAS, all in all giving a total running time of well over three hours. Plus of course the photo galleries, relevant promo videos, artwork galleries, tour dates, tour program and other features which all combine to make Maiden DVDs a very special and utterly comprehensive treat for their fans. Manager Rod Smallwood explained, "The original video of 'Live After Death' has not been readily available for a long time so it's good that we finally got around to this. It was one of the first full concerts to be filmed after the advent of video and of course the live album, recorded on a different night to the video, has long been considered to be one of the seminal Metal live albums and has sold millions since. Fans have been begging us to do this DVD for some time now but we wanted to wait until we were able to recreate that whole tour to go with it and also to make it part of a series of DVDs that we are putting together around the band's history. And of course we are making sure that now we have got to it we will be giving the fans everything we can find from that period!!" WINGER LIVE: 2-DISC CD & DVD COMING TO THE U.S.RELEASING JANUARY 29TH, 2008 ON SHRAPNEL RECORDS HOLLYWOOD (November 9, 2006) Platinum recording artist WINGER is releasing their first double live album and live DVD from their successful 2007 world tour for Winger IV. In 2007 the founding members of WINGER, Kip Winger (bass/vocals), Reb Beach (guitar), Rod Morgenstein (drums), reunited for their forth record, which is touted as their finest album ever. WINGER is joined John Roth (guitars/vocals) a WINGER member since 1993's. TOUR DATES more to come: http://www.kipwinger.com or http://www.myspace.com/kipwingermusic R.E.M. ANNOUNCE RELEASE OF BRAND-NEW STUDIO ALBUM ACCELERATE DUE ON WARNER BROS. RECORDS APRIL 1ST BAND COUNT DOWN TO ALBUM'S RELEASE WITH NEW WEBSITE NINETYNIGHTS.COM WHICH FEATURES VIDEO SNIPPETS FOR FANS TO DOWNLOAD, REMIX, AND EDITJanuary 14, 2008 Burbank, CA R.E.M. have revealed the title of their brand-new album: Accelerate, which will be released by Warner Bros. Records on April 1st. The beloved rock band's 14th studio album, Accelerate was recorded in Vancouver, Canada, Dublin, Ireland and Athens, Georgia last spring with Grammy Award-winning producer Jacknife Lee, who is noted for his work with U2 (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb), as well as Snow Patrol, Bloc Party and Kasabian. R.E.M. which is singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, and bassist Mike Mills are counting down the time to the album's release date on a website, http://www.ninetynights.com. The site, which launched on January 1st, features a new high-definition video snippet each day that can be downloaded then edited, embedded, or manipulated however the user wishes. Each snippet is being posted in high-resolution HD format and available for download for a period of 24 hours before being archived on the site as a low-resolution stream. The clips were shot by noted French filmmaker Vincent Moon, who has worked with Arcade Fire, The Shins and The National among other artists. In what is set to be an active year for the band, R.E.M. has also so far announced two upcoming live appearances. The band will headline the Langerado Music Festival on March 8th at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in South Florida, and will also perform at Stubb's Bar-B-Que on March 12th during the annual South-by-Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX. Accelerate is R.E.M.'s first studio album since 2004's Around the Sun. In October, the band released a live CD/DVD the first ever of their 27-year-career, entitled R.E.M. Live. One of rock's best-selling and most critically acclaimed bands, the multiple Grammy-winning trio, along with original drummer Bill Berry, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2007 Stay tuned to R.E.M.'s official website, http://www.remhq.com, for the latest information on the track listing for Accelerate, as well as upcoming tour plans. Chaosfear is has started the pre-production of their second album. The album, which has no title yet, will be recorded in the beginning of 2008 and probably will have 10 songs. The album is scheduled to be released this year via OSM Records. "We are very excited with the new songs. The songs have the same energy as usual, and I believe that they are more aggressive. With the second guitar everything is sounding heavier and there is more focus on solos. We want to play them live as soon as possible", says the drummer Danilo de Freitas. STRIP ROCK ROLLKick'n off 2008 raw, loud and dirty with the new signing of ASPHALT VALENTINE for their debut release STRIP ROCK ROLL. Produced by Andy Reilly, STRIP ROCK ROLL contains 11 tracks of high energy white knuckled rock n' roll. ASPHALT VALENTINE begins their 2008 touring season by hitting the road January 18th. Check the tour dates here. More information on the release and tour dates are forthcoming. STRIP ROCK ROLL is currently circulating a variety