As reported on the official facebook of SUFFOCATION:
New York Death Metal veterans, SUFFOCATION, have sold 3,213 copies of their new album Pinnacle of Bedlam in the U.S. during its first week of release. That puts the band at #152 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart and at #2 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) Chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
“Pinnacle of Bedlam is an album that we couldn’t be prouder of,” commented the band. “A lot of blood and sweat went into the making of this album and the fans have responded! Thank you to all of you who support SUFFOCATION, as well as Nuclear Blast for their support in helping to bring this brutal beast to the masses and to our management team for keeping all the pieces together. We’ll see all of you on the road on the ‘Despise the World’ tour!!!”
Stone Says: Hails to SUFFOCATION for invading the Billboard Charts! I bought my copy of Pinnacle Of Bedlam; it’s the CD/DVD Digipak version sold at Best Buy for $11.99. I highly recommend this new deathly offering from SUFFOCATION and… Metal be thy name.
DRAGONFORCE – After all these years, I’ve come to the conclusion that if Metal wants to mingle and/or partner within the mainstream, the benefit can be that (hopefully) more people will be enticed into our beloved Metal universe. I know I sure would love a payday if Capital One wanted to partner with me! Stone and Capital One… nah, I can’t see it anytime soon.
Now on to this post… the Dragonforce guitar duo of Herman Li and Sam Totman are shredding some serious Metal in the Capital One video below. Whoa.
As reported on the official facebook of Dragonforce: “Finally, the full-length version of the exclusive DragonForce track “Galactic Astro Domination” of the Capital One commercial is out!”
I found this cool message and link for a FREE Dragonforce MP3 on youtube:
For a limited time and while supplies last, an exclusive MP3 of this smoldering, sweltering, and scorching anthem is available as a free download only on http://www.WhileBanking.com
PHANTOM 13 – That’s it at the top! Whoa! That’s my autographed PHANTOM 13 CD! I was able to catch these Horror Punk/Shock Rock bad-asses opening for the Queen Of Heavy Metal, aka, DoroPesch and her band DORO. This concert took place at Ace Of Cups in Columbus, Ohio, back on February 9th. HARD ROCK HIDEOUT‘s very own Rob Rockitt took my Rockaholic ass for a ride out to this DORO show and we both had a blast.
PHANTOM 13 are from Columbus, Ohio and they gave their hometown crowd of fans one hell of a spooktacular good time. I had heard of PHANTOM 13 before seeing them on that night; now I’m a fan. The band members of PHANTOM 13 were out and about in the crowd after their set, as well as hanging around their merch table. I bought their self-titled CD from them for $6. As the night progressed, each member of the band was more than happy to sign the front cover to the liner notes for me. Very cool.
Being a fan of the Misfits, Balzac and Wednesday 13 (to name a few) is no secret around here. Horror Punk, Horror Metal and Shock Rock just sucks me in. I love it. I really dig the moments when AFI and Aiden havedabbled into the Punk Horror theme. If any of these bands I’ve mentioned are favorites of yours, then, PHANTOM 13 is a band worthy of your time and money.
PHANTOM 13’s vocalist Sutter Cain comes across as an ominous figure, both physically and vocally, however, he politely apologized when he nearly walked into me in the crowd. That’s called having Rockin’ class and I respect that. From this experience, I’d have to readily admit that PHANTOM 13 can play and are a class act off the stage. I highly recommend seeing these guys live and don’t hesitate to buy their merch and music; whether it’s one mp3, an entire CD or slab of vinyl. Metal be thy name.
Ripple Music will release Fate is Your Muse from Indianapolis Heavy Rockers DEVIL TO PAY on April 9th. The album will be available on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. Fate is your Muse is an introspective lyrical journey that careens from the metaphysical, to the absurd, to the pragmatic (and back again), all set to bone crushing heaviness wrapped in elaborate vocal melodies and elegant guitar phrases. Exploring topics such as reincarnation, the end of days, and the thin veil between reality and fantasy, the Indianapolis foursome create a rare musical experience; one that will have Heavy Rock fans returning for the primal emotional riffs, as well as the complex and heady lyrical content.
