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Blaze - New Album
BLAZE, the British band led by former IRON MAIDEN/WOLFSBANE singer Blaze Bayley, have set "Blood and Belief" as the title of their third studio album, tentatively due in March 2004 through SPV Records. The group, who finished recording the CD on December 20, performed the album's projected title track Saturday night (December 27) at the third annual BLAZE Big Bash at Dudley JB's in England.
As previously reported, BLAZE utilized the services of former PITCHSHIFTER drummer Jason Bowld during the recording sessions for follow-up to 2002's "Tenth Dimension", which took place at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire together with producer Andy Sneap. Also recording with the group was bassist Wayne Banks (SABBAT, MESSIAH'S KISS), who has fulfilled most of this year's touring commitments with the band following the departure of Rob Naylor in April.
The mixing process for "Blood and Belief" is set to commence in early January.
As previously reported, BLAZE utilized the services of former PITCHSHIFTER drummer Jason Bowld during the recording sessions for follow-up to 2002's "Tenth Dimension", which took place at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire together with producer Andy Sneap. Also recording with the group was bassist Wayne Banks (SABBAT, MESSIAH'S KISS), who has fulfilled most of this year's touring commitments with the band following the departure of Rob Naylor in April.
The mixing process for "Blood and Belief" is set to commence in early January.
| Band profile: | Blaze Bayley |
Extol confirmed for Bobfest 2004
EXTOL (progressive thrash/death masters from Norway), HARMONY (melodic metal from Sweden), ORATORIO (melodic metal wonder from Finland), KEKAL (black metal from Indonesia) and SHADOWS OF PARAGON (fresh black metal from Sweden) are the first five bands confirmed for Bobfest 2004 (Europe's biggest Christian metal festival), which is scheduled to take place held March 5-7, 2004 at Ryttargårdskyrkan in Linköping, Sweden.
Seminar speakers will be metal Pastor Bob Beeman from Sanctuary, USA and Ole Halvard Sveen from Subchurch, Norway. The concerts will be held Friday and Saturday evenings at Cupolen, Folkets Park, Linköping. There will also be a gallery where people will show their artistic talents.
Festival tickets cost 270 SEK for Swedish visitors (if paid before February 15) or 300 SEK if paid later or at the door. For non-Swedish visitors, the price is only 200 SEK (approx. 22 EUR) for the whole weekend. Accomodation is also available nearby for an additional fee of 50 SEK (approx. 5.50 EUR) per night.
For those that want to attend the gigs only, the tickets cost 100 SEK for Friday and 120 SEK for Saturday or 200 SEK for both days.
For more information about this festival, visit www.bobfest.org or mail info@bobfest.org or press@bobfest.org.
Seminar speakers will be metal Pastor Bob Beeman from Sanctuary, USA and Ole Halvard Sveen from Subchurch, Norway. The concerts will be held Friday and Saturday evenings at Cupolen, Folkets Park, Linköping. There will also be a gallery where people will show their artistic talents.
Festival tickets cost 270 SEK for Swedish visitors (if paid before February 15) or 300 SEK if paid later or at the door. For non-Swedish visitors, the price is only 200 SEK (approx. 22 EUR) for the whole weekend. Accomodation is also available nearby for an additional fee of 50 SEK (approx. 5.50 EUR) per night.
For those that want to attend the gigs only, the tickets cost 100 SEK for Friday and 120 SEK for Saturday or 200 SEK for both days.
For more information about this festival, visit www.bobfest.org or mail info@bobfest.org or press@bobfest.org.
| Band profile: | Extol |
Pain's Fourth Album Delayed
PAIN mainman Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY) has posted the following message on the band's official web site:
"Hello everybody!
"As most of you know, I've been out with my other band HYPOCRISY from Sept.-Dec. and had no time to finish up the new PAIN CD, so I will start after the New Year and change label so I can get a worldwide release. I'm so fuckin' tired of not getting it out everywhere! And I can't go on tour cause I have no back-up from the label outside of Sweden, so when the label have stopped fuckin' around and I have sign with the new record company I will be back with a new album and world tour to support it. You will be the first to know.
"Hope you understand."
Among the tracks tentatively set to appear on the follow-up to 2002's "Nothing Remains The Same" are the following:
01. Tear It Up
02. Don't Count Me Out
03. The Table Has Turned
04. Stay Away
05. Misery
06. The Third Wave
As previously reported, PAIN had postponed plans to record a full-length album of covers after Tägtgren completed 18 new original numbers that he deemed to be "musically stronger" than the material ear-marked for the proposed collection of cover versions.
