Photo credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Buddy Guy, left, and Jeff Beck perform as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host “In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues” in celebration of Blues music in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2012. The concert is in recognition of Black History Month. Premieres Monday, February 27 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide.
(Source: MAD Ink, PR)
LONG LIVE JEFF BECK & BUDDY GUY.
Stone.
Swedish act Opera Diabolicus will be releasing their debut album entitled “† 1614” on February 28th via Metalville Records.
Check out below, the new video from the Swedish act OPERA DIABOLICUS (featuring members from KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, THERION, DREAM EVIL and more). The video is more or less a 10 minute long short movie and includes acting scenes, epic scenery and a great deal of dark atmosphere and of course blood (everything a metal video should include right?). The video is filmed and edited by 11FRAMES (stationed in Gothenburg. Sweden).
Stone Says: Both song and video are quality atop excellence. Blood Countess Bathory is an experience both musically and visually. When you combine this group of musicians, songwriters, filmmakers and producers to create this project, the end result is inevitably legendary. Every detail just seems to fall into place so perfectly, both musically and visually on Blood Countess Bathory. For the faint at heart, be forewarned, there is plenty of blood in this video!
Opera Diabolicus is the brainchild of composer/musician David Grimoire and lyricist Adrian de Crow. The idea sprung to life when the two of them met randomly at a stage play of Umberto Eco’s book The Name of the Rose at a theatre in Gothenburg in 2006. Both of them were very intrigued by the story and they ended up talking about how interesting it would be to make a theatrical and dark metal musical based on that kind of story. The conversation between them that took place in Gothenburg that bleak December night planted the seed that soon should grow to be the concept of Opera Diabolicus – The concept of combining the dark elements of music and theatre in alliance with musical excellency.
The music could be described as dramatic and dark doom metal with atmospheric, epic and progressive elements. If you’re into bands like Candlemass, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Memento Mori, Therion, Notre Dame, Dimmu Borgir and Kamelot this is definitely the band for you to keep your eye on.
The upcoming album features among others; Snowy Shaw (King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Notre Dame, Therion, Dimmu Borgir), Mats Levén (Kryx, Therion), Niklas Isfeldt (Dream Evil), Jake E (Amaranthe, Dreamland) and Camilla Alisander-Ason on vocals, daemonic voices and ghoulish sounds. Snowy Shaw has also contributed with his well-known drums of doom. The album is produced and mixed by Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) at his Sonic Train Studio.
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† 1614 – Track Listing:
1. Overture
2. The Gates
3. Bloodcountess Bathory
4. The 13th Guest
5. In Memoriam
6. Mythos Lamia
7. Forbidden
8. Stone by Stone
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(Source: Opera Diabolicus)
* For more info on OPERA DIABOLICUS, click on the links below:
www.facebook.com/operadiabolicus
LONG LIVE OPERA DIABOLICUS.
Stone.
Mötley Crüe – As I wandered about a (somewhat) nearby Barnes & Noble last Friday, I came face-to-face with a very large hardcover book that I couldn’t resist buying. Mötley Crüe – A Visual History: 1983 – 2005. The sticker price was $9.99 (U.S.) and it was on… clearance! Metal be thy name, I love that magic “C” word.
Now, it only gets better. With my Barnes & Noble club card, I saved an additional 10%. Whoa. Why am I getting all psyched out about this price I paid, you may be pondering? Just take a look at what Amazon.com is asking for the same book in “new” condition: $37.95. Whoa! You read that correctly too. Plus, Amazon.com only has one new book currently in stock, with no used editions for sale!
Stone saved BIG here my Metal brethren. Rounding it out, it’s about saving $29.00 when you compare the Barnes & Noble price to that of Amazon.com. Honestly, this Mötley Crüe book is in pristine condition too. Usually those “clearance” books are kinda beaten around the edges. Not this time. Ring that Metal bell, cause Stone scored a Metal deal!
This Mötley Crüe book is a keeper. A Heavy Metal coffee table book it is. Legendary photographer of all things Rock ‘N Roll, Neil Zlozower, has compiled one stunning visual history of Mötley Crüe with his work here. The foreword is by Nikki Sixx. There are over 250 amazing photos to take in. This book measures (approximately) 9.25″ x 11.25″. Former Mötley Crüe co-manager/manager Doug Thaler lends some interesting anecdotes on one page as well.
Stone’s Metal Tip #1: Always shop around for your Metal stuff. When you see a Metal bargain, nail it!
Stone’s Metal Tip #2: You, yes you, can also own this cool Mötley Crüe book at an amazing bargain price. It’s selling at Barnes & Noble (BN.com) right now for $8.98! Take that expensive Amazon.com!
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* Book cover photo credit: Neil Zlozower
* For more info on Mötley Crüe, click on the link below:
Long Live Mötley Crüe.
Stone.
Swedish Symphonic Metal Masters THERION have announced a European tour for September and October to celebrate their 25th year of existence. Accordingly, the tour will be called “Therion 25th Anniversary Tour” and will include the following dates! More shows to be announced later!
Moreover, their new, yet untitled studio album will be released in September 2012, shortly before the tour kicks off. It’s gonna be one hell of an Autumn for all THERION fans out there!
28.09. NL Eindhoven – Effenaar
29.09. NL Groningen – Oosterpoort
30.09. B Antwerp – Hof ter Loo
01.10. F Paris – Bataclan
04.10. E Madrid – Heineken
05.10. E Barcelona – Razzmatazz 2
06.10. E Bilbao – Rock Star
07.10. F Toulouse – Bikini
09.10. F Lyon – Transbordeur
10.10. CH Pratteln – Z7
11.10. I Trezzo d’Adda – Live Club
12.10. D Glauchau – Alte Spinnerei
13.10. CZ Zlin – Masters of Rock Café
14.10. CZ Prague – DK Vlatvska
15.10. PL Krakow – Club Studio
16.10. PL Warsaw – Stodola
17.10. H Budapest – Club 202
19.10. RO Bucharest – Arenele Romane Tent
20.10. GR Thessaloniki – Apothiki Mylos
21.10. GR Athens – Gagarin 205
(Source: Nuclear Blast News)
* For more info on THERION, click on the link below:
LONG LIVE THERION.
Stone.
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
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