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FATE IS YOUR MUSE – Track Listing:
Wearin’ You Down
Ten Lizardmen & One Pocketknife
Yes Master
Already Dead
This Train Won’t Stop*
Savonarola
Black Black Heart
The Naked Truth
Mass Psychosis
Tie One On*
Beyond The Ether
*CD version only
DEVIL TO PAY released a video for the single “This Train Won’t Stop,” which was premiered by The Obelisk in conjunction with the end of the Mayan Baktun on December 21st. The lyrics are about the continual false prophesying of the world’s end. Check out the video below!
The band is hosting a listening party for Fate Is Your Muse at the Sound Square Brewery in Indianapolis on the 16th of March, which will feature the establishment’s home brews, all of which will be named after DEVIL TO PAY songs for the night. DEVIL TO PAY’s album release party will be held at Radio Radio in Indianapolis on the 12th of April.
Pre-order Fate is your Muse by clicking the link below!
The esteemed DEATH TO ALL Tour, celebrating the life and music of DEATH mastermind Chuck Schuldiner, will be returning in 2013 for an even larger run of dates. After a successful 2012 run, the tour, now referred to as DTA1, will feature the original lineup of DEATH from Human — guitarist Paul Masvidal, bassist Steve Di Giorgio, and drummer Sean Reinert, with special guest vocalist/guitarist Max Phelps of Cynic/Exist. The band will be playing a selection of songs from the first four DEATH albums including the cream of the Human album.
Once again, the spirit of the tour is to spread the word and raise money for the charity Sweet Relief, while keeping the music and legacy of Chuck Schuldiner alive. A second version of the tour, dubbed DTA2, is planned for North America later this year, and will focus on the final three DEATH albums, plus a one-off European date at Neurotic Deathfest May 3 that will cover the entire DEATH catalog. A complete listing of dates is included below while a limited number of VIP tickets are available HERE.
Additionally, 2013 will continue to see the deluxe reissues of DEATH’s catalog by RelapseRecords. Over the last couple of years, the label has painstakingly reissued and remastered the later albums from the DEATH catalog including The Sound of Perseverance, IndividualThought Patterns, Human, Spiritual Healingand other Chuck Schuldiner related releases. These DEATH titles are currently available for streaming at this LOCATION. Details on the 2013 reissues will be announced shortly.
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DEATH TO ALL Tour Dates:
4/13/2013 House of Blues – W. Hollywood, CA Tickets
WITCH CROSS – Lead vocalist Kev Moore of Metal legends Witch Cross has recently took time out of his unreal busy schedule to do an exclusive interview with Metal Odyssey. A huge Metal thank you to Kev for being so obliging! Below you’ll read about Kev reflecting on the writing of the forthcoming Witch Cross album: Axe To Grind. Kev also speaks with the utmost respect for the Metal legacy in which Witch Cross has earned; as well he speaks the same for his band’s former and current members.
Band chemistry, special (well-known) guest musicians on Axe To Grind, playing the Metal festival circuit and (of course) the fans of Witch Cross, are all touched upon by this talented and charismatic frontman. It’s been many years since the last Witch Cross studio release; that being 1984’s Roadrunner Records release of Fit For Fight. It’s a new Metal era for this Danish rooted Metal band. The fans never went into hiding, Metal never died and now… Witch Cross is back! Here’s what Kev Moore had to say:
Stone: Kev, how excited are you and the entire Witch Cross band & camp to see ‘Axe To Grind’ release?
Kev: We’re totally psyched-up about this release Stone – it’s very, very important to us, as ‘Fit for Fight’ has achieved such a cult status in the Metal world, all these years later we knew it would be a hard act to follow. But we think we’ve stayed true to the ethic of the original, never losing sight that ‘The song is King’.
Stone: Can you tell us Metal faithful how cool it is to have Chris Tsangarides do the mixing for ‘Axe To Grind’?
Kev: To have Chris mix the album is a huge Metal bonus for us. We had him in mind right from the start, and we are great admirers of his work in this genre, his track record speaks for itself! We knew he could help us stay true to the genre and the era from which our music is born.
Stone: Can you elaborate on the flow and chemistry as you and (guitarist/founding member) Mike‘Wlad’ Kock wrote songs for ‘Axe To Grind’? Anyone else contribute to the songwriting?