"Hello everybody!
"As most of you know, I've been out with my other band HYPOCRISY from Sept.-Dec. and had no time to finish up the new PAIN CD, so I will start after the New Year and change label so I can get a worldwide release. I'm so fuckin' tired of not getting it out everywhere! And I can't go on tour cause I have no back-up from the label outside of Sweden, so when the label have stopped fuckin' around and I have sign with the new record company I will be back with a new album and world tour to support it. You will be the first to know.
"Hope you understand."
Among the tracks tentatively set to appear on the follow-up to 2002's "Nothing Remains The Same" are the following:
01. Tear It Up
02. Don't Count Me Out
03. The Table Has Turned
04. Stay Away
05. Misery
06. The Third Wave
As previously reported, PAIN had postponed plans to record a full-length album of covers after Tägtgren completed 18 new original numbers that he deemed to be "musically stronger" than the material ear-marked for the proposed collection of cover versions.
| Band profile: | Pain |
Rhandy Rhoads inducted into Rockwalk Of Fame
Former OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Randy Rhoads will be inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk of Fame on Thursday, March 18, 2004. The induction will be held in front of Guitar Center Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, California. The exact time will for the induction will be announced at a later date.
Randy Rhoads died tragically in a plane crash on March 19, 1982, one day after performing his final show with OZZY OSBOURNE at the Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was 25 years old.
Although Randy only recorded two studio albums with Ozzy (1980's "Blizzard of Ozz" and 1981's "Diary of a Madman"), the impact he had on a generation of young guitar players worldwide was truly remarkable. Ozzy Osbourne himself has been haunted by Rhoads' memory. "He was a saint," said the singer who was responsible for discovering him. "He was an angel, and too good for this world. His death's always on my mind."
Randy Rhoads died tragically in a plane crash on March 19, 1982, one day after performing his final show with OZZY OSBOURNE at the Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was 25 years old.
Although Randy only recorded two studio albums with Ozzy (1980's "Blizzard of Ozz" and 1981's "Diary of a Madman"), the impact he had on a generation of young guitar players worldwide was truly remarkable. Ozzy Osbourne himself has been haunted by Rhoads' memory. "He was a saint," said the singer who was responsible for discovering him. "He was an angel, and too good for this world. His death's always on my mind."
| Band profile: | Ozzy Osbourne |
Katatonia - Live DVD
KATATONIA are currently editing their first DVD, due sometime next year. A Polish Cracow gig from April 2003 will be the main attraction of the disc, but there will also be more exclusive bonus footage to go along with it. In addition, one or two of the unreleased tracks from the "Viva Emptiness" sessions will also show up on the DVD.
KATATONIA will be embarking on a Scandinavian tour with AMARAN beginning in early February. Support at the dates will come from BEFORE THE DAWN.
KATATONIA will be embarking on a Scandinavian tour with AMARAN beginning in early February. Support at the dates will come from BEFORE THE DAWN.
| Band profile: | Katatonia |
GR, Hammerfall, Primal Fear's members to jam
GAMMA RAY's Kai Hansen, HAMMERFALL's Joacim Cans, PRIMAL FEAR's Tom Naumann and GODIVA's Mitch Koonz are among the musicians tentatively scheduled to partake in an "all-star" jam at the 20th anniversary party for the Rockfabrik Ludwigsburg (Germany). The jam, which is slated to take place this Sunday, December 28, will reportedly include selections from HELLOWEEN and HAMMERFALL, among others.
| Band profile: | Gamma Ray |
My Dying Bride
MY DYING BRIDE and GRIMFIST are the latest two bands confirmed for the 2004 edition of the Inferno Metal Festival, set to take place set to take place April 8-10 at the Rockefeller and John Dee venues in Oslo, Norway. As previously reported, Norway's MAYHEM and Poland's DECAPITATED are also scheduled to appear at the event.
Limited three-day passes for the price of 666 NOK went on sale November 1 and quickly sold out even before any bands had been announced. Regular tickets are now on sale via www.infernofestival.net.
The whole lineup for the Inferno Metal Festival will be revealed at the kick-off party at John Dee in Oslo on January 24. Toastmaster Geir Kolden (VALHALL) will MC and Britain's RETURN TO THE SABBAT (featuring ex-SKYCLAD singer Martin Walkyier) will perform.