of terrestrial and web radio stations. Request ASPHALT VALENTINE at your local radio and favorite web radio stations. You can also tune into The Boneyard on XM Radio where you can hear STRIP ROCK ROLL! Visit ASPHALT VALENTINE here and download your FREE copy of STRIP ROCK ROLL by clicking the banner below! For more information visit the newly redesigned http://www.chavisrecords.net, http://www.myspace.com/chavisrecords and http://www.myspace.com/asphaltvalentine2 DROID ANNOUNCE FIRST TOUR PLANS OF THE NEW YEAR WITH ILL NINO!Coming off of successful touring stints last year with Family Values and a support slot for Hellyeah and Korn, California metallers Droid have announced their first string of dates for 2008. The band will be heading out on the road with Ill Nino, Soil and Bobaflex as part of the Guerilla Carnival Tour starting on January 31st. The tour will run through March 1st. James "Buddy" Eason lead singer of Droid had this to say, "We are really excited to get back out on the road and the ILL NINO guys are good friends of ours so it will be great to see them rip it up every night. I really like the fact that all the bands on this tour are a little different than each other musically. This diverse package will give fans an exciting show from beginning to end. Get ready DROID fans...here comes the pain!!!!" Droid blew crowds away all over the country last year with their energetic live show. Their high powered set is definitely something not to be missed. Only initial dates have been announced so far but there are many more to come. Be sure to catch Droid when they come to your town. Droid with Ill Nino, Soil and Bobaflex on The Guerilla Carnival Tour: PHARAOH: New Album Complete, Guest Guitarists RevealedAmerican heavy metal band PHARAOH has completed the mixing of its third album, entitled Be Gone. Like its critically-acclaimed predecessor, The Longest Night, the new album was recorded with Matt Crooks at MCR Studios in Manassas, Virginia. Be Gone will now be mastered by Colin Davis of Imperial Mastering for a worldwide March release via the leading traditional heavy metal label Cruz del Sur Music. The tracklisting for Be Gone is as follows: As a special treat for fans (and, it must be said, for the band themselves) the track "Dark New Life" features guest guitar solos from Mark Reale and Mike Flyntz, perhaps better known as the shredders from RIOT! Jim Dofka also appears for the third time on as many PHARAOH albums, contributing his extraordinary guitar chops to the song "No Remains". A release date, song samples, and cover art for Be Gone will be revealed in the coming weeks. PHARAOH will celebrate the new album and its ten-year history by performing live for the first time ever (!!) at Keep It True X on April 5, 2008, at Tauberfrankenhalle, Lauda-Knigshofen, Germany. The festival is completely sold out as of September. THE GRAND-SLAM AFTER NAMM PARTY SATURDAY, JANUARY 19TH MONSTER ENERGY BASH with: SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, SUPERSUCKERS, DAUGHTERS OF MARA & MEDIA LABSpecial guest DJ's Jamey Jasta/Hatebreed & Randy Blythe/Lamb of God HOLLYWOOD (January 9, 2008) Saturday night will be the 'Party of the Year' at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, CA. Monster Energy Drink presents Suicidal Tendencies and special guests Supersuckers, Daughters of Mara and Media Lab. In between sets you can here the best metal and rock music spinning by our very special guest DJ's Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed and Randy Blythe from Lamb of God. They will be rolling with you till Midnight. Also, look out for give-aways from Hollywood Music as their VJ's toss out the coolest of swag. You can also win a custom ESP/LTD Monster Guitar before the night is through just listen to Jamey Jasta to find out how. If you don's want to drive you can take one of the two Monster Shuttles from the Anaheim Convention Center to the Galaxy Theatre, pick up station to be announced. The night will start out with the winners from Hollywood Music contest, Media Lab. When the opening set is done, Daughters of Mara will hit stage to be followed by Supersuckers and ending the night is Suicidal Tendencies. Saturday, January 19th @ The Galaxy Theatre Doors open - 6:00 pm Our sponsors for this extravaganza are Monster Energy Drink (http://www.monsterenergy.com), Dunlop (http://www.jimdunlop.com), Dime Hardware (http://www.dimebaghardware.com) and Hollywood Music (http://www.hollywoodmusic.tv). PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS PARTY IS BY INVITATION ONLY FIRST COME FIRST SERVE FOR NAMM ATTENDEE'S ONLY. So all select buyers and press go to the Dunlop booth for your ticket, NO EXCEPTIONS~ AS I LAY DYING's Video For “The Sound Of Truth” To Debut on Headbangers Ball! January 7, 2008 - (San Diego, CA) – Grammy nominees, AS I LAY DYING’s brand new video for “The Sound Of Truth,” the newest single off of their album, AN OCEAN BETWEEN US, will be debuted on MTV2’s Headbanger’s Ball over the next few