Kev: Finding a songwriting partner that is easy to work with and complements your own ideas is not an easy task. Primarily, you have to check your ego at the door, and be prepared to have the other guy say ‘I don’t like what you did there’ or ‘that sucks!’ because you need to focus on what is best for the song, nothing else. When Mike sent an idea over for me to look at way before we even got deep into the ‘Axe to Grind’ project, and we started ‘ping-ponging’ the ideas back and forth, I immediately knew we could write together. Mike is prolific and fast, as am I. We worked at a furious pace, honing the material to how we wanted it. I want to give huge credit to Mike, who really kept his eye on the ball regarding his vision for this album, keeping it true to the band and the genre. In addition, we really wanted to make this album very inclusive, and ‘Part of the Machine’ was co-written with our bassist, Jan ‘Little John’ Fields, and ‘Metal Nation’ was co-written with guitarist Paul Martin. To take the ‘inclusive’ vibe further, we have our original drummer from ‘Fit for Fight’, Anders “A.C” Hjort as a guest on several tracks too.
Check out the teaser video below for Axe To Grind… Whoa!
Stone: How did your guest musicians Marta Gabriel, Graham Oliver and Jax Chambers all come on board for this exciting Metal chapter in Witch Cross history?
Kev: We’re so pleased to have these great Metal mates on board for this album! I’ve known Graham for many years, I sang with Oliver/Dawson Saxon for two tours before Wardi joined them and both Graham and I have guested on each others albums in the past. It was natural to want him to contribute to ‘Ride with the Wind’ which is a motorcycle song in the best Saxon tradition! I also get to play bass on that one, so it’s Graham and I together again like the first tour we did. We worked with the fabulous Crystal Viper at Metal Magic in Denmark last year, and Marta’s amazing vocals just knocked us out! It was an honour to have her take the part of the ‘Bird of Prey’, she just rips it to shreds… fantastic Metal stuff!
We’ve known Girlschool for years, often getting the same flights to and from Germany to shows. Jax was a natural to ask to contribute and she’s great fun! She laid down a great solo for ‘Chelsea 100’. What was also cool was my son Corey did the recording of Graham and Jax over in the UK for us, so we kept it in the family! It’s truly an honour to have these three great artists share this album with us. They rock!
Stone: Which are your favorite songs on ‘Axe To Grind’ or is the entire album a favorite?
Kev: It’s REAL hard to pick a favourite, throughout the process it’s changed…but if I had to pick one, it’s probably ‘The Killing of Chelsea 100’. I love the time signature changes and I’m very proud of the lyrics, which reference much of the history and people who went through that famous New York hotel. That said, the album as a whole is a fine body of work, in my obviously biased opinion!
Kev Moore
Stone: Have you performed any new songs ‘live’ yet? If so, how have the fans responded?
Kev: Yes, we’ve been performing ‘Demon in the Mirror’ and ‘Pandora’s Box’, and I have to say, we were blown away by the fans reaction! When you realize that they also have to deal with me as the ‘new’ vocalist singing the old songs and then hearing new stuff on top, it really gave us a great feeling as we were recording ‘Axe to Grind’.
Stone: Are there songs that didn’t make the cut for ‘Axe To Grind’ that (hopefully) will land on a future EP or studio album?
Kev: Hell yeah! We had so many ideas coming out that we’re well on the way to another album’s worth of material already! We had to think long and hard about what to leave off this one and things are shaping up nicely so that we hope it won’t be another 28 years between releases!
Stone: What can you tell your Metal brethren about the ‘live’ Witch Cross experiences you’ve had thus far?
Kev: You know, playing ‘Keep it True’ in Germany last year was immense for us. It was SO important. We didn’t really know how we’d be received, whether we could recapture any of the magic the band had back in the day, and from a personal perspective, whether I would be accepted as the new frontman, because, and I want to go on record with this: Alex Savage’s vocal performance on ‘Fit for Fight’ was a tour de force – it’s a superb piece of work. I’m no stranger to filling a role though. Going out singing Saxon’s catalogue with Graham Oliver, Nigel Durham and Steve Dawson was a big task too and the experience probably helped me when we resurrected WITCH CROSS.
