Archive News Oct 05, 2001

SOULFLY have replaced drummer Joe Nunez with returning skinsman Roy Mayorga, BLABBERMOUTH.NET can exclusively reveal. As first reported here three days ago, Nunez left, or was fired from (depending on whom you talk to),SOULFLY after insisting on re-negotiating his financial arrangement with the group, which is said to have barely allowed him the means to survive and forced him to effectively cohabit in the Chicago area with his mother during the band's “down” periods. Having failed to come to an agreement with band manager Gloria Cavalera (wife of mainman Max Cavalera),Nunez parted ways with the group and has since been replaced by MEDICATION sticksman Mayorga, who played on SOULFLY's self-titled debut in 1997 and who left the band under somewhat acrimonious terms back in 1999. Although no official word has yet been issued by the SOULFLY camp, it is believed that Roy will fulfill his upcoming European touring commitments with MEDICATION before joining forces with SOULFLY to begin recording the group's third full-length CD, which is scheduled to be produced by Cavalera and engineered by Otto D'Agnolo at Phoenix's (Brill Street) Chaton Studios. A relative unknown in metal circles, D'Agnolo had previously collaborated with Cavalera on the two NAILBOMB releases (Point Blank and Proud To Commit Commercial Suicide) and SOULFLY's cover of BLACK SABBATH's “Under The Sun” for the Nativity In Black II tribute CD. According to the Roadrunner Records web site, Cavalera has recorded a three-song demo at the aforementioned studio as a “test” for the upcoming album, with two of the tracks being originals and the third being a cover track of a song called 'I Will Refuse' by PAILHEAD. It should be noted, however, that, contrary to reports published via other Internet sources, bassist Marcelo D. Rapp is still very much part of SOULFLY and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, Nunez has been keeping busy jamming with an unsigned Chicago band by the name of STRIPPING THE PISTOL, who recently recorded a three-song demo with former FILTER/SMASHING PUMPKINGS drummer Matt Walker behind the kit and who are scheduled to put on several showcase gigs for major labels in the coming weeks (including a show at Chicago's Metro on October 21st). The three tracks appearing on the STRIPPING THE PISTOL demo are as follows:

...

01. Five Of You

02. I Think There's Something Wrong

03. Gone Beautiful

...

In other SOULFLY-related news, Max Cavalera is due to remix the track “Domestic Violence” from the debut solo effort from WU-TANG CLAN's RZA (aka Bobby Digital),entitled Digital Bullets, for an as-yet-unspecified release, presumably through RZA's current label, Wu-Tang/KOCH/In The Paint Records.

...

Lastly, Max reportedly jammed back in August with a Navajo Indian band THE CREMAINS at a Navajo Indian Reservation in Tuba City, AZ on renditions of SEPULTURA's 'Roots' and SOULFLY's 'Boom'. Tentative plans exist for SOULFLY to head Tuba City for a show on this Reservation at some point in the near future.

SKINLAB bassist/vocalist Steev Esquivel has been forced to postpone by several days his trip to the UK to mix the group's upcoming third full-length CD, entitled tHE reVOLTING ROOM: dISTURBING tHE aRT oF eXPRESSION, after visa problems prevented him from leaving the country as originally planned. As previously reported, SKINLAB are due to re-mix their upcoming effort with producer Andy Sneap at his Backstage Studios, where the group will likely end up re-recording some of the album's guitar and vocal tracks, according to Esquivel. tHE reVOLTING ROOM: dISTURBING tHE aRT oF eXPRESSION is tentatively scheduled for a February 5th release through Century Media Records.

MACHINE HEAD have announced the schedule for their upcoming European headlining tour. The dates are as follows:

...

