Pure Metal News: May 2006

May 2006 News: Part 2 To quickly find what you're looking for use the box below. VARIOUS ARTISTS - Nuclear Blast bandcontest We noticed that there’s some ongoing flurry in the message board concerning the band contest. No surprise ‘cause the deadline for submissions dates back several months now and rumours are that the whole thing just fizzled out. That is definitely not the truth! We here at Nuclear Blast take this whole contest very seriously and therefore we’ve got to give it the time it takes, which is a bit longer than expected. Listening to the several thousands (!) of entries not only showed us once again, that the metal-underground is alive and kickin’ like never before, but there are a lot of new and fresh bands who definitely deserve their chance, and they will get it sooner or later. It has taken a lot of time filtering out the best bands out of so many REALLY good entries. Right now, we’re in contact with some bands and we’re confident to present the winning band by the end of June (yeah, this year!). We are terribly sorry to keep all you bands, Fans and interested Metalheads on tenterhooks, but one thing’s certain: the wining band will kick some serious butt, so the few extra weeks of waiting will soon be forgotten. Stay metal… and stay patient! *** ANTHRAX - New audio interview with Scott Ian online   TalkingMetal.com has posted episode 60 of their "Talking Metal" podcast. The episode features a 15-minute interview hosts Mark Strigl and John Ostronomy conducted with ANTHRAX and DAMNOCRACY guitarist Scott Ian. Interview topics include VH1 "SuperGroup", a new ANTHRAX album, Katee Sackoff, "Battlestar Galactica", and the SciFi Channel. Additional podcast topics include VH1 "Rock Honors" and their Air to the Throne contest, Richard Fortus, Honky Toast, Sean Baker, and rumors regarding San Francisco guitarist Brian Kehoe's apparent recent audition for GUNS N' ROSES. The 45-minute podcast can be downloaded at this location. iTunes users can also subscribe to "Talking Metal" for free at this location. ***   CANDLEMASS - Messiah will sing on new album!   Swedish doomsters CANDLEMASS have posted a new message on their official web site regarding singer Messiah Marcolin's announcement that he was leaving the band. As previously reported, Marcolin contacted BLABBERMOUTH.NET on Friday (April 28) to reveal that he has parted ways with the group and that it's 100 percent definite that he will not return. "We could not agree on how to do the new album," he said, but would not further elaborate on his sudden exit. The latest message on CANDLEMASS' web site (dated April 30) reads as follows: "Messiah's got a severe pre-recording psychosis at the moment, so folks, please calm down. The band is confident that he will sing on the album as planned. CANDLEMASS will enter the new Polar Studios [in Stockholm] in May to record the follow up to last year's successful 'Candlemass'. The new album will feature nine tracks but is yet untitled. The band produces themselves." CANDLEMASS recorded four new songs with producer Andy Sneap (NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD) in late February at the new Polar studios in Stockholm, Sweden. At the time, the group's bassist/songwriter Leif Edling said of the material, "The songs are pretty much in the same vein as the stuff on the [self-titled 2005] reunion album, maybe a bit darker."  ***   ALL SHALL PERISH - Complete work on new album   Oakland's death metal bruisers ALL SHALL PERISH have set "The Price of Existence" as the title of their second Nuclear Blast offering, tentatively due this summer. According to a press release, "this new album from ALL SHALL PERISH shows incredible maturity and a more focused approach to both songwriting and delivery. Although 'Hate, Malice, Revenge' was in-your-face and plenty brutal, 'The Price of Existence' enables the band to encompass more of a convicted style to their music that will no doubt help them rise above the packs of metalcore/death crossover bands currently garnering attention." Commented drummer Matt Kuykendall: "The album is done and epic as fu*k, the artwork is being finalised and hopefully won't be censored. The new songs are lightyears and warped speeds ahead of the past stuff...expect some ridiculous solos and crazy diverse songs!" Massive touring will ensue in support of the new album, starting off with a full U.S. tour with SUICIDE SILENCE and LIGHT THIS CITY throughout July and August. In the meantime, you can check out a demo MP3 of ALL SHALL PERISH's new song "Eradication" on the band's web site, www.allshallperish.com  ***   DEATHSTARS - Announce new session guitarist   Sweden's DEATHSTARS have announced the addition of session guitarist Cat for all the upcoming festival gigs and tours this summer and fall. His first gig with the band was at the Close-Up Festival in Stockholm, Sweden on April 15. Upcoming DEATHSTARS shows: May 01 - Vienna, AUT @ Prater Festival May 26 - Kristianstad, SWE @ Majfestivalen Jun. 01 - Salzburg, AUT @ Rockhouse Jun. 02 - Leipzig, GER @ Wave Gotik Treffen Jun. 24 - Stockholm, SWE @ Hovet (w/ DISSECTION) Jun. 30 - Helsinki, FIN @ Tuska Festival Jul. 08 - Borlange, SWE @ Peace and Love Jul. 21 - Tolmin, SLO @ Metalcamp Jul. 22 - Kreuth, GER @ Earthshaker Fest Aug. 04 - Hultsfred, SWE @ Gates Of Metal Aug. 12 - Hildesheim, GER @ M'era Luna Aug. 18 - Ostalbkreis, GER @ Summer Breeze  ***   HAMMERFALL - Complete nine songs for new album   HAMMERFALL guitarist Oscar Dronjak has posted the following message on his official blog: "We have once again spent three days in the rehearsal room, playing through the now nine songs finished for the album. I can't remember feeling this good about the material before a recording, ever. Especially not for the last album, then I was very unsure about how things would turn out. This time, the feeling is the complete opposite. Go figure. Very weird, but good! "Joacim [Cans, vocals] threw a great barbecue party for us all on Saturday evening, and then we went to watch DRAGONLAND and BLOODBOUND, among others, perform at the second annual Gothenburg Metal Festival. Right now, I'm sitting in front of the TV trying to watch Jim Carrey lose it in 'Bruce Almighty' and Sweden vs. Russia in the finals of the LG Hockey Games simultaneously on a split screen. Tired but content after a really good weekend." HAMMERFALL are expected to enter the studio this summer to begin recording their new album for an October 2006 release. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Dark Wings, Dark Words", "Carved In Stone", "Titan", "Shadow Empire", "Threshold" and "Rebel Inside".  ***   Obituary / Gorerotted / Gojira - UK Tour 2006  11 June 2006 - Mean Fiddler - London, England 12 June 2006 - TBC - England 13 June 2006 - Soundhaus - Glasgow, Scotland *** Cryptopsy / Gorerotted / She Said Destroy / Sylosis - UK and Ireland Tour 2006 12 August 2006 - Ghostfest (Cockpit) - Leeds, England 13 August 2006 - Rock City - Nottingham, England 14 August 2006 - Roadkill 350 - Liverpool, England 15 August 2006 - An Cruiscin Lan - Cork, Ireland 16 August 2006 - Temple Bar Music Veneu - Dublin, Ireland 17 August 2006 - Barfly - Glasgow, Scotland 18 August 2006 - Edwards No 8 - Birmingham, England 19 August 2006 - Underworld - London, England 20 August 2006 - Waterfront, Norwich, England  *** NEAERA live  06.05. Düren, Komm 12.05. Münster, Triptychon 20.05. Brandenburg, HdO 27.05. De Haan (B), De Broodkasse 10.06. Hohenems (A), Transmitter Festival 17.06. Trier, Summer Blast Festival 25.06. Herne, Pressure Festival 01.07. Münster, Vainstream Festival 15.07. Quierschied, Hells Kitchen Festival 22.07. Reutlingen, Crossed Youth Festival 29.07. Dieburg, Traffic Jam Festival 16.-18.08. Summer Breeze Open Air 25.-27.08. Ieper (B), Ieper Fest 26.08. Schüttorf, Komplex Open Air 30.09. Göppingen, Perry Force Festival 08.09. Huttenheim, Woodysstock Festival 09.09. Niesky, Dirty Dancing II Festival 28.10. Court St.Etienne (B), Halloween Rockfestival booking: www.greenhell.de  *** Koroded (D) live www.koroded.com | Silverdust Records 03.05.2006 BREMEN (D) Tower 04.05.2006 MÖNCHENGLADBACH (D) Projekt 42 19.05.2006 KOELN (D) MTC *release show* w/ Crosscut, Farewell To Words, Parkway Drive... 20.05.2006 DUEREN (D) KSE Fest 27.05.2006 TUTTLINGEN (D) Jukuz w/ Crisis Never Ends, Losing All ... 09.06.2006 WACHENROTH (D) Suffering Life Festival w/ Undertow, Disbelief and more... 20.06.2006 NANCY (FR) Azimut 854 w/ Exodus  *** Amon Amarth in the studio  Swedish Viking Death Metal heroes AMON AMARTH have started recordings for their sixth full length album. This time around the band has entered Fascination Street studio (Opeth, Soilwork) / www.fascinationstreet.se in their home country Sweden. AMON AMARTH will record all through May until the 14th of June with producer Jens Bogren. There will be frequent updates with pictures from the recordings on their homepage www.amonamarth.com  The yet untitled album is scheduled for release mid to end of September!  *** IN FLAMES - To film 'Come Clarity' video   Sweden's IN FLAMES will be shooting a video later this month in California for the title track from their latest album, "Come Clarity". The clip will be directed by Lex Halaby, who has previously worked with MUDVAYNE and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE among others. In other news, IN FLAMES will embark on a short Swedish tour dubbed "A Day In Flames" in August/September 2006. The dates are as follows: Aug. 26 - Göteborg, SWE @ Röda Sten Aug. 30 - Stockholm, SWE @ Gröna Lund Sep. 02 - Malmö, SWE @ Mölleplatsen  ***  DEATHSTARS - New session guitarist announced   Swedish Death Glam rockers DEATHSTARS have grown into a quintet again: After the split with former guitar player Beast X Electric in August 2005, the band now announced a new session guitarist named "Cat" - he'll be joining the band on all their upcoming summer festival shows and on tour in fall. Cat already made his DEATHSTARS live debut at the Close Up Festival in Stockholm, Sweden, on April 15th, followed by the gig at the Prater Fest in Vienna, Austria, on May 1st, proving that he fits the line up more than well.  ***  The Ocean live update  The Ocean online tour diary...has been updated. Not until the very end yet, but there's new pics and stories up there. Check back frequently. More coming soon!  UPCOMING GIGS 05.05. | Berlin | Knaack 06.05. | Bayreuth | Glashaus 12.05. | Jena | Rosenkeller 04.08. | Fredericia (DK) Fredericia Hardcore Fest 05.08. | Chemnitz | Welcome Goodbye Summer Open Air 10.08. | CZ - | Brutal Assault Festival (tbc) 19.08. | Dinkelsbühl | Summerbreeze Festival 26.08. | B - Gent | Ieper Fest   www.theoceancollective.com www.myspace.com/theoceancollective  ***  New videoclips at www.metalblade.de!  Please surf to our website and check out the latest videoclips from Metal Blade. All for free. Here´s the latest clips you can find on the starting page (just scroll down): ·        CANNIBAL CORPSE - Make Them Suffer ·        AS I LAY DYING - The Darkest Nights ·        THE OCEAN - One With The Sea ·        NEAERA - Let The Tempest Come ·        ANGEL BLAKE - The Forsaken ·        THE RED CHORD - Blue Line Cretin ·        IF HOPE DIES - Anthem For The Unemployable  ***  CATARACT special release show plus competition!  