Archive News Nov 29, 2001

Despite having just joined the ranks of Canada's ANNIHILATOR, former NEVERMORE axeman Curran Murphy has no intention of leaving his longtime outfit AGGRESSION CORE, which is currently in the process of recording its sophomore CD, according to a statement sent by the guitarist to BLABBERMOUTH.NET. The upcoming CD, entitled Victim Or Enemy (the projected artwork for which can be viewed here),is presently being tracked at Murphy's own Smiley Sounds Studios, and will likely be mixed by either ANNIHILATOR mainman Jeff Waters or STRAPPING YOUNG LAD mastermind Devin Townsend, if Curran has his way. Among the tracks that are tentatively set to appear on Victim Or Enemy are the following:

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01. Dreaming of Murder

02. Talk To Me

03. Victim or Enemy

04. Dethroned

05. Life Sentence

06. (F.ck You) Nazi Boy

07. Shine

08. Broken Back

09. I Hate You

10. Drunk (instrumental)

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According to Curran, two additional, as-yet-untitled cuts will appear on the CD, both of which feature a “more powerful and melodic style” than what the group has done in the past. Although no record deal has yet been secured for the group, Murphy has apparently been “talking with Century Media as well as Nuclear Blast, and we are hoping that through the ANNIHILATOR connection, as well as my history of kicking the sh.t out of people live with NEVERMORE, this will generate the kind of buzz and interest to have one of these labels pick us up and have us tour ourselves to f.cking death!” For more information, and regular studio updates, visit the band's official web site at www.aggressioncore.com.

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Murphy also commented on his departure from NEVERMORE by saying that “I came to the decision to leave the NEVERMORE fold after Jeff Waters offered to have me join ANNIHILATOR as an equal member and to actually get to record on the record with him. In the NEVERMORE zone, it is really all about Jeff, Van, and Jim doing the music, and Warrel doing his lyric work. I don't know of anybody out there who wants to stay in any kind of a job where you can never get a raise or advance your position or do anything to improve your career situation. So I went with ANNIHILATOR.”

IRON MAIDEN vocalist Bruce Dickinson reportedly guest stars in a video for the track “Wannabe Gangster” from pop rockers WHEATUS and also contributes to a remix of the song, which is due to be released as a single in the UK on January 7th.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian has recorded a full-length collaboration with noted Armenian multi-instrumentalist Arto Tuncboyaciyan during the downtime between their recently wrapped Pledge of Allegiance tour with SLIPKNOT and a series of December radio festivals, according to Rolling Stone Online. Tentatively titled Serart, the CD is slated for release next year on Tankian's own Serjical Strike Records and is being described by the singer as “really crazy world, jazz and experimental…with some rock and hip-hop, beats, dance beats, electronic beats”. SYSTEM bassist Shavo Odadjian handles the DJing duties on two of the album's 15 cuts. Tankian has also completed work on an electronica album under the name BAD GIRLS, which he's hoping to issue through Serjical Strike next year. A collaboration with Scottish vocalist Petra Jolly, the CD was reportedly conceived over the last few years during rare breaks from SOAD's constant touring and recording schedule and is being described by Serj as 'very MASSIVE ATTACK-ish -- trip-hop with really, kinda poppy vocals.'

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Serjical Strike Records—which has thus far signed three acts: BAD ACID TRIP, BIG ELF and KITTENS FOR CHRISTIAN—is currently being shopped to various major labels by Tankian, who is hoping to shortly secure a joint venture deal.

An MP3 file of the track “The Glass Prison”, taken from DREAM THEATER's upcoming Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence CD, which is due to be issued in late January through Elektra Records, is available for download from this location.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has revealed via his latest online posting at www.megadeth.com that he and producer Bill Kennedy (i.e. MORBID ANGEL, TESTAMENT) have completed mixing the first two tracks—“Rattlehead” and “Skull Beneath the Skin”—from the band's classic Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good! CD, which is due to be re-released next year in a special package containing the band's original three-song demo tape and liner notes by both Mustaine and ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian. Dave has also indicated that he will be meeting with former MEGADETH axeman Chris Poland today “to share some memories and good old times” before resuming work on the mixing process for the aforementioned Killing… reissue, which should be completed by tomorrow, after which Mustaine and Kennedy will commence work on MEGADETH's upcoming live CD/DVD.

CHILDREN OF BODOM mainman/guitarist Alexi Laiho has shot back at the so-called “fans” of the Finnish group who have been posting messages on the band's official message board suggesting that he had been “unfaithful” to his girlfriend Kimberly Goss (frontwoman of SINERGY, in which Laiho also plays guitar) during the group's recent trip to South America and that SINERGY was close to splitting up. In an official statement posted at the site, Alexi said that “first of all, not that it would be any of your F.CKING business, but I never cheated on Kimberly, and SINERGY as sure as hell isn't breaking up! I was totally heartbroken when I heard these rumors about us being rock stars and me only caring about groupies. If we EVER gave you the impression that we don't care about you guys, then I get on my knees and say that I'm sorry. We love our fans more than anything on this goddamn planet! Sometimes it just ain't easy to be up 35 hours and do 2 shows in 2 different countries within that time. We did our signing session in every city even though we always had only 2 hours of sleep the night before because of the long distances, which proves that we chose you instead our own health. COB ain't a candy-ass rock star band! We do f.cking care! And finally to all you motherf.ckers who try to f.ck up my personal life, I never f.cked anybody in South America, or anywhere else, so F.CK YOU! And to all our real fans: We love you forever, I cross my heart and hope to die. -COBHC, Alexi Laiho”

New Music For Nations Records signings INME have begun recording their debut album, entitled Overgrown Eden, at Chapel Studios with veteran producer Colin Richardson (i.e. MACHINE HEAD, FEAR FACTORY, SUGARCOMA) for a late spring release. While the recording won't wrap up until late January, the band will be taking a short break to travel back to London to support ANATHEMA and AEREOGRAMME on their Kerrang! magazine-sponsored K-Fest London date on Wednesday, December 12th at Mean Fiddler.

