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AKASHIC's guitarist video of jam session with Paul Gilbert is posted online Marcos de Ros, guitarist of the progressive metal band AKASHIC, who recently came back from Chile from the South American Guitar Masters 2007 Tour, posted online a vide of his jam session with Paul Gilbert, ex-guitarist of Racer X and Mr. Big. The show was made in 2001, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The video can be watched on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Ea0TBHAOU More information and samples of Akashic and Marcos De Ros' works are available on MySpace through the following links: http://www.myspace.com/akashicrock and http://www.myspace.com/marcosderos NORMA JEAN ANNOUNCES FALL TOUR DATES WITH SAOSIN!!! UPCOMING FESTIVALS AND MEXICO TOUR!!! Fresh off of a successful run on Warped Tour, Georgia's Norma Jean are preparing for an upcoming US tour with Saosin, Alexisonfire, and others! The tour kicks off in Seattle, WA on September 28 and finishes in New York on November 7 in New York City. Before they head out with Saosin, Norma Jean will be playing Ohio's Collide Festival on August 24, the Revelation Generation Festival in New Jersey on September 1, and the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle on September 3. These festival dates will lead up to a week-long tour of Mexico, before Norma Jean returns home to gear up for the Saosin tour. Norma Jean will also be playing the Saints and Sinners Festival at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park, NJ on November 4. The festival also features such heavy hitters as Glassjaw, August Burns Red, Between The Buried and Me, Walls of Jericho and many more!! Norma Jean are touring to support their most recent release, 2006's Redeemer (Solid State Records), and they are planning to return home after the US tour to write and record a brand-new record, tentatively due in Summer 2008. Be sure to catch Norma Jean's electrifying performance as they tour across the country this fall!!! Norma Jean festivals and Mexico tour dates: Norma Jean with Saosin, Alexisonfire, and others: FORMER SKID ROW AND SAIGON KICK DRUMMER PHIL VARONE BARES HIS SOUL IN 'WAKING UP DEAD' EXPANDED DVD EDITION VIA DEMOLITION RECORDS AND MVD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP OUT NOW! "My heart's like an open book, for the whole world to read" goes the famous Motley Crue lyric. But few rockers have followed these words as closely as drummer Phil Varone, who over a four year period, allowed a thorough and no-holds-barred window into his personal life the end result being the unflinching documentary on the ups and downs of rock n' roll, 'Waking Up Dead.' Directed by Emmy Award winning journalist and filmmaker Fabio Jafet, the near hour and a half documentary was first released in 2005, and has now been issued as an expanded DVD, via Demolition Records and MVD Entertainment Group. The way that the media often portrays rock stars is one of a dream-come-true existence. And while quite a few of Varone's rock n' roll dreams came true, it's certainly not all champagne, caviar, and limos for a working musician, and Varone and Jafet pull no punches throughout 'Waking Up Dead,' as such topics as addiction, how to support your family on meager earnings, and business betrayal are all dissected and analyzed. While countless musicians have indulged in 'the rock n' roll lifestyle' over the years, few have had the nerve to document it all as thoroughly as Varone does, which results in a head-on collision you just can't turn away from…known as 'Waking Up Dead.' "Phil was incredibly brave and trustful to allow me to tell his story," explains Jafet. "The only way this movie could have been done was with all access and no censoring. I was not interested in doing a 'Behind The Music.' There was no point." What you get is a flick that truly encompasses sex, drugs, and rock n' roll times ten. "I didn't want to make any ordinary documentary. I think most of them are flat and boring and carry the stigma of being called 'documentary.' I wanted to break the rules and make something that stood out visually and emotionally." http://www.myspace.com/demolitionrecordsus Mighty's former guitarist joined Melancholic Art Noctívago Bloodythirsty Murderer, former member of the brazilian underground black metal cult Mighty joined MELANCHOLIC ART. The present line-up is: With this new line-up the band is working on the next release and soon a single will be available. Recently Melancholic Art posted online their whole debut cd, Força Black Metal Pampeano, which songs and artwork can be downloaded in the band's MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/melancholicart CAPITOL/EMI TO RELEASE SIGN OF THE TIMES: THE BEST OF QUEENSRźCHE New CD & Digital Album Release Features 17 Career-Spanning Tracks, Including Seven Top 10 Hits; 2-CD Deluxe Collectors Edition Adds 15 Rare and Previously Unreleased Recordings In a career that spans nearly 25 years, Queensr˙che has released 15 albums that have sold more than 20 million units around the world. On August 28, Capitol/EMI will release Sign Of The Times: The Best Of Queensr˙che in CD, 2-CD Collectors Edition packages and digitally. The new career-spanning hits collection features 17 of Queensr˙che's