weeks. Directed by Brian Thompson, who helmed their futuristic clip for “Nothing Left,” the video for “The Sound Of Truth” was made at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, CA and is a continuation of the story the first video initiated. Like it's predecessor, the story for this video was conceived by the band, fine-tuned by Thompson, and displays the irony and hypocrisy that takes place in a decaying futuristic society. A clip of the video will see its initial debut on http://www.headbangersblog.com on January 11th along with a special commentary from vocalist, Tim Lambesis. The video will air in full on the site on January 17th. The on-air debut will be on MTV2’s Headbanger’s Ball on January 19th. “Onstage, As I Lay Dying’s music is all about impact: double bass drums pummeling at tachycardia-like rhythms, “says the NY TIMES. “(AILD) kept its songs eventful; each tempo change, and there were plenty, had the visceral effect of a sudden gear shift…the Nokia floor was in happy turmoil.” Fans continue to experience this ‘happy turmoil’ as the band continues on the road with August Burns Red, Evergreen Terrace and Still Remains. ECHOVALVE TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM ON ROCK RIDGE MUSICAtlanta four-piece Echovalve is set to release its debut album, "helloagaingoodbye" on Rock Ridge Music on March 18, 2008. Mainstream in their own right, they have managed to take a distinctively original approach to a familiar genre. With searing and melodic riffs, tasty bass lines, pounding beats, and intensely haunting, hook-laden vocals, Echovalve has honed a sound that sets them apart. Their first single "Dirty Little Secret" hits the airwaves this month. "Echovalve is truly grateful for the opportunity given to us by Rock Ridge Music," says guitarist Jay Langston. "It is a blessing to have a label that believes in the music we make, and together we will bring that music to the masses." Though the band is clean now, members have been plagued with drug and alcohol addictions and one band member was declared clinically dead following a drug overdose (he lived to tell the tale). The band has toured the country with no money, sleeping on park benches as they went from town to town. One band member was actually homeless and living on the streets for a while. That which did not break them only made them stronger and has made the successes that have come their way even sweeter. The band came together in Atlanta, and after several years of playing and touring, things began to fall into place for Echovalve in 2007. In addition to signing a deal with label Rock Ridge Music, the band also hooked up with a management company and a booking agent. With only two EP's up to this point, in June 2007 Echovalve began recording their first full-length album, "helloagaingoodbye." Echovalve's dedication to their craft has earned the band some well-deserved notoriety: The band's lineup includes: Mathieu Nevitt (vocals), Jay Langston (guitar), Ryan Myers (bass), and Nick Randles (drums). The band can be found online at: http://www.echovalve.com. Sumerian signs Veil Of Maya!Sumerian Records has signed Chicago/Milwaukee based Veil of Maya. Sumerian Founder Ash Avildsen had this to say: “I have a special place in my heart for bands who have stayed together through years of struggling on a DIY level of touring and promotion. This is the world myself and my label manager Shawn both came from. Before Myspace existed, underground metal was a totally different ballgame. Not only does Veil of Maya’s work ethic and dedication speak for itself, but so does their level of musicianship and songwriting. Very few bands can authentically mix elements of progressive metal, melodic deathmetal, thrash and hardcore brutality all while keeping the listener constantly interested. Veil of Maya does this and that’s why they will have a career for years to come.” Label Manager Shawn Keith had this to say: "I spent time with the band this past month on the Death By Decibels tour and have never met 4 individuals with the passion and work ethic that these guys have. I am extremely excited to be working with a band with such great attitudes towards what they are doing and the music that they are creating." Veil of Maya starts The Sumerianos Tour today alongside Born of Osiris, After The Burial and Sea of Treachery. The band recently completed the Death by Decibels Tour w/ Vader, Malevolent Creation, Cattle Decapitation, Abigail Williams and Light This City. Rumor has it they will taking part in “The Brotherhood of Riffs and Spliffs Tour” for February/March supporting A Life Once Lost, Arsis, and Skeletonwitch. Veil of Maya’s new full length “The Common Man’s Collapse” is due to hit stores everywhere on April 1^st . You can hear two pre-production tracks from the album at http://www.myspace.com/veilofmaya. HERE I COME FALLING “OH GRAVE, WHERE IS THY VICTORY”OUT THIS WEEK ON RISE RECORDS! JANUARY DATES WITH ONCE NOTHING! & FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS “CHANGES” OUT THIS WEEK ON RISE RECORDS! ON TOUR NOW WITH IT PREVAILS, AMERICAN ME, RECON UNTIL 2/10This first week of January 2008 was a big one for premiere hardcore label Rise Records, who released two highly anticipated debut albums this Tuesday Jan 8th: Here I Come Falling (HICF) Oh Grave Where is Thy Victory and For the Fallen Dreams (FTFD) Changes. Springfield, MO based HICF have made a serious name for themselves in the Christian metal scene through their dissonant screamo laced passages mixed with technical metal fury, electronic elements and soaring melodic sections, and drew the attention of labelmates The Devil Wears Prada, who then brought them right to Rise. FTFD make well balanced hardcore chock full of aggressive riffs mixed with melodic guitar passages. Both are young bands, headed out on big tours over the next few months that have created an underground buzz in their scene. HICF is about to head out on the road for a string of dates with a rotating cast that includes A Plea for Purging, Oceana, and Once Nothing (Solid State Records), and has another big tour in the works for the Spring. The band has been actively touring over the past couple of years sharing stages with such bands as Norma Jean, Haste The Day, Drop Dead, Gorgeous and Alesana to name a few. With the release of Oh Grave…, HICF is looking forward to reaching the masses, tells guitarist Kasey, “It’s been really exciting to see all of the stores in our area sold out of our album already. We’ve gotten a lot of good feedback from kids on Myspace, and fans at shows as well. We’ve grown a lot over the past six months, and we really want to get our message across the kids.” There has been a very positive reaction online, with popular music and lifestyle portal About.com saying “Oh Grave, Where Is Thy Victory has a lot of melody, and there are keyboards and electronics that add depth and texture to the band's sound. There are some mellow moments along with the aggressive, pummeling guitars.” Music webzine Skylinepress.net chimed in with, “If you like livid and pounding guitars/drums, screamingly exhaustive vocals, as well as injections of epic tranquil pieces sewn into the core, then you must check out Here I Come Falling.” There are talks of a video in the works, so keep checking http://www.myspace.com/hicf for a possible online fan poll to choose the song they will film the video for. FTFD is also on the tour, out for the next month with It Prevails, Recon, American Me, and Every Bridge Burned, and are looking forward to going out on the road in support of Changes, which has itself been accumulating a pile of online praise. The Metal Union.com declares that “This will arguably be one of the most honestly brutal albums in 2008. Buy the album: the music will speak for itself.” UK website Rock Midgets.com said “Michigan five-piece For The Fallen Dreams are a band who deal in huge heavy slabs of metalcore, the kind that could well fell buildings of such magnitude in one foul swoop.” Popular and highly trafficked heavy music webzine Decoy Music.com agreed, calling Changes “a solid melodic hardcore album that will have you spinning it for days…For The Fallen Dreams kicked off my new year with a good start.” Formed in late 2003 the band steadily grew into a touring machine, having hit the road with such bands as Ligeia, Winds Of Plague, Emmure, As Blood Runs Black and Endwell. They have also shared stages with such acts as Every Time I Die, Walls Of Jericho, Black Dahlia Murder and Still Remains. Check http://www.myspace.com/forthefallendreams for tour dates and album updates. FROM RAGS TO RICHES AND BACK TO RAGS, INSOLENCE IS SACRIFICING EVERYTHING TO REACH FOR THE STARS, AGAIN.Hear how they rose above the industry in a struggle to survive, and are achieving the All-American Dream, the second time around. San Jose, CA (January 3, 2008) Insolence refused to be a one hit wonder. In fact, they also refused to change their music when Warner Brothers told them to. They rebelled against the music industry, stood strong, and are afloat enough to talk about it. Aside from the battles with drugs, the ongoing changing of band members and constant family strains, as is expected to exist within any rock band, Insolence has never stopped, and has never been stopped. They've helped shape the Bay Area's music scene. They've been on movie soundtracks and in movies. They've played around the world and back again. They've toured with System of a Down and Incubus, enough said. They've had songs on video games and television shows. They've beaten Linkin Park and Korn on Japan's version of the Billboard Charts just this past summer. They've broken stereotypes, broken genres and broken rules. And they're back to conquer the industry again on U.S. soil. Now, twelve years, two major labels, 200,000 sold records, and a bazillion band members later, Insolence is about to venture on a month-long, nationwide tour with Suburban Noize Records' Billboard Chart-ers, Hed P.E., Kingspade (of Kottonmouth Kings), and