Rachel Belle, a feature contributor and personality on "The Ron & Don Show" on KIRO Radio, recently spoke to QUEENSRŸCHE lead singer Geoff Tate about the legal dispute between him and his estranged bandmates over the rights to the group's name.
Tate, who was fired from QUEENSRŸCHE in June 2012 after fronting the group for three decades, sought to prevent his former bandmates from touring and operating under the QUEENSRŸCHE name without him.
"I had filed an injunction to try and get everyone to stop using the name because it's a brand and brands have a value and they can be damaged," Tate said.
Asked whether the existence of two different versions of QUEENSRŸCHE — one featuring him on vocals and the other comprised of Todd La Torre (vocals; ex-CRIMSON GLORY), Michael Wilton (guitar), Parker Lundgren (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums) — is confusing for the fans, Tate said: "I think most people are pretty smart and they can figure it out."
Regarding how the two different versions of QUEENSRŸCHE differ from each other musically, Tate said: "I think one of the situations, creatively, that came to a head and caused the breakup of the band was that you have a camp that was still exploring and still working to redefine themselves with every record. And you had a camp that wanted to stay the same. Sort of rest on their laurels and play the same kind of songs. So it's philosophical difference, really."
On how the split with his bandmates came about:
Tate: "After 30 years, I think we finally just reached a breaking point where things went awry and everyone felt that it couldn't be fixed. Of course, going about it all wrong we had an explosion, it all got cut up in the media and there's a court case. It's all very messy."
On his chances of coming up victorious in November when the dispute over the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name will finally be decided in court:
Tate: "It's a matter of who has put the most time and energy into it. I'm the major songwriter, I've written 81 percent of the songs in the QUEENSRŸCHE catalog. It's my creativity, my vision, my art. And it's about money. Down and dirty. It's about who has the money to buy the band."
"The Ron & Don Show" interview with Geoff Tate (audio):
Juliya Chernetsky conducted an interview with GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal backstage at the fifth annual Revolver Golden Gods awards on May 2 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California. You can now watch the chat below.
Will the current version of GUNS N' ROSES ever make a new album? If Thal has any say in the matter, the answer is yes. Although the group has a few shows coming up, Thal told Rolling Stone that there is music ready to go for a follow-up to 2008's "Chinese Democracy". He explained, "There's a lot of stuff, it's just a question of all of us organizing. We're still doing shows, and I think once we clear our schedule and focus more on new music, it'll happen. We just have little things on the back burner, just waiting for the right time for us to organize and make something new out of it. Hopefully we can make more music — that's what it's about."
According to The Pulse Of Radio, Thal believes that the group's fans want to hear something new from GUNS too, saying, "They want new music, and we can do it. It's not that we're done. I'm not ready for that. We need to keep making music. We have a great band that's ready to do it and can do it well."
Any chances of a new album, of course, depend on frontman Axl Rose. It took Rose 13 years to finish "Chinese Democracy", burning through hundreds of thousands of dollars, multiple producers, every last remaining original member of the group and a few replacements before he was done.
The finished product got mixed reviews and was a relative flop, moving less than one million copies in the U.S.
But Rose remains an enigma. He has not spoken about making a new album in any of his rare interviews, still insists on going onstage late, and skipped out on GUNS' induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012.
Keyboardist Dizzy Reed, not an original member of GUNS but a 20-year veteran of the group, told The Pulse Of Radio that unpredictability has always been part of being in the band. "The volatility is definitely still there, especially for me, because I've seen a lot," he said. "It keeps you on your toes for sure. I just show up every night as prepared as possible to do my job, and anything else that happens is out of my control. There's really no way to truly deal with that."
Romanian Thrash Metal Club conducted an interview with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson the day before the band's May 22 concert in Bucharest, Romania, You can now watch the chat below.
"Super Collider" is MEGADETH's first release since the band's recent split with Roadrunner Records.