Kev: The fans reaction was truly amazing. You must remember, as is so often the case with Metal, this music gets ‘handed down’ from older brothers, or indeed through generations and there are many people who know the old songs, who never thought they’d ever hear them performed live. Some of the messages of support we’ve had have been wonderful, and the instances of meeting many of the fans at the great festivals such as Metal Magic and Heavy Metal Maniacs in Holland have been very important to us. It is a symbiotic relationship. The band IS its fans, it is our raison d’etre. Without their enthusiasm, their approval, their support, I doubt this album would have been made.
Stone: What are the release dates for ‘Axe To Grind’ in North America, Europe and the UK?
Kev: We have a tentative worldwide release for the beginning of April, but nothing more definite than that at the time of writing. I DO know that our wonderful label Hells Headbangers, will be issuing it in on both CD and 12″ vinyl. More news as we get it!
Photo from Ultraviolet recording sessions at The Jam Room
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“UNSPOKEN” MP3 AVAILABLE NOW
Feb. 26, 2013, Philadelphia – Kylesa is set to release Ultraviolet, one of the most anticipated Hard Rock releases of the year and the follow-up to their critically acclaimed album SpiralShadow, on May 28 via Season of Mist (May 24 in Europe).
“Whereas Spiral Shadow was a warm album suggesting concepts of hope, Ultraviolet is a bit colder and darker,” explains songwriter/guitar player Laura Pleasants. “All of our studio albums have their own unique identity and we’ve always been a band who strives for something different than what current fads suggest. With Ultraviolet, we took a step inward and wrote music that we felt we had to write; this album centers around the multiple themes of loss and you can feel it in the music. Everyone goes through it during their lifetime and this record reflects that experience.”
The Savannah-based quintet recorded Ultraviolet at The Jam Room in Columbia, SC with the band’s guitar player/songwriter, and sought-after producer, Phillip Cope (Baroness, Black Tusk) once again overseeing production.
Kylesa released a rarities collection in November titled From The Vaults, Vol. 1, which featured unreleased, new and alternate versions of songs spanning the band’s catalogue as well as one new song titled End Truth. Cope and Pleasants spent over a year going through their archives preparing the release.
The band’s most recent studio album, Spiral Shadow, had the highest Metal/Hard Rock entry on the Village Voice’s 2010 Pazz & Jop album poll, led Pitchfork to say “Kylesa would be a household name” following the release and landed the band on the cover of Terrorizer as well as album of the month accolades from Metal Hammer, Rock Sound and Visions Magazines. In 2011, Kylesa became the first Metal band to perform on Last Call with Carson Daly.
Kylesa will return to the road in May with more details forthcoming.
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(Source: Speakeasy PR & Marketing)
* For more info on KYLESA, click on the links below!
TOKYO DRAGONS – They came from London, England. They played in-your-face, denim and leather wrapped, good-times Hard Rock. Their debut album Give Me The Fear was released back in 2005, via Escapi Music. This band certainly packed 100% Heavy Rockin’ potency and Give Me The Fear is 100% proof, to my middle-aged and Metal scorched ears. Tokyo Dragons was their name and how I wish they were still in the Hard Rock game!
Apparently, Tokyo Dragons is no longer a band. From what I’ve read, Tokyo Dragons disbanded back in 2008; just after releasing their sophomore album Hot Nuts. With no official website or facebook page existing for this band, the alternative source for information is reading about their career biography on Wikipedia. Now that’s an unfortunate thing.
What I do know is what I hear and Give Me The Fear is an amazing experience of Hard Rock bliss upon my senses! This debut from Tokyo Dragons could have easily been titled: Psyche-You-Out-Of-Your-Hard-Rockin’-Party-Lovin’ Mind! ALL 11 songs on Give Me The Fear are high-octane and pedal to the metal! This is an album that can be enjoyed by both Classic Rock and Hard Rock fans alike; with the 80’s Heavy Metal crowd undoubtedly included!
There’s so many memorable riffs and hooks on Give Me The Fear that it’s flat-out insane! Guitar driven to the maximum and lead vocalist/guitarist Steve Lomax sounds like a seasoned superstar of the Hard Rock world. To me, Tokyo Dragons were (very likely) feeling and sharing some legitimate Hard Rockin’ chemistry as a band, when they recorded their debut; it’s such a damn shame they’re no longer around.