Nov. 07 - Vienna, AUS @ Planet Music

Nov. 08 - Salzburg, AUS @ Rockhouse

Nov. 09 - Pratteln, SWI @ Koncertfabrik

Nov. 10 - Geneva, SWI @ Vernier

Nov. 12 - Milan, ITA @ Rainbow

Nov. 13 - Lyon, FRA @ Transbordeur

Nov. 14 - Istres, FRA @ L'usine

Nov. 16 - Barcelona, SPA @ Razzmatazz

Nov. 18 - Lisbon, POR @ Paradise

Nov. 19 - Oporto, POR @ Hard Club

Nov. 20 - Madrid, SPA @ Macumba

Nov. 21 - Bergara, SPA @ Sala Jam

Nov. 22 - Bordeaux, FRA @ Eysines-Salle

Nov. 24 - Strasbourg, FRA @ La Laiterie

Nov. 26 - Frankfurt, GER @ Offenbach

Nov. 27 - Stuttgart, GER @ Longhorn

Nov. 28 - Dusseldorf, GER @ Stahlwerk

Nov. 30 - Hamburg, GER @ Docks

Dec. 01 - Luxembourg, LUX @ Den Atelier

Dec. 02 - Antwerp, BEL @ Hof Ter Lo

Dec. 03 - Tilburg, NETH @ O13

Dec. 05 - Paris, FRA @ Montmartre

Dec. 06 - Paris, FRA @ Montmartre

Dec. 07 - Manchester, UK @ Academy

Dec. 08 - London, UK @ Brixton

Dec. 10 – Wolverhampton, UK @ Civic

Dec. 11 - Glasgow, UK @ Barrowlands

Dec. 12 - Nottingham, UK @ Rock City

Dec. 13 - Newport, UK @ Newport Centre

BATHORY's record label Black Mark Records have refuted reports that the US release of the group's Destroyer Of Worlds was delayed as a result of the recent World Trade Center bombings and sensitivities surrounding the album title in the tragic event's aftermath. According to Black Mark, 'the release of Destroyer of Worlds in the US territory will be somewhat later than over here in Europe due to the fact we are setting up some final details with our distributor in the US territory. All the Destroyer of Worlds material and art work was completed during the summer, way before the WTC incident.'

Norwegian black metal legends MAYHEM are rumored to have parted ways with frontman Maniac. No official statement on the matter has yet been issued.

YNGWIE MALMSTEEN touring keyboardist Derek Sherinian (ex-DREAM THEATER, ALICE COOPER) has issued the following apology to the people of Brazil following his remarks that were posted here yesterday: “This is an open letter to the country of Brazil.

...

“First of all, I want to apologize to the city of Porto Allegre for my insulting comments.

...

“Despite my disapointment in the crowd's support to Osama Bin Laden, and hatred for my country, my comments only added fuel to a fire that I wish never existed in the first place.

...

“I have played Monsters of Rock in Brazil in 1996 with ALICE COOPER, and In 1998 with DREAM THEATER. I LOVE Brazil, and I LOVE the Brazilian people. I want to play here in the future.

...

“I am asking you to consider that this is a extremely sensitive time for my country right now. Think about the children and families who lost their loved ones in the World Trade Center tragedy. America was NOT the only victim. Many Brazilians, among innocent people from many other countries, were killed by this heinous act of terror.

...

“I am not a politician. All I care about is playing music, and taking the music to the people around the world.

...

“I will not judge the country of Brazil, or even the city of Porto Allegre just by the actions of the crowd.

...

“We are ALL part of the human race, and the universal language between us is the music.

...

“Sincerely, Derek Sherinian”

MUDVAYNE have dropped off the Pledge Of Allegiance tour due to “personal reasons” (rumored to be substance abuse-related). As a result, AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE will join the tour earlier than originally planned and NO ONE will stay on for the entire trek. An official announcement is expected shortly.

DRAGONLORD, the San Francisco Bay Area black metal project that features in its ranks TESTAMENT members Eric Peterson (guitars/vocals),Steve DiGiorgio (bass),Steve Smyth (guitars),and Jon Allen (drums),have added a couple more dates to their upcoming gigging schedule. Here is the group's revised itinerary:

...