MEGADETH filmed a video for the title track and first single from the band's new album, "Super Collider", on May 10 in the Los Angeles area. California-based model, actress, singer and songwriter Hunter Elizabeth was cast in the lead role in the clip, which she says is "about a high-school couple still loving each other after all the years after graduation, and at the 10-year reunion, both characters find themselves successful (a model and a mathematician) and still very in love."
As previously reported, MEGADETH will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Monday, June 17 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with MEGADETH by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). The show will be streamed on the "Rockline" web site for two weeks beginning the afternoon after the live broadcast.
The track "Super Collider", which was premiered on Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio metal show on April 20, was released digitally on April 23 via iTunes.
"That song kind of came from that 'Symphony Of Destruction' corner of my mind," Mustaine told Guitar World magazine. "You can't always play aggressive, thrashy stuff. Sometimes those aren't even songs; they're like musical rams. But because I'm not a pop guy, I'm also not really comfortable playing sing-along songs. To me, 'Super Collider' made sense like a normal song — a verse-chorus-verse-chorus kind of thing. It's written the way a real songwriter would write the song, instead of just taking all these musical twists and turns."
G&L Guitars recently conducted an interview with ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell. You can now watch the chat below.
ALICE IN CHAINS' new album, "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here", is due out May 28 and features the singles "Stone" and the chart-topping "Hollow". The group's fifth studio effort is its second with William DuVall on vocals and follows up 2009's "Black Gives Way To Blue", ALICE IN CHAINS' first all-new collection of material in 14 years and first since the 2002 death of original singer Layne Staley.
Cantrell told Revolver about the new album, "I don't think you'll be surprised by anything you hear. It's us. But it's also really unique. It's got all the elements of any record we've put out, but it's unlike any record we've put out."
ALICE IN CHAINS began working on new material in 2011, but the sessions for the album were delayed when Cantrell had to undergo shoulder surgery.
ALICE IN CHAINS kicked off a tour to promote the new disc on April 25 in Miami Beach. The band will also headline the Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival later this summer.
The U.S. broadcast premiere of JUDAS PRIEST's new concert film, "Epitaph", is scheduled for tonight (Saturday, May 25) at 8 p.m. Eastern time on VH1 Classic.
A unique live career retrospective, "Epitaph" will be made available on Blu-ray and separate DVD on May 28 through Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. This release precedes a new studio album by JUDAS PRIEST which the band are working on now.
Says the band: "The 'Epitaph' world tour came to an exciting conclusion at the renowned Hammersmith Odeon (now known as the Apollo) in London. Knowing our fans around the planet recognize that venue for many legendary metal moments, and of course with JUDAS PRIEST being a British metal band it was the perfect gig for us to film and record. Big thanks as always to you our metal family of fans — so start banging your heads one more time with us as we scream together 'The PRIEST is back!'"
JUDAS PRIEST's current lineup comprises lead singer Rob Halford, lead guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis.
Heavy metal historians will regard "Epitaph" as the most far-reaching live concert recording in the band's career. The set revisits the climactic closing date of the 50-week "Epitaph" world tour, captured live at London's HMV Hammersmith Apollo on May 26, 2012. Adding to the drama is the fact that this was JUDAS PRIEST's final large-scale world tour ever.
"Epitaph"'s 23 tracks represent at least one song from every one of the band's 14 studio albums, from 1974's "Rocka Rolla" ("Never Satisfied") to 2008's "Nostradamus" ("Prophecy"). In the special case of "British Steel", four songs are featured: "Rapid Fire", "Metal Gods", "Breaking The Law" and perennial set closer "Living After Midnight". Others exempted from the one-song-quota are the LPs which appeared before and after "British Steel". The first of these is 1979's "Hell Bent For Leather" (U.K. title: "Killing Machine") which lends the title song as well as "The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)". The other LP is 1982's "Screaming For Vengeance", source of "The Hellion", "Electric Eye" and "You've Got Another Thing Coming".