CATARACT release show 24th of May at the Abart club in Zürich! Straight from the keyboard of the CATARACT HQ: “Our record release show is getting closer and closer and we can't wait to get on the Abart stage. This record release show will definitely be something to remember, as we will have tons of specials for you. Check this out and get your ticket right now on starticket.ch and pitfire.net ! specials: - special guest appearance - special guests: dark day dungeon - party with DJ clitgun & ls tee - win a backstage package - coverset - choose one your favourite cover songs - the list with the covers will be online soon - we will play the 10 most rated cover songs with specials guests - everyone will get a free Cataract goodie with their ticket - doors : 21.00 h - get a free Cataract gift with your ticket - tickets: starticket.ch or pitfire.net Backstage Package Poll - Win a backstage package ! You and a friend will spend the afternoon with the band, get access to the VIP area with your VIP passes, food & drinks, signed CD and the brand new “Kingdom” T-shirt! To be the lucky winner you just need answer the question below and email us the right answer before may 20th to info@cataract.cc. Only one winner will be drawn from all correct answers! what's the name of cataract's record label ? roadrunner century media metal blade Got it ? Be fast and don't miss the deadline! Cataract - Kingdom's rise! Turn on your speakers to the max and click here to check out the CATARACT online player! Listen to TWO NEW SONGS and win some cool goodies: http://www.metalblade.de/cataract_player/  ***  BORN FROM PAIN live dates  04.05. Piracicaba - Sp (Brasil) + TERROR 05.05. Belo Horizonte - Matriz (Brasil) + TERROR 06.05. Vila Velha - Es (Brasil) + TERROR 07.05. Sao Paulo - Hanger 110 (Brasil) + TERROR 12.05. Schleiden/ Gemünd - Walhalla (Germany) 13.05. Hameln - Regenbogen Joch`n`Roll Fest (Germany) 20.05. Veenendaal - Escape (Netherlands) 26.05. Heidenheim - Mosh Im Beet Open Air (Germany) 27.05. Torhout - Club de B (Belgium) + LIAR 09.06. Heerde - Herrier Festival (Belgium) 16.06. Saarbrücken - Stoneage (Germany) 18.06. London - Mean Fiddler (United Kingdom) + MAROON + THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER 19.06. Glasgow - Cathouse (United Kingdom) + MAROON + THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER 20.06. Manchaster - Music Box (United Kingdom) + MAROON + THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER 21.06. Sheffield - The Plug (United Kingdom) + MAROON + THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER 22.06. Milton Keynes - Pitz (United Kingdom) + MAROON + THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER 23.06. Groningen - Simplon (Neatherlands) 25.06. Clisson - Hellfest (France) ) 30.06. Roitzschjora - With Full Force Open Air (Germany) 08.07. Barcelona - Brutal Noise Fest (Spain) 13.07. Rakamz - Tokaj Festival (Hungary) 15.07. Dour - Dour Festival (Germany) 21.07. Feldkirch - Poolbar (Österreich) 22.07. Urbach - Zabbaduschder Open Air (Germany) 29.07. Weißenfels - No Silent Backlands (Germany) ) 04.08. Wacken - W.O.A. (Germany) 05.08. Leisnig - Sucks’nSummer Festival (Germany) 12.08. Wateringen - Waterpop (Netherlands) 26.08. Gränichen - Open Air Festival (Switzerland) 30.09. Heerlen - SPPZ (Netherlands) + DO OR DIE booking: www.mad-tourbooking.de  ***  WINTERSUN - Begin recording new album WINTERSUN, the band led by former ENSIFERUM singer Jari Mäenpää, have posted the following message on their official web site: "We entered the studios [on May 2]. The day went setting up the drums, changing the drumheads, miking the drums, making the basic drum sound and Kai playing too fast all day long (and driving Nino crazy). Jiiiihhaaaaa! [On May 3] we [started] the actual recordings. "In this studio session we will be recording only the drums, rhythm guitars and bass. I [Jari] will continue recording the vocals, solos and synths/samples at my home 'studio'/rehearsal place during the summer. The melody/acoustic guitars I will be recording with Teemu. The mixing will take place in autumn and the release is scheduled for the end of this year. "The album will be called 'Time' and the track titles are: 01. Sons of Winter and Stars 02. Land of Snow and Sorrow 03. Time 04. Fire 05. One with the Shadows 06. Storm 07. Silver Leaves "Seven epic songs and quite long ones, over 65 minutes of material. It's a theme album. The music has some new dimensions, but has also the recognisable 'WINTERSUN style.' So hopefully you will stay patient, the wait will be worth it!" WINTERSUN's music has been described as a mix between early AMORPHIS, CHILDREN OF BODOM, FINNTROLL and ENSIFERUM.  ***   HYPOCRISY - Will not be touring this fall   Despite Internet rumours to the contrary, HYPOCRISY will NOT be part of the fall North American tour with FEAR FACTORY, SUFFOCATION and DECAPITATED, according to a posting on the band's official web site. HYPOCRISY recently completed a North American tour with NILE, SOILENT GREEN, RAGING SPEEDHORN, DECAPITATED, and WITH PASSION in support of their 2005 acclaimed release, "Virus". Upcoming HYPOCRISY shows: Jun. 24 - Nummirock Festival - Nummijärvi, FIN Jul. 22 - Metalcamp Festival - Tolmin, SLO Aug. 11 - Party.San Open Air Festival - Bad Berka, GER  ***   SOILWORK - New guitarist   Sweden's SOILWORK have acquired guitarist Daniel Antonsson (DIMENSION ZERO, PATHOS) as the replacement for Peter Wichers, who left the band in December to pursue a career in producing. A video clip of the new SOILWORK line up performing the track "One with the Flies" on April 11, 2006 at Voxhall in Aarhus, Denmark can be found at YouTube.com. A photo of Antonsson and fellow SOILWORK guitarist Ola Frenning playing live on March 2, 2006 in Budapest, Hungary can be viewed at www.photopit.com. SOILWORK will make their North American live debut with Antonsson this fall when return for a five-week tour that will take them coast to coast starting October 5. Also appearing on the bill will be DARKEST HOUR, MNEMIC and THREAT SIGNAL. Confirmed dates are as follows: Oct. 05 - Jaxx - West Springfield, VA Oct. 06 - The Chance - Poughkeepsie, NY Oct. 07 - Webster Theatre - Hartford, CT Oct. 09 - The Opera House - Toronto, ON Oct. 10 - L'Imperial - Quebec City, QC Oct. 11 - Foufounes Electriques - Montreal, QC Oct. 12 - Saratoga Winners - Cohoes, NY Oct. 13 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA Oct. 14 - Peabody’s Down Under - Cleveland, OH Oct. 15 - The Pearl Room - Mokena, IL