Limited three-day passes for the price of 666 NOK went on sale November 1 and quickly sold out even before any bands had been announced. Regular tickets are now on sale via www.infernofestival.net.
The whole lineup for the Inferno Metal Festival will be revealed at the kick-off party at John Dee in Oslo on January 24. Toastmaster Geir Kolden (VALHALL) will MC and Britain's RETURN TO THE SABBAT (featuring ex-SKYCLAD singer Martin Walkyier) will perform.
| Band profile: | My Dying Bride |
Nocturnal Rites
Swedish melodic metallers NOCTURNAL RITES have reportedly set "New World Messiah" as the title of their follow-up to 2002's "Shadowland", tentatively due in early 2004 through Century Media Records. Working songtitles include "Against the World", "The Icon" and the projected title track. The group's bassist Nils Eriksson had previously described the new material as "pretty much like we've always done... maybe just a tad better."
| Band profile: | Nocturnal Rites |
Kamelot: Songwriting sessions
KAMELOT mastermind Thomas Youngblood has posted the following message on the band's official web site:
"Hello Kamelotians!!!
"We are very pleased to tell you all that the writing sessions are going even better than expected. We have now completed 8 new songs and cannot get the melodies out of our heads. A good sign for everyone) We just finished 'March of Mephisto', this should be our heaviest song ever and a live classic. Also, we finished a beautiful ballad that will mostly be piano and a small string ensemble. A first for us as well. So we are always working on new twists to the KAMELOT style we hope you all love. Our beloved producer Sascha Paeth will come to Florida after the New Year to begin preproduction and then the fun starts!"
As previously reported, KAMELOT's forthcoming album will be their first for SPV Records, with whom they signed a worldwide deal last spring. An early 2004 release is expected. Other songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Nothing Ever Dies" and "Serenade".
Upcoming KAMELOT shows:
Feb. 13 - Monterrey, MEX @ TBA
Feb. 14 - Mexico City, MEX @ TBA
Feb. 15 - Guadalajara, MEX @ TBA
Feb. 28 - Granada, SPA @ Piorno Rock Festival
"Hello Kamelotians!!!
"We are very pleased to tell you all that the writing sessions are going even better than expected. We have now completed 8 new songs and cannot get the melodies out of our heads. A good sign for everyone) We just finished 'March of Mephisto', this should be our heaviest song ever and a live classic. Also, we finished a beautiful ballad that will mostly be piano and a small string ensemble. A first for us as well. So we are always working on new twists to the KAMELOT style we hope you all love. Our beloved producer Sascha Paeth will come to Florida after the New Year to begin preproduction and then the fun starts!"
As previously reported, KAMELOT's forthcoming album will be their first for SPV Records, with whom they signed a worldwide deal last spring. An early 2004 release is expected. Other songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Nothing Ever Dies" and "Serenade".
Upcoming KAMELOT shows:
Feb. 13 - Monterrey, MEX @ TBA
Feb. 14 - Mexico City, MEX @ TBA
Feb. 15 - Guadalajara, MEX @ TBA
Feb. 28 - Granada, SPA @ Piorno Rock Festival
| Band profile: | Kamelot |
Deicide
The title track to DEICIDE's forthcoming album, "Scars Of The Crucifix", has been posted online at the Earache Records web site at this location.
"Scars Of The Crucifix" (view cover here) was recorded at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida with producer Neil Kernon (CANNIBAL CORPSE, NEVERMORE) and was mixed at Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas. A February 24, 2004 release through Earache Records is expected.
The complete track listing for "Scars Of The Crucifix" is as follows:
01. Scars Of The Crucifix
02. Mad At God
03. Conquered By Sodom
04. Fuck Your God
05. When Heaven Burns
06. Enchanted Nightmare
07. From Darkness
08. Go Now
09. Pentecostal
"Scars Of The Crucifix" (view cover here) was recorded at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida with producer Neil Kernon (CANNIBAL CORPSE, NEVERMORE) and was mixed at Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas. A February 24, 2004 release through Earache Records is expected.
The complete track listing for "Scars Of The Crucifix" is as follows:
01. Scars Of The Crucifix
02. Mad At God
03. Conquered By Sodom
04. Fuck Your God
05. When Heaven Burns
06. Enchanted Nightmare
07. From Darkness
08. Go Now
09. Pentecostal
| Band profile: | Deicide |
Sun Caged announces new drummer
Dutch progressive metallers SUN CAGED, who feature in their ranks STAR ONE keyboardist Joost van den Broek, have announced the addition of drummer Roel Van Helden to the group's ranks. The 23-year-olf Van Helden, a student at the academy of music in Tilburg, Netherlands, joins the band as the replacement for Dennis Leeflang, who left the group earlier in the month. " surprised us with the fact that he managed to play the whole album within a week," the band write on their web site. "Besides that, there is a very good chemistry between us and Roel, musically as well as on a personal level. We never played our songs that well before!