Subnoize Souljaz beginning January 24, 2008. Following their expansive U.S. tour celebrating the release of their seventh album, "Audio War," on February 19, 2008, Insolence will venture off to Japan for a tour from March 9, 2008 to March 19, 2008 that will surely delight.Japanese fans who have had the luxury of having "Audio War" since its special release in Japan in August, 2007. Looking very forward to getting reacquainted with American and Japanese fans, Insolence is happy to tell their story to anyone who dares to ask. They will be available for interviews and press while on tour, from January 24, 2008 to February 25, 2008 in the United States, and from March 9, 2008 to March 19, 2008 in Japan. Concert-goers can find tour dates and details on the band's website, http://www.insolence1.com and on their Myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/insolenceone. BUSHWHACK BALANCES PROG WITH MELODIC ROCK ON SELF-TITLED DEBUTIt's uncommon that an all-instrumental rock band can keep the attention span of non-musicians. But due to their penchant for crafting memorable non-vocal melodies along with their impressive, expert chops, Bushwhack is one such band that manages to successfully walk that fine line as evidenced by their recently issued self-titled debut (available online and through iTunes). Comprised of guitarist Jamie Van Dyck, bassist Brandon Green, keyboardist/samplist Frank Sacramone, and drummer Ben Shanbrom, the New Haven, CT-based quartet has created an undeniable buzz on the strength of their debut, which features design by renowned artist Ioannis, as well as photographs by another renowned name in the rock world Mark Weiss. Upon inspection of Bushwhack's thirteen track debut produced by Jeff Cannata it quickly becomes apparent that the band posses a sound that brings to mind such acts (and chief Bushwhack influences) as Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree. However, like all rock bands that manage to stand out from the pack, Bushwhack transcend their influences, creating their own unique sound/style in the process something that is becoming increasingly uncommon in rock's current climate. But according to Sacramone, their non-vocal approach isn't something they deliberately set out to do. But rather, it happened naturally, and at this point, is a crucial ingredient to the Bushwhack sound. "We haven't really found a singer that has meshed with the band yet. Our band is comprised of four very close friends, and we need someone with a voice that would actually improve the melodic and tonal quality of the music." Van Dyck adds, "The idea of a vocalist, we figured would fall into our laps. Now, here we are three years later. We are kind of reaching a fork in the road we can continue as an instrumental unit, or we add a vocalist. Until we find the right vocalist, we're probably not going to go down the vocalist path." Which is just as well judging from the strength of such tracks as "The Greatest Wall," "Sea of Tranquility," and "Introspection," the compositions easily stand on their own. "The album has a collection of songs from about a span of two/two and a half years," explains Sacramone. "It's pretty diverse. Our consistency and our ability to write throughout those two years we have been able to pursue the sound we wanted and not change due to trends or anyone's wishing accept our own." And when it comes to the Bushwhack live experience, the band holds their own even with the absence of a bonafide frontman, points out Sacramone. "Don't take us for not being able to put on a live show. A big part of our success is our live performance. You will never expect an instrumental band to act like a hardcore metal band jumping around the stage, with such sophisticated music. But that's exactly what we do. Ben destroys the drum set, I have a Keytar and run around I even jump into the crowd, do 360's off stage! It's got a balance of fun and intensity at the same time." Another factor has recently come into play for the band, as well. "We have to face the fact that we're college students," adds Van Dyck. "We have the decision to make do we finish college, or is something big enough going to happen in the coming months that is going to cause us to take a year off or even drop out?" Judging from the promise and strength of 'Bushwhack,' the prog metal world will benefit greatly if the members choose the latter For more information, go to: Cobra US tour with Pelican & Uneartly TranceThe band that refuses to stay off the road, Black Cobra continues to unleash it's crust-laden venomous attack on the world, this time heading out as direct support for Pelican and joined by Unearthly Trance. If that ain't heavy enough to have you front row unleashing hell, you're in the wrong business, Jack. PELICAN / BLACK COBRA / UNEARTHLY TRANCE "...Feather And Stone still proves why Black Cobra kicks twice as much ass than their peers, with only half the members." 8/10 - Outburn http://www.blackcobra.net | http://www.myspace.com/blackcobra |