"They have epitomized the genre with their Harley riding frontman, rapid-fire guitar assaults, and spectacular stage shows," wrote journalist Bryan Reesman in his liner notes for 2004's leather-bound, metal-spiked "Metalogy" box set. "Influential, innovative, and exuberant in expression," he wrote, "they are the true Metal Gods who have been as unwavering in their desire to expand the boundaries of their music as they have been in crossing international borders to deliver it to their disciples.
"Unabashedly committed to their cause, and unrepentant in proclaiming themselves a true heavy metal band even when others have shied away from the term, Judas Priest have forever been defenders of the faith."
"Epitaph" track listing
01. Battle Hymn (L) 02. Rapid Fire (F) 03. Metal Gods (F) 04. Heading Out To The Highway (G) 05. Judas Rising (M) 06. Starbreaker (C) 07. Victim Of Changes (B) 08. Never Satisfied (A) 09. Diamonds And Rust (C) 10. Prophecy (N) 11. Night Crawler (L) 12. Turbo Lover (J) 13. Beyond The Realms Of Death (D) 14. The Sentinel (I) 15. Blood Red Skies (K) 16. The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown) (E) 17. Breaking The Law (F) 18. Painkiller (L) 19. The Hellion (H) 20. Electric Eye (H) 21. Hell Bent For Leather (E) 22. You've Got Another Thing Coming (H) 23. Living After Midnight (F)
Album index:
A - from "Rocka Rolla" (originally issued 1974, on Gull Records) B - from "Sad Wings Of Destiny" (originally issued 1976, on Gull Records) C - from "Sin After Sin" (originally issued 1977, on Columbia Records) D - from "Stained Class" (originally issued 1978, on Columbia) E - from "Hell Bent For Leather" (originally issued 1979, on Columbia; aka Killing Machine in UK) F - from "British Steel" (originally issued 1980, on Columbia) G - from "Point Of Entry" (originally issued 1981, on Columbia) H - from "Screaming For Vengeance" (originally issued 1982, on Columbia) I - from "Defenders Of the Faith" (originally issued 1984, on Columbia) J - from "Turbo" (originally issued 1986, on Columbia) K - from "Ram It Down" (originally issued 1988, on Columbia) L - from "Painkiller" (originally issued 1990, on Columbia) M - from "Angel Of Retribution" (originally issued 2005, on Epic Records) N - from "Nostradamus" (originally issued 2008, on Epic)
A photo tribute to late SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman by photogapher Kevin Estrada can be found at this location. It consists of photos from this past Thursday's (May 23) public memorial celebration for Hanneman at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California as well as photos of Jeff and SLAYER that Kevin took between 1984 and 2010.
Says Kevin: "I started shooting SLAYER in 1984… and in that time, I became close with the band. From sneaking my camera into the club shows to becoming a co-producer on the 'Soundtrack To The Apocalypse' box set — it has been a great ride. But this one hit hard.
"At [Jeff's] celebration, every snap of my camera brought me closer and closer to the end of a big chapter in my life.
"I know SLAYER will go on — in one form or another — but there is such a sense of unwanted closure. It is hard to put in words — so I am giving you a little taste of what SLAYER gave me over the years.
"Thank you Tom, thank you Kerry, thank you Dave, thank you Paul and Jon… and lastly — thank you Jeff, and farewell."
Members of SLAYER released a statement on May 9 saying that Hanneman died of alcohol-related cirrhosis. He is credited for writing many of the band's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".
The guitarist, who passed away in Los Angeles on May 2, had actually not been playing with SLAYER for more than two years since he contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, from a spider bite in his backyard in January 2011. The infection ravaged the flesh and tissues of Hanneman's arm, leading to numerous surgeries, skin grafts and intense periods of rehab that forced him into semi-retirement and left him near death at several points.
Hanneman's last appearance with SLAYER was in April 2011, when he played an encore with the band at the "Big Four" concert in Indio, California.
Hanneman recalled in a 2011 interview with Classic Rock magazine that he initially didn't even feel the spider bite, adding, "But an hour later, I knew that I was ill. I could see the flesh corrupting. The arm was real hot. I got to the emergency room, and thank god the nurse knew straight away what it was . . . At that point, I was an hour away from death."