I landed Give Me The Fear on CD this past weekend; finding a used copy at a store called BuybacksEntertainment. For $2.99, I couldn’t have spent my money any wiser! Due to Give Me The Fear, I’ve been transported from being unfamiliar with Tokyo Dragons to being a fan of their heavy music. Tokyo Dragons played some blue-collar, kick-ass Hard Rock. ‘Nuff said.
In my most honest opinion, Tokyo Dragons wasn’t any copycat band. Fans of AC/DC to Cheap Trick (with Helix, Fastway and Motörhead fans in-between) can all find something to savor from Give Me The Fear. I know I’m savoring every moment, each and every time I listen to this album. Now if only Tokyo Dragons would reunite… that would be Hard Rock news to celebrate. Metal be thy name.
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Give Me The Fear – Track Listing:
What The Hell
Get ‘Em Off
Do You Wanna?
Come On Baby
Let It Go
Johnny Don’t Wanna Ride
Teenage Screamers
Ready Or Not
Burn On
Rockin’ The Stew
Chasing The Night
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TOKYO DRAGONS:
Steve Lomax – lead vocals & guitar
Phil Martini – drums & vocals
Mal Bruk – guitar & vocals
Ade Easily – bass guitar
* In the liner notes of Give Me The Fear, it reads: “Tokyo Dragons welcome aboard Mathias Stady on Bass Guitar.”
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LONG LIVE THE HARD ROCKIN’ LEGACY OF TOKYO DRAGONS.
CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC is pleased and extremely proud to have signed a deal with FATESWARNING’s original guitarist and founding member Victor Arduini for the release of Arduini’s new band FREEDOMS REIGN.
FREEDOMS REIGN marks Arduini’s comeback to the Metal world since he left FATES WARNING after the release of The Spectre Within in 1985.
Keeping his original, charismatic and unmistakable guitar-style untouched, Arduini returns under the spotlights with fresh enthusiasm and dedication, producing a notable effort of true American-styled Heavy Metal with a classic Ozzy/Sabbath’s flavor. FREEDOMS REIGN was introduced to Cruz Del Sur by long-time friend and “occasional A&R” Tom Phillips (While Heaven Wept) who said about F.R.’s music:
“I think Freedoms Reign would be a welcome addition for anyone into classic heavy rock, early Fates fans, those into both the recent Proto-Metal movement, and the wave of Classic Metal bands that evolved on the outer fringes of the Doom scene!”
Besides Arduini (guitar/vocals) , FREEDOMS REIGN also consists of Tommy Vumback (Guitars), Michael Jones (Bass) and Chris Judge (Drums).
The release of FREEDOMS REIGN’s self-titled debut is set for April 30th to celebrate the Walpurgis Night that originally influenced Fates Warning to release their Night on Bröcken debut exactly 29 years ago.
FREEDOMS REIGN has been active in the Connecticut Metal scene since 2011. The idea behind the band’s formation was to simply make some great music that returned the musicians involved to their roots and could deliver on their commitment to making some Old School Metal that would be relevant in today’s scene. Expect nothing less than a true return to heavy, hard and driving Old School Metal. The band’s self-titled debut was produced by Nick Belmore (Toxic Holocaust/Hatebreed) at Dexters Lab in Milford, CT.
Feb. 25, 2013, Los Angeles – TOOL will release a handcrafted, bonus-laden, limited edition package of their original debut EP, Opiate, on Mar. 26 to mark the 21st anniversary of the six-song release.
The anniversary edition is limited to 5,000 copies and features art direction by Adam Jones, illustrations by legendary artist Adi Granov and design packaging by Mackie Osborne, who has collaborated with TOOL on many albums including 10,000 Days, Lateralus and Salival as well as posters and merchandise.
The 5,000 copies will be broken down as 5 x 1,000 runs with each set featuring a variation of the exterior graphics and included bonus items which include a new stereoscopic image for fans to use with their glasses from the 10,000 Days packaging.
The packages will only be available via TOOL’s website (www.toolband.com) on Mar. 26 and there will be no pre-orders. A limit of three packages from each of the 5 x 1,000 versions will be in place. More details to be announced soon.
