Archive News Nov 22, 2001

As a result of a tremendous increase in traffic since the anthrax terrorist attacks started, ANTHRAX (the band) have decided to move their official web site to http://www.anthraxtheband.com. According to a statement issued by anthraxheband.com webmaster Brent, “we've been getting immense numbers of hits (at times greater than starwars.com got to download the new Episode II movie trailer!) and need to change the name to curb the erroneous hits from people seeking information on the disease. Anthrax.com will be mothballed for now and possibly reappear at a later date when traffic is more manageable. As for now, all the latest and greatest from the world's most notorious band will at www.AnthraxTheBand.com. The new address will link to the same present site we all know and love.”

German thrashers DESTRUCTION have posted the first official shot of the band with new drummer Marc Reign (ex-GUNJAH, ORTH, UPTIDE) at this location. As previously reported, Berlin native Reign is a replacement for the recently-departed Sven Vormann, who left the group in order to concentrate on his family life.

According to an article in the current issue of Britain's Terrorizer magazine, the classic CELTIC FROST line-up of guitarist/vocalist Tom G. Warrior (aka Thomas Gabriel Fischer),bassist Martin Eric Ain and drummer Reed St. Mark recently held round table talks in Manhattan about a possible FROST album and tour in 2002. An anonymous “reliable source close to the band” is quoted as saying that “they've been meeting for a couple of years talking about this and were very inspired by doing the [CELTIC FROST] CD reissues. The intention is to meet in San Antonio and Zurich at the end of this year and into next year. They want to hit the studio in spring and have an album out in the autumn.” Although no details were divulged, the article reveals that rehearsal space, album costs, album and song titles and even touring plans have all been discussed at length. “They plan to do something in the tradition of their best albums,” the same source confirmed. “The album will be very modern, but there will be a lot of typical FROST sounds on it.” There are also plans to warm up the band with “some very special shows” prior to some extensive touring next year, according to the magazine. CELTIC FROST are said to be “on the brink” of signing new recording and publishing deals, with an official announcement expected soon. As reported here yesterday, a cryptic message on the group's official web site at www.celticfrost.com indicates that “an exclusive announcement will be posted on [the official web site] as soon as it appears that all relevant technical and logistical details have been decided upon regarding the current CF reformation. (Yes, I know some of you might be thinking, 'Well, we've heard that one before...!' Trust me, that is not the case this time.).”

Further to the item we posted here on Tuesday, former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash joined ex-GNR bandmate/bassist Duff McKagan on stage Monday night (November 19th) at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood during the four-stringer's appearance there with his new band LOADED on renditions of GNR's 'It's So Easy' and IGGY POP AND THE STOOGES' 'I Wanna Be Your Dog'. Another ex-GUNner in the audience was guitarist Gilby Clark, who reportedly greeted fans throughout the evening. LOADED's current line-up includes former NEW AMERICAN SHAME drummer Geoff Reading, guitarist Mike Squires (HARVEY DANGER, NEVADA BACHELORS) and bassist Jeff Rouse (ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE, SHOVELJERK).

ROB ZOMBIE's sophomore solo outing, The Sinister Urge, shifted over 149,000 copies during its first week of release, landing the album at the #8 slot on next week's Billboard Pop Album Chart. SEVENDUST moved over 61,000 copies of their third album, Animosity, during its first week of release for a #28 debut, while KITTIE sold 32,000 copies of their second CD, Oracle, to land at #57.

POWERMAN 5000 frontman Spider One has confirmed via his latest posting on the group's official web site at www.powerman5000.com that “we are writing a ton of songs and plan on hitting the studio in January. Also, as most of you know [drummer] Al [Pahanish] and [bassist] Dorian [Heartsong] are no longer in the band, the search for replacements is on!!” POWERMAN 5000's revamped version of their Anyone For Doomsday? CD, featuring a brand new title and artwork, is due to be issued through Dreamworks Records in the spring.

Norwegian black metal giants DIMMU BORGIR will tour USA and Canada from February 20th to March 25th. Support bands are not yet confirmed, but a statement on the group's official web site indicates that NAPALM DEATH,KREATOR, KRISIUN and DIABOLIC are all strong candidates to be BORGIR's touring mates on the upcoming trek. In other news, DIMMU BORGIR is tentatively scheduled to play Iceland either before or after the North American tour, with the possibility of another Oslo gig taking place before that. DIMMU BORGIR's upcoming live limited shaped CD, entitled Alive in Torment, will be issued on Monday, November 26th, and it will include the following cuts:

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01. Tormentor of Christian Souls