Oct. 16 - Sokol Underground - Omaha, NE Oct. 17 - Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO Oct. 19 - The Pound - San Francisco, CA Oct. 20 - House of Blues - Hollywood, CA Oct. 21 - House of Blues - Anaheim, CA Oct. 22 - The Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ Oct. 23 - Launch Pad - Albuquerque, NM Oct. 24 - White Rabbit - San Antonio, TX Oct. 25 - Warehouse Live - Houston, TX Oct. 27 - Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, FL Oct. 28 - The State Theatre - St. Petersburg, FL Oct. 29 - House of Blues - Lake Buena Vista, FL Nov. 01 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA Nov. 02 - Planet Rock - Jacksonville, NC Nov. 03 - The Norva - Norfolk, VA Nov. 04 - Sonar - Baltimore, MD Nov. 05 - B.B. Kings Blues Club - New York City, NY Nov. 07 - Starlight Ballroom - Philadelphia, PA Nov. 09 - Rex Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA Nov. 10 - Penny Arcade - Rochester, NY Nov. 11 - Harpo's Concert Theatre - Detroit, MI  ***   THREAT SIGNAL - Release parties announced  To celebrate the upcoming release of the much anticipated album "Under Reprisal" by extreme metallers THREAT SIGNAL — due on May 26 — Nuclear Blast is proud to announce several release parties all over Germany to give fans a first listen of the album. Be there, listen to some amazing new songs and win fantastic prices (Shirts, autographed CDs, Poster, amm.) here: THREAT SIGNAL RELEASEPARTIES: 26.05. Barfly Sonthofen 26.05. Rockfabrik Augsburg 26.05. Nachtpalais Nürnberg 26.05. Nachtcafe Münster 26.05. Flash St. Wendel 26.05 Halle-luja Oedt NEU 27.05. Club Prag Stuttgart - präsentiert von www.bleedingnose.de 27.05. Sumpfblume Hameln 02.06. Rockclub U2 Ingolstadt 02.06. Chemnitz Südbahnhof NEU 10.06. Kulturladen Konstanz  ***   THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER announces their new members! We are pleased to make known the two latest additions to The Black Dahlia Murder. Drummer Pierre Langois and bassist Bart Williams are now officially part of the death metal machine known as The Black Dahlia Murder. After both musicians toured with the band on their co-headlining run with Throwdown and their European dates with Liar they decided these were the guys they wanted to join to their group fulltime.   Here’s what guitarist Brian Eschbach had to say: “We are very proud to announce the additions of Bart and Pierre to the BDM fold. We have already completed two tours together and feel that there are many more to come.” Make sure to catch The Black Dahlia Murder when they come around with the Sounds of the Underground tour featuring In Flames, Trivium and label mates Cannibal Corpse and headliners As I Lay Dying. http://www.blackdahliamurder.org/  ***  CATTLE DECAPITATION seen in malls across America! Okay well not in the sense that the band is playing in malls across America but a girls accessory store by the name of Icing (owned by Claire’s) has recently put up easels in front of store’s across the US featuring a somewhat “punk rock” looking girl sporting a Cattle Decapitation shirt. What is even more intriguing then a girl’s accessory store supporting a grind band in their store displays is the fact that particular T-shirt could only be bought off the band while on tour. So apparently Cattle Decapitation has quite the following of girls in their teens. Who would have thought of it?!?! Cattle Decapitation’s third release on Metal Blade Records titled Karma.Bloody.Karma will be in stores on July 30th 2006. http://www.cattledecapitation.com/  ***  CATTLE DECAPITATION NOMINATED for PETA 2's SEXIEST VEGETARIANS of 2006!!! ... NO JOKE(although we're all laughing our a**es off over here): CLICK HERE to vote for Travis Ryan, Troy Oftedal, Josh Elmore or Michael Laughlin of CATTLE DECAPITATION as one of 2006's SEXIEST VEGETARIANS at www.peta2.org! Because at the end of the day, you all know that when you think CATTLE DECAPITATION, you think SEXXXY! WE GOT A DRUMMER! The band has added Tampa, Florida 's own J.R. Daniels(ex-Unholy Ghost/Royal Anguish) to its roster! He'll be covering the upcoming tours and is a permanent replacement! SEE YOU PEOPLE ON TOUR!!! http://www.cattledecapitation.com  ***  CELLADOR album update!  The mastering process has been completed for our debut album “Enter Deception” and the album is now being pressed as we speak for a release date set for June 30th. The track listing for the album has been finalized and is as follows:  CELLADOR - Enter Deception: 1. Leaving All Behind 2. A Sign Far Beyond 3. Never Again 4. Forever Unbound 5. Seen Through Time 6. Wakening 7. Releasing the Shadow 8. No Chances Lost  BONUS TRACKS 9. Forever Unbound (demo version) 10. No Chances Lost (demo version)   As some of you have noticed, our original 2nd track "The Final Regret" didn't make the final track list purely due to issues of time schedules and most definitely not due to issues of song quality. It sucks because the song was 230 BPM and was probably our most extreme. The song will be released at a later time. The cover artwork for “Enter Deception” was once again done by JP Fournier.  *** DEMIRICOUS on the hunt for a new drummer!   Indianapolis ’ finest, Demiricous, are currently auditioning drummers. If you have what it takes to jam with the most intense metal band around and are up for a rigorous touring schedule please contact mark@middlecoastmanagement.com. http://www.demiricous.com  ***   BEYOND THE EMBRACE to hit the studio!   