Archive News Aug 30, 2001

According to early reports from national retail accounts, SLIPKNOT's Iowa opus will have shifted between 350,000 and 400,000 copies during its first week of release, virtually ensuring it the #1 slot on the Billboard Pop Album chart when the final numbers are released in the middle of next week. Meanwhile, Iowa's closest competitor, MARY J. BLIGE's No More Drama appears likely to cap out at around 250,000 units for the week, making it the most likely contender for the #2 slot. Elsewhere, PUDDLE OF MUDD's Come Clean, the debut release on LIMP BIZKIT frontman Fred Durst's Flawless/Geffen imprint, is looking like it will pass the 120,000 mark, almost guaranteeing it a Top 10 presence on next week's chart—a surprisingly strong showing for a band that was virtually unknown to most of the record buying public as recently as six months ago.

California's DEPSWA are rumored to be in the process of signing a deal with SLIPKNOT's record label imprint Maggot Records (via London/Sire). According to reports, SLIPKNOT vocalist Corey Taylor and percussionist Shawn Crahan will act as executive producers for the project, while Taylor himself is expected to make an appearance on the group's debut album, which is due out sometime in 2002.

TESTAMENT's official web site has issued a statement expressing vocalist Chuck Billy and his family's gratitude to “all the bands, fans, and organizers who helped make [the Thrash Of The Titans benefit concert for Billy, who was recently diagnosed with cancer] a great success”. The message goes on to say that “a contribution of the proceeds was made to [DEATH/CONTROL DENIED mainman] Chuck Schuldiner [who was diagnosed with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor, two years ago], to whom we'd like to send a big 'get well soon' wish to!”

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TESTAMENT members Chuck Billy, Eric Peterson (guitars) and Steve DiGiorgio (bass) are currently mixing their upcoming collection of re-workings of early original compositions, entitled First Strike Is Deadly, with producer Andy Sneap at Sneap's Backstage Productions facility in the UK for a late 2001 release through Spitfire Records.

DANZIG has reportedly signed a new management deal with Survival Management and is currently seeking a new label deal following the recent completion of the recordings for the group's seventh CD, provisionally entitled Danzig 7: Kiss The Skull. The tracks that are presently set to appear on Danzig 7… include the following:

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01. Black Mass

02. Kiss The Skull

03. Dead Inside

04. God Of Light

05. Angel Blake

06. Wicked Pussycat

07. Halo Goddess Bone

08. The Coldest Sun

09. Dying Serph

10. Dark Secret Side

11. Soul Eater

12. Malefical Bride of Hell

COAL CHAMBER will complete all the recordings for their upcoming third full-length release, entitled Dark Days, by the middle of next week, according to the group's official web site. Mixing sessions for the effort are scheduled to take place during September for an early 2002 release through Roadrunner Records.

KARMA TO BURN will be supporting ANTHRAX at the following shows:

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Sept. 06 - Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock

Sept. 07 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance

Sept. 08 - Old Bridge, NJ @ Birch Hill

The track 'H.F.F.K', which appears on BIOHAZARD's upcoming Uncivilization opus and which features PANTERA's Phil Anselmo on backing vocals, can be downloaded in MP3 form from this location.

Nuclear Blast Records will be releasing another live CD from DEATH, entitled Live In Eindhoven, on October 29th. To be available through Nuclear Blast mail order only, the CD was recorded at the group's 1998 appearance at the Dynamo Festival, which marked the first live performance of the Sound Of Perseverance line-up. The CD will sell for $7, and $2.50 of each CD will go directly to the Chuck Schuldiner Medical Fund. There will also be a DVD for $12 of the same show. Both the CD and DVD will only be available in slip-sleeves (no jewel cases).

The DEFTONES/GODSMACK show that was scheduled to take place at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday, September 6th has reportedly been cancelled. In other news, the DEFTONES will not be playing the Hawaii date on the upcoming Smokeout tour, which is scheduled to include appearances by CYPRESS HILL, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and FEAR FACTORY, among others.

ICED EARTH have announced that their postponed European tour will now go ahead in January 2002 with their first-ever UK appearance in London being confirmed at Sunday the 20th of January. Due to the extreme demand, it's unclear whether the show will still be held at the Underworld, which has a 600 capacity, or if it will be upgraded to a bigger venue.

The acclaimed '80s hard rockers ALCATRAZZ, who at one time featured guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen alongside mainstay vocalist Graham Bonnet (ex-MSG/RAINBOW),are said to be in discussions about a possible reunion show or tour, according to Malmsteen's management. No further information is available at this time.

JAG PANZER filmed a video clip for the track 'Take To The Sky' from their current release, Mechanized Warfare, 18,000 feet above sea level on Mount Evans in Colorado, USA on the highest paved road in North America, a place where visitors reportedly only breathe a third of the oxygen available down in the real world. The clip was directed by Nate Lind and will feature computer animation from JAG PANZER guitarist Mark Briody.