02. The Blazing Monoliths of Defiance

03. The Insight and the Catharsis

04. Puritania

05. The Maelstrom Mephisto

Former SPIRITUAL BEGGARS bassist/vocalist Christian “Spice” Sjöstrand has issued an official statement regarding his departure from the group (originally reported here back on May 17th and subsequently denied (falsely) by the band's management) and his present full-time involvement with THE MUSHROOM RIVER BAND. According to Spice, 'it's no secret that we've had difficulties in BEGGARS through the years, [but we had] sorted it out and continued,” the frontman revealed in an account originally posted at www.meteorcity.com. “The thought of leaving has been there for a long time and I actually quit in late 1999 but was talked into coming back. Becoming a member of THE MUSHROOM RIVER BAND was a relief and it restored my faith in music. Playing in a band with friends for the fun of it was a real joy. So when something happened this spring that made it impossible for me to keep on playing with BEGGARS, I didn't hesitate to quit. It was an easy decision as well as the only possible decision. My choice is to not discuss the reasons further in the media I guess you all have to wait for my autobiography which will be out in about 20 years...'

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THE MUSHROOM RIVER BAND is continuing the recording process for their second full-length album, tentatively entitled Simsalabim, which is due in March 2002. 'It'll be a killer album that will speak for itself. A real rocker!' Spice enthused. 'Also a European tour is being booked for April-May 2002. If everything goes as planned it'll be a very good package with us headlining. That's all I can say at the moment.'

Australia's SILVERCHAIR have set Diorama as the title of their upcoming fourth full-length album, which is currently being mixed at a Los Angeles studio with producer David Bottrill (TOOL, PETER GABRIEL) for a spring release through Atlantic Records. Diorama (which is a word referring to “a self-contained 'world within a world'”) was chosen as the album's title after 'we considered literally hundreds of titles over the last few months”, according to frontman Daniel Johns, who added that “as soon as this one came along I just knew it was a perfect fit for the music.” As previously reported, the follow-up to 1999's Neon Ballroom was tracked at Sydney's Studio 301 in the band's native Australia and it is reportedly a significant musical departure from the group's previous works.

Swedish high-energy thrashers THE HAUNTED have announced the details of their upcoming Scandinavian tour, which is scheduled to take place next month. The confirmed dates are as follows:

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Dec. 06 – Gothenburg, SWE @ Musikens Hus

Dec. 07 - Copenhagen, DEN @ Lilla Vega

Dec. 08 – Aarhus, DEN @ Voxhall

Dec. 09 – Malmö, SWE @ KB

Dec. 10 – Helsingborg, SWE @ The Tivoli

Dec. 12 – Turku, FIN @ Säätämö

Dec. 13 – Jyväskylä, FIN @ Lutakko club

Dec. 14 – Helsinki, FIN @ Nosturi

Dec. 16 – Umeå, SWE @ Hamn magasinet

Dec. 17 – Skellefteå, SWE @ Pinkerton

Dec. 18 – Stockholm, SW @ Cafe 44:an

Dec. 19 – Karlstad, SWE @ Jäger

Dec. 20 – Uppsala, SWE @ Sten Sture

Dec. 21 – Västreås, SWE @ Club Rockers

Dec. 22 – Örebro, SWE @ Contan

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In other news, THE HAUNTED are still looking for a guitarist to replace the recently-departed Anders Björler. Interested parties can apply for the position by clicking here.

Detroit “psychedelic rockers” THE WITCHES, featuring former FLOTSAM AND JETSAM/PRONG bassist Troy Gregory, have made several tracks in MP3 format available for download via this location.

ROB ZOMBIE has just completed lensing the video for “Never Gonna Stop”, the second single from his current The Sinister Urge CD, and is currently preparing to begin shooting the clip for OZZY OSBOURNE's 'Dreamer' after taking a holiday break. 'Ozzy's video is [going to be] much simpler [than the clip for 'Never Gonna Stop'], because the song is almost like 'Imagine', so he wanted to do something super-simple that was not gimmicky or weird,” ZOMBIE told MTV News. “It's kind of a really different video for OZZY.

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'I want to do a better job on his video that I do on my own, because when you're working for someone else you really want to come through for them,” the singer added. “They could have picked anyone, and for Sharon (Osbourne, OZZY's manager and wife) to come to me and say, 'We really love the video for 'Feel So Numb'. We really want you to do Ozzy's video.' ... It's a big responsibility.'

DREAM THEATER frontman James LaBrie has expressed strong interest in collaborating with AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen (ex-BODINE, VENGEANCE) on one of the guitarist's upcoming projects. During an online chat that took place several days ago, LaBrie revealed that he has been in contact with Lucassen and that he may be a guest vocalist on a future AYREON album. As previously reported, Arjen is currently hard at work on a CD entitled Space Metal, a concept album that will likely be issued under the STAR ONE moniker and which will feature the services of several different vocalists, namely Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY/NIGHTINGALE),Damian Wilson (AYREON/THRESHOLD),Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X/AYREON) and Floor Jansen (AFTER FOREVER/AYREON).

Because of “great ticket sales”, German melodic power metallers EDGUY have had the venue for their upcoming Stockholm, Sweden show on December 7th upgraded from the smaller Klubben to the larger Arenan. Finland's LULLACRY and France's HEAVENLY are also featured on the bill.