First Off we'd like to thank all the guys in Green Carnation, Jim Keller, and all the promoters and club owners across the country for making our tour last month, a good one. There were a couple of bumps along the never-ending road but we're back home and enjoying it. We'll be hitting Drowning Sun Recordings in MA, my project studio, in about a week to finish song writing for our long overdue third release for Metal Blade Records. We hope to start tracking before the end of spring. So keep checking in for studio reports and any hometown shows we may have coming up. Thanx-Oscar Gouveia http://www.beyondtheembrace.com  ***  CALLENISH CIRCLE supporting CRADLE OF FILTH  Dutch x-treme metallers Callenish Circle are invited to support Cradle of Filth on their exclusive Benelux club show. The show will take place on Thursday 1st of June in the main hall of the new Effenaar venue in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Cradle of Filth will embark on a festival tour and this will be their only Benelux club date on which Callenish Circle will play as exclusive support act. Doors open at 19.30 and the programme starts at 20.00. For more info and tickets : www.effenaar.nl / www.callenish-circle.com / www.cradleoffilth.com  ***  DESASTER live update  03./04.06.06 D Bitterfeld - United Metal Maniacs Open Air (w/ Deströyer666, Dekapitator, Decayed, Primordial a.m.) 15.07.06 D Erbstetten - Metallic Noise Festival Open Air (w/ Holy Moses, Disbelief, Dark Fortress a.o.) 10.-12.08.06 D Bad Berka - Party.San Open Air (w/ Deströyer666, Nifelheim, Hellrunar, Watain a.o.) 09.09.06 LUX Luxembourg - TBA (w/ Scornage) 25.11.06 D Hamm - Ragers Elite Festival (w/ Delirious and more...) Info: www.total-desaster.de  ***  PRIMORDIAL + MOURNING BELOVETH live update  London - ELEKTROWERKZ (near kings cross tube station) SATURDAY MAY 27TH 2006 First PRIMORDIAL show in London since ages!  ***  THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER live update  09.06. Hohenems - Tennis-Event-Center „Transmitter Festival“ (Austria) - + LIAR + MAROON + DESTINY + ect… 10.06. Antwerpen - Hof Ter Lo (Belgium) + BLIND SIGHT 11.06. Enschede - Attack (Holland) + BLIND SIGHT 12.06. Köln - Live Music Hall (Germany) + BLIND SIGHT 14.06. Bielefeld - The Movie (Germany) + BLIND SIGHT + HATEBREED 15.06. Berlin - SO36 (Germany) + BLIND SIGHT 17.06. Trier - Summer Blast Festival (Germany) 18.06. London - Mean Fiddler (United Kingdom ) + MAROON + BORN FROM PAIN 19.06. Glasgow - Cathouse (United Kingdom ) + MAROON + BORN FROM PAIN 20.06. Manchester - Music Box (United Kingdom ) + MAROON + BORN FROM PAIN 21.06. Sheffield - The Plug (United Kingdom ) + MAROON + BORN FROM PAIN 22.06. Milton Keynes - Pitz (United Kingdom ) + MAROON + BORN FROM PAIN 23.06. Clisson - Hellfest (France) + BLIND SIGHT 24.06. Clisson - Hellfest (France) + BLIND SIGHT 25.06. Herne - Pressure Festival (Germany) + BLIND SIGHT 26.06. Schweinfurt - Alter Stadtbahnhof (Germany) + BLIND SIGHT + EVERGREEN TERRACE + MACHINEMADE GOD 27.06. Dornbirn - Café Schlachthof (Austria) + BLIND SIGHT + EVERGREEN TERRACE + MACHINEMADE GOD 28.06. Turin - Chico Bum Festival (Italy ) + BLIND SIGHT 29.06. Stuttgart - Universum (Germany) + BLIND SIGHT 30.06. Roitzschjora - With Full Force Open Air (Germany ) info: info@mad-tourbooking.de  ***  AMON AMARTH DVD-release pushed back!   Due to unfortunate circumstances in the process of production the AMON AMARTH 3-DVD-set „Wrath Of The Norsemen“ has to be pushed back again. New release date is the 26th of May (GAS) / 29th of May (Europe).  ***  HAMMERFALL - Oscar checks in from the studio   HAMMERFALL guitarist Oscar Dronjak has posted the following studio update on the bands official website: "Woke up hearing the voices of the others in the kitchen and decided it was time to get up as well. The day started out with some computer work, so Anders [Johansson, drums] and I decided to invent a couple of new table tennis-based sports using, among other things, pool cues and balls as well as our own hands instead of rackets. "The proposed single (Anders practically demanded it!) is called 'Natural High' (for the time being, at least) was next. It's a moderately fast song (like 'Renegade', for example), with a very melodic chorus. What we do over these first five or so days is that we lay the foundation for the whole production, the ground work on top of which everything else is supposed to fit. So it's very important that the drum patterns follow the guitars, of course, something I already have done on the demos. But what we also do here is try to come up with more interesting patterns in places where that is needed, or ones that makes sense when mine doesnt. This is a process that requires Anders to play through the songs quite a few times before we all have agreed on what to do. Granted, the changes are usually minor, but in my experience it is the attention to details that separates a good recording from a great one. Plus, I don't want to be stuck changing the guitars later on just because we were sloppy when laying down the drums. And if there's one thing that [producer] Charlie [Bauerfeind] is not, it's sloppy. He's got that sort of obsessive-compulsive behaviour of dissecting every little segment almost to the point of (German?) madness. I'm exaggerating, of course, but this one of the things Charlie does best. Plus, hes got amazingly good ears, nothing escapes them. "After finishing the track, Anders and I went to McDonalds for a late lunch. Not my first choice today but it served its purpose. Went to a new supermarket called Loevebjerg to get more food and wine on the way back. Snuck in a quick nap and then took a bite out of 'The Fire Burns Forever', another moderately fast song but with a lot of backing vocals and Joacim [Cans] singing as high as he (probably) can. Should be interesting. The drum patterns I had laid out didnt make it through the Charlie filter, so they set about rearranging almost every part in this song. Finally, everyone was happy and the track turned out really cool. "We watched some more ice-hockey and then I helped Anders change heads on the drums, and that was it for today. Being a good soldier, Anders went to bed to feel rested tomorrow, while Charlie fiddlded around with somehting and I wrote this." Check out a video and a picture from the studio. HAMMERFALL's new album is tentatively scheduled for an October 2006 release. Songtitles set to appear on the CD are "Dark Wings, Dark Words", "Carved In Stone", "Titan", "Shadow Empire", "Threshold" and "Rebel Inside".  ***   THERION - Enter Swedish charts!   THERION have entered the SWEDISH DVD charts on position # 2 !!! That´s pretty amazing! Congratulations!  ***   GOTTHARD - No. 1 in Switzerland   GOTTHARD have just scored their 10th consecutive No. 1 album in their home country of Switzerland. "Made in Switzerland" — which beat the latest releases from TOOL and PEARL JAM — is a CD/DVD set that contains 17 songs that were recorded during a concert at the Hallenstadion in Zürich in December 2005. In addition to the complete concert, the DVD includes "making-of" footage and many new photos. GOTTHARD's latest studio effort, "Lipservice", was certified platinum in Switzerland in January 2006 for sales in excess of 40,000 copies. The ceremony took place in Zürich during the "PISA Finals." The CD is reportedly approaching double-platinum status.  ***   RAGE - Victor signs in   As previously reported, RAGE recently wrapped up their European tour in support of their latest album, "Speak Of The Dead". Guitarist Victor Smolski has issued the following post-tour update at his official website "Enjoying all conveniences of my flat after more than 5 weeks in the tour bus, I would like to say 'thanks a lot' to all parties for their efforts at the great success of the Rage European tour. (apart from some shows in Scandinavia - we really have to build up this market). The tour was quite exhausting and tight, but perfectly planned and organized by our booking agency, Dragon Production. Thanks also to Peavy and Mike for their part at the success of the tour and for the raving volume on stage (it's still whistling in my ears...haha). Furthermore, special thanks to the best Rage crew of all times (Charly/sound engineer, Sascha/guitar tech, Jürgen/light & stage design), at our 'Queen of Merch', Jenny, who took care of our fans heart-warming, and at Helge, our bus driver, who brought us home safely. Thanks also to our support band FREEDOM CALL and for the great support of our endorsement companies and Nuclear Blast. I would like to excuse for the sound, which was particulately not perfect, but we have to work with the material, which is provided. That's sometimes not easy and burdening the nerves, but due to the great fans, 'thanks a lot', it hasn't changed anything at the great vibes during the concerts! To get away from that Rock & Roll trip, I will concentrate myself at some race training and at the first two championship of RTCC (Russian Touring Car Championship) in St.Petersburg and Moscow. On the circuit I will collect lots of energy to be fit for the test flight with a Mig 29!! Furthermore the motorsport fans should notice the days from 15th up to the 18th of June. At this time I will take part at the Castrol-Haugg-Cup with my black BMW Alpina B6, and with a white Alfa Romeo Cup racecar at the 24h race on the Nürburgring." See you....Victor  ***   SONATA ARCTICA - Henrik checks in from The Netherlands   As previously reported, SONATA ARCTICA are currently on the road with DORO and ALTARIA. They officially kicked off the tour in Herne, Germany on April 15th. Keyboardist Henkka Klingenberg has updated his ongoing tour diary: 10.05.2006 - Voorschoten, The Netherlands "The three shows in Spain that we did were all pretty hot, but that was kinda expected. In Barcelona we almost missed our show because our bus broke down during the previous night. However, our supercrew managed to set up our gear in an amazingly short time and we pulled through. After spending an off-day somewhere in France (I got the flu and slept all day so I don't know where we were at) we drove to Paris and visited the Eiffel Tower. Those of us who saw it for the first time were kinda impressed. Today is the last off-day on this tour so we decided to go bowling for a change, this time we actually managed to get the Doro-guys with us as well. Tomorrow is show number 150 on this tour, so there might even be a small party, hopefully the flu is gone by then." Cheers, Henkka Remaining dates on the tour are as follows: May 12 - Vechta, Germany at Stadthalle 13 - Langen, Germany at Stadthalle Also as reported, Sonata Arctica's summer festival schedule is as follows: June 20-July 2 - Tuska Festival in Helsinki, Finland July 7-9 - Ruisrock Festival in Turku, Finland 28 - Vauhtiajot, Race & Rock Festival in Seinäjoki, Finland 29 - Qstock Festival in Oulu, Finland  ***   NIGHTWISH - Photos from book release party   The following brief update has been posted at the NIGHTWISH website: "Today was the official Nightwish book's release date in Finland. You can find some pictures from the release party by clicking the Pictures section of this page. As earlier reported, the above mentioned book, written by Nightwish keyboardist/founder Tuomas Holopainen, covers the band's history. You can order the book at the Nightwish online shop. According to the site, the book will be released in several different languages but no further details are available at this time.  ***   SOILWORK - “Speed”: New guitarist hasn't yet been confirmed   SOILWORK vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid has posted the following message on the band's official web site: "It's been ages… Anyways, had a good tour with HYPOCRISY, SCAR SYMMETRY and ONE MAN ARMY in Europe. We also did our first festival for this summer last weekend (yes, the summer has actually arrived in Sweden...). We played among the fjords in Norway (unfortunately it was a indoor festival), still a cool place though. "Something unexpected happened that day: I got sick as a dog when we arrived and performed on stage with 40 degrees of fever (which is how much in Fahrenheit?... Hmm… no clue... it's hellish, though!!). Back home from the festival I had to go straight to the hospital from the airport and they made me stay the night. They found a virus value of 130 in my blood (the value is normally below 8, in a normal condition...) I really don't know what kind of virus that was, but I tell you it was pure hell. I'm glad it wasn´t a normal tour (for example the one we did with HYPOCRISY), then probably Peter Tägtgren would invite me on the bus for some straight-whiskey-northern-Swedish-fever-cure and I'm sure I wouldn't say no, since I enjoy drinking with that guy. The only thing is that I would probably be dead by now. "I'm on the heaviest possible medication right now and I'm starting to feel good enough to pick up the guitar and write some sh*t. "Let me also clarify some things about the [second] guitarist situation: I know that some of you people have seen on some website (take a guess where...) that we have confirmed Daniel Antonsson [DIMENSION ZERO, PATHOS] as the new guitarist of SOILWORK. It's true that he's been touring with us and we like him very much both as a human and as a player, but we have NOT confirmed his spot in SOILWORK. We have decided to go slow with this and really take our time before we make any decisions. We'll keep you updated on that story, nobody else."  ***   CALLENISH CIRCLE - live update  Friday 26.05 : Donkey Shot in Heemskerk (NL) Thursday 01.06 : Effenaar in Eindhoven (NL) - supporting Cradle of Filth ! Friday 02.06 : Het Podium in Hoogeveen (NL) Wednesday 14.06 : De Bosuil in Weert (NL) - supporting Exodus (new date) ! Saturday 15.07 : Bloodstock Open Air @ Catton Park in South Derbyshire (UK) Saturday 30.09 : Sleutelrock @ De Peuk in Valkenburg (NL) Friday 13.10 : Hedon in Zwolle (NL)   *** MACHINEMADE GOD:ADDITIONAL live shows to the latest update  July, 3rd @ MTC, Köln w/Evergreen Terrace August, 20th @ Rockfabrik, Übach-Palenberg w/Maroon + Deadsoil ***  POWERWOLF - live update  Jun 23/24 - GERMANY, Balingen @ Bang your Head Festival Jul 21 - Germany, Kirnbach @ Moosenmättle Open Air Sep 9 - Germany, Wuppertal @ Die Börse Sep 30 - Germany, Kusel @ United Metalheads Festival Dec 16 - Austria, Vienna @ Christmas Metal Festival   *** Rise Above Records Newsletter May 2006. www.riseaboverecords.com NEW RELEASES Luv Machine - ‘Witches Wand/ Don’t Let The Blues Take Over pt.3’ single available now. This classic single from 1970 is re-released as limited edition of 500 copies in pic sleeve on red vinyl. This marks the first release on the newly formed Rise Above Relics label which features a previously unreleased B-side. The single will be followed by the first official re release of the bands classic self titled 1971 album. The reissue will go under the original intended title of ‘Turns You On!’ and features no less than previously 6 unreleased tracks taken from original master tapes. The vinyl version will be deluxe gatefold featuring many unseen photo’s etc. It will include a bonus 12" EP with the 6 unreleased tracks. A must for fans of underground 70’s rock. Luv Machine was a very unique band who relocated to England from Barbados in the late 60’s. Their sound is a heady mix of Hard Rock, Soul, Psych & Prog with a Caribbean Twist! Leaf Hound 45 Still Available. They’re still in stock but going fast. The first vinyl release form these totally classic 70’s Rock gods in over 3 decades is a live recording from The Borderline in September 2005. Only 500 of these babies were pressed in Rise Above house bags. Be sure to order a copy now while they’re still in stock. www.leafhound.net Ultra Limited Circulus LP pressing on clear vinyl available now (100 only!). The already classic debut album by Circulus; ‘The Lick On The Tip Of An Envelope Yet To Be Sent’ has been pressed on clear vinyl in a very small run of 100 copies. They are on sale exclusively through the Rise Above store and will not be available anywhere else. They are being sold on a strictly ‘first come, first served’ basis. New Cathedral Merchandise On Sale. New Cathedral merchandise merchandise has also been added to the store. COMING SOON Electric Wizard - Remastered, CD's coming released May 22nd. The entire Rise Above back catalogue of Electric Wizard titles have been re-mastered and repackaged in digi format with booklet & extra tracks. These are the definitive versions with ultra crushing sound. *Pre-Electric Wizard - 1989/1994 (Featuring tracks from Lord Of Putrefaction, Thy Grief Eternal & Eternal). First time ever on CD. *Electric Wizard - S/T. Includes the previously unreleased Doom Chapter demo’s. *Come My Fanatics. Includes 2 extra tracks; Demon Lung & Return To The Sun Of Nothingness. *Dopethrone. Includes ‘Mind Transferral’. *Let Us Prey. Includes ‘Mother Of Serpents’. *We Live. Includes ‘The Living Dead At Manchester Morgue’. **Special vinyl versions of S/T, Come My Fanatics & Let Us Prey will be released later in the coming months. In other Wizard related news, the band are set to record their first ever DVD in the studio. It’s going to be a uniquely macabre mind warping experience. A new band website is also under construction. http://www.myspace.com/electricwizard13monkey New Rise Above Forum; http://www.riseaboverecords.com/aspbb/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=6 Circulus - New album finished! Tentatively titled ‘Clocks Are Like People’, everyone’s favourite medieval folk progsters are set to releases their new masterpiece, hopefully by July. The perfect follow up to last years rave reviewed & Received ‘The Lick On The Tip...’ album, their latest opus was produced by Kit Woolven (Thin Lizzy, UFO, David Bowie, Cathedral, Anathema, Cradle Of Filth!). Be prepared to be amazed by such marvels as ‘Song Of Our Despair’, ‘Dragon’s Dance’ and ‘Velocity Races’. Baroque rock of the highest order! Catch them live; MAY 12 Town Hall, High Wycombe 13 Witchfest, Fairfield Hall, Croydon 14 TJ's Newport, Wales Newport JUN 7 Falmouth Pavillion Falmouth, Cornwall 8 Cheese and Grain, Frome, Somerset 11 Lynton and Lynmouth Music Festival Devon 15 Colchester Arts Centre Colchester 17 Hultsfred