best singles and album tracks, including seven Top 10 Mainstream Rock hits, packaged in a jewelcase with a sixteen-page booklet featuring custom artwork, a discography, and track notes from the band's singer, Geoff Tate. The Collectors Edition, presented in deluxe digipak packaging, adds a second disc of 15 rare and previously unreleased demos, outtakes, remixes, live recordings, television performance audio, recordings for soundtracks and a new, never-before-heard song making its release debut on this collection. Among Sign Of The Times: The Best Of Queensr˙che's 17 hits and favorites are the #1 smash "Silent Lucidity," "Jet City Woman," "Eyes of a Stranger," and "Another Rainy Night (Without You)," and more than a dozen other well-known songs. The 15 tracks on the Collectors Edition's rarities disc include three demo recordings by Myth (lead vocalist Geoff Tate's band prior to Queensr˙che), three demo recordings from The Warning, three bonus tracks from the reissued Empire album, bonus tracks from the reissued Promised Land and Q2K albums, an intoxicating live version of "Silent Lucidity," a previously unreleased version of "Della Brown" recorded for "MTV Unplugged," and a new track making its release debut, "Justified," recorded with original Queensr˙che guitarist Chris DeGarmo. Beginning September 5 in Binghamton, New York, Queensr˙che and Alice Cooper will join Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice on the "Heaven and Hell Tour" for a U.S. trek that is expected to continue through early November. Confirmed Queensryche Tour Dates 09.05.2007Broom County ArenaBinghampton, NY http://www.queensryche.com INSOMNIUM & SWALLOW THE SUN FIRST US TOUR DRAWS NEAR Philadelphi: Finland's Insomnium and Swallow the Sun are mere days from the start of their first American tour alongside Sweden's Katatonia and Scar Symmentry for the anticipated all-European "Live Consternation" tour set to kick off at Jaxx Nite Club in West Springfield, Virginia. Both bands are enjoying growing American audiences and are excited to meet with their American fanbase. Insomnium are expected to perform selections from their current/third album Above the Weeping World. “This is by far the best Insomnium album”, says vocalist/bassist Niilo Sevänen. “It is the first time we feel we really succeeded in the studio. As a band we are very happy with the end result.” Formed in 1997, Insomnium recorded two demos before signing with Candlelight Records. Kerrang says, “Insomnium have grown into something truly remarkable." Hope is the third album from rising doom/death band Swallow the Sun. Featuring a guest appearance by Katatonia vocalist Jonas Renske the album charted in the band's home country of Finland upon its release. The tour comes as the band's profile is rising internationally. Digital Metal says, “Swallow the Sun have to be considered on of the genre's top newcomers... highly, highly recommended.” An additional show as been added for September 15 at the Static Bar in Kansas City. Previously confirmed/announced dates are noted below. Tickets are on sale for all performances via local ticket agencies and venue boxe offices. For additional ticket information visit http://www.enterthevault.com Sep-04, Jaxx Nite Club (West Springfield VA) http://www.candlelightrecordsusa.com PRONG RETURNS WITH POWER OF THE DAMAGER ON OCTOBER 2 TRENTON, N.J. – Prong returns this O! ctober 2, 2007 with a new album and a renewed attitude, aptly ! reflecte d in the record’s title, “Power of the Damager.” The hard-hitting record – the band’s first studio release since 2003’s “Scorpio Rising” – is easily Prong’s finest. “Power of the Damager” maintains the razor-sharp signature riffs band founder Tommy Victor has perfected over the last 20 years while harkening back to the rawness of Prong’s pioneering years as Industrial Metal’s native son. Most notable is the record*s in-your-face production, which came courtesy of Victor himself. "It*s no frills," said Victor. "There*s two loud crunchy stereo guitars, rumbling growling bass, and real slamming natural drums. I kept any vocal effects to a minimum. We felt that if the vocal couldn*t hold its own ! dry and decipherable, it probably wasn*t any good." Joining Victor in the Prong trio is bassist Monte Pittman, a Prong veteran who does double-duty as tour guitarist for none other than Madonna, and drummer Aaron Rossi. Though Prong has made a career of changing with each release, the common thread in each is reality, and that carries through on "Power of the Damager." "Everything is to the point, Victor said. "There are no disguises. It*s all about experience. It*s about relating to what others feel and what they may be concerned about. I think people will relate to the themes encrypted on this record do, even if they ar! e guarded and don*t let them surface. A lot of the r! ecord is about denial and how we come to grips with it. I know people, if they get honest, will relate." The mammoth record weighs in with a dozen tracks, highlighted by the title track, which Victor began writing during a crazed, manic night alone in Prong*s rehearsal space. "I was trying to review and write riffs, but I was too preoccupied," said Victor. "I was all bottled up, experiencing a good amount of pain, anxiety, fear, and general disgust about