Hanneman was well known for his aversion to the spotlight, avoiding interviews and even turning off his phone when he was not on tour to spend time with his family. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry.
SLAYER was founded in 1981 in Los Angeles and went on to become one of most popular bands of the speed/thrash metal movement, eventually being considered one of the "Big Four" alongside METALLICA, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX.
While never a band that got any substantial radio airplay, the group has long been considered a major influence on the metal genre and acclaimed as one of the best live metal acts of the past 30 years.
SLAYER guitarist Kerry King received a huge ovation from the crowd at the Revolver Golden Gods awards show on May 2 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, where he said that Hanneman would have wanted "noise" rather than a moment of silence and then drank two shots in his bandmate's honor.
SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo sat out the band's recent Australian tour due to a contract dispute with the other members of the group. Filling in for him was Jon Dette (TESTAMENT, ANTHRAX).
RockNLive.org recently conducted an interview with SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.
SKID ROW's new EP, "United World Rebellion - Chapter One", was released in Europe on May 24 via Germany's UDR Music. The European version of the EP includes two bonus tracks, both of them cover tunes: "Fire Fire" (EZO) and "United" (JUDAS PRIEST).
"United World Rebellion - Chapter One" European version track listing:
01. Kings Of Demolition 02. Let's Go 03. This Is Killing Me 04. Get Up 05. Stitches 06. Fire Fire (EZO cover) 07. United (JUDAS PRIEST cover)
"United World Rebellion - Chapter One" sold around 1,500 copies in the Unted States in its first week of release. Released in North America on April 16 via MRI, the effort is the first in a series of EPs that the reincarnated band — Dave "Snake" Sabo (guitar), Rachel Bolan (bass), Scotti Hill (guitar), Johnny Solinger (vocals) and Rob Hammersmith (drums) — plans to release in the near future.
"United World Rebellion - Chapter One" reignites the youthful energy and blistering sound that SKID ROW is recognized for around the world. "That sound and energy is what resonates with people and knocks them on their ass," says Hammersmith. "We had a lot of great ideas to work with, so we're all really excited about this new music."
SKID ROW's rebellious tunes hit the big time in the late 1980s. However, after several Top Ten singles, gold and multi-platinum sales, No. 1 Billboard-charting tracks and more, the band split in 1996. In 2000, to the delight of fans everywhere, SKID ROW reformed and returned to the stage to open for KISS. They then released two new musical offerings in the form of 2003's "ThickSkin" and 2006's "Revolutions Per Minute" with new singer Johnny Solinger out front. Seven years later, the band is back again with new music, ready to take over in the new age of heavy metal.
"When we put the band back together, we needed to reintroduce SKID ROW as relevant without relying too much on past success," explains Bolan. "We sunk our heart and soul into it, letting people know we weren't doing it for lack of nothing better to do."
For the new EP series, Bolan and Sabo tapped again into the potent songwriting collaboration that built SKID ROW. Sabo says they were eagerly up to the challenge. "We seem to be at our best when we're faced with adversity. It's us against the world again — and by us I mean the band and the fans who stick with us and carry the SKID ROW torch without fail."
"The idea [of releasing EPs] really appealed to me," adds Bolan, "Especially with the constantly changing musical climate. I like the idea of a steady flow of new music, as opposed to releasing a full-length album then riding it for the next two years."
And although striving to reintroduce themselves and try something different, these boys are still strong in their roots. They got older, but SKID ROW never really grew up. "United World Rebellion" is still the youth gone wild, their musical spark still burning gasoline.
"I will always be that 16-year-old kid in front of the mirror, pretending to be Ace Frehley or Michael Schenker," admits Sabo. "It's still about writing a great song with your friend, praying it connects with someone. That has never left me. That willfulness will always exist, and there's so much left to say!"
Singer Jacoby Shaddix of Californian rockers PAPA ROACH and his son Jagger spoke to Fuse at this year's Rock On The Range festival, which took place May 17-19 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now watch the chat below.