Festival, Sweden Sweden 24 Witchfest, Cardiff, Wales 30 Tapestry Festival, Wales JUL 9 Cornbury Festival, Oxford 22 Supersonic, Birmingham B9 4AA AUG 18 Green Man Festival, Hay-on-Wye http://www.circulus.org/ http://www.myspace.com/circulus Firebird - Hot Wings Bill Steer is back and sounding on fire with is latest album for Rise Above Records. Titled ‘Hot Wings’ the album also features long term collaborator Ludwig Witt of Spiritual Beggars behind the kit. Hot Wings is slated for an early July release. The band have lined up a string of dates in Ireland, as follows; Thursday 25th May - Fred Zeppelins, Cork Friday 26th May - Fibber Magees, Dublin Saturday 27th May - Katy Daly’s, Belfast Sunday 28th May - The Dunglow Bar, Derry Witchcraft - New ‘Killer’ single. The Swedish masters of Macabre Rock return with a new single entitled ‘If Crimson Was Your Colour’/ ‘I Know You Killed Someone’. Two awesome sounding brand new tracks. The single will be released early May. www.witchcrafthome.com http://www.myspace.com/witchcraftswe Winters - EP Coming soon. We were blown away by this new London band after being recommended to them by a friend. As a result, we will be releasing a self titled a self titled 4 - track 12" & CD. We hope to have this availabe by July. For more info on these guys, check out their Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/winterstheband Chrome Hoof - EP Those silver robed prog psychonauts who feature Cathedral bassist Leo Smee have recorded an EP of epic proportions for Rise Above Records. Stay tuned for updates and estimated release date. Currently scheduled for a July release. www.chromehoof.com 7" Singles Club series continues with Moss/Thee Plague Of Gentlemen, Gentleman’s Pistol’s & Burning Saviours. Coming in the next couple of months are killer singles from these killer bands. First will be the sickeningly heavy split with Moss & Thee Plague Of Gentlemen, limited to 500 copies in Rise Above Records company sleeves. The Gentleman’s Pistols & Burning Saviours 45’s will follow shortly afterwards. Litmus - Violent Space Rock Attack! Litmus are in the studio adding the finishing touched to their second cosmic holocaust, or in other words, their debut album for Rise Above Records. To be titled Planetfall, songs scheduled to appear include, ‘Destroy The Mothership’, ‘Lost Stations’, ‘Expanding Universe’ and ‘Psychic Projection’. We’ll leave to an anonymous band member to give us his report on studio developments; " With this album, Litmus are dragging the re-animated corpse of Spacerock kicking and screaming into the 21st century, pumping it full of steroids and adrenaline and post-punk-electro-psych-doom stupidity". Planetfall is slated for a September release. www.litmusmusic.co.uk NEWS Revamped Rise Above Site Finally, with the help of our man d[esign]Void the new Rise Above site is now active. Please feel free to use the new forums etc. The site will continue to be expanded over the coming months, we hope you like it. Also, we would like to apologise to any of our customers who have experienced delays in receiving their orders. We have been in the process of moving office and everything is now back on track. For customers who prefer to use Paypal, our normal Paypal service will be activated once again over this coming weekend. Cathedral to play Donnington! Nominated for Metal Hammer’s Golden Gods. Cathedral have been nominated ‘Best Underground Band’ for this years Metal Hammer Golden Gods awards. You can vote for them by following this link http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/gods/ You can also vote for them by SMS if you are a UK resident. Simply text MHUND A to number 87103 The band also make their debut appearance at this years Donnington Download Festival. They play on the Third stage early evening on Friday 9th June. The Cathedral website will hopefully be restored shortly, in the mean time there is a new official forum at the new Rise Above Records Site. This will be linked directly from www.cathedralcoven.com shortly. In the mean time you can leave messages here; http://www.riseaboverecords.com/aspbb/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=12 www.myspace.com/cathedraluk Taint & Capricorns Play Hellfest Both bands head over to France to play the Hellfest; June 24th - Hellfest 2006,Clisson, France w/ Korn, Cradle of Filth, Alice In Chains, Entombed, Knut, Knuckledust, Capricorns + more.. infoat www.hellfest.fr Taint also play the following shows; July 15th - Dour Festlival, Belgium, w/ Agnostic Front, High On Fire, Mudhoney + more.. info at www.dourfestival.be July 22nd, Sat - Pontypridd, Wales, Tom's Bar. July 29th, Sat - Compass Point Festival, Cardiff August 6th - Le Pub w/ Cursed + The Keep *Vinyl versions of both bands recent albums will be available shortly. www.taint.co.uk/ www.myspace.com/taintuk www.c-a-p-r-i-c-o-r-n-s.com http://www.myspace.com/capricornsoflondon sHeavy European Tour Plans are underway for a European tour by these Canadian Sabbathian legends. The tour kick off on 11th July at The Camden Underworld as special guests to Brant Bjork And The Bro’s. More dates to confirmed shortly. The bands first DVD is also available from the Rise Above Store. www.sheavy.com http://www.myspace.com/sheavymetal Orange Goblin head to the USA Damn right! Orange Goblin are heading over the Atlantic for the following dates: May 16 The Middle East Boston, MA May 17 Lucky Dog Music Hall Worcester, MA May 18 Continental New York City, NY May 19 North Star Bar Philadelphia, PA May 20 Alley Katz Richmond, VA May 21 The Milestone Charlotte, NC May 22 The End Nashville, TN May 23 Creepy Crawl St.Louis, MO May 24 Double Door Chicago, IL May 25 Little Brothers Columbus, OH May 26 Emissions From The Monolith Nyabinghi Youngstown, OH May 27 The Montage Rochester, NY http://www.orange-goblin.com http://groups.myspace.com/nuclearguru ***

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