everything." He quickly scrawled a lyric on a nearby used envelope and shoved it in his pocket, carrying it around for days. "Even though it had a self destructive, violent, and nihilistic theme, I felt philosophical, accepting, and maybe even spiritual about the state of mind I was in," he said. "I knew it was good. I threw the riffs I was reviewing on that dark night up on my computer put it to a 203bpm click track, did some programmi! ng for the demo, screamed the lyric over it, and it all fit perfectly. From all that negative crap in me came something really cool that I enjoyed doing and helped me get through. It had to be the title track." “Power of the Damager” is Prong’s first release for Ministry mainman Al Jourgensen’s 13th Planet Records, a relationship that was kindled while Victor played with Jourgensen in Ministry. “Tommy is En Fuego!" said Jourgensen. "I love this guy! We’re like two grumpy been-there-done-that bastards, but when it comes to songwriting, p! erforming, Tommy is the shit. Not only do I love working! in the studio and touring with the guy on Ministry, I’m totally honored and proud to have Prong on the 13th Planet roster. *Power of the Damager* is top-notch Prong at its very best. Way to kick ass, Tommy. Good job.” Prong will begin touring in support of "Power of the Damager" in October, kick-starting the tour in 13th Planet’s hometown of El Paso, Tex. Dates are as follow: http://www.prongmusic.com DROID NOW HEADLINING THE FAMILY VALUES SECOND STAGE!!! KORN'S JAMES "MUNKY" SHAFFER TO JOIN DROID AT ALL IN-PERSON SIGNINGS!! California metal heads Droid have moved from opening the main stage at this year's Family Values Tour to closing the Guitar Hero Second Stage. This will give fans a chance to get up close and personal with the heavy hitters from Long Beach. Also, from now until the end of the tour, Korn's James "Munky" Shaffer will be joining Droid at their signing booth. Shaffer is the founder of Emotional Syphon Recordings, the record label that released Droid's self-titled debut CD in July. When fans buy Droid's CD at the signing booths, they will also receive a free bonus DVD. The DVD is available only at signings and online when you order the album from Droid's website, http://www.DROIDmusic.com. Guitarist Jamie Teissere had this to say about the move: "Since they've pushed us back, we haven't had a bad show. The energy is the way it should be! It's a lot easier to let people know we're going on later. We're playing in front of twice as many people, all concentrated in one area, instead of all spread out in a 20,000-seat amphitheater. Now we've got huge mosh pits with tons of people crowd surfing. We've even had a couple dudes carried out with broken legs!" On their self-titled Emotional Syphon Recordings debut, Droid embraces a bludgeoning aesthetic that pummels, punishes and pushes the boundaries of heavy metal. Their assault stems from a musical skeleton fused by rapid-fire riffs, wicked power grooves and a violent, hardcore crash. Make sure to catch Droid as they headline the Guitar Hero Second Stage at all remaining Family Values dates, and don't miss them at their signings where they will now be joined by Munky from Korn! Droid on tour: Southern Lord Recording artists: sunn 0))) are proud to announce the following upcoming live performances in the Northwest this coming November: 11/01 Manium//Olympia, WA. w/ Earth, Wolves In The Throneroom, Grey Joining sunn 0))) on stage for these performances are very special guests: Attila Csihar (Vokills), and Justin Broaderick (guitar, cold, dark cloud formations). Be prepared for other special unveilings at these shows as well! The shows will come at the end of recording sessions for the forthcoming 2008 full-length release. Please stay tuned for updates as they develop. -the 'Lord and the 'Split http://www.SOUTHERNLORD.COM The biggest Female Rock festival has been announced The Powerbox Festival. Vixen, Doro and Girlschool are among the acts confirmed for the Powerbox Festival, which is to be held over Labor Day Weekend (August 31 - September 3) at the White Horse Amphitheatre, Darrington Music Park, Washington. The event is also being held to help raise money for the cancer research charity, Caring Coaches. The line up consists of some of the best known female rock acts from the last three decades, and includes acts such as McQueen, Kittie, Jaded and Benedictum. The full line up is as follows: More bands to be announced …. Website http://www.powerboxfest.com OF HEARTS AND SHADOWS SET TO UNLEASH DEBUT ALBUM, 'TOUCHING BASE WITH A CHAINSAW,' ON OCTOBER 24TH Perhaps there is no other band on the planet that the word 'screamo' fits best than for Of Hearts and Shadows. Hailing from San Diego, California, the group which includes singer Scott Bixby, guitarists Ricky Vazquez and Ian Archer, bassist Isaiah Herevia, and drummer Matt Williams is readying the release of their first-ever full-length, 'Touching Base with a Chainsaw,' which is one of the first releases for the newly-launched Tyburn label. "We had two years worth of writing for this album," explains Williams about the sessions. "We were able to knock it out in three weeks we didn't have to sit and write a bunch of stuff." The group was formed by Vazquez and original bassist Allan Levy back in 