Shaddix underwent surgery in September 2012 to remove nodes from his vocal cords. Shaddix's condition forced him to stop singing and led his band to drop off last summer's Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival tour.
Even before his vocal problems started, Shaddix admitted in several new interviews that he came close to committing suicide earlier last year as he struggled with both marital problems and falling off the wagon.
"This record is a snapshot of me at my most desperate," Shaddix told The Aquarian Weekly about 2012's "The Connection". "As I was writing this record, [my wife and I] were split, so there was a lot of pain and anger and frustration. As the dust settles in my life, I realize that I'm the orchestrator of all this chaos. I'm the one at fault. I'm the fucking problem. When you go through that stuff, sometimes it's hard to own your own shit, to step up to the plate and own it. I just had to because I wanted to do the right thing."
He added: "I was able to make this record, express myself and get my family back together and get my respect from my band. At the eleventh hour, I pulled it off. I don’t know, man, this is a repeating cycle in my life. I don’t know how many more times I can do this to myself."
"The Connection" was re-released in Europe as a special tour edition on May 6 via Eleven Seven Music. The effort contains a bonus DVD of a concert at Club Nokia in Los Angeles featuring performances of new songs as well as the band's biggest hits, including "Still Swingin'", "Give Me Back My Life", "Before I Die", "Last Resort" and "Between Angels & Insects".
"The Connection" was produced by rock veteran James Michael (SIXX: A.M., HALESTORM) and John Feldmann (PANIC AT THE DISCO, THE USED, BLACK VEIL BRIDES). The CD sold 22,000 copies in its first week of release to debut at No. 17 on the Billboard album chart.
"The Jason Lee & Kluck Show", which airs on the WRBR-FM (Real Rock 103.9 The Bear) radio station in South Bend, Indiana, conducted an interview with Los Angeles glam-metal jokesters STEEL PANTHER prior to the band's May 17 performance at Club Fever in South Bend. You can now watch the chat below.
STEEL PANTHER recently entered a studio in Sherman Oaks, California with producer Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STONE SOUR, MEATLOAF) to record their third full-length album for a fall release.
Speaking to the South Bend Tribune, STEEL PANTHER drummer Stix Zadinia (real name: Darren Leader) stated about the band's as-yet-untitled new CD: "If you liked [2009's] 'Feel The Steel' and [2011's] 'Balls Out', you will love this record. It is more heavy metal songs that are hooky and great and fun and make you want to rock and make you want to have a good time and party. Also, there is a lot of riffage on this album that I think anybody who has ever questioned this band — 'Oh, those guys wear spandex and it is 2000-whatever' — these songs are going to put all of that to rest."
Regarding naysayers that say STEEL PANTHER is a joke-metal band, Zadinia said: "Listen to our record and tell us that our songs aren't better than most of the bands out there. How funny is that? At the end of the day, it comes down to the songs. I think our songs — without sounding egotistical — I think our songs are great. When you hear the hooks in our songs, you hear the playing and you hear the vocals, you throw that up against any band in any era, and I think it stands up."
"Balls Out" sold nearly 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 40 on The Billboard 200 chart.
Guitarhoo.com conducted an interview with Ben Varon and Masi Hukari of Helsinki, Finland-based hard rockers AMORAL when they were in the Philippines for an appearance at the 13th edition of Pulp Summer Slam, the premiere metal festival in Southeast Asia, which was held on April 27 at the historic Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City. You can now watch the chat below.
AMORAL recently entered the studio today to begin recording their sixth album, due later this year via The End Records. The drums for the CD — which will feature an all-star cast of Finnish music industry people — were recorded at Sound Supreme studios in Hämeenlinna with Janne Saksa. Then the sessions moved to Helsinki and finally to Kuopio where Marco Hietala of TAROT and NIGHTWISH fame produced the vocals for the new album. The as-yet-unnamed album will contain eight songs wth a running time of almost an hour. In addition, the songs and lyrics form a whole, so it is possible to view the album as a thematic one. The CD will be mixed by Mikko Karmila, who is no stranger to dealing with large conceptual pieces.