"What's funny is the fact that Roel is already a member of Marcel 's solo band and he is also the drummer our bassist Rob played with, at age 14, in his first band.
"We welcome Roel in the Cage, and we are sure that this has brought SUN CAGED to a higher level. We also would like to thank all other drummers who showed interest, and we also hope that the true SUN CAGED fans will welcome Roel with open arms, possibly at one of our upcoming gigs."
Read more ››
"What's funny is the fact that Roel is already a member of Marcel 's solo band and he is also the drummer our bassist Rob played with, at age 14, in his first band.
"We welcome Roel in the Cage, and we are sure that this has brought SUN CAGED to a higher level. We also would like to thank all other drummers who showed interest, and we also hope that the true SUN CAGED fans will welcome Roel with open arms, possibly at one of our upcoming gigs."
Read more ››
| Band profile: | Sun Caged |
The Kovenant
Norway's THE KOVENANT are in the process of editing video footage from their appearance at the Inferno Festival for use in two clips ("Star By Star" and "Mirror's Paradise") that are expected to be included on their upcoming DVD and various Nuclear Blast Records DVD compilations.
In other news, THE KOVENANT bassist/singer Lex Icon is going to participate with bass and vocals on the second album from Norwegian "dark masters" CROWHEAD. Lex is also working on a new TROLL album.
As previously reported, THE KOVENANT entered the studio earlier this month to record a demo of some of the songs planned for inclusion on the group's follow-up to this year's "S.E.T.I." (Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence), tentatively due in late 2004.
The forthcoming CD, which is tentatively titled "The Dreaming Spires", will be THE KOVENANT's last for Germany's Nuclear Blast Records. One new songtitle has thus far been revealed: "Radiation King".
THE KOVENANT recently added two new members to the group's lineup: RAM-ZET drummer Küth and APOPTYGMA BERZERK keyboardist Geir Bratland.
In other news, THE KOVENANT bassist/singer Lex Icon is going to participate with bass and vocals on the second album from Norwegian "dark masters" CROWHEAD. Lex is also working on a new TROLL album.
As previously reported, THE KOVENANT entered the studio earlier this month to record a demo of some of the songs planned for inclusion on the group's follow-up to this year's "S.E.T.I." (Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence), tentatively due in late 2004.
The forthcoming CD, which is tentatively titled "The Dreaming Spires", will be THE KOVENANT's last for Germany's Nuclear Blast Records. One new songtitle has thus far been revealed: "Radiation King".
THE KOVENANT recently added two new members to the group's lineup: RAM-ZET drummer Küth and APOPTYGMA BERZERK keyboardist Geir Bratland.
| Band profile: | The Kovenant |
Hammerfall
Former HALFORD/current PAINMUSEUM guitarist "Metal" Mike Chlasciak has issued the following update on his recent activities:
"Two days ago I returned from the very, very ? and I mean very ? metal city of Gothenburg, Sweden where I recorded my guitars for the debut album from HAMMERFALL's Joacim Cans. The album is CANS 'Beyond The Gates' and should be out in April of 2004. I joined forces with Joacim on this what I feel will really be a much-talked-about album. High-quality songs on the entire album. I did guitars with Stefan Elmgren, also from HAMMERFALL. We did the tracking at the famed Studio Fredman (DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY) and that was an experience in its own right. Basically at that studio, well ... you hear metal 24/7 !! I must say I did not hear one clean note my all 10 days there ? now, that is metal!! All 10 days I drank like a fish and ultimately met one of my guitar influences, Andy LaRocque . It was nice to escape the 'biz' of this all and just play guitar non-stop for 10 days, the reason why I got into this in the first place. Also caught up with some Internet friends like Wojtek from LUCIFERION, Gus G and all. That place in just awesome and reminded me of my childhood in Poland. www.joacimcans.com
"While there, I also did a guest solo on the new album from Fredrik Nordström's vicious band DREAM EVIL. I did an insane guitar trade of section with Gus G. (also in FIREWIND). Total tasteless, self-indulgent guitar shred that was wonderful to record. DREAM EVIL guys are killer and have one of the best drummers in metal: Snowy Shaw . That CD should be out in '04 on Century Media.