Los Angeles' SOCIETY 1, featuring former WHITE ZOMBIE drummer Ivan DePrume and ex-PRONG/current KILLING JOKE bassist Paul Raven, will be performing at the Viper Room in Hollywood, California on December 17th. At the time of this writing, Raven had not yet confirmed his participation at the above show due to his ongoing touring commitments with GODFLESH. An official announcement on the matter is expected shortly.

Britain's BLAZE, featuring former IRON MAIDEN/WOLFSBANE vocalist Blaze Bayley, are currently in the studio recording a track for a forthcoming LED ZEPPELIN tribute album that is also reportedly set to include tracks by MOTORHEAD , ex-HELLOWEEN guitarist Roland Grapow, GAMMA RAY, and JIMMY PAGE AND THE BLACK CROWES, among others.

BLIND GUARDIAN's brand new single, entitled “And Then There Was Silence”, has entered the Japanese charts at #1, Spanish charts at #4, and the German charts at #41 during its first week of release.

OZZY OSBOURNE/BLACK LABEL SOCIETY axeman Zakk Wylde will appear on KNAC.com on Wednesday, November 28th at 1:00 PM PST.

The opening act at the upcoming performance by reunited Norwegian power metallers ARTCH at Folkets Hus in Sarpsborg, Norway on Saturday, January 12th will be JORN, featuring former YNGWIE MALMSTEEN/current ARK frontman Jørn Lande, ex-TINDRUM/STONEFLOWER bassist Sid Ringsby, guitarist Tore Moren, and MAYHEM/KOVENANT drummer Hellhammer.

DEF LEPPARD have had the release dates of their two DVDs—containing Historia/In The Round In Your Face on the first DVD and Visualize/Video Archive on the second, along with interviews and discographies—pushed back from early December to late January due to a last-minute decision to improve the sound quality to an 'enhanced stereo' sound.

TOMAHAWK, the 'all star' band featuring former FAITH NO MORE vocalist Mike Patton, ex-HELMET drummer Jon Stainer, former JESUS LIZARD guitarist Duane Denison, and ex-THE COWS/current MELVINS bassist Kevin Rutmanis, will be embarking on a tour of Australia between January 30th and February 9th, which will include appearances at two Big Day Out Festival shows. A month-long European tour (February 14th-March 14th) will follow immediately thereafter.

RING OF FIRE, the new band of former YNGWIE MALMSTEEN vocalist Mark Boals, will embark on a Japanese tour during February. The dates are as follows:

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Feb. 19 – Osaka, JAP @ Big Cat

Feb. 20 – Tokyo, JAP @ On Air East

Feb. 21 – Tokyo, JAP @ On Air East

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RING OF FIRE's world tour is scheduled to start in Europe in January 2002 and continue in February and March throughout Asia.

Swedish all-girl outfit MISDEMEANOR, who are signed to ENTOMBED guitarist Alex Hellid's Muse Entities record label, will be performing at Klubb Siren in Stockholm, Sweden on December 1st. Also appearing on the bill are THE MAGGOTS.

Veteran German rockers THE SCORPIONS have had their appearance at the LA4America concert that was planned for November 19th in Los Angeles delayed until December 10th. As previously reported, THE SCOROPIONS will celebrate their 30-year recording anniversary in 2002 by releasing a very special CD Box Set containing previously unreleased recordings and other rare material that will be compiled with the help of longtime producer Dieter Dierks. A DVD with footage shot around the globe over the years will also be included. Moreover, the band are also working on the recordings for their next regular studio album, which is tentatively scheduled for a late 2002 release.

THE DIRTY AMERICANS, comprised of former WORKHORSE MOVEMENT members Myron, Freedom and Pete, along with new drummer Jeramiah Pilbeam, will enter the studio next month to record a brand new five-song demo with producer Tim Patalan, according to TotalRock.

KILLING MIRANDA's track “Blessed Deviant”, taken from the British group's Transgression by Numbers CD, has been included as part of the soundtrack to the new Streetfighters Extreme video 4. According to the band's official web site, the Streetfighter people are also using the track on constant rotation at their stand at this year's bike exhibitions.

Former DOKKEN/WINGER guitarist Reb Beach will have his debut solo album, entitled Masquerade, released in Europe through Frontiers Records / Now &amp Then Productions. Players on the album include: Reb Beach on vocals, guitar and keyboards, Tommy Bellin on bass and Dave Throckmorton on drums.

Norway's RED HARVEST will be entering Akkerhaugen Studio in Norway this weekend to begin recording their upcoming CD with producer Neil Kernon (i.e. QUEENSRYCHE, NEVERMORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE). Due in March, the as-yet-untitled effort will take about a month to track and will be mixed at an as-yet-undisclosed US studio. Several guest appearances are planned, including one from MAYHEM guitarist Blasphemer.

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