Sweden's TRANSPORT LEAGUE have parted ways with guitarist Peter Hunyadi and drummer Patrik J. Sten due to “musical differences” and have almost completely revamped their line-up, with bassist Adam Magnusson switching to lead guitar, and new members Stipe (drums ex-MERCILESS) and Stitch (ex-DIA PSALMA) coming into the fold. TRANSPORT LEAGUE have also apparently scrapped their plans of entering Studio Fredman this month to begin recording their new album, and are instead planning on hitting Oral Majority Recordings Studios with producer Roberto Laghi in the spring to lay down their next effort, to be entitled Multiple Organ Harvest. Demo samples are presently available for listening at the band's official web site at this location.

Seattle's THE BLOOD BROTHERS have been signed to ARTISTdirect Records via acclaimed producer Ross Robinson's I Am Recordings imprint after Virgin Records, who have the first rights of refusal on any of Robinson's signings, apparently turned down an opportunity to sign the group to a long-term deal. The quintet are scheduled to begin recording their ARTISTdirect debut in March for release later in 2002, with Robinson (i.e. LIMP BIZKIT, SLIPKNOT, KORN, AT THE DRIVE-IN) producing. 'Ross Robinson, who has an undeniable track record for recognizing talent, introduced me to THE BLOOD BROTHERS,' commented Ted Field, the label's CEO, in an official press release. 'I flew to Vancouver to see them in a small club, and after less than two songs, I knew I wanted to sign them. Their collective energy, passion and talent is just extraordinary. I am very excited about this band.'

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THE BLOOD BROTHERS—who consist of singers Jordan Blilie and Johnny Whitney, guitarist Cody Votolato, drummer Mark Gajadhar, and bassist Morgan Henderson—have been part of the Northwest hardcore-punk scene since 1997 when they were still in high school, according to the aforementioned pres release. Over the past four years, the band has developed a formidable nationwide underground buzz while touring across the country. Last year, the band released This Adultery is Ripe on the independent label Sound Virus/Second Nature with one reviewer noting that the CD was '...artful, genuine, and thrilling...I have never heard a band so young with a sound so complete and self-assured.'

Former IRON MAIDEN vocalist Paul Di'Anno has signed new management contract with Jeff Keller in North America and Lea Hart &amp Julian Pratt in the UK.

German “pirate metal” act RUNNING WILD have completed work on their brand new studio release, entitled The Brotherhood, and are planning on issuing it through G.U.N./BMG Records in late January or early February. The full track listing for The Brotherhood is as follows:

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01. Welcome to Hell

02. Soulstripper

03. The Brotherhood

04. Powerride

05. Siberian Winter

06. Detonator

07. Pirate Song

08. U-Nation

09. Dr. Horror

10. The Ghost

11. Crossfire *

12. Faceless *

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*bonus cuts that will appear only on the limited-edition version of the CD

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According to RUNNING WILD's official web site, Peter Pichel, the group's new bassist, will definitely join the band for their upcoming live performances, which are scheduled to begin in March.

Indonesian “brutal death metal” act ABSOLUTE DEFIANCE (formerly known as VILE) will soon issue their debut full-length album, entitled Systematic Terror Decimation, via From Beyond Productions (sub-label of Holland's Displeased Records). The band's current line-up consist of: Nino Aspiranta (vocals),Bimo Morbid (guitar),Andyan Gorust (drums) and Edwin Haikal (bass). For more information, visit the group's official web site at this location.

Former OZZY OSBOURNE/PRIDE &amp GLORY drummer Brian Tichy has apparently started a new band called MIRROR DOWN, which has made available an MP3 of one of their tracks, entitled 'Let It Shine', for download via this location.

Finnish goth-rockers THE 69 EYES will release a brand new single, entitled 'Dance D'Amour', on December 14th in Finland only. The single was produced by Johnny Lee Michaels, and it also includes the cut 'You're Lost Little Girl', originally written and recorded by THE DOORS. A video clip for “Dance D'Amour”, which was directed by Jules Takanen (who was responsible for the group's 'The Chair' promo),will start airing around the same time. THE 69 EYES are presently in the studio with Lee Michaels completing work on their upcoming, as-yet-untitled full-length album, which is due for release in the spring. Meanwhile, the two-CD limited edition version of the band's last opus, Blessed Be, has now been released not only in Finland but also elsewhere via Roadrunner Records.

LOUDNESS guitarist Akira Takasaki will be releasing a solo album early next year.

Finland's EMBRAZE have completed the mixing process for their third album, entitled Katharsis, and are due to master the album during the first week of December for an early 2002 release through Mastervox Records. The band are presently shooting a video clip for the track “Closed”, which will include footage from the Katharsis recording sessions.

According to KONKHRA mainman Anders Lundemark, “there is talk about a Best Of record [from KONKHRA] with a couple of songs from each record remixed, re-recordings of the old 'Vicious Circle' and 'Lustration Of The Need' songs which first appeared on our '90 and '92 demo tapes. If this happens and we release a record like this, we might do a string of shows to follow up on that.”

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