Nov. 17 - San Francisco, CA @ The Pound

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp (James Murphy Benefit)

Dec 01 – San Francisco, CA @ The Pound (w/MORBID

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp &nbspANGEL, DEICIDE, ZYKLON, SOILENT GREEN)

Dec. 08 – Anaheim, CA @ The Shack

Dec. 09 – West Hollywood, CA @ The Whisky

...

In related news, SWEET LEAF, the BLACK SABBATH “tribute” band that features in its ranks TESTAMENT/DRAGONLORD guitarist Steve Smyth, will be performing at The CW Saloon in San Francisco, California on October 23rd.

Sweden's THE CROWN have pushed back the projected release date of their upcoming Crowned In Terror CD—the group's first with new vocalist Tomas Lindberg (ex-AT THE GATES)—to March 11th in Europe and March 12th in North America.

Based on estimates, Swedish tech-thrashers MESHUGGAH performed in front of 100,000 people during their recent US support slot with TOOL, 99% of whom had probably never had heard MESHUGGAH's music before.

Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON have completed the instrumental recording of their new album at Denmark's PUK Studios and have moved over to a Norwegian facility to record the vocals for the as-yet-untitled effort.

FOO FIGHTERS bassist Nate Mendel has laid down 15 tracks in a Seattle studio with his former SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE band members William Goldsmith and Jeremy Enigk for an album release that is being produced by Brad Wood.

Work on the as-yet-unnamed project of former HELLOWEEN guitarist Roland Grapow and drummer Uli Kusch is reportedly progressing nicely, with the pair presently polishing up some 13 tracks (eight of which were written by Roland and five by Uli) for the group's upcoming debut album, the bulk of which is due to be recorded and mixed at Andy Sneap's Backstage facility, with additional recording and mixing scheduled to take place at Roland Grapow's home studio (Crazy Cat) in Hamburg. According to Grapow, the new band's sound will be “very much like HELLOWEEN”, with most of the songs following the typical German melodic power metal direction with some progressive elements. Kusch, meanwhile, has described the music as “epic, bombastic, orchestrated and atmospheric”. In light of Grapow and Kusch's departures from HELLOWEEN and the project's upgraded “full-time band” status, it is not yet clear if SYMPHONY X vocalist Russell Allen will be involved with the group or if the band will recruit a German singer to front the act, as they have hinted they may do in interviews conducted immediately following their split from HELLOWEEN. Assuming that Allen will contribute to the project, as originally planned, the line-up of musicians scheduled to perform on the group's upcoming CD will be as follows:

...

Russell Allen - Vocals

Roland Grapow - Guitars

Jürgen Attig - Bass

Uli Kusch - Drums

Janne Warmen - Keyboards

...

The cover artwork for the as-yet-untitled effort will be made by Rainer Laws, who was responsible for the artwork on HELLOWEEN's Better Than Raw and Metal Jukebox albums. Look for the CD to be released through an as-yet-undetermined label around March.

Germany's RAGE have signed a new record deal with SPV/Steamhammer Records and will be heading into BLIND GUARDIAN's recording studios near Krefeld, Germany in January with producer Charlie Bauerfeind to record their debut album for the label. If everything goes according to plan, the new CD will be available in the stores at the end of May. Meanwhile, a RAGEBest Of G.U.N. Years CD will be issued through G.U.N. Records on October 22nd, a release that the band “would explicitly like to point out.. came out without our co-operation. Neither we were informed about the release nor about the selection of titles by G.U.N. Records. We explicitly dissociate from this release as we think, that this is just getting the money out of the pockets of the fans. This record is no merit Best Of of the band, as it doesn't consider the whole band history.”

The second phase of JUDAS PRIEST's The Remasters series is due for release between October 22nd and November 12th. The bonus tracks are as follows:

...

Sin After Sin

01. Race With The Devil

02. Jawbreaker (live version)

...

Stained Class

01. Fire Burns Below

02. Better By You, Better Than Me (live version)

...