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(Source: Speakeasy PR & Marketing)
* For more info on TOOL, click on the links below!
KROKUS – For almost 40 years now, Krokus has stood for high-quality, honest-to-goodness, hand-made power rock. No other Swiss rock band sells albums worldwide like Krokus. The band has already sold over 14 million records, toured the world, and received gold and platinum discs in the USA and Canada. The milestones in their rock career are dotted around the world: from Australia and the USA to Mexico, Russia, Japan, and China.
Today they are back in their classic line-up with Mandy Meyer and are stronger than ever on their new album, DIRTY DYNAMITE. The band spent two years working on the new album under the watchful eye of producer Chris Von Rohr at the legendary Abbey Road Studio. Guitarist MarkKohler has this to add: ‘This is not just another Krokus album. I think we have definitely passed another rock milestone with this record.
San Francisco – Death Valley High, the NorCal quartet Alternative Press described as “a particularly edgy Queens Of The Stone Age with a few stolen At The Drive-In moves thrown in…,” return with Positive Euth on June 4 via Minus Head Records.
“With Positive Euth, we turned everything up a notch,” explains Reyka Osburn, singer and guitar player for Death Valley High. “If it was dark, we went darker. If it was hard, we went harder and if it was dancy, we went, you guessed it… dancier.”
The 12-track album was produced by Osburn and Jesse Nichols (The White Stripes, Ty Segall, AFI), mixed by Eric Stenman (Weezer, Deftones) and mastered by Brian Gardner (Queens Of The Stone Age, Linkin Park). Positive Euth was recorded in late 2012 at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, Calif.
The band kicks off a brief tour, which includes an Austin stop during SXSW, on Mar. 6 at the DNALounge in San Francisco. Dates are:
BUCKCHERRY – I’ll call it this way, while I was eagerly anticipating the release of Buckcherry’s sixth studio album, Confessions, I knew it would just have to be really good. Let me say this much, my fellow Metal brethren and Rockaholics: Confessions is really, really, really good. Really. Confessions is this type of good: it’s running through the village square naked, while bellowing hallelujah to the Hard Rock and Rock ‘N’ Roll Gods. Now, that’s what Stone calls good.
My eardrums and whatever part of my brain that’s responsible for absorbing music has been thanking me, ever since I’ve been listening to Confessions. The hooks, rhythms, melodic continuance, psyche-you-out beats, vocals, backing vocals, mellow album closing and irresistibly grand presence of guitar driven songs makes Confessions a measuring stick for all other Hard Rock and Rock albums released in 2013. I’m not trying to bamboozle anyone here. Take my Metal word for it and go cash it in at the Rockaholic savings and loan and tell ’em you were sent by Stone.
* Above: Cover artwork for inside cover of jewel case.
* At top of post is the cover artwork for CD outer sleeve.
Apparently, Buckcherry realizes that there are many Rock, Hard Rock and Metal bands out there all competing for the same audiences and greenbacks. Therefore, obviously, Buckcherry decided to write and record a new album that would stand above the heap and kick the living shit out of my Hard Rock lovin’ ass. Has this new Buckcherry album done the same to you? If so, it feels damn fine… doesn’t it?
It’s like that old cliché of capturing lightning in a bottle; yet with Confessions, Buckcherry captured Hard Rock lightning in a case of bottles. With Confessions being an album of songs that carry the theme of the Seven Deadly Sins, (as seven song titles of Gluttony, Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Envy and Lust portray), this is an album that is as lyrically potent as its memorable music.
With songs like album opener Gluttony and the mid-tempo Rocker of The Truth, Confessions is stacked and packed with song favorites I could continue to list; only what’s the point when the total package is my favorite? I will note that Dreamin’ Of You is a perfect song to end this album. With its inspiring lyrics and slower vibe, Buckcherry sends a clear message through Dreamin’ Of You; that there is still hope and a spirit of belief in oneself for us to reach for after all. Buckcherry can take a justified Hard Rockin’ and Rockin’ bow and I’m raising the horns to the sky for their accomplishment with Confessions. Metal be thy name.
* Buckcherry – Confessions was released on February 19th, via Century Media.