New York progressive rockers COHEED AND CAMBRIA took part in a press conference prior to their performance at the 13th edition of Pulp Summer Slam, the premiere metal festival in Southeast Asia, which was held on April 27 at the historic Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City, Philippines. You can now watch video footage of the question-and-answer session below.
COHEED AND CAMBRIA's latest album, "The Afterman" was released in two separate full-length volumes. The first volume, "The Afterman: Ascension", was made available on both physical and digital platforms in the U.S. on October 9, 2012 via Hundred Handed/Everything Evil, and distributed through Fontana/Ingrooves (available in Canada via Universal Music Canada). The second volume, "The Afterman: Descension", came out on February 6.
A deluxe version of "The Afterman" includes a hardcover coffee-table book with expansive art by Heidi Taillefer and Nathan Spoor with collaborative written work from singer/creator Claudio Sanchez and writer Peter David that creates a song-by-song experience.
The two records follow-up to 2010's "Year Of The Black Rainbow", and feature new bassist Zach Cooper and returning drummer Josh Eppard, who have replaced Michael Todd and Chris Pennie, respectively.
COHEED AND CAMBRIA frontman Claudio Sanchez said of the album: "This is, without a doubt, the most honest record I've ever written. Though all the songs can be interpreted through our main character in the story, they were initially written in a very spontaneous manner. In the past, I've always had a predetermined idea of what the story was going to be when I approached the songs. With 'The Afterman' being a new story within 'The Amory Wars' arc, I allowed the events of my life to drive the concept, and therefore opened up the songwriting to a fuller degree."
Yamaha conducted an interview with drummer Justin Foley of Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE prior to the band's sold-out April 21 concert in Berlin, Germany. You can now watch the chat below.
Justin joined KILLSWITCH ENGAGE in 2003 and was promptly heard on the band's 2004 release, "The End Of Heartache", with the title track earning the band a Grammy nomination and the album becoming the band's first gold record. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE has since toured the world, playing Ozzfest and Warped tours, to name a few.
In 2006, Justin's variety in his musical background, in particular with frame drums and marimba, was featured on the compilation "Drum Nation Volume 3".
Since his early years, Justin has furthered his musical education at college, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Percussion Performance from the University of Connecticut. He continued his classical training at the Hartt School of Music, earning a Master of Music in Percussion Performance.
Justin's strength lies in is his consistent rock drumming and precise sound. He plays a Yamaha Maple Absolute kit in with a 20" Bass Drum and 12" & 16" Toms and Yamaha hardware.
99.7 The Blitz conducted an interview with DEVICE — the new band fronted by DISTURBED singer David Draiman — at this year's Rock On The Range festival, which took place May 17-19 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now watch the chat below.
DEVICE released its self-titled debut album on April 9. It debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard album chart, selling 35,000 copies in its first week of release.
David launched DEVICE last year with ex-FILTER guitarist Geno Lenardo, after DISTURBED went on hiatus in late 2011.
Lenardo is not touring with DEVICE due to previous commitments. The live band, which made its debut on April 10 in Mobile, Alabama, includes DOPE guitarist Virus and EVANESCENCE drummer Will Hunt.
DEVICE will hit the road this summer on Gigantour 2013, along with MEGADETH, HELLYEAH, NEWSTED, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and other acts. The trek kicks off on July 3 in Gilford, New Hampshire, wrapping on August 11 in Toronto, Canada.
Fan-filmed video footage of BLACK SABBATH performing at the first-ever Ozzfest Japan — which debuted on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12, 2013 to capacity crowds and wide critical acclaim — can be seen below. The two-day music festival — the first major international music festival to ever travel to the country — drew sold-out crowds of 20,000 fans on each day.