Killing Machine

01. Fight For Your Life

02. Riding On The Wind (live version)

...

Unleashed In The East

01. Rock Forever (live)

02. Delivering The Goods (live)

03. Hell Bent For Leather (live)

04. Starbreaker (live)

According to Kerrang!, NAPALM DEATH will release their first DVD, entitled NAPALM DEATH—The DVD, on October 15th through the Earache label. Containing a total of 58 tracks (!),including all the band's promo videos and two full live performances from 1990 and 1989, the DVD will also feature exclusive clips from the legendary Arena metal documentary and a “sing-along-a-NAPALM” feature which provides subtitles to the band's often unintelligible lyrics.

Progressive metal/fusion instrumentalists COSMOSQUAD, featuring guitarist Jeff Kollman (MOGG/WAY, EDWIN DARE) and famed rhythm section Shane Gaalaas/Barry Sparks (ULI JON ROTH, MSG, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN),are celebrating their live return with a show at the world famous Baked Potato, 3878 Cahuenga Blvd W., North Hollywood this coming Thursday, October 11. Showtime is 9:30pm.

...

COSMOSQUAD have completed work on the follow-up to their acclaimed self-titled 1997 debut album. Recorded at guitarist Jeff Kollman's Crumb Studios, the disc is scheduled for an early 2002 release and is set to feature the following tracks:

...

01. Creepy Spider Part I

02. Jam For Jason

03. Road to Zanzibar

04. Dusk At Dawn

05. In Loving Memory

06. Creepy Spider Part II

07. Chinese Eyes

08. C-Broth

09. Godzilla's Revenge

10. Cauldron of Evil

11. Tribal Trance

...

COSMOSQUAD have also contributed an alternate version of “Jam For Jason” to Warmth In The Wilderness — A Tribute to Jason Becker, out on Lion Music. Joining Jeff Kollman on guitar are special guests Chris Poland (OHM, ex-MEGADETH),Vinnie Moore, Jeff Watson (NIGHT RANGER),and Steve Morse (DIXIE DREGS, DEEP PURPLE).

...

For more info please visit www.jeffkollman.com.

House Of Shred has posted the following account from former TESTAMENT/SAVATAGE guitarist Alex Skolnick, who was in the vicinity of the lower Manhattan area (for jury duty) at the time of the World Trade Center bombings on September 11th:

...

'I would do jury duty for the rest of the year to prevent [the tragic incident] from happening. We were watching the film that welcomes you to jury duty at 8:30, and heard this big explosion. We had no idea what it was. People stopped watching the film and listened to the news in their headsets. They were talking with people next to them. When the film ended, our court clerk said, 'You won't be needed today, show up tomorrow at 10:30.' Obviously no one knew how serious it was at that point, and we figured we'd probably find out tomorrow what that big noise was.

...

'When we got downstairs the lobby was filled with heavily armed police, and they were sealing off a lot of the doors and instructing us to, 'Follow me. Walk north. Walk away.' Then I felt, 'hmmm, this sounds serious.' We get outside and saw every building being evacuated and people walking north. Emergency vehicles were coming thru. There was a lot of smoke. I couldn't see the Towers, themselves. I had run into a friend at jury duty — we went through this whole experience together. We turned a corner to Mercer and Canal and had a perfect view of the Towers. My friend didn't even want to look. At that point they were still standing, but they were both on fire. It was pretty disturbing, 'this is a sad, sad day.' We just kept walking. The subways were closed.

...

'I had to get home somehow. My cell phone wasn't working, and there were transportation crowds gathering on every corner for the buses. I got a couple blocks up. And suddenly heard a noise behind us. We turned around and watched the first Tower go down right in front of our eyes. Bizarre — you wouldn't think it was real and we were watching it.

...

'We walked some more, and got two blocks higher. Someone told us that a plane just crashed into the Pentagon. Whoa, it was total insanity. People were listening to the news around a truck blasting it, and we joined the crowd that was listening. We didn't know what to talk about — the planes, the Pentagon, the collapse.