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BUCKCHERRY:
Josh Todd – vocals
Keith Nelson – guitars & backing vocals
Stevie D. – guitars & backing vocals
Jimmy Ashhurst – bass
Xavier Muriel – drums & percussion
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As you can see by the above promo ad, Confessions is available at many retail locations; therefore there’s no excuse for not scoring the whoop-ass Hard Rock of the new Buckcherry!
SOEN, the Progressive Metal supergroup featuring drummer Martin Lopez (ex-Opeth, Amon Amarth), bassist Steve DiGiorgio (Sadus, Testament, Death, Iced Earth), vocalist Joel Ekelöf (Willowtree), and guitarist Kim Platbarzdis, are pleased to bring their Cognitive debut stateside this Summer.
Initially released digitally via Spinefarm Records last Winter, Cognitive was mixed by DavidBottrill (Tool, Coheed and Cambria, Silverchair, Smashing Pumpkins, Muse, etc.), mastered by João Carvalho and features ten tracks of what Lopez describes as “melodic, heavy, intricate and different.” View the band’s video for “Delenda,” at THIS LOCATION.
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Cognitive Track Listing:
01. Fraktal
02. Fraccions
03. Delenda
04. Last Light
05. Oscillation
06. Canvas
07. Ideate
08. Purpose
09. Slithering
10. Savia
SOEN – Cognitive
When Lopez joined forces with DiGiorgio, Ekelöf, and Platbarzdis, it was obvious that this collaboration would not be another name-dropping, substance-deprived “super project.” The foursome paint their musical canvas with broad strokes that on first listen may appear gray and sullen, but the true power of the music lies clandestine, just a little below the monochrome surface. More than just a sum of its rather esteemed parts, SOEN weave an intricate network of melody and melancholy. While SOEN may sound Opethian at times, it features none of the guttural vocals and full-on death metal wall of sound of Lopez’ former group. Nothing more is needed however when Ekelöf’s somber voice, Platbarzdis’s transcendent guitar work, Lopez’s trademark drum beats and DiGiorgio’s exquisite bass lines collaborate to build a pensive tide waiting to wash over you.
Cognitive isn’t an instantaneously accessible album but with a bit of listening patience, can prove to be one of the most rewarding pieces of “thinking man’s metal” you will ever come across. In a world full of super-compressed albums waging the loudness war, Cognitive breathes with ease thanks to the warmth of Platbarzdis/Lopez production and the masterful mixing work of. Like rain on a windowpane, translucent and free of form, Cognitive breathes like a living entity. The colors are there, lingering within the grays. It’s just up to you to find them.
Further information on SOEN to be revealed in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
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Critical Praise:
“The instrumental prowess of each of the members aside, the thing that ultimately makes Cognitive a success is the high-caliber of songwriting from beginning to end, a triumph in rhythmic and melodic interplay between all instrumentalists and vocalist Joel Ekelof… a brilliantly executed album.. sure to stand up to repeated listening for a long time to come.” – Ultimate-Guitar
“For a debut album, this is really something to behold. The production is even, the music thematic and smart, and the musicians eager to share every second with the other. Most remarkable is that SOEN simply appear to be on the exact same page.” – The Metal Observer
On Thursday, May 2nd, 2013, at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California, the Revolver Golden Gods 5thAnniversary Show will take place! Hosted by Chris Jericho, this fantastic Metal event is also presented by Epiphone. 5FDP, Anthrax, Stonesour, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Halestorm will be performing! Metallica is headlining too! Metal be thy name!
Take a look and listen below to the fun-filled and Metal star-studded TV commercial promoting this night of Metal mayhem:
Philadelphia – ASG, North Carolina’s favorite Psych-Rock quartet, have set a May 28 release date for Blood Drive, their Relapse Records debut.
Blood Drive was produced by Matt Hyde (Slayer, Fu Manchu) in the Fall of 2012. “Days Work,” a new song from the album, was released as a split 7″ with Red Fang on Tuesday (http://www.relapse.com/split-7in-ep-blue.html). The new album will be available on CD/2xLP/Digital.
The band also kicked off a new round of tour dates, including a stop at SXSW, with a Wrightsville Beach performance last evening at Red Dog’s.