Finland's CHILDREN OF BODOM, featuring SINERGY axeman Alexi Laiho on guitar/vocals, will play the following Spanish shows:

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Sept. 21 – Granada, SPA @ Industrial Copera

Sept. 22 - Lorca (Murcia),SPA @ Antiguo Cuartel (Lorca Rock Festival)

The following statement comes to us from DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist Schmier:

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“The Antichrist is unstoppable!

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“It seems like a nightmare, but things happened before bringing out the new album The Antichrist that endangered the whole release. Was it because of the title of the album? Was it some dark conspiracy?

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“These are the facts:

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“The cover of the limited first edition is printed brown instead of black! On a few hundred of the covers, the colors of the print are totally smeared. How many covers are smeared? Exactly 666! ( not kidding !) The track list is all mixed up. Instead of the original opener 'Thrash 'Til Death', song number 4, 'Dictators Of Cruelty', opens the thrash inferno! Instead of polychrome, the T- Shirt with the album cover on it is printed and delivered in only one color — blood red.

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“The CD's are already on their way into the stores as the mistakes are noticed!

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'Guess that's what they call Murphy's Law!

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“It would not have been a solution for the band or the fans to stop the release. And since mistakes like that are extremely rare, it can only add to the value of this limited first edition. The ones that nevertheless would like to exchange their CD, please send it to the following address:

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Nuclear Blast

att.DESTRUCTION

Oeschstr. 40

73072 Donzdorf

Germany

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“The ones that decide to get their CD exchanged, will also get a little surprise present (autograph card, poster, etc.) to compensate for the trouble. Sorry - but sh.t happens! The quality of this great album is still the same. Thrash 'Til Death!!! “Cheers, SCHMIER!!!”

North Carolina's LEADFOOT, who feature in their ranks former C.O.C. vocalist Karl Agell and bassist Phil Swisher, have acquired a new guitarist by the name of John Dzubak. The band is currently in pre-production for the next album, which is not due until 2002.

Portugal's MOONSPELL have completed work on a video clip for the track 'Nocturna', which appears on their upcoming Darkness &amp Hope CD, due out through Century Media Records on September 10th. The clip was directed by Tiago Guedes De Carvalho, a famous Portuguese video and film director who is well known for work with some of the biggest acts in that country as well as films like Mao Morta, Zen and Alta Fidelidade, among others. The video was shot over four days, including a hectic final day where everyone worked non-stop over 24 hours due to the tight schedules of the parties involved.

Seattle's NEVERMORE will NOT be appearing at the previously announced September 5th show as the support band for SAVATAGE at San Francisco's The Pound (Pier 96). It is not presently clear if SAVATAGE will go ahead with this performance. In other news, NEVERMORE are currently working on a South American tour, which is tentatively due to take place before the end of the year. Dates and venues will be available shortly.

Finland's NIGHTWISH have sold over 10,000 copies of the Over The Hills And Far Away single in their native country, enough to get platinum certification for the effort. The CD has been in the Top 2 of the official Finnish single charts for 11 weeks now, of which five weeks were spent at position #1.

As a special surprise for all gathered at the annual Kerrang! Awards held at The Lancaster Hotel a couple of nights ago in London, former JUDAS PRIEST vocalist Rob Halford presented the Best Album award to MARILYN MANSON (whom Halford called “my controversial friend”) for his Holy Wood… album, which MANSON went up to collect.

According to various Internet reports, SALIVA guitarist Chris Dabaldo is a registered sex offender in the state of Tennessee stemming from a “relationship” he had several years ago with a girl that was under the age of 18. You think we're kidding? Click here and here for the evidence.

TAD MOROSE have had to postpone the release of their new album, Matters Of The Dark, until early next year due to vocalist Urban developing problems with his vocal cords during the recording session. Recording began in June at Sound Creation Studios in Bollnas, Sweden with Per Ryborg at the controls and was going well until Urban's voice began to “do strange things”. A specialist advised him to rest his vocal cords for at least a month, so the session was put on hold until he was better and there was a gap in the studio's schedule.

SIX FEET UNDER's True Carnage CD debuted at #40 on the German Media Control chart, #18 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and #17 on Denmark's National Alternative Chart.

Germany's THORN.ELEVEN, whose self-titled debut for SPV/Steamhammer Records was produced by Andy Sneap (i.e. MACHINE HEAD, STUCK MOJO, SKINLAB, NEVERMORE),will be supporting KITTIE at the following German shows:

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Sept. 04 – Berlin, GER @ Knaack Club

Sept. 06 – Cologne, GER @ Underground

Sweden's DARK TRANQUILLITY will enter Studio Fredman in Gothenburg on February 6th to record their sixth, as-yet-untitled, full-length album. More news will follow shortly.

NOVEMBRE will release Novembrine Waltz, the follow-up to last year's Classica, on on October 22nd through Century Media Records. Recorded and mixed at Sound Suite Studios in Marseilles, France with producer Terje Refsnes, the album includes eight new tracks plus a cover of the KATE BUSH song 'Cloudbusting', featuring vocals by ex-THE 3RD AND THE MORTAL vocalist Ann-Mari (who is said to be presently working in the opera). The full track listing for the album is as follows:

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01. Distances

02. Everasia

03. Come Pierrot

04. Child Of the Twilight

05. Cloudbusting

06. Flower

07. Valentine

08. Venizia Dismal

09. Conservatory Resonance

THE LOVELESS, the new project of former SATURNUS guitarist Kim Larsen, will enter Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark in the fall with producer Flemming Rasmussen (METALLICA, MORBID ANGEL, SORT SOL, etc.) to begin work on their debut album. An early 2002 release through Euphonious/Voices Of Wonder Records is expected. The track listing for the effort is as follows:

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01. Follow

02. The Darker The Sky (The Brighter The Stars)

03. Slipping

04. I Fought It Back

05. All The Same

06. In Memoriam

07. Deceiver

08. Love Entombed

09. Always There (ROSE OF AVALANCHE Cover)

In addition to the seven tracks we listed here yesterday that are due to appear on MY DYING BRIDE's upcoming CD, entitled The Dreadful Hours, MY DYING BRIDE have recorded a new version of the classic song 'The Return of the Beautiful', re-titled 'The Return To The Beautiful', which will be featured on all the CDs and will not be classed as an “extra track”. The running time of the album is approximately 70:55 minutes.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's upcoming Roadrunner Records debut, tentatively titled Alive Or Just Breathing, will be mixed by Andy Sneap (i.e. MACHINE HEAD, STUCK MOJO, NEVERMORE) for a February/March 2002 release.

H.I.M.'s long-awaited third full-length CD, Deep Shadows &amp Brilliant Highlights, has reportedly entered the German Media Control Album charts at position #2.

The opening act on FANTOMAS' upcoming North American headlining dates will be ATOMSMASHER.

Finland's LULLACRY have been confirmed as one of the support acts on the upcoming EDGUY headlining tour of Europe, which is scheduled to begin on November 2nd in Germany. Other bands on the bill are HEAVENLY and NOSTRADAMEUS. Here are the full dates for the trek:

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Nov. 02 - Grüne Messehalle, Fulda, Germany

Nov. 03 – Hafenbahn, Offenbach, Germany

Nov. 04 – Rockfabrik, Ludwigsburg, Germany

Nov. 06 – Zeche, Bochum, Germany

Nov. 07 - Hyde Park, Osnabrück, Germany

Nov. 09 - La Laiterie, Strasbourg, France

Nov. 10 – Zeppelinhalle, Kaufbeuren, Germany

Nov. 12 - Z7, Pratteln, Switzerland

Nov. 13 – Propaganda, Milano, Italy

Nov. 14 - Jas Rod, Marseille, France

Nov. 16 - Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona, Spain

Nov. 17 – Jam, Bergara, Spain

Nov. 18 – Revolver, Madrid, Spain

Nov. 21 - Théatre Barbey, Bordeaux France

Nov. 23 – Transbordeur, Lyon, France

Nov. 24 - Elysée Montmartre, Paris, France

Nov. 25 - Le Splendid, Lille, France

Nov. 27 - The Underworld, London, UK

Nov. 28 – Baroeg, Rotterdam, Holland

Nov. 30 – Biebob, Vosselaar, Belgium

Dec. 01 – Markthalle, Hamburg, Germany

Dec. 02 – Klaren, Gothenburg, Sweden

Dec. 04 – Nosturi, Helsinki, Finland

Dec. 06 – Saga, Östersund, Sweden

Dec. 07 – Klubben, Stockholm, Sweden

Dec. 08 – Mejeriet, Lund, Sweden

A three-song live performance by KRISIUN, recorded at the group's appearance on the Musikaos Brazilian TV show November 25th, can be watched directly on your computer at this location. You will need the Real Player G2 installed to watch the video. The songs included are 'Kings Of Killing', 'Hatred Inherit' and 'Creations Scourge'.

Sweden's HUMANIMAL have been forced to cancel their appearance at Z Rock Germany on September 8th in Mannheim after bassist Marcel Jacob (TALISMAN/ex-YNGWIE) was injured recently in a bike accident. Marcel has been told by doctors that he will be unable to play for some time due to his shoulder injury that he incurred. According to a statement posted on the Z Records web site, the band are bitterly disappointed that they are unable to attend and promise to make an appearance as soon as possible to make up for the unforeseen cancellation. Upon such short notice, all three partners involved in staging the show opted to find a replacement as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, logistics and sheer extortionate last-minute airfares ruled out any of Z's US acts, and it was not possible to arrange flights for another Scandinavian act. After a meeting it was opted to invite UK act DEMON, who quickly agreed to appear. This will be DEMON's first gig in Germany after the release of their latest album, Spaced Out Monkey, on Swedish classic hard rock label Record Heaven Music.

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The line up for Z Rock Germany now stands as follows:

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TYGERS OF PAN TANG

ENUFF Z NUFF

JADED HEART

VON GROOVE

DEMON

DREAMHUNTER

CONTAGIOUS

SEVEN WISHES

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