...

'Suddenly people starting yelling again — pointing at the other Tower coming down — they were completely in shock.

...

'We found a coffee shop with three large TVs each showing different replays. It was packed, and everyone was silent except for the TV news. Seeing the Pentagon, the Twin Towers and replays was an affirmation that it was real and actually happening.

...

'I was able to reach my wife on the phone, and I told her I was safe... she wanted me home so bad. I tried to find a bus but there were no buses. I walked across to 8th Avenue and 14th street — 30 blocks from the Towers. A bunch of people were at the bus stop. The bus comes and a mob gets on — we went through the back doors. The bus driver put her hand over the token taken and said, 'Just get on the bus.' “Nobody paid. Half way up town — before 42nd Street — traffic came to halt. I walked 40 more blocks.

...

'By the time I got home, got messages from people I hadn't heard from in ages. I watched news for next two days straight. I had only run into a couple of other people who saw it happen first hand.

...

'My wife, Ofri, is from Israel. She's used to this kind of violence but she says 'the World Trade Towers plane crash was worse than all the terrorist acts combined.' Israel is a smaller country, the whole country has fewer people than in all of New York. This was the biggest terrorist attack ever.

...

'It doesn't matter how used to it you really are — it's still terrifying.'

According to NOCTURNAL RITES bassist Nils Eriksson, the Swedish melodic metal gods “have a bunch of new songs and are in the middle of rehearsing them. The new stuff sounds like NR for sure, but as always, expect a few surprises...”

Veteran Canadian metal legends ANVIL will be playing at The Dungeon in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada on November 23rd.

A free download of the track “The Genuine Pulse”, taken from BORKNAGAR's forthcoming Empiricism opus, can be obtained from this location.

The demo video of LIMP BIZKIT frontman Fred Durst's 1989 debut 2 WHITE, which was originally aired on VH1, can be downloaded from this location.

THE REVOLUTION SMILE, featuring former FAR guitarist Shaun Lopez, will be releasing a new EP, entitled We Are In This Alone, through Buddyhead Records in January.

L.A. shred kings RACER X, featuring guitarist Paul Gilbert (ex-MR. BIG),vocalist Jeff Martin (ex-BADLANDS, BLACK SYMPHONY),drummer Scott Travis (JUDAS PRIEST) and bassist John Alderete (ex-THE SCREAM),have secured a US record deal with Shrapnel Records for their latest studio effort, Superheroes. However, in keeping with Shrapnel head honcho Mike Varney's reported “no obscenities” and “no religious defamations” requirement, all the “f.cks” in the track “Evil Joe” have been masked out and “O.H.B.” has been dropped from the album altogether.

...

In related news, here is an update from Gilbert on his current activities: “I finished recording, producing, mixing, and playing and singing on an amazing rock/blues album with my guitar playing uncle, Jimi Kidd. It's called Paul Gilbert And Jimi Kidd - Raw Blues Power. I'm really happy with how it turned out. The album can be used for air-guitar, hippie dancing, backyard beer partying, and an assortment of other things. It may be released as early as December, so keep checking your local CD shops and Amazon.com.

...

“I've also just finished producing a Japanese rock band called MR. ORANGE. They wrote some fantastic songs and I had a great time helping them in the studio. They even let me sing some background vocals and play a boogie-woogie piano solo. Their singles and album will be released over the next few months on the Sony Music Japan label.

...

“I had planned to come back to Las Vegas a few weeks ago (to fix my email among other things). But, due to world events I decided to stay in Japan instead. So now, I'm practicing my guitar for the upcoming RACER X Concert Tour, writing songs for my next solo album, and trying to learn to speak and write more Japanese.

...

“Ibanez will soon be releasing a special edition PGM10th anniversary guitar. They will debut it at the Tokyo Music Fair on Oct. 21st. They are only making a limited number of these guitars so order yours now. (They are killer!).”

....