2003, and subsequently went through quite a few different members, before finding the group's current line-up. While the group's sound contains obvious elements of metal, hardcore, and emo, Williams explains that the quintet refuses to be aligned with a single style or approach, as their influences run the gamut - "It goes from classic rock to everything you hear up to today." The group recently wrapped up a string of U.S. dates playing alongside the Distance and Karate High School which went smashingly well. "We take pride in throwing guitars and making it pretty insane on stage," adds Archer. "We like to let the music speak for itself, but kids will say, 'That was an amazing show,' and then they'll listen to the album." With a scheduled release date of October 24th, 'Touching Base with a Chainsaw' contains countless hard-hitting highlights, including the prog metal-esque "Make Sure You Tell Your Friends," as well as "Pretty for Nostalgia," which shows that Bixby is one of the more intense screamers in all of hard rock today. "This band is about the future," explains Vazquez. "Five young guys who appreciate the music that came before, play the music of today, but are going to keep creating and stepping outside the box into the future. Music is the last free thing left to do. There are no limits, and that is going to allows us to grow with every album we put out." And as evidenced by their debut, Of Hearts and Shadows are certainly off to a good start. http://www.ofheartsandshadows.com SCORPIONS READY TO STING WITH NEW ALBUM, 'HUMANITY HOUR 1,' OUT AUGUST 28; GUEST APPEARANCE BY SMASHING PUMPKINS SINGER BILLY CORGAN; U.S. TOUR STARTS SEPTEMBER 4 July 31, 2007 -- SCORPIONS, Germany's most successful international music export, are poised to "sting" once again and are planning a frontal attack on the musical artery of rock fans all over the globe with their new album, HUMANITY HOUR 1. Thirty five years after the release of their debut album, LONESOME CROW, SCORPIONS believe they have reached a new creative high in their impressive career. They plan to prove it with the release of album #21 on August 28 (New Door Records/UMe). Smashing Pumpkins singer/guitarist Billy Corgan makes a special appearance on the album as a featured guest on "The Cross." The band--Klaus Meine (vocals), Rudolf Schenker (rhythm guitars), Matthias Jabs (lead guitars), James Kottak (drums) and Pawel Maciwoda (bass)—enlisted acclaimed songwriter/producer Desmond Child (Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, KISS) and producer James Michael to work behind the boards on the album, which was recorded at several Los Angeles studios. "Desmond is a fabulous visionary who took us to musical levels we had never reached before," declares lead guitarist Jabs. The fruit of this extremely productive collaboration is an album that melds the classic hard SCORPIONS sound with modern elements of today's musical style. HUMANITY HOUR 1 is a mature concept album, with lyrics that are often provocative and deal with the dark sides of the world we live in. Such is the case with the timely first single, "Humanity," a song filled with the band's renowned melodies, big guitars and global awareness. A video for the track can be found on the band's official website (http://www.the-scorpions.com) and on YouTube.com. "At the same time, though, we are sending our fans a positive musical message, telling them not to let the insanity going on around us every day get them down," explains Meine, who considers HUMANITY HOUR 1 to be the most powerful album since the global success of CRAZY WORLD in 1991. "The new album will feature the great power-rock ballads, of course, but we have been and we remain a rock band, and people who go for hard but melodic songs will love this album." "As exciting as it is to work on new songs in the studio, when it comes right down to it, we are a die-hard live performance band that really shifts into overdrive when we hit the stage," says Schenker. "Direct contact with our fans is our biggest source of inspiration," continues Meine. And that's one significant factor explaining why the band's calendar is already quite full for this year. "Humanity World Tour 2007/2008" will take SCORPIONS through Europe, South America, and Asia. They land in the U.S. starting September 4 in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Dates through September 30 are being confirmed and will be posted on the band's official website in the coming days. SCORPIONS—who've sold more than 70 million albums worldwide--still fill the biggest stadiums in the world each year, performing in front of hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic fans. In early March, the band returned to Moscow to give a concert in the Kremlin at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin--an honor granted to relatively few Western artists. For decades, their power-packed live shows have been among the few events that broke records for sold out shows in the USA, Canada and many European countries. Since its release in Europe and Asia in May, HUMANITY HOUR 1 has been a smash in various countries as well as on various album charts: Check out SCORPIONS at any of the following stops, with more to be added in the coming weeks: DATE CITY VENUE http://www.the-scorpions.com |