Ohio-based trio THE UNCLEAN has this month self-released their sophomore full-length album, in the process unleashing some of the most classic but contemporary, polluted but pristine Rock n’ Roll the underground has to offer.
Known for trolling Akron’s dive-bars and tattoo shops, the members of THE UNCLEAN collective pulled their resources together in 2007. Hailing from predominantly sludge/doom-scene acts including Rue, Fistula, Sofa King Killer, with this act the members crank out solid, no-frills, riff-heavy, Blues-based Rock anthems. With influences and comparisons tracing to classic acts like ZZ Top, Humble Pie, Thin Lizzy and Motörhead, the band self-released their debut album No Excuse Necessary in the Fall of 2008 and have since honed their soulful tunes even further on-stage regionally, alongside other hard-working local and touring acts.
At the end of 2012 the trio shacked-up in the studio to lay down the thunder that would culminate into their second full-length. The drums were recorded at Studio Time in Akron, Ohio (former Black Keys studio) by Jason Tarulli (current mastermind behind Black Keys live sound), and the rest of the album written, recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by the band in their own Unclean Studio. Now completed and available to the public once again in totally D.I.Y. fashion, THE UNCLEAN proudly offer their most honest and lively material yet with The Eagle.
Boasting nearly forty minutes of ballsy, Bluesy, beer-swilling anthems about good times and bad, guitarist/vocalist Bremmy (ex-Sofa King Killer, Honkeytonk Damnation), bassist Burns (ex-Rue, Nailblack, Fistula, Sofa King Killer), and drummer Frank The Tank (ex- Search Block) play it straight from hip, loud and in your face.
After releasing The Eagle this month digitally via all the usual online suspects (iTunes, Spotify, EMusic, Google Play and more), THE UNCLEAN will drop a CD version in the coming months alongside regional shows and sporadic touring in support of the record. Stay tuned for further info in the coming weeks.
Record to See North American Release Next Tuesday!
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In celebration of the upcoming release of their new full-length, Nemesis, Melodic Metal legends STRATOVARIUS are offering up sound/video snippets of its eleven tracks. Produced and mixed by guitarist Matias Kupiainen and mastered by Mika Jussila (Finnvox Studios), Nemesis will be released in North America via earMUSIC in conjunction withArmoury Records next Tuesday, February 26, 2013.
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From the signature power of “Abandon,” and the aggressively energetic “Stand My Ground,” to the folkish elements of “Out Of The Fog,” and the title track “Nemesis,” which boasts medieval melodies and double bass drumming, Nemesis delivers new elements fused with the traditional melodic power metal for which STRATOVARIUS is known.
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In an early review of the record, Metal Underground dubs Nemesis, “one of the finest releases in the band’s history,” while Metal Reviews gushes, “… Nemesis is pure epic! It is grandiose, majestic, melodic yet heavy when it needs to be. It’s an unexpected return to form for STRATOVARIUS. It’s what power metal should sound like, period! It is without the shadow of a doubt STRATOVARIUS‘ best album in ages… Album of the year award? You betchya! If you are a fan of this band, you can’t afford to miss this incredible album.”
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Metalholic, in a perfect 10/10 rating, notes, “Nemesis has a lot of the traditional STRATOVARIUS power metal edge, but they’ve managed to evolve and develop their sound to a much more rounded, matured, and polished heavy metal… This album hit the very depths of my core, my will, my heart, and my soul… This is more than music, it’s a masterpiece and should go down in the book of heavy metal as one of the best heavy metal albums of all time,” while About.com adds, “Nemesis finds the band recapturing the magic of their glory days. Most importantly, the songwriting is excellent as the band seems determined to capture memorable songs that sit alongside the best of their catalog.”
After the tragic loss of their bassist, Markus Berger, in early January, DANTE are now looking for a talented bassist with studio/live experience, who is able to join the band as soon as possible.
DANTE have recently released their new album November Red on Massacre Records and offer an own recording studio, a huge rehearsal room, a creative work environment and much more.
They expect their bassist to be enthusiastic about the band, have knowledge about their music’s genre (progressive metal), be passionate and to be reliable.
If you think you’re the right man or woman, feel free to contact the band via info@danteband.de
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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