Archive for February 13, 2012

FEAR FACTORY – Announce New Bassist

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal news, industrial metal, metal music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on February 13, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

Band Continues Work On Forthcoming Album

FEAR FACTORY today confirms Matt DeVries as the band’s new bass player. DeVries, previously of Chimaira and most recently Six Feet Under, joins the band replacing Byron Stroud. The announcement comes as the band continues work on their upcoming new album, planned for release early Summer. The album is currently being mixed in Canada by Greg Reely while artwork for the album’s packaging is nearly complete.

DeVries comments: “I have been asked by Dino and Burton to join one of my favorite bands. I have been a fan of FEAR FACTORY since 1992 and I could not be more excited to be part of this incredible band. We have shared the stage many times together and now I’m beyond stoked to be on the same stage playing together. Thank you to all my fans worldwide for sticking by me and I will be seeing you all on the road very soon.”

Guitarist Dino Cazares and vocalist Burton C. Bell note: “We are very excited to have Matt playing bass for FEAR FACTORY. We feel he is a great addition to our touring lineup. He has been a friend for a very long time and he’s a great musician who will be a perfect instrument in the FF machine.”

FEAR FACTORY’s new album will follow 2010’s highly regarded Mechanize. Said Blabbermouth of the record, “this is the album fans have been waiting for…a fiery and evolved rebirth of the band that changed metal in the ‘90s.” Revolver Magazine called Mechanize, “one of the best albums of the band’s career. Its combination of new-wave melody, rapid-fire aggression, and electronic ambiance sounds as fresh today as FEAR FACTORY did nearly 20 years ago. Call it the soul of their new machine,” while Decibel Magazine added, “FEAR FACTORY are back and beyond intact.”

(Source: Earsplit PR)

* For more info on FEAR FACTORY, click on the link below:

http://www.fearfactory.com

http://www.youtube.com/FearFactoryMusic

LONG LIVE FEAR FACTORY.

Stone.

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KITTIE – Trish Doan Returns As Bassist

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal news, melodic metal, metal music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on February 13, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

The cat’s out of the bag!

After posting a few teasers on their facebook page about a big announcement regarding the band’s future, KITTIE have now announced the departure of their bassist Ivy Vujic and the return of Trish Doan!

In a statement on the band’s website Ivy wrote:

“After 4 amazing years of jamming with my crazy metal sisters of Kittie, I am officially resigning as their bass player.

I’ve had an incredible time touring the world with these ladies and I am very grateful for all the fun I’ve had and amazing things I’ve had the opportunity to experience.

My last appearances with Kittie will be our upcoming hometown shows in London (February 17th) and Toronto (February 18th), as well as the Soundwave festival in Australia immediately after (February 25th – March 5th). I wish the Kittie girls the best of luck in all of their future endeavours and I know they will continue to be successful in whatever they do.”

Trish comments:

“I am very happy to be reunited with the Kittie family. The girls and I have remained close friends over the last 7 years and I am excited to have this amazing opportunity. I am looking forward to seeing everyone when we go back on the road this spring. I wish Ivy all the best!”

Morgan Lander about Ivy’s departure and Trish’s return:

“Ivy has been friend and partner in crime for over 4 years, we love and respect her wishes to depart from the band and move onto another phase in her life.

Trish has been a member of our extended family since she joined the band in 2005 and we are welcoming her back into the band with open arms.  We are ecstatic that she will be returning to bass duties and are looking forward to the (US) tour this spring! We love both girls and are glad that we all remain friends, first and foremost.”

Welcome back, Trish!

(Source: Massacre Records)

* For more info on KITTIE, click on the links below:

KITTIE – Official Website

MASSACRE RECORDS

LONG LIVE KITTIE.

Stone.

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VAN HALEN ‘A Different Kind Of Truth’ – The Truth Is… This Album ROCKS!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal news, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on February 13, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

VAN HALEN – As I pondered about what and how to write my review for A Different Kind Of Truth, these two realizations came over me: A. this album simply ROCKS and B. What can I possibly write that hasn’t already been written, debated and tossed around by countless other fans, bloggers, websites and the mainstream press? Whenever a titanic sized band releases a titanic “comeback” album, such as Van Halen has done, the Rock media world can get obviously flooded with album reviews and for good reason.

Having brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen join Hard Rockin’ and Heavy Hittin’ forces with David Lee Roth once again, on a full-length album, a long-awaited return of this magnitude since the RIAA Diamond Certified – 1984, is something special for fans of this band, (myself included). This Rock historic reunion becomes extra special, due to this new studio album resonating such a vintage return to form for Van Halen. Whoa, this album ROCKS. Regardless of when any “parts” of any of the songs were written for A Different Kind Of Truth, I’m in the crowd that cares only if the songs were written by members of Van Halen… and not ABBA.

Did I mention that this new Van Halen album ROCKS? Anyhow, life is short and when authentic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal can be written and recorded by this iconic band of the Rock music world and delivered to their patient fans, (there hasn’t been a Van Halen studio album released in 14 years), then there is valid cause for Rockin’ jubilation. This is not a reunion of a band that released a lone chart topping album 25 years ago. Van Halen dominated arenas and stadiums then… and will still now. This is a reunion of a band that can easily boast as much “important” musical influence as the likes of “American” Rock historic legends KISS, Aerosmith and The Doors, (to name a few).

Diamond Dave’s hair may be a “tad” shorter in 2012 and legendary bassist Michael Anthony may be absent from this “classic” Van Halen lineup, only the successful result of 100% pure Hard Rock is in the 13 songs my ears and senses have consumed from A Different Kind Of Truth. I’m both ecstatic and impressed simultaneously by this band. My relief from the first several listens of A Different Kind Of Truth lies in the fact that this new Van Halen album is not a dud, that all four of these musicians took the “right road” and decided to keep their sound real and true. Van Halen didn’t have to reinvent themselves just due to it being 2012. By the way, this album ROCKS.

Now, if you’re looking for a return to 1984, you best keep looking. A Different Kind Of Truth is an album that fits in quite fittingly “somewhere” within the first four Van Halen releases… with Diver Down looking over this album’s shoulder. Van Hagar? Certainly a fabulous and memorable era imbedded in my Rockin’ soul. Gary Cherone fronted Van Halen? A unique moment in Van Halen history that (in my Metal opinion) receives too often unwarranted and negative commentary. It’s now 2012 and this is Classic Van Halen. The Return of Van Halen. Diamond Dave fronted Van Halen. The world just became a “tad” brighter for me, as I wrote that preceding line.

* For more info on VAN HALEN, click on the link below:

 VAN HALEN – Official Website

This Album ROCKS. Metal Be Thy Name. 

LONG LIVE VAN HALEN.

The word “tad” appears twice in this post.

Stone.

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