Ozzfest Japan — a collaboration between Sharon Osbourne and Japanese promoter Hayashi International Promotion (H.I.P.) — included Ozzfest alumni BLACK SABBATH, SLIPKNOT, TOOL, DEFTONES, SLASH and STONE SOUR. Other bands on the bill included MAXIMUM THE HORMONE, DIR EN GREY, MAN WITH A MISSION, MOMOIRO CLOVER Z, STEEL PANTHER, NINGEN ISU, GALNERYUS, NAMBA69, AA=, FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, MUCC, THE TREATMENT, ANTHEM, CROSSFAITH, COLDRAIN, KNOCK OUT MONKEY, HEAD PHONES PRESIDEN, ARTEMA, and FADE.
"13", the first BLACK SABBATH record in 35 years to feature singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler all playing together, is due out June 11 on Vertigo/Republic. This marks BLACK SABBATH's return to Vertigo, their original label, and the group's first studio album together since 1978's "Never Say Die!"
Details of the album's deluxe edition surfaced on April 19, with the band revealing that the eight-song effort will be accompanied by three bonus tracks called "Methademic", "Peace Of Mind" and "Pariah".
Several versions of "13" are available for pre-order, including a standard CD, a double CD that includes a second disc of exclusive bonus audio, a heavyweight vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve and a "Super Deluxe Box Set" containing the double CD, the vinyl album, an exclusive DVD documentary on the band's reunion, 13 photographic prints and hand-written lyrics.
The drum tracks on the album were laid down by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE sticksman Brad Wilk following original drummer Bill Ward's decision to bow out of the reunion.
Osbourne went on the BBC in England to discuss the band's new single, "God Is Dead?" and the inspiration behind the track. Ozzy explained, "I was in somebody's office and there was a magazine on a table and it just said, 'God Is Dead', and I suddenly thought about 9/11 and all these terrorist things and religion and how many people have died in the name of religion. When you think about the tragedy that's happened throughout time, it just came in my head. You'd think by now that their God would have stopped people dying in the name of, so I just starting thinking that people must be thinking, 'Where is God? God is dead' and it just hit me."
Ozzy added that the question mark at the end of the title is his way of showing that he's not sure about the answer himself, saying, "At the end of the thing, there's still a bit of hope because there I sing that I don't believe that God is dead. It's just a question of when you see so many dreadful people killing each other with bombs, and blowing the tube trains up and the World Trade Center."
Ozzy told an Australian radio station that "13" is "mind-blowing," adding, "It's better than my wildest dreams; it's so good."
SABBATH kicked off its world tour in support of "13" on April 20 in Auckland.
German dark metal quintet AGATHODAIMON entered Kohlekeller Studios in February with producer Kristian "Kohle" Kohlmannslehner to begin recording its new album, "In Darkness", for a June 28 release via Massacre Records. The follow-up to 2009's "Phoenix" will feature cover artwork by Hicham Haddaji of Strychneen Studio.
The "In Darkness" title track can now be streamed in the YouTube clip below.
Commented AGATHODAIMON guitarist and vocalist Sathonys: "We're sure 'In Darkness' has a lot of killer songs, and we did step into the right direction — though it's also a step backwards. Back to the roots, to be clear.
"We collectively felt that 'Phoenix' reached a point that's as far as we can go, without denying our roots. So we summoned the spirit of the old times (of course without trying to pretend it's 1995).
"We've put focus on the atmosphere and got rid of elements which did not fit to our vision.
"To summarize, I'd say it's less technical, but more dense, coming rather from the heart than our heads. This sounds strange maybe, but you'll get it once you'll hear the first songs.
"Speaking of new songs, 'In Darkness' also features 'old' material, back from when our Romanian vocalist Vlad was still around. But don't worry, it's a history lesson that won't sound outdated. Actually, there's a re-recording of 'Dusk Of An Infinite Shade', something we actually worked on many years ago, but back then skipped the idea because it didn't seem to match with the other material. It simply did not sound right. But now, it turned out that it was a great preparation to get in the mood and to set the sails to embark on a journey... 'In Darkness'."