"Carrying on ... I will be doing two guest DJ spots on 'Metal Mania' NJ's WDHA 105.5 FM with Matt Murray. The shows will air 12/26 and 1/2. On 1/2 we'll do a year in review segment. www.wdhafm.com
"Year 2004 will be also picking up with my 'Flurry Of Black Notes' Pt. II guitar clinic appearances across the East Coast. After that its straight to the set up for the debut from PAINMUSEUM, followed by touring.
"Also myself, Tim and Bobby from PAINMUSEUM wish everyone a safe New Year, stay METAL - reject the rest. We'll see you in 2004. This time on the road everyone!!!!!!"
Read more ››
"Two days ago I returned from the very, very ? and I mean very ? metal city of Gothenburg, Sweden where I recorded my guitars for the debut album from HAMMERFALL's Joacim Cans. The album is CANS 'Beyond The Gates' and should be out in April of 2004. I joined forces with Joacim on this what I feel will really be a much-talked-about album. High-quality songs on the entire album. I did guitars with Stefan Elmgren, also from HAMMERFALL. We did the tracking at the famed Studio Fredman (DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY) and that was an experience in its own right. Basically at that studio, well ... you hear metal 24/7 !! I must say I did not hear one clean note my all 10 days there ? now, that is metal!! All 10 days I drank like a fish and ultimately met one of my guitar influences, Andy LaRocque . It was nice to escape the 'biz' of this all and just play guitar non-stop for 10 days, the reason why I got into this in the first place. Also caught up with some Internet friends like Wojtek from LUCIFERION, Gus G and all. That place in just awesome and reminded me of my childhood in Poland. www.joacimcans.com
"While there, I also did a guest solo on the new album from Fredrik Nordström's vicious band DREAM EVIL. I did an insane guitar trade of section with Gus G. (also in FIREWIND). Total tasteless, self-indulgent guitar shred that was wonderful to record. DREAM EVIL guys are killer and have one of the best drummers in metal: Snowy Shaw . That CD should be out in '04 on Century Media.
"Carrying on ... I will be doing two guest DJ spots on 'Metal Mania' NJ's WDHA 105.5 FM with Matt Murray. The shows will air 12/26 and 1/2. On 1/2 we'll do a year in review segment. www.wdhafm.com
"Year 2004 will be also picking up with my 'Flurry Of Black Notes' Pt. II guitar clinic appearances across the East Coast. After that its straight to the set up for the debut from PAINMUSEUM, followed by touring.
"Also myself, Tim and Bobby from PAINMUSEUM wish everyone a safe New Year, stay METAL - reject the rest. We'll see you in 2004. This time on the road everyone!!!!!!"
Read more ››
| Band profile: | HammerFall |
Motorhead confirmed for German festivals
KORN and MOTÖRHEAD are among the first bands confirmed to appear at next year's Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park festivals, set to take place June 4-6, 2004 in Nürnberg and Nürburgring, Germany (respectively). Other acts scheduled to perform at the event are RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, DIE TOTEN HOSEN, FAITHLESS, MUSE, THE RASMUS and WIR SIND HELDEN.
For more information, visit www.rock-am-ring.com.
For more information, visit www.rock-am-ring.com.
| Band profile: | Motörhead |
Malmsteen: Instrumental best of in January
Pony Canyon Records in Japan will be issuing a new YNGWIE MALMSTEEN compilation CD, entitled "Instrumental Best Album", on January 21, 2004.
The complete track listing for the album is as follows:
01. Brothers
02. Dawn
03. Air On A Theme
04. Britzkrieg
05. Blue
06. Asylum
07. Sky Euphoria
08. Quantum Leap
09. Power And Glory-theme for Nobuhiko Takada-
10. Molto Arpeggiosa
11. Preludium
12. Instru-Mental Institution
13. Treasure From The East
14. Requiem
15. Far Beyond The Sun (Live)
Read more ››
The complete track listing for the album is as follows:
01. Brothers
02. Dawn
03. Air On A Theme
04. Britzkrieg
05. Blue
06. Asylum
07. Sky Euphoria
08. Quantum Leap
09. Power And Glory-theme for Nobuhiko Takada-
10. Molto Arpeggiosa
11. Preludium
12. Instru-Mental Institution
13. Treasure From The East
14. Requiem
15. Far Beyond The Sun (Live)
Read more ››
| Band profile: | Yngwie Malmsteen |