Archive News Nov 06, 2001

Acclaimed rap/metal act STUCK MOJO will reunite for a New Year's Eve show in Atlanta—the first time the much-missed outfit will perform together on stage in a year and four months. According to guitarist Rich Ward, “I have spoken to [STUCK MOJO/420 MONKS frontman] Bonz and we have agreed to do a show on New Years Eve, in Atlanta. The venue is not confirmed, but details will come soon.” It is not presently clear if the reunited band will continue past the New Year's Eve appearance or if this will be a one-off show for hometown fans only. More details will be posted here as soon as they become available.

Brazil's ANGRA have lined up a tour of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland in March. The upcoming trek will mark the band's first European appearance since the departure of vocalist Andre Matos (currently in SHAMAN). The confirmed dates are as follows:

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March 03 - Ludwigsburg, GER @ Rockfabrik

March 04 - Bochum, GER @ Zeche

March 05 - Hamburg, GER @ Markthalle

March 06 - Tilburg, NETH @ 013

March 09 - Pratteln, SWI @ Z7

Progressive metallers SYMPHONY X have announced that they will NOT be taking part in the rescheduled SAVATAGE European headlining tour, which was originally due to take place during October but was cancelled following the tragic World Trade Center bombings. According to a statement from the band's record company, Inside Out Records, SYMPHONY X want to “move ahead with the writing and recording of the new [studio] album”, which is tentatively due to be released in late 2002.

Veteran Canadian metallers ANVIL are in discussions with Toronto metal act EIDOLON about possibly doing some Canadian dates together in early 2002. More information as it becomes available.

36 CRAZYFISTS' debut CD for Roadrunner Records, entitled Our Bitterness The Star, is still on target for a January 29th release. The group will be flying to New York in the near future to wrap up the mixing and mastering for the effort, which was produced by Scrap 60 Productions (i.e. DRY KILL LOGIC, ILL NINO). Meanwhile, 36 CRAZYFISTS have lined up several shows during the first week of December. The dates are as follows:

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Dec. 01 – Cleveland, OH @ TBA (w/NORA, EVERYTIME I DIE, and BLOOD HAS BEEN SHED)

Dec. 02 - Erie, PA @ TBA

Dec. 05 – New York, NY @ CBGB's

Dec. 06 – TBA, CT @ TBA

Dec. 07 – Chicago, IL @ The Metro (w/FIVE POINTE O)

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's brand new CD, entitled Deathcore War Machine Eternal, is tentatively scheduled for a February 19th release through Spitfire Records. The full track listing for the effort is as follows:

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01. Bleed For Me

02. Lords of Destruction

03. Life/Birth/Blood/Doom

04. Demise of Sanity

05. Lost Heaven

06. Battering Ram

07. Speedball

08. Graveyard Disciples

09. Genocide Junkies

10. Bridge To Cross

11. Refuse To Bow Down

12. Berserkers

Due to the illness of frontman Steven Tyler, AEROSMITH have been forced to cancel the November 2nd show at the E J Nutter Center in Dayton, OH and have “postponed” the November 4th show at the Fleet Center in Boston, MA and the November 6th show at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI. Despite rampant rumors that Tyler is 'chronically' ill, a rep for AEROSMITH's label, Sony Records, told The New York Post that 'Steven has been sick, but only due to a faulty smoke machine that has caused some throat issues.'

Sweden's CENTINEX have parted ways with guitarist Kenneth Wiklund, who reportedly quit the band in a move that was a long time coming, according to bassist Martin Schulmam. Although CENTINEX's official lineup will remain a four-piece for the time being, Wiklund's departure “won't affect the new album and the future plans of the band”, stated Schulmam, adding that CENTINEX have already found a 'session' guitarist to fill in for upcoming tours and shows. CENTINEX's upcoming studio album will be released in 2002 via Candlelight Records.

MERAUDER are tentatively scheduled to complete work on their forthcoming third album, entitled Brutality, with producer Billy Milano (S.O.D./M.O.D.) at the latter's Big Blue Meanie Studios in New Jersey during the coming months. According to guitarist Anthony, the musical direction of the new material represents a bit of a departure for the band, with some of the songs being described as 'a mix between old MERAUDER and SOUNDGARDEN'. A 2002 release through Century Media Records is expected.

Vocalist Jack Russell has officially left GREAT WHITE, the group that he has fronted for the last 23 years. Here is Russell's statement on the matter:

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“As of Monday, November 05, 2001, I have chosen to leave GREAT WHITE, the band I started back in 1978.

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“I am proud and thankful of my achievements with GREAT WHITE and hold such fond memories of the past. We will play one show on New Years Eve in Anaheim as a final farewell.

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“My thanks go out to my band mates, past and present and I wish them all the best in their future endeavors. Also thank you to the managers, agents, radio presenters, record labels and all the people that have helped me achieve my dreams. I especially want to thank John Kalodner for his understanding and support in my decision.

“As I have said many times before, when it stopped being fun, that was the time to do something else. After much deliberation, I decided that the time had arrived.

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“I wasn't sure how or when to make this decision public, but this morning, my father John Russell passed peacefully away. He had always been GREAT WHITE's biggest supporter and was so excited about my future solo career. His passing made me realize that it was time to lay to rest the two things I loved most in life.

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“I am in the process of recording a new album under the name of Jack Russell, which I am dedicating to my father's memory. It is in a totally different vein and we are planning to release it in the first half of next year.

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“The musicians in my new band are undoubtedly some of the best in the world and it is with them that I'm moving forward to fulfill my desires - musically, creatively and spiritually.

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“We will be touring the world next year and I hope that the fans who have supported me over the years, will be there in the future. Without the fans there never would have been a GREAT WHITE and for that I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. My prayers and blessings are with you.

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“As an old book closes, a new one opens and I hope that everybody can understand and respect my reasons and listen with enjoyment to the music that I make in the future.

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“Peace and Love — Jack Russell'

According to Britain's Classic Rock Magazine (and as reported by Electric Basement),the next DIO record is due in February 2002 and it will be a 'faster' record than Magica, drawing on elements of the classic Holy Diver album.

FEAR FACTORY will release their first DVD, entitled Digital Connectivity, on December 18th. Among other footage, the DVD will feature live video performances of the following 11 tracks:

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01. Martyr

Filmed live at the Dynamo Open Air Festival in Eindhoven, Holland – 1993

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02. Scapegoat

Filmed live at the Dynamo Open Air Festival in Eindhoven, Holland – 1993

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03. Scumgrief

Filmed live at the Dynamo Open Air Festival in Eindhoven, Holland – 1993

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04. Demanufacture

Filmed live at The Forum in Kentish Town, London - Machines Of Hate tour, 1996

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05. Self Bias Resistor

Recorded live for MTV UK's Headbanger's Ball - London, 1996

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06. Dog Day Sunrise

Filmed live at The Warehouse in Toronto – 1996

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07. Shock

Filmed live at Club Citta in Japan – 1999

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08. Edgecrusher

Filmed live at Club Citta in Japan - 1999

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09. What Will Become?

Filmed live at House Of Blues - 2001

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10. Damaged

Filmed live at The Reading Festival in England - 2001

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11. Digimortal

Filmed live at The Opera House in Toronto - 2001

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The DVD will also contain the following eight previously unreleased audio tracks and rare B-sides:

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01. Frequency

Recorded four months after the completion of Digimortal, making it the newest FEAR FACTORY song

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02. Machine Debaser

Originally recorded for the video game Demolition Racer, parts of this track were later recycled and became the chorus of 'Hurt Conveyor' and the bridge of 'What Will Become?')

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03. Demolition Racer (also originally recorded for the Demolition Racer video game, a part of this song later became the chorus of 'Acres Of Skin')

04. Cyberdyne

05. Refueled

06. Transgenic

07. Edgecrusher (Urban Assault Mix)

08. Descent (Falling Deeper Mix)

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To coincide with the DVD's release, Roadrunner Records will be sending to radio stations a promo CD containing all the audio tracks that are to appear on the DVD. Unfortunately this promo CD will only be given to radio stations and will ONLY be available in the US.

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In other news, FEAR FACTORY will be releasing special-edition tour EPs in the UK and Australia to coincide with the group's dates at the upcoming Can't Take Me Apart tour. The UK version (released November 12th) will feature the following tracks:

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01. Linchpin

02. Frequency

03. Machine Debaser

04. Linchpin (video)

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The Australian version will feature the following tracks:

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01. Frequency

02. Linchpin (Digimortal album version)

03. Machine Debaser

04. Demolition Racer

05. Invisible Wounds (The Suture Mix)

06. Replica (recorded live during the Ozzfest Tour 1996)

07. Edgecrusher (recorded live at The Palace, St. Kilda, Australia on February 26, 1999. Previously unreleased on CD)

Plus the 'Linchpin' video clip, and the four-part mini series of the making of Digimortal.

The first single from FU MANCHU's forthcoming CD, entitled California Crossing, will be a song called “Squash That Fly”. In other news, the group's previously planned shows with SPEEDEALER will now not be happening, after guitarist/vocalist Scott Hill sprained his hand, preventing him from playing guitar for awhile.

Due to “health reasons”, OPETH have cancelled the first four gigs of their upcoming European tour with KATATONIA. The first gig of the tour will now be at Ariagnee Au Plafond in Metz, France on November 12th of November. All the cancelled gigs will probably be rescheduled for a later date. According to reports, OPETH drummer Martin Lopez suffered severe lung problems and had to undergo surgery, thus causing the above-mentioned cancellations.

KITTIE will be shooting a live video for the track “Pain”, off the group's forthcoming Oracle CD, at Harpos in Detroit on November 24th.

According to current RATT vocalist Jizzy Pearl (ex-LOVE/HATE),“writing songs is, contrary to popular belief, not very glamorous. It's a lot of guitar playing and a lot of dead ends and every now and then you get a really good song from it. The end result is always gratifying but the work f.cks with you. It's a lot easier to talk about songs that 'blow your mind' than to come up with a few. When I read stuff like that on other people's web sites it makes me wonder who they're writing it for, the fans or for their own insecure egos. Probably both.'

SLAVE TO THE SYSTEM, a project featuring QUEENSRYCHE guitarist Kelly Gray, QUEENSRYCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield, vocalist/guitarist Damon Johnson, vocalist/guitarist Scott Heard, and bassist Roman Glick are due to soon issue an EP through an as-yet-unspecified label. An initial sound byte from SLAVE TO THE SYSTEM, a 1:30-minute clip of the song 'Abyss', can be found at this location.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE entered Zing Studios in Westfield, MA this past Saturday, November 3rd, to begin work on their RoadrunnerRecords debut, entitled Alive Or Just Breathing. Production will be helmed by drummer Adam Dutkiewicz, who also produced the band's 2000 Ferret Records debut. Among the tracks set for inclusion on the upcoming CD are:

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01. Numbered Days

02. Transfiguration

03. Self Revolution

04. Just Barely Breathing

05. Transfiguration

06. Temple From The Within (re-recorded from the first record)

07. My Last Serenade

08. Pull

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Besides the above-mentioned cuts, five other new songs will be tracked, along with the tracks 'In The Unblind' and 'Infra Vide' from their independent LP, which will most likely be used as B-sides. Alive Or Just Breathing will be mixed in January at Nottingham, England's Backstage Studios by acclaimed producer Andy Sneap (i.e. SKINLAB, NEVERMORE, MACHINE HEAD, KREATOR).

Holland's SINISTER are in discussions with Hammerheart Records about releasing a SINISTER 10 Years DVD at some point during 2002. Although unconfirmed, the DVD would contain live footage, interviews, and video clips, including a brand new one for the group's upcoming Creative Killings CD, which is due to be issued on November 19th. Included on the album will be the group's cover of POSSESSED's “Storm In My Mind”, which was originally recorded for a POSSESSED tribute album, but never released. In other news, SINISTER is planning a US tour in the spring and a European tour a short time later.

SHELTER frontman Ray Cappo has posted the following message on the group's official web site: “I want to thank all those who have inquired about my family after the horrific WTC nightmare. My sister Rita was 4 blocks away just dropping her children off at school when she witnessed the first plane explode. After grabbing her kids and running uptown with the masses of screaming people, she watched the second plane hit. My mom (age 75) watched it all from her window 3 blocks away and spent the day in her basement fearing the choking dust. People were banging on the door to get into her building for shelter from the debris, soot, and asbestos in the air. She's not allowed to go home yet and is staying with my brother. Both Mom and Rita (and her kids) are physically ok but emotionally shook up like anything. Anyway, thanks for caring, and let's say a little prayer for those lost as well as their families. Let's also use it as a catalyst to live our life to the fullest and be the best we can be. Death can happen at any moment so lets live today. Sincerely, Ray”

Following the completion of the Family Values trek, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS will play two nights at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. The shows are scheduled to take place on Monday, November 19th and Tuesday, November 20th.

Sweden's THYRFING are not planning on doing any touring “for awhile”, according to a statement on the band's official web site. “Not that we've been [so] often on stage lately, but this is just a statement to let you know, all of those mailing and asking, but also for agencies and booking companies. You never know what happens in the future, and we do not want to burn any bridges. However, nothing will happen 'til the release of our new album.” THYRFING's follow-up to last year's Urkraft CD, tentatively entitled The Fourth Outrage, is due out shortly.

IGNITE will be traveling to New York to play a benefit concert on Friday, November 30th at Hendrick Hudson High School on Albany Post Rd in Montrose, NY. The benefit show will be for the families of Firefighter Ladder Co # 4 from NYC. All proceeds are to be donated to the 17 families that lost love ones on Sept 11th, 2001. Ladder # 4 had one of the largest losses of NYC firefighters. IGNITE will also be playing a show on Sunday, December 2nd at CBGB's before they head back home. This will be IGNITE's first New York City show since June of last year.

Sir Luttinen, the drummer for Finland's THE BLACK LEAGUE (who are fronted by former SENTENCED vocalist Taneli Jarva),has joined a Finnish DISCHARGE-like noise band called TERVEET KÄDET on a part-time basis.

GODHEAD played their first show with new drummer Tom Z (formerly of the band BILE) on October 27th at the Fetish Ball in Hollywood, California. Tom Z will be joining the band for the North American Preaching to the Perverted tour with PIGFACE and GRAVITY KILLS